Chapter Twenty – Seve

A choice

A/N: So I will tell you now anything something is written BOLD& ITALIC it is a memory, and anytime it is simply italic it is either a dream or thought. So this chapter has a lot, next Chapter is going to be full of ChiChi and Goku ^_^ YAY! the story is coming to a close.

Bulma growled as she found herself circling yet again around a tall cider tree. She marked the tree, after suspicion of passing by it two previous times. She wasn't certain how much time had lapse since she left the camp, but she was certain it hadn't yet been a complete day. Night was just setting in and her feet were already tired, so she decided to rest at the base of the tree. She pulled the strap of her quiver free and placed it at her side with the bow, and canister.

"Just great, I'm a genius with no sense of direction" she murmured. Bulma glanced up at the dark night sky that was only dotted with a few stars, and sighed agitatedly. She was bombard with so many thoughts throughout the day that it too must have added to her fatigue. Not to mention Vegeta hadn't come after her like she had hoped. Then again she did stand up to the man like never before, and admitted to his face that she wanted to be with Yamacha. Why did she have to say that?

"Just a bit further" informed Yamacha, pulling Bulma behind him up the sloping walkway that led to his aforementioned hide out.

"You've said that already, you sure you aren't trying to lure me off somewhere to murd-" Bulma fell short of words as she gasped at the magnificent view before her. It had been everything Yamacha described it to be and more. There was a view of the sea in the distance, lush green fields, and the dusty plains between the border of Teriok and Ox Kingdom. "It's beautiful."

Yamacha too had been admiring something of beauty but it hadn't been the view of the land but Bulma. She had changed since he last remembered, but all for the better. She had grown into a curvaceous woman, with pools of blue eyes that called to the depths of his desires. Then there was a significant change that at first hid her identify but now he grew to love- blue hair. "Nothing as beautiful as the sight I'm looking at now." Oh Goodness!

Bulma's cheeks drained of all color at the soothing sound of Yamacha's voice, and the lack of space between them. She could feel his eyes burning holes through her, and his scent was invading her senses. What was she thinking when she decided to follow him? She was in need of a nice time out, to get away from all the mess stewing at the camp, and her missing husband. Only now she could feel the desires bubbling inside her, reminding her of moments lost between her and Yamacha. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

"As long as nowhere keeps us here thats fine" he said flirtatiously, with a wink.

"Quit it" laughed Bulma, glancing over her shoulder at him. It felt comfortable to be so close to him, and so amazing to feel wanted. Bulma squealed at Yamacha's unexpected grasp of her hand, but he gave little time for response as he ran forward leading her down the opposite side of the hill. The feel of the wind whipping her hair felt wonderful, and the spontaneity of his actions made her feel like she was a child again. Yamacha reminded her of the peaceful and amazingly daring time in her youth.

Her shoes were barely keeping up with their chase down the hill, and her dress had been tattered by constant tugs against branches and stones. Yamacha had guided her like this many times and she had loved it, the only thing missing at the moment was ChiChi. "Slow down" she squealed fishing for needed attention from her handsome friend.

"What will be your bargain for that?" he shouted back as he continued their fast pace.

"Bargain? We aren't children anymore, you do know that?" she countered.

"Bargain" he reaffirmed.

Bulma's feet were hurting, but she enjoyed hearing Yamacha's demands. "A cold shower" she mused.

"Something more tasteful" he retorted.

"What would you like? Just tell me! This running is wearing me out" she complained.

"An answer to any question I ask" he shouted back.

"Fine! Just slow down." Quickly their pace slowed till they were nearly walking. Bulma tried all she could to steady her shallow breathing, but it was effortless. Her heart was racing at speeds she hadn't felt in years. Yamacha may have reminded her of her youth, but the brisk walk reminded her of her age.

It wasn't long before they reached the bottom of the steep hill that was hidden by a shade of trees. The view had been beautiful to Bulma, but the small enclosed lake was breath taking. There were flowers of every color pouring into the lagoon, and the rich blue calmed all her frustrations. She was gaping at the entire sight till a squeeze from Yamacha reminded her of his company. She glanced over to him, he held her hands tightly in his grasp, and she pulled her hand free in fear of the comfort she felt in them.

"Are you afraid of something?" asked Yamacha.

"No...um….why would you say that?"

"Maybe because of the way you pulled away from me. What are you afraid of? We are only friends right?" Can we be? Bulma could have asked herself that very thing, but she had no answer.

She evaded the eyes of the man that teased her with a life that could have been. After all she was a married woman, and she needed to remember that. "Of course we are…why would we be more? I'm a married woman." Nervously she laughed trying to hide her embarrassment.

Yamacha scooted closer to her, and though she knew it best to distance herself- she couldn't let him see her discomfort. She didn't want him to know exactly how much his presence troubled her, so she had to fake her strength. They both sat silently enjoying both the beauty of nature, and each other's company.

