CHAPTER 5
"COPING"
Many weeks passed by and yet the tension between the two families didn't descend, only the bond between Bulma and Goku seemed to grow stronger. Goten would lock himself in his room far away from all the others and draw all day. Only coming out to eat and go to school. Gohan and Vegeta's "cold war" became more and more active every passing day. Pwar found herself hoarse with all the yelling she had to do to shut those boys up.
As for Bulma and Goku, well as said before, they seemed to be getting a lot closer.
Bulma lay in the grass looking up at the sky just has she done so many years ago.
"That one looks like a cat," she pointed at a cloud.
"This is stupid," Goku muttered as he did so many years ago.
"Oh c'mon Goku, it's just like meditating except more fun."
Goku glared at her, "how is this anything like meditating?"
"It's pointless," Bulma smiled rolling on her stomach to look at him.
"Ha, ha," Goku crossed his legs and folded his arms behind his head as he closed his eyes.
"Why so sour Goku?" Bulma sat on her knees.
"I'm always sour," Goku looked at her still keeping one eyes open.
"Not with me you're not," she hugged him making him frown like a disgruntle cat, "I won't allow it."
"Ahem," Vegeta coughed behind them making the two turn around.
"Yes?" Goku looked at Vegeta as he sat up in the grass.
Vegeta looked back at Goku nonchalantly then turned to Bulma, "I'm gonna go out for awhile okay Bulma?"
"Where?" Bulma stood up and dusted off her khakis.
"Just for a walk," Vegeta replied, "it's boring here."
Bulma nodded, "Be back soon though, lunch will be in awhile."
"Yes ma'am," Vegeta replied and walked out of the white picket fence.
"He's up to something," Goku muttered not expecting Bulma to hear him.
"What makes you say that?" Bulma questioned a bit offended on Vegeta's behalf that Goku would be so suspicious.
"Oh," Goku looked at Bulma realizing he had said that comment out loud, "nothing, its just Saiyans have this look in their eyes when they're plotting something."
"Ah," Bulma nodded understanding, "yes I've seen it all before, but I'm afraid you're wrong this time Goku, I would've known from the start if Vegeta was up to something."
"So you say," Goku shrugged.
"So I know," she smiled looking into Goku's eyes, forehead to forehead.
Vegeta walked down the street of East City with his hands shoved in the pockets of his blue jeans. This sucks, he thought, for the first time in my whole life I don't have a plan. Getting those idiots out Bulma's house should be pie! What's holding me back? I know I'm smart enough to think of something.
"Maybe," he mumbled to himself, "maybe it's because Bulma seems so happy when Goku's around and I don't want to take that away from her..."
He quickly rubbed out that thought. Bulma might be happy but that didn't mean this was the right thing. Vegeta refused to trust Goku, never would he, not in a million years. Who can blame him? He was traumatized, as any 8-year-old would've been if he came to a close to death experience. In his eyes Bulma was a Goddess and Goku was well, Satan himself.
He had to do what was best for Bulma and that was get the Son family out of the house, even if it meant eliminating them one by one. Which wouldn't have been such a bad idea if it weren't so messy.
"Well if it isn't Veggie-chan!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
"Shit, not now," Vegeta muttered and turned around to see the ever-happy Trunks staring him in the face.
"Hey you look a bit down buddy," Trunks blinked looking at the somber look on Vegeta's face.
"I'm not your buddy," Vegeta grumbled.
"Sure you are," Trunks slapped him on the back and grinned walking them down the street. Vegeta cautiously checked his back for a "KICK ME" sign and then turned to Trunks glowering.
"Go away," he barked through his nose.
"Why?" Trunks blinked innocently looking at Vegeta.
"Because I don't like you," Vegeta replied honestly.
"Au, that's too bad," Trunks looked up at the sky ever so innocently, "'cus I wanted to ask you something."
"What?" Vegeta glared at him curiously.
"Well I was kinda wonderin'," Trunks tapped his index fingers together as he looked down, "since you helped those kids after school and everything if you could maybe help me out?"
Vegeta snorted.
"Au c'mon Vegeta!" Trunks practically begged.
"That's not my job anymore, there was no point in me doing it in the first place...." he paused, "he wait a minute...how'd you know about that?!"
"I know because I was supposed to go," Trunks' eyes darkened then he looked at Vegeta pathetically, "but I couldn't! I'd be ruined! But if I don't improve my Math score they're going to kick me off the wrestling team!"
"Oh...that's too bad," Vegeta replied with obvious fake sympathy, "bye Trunks."
"No!" Trunks jumped forward just in time to hug Vegeta's leg, "you can't do this to me Vegeta! I NEED you!"
