Unrequited Love

(DBZ, Bulma/Vegeta fanfic)

The ocean breeze gently caressed the seashore as the sea gulls moseyed in flight. The sun shone brightly in the sapphire sky. The weather was perfect – so peaceful and quiet.

"Ahhhh… what a perfect day for a little R & R!" Bulma Briefs gazed at the expanse of the ocean. "I've needed a day off work for so long! If it's not Capsule Corp, its Vegeta always needing food and always breaking that dang gravity machine… just a simple thanks would—"

Thud!

"Hey, Bulma! Come play volleyball with me!" The spunky black-haired woman laughed and picked up the ball. "Or else I'll hit you with it again! You know my aim is deadly – heck, I practice it enough trying to keep Goku away from my food!" Chi-chi ran back towards the beach court.

So much for rest… then again, we can't afford to 'rest' anyway. We have less than 3 years until the androids appear…Bulma was frustrated. Her life had been full of stress at work and at home, and there was always that looming attack on the horizon. "Chi-chi, do you ever get tired of saving the world? Sometimes I just wish I could just let go and not have a care in the world."

"Ha, are you kidding – of course! When you have two Saiyan boys at home constantly talking about the android fight, chatting about ki levels, and eating enough food to feed an army… it's unavoidable. But hey, this is why I brought you here. We both need something to take our minds off of 'business as usual.' Let's have some fun – wanna go shopping after we play a round of volleyball?" She smiled as she tossed the ball to Bulma. "Your ball!"

"Sure – sounds like loads of fun!" Bulma cracked a genuine smile for the first time in a month. "Okay, here it goes!" And the volleyball soared into the air.

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The medicine ball came down into his hands with a thud. Sweat poured off the Saiyan prince's body as he finished the last of his 8 hour training run in the gravity room. With all of his remaining energy, Vegeta powered up to his highest level. Of course, it was higher than yesterday's, and predictably, it gave him a boost in his ego. (A/N: like he needed that in the first place) It wasn't long before he heard that all too common catch in the gravity engine, signaling that the place was going to crumble at any moment. He calmly grabbed his towel, swung it over his shoulder with an arrogant flair, and walked out the door as the gravity room crumbled behind him. "WOMAN! Your machine broke AGAIN!" he screamed out into the air. Hmm, no response – that's odd. Well, she better be in the kitchen with some food. His thoughts wandered to his next delicious meal.

He wandered into Capsule Corp's main building and heard some odd noises. He turned the corner and saw the back of a couch… with a high-heeled foot sticking up in the air… and giggles… and of course, Yamcha. Holy crap, if only the woman knew how unfaithful he was…stupid human emotions. He seriously considered marching into the room and announcing that he caught him in the act. Ah well, it's not like I care anyway.

He walked toward the kitchen and was displeased to find no woman and no food. How dare they treat the Saiyan prince like this! He finally resigned to making his own "sandwich" if it could be called that – a whole salmon on top of a loaf of rye bread and pickles to boot. As he sat down to enjoy his meal, he couldn't get that knotted feeling out of his stomach. Maybe I should tell the woman about Yamcha…she seems to try so hard to please him. No – I better to sit back and watch, unless this gets out of hand. This is going to be some good entertainment… A smirk came over his face at the thought of Yamcha claiming to "love" only Bulma. Oh how interesting it was to watch humans court each other.

He suddenly felt a familiar ki presence…The woman is finally here… AHAHA Yamcha is still in the back room…I wonder how he'll cover this one up. His Saiyan ears picked up a faint whish sound and the click of a door. Yamcha had successfully shoved his temporary lover out the door… again.

"Miss me you Royalness?" A sarcastic smile lit Bulma's face. "I'm surprised you haven't starved to death by now – oh you actually fixed yourself something to eat instead of waiting for one of us 'servants' to do it for you. Awww… I think he's growing up!" Another verbal sparring match was beginning to erupt…

"And you still have that secret collection of Teletubbies in your dresser drawer. Hmph! I would have thought that you would have grown up first!" Vegeta kicked his feet up on top of the table with a triumphant smirk. He had been waiting to bring that trump card up for a long time.

"WHAT! HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT—! I COULD HAVE SWORN—"

"I have ways. Your petty brain can't understand them."

"WHY I OUGHTA….!

"Hey, hey kiddies chill out here!" Yamcha stepped into the room. Well he certainly cleaned himself up, mused Vegeta.

"I wanna know why Mr. Royal Butt got into my dresser drawer! That's trespassing you idiot!"

"Oh, I'm SO sorry – I was merely returning the favor, wasn't I, woman?"

The argument stalled as Bulma's face blushed crimson. She couldn't recover from that one – he was right. She had been snooping around in his room… Vegeta's senses were too sharp for her to get away with it.

"Well… I… you… ARGH! YOU SHUT UP!" and with that, the blue haired woman just glared and stormed off. A look of satisfaction came over Vegeta's face as he watched her defeated figure retreat. Ahhhh… yet another verbal sparring victory! This is the best way to end a day of intense training.

His thoughts were interrupted when that annoying voice chimed in – "You really ought to treat Bulma with more respect and—" A murderous gaze cut off Yamcha's rebuke. A look of terror swept over Yamcha's features as he slowly edged out of the room. "I… I… never mind!" and he bolted after Bulma.

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Why is he so mean? She hopelessly paced in her room. Ugh! Why do I have to put up with such a royal pain? He's always causing trouble… but then again, it is fun to argue with him. He won't get the best of me next time! A faint smell wafted through Bulma's bedroom window. Oh no… oh no… not again…she was afraid to look out the window. That all too familiar scent only meant one thing. She drifted toward the open window to discover with much chagrin that half the gravity room completely demolished. Oh I swear! That man is in for it! I always fix that room just so he can train some more. I should just leave the planet for a few months and see how he likes it – no food and no gravity room – Ha! That would serve him royally, I'll say!

Slowly, a grim realization dawned on her. I couldn't do that… he'd die if I didn't. Not like that would kill me or anything – part of Earth's destiny depends on how strong he gets. I hate getting trapped in situations like this – I want to make my own decisions! To Bulma, her situation was only getting more stressful by the minute. And I can't even get back at him.

Yamcha slowly poked his head into the bedroom doorway and scoped out the situation. After assessing the scene, he decided okay to comfort Bulma without getting yelled at. He quickly wrapped his arms around her.

"Oh Bulma, it's okay – he's just not a happy person." He led his pouting girl to the window seat. "You'll be fine–"

"I'll be fine!" Bulma hotly interrupted. "I can't even take revenge on him. Heck, all I'm good for is repairs and a good meal." At this, a stray tear ran down her cheek at dropped onto Yamcha's leg.

"There, there," Yamcha patted her back. "You're good for more—" Yamcha's testosterone interrupted him this time. He gazed at a pretty woman walking outside and started to drool. Before he knew it, he was shoved out the front of Capsule Corp with the door slammed hotly in his face. He shrugged walked away.

Oh, the nerve of him! He blatantly looks at other girls…Bulma blew past Vegeta in the kitchen and ran upstairs to let out her feelings. I have to cry. And she did… hard. Yamcha had been hurting her, and she was becoming weary of it.

Eventually she calmed herself down, and she cleaned herself up and dressed in one of the new outfits she had got with Chi-Chi during their mall extravaganza. The blue colors complemented her hair and eyes. Well, at least I still look beautiful. Now for some of that comforting ice cream!

(A/N: More is coming, but I'd like to know what you think of the first chapter before I post anymore)