CHAPTER ONE
"BREAKING UP IS ONLY THE BEGINNING""Bulma," Yamcha looked around as he popped his head in Bulma's yellow lit room.
"Hey Yamcha," Bulma smiled coming over about to kiss him. He drew his head back before she could, "What's up with you?"
"We need to talk," He pulled her out into the dim hall and closed her bedroom door, shutting out all light around them.
"What's wrong?" She looked into his dark eyes concerned and a bit afraid.
"How can I put this? I'dve never thought that I could…would…can do this to you…after, what happened to me…" He turned away scratching the back of his head, "I-I—uh—can't see you anymore."
"What?" She looked at him, hurt and tears filling her blue eyes, "What do you mean? Why?"
"Goodbye Bulma." Yamcha backed up with darkened eyes and went down the steps as he whispered again, "Goodbye."
"Yamcha! Yamcha get back here! You can't leave!" Bulma shouted crying as Yamcha reached the door. He stopped with his back to her, "If you leave… you can never come back!"
He opened the door and left, not even thinking of turning back. Afraid that if he looked behind him he might change his mind.
"Yamcha! I don't understand!" Bulma cried and dropped to her knees. What had she done? What had happened between them that made Yamcha have to hurt her like this? He couldn't have known about her crush on Goku. It wasn't that big of a deal! She'd never loved anyone the way she loved Yamcha. She thought he understood her, she thought he would never let her down, but now…
She couldn't think straight, all Bulma wanted to do right now was cry. Her first boyfriend… who'd she'd dated for decades… gone. He was most likely to be her last, she thought, considering how old she'd become. But she couldn't think about that. All she wanted to know was… why?
Yamcha walked out into the cold brisk air, he tried to put the sound of Bulma crying behind him as he flicked up the collar of his jacket and put a toothpick in his mouth.
Suddenly, a woman dressed in black wearing thick sun-glasses(despite the fact that it was a cold winter night) drove up in a white air-car convertible. Her long black hair that was usually up in a bun that made her look old was now out and made her look young.
Yamcha walked over and jumped into the passenger's seat.
"How'd she take it?" The black-haired woman asked with her hands on the wheel looking straight ahead.
Yamcha shrugged as if he didn't care, but deep down it hurt like something had been ripped out his heart. Not only had he betrayed Bulma, but himself. He flicked the toothpick out his mouth, "How'd Goku take it?"
The black-haired woman smirked as she took off, she didn't seem to care very much, and it sincerely shown through her wrinkle-less face, "Cried like a baby."
As they drove off into the night Yamcha had to wonder. Was he doing the right thing? Dumping Bulma, who loved him very much, who was there in his time in need, who had never let him down, for Chi-chi who had loads of money she'd been stealing from Goku every-time he won a tournament.
Who was he kidding? This couldn't get much worse, this was low, this was lower than low. This was your grave at the center of the Earth low. But then again, this was life and money plays a very important part in the game of life.
They continued driving in the darkened night, never planning to return, never wanting to return. For Yamcha it was because he never wanted to feel that feeling in his heart again if he had to see Bulma. For Chi-chi… well… she liked the big life.
Bulma cried and quivered on her couch as Vegeta came in and turned on the TV.
"Hi Bulma." Hey greeted not noticing her depression as he changed to MTV, "Yeah! Just in time for the Road Rules Real World Challenge!"
Bulma grimaced, why'd teenagers have to be so asinine? Better yet, why couldn't she be one again instead of this idiot woman.
Suddenly Vegeta flicked off the TV and stood up, "What do you think?"
She looked up and her eyes widened. He had cut his hair! After months and months of her telling him to cut it he finally did! And it looked… it looked…
"Bwhahahaha!" Bulma started cracking up flinging the tears away.
"I know it looks kind of dorky when I'm like this," He pushed his hair back with his hand embarrassed only to have it pop back into place again. He then jumped up putting his hands out, "But it looks so wicked when I go super sayian! It makes me look so hot babes'll be around me where ever I go!"
Bulma grinned at him, "Let me see how hot you are then."
Vegeta blushed and looked down, since he came to live at Bulma's house he's had a big crush on her. She had, after all, saved him from Goku blowing his brains out when he had came to the Earth with orders rally up Goku and take over the world.
"Well, here it goes," he powered up and his dark reddish brown hair turned gold and his dark eyes turned green. Bulma had to admit, he was a sure fire knock-out. Vegeta crossed his arms, "Well, what'dya think?"
