h3>CHAPTER 1
7 ½ years later….

I am fully aware that I should’ve told someone, mindlessly going about my duties as a wife and mother, pretending as if nothing had happened. As the years passed slowly I’d become more careful around him, knowing of his capabilities. Whatever had happened to him, since then, he’s been different. He ignores Trunks, walking past him without a single glance or a word spoken. It’s almost as if he’s unaware that the child is his son or if he does know, he doesn’t care. For some reason, there is a greater mission he is undertaking, like battling the demon that has stolen my old Vegeta, the one I fell in love with almost 8 years ago.
For now, I am keeping my suspicions to myself. I need more physical proof than the old bruise he gave me. Back then, I was scared and I’d hidden away from the world till I was sure the mark had completely faded. I am stronger than I was so long ago, for that, I’m glad. Trunks is strong, thanks to me. The other day, he became a super saiyan, nearly crushing me under his great strength. Chi Chi told me something similar about Goten. Our sons take after their fathers.
Today, I have been told that Goku will be coming. Gohan and Goten have been training hard to join the tournament being held. Somehow, I must tell Goku about what has happened. When it comes to matters such as this he takes them seriously. He will not be happy to know that Vegeta has been…beating me. That is, only when he is provoked, and doing that isn’t hard these days. Still…
My fingers slow, the sounds of typing dying. I stare at the screen for the longest time, listening to his footsteps above me. I am scared to admit it, but …I’ve delved deeper into my research on his change, I’ve noticed the alteration of his habits. He does things… mechanically.
I close my eyes, feeling the unbidden tears stinging beneath my eyelids. Slowly, I lean forward, my face resting against the monitor. Why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t it have been someone else? Someone worthless, someone undeserving of the love that my old Vegeta gave me when no one was looking. He loved me, I know this, I always have. He didn’t quite know how to say it to me, but he showed me, night after night.
“Vegeta, what happened to make you hate me? Tell me………please.”
My lips move in silent prayer, my hands leaving the keyboard, fingers dragging alongside the computer’s face.
“If only I knew what became of you.”
The room remains quiet, no sound heard other than my muffled sobs. Suddenly, the screen darkened, the blinking cursor at the top left hand corner spacing to the right.
Raising my head slightly, I witness the strangest thing I’d ever seen. The computer began to type on it’s own. My eyes read, mind still unbelieving.
“Help,” the words spelled.
I stare wide-eyed, the cursor blinking expectantly.
Before I understood what I was doing, I lowered my hands to the keys, asking my ghostwriter, “What help do you need?”
“Need out,” came the reply. “Must have out… I hurt.”
“Hurt?” I ask.
“HELP!” It wrote more insistently. Hurt…much…pain.”
“Tell me who you are. Maybe I CAN help!”
“Got…go…wil….find…owt……..Knock knock.”
The computer shuts itself down, just as the doorbell rang. It must be time to go. I stand up, shoving the chair aside. That’d been creepy, too creepy.
“ONNA!” I hear Vegeta bellow. “That damn woman is at the door!”
“Coming!” I reply. One last time, I glance at the computer, wondering how this stranger writer had known of the door being knocked on.
“WOMAN! DO YOU HEAR ME?!”
Without another thought, I rush out of my study, thinking only of my son and how he’s going to be in his first tournament.
***********
(Area: Location of tournament on an island somewhere off the coast of Japan) Some time later…

It’s so good to see Goku again, truly it is… He met Goten for the first time and at that time I dared not mention my concerns with my husband. Ha, funny that I call him my husband, when we’re not even married. I wanted to get married, but he refused, thus breaking my heart. That’s a distant memory now…
Hanging my head, I try to smile, hoping that I can hide the pain I feel, clutching Trunks’s small hand in my own. “Come on Trunks,” I manage to stammer. “We don’t want to be late on signing you up.”
“Aww mom, can’t I go and sign with Goten? I feel like a baby with you holding my hand.”
I smile. They grow up so fast. “Alright honey. Go on, and don’t get into mischief.”
He waves me off, his blue eyes sparkling. “I promise! See ya later!” He dashes off with the youngest member of the son family and I am yet again, left alone with only my thoughts, or so I thought.
“Bulma? Is that you?”
I whirl around, finding Goku standing over me, merely inches apart from touching me. “Go…ku.”
He frowns, sensing that my feelings are not all well. His strong hands rest upon my shoulders and I can feel his eyes searching me. “Goku, it’s been so long.”
His expression is none too happy. “Bulma, things haven’t been well, have they?”
Faltering, I look around me, surprised. “Wh…whatever do you mean?”
His grip tightens slightly, holding me still. “What…what has he done to you?”
My eyes widen, motions still. Damn him, damn him for being so clairvoyant! “Goku, it’s… it’s not what you think.”
He raises an eyebrow, “I’m not as naïve as you think me to be Bulma, I’m not a child anymore, you can’t hide the truth. Now, please tell me.”
Sighing, I lean into him, feeling the years of pain slipping. “Goku, he… he’s changed.”
His strong arms wrap around me, hugging me as I begin to cry. “He hurts me so badly Goku and I don’t know why. He never used to be this way. He used to show me his love, he used to… until he disappeared one day…”
“Disappeared?”
I nod, “He was gone for a week. I couldn’t feel him Goku… normally I could tell if he was close by, but… he vanished. Then, a week later he shows up, but he wasn’t the same. He was colder, meaner… I was angry at him, I slapped him and…and he hit me. God…Goku it’s been down hill from there. He ignores Trunks, cancelled our wedding… I’ve been training my son on my own, martial arts… I’ve been learning a bit of it too.” I push away from him, taking several steps back.. “I can’t do this anymore Goku and that’s why I need your help. I need you to find out what’s wrong with Vegeta. I love him Goku, for Kami’s sake I’m TRAINING his child to fight! ME! OF ALL PEOPLE!”
Goku smiles despite the cituation, “And you’ve done a good job. Trunks’s power level is so strong… I can’t wait to see him fight.”
“God damnit Goku! Will you help me?!”
He flinches, my harsh words a surprise to him. He nods, once again stepping forth and resting his hands over my shoulders. “You’ve been very strong Bulma. I commend you for that. You didn’t have to ask you know that. I would help you without you ever asking. I will do it Bulma, I will find out what’s wrong with him and you can be sure that he’ll never lay a hand on you again. Okay?”
I nod, whipping my tears away with the backside of my wrist.
Someone clears his throat behind me and I already know that it’s Piccolo. He’d heard it all. Damn him and his super hearing. He doesn’t need to get into this mess. It’s between Goku and I.
“For what it’s worth,” the namek replies. “You’ve done a good job.” With that said, he turns on his heel and heads towards the gates to sign up.
Goku smirks, “He’s right, you know.”
“Goku? Come on, you’ll be late!” I hear Krillan call.
“Go on Goku, I’ll be alright. Just let me think for a moment, okay?”
He nods, his hands slipping away. “I’ll keep an eye on him for ya Bulma, and once I figure out what’s wrong, I’ll be sure to tell you.”
“Promise?”
He smiles widely, “You have my word.”
TO BE CONTINUED… All next, becoming aware…