Cherry: It is I, your daring authoress, returning from a long stay at the hospital for skull fractures, brain damage, aneurysms, concussions...the list goes on and on! But the short and short of it is that I am back, the have updated the story.
Vegeta: And you live to torment me another day....
Cherry: *noddles happily* Yup! =^__^=
Yamcha: *comes bouncing into the staff lounge* I am Henry the eighth, I am, I am Henry the eighth. I am Henry the eighth I am, I am Henry the eighth! I was married to the widow next door, she'd been married seven times before, and everybody was a Henry! (Henry) Wouldn't settle for a Jeff or Sam, I'm...
Cherry: *claps along* Yay! I love this song! I am Henry the eighth I am....
Vegeta: *twitches*
Yamcha: *continues singing* ...her eighth old man! I am Henry the eighth, I am, I am Henry the eighth. I am Henry the eighth I am, I am Henry the eighth! Second Verse same as the first! I am Henr--
Vegeta: *pulls out the prybar and whacks Yamcha over the head with it*
::CLONK::
Yamcha: @__@ *passes out*
Cherry: *goes on singing like nothing happened* I was married to the widow next doo--
Vegeta: *hits Cherry*
::CLONK::
Cherry: @__@ *passes out as well*
Vegeta: Ah, silence....
:: As stated, the unconscious party of Cherry Wolf does not own DBZ, but now she has the 5-disk changer! This disclaimer will self-destruct in 5 seconds after being viewed…click fast! ::
***
Bulma got up the next morning absolutely exhausted; and she was sore all over from the previous night's affairs. She at least got to sleep in for a few extra hours before Vegeta harassed her into getting up.
"WOMAN!!! WE NEED MORE FOOD!!!" he hollered.
She got dressed quickly and stumbled down the stairs.
"What do you mean we need more food? I went shopping yesterday."
"Well, go shopping again today. I got hungry, so now we need more food." he explained contemptuously.
She sighed, defeated, and set out to the supermarket. Actually, she did all her other shopping first, and by about 4:00, she set out to the store. Let Vegeta figure out lunch on his own. She knew she would regret it later, but for now it was settling her anger. She strolled down the aisle selecting the food of the shelf like a zombie. It took nearly an hour in the check out, and by the time she was driving home, it was 5:45. She looked at the radio-clock, and knew she should get home with the goods, or Vegeta would get bored and start blowing stuff up. But first, she felt compelled to make a side stop. She shut off the ignition and stalked into the familiar house. The door was open, so she merely pushed it aside. It was dark inside the house, and shadows danced about from the lights of passing cars. He was sprawled across the couch, snoring slightly. She edged over towards her former flame. His face looked peaceful and there was no movement from him save for the raise and fall of his chest. She caught a slight glaze on his cheeks as a passing car threw a soft glow of light into the room. She leaned over and softly wiped the tears off his face. She bent down, kissing his sleeping face. She let her fingers trace the scars on his cheek and then the one through his eye. His face twitched suddenly and he slowly opened his eyes.
"...Bulma?" he whispered.
"... ... ...Yeah."
He sat up and turned his face away from Bulma's.
"Bulma...we can't keep--"
"Meeting like this?" she finished. "Yamcha, come here." she said, pulling him close to her. He pulled himself away quickly. "What's gotten into you?" she asked.
"Bulma...there is something you should know--I..." he spoke in a low, broken voice, like he was on the verge of tears, "...haven't been able to get over you. I think--I think...I'm really in love with you."
Bulma was stunned.
"Yamcha...I...You know this isn't possible. I can't love you...I'm sorry..." she mumbled hurriedly.
"Oh...well...I suppose it's your way...You're such a seductress. You pull me close, play with my libido and then you throw me away like I was garbage or something. I..." he trailed off miserably.
He sounded horrible, like he was about to cry. He put his face in his hands and started shaking. Bulma leaned closer to comfort him when he whipped up suddenly. She looked at him. And he looked at her...And he was wearing a big red false clown's nose.
"Ack!" Bulma yelped in surprise, falling off the couch.