"A real ladies man." Bulma smiled, "Now, if only you can use that concentration more on your schoolwork and housework."
"I promised you would, Bulma. I won't go back on my word, I promise, I promise," Vegeta replied as he always did when Bulma reminded him.
Bulma smiled her same warm smile she'd given Vegeta the first day she met him and hugged him, "Oi, Veggie-chan. I love you so much. You really are the most reliable man I know. The only one I can really trust not to leave me and who I know will protect me. Even from himself."
Vegeta stared at her wide-eyed, she always seemed to want him out the house as soon as possible and here she was saying she liked him living here!
"Of course Bulma, you protected me when Goku was sworn to chop the tail from my…" he stopped as he looked into Bulma's firm eyes, she scolded him whenever he cursed. For some reason on Earth, elders found it unbecoming for youngsters to curse. While on Vegeta-sei it was a sign of strength and intelligence. "butt and blast the head from my shoulders. I owe you."
"No you don't," Bulma grinned, ever since Vegeta lived with her he's said that he owed her. All she did was jump in front of him when he could barely breath and Goku was about to grind him in the ground with an energy bomb. Sure she risked her life and had to lose her best friend who practically new everything about her and they haven't talked since. But really it was nothing, she knew Vegeta was misunderstand.
"Whatever Bulma, you know my promise though." Vegeta nodded sincerely, "Someday, someday you'll need me to help you and finally my debt will be repaid."
Bulma smiled again and went upstairs, it wasn't the first time she heard his little speech.
Bulma smiled as she thought of the young Vegeta. How arrogant he was, but also how sweet and loyal, why couldn't all men be more like him?
Bulma took and ice cold shower, but could think about only Yamcha. Why? Why had this happened to her? She didn't deserve it, did she? What had she said? What had she done?
A familiar song played on her bathroom radio as she got out the shower and put on her robe. She shook out her hair with a towel she recognized it and turned it up as she started to blow-dry her hair.
"I will survive.
Oh As long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive.
I've got all my life to live.
I've got all my love to give.
I'll survive."
"Oh! I will survive, as long as I know how to love I know how to stay alive," Bulma set up her CD in her room of this song, set it so it'd repeat, and sang along, "I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give I will survive…"
Bulma turned it up full blast and got dressed. She jumped as her phone rang. Bulma caught her breath and slipped her night gown over her head as she checked to caller ID. Her heart pounded as she read the name, "SON, GOKU" her once best friend. She immediately picked up as she turned down her radio.
"Y-Yes, hello?" Bulma stammered.
"Is Yamcha there?" Goku barked angrily, unlike him really unless he was fighting an enemy.
"N-no, he's not. He's never coming back." Bulma looked down.
"I knew it!" Goku howled.
"Excuse me?" Bulma snapped.
"Listen, I know he broke up with you Bulma Chi-chi… left too."
"What?" Bulma exclaimed.
"I know," Goku calmed down a little probably happy to find someone that was feeling as crummy as him, or even just talking to his old friend again. "what am I going to do? What are WE going to do? I can't exactly tell the boys their mother ran away with your boyfriend…can I?"
"I don't know Goku, it happened so fast, it seems unreal."
"I know, I know, SHI…"
"Calm down Goku, there's no need for vulgarity." Bulma caught him.
"You and your thing against cursing." Goku laughed, "They're going to blame me, I KNOW they are. They love their mother, they're going to blame it all on me but…" Bulma heard Goku falter as if he would cry, "it's not my fault Bulma… it's not my fault!"
"Shh… it's going to be okay," Bulma hushed him gently as she sat on her bed, "We're going to be okay, I promise you."
"No Bulma, we can't… at least I can't… the boys… they'll hate me for the rest of their lives, I know they will."
"I know it seems like we won't be able to survive without them now, Goku," Bulma held her head up trying to push back the tears that were blurring her vision, "but we'll get through it!"
Her own words sounded so foreign to her. She wanted herself to believe it, she like the idea of being in denial, or hallucinating, anything seemed better than this. On the bright side, Goku was talking to her again.
"What about you Bulma? How are you going to keep your house without Yamcha to pay have the rent?"
"I'll find away, I'll have to get a second job. Or sell my dad's company, they're going to go bankrupt anyway."
"Capsule Corp. you can't sell Capsule! You're dad'll turn in his grave!"
"I might not have any other choice," Bulma sniffled and looked down letting her tears fall in her lap, "I might not have any other choice."
