I slowed my pace as I neared our room. I was sure that they didn't follow, but I still felt as if someone was watching me, feeling what I was. It was like someone had hijacked my brain, and I hated the feeling. I stood in front of our room, panting and spitting out hair that had gotten in my mouth.

I knew that I couldn't find any help in the small, empty room, so I continued on, wrapping my arms around myself in attempts to cover the mark, which felt like it had a mind of it's own, it was pulsing and I felt the pain. I picked up my pace, feeling the not-alone feeling again. I continued down the hall until I came to a supply room, where I entered and stood in the middle of the room, looking around me.

There were many boxes and things, so I had to search for what I wanted. I found a lighter on a shelf behind a box of paper clips. I held it and fired it up. I stared at the orange flame, with tinges of purple in on the bottom. I glanced to the door hastily. I wanted to get this over with.

The flame danced before my eyes, and I stared at it, mesmerized. I saw things in it...but that wasn't possible, was it? I saw myself, as a child, sitting on an old bench in a forest, alone and sad. I looked so lonely, so forlorn and small. I was twiddling my thumbs and singing under my breath, the Saiyan lullaby that my mother had sang to me. I couldn't stand looking at the lonely little creature anymore, so I turned the lighter off. Tears were forming, and I sat down, still clutching the lighter like it was the life-jacket and I the survivor.

I turned it on again and avoided looking into the flame. I felt the feeling of not being alone, and it was stronger. I reached back and felt for the telltale mark, my fingers trembling. I felt the tender skin, ready to do this thing, when I saw a mirror across the room. I positioned myself in front of it so I could see my bare back clearly, and the mark.

It looked different somehow. It was now a light lilac in color, with some blue tinged at the sides, like that layer hadn't come off yet. I saw that it was in the shape of the cresent moon. I flicked the lighter flame on again and brought it slowly closer to the mark, feeling a little nervous, I had yet to get used to the idea.

I felt the warmth of the fire grow nearer to my skin, and the mark throbbed harder, like it was fighting my will. The feeling in my head got so strong I had to turn the lighter off again just to stop from getting dizzy. I cursed it and turned the lighter on, determined to get this over with and me on with my life, for what it was.

The flame tickled my skin, and...nothing. The mark was like...unflammable! I gasped and turned off the lighter. The feeling in my head was gone, but I felt something else, like my brain just registering that this was for real, and I couldn't do anything about it. I threw the lighter at the mirror, causing it to shatter, and I jumped back to avoid cutting myself on the shards. I heard someone talking, and I saw Moira standing in the doorway, with Vegeta behind her.

I glared at Vegeta and avoided Moira's gaze. I just stared at the broken mirror, seeing distorted views of myself. I looked pale and crazy, like someone who should be locked up in a straightjacket rather than running around with a perfectly nice girl. My eyes were wide and big in my pale face, like I hadn't quite woken up yet. Even my eyes looked distorted, and not just because of the mirror.

Moira walked up to me, and some locks of blue hair fell in front of my face. I was trembling, and hoping that they would give up and leave me be. She knelt down beside me and pushed my hair away, but it just fell in my eyes again. She saw the tears on my face and tsked.

"Bulma, you have to listen to me," She said quietly, but I knew that Vegeta could hear her well. "You have to get *up*, you look horrible!"

I bared my teeth and ignored her, more hair falling in front of me. She didn't catch my facial expression, so she continued.

"You know, trying to burn the blasted thing off isn't going to do anything but hurt *you*," She said, and I almost laughed at her.

"Moira," I laughed, and I knew that I sounded crazy, like I looked. "You have *no* idea, so why don't you just shut the hell up?"

She gasped and backed away from me, to my pleasure. I liked her, but just didn't want her getting in my way. I didn't want her to see me like this. There was only one person who had ever seen me like this, and they were the only ones who knew how to deal with it.

Vegeta growled at Moira as she stopped in the doorway, a clear indication to get lost. She walked off, hugging herself, probably crying, and he shut the door behind him.

"Push your hair back so I can tell that you are listening to me," He demanded, and I did so, but kept my head down and shoulders hunched.

