Last time:
"Vegeta—" He began, but was cut off immediately.
"You listen to me!" Vegeta railed, tears threatening to escape, as he pointed a finger at the temporarily disabled. Goku flinched, then glared at his sour friend. "Because, Kami damn it, I'm only going to say this once!"
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Bulma stared wide-eyed at her blonde friend, as if her words had been in a different language. And they may as well have been, for Bulma didn't understand a word of her proclamation. What in Kami's name did she mean?
"Wait," Bulma said, holding up her hand. 18 stopped instantly, her shaky hand moving up just under her lips. "You say you're trying to prove Vegeta isn't the father of Sen's daughter? And that if you find out he isn't, I'll want to be with him because there are no strings attached to him?" 18 nodded. "And what does Yamcha have to do with all of this?"
"It was his idea."
"What!?"
18 flinched. What was it about this fiery blue-haired heiress that could make 18 Gero, International Badass, jump?
"And how the hell did you become involved? This doesn't make a damn bit of sense AND its unethical. You can't just go around dressing up like a nurse and giving babies shots, 18! Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"I told you—"
"I know, you have experience, but what if you got caught? Kami 18, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Yamcha called my cellphone a week ago. I didn't know who he was, but I played along. I was bored, and that call was the only interesting thing at the time." She took a deep breath and looked away. "We got to talking, and then he mentioned his name was Yamcha, and I just couldn't put the phone down. He sounded genuinely upset and wanted to help you. I agreed to meet with him, he told me his plan, and I took it from there. But Bulma!" This time it was Bulma's turn to flinch, and, just as 18 had felt vulnerable in Bulma's presence, she too felt that smallness being near this tough woman, a feel she neither liked nor had experienced before. "I only wanted to help you! I know you like Vegeta, and he likes you."
"No," Bulma corrected. "He wants me. There's a difference. Almost every time I'm around him he tries to kiss me, then I tell him off and say he's only trying to get into my pants, and he says that that's exactly what he's doing. He's no good for me, 18. I know when a guy likes me, and Vegeta does not like me."
"You're wrong though. You don't know him the way I do. He really does like you. Come on Bulma, I mean, he hasn't gone on a single date since he met you, with the exception of Sen, but that was to shut her up, and he was forced to go. He hasn't even looked at another girl. You're all he talks about, well, you and music. And sometimes he goes into these dazes, and I know he's thinking of you, because he's never done that before!"
"He's interested in me for one reason."
"And what's that?" 18 asked, a little too hotly. Why wouldn't she just believe that he liked her?
"A challenge. I am the only girl he's met that hasn't fallen at his feet in praise. He wants to see if he can bag me, and, frankly, I'm not up for being hurt."
"I wish you'd at least give him a shot."
"I have been," Bulma sighed. "I've been on two dates, and today I skipped school for the first time, EVER, just to hang out with him."
"Have you guys kissed yet?"
"Yes, you know we have."
"I mean when you weren't drunk."
Bulma averted her eyes.
"At the cabin?"
"Yeah…"
"Today?"
"Yeah…"
"And how exactly are you not interested in him?"
"When did I say that?"
"You said—"
"I said he's not interested in me, and I'm not interested in getting hurt. Of course I like him. What girl wouldn't? Stupid badass persona. Always gets me."
"Yeah," 18 sighed. "It's a bitch. That's why me liking Krillin is so weird."
"How are you two, anyway?"
"Great," she beamed, her face reddening slightly.
"Kami, if I didn't know love I'd know it the minute I looked at you. I bet you're thinking of how great it feels to be in his arms, to kiss him, to grab him around the neck and give him a noogie."
"What!?"
"Oh come on! Don't tell me you haven't done that!"
"I have not!"
"Liar!" Bulma laughed.
"Yeah…I know."
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"Why Bulma!?" Yamcha yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "I don't understand!"
"Because, Yamcha," she sighed, hoping against all odds that she could forget the anguish in his face at that moment. "I don't need you fighting my battles or claiming my prizes. If I want something I will go for it myself. I do not need you, of all people, to do things for me. Especially this. You stepped over the line."
"But I don't get it. How can what I did be anything but good?"
