Bulma and Vegeta had walked for hours. Bulma wasn't sure where they were heading however the young Vegeta seemed confident in his directions.

They had stopped and rested a couple of times but Vegeta was always anxious to continue their journey, a fearful expresion filling his eyes. He'd usually look behind him to see if there was anyone following. Bulma was always able to reassure him otherwise. They had gotten to the cliffs during the course of the week, by day Bulma would walk with Vegeta and he'd be on the look out for enemies. They were aiming, Vegeta had told her, to get to the forest above past the waterfull. It really was a beautiful sight to behold. The crystal clear water flowed down the harsh cliff, the light reflecting to make a huge rainbow. Bulma was amazed, but Vegeta said to keep moving. She could sight see later...

There were rarely any problems, just animals and robbers which were defeated by the end. And by night Bulma would find herself being carried by the adult Vegeta, his cold glare mainly ignoring her for the majority of the trip. She was always thankful when the morning came.

Except this morning.

"Something bothering you Vegeta?"

Vegeta looked up at her, "No" he said sharply. "Why?"

Bulma sighed and crossed her arms. "I don't know what to do with you sometimes. One day you're quiet the next you're angry and now you're just... daydreaming."

Vegeta shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know why you're so angry at me."

Bulma was quiet for a while before she smiled down at him. She ruffled his hair again,"I'm not angry Veggie" she said calmly. "I'm just tired I guess." Vegeta seemed to ignore her again and continue eating his noodles that Bulma had cooked for breakfast. Bulma scowled and walked off to clean up her own bowl.

"Don't call me Veggie!" she heard him call.

"Whatever you say your highness..." she mumbled back. As she dunked her bowl into the basin she started to consider her past week, so many strange things had happened. She had tried to pursuade Vegeta to stay in a hotel that they had passed a couple of miles back but Vegeta had refused. Said that there were too many suspicious looking people around. Bulma laughed to herself but then sighed when she thought of home. She missed Chi Chi and her friends as she thought of them wondering where she had gotten to.

'The last time I saw them,' she thought , 'was when we were at the bar... that was something I'd like to forget.' She shuddered at the thought of the creep who had grabbed her. She shook this off and dried off her bowl and made her way back to Vegeta. Unaware that something was watching her...

Vegeta finished up his noodles and lay back on a rock. He looked up at the cloudy sky, the sun barely managing to shine through. He held on to the bag around his neck.

"What does this thing have to do with me?" he said himself. "Why can't I get an answer?" He thought of the female with him. Why had Kakarot even attempt to kill her in the first place? That was the one thing that didn't seem to make sense. Speaking of her, where was she.

"It shouldn't take that long to clean some things up, especially when mine need doing!"

He got to his feet and stood up, following the path where Bulma had gone. As he walked he looked around at the view below. They weren't that far up the cliffs but it was still enough to behold. The forest below was green and vast, only a few small villages and towns could be spoted in the distance and just at the bottom. Vegeta continued to make his way to find Bulma.

Bulma cried as the gun shot at her. A cloud of smoke enveloped her but, much to the enemy's surprise, she leapt through the smoke and fell to the floor still alive.

"What is your problem!" she yelled as she tried to stand on her feet again. The stranger grabbed her and threw her against the wall. She wanted to scream but words failed her.

"Me using a gun was only playing nice to you dearie" whispered the stranger. He adjusted the orange scarf around his neck as he tightened his grip on her wrist. She winced in pain. "Me and my sister are capable of worse you know..."

"I don't doubt it" she wimpered. His grip tightened and she screamed. He covered her mouth.

"I wouldn't try and be clever" he laughed quietly, seeming to enjoy the pain that he was putting on her. "It might put you in more danger..."

"Kami's sake 17" came another voice, feminine and cold "Lets get on with what we're meant to be doing."

"You never let me have any fun..." 17 scowled at the blonde teenager. "Listen, we heard that you've got the piece."

"What piece?" asked Bulma, acting innocent. 17 forced her to the ground.

