Chapter 4: Shopping?
Bulma opened her eyes and moaned as the bright sunlight filtered in through the window and sent instant pain coursing through her head. "Oooooh, I need an aspirin." Fumbling her way to the bathroom, she downed a couple and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"You are such an idiot! Just had to go and get drunk, huh? Why don't you just waltz into Vegeta's room with a neon sign and say 'Here I am! Win your stupid bet with my help!'" she grumbled.
She skulked down to the kitchen where her father sat at the table, coffee cup in hand, and her mother busied herself with preparing lunch.
"Good afternoon poppet. Are you feeling any better?" Dr. Briefs chuckled.
"I'm glad you find my hangover so amusing." She cut her eyes at him. "Is there any coffee left?"
"I just made a fresh pot dear. Here you are." Mrs. Briefs handed her a cup.
"Thanks mom."
"Well, your mother tells me it was very interesting around here yesterday." He prodded.
"Oh?" she sighed.
"Yes. I hear you and Vegeta had a rather lovely day at the beach. It's very commendable that he brought you home last night. In one piece that is." He sipped his coffee, keeping his face as neutral as possible.
"Yeah, I guess so." She shrugged.
"Do you think that its wise to go off with Vegeta like that? I mean, what about Yamcha? I hear he was quite upset last night."
"Like I care." She mumbled.
"What was that dear?"
"Nothing. I guess I do owe him an explanation. That is if his highness didn't dispatch him after I went to bed."
Mrs. Briefs giggled. "No. actually, they just sort of glared at each other and went their separate ways. But Yamcha did ask me to make sure you weren't alone together anymore."
"Oh really." 'So. The weasel doesn't trust me as much as he lets on, eh?'
"Yes. He worries Vegeta might try and take advantage of you. Isn't that silly? Vegeta's much to sweet a young man to do that. Even though, if I were a young, beautiful unattached girl, I wouldn't be opposed to him trying." She prattled. Unaware of the dumbfounded looks she was receiving from her family.
"Mmm, right. Bulma dear, the phone company was here this morning to fix the main box. Seams it was somehow destroyed. No calls could go in or out of the compound yesterday. Any idea what happened?" her father cocked a bushy eyebrow at her.
'So, that's what it was. Well gotta give him credit for that one.' "Um, no. Maybe a squirrel or something ate through the wiring." 'Lame.'
He raised the other brow. "Mmm, right. Well, I'd better get back to the lab. See you girls later."
"Bye Dad."
"Bye dear!"
Bulma sat for a few more minutes and looked out the door at the GR. "Where is Vegeta, Mom?"
"He said he would be out in the garden meditating. Would you mind going and telling him lunch is ready?"
"Sure. Why
not." She headed out the back door then around to the side of the house where
her mothers pride and joy was. Her rose garden. There in the middle of dozens
of multicolored roses, sat the Saiyan prince. Cross legged, and more relaxed
than she'd ever seen him before. 'Gee, I
almost hate to disturb him. Almost.'
"Hey Vegeta!" she yelled.
"If that was the best you could manage woman, then your even more pathetic than I thought." He opened his eyes and gave her his infamous half grin.
"Oh yeah. Like you didn't know I was around the minute I stepped out the door."
"Your
learning. I actually knew the minute you deemed to drag your lazy ass out of
bed." He stood and walked towards her.
'If I hadn't had a lapse in mental judgment, you wouldn't have been up that
early.'
"Kiss my ass, jerk." She sniffed.
"Vulgar woman." He chuckled.
"Lunch is ready. And by the way. I didn't tell Dad the truth about the phone. So don't do it again if you know what's good for you."
"Oooooh. I'm shaking in my boots." He crossed his arms and followed her to the house. "So. What kind of fun are we having today?"
The phone rang as soon as they stepped through the kitchen door. "Hello? Oh, hi dear. Yes. She's right here, hold on." Mrs. Briefs handed Bulma the phone. "It's Yamcha."
Bulma took a deep breath and sighed. "Hi Yamcha."
"Hey babe! How ya feeling?" his voice was chipper enough.
"I'm ok. What's up?"
