If I Could Turn Back Time

III.

Goku walked around the tree and stopped when he was in front of her, endlessly smiling. She looked back up at him, her eyes sparkling and she smiled a little at him.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, but already sitting down across from her.

She shook her head; "Not at all…I'd love the company."

They were quiet for a few moments, just enjoying the moment of smiling at each other.

Then Goku broke the silence, "I won the tournament, ya know?"

Bulma nodded, "Yeah, I heard. That announcer has one heck of a voice! I don't know how he does that all day!"

Goku grinned, "Why don't you just ask yourself that?"

Bulma glared at him, but the look soon disappeared into a smile as she leaned forward and smacked his arm in a friendly manner, "Congratulations, though. You did a great job, I was cheering for you the whole time."

"Really?" Goku looked surprised, "But you weren't even around."

"Yes I was…I was here, which isn't exactly far away."

"Oh…but Yamcha was looking for you the whole time and never found you," Goku told her, beginning to wonder if Yamcha was blind.

As soon as his name was mentioned, her face turned into a scowl, "I don't care! I guess he doesn't know me well enough to know where I am!"

Goku winced slightly as her voice began screeching. He knew her voice only went like that when she was trying to hold her tears back.

He quickly tried to think of something to avert her mind, "Uh…well, I found you no problem. Guess that means I know you well, huh?" he laughed.

Bulma laughed half-heartily too, "Guess…so did you go out to eat and spend all your money yet?" she asked, expecting the answer to be yes.

But he shook his head as another gust of wind went flying by, making his hair turn one way but making hers fly all over her head.

"No…Chi-Chi took it," he said like it was no big deal.

"Chi-Chi?" Bulma asked before the name clicked in, "Oh! Chi-Chi! But…why did she take it? You won it," she wondered.

Goku nodded, "I know…but she's using the money for the wedding Friday."

"Wedding? What wedding?" Bulma asked.

"Our wedding I guess…I really don't want to share it, but oh well. She said we're getting married, too," he said, staring into Bulma's shocked face.

"You-you're…getting married?!" she asked loudly, not believing one bit of it.

Goku laughed, "Guess so…have you ever tried it? Does it taste good?"

Bulma climbed to her knees and leaned forward towards him, "Goku, wedding and married are not foods!!" she said loudly, trying to get her point across.

Goku leaned back a bit, since she got so close to his face, "Then…what are they?"

She sighed and sat down Indian style, ready to explain.

"Well, first off, wedding is what you do to get married. A wedding is a party, so to speak, that a man and a woman throw to show everyone how much they love each other. It's usually held in a church, but not all the time. In this ceremony, both people vow to love each other forever and always be true. They do this in front of all their friends and family…something like becoming one and getting more family members. I heard that's about the worst part of getting married. But anyway…after the wedding, there's a reception where they serve food and dance to music."

"I knew there was food involved!" Goku exclaimed, noticing that part the most.

Bulma rolled her eyes and continued, "After that, the man and woman are married. They live together all day, everyday…unless they have a fight of course and the woman throws the man outta the house."

When she said this, Goku gave her a shocked look.

"It's normal," Bulma said, letting it slide by, "And as time goes on, usually the couple will decide to make their bond more special by having children," she stopped then, not exactly sure what else to say.

Goku stared at her for a moment, her staring back, waiting for his response. The wind blew past them once again, making an almost silent whistling sound.

"So after I get married do you want to go on another dragon ball hunt?" Goku asked her suddenly.

Bulma slapped herself in the head from his stupidity, "Goku, did you not just hear a single word I said? I said that once they get married…they live with each other everyday. Chi-Chi loves you and you love Chi-Chi, so you won't want to leave her anyway."

"But…I love everyone," Goku said innocently.

From this, Bulma couldn't help but smile, "Yeah, I know. But don't you love her in a certain special way?"

Goku shook his head, "I don't think so…?"

"Don't you get that tingly feeling in the pit of your stomach every time she comes near you? Or get the chills or goosebumps every time she touches you? Doesn't it brighten your day just to see her and seeing her smile makes you think you can do anything? Just hearing your name come from her lips makes your stomach flip? And when you're apart, doesn't it make you feel empty?" Bulma asked, with much sincerity in all her questions, wishing she could have all those emotions that Yamcha just didn't seem to have anymore.

He tilted his head to the side, "Wow Bulma…you're good. But how did you know I felt all those things about…you?"

Bulma gasped and put her hand over her mouth to hide her very shocked face. It didn't work out too well though, as Goku looked at her strangely.

