Last time:
"Vegeta," Bulma growled, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him towards the group. "What was the big idea over the phone?" He shrugged her arm off, and sighed angrily. He was in no mood to deal with Chi-Chi and her out of control temper, especially when directed towards him. But then again, it usually was.
He rolled his eyes and stepped back into the house.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"So B, what's Unkei Akaike like in person?" Chi-Chi asked, preaching her head on her hands, her elbows propped up, lying on her stomach on her bed. It was well past midnight, the boys were long gone, and their bowls were full of popcorn. It felt so perfect; Bulma could hardly contain her excitement.
"He's a normal guy, Chi," Bulma sighed with a smile. "But he has the best body in the business. Woo! And what a kisser!"
"Bulma," 18 chimed in, having excluded herself from the conversation long ago.
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you visit 'til now?" she asked solemnly, turning back to the computer game she was playing, not expecting a truthful answer. For three years she'd lived with the fact that she'd never lay eyes on Bulma again. She was beginning to accept it, when, all of a sudden, she's in their lives again, and acting as if nothing happened.
"Well…I…" She paused, looking at anything but 18 or Chi-Chi. "It's complicated 18."
"Oh?" She turned away from the computer screen, looking directly into Bulma's eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hold back her anger any longer. True, the first moment she saw her at Goku's front door her heart had almost stopped, and she did embrace her, but as the minutes wore into hours the years of malice returned. She was beyond angry. Borderline rage was more like it. "Try me."
Bulma, who had been lying on her stomach on the floor, sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. "It's a really long story. Are you sure you-"
"Yes."
"Alright," she sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well at first I wrote to all of you, you know that…but then we all just stopped writing and-"
"No, you stopped writing to us," 18 hissed, crossing her arms.
"You're right…I know…and I was getting to that…" She looked around the room, taking in all of the things Chi-Chi had and how she had them. Her curtains, navy blue, pulled shut. Her nightstand, plain white with only a single lamp. Everything was so neat and tidy; plain. Everything looked so strange now that reality had returned. "I met him right before I stopped writing…His name was Eizan. Eizan Sunada…"
Flashback:
"Bulma Briefs?" came a deep voice from behind the blue haired young woman.
"Yes?" she answered, turning and coming face to face with the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. "How-How may I help you?" she asked, trying to keep her cheeks from turning red, as she addressed this man the same as all other customers. She'd been working at Capsule Corp. for as long as she could remember, and still, dealing with the consumers was the hardest thing for her. She would much rather be in the lab working on something with her father, but to her displeasure, sometimes she was needed elsewhere and had to leave her sanctuary.
"Ah, Seiryo was absolutely right. You are the most beautiful woman I will ever lay eyes on," he complimented, though did not answer her question.
"Why…thank you, sir, but what is your business with Capsule Corp.?" She tried to suppress a giggle as she heard her father's words escape her mouth. What is your business? She needed a break, and fast.
"Well, Bulma-"
"And how do you know my name?"
"Miss, everyone knows who the Briefs are," he answered simply, then continue further with an explanation. "Plus, my secretary Seiryo, brought you and your beauty to my attention. And I must say, I'm very, very glad our companies chose to do business together, otherwise I may have missed this opportunity."
"Please, sir, your name and purpose," she nearly hissed, becoming increasingly annoyed with his slow manner at answering her to the point. Good looks could only get you so far in her book. "And do well to keep your flattery in the walls of your head," she added, not being able to help herself. She'd had a bad day all day and this man was just what her horrible mood needed to set her off.
"My, my. And she has a spark too," he chuckled, smirking at her, reminding her oddly enough of her former crush.
"Your business, sir."
"My business is with you."
"Me?" she nearly gasped, but quickly regained her composure. "I'm sorry, but I only offer assistance in regards to Capsule Corporation. So, if there is nothing you need here, please make haste to leave the premises, or I may have to inform security."
"I mean no offense miss, but if you were to inform security, I'm quite sure you would have done it by now. Your finger has been hovering near the button for quite awhile."
"Kuso," she cursed silently, glaring at him. "Your name, please."
"Gladly," he said with a smile, reaching into his pocket for his card, which he handed to her in the usual manner seen in movies. "The name's Eizan. Eizan Sunada, of Sunada and Sons Productions," he finally answered in his smoothest gentleman voice.
"Oh Kami," she groaned, smacking her forehead with the butt of her hand. But she soon remembered that she was still quite angry with this man who walked into her father's place of business and refused to give forth his name when asked several times. Rudeness was something she did not tolerate when working desk. "Sir, thank you for your name, but I must know the manner of your business with my father or I will be forced to find you an escort off the property."