"Because, its desperate. I'm sorry, but it is. Subconsciously you believe that if I were to get close with him, I'd remember what a great time we had together, and, because you were kind enough to set me up with him—who I liked at the time—I'd want to be with you again…But Yamcha, you don't see what's there. I'm over you. I've moved on, and you need to do the same if you plan on having a life."
"Even with all I've done," he stuttered slightly, his emotions beginning to take over, "I never thought I'd see the day when you could look me in the eye the way you just did and tell me you were completely over me."
"I hope you can understand someday. And I know you think it's because of me, because of who I am. But its not! You have to believe that. I know I'm a strong person who can take a hell of a lot before I fall—Kami knows I did that with you—but I'm not stone. I break as easily as anyone…Yamcha, it's because of who WE were! Don't you see that? We were so perfect, so great for one another and, somehow, everything went wrong, no matter what I did. That's why I can be over you, because I knew it was over when we broke up, that we'd never be a couple again, and I accepted that, as hard as it was for me at the time." She paused for a moment and turned away, wiping at her eyes so her oncoming tears would stop. "Do you have any idea how many times I was close to forgiving you? To going back to you? To begging YOU to take ME back? I wasn't even a person after I left you. I was this ghost that just wandered around. I needed you to stay stable, and when I didn't have that anymore, when I realized what the situation was doing to me, I found the strength to be Bulma again, and to get over you. If you can't do the same, then I don't think we can be friends anymore…"
"Bulma please, don't do this," he pleaded.
"You know I have to. Please, call me when you know its right." Slowly she approached him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Don't think this means that I don't love you anymore, because I do. You're still my friend Yamcha, whether we're talking right now or not, and I will forever love you as a friend." She kissed his forehead lightly and headed for the door, all the while knowing that it could never be good-bye.
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Chi-Chi flew from her chair, batting wildly at the person who dared wake her. When her eyes focused enough to find their face, she took a deep breath and snapped, "What the hell, Maris? You trying to give me a heartattack?"
"Sorry," the brown-haired girl sighed. "It's just your dad is here. He says you need to come home and get some sleep."
"I'm not going anywhere," she said hotly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Not until Goku is better, and, as you can see—" She motioned to the bed he lay asleep in. "—he's not going anywhere for awhile."
"But Chi—"
"If my father wants me to come home so badly, he can come drag me out of here. But I refuse to go."
"Chi," Maris sighed. She took a brave step forward, and when she found she was allowed to, moved closer and closer, until she had her friend in a tight embrace. "You're shaking. What's wrong?"
"He could have died," Chi-Chi whispered into her shoulder. "I haven't even had a chance with him, and he could have died. I…I think I'm starting to fall in love with him, Mar', and I don't want to stop. I know he's famous, and probably too busy for me, but there's just something—"
"I know what you mean."
"17?"
"Yeah. That guy's got me good, and I can't even begin to try to start something with him. He's the first guy that's ever had me stuck still and unable to do anything. I want to make a move, or give him a signal that I'm open for him to make a move, but I just can't. I don't get it."
"That's exactly my problem!" Chi-Chi blurted out, then clamped her hand over her mouth. Slowly she glanced over at the bed. Goku was sound asleep, his chest rising and falling as he breathed. "I want so badly to be with him, to spent all my time with him, but there's that something that's keeping me stuck, as you said."
"I think we need some help," Maris laughed, with a weak smile.
"Yeah. I know what you mean. And I think Krillin and 18 are the only ones who can help in this department."
"How are they going anyway?"
"Fine I guess. They make me sick with their loviness."
"18? Loviness?"
"Yup. I think she's worse than him. They just—Sorry. I shouldn't be talking about them around you. It must be hard."
"What do you mean?"
"You like Krillin, don't you?"
"Yeah, but I know when I'm not right for a person. Come on, Chi. I think you've known me long enough to know that I'm virtually unbreakable when it comes to emotional wounds. Besides, I think with Krillin it was just a small crush. When 17 came into the picture, it was barely there anymore."
"So it's ok if we go talk to them about our problem?"
"Yes, of course. I think right now I'd do anything to get back to my old self. I've never had this much trouble communicating with another person before."