Vegeta looked down gritting his teeth as he listened outside Bulma's door. Yamcha that scoundrel, he thought, when I get a hold of him I'll twist his head off and blow him to dust just like he deserves. He turned and silently went downstairs and went out, he was going to help Bulma. He was going to get a job.
"Hey Bulma," Goku started up as Bulma laid her head on her pillow.
"Yeah?" She whispered.
"Why'd it take this to get us talking again?" Goku asked.
"That should be something I should be asking you." Bulma answered.
"What are you talking about? You're the one who stopped talking to me! I thought you were angry at me for beating up that boy of yours, so I decided to stay away."
"No way," Bulma sat up, "I thought you were angry at me for stopping you from killing him."
"Why would I be angry about that? You were right. I was taking things too far. Besides, I didn't originally want to kill the kid anyway, you know I get carried away sometimes, even if I don't like fighting… I just do it because it's the only thing I'm good at and…"
"You like protecting people, I know Goku. You just seemed so upset." Bulma cut in.
"Well I was, but then I began to realize what an idiot I had been. I was acting like how they would've acted, that wasn't me, not at all," Goku explained.
Bulma knew what he was talking about, he was talking about the Sayians. Vegeta told her everything about them.
"I think we need to meet," Bulma suggested, "so we can think this all through."
"I think you're right, tomorrow then?" Goku added.
"Sure, come over around lunch time, but don't ring the bell. Sometimes Vegeta sleeps late because he stays up so late. He's a nice kid, but has that sayian temper." Bulma chuckled.
"He's LIVING with you still? The kid I almost killed? It's been eight years!" Goku exclaimed.
"Well, you did tell me to take care of him," Bulma smiled even though she knew Goku couldn't see her.
"Oh yeah…that's right…" Goku trailed remembering.
"Well," Bulma hesitated not wanting to hang-up, but wanting to at the same time, "bye then."
Goku said "bye" and Bulma hung up.
Surprisingly, Bulma felt a lot better, even after that short talk. It most have been just talking to Goku again. I guess it's true what they say, she thought, something good does come out of something bad.
She turned on her side and pulled on her covers as she shut off the light ready to sleep. Then a little voice inside of her made her whisper, "But so does something worse."
**NOTE*** Hi! ^-^
"BREAKING UP IS ONLY THE BEGINNING""Bulma," Yamcha looked around as he popped his head in Bulma's yellow lit room.
"Hey Yamcha," Bulma smiled coming over about to kiss him. He drew his head back before she could, "What's up with you?"
"We need to talk," He pulled her out into the dim hall and closed her bedroom door, shutting out all light around them.
"What's wrong?" She looked into his dark eyes concerned and a bit afraid.
"How can I put this? I'dve never thought that I could…would…can do this to you…after, what happened to me…" He turned away scratching the back of his head, "I-I—uh—can't see you anymore."
"What?" She looked at him, hurt and tears filling her blue eyes, "What do you mean? Why?"
"Goodbye Bulma." Yamcha backed up with darkened eyes and went down the steps as he whispered again, "Goodbye."
"Yamcha! Yamcha get back here! You can't leave!" Bulma shouted crying as Yamcha reached the door. He stopped with his back to her, "If you leave… you can never come back!"
He opened the door and left, not even thinking of turning back. Afraid that if he looked behind him he might change his mind.
"Yamcha! I don't understand!" Bulma cried and dropped to her knees. What had she done? What had happened between them that made Yamcha have to hurt her like this? He couldn't have known about her crush on Goku. It wasn't that big of a deal! She'd never loved anyone the way she loved Yamcha. She thought he understood her, she thought he would never let her down, but now…
She couldn't think straight, all Bulma wanted to do right now was cry. Her first boyfriend… who'd she'd dated for decades… gone. He was most likely to be her last, she thought, considering how old she'd become. But she couldn't think about that. All she wanted to know was… why?
Yamcha walked out into the cold brisk air, he tried to put the sound of Bulma crying behind him as he flicked up the collar of his jacket and put a toothpick in his mouth.
Suddenly, a woman dressed in black wearing thick sun-glasses(despite the fact that it was a cold winter night) drove up in a white air-car convertible. Her long black hair that was usually up in a bun that made her look old was now out and made her look young.
Yamcha walked over and jumped into the passenger's seat.
"How'd she take it?" The black-haired woman asked with her hands on the wheel looking straight ahead.
