A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! There weren't much, though I think I know why, as Pookie so nicely put it; the story moves a bit slow. Luckily there are also people who can appreciate it. Thank you Lady Rhapsody, Hinagiku, Saiyachick, Aquaprincess1 and ccfleursdelys!! Your reviews made my day! One more thing; this chapter hasn't been beta-ed yet. Like I said before: school, school, school! We're doing the best we can!
Ruthless
Chapter 5
"No, Dad... No, it's better to... Yes, yes, but you can better use the... Ok, ok... No! I refuse! You wanted those things done and ready for them! I've given you the designs, you know how they work! You've got enough people to... No, I won't! You figure them out yourself... They are all on paper already! No... I'll try... You can do it better that way... Improvements? Ain't that hard, but... No, no... Yes, dad, I know... Don't come to me with that crap... You wanted them... I..."
Krillin listened absent-mindedly to Bulma's conversation with her father over the intercom. Three days it had been, since the Saiyans were introduced to the GRs. It was love on first sight. A violent love, though. The last two days had been busy days to the GR team of Dr. Briefs. They had installed new ones, but mostly, they've been repairing the others. And they were going to the Gs like they were nothing at all. Krillin would lie if he said he wasn't jealous.
And the Prince? He was already through the 200 EG limit of the GR, and since this day, had been constantly demanding upgrades and improvements to his GR. Yes, his, because he had taken one as his sole property, no questions asked.
"...Dad, NO! And that's final! I didn't want to give the GR to them... Yeah, I've figured this would happen, yes! And I didn't want to be stuck repairing them all the time, and I don't have the time to upgrade them! No, no, NO! Let Dr. Schumacher look at them, he's quite handy with them! That's it, Dad. I'm not going to help you with this. They're your responsibility now. Yes, the Saiyans and the GRs. Good bye, Dad."
Bulma closed the link, and sighed deeply. "I knew this would happen. If my Dad had the sense to look at their training regimes before he had given them the GRs... Maybe then he would have given me the time to improve some parts and their durability."
"What I don't understand is, why we didn't have those problems before."
"Your training is a bit less... intense. Also, you have more consideration for your training material. You know when to stop."
"Was your father very disappointed when you turned him down?" Piccolo asked.
"Well, maybe a bit. I think he expected it... After all, I had said I wouldn't develop them any further if he would let the Saiyans use them. It would be a waste of time. Before I would have finished one upgrade, they would be demanding another. But of course, the real reason we all do know. I don't want to help them any more than we are already doing." Bulma let herself fall into a chair, looking rather chagrined.
"We're helping creating monsters." Bulma bit her lip. "I don't want to be responsible for it. For what they'll do once Frieza is dead. For all the horrible things that monster has done... He still acts as a counterweight to the Saiyans... Once he's gone, there will be no stopping them. And I fear they will be much worse than Frieza ever could have been..."
"That's a real doom scenario, Bulma," said Krillin, visibly uncomfortable. "You really think that could happen?"
"It's not just a royal family who terrorises it's own race and the rest of the universe, like the Cold family. This is an entire race who thirst for battles and blood and power. The more, the better. They won't stop before they'll have the entire universe on their knees for them... I'm afraid we can do little but try to hide in the furthest, smallest corners of the universe, keeping our defences high, always ready to flee..."
"I don't like your thinking, Bulma."
"But Krillin, what she's saying is a real possibility... We just have to find out a way to survive."
"Great, two real pessimists... Well, if that's the way it's going, I like to be prepared. Piccolo, let's train, and I will completely befuddle you with a new technique! Be afraid, be very afr-"
"Just shut your mouth and bring it on, Monk!"
"You guys can use the GR in the back of the lab. Completely new, improved and it goes up to 300 EG! I think you might like that, Piccolo."
"And I thought you didn't done any GR- related improvements!" Krillin said, surprised.
"Just don't tell my Dad, all right. Really, it's quite simple to do this kind of updates. I'm not going to do my father's teams' dirty work! They can use their brains for once. I hope those Saiyans make them sweat! Serves them right!"
"Whow, Bulma! Do I feel some buried irritations here?!" When Bulma threw him a dirty look, Krillin grinned at her.
"Make him bleed, Piccolo."
"You heard her, Monk. Lead the way."
