The Power Of Love

SUMMARY: Toruo is found. Bulma gets some things off her chest.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dragonball Z and am in no way connected to them. I only wish I was, than I'd have at least SOME $$$. I also do not own and am in no way related to the creators or producers or anything of the song Power of Love by Celine Dion. Please don't sue me. Seeing as how I am broke, sueing me would do you no good. =Þ

AUTHOR: Hidden Angel

Last time on All Mixed Up:

How was he going to get back? He had no idea where he was and no idea where the castle was. He had never left the castle and was, at that moment, calling himself awful names for that. He had never taken the time to look around or meet the nice people of this wonderful planet and now, he was regretting it. No matter what though, he knew what he had to do. Lumo and Homto must not succeed.

Fate watched Toruo from her own room as he got up and stretched. She knew what meeting him meant. Her fate, had been decided and no matter what she did, she could not change it.

*****

Toruo looked up from his dinner which he was having with the Daughter's. It couldn't be. No way. It was. There was no denying it. Somehow Lumo and Homto had picked up his ki and were now on their way towards him. He found his voice gone and his legs completely immobile.

Fate looked up at him. She knew. He didn't need to say anything. She just knew. She appeared calm as she stood up, grabbed Toruo by the arm and rushed out of her house with him uttering a quick "will be back" to her parents. Whatever happened, and she knew what would, she had to make sure he got away safely. That was her duty, that was why she had been born.

*****

Lumo grinned and faught hard not to laugh out loud. He could sense it. Toruo's ki. The young Saiyan was either suppressing it very well, or still very injuried. There were many larger human ki's around him but that didn't matter. They would be no match for him and Homto.

Sensing that everything was going to fall into place again, he quickened his pace. Another smile flashed across his face. "Run all you want little Toruo. You will NOT get away from me. Not this time." Excited by the chase, neither Saiyans noticied that they were being followed by two others.

*****

Toruo quickly looked behind him. They were speeding up. No, not now. He wasn't well enough yet. He surpressed his laughter at the thought. Even if he was 100%, there was no way he could beat Homto and Lumo. Both were much older and more experienced than he was.

Guilt grew in his heart as he once again continued to follow Fate through the trees and bushes. He knew that if Lumo and Homto caught up to them, unless a miracle happened, they would die, the both of them. It was all his fault. If Fate hadn't gotten involved with him, than she wouldn't be in this kind of danger.

Although he had never prayed before, Toruo silently asked Kami for a miracle.

*****

Bulma gently pulled away from Yamcha's arms. "Thanks for being here for me Yamcha."

"Sure thing Bulma. Any time. So do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

Bulma had no idea where to begin. She felt and hurt so much that she wasn't really sure how to express herself. She sniffed and blinked back a few tears. Did she want to tell Yamcha? Yes, she needed to tell someone, anyone.

She had been feeling miserable all day when she ran into Yamcha. She could tell that he still had feelings for her from when they had previously gone out, but she saw him only as a friend. His concern for her was sweet and Bulma couldn't help but hug him. She really needed a friend and it seemed as if suddenly, she had none.

Sniffing one last time, she decided to tell him everything. Slowly, she began to retell her tale. She began with Vegeta saving her when the men had tried to rape her at her house and finally finished at when he had slammed the door shut after seeing Kakkarot trying to comfort her.

"He slapped you?" Yamcha seemed furious, but whether it was because Vegeta had slapped her or because he was jealous, Bulma wasn't sure.

Bulma nodded. "I don't think he really meant to though." Not sure why she was defending Vegeta, she tried to change the subject. "It seems that there is no one I can trust right now."

Yamcha looked hurt. "You can trust me Bulma."

She forced a smile onto her face. "Thanks a lot Yamcha, but there are certain things that a girl can't tell a guy."

Yamcha smiled back. "Oh. Why don't you go talk to Chi Chi?"

"Chi Chi has refused to see anyone and Ox King won't let anyone in."

"I wonder what's wrong with her."

"I don't know." Bulma sighed, biting back the tears that threatened to fall. "All I know is that Vegeta doesn't trust me at all and my best friend isn't there for me when I need her."

"It's alright Bulma. Everything is going to be alright."

