AT THE END OF THE LAST CHAPTER THERE WAS A QUOTE MADE BY CLAIRESSE ABOUT BULMA. WHY DID CLAIRESSE SAY THAT? WHY IS SHE TALKING WITH CHICHI? WHY IS SHE IN SATAN CITY? FIND OUT IN CHAPTER TWELVE!
Two weeks later
Bulma ran up to her new house feeling very optimistic. She no longer had any kind of hired help and she was feeling very independent. *I CAN do this. * She told herself as she made dinner that night. *I will be an average person if it kills me. This is going to be a whole new existence for me. I have everything here I could possibly need or want: money, a razor, food, clothes, credit cards, flavored water, make-up...everything but Vegeta. *She thought sighing. *I can't believe I still have feelings for that egotistical son of a b*tch. After all we've been through and he had to pull something like that. *She thought her eyes filling with tears as she loaded her dishwasher. *What'd be terrible is if we were to see each other again. I know he'd hate that. *Bulma sighed and sat in her new leather couch. *It's going to be hard getting used to life alone."
****************************
Chichi expertly maneuvered down the aisle of the local food mart with her purchases in tow. She was almost finished with her shopping. She suddenly zoomed down the snack aisle as she spotted the last bag of Doritos (I know not likely but I couldn't think of much else to put) and ran into a pretty young woman with a wide brimmed hat (one of those fancy kind, not a ten-gallon hat or a baseball cap, it's one of those that they used to wear in the 'old days') that was white with a blue ribbon around it, dark blue sunglasses and a matching sundress. The woman yelped and fell to the floor in a heap, landing near her full basket. Chichi rushed to her side. "I'm sorry miss. Are you okay?"
"Fine. I'm fine," the woman said shakily as Chichi helped her up.
"I love your outfit! It's so cute. Where'd you get it? It must have cost a fortune."
The woman frowned then laughed good-naturedly at Chichi's forwardness, "I got it at the mall; it was on sale."
"You just said the magic words! Would you go with me to get it?" she pleaded.
The woman thought about it for a while then beamed at Chichi, "I'd be delighted to."
"Great! Let me pay for all this first and then we can go." Chichi waited in line while the woman went through the express lane. Chichi saw her smile at the bagger who was gawking at her openly. *There's something very familiar about her that I can't quite put my finger on. And her speech...it's so cultured and snobbish at times and then it sounds really cheery and friendly. * Chichi finally paid for all of her things and was ready to leave. She got in her car and followed the woman to the mall.
***************************
"$210! That's a pretty good deal. Hmmm. I'll get one that isn't the same as yours. I'll get... this purple one. Where are the matching glasses and hat?"
"I bought those separately," the woman said softly.
"Why do you need them?"
The woman seemed startled at her question, "I have sensitive eyes and light damages them."
"Oh, I'm sorry. What's your name?"
The woman's mouth turned down at the question; "My name is Clairesse."
"Really?! That's funny. There's a woman, the ambassador Dane's wife, named Clairesse too. She's friends with the president."
"Former president." Clairesse told Chichi.
"It's going to take a while for me to get used to that. Bulma Briefs was the best president this planet has ever seen."
The woman laughed as if that was the funniest thing she had ever heard. "Really? I thought she was a silly, emotional, insecure loser; not to mention a spoiled brat."
"You must be joking." Chichi said shocked.
Clairesse shrugged, "Maybe...what's your name? You never told me."
"Chichi. Hey, do you want to come eat dinner over at my house tonight? I always make plenty. My husband and his friends always eat enough for fifty."
"I've had guests like that before, " Clairesse said smiling "I'll be glad to come."
"Great! See you at eight!" the two waved and separated after exchanging addresses and phone numbers. Chichi smiled as she made her way home, *I think I've just made a best friend.
*She finally reached home and made three large pans of lasagna. When Goku and Vegeta arrived from training that evening, she told them about her new friend. "She's coming over for dinner tonight, so I want you two on your best behavior. Especially you Vegeta." she lectured while setting the table. Just then, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Chichi said excitedly "Goku you and Vegeta sit down while I answer the door."