Actually, Bulma found it really, really funny, even though the joke was on her. He just looked positively hilarious. They were both practically falling apart with laughter. Then, a startling thing happened. She accidentally found herself attached to his mouth (he took the clown nose off first, though). They shared a passionate kiss, and ended up toppling over on top of one another. After a lovely snogging session, Bulma's logical half popped back and she leapt away like a leaping banana.
"Oh, Kami...it's happened again...Why didn't you stop me????" she demanded, grabbing Yamcha by his collar and shaking him.
"C'mon Bulma, you know me." he defended.
"Shit. I've got to get going. I have food in the car that will spoil if I leave it out any longer....I just wanted to stop by to make sure you hadn't killed yourself."
"It was fun while it lasted." he muttered, still sounding rather downtrodden. "Just do me a favor... make up your mind." he said, retreating into his bedroom.
"The best advice you've ever given me." she whispered, starting out the door.
*
She returned to her house a little after 6:30pm. She crept in and headed to the stairs. She could hear Trunks' music from upstairs and Bra's sweet laughter as she played with her dolls. She managed to get up the stairs unnoticed by anyone. She pushed Trunks' door open a little bit and looked inside. Like she thought, he was listening to music and was reading a magazine as well. She backed out slowly and shut the door. She ventured across the hall and popped her head into Bra's room. Bra was sitting on the floor, surrounded by a myriad of doll clothes. She turned around and smiled at Bulma.
"Hiya mama!" she sang, still holding a half-dressed doll.
"Hey sweetie." Bulma smiled. "Did you eat supper already?"
"Mmm-hmm." she responded, going back to dressing the doll.
"Well, what did you have?"
"Papa took us out. He didn't seem too happy though. I bet he missed you, mama." she declared.
Bulma smiled ruefully. "Yeah...missed me." she bent down and kissed Bra on the cheek. "Mama's tired. I'm going to go lay down."
"But you'll be here to tuck me in, right?" she asked, her eyes full of question.
"Of course." Bulma smiled. "Of course."
She ventured to her room, knowing she couldn't bribe Vegeta with sex this time. He was going to be livid. She entered her room, the door instantly slammed behind her. She jumped slightly and spun around quickly. Her breath froze in her throat as Vegeta stepped into view. He had a solemn look carved into his face, and was most certainly pissed off. He said nothing but crossed his arms and furrowed his brows.
"I want to know what's been going on. Now."
"I was out shopping." she said plainly.
"Bullshit." he growled.
"I never asked you to believe me. You men are---"
"Good." he cut in. "Cause I don't believe one word of the shit you're spewing."
"I..." Bulma started.
"Where were you for supper?"
"I told you. I was out shop--"
She never got to finish her sentence. Vegeta slapped her across the face with such force that she slammed into the floor.
"Where were you??? HUH????" he yelled.
"I...I told you...At the damned shop!!" she sobbed.
"DON'T TAKE THAT FUCKIN' TONE WITH ME!!!!" he hollered as he slammed her against the wall.
"Now tell me the truth." he hissed.
"Why don't you believe me? I was only out shopping." she wailed.
"I can SMELL your fear, woman...I can tell when you are lying...and you are lying." he whispered, bringing his face close to hers. His obsidian eyes flashed as he stared her down.
Bulma couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth. He would kill her if she did...all she did was cry.
Vegeta slapped her across the face twice and growled. "You're seeing someone behind my back, aren't you? That's why you are so nervous...isn't it? But who...?"
"Oh, Kami...me? Seeing someone behind your back? Hahahahahahaha!" she snickered. She meant to laugh loudly and carefree, like the statement was ridiculous, but all she managed was a sad, nervous laugh that sounded strangely like a hyena in heat.
"It's...him." Vegeta spat.
"Who..?" she inquired.
"Him. That...earth scum." he growled the last words like they left a nasty taste in his mouth.
Bulma felt her heart speed up.
"No..." she should have called out against it, or blatantly denied it. Then he might have believed her...but all that happened was she looked down at the floor, her face becoming bright red as she struggled to maintain a blank face. Vegeta caught on and frowned.
"You are..."
"...No."
Vegeta wound up and hit her...hard. She flew across the room and slammed into the wall. She lay crumpled in a heap, sobbing uncontrollably. Vegeta stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Bulma crawled into the bed and cried herself to sleep, the agony of the day sinking in.
****
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