Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters or the song "I Don't Know You Anymore" by Savage Garden
Sorry it took so long to update this one, but everyone pretty much knows my excuses now, so I'm sure no one holds it against me. Wow, 16 reviews for a first chapter…I think that might be a first for me :D Thank you all so much ^_^
Blueflower1594: Sorry for taking so long to update, but I hope you keep reading :3
Damona Veggie: I'm really glad you like all my BXV's. Other than Yu Yu Hakusho stories, that's pretty much all I write XD I get too many ideas for AU's for the couple.
Skinnychick: I hadn't read hers before you mentioned it. We even talked about our stories. Yeah, we're going in totally different directions. But yes, Mallie-3's story is fantastic. Thanks for reviewing.
Cara2012: Thanks. Hope you like this chapter.
Muffinmini: Glad you love it :D
WithoutWingsX: Yay ^_^
Callistokt: I hope you'll like the direction it's going in.
KKsaiyancat: Lol, I always skip around a lot, but I'll try not to :) Thanks for reading.
WhatWhat123: Oh good :D That makes me happy.
TeamVegetaGirl123: No…no lemons in the future. You're lucky I can write a kissing scene without blushing XD
Sami199: Good I'm glad. I hope it continues to interest you.
KimiruMai: Yes, it's the dads again XD When is it not? I'll update Dysfunctional Ties next. I'm not telling what I'm going to do with this one. It will resemble a plot from a soap opera I watch though, although it's going to be waaaaaaaaaay different.
Torch-of-Darkness: Well…warning, it's going to get a lot sadder. Be ready for anything :/
DaniellaDBZ4ever: Glad you like it. Sorry it's been so long since I updated.
Miikodesu: Well, he wasn't the one spying, but yeah…creeper. They don't really have to breakup…but all I can say is there's something going down in this story and it's going to be a while before they get reunited.
Iluvveggie: Glad you approve. Just wait for the craziness to start.
Vegeta woke up the next morning to his father throwing the newspaper down on him. He growled at his father, but refrained from yelling at him when he saw his victorious smirk. Vegeta's eyebrow rose in confusion until he looked down to the front page news. The picture was censored, but it was pretty obvious that it was a picture of him and Bulma together. Flabbergasted by what his father had done, Vegeta looked back to his smirking face, mouth gaping.
"I told you to stay away from her," his father stated. "I'll give you another chance, but that girl's reputation is ruined. It looks like we'll be raking in the investors this year."
Vegeta ripped the newspaper and threw it down to the ground. He stood up to face his father. "That's all you care about?" he shouted. "How about the fact that you just hurt me and my girlfriend? Or that you sullied our company's name as well?"
"It's in the article. It says that you have no connection to the company."
"So what?" Vegeta continued to yell, alerting his mother who ran into the room. "They're going to see just how vindictive you are! No one will want to work with you!"
"You're just pissed about being cut off," the businessman replied with a smirk.
"Fuck you!" Vegeta screamed before storming out of his house. His mother turned to his father and glared at her husband.
"You better pray they work things out," Kalina said, "because if our son is miserable, I will make you pay." She left the room and decided to go place a call to Bulma's mother. Their kids needed to get out of the business life now, or at least away from their father's.
Vegeta stormed across the street to Bulma's house and knocked on the door. Dr. Briefs had answered it. He did not look pleased in seeing Vegeta. Vegeta's glare softened now that he was away from his own father. He was about to request to see Bulma, but he was interrupted.
"She's not here," he told the teenager.
Vegeta was shocked. Where else would she be on a Sunday morning? "Where is she?"
Dr. Briefs scoffed. "Hell if I know," he growled. "After I saw the picture I threw her out."
"What?" Vegeta shouted to the man. "Why would you do that? She's your daughter!"
Dr. Briefs just slammed the door in Vegeta's face. The teen stared at the door, gaping again. How would he get in touch with Bulma now? His father blocked her on his phone and her dad didn't know where she was. Maybe she was at Chi Chi's house. Vegeta decided to call Goku, but he got no answer. Yes, they all had to be over at Chi Chi's.
Vegeta was banging on the door as soon as he arrived at Chi Chi's house. Chi Chi answered the door and frowned when she saw Vegeta. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Is Bulma?" he returned.
Chi Chi sighed and let him in. "Bulma's asleep right now. She was crying earlier, but other than her father throwing her out, she's handling everything else as well as could be expected."
Vegeta sighed in relief. He knew that with time, Bulma and her father would work things out. It's not like Vegeta was tied to Ouji Corp. anymore. Chi Chi led Vegeta to the room where Bulma was staying. He couldn't help but smile when he saw how peaceful she looked despite the situation.
"Please, Vegeta, don't wake her," Chi Chi requested. "I just got her to calm down." Vegeta nodded and walked over to the bed. Chi Chi smiled a bit when Vegeta climbed into bed and put his arm around her best friend.