Chichi took off her apron (I don't know if she really wears one) and opened the door. "Clairesse! Hi! Come on in." Chichi beamed opening the door. "Follow me." she said. She turned her back to Clairesse and frowned slightly. Her new best friend was still wearing sunglasses and a hat while she was in the house. *Her eyes can't be that sensitive, can they? * She thought. Clairesse was wearing a short dress (by Chichi's standards, which means it wasn't down to her ankles =) that was red, a red hat (like the one she had before) and black sunglasses. Chichi shrugged *Oh well. To each her own. *
"Clairesse, this is my husband, Goku, and his friend, Vegeta." Chichi said as she led the way to the table. She turned to see why Clairesse was taking so long. Clairesse was standing frozen in place like a deer caught in headlights, and the small amount of her face that could be seen had turned ghastly pale. "Clairesse? Is something wrong?" Chichi asked worried.
Clairesse snapped out of it. "Hi." she said meekly. Goku and Vegeta stared at her. As Vegeta stared at the poor frightened woman, he felt a stir of desire inside him (I know that's an overused little phrase, but I had to use it) and instantly squashed it. He felt guilty for being attracted to anything about this woman. *Something about this woman is very familiar. She reminds me of Jez...*Goku, trying to make his wife's friend feel more comfortable, waved enthusiastically.
Clairesse tried not to panic. *At least they haven't figured me out yet. *
"Come sit down at the table, Clairesse." Chichi said cheerfully, sitting next to Goku. Vegeta frowned as the name registered. "Here, sit next to Vegeta." Chichi continued, smiling. Clairesse smiled weakly at Vegeta, who tried to ignore her sitting there next to him, but his eyes kept reaching her.
Angry at what he could not understand, Vegeta blurted, "Why don't you take your d*mn hat and glasses off woman!"
Chichi's new friend counted to ten silently and bit her lip, but she could not hold back a reply, "Here's an idea *sshole. Why don't you shut your d*mn mouth?"
"You--"
"Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves!" Chichi interrupted. "Can't we eat dinner in peace?"
"I'm sorry Chichi." Clairesse said. Vegeta cursed under his breath and viciously stabbed his lasagna with his fork (I'm sorry about the lack of Japanese 'stuff' in this chapter, but I'm an American and I haven't much knowledge of Japanese culture. I'd rather not have any at all than have some in here and it was wrong. So, please don't get mad at my American crud in here. Please.)
The four continued eating their dinner in relative silence until Chichi piped up. "So Claire; where are you from?"
"I'm from around here, but I haven't been in town for a while."
"What kept you away?"
"Work." Clairesse said.
"What do you do for a living?" Chichi asked surprised.
"I do a lot of managing." Clairesse said smiling.
"Do you want to hear something interesting? A couple of weeks ago, my husband met the president. Vegeta did too." Chichi boasted.
"How nice," Clairesse said sarcastically "I met her too."
"Yeah, she was really nice." Goku piped up.
Vegeta snorted, "Ha, says you."
"What did she do to you?" Clairesse asked curious.
"What the h*ll do you care?" he sneered. Clairesse frowned at him and narrowed her eyes from behind her dark glasses. Vegeta saw her frowning, "Why the h*ll are you hiding behind those dark glasses and that ridiculous hat? Are you so d*mn ugly that you don't want anyone to see you and then have a heart attack?" (I know that was kind of childish, but in a way Vegeta is a spoiled child. I love him anyway=)
Clairesse jumped out of her seat and smacked Vegeta full across his face with all of her strength, knowing it wouldn't hurt him a bit, and not really giving a sh*t. "You b*stard. I hope you roast in h*ll." she hissed.
Chichi stared flabbergasted at her previously calm friend while Goku watched amused. All of this reminded him of something and he missed those times that he was sure would never return.
Vegeta rose slowly from his chair and met Claire's eyes with a look that would have stopped anyone, but the woman glared back at him, unfazed. Vegeta leaned in closer to her, "Been there, done that. Now why don't you shut your d*mn mouth. You're giving me a headache," he said softly, almost gently as he went back to eating his dinner calmly as if nothing happened. Chichi was still flabbergasted. Goku was surprised at how fast Vegeta seemed to have taken to Clairesse, but he tried his best to keep calm.
