Last time:
"Stupid gaming bitch," she muttered, not being about to help herself. "How can you just kiss a member of Green Dragon!"
"Who kissed?" came 17's voice from across the room as he dragged Goku from the kitchen, a turkey leg clutched in his hand. Bulma looked at the floor. "Oh…" He glanced at the door Bulma had just exited. "VEGETAAAAA!!!!"
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17 ran into Vegeta's room and without a moment's hesitation had him on the floor, his fists flying angrily. Bulma watched in horror from the doorway, and poor Maris sat stock-still on the couch. Chi-Chi, Goku, Krillin, and 18 stood just behind Bulma.
"What the fuck's the big idea!" Vegeta yelled, pushing 17 over. He stood immediately and glanced at those in the doorway. "Do I come crashing into your room and tackle you for no reason?" He brought his hand up to his mouth and wiped away a trickle of blood. "You chipped my fucking tooth, moron."
"You really are that stupid to believe you're innocent, aren't you?" 17 countered.
"And what the hell do you think I did now? I haven't seen any ridiculous slander in weeks!"
"What did you do now?" 17 laughed. "How about you went against your word? How about you were going to just use Maris here and then throw her aside like all the other girls? How about you're a disgrace to human beings? How about you couldn't keep a steady girlfriend if your life depended on it?" His fists shook at his sides. "One day you're going to fall in love and whoever that poor girl may be will see you for who you truly are and you'll die alone, and somehow you won't have any clue as to how it happened because you're too self involved to think about another person's feelings for one damn second!"
"You think I was going to use her?" Vegeta pointed to Maris who glared angrily at him. She believed 17's words. Vegeta was the type of guy to do all those things. "What proof do you have? Besides, she kissed me first. I'm not at fault."
"For once," 18 spat, entering the room.
"So what were your intensions for her then Vegeta? What were you going to do? Date her? Ha! You haven't had a girlfriend since the 7th grade, and she saw right through you."
"Why do I need intensions for making out with someone? None of you do. The press barely touches you."
"Because," 18 said. "You're the only one whose liaisons attract negative press. That last girl you banged, she sued us for $5 Million, and all you could say was she was a good screw. You need to clean up that disgusting habit, or we'll toss you."
"Then Green Dragon is dead, isn't it? You're nothing without a lead singer, and no one is as famous as me. You're finished without me!" He pushed past 17 and 18, then those at the door. They heard the elevator doors close and no one spoke for a moment.
"He'll be back," Goku reassured Chi-Chi, who looked beside herself with grief over the appeared break-up of her favorite band. "He does this once a month or so, and we threaten to kick him out and then he comes back. If these fights really meant the end, we probably wouldn't even have started a band."
"He has no respect for anyone else's feelings but his own. He's a child in an angry adult's body."
"Why is he like that?" Maris asked, speaking for the first time since they all entered the room.
"Hiss father died when he was young. He really looked up to him and has never forgiven his mother for surviving the car wreck when his father did not. She's beyond grief when it comes to her only son. He won't even acknowledge her half the time."
"Now I remember," Bulma nearly gasped, the only remaining person in the doorway.
"Remember what?"
"We've all met before. I knew Vegeta when I was in grade school. In the fourth grade a boy in my class lost his father in a car accident and his mother survived, but she was badly injured. From then on the boy was harsh-spoken and didn't follow the rules. I remember going to his house a few times before then. I think we were playmates or something. He was quiet…After that I stopped talking to him, and I don't think he cared. I never forgot that kid, but for some reason I could never remember his name…I vaguely remember the rest of you, 'cause you all hung closely around him until you left after 3rd grade."
"Blue Eyes," 18 sighed with a small laugh. "We never remembered your name so we called you Blue Eyes. You were the closest with Vegeta. Wow, that was so long ago. I barely remember it."
"So where do you think Vegeta went?" Maris piped in, a little more than embarrassed at the previous situation.
"The first bar he sees. Why?"
"I want to apologize to him for getting him into this mess. It wasn't my intention to get him in trouble. It wasn't even a real kiss, I was just happy to beat a boss on the game…"
"She's right," Bulma sighed, no longer able to be angry with her. "I saw the whole thing. It was impulsive. Vegeta didn't know what she meant by it. I'll go with you Maris."