Bulma stirred a bit in Vegeta's arms, but didn't wake up. Vegeta was going to take a little nap with her when his phone went off. His ringtone was on low, so he didn't expect it to wake Bulma. He growled quietly when he saw his father's name appear on the screen. He stood up as quickly as he could without waking Bulma and then answered it. "What do you want?"
His father sighed, "Get back home. I want to talk to you."
"I'm not coming home," Vegeta replied. "I don't want to 'sully' your 'good' name any more than I already have."
"Your mother is upset. Come back home or I'll pay that PI extra to drag you from your friend's house."
To say Vegeta was pissed would have been an understatement. "Only for an hour, old man. Then I'm coming straight back here." His father hung up the phone.
Vegeta wanted to break his phone in his anger, but when he looked back to Bulma's sleeping form, all of the rage left him. He moved to push a strand of hair from her face. "I'll be back," he whispered. He left the room. As he shut the door, he didn't notice Bulma watching him leave.
Vegeta never met up with his father. Apparently his mother had sent him out for groceries. She motioned for Vegeta to join her in the den and then took out a folder he wasn't quite sure of.
"Mrs. Briefs and I have been working on this for a little while," she explained. "We both think you and Bulma work well together and we want you to be happy. This is the information for an apartment we rented out for you two, furnished. You can stay there until this all blows over and your fathers see reason."
"Are you serious?" Vegeta asked hopefully. If he and Bulma could live together, then his father really wouldn't have a say. It didn't matter that he had the PI following him. He would be with Bulma and that was all that mattered. They could finish the last few weeks of their senior year together and then run away together.
"Of course I'm serious," his mother answered him. "I have never seen you as happy as you've been these last couple of years. I know you've been with her that long. It was so obvious by how the two of you would cast each other those longing glances at the conventions."
Vegeta blushed at the thought of being caught like that by his mother and apparently Bulma's mother. "I need to get back to her," he said to avoid an emotional discussion. His mother nodded, hugged him goodbye, and wished him luck. She knew he needed to get out of the house before his father came home.
Vegeta took his car back to Chi Chi's. It already was packed, courtesy of his mother and Bulma's. Maybe if they had opened up to their mothers, things would be different. If they hadn't been sneaking around, his father would have left them alone and wouldn't have hired a private investigator.
Vegeta ignored all that as he pulled up to Chi Chi's house. He didn't even knock. He was just so excited that he could start his life with the woman he loved; however, when he opened the door, his face fell.
Goku was trying to calm down Chi Chi who was panicking because Bulma disappeared. He looked over to Vegeta, who was just shaking his head in disbelief. Vegeta ran up the stairs to the room Bulma was staying in. She was gone.
A piece of paper on the nightstand caught Vegeta's attention, and he went to see what it was. It was a note, a letter from Bulma, saying that she had overheard him talking with his father. She didn't want him to choose between her and his own family, so she ran away and would not be coming back. With no way to contact her, he would never see her again.
He held the note close to him, as though it was acting as his safety blanket to control his rage. He did not blame Bulma for running. Even he was coming here to take her away, away from the hell that was their lives. Goku came into the room and place a hand on Vegeta's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said calmly.
Vegeta shrugged himself away from his friend. "Don't touch me, Kakarot. I'm out of here."
Goku didn't even try to follow him. He knew his friend would need a lot of time. There was nothing he could do to help his friend heal while his wounds were still fresh.
Later in the week, Bulma was still nowhere to be found. Vegeta's mood darkened and everyone who knew him grew worried. He moved into the apartment his mother had rented for him and Bulma. His father visited him often to discuss their differences. He still wanted Vegeta to take over the business one day. Vegeta agreed, but he had a hidden agenda. When he took over, he planned to bring down Capsule Corp. He was furious with both his father and Bulma's for causing them to be separated.
Meanwhile, Bulma's mother was grieving for the loss of her daughter. She hadn't heard from her in a week and she didn't know if she was okay. Things were tense between her and her husband. She blamed him. She didn't even blame Vegeta's father for Bulma not being there. Yes, he published the pictures, but her husband threw their daughter out. He could have listened to her and been supportive, but he chose the pointless company vendetta over their little girl.
Bulma was unaware of everything going on back home. She went as far as she could go with the money she had on her. She did not want to be recognized, so she took matters into her own hands.
"Yo, Beeja," a gentleman at a table called. "I need a refill."
Bulma turned to face the man and smiled. She poured him another cup of coffee. Walking away, she heard the man say, "Hey Beeja, let me know if you're ever looking for a date. I've got a friend who has a thing for brunettes."
Bulma turned back to the man and flashed another bright smile. "No, thank you. I'm perfectly happy on my own."
Just then, her boss came out to let her know it was time for her lunch break. Bulma thanked her and headed directly for the bathroom. When she got in there, she washed her hands and face. Then, she looked into the mirror; a blue-eyed, brown-haired girl was staring back at her.