"Well, I thought if you were up to it, I'd take you to dinner tonight." He smiled devilishly. ' you've had it now Veg-head. After tonight, you're out of the picture.'
"That
sounds nice. What did you have in mind?" 'Hmm.
What's he cookin up now?'
"It's a surprise. I've got something for you. Just wear something sexy and dressy."
"Uh, ok. I'll go buy something today."
"Great! I'll pick you up at seven. Bye babe!"
"Bye." She
hung up the phone. 'Hmm. Yamcha and
dressy? This should be interesting. Especially since we only go out when I pay
for it.'
"Plans?" Vegeta quirked, watching the thoughtful
expression on her face. 'she is rather
attractive. When her mouth isn't moving.'
"As a matter of fact, yes." She
smiled whimsically. 'Hmm. I could go for
a nice shopping spree. Matter of fact-.' "Get dressed Veggie. We're going
shopping."
He paused, sandwich half way to his
mouth, eyes wide. "Huh?"
"You heard me. I need a new outfit,
and Kami knows your wardrobe could use some sprucing up. I mean, you can't live
in spandex for ever." She eyed his blue battle suit.
"I don't want to go shopping. Just buy me something. And stop calling me by those stupid pet names!" he growled.
"Suit yourself. I just thought you
might actually want to learn how to take care of yourself. You'll have to do
this stuff for yourself one of these days ya know." She made her way upstairs
and changed into a pair of jeans and a halter top.
Vegeta was leaned against the couch
when she came down. Wearing his only set of civilian clothing. 'Pink! Baka woman.'
She gave him a puzzled look.
"What? I'm tired of wearing this
hideous shirt." He grumbled, folding his arms across his chest. 'you can't break me that easily woman.'
'Whoa.
Thought I had him on that one. Oh, well.' "Then lets hit the shops, monkey
boy!"
After three hours and two trips to the car to unload, Vegeta had enough clothes to start his own mall. Bulma had to admit, most of the outfits he tried on looked great. Of course, with a physique like his, there wasn't much he couldn't pull off. Oh, well, there was the hat incident. She giggled lightly, drawing an irritated glance.
"Ok. Lets go in here. I've always had good luck finding stuff I liked in this shop." She led the grumpy Saiyan into a classy fashion boutique, ignoring the stares he was getting from the attendants.
"Miss Briefs! Hello! Can we get you anything special today?" an older lady in a sophisticated suit glided towards her.
"Actually, I need something dressy but daring. Got anything new in?"
"Ooh, I have several knew numbers that would look stunning on you. Size four, right? Just go on into the dressing room and I'll have Lena bring them in." she clapped her hands, causing the younger girls to break out of their dreamy eyed stares. "Chop chop ladies. This one belongs to Miss Briefs!"
Vegeta's
shoulders slumped. 'Why do all the women
on this mud ball act like men are possessions? It's undignified. Humph! Me,
prince of an entire planet. I belong to no one! They should be saying she
belongs to me. It won't be much longer before she does anyway.' He felt a
blush creep over his cheeks. 'What am I
thinking?'
Bulma tried on all the dresses, finally settling for a black clingy silk, mid-thigh dress that draped just below the swell of her breasts and dipped in the rear to show off most of her back.
Vegeta was sitting on a fluffy pink chair, leaned over, chin in palm, staring at the floor. 'What is taking so damned long! It's just a stupid dress, for a stupid date with that stupid human!' A pair of bare feet appeared in the spot he was staring at. He looked up slowly, taking in silky legs and a dress that left practically nothing to the imagination. He swallowed as he looked up into her sparkling blue eyes.
"You like this one?" she twirled slowly for him. then made several seductive poses.
He felt his face grow warm and frowned. "Hmph. Depends on what I'm supposed to like it for. If your trying to seduce me, I suppose it might do." He grinned, as he saw her face turn beet red. "If I were interested in an ugly little female like you, that is."
"Why you ass! Like I would ever waste my time trying to seduce you!" she hissed.
"Is everything alright Miss Briefs?" the manager smiled. "Oh, that's quite lovely on you. You two must really have a special evening planned."
