One - Written by PhantomScribe72

Chapter 5

Bulma didn't see much of Vegeta for the next week. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding her, giving her the space she needed to make up her mind about him. She tried to get back to her life as normal, but she couldn't. All she could do is think about him.

One day, Bulma was trying to work in the lab, but as usual, she wasn't accomplishing anything because she couldn't keep her mind on her work. She finally decided that she might as well leave the lab and get something to eat, since she wasn't getting anything done anyway.

When she walked into the kitchen, she was surprised to find Vegeta with his head stuck in the refrigerator door, rummaging for something to eat. She leaned against the counter and studied him form behind, wondering if she should turn tail and bolt out of the door before he noticed she was there.

"Like what you see, Woman?" a voice asked from inside the fridge.

"I've seen better," she replied with a smile.

Vegeta emerged from the fridge with an armful of food, "No you haven't," he said in an amused tone. "What are you doing here?"

"Geez, Vegeta," Bulma replied, "I don't know. This is the kitchen, so maybe I might be hungry?"

"I know this is the kitchen, Woman," Vegeta said rolling his eyes, "But you usually don't come in for lunch until later."

"Well, excuse me for getting hungry a little early," Bulma sighed.

Vegeta looked at her with amusement, "Well, if you're hungry, there's plenty here to eat."

They fixed their plates in silence. After they were finished, Bulma put the remaining food back into the fridge and sat down at the table across from Vegeta to eat her sandwich.

"Vegeta," Bulma began cautiously, "Have you been avoiding me?"

Vegeta raised his eyebrows and looked at her thoughtfully, "No, not exactly. I just haven't been going out of my way to run into you."

"Oh," Bulma said quietly, "I thought maybe you were giving me space so that I could make up my mind about us."

"I thought maybe you had made up your mind and you just didn't have the guts to face me," Vegeta replied.

"What?" Bulma said surprised, "You thought I had decided not to forget the whole thing and not even have the decency to tell you?"

"Look, Woman," Vegeta said irritably, "It's been over a week, and I haven't heard a peep from you. How long can it take? Either you want me or you don't."

"HOW LONG CAN IT TAKE?!?!" Bulma screamed, "You're asking me to make a decision that will change my life forever, and you're complaining because I'm taking too long?!"

Vegeta laughed out loud, "I forgot that you humans have to agonize over every little detail. A Saiyan woman would have made up her mind on the first day."

Bulma opened her mouth to yell at him, but then she looked up and saw the twinkle in his eye. She realized he was only teasing her. "Well, no one can expect a mere human female to live up to the standards of a Saiyan."

Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise. "You got that right, Woman."

Bulma looked at Vegeta and realized that she couldn't remember what her life had been like before he came to live at Capsule Corp. She also realized that she couldn't imagine what her life would be like if he left. It was more than just lust. She had fallen in love with him.

"Woman," Vegeta asked with a touch of concern in his voice, "You look strange. Are you OK?"

Bulma slowly shook her head, as if trying to shake the magic spell he had woven over her away. She loved him! My God! When had that happened? She had thought that she had loved Yamcha. But whatever she had felt for him was nothing compared to the powerful emotion that was gripping her now.

"WOMAN," Vegeta hollered, "I asked you a question. ARE YOU OK?"

Bulma jumped a mile off her chair, "I'm fine, you brute! Stop screaming already."

Vegeta rolled his eyes and got up to leave the table.

"Vegeta, wait," Bulma said hurriedly, "I've made a decision."

"Well..." Vegeta said from the doorway.

Bulma shivered, "Vegeta, I want to be with..."

"BULMA!" Mrs. Briefs scream interrupted Bulma, "PHONE!"

"I'm busy Mom," Bulma called back, "Just take a message"

Mrs. Briefs suddenly appeared in the doorway beside of Vegeta. "I can't, sweetie," she said, "It's Yamcha. He's been calling constantly for 2 days. You're going to have to speak to him yourself."

Bulma clenched her jaw. Kami, what rotten timing. She looked pleadingly at Vegeta. His face was expressionless. "Ok, Mom," Bulma sighed, "I'll get it in here."

Vegeta snorted and turned his back to leave.

"Vegeta, please wait!" Bulma pleaded. "We're not done."