"Do you think they're busy now?"
"I don't know. We could call. Th—Hey, I thought you were going to stay 'til he got better."
"Well, if I can work up the nerve to ask him out by talking with Krillin and 18, then I think I can leave for a little while. Besides, his Grandfather and agent are here. They'll tell him where I went."
"You really do like the guy, don't you?"
"If you only knew, Mar', if you only knew."
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"How long are visiting hours tonight?" Krillin asked, as he and 18 walked into the hospital.
"I don't know," she sighed, slightly aggravated that neither Vegeta nor Goku would tell anyone what they discussed two nights ago. And add to that the stress of the accident itself, and Bulma's hostility about the little game she and Yamcha tried to play with her heart—it was no wonder she was having severe headaches. "We need to check the schedule for Thursday. I know Friday to Sunday is longer, but we may still have time."
"You know he won't tell you, hun." As they passed through the elevator doors, a streak of black and brown came rushing at them. The doors clanged shut, and Chi-Chi and Maris slammed headlong into them, swearing loudly. "What the hell was that all about?"
"I don't know, but your friends are weird. And what do you mean he won't tell me? How do you know?"
"I'm just saying, he already said he wasn't going to. Vegeta won't tell anyone, and Goku doesn't feel he has a right. I don't think you'll get it out of him."
"It had to be something important. Did you see what he looked like when he walked in there? I've never seen him like that before. Well, not since his dad died."
"I think that's a clue," Krillin laughed, snaking his arm around his much taller girlfriend's waist. "Maybe he'll tell you in time, but right now I doubt it. I don't really know Goku or Vegeta, but Vegeta seems stubborn—" 18 grunted in agreement. "—and Goku seems loyal. So I don't think either will say a word for a long time."
"What about Chi-Chi?"
"What about her?"
"Come on, think cue ball." Krillin grimaced. Already she'd found a nickname he hated. "Goku is head over heals for her. Don't you think if she asked, he might tell her? I mean, its worth a shot."
"To mess with other people's lives? Don't you think you've done enough of that?"
He regretted the words the second they passed his lips, and the look of hurt on 18's face was something he wasn't likely to forget for a very long time. Her entire demeanor shifted, and she moved out of his embrace to take hold of the bar on the elevator wall. When the doors jumped open, Chi-Chi and Maris were on the other side.
"What do you guys want?" Krillin asked, trying to hide his uncomfortableness. Already they were having problems and they'd only been together less than a week. What if this didn't work out? What if they were too different? What if they couldn't handle the distance and long stretches without seeing each other?
"Krillin?"
"Uh, sorry, Chi. What'd you say?"
"I said, we need to talk to you guys before you go in to see Goku. It's important."
"What's it about?"
"Goku."
"And 17," Maris added, catching 18's attention.
"What about my brother?"
"You know I like him, 18. Please don't let your feelings for me get in the way of you accepting that."
"What are you getting at?"
"I still think you resent me."
"What the hell are you talking about?" 18 hissed, completely forgetting her tiff with Krillin.
"I mean you and Krillin. We agreed to let things go as they were and let them decide who they wanted, without our interference, and then you went ahead and told him you liked him. You deliberately went behind my back. Clearly you still don't like me." She sighed deeply, then added, "But it doesn't matter. I really like 17 and I want to start something with him, but I…can't."
18's face softened and she wet her lips.
"I don't hate you, Maris. I just…I couldn't stand by and let Krillin get away. You don't understand how it is for me. I have NEVER left this way about a guy, ever. I've liked guys and dated, but I've never woken up thinking about someone, wondering where they were or what they were doing. I couldn't let that slip away…I'm sorry I broke our pact."
"It's fine," Maris said nonchalantly, waving her hand as if waving the situation away. "It's over and done and you guys are happy, clearly. And, through that, I realized that I want 17, and only 17. And I really need your help."
"Both of you," Chi-Chi added, pulling herself and Krillin back into the conversation.
"Both of us? What's the problem?"
"We don't know how to…tell them we like them."
"We freeze up," Maris elaborated.
"How are we supposed to help with that?" Krillin asked. "We didn't have that problem."