"Me too," came Chi-Chi voice. Of course she wanted to stay and talk more with Goku and the rest of the band, but Bulma was her best friend and she'd be damned if she didn't help her out.
"And me," said Krillin, coming up beside her.
"We should all go then," 17 said. "He'll be intimidated by you and think we sent you or something. Let's just go and pretend we're there to hang out. Then Maris can go apologize once he's sure we're not there for him."
"How do you guys stay together if you're so volatile?" Bulma asked, the last to enter the elevator.
"Vegeta needs to release his bottled up anger on someone. He chooses us 'cause he knows we know him for who he is and won't take it to heart. If he explodes in public, which has happened once or twice, then he runs the risk of ending up on every front page in Japan." 17 sighed and leaned his head back.
"What's his deal? Of course the dad thing, but it's been like eight years. Shouldn't he be over it by now?"
"He's complex," 17 laughed. "There isn't an ounce of Vegeta that we fully understand. He's our friend and we need him in the band."
"It's just sad, you know? I never would have seen it in him on stage."
"Yeah, I know…"
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Maris had long since gone to talk with Vegeta. She explained her actions as best as she could and somehow managed to convince him to join the group in their booth. He didn't say a word, but it was clear to everyone that he wasn't happy with himself for his handling of the situation.
"Hey!" Bulma nearly shouted, startling her party. The rest of the bar's occupants, older couples and bikers, didn't bat an eyelash at the teens. "Is that a karaoke machine?"
"Kami no," Krillin grumbled, grabbing Bulma's wrist. "Why?" he sighed. "Everytime?" It wasn't that she couldn't sing, on the contrary she had an amazing voice, but her choice in karaoke songs was never good and usually ended with her being booed off the mini stage.
Bulma only rolled her eyes at him as she scooted out of the booth. She searched the list of song programmed into the machine until she found one she felt like singing.
"I thought she was the conservative type," 18 said, eyeing the blued-haired heiress.
"She is," Krillin groaned. "But she's obsessed with karaoke. We try to avoid places that have machines."
"Come on baldy," Vegeta laughed, speaking in front of the group for the first time since Maris brought him over. "If she wants to embarrass herself, let her. More fun for us."
Just then the speakers clicked on and the music began to pound out; the words would appear shortly on the screen Bulma stood before. She took a deep breath before belting out the lyrics, surprising all but Chi-Chi and Krillin with her amazingly wonderful voice. So she was beautiful and she could sing, Vegeta thought. Interesting…..
"Baby, I knew at once that you were meant for me. Deep in my soul I know that I'm your destiny," she sang, her body swaying to the music, unconfined with a cordless microphone. "Though you're unsure, why fight the tide? Don't think so much, let your heart deeecide!"
She hopped off the tiny stage and leaned against the bar, immediately catching the attention of the drunken biker closest to her. She sang to him, somewhat convincingly.
"Baby, I see your future and it's tied to mine. I look in your eyes and see you searching for a sign." Sudeenly she turned from the man and sang to her friends as she approached their table. "But you'll never fall, till you let go, don't be so scared of what you don't know!"
She let the chorus carry on without her as she danced dangerously close to Vegeta, who eyed her with suspicion and malice. She was invading his space. "…And when you're true to your heart you know it's gonna lead you straight to me!
"Oooh, someone you know is on your side can set you free. I can do that for you if you believe in me. Why second-guess what feels so right? Just trust your heart and you'll see the light!"
Again she swayed to the chorus, saving her voice for the other words.
"Boy, my heart is driving me to where you are," she sang confidently. And then she did the most unsuspecting and intrepid thing imaginable: she grabbed Vegeta's wrists and yanked him to his feet as she continued to sing to him. "Well, you can take both hands off the wheel and still get far." Vegeta didn't move, allowing Bulma to run her hands over his chest. In the back of her mind, even she was surprised by her boldness. But at the moment she didn't care; she was having way too much fun. "Be swept away. Enjoy the ride. You won't get lost with your heart—" She pointed at his heart. "—to guide you!
"True to your heart, you must be true to your heart. That's when the heavens will part and baby, shower you with my love. Open your eyes. Your heart can tell you no lies, and when you're true to your heart I know it's gonna lead you straight to me!"