"You know what we mean!" he shouted.

The female shoved her brother aside and knelt down. "Listen. We don't particulary hurt that pretty face of yours but if you don't tell us where you're hiding the final piece..." A ball of golden ki emerged from her hand.

"We'll have no choice."

Bulma's eyes widened in horror as the light was brought closer and closer to her face. Suddenly there was a thud and 17 was thrown aside.

"What are you doing here Androids? 17, 18?"

18 ceased the ball and turned to the newcomer. Bulma couldn't believe her luck.

"Kakarot" smiled 18 "we're only following a simple mission."

"Well I think you're done for now" Kakarot glared. "So go back to where you came from."

"I don't think so..." laughed 17 who flew at Goku. He flipped in midair, landing behind him, and kicked his legs out from under him, causing Goku to fall. 17 continued his assualt of kicks and punches, with the Saiyan dodging as many as possible. He soon had enough of holding back, he quickly grabbed 17's leg and flung him into a nearby wall. 17 fell to the ground, gasping for air. 18 flew at Goku and kicked him ruthlessly in the head. Goku clutched his bleeding head, two against one wasn't fair. He struggled to his feet and looked his opponent straight in the eye.

Suddenly a small blue ki blast flew out of nowhere exploding a rock beside the fighters.

"Vegeta!" cried Bulma.

" 17, 18!" he yelled at them, trying to sound threatning with his higher pitched child voice. "If you don't want to become scrap metal, I suggest that you do what Kakarot says."

17 and 18 smiled and took to the air. "Alright then" said 17. "We'll settle this some other night eh Prince?"

Vegeta was about to fly up to them when Kakarot held him back. The androids flew off laughing in a taunting fashion as they faded into the distance at top speed.

Bulma rubbed her wrists as she looked up at Vegeta and Kakarot.

"I could've handled them Kakarot!"

"Call me Goku, come on!"

Bulma blinked as Goku held out his hand to her. "Need some help?"

Bulma smiled "Uh... Thanks..." She took his hand and shakily got to her feet. She fell forward and was caught by Goku.

"Whoa! Careful Bulma." He looked into her sea blue eyes. Calm yet fierce like a storm, determined and fierce, gentle and kind. Goku smiled. "Come on then Vegeta..."

Vegeta didn't know what to say when Goku carried Bulma back to their camp. He felt that he had just interfered with something very inportant to him. But he shook these thoughts aside as he was left to carry the basin, the bowls and the precious puzzle piece.

The rest of the day was spent moving to a new location.

"Why didn't we just stay put?" asked Goku.

Vegeta clung onto Bulma as they walked along. "I'm not gonna risk Bulma being hurt again." Bulma ruffled his hair, laughing as he tried to force her hand away.

'Vegeta seemes to have become soft since he arrived here' thought Goku 'That can't be good...'

They finally stopped in a small uninhibited cave and Bulma decided that they'd stay there until the next morning. Vegeta sat down on the small blanket that Bulma pulled out from the Capsules. He beckoned Bulma to sit beside him and Goku went to look out.

Bulma and Vegeta sat in silence for a while until Vegeta spoke up.

"How do you feel about Kakarot?"

Bulma was taken aback by this sudden question.

"He seems nice..." was all she said. "Why d'you ask?"

Vegeta shuffled on the bed, laying down and snuggling up next to her. "I dunno," he said quietly. He was quiet until she heard that he was fast asleep.

Bulma pulled the covers over him and exited the cave. She saw Goku sitting on the cliff edge as the mid-afternoon sun managed to shine its way through the clouds. She walked over and sat down beside him.

"Hey Goku" she said happily. Goku's eyes brightened when he saw her.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Alright I guess" she sighed. She glanced over at him as he continued to watch over the edge. She hesitated in speaking for a while until she finally mustered up the courage to do so. "I'm just thinking about Vegeta... That condition of his. Why does he keep... switching?"

Goku smiled. "It's a long story if I'm honest. But I'll tell you what I can."