Bulma's Life.....Like It Is! And What It Once Was...... Behind every good woman lies a trail of men..... The cold leather of the bar stool bit into my bare legs. The sun was just about up, and no doubt the casino would be open soon. The early morning light shone a deep orange through the glass doors, casting shadows everywhere. I could see the outline of the 'open' sign through the dimness. I got up slowly and walked over to it. No doubt the opening and closing times would be here. The sign was taped to the door, facing the other way, so I ripped it off and looked at it closely, my eyes weren't yet adjusted. Open 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM, it read. I sighed in relief. At least I would have time every day to sleep in! But this also meant that I had to sneak in very late. Casinos, as I could now see, were not easy places to clean. And this one seemed to be a prosperous one. I had to decide what to do. Should I stay out on the streets all day, or find a job and shelter? I couldn't commit myself to anything, for if the Saiyans or Frieza came for me again, surely it wouldn't be easy to leave, and someone might see them. That wouldn't be great. So I guess it was the streets for me. Even on Vegetasei, there were homeless people, from what little I *had* seen, just not as many. But I very much doubted that there was a Chicago there. First thing I had to do was call Yamcha. Somehow. I didn't have the money for a pay phone. I didn't have money for anything! I spotted a pay phone in the corner of the bar area, and sprinted over to it. If worst came to worst, I could just steal from the cash register. On the side of the phone, a large sign gave information for some company called 'Collect' were you can call them and make a free call. This was my savior! I grabbed the phone and realized that I didn't even know his number! I knew enough to call the operator, so I pressed 0 and the call came through. "Hi, I would like to place a collect call to Yamcha...eh, Yamcha, well how many Yamchas can there *be*?? Just tell me the phone numbers of all the Yamchas in the city!" I demanded in my best 'boss around a Saiyan' voice. The operator took the hint and told me to hold while they place the call. I nervously twined the cord around my fingers and moved my feet around. The operator finally came through again. "Miss, there only seems to be one Yamcha in Chicago, we will place your call now..." He said, and I had to hold, *again*, to wait for him to place the gay call. It was about four minutes and counting when the phone rang again. I smiled and stood up anxiously. "Hello? This is Yamcha." "Yamcha! Listen, it is me, Bulma. But don't worry, I am safe! It is not right for me to stay with you any longer." "What? Why did you leave? The window was open and the apartment was a mess when I woke up! And to add to it, you were gone!" "I am so, so sorry, but they have come back for me. One of them was trying to get me at your apartment last night, and I ran away, I took all my clothes, too, just in case." "Uh-right. Listen, I can't let you run around the city alone. I have to stay with you! Where are you?" He asked, sounding stressed. I felt some sadness coming on. And tons of gratitude. I felt some tears forming in my eyes. He cared, someone cared enough about me to risk their very own life! I smiled and nodded, knowing he couldn't see me. "I am at Lucky Casino. I am not sure where it is. I am in it right now, I snuck in last night." I said, and looked around, even though I knew no one was here yet, they wouldn't be for hours. "Ok, I have been there before. Don't worry, I am on my way!" He said, and hung up. I sighed and leaned against the wall of the bar. I wished that there was food, I was tremendously hungry. I looked behind me at the bar. Maybe in the kitchens, did they even have any?? I guess I wasn't *that* hungry, because I found myself leaning against one of the bar stools, sprawled out onto the ground. I started to doze off somewhat peacefully. I was getting an escort, someone to watch over me. I was happy, or at least as happy as I could be. ~*~ I woke up to hear light knocking on the glass doors in front of me. I shot up abruptly, and saw Yamcha motioning to open the door. I smiled and bounced over. I pulled the hairpin out of my hair and picked it. The doors swung open easily and Yamcha slipped in, closing the doors behind him. "Don't *ever* do that again! You had me scared for a moment! Girls like you shouldn't be roaming the streets of Chicago with just a Gucci bag to protect you," He warned, and smiled good-natrually. "Aw, gimme a hug anyways!" I giggled and hugged him gently, letting go after a couple of seconds. Apparently he slid into the 'more-than-friends' stage faster than me. "Thanks so, so much for doing this, Yamcha!" I said. He was only carrying a baseball duffel, even though it was full. "But what did you bring? I mean, *you* can always go back to your apartment." "Not really, not if they see me with you, I can't, think about it, Bulma." "Oh, yeah. Well, we had better go someplace else, it is almost two, that is when it opens, you know," I pointed out, and grabbed my Gucci bag. "I am ready!" Yamcha gave a small bow and motioned for me to lead the way. I smirked, thinking of how Vegeta would have insisted that *he* go first, and went over to a side door. "Where to?" I asked. "Umm, how about a hotel or something?" Yamcha suggested. I knew that sly twinkle well enough to avoid *that* situation. I shook my head and sighed. Where was there? "Oh, I got it! Goku's house!" Yamcha exclaimed, and pulled me out of the door quickly. "Let's go!" I tried to protest but I couldn't, not if I wanted to stay on my feet. ~*~ What do you think?? I think that Bulma is in for it, if Chichi is still there! O.o very very mucho!!! Please send me some mail on these last two, please please please por favor please please please!!!! Well, see ya in 22!! OMG I am far!! Ja ne for the last time, oh yah, my new email address is
Chapter 21: On Her Own