Vegeta grabbed Bulma and leapt out of the way of an incoming ball of fire.
"You missed," a tall man with long blonde hair told a petite redhead.
"Xellos you coward! Stay put so I can roast you alive!" the petite redhead yelled.
Vegeta got to his feet and glared at the blonde and the redhead.
Bulma looked up at Vegeta's profile and caught herself admiring his looks. ' Wait a minute! This is Vegeta I'm talking about! He's mean! But why'd he save me then?'she silently asked herself. She gasped as she was pulled roughly to her feet by Vegeta.
"Quiet Woman," Vegeta hissed.
The petite redhead finally noticed Vegeta and Bulma. She walked over to them and looked them over critically. "Hey Jellyfish-for-brains! Get this guy some of Xellos' clothing!" the redhead called to the blonde. "I'm Lina Inverse. I don't know where you're from, but unless you want to get robbed or worse, you'll accept a change of clothing. Oh and the blonde guy is Gourry Gabriev."
"I'm Bulma Briefs and he's Vegeta. What about me?" Bulma asked.
"I'm trying to figure out if anyone in my group wears the same size as you," Lina said, studying Bulma. "Bring one of Filia's outfits too!" Lina called to Gourry.
"NAMAGOMI!!!!"
Gourry rushed over with the requested items of clothing, his blue eyes wide.
"Here we go again,"Lina sighed, sweatdropping.
Bulma latched herself onto Vegeta as a huge gold lizard stormed into view, chasing a purple-haired man. Both her eyes an Vegeta's were wide.
"Lina! All our stuff! And our lunch!"Gourry yelped.
"Ray Wing!!" Lina called and flew over to the pile of packs and bedrolls.
Vegeta, Bulma and Gourry watched as Lina created a bubble that encompassed all the stuff. They saw Lina and all the packs and bedrolls fly out of the way of the big lizard.
Lina landed next to Bulma and dropped everything in the bubble. She turned her hands in the direction of the lizard and the purple-haired guy. "Flare Arrow!!" she called and arrows of fire hit the two intended targets.
When the smoke blew away, Veget and Bulma could see a beautiful girl and the purple-haired guy coughing.
"Where'd the lizard go?" Bulma asked Gourry.
"She's a dragon, not a lizard and she's the blonde girl," Gourry said absentmindedly, his eyes on Lina.
"What'd you do that for Lina? I almost had him," the beautiful girl complained.
"You can kill Xellos later Filia. Right now, you and I are going to make a new luch since you squashed the last one in your rampage," Lina growled, her eyes burning with anger. "Gourry, bring the stuff."
Gourry picked up all the stuff and followed Lina.
Bulma looked down at the clothing she held."Where are we supposed to change?"she called.
"Try the trees," Lina's voice floated back to the two.
Vegeta shrugged his shoulders and started towards the trees.
"Vegeta! Wait for me!"Bulma squealed and ran to catvh up.
Vegeta rolled his eyes heavenwards and stopped.
Bulma caught up to Vegeta and put a hand on his arm, panting. "Okay,we can start moving again. I don't like being with you, but at least I know who and what you are. I don't know a thing about those people," Bulma said to the Saiyan prince once she was able to breathe normally again.
Vegeta just grunted.
They soon reached the trees and Bulma continued to walk beside Vegeta, her hand on his arm.
"Are you planning to change in front of me Woman?" Vegeta demanded irritably when he stopped.
"Yup. I don't want to get lost and you're the only one who knows the way back," Bulma said and, turning her back to Vegeta, pulled her shirt over her head.
Vegeta just grunted, turned his back to Bulma and began to remove his armor.
"Can we have some of the food?" Bulma asked politely.
"If you can manage to get any away from Lina and Gourry, go right ahead,"Filia replied.
Lina and Gourry had heard Bulma's request and stopped fighting.
"Help yourselves,"Gourry said cheerfully, grabbing some of Lina's bread.
"Hey! That's mine!"Lina yelped and retaliated by stealing all of Gourry's bacon and the fight resumed.
"Maybe you should get the food,"Bulma told Vegeta, watching Lina and Gourry fight.
Vegeta grabbed a quater of the food Lina and Gourry were fighting over and brought it back. He gave half of it to Bulma and sat down to eat his share.