"Well, this is a new one. Usually when girls such as yourself find out my place of business they bow at my feet. You are truly amazing."
"I am not like most girls Mr. Sunada—"
"Please, call me Eizan."
"Mr. Sunada," she repeated venomously, causing a chuckle from the only slightly older man; early twenties at most. "I don't take shit from people who seem to think they are holier than thou. Your business?"
He sighed deeply, looking into her eyes. She almost had to look away, but forced herself to glare angrily back at him. No one treated her in such a way and got away with it, no matter who they were. "I came here looking for a beautiful soda commercial star and found the perfect actress for my movie."
"Excuse me, but what did you just say?" Though she was stunned her voice never lost any of its anger, and Eizan couldn't help but smirk up at her.
"You, Bulma Briefs, are just what I've been looking for."
End flashback:
"I knew that name sounded familiar," Chi-Chi mumbled when Bulma took a rather long pause. "So, that's how you were discovered?"
"Yeah…" she sighed, leaning back, her arms holding her up.
"That guy sounds like Vegeta," 18 commented roughly. "Is that why you liked him?" she asked, catching both Bulma and Chi-Chi completely off guard.
"N-N-No…" she barely managed to say, averting her eyes from her cold blonde friend. She was just as she remembered, though much harder on the outside now. She must have been through a lot since they last wrote.
"Right," Chi-Chi said sarcastically. "I happen to know for a fact that you had the biggest crush on 'Geta back in the day."
Bulma frowned, crossing her arms and turned away. "That was then…"
Flashback:
"Alright…ACTION!!!" boomed the loud voice of the director, startling Bulma almost out of her chair beside her. They were on the movie set, the movie that she would be in. Eizan had picked her up at Capsule Corp. early that morning, around 6:00 AM, though Bulma scarcely remembered waking up. But she was wide-awake now; sitting next to Ms. Masuzoe one could hardly keep their eyes closed for more than a moment. But she was an exceptionally nice woman.
Everywhere Bulma looked, she saw experienced actors and actresses, the people she'd be working with for months to come. They were all professionals, having done at least two movies prior to this one. She was the only actress on set with no experience. "CUT!" another shriek caused Bulma's head to snap in her direction, nearly sending her a death glare, until her sensibility stopped her. This woman was her boss now, no matter how much of a morning person Bulma was not.
"So, Bulma, how do you like it?" Eizan whispered from the chair next to her.
"Its death," she sneered. Her distaste for him hadn't diminished in the least.
"Please, dear, do try and make the best of this. It may be your only opportunity at stardom."
"You forget, Mr. Sunada, that I did not want this opportunity, at all."
"Then what made you change your mind so suddenly last night? It was 3:00 AM if I remember correctly."
"My mother," she stated, still not looking at him. "She had the chance when she was a girl and turned it down, and she regrets it. She urged me not to make the same mistake. So I decided to please her and try it. And even though she told me disrespect is unladylike and that you, above all, deserve the most for your offer, I assure you, sir, that you will get as much respect as if you were a murderer of children."
"Ouch! Miss Briefs you make my heart ache," he cooed, brushing the back of his hand across her face. She immediately slapped it away, glared daggers at him, then turned to Ms. Masuzoe.
"It's a wonderful script," she commented as the other woman watched the performance carefully for the slightest mistakes.
"Yes, child, indeed it is. But hush, I need to concentrate," she said sweetly, waving her away.
"Oh of course. Sorry."
"Wow, you're being polite…It doesn't suit you," he laughed, leaning back in his chair to pay attention to the goings on before him for the first time since they arrived. It didn't matter to him what the movie looked like so long as he got his share of the money.
"Bite me," she growled, crossing her arms and turning her attention to the scene as well.
They watched the story of the particular scene unfold before them, though Bulma guessed it would look much better if there were no scripts and they were in costume. But still, they were wonderful to her; everything she thought she could never be. Until Eizan that was. Even with her mild hatred for him, he still made her feel wanted in a town that otherwise denied her a chance at anything but what her father offered. And, even if she did have a severe case of stage fright, she still wanted to experience the feeling of presenting a story to the world in such a way. True, her mother did have to almost force her into it, but she was glad for that. "I definitely have to tell the guys about this," she thought as Chi-Chi, 18, Vegeta, and all the others suddenly bombarded her thoughts. She missed them so much, she would definitely start a letter when she got home.
End Flashback:
"I never got a letter," 18 huffed, interrupting Bulma's story. She couldn't bear another pitiful word. How could she even think they'd welcome her back as if nothing happened, without explanation?
