Bulma

It was extremely quiet. Vegeta had gone off to train with Goku, Mrs. Briefs had taken a well-deserved shopping trip, and Bulma hadn’t seen Dr. Briefs all day. She had awaken late after her long and tearful talk with Chichi, both her parents were already gone, she couldn’t find Vegeta until Chichi had called and started complaining about him being at her house.

Bulma leaned back in her chair contentedly for once. It was simply to hard to be upset when she felt so right. She frowned in slight confusion…her life was anything but right at the moment. ‘Oh yes.’ Her smile returned. Last night she had had a wonderful dream…sort of. She couldn’t really remember it. Only the feeling of rightness and being complete. What had happened? She closed her eyes trying to remember. It had been wonderful…then something terrible had happened at the end. What was it?

***

Flashback

***

Bulma stood on the edge of a cliff. The world around her was perfect. The mountains were tall and brown, white caps on the tops. There was a deep forest below her, and grassy green fields. The golden sun was just beginning to rise, chasing the black of night and twinkling of silver stars across the sky. Looking around she felt right, whole, perfect. Like this spot was the only place where she could be happy.

She looked down again and her breath caught. Far, far below her, so far down she shouldn’t have been able to see it, there was a clearing in the forest. In the absolute center of the clearing, with complete magnificence on all sides, was the perfect flower. Lush and fresh it was white exept for the tips which were a deep crimson. It was flawless.

"It’s beautiful." She whispered. "Do you like it?" He asked. Bulma spun around to find Vegeta watching her. His presence didn’t scare her; it felt even more perfect with him there. "I love it. Vegeta come look." She took his arm and gently tugged till he came and looked at the perfect flower as well. "Do you want that?" He asked, his eyebrow raising. "Yes, I love it." She responded happily.

He jumped into the air and quickly flew to the clearing, retrieved the flower, and gave it to her. She gasped again. It was even more radiant up close. Inside was literally a rainbow of colors. Reds, Yellows, Greens, Browns, Golds, Silvers, Grays, Purples, White, Pinks, Orange, and Blues. "It’s incredible." She whispered in awe.

Gently he took the flower from her hand and brushed it against her face. "Kiss it." He commanded softly. Confused but still happy she did. He then brought the flower to his own lips. She watched him in puzzled shock. "Why?" She asked. He gave her a small yet significant smile, it seemed to show how lonely he was.

"This is as close as I can ever get to you, my Tenchi." He whispered, his hand cupping her face. Then, with what appeared to be tears in his eyes, he jumped into the air and left. Bulma stared after him. No longer was she happy. She realized to late that she was only happy when he was near her. "Come back to me." She whispered. She gave a dry sob. HE wouldn’t come back. Ever.

She looked out again. Bulma stood on the edge of a cliff. Slowly she leaned forward and fell off.

***

End Flashback/Dream

***

Bulma jumped out of her chair in shock. "Kami-sama! What was that?!" She gasped out loud. "I don’t know." Said a deep voice from the doorway. "What was it?" Bulma turned in terror. It was her father. ‘It’s ok!’ She thought in panic. ‘It’s just daddy! I can handle this!’

"I’m sorry daddy! I was just trying to remember a dream I had last night. I guess I got a little confused." She gave him a whimsical smile, her heart beating a mile a minute. "You’re crying." He pointed out. In surprise she reached up to touch her cheeks and found trails of tears.

"I guess I was." She admitted. "It was a sad dream." She shrugged it off as if it was nothing. He gave her a malicious grin. "Come here and I’ll make you feel better." He leered. Bulma froze. ‘Oh no! Please Kami! I know you love me so please don’t let this happen!’ She coughed and laughed nervously.

"Um…daddy? What if someone comes over? I…I don’t think we should." She gulped hoping against hope he would buy it. No such luck. He smirked then lumbered over to the kitchen table. "Oh, I don’t think anyone is coming. Why don’t you come over here." Not a question, a demand. Bulma still didn’t move. "B-but Vegeta! He may be coming home for lunch!" She desperately tried to think of anything to stop this.

His face twisted into a snarl. "He isn’t coming! Get your ass over here, Bitch!" She walked towards him. He sat at the table and fumbled with undoing the front of his pants. "Sit." He commanded. With a sickening feeling Bulma sat at his feet. She knew what he wanted. He wanted to be in her mouth. She felt disgusting.

He cursed and finally pulled his zipper down. ‘No! I can’t! I won’t! Not again!’ Her thoughts were jumbled together exept one. ‘Leave now!’ She quickly scampered to her feet and ran out the door. She heard her father screaming curses and death threats at her but she couldn’t stop. She bolted.

