I stared at the ceiling of my room, thinking deeply. The only thing that I was tuned in to was my own breathing, and only because it was nessacery.

I was deeply shamed for what I had done to Goku, Yamcha, everyone. The only way I could think of to repay them, if that was even possible, would be to get them out of this. I *had* to, I would just waste away with the guilt of knowing I had ruined someone's life even worse than it had already been.

I had to find out the time that Goku and everyone else would be taken to the prison, it was of utmost importance that I caught them as they were going in. Maybe even before that time. The only person that I knew that would possibly know this was, I sighed, Vegeta. But after the throne room, I thought it safer to ask a guard that worked the prison first.

I slid off my bed and went off for the prison. It wasn't really that far away from my hall, so it only took a few minutes to make my way there. A guard was leaning against the wall outside of the door, giving me a suspicious look. I had been getting those a lot lately.

"Do you know the time that Kakkarott will be arriving here?" I asked impatiently. In social status, I was higher than he was, and he knew it and was forced to answer.

"About one o' clock, Lady," He answered, and I nodded at him while backing away. I turned and ran the rest of the way to my room. If I was to be prepared in time, I had to rush.

~*~

I couldn't risk taking a backpack or something to carry clothes and such with, someone would get suspicious. I had to be totally natural about this, no matter how unconvienient it would be in escaping in time and getting around.

I was wearing a traditional Saiyan dress, one that had a low neckline and a tight waist. Most noble women wore them, so I had to kind of blend in. I donned a black cape with a hood over it to conceal my face and also to hide the fact that I had no tail, to prevent any unnessacery discrimanation.

With one last glance around my room, and a handful of gold coins in my hand, I set off, away from my room and into danger and risk.

~*~

The guards were cruel about dragging prisoners to the prison. They pulled Yamcha brutally by his arms, making me almost lose my composure, and they had to really fight Goku to get him to follow. Chichi, however, was a problem. Her high-pitched screeching even hurt my ears, I was sorry for all the guards whose hearing was so much superior.

Before they entered the prisons, I swept up in front of them, my dress swirling around my legs as I did. The guards stopped and nodded respectively as expected of them to a noble lady.

"Men, I demand that you let these three go. I have some gold coins for there bail, and you can be sure that I will not set them free. They are to be used as slaves on my estate," I said, keeping sure to keep my voice even and diguised, I didn't want anyone taking the chance to recognize me.

The guards considered this and decided that King Vegeta wouldn't care as long as they were slaves. They nodded and I handed over the coins and they let them free. Yamcha and Goku rubbed their wrists. Chichi stared at me, like she was plugging in the fact that she knew who I was.

Her eyes got wide and her face angry. "Bul-," She began to cry, but Goku placed a hand on her mouth and gave me a wistful look. He already had known my identity. Yamcha had too, for he had trouble not saying anything.

I beckoned them to follow me with a wave of my hand, and they did so as I hurried through the halls. I stopped in front of the doors to the room where the ships and pods were held.

"Hey guys. I have bought your freedom, and we are going to leave for Earth if I can get a ride," I said, and pushed back my hood a little to reveal who I was, but not make it totally obvious.

"So be quiet! I figured this is the least I can do," I said, and they all nodded, even Chichi, to my surprise.

I peered into the windows of the holding room, and saw that it was empty, save the ships and pods. I breathed a sigh of relief but was cut off when I turned around.

Vegeta was leaning against the doorway of a room across the hall, frowning at us. My hood fell open and my jaw fell in disbelief. How-?

"Bulma? Bulma! What is wrong?" Goku asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face, and he saw that I was looking past him. He turned and saw Vegeta, and shut up, unsure of my reasons to be scared. Chichi and Yamcha did the same and waited for my own reaction.

"Planning a vacation?" Vegeta asked cooly, walking up to us surely. "Well, I am hurt that I wasn't informed." He advanced on me, his eyes angry. I looked away in shame and was speechless.

Yamcha glanced from me and him and figured that his participation in this was not helpful, he was no match for Vegeta. Chichi just looked scared, and Goku had a determined look on his face that I really dreaded. Who could tell what he would do?

"I don't think that you need to know of all my doings," I said, lifting my chin to look him the eyes evenly.

He smirked and shook his head. "Too late," He said, and motioned to a guard coming down the hall. "Take these prisoners away."

I tried to follow, but he held me back and pushed me against the doors angrily.

"What the hell! Put me down!" I exclaimed, but he only tightened his grip.

"Don't try to cross me, woman, it will do you no good. No one gets anything past me, and I hope that you think about that next time you plan something like this," He growled.

I was beginning to feel the pain on my back and shoulders, where he was pinning me back. I gritted my teeth, it would do me no good to show my pain and give him that satisfaction. He laughed, it was a feeble attempt.

"Let me go!" I shouted, and cried out in pain. "Let me go now!"

He laughed and pulled back, sending me to the floor. I stayed there, on my knees, holding my shoulders and squeezing my eyes shut. He had never hurt me before, and I was scared. He could do so much more with just a little strength!

"Next time don't do that," He said a little more gently, and kneeled down to my level. A tear of frustration rolled down my cheek and he wiped it away softly. "You could *really* piss me off."

I opened my blurry eyes and glared, hatred showing through. He smirked and crossed his arms.

"I-I-I...," I said, and then moaned when I felt the pain from the bruises on my back. "Owww..."

His eyes softened and he put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up surprisingly. What the-? I felt a strange tingly feeling of warmth on my back, and the pain was nearly gone. Vegeta gave me what was almost a sarcastic smile.

"Wha-what did you do to me?" I asked.

"Gave you some energy, you little weakling," He said, got up, and walked away.

I looked after him, surprised. For a moment there he was actually being nice to me, but why? A minute before he had been practically ready to kill me! I was sure he was ready to really hurt me for a minute there, until he had dropped me and actually healed my back. This was way too confusing for me.

I leaned against the wall, tears of confusion and frustration rolling down my face.

~*~

I hope to get some feedback, I LOVE FEEDBACK LIKE I LOVE CANDY!!!!!!!! So please please write to me, please! Ja ne!

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Chapter 43