Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sapphire Flame ❯ Pick-Pocket ( Chapter 1 )

Hey my peeps, this is the brand new addition to my work. I hope that you find this story interesting. Please let me know what you thought about this, and don't worry about being blunt if you don't like it. The point is for me to be a better writer and helpful feedback is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of the DBZ characters used in this fanfic

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Sapphire Flame

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Pick-Pocket

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"Tell me again why it is that we are walking?"

"Vegeta, we are going down to a restaurant that is four blocks away from the office. Walking won't kill us."

Vegeta glared at his friend. "Kakarot, I don't care how close it is, it is far too cold to be walking around the street," he said as they passed people who decided to stare at him. Some people were oh so obvious when they looked at him. Up ahead it seemed like there was a commotion. "What the hell is going on?"

Kakarot shrugged. "Why don't we go see?"

"And postpone our lunch? I think not," Vegeta snapped, running a hand through his long flame like hair in desperation.

"Come on, maybe it's some sort of accident where we can help," Kakarot said as he began to walk faster, and Vegeta had no choice but to follow. When they arrived, it was at a fruit stand, the vendor was yelling at the top of his lungs and he was holding a thin wrist that belonged to a small girl.

"What's going on?" Kakarot asked.

"This little street rat is trying to steal my fruit to feed her little vermin infested family," the man growled as he rattled the girl for emphasis.

"We're starving, I just needed some food to feed the children!" the girl yelled. Vegeta looked her over in disgust, and that was when he noticed that she was a girl about to blossom into a woman. Sixteen, maybe seventeen years old.

Her hair, which seemed to be blue, was dark because of the grime and dirt, her face was dirty and smudged almost everywhere, and the clothes she was wearing were in rags. But her eyes were the only things that seemed to be bright and clean. A blue so blue that it should have made the sky jealous. She was also very thin and small.

She was glaring at him too. "What the hell are you looking at?" she hissed.

Vegeta merely smirked and looked at the vendor. "I will purchase this whole batch of fruit for this girl and whoever she needs to feed," he said as he took out his wallet and handed the vendor five crispy bills. "Give her food whenever they want, I think that should pay for it all."

The vendor looked at the bills with wide eyes and nodded at Vegeta. "Yes sir! Thank you sir!"

Vegeta turned to the girl. "Take the food and feed those who are hungry."

The young woman looked at him with her eyes narrowed. "Why are you doing this? What do you want in return?"

"Nothing," Vegeta said. "Would you rather keep starving to death?"

She shook her head and then turned towards the alley where several more people were standing. She waved them over and hesitantly some came. She told them about the food he had paid for and they gladly took it.

She turned back to Vegeta and managed a small smile. "Thank you. Though I still don't understand why you did this," she said. Then she grabbed some food and nearly bumped into him before she ran off with those that were with her.

Kakarot looked at Vegeta. "Turning into a softy, are we?"

He scoffed and dusted his sleeve off. "Shut the hell up and let's go, I'm hungry and we have to get to the office quickly because you decided it was a nice day for a walk," Vegeta's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"I feel sorry for all these homeless people," Kakarot said. "Isn't there anything we can do for them? I mean, you can't go around buying them a few hundred dollars worth of food all the time."

"Aren't there any shelters around here?" Vegeta asked as they walked into the restaurant that they had been going to from the start.

"I don't think there are. The nearest shelter that I have heard of is almost across town. I don't think these people would want to go all the way over there." They sat down and a waitress came over to hand them their menu.

They ordered their food and kept talking. Well, at least Kakarot kept going on and on about it. "Vegeta, why don't we start a project to open a shelter in this part of town?"

Vegeta took a sip of his Chivas on the rocks and nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. I have been looking for something that will put Vegeta Corp. on the press for the next few months. It would greatly help my name."

"I don't want to do this so that we can become more famous. I want to do this because I want to help those who need it," Kakarot stated.

"That too," Vegeta somewhat agreed. They had lunch and were about to pay. "This is my treat," Vegeta said as he reached for his wallet. But he encountered nothing. He frowned and checked all his pockets. Nothing.

"What's wrong?" Kakarot asked.

"My wallet is gone," Vegeta growled. Then he remembered something. When that dirty little girl had passed him, she had bumped into him. "She's a pick pocket too. That girl stole my wallet!" he said incredulously.

"If you live on the street then you have to learn how to make ends meet. She must be a pro to have gotten past you," Kakarot laughed. "Don't worry about it, I'll pay today. You just worry about canceling your cards and getting new ID's." Kakarot took out his card and paid.