She turned abruptly from Vegeta, who simply sat back down as if nothing happened, and returned to her place on stage, her words still directed at her belovéd lead singer.
"When things are getting crazy and you don't know where to start, keep on believing, baby, just be true to your heart! When all the world around you, it seems to fall apart, keep on believing baby, just be true to your heart!…" She let her voice trail off and the words to the end of the song faded out. She set down the mic and walked nonchalantly back to the booth and took her seat.
Everyone starred at her in disbelief, save Vegeta, who glared daggers at her. She only smiled at him, then shrugged to the rest of the group.
"Hmm?" she asked innocently, taking a sip of her soda.
"You're insane, you know that?" 17 finally laughed, barely able to keep his soda from shooting from his nostrils. "What a character. You're as shy as a little girl, yet you can belt your voice out like Madonna."
"Madonna!" she cried, slapping her hands on the table. "Don't flatter me. I'm moderate at best."
"Actually," 18 said, "you have a great voice. Have you ever considered putting it to use?"
"Like what you all do?"
She nodded.
"Hell no. I'd be too nervous. Karaoke satisfies me enough. I haven't sung on a machine in almost a year. Krill and Chi usually scout out the clubs and bars before we go in. They hate it."
"Only 'cause you pick such wretched songs," Chi-Chi said defensively.
"Well that's the point," Bulma sighed, rolling her eyes. "Karaoke is about getting up in front of people and having fun singing horrible songs, though I think the one I picked tonight was good."
"Woman," Vegeta said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at him; Bulma glared. What did he just call her? "If you EVER touch me again I'll have your neck."
"What's the matter? Can't have a little fun? Kami knows you could use it," she spat back, surprised again by her rash behavior. Since when was she so bold? And with her favorite band and band member? Something was in the air. "Hey Maris, how are you doing on that game?"
"I'm half way to beating it," she said proudly, overjoyed that Bulma was civil with her and not angry still about the kissing incident.
"Looks like I'll have another chance to embarrass you in public Vegeta," she laughed, sucking in the last bit on her soda, making that loud slurping noise.
"I don't get embarrassed, woman," he retorted, crossing his arms.
"Stop flirting you two," Goku stepped in. "Sheesh."
"We are NOT flirting!" they yelled in unison, then turned away from each other. The others only laughed and continued their previous conversation. It was blatantly clear that they were attracted to one another.
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"Well we had a great time," 17 yawned, glancing at his watch. "But it's 5:00, and we all need to be up and at the stadium by nine."
"That doesn't give you guys a lot of time to sleep," Chi-Chi said. She needed at least eight hours, if not more.
"Yeah, well, rehearsals, blah, blah, blah. It's not so bad. You guys are coming to the next show, right?"
They all nodded, too tired to really answer.
"Ok, well be backstage at, oh, I don't know—" He glanced back at Goku who held up eight fingers. "—Ok, eight it is. See you guys then."
"Ok, good night!" they all called, waving as they went around the corner to the common elevator.
"You're so irresponsible, Vegeta!" 18 snapped, catching the group's attention. They all crept back and listened from behind the wall. They knew what the argument was about, but the curiosity got the better of them, and they eavesdropped. "You know, SHE isn't backing down as she used to. The headlines are beginning to bother HER, and she's going to step out of the shadows soon and ruin you! Ruin us!"
"I have her under control," Vegeta grunted. "I know how girls like her work."
"You barely know her, Vegeta!" Goku stepped in. "You knew her, for what?, five minutes? And now she's permanently a part of all our lives because of your ignorance."
"Oh, Kakarot, please don't tell me you're giving ME a lesson on ignorance?" He laughed cruelly. "Besides, it's all over and done with. If you just let me—"
"No, Vegeta!" 18 hissed. "'The Boss' already said you can't simply do that."
"And why not? 'Cause it'll be public knowledge? So what? I don't care, and neither should any of you. It's my life, not the world's. They have no right to judge me."
"But your mistakes reflect us and if you go down, we go down."
"You know, it only proves that I'm human."
"No, it proves that you're a moron. What the hell was going through your thick skull? Nothing! You didn't weigh the consequences before you went ahead and fucked everything up so nicely!"
