Chapter 17
Gurudo jumped back in surprise when he saw how close Gohan and Kuririn's blasts were to him. Apparently he'd underestimated his opponents' speed. He began to look around, almost as if he was searching for something.
Bulma eyed him cautiously. Her friends had been too careless, and even though it was their own fault, she wasn't about to just let Gurudo dole out punishment. Anyway, it wouldn't be wise to give this little creep any advantages over them.
Suddenly Gurudo trotted off in the direction of a large boulder about fifty yards away. He was getting rather red in the face, and his cheeks were bulging out a bit. Bulma watched him with some degree of confusion as he dove behind the boulder and exhaled almost explosively, letting time flow normally again. Had he been holding his breath?
Gohan and Kuririn watched their blasts explode on the ground and waited patiently for the dust to clear. They couldn't sense their opponent down there, apparently, because they were grinning at each other and giving the thumbs up sign. Sure enough, when the dust cleared enough to reveal what was below, and they saw neither hide nor hair of Gurudo, they all but decided that this battle was over.
"Hey guys!" Bulma yelled up at them. "You do know you missed him, right?" She looked over at Gurudo and frowned as he gaped at her in shock.
"What?!" Kuririn exclaimed, as he and Gohan looked at each other. "Where'd he go? There's almost no way he was fast enough to dodge our blasts!"
"It's your own fault for not listening to me," she called back, frowning angrily at them. "I tried to warn you about him!" She rolled her eyes and then glared at Gurudo again. He stared back at her curiously. He was surprised that she had noticed him so quickly, apparently. Although Bulma thought that was kind of silly on his part, since he was in her field of view anyway.
"Hey!" Gohan said, looking around. "Where DID he go, anyway?" Bulma glanced at Gurudo again, and he gulped and shook his head, motioning for Bulma to be quiet. She just shook her head in disgust and looked away. They'd find him on their own anyway.
Gohan looked around a bit, trying to sense Gurudo's ki, while Kuririn did the same. It didn't take them long to hone in on his vicinity, and then they noticed the boulder. Kuririn quietly pointed to it, and he and Gohan nodded to each other. They quietly descended, sneaking up on Gurudo's hiding place. Bulma watched them intently. They were like cats hunting a mouse. A small, green, pudgy mouse. And one that thus far hadn't used any real attack against them. Bulma wondered just what this guy was good for, anyway. Surely he had some skills other than time control.
He must have seen her following her companions' movements with her eyes, because just before the boys were upon him, he stopped time again, and ran off towards another boulder. It appeared that he was trying to get a better hiding place.
Bulma groaned and ran after him, deciding that she wasn't going to just stand by and watch this crap any longer. This guy was either a huge coward, or he had something big he was hiding, and she was bound and determined to find out which it was.
She ran up alongside him. "Hey!" She said sharply. "I'd like a word with you!"
Gurudo yelped in surprise, and time began to flow normally again. "What the hell?!" He exclaimed, backing away from Bulma. "How did you do that?"
Gohan and Kuririn cried out in confusion when they found that their target was no longer behind the rock. They looked around and noticed that Bulma was off about twenty yards away, and was talking to Gurudo. They flew over to see what was going on, and landed about five yards away from them. Neither Bulma nor Gurudo paid them any attention.
"What?" Bulma said, smiling craftily at Gurudo. "You mean this?" She stopped time on her own this time. "You mean time control, right? Well, I've got news for you, buster, you're not the only one who knows how to stop time. I've known how to do this for quite a while. Although, I suspect that I haven't had this gift for as long as you have. Hey!" She said suddenly, noticing that Gurudo was acting very strangely. "What's the matter with you?"
Gurudo had turned a royal shade of blue, and was clasping his throat with both hands. He reached weakly up at Bulma with a trembling arm. He fell forward, landing on his knees, still clasping his throat. He reminded Bulma of a person she'd seen choking in a lobster restaurant once before.
"What's your problem?" She said impatiently, backing out of his reach. "Are you choking or something?" Bulma resumed time's flow again and stepped back cautiously. What kind of battle tactic was this, anyway?
Gurudo gasped, inhaling almost as forcefully as a vacuum cleaner. He glared angrily at Bulma, and, huffing and puffing, managed to stand up again.
"Are you insane?!" He sputtered. "You almost suffocated me! I couldn't breathe!"
"You've got to be joking!" She said in amazement. "I saw you stop time just fine earlier! It had no effect on my breathing, so why should it be different when I do it? Just what are you trying to pull, anyway, yogurt-breath?"
"Me?!" Gurudo cried incredulously. "You're the one who cut off my air, you nitwit! When I stop time, I have to hold my breath, because if I breathe, time will flow again. That's just the way it is. But then you come along and stop time before I can even draw in my breath! And since I can't breathe when time is stopped, I was without air until you finally let time flow again! Geez! If you're going to stop time too, you can at least give me fair warning to hold my breath! What kind of animal are you?"