Yamcha shrugged as if he didn't care, but deep down it hurt like something had been ripped out his heart. Not only had he betrayed Bulma, but himself. He flicked the toothpick out his mouth, "How'd Goku take it?"
The black-haired woman smirked as she took off, she didn't seem to care very much, and it sincerely shown through her wrinkle-less face, "Cried like a baby."
As they drove off into the night Yamcha had to wonder. Was he doing the right thing? Dumping Bulma, who loved him very much, who was there in his time in need, who had never let him down, for Chi-chi who had loads of money she'd been stealing from Goku every-time he won a tournament.
Who was he kidding? This couldn't get much worse, this was low, this was lower than low. This was your grave at the center of the Earth low. But then again, this was life and money plays a very important part in the game of life.
They continued driving in the darkened night, never planning to return, never wanting to return. For Yamcha it was because he never wanted to feel that feeling in his heart again if he had to see Bulma. For Chi-chi… well… she liked the big life.
Bulma cried and quivered on her couch as Vegeta came in and turned on the TV.
"Hi Bulma." Hey greeted not noticing her depression as he changed to MTV, "Yeah! Just in time for the Road Rules Real World Challenge!"
Bulma grimaced, why'd teenagers have to be so asinine? Better yet, why couldn't she be one again instead of this idiot woman.
Suddenly Vegeta flicked off the TV and stood up, "What do you think?"
She looked up and her eyes widened. He had cut his hair! After months and months of her telling him to cut it he finally did! And it looked… it looked…
"Bwhahahaha!" Bulma started cracking up flinging the tears away.
"I know it looks kind of dorky when I'm like this," He pushed his hair back with his hand embarrassed only to have it pop back into place again. He then jumped up putting his hands out, "But it looks so wicked when I go super sayian! It makes me look so hot babes'll be around me where ever I go!"
Bulma grinned at him, "Let me see how hot you are then."
Vegeta blushed and looked down, since he came to live at Bulma's house he's had a big crush on her. She had, after all, saved him from Goku blowing his brains out when he had came to the Earth with orders rally up Goku and take over the world.
"Well, here it goes," he powered up and his dark reddish brown hair turned gold and his dark eyes turned green. Bulma had to admit, he was a sure fire knock-out. Vegeta crossed his arms, "Well, what'dya think?"
"A real ladies man." Bulma smiled, "Now, if only you can use that concentration more on your schoolwork and housework."
"I promised you would, Bulma. I won't go back on my word, I promise, I promise," Vegeta replied as he always did when Bulma reminded him.
Bulma smiled her same warm smile she'd given Vegeta the first day she met him and hugged him, "Oi, Veggie-chan. I love you so much. You really are the most reliable man I know. The only one I can really trust not to leave me and who I know will protect me. Even from himself."
Vegeta stared at her wide-eyed, she always seemed to want him out the house as soon as possible and here she was saying she liked him living here!
"Of course Bulma, you protected me when Goku was sworn to chop the tail from my…" he stopped as he looked into Bulma's firm eyes, she scolded him whenever he cursed. For some reason on Earth, elders found it unbecoming for youngsters to curse. While on Vegeta-sei it was a sign of strength and intelligence. "butt and blast the head from my shoulders. I owe you."
"No you don't," Bulma grinned, ever since Vegeta lived with her he's said that he owed her. All she did was jump in front of him when he could barely breath and Goku was about to grind him in the ground with an energy bomb. Sure she risked her life and had to lose her best friend who practically new everything about her and they haven't talked since. But really it was nothing, she knew Vegeta was misunderstand.
"Whatever Bulma, you know my promise though." Vegeta nodded sincerely, "Someday, someday you'll need me to help you and finally my debt will be repaid."
Bulma smiled again and went upstairs, it wasn't the first time she heard his little speech.
Bulma smiled as she thought of the young Vegeta. How arrogant he was, but also how sweet and loyal, why couldn't all men be more like him?
Bulma took and ice cold shower, but could think about only Yamcha. Why? Why had this happened to her? She didn't deserve it, did she? What had she said? What had she done?
A familiar song played on her bathroom radio as she got out the shower and put on her robe. She shook out her hair with a towel she recognized it and turned it up as she started to blow-dry her hair.
"I will survive.
Oh As long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive.
I've got all my life to live.
I've got all my love to give.
I'll survive."