"I was drunk," he sighed, exasperated. "Or high." Bulma peeked around for a split second, long enough to catch a glimpse of his characteristic smirk. "Or both…Besides, it's not like no one in the world has done it before. I'm not the first, and I sure as hell won't be the last, so get off my back about it."
"We're only 'on your back' because it effects us ALL! She's been knocking down our door since day one! 'The Boss' was already fed up with you from the first time you opened your mouth. Do not give her anymore reasons to threaten dumping us, because she can, and would, and then we'd be screwed, 'cause if she doesn't want us, no one will!"
Vegeta gave a long sigh of irritation. "Fine. I'll cooperate with your little game…Has SHE called lately or something? Is that what this is about? I thought she was dealt with money-wise."
"She wants more and more each time. It's getting harder to shut her up."
"What's her name again? I always forget," Vegeta laughed.
"Sen," 17 growled. "Sen Miyahara. And she's a lot tougher than you imaged. She was already making a name for herself before you met her. Why, in the name of Kami, did you pick her! She's brutal."
"The alcohol, or whatever, picked her. I remember meeting her, vaguely, and now she's like a nasty hangover. Did she have that stupid baby yet? She blubbered about it the night I met her. Stupid onna."
"You know," 18 sighed, and Bulma imagined her throwing her hands in the air. "That's another issue, right there. But I'm too tired to go into that, and you know what I'm talking about. You need to clean yourself up or we're done for, you got it?"
"I already said I'd cooperate to keep you guys at bay," he countered. They were all too tired and worn out to be the least bit civil. The group hiding around the corner all whispered that it must be the alcohol, too. "Now out with it. What am I to do to keep you from jumping down my throat? Or, more to the point, what will keep Sen what's-her-name out of my hair, for good?"
"She'll never be gone, unless she agrees to 'The Boss's' terms. We need to do a lot of work to keep her away. But I think there's one way to keep her quiet and not feel completely defeated. She's a sucker for love."
"Oh really? When I met her, she was a bitter, self-conscious windbag."
"Shut up. She writes love novels, right? And she's alone and wants what any other woman wants."
"If you think I'm even going NEAR her, you—"
"No, that's not what I'm saying. She doesn't want to be around you anymore than you want to be around her. Besides, she lives in America."
"She's Japanese. I thought she was a tourist or was following the band," Goku said.
"I don't know her background," 18 huffed. "And it's not important. What's important is that Vegeta keep her calm and her mouth shut."
"And what am I to do? You keep saying, 'Do something. Do something.' Well, tell me, Kami damn it!"
"Well, it looks to me like that girl Maris is going to win your stupid bet." Vegeta growled at her, angry that she was right. He despised losing, especially at something he was supremely a master at. He'd gone on a rampage for a week when Green Dragon lost to Kamiwise at the music awards. "And when she does, you're going on a date with Bulma Briefs, right?" He nodded, still unsure of what she was getting at. "Well," but it was then that she chose to lower her voice, sealing their conversation off from the hidden group of high-schoolers.
"Who's that Sen woman they were talking about?" Krillin asked, once they'd said their good-byes to Maris and were inside their hotel room.
"Beats me," Chi-Chi yawned. "Probably some angry new-age-anti-Japanese-American-native-to-Japan, or something. I don't know. She doesn't seem to be looked highly upon, however."
"And what do you think 18 wanted with you, Bulma?"
"I don't know," Bulma moaned. "But something tells me it isn't to my advantage."
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---Chapter 4!! Woo! Done! Done! Done! Yay! Finally my writer's block is dissipating. I'm free!!!!!!!! Anyways, how'd you like it? And what do you think this nasty Sen woman is up to? What reason would she have to want to hurt Green Dragon, and especially Vegeta? Hmm, I feel some angst creeping up! :P
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reviews=More Chapters)
Next time: Bulma and the gang finish out their week with Green Dragon and head back to Satan City for their first day as Seniors.
Note: I do not own the song True To Your Heart, I only borrowed the lyrics. I got them at www.azlyrics.com, and they were from a Stevie Wonder song, though the version I'm most familiar with is the one with 98 degrees (and no, I do NOT like them, ick!) from the soundtrack to the Disney movie Mulan (I love Disney movies :P).