Bulma gaped at him in shock for a couple of seconds, before what he had said finally registered in her mind. "Hey, wait a minute, now!" She said angrily. "Let's not forget just whose side you're on here, pal! What makes you think I should give you warning about anything?"
"Oh yeah," he said, laughing nervously, with his hand behind his head. "That's right! I guess I forgot." -Bulma face-vaulted- "Uh... heheh," Gurudo laughed, stepping back a bit. "You aren't planning on doing that to me again, now are you?" He asked her nervously. "I mean, that wouldn't be very fair, don't you agree? You don't want to do something so dishonorable, do you?"
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you," she spat at him. "As I recall, it was only a little while ago that you were threatening to kill my companions. Am I right?"
Gurudo suddenly grinned evilly. "Well, I suppose they'll have to wait," he said, stepping back. "Because now I have to kill you before I do anything else."
Bulma was so surprised at the idiocy of his claim that she began to laugh, closing her eyes for a few seconds, and forgetting about the danger she was in. But that was more than enough of a chance for Gurudo, and he took full advantage of it.
"Kanashibari no jyutsu!" He cried, sending an enormous wave of telekinetic energy right at her. If Bulma had been a few yards away, she might have been able to dodge it, but as she was only a few feet away from Gurudo, she didn't have enough time to react. She suddenly found herself unable to move. She could just barely move her face, and she could breathe all right, but aside from those things, she was completely immobile.
"Why you!" She said with much effort, struggling violently against him. "How dare you!"
Gurudo grinned. He turned around to face an astonished Gohan and Kuririn. "Make a move and I'll stop her heart right now!" He ordered.
"Damn you!" Kuririn replied. "Let go of Bulma now! She's not even your opponent anyway. We are, remember?"
"Yeah!" Gohan said fiercely. "Leave Bulma out of our fight, you jerk!"
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Gurudo asked, grinning even more broadly. "If you so much as make a step towards us I'll crush her ribcage, and smash her heart. But rest assured she would still suffer a slow, painful death! You'd be amazed at how long a person can remain alive after his heart is crushed right in his chest!"
Kuririn and Gohan scowled in reply, but made no move towards Gurudo. They didn't dare. Bulma didn't know what to think. She knew Kuririn and Gohan wouldn't try to provoke Gurudo into hurting her, but they would never defeat him if they didn't attack. She didn't know what to do.
"Heh," Gurudo snorted. "Just as I thought. Well, you're both a couple of fools to have given up so easily. I was going to kill her whether you interfered or not. And I think I'll go ahead and finish you two off at the same time!"
"What?!" They said angrily, balling their fists. Before they could attack, however, Gurudo made his move.
"Kanashibari no jyutsu!" He cried, hitting them with the same body lock in which he held Bulma. She was surprised at his control. At no time during his attack on Kuririn and Gohan did she feel his hold on her weaken. She glared at him, trying to counter him with her own telekinesis, but found that she was sorely lacking in the skills necessary to resist him. He must have felt her attempts, however, because he turned around and looked at her in surprise.
"How...? How are you doing that?" He asked her incredulously. "Don't tell me you know telekinesis too!"
"How do you think I'm doing this?" She snapped. "If I can't use my body, I have to use my mind, you twit!"
He sneered at her. "You shouldn't be so rude," he said, wagging his finger at her. "It's not very ladylike of you. Perhaps you need to be taught a lesson."
"Just try it!" She said, squirming a bit more. "And I'll teach YOU a lesson!"
"Hey, Gurudo!" Jees called down. "Try not to muss her up too much, all right? Remember, the agreement was that you'd get to fight those two, not her."
"It's too late for that," Gurudo called back. "I've got to make sure that she dies first. I'll trade her out for the two shrimpy ones if that's what'll satisfy you, but if I don't kill her now, she'll easily kill me! Do you want her to do that?"
"Is that a trick question?" Rikuum asked jokingly.
Gurudo gave a quick glare to Rikuum, and turned back toward Bulma, pausing for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about something.
"I've got it!" He said suddenly, balling his right hand into a fist and smacking it into his left. He turned around and began to concentrate on one of the nearby trees. Suddenly it snapped off at the base of its trunk, and rose into the air. In mid air Gurudo stripped it of its branches, and fashioned its ends into sharp points.
As Bulma watched this incredible telekinetic display, she couldn't help but marvel at Gurudo's abilities. Not only was he keeping Kuririn, Gohan, and herself immobile, but at the same time he was also able to manipulate a strong tree trunk with enough precision to fashion it into an enormous spear.
But she realized that now was not the time for admiration. She had to get herself out of this predicament now, or she was going to be shish kebab. Gurudo already had his projectile pointed in her direction, and was preparing to strike.
"Any last words?" He asked, grinning broadly at her.