"I have my question" he announced, his eyes still glue to the lake before them.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Be completely honest." He repositioned himself, tilting backwards, the weight of his body resting on his hands and arms. He shifted his gaze to Bulma, whom sat tall, stiffed shoulder, with her gaze before her. "Have you ever thought of what life would be like if we were together?" At the very moment!

Air had vanished with the question, as well as all of Bulma's confidence. She felt horrible for the thoughts she entertained. However, her heart yearned for the man next to her- and her body the comfort of a man. Married had been a word forgotten, and her eyes shifted to Yamacha. He looked at her with passion and desire she hadn't seen in years, and she liked it.

Intangible was the string that Yamacha reeled out hooking her, and causing her to slowly draw closer to him. Her eyes close anticipating the feel of his lips, and all her resolve had dissolved as the desire grew. The feel of the first touch of his lips against her's was like the first drag of air after nearly drowning; crucial. He licked at her lips, and she parted them eager to feel the warmth of his mouth. She moaned at the feel of his tongue against hers', and the comfort of one of his hand raking through her hair. She felt her hair pour over her shoulders as he pulled free a pin.

She felt a pull, and she was too enthralled to part from his soothing lips. She moved with him as he laid back against the grass, and she shifted her body. His tongue teased her with tiny strokes against the inside of her mouth, and she melted in his arm. Her long blue hair sheltered his face, and his hands snaked down her back hungry for the feel of her flesh.

"Woman!"

Bulma pulled away from Yamacha gasping for air. Suddenly all her senses came crashing down as she met eye to eye with her husband- "Vegeta." Death had glazed over in his eyes, and guilt swept through every atom in her body. "Vegeta I…I can explain, ah…its not" words had left her, and fear overtook her.

There were no words to say to Vegeta that would make him listen. Her eyes darted from Vegeta's fiery gaze to Yamacha. Before she could warn the confident Yamacha, Vegeta had him by the neck, and pressed him against a tree. Everything happened so quickly, and all words had faded in her fear. She was trembling from head to toe her eyes down cast. It wasn't until she noticed the black booths her husband worn, that sound returned. She glanced up at him like a lost dog, grasping at the front of her dress.

"Go to the house" barked Vegeta.

Yamacha was laid out on the floor not too far away, and Bulma was worried for him . "Please Vegeta, please it was a mistake… don't kill him" she pleaded, but it only seem to add to Vegeta's anger.

"Leave" he growled. Bulma gathered herself the best she could and hurried away, tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't pull herself to look back; she had made a terrible mistake. What had come over her?

Bulma relived that memory every day; it consumed her. She had been the main reason her marriage ended, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Are you sure?" asked Caleb.

"Yes, sir" replied the solider. "I counted three times over, and I've even waited. It seems the short man they took in was actually a traitor. He has left the camp, and seems to have left from last night."

Caleb growled at the discovery, and kicked the dirt. How did he overlook the refugee? Now Teriok would probably be on their trail in no time! "You should have reported this to me the moment you found him missing!"

"Apologizes sir, I was led to believe he was on a bathroom break. I can go out in search of him with two more men, and try and intercept him from reaching Teriok" suggested the tall slender solider.

"No need, Judas" barked Caleb. "We will move out, and we will reach the plains of Teriok and take the head of the traitor. Have Radditz to the scout the back."

"Yes sir" acknowledged Judas. "I will tell the men."

18 watched the men of the camp scramble about intently, curious. She hadn't heard a word all morning, nor had Krillen stopped by with breakfast. Also she was just as conflicted by the conversation she had overheard the previous night. She had absolutely no clue whom the solider may have been, and if she did would she even say a word?

Her lips were parched from the dry air, and her body immensely heated by the sun. She used her hands for a shade, and even with that she could barely open her eyes. She could see a solider walking in her direction, but it wasn't the person she wanted to see. Where was Krillen? It was a short dark solider, one that had tortured her the first few nights she became captive. She eyed him suspiciously as he held a bowl in hand.

His lips tug in a wry smile as he took out a piece of meat, and ate it before her and left only a bone. "Hmm, boy was that good" he said aloud, and dropped it back into the bowl. He pushed the bowl into the cell, the hot liquid splashed as he pushed it into the cage. "Eat up, wretch that's all you'll be having today" snickered the solider as he retreated.

18 growled at the man, and kicked the bowl of soup away in anger. The hot contents splashed about some against her bare skin, scolding her. She wanted to cry from the heat, but the man wasn't far enough for her to let her guard down. She hated that man. Where was Krillen? She was hungry, and dying to see the one person left that could sooth her anger and pain away.

What were they making him do? Why were they keeping him from her? She needed him, and she hated to admit it- but she missed him. He had made everything bearable since she came, and how she needed him now. A solider had come not long after and hitched her cage to a horse, and still she had yet to see Krillen. Her icy blue orbs darted around the camp to every place she could hoping to spot the short man, hoping to see him- but she never did. He never came. With a pat on the horse's rear the cage's wheels begun to turn, and she was again position shortly behind Caleb. 'Where are you?' she question in her mind, as she leaned against the cold bars.