When they arrived at the office, Vegeta was angry. "Aside from the fact that I buy her and those who were with her food, she goes and pick-pockets me," he snapped as he sat down on his desk to work.

Kakarot smothered a laugh. "If you need anything I'll be in my office," he said as he walked out and to his office.

Vegeta was still shaking his head when he got back to work. There was no use in thinking about the foul looking girl.

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A Week Later.........

Vegeta was in his office working through the night and early into the morning. He packed up his things and was about to head home when he heard the sound of thunder and water started to pour from the dark clouds.

He hadn't brought his umbrella but he did have a raincoat at hand. He grabbed his briefcase and walked out of the office of his tall building and got into the elevator. It was a good thing that the parking was under the building, the last thing he wanted was to get wet and catch a cold.

Vegeta got into his car and rubbed his face tiredly, then he revved the engine and pulled out his remote for the bared doors to open. He drove out slowly, wary of the strong rain. It was really coming down and it was hard to see through the front shield, even with the wipers.

He was driving at a moderate speed, but the wet pavement didn't help any when someone crossed his path. He hit the breaks and the wheels skidded and slipped. There was a loud thud and Vegeta realized that he had hit someone.

He groaned and threw off the seat-belt as he ran out the door. He vaguely noticed that the rain had dimmed down to a soft drizzle as he ran towards the form that was writhing on the ground. He carefully turned the person onto his back and his eyes widened as they met with those blue that had haunted his thoughts the past week.

"Owww!" she yelled as she gripped one arm with the other.

"What hurts?" he asked after he had gotten over the initial shock of seeing the little pick-pocket that had stolen his wallet a week ago.

"Everything, you ass-hole!" She screamed.

"Be specific!" he yelled back at her.

"My left shoulder---down to my wrist."

Vegeta was already dialing for an ambulance. "Don't move. An ambulance is coming," he said after a moment. "I need to know your name, that way I can tell them something about you," he said.

"My name is Bulma, Bulma Briefs," she gasped out.

He nodded and stayed with her until the ambulance arrived and then drove to the hospital that they were taking her to. He waited outside of the emergency room until they were done with her. He had to stand by and hear her scream when they set the bone of her dislocated shoulder.

She also had a broken wrist and some minor scrapes and bruises on her knees and arms. He felt incredibly guilty and it was a feeling that didn't sit well with him. He had never felt guilty before.

The nurse came out of her section and motioned him in. Vegeta nodded and walked in. They had changed her into a thin gown and she was sitting on the bed looking pale and small with a cast on her left wrist and a bandage on the left side of her forehead.

"How are you feeling?" Vegeta asked as he looked into those blue blue eyes of hers.

"Like I've been hit by a car," she snapped. Her tone was all sarcasm and it made him smirk. "Don't laugh! You have no idea in what kind of pain I was in a few minutes ago. They just pumped me with painkillers and then I'll have to go back to the street like that, all drugged up........ And probably get runover again."

"I'll make you a deal," Vegeta said seriously.

Bulma looked at him through narrowed eyes. "There's a catch right?"

"No, no catch," he said. "Why is it that every time I offer you something you think there is a catch?" Vegeta asked curiously.

"On the street you learn that nothing is free," she said with a shrug, then winced at the pain in her shoulder. "Why would you do anything for a filthy street girl? You're obviously rich, what the hell are you doin' wasting your time on me?" she asked.

"I want to help you because of the fact that I just ran you over and broke your wrist and dislocated your shoulder," Vegeta said smartly. "Besides, you're all drugged up and I don't want you to go out and get ran over again, being that it was all my fault," he said with a nonchalant shrug.

Bulma scoffed. "And what is it that you want to do for me?" she asked slowly.

"While you recover, you can spend your time in my home. You can have shelter for as long as you like," Vegeta said.

"You're house?" Bulma asked with a raised brow. "Are you crazy? I'm not going to your house!" she screeched. "I knew there was a catch and---and you're a man, it's so obvious!" she said as she stood and wobbled sideways.

"Don't be silly, and quiet down, loud mouth. I don't live alone. My mother lives there too, as well as my younger sister and brother. I don't want to try anything with you, please," he snorted as he helped her back onto the bed.

"What? Am I too bellow your station now? Too poor? Too dirty?" she asked as she pointed to herself.

Vegeta gaped at her. Was this woman crazy or what? She had just been yelling at him for "trying" something funny, now she was asking if she was too under his station for him to look at her as a woman?

"Are you crazy or what?" Vegeta snapped. Then he shook his head and rubbed his face in annoyance. "Will you accept my offer or not? I'm going to be leaving soon with or without you. Just think about it for a moment. A warm bed, clean clothes, fresh food, and a shower." He smirked at her and turned to walk out.