He turned to look at her and sneered evilly, "Oh yes we are, Woman."

With that he stomped out of the room. Bulma fought back a wave of nausea. She wiped a tear from her eye and picked up the phone.

Bulma sat on the living room sofa, drinking a cup of coffee. Yamcha would be here any minute. She wasn't looking forward to seeing him and she wondered why on earth she had agreed to meet with him. All she could figure was that she was so furious at Vegeta that she had lost her mind.

How dare he turn his back on her and leave just as she was about to tell him how much she loved him. It wasn't her fault that Yamcha had called. Vegeta had acted as if she had somehow betrayed him by just agreeing to talk to Yamcha. My God, she thought, just imagine how furious he would be if he knew she had agreed to meet with Yamcha face to face.

The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. She heard her mother go to the door and greet Yamcha. "She's waiting for you in the living room," she heard her mother say in a sing-song tone.

Bulma buried her face in her hands and groaned out load.

"I'm glad to see you too, Princess," Yamcha said from the doorway.

Bulma looked up at Yamcha. She wasn't sure what she had expected to feel when she saw him...anger, sadness, pity...but she was totally unprepared for what she did feel...nothing at all.

"Hi, Yamcha," Bulma managed as warmly as she could, "Have a seat."

"Thanks, Bulma," Yamcha said as he sank down onto the couch beside of her.

"Want some coffee?" Bulma asked politely.

"No...thanks," Yamcha shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "look...we need to talk."

"I can't imagine what about," Bulma said quietly, "I thought we said everything we needed to say the last time we saw each other."

"That's why I want to talk to you," Yamcha replied, "I wanted to say I was really sorry about all of the rotten things I said to you that day. I didn't mean them...you just surprised me and I responded like a dear caught in the headlights. You're very important to me, Bulma. I don't want to loose you."

Bulma looked Yamcha square in the eyes. Did he expect her to just forgive him and take him back? Well, why wouldn't he expect that? That's exactly what she had done every time before.

"Look, Yamcha," Bulma started, "I know that you care about me. I care about you too. You were my first love and you'll always be special to me. I know you didn't mean everything you said that day...but let's be honest...you did mean some of them. It will never work between us, and if you're honest with yourself, you'll know I'm right."

Yamcha looked Bulma in the eyes. There was something there that he had never seen before. Every time he had screwed up and then came crawling back, she'd welcomed him with open arms. But there was something different this time...she was different this time.

"Bulma, is there...well, I mean...is there someone else?" Yamcha asked carefully.

Bulma sat up straight and returned his gaze, "Yes, Yamcha, there is...and I love him very much."

Yamcha sighed deeply and hung his head, "I knew this would happen sooner or later. Whoever he is, he's one lucky son of a bitch. Can we still at least be friends?"

Bulma smiled and wrapped her arms around Yamcha, "You silly boy," she laughed, "You will always be one of my dearest friends."

Vegeta picked that exact moment to walk into the room. He was looking for Bulma, having every intention of apologizing for his earlier behavior and asking her to finish what she started in the kitchen. When he saw Bulma in Yamcha’s arms on the couch, he almost exploded. He started to turn away, but decided there was no way he was going to let her off that easy.

"Well, well," he snarled, "isn't this a sweet picture."

Bulma almost jumped out of her own skin, "Vegeta!" Bulma rushed out, "Yamcha just came by to make sure we were still friends."

"I'm sure," Vegeta retorted.

"Please," Bulma begged, "come in and join us."

Vegeta looked at her suspiciously. What the hell was she up to? Was she trying to rub his nose in it? Again, Vegeta considered reading her mind but decided against it. Let her play her little game, he thought, and we'll just see who wins.

Vegeta flopped down in a chair, directly in front of the couch.

"So weakling," he directed at Yamcha, "How's the training of the famous Z Team going?"

"Just fine," Yamcha huffed, "How's you're training going?"

"I don't think you need to waste your meager energy worrying about me," Vegeta replied, "I'll be ready for those androids...if they ever show up."

"That's good to hear," Yamcha said, "I was a little worried that you wouldn't be able to concentrate fully on your training with Bulma so close by. She can be rather...distracting."