"What? What is it?" he asked, totally oblivious.

Bulma didn't do anything to answer, just looked at him with shocked eyes, which soon went to confusion, then finally settled on sad, but as she uncovered her mouth, she was smiling a little bit.

"Oh Goku…I think you're confusing something here. You don't feel those things for me…I'm only your friend and—."

"Best friend," he corrected her.

She smiled more and put her hand on top of his and for the first time…saw him shudder just from her touch, "G-Goku…" she tried to begin, but couldn't find a certain way to begin talking.

Then suddenly, without knowing why, Goku leaned forward and brought her lips to his for a kiss. Bulma couldn't help but close her eyes and kiss him back, feeling her lips throb against his in a desire she never felt before.

He pulled back quickly though, sitting right up in his position he was before. Bulma looked more shocked than ever, putting her fingers close to her lips, but not touching…afraid? Afraid his taste may go away if she bothers with it?

Goku saw this look and maybe thought she was like him before: clue less.

"That was a kiss, Bulma. People kiss each other when they are in love and they want to show affection." Goku explained to her, remembering how Chi-Chi told him.

Bulma was still at a loss of words at what Goku was saying and doing, so she shook her head slowly, "Goku, no…" was all she managed to get out.

"No? People don't kiss each other to show affection?" he asked, slightly confused now.

Bulma sucked in a deep breath. She was a big girl and she should stop acting like a young teenager who just got her first kiss.

"Goku…you don't love me. Not like that anyway. Maybe you got confused, I don't know…but see…we've been best friends for what seems like forever, Goku!" she tried to smile and she put her hand on the side of his face, "And sometimes feelings can get mixed up like that, I know. But you're getting married to Chi-Chi and that's—."

Goku backed away from her grasp, "But I thought you said only people who love each other get married."

She nodded, "Yes, and you love her."

He shook his head, "No, I don't."

"Then learn to love her," Bulma said firmly, already seeing his always-happy face turn to hurt.

Bulma bit her lip, "Oh, Goku…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you like that," she said, wrapping her arms around him in a hug to reassure him.

She felt him put one arm around her too as he kept their balance with his other hand, "Heh, it's okay, I guess I'm just not used to this kinda stuff."

Bulma smiled again, though he couldn't see since her head was on his shoulder. She licked her lips…why did it feel like she wanted to kiss him again? She always kissed Yamcha…but she never had an urge like the one she was having now to just do it again.

She lifted her head up to look at his face and he smiled back at her. Bulma felt a little tug come from the side of her mouth in an attempt to smile, but she found that all her lips were craving for was his.

'This can't be happening!' she thought to herself, feeling herself lean forward to him, knowing what she was about to do, 'I can't be falling for Goku…can I?'

Before she could answer her own question, she felt her lips against his once again, this time neither of them bothered to pull away.

Bulma wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, in an attempt to make the kiss harder, better known. In return, Goku wrapped both of his arms around her waist only from natural instincts. He kept his back straight, keeping them both firmly off the ground.

A few minutes past, the only sounds heard was the soft kissing noises from both and the occasional whisper of the wind.

Bulma broke the kiss slowly, in full need of air and looked him in his big, dark eyes and he too, looked into her watery pools.

"Goku, what have you done…" she whispered, amazed at how fast one can fall in love just because of a kiss.

Goku laughed lightly and winked at her playfully, "I made you love me."

She grinned and shoved him jokingly, but making them both fall to the ground, since Goku didn't have his arm out for their support.

He leaned into the cool grass as it swayed back and forth from under him, making it seem like waves were swimming amidst each blade. Bulma lay gently on his chest, now looking down at him.

What she saw in his eyes now scared her worse than anything he's ever put her through. His eyes held pure love and trust in her…she just didn't know why she didn't see it before.

Goku brushed a strand of hair that was hanging down behind her ear, only for it to fall again.

They both laughed softly before Bulma laid her head on his chest, feeling his heart beat steadily. She got that oh so familiar tingling sensation right below her belly button, which heated her all over.

"I love you, Bulma," she heard it as a low purr from his throat, since her ear was close to his voice box.

Bulma held her breath, 'What do I say? Do I…love Goku? It always seemed impossible before…before tonight that is. Can Goku and I actually be best friends and more? Is it a chance…worth taking?' she let out the breath she'd been holding.