After lunch, Gourry decided to practice with his sword.
Vegeta smirked when Gourry drew a bladeless sword. His expression changed to one of intrest when he saw Lina's reaction.
"Light come forth," Gourry said and a blade made of light attatched itself to the hilt.
"Can I have your sword?" Lina asked, starry eyed.
Xellos put a restraining hand on Lina's collar when the girl almost jumped the swordsman at his refusal.
Vegeta looked at Gourry with mild curiosity. He could feel a strong ki coming from the blonde man.
Bulma was trying to decide whether Gourry or Xellos was cuter when Filia plopped down beside her.
"I can't get the sword today. Maybe I'll have better luck tomorrow," Lina said, a half-smile on her lips. "It's still early afternoon and I'm bored. Filia, I'm gonna go kill a few bandits. Tell Gourry and Xellos not to come after me."
"Only if you promise not to Dragon Slave the camps and surrounding countryside,"Filia said.
"No Dragon Slave. Promise. Besides, a few fireballs should do the job," Lina said and started walking towards the trees.
Vegeta turned his head to look at Lina as she passed by him. ' Her ki is as strong as a Super Saiyan's!' he realized. He got up and ran after Lina. He pulled her to a halt once they'd reached the cover of the trees.
"What do you want?" Lina asked, looking up at Vegeta with mild curiosity in her red-gold eyes.
"How'd you come to be so powerful?" Vegeta asked.His black eyes were intense."Are you a Saiyan?"
"I was born with this power. Most people with magic are,"Lina replied."And I don't know what a Saiyan is." She pulled her arm free of Vegeta's grip. "Ray Wing!!" she called and flew away.
Vegeta flew after the retreating Lina, intent on watching her in action.
"Where'd Lina go?"Gourry asked, looking around as he put his sword away.
"She's out trashing bandit camps,"Filia replied, taking a sip of her tea and turning back to Bulma.
"She didn't want me to come with her?"Gourry asked in disbelief.
"Lina's pouting because you wouldn't give her the Sword of Light,"Filia replied. "She's gone to work off some steam. And Lina doesn't want you or Xellos to go after her. Besides, she's got Bulma's companion with her. She's a big girl Gourry and doesn't need a constant bodyguard," Filia said gently.
Bulma watched Gourry's normally happy expression melt into one of jealousy,fear and worry. ' I'd worry too if I was a defenseless young girl alone with Vegeta' she thought.
"What's the name of your companion?"Xellos asked suddenly, startling Bulma.
"His name is Vegeta. We don't really know each other too well," Bulma replied.
"Lina!"Gourry cried, leaping to his feet.
Bulma turned around and saw Lina carrying Vegeta over her shoulder.She jumped to her feet as Lina dropped Vegeta to the ground. "What happened to him?" she asked.
"He called me flat-chested,"Lina said curtly.
"That was a big mistake on his part," Xellos said.
"I'm going to cast a healing spell for him,"Filia told Bulma and did so.
Vegeta sat up and groaned,holding a hand over his eyes to shield them from the bright sunlight.
"A word to the unknowing; never call Lina flat-chested," Xellos said.
Vegeta nodded, remembering how strong an impact Lina's fist'd had on his jaw. He saw that Lina was talking to Gourry in an agitated way.
"Are you okay?" Bulma asked, crouching down beside Vegeta.
Vegeta nodded.
"How'd she do it?"Bulma asked.
"How'd she do what Woman?" Vegeta asked irritably.
"How'd she take down the mighty Saiyan prince? A couple hundred attacks like Goku's?" Bulma asked,helping a scowling Vegeta to his feet.
"Try one punch to the jaw," Lina said mockingly as she strolled over.
Bulma stared at Lina, then at Vegeta in disbelief before she started laughing hysterically. "Goku and the others will never believe this! The mighty Vegeta taken down with one hit to the jaw!" Bulma crowed.
Vegeta scowled at Bulma.
"Bulma? What's so funny?" a male voice asked.
Lina,Gourry,Filia,Xellos and Bulma turned to stare at Son Goku while Vegeta continued to scowl.
"Where are we?"Lina asked, her voice trembling.
End Part One of Fighting Female