"Wait," she called softly.

Vegeta stopped at the part in the curtain and turned back to her. "Yes?"

"Okay, I'll go with you. But no funny business, you hear?" she asked darkly.

He nodded and stopped himself from bursting out laughing. She looked like a child sitting there, looking innocent and so naive. "Fine. Then we will wait for the doctor to let you go and we will leave."

"I have a problem," she said meekly. He raised his eyebrows. She blushed a little. "I don't have any clothes. They threw them away because they were dirty and old."

He thought about it for a moment. "I have a coat that you can wear, in my car. I will go get it and maybe by then we can leave," Vegeta said as he walked out.

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Bulma's eyes widened like saucers as they came upon a huge home on the outskirts of the city. It was a mansion with stables at the back, or so Vegeta said. They had had a proper introduction and she knew she had seen his face somewhere, but she couldn't place where.

He helped her out of his fancy Lexus convertible and walked with her towards the home, being that she was still a bit lightheaded. The pain in her shoulder was now a dull ache, and her wrist wasn't bugging at all.

When they entered his home, she nearly felt as if she was getting the carpet and surroundings dirty by just standing there. She had never seen anything like it. "Wow," she whispered. "This looks incredible!"

Vegeta smirked and motioned for her to follow him. "I will have Nana help you out with your bath. She will find you clothes and then she will feed you. I need to get some sleep," he said. Bulma nodded and watched as he walked into the kitchen and called someone out.

A short tubby looking woman walked out. Her cheeks were pink, and her hair, almost completely white, was tied in a tight bun. She wore a sun dress and a cooking apron, as well as a bright smile on her face.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"This is a guest that will be staying here indefinitely. I accidentally hit her with the car and she has nowhere else to go. Please find her a room, help her bathe, dress, and get her something to eat. I will be in my room resting for a while."

"Oh dear, you ran her down with the car?" she asked.

Bulma held up her hurt wrist and nodded. "Yeah, he ran me into the pavement," she said matter-of-factly. "Can I call you by your real name? Nana seems kinda creepy to me," she said with a frown.

The woman nodded and smiled as Vegeta rolled his eyes and walked away. "My name is Jena, and feel free to call me that. Now come along, you look filthy and we have yet to find you clothes. By the way, what is your name?"

"Bulma," she sniffed and followed her up the stairs and down the hall to a huge room. Jena ran her a bath and then helped her keep the cast dry. Then she left her alone and went to find her something to wear.

"Oh man," Bulma whispered as she soaked in the huge sunken tub. She had forgotten what it felt like to have a normal bath. It had been years, from the moment she ran away from home. There were stacks of scented soaps, shampoos and lotions. She tried them all until she was smelling like the potpourri basket over the toilet.

She was sitting on the huge bed wearing a robe when Jena walked in with clothes and some sandals in her hands. "Now, I found you this dress that belongs to my daughter. She lives here with me but is in school now. She's about your size too."

"Thanks," Bulma said as she looked at the clothing.

"You can use a brush too, your hair looks like it has many knots. I'll help you see if we can still brush it.. Go ahead and dress, and I will bring you a brush. When you're done we can go down to the kitchen and we'll get you some food," Jena said.

Bulma watched her leave halfheartedly and then dressed. When Jena brought the brush and then left, Bulma walked to the mirror and looked at herself. She had grown, but she was as thin as a reed. Her skin was pale and clean. Her hair was long, and in knots.

She sat down at the vanity and began the tedious task of brushing her hair. When she was done, she noticed that she had probably torn off half of her hair just by looking at the brush. She stood and managed a smile. Jena had gotten her a white sun dress with little yellow sunflowers on it. The sandals fit a bit big and her hair had dried out straight and silky.

The only thing that ruined the effect was the cast on her wrist. And then there was the bandage on her forehead and the cuts and scrapes on her legs and her other arm. Not much, Bulma mused.

Jena came back and walked her down to the kitchen where she had prepared a huge sandwich, a bowl of fruit salad, and a glass of fresh orange juice. Bulma's mouth watered and she went over to eat it without a word.

"Gosh that was great!" Bulma said loudly.

"I'm glad you like it, but I think that we have to work a little on your manners," Jena said as she placed the dishes in the dish-washer.

"Com'on Jena! I've lived on the street for years, manners aren't important!" Bulma said in annoyance.

"Manners are important in this home. Especially when you are around Vegeta's mother and father. His father spends most of his time traveling, but his mother is here and she wont like you if you are rude and loud."