"Really?" Vegeta said in a dangerous tone, "I can't imagine being distracted by any woman. But I guess that's why you're still so weak after so many years of training."

Yamcha realized that he had crossed the line. He didn't want to anger Vegeta, so he quickly changed the subject. "I guess it's pretty boring for you around here, Vegeta. Bulma spends all of her time in the lab working on her projects. I used to go in and watch her, but I could never figure out what she was doing with all of those gadgets."

"Really," Vegeta smirked, "I don't have any problem keeping up...but then, I've always been pretty good with my hands...wouldn't you agree, Bulma?"

Bulma flushed bright red and looked at Vegeta in shock. She couldn't believe he had just said that in front of Yamcha.

Vegeta laughed cruelly at her expression. "I've wasted enough time on you simpletons," he barked, "You deserve one another."

Vegeta stomped out of the room, leaving a humiliated Bulma and a bewildered Yamcha behind. Yamcha looked up at Bulma. He was confused. What the hell had just happened?

Bulma looked at Yamcha. She knew she had some explaining to do...but she couldn't right now. She was too upset. How could Vegeta think that she wanted to take Yamcha back? He must have a really low opinion of her loyalty. Just this morning, she was about to give herself to him and now he thought she was making up with Yamcha. What the hell was the matter with him? She couldn't hold back her tears anymore, so she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

"Hey, Bulma," Yamcha said, still in shock, "You shouldn't let him get to you that way. He's a jerk. I thought you would be used to his tantrums by now."

Bulma lifted her head and looked Yamcha in the eye. She had to tell him the truth. Didn't she owe him that much?

As Yamcha gazed into Bulma's eyes, it suddenly dawned on him. Vegeta was the other man. Bulma was in love with Vegeta!

"My Kami," he sighed, "have you completely lost you mind?"

Bulma smiled sadly, "Yes, I think I have."

"Bulma, he's a bastard!" Yamcha said, "he's cruel and mean and he'll only hurt you in the end."

"You're probably right," Bulma whispered, "but I love him. I can't help it."

Yamcha turned away from Bulma. He stood up and began pacing around the room. He had come here hoping to win her back, but instead he had found out that she was in love with another man...Vegeta for heaven's sake.

He stopped pacing and turned to look at her. There was such fear in her eyes. She probably thought he would reject her friendship just because she had the misfortune of falling in love with a monster. Hell, this was all his fault. If he had been faithful, none of this would have ever happened. When Vegeta broke Bulma's heart, and Yamcha had no doubt he would, Yamcha would have to bear all of the guilt.

Yamcha took a deep breath and walked back to the couch. He sat down beside of Bulma and took her hands into his.

"This isn't going to be easy for you," he warned, "he'll hurt you everyday that you are with him...but you're my friend and I love you. I'll be here for you, Bulma. Whatever you need, I'll be here."

Bulma shouted a cry of joy and jumped into his arms. "Thank you, Yamcha. Thank you so much."

They sat there together, just holding one another for what seemed like forever. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light outside the window, followed by an explosion so forceful, it shook the entire house.

"What the hell was that?" Yamcha screamed, jumping off the couch, "do you think your dad blew the lab up?"

"No," Bulma said shakily, "Dad's in the kitchen with Mom...I can't imagine what...Oh my Kami...," she said bolting out the door, "VEGETA!"

Bulma and Yamcha ran to the gravity room. What they found shook them both to the core. The chamber was completely destroyed. Parts of it lay on tatters all around the yard.

"We have to find him," Bulma said, clearly scared out of her wits, "he's probably hurt!"

They searched through the rubble, both of them calling Vegeta's name frantically. "Over here," Yamcha finally called out, "I found him."

Bulma ran over to Yamcha and looked down. Vegeta was lying at his feet, a bloody mess of broken bones.

"Is he..." Bulma couldn't force herself to finish the question.

"No," Yamcha said, "he's still alive...barely."

Bulma sank to her knees and cradled Vegeta's head in her arms, "Call a doctor, Yamcha."

Yamcha just stood there for a minute. "Call someone NOW!" Bulma screamed.

Yamcha ran off toward the house. Bulma looked down at Vegeta's face. "Don't you dare die on me, you bastard," she said through her tears.

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