Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I don’t own DBZ…none of us fanfic writers do…unless Akira Toriyama is actually one of us…

~*~

Bulma yawned as she sat down at the table. Piccolo looked up and chuckled again before taking another sip of water and returning to his morning meditation. Bulma couldn’t help but smile at his boyishness - Piccolo had been chuckling at her all morning. She couldn’t blame him though; she couldn’t believe that they’d actually slept together last night, although Bulma didn’t think that that was why he was laughing at her.

She was sure it was because of his ‘psychotics’ comment last night and how Bulma kept on attracting the ‘bad guys.’ Bulma grinned secretively to herself, since Piccolo still considered himself to be a bad guy so it was no wonder he was still laughing. Bulma stared out the window of the space station that was orbiting around planet Cold, waking up with Piccolo hadn’t been as uncomfortable as she’d imagined it would be. Piccolo had simply gone and showered – chuckling – and then had gone to the kitchen to have his breakfast – still chuckling.

There wasn’t any tension between them, she’d asked Piccolo if last night had meant anything to him and he’s answered with a simple, “Not really.” And had shrugged.

Which had been satisfying for Bulma, the last thing she needed was for Piccolo to turn into a clingy mushy love puppy who followed her about with brooding eyes, especially since last night had been nothing more then a realise of tension for Bulma. Piccolo was just her friend, they’d been intimate and it hadn’t affected their relationship. Except that now Bulma couldn’t seem to keep Piccolo off her mind.

But she wasn’t falling for him.

She couldn’t be.

“Penny for your thoughts.” Piccolo was peering at her over his morning cup of water, Bulma yawned again and sat back in her chair.

“I was just thinking how lucky I am to have a friend like you…I think I’d go mad if you’d decided not to be my friend after last night.”

“Well Bulma,” Piccolo chuckled, “You have to remember that unlike human beings and saiyans and hell, even ice-jins, us Nameks just don’t go in for all that emotional attachment crap. Last night was fun but that’s all it was. It wasn’t special or mind boggling or anything out of this world, it was just sex.”

“That’s right.” Bulma nodded forcefully, “And I’m damned glad you feel that way.”

Piccolo laughed. “Believe me kid, so am I.” He watched as Bulma turned and left the kitchen again before letting his smile fade from his face. If Bulma ever found out how much he really cared for her, he was certain she’d keep far, far away. And after last night Piccolo wasn’t sure if he could bear that.

After all, he loved her.

~*~

Raditz and Vegeta were angry - not the usual saiyan type angry in which all the saiyans seemed to be permanently stuck, but really, really, really pissed off.

“How could she do this to me?” Raditz thumped a hand on the table. “How could she just leave me like that? I thought we were getting out relationship back on track! I thought things were getting better…and then she leaves!”

Vegeta read the note that Chichi had left. “Running away to Bulma and that monster Frieza! What on Earth did you do to scare her away?”

“I didn’t so anything!” Raditz tried not to look guilty. “Except I got her pregnant…but it was an accident and I told her that!”

“Well.” Vegeta stared at the note before passing it over to Raditz. “We’ll have to get her back.”

“Just like that?” Raditz seemed a little surprised at Vegeta’s impulsive behaviour. “Are you sure?”

“Look, do you want your mate back?”

“Yes?”

“Well I want mine back too.”

“But Grape hasn’t gone…oh…you mean Bulma?” Raditz looked surprised, he’d had no idea that Vegeta wasn’t happy with Grape. He’d assumed all the rumours about Vegeta bonding with Bulma had been just that – rumours.

Vegeta nodded, “I should never have let her go, I should have fought Frieza, I should have tried. God, I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore! It’s not that I don’t like Grape…it’s just that I don’t really…oh screw it! I don’t like Grape! She immature and acts as if she’s already the queen!”

Raditz shrugged. “Well everyone was expecting you to make her your official mate, you know.”

“Well they should have known better. I love Bulma and I want her back, I don’t care who I have to kill, I swear to God I’m going to get her back again.” Vegeta stood up, “Pack your things, we leave for Planet Cold tonight!”

~*~

“Chichi?” Bulma could barely believe her eyes! Was this creature standing in front of her really chichi?

“Yeah…heh…surprise!” Chichi replied weakly.

She looked like a total mess, her hair, usually spotless and clean was limp and dull, her eyes were cloudy from lack of sleep and she had dark circles under each eye. Her clothes hung off her like a sack and it was clear to Bulma that Chichi had certainly been in a fight, and had probably not won.

“I’m sorry to drop in on you like this…” Chichi dropped the duffel bag she had been holding and came forward a few steps. “But I had to get away from them…the saiyans I mean…I had to take a little break, get myself together again.” Chichi looked up at Bulma and threw herself into her blue haired friends waiting arms, hugging her tightly. “Oh I missed you Bulma!”

“I missed you too Chichi!” Bulma hugged Chichi as tightly as she could. “I missed you so much I couldn’t breathe for first few days I was here.”

Chichi pulled away. “Where’s Frieza is he…” She trailed off when she saw Bulma’s expression. “What is it? Did something happen?”

“Frieza was killed…he…he was murdered and…it was all my fault.” Bulma struggled to contain her emotions. “He died two days ago…I only got out of hospital last night.”

“Oh Bulma!” Chichi hugged her again, “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay…but I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Bulma sniffed. “Frieza’s brother Cooler is taking control of the empire…he’s asked me to be his wife in name only…but I don’t know if I want to stay.”

“Where would you go?” Chichi picked up her duffel bag and followed Bulma as she led the way along the hall. “I mean, would you go back to Vegeta?”

Bulma laughed. “I don’t think Vegeta wants me back…”

“Oh no! That’s where you’re wrong!” Chichi interrupted quickly. “See this bruise?” She pointed to the bruise on her cheek. “That’s from Vegeta slapping me because I told him that you didn’t want him any more.”

“He hit you?” Bulma stopped dead and whirled to face Chichi. “Your not lying to me? He actually hit you?”

“Yes…but he was mad and very, very upset. He loves you Bulma, he can’t stand the thought of you not loving him in return.”

“But…he hit you? I knew he was a bastard but I never thought he’d sink as low as to hitting a woman!” Bulma’s blue eyes flashed icily in anger and she tossed her hair in an arrogant manner.

“Neither did I…but he was pretty upset when I told him that you didn’t want to speak to him…and I mean insanely, jealously, angry.” Chichi nudged Bulma to get her walking again.

“Well he shouldn’t be jealous or angry, after all he has his precious Grape…and my son.” Bulma stopped by her door and punched in her code number, the door slid open and Bulma led the way in.

“He doesn’t love Grape, he loves you and Bulma, if you do truly love Vegeta you’ll go back to him.”

Bulma turned around and looked at Chichi. “That’s the thing, I don’t know if I even have it in me to love anybody again.”

~*~