It was just too much to bear. The others all went back to the way things were before, but he couldn't. The transformation he underwent brought forth too much to the surface and he couldn't simply suppress it again.
Who can say
Where the road goes
Where the day flows
Only time
Yamucha's heart turned to stone whenever he thought about Bulma and Vegeta being together. With the new power he had gained from the android, he could do what he secretly wished he could do to Vegeta for so many years. The thing about it was, what would that do to Bulma? Even though he was still angry at her, he still loved her with every thing he had. Taking out Vegeta would likely hurt her terribly and he didn't want that.
He also didn't want to constantly see them together either.
And who can say
If your love grows
As your heart chose
Only time
Dreamweaver Studios Presents
Dragonball Z
Tainted Hearts
Epilogue
After the mess with the android Neo, everyone gathered at Capsule Corporation to celebrate the homecoming of their friends. Off to himself, Yamucha watched as the others indulged in their camaraderie. They all seemed so happy, especially Gohan and Videl. If what he heard was correct, they had admitted that they loved each other at the end of the battle.
Love. There was a time when he knew what that felt like.
Who can say
Why your heart sighs
As your love flies
Only time
They were all pretty much paired up. Goku with Chichi, Kuririn with 18, Gohan and Videl were together as well as…as well as Vegeta and Bulma. Gohan and Videl were off to the side with each other while the others were in a group chatting with each other. Vegeta was also off to himself, but Yamucha notice that he did stay close to Bulma.
He heard Kuririn and Goku talking about how it was going to be like old times, with them sparring and fighting together side by side. It was a thrilling thing to be on par with Goku again, Yamucha admitted.
But as he looked at Bulma and remembered the way things were before they knew what a Saiyan he finally resigned to the fact that it would never be like old times, ever again.
And who can say
Why your heart cries
When your love lies
Only time
Just think, Yamucha, girl crazy Yamucha was at one time afraid of women…well, not afraid. He just didn't know how to act around women, especially ones he had a liking for.
The desert bandit was content with his life. There was no one who could stand up to him in a fight. Except for the boy Goku. He never thought such a person could exist. Goku was such a powerful kid, but so likable and naive. Even though Yamucha was consumed with defeating him, he couldn't help liking him too.
But with Goku came Bulma…She was unlike anyone he had met before. She was so sharp and had a biting wit that drew him to her. Even though he got so nervous around her that he lost his cool, he didn't care, as long as he could stay with her.
Who can say
When the roads meet
That love might be
In your heart
But she was also so stubborn. They had so many personality clashes from the time they met till the time the Saiyans showed up; sometimes he thought it was better not knowing her. But, somehow, they always found their way back to each other.
Why? Why didn't they end up together again like they always did? What happened that last time that drove Bulma into the arms of Vegeta of all people?
And who can say
When the day sleeps
If the night keeps
All your heart
As Yamucha sunk deeper into despair, he noticed Bulma was watching him. It seemed she knew how he was feeling. She had the look in her face that she wanted to reach out to him, comfort him in some way.
There was nothing she could do. Anything she would have done would have just made him feel worse. No longer able to stand the happy atmosphere that permeated the room, Yamucha got up out of his seat and left.
Night keeps all your heart
Stepping out into the night, Yamucha took a deep breath. There were no stars shining down on the Earth that night as the clouds blanketed the sky. That was good. The gloomy night mirrored what was in his heart at the moment.
Closing his eyes, he leaned back on the side of the building. His original plan was simply to leave, but he could feel the energy signature of someone coming out after him. No…not just someone, THE one. The one who caused him the pain he was experiencing at the moment.
Since it would likely be the last time he ever saw her, he didn't want to be so rude as to not say goodbye at least.
Opening the door he was standing beside, Bulma poked her head out and got a long look at her one time love. He favored her with a smile but she could see in his eyes that he had lost the fire they had in them at one time. It was only then that it occurred to her that those eyes lost their fire a long time ago…when Trunks was born. It occurred to her then that she never paid attention until now.
"Yamucha--"
He raised a hand to stop her, "You don't have to say anything."
"No, please," she continued, "I want to say this. I…I'm glad to know that you didn't do what you did because you wanted to. It was the android who was controlling you…"
"You're wrong," he said flatly. "The android did change us, but he made this very clear. We went after who we went after because we wanted to. The long harbored resentments we acted on weren't warped, only magnified."
Bulma's eyes widened, "You mean…"
"The person who attacked you wasn't the pawn of an android. That was me, heart and soul."
From there, both stood in a long silence so that their interchange could be digested.
Who can say
If your love grows
As your heart chose
Only time
Bulma looked up at him, "You don't want to…still…do you?"
"No," he assured her. "But I still can't stand seeing you with him." He let out a long sigh and continued. "I guess there's only one thing left for me to do." He looked at her, "I'm leaving, Bulma."
"Leaving? W-why?"
"Like I said, I can't stand seeing you with Vegeta. And I know that if I stay here, I will fight with Vegeta and it will be to the death. And I think if that were to happen, you would be the one hurt most by it. I have to leave."
"Well…when will you be back?"
"I won't be." He stood in front of Bulma and took her hands. "I just wanted to say goodbye before I left."
"You don't have to do this you know," pressed Bulma. "I know the way things happened wasn't right and it was wrong to let this go for so long without working it out, but I know we can. I mean, we can at least remain friends like always…"
"No…I…" Yamucha choked slightly, then continued. "Like I said before, that person you saw before wasn't real. He put on a happy face, but he was dying every time he saw you and him together…I…" He held his head down and choked again.
"Yamucha…"
Yamucha looked up, into Bulma's eyes caught in a moment Yamucha imagined they would share many times over the years. Noticing movement in his peripheral vision, he looked up beyond Bulma. Standing just inside the doorway was Vegeta, listening to their conversation. He could feel the rage building within him and the need to rip the Saiyan bastard's head off.
That wasn't what he wanted, not now.
"I should go now."
And who can say
Where the road goes
Where the day flows
Only time
After he made it some distance away, he turned back to gaze upon the Capsule Corp building one last time. He could still see her, standing there, watching him leave. 'I shouldn't have looked back', he mused as pain and regret washed over his being.
Turning back to the road ahead of him he thought about that family he saw that day while he was in the restaurant. That was the happy ending he had dreamt about half of his life, since he met Bulma. Long ago he had learned a lesson, a lesson that had been taken to heart only recently.
There were no such things as happy endings.
Who knows- only time.
**
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