Blue Roses

Bouzi Neo

Chapter Fourteen: Men

Bulma stared at Gohan in a mixture of shock and disgust. Not with him, but herself. She was an... old woman. How could she have possibly lead him on like that? Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked down, blushing madly.

She hadn't felt the warm touch of a man since... Vegeta... She wouldn't even let Yamucha touch her. She'd yelled and shrieked and sobbed that he'd try something on her, like he was trying to mock the great Vegeta.

Gohan looked down, ashamed, "I never intended for you to know, Bulma-Sama."

She nodded. "I still think of you as a sweet b-m-" She stuttered. She didn't know if she could call him a boy or a man. Curiosity got the better of her, and she spilled out, "How long have you..."

Gohan looked at her and sighed, noting her first comment with sadness, "It was just a crush... at first. I ignored it… I was always very busy training with Piccolo… I always thought you were pretty but as I got older, got to know you..."

She flushed again, "I'm flattered, but I'm old enough to be your mother, Gohan. You just haven't had enough experience with girls your age to know the difference yet…"

"I don't care." He looked at her stubbornly for a moment, he'd lost control but his voice was desperate and gentle. She stared at him with deep blue watering eyes. He held her gaze until he could no longer bear the sight of her tears, "I don't care. Everyone's told me all my life that this would go away, it was just supposed to be a stupid natural crush!"

Bulma backed up a bit, sitting down calmly.

Gohan continued, for he could no longer stop, "But I see you and I see something so much more than just a pretty face and, ugh! I can't explain it. I shouldn't have to. I wish it were so easy, where I'd grown up like a normal little boy going to public school with a crush on the teacher or the little girl in the back of the class, but you're not and it's not, no… Never mind... I wouldn't change my childhood for anything..." Gohan was almost incoherently babbling and Bulma stared at him. He didn't know how to express himself...

She stood to pat him on the shoulder gently. The pat turned into a long, emotional hug. Gohan looked up at Bulma and pulled a strand of aqua away from her face. He smiled sadly, "Tomorrow I'll go back. I can visit Trunks every few weeks. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Bulma."

She shook her head, "You'll stay right here as you always have."

"I couldn't stand being here-"

"You'll survive."

"I want you."

"I'm old enough to be your mother."

"I'm too far along to care."

"It's not that you're not a handsome young man, but… I'm too old for you."

"I don't care."

"What can I say?" Bulma sighed.

"Say you feel even a fraction of what I do." Gohan looked at her. He felt pathetic and sick. He knew if Bulma hadn't wanted to kick him out before, she certainly would now. But she just looked down.

"You know I can't. What type of person would I be? You're a little boy-"

"I am not. I know you like to think of me as one but incase you haven't noticed, I'm a man now. If you can't say you care for me-in that way- I understand, it's okay and I'm sorry about everything... but you have to give me the dignity to let you walk out of here knowing I'm a man."

Bulma held her breath. She stared at him in eyes she didn't want to look through ever again. Lust washed over her and she almost allowed herself to give into the soft, loving eyes of Gohan. Those bottomless pits... obsidian eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest.

No.

She would be using him. He would wake up, not a better person-a better man, but feeling horrible and abused. She wouldn't hurt anyone like that. She couldn't do that, not to sweet Gohan.

Even if he wasn't a boy. He was a human... No, he was a Saiya-Jin. Damn it, he was alive.

"Sit down," She ordered him awkwardly, flustered, "Lay back down. You're still my patient, you're ill, you need to rest."

He sighed and obeyed. She fussed over his arm for a moment. The corners of his mouth twitched as he thought of just ripping the bandages away to see her expression.

'I have more self-control than this. It's been too long since I was last with someone... Maybe I should get some sort of... hobby or something. Meet some people while Gohan and Trunks are out... Get rid of this lust... Stop thinking of disgusting things... He's a boy.'

"It's okay, Bulma."

"It's not okay, you need to sleep... I myself need to go grab something to eat and I don't want you to move a muscle."

He'd meant to comfort her about the talk they'd just had. He looked down as she left and sighed. "Great job," He hissed to himself, "At least I had her friendship and respect before." He closed his eyes, miserable than ever.

Bulma hugged herself. The wind was cold and the sky was dark but she felt comfortable now that she was alone and didn't have to face Gohan and his loving eyes.

That Saiya-Jin stare. She first saw it in Gokou's eyes. Passionate for fighting as ever... whenever a battle was coming she could tell by looking at him. One could get excited about it, but not fear it... he'd be there...

Then, there was Vegeta. She could tell easily that they were of the same race, just by looking at their eyes, even though Vegeta was more complex than Gokou. Gokou's nature was simple. Vegeta did what he wanted. Vegeta's eyes glittered in a sadistic light one moment and in another one that was somewhat gentle. Then again, there was a rage in there as well... passion for more than just fighting... But he was not complete... Neither of them was... That Saiya-Jin stare always did something to her. Made her blood run cold. Made her shiver all over. It was... dangerously tempting.

Now whatever God was up there decided to be sadistic and give Gohan the same eyes. But if she were… to ever be with him… He was so different from anyone she'd ever dated. Except for Yamucha and Vegeta, they were all little flings, and Yamucha cared about himself more than anything while Vegeta was, well Vegeta…

She tried to accuse herself of only considering this because he reminded her of Vegeta… but he didn't…

She sighed.

She was pathetic.

"I told you I would find you, Earthling Woman."

"No... not now... not right now. Go away." Bulma hissed back at him, flinching and barely able to conceal a yelp of fright.

He chuckled, "I love that about you... you're not afraid of me. But why not, one might ask? And I do think you could do with having a bit more respect for the me."

She moved away from him. He leaned forward to grab her but she moved back. He laughed. She looked down, "Why did you tell me where he was?"

"Isn't it obvious? You owe me now." He smirked, grabbing her by her waist. "I gave you his life and now you owe me something much more than life."

She, disgusted, pushed him away. He chuckled. "Get out of here. Don't come back."

"I do what I want, silly woman."

She closed her eyes, moving away in what was barely a run, but he caught her... she shivered upon feeling his tongue upon her ear.. "Just remember you are in debt to me. I know he's in there and I know he's injured. I could easily walk in there and kill him. So I wouldn't tempt me to if I were you."

She turned to curse him, make threats, but she was alone once again, left only to think about the fact that not one but two men, one... Saiya-Jin.... handsome... boy... the other, dangerous, cruel, object of her hatred... but at the same time alluring.

Nuu! Bulma!

Next Time: He loves telling her that she owes him… so why doesn't she owe him for something that's worth while?

Reviewer's Corner:

GethMane8: -Nods- She can't say no forever, can she? –Grins-

Prophecy: I shall update soon!

MiLk: I'm a genius! That's so cool! Thanks! Woo!

Jay: Yep. I know, sorry it took so long, I wanted it set up perfect. You know me. Impatient but perfectionist clash. So anyway, he'll win her love… but can he KEEP it?

Shy-Lil-Dreamer: I know. I've done a lot to him, ne? Ah well. Just know he'll have two arms in this story as far as I know. Nothing set in stone, but I'm leaning towards letting him keep his arms.

Just Ne: Funny! Yay, that's something new. I usually get "original angst" Hey, whatever floats your boat. I shall update!