"Mmmm..." Softly humming along with a good song from her stereo, Bulma diligently worked on the electronic circuit of a new fighter capsule. She was lying directly under it, probably only the tips of her toes coming out from under it. Luckily, she wasn't claustrophobic, or afraid to get dirty. Yes, accidents could happen, while she was lying under a machine weighing a couple of tons, but she didn't worry about it. She had very good mechanical aids, plus this time the fighter was resting on it's own landing gear, while it gave her enough space to crawl under it and move easily around.
The fighter capsule was almost finished, and she was very proud of it. She wasn't going to hand this over to her father and the SNE. No, this one she would keep for their small resistance group. Bulma smiled, pleased with her success; the spacecraft didn't look anything like the first space- travelling ships her father and she made. It had no longer the round shape; it now had a more streamlined, cone-like shape. Powerful thruster engines, for the vertical take-off, sideways movements and the propulsion, were unmatched by anything her father had come up with. The design was solely Bulma's, and this was the first spaceship she equipped them with. A new kind of super fuel, new navigation system, new cloaking device, new laser weapons.... Almost everything was new. Even the materials used in this ship were of newly discovered materials and metals, all found in their new solar system. Bulma had experienced with them and had found some amazing results.
She had planned to surprise her father with a whole new ship, made of whole new materials, fuelled by a whole new fuel... Then the Saiyans had come and made her father into some kind of... lapdog.
She frowned. It hurt, deep down. Her father was almost the only one who could really see the potential of her new findings. Only he could really understand the troubles she had been through. She felt like she had lost both a good friend and a mentor. And as a father he grew more distant with the passing months... She missed her mother so terribly! She could have been the only one to keep their little family together. In her strange, silly ways, she kept her father down to earth, and gave him some kind of sense of perspective.
She missed her Mom, so bad... Now, there was nobody who looked after her, nobody who cheered her up, nobody to talk to about all the silly little things in life... No warm hugs and no comforting words.
In some ways, Bulma was lonely.
If only... Bulma didn't dwell much on it. It was useless, and made her really sad. The ifs were endless, but nobody could change anything about it anymore... It was too late...
A deep sigh, and Bulma closed her eyes, seeing her mother's face so clearly. Bulma let her hands down, and stared up at the opened panel. She didn't see the wires, but her mother's bubbling laugh and waving blond curls.
She always had thought she would have children and her mother would be the perfect, sweet grandmother, spoiling them rotten with candy and little toys and self-made clothes...
How fast could everything change.
Suddenly, abruptly, she felt a tug at her foot. She yelped when she was suddenly and harshly pulled forwards, with such force she bumped her head against the underside of the fighter capsule. Then, she was out from underneath it, rubbing her head and staring up into...
The arrogant, mocking face of the Prince of all Saiyans.
"What?! You... Imbecile! Idiot! Do you have no brains at all?! That hurt, you dumb ass!"
"I would advice you to watch your words, girly. I don't take that kind of behaviour from no one. Not even from such a meaningless, little mouse such as you."
"Oh. Well, why are you bothering this 'meaningless, little mouse,' then? Why do you waste your time on someone like me? You know what, forget it. I don't want to know your reasons! There is probably no reason behind this at all. Do you even know the word, reason, or the meaning? Must be pretty hard, with such a small brain... Or maybe, you just wanted to show all the meaningless little people here what a though, strong and totally stupid monkey you are, and-"
"I'm warning you!!"
"- and what your idea of fun is; harass mice! Yes, indeed, the Saiyans are a great warrior race!! They're picking on meaningless girls! Couldn't that nut-size brain of yours come up with something a bit more... grown-up?!"
"Silence, you little freak!"
"Freak?! All right, that's it! I would really like it if you remove your ugly, flea-bitten self out of my lab, or even better, out of my life!" Bulma, completely fed up with the attitude of the Saiyans and that of the Saiyans Prince especially, snarled the words into his face. For just a moment, she saw something of surprise flicker in his black eyes, but it was gone before she could really determine it. She had it with him, and everything! Just as she wanted to have a nice, relieving cry, this ass of a Saiyan had to interfere!
"Careful now, little mouse. You don't want me to loose my patience and to-
"Kill me? Hurt me? Because that's your very Neanderthalic way of dealing with your problems right? Really, you are so predictable. Don't know any other way of dealing with your problems? Probably not. Even the effort of trying to think of something else might damage that brain of yours-"
"Silence!" It was a mere hiss, and Bulma wasn't really intimidated. She did feel the flare in his ki, as the force washed over her, but she didn't budge. Would he really try to kill her? It would be a most stupid move on his part!