"Go...a...way!" Vegeta snarled dragging Trunks down the street.
"You don't understand! I really do need you Vegeta!" Trunks hugged Vegeta's leg tighter. By now people were beginning to stare.
Vegeta looked around as a sweat drop rolled down his forehead, "if it'll get you off my damn case."
"THANK YOU!!!" Trunks leapt up and hugged Vegeta.
Vegeta broke away from him, "Don't DO that!"
Trunks smiled, "Okay."
"I want something in return though."
"Oh?" Trunks blinked with his sheer innocence, "what?"
"I don't know yet, but I'm not doing anything for free you got me?!" Vegeta snapped.
Trunks nodded, "got'cha. Anything you need, want, whatever, you'll get it--within reason of course. But this means I get boosted from Ds to As."
"I'm a Math tutor not a miracle worker," Vegeta cross his arms.
"Fine, at least a C average, that's all I need," Trunks said.
"Deal," Vegeta answered.
"Deal," Trunks put out his hand and they shook on it.
"Pathetic fool," Vegeta muttered as Trunks ran down the block to the fitness store, "way to happy if you ask me."
Gohan tossed a ball against headboard and caught it as it bounced back at him. He continued this until Bulma and Goku passed by laughing hysterically.
You know, he thought to himself as he continued to throw the blue handball, if life like this continues...Bulma might be your new step mom...
He failed to catch the ball and it whacked him right in the eye. He was thankful that the pain washed away his thoughts as fast as it hit him.
"Owe!" He sat up holding his eye.
Bulma and Goku peeked in to see what was wrong and he held up the ball with a sheepish smile, "Ball."
The adults exchanged looks and gave Gohan an unsure grin.
"You okay?" Bulma asked, "Do you need an ice pack or anything?"
"No, I'm okay," Gohan replied and they left.
She isn't so bad, Gohan thought tossing the ball again; it's Vegeta I can't stand.
"Oh and remember the time when Master Roshi pretended to be that Jackie Chun guy in the World tournament?" Bulma sitting next to Goku on her bed as they looked through an old photo album, "Here's the picture I took when you accidentally ripped off his phony wig."
Goku laughed at the picture, "Yeah, I was trying to keep him from a ring out, I wanted a real fight, but that superglue just wasn't strong enough."
"And here's a picture Pwar took when that big blue flying dinosaur swept me away," Bulma said less enthusiastically.
Goku burst out laughing, "you pissed all over yourself."
Bulma glared at him, "that wasn't funny, it was emotionally scarring...and...Goku...why are you looking at me like that?"
Goku had been staring deeply into Bulma's eyes as she spoke, but suddenly broke from it, "looking at you like what?"
"Like you wanted to kiss me," Bulma blurted then turned a certain shade of red.
Goku blinked at her trying to hold back from blushing. He crossed his arms and huffed, "I was NOT! Why would I even think of kissing a scrawny little brat like you?"
Bulma felt like a teenager again as she turned and looked down at her lap smiling faintly, "Goku, there's something I've always wanted to tell you."
"Hmm?" Goku looked at her from the corner of his eye.
"I uhm," Bulma started then stopped. No, it was too soon.
"C'mon Bulma," Goku looked at her more seriously then took her hands, "c'mon, tell me."
"Well uhm," she turned to him looking into his eyes. Was it her or was she sensing a connection? "I just wanted to tell you that I..."
"Yes?" Goku moved in closer.
"Well, when I was younger I..." Bulma moved in closer as well, the whole time keeping eye contact with Goku.
"When you were younger you what?" by now their noses were within a centimeter of touching.
"Well I..." Bulma closed her eyes about to kiss Goku when her door swung open startling the two.
"STOP!!!" Goten ran at them and jumped into his father's arms crying, "DADDY!"
"Goten," Goku held his son, "what's wrong?"
"Please don't do it Daddy," Goten looked up at Goku tears welling in his eyes as grabbed at his Dad's shirt, "Mommy will come back...I promise Daddy! I promise!" He began to cry on his Dad's shirt, "She'll be back and we can go back to the way things used to be only make it better. Please Daddy?"
Goku looked at Bulma uneasily and then patted Goten on the back as he gave a reassuring smile, "Okay Goten, we'll wait for Mom."
Bulma looked down, she knew it was too soon and she knew it wasn't going to be easy.
Goten thanked his father through sobs and they all went downstairs for lunch.
**NOTE** Isn't Trunks the kyutest little innocent...hey...why are you looking at me like that??? I'm sorry!!! I'M SORRY OK!!! DON'T KILL ME!!! *sob* I tried the best I could!