"Why don't you sit down and finish eating Clairesse?" She finally sat down defeatedly and ate her dinner in silence, while Goku and Chichi kept looking from her to Vegeta in disbelief. *There is some kind of chemistry going on between these two and it's stronger than it was with Bulma. *Goku thought. *Trunks must have altered the future completely...which means... he won't be born! *
Vegeta couldn't help staring also, after all, this was the second person with the guts to stand up to him and get involved in a verbal spar with him. *She's like Bulma whenever I p*ssed her off. * Vegeta thought *Only this woman is more aggressive. *
After dinner, everyone went to relax and talk. (I just think it's funny that these four actually have something to 'talk' about.::crickets chirping:: Okay I'm stupid, just stop reading this and go to back to the story. Wait! I have it: they're talking about the androids) Clairesse didn't get involved (she has no idea of what they're talking about, she wasn't present when the lavender haired boy from the future told them all of this) until she noticed a figure watching them from the corner.
Goku followed her gaze, "Come on in here for a minute Gohan."
Gohan walked up to Clairesse and held out his hand, Clairesse shook his hand solemnly, "Hi Gohan. I'm a friend of your mother's." She said, not knowing that he would save the world one-day.
"Hi." he said.
"Gohan, don't you have some studying to be doing?" Chichi reminded him. Gohan sighed and left the room after waving one last time at Claire.
"I'm sorry about that. I told him to stay in his room since I have company." Chichi said. "That's okay. I love kids, especially since I was an only child. I used to want ten kids," she said dreamily. Everyone blanched; especially Chichi, "TEN? Do you know how difficult it is for me with just one? You must be crazy. I can't even imagine having a second." (Ha ha, little does she know...)
Claire shrugged and fingered the diamond ring on her left ring finger that Chichi assumed was a wedding ring. "I was just a kid then. I know now that was just a silly dream."
"That is the dumbest thing I've heard. You reminded me of someone at first, but I know for a fact she'd never think something as stupid as that. You must be crazy to want your poor mate go through that with someone as hideous as you at least ten times." Vegeta scoffed (That's a little much for PG-13, but I know you guys can handle it =).
"Who do I remind you of Vegeta?" Clairesse demanded with some anger in her voice, ignoring everything else he had said.
"Some stupid woman I used to know." he said sounding bored.
"The former president, Bulma, right?"
"How the h*ll did you--"
"You expressed your intense dislike for her earlier."
"Vegeta doesn't mean it He's actually got the hots for her." Goku said smiling (Got the hots for her? Oh my gosh, Funimation has been messing with my story!)
Chichi laughed, "I sincerely hope you're joking, Goku. Vegeta, I thought you said you'd never have any sort of feelings for any 'd*mn female'. The only type of feelings I thought you could show were all connected to your pride."
"Evidently not." Vegeta said in a voice so low only Clairesse and Goku (with his Saiyan hearing) heard it.
"Why did you leave her?" she asked.
"He was afraid some reporter would make him into some sentimental mushy guy, and that would have hurt his pride." Goku said, before Vegeta could answer. Vegeta glowered furiously as Goku continued, "Besides, Vegeta was afraid she'd want to make a commitment and he isn't--"
"Shut the h*ll up Kakkarot."
"The name's Goku." Goku said cheerfully.
"I really don't give a d*mn. Just shut that large hole in your face up." he growled.
"Why don't you tell her that--" Clairesse started.
"Just why the h*ll is it any business of yours anyway woman? Are you so lonely with your hideously ugly face that you get your cheap thrills from listening to other people's twisted 'love' stories? I think you have one f****** huge problem." Vegeta interrupted angrily (I know, childish again).
Clairesse leaped out of her seat (she seems to do that a lot). "I try to be nice and all you do is b*tch at me! Well let me tell you a little something Mr. Holier-than-thou-art Vegeta. You don't know as much as you seem to be convinced you do. As a matter of fact what little you do know amounts to jack sh*t."
"What the h*ll are you talking about woman!" Vegeta yelled angrily.
"My name is not woman, d*mn you! Address me by my proper name or do not address me at all." Clairesse hissed.
"Clairesse is a d*mn ugly name for a d*mn ugly b*tch."
"It's not my real name you jackass."
"A b*tch by any other name would be just as b*tchy." Vegeta sneered (I kind of used one of Shakespeare's lines to make that line: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet").