"Stupid gaming bitch," she muttered, not being about to help herself. "How can you just kiss a member of Green Dragon!"
"Who kissed?" came 17's voice from across the room as he dragged Goku from the kitchen, a turkey leg clutched in his hand. Bulma looked at the floor. "Oh…" He glanced at the door Bulma had just exited. "VEGETAAAAA!!!!"
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17 ran into Vegeta's room and without a moment's hesitation had him on the floor, his fists flying angrily. Bulma watched in horror from the doorway, and poor Maris sat stock-still on the couch. Chi-Chi, Goku, Krillin, and 18 stood just behind Bulma.
"What the fuck's the big idea!" Vegeta yelled, pushing 17 over. He stood immediately and glanced at those in the doorway. "Do I come crashing into your room and tackle you for no reason?" He brought his hand up to his mouth and wiped away a trickle of blood. "You chipped my fucking tooth, moron."
"You really are that stupid to believe you're innocent, aren't you?" 17 countered.
"And what the hell do you think I did now? I haven't seen any ridiculous slander in weeks!"
"What did you do now?" 17 laughed. "How about you went against your word? How about you were going to just use Maris here and then throw her aside like all the other girls? How about you're a disgrace to human beings? How about you couldn't keep a steady girlfriend if your life depended on it?" His fists shook at his sides. "One day you're going to fall in love and whoever that poor girl may be will see you for who you truly are and you'll die alone, and somehow you won't have any clue as to how it happened because you're too self involved to think about another person's feelings for one damn second!"
"You think I was going to use her?" Vegeta pointed to Maris who glared angrily at him. She believed 17's words. Vegeta was the type of guy to do all those things. "What proof do you have? Besides, she kissed me first. I'm not at fault."
"For once," 18 spat, entering the room.
"So what were your intensions for her then Vegeta? What were you going to do? Date her? Ha! You haven't had a girlfriend since the 7th grade, and she saw right through you."
"Why do I need intensions for making out with someone? None of you do. The press barely touches you."
"Because," 18 said. "You're the only one whose liaisons attract negative press. That last girl you banged, she sued us for $5 Million, and all you could say was she was a good screw. You need to clean up that disgusting habit, or we'll toss you."
"Then Green Dragon is dead, isn't it? You're nothing without a lead singer, and no one is as famous as me. You're finished without me!" He pushed past 17 and 18, then those at the door. They heard the elevator doors close and no one spoke for a moment.
"He'll be back," Goku reassured Chi-Chi, who looked beside herself with grief over the appeared break-up of her favorite band. "He does this once a month or so, and we threaten to kick him out and then he comes back. If these fights really meant the end, we probably wouldn't even have started a band."
"He has no respect for anyone else's feelings but his own. He's a child in an angry adult's body."
"Why is he like that?" Maris asked, speaking for the first time since they all entered the room.
"Hiss father died when he was young. He really looked up to him and has never forgiven his mother for surviving the car wreck when his father did not. She's beyond grief when it comes to her only son. He won't even acknowledge her half the time."
"Now I remember," Bulma nearly gasped, the only remaining person in the doorway.
"Remember what?"
"We've all met before. I knew Vegeta when I was in grade school. In the fourth grade a boy in my class lost his father in a car accident and his mother survived, but she was badly injured. From then on the boy was harsh-spoken and didn't follow the rules. I remember going to his house a few times before then. I think we were playmates or something. He was quiet…After that I stopped talking to him, and I don't think he cared. I never forgot that kid, but for some reason I could never remember his name…I vaguely remember the rest of you, 'cause you all hung closely around him until you left after 3rd grade."
"Blue Eyes," 18 sighed with a small laugh. "We never remembered your name so we called you Blue Eyes. You were the closest with Vegeta. Wow, that was so long ago. I barely remember it."
"So where do you think Vegeta went?" Maris piped in, a little more than embarrassed at the previous situation.
"The first bar he sees. Why?"
"I want to apologize to him for getting him into this mess. It wasn't my intention to get him in trouble. It wasn't even a real kiss, I was just happy to beat a boss on the game…"
"She's right," Bulma sighed, no longer able to be angry with her. "I saw the whole thing. It was impulsive. Vegeta didn't know what she meant by it. I'll go with you Maris."