"I…" she felt tears brim in her eyes as she lifted herself from him, "I…don't…I c-can't…"

Before she could say anymore, Goku leaned his head off the ground to kiss her again, 'Wow…this kissing stuff can be really obsessive!' he thought to himself.

Bulma moaned lightly from it…but was that in protest or pleasure? It sure seemed like choice B to her.

Goku pulled away again and settled his head back within the soft grass. She saw him give his irresistible, genuine smile and she couldn't help but smile back.

They stayed like that for awhile before Goku broke the silence once again, "All the clouds are gone."

"Huh?" Bulma asked, confused at first.

"The clouds that were in the sky earlier…they're all gone," he repeated, looking at her then past her, continuing this.

She rolled off him and laid beside him, now noticing how soothingly cold the grass really was as she looked up at the now starry, anti-cloud sky.

"Did you make a wish on the first star you saw?" Bulma asked him, making her own wish at that moment.

Goku nodded, "Uh-huh! And…it already came true."

Bulma sucked in a deep breath before she left it out slowly and shakily, already knowing what that certain wish was.

"Hey, remember when we first met? You almost hit me with your car," Goku suddenly brought up, laughing.

She smiled, "Yeah…you got me all freaked when I thought all boys had tails and I just never knew…I still don't understand about your tail…maybe your mother was a monkey and your dad was a human," she laughed at her joke.

"I dunno…I never knew them," Goku said seriously.

Bulma stopped laughing immediately, "Oh yeah…but you still never know," she giggled and looked up at him.

He smirked down at her before turning his attention back up to the bright sky, "And I remember you wanted my grandpa's dragon ball badly."

She nodded, "Yeah…and when you wouldn't give it to me, I decided to invite you along with me. Then, when I found out how strong you were, having you as my bodyguard was another reason I let you follow me. But over time…you became my best friend and you know what?" she grinned.

Goku looked down at her again, "What?"

"That was the best thing that ever happened to me. No one can ask for a better friend than you, Goku."

Goku blushed a little and chuckled, "Gee…thanks Bulma."

Bulma only nodded as she felt Goku grab her hand. She lifted their hands up to admire their fingers intertwined together and he was doing the same.

'Oh Kami…can this really be happening? Can I actually be doing this with my best friend…with Goku? It all…just doesn't seem real.'

"Bulma…?" he called to her.

"Hmm?" she answered, not hearing a response, but instead Goku lifted himself to his side with his elbow and looked down on her.

He slowly leaned down and gave her the gentlest kiss she could have ever imagined. It amazed her how a man…yes, a man, she couldn't look at him as a kid anymore…how a man as strong as he could have the most gentle, delicate touch.

She kissed him back like before, running her fingers through his wacky hair. Deciding to repeat what he saw Yamcha do to her earlier, he moved his kisses to the side of her mouth, to her cheek, down her jaw, and to the side of her neck.

Bulma let out a sharp gasp from surprise as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly, but quickly relaxed, giving an almost inaudible moan.

Without realizing what she was doing, she slid her hands down his back and back up, feeling his shirt ruffle up from her direction. She repeated this, only as she was coming up, she didn't feel his shirt any more, only his burning hot skin that matched that of his lips that seemed to burn into her soul.

It was then that she realized she was about to take off his shirt. She stopped and began wiggling beneath him.

"Goku, stop…" she mumbled before she lost her nerves.

He obeyed, picking his head up from her neck and looked down at her, seeing her beautiful face.

"What is it, Bulma?" he asked with such care that it made her heart melt at what she was about to say.

"I think we should go now…back to the hotel I mean. It's getting kinda late," she said, almost reluctantly.

Goku knew it was no more than nine o'clock but he stood up from Bulma anyway and reached down a hand to help her up.

Bulma put her hand in his again and she soon felt her feet on the ground. Goku didn't let go of her hand as he began taking her in the direction of the hotel they were staying at, only to feel that she was resisting.

He looked back at her, "What's up, Bulma?"

She smiled at him, "Nothing, I just…want to stay here for another minute…I'll catch up with you, kay?"

Goku nodded, "Oh…okay then," and he began walking slowly, waiting for her.

When he was out of earshot, she looked back up at the sky and found the star she made her wish on.

"Please don't leave my wish unanswered," Bulma pleaded, "Please…

"Don't let me fall in love with Goku."

Yes, I decided to be nice to you guys and post chapter 3 sooner than expected. Even though all you gave me really great reviews on chapter 2 (thank you!), I know it wasn't the most exciting chapter for this story, so I have to get your attention again! Please review and I should have chapter 4 up soon!