"Maybe so, but this 'b*tch' prefers to be called Bulma." Clairesse spat.
The room silenced, until Vegeta answered angrily, "You go too far in your mockery of me woman."
"Perhaps I have gone too far. I might as well end this now." She threw her sunglasses and hat at Vegeta. Chichi gasped, Goku was surprised, but the only reaction Bulma really cared about just then was Vegeta's, as he took a step away from her in his bewilderment. "Bulma?"
"That would be me." she said sadly (I was hoping you had changed Vegeta. I guess I was wishing for too much." She turned to Chichi who was staring at her in disbelief. "I'm sorry about all of this Chichi. I'm...I'm going to leave now." She picked up her things and left.
Vegeta was still in shock, *It was her the whole time! A part of me knew it. I can't believe I didn't guess. * "How could I have been so blind?" Vegeta asked himself aloud.
Goku decided to answer for him, "You were too busy denying being attracted to her."
"All along I compared her with Bulma. How could I--"
"You may have just ruined any chance you may have had with her, Vegeta. You were a complete *ss. Well, see you in the morning." Goku said tiredly, going to bed. Chichi was still bewildered. "The President was in my house, talking to me, and we went shopping together, and I didn't even know it."
Not for the first time, Vegeta regretted ending the link, *If I hadn't done it, I would have known it was her. * He rested his head on his arms as he lay back in the bed. *What's surprising is I didn't even know how much I missed her until I saw her. * (A little OOC for Veggie, I know, but come on give me a break, you liked the rest of the story, right?)
**********************
As Bulma sat in her new home, she felt very confused. She cringed as she remembered the events that had taken place in the last hour and a half. *It's all Vegeta's fault. I hate to love that jerk, and I loved to hate him. He goads me into an argument every chance he gets and it's very frustrating. * Bulma frowned at the silence in her CC home. She still wasn't quite used to living by herself. Bulma kicked off her shoes and lay back on the couch, trying to relax. Unfortunately, all she could think of was Vegeta: his voice, and his face, and-- Bulma closed her eyes to stop the tears that were beginning to develop. *I have to get over him He may have liked me at one point, but that's all over. I'm going to miss him. * She thought crying herself silently to sleep.
************
Bulma woke up the next morning-- actually, afternoon, feeling as though she'd been hit with an eighteen wheeler. Her throat hurt a little from all of her yelling last night. *At least I aced all of that voice therapy the other day, or I'd be in for some real pain. * She thought as she lifted herself off of the couch and trudged to the kitchen for some cappuccino. She passed the phone and stopped as she saw the light on her answering machine blinking. She pushed the button and listened as she prepared her cappuccino.
"Uh, Ms. Briefs? This is Troy Goodrich, your father's lawyer. We've discovered a large amount of money addressed to you by your father in one of his accounts. We are in the process of transporting it to your account right now. That's all." Click.
"Bulma. This is Clairesse. What in the world were you thinking two weeks ago? I just got back form my trip with Dane, and I heard about your resignation. Needless to say, I'm shocked. Call me ASAP." Click.
Long period of silence, then "Bul--Bulma? This is Chichi." Bulma raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I'm sorry about last night. I just wanted to know if you--if I--if we could still be friends? You don't have to see Vegeta ever again if you don't want to. He leaves early in the morning with Goku to train for most of the day. Would you please think about it? I have to make breakfast so...bye." Click.
Bulma put her drink down and picked up the phone to dial Chichi's number.
"Hello?"
"Chichi, this is Bulma. I still want to be friends too."
"Great! Want to come over?" Chichi asked excitedly.
"Be there in about ten minutes." Bulma said, hanging up.
***********
Author's note: No, don't get all excited, the story isn't over yet. I'm just lazy and I'm going to sort of 'narrate' for a while.
Ahem, this secret arrangement went on for three and a half weeks. During this time, Vegeta and Bulma (as Chichi promised) never saw each other, which was just as well, because both (in their own different way) were trying to forget the other. Bulma missed Vegeta and Vegeta missed her, but neither was going to admit it until the other did first. Bulma spent more and more time with Chichi and Vegeta was more obsessed with his training than usual.
"Hey Bulma! Where's Gohan?" Chichi shouted from the clothesline outside.