*************************************************************************************

Bulma

Bulma gaped for breath, leaning against a tree. ‘Why? Why is this happening to me?!’ She collapsed against the tree crying. Her body shook with sobs. ‘So many times. I can’t do this anymore! How can he ask me to do that? No he doesn’t ask…he demands! Damn him! Damn him to hell!’ She desperately tried to calm herself while at the same time hold onto her rage. She took a deep breath.

‘A REAL father wouldn’t do this to his family! Hell! A real man wouldn’t do this! Who the hell does he think he is?!’ She suddenly stood up. Her face was livid with her harnessed rage. ‘My entire life has been messed up because of this! I could have been happy with Yamcha but no! I’ve become afraid of my own wedding night! In all truth, I probably won’t get married because of that bastard! Curse him!’

Her anger was burning hotter and hotter. Every bit of hate, disgust, fear or loathing, for him or herself began molding together. It was growing into a burning hot flame deep inside her, covered by an icy wall of determination. She resolutely turned towards her home. ‘This has got to stop. Now!’ Her hands were clenched, her jaw set, the tears were gone from her eyes, and she felt ready to face him. ‘Win or lose…I won’t let him continue to use me this way.’

*************************************************************************************

Vegeta

Vegeta cursed as he groggily climbed out of the crater his body had just left in the ground. He growled as he felt Goku’s energy bearing down on him. Just as it was about to connect he fazed out. He kicked at Goku’s stomach, was blocked by and arm, threw a random punch at his partners nose, then did a double punch into his gut. Goku doubled over in pain and Vegeta wasted no time in lacing his fingers and slamming them into the younger man’s back.

Goku’s body slammed into the ground making a crater, just like Vegeta’s had. Vegeta prepared to blast him. Suddenly he was thrown violently off course by a fist in his stomach. He coughed up blood and looked up weakly to see Goku, with his fist still in the air, two fingers to his forehead. "Are we ready to go in?" His disgustingly cheerful sparring partner asked.

Vegeta resisted the urge to flip him off. "Nane de mo., Kakkorot. I don’t care." Goku grinned his big stupid grin. "Ok! Let’s head back! Chichi probably has some food for us." Vegeta looked at him and took in his appearance. His gi was bloody and torn, one shoulder strap was ripped completely, and he was pretty beaten up. Bruises dotted his tan skin, his lips were cracked and bleeding, there were scratches all over his muscular frame. Still…the more hurt physically he was, the happier he looked.

Looking down Vegeta realized he was in much the same condition. He growled. If he didn’t get cleaned up before he went back to the house Bulma would yell at him and have a fit. ‘Or she would have.’ The thought made him frown. What was it that scared her so much? He felt another surge of pity as he thought of the bruises and scratches on her back.

It was obvious that someone was hurting her. It was also obvious that Dr. Briefs was in on it somehow. The logical conclusion was that it was Dr. Briefs who was hurting her, but Vegeta just couldn’t picture that little shrimp standing up to that spitfire onna. She was to much of a handful.

A light smirk crossed his face. ‘What a handful she is to!’ He mentally laughed as he thought back over their many fights. He was snapped out of his half-daze by Goku’s hand waving in front of his face. "W-what?" He said stupidly.

"I said are you alright? You zoned out on me for a moment. You ok?" His child-like face was creased with worry. "I’m fine Kakkorot!" He snarled, stepping away from the younger saiyan. Goku shrugged. "Ok. Let’s go back now and clean up. Then we can eat!" He said happily. Vegeta nodded curtly and they took off.

*************************************************************************************

Vegeta

"Why the hell do you two always have to get beaten up?! Can’t you behave for one Kami damned day?!" Chichi shrieked the moment she saw them. Goku put his hand on the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry Chi. We don’t mean to get so dirty. It just kinda happens." He smiled his traditional carefree grin.

She shook her head unhappily. "What a husband." She murmured. "Oh! Thanks Chi!" He smiled; Vegeta snorted and shook his head. ‘Kami! What a baka!’ Chichi bustled around pulling off the rest of Goku’s gi, careful to scrape his bruises, not hard enough to hurt him, but not lightly either. He winced when he felt her hands running over his arms and shoulders. "Ow Chi." ((No pun intended.))

"That hurts." He complained. "Well," she snapped back crossly, "If you didn’t fight so much, this wouldn’t hurt so much." Never the less she did stop pushing on his bruises. She got some crème and bandages. "Goku, you go put these clothes in the trash can, then go fill the waterbarrel, after I take care of you and Vegeta, you’re going to take a bath." He nodded, smiled, and went to do as she asked.

She sat Vegeta down, rubbed crème into his bruises, washed out his cuts, and threw him a towel. "Clean yourself off. You both look ridiculous." Vegeta had to fight down the urge to blast her. Goku came back and Chichi sat him down. She cleaned his cuts and began rubbing the crème into his bruised shoulders.

