I ran out of that horrid building, the stinging tears streaming down my face. I felt more alive than I ever had been, yet I was filled with an undying sorrow that burned through me and ended in my already shattered heart. It fried the tiny little fragments into oblivion, and I felt myself go cold and fall to the ground.

Someone screamed behind me, beckoning me to get up and wake up. I ignored it and embraced the cool darkness surrounding me. I only wanted to be alone, as I was destined to be. I might as well had been dead, I couldn't feel my body. Only pain and fear of being alone. But wasn't I alone already?

Visions of my life passed through my head, of me with my father, of me and my mother, of me and Goku, scared on the Saiyan ship. Of Lela betraying me, of my confusion over Vegeta, and our childhood pranks on nobles. Of myself desperatly falling into Frieza's grip and of me frantically searching for my mother, and Vegeta and I on the peaceful beach.

I had had everything a young girl could possibly want, but it all had gone downhill from there. The only thing I had now was a dead mother. What *did* I have to live for? Maybe for my mother, who would have wanted for me to be happily alive and filled with energy.

Or for Goku, Yamcha, and, Kami-forbid, Chichi. Goku had always been loyal to me, even when I had betrayed him in the worst way. And poor Yamcha! He really was a good person, maybe a little irresponsible, but he was looking for love, from *me*. I didn't know about Chichi, she was like a wall between me and Goku, as friends. I had never loved Goku, he was always just a dear friend, but how could I be friends with him when his wife was such a bee-yatch?

Certainly Lela did want to be friends, to try to mend past injuries, to make things better for me. I didn't know if her offered friendship meant anything to me, but it was something to mull around and think about. Maybe a lady friend would do me good, I had never been able to relate to another female, really. Did that make me a slut?

Probably not Vegeta. That was almost an untouchable subject, certainly a sensitive one, for sure. Did I want him to care? Yes, I told myself, I did. All this time I had been pulling the moves on *him*, but that didn't mean anything. He was such a hard person to speculate about! Of all people, he had the one I had related to, maybe from likeliness, or maybe just from lack of choice, whatever way, I did care, and I couldn't really deny it. I was totally, ass-crazy in love with the arrogant baka. That was certainly something to be wistful about! Would a girl have to be totally insane to be like that?? If so, then I was a basket case.

I needed help, support, *whatever* someone normal seeks out in times such as this. But I wasn't normal, so how could I tell? My mind was reeling, and I felt dizzy and fearful. I was alone, always alone....

I felt a sharp pain and was flung back into consiousness like a bowling ball. My eyes opened and the pain was more real. It wasn't only emotional pain, either. Someone had struck me!

I looked around frantically and saw Lela, eyes and face worried and stressed. Vegeta was also there, actually looked stressed. A small frown was on his face, and I knew that *he* had inflicted the pain on me. I looked at my arm and saw a burn. He had probably used a small ki ball to wake me up.

I rolled my eyes and glared at him accusingly.

"You arrogant ass," I said, and relaxed my tense muscles.

Lela cheered and jumped up and down, and Vegeta glared at her.

"You find that *funny*?!" He accused, and stuck up his chin a little.

Lela laughed and clapped her hands. "Well, we know Bulma is back!" She said, and Vegeta hmphed and looked away.

I shook my head and looked around me. Where was I? My vision cleared slightly and I saw.

The early morning sun was rising, and the streets were deserted. I was outside the hospital, on the ground. My whole side hurt, and I felt like I had been run over and left outside to rot. I groaned and turned the other way from Vegeta and Lela. Tears began streaming down my cheeks again.

"Oh, Bulma, don't cry. Your mother isn't in any pain anymore. And she got the only thing she ever wanted before she left. To see you," Lela said softly, and a tear streamed down her own cheek. "She is in heaven now, Bulma, and with your father."

I shook my head and tried to think of something to say that would prove her wrong. There was nothing. She was painfully correct, and I knew it.

"Besides, she was in too much pain to last very long anyway. Your tears are worthless, they won't bring her back or help *anything*," Vegeta growled, and I found this comforting, in a very, very sick and twisted way.

I sat up, my muscles aching. "I am gonna *kill* you Vegeta!" I sneered, and struggled to get up.

"You can try," He snarled, and stood up, crossing his arms. "But you don't have a palace to hide in anymore, once you get done insulting me."

I forced myself to let a small smile play over my features. We used to do this as kids, I recalled, and, like Vegeta said, I always lost. I smirked and stood up, strength returning.

"Watch me!" I said, and bolted towards him. He immediatly disappeared. "No fair! You cheater!"

I heard laughing, evil, but oh well, behind me and I spun around.

"You *suck*!" I squealed, and crossed my arms. "So I won't play your little game."

Lela smiled and grabbed my arms. "Really, Bulma. Get real. We need to have a ceremony for your mother."

I nodded reluctantly and some sorrow, not nearly as searing as before, took me. I followed Lela into the building, and looked back at Vegeta. He was standing there, arms crossed, looking at the sky, where a few stars were still visible.

"Coming?" I called, and waited for at least a little response.

"No. I have something to take care of," He said, and took off into the sky. I waited until he disappeared from my view and followed Lela.

~*~

Well, send any comments or something to me. Ja ne!

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Chapter 35