"Yes," 18 insisted. "We did. Well, I did." She turned to him, as if just noticing him. "I was scared stiff around you, Krillin. It was only after I knew for sure that Maris wanted you too that I found the nerve to do something about my feelings." She gave him a small peck on the cheek, then turned back to the needy girls. "I just don't know what I could do to help."
"How do we tell them we want to be with them when we freeze every time we see them?"
"How much do you like Goku?"
"I don't—"
"Ok. I'll say a word, you say the first thing that comes to mind. Ok?" Chi-Chi nodded. "Guitar."
"Bass."
"Worms."
"Gummi."
"Green."
"Dragon."
"Love."
"Goku."
18 smiled triumphantly and panted Chi-Chi on the shoulder. "Congrates," she laughed. "You love Goku Son."
Chi-Chi gave her a small, private smile, then took off down the hall. It was now or never, and never wasn't on her agenda.
"What about me?" Maris sighed.
"I think you and my brother are having the same problem. He talks about you non-stop. I suggest you wait for him to make a move."
"You think?"
"If he doesn't ask you by Thanksgiving, I'll kick him in the teeth."
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"I don't know, Bulma," the girl on the other end of the phone said. "All I heard from you about him this summer was negative. Why would I want to go out with him?"
"Because, Tsu, I know Yamcha, and he's a really good guy. The thing with me and him was a big mistake. We had crushed on each other and then after we went out for awhile we got too comfortable and didn't want to leave. I don't think we were ever really in love, but he is a good friend of mine."
"But he cheated on you."
"He did us both a favor. It was either him or me, and he found someone first. We were destined for that path."
"Then he should have broken up with you, not cheated."
"That wasn't an option. Look, Tsuki, I can't explain my relationship with Yamcha, past or present. I hardly understand it myself, and if I tried to explain it we'd both get confused. Let it suffice to say that he's a good guy that made a mistake, and he's more than paid for it. He knows he screwed up and he's already made amends with me."
"And why would I want to date him?"
"You two seem good for each other. You've both been with people for long periods of time. Both aren't virgins. Both like the same kind of music, books—Hell! Both of you love basketball. I think you're a good match."
"But the cheating thing, I can't get over that."
"Trust me, Tsu-Tsu, I know what I'm talking about. If you get hurt in anyway as a result of his stupidity, I give you permission to punch me in the face."
"You mean it?" Tsuki laughed at the other end.
"Cross my heart."
"Alright then, it's a date."
"Alright. Just be at The Lounge at 8:00 tomorrow night. I'll take care of Yamcha."
"Oh, B, I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Have I ever steered you wrong, cuz?"
"Well, let's see…Shaving cream in the water balloons, tacking the substitute's chair, putting gum in Baiko Ryusaki's hair. Shall I continue?"
"Everyone we did those things to deserved them, sheesh," Bulma chuckled. "We were purposely outnumbered in the water balloon fight, Miss Morioka slapped your hand with a ruler for getting a question wrong, and Baiko put gum in Chi-Chi's hair first. Besides, we had a ton of fun with that. And you'll have fun with Yamcha tomorrow night. I promise."
"He better not try to grope me."
"Good-bye Tsu."
"Bye BB."
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---Chapter 16!!! Yay! Yay! Yay! Another one in the bag :P I hope everyone liked this one :D Not a lot happened, but a few big things did. I promise next time you'll see a lot more, and some of Vegeta, who I don't know how I didn't fit him into the chapter. He's on an emotional leave, or something, lol. I don't know. I have no excuse for that!!! :( He'll be back, I swear! :D
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reviews=More Chapters) Or you'll be forced to suffer my wrath! Muhahahaha!
Next time: Chi-Chi and Goku action. And a Halloween party, woo! :D Oh, yeah, and the test results :P
Note: Ok, I don't mean to sound snotty, but you people are ruthless, lol! :P I don't think I could make the chapters longer, and if you looked at most of the fics on this site, you'd see mine are some of the longest. I think they are sufficient.
Don't worry, you'll find out about what Goku and Vegeta talked about in time.
Tsuki is Bulma's cousin on her father's side. Her full first name is Tsuki, but Bulma calls her a range of names, many of which she used in their conversation. I just don't want anyone confused :P
"Vegeta—" He began, but was cut off immediately.