"He's in his room." Bulma answered from the kitchen. She'd been taking lessons from Chichi, a (in Bulma's and Goku's opinion) superb cook, and she was much improved. Bulma reached into the oven and pulled out a large tray of cookies. "Gohan! Snack!" She yelled.
In what seemed like a second, the young man came into the room. "All right! Cookies! Thanks Bulma." he cheered.
Chichi walked in, "Why aren't you hitting those books Gohan?"
"Ah, Mom, I was just taking a break." Gohan said sheepishly.
"No you don't! Take your cookies and get back to work, young man." Chichi ordered.
Gohan sighed and Bulma rolled her eyes at her friend's obsession with her son's education. Gohan got his cookies and left sadly.
"Chichi, you have got to loosen up and let that kid have some fun once in a while. All work and no play makes Gohan a very dull boy."
Chichi looked horrified, "My Gohan? Dull?!"
Bulma closed her eyes and saw what she was saying in her mind, "Yes, dull. No one will want to be his friend and he'll be a lonely perverted hermit living on the outside of society. All of the neighborhood kids will be afraid of him and--"
"All right, enough! I will not let my little boy's intelligence go to waste by letting him become a hermit like Roshi. I just wish he had someone around his age to play with."
"Why don't you play with him?" Bulma suggested.
"ME?" Chichi almost fell over.
Bulma laughed at her friend's suggestion, "Sure, I bet he'd be glad to play with anyone; I mean it's better than having your nose in a book all the time."
"Oh, all right." Chichi sighed "What should we do?"
"It's pretty hot outside, so why don't we play in the sprinkler?" Bulma suggested.
"Okay, I have an extra swim suit if you want it."
"Thanks. Let's go tell Gohan the good news first." When he found out, Gohan leaped out of his seat and started cheering. Chichi watched her son cheering and looking happy in surprise, *I guess he does need a break every once in a while. *
"Go get changed Gohan." Chichi told him as the two left.
Chichi went into her bedroom for a minute and returned with something in her hand. She threw it at Bulma, who caught it, surprised.
"Oh, Chichi! It's beautiful," she said, beaming at her friend.
"Well, to tell you the truth, it was going to be part of your birthday present."
Bulma hugged Chichi; "You're the best friend a girl could have." (Cheesy, I know.)=
She ran to the bathroom to change, *A perfect fit. * Bulma thought looking in the mirror. What she had thought to be a one piece was actually a navy blue two-piece with the top tying behind her neck. Bulma tied her hair up into a ponytail with her matching blue ribbon, and walked out into the front lawn to make sure Chichi's sprinkler was all ready to go. (I don't know why she would have a sprinkler, so don't ask =) Gohan soon came out in his swimsuit, followed by Chichi in a purple one-piece.
"I'm a mother, for the sake of Dende, and I don't need to be running around in some bikini or two-piece." She said to Bulma. Gohan turned on the water and the two women shrieked, as they became soaked.
"I'll get you for that, Gohan." Bulma threatened. The younger boy let her put his face full in the spray of water before springing free (we all know that Gohan is much stronger than she is, he's just trying to be fair =).
The three continued to play for maybe an hour or two before Bulma and Chichi became tired.
"I'm sitting out." Bulma panted.
"Yeah, me too." Chichi agreed.
Gohan shrugged his shoulders and went to go play by himself. The two women lay out on lawn chairs with their sunglasses on, and they soon fell asleep.
A few hours later
Gohan was wrinkled from playing in the water so long, but he didn't care; he was having fun.
Chichi's mental alarm clock woke her up and told her she was late, "Oh Dende." She said getting out of her chair "Gohan, get inside and get dressed for dinner." she said turning off the water and running inside to cook dinner. In her haste, she forgot Bulma, who was sleeping peacefully in the lawn chair.
Two specks appeared in the sky and later these specks could be distinguished as being Goku and Vegeta, back from a long day of training. Goku stopped flying suddenly as he realized it was Bulma sleeping in his front yard. Remarkably, Vegeta hadn't seen or sensed her yet. *He's been so distracted lately. *
"What is it?" Vegeta asked as he stopped too annoyed at the hold-up.
"I just remembered I left something important back where we were sparring. I'll be back in a while; you go on with out me." Goku said, flying off in the opposite direction.