She knew that Piccolo and Krillin would have noticed the alien, strong ki next to hers, and would be keeping an eye out for her. Still, that didn't mean she wanted them involved in her sudden confrontation with the Saiyans Prince. She could handle her own business.
Bulma stood up, and crossed her arms and assumed the same pose as the Prince.
"Silence? All right then, I'll shut up. A good day to you." She turned around and started to walk away, not caring of how it seemed or what he might think. She was seriously in the mood to grab that new ki-gun and try and blast his sorry ass to hell!
But before she could take two steps, she was violently turned around. She knew for certain that there would be bruises in the forms of fingers on her shoulders.
"What?! You like hurting weaker people, don't you. I bet it makes you feel really good!.. And get your hands of me!" She jerked back with such a force her Capsule Corp cap almost fell off her head.
She steadied herself and the cap, straightened herself and looked the Prince in the eyes.
"Ok, monkeyboy... What do you want? Is there something you want? Or did you forget already?"
"Human, you are seriously testing the limits of my patience and temper... Right now, strangling you for your insolence seems very tempting!"
"That wouldn't be the smartest move on your part."
"No," he growled, obviously very irritated with her behaviour, "it wouldn't. But you're driving me to the point at which I don't really care anymore!"
"I'm not afraid of you, Princey. You could hurt me, kill me, and I would find you disgusting... not frightening."
"You're the fool here. You're playing with fire, Girl!"
"Oooh, I'm so scared!" Bulma rolled her eyes at him and smiled at his barely concealed fury. "Well, I had to say this was fun, for a while, but you're boring me now. I suggest you go and beat some Saiyan to a bloody pulp, or try and frighten my Dad's scientists! I have some other things to do. See ya."
"Don't you dare turn your back on me, little female."
"Not working," she said in a singsong voice, while she whirled around and skipped through her lab, leaving the Prince, stunned for the first time in his life, looking after her. Just a small female, clad in oversized overalls, wearing a large cap, which shadowed most of her face and eyes. He couldn't tell what she was thinking or planning. What came out of her mouth was a complete surprise every time he talked with her... bickered with her. Her disobedience and insolence were enraging him. Nobody ever dared to talk to him like that! No one ever did, except for his father, and Frieza... The first one had his respect and was permitted to talk like that, to a certain point. The other... would die a very painful and an even slower death.
He would not let her get away with this!
In the blink of an eye he stood in front of her, blocking her way.
She put her hands in her sides, and a mocking smile appeared on her face. "Still here, I see."
"Look, you weak human-"
"Yeah, that really hurts."
"-You better start listening to me... You don't want to insult your new and trusted allies-"
"Trusted? Allies? You? Right...."
"-And you better start listening to me-"
"As soon as something nice and intelligent comes out of that mouth of yours."
"-For your father has told me something rather interesting-"
"You know, I really don't care what you heard from my father."
"Shut up!" Suddenly, he had a hand at her throat, and was pressing her against a rack, cutting off her air supply.
To his amazement, she didn't cower, nor fought him, nor begged for her life. She looked at him, rather calmly, challenging and with an air of superiority.
He growled at her, not knowing what to say. His threats didn't work. She wasn't in the least intimidated with his enormous power. She did... despise him?
It made him see red with fury. He wanted to choke her, slowly, to hear her desperate gasps for air, to feel her attempts to free herself, failing and then to feel her life slowly seep out of her under his crushing fingers.
He snarled, beyond words. How dared she. This excuse of a girl, pathetic, mouse-like. Only her mediocre set of brains to pride herself on. As he looked at her, he could see why she hid herself away in her lab. He heard she sometimes made quite a fool of herself as she fawned over one of the weak members of the Special Forces, which continued to ignore her.
Yes, he didn't care she was the daughter of that Dr. Briefs. He could always claim it was an accident... Who would dare to disbelieve him?
He heard a tiny gasp as he squeezed the life out of her, but it was the only sound she made. He violently shook her, hearing her teeth clatter.
Still no sounds. Stubbornly, she clenched her teeth, as her breathing wheezed and her face slowly grew purple. She was close to loosing conscious.
She was about to cheat him out of his pleasure! Rage fuelled him as he pressed even harder, while his other hand closed over her neck, feeling the fragile bone under his hand... No, too quick.
"Put her down. Now."
Suddenly, a voice was behind him, and he snarled at the challenge. Who was it that challenged his kill?