"You listen to me!" Vegeta railed, tears threatening to escape, as he pointed a finger at the temporarily disabled. Goku flinched, then glared at his sour friend. "Because, Kami damn it, I'm only going to say this once!"
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Bulma stared wide-eyed at her blonde friend, as if her words had been in a different language. And they may as well have been, for Bulma didn't understand a word of her proclamation. What in Kami's name did she mean?
"Wait," Bulma said, holding up her hand. 18 stopped instantly, her shaky hand moving up just under her lips. "You say you're trying to prove Vegeta isn't the father of Sen's daughter? And that if you find out he isn't, I'll want to be with him because there are no strings attached to him?" 18 nodded. "And what does Yamcha have to do with all of this?"
"It was his idea."
"What!?"
18 flinched. What was it about this fiery blue-haired heiress that could make 18 Gero, International Badass, jump?
"And how the hell did you become involved? This doesn't make a damn bit of sense AND its unethical. You can't just go around dressing up like a nurse and giving babies shots, 18! Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"I told you—"
"I know, you have experience, but what if you got caught? Kami 18, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Yamcha called my cellphone a week ago. I didn't know who he was, but I played along. I was bored, and that call was the only interesting thing at the time." She took a deep breath and looked away. "We got to talking, and then he mentioned his name was Yamcha, and I just couldn't put the phone down. He sounded genuinely upset and wanted to help you. I agreed to meet with him, he told me his plan, and I took it from there. But Bulma!" This time it was Bulma's turn to flinch, and, just as 18 had felt vulnerable in Bulma's presence, she too felt that smallness being near this tough woman, a feel she neither liked nor had experienced before. "I only wanted to help you! I know you like Vegeta, and he likes you."
"No," Bulma corrected. "He wants me. There's a difference. Almost every time I'm around him he tries to kiss me, then I tell him off and say he's only trying to get into my pants, and he says that that's exactly what he's doing. He's no good for me, 18. I know when a guy likes me, and Vegeta does not like me."
"You're wrong though. You don't know him the way I do. He really does like you. Come on Bulma, I mean, he hasn't gone on a single date since he met you, with the exception of Sen, but that was to shut her up, and he was forced to go. He hasn't even looked at another girl. You're all he talks about, well, you and music. And sometimes he goes into these dazes, and I know he's thinking of you, because he's never done that before!"
"He's interested in me for one reason."
"And what's that?" 18 asked, a little too hotly. Why wouldn't she just believe that he liked her?
"A challenge. I am the only girl he's met that hasn't fallen at his feet in praise. He wants to see if he can bag me, and, frankly, I'm not up for being hurt."
"I wish you'd at least give him a shot."
"I have been," Bulma sighed. "I've been on two dates, and today I skipped school for the first time, EVER, just to hang out with him."
"Have you guys kissed yet?"
"Yes, you know we have."
"I mean when you weren't drunk."
Bulma averted her eyes.
"At the cabin?"
"Yeah…"
"Today?"
"Yeah…"
"And how exactly are you not interested in him?"
"When did I say that?"
"You said—"
"I said he's not interested in me, and I'm not interested in getting hurt. Of course I like him. What girl wouldn't? Stupid badass persona. Always gets me."
"Yeah," 18 sighed. "It's a bitch. That's why me liking Krillin is so weird."
"How are you two, anyway?"
"Great," she beamed, her face reddening slightly.
"Kami, if I didn't know love I'd know it the minute I looked at you. I bet you're thinking of how great it feels to be in his arms, to kiss him, to grab him around the neck and give him a noogie."
"What!?"
"Oh come on! Don't tell me you haven't done that!"
"I have not!"
"Liar!" Bulma laughed.
"Yeah…I know."
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"Why Bulma!?" Yamcha yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "I don't understand!"
"Because, Yamcha," she sighed, hoping against all odds that she could forget the anguish in his face at that moment. "I don't need you fighting my battles or claiming my prizes. If I want something I will go for it myself. I do not need you, of all people, to do things for me. Especially this. You stepped over the line."
"But I don't get it. How can what I did be anything but good?"