She could hold her tears back no more as they made their way down her cheeks. If only she could hear those words from Vegeta.

*****

Toruo's heart raced as he realized that Homto and Lumo would eventually catch up to them. He stopped abruptly. He would run no longer. Fate stopped as well.

"Toruo, what are you doing? Come on. Let's go!"

He looked at her, sadness in his eyes. "No. You go on Fate. Get away from here before it's too late."

She shook her head. Once again, she was unable to stop the future she had seen in her dreams. "I'm not going anywhere if you won't go."

"You must go! I can't go. I have to fight for my honour, even if I die doing so." He seemed to be pleading more than speaking. "If anything happens to you, I will never be able to forgive myself."

She smiled at him, feeling the same way he did. "No. I won't go anywhere. Don't worry about me."

"Go! You don't have much time!"

Just than Lumo touched down in front of him while Homto flew behind them and landed as well.

"No one is going anywhere."

There was an evil, wreckless grin on his face that Toruo didn't like. Toruo felt Fate's back against his own and his heart nearly left his body. Oh how he relished her every touch. He couldn't explain it, but even if he died, he could not let anything happen to her. Perhaps it was because she had helped him or maybe because she was in danger because of him. He wasn't sure.

He saw her hand out of his peripheral vision and grabbed it. No matter what, he would not let anything happen to her. Her small hands felt smooth to his much larger ones and he almost smiled dispite their serious situation. Lumo's voice brought him back to reality.

"So boy. It looks as if you have dragged someone else into your little problem. Now, she will have to die as well as you."

"What the hell do you want with her? She has never done anything to you."

Lumo laughed, shaking the trees as if a hurricane had hit at that precise moment. "Who knows what you have told her in the time that you have been gone?"

Toruo narrowed his eyes in anger. "I told her nothing. Do what you please with me, but leave her out of it."

Fate couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her body as he tried to get her out of the situation. He really was a sweet guy even if he didn't know it. The fact that he was holding her hand wasn't making things any better for her. She just wanted to lean over and kiss him. He wasn't bad looking. In fact he was very cute.

He had dark, mysterious, brown eyes and spiky hair. His muscles bulged against his clothing telling anyone who looked at him that he had immense strength. His smile was deepened with a small dimple on his left cheek. His lips were rich and luscious, so very kissable.

She knew that by her being there, she was a burden to him but she didn't care. All she knew was that she wouldn't leave him here alone with these two strangers. They seemed dangerous. Besides, her dreams had told her that he would need her afterwards.

Toruo pulled Fate with him skywards, as Homto, tired of talking, fired a ki blast at him. Lumo stood by and watched as Toruo and Homto began throwing fists and kicks at each other. Toruo managed to knock Homto down for a few seconds and he used those precious moments to land and make sure Fate was on safe, solid ground. Afterall, who knew how much longer he could last.

Pushing that thought aside, Toruo launched himself at Homto who was now up and angerier than ever before. He was stopped in his tracks as Homto jabbed at him and followed that up with a punch that made the air sing. Luckily, Toruo just managed to dodge it, though just barely. However, he was not able to block the knee that came smashing up against his mid-section.

Doubling over in pain, he tried to regain some balance only to find that an elbow was smashing down on his back. A scream erupted from Fate and Toruo was snapped out of his pain. He glanced towards her, afraid that Lumo might be trying to do something to her. No. She was safe. Her eyes were clouded over with fear as she watched him. He smiled. She was trully concerned about him.

He was rocked backwards and flat on his back as a ki ball smashed into him. Now, unable to move, he could only ask Kami to keep Fate safe. Without warning, the miracle that Toruo had been asking for, came.

"STOP!"

Vegeta's voice sent shivers up everyone's spine. The appearance of Kakkarot a few seconds later didn't help the look on Lumo's face either. Homto was still trying to figure out what was going on, his mind slowly turning and putting the pieces together.

Vegeta took a closer look at the small group. "Toruo?" He blinked in shock a few times and completely ignored Kakkarot's sputtering. "There is a LOT of explaining required here and someone will tell me exactly what is going on. Now!"

NEXT TIME ON POWER OF LOVE: Vegeta learns the truth about Homto and Lumo.

Chapter15