Suddenly, a ki flared up, higher than any he had previously felt at this station, safe perhaps that of that strange Third Class Kakarot, and it continued to grow higher and higher... It exceeded the ki's of his generals, and his fathers... It was fats approaching that of Frieza's second form... Exceeding it...
He let the slip of a girl go, who fell to the ground, coughing, struggling for breath.
He whirled around, eager to face a new challenge, a new opponent.
A Namek!
He stared at the green giant standing before him, arms folded, his expression carefully blank.
"Namek," he purred, delighted with his find. "Such a strange and elusive race. I wonder what one's doing with a bunch of humans..."
"Nothing you would be interested in. Though the girl you were strangling is a friend of mine. A dear friend. I must say, Saiyan, that you showed your true colours awfully fast... And that with just a bit of insult throwing from a 'little mouse'. I thought the Prince of the Saiyans prided himself on his unshakeable self-control."
The Prince wore a fierce scowl on his face. "Better mind your own business, Namek! If I want to teach this girl her place, it is my business... Yes, I have the power to do so, so why would I let her words slide? All of us here realise the truth... I, my people, are in charge here. The humans are nothing to us... We can use them... They are nothing but just a weak race, begging to be conquered and commanded... Slaves, that's all what they are."
"Don't you think the humans are a bit more sensible than you deem them? If we tell them your words-"
Vegeta smirked. "They won't believe you... And you know it. They are happy with the alliance. They think we will protect them from Frieza... That we will rid the universe of Frieza... And we will. But not on the humans' terms. We will on our own terms. We will rule this universe, and no foolish human idealism is going to deter us. We're no fools and we're not weak... We can do what we want... And absolute dominion is what we want..."
"You are awfully sure of yourself... Pride goes before a fall..."
"Ha! Don't waste my time with your stupid expressions. I'm really not in the mood for anymore bullshit."
Arrogantly, he turned on his heels, looking down his nose at the girl, still lying at his feet, clutching her throat. Now he saw a tear running over her cheek, which she hastily wiped away. He smirked out of sheer malicious pleasure at seeing her in pain. Good.
He reached down, and hauled her up, using her overalls, which gave a protesting ripping noise. He ignored the warning snarl of the large Namek. He pulled her very close until he hissed in her face:
"I heard some interesting things from your father. Some interesting, unlikely and incredible news... But your father swore to me... He says you're the actual inventor and creator of those useful GRs... Like I said, very incredulous. He also said that if I wanted upgrades to my GR, you would have them the fastest and also the best ones... I don't really believe it, but as I have to wait for certainly one whole week before they have even the slightest improvements done, I'm willing to give you one chance. I want a significant upgrade done by tomorrow morning. I don't care if you have to work the entire day and night... If you fail, some very nasty accident could unfortunately happen to you..." He tossed her away, making her collide roughly with the rack.
He stalked out of the lab, kicking everything unlucky enough to be on his path to the door out of his way.
"Agghh..." Bulma tried to say, but her voice didn't co-operate, and she clutched her throat. It ached badly. She still couldn't believe what just happened. How the Prince, who seemed so cold and haughty, had lost his temper so fast... He had latched out with such fury and cruelty... She started to shiver and shake.
She could have been dead...
A whimper escaped her, and suddenly tears were threatening to spill. She suddenly felt so lost and afraid... She would never have thought that the Prince could have so little regard for other people's life... She had been so stupid!
She never thought that her mouth could get her into a life-threatening situation... She was really a fool, just like the Prince had said...
She bit her lip, as she looked down at her hands, balled into powerless fists. She could have done nothing so save herself...
She felt two hands grab hers and she was pulled up, and she looked up, into Piccolo's face. Krillin was standing behind her, a very worried and shocked expression on her face.
Ashamed, Bulma lowered her head, staring at the floor.
"Are you all right, Bulma?" Krillin took a step forwards, very worried about his friend's unusual behaviour.
She tried to say something again, but it was just too painful to talk.
"Of course she isn't 'all right'! She just had her life threatened... It was good that we were here, otherwise..." Piccolo frowned angrily, but his whole demeanour spoke of his concern.
Bulma felt first one tear, then another slowly slide over her face. "Ssstuppiiid," she managed to get out.
She sobbed, and it hurt her throat. "Ssoo sttu-"
"Don't try to talk, Bulma. Your throat and vocal cords are probably damaged and need rest for a couple of days... I don't know how long, but I suggest you go to sickbay and let your throat examined...
