I stared at my feet guiltily. I felt absolutely horrible for doing this. If I had known I would be faced by Vegeta again, I would have thought of a... nicer way to say goodbye. I could hear Goku shifting angrily beside me. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Weren't enough people mad at me??

"Yes, I do believe I have met Kakkarott, unfortunatly for him, we won't be seeing each other often," Vegeta said coldly, glaring at Goku haughtily. "As for *you*, I won't even begin. What is your *problem*?"

I looked up to meet his gaze. An angry, confused look clouded them. I sighed and shook my head.

"Um, can we talk alone a moment?" I asked, looking at Frieza nervously. He nodded and steered Goku towards the ship, glaring at him the whole way.

"I can explain!" I exclaimed when they disappeared. Vegeta looked around at all the debris.

"This used to be your home?" He asked, eyeing it all openly.

I nodded. "It used to be a huge corporation, many buildings and acres of yard, but it is all gone now, thanks to your loving father."

"That was not my fault, my father was a fool to do it."

"Why are you here?" I asked, crossing my arms and giving him a look that plainly said 'get on with it'.

Vegeta frowned and glared at the sky, shaking his head. "I have business with Frieza. That is all you need to know. But *I* want to know something."

I looked up expectantly. This would be harder than I orginally thought. Vegeta wasn't stupid, and he would probably ask the right question. I braced myself for a hard one, and waited.

"Why did you leave? What were you thinking? You are lucky my *father* wasn't King still!" He said, and crossed his arms.

I looked up at the sky for a minute, thinking of what I could possibly say to him. What *was* there but the truth?

"I. . . I had nothing to stay for," I lied, and looked down so he couldn't see my face, so he couldn't see what a lie that was, and how hard it had been to tear myself away.

Vegeta shook his head and backed up a step. "You are hopeless!" He growled, and went back to the ship, growling to himself.

I stood there, staring after him as he went. Good job, Bulma, you *really* did good on this one! I critisized myself for awhile, regained my control, and went proudly back to the ship, where voices and yelling were coming from.

I entered the ship cautiously, listening for a clue as to where everyone was. The noises were coming from the small ship prison, with only three cells. I entered slowly and looked around me.

Vegeta, Frieza, and Goku were in there, argueing over something hot, that was for sure! Vegeta was swearing up a storm, Frieza was struggling to keep his cool, and Goku was yelling. I cleared my throat so that they would know I was there, and they immediately stopped.

"Dear Kami, Bulma! How many people do you *have* in your little fan club?!" Frieza demanded when they all noticed me.

"I don't know what you mean. . . ," I said, and Goku and Vegeta glared at me.

"Well, it seems like you lied to me, dear, and I really need to know the truth!" Frieza demanded, and crossed his arms, glaring dangerously at me.

I glared back, meeting his level at deep chill. Vegeta and Goku looked impressed. This motivated me and I decided to finish what I had started.

"Actually, yes, I did lie. Want to punish me?" I asked innocently, and lifted my chin just the littlest bit, just enough to show that I knew what I was doing, even though I was absolutely terrified.

"If you want to pick a fight with me, woman, I would rethink that," Frieza warned, advancing on me slowly.

I shot a hopeful glance at Goku, who was practically frozen in terror, and a searching one at Vegeta, who looked shocked as well. I guess I *didn't* know what I was getting myself in to!

"Sorry, I don't rethink certanities," I sneered, and bolted out the door, running as fast as I could, towards the exit of the ship.

I got there and paused looking behind me. Frieza was just catching up, Vegeta and Goku close behind. Frieza smirked and stopped, managing to look evil and amused at the same time.

"You are a terrible loss, Miss Briefs, but don't worry, I will find you again. Let's just call this a little came of cat and mouse. You can run, but you can't hide," He said coldly, and turned back to the prison, pulling a shocked, yet unwilling Goku behind him.

Vegeta stopped to look at me one last time. "You have no idea what you just did, do you, woman?" He asked quietly, and glared at me before turning away to follow Frieza and Goku.

I stood staring after him, like I was dazed or something. What did that mean? Frieza wouldn't tear apart the countryside looking for me, of that I was sure. But then again, what had he meant when he said that *I* was a loss? And also, what was he doing here anyway? And exactly what 'business' was Vegeta here on? ( Find out next time, on. . . . Dragonball Z. . . . . . J/K, J/K, I had to do that!! )

I shook my head sadly and walked out of the ship, casting one last look at the wonderfully modern interior, and mentally saying goodbye to my old life, or, rather, my second one.

~*~

Oh, dear! Now you are all mad at me cuz it was SO SO short!! I know, I know, I am so so so so so so so so sorry! I have volleyball tryouts, horse shows, mall trips, homework, you name it, it gets in the way of my writing!! The next chapter will be very long, just for you guys! Ja ne, and tell me what YOU think!

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Chapter 19