"Burning the stupid thing off is only going to cause great pain to both you and me, hence the reason why I had to chase you across the building. You try something like it again, you will be sure to be in a *lot* of pain," He started, driving his point in. "Because through this, I know very well what you are doing, and vice versa, I'm afraid. One wrong move, we're both history, got it?"

I nodded, and fingered the mark, feeling the head thing again. "Is that feeling you checking up on me?" I asked, sounding like a child. "Yes, it is," He said. "So you can stop your pitiful, insane thoughts, they are disturbing."

I looked up at him. "How so? I find them quite comforting."

He smirked, knowing that my senses were coming back. "Well, at least we know that you are acting normally when you think them."

I scowled. "Leave Moira be, she won't do anything, she can't," I said, and got up. I brushed past him as I went out, feeling the head thing again. I stopped and frowned. I touched his shoulder again, and felt it again. I shrugged and walked out the door.

Moira was sitting on the ground, her face stubbornly set. Her freckles were standing out and her hair was in front of her face. I stopped in front of her and laughed.

"You look like I did," I said, and she looked up. I saw that she had been crying and sat down next to her and gave her a friendly hug. "I'm so, so sorry."

She whimpered and sniffled a little, then released herself from my hug. "Bulma, how do you do it?"

"What?" I asked.

"Pretend that everything is okay again, like nothing has happened!"

I smirked, then I felt it turn into a smile. "Because everything *is* okay," I whispered, and hugged her again, feeling better. I had long since forgotten what having a friend felt like.

She stood up, and so did I. A couple guards strided by, cackling about something funny. I heard Goku's Saiyan name and ran in front of them, arms crossed.

"What about Kakkarott?!" I demanded, and they gave me a strange look.

"Why do we have to tell you? You are just a lowly prisoner, sweetling," One of them taunted, advancing. I held my ground and glared.

"Am I? Well...then you don't have to tell me, from you it probably couldn't be too important, considering you are just an amateur third-class pansy," I sneered, and waited for his reaction. I was sick of the whole race's way of doing things.

He growled. "Why you...." He was cut off by Vegeta, who was leaning on the doorway of the storage room, a strange gleam in his eyes.

"Is that the way you treat your betters, soldier?" He warned, arms crossed.

The guards were at a loss for words, nervous and confused. I was, too! I backed away from the soldier and put my hands on my hips. I glanced at Vegeta, confused.

"N-no Your Majesty! I-I didn't realize that she was...uh..." The soldier trailed off, stuttering under his breath.

Moira walked up a little closer, clearly scared and confused. "B-Bulma is a b-better?" She asked, then went pale and put a hand to her mouth.

Vegeta rolled his eyes and ignored her. "Tell us *all* about Kakkarott, then, I wish to know also."

The guard figeted nervously, as did the others, and I began to get worried. They mumbled and stalled, and I knew that something was wrong. I stomped over to the one that seemed to be in charge and grabbed him by the front of his armor.

"Tell us!" I yelled, in his ear, and he winced. I gave his chest a shove and he went back into his group of goonies, sending a few into the wall. They looked impressed at my boldness, and Vegeta looked pleased.

"I-Okay!" He said, and his voice 'suddenly' came back. "Kakkarott was taken down about a half an hour ago, but not killed. We figured that he deserved to be in pain, so we left him there."

I felt like slamming his empty void-of a head against the wall. "You did *what*?!" I shrieked.

The guard smirked, proud of himself. "You heard me, wench!"

I had had enough. I went to scratch the loser's eyes out, but I felt someone hold me back, Vegeta. He scowled and glared at the soldier.

"Where did you leave him?" I demanded, fists clenched. I *so* wasn't up for this right now.

The guard frowned to remember. "Uh...like next to the Sears tower I think, he was trying to ambush us or somethin'," He said, and bowed to Vegeta. "I really have to get back to my duties, uh, yeah!" And they ran off.

I pulled away from Vegeta and stalked down the hall, scowling.

"Bulma! Where are you going?" Moira called, and ran to catch up. "Hey!"