"Mmmmm. That feels good Chi." He half moaned. She rolled her eyes. "That kinda feels like what you did last night after Gohan went to bed." Chichi gasped and turned bright red. Vegeta stifled a laugh. Goku turned his innocent smile up at her. "Can we do that again Chi?" Ha asked hopefully. "Goku!" Chichi gasped giggling like a schoolgirl. "We have a guest!" She turned away from them with a radiant smile on her face.

Goku’s face fell slightly, but she must have seen it, because she shook her head and whispered, "Later." Into his ear. Goku’s smile returned full-force. Vegeta decided it was time to leave. He stood to go. "Wha..? Where are you going, Vegeta?" Goku asked. "I’m leaving baka!" He growled. "But if you leave, what’ll I do?" He asked. Vegeta muttered something unrepeatable. "I’m sure you can find something to do, Kakkorot." He stormed out.

*************************************************************************************

Bulma

She was less than twenty yards from her door. Just twenty yards, she could do this. Bulma took a deep breath, trying unsuccessfully to slow her racing heart and calm her tense nerves. She ran a hand through her hair, a habit she had picked up from Goku, and took four more steps. Could she do this? It was her life; it had been like this since she was seven. Could she do this?

‘This isn’t my life!’ Part of her brain insisted. ‘When Vegeta first moved here I was free!’

It was true. Since the grumpy…((ok. Understatement of the year.)) Saiyan no Ouji had come to live with them she had experienced a freedom she had rarely had in her life. One only known to her because of her father’s infrequent business trips. She took a few more steps. But then again…

She was by herself. It would be just her against him. No Goku or Krillan to accidentally drop by, no Yamcha looking for a date, no Chichi coming over for the latest gossip. She would be alone. She took one, hesitant step backwards. ‘No! If I don’t do something, no one will! Mama’s to afraid. I’m the only one!’

She briefly considered telling Goku or Krillan, she was sure they would put a stop to it, but…that would just be shrugging it onto someone else’s shoulders. This was her problem! Not theirs. ‘I don’t have a right to get them involved. They don’t need to deal with this. I do.’ She took five more steps. Just sixteen yards left. Could she do this?

Gritting her teeth Bulma took another step. ‘He’s not getting away this time. I may be alone but I’m not defenseless.’ She gave a very Vegeta-like smirk. How could anyone think that after knowing Goku and the other Z-senshi for almost ten years, and then living with the I’m-the-best Saiyan no Ouji for four that she would be totally defenseless? Maybe she couldn’t throw ki blasts or fly but she’d be damned if she didn’t pick up something from her friends.

She walked another two yards. ‘That’s it! He’s going down!’ She mentally tried to reharness her anger, remember what Krillan had shown her about fighting, keep away her fear. But it grew. Every step she took was making a lump form in her throat. Her hands were cold as ice, her knees threatening to give out.

Unwanted her fear made a mental image of Dr. Briefs. What he would look like when she saw him. She gulped. And then what he would do to her. She stopped in absolute agony. Her fear made a sweat break out on her forehead, her stomach was doing flip-flops, and she was breathing heavily.

Four more yards. ‘Kami! Why does time have to go so slow?!’ She shivered then continued. Three yards. Could she do this? Two yards. She was going to collapse. One yard. Should she run? Too late. She was there.

((I thought of cutting off there but after asking my friend…::rubs a huge bump on her head:: I decided not to. Pretty suspenseful, eh? ::sniff:: I had a hard time writing this! You better not flame me because this is a rape scene!))

Her clammy hand reached for the doorknob. She pushed and it swung open silently. She gulped. ‘Oh Kami! I know you love me so please help me!’ She prayed. She tiptoed into the hall, wincing as a floorboard creaked under her. She moved quietly down the hall, towards the basement/lab. She pushed open the door only enough for her to get in.

The light was on and there he was. Sitting at her desk, drinking coffee, writing on a blueprint. She squeezed her eyes shut briefly then opened them again, determined. "This is stopping." She said in a clear and firm voice. She wasn’t going to let him argue. This was just over.

He swung around to gap at her like a fish out of water. His face contorted into a mask of fury and she trembled. "What the hell did you just say?" He roared. She visibly winced. "Stopping? You ungrateful bitch! All these years…I’ve been so kind to you. Why do you think I would stop now?" He demanded.

Bulma could feel her concentration breaking. He took a threatening step towards her. "Stay back!" She shouted, her voice wavering. "I’m not taking this!" He ignored her. He took one step after another and her mind went blank. ‘What did Krillan say?’ She thought frantically. ‘Hit with your fingers or with your wrist?’