Bulma rolled her eyes.

"And don't roll your eyes at me young lady!"

She laughed softly. "Hey Jena, you mind if I go have a look around outside?" Bulma asked.

"Just don't wander too far and get lost. Around the back there is an extension and Vegeta has stables where he keeps his horses. There is a small lake off towards the left side too, but don't get too close. I don't want you falling in and drowning if you don't know how to swim."

"Thanks for lunch Jena," Bulma said before she walked out the door.

For the next few hours she spent her time wandering around, her mind going back to what her life would have been had she stayed with her family. She scoffed. Her "family," what a crock. Family didn't treat their kids like trash........ Her thoughts trailed off when she looked towards the mansion and spotted Vegeta.

He was looking at her as if he had never seen her before. She walked towards him slowly and smiled. "Hey."

Vegeta looked her over slowly and his lips curled into a smirk. "If it weren't for the color of your eyes and the sound of your voice, I wouldn't recognize you," he said.

"Whatever," Bulma stated dryly. "Do you think I can see your horses?"

He thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Come on," he said as he began to walk towards the stables. Vegeta mentally slapped himself. For a moment he had been looking at her like a woman. She had been standing there, staring at the lake, looking so different and pretty, her long hair ruffling in the wind.

He reminded himself that she was still a child, and that he shouldn't be looking at someone like her like that. He was being stupid and he knew it. They walked into the stables and he watched her cerulean eyes light on the horses like a small child's.

"They're incredible," she whispered in awe. He showed them to her name by name, and let her know that they were very expensive pure-breed's. There was a particular horse that caught her attention. She was a wild stallion the color of shinning ivory, and she was beautiful. Her name also happened to be Bronco, and she didn't let anyone touch him.

"Tell me about yourself," Vegeta said as they began to walk towards the house again.

"There's not much to say. I've lived on the streets for the last six years, trying to survive," Bulma said with a light shrug.

"How old are you? What of your family?"

"I'm eighteen, well I'll be turning eighteen in June.......... And I have no family. They died the day I walked out of their lives. Can we like get off that subject? It's not something I want to talk about now," she said as she began to walk ahead of him. "Jena said that your parents and brothers live here."

He nodded. "My mother is probably out shopping and my sister is still in school. They should be here in an hour or so. As for my brother, he's learning the trade of our business with our father on a business trip............ Hmmm, now that I remember, I want my wallet back," Vegeta said as he looked at her face for a reaction.

"We just wanted to know who you were," Bulma laughed. "Don't trip, I'll get it back to ya."

"Can you not speak that way?" he asked in distaste.

"Which way?"

"Using slang. My mother would have a field day correcting you and teaching you how to speak properly."

"Hey rich boy, don't forget that I come from the street, this is the way that I talk, if you don't like it you can stuff it where the sun don't shine," Bulma said as she poked a finger into his chest.

He looked at her in amusement as they entered his home. And they bumped straight into his mother. "Vegeta-chan I was looking for you. Nana told me where you might be and with who," the woman said as she looked at Bulma up and down. "And who are you?"

"I'm Bulma," she said simply.

"The correct way to say that would be: Good afternoon, my name is Bulma. With whom do I have the pleasure?"

"With whom do I have the pleasure?" she asked, accentuating the words to be rude.

"I'm Lana, Vegeta's mother." She turned to Vegeta. "Now run along darling, hide your little friend before Tamara gets here and thinks that you are cheating on her. But if she makes that assumption," Lana said as she looked Bulma over and 'tsked' once, "Maybe she doesn't deserve to be your fiancée."

"Hide me?" Bulma asked rudely. Vegeta grabbed her arm and they walked away from his mother. "Hey, you really have a rude mom." She complained as they walked into the living room. "Who's Tam--- whatever that name was."

"Tamara is a woman that I have been seeing, but my father wants me to marry," he growled softly.

"A forced marriage? Geez buddy, what year are you guys living in?"

"Stop asking stupid questions," he snapped as he sat down on a sofa and motioned for her to sit with him. She sat because she felt stupid just standing there. "You need to act more civilized around people. Don't talk so loud or use those words."

Before she could give him a smart-alecky reply there was the sound of the doorbell ringing. Someone answered and there was a commotion as a young and beautiful woman walked into the living room.

"Oh, Vegeta. I missed you!" she said as she strutted over to him and pressed a kiss to his lips without looking at Bulma.

Bulma forced herself to not make a face and sat there, tapping her foot and looking bored. "Yyyuucckkk, pipe down lady! You're gonna swallow him whole!" She couldn't take it anymore.