"Me too," came Chi-Chi voice. Of course she wanted to stay and talk more with Goku and the rest of the band, but Bulma was her best friend and she'd be damned if she didn't help her out.
"And me," said Krillin, coming up beside her.
"We should all go then," 17 said. "He'll be intimidated by you and think we sent you or something. Let's just go and pretend we're there to hang out. Then Maris can go apologize once he's sure we're not there for him."
"How do you guys stay together if you're so volatile?" Bulma asked, the last to enter the elevator.
"Vegeta needs to release his bottled up anger on someone. He chooses us 'cause he knows we know him for who he is and won't take it to heart. If he explodes in public, which has happened once or twice, then he runs the risk of ending up on every front page in Japan." 17 sighed and leaned his head back.
"What's his deal? Of course the dad thing, but it's been like eight years. Shouldn't he be over it by now?"
"He's complex," 17 laughed. "There isn't an ounce of Vegeta that we fully understand. He's our friend and we need him in the band."
"It's just sad, you know? I never would have seen it in him on stage."
"Yeah, I know…"
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Maris had long since gone to talk with Vegeta. She explained her actions as best as she could and somehow managed to convince him to join the group in their booth. He didn't say a word, but it was clear to everyone that he wasn't happy with himself for his handling of the situation.
"Hey!" Bulma nearly shouted, startling her party. The rest of the bar's occupants, older couples and bikers, didn't bat an eyelash at the teens. "Is that a karaoke machine?"
"Kami no," Krillin grumbled, grabbing Bulma's wrist. "Why?" he sighed. "Everytime?" It wasn't that she couldn't sing, on the contrary she had an amazing voice, but her choice in karaoke songs was never good and usually ended with her being booed off the mini stage.
Bulma only rolled her eyes at him as she scooted out of the booth. She searched the list of song programmed into the machine until she found one she felt like singing.
"I thought she was the conservative type," 18 said, eyeing the blued-haired heiress.
"She is," Krillin groaned. "But she's obsessed with karaoke. We try to avoid places that have machines."
"Come on baldy," Vegeta laughed, speaking in front of the group for the first time since Maris brought him over. "If she wants to embarrass herself, let her. More fun for us."
Just then the speakers clicked on and the music began to pound out; the words would appear shortly on the screen Bulma stood before. She took a deep breath before belting out the lyrics, surprising all but Chi-Chi and Krillin with her amazingly wonderful voice. So she was beautiful and she could sing, Vegeta thought. Interesting…..
"Baby, I knew at once that you were meant for me. Deep in my soul I know that I'm your destiny," she sang, her body swaying to the music, unconfined with a cordless microphone. "Though you're unsure, why fight the tide? Don't think so much, let your heart deeecide!"
She hopped off the tiny stage and leaned against the bar, immediately catching the attention of the drunken biker closest to her. She sang to him, somewhat convincingly.
"Baby, I see your future and it's tied to mine. I look in your eyes and see you searching for a sign." Sudeenly she turned from the man and sang to her friends as she approached their table. "But you'll never fall, till you let go, don't be so scared of what you don't know!"
She let the chorus carry on without her as she danced dangerously close to Vegeta, who eyed her with suspicion and malice. She was invading his space. "…And when you're true to your heart you know it's gonna lead you straight to me!
"Oooh, someone you know is on your side can set you free. I can do that for you if you believe in me. Why second-guess what feels so right? Just trust your heart and you'll see the light!"
Again she swayed to the chorus, saving her voice for the other words.
"Boy, my heart is driving me to where you are," she sang confidently. And then she did the most unsuspecting and intrepid thing imaginable: she grabbed Vegeta's wrists and yanked him to his feet as she continued to sing to him. "Well, you can take both hands off the wheel and still get far." Vegeta didn't move, allowing Bulma to run her hands over his chest. In the back of her mind, even she was surprised by her boldness. But at the moment she didn't care; she was having way too much fun. "Be swept away. Enjoy the ride. You won't get lost with your heart—" She pointed at his heart. "—to guide you!
"True to your heart, you must be true to your heart. That's when the heavens will part and baby, shower you with my love. Open your eyes. Your heart can tell you no lies, and when you're true to your heart I know it's gonna lead you straight to me!"