She just glared at him, struggling violently. She had to get out of there, and fast. But try as she might, she couldn't budge an inch. He was just too powerful.
"Have it your way!" He said, and with a mighty heave, propelled the pointed log straight at Bulma.
"No! Bulma!" Kuririn shouted.
Before she could even blink, Bulma suddenly felt Gurudo's hold on her dissipate. She dove out of the way, just as the sharp chunk of wood plowed into the ground. She turned around to face Gurudo, but found, much to her surprise, that he had somehow been decapitated, and both his head and his body were lying on the ground!
Bulma sank to her knees as she realized how close she'd come to biting the big one. Kuririn and Gohan ran over to make sure she was okay, and Vegita walked over toward what was left of Gurudo.
"Bulma!" Kuririn exclaimed, as he and Gohan helped her up. "Are you all right?"
"I'm a little shaken up, but it beats being impaled," she said nervously. "What on Earth happened? Did Vegita do that to Gurudo?"
"He sure did," Gohan replied. "As soon as Gurudo threw that log at you, Vegita darted in and shot a flat, wide beam at Gurudo's neck, slicing his head completely off."
Bulma stared at Gohan in disbelief. "Why would Vegita do such a thing?" She thought. "He must have had some motive, but I know for certain that he didn't do that to save me. He couldn't have cared less if Gurudo HAD finished me off, as long as he wins against Team Ginyu in the end."
Gurudo, or his head, at least, suddenly began talking to Vegita. Bulma, along with Kuririn and Gohan, gasped in amazement. Now that was something they hadn't expected!
"You stupid Saiyan!" He yelled. "How dare you? Oh, the things I'd do to you if I were still attached to my body!"
"That's just hideous!" Bulma exclaimed to Kuririn and Gohan. "How can a head just live by itself?"
"Well, this one won't be alive for long," Vegita said grimly. He extended his arm down toward Gurudo's face, and as Gurudo screamed one last insult, Vegita blasted him until he was nothing more than a big black spot on the ground.
Bulma glanced up at Team Ginyu to observe their reactions to this new development. They were stunned all right, but it didn't look as if anger had taken over yet. Finally, Jees smirked at Vegita.
"I suppose Gurudo was careless," he said. "Too bad. But even though I can't say I liked him much, or that I'll miss him, that doesn't mean you're going to go unpunished, Vegetable-breath."
Vegita smirked back, seemingly unconcerned. Bulma could say this much about the gruff Saiyan. He certainly knew how to keep a cool head.
Bulma, Kuririn, and Gohan walked over to join him as Team Ginyu began to play Jan-ken again. Vegita pretended not to notice her or her friends, but Bulma could somehow sense that he wasn't exactly pleased to be associated with them. She didn't exactly blame him, even though she felt somewhat indignant. After all, when compared to him, they weren't exactly very skilled, and had definitely shown it in that last fiasco. Still, she couldn't stand the fact that he always treated them like he was hundreds of miles above them in all respects. She almost wished she could see him get really pounded today. Maybe that would teach him a lesson in humility. Of course, as Bulma thought this, she neglected to notice just how un-humble she sounded!
"Thanks for jumping in when you did, Vegita," Kuririn said gratefully. "Bulma would have been toast."
"Toast on a stick," Gohan murmured.
Bulma glared at them angrily. Why should they thank him? He hadn't killed Gurudo to save her! Perfect! Now he was going to think she owed him something. The jerk. She grit her teeth and looked down at the ground angrily, focusing on these thoughts in silent fury.
Vegita glanced at her briefly, observed her expression, and scowled. "I couldn't care less about some fool woman who doesn't have enough sense to know she shouldn't attack a telekinesis expert like Gurudo head on. I killed him when I did because he let his guard down. It was the most suitable and effective time to attack. I already told you fools that you don't mean anything to me. So stop simpering and start fighting like real warriors, or I'll kill you myself!" He looked up to watch Team Ginyu, scowling as fiercely as ever.
Gohan and Kuririn cringed, backing away like whipped puppies. Bulma looked up sharply and glared at Vegita.
"That was my fight," she growled at him. "I never invited you to interfere. In the future I'll thank you to leave my fights to me, and I'll leave yours to you. Got it?"
He acted as if he hadn't heard her, and continued watching Team Ginyu. Kuririn and Gohan stared at Bulma in disbelief, their jaws nearly touching the ground. Why was she acting like this? No sane person would try to provoke Vegita so openly!
Team Ginyu finished their game and turned to face their opponents. Kuririn remarked that he wondered which of their three remaining adversaries was next, and which of them he'd "won" the privilege of fighting.
Bulma was trying to steady herself for the next round, but her mind was on other thoughts. She had suddenly come to the sickening realization that this had been the second time that Vegita had saved her life, even if unintentionally. The thought was almost too painful to bear.
On to the next Chapter!