"Because, its desperate. I'm sorry, but it is. Subconsciously you believe that if I were to get close with him, I'd remember what a great time we had together, and, because you were kind enough to set me up with him—who I liked at the time—I'd want to be with you again…But Yamcha, you don't see what's there. I'm over you. I've moved on, and you need to do the same if you plan on having a life."
"Even with all I've done," he stuttered slightly, his emotions beginning to take over, "I never thought I'd see the day when you could look me in the eye the way you just did and tell me you were completely over me."
"I hope you can understand someday. And I know you think it's because of me, because of who I am. But its not! You have to believe that. I know I'm a strong person who can take a hell of a lot before I fall—Kami knows I did that with you—but I'm not stone. I break as easily as anyone…Yamcha, it's because of who WE were! Don't you see that? We were so perfect, so great for one another and, somehow, everything went wrong, no matter what I did. That's why I can be over you, because I knew it was over when we broke up, that we'd never be a couple again, and I accepted that, as hard as it was for me at the time." She paused for a moment and turned away, wiping at her eyes so her oncoming tears would stop. "Do you have any idea how many times I was close to forgiving you? To going back to you? To begging YOU to take ME back? I wasn't even a person after I left you. I was this ghost that just wandered around. I needed you to stay stable, and when I didn't have that anymore, when I realized what the situation was doing to me, I found the strength to be Bulma again, and to get over you. If you can't do the same, then I don't think we can be friends anymore…"
"Bulma please, don't do this," he pleaded.
"You know I have to. Please, call me when you know its right." Slowly she approached him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Don't think this means that I don't love you anymore, because I do. You're still my friend Yamcha, whether we're talking right now or not, and I will forever love you as a friend." She kissed his forehead lightly and headed for the door, all the while knowing that it could never be good-bye.
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Chi-Chi flew from her chair, batting wildly at the person who dared wake her. When her eyes focused enough to find their face, she took a deep breath and snapped, "What the hell, Maris? You trying to give me a heartattack?"
"Sorry," the brown-haired girl sighed. "It's just your dad is here. He says you need to come home and get some sleep."
"I'm not going anywhere," she said hotly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Not until Goku is better, and, as you can see—" She motioned to the bed he lay asleep in. "—he's not going anywhere for awhile."
"But Chi—"
"If my father wants me to come home so badly, he can come drag me out of here. But I refuse to go."
"Chi," Maris sighed. She took a brave step forward, and when she found she was allowed to, moved closer and closer, until she had her friend in a tight embrace. "You're shaking. What's wrong?"
"He could have died," Chi-Chi whispered into her shoulder. "I haven't even had a chance with him, and he could have died. I…I think I'm starting to fall in love with him, Mar', and I don't want to stop. I know he's famous, and probably too busy for me, but there's just something—"
"I know what you mean."
"17?"
"Yeah. That guy's got me good, and I can't even begin to try to start something with him. He's the first guy that's ever had me stuck still and unable to do anything. I want to make a move, or give him a signal that I'm open for him to make a move, but I just can't. I don't get it."
"That's exactly my problem!" Chi-Chi blurted out, then clamped her hand over her mouth. Slowly she glanced over at the bed. Goku was sound asleep, his chest rising and falling as he breathed. "I want so badly to be with him, to spent all my time with him, but there's that something that's keeping me stuck, as you said."
"I think we need some help," Maris laughed, with a weak smile.
"Yeah. I know what you mean. And I think Krillin and 18 are the only ones who can help in this department."
"How are they going anyway?"
"Fine I guess. They make me sick with their loviness."
"18? Loviness?"
"Yup. I think she's worse than him. They just—Sorry. I shouldn't be talking about them around you. It must be hard."
"What do you mean?"
"You like Krillin, don't you?"
"Yeah, but I know when I'm not right for a person. Come on, Chi. I think you've known me long enough to know that I'm virtually unbreakable when it comes to emotional wounds. Besides, I think with Krillin it was just a small crush. When 17 came into the picture, it was barely there anymore."
"So it's ok if we go talk to them about our problem?"
"Yes, of course. I think right now I'd do anything to get back to my old self. I've never had this much trouble communicating with another person before."
"Do you think they're busy now?"