"COPING"
Many weeks passed by and yet the tension between the two families didn't descend, only the bond between Bulma and Goku seemed to grow stronger. Goten would lock himself in his room far away from all the others and draw all day. Only coming out to eat and go to school. Gohan and Vegeta's "cold war" became more and more active every passing day. Pwar found herself hoarse with all the yelling she had to do to shut those boys up.
As for Bulma and Goku, well as said before, they seemed to be getting a lot closer.
Bulma lay in the grass looking up at the sky just has she done so many years ago.
"That one looks like a cat," she pointed at a cloud.
"This is stupid," Goku muttered as he did so many years ago.
"Oh c'mon Goku, it's just like meditating except more fun."
Goku glared at her, "how is this anything like meditating?"
"It's pointless," Bulma smiled rolling on her stomach to look at him.
"Ha, ha," Goku crossed his legs and folded his arms behind his head as he closed his eyes.
"Why so sour Goku?" Bulma sat on her knees.
"I'm always sour," Goku looked at her still keeping one eyes open.
"Not with me you're not," she hugged him making him frown like a disgruntle cat, "I won't allow it."
"Ahem," Vegeta coughed behind them making the two turn around.
"Yes?" Goku looked at Vegeta as he sat up in the grass.
Vegeta looked back at Goku nonchalantly then turned to Bulma, "I'm gonna go out for awhile okay Bulma?"
"Where?" Bulma stood up and dusted off her khakis.
"Just for a walk," Vegeta replied, "it's boring here."
Bulma nodded, "Be back soon though, lunch will be in awhile."
"Yes ma'am," Vegeta replied and walked out of the white picket fence.
"He's up to something," Goku muttered not expecting Bulma to hear him.
"What makes you say that?" Bulma questioned a bit offended on Vegeta's behalf that Goku would be so suspicious.
"Oh," Goku looked at Bulma realizing he had said that comment out loud, "nothing, its just Saiyans have this look in their eyes when they're plotting something."
"Ah," Bulma nodded understanding, "yes I've seen it all before, but I'm afraid you're wrong this time Goku, I would've known from the start if Vegeta was up to something."
"So you say," Goku shrugged.
"So I know," she smiled looking into Goku's eyes, forehead to forehead.
Vegeta walked down the street of East City with his hands shoved in the pockets of his blue jeans. This sucks, he thought, for the first time in my whole life I don't have a plan. Getting those idiots out Bulma's house should be pie! What's holding me back? I know I'm smart enough to think of something.
"Maybe," he mumbled to himself, "maybe it's because Bulma seems so happy when Goku's around and I don't want to take that away from her..."
He quickly rubbed out that thought. Bulma might be happy but that didn't mean this was the right thing. Vegeta refused to trust Goku, never would he, not in a million years. Who can blame him? He was traumatized, as any 8-year-old would've been if he came to a close to death experience. In his eyes Bulma was a Goddess and Goku was well, Satan himself.
He had to do what was best for Bulma and that was get the Son family out of the house, even if it meant eliminating them one by one. Which wouldn't have been such a bad idea if it weren't so messy.
"Well if it isn't Veggie-chan!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
"Shit, not now," Vegeta muttered and turned around to see the ever-happy Trunks staring him in the face.
"Hey you look a bit down buddy," Trunks blinked looking at the somber look on Vegeta's face.
"I'm not your buddy," Vegeta grumbled.
"Sure you are," Trunks slapped him on the back and grinned walking them down the street. Vegeta cautiously checked his back for a "KICK ME" sign and then turned to Trunks glowering.
"Go away," he barked through his nose.
"Why?" Trunks blinked innocently looking at Vegeta.
"Because I don't like you," Vegeta replied honestly.
"Au, that's too bad," Trunks looked up at the sky ever so innocently, "'cus I wanted to ask you something."
"What?" Vegeta glared at him curiously.
"Well I was kinda wonderin'," Trunks tapped his index fingers together as he looked down, "since you helped those kids after school and everything if you could maybe help me out?"
Vegeta snorted.
"Au c'mon Vegeta!" Trunks practically begged.
"That's not my job anymore, there was no point in me doing it in the first place...." he paused, "he wait a minute...how'd you know about that?!"
"I know because I was supposed to go," Trunks' eyes darkened then he looked at Vegeta pathetically, "but I couldn't! I'd be ruined! But if I don't improve my Math score they're going to kick me off the wrestling team!"
"Oh...that's too bad," Vegeta replied with obvious fake sympathy, "bye Trunks."
"No!" Trunks jumped forward just in time to hug Vegeta's leg, "you can't do this to me Vegeta! I NEED you!"