"Excuse me?" she asked darkly as she turned to glare at Bulma. She was very pretty. She had on a short wig the color of a bright burgundy, and her eyes were shaped like a cat's and colored a vibrant navy blue against the paleness of her skin.

"You heard me," Bulma stated as she stood and narrowed her eyes.

"In case you don't know, Vegeta's my boyfriend, and I'm Tamara." She looked Bulma up and down and giggled. "Who are you? Dirty Harriet?"

"Who the hell is dirty Harriet? I'm Bulma," she snapped.

Tamara placed a hand on her chest and laughed, a soft and seductive laugh. "Where did you dig this one up, Vegeta?"

"That is non of your concern," Vegeta said as he grabbed Bulma's arm and pulled her towards the kitchen. "You can speak with my mother if you want, I'm busy right now."

The woman huffed indignantly at having been left there alone and then walked towards the window to watch Vegeta walk away with that dirty looking girl. "Tamara! What a surprise to see you here!" Lana said as she walked towards her.

Tamara nodded. "Who is that little chit with Vegeta? He just left me standing here and left with her," she sniffed.

"That's his new charity case. He hit her with the car and brought her over because she has nowhere else to go. He was feeling guilty. Don't worry," Lana said with a smile, "she is not a danger to you. Believe me, I know my son."

"I hope you're right," Tamara said as she watched them interact. "But it doesn't matter. I'll have her gone from here in a few days. For some reason I don't trust her."

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"THAT's the woman your dad wants you to marry?" Bulma asked rudely.

"Now that I see her, she is pretty annoying," Vegeta said with a sigh. They walked over to a huge oak tree and he pointed upwards. "Are you afraid of heights?"

Bulma looked up and raised her brows. "A tree-house? How old are you, ten?" she asked sarcastically.

"Actually, I'm twenty-three," Vegeta said as he began to climb the ladder.

Bulma shrugged to herself and followed him, a bit wary of the height and of the fact that she had only one hand to help her. She closed her eyes and tried to grip the ladder as she moved. Then she felt a hand on her arm and she opened her eyes to see that Vegeta was helping her up into the tree-house. For a moment she just stayed there and stared into his coal eyes as he looked down at her.

"A little help?" she asked quietly.

He nodded and pulled her up with little effort. Bulma looked around and laughed quietly. It was like his own room up there, though it wasn't as fancy. There was a make-shift bed made of purely stuffed blankets with many throw pillows, the floor was carpeted, and he even had a mini-bar.

"It's a tree house, but not for a child," Vegeta said as he motioned for her to sit down comfortably.

Bulma did and kept looking around. Then her eyes fell on Vegeta again. "Why are you doing all this for me? You don't know me. I should really be more of a weight on your shoulders, like I've always been for everyone," she whispered the last to herself.

"I don't know why I do this," he said honestly. "But I want to help you. From the moment that I met you, I have felt a need to help you, something I have never done before. I can help you. I want to help you, and those who have lived like you. Kakarot proposed an idea to me about opening a shelter near that area for those who need food and a place to sleep."

"That would be great!" Bulma said enthusiastically. "You have no idea how much help we all need!"

Vegeta looked at her for a moment. "You are welcome to stay here for as long as you'd like. If you let me, I will help you. I can make you became an educated woman so that you can go out to find a job. That is, if you want to get off the streets."

"And there's no catch," she stated slowly. He shook his head. "You are gonna make me into someone that can go out to get a job?"

Vegeta nodded. "While you live here I can hire you a tutor that will help educate you, and when you are done, another to show you how to behave and talk properly. Then you can come and work with me at the office when you are ready. Once you work you can live off and away from the streets, make money to help those that need it, and become someone."

"Okay, but only on one condition," Bulma said with a smile. He nodded. "That you let me work with you on this shelter project when you start it."

He extended his hand. "Deal?"

Bulma grinned and took it. "Deal!"

Vegeta felt a twinge in his gut as he watched her smile. Away from the dirt and grime, and the tattered and dirty clothes, she was beautiful. He just hoped he wasn't getting into trouble by helping her and keeping her close to him. Especially with those captivating blue eyes.

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Did you guys like it? I have been thinking up this story for a long time. I have already erased a couple of chapters because personally I didn't like the way it was going. But after careful consideration, I have back on track and am currently working on this story and on Magnetized.

As you can see, Bulma is very rude and impolite in some cases because she has grown up on the streets. She has a past that haunts her, for more reasons than one, but that comes up in the next few chapters. Let me know what you thought, and I will try to update next week!

Byebye

!Joey!