I didn't even glance at her. "Goku is my friend, one of the only ones that isn't dead, and I don't intend on leaving him to die, not by *their* hands!" I began to run, and Moira struggled to catch up.

"You are crazy! You are never going to make it there on foot! It is almost five miles from here, Bulma!" She panted, and grabbed my shoulder. "Come on, be reasonable!"

I slowed my pace and then stopped, meeting her gaze head on. "Moira, what would you do if you were in my situation?"

She looked down and let go of my arm. "You have advantages now. Think, Bulma-chan! Do you know what that damned mark *means*?! You can have your way whenever you want, hon, and do good not to forget it!" She glared, tears in her eyes, and stepped away from me.

I stared at her, at a loss for words. Little Moira had just burned me! Not only that, but the meaning of her words sank in. Everything was true...I had a flashback of the guards, looking shocked when they had been informed that I was their superior. My face paled and I vaguely saw Vegeta leaning against a wall, eyes closed and arms crossed.

Moira gave me one last hurt glance and backed away slowly. "I am going back to my room, see you later," She said, and I didn't try to stop her. I stomped my foot in frustration and crossed my arms, like a child throwing a tantrum.

Vegeta seemed to wake up and smirked knowingly. "Well, well, well, little carrot-top actually had the courage to speak up, I must say, I am amazed."

I glared at him, shaking my head. "You are such an ass, Vegeta," I said. "But you like it, don't you? I mean, what *better* way to influence your empire than to kill them when they cross you? How perfectly efficent!"

His face reflected amusement. "Yeah, well, it works better than whatever baka thing *you* could come up with. Humans don't have to be like that because they are so weak and frail. One punch, and they are gone, so easy and simple."

I curled my lips in disgust. "You are so sick!" I accused. "Besides, *I* am a human and you don't see me cowering in some dusty corner whenever you glare at me, which is all the time, I might add."

"Not yet anyways. Oh, well, you'll come around."

I laughed to my surprise, that was actually kind of funny...in a sick way, of course, but how else would Vegeta communicate? My scowl turned into a smirk.

"Wow, you made a joke! I am so proud of you!" I said, and caught the tiniest flicker of a smile on his lips before a smirk came in again. I was disappointed at the close call, and crossed my arms again, staring at him judgingly.

"Ooh, I have the weaklings approval! I had better go and dance around before I piss myself with happiness!"

I started cracking up. Kami forbid Vegeta ever get near a child! I couldn't imagine what the poor little thing would have done. Something played at my mind, and I gasped and mentally kicked myself.

"Goku! Shimatta!" I exclaimed and walked for the doors, my hair getting in my face again. I blew it away and cursed.

I didn't have to turn around to know that Vegeta was angry as soon as I spoke Goku's name. I could fell his anger, and I didn't like it. Vegeta didn't have any reasons to hate him, and I meant to tell him so, soon.

"I don't need to be scolded, woman, Kakkarott is a fool, plain and simple, and that is enough for me," Vegeta growled, and I looked back through my hair, to see him scowling.

I shook my head and exited the building, then realized that I might as well not go then spend the time picking my way over five miles of debris. I sighed and knew that I had one last option.

I turned to Vegeta. He hiked an eyebrow, probably knowing what I was thinking. "No," He said, and frowned. "I will not assist you to find that bakayaro when I don't even *want* him to live!"

I glared and advanced, pulling up an eyebrow of my own. "Come *on*! Please, just this once, besides, I *deserve* it if I have to go through this whole bonding shit!" I pleaded, and crossed my arms.

He rolled his eyes and smirked. "Fine! But just once, and don't expect me to be in any way civil to the dickhead," He said, and I smacked his chest.

"Come on," I said, and lowered my voice. "To get this over with."

-*-

I want to say that I am really happy about all the mail I have been getting, and that I am thankful for it!! Writing such a long story is not easy and not nessacerily fun at all times! I am ready to toss the keyboard at the wall after the most recent case of writers block, and I have to stop myself from just ending this and starting the sequel, something I feel will be somewhat better than this, considering all the ideas I have typed up. Well, I hope to hear from ALL of you, j/k, well ja ne!!

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Chapter 57