"Go...a...way!" Vegeta snarled dragging Trunks down the street.
"You don't understand! I really do need you Vegeta!" Trunks hugged Vegeta's leg tighter. By now people were beginning to stare.
Vegeta looked around as a sweat drop rolled down his forehead, "if it'll get you off my damn case."
"THANK YOU!!!" Trunks leapt up and hugged Vegeta.
Vegeta broke away from him, "Don't DO that!"
Trunks smiled, "Okay."
"I want something in return though."
"Oh?" Trunks blinked with his sheer innocence, "what?"
"I don't know yet, but I'm not doing anything for free you got me?!" Vegeta snapped.
Trunks nodded, "got'cha. Anything you need, want, whatever, you'll get it--within reason of course. But this means I get boosted from Ds to As."
"I'm a Math tutor not a miracle worker," Vegeta cross his arms.
"Fine, at least a C average, that's all I need," Trunks said.
"Deal," Vegeta answered.
"Deal," Trunks put out his hand and they shook on it.
"Pathetic fool," Vegeta muttered as Trunks ran down the block to the fitness store, "way to happy if you ask me."
Gohan tossed a ball against headboard and caught it as it bounced back at him. He continued this until Bulma and Goku passed by laughing hysterically.
You know, he thought to himself as he continued to throw the blue handball, if life like this continues...Bulma might be your new step mom...
He failed to catch the ball and it whacked him right in the eye. He was thankful that the pain washed away his thoughts as fast as it hit him.
"Owe!" He sat up holding his eye.
Bulma and Goku peeked in to see what was wrong and he held up the ball with a sheepish smile, "Ball."
The adults exchanged looks and gave Gohan an unsure grin.
"You okay?" Bulma asked, "Do you need an ice pack or anything?"
"No, I'm okay," Gohan replied and they left.
She isn't so bad, Gohan thought tossing the ball again; it's Vegeta I can't stand.
"Oh and remember the time when Master Roshi pretended to be that Jackie Chun guy in the World tournament?" Bulma sitting next to Goku on her bed as they looked through an old photo album, "Here's the picture I took when you accidentally ripped off his phony wig."
Goku laughed at the picture, "Yeah, I was trying to keep him from a ring out, I wanted a real fight, but that superglue just wasn't strong enough."
"And here's a picture Pwar took when that big blue flying dinosaur swept me away," Bulma said less enthusiastically.
Goku burst out laughing, "you pissed all over yourself."
Bulma glared at him, "that wasn't funny, it was emotionally scarring...and...Goku...why are you looking at me like that?"
Goku had been staring deeply into Bulma's eyes as she spoke, but suddenly broke from it, "looking at you like what?"
"Like you wanted to kiss me," Bulma blurted then turned a certain shade of red.
Goku blinked at her trying to hold back from blushing. He crossed his arms and huffed, "I was NOT! Why would I even think of kissing a scrawny little brat like you?"
Bulma felt like a teenager again as she turned and looked down at her lap smiling faintly, "Goku, there's something I've always wanted to tell you."
"Hmm?" Goku looked at her from the corner of his eye.
"I uhm," Bulma started then stopped. No, it was too soon.
"C'mon Bulma," Goku looked at her more seriously then took her hands, "c'mon, tell me."
"Well uhm," she turned to him looking into his eyes. Was it her or was she sensing a connection? "I just wanted to tell you that I..."
"Yes?" Goku moved in closer.
"Well, when I was younger I..." Bulma moved in closer as well, the whole time keeping eye contact with Goku.
"When you were younger you what?" by now their noses were within a centimeter of touching.
"Well I..." Bulma closed her eyes about to kiss Goku when her door swung open startling the two.
"STOP!!!" Goten ran at them and jumped into his father's arms crying, "DADDY!"
"Goten," Goku held his son, "what's wrong?"
"Please don't do it Daddy," Goten looked up at Goku tears welling in his eyes as grabbed at his Dad's shirt, "Mommy will come back...I promise Daddy! I promise!" He began to cry on his Dad's shirt, "She'll be back and we can go back to the way things used to be only make it better. Please Daddy?"
Goku looked at Bulma uneasily and then patted Goten on the back as he gave a reassuring smile, "Okay Goten, we'll wait for Mom."
Bulma looked down, she knew it was too soon and she knew it wasn't going to be easy.
Goten thanked his father through sobs and they all went downstairs for lunch.
**NOTE** Isn't Trunks the kyutest little innocent...hey...why are you looking at me like that??? I'm sorry!!! I'M SORRY OK!!! DON'T KILL ME!!! *sob* I tried the best I could!