"Oh! I will survive, as long as I know how to love I know how to stay alive," Bulma set up her CD in her room of this song, set it so it'd repeat, and sang along, "I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give I will survive…"
Bulma turned it up full blast and got dressed. She jumped as her phone rang. Bulma caught her breath and slipped her night gown over her head as she checked to caller ID. Her heart pounded as she read the name, "SON, GOKU" her once best friend. She immediately picked up as she turned down her radio.
"Y-Yes, hello?" Bulma stammered.
"Is Yamcha there?" Goku barked angrily, unlike him really unless he was fighting an enemy.
"N-no, he's not. He's never coming back." Bulma looked down.
"I knew it!" Goku howled.
"Excuse me?" Bulma snapped.
"Listen, I know he broke up with you Bulma Chi-chi… left too."
"What?" Bulma exclaimed.
"I know," Goku calmed down a little probably happy to find someone that was feeling as crummy as him, or even just talking to his old friend again. "what am I going to do? What are WE going to do? I can't exactly tell the boys their mother ran away with your boyfriend…can I?"
"I don't know Goku, it happened so fast, it seems unreal."
"I know, I know, SHI…"
"Calm down Goku, there's no need for vulgarity." Bulma caught him.
"You and your thing against cursing." Goku laughed, "They're going to blame me, I KNOW they are. They love their mother, they're going to blame it all on me but…" Bulma heard Goku falter as if he would cry, "it's not my fault Bulma… it's not my fault!"
"Shh… it's going to be okay," Bulma hushed him gently as she sat on her bed, "We're going to be okay, I promise you."
"No Bulma, we can't… at least I can't… the boys… they'll hate me for the rest of their lives, I know they will."
"I know it seems like we won't be able to survive without them now, Goku," Bulma held her head up trying to push back the tears that were blurring her vision, "but we'll get through it!"
Her own words sounded so foreign to her. She wanted herself to believe it, she like the idea of being in denial, or hallucinating, anything seemed better than this. On the bright side, Goku was talking to her again.
"What about you Bulma? How are you going to keep your house without Yamcha to pay have the rent?"
"I'll find away, I'll have to get a second job. Or sell my dad's company, they're going to go bankrupt anyway."
"Capsule Corp. you can't sell Capsule! You're dad'll turn in his grave!"
"I might not have any other choice," Bulma sniffled and looked down letting her tears fall in her lap, "I might not have any other choice."
Vegeta looked down gritting his teeth as he listened outside Bulma's door. Yamcha that scoundrel, he thought, when I get a hold of him I'll twist his head off and blow him to dust just like he deserves. He turned and silently went downstairs and went out, he was going to help Bulma. He was going to get a job.
"Hey Bulma," Goku started up as Bulma laid her head on her pillow.
"Yeah?" She whispered.
"Why'd it take this to get us talking again?" Goku asked.
"That should be something I should be asking you." Bulma answered.
"What are you talking about? You're the one who stopped talking to me! I thought you were angry at me for beating up that boy of yours, so I decided to stay away."
"No way," Bulma sat up, "I thought you were angry at me for stopping you from killing him."
"Why would I be angry about that? You were right. I was taking things too far. Besides, I didn't originally want to kill the kid anyway, you know I get carried away sometimes, even if I don't like fighting… I just do it because it's the only thing I'm good at and…"
"You like protecting people, I know Goku. You just seemed so upset." Bulma cut in.
"Well I was, but then I began to realize what an idiot I had been. I was acting like how they would've acted, that wasn't me, not at all," Goku explained.
Bulma knew what he was talking about, he was talking about the Sayians. Vegeta told her everything about them.
"I think we need to meet," Bulma suggested, "so we can think this all through."
"I think you're right, tomorrow then?" Goku added.
"Sure, come over around lunch time, but don't ring the bell. Sometimes Vegeta sleeps late because he stays up so late. He's a nice kid, but has that sayian temper." Bulma chuckled.
"He's LIVING with you still? The kid I almost killed? It's been eight years!" Goku exclaimed.
"Well, you did tell me to take care of him," Bulma smiled even though she knew Goku couldn't see her.
"Oh yeah…that's right…" Goku trailed remembering.
"Well," Bulma hesitated not wanting to hang-up, but wanting to at the same time, "bye then."
Goku said "bye" and Bulma hung up.
Surprisingly, Bulma felt a lot better, even after that short talk. It most have been just talking to Goku again. I guess it's true what they say, she thought, something good does come out of something bad.
She turned on her side and pulled on her covers as she shut off the light ready to sleep. Then a little voice inside of her made her whisper, "But so does something worse."
**NOTE*** Hi! ^-^