Vegeta scowled after him, "Absent minded fool." he muttered as he continued flying toward Goku's house. He landed a few feet away from the house. He frowned as he noticed the lawn chair stretched out in the middle of the yard. He stalked over there, grinning maliciously as he anticipated Chichi's face when he scared the cr*p out of her. With little effort, Vegeta put his hand on the back of the chair and flicked his wrist, dumping the occupant of the chair unceremoniously on her behind, waking her. The furious woman sprang to her feet and turned to face the one that had wronged her. Both stepped back in surprise, but Bulma turned to leave.
"Wait," Vegeta said holding out his hand to detain her. "Where the h*ll are you going?"
"As far away from you as possible." Bulma said with her heart racing.
Vegeta frowned in his confusion; "Didn't you come here to--"
"No, I have no interest in getting involved with you again. I've been coming here for days hoping I'd never see you again. And why is it Vegeta, that you always want me to make the first move?" Bulma said angrily, tears in her eyes.
Vegeta watched the path of that tear mesmerized, remembering the time in the hospital where he had cried. He gently took her by her shoulders and kissed her; trying to show her with his kiss that he could never say the words, but he was sorry anyway. Bulma pushed away from him.
"Stop it Vegeta! You're confusing me, d*mn you. I don't know about you Vegeta, but I've moved on, and I don't ever want to see you again." Bulma lied sadly. *Vegeta, abandon your pride like I just did and I will truly know you love me. * Bulma thought, trying to mutely convey her thought to him.
Vegeta's face had no expression, "Is that what you really want, Bulma?" He asked, his eyes staring deeply into hers.
Bulma nodded jerkily and closed her eyes.
"Then so be it." Vegeta said finally, going inside of Goku's house and leaving Bulma alone in the yard. Bulma stood there for a while, until she opened her eyes. She felt a gust of wind as Goku arrived and landed in front of her.
"Hey Bulma! What's up?" he beamed.
"Absolutely nothing." Bulma said her voice flat.
Goku sighed and rolled his eyes, "Let me guess. You and Vegeta still haven't made up."
"Nor will we ever. I told him I'd never see him again and I meant it." Bulma said holding back a sob.
Goku's eyes widened in shock, "Jeez Bulma. What happened?"
Bulma filled him in.
Goku scratched his head (I love when he does this, it's so cute) while he tried to think of a way to get the two stubborn fools together. *I've got it! But I can't tell either of them, they'd never agree to it. *
"Gee, I have no idea." Goku said with a dopey smile on his face.
Bulma raised an eyebrow at Goku's exaggerated ignorance (don't get mad Goku fans! I like Goku too.) "Okay..."
Just then, Chichi rang two pots together. Goku sped to the house to get his dinner forgetting Bulma in his haste (everyone forgets Bulma, it's very irritating).
Months of public speaking paid off, Bulma showed no sign of her inner turmoil. She shrugged and walked over to her car and left.
*************
Goku made a phone call late that evening to Clairesse (the real one) who agreed whole-heartedly to take part in Goku's plan.
************
SO WHAT IS THIS PLAN? WHAT IS GOING ON? IS THIS THE END OF OUR FAVORITE COUPLE? YOU'LL HAVE TO READ CHAPTER THIRTEEN TO FIND OUT. (ACTUALLY CHAPTER FOURTEEN IS WHERE ALL THE ACTION IS, BUT THIRTEEN TALKS ABOUT THEM A LITTLE).
THIRTEEN
"The second thing is even better. I'm going to have a masquerade ball."
Bulma rolled her eyes, "Another party?"
"Yep, only this one is going to involve masks." (Claire)
TRUST ME, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THE NEXT TWO OR THREE CHAPTERS, CHAPTER ELEVEN WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO THEM.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
FOURTEEN (the end of Vegeta and Bulma)
Vegeta was furious with himself. There was Bulma at least 10 feet away from him and he should have been having trouble taking his eyes off of the blue haired beauty, but instead, he was enthralled by the brunette goddess with the sea green eyes that he was dancing with...RED.
UH OH! FIND OUT WHY VEGETA IS FINALLY OVER BULMA AND WHAT BULMA'S REACTION TO THIS IS.