Her eyes widened, and she desperately pushed back her tears and screams. He grabbed her arm in an iron grip. Suprisingly he was strong and very quick for such an old man. She tried to wrench her self away from him but he swept her feet out from under her. She went down.

"Stop!" She screeched. His eyes sparked violently. Roughly he smacked her across the face. He kneed her in the stomach forcing the air from her lungs. While she was concentrating on regaining her breath he disappeared briefly from her line of sight. A second later he jerked her up to her hands and knees. She turned her head to see what he was doing and her eyes grew wider.

He had, on one hand, a black glove with silver spikes, ((remember that?)) and with the other hand he was pulling down his pants and garments. "No! Stop!" She screamed attempting to stand. To run away as fast as she could. He took his gloved hand and slapped her. She screamed in pain. ‘Kami! NO!’ She began sobbing and screaming hysterically.

"Shut up!" He shouted, striking her again. Furiously he grabbed at her jeans. "NO! N-no!" She shrieked. She heard a ripping sound, felt a searing pain; dimly she realized her shirt was now lying around the floor in rags. He ripped off her panties then grabbed onto her waist roughly.

Her muscles tensed up and she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the intrusion. But it never came. She heard a low growl and was suddenly released. Bulma jerked her face up to stare at the scene in front of her. Dr. Briefs was quickly pulling his pants back up and on the other side of the room…there was Vegeta.

His white-gloved hand pointed towards Dr. Briefs, a ki ball glowing at the end. She stared numbly, unable to understand what was happening through her shock. Vegeta said something and Dr. Briefs replied. Bulma’s mind wasn’t working. Because of her near hysterical state she couldn’t comprehend the words they were speaking.

Dr. Briefs looked furious, so did Vegeta. The two men glared at each other, neither willing to back down. Finally Vegeta’s ‘Death Glare’ won. Dr. Briefs turned and walked up the stairs; Vegeta’s eyes never left him. He growled something else and turned towards Bulma. She instantly backed away from him.

His face softened to what could almost be called compassion. He treaded over to her softly. He bent down and picked her off the ground effortlessly. She shrank back, still in confusion. He tried to soothe her. "Shhh onna. It’s all right. I won’t let anything happen to you."

Although the words were still lost to her his soft, gentle tone did help. Suddenly she began to cry. What she had just been through was too much and she began to sob. She buried her face in his shoulder, allowing him to take her anywhere but her.

*************************************************************************************

Vegeta

The onna sobbed. Her loud crying upset his sensitive hearing, but he didn’t tell her to be quiet. He knew she was going through something hard, she needed her friends. He softly carried her outside and took off into the air. He flew straight and fast, careful not to jostle the onna in his arms too much.

He cursed and hoped the residence of their destination weren’t to ‘busy’. It had, after all, been an hour since he left. The onna shivered and Vegeta realized she must be freezing. Her shirt was barely clinging to her and her pants and underwear had been ripped off. He growled low in his chest.

‘Not even I would force myself on a woman! Especially my own daughter!’ He allowed himself a small smile as he thought of what he would do to that bastard. In the basement he had allowed a temporary escape.

***

Flashback

***

Vegeta could hear screaming even before he touched down on the ground. His temper flared as he recognized the screaming was coming from Bulma’s throat. He bolted across the yard, heading for the sound, in so much of a hurry he didn’t think as he crashed through a wall.

The basement stairs were directly in front of him. He flew down them and stopped, dumbfounded. Bulma was on her hands and knees, her clothes torn apart, crying. Dr. Briefs was right behind her, a feral glint in his eye, about to thrust into her from behind.

"You!" Vegeta shouted over the onna’s screams. Dr. Briefs’ head snapped over towards his shout. He growled then released his daughter. She looked up at him and he realized his outstretched hand was glowing with ki. Dr. Briefs yanked his clothes back on and Vegeta spoke.

"So it was you who did this." Dr. Briefs glared. "Yes it’s me. And it’s none of your business." The ki ball grew bigger and brighter. "That onna IS my business." He growled back. Never had he felt so protective of anyone. He didn’t stop to ponder it, he simply let the feeling flow into his body, glad for the strength it brought.

He wasn’t worried about the human male attacking him. He was worried that if he killed him here, Bulma might become more upset. The protective feeling kept him from blasting the Dr. to hell. Dr. Briefs turned and stomped up the stairs. Vegeta turned back to the onna.

***

End Flashback

***

Vegeta’s face grew colder. Yes. Dr. Briefs would die for what he had done. He sighed in relief when their final destination came into sight. Kakkorot’s house.

Woohoo! I’m finally done with chapter four! I’m so happy! ::does a victory dance:: Now on to chapter five! ::sweatdrops:: my poor hands! ::cries::

Next time: Vegeta learns the truth, him and Bulma have a heart to heart, Vegeta makes a promise to her.