And what's stupid?"
Bulma nodded and pointed at herself.
"Yes, it's not the sanest thing to do to challenge a Saiyan, but I don't really think it was stupid... Just rash. We all thought that you two throwing insults at each others was just a sort of relief for you and a somewhat amusing passing of time for the Prince... I don't understand why he lost his self-control so quickly and badly. I've heard stories, and seen him train... Never has he let himself go like this. Just once... He was in some fight with Frieza, and losing badly... Then he lost control and managed to reach Super Saiyan... But never before that fight and never since then... I don't understand why you get under his skin like that..." Piccolo fell silent and wore a very disturbed look.
"We are going to keep you out of his way."
Bulma reacted to that and started to talk, but a stern look of Piccolo, she gave a frustrated huff and walked to a desk, rummaged through it and found a piece of paper and a pen.
"But I have to make an upgrade for him!" Was written there in trembling letters.
"Just encapsulate the new GR in the back of your lab and give that to him. That will keep him busy for a day or two."
"But what if it isn't enough? He's going through the EG's like they are nothing!" Bulma was very distraught and shaken, and was fighting back her tears unsuccessfully.
Piccolo stepped closer to her and raised her face to look at her eyes. The fear there shocked him. Never had he seen her afraid of anything... Only when her mother had been violently ripped away from her and they had to flee Earth had he seen her scared and insecure.
Now, the terror and confusion and insecurity were almost tangible. She had suffered a heavy blow today. What would it do to her indomitability and strength of will?
"I'm sure it will keep him occupied for a day or two. You had some other things lying around, like... Those ki-reflecting shields.... You can try to make training robots out of the same material... And you have those new holographic training programs... You can put them in the next update. You're very creative, Bulma. I'm sure you'll find some ways to keep that brat busy."
Piccolo gave her a searching look.
"I understand you're frightened, Bulma, but you have to try not to show it too much. It gives him his kicks... And you're better than that. Now, I suggest you take the day off. Take Gohan swimming or something. He likes that, and so do you."
"Why don't you two come along. There's not much to do if I encapsulate your GR."
"Well..."
Krillin quickly interrupted as he read the paper: "Sure! We could use some fun! Even you, Piccolo."
Piccolo grunted something unintelligible, but gave a nod.
Bulma, on shaking legs, walked to the back of her lab, encapsulated the GR, and walked back towards where Piccolo and Krillin were waiting.
"But first," Krillin said, "you'll go to the sick bay. You should let them look at your throat. Maybe they have some salve for the bruises."
"And what should I tell them when they ask how I get these?"
"Oh... Just say you had an accident with a new fighting robot! That's a plausible explanation!"
Bulma rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. She gave them a trembling smile and wrote down: "At the pool's entrance in about an hour?"
"Ok. We'll see you in about an hour. We'll get Gohan."
Bulma nodded and they left her lab; Bulma headed for the sick bay, and Piccolo and Krillin went in the direction of the Sons' house.
Bulma lightly rubbed her throat, wincing at the ache she felt. What should she do now? How to deal with the Prince?
"Wow! That was fun, wasn't it, Bulma?"
Bulma nodded vigorously and gave the skipping boy a radiant smile.
"Good! It's always so much fun, making Piccolo swim! He acts like he doesn't like it, but we know better! He really likes the bubble baths, though he won't ever admit that. Why is that?"
Bulma shrugged.
"I bet he thinks it isn't cool to admit he's having fun."
Bulma looked thoughtfully, then slowly nodded.
They reached Gohan's home and Bulma waved goodbye to the boy.
"Good bye Bulma! You have to get to bed early, so your throat can heal quicker. Mom says sleep always helps."
Bulma smiled indulgently at Gohan and ruffled his hair. She gave him a stern look however and placed her finger on her lips.
"Yeah, yeah. I won't tell Mom. She'll throw a fit... Good night, Bulma."
She leaned down, kissed his cheek, then gave him a little push towards the door. Bulma waited patiently until Gohan was inside, before she continued on towards her home.
Once inside, she quickly threw her wet swimming suit and towel in the laundry, together with her clothes. First, she would take a nice shower, to get the chlorinated water out of her hair. Then, she would try to get some food down her throat. The medic who had treated her advised liquid food, like soup and yoghurt. Ice cream was good as well.