"Yes, I do. My boyfriend is taking me somewhere special to give me a surprise."
She winked at Vegeta. "Oh, aren't you romantic."
"I'm not her boyfriend. I just live with her." He grinned as both women blushed furiously. The statement had the exact effect he had hoped for.
"Uh, well, um-." The manager stammered.
"You just stay with my family you bum! It's not the same. He's a fighter you see, and he's training at Capsule Corp. for a big, uh, tournament. Unfortunately he has very brutish sense of humor." She explained hurriedly.
"Oh! A fighter? Well isn't that err-nice." She laughed nervously. He did have a deadly look to him. "If you want to change, I'll go ahead and have that pressed."
"Thank you."
Six thirty. Bulma put the finishing touches on her make-up and scrutinized the image in the mirror. "Eat your hearts out boys. One day some lucky guy will get this package." She turned to leave the room, not wanting to see the frown that she felt coming on.
Vegeta was bored. He'd missed two whole days of training for nothing. Well, the woman would be gone for a while tonight, so he could sneak to the GR and get something done. 'A surprise? Hmm. I wonder what that idiot's come up with.' He looked up as a movement caught his eye.
Bulma
glided down the stairs. Normally, she wouldn't have come down until Yamcha
actually arrived, but she knew Vegeta would be lurking around to insult her. 'Jerk. He slams me but he can't take his
eyes off me at the same time. I mean, how stupid does he think I am?'
He had to clear his throat, that had gone dry upon seeing her. She looked… gorgeous. Her aqua hair was piled on her head in a myriad of loose curls. Her skin glowed peach in the light of the living room lamps.
"You look hideous woman." He frowned. The idea of her going out looking like that didn't set very well with him.
"Really? So you would never be interested in someone as homely as me?" she pouted playfully as she ran a finger up his bare arm. She couldn't help the little thrill that tickled her as she felt him flinch beneath her touch. "You wouldn't have the slightest inclination to wrap your arms around me? Hold me close. Kiss my poor ugly lips." She whispered breathily.
His eyes narrowed. It was obvious she was playing with him, but his heightened senses were picking up on things she probably wasn't even aware of yet. 'So. You wanna stoke the fires, eh? Your just playing right into my hands.' He smiled. Not a friendly smile, but one much more like a hunter that had just picked its prey out of a large heard.
'Hmm. That's a dangerous look if I ever saw
one!' she smirked and started to step back, when she was captured by arms
that could demolish mountains, and pressed tightly against a chest that would
put Adonis to shame. Heat flooded her body. 'What?
Oh no! No please, don't tell me I'm actually attracted to this jerk! But he
feels so good.. oh, damn! Remember he's just using you!'
'Remember, your just using her.'
He reminded himself as he felt her soft warm curves melt against his body. He
took great delight in the confused, cornered look in her blue eyes. "I don't
know why you waste your time on that sniveling idiot." He murmured, then cut
off her reply as he pressed his lips down on hers. He felt her resist for a few
seconds, before she wrapped her arms around his neck and collapsed into him. A
violent shock wave ran through him. Desire, jealousy, possessiveness, and
things he didn't even know how to describe. His brain screamed. 'She's nothing! Just a means to an end!
Don't let her worm her way into your heart! Huh? Heart? I don't have a heart,
do I?'
Breaking the kiss, he looked down into her flushed face. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at him. 'So vulnerable. Beautiful. Strong willed and even brave occasionally. Just what you've always wanted in a mate. Augh! Not that again!'
His expression was more open than she'd ever seen it. Even though she had prided herself on being able to read him when no one else could, he was actually readable. And what she saw shocked her. It was like a little private war going on inside him. 'Gee. Could he actually have a conscience after all?'
Ding-Dong!!!
He he!! Everybody else is doing the evil cliff hanger thingy so I thought I would to! This wasn't going to be the content of this chapter originally but I kinda got carried away with it. Next chap. Will be Yamcha's big surprise. What will Bulma do? What will Vegeta do?
Tune in next time for "Yamcha's Surprise!" and REVIEW!!!