"Well I started writing one, to both of you…I still have them," she sighed, leaning over and grabbing her purse where she'd stuffed the letters in an envelope at the bottom long ago. "See," she said, pulling them out and handing one to each of the girls.
(Chi-Chi's Letter):
Dear Cheech,
Sorry I haven't written in so long, I've just been really busy with things, which I will tell you all about. You'll be happy for me, I know it! I'm so excited it scares me. Well, I won't drag this on forever, I bet you're probably grumbling right now at how slow I'm being (I know you too well). So, I was at work one day and this unbelievable man comes in, and he's the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid eyes on, but—get this—he has an attitude that would crush Vegeta's! He was so insufferable! I could have slapped him if not for what he was there for…It was Eizan Sunada, Chi! Eizan Sunada! And he was there to cast ME in a TV commercial!! Weird thing though was that even after I found out who he was, I was still yelling at him. But that's not the best news, cause I'm not doing the commercial. I'm going to be in a movie!!! Its called Playing Murder. It's only a small part, and I don't really have that many lines (Thank Kami), but its still an important part that the story line needs. Can you believe it!? I hardly can! Its so –And that's where the letter cut off.
"Why didn't you finish it?" Chi-Chi asked, placing the tattered piece of notebook paper on her nightstand.
"I got caught up in a lot…" she mumbled, averting her eyes from her former best friend. By now she must have been only thought of as the ex-best friend.
"What about mine?" 18 hissed, crumpling it up and throwing it none too gently back at her. "All it says is: Dear 18, I don't know what to say, sorry I haven't written, but I've been busy. I'll explain though in—and then it stops. Honestly Bulma, you made no effort at trying to stay friends with us. Do you have any idea how many letters I sent you after not receiving any!?"
"Forty-seven," she replied solemnly, looking at the floor. "And I saved them all. I saved all of everyone's letters in a binder. I used to read them all every night before I could fall asleep…"
"Then what?" 18 growled, not moved in the least by the tears that were beginning to fall on her cheeks. The nerve! "You stopped and just forgot about us, is that it!?"
"No!" Bulma cried, covering her face with her hands. "It wasn't like that! I swear!"
"You know, at one time I thought you were one of the only people I could trust that would NEVER hurt me! Never! And now look! You leave, cut off contact, and then come back and expect everything to be all sun shine and daises!? Well I don't think so! I've heard enough!" She turned sharply to Chi-Chi, trying her best not to glare at her startled friend, who should have been used to her blonde friend's outbursts by now. "I'm sorry Chi, but I can't stand to be around that sorry excuse for a person anymore! I'll call you." Without another word to anyone, 18 was out the door.
"Oh Kami," Bulma moaned, curling into a depressing little ball on the floor, wishing her old life was back. She'd missed everyone here so much, she'd longed for the moment she they could all be "the gang" again. But in the back of her mind she'd always known that this would happen. There was no other way for it to go. She'd left them, stopped writing, and gave no explanation. And now, crying in front of her old friend, she knew that they would never hear her story; they didn't deserve to be put through it, have to sit in anger and listen to her words, wanting her gone, and then, suddenly, feeling sorry for her just because of her past. She couldn't have that. She didn't want them back out of pity. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it could have easily been prevented if she never came back at all. It was her worst fear coming to life; both 18 and Vegeta were bitter at her, and had been for Kami knows how long, Chi-Chi was understanding but skeptical, Goku was happy, but indifferent, and Krillin, well, she really didn't know what Krillin was thinking. But right now all she was concerned about was 18, and if and how she could make things right before she went back to Watanabe City, for that was her only remaining option now. "Chi, what am I going to do!?" she cried, toppling over and curling into a ball of helpless sobs.
Chi-Chi didn't respond. Bulma's heart stopped.
"Chi?" she squeaked, looking up at her supposed friend who was glaring down at her. "N-No…"
"I don't see how you couldn't have expected she'd act like this. Hell, I should be acting like that! You're damn lucky I pity you!" she yelled, slamming a fist angrily into her mattress.
"No! Please no! No…Why didn't I see?"
Chi-Chi only continued to glare, having never felt so angry in her life, not even at Vegeta when he'd sleep with girls and leave them. This was utter hatred, something she'd never felt so deeply before, which made her even more angry. Bulma had just gone too far. How could she expect to leave then come back and have everything be just like before? It was impossible. And further more, she expected them not to be mad at her in the least for cutting contact! Well, she'd be damned if she was going to let her so called friend get away with that. "I-I…"
Bulma looked up at her with watery eyes and tear-stained cheeks, begging her not to finish her sentence. She would leave without another word, but if she continued—
"I want you to leave," she said firmly, pointing a shaky finger at the door. She could hardly keep the tears from escaping her chocolate brown eyes.