Hot water spilt over her, and she closed her eyes in pleasure, while she started to shampoo her hair. The water beat down on her tense shoulder muscles, relaxing her even further. The water disappeared down the drain, and it seemed to take her worries, fears and anxieties with it. She let out a deep sigh and leisurely started to soap her body. She frowned at her hands. Even after couple of hours swimming in water with chlorine, her nails wouldn't get clean of the grime. She figured it would take an actual week without working with the grease and grime to actually have clean nails again.
Of course she sometimes was ashamed of her hands... Her nails were quite ugly, and whenever she was on some kind of festive activity, she hid her hands in her pockets, or, if she was wearing a dress, behind her back or under the table... But she refused to work with gloves all the time, certainly when the work was so delicate that she needed the sensitivity in her finger tops. So she just had to deal with it, she supposed.
As she was scrubbing her legs, she thought she heard her doorbell... Yes, indeed it was her doorbell.
Well, whoever it was, he could come back later, or leave a message in the doorbell system. She was not getting out from under the shower!
But whoever it was, he was persistent! After certainly two minutes, she was sure she heard banging on her door too, together with the irritating ringing.
She started to get pissed off. She was not responding, so could the person at her door not come back later?! She shut off the shower, grabbed a large fluffy towel and wrapped it around herself, checking it was secured tightly enough, before she left the shower cabin and stomped to her door. She was dripping, and left a wet trail behind her. She would have been screaming already if her throat would have co-operated... Damn that Prince. Suddenly, the irritation she felt with the person at her door turned into belated anger directed at the damned monkey Prince. How dared he?! How could he?! He was really something, wasn't he, attacking someone so much weaker than he was! Disgusting, he was!
She walked towards the door, and reached for the panel to open it. What a shame her voice didn't work! She would have given the person a good tongue lashing!
She put her hands in her sides, while the door activated and opened.
She nearly fainted with shock.
Before her stood the snarling Saiyan Prince.
The snarl disappeared to be replaced by a cruel sneer, when he saw her shock and fear.
"It is about time," the Prince drawled arrogantly. "May I ask what you're doing here, instead working on my new Gravity Room?"
Bulma suddenly shook herself out of the fright she had been in.
Yes, he had almost killed her. Look at how satisfied he was by it... Look at how her fear pleased him...
Would she continue to be scared, to scramble away every time he came near? Would she be another slave to him, another person he looked down on, mindless by fear, doing whatever he wanted?
Would she continue to give him his thrills? Would she continue to give him his cruel satisfaction every time she backed away, afraid he would harm her?
He could easily kill her...
Everyone had to die sometimes...
She was better than this... She had other people and causes to think about... How could she be focused on them, if she kept looking over her shoulder, fearing the worst?
How could she fight the Saiyans, if her fear of their Prince ruled her life?
She wanted to wipe off that sneer. She straightened and took a deep breath. He frowned.
"Are you going to say anything, girl? Or are you... unable to," he mocked her cruelly, looking at the ugly bruises on her neck with a dark glee.
But if he had expected her to cower from him due to his remark, he was mistaken.
She raised her head even further, and settled her gaze on him. She let all her disgust, loathing and contempt be visible in her eyes, and for a moment he seemed to be taken aback, before he started to growl softly.
She held his eyes for a moment longer, making clear to him how she thought about him. She could see the rage starting to simmer in his cold black eyes, but she quickly suppressed her terror. She would never again show him that he scared her, down to the deepest levels of her heart. She would not give him that advantage!
If he would ever come to killing her, even then she would face him with her head held high, she vowed to herself.
She pulled up her nose at him, a clear sign of her contempt, then turned around, walking to her table. She felt his eyes burning on her back. He was watching her with an intensity that make her wanting to run into her bedroom... But she didn't.
She grabbed the capsule and marched back towards her door, shoulders straight, head held high, nose in the air. She dropped the capsule in his hand and before he could utter a word (to Bulma, it looked for a small moment he was... surprised...again!) she had already closed the door.
She slumped against it, taking in deep breaths, trying to control her rising panic.
Yet at the same time she felt ridiculously pleased with herself! She had overcome her fear!
Well... Maybe not quite yet... She thought that maybe, the fear would always be a part of her... But wasn't that an even greater victory? In spite of her fear and near panic, she had stood up to the Prince!
She slowly slid to the floor, wearing a very ridiculously pleased grin on her face, she was certain.
She sobered slightly when she thought about the days to come. She very much hoped that her meetings with the Prince would stay to a minimum...
That was chapter 5! If you liked it, let me know. If you didn't, you can tell me that too!