"I don't know. We could call. Th—Hey, I thought you were going to stay 'til he got better."
"Well, if I can work up the nerve to ask him out by talking with Krillin and 18, then I think I can leave for a little while. Besides, his Grandfather and agent are here. They'll tell him where I went."
"You really do like the guy, don't you?"
"If you only knew, Mar', if you only knew."
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"How long are visiting hours tonight?" Krillin asked, as he and 18 walked into the hospital.
"I don't know," she sighed, slightly aggravated that neither Vegeta nor Goku would tell anyone what they discussed two nights ago. And add to that the stress of the accident itself, and Bulma's hostility about the little game she and Yamcha tried to play with her heart—it was no wonder she was having severe headaches. "We need to check the schedule for Thursday. I know Friday to Sunday is longer, but we may still have time."
"You know he won't tell you, hun." As they passed through the elevator doors, a streak of black and brown came rushing at them. The doors clanged shut, and Chi-Chi and Maris slammed headlong into them, swearing loudly. "What the hell was that all about?"
"I don't know, but your friends are weird. And what do you mean he won't tell me? How do you know?"
"I'm just saying, he already said he wasn't going to. Vegeta won't tell anyone, and Goku doesn't feel he has a right. I don't think you'll get it out of him."
"It had to be something important. Did you see what he looked like when he walked in there? I've never seen him like that before. Well, not since his dad died."
"I think that's a clue," Krillin laughed, snaking his arm around his much taller girlfriend's waist. "Maybe he'll tell you in time, but right now I doubt it. I don't really know Goku or Vegeta, but Vegeta seems stubborn—" 18 grunted in agreement. "—and Goku seems loyal. So I don't think either will say a word for a long time."
"What about Chi-Chi?"
"What about her?"
"Come on, think cue ball." Krillin grimaced. Already she'd found a nickname he hated. "Goku is head over heals for her. Don't you think if she asked, he might tell her? I mean, its worth a shot."
"To mess with other people's lives? Don't you think you've done enough of that?"
He regretted the words the second they passed his lips, and the look of hurt on 18's face was something he wasn't likely to forget for a very long time. Her entire demeanor shifted, and she moved out of his embrace to take hold of the bar on the elevator wall. When the doors jumped open, Chi-Chi and Maris were on the other side.
"What do you guys want?" Krillin asked, trying to hide his uncomfortableness. Already they were having problems and they'd only been together less than a week. What if this didn't work out? What if they were too different? What if they couldn't handle the distance and long stretches without seeing each other?
"Krillin?"
"Uh, sorry, Chi. What'd you say?"
"I said, we need to talk to you guys before you go in to see Goku. It's important."
"What's it about?"
"Goku."
"And 17," Maris added, catching 18's attention.
"What about my brother?"
"You know I like him, 18. Please don't let your feelings for me get in the way of you accepting that."
"What are you getting at?"
"I still think you resent me."
"What the hell are you talking about?" 18 hissed, completely forgetting her tiff with Krillin.
"I mean you and Krillin. We agreed to let things go as they were and let them decide who they wanted, without our interference, and then you went ahead and told him you liked him. You deliberately went behind my back. Clearly you still don't like me." She sighed deeply, then added, "But it doesn't matter. I really like 17 and I want to start something with him, but I…can't."
18's face softened and she wet her lips.
"I don't hate you, Maris. I just…I couldn't stand by and let Krillin get away. You don't understand how it is for me. I have NEVER left this way about a guy, ever. I've liked guys and dated, but I've never woken up thinking about someone, wondering where they were or what they were doing. I couldn't let that slip away…I'm sorry I broke our pact."
"It's fine," Maris said nonchalantly, waving her hand as if waving the situation away. "It's over and done and you guys are happy, clearly. And, through that, I realized that I want 17, and only 17. And I really need your help."
"Both of you," Chi-Chi added, pulling herself and Krillin back into the conversation.
"Both of us? What's the problem?"
"We don't know how to…tell them we like them."
"We freeze up," Maris elaborated.
"How are we supposed to help with that?" Krillin asked. "We didn't have that problem."
"Yes," 18 insisted. "We did. Well, I did." She turned to him, as if just noticing him. "I was scared stiff around you, Krillin. It was only after I knew for sure that Maris wanted you too that I found the nerve to do something about my feelings." She gave him a small peck on the cheek, then turned back to the needy girls. "I just don't know what I could do to help."
"How do we tell them we want to be with them when we freeze every time we see them?"
"How much do you like Goku?"
"I don't—"
"Ok. I'll say a word, you say the first thing that comes to mind. Ok?" Chi-Chi nodded. "Guitar."
"Bass."
"Worms."
"Gummi."
"Green."
"Dragon."
"Love."
"Goku."
18 smiled triumphantly and panted Chi-Chi on the shoulder. "Congrates," she laughed. "You love Goku Son."
Chi-Chi gave her a small, private smile, then took off down the hall. It was now or never, and never wasn't on her agenda.
"What about me?" Maris sighed.
"I think you and my brother are having the same problem. He talks about you non-stop. I suggest you wait for him to make a move."
"You think?"
"If he doesn't ask you by Thanksgiving, I'll kick him in the teeth."
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"I don't know, Bulma," the girl on the other end of the phone said. "All I heard from you about him this summer was negative. Why would I want to go out with him?"
"Because, Tsu, I know Yamcha, and he's a really good guy. The thing with me and him was a big mistake. We had crushed on each other and then after we went out for awhile we got too comfortable and didn't want to leave. I don't think we were ever really in love, but he is a good friend of mine."
"But he cheated on you."
"He did us both a favor. It was either him or me, and he found someone first. We were destined for that path."
"Then he should have broken up with you, not cheated."
"That wasn't an option. Look, Tsuki, I can't explain my relationship with Yamcha, past or present. I hardly understand it myself, and if I tried to explain it we'd both get confused. Let it suffice to say that he's a good guy that made a mistake, and he's more than paid for it. He knows he screwed up and he's already made amends with me."
"And why would I want to date him?"
"You two seem good for each other. You've both been with people for long periods of time. Both aren't virgins. Both like the same kind of music, books—Hell! Both of you love basketball. I think you're a good match."
"But the cheating thing, I can't get over that."
"Trust me, Tsu-Tsu, I know what I'm talking about. If you get hurt in anyway as a result of his stupidity, I give you permission to punch me in the face."
"You mean it?" Tsuki laughed at the other end.
"Cross my heart."
"Alright then, it's a date."
"Alright. Just be at The Lounge at 8:00 tomorrow night. I'll take care of Yamcha."
"Oh, B, I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Have I ever steered you wrong, cuz?"
"Well, let's see…Shaving cream in the water balloons, tacking the substitute's chair, putting gum in Baiko Ryusaki's hair. Shall I continue?"
"Everyone we did those things to deserved them, sheesh," Bulma chuckled. "We were purposely outnumbered in the water balloon fight, Miss Morioka slapped your hand with a ruler for getting a question wrong, and Baiko put gum in Chi-Chi's hair first. Besides, we had a ton of fun with that. And you'll have fun with Yamcha tomorrow night. I promise."
"He better not try to grope me."
"Good-bye Tsu."
"Bye BB."
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---Chapter 16!!! Yay! Yay! Yay! Another one in the bag :P I hope everyone liked this one :D Not a lot happened, but a few big things did. I promise next time you'll see a lot more, and some of Vegeta, who I don't know how I didn't fit him into the chapter. He's on an emotional leave, or something, lol. I don't know. I have no excuse for that!!! :( He'll be back, I swear! :D
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reviews=More Chapters) Or you'll be forced to suffer my wrath! Muhahahaha!
Next time: Chi-Chi and Goku action. And a Halloween party, woo! :D Oh, yeah, and the test results :P
Note: Ok, I don't mean to sound snotty, but you people are ruthless, lol! :P I don't think I could make the chapters longer, and if you looked at most of the fics on this site, you'd see mine are some of the longest. I think they are sufficient.
Don't worry, you'll find out about what Goku and Vegeta talked about in time.
Tsuki is Bulma's cousin on her father's side. Her full first name is Tsuki, but Bulma calls her a range of names, many of which she used in their conversation. I just don't want anyone confused :P