Something felt terribly wrong, but 18 couldn't quite place the feeling to anything tangible- so she sat quietly. What could she do?

TWO DAYS LATER...

"I was carried away on top of a mountain, and told to jump…'Jump' I said aloud. Had I lost my mind? I stood near the ledge, and all I could see was a vast fall. I had followed my mind to the top of the hill expecting change, and here I stood tempted to jump. What did they know? My brother was killed by Teriok, and in front of my very eyes. I warned my people, but they were blinded by the lavishing fruits and material given to them. Fabrics of deep red that graced the heads of their daughters, and black chalks that lined their eyes- they called it beauty.

I closed my eyes ready to fall forward, that had to be the reason I was speared. It had to be the reason the voice led me up the hill. It was the only escape I had from the fate my brother met, and my father. No one listened to my warnings! Death was only a short time away, but in my heart I burned at the thought of it. I was only twenty. One foot forward, all sound drained from my ears and I nearly stepped forward- "don't" I heard a cry from behind me. A tender voice and it caused no stir of fear in me.

My eyes still closed. Who could it have been? Who would be foolish enough to come to the top of a hill? Aside from me! I said no reply, and I was too stiff to move. How could I when my eyes were closed? I couldn't dare to look down at that great drop again. I thought I had already step off, and I was concocting a vision in my mind. Only that was till I heard rustling behind me and the voice again. Her voice was soft, and soothing to my ears. Like warm water to sore feet after days of walking with no break.

"I have food in my house, clothes, and a comfortable bed- won't you turn around?" No I didn't want to turn around! Yet something intangible pushed me back, and my eyes open at the immense warmth from the push. I can't explain what it was, for I had only begun to discover this being. I had only begun to know who or what it was. I closed my eyes again when met with no one just the view of the land and clouds.

I felt the warmth of arms and the rich scent of spikenard in my nose. Only this feeling was different from the force that pushed me back, and my arms wrapped around the tiny figure. I didn't know who she was, but I knew it was a woman. I didn't open my eyes and see her, nor even knew her name. But I felt the whisper of the voice telling me she was my wife, and I loved her instantly. Leah. I never looked for love in a woman, because I saw no way to protect one. Nor that of the comfort of a child, yet something found it for me.

It was odd the way it all fell together. She and her father had escaped to the mountain long ago, and he had died three nights prior to that day. She said she had been scared; she was the only one left. She was from a distant tribe to mine, and when she seen me she said I was her answer. I started to search that day, I needed to know what or who had this voice been to bring me here. And why did I find her? She was the one joy out of all my sorrows. Yet I was still strong minded, and though she pleaded with me to forgive Teriok as she had, I couldn't. She wanted us to live on that mountain forever, but my blood boiled for revenge. I was a fool. I still am-"

"What are you reading?" interjected Goku as he made his way to Raven.

Quickly the cloak warrior closed the forbidden book, and tucked it securely under her bottom. Knots formed in the pits of her stomach and her body was shaking from fear. She couldn't let him see his father's book in her possession. He would be livid just knowing she took it, so she couldn't imagine how upset he'd be to see her read it. "Just some tale" she lied.

"Oh" he replied. He made his way over to her, and took a seat next to her. They had set up camp near a stream not too far from Teriok for the night. It would only be a day's journey left before they made it there. Raven had pulled away from the two for solitude she had told them, but when the sunset Goku grew worried. He still felt guilt for the way he treated her a couple days before. "I never meant to make you feel bad, sometimes I'm not good with words."

"Tell me about it" she teased. "I'm only kidding" she quickly added once she noticed Goku's dismay. Silence fell between the two, and Raven enjoyed it; as it gave her time to think on what she just read. Goku's father was truly a wonderful writer, and a very passionate man. He sounded much greater than any prince charming from the stories Launch told her as a child. "Will it put much pressure on you if I say I enjoy your company?"

"No" tersely he answered.

"Do you understand what I mean about that?"

"No."

Raven couldn't help laughing. Goku was the most naïve man she had ever met, and so closely on the same page as her. She knew there was absolutely no bad bone in this man's body, he radiated good. Not long after the crickets begun to play their song, and soon the frogs chimed in and the duo were stricken with heavy eyes. It felt completely right sitting so close to the childish man that made her first request realized and smelled of pine cones. Slowly, Raven rested her head against his arm. "Have you ever thought you knew exactly what you wanted, and then a voice tells you something else?" Yawn Raven.

No reply. Yawning raven attempted to fight her sleep, but it was effortless. The two fell asleep in the very spot they sat, and a very drowsy Raven nestled into Goku's arm.

A/N: OK! So its been a while, but as promise I will finish this fic! And it is almost over, the battle is right around the corner. Thanks to all review! Please keep the review and input coming, honest it motivates me to write more!