"A-A…Alright…I…I'll never bother you again…" she sighed, picking herself up and trudging to the door. "I…No matter what you guys think of me now, I've never forgotten you. Never…All I ever w-wished f-for…All I-I ever wanted…w-was to come b-back and be with you all again…I'm sorry my problems got in the way…I'm sorry that I got caught up in…other things…But I swear to you, I will never bother you again if that's what you really want…Good-bye Chi…"
All she did, all her anger would allow her to do, was glare at Bulma as tears cascaded down her face, her body quivering as she finally left the room. "Good-bye B…" Chi-Chi whispered, letting a few tears run the length of her face, then splash on her hand only seconds before she collapsed on her bed in a fit of tears.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
---Chapter 3! Wow…Poor Bulma…Poor everyone…But don't worry, you'll all find out why she didn't write or visit in all that time. And it's a very very good reason. Bear with me, there's a method to my madness :P
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ReviewsMore Chapters)
Next time: What more can Bulma do?…PLENTY! :P
"Vegeta," Bulma growled, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him towards the group. "What was the big idea over the phone?" He shrugged her arm off, and sighed angrily. He was in no mood to deal with Chi-Chi and her out of control temper, especially when directed towards him. But then again, it usually was.
He rolled his eyes and stepped back into the house.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"So B, what's Unkei Akaike like in person?" Chi-Chi asked, preaching her head on her hands, her elbows propped up, lying on her stomach on her bed. It was well past midnight, the boys were long gone, and their bowls were full of popcorn. It felt so perfect; Bulma could hardly contain her excitement.
"He's a normal guy, Chi," Bulma sighed with a smile. "But he has the best body in the business. Woo! And what a kisser!"
"Bulma," 18 chimed in, having excluded herself from the conversation long ago.
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you visit 'til now?" she asked solemnly, turning back to the computer game she was playing, not expecting a truthful answer. For three years she'd lived with the fact that she'd never lay eyes on Bulma again. She was beginning to accept it, when, all of a sudden, she's in their lives again, and acting as if nothing happened.
"Well…I…" She paused, looking at anything but 18 or Chi-Chi. "It's complicated 18."
"Oh?" She turned away from the computer screen, looking directly into Bulma's eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hold back her anger any longer. True, the first moment she saw her at Goku's front door her heart had almost stopped, and she did embrace her, but as the minutes wore into hours the years of malice returned. She was beyond angry. Borderline rage was more like it. "Try me."
Bulma, who had been lying on her stomach on the floor, sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on her knees. "It's a really long story. Are you sure you-"
"Yes."
"Alright," she sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well at first I wrote to all of you, you know that…but then we all just stopped writing and-"
"No, you stopped writing to us," 18 hissed, crossing her arms.
"You're right…I know…and I was getting to that…" She looked around the room, taking in all of the things Chi-Chi had and how she had them. Her curtains, navy blue, pulled shut. Her nightstand, plain white with only a single lamp. Everything was so neat and tidy; plain. Everything looked so strange now that reality had returned. "I met him right before I stopped writing…His name was Eizan. Eizan Sunada…"
Flashback:
"Bulma Briefs?" came a deep voice from behind the blue haired young woman.
"Yes?" she answered, turning and coming face to face with the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. "How-How may I help you?" she asked, trying to keep her cheeks from turning red, as she addressed this man the same as all other customers. She'd been working at Capsule Corp. for as long as she could remember, and still, dealing with the consumers was the hardest thing for her. She would much rather be in the lab working on something with her father, but to her displeasure, sometimes she was needed elsewhere and had to leave her sanctuary.
"Ah, Seiryo was absolutely right. You are the most beautiful woman I will ever lay eyes on," he complimented, though did not answer her question.
"Why…thank you, sir, but what is your business with Capsule Corp.?" She tried to suppress a giggle as she heard her father's words escape her mouth. What is your business? She needed a break, and fast.
"Well, Bulma-"
"And how do you know my name?"
"Miss, everyone knows who the Briefs are," he answered simply, then continue further with an explanation. "Plus, my secretary Seiryo, brought you and your beauty to my attention. And I must say, I'm very, very glad our companies chose to do business together, otherwise I may have missed this opportunity."
"Please, sir, your name and purpose," she nearly hissed, becoming increasingly annoyed