She turned abruptly from Vegeta, who simply sat back down as if nothing happened, and returned to her place on stage, her words still directed at her belovéd lead singer.
"When things are getting crazy and you don't know where to start, keep on believing, baby, just be true to your heart! When all the world around you, it seems to fall apart, keep on believing baby, just be true to your heart!…" She let her voice trail off and the words to the end of the song faded out. She set down the mic and walked nonchalantly back to the booth and took her seat.
Everyone starred at her in disbelief, save Vegeta, who glared daggers at her. She only smiled at him, then shrugged to the rest of the group.
"Hmm?" she asked innocently, taking a sip of her soda.
"You're insane, you know that?" 17 finally laughed, barely able to keep his soda from shooting from his nostrils. "What a character. You're as shy as a little girl, yet you can belt your voice out like Madonna."
"Madonna!" she cried, slapping her hands on the table. "Don't flatter me. I'm moderate at best."
"Actually," 18 said, "you have a great voice. Have you ever considered putting it to use?"
"Like what you all do?"
She nodded.
"Hell no. I'd be too nervous. Karaoke satisfies me enough. I haven't sung on a machine in almost a year. Krill and Chi usually scout out the clubs and bars before we go in. They hate it."
"Only 'cause you pick such wretched songs," Chi-Chi said defensively.
"Well that's the point," Bulma sighed, rolling her eyes. "Karaoke is about getting up in front of people and having fun singing horrible songs, though I think the one I picked tonight was good."
"Woman," Vegeta said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at him; Bulma glared. What did he just call her? "If you EVER touch me again I'll have your neck."
"What's the matter? Can't have a little fun? Kami knows you could use it," she spat back, surprised again by her rash behavior. Since when was she so bold? And with her favorite band and band member? Something was in the air. "Hey Maris, how are you doing on that game?"
"I'm half way to beating it," she said proudly, overjoyed that Bulma was civil with her and not angry still about the kissing incident.
"Looks like I'll have another chance to embarrass you in public Vegeta," she laughed, sucking in the last bit on her soda, making that loud slurping noise.
"I don't get embarrassed, woman," he retorted, crossing his arms.
"Stop flirting you two," Goku stepped in. "Sheesh."
"We are NOT flirting!" they yelled in unison, then turned away from each other. The others only laughed and continued their previous conversation. It was blatantly clear that they were attracted to one another.
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"Well we had a great time," 17 yawned, glancing at his watch. "But it's 5:00, and we all need to be up and at the stadium by nine."
"That doesn't give you guys a lot of time to sleep," Chi-Chi said. She needed at least eight hours, if not more.
"Yeah, well, rehearsals, blah, blah, blah. It's not so bad. You guys are coming to the next show, right?"
They all nodded, too tired to really answer.
"Ok, well be backstage at, oh, I don't know—" He glanced back at Goku who held up eight fingers. "—Ok, eight it is. See you guys then."
"Ok, good night!" they all called, waving as they went around the corner to the common elevator.
"You're so irresponsible, Vegeta!" 18 snapped, catching the group's attention. They all crept back and listened from behind the wall. They knew what the argument was about, but the curiosity got the better of them, and they eavesdropped. "You know, SHE isn't backing down as she used to. The headlines are beginning to bother HER, and she's going to step out of the shadows soon and ruin you! Ruin us!"
"I have her under control," Vegeta grunted. "I know how girls like her work."
"You barely know her, Vegeta!" Goku stepped in. "You knew her, for what?, five minutes? And now she's permanently a part of all our lives because of your ignorance."
"Oh, Kakarot, please don't tell me you're giving ME a lesson on ignorance?" He laughed cruelly. "Besides, it's all over and done with. If you just let me—"
"No, Vegeta!" 18 hissed. "'The Boss' already said you can't simply do that."
"And why not? 'Cause it'll be public knowledge? So what? I don't care, and neither should any of you. It's my life, not the world's. They have no right to judge me."
"But your mistakes reflect us and if you go down, we go down."
"You know, it only proves that I'm human."
"No, it proves that you're a moron. What the hell was going through your thick skull? Nothing! You didn't weigh the consequences before you went ahead and fucked everything up so nicely!"
"I was drunk," he sighed, exasperated. "Or high." Bulma peeked around for a split second, long enough to catch a glimpse of his characteristic smirk. "Or both…Besides, it's not like no one in the world has done it before. I'm not the first, and I sure as hell won't be the last, so get off my back about it."
"We're only 'on your back' because it effects us ALL! She's been knocking down our door since day one! 'The Boss' was already fed up with you from the first time you opened your mouth. Do not give her anymore reasons to threaten dumping us, because she can, and would, and then we'd be screwed, 'cause if she doesn't want us, no one will!"
Vegeta gave a long sigh of irritation. "Fine. I'll cooperate with your little game…Has SHE called lately or something? Is that what this is about? I thought she was dealt with money-wise."
"She wants more and more each time. It's getting harder to shut her up."
"What's her name again? I always forget," Vegeta laughed.
"Sen," 17 growled. "Sen Miyahara. And she's a lot tougher than you imaged. She was already making a name for herself before you met her. Why, in the name of Kami, did you pick her! She's brutal."
"The alcohol, or whatever, picked her. I remember meeting her, vaguely, and now she's like a nasty hangover. Did she have that stupid baby yet? She blubbered about it the night I met her. Stupid onna."
"You know," 18 sighed, and Bulma imagined her throwing her hands in the air. "That's another issue, right there. But I'm too tired to go into that, and you know what I'm talking about. You need to clean yourself up or we're done for, you got it?"
"I already said I'd cooperate to keep you guys at bay," he countered. They were all too tired and worn out to be the least bit civil. The group hiding around the corner all whispered that it must be the alcohol, too. "Now out with it. What am I to do to keep you from jumping down my throat? Or, more to the point, what will keep Sen what's-her-name out of my hair, for good?"
"She'll never be gone, unless she agrees to 'The Boss's' terms. We need to do a lot of work to keep her away. But I think there's one way to keep her quiet and not feel completely defeated. She's a sucker for love."
"Oh really? When I met her, she was a bitter, self-conscious windbag."
"Shut up. She writes love novels, right? And she's alone and wants what any other woman wants."
"If you think I'm even going NEAR her, you—"
"No, that's not what I'm saying. She doesn't want to be around you anymore than you want to be around her. Besides, she lives in America."
"She's Japanese. I thought she was a tourist or was following the band," Goku said.
"I don't know her background," 18 huffed. "And it's not important. What's important is that Vegeta keep her calm and her mouth shut."
"And what am I to do? You keep saying, 'Do something. Do something.' Well, tell me, Kami damn it!"
"Well, it looks to me like that girl Maris is going to win your stupid bet." Vegeta growled at her, angry that she was right. He despised losing, especially at something he was supremely a master at. He'd gone on a rampage for a week when Green Dragon lost to Kamiwise at the music awards. "And when she does, you're going on a date with Bulma Briefs, right?" He nodded, still unsure of what she was getting at. "Well," but it was then that she chose to lower her voice, sealing their conversation off from the hidden group of high-schoolers.
"Who's that Sen woman they were talking about?" Krillin asked, once they'd said their good-byes to Maris and were inside their hotel room.
"Beats me," Chi-Chi yawned. "Probably some angry new-age-anti-Japanese-American-native-to-Japan, or something. I don't know. She doesn't seem to be looked highly upon, however."
"And what do you think 18 wanted with you, Bulma?"
"I don't know," Bulma moaned. "But something tells me it isn't to my advantage."
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---Chapter 4!! Woo! Done! Done! Done! Yay! Finally my writer's block is dissipating. I'm free!!!!!!!! Anyways, how'd you like it? And what do you think this nasty Sen woman is up to? What reason would she have to want to hurt Green Dragon, and especially Vegeta? Hmm, I feel some angst creeping up! :P
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reviews=More Chapters)
Next time: Bulma and the gang finish out their week with Green Dragon and head back to Satan City for their first day as Seniors.
Note: I do not own the song True To Your Heart, I only borrowed the lyrics. I got them at www.azlyrics.com, and they were from a Stevie Wonder song, though the version I'm most familiar with is the one with 98 degrees (and no, I do NOT like them, ick!) from the soundtrack to the Disney movie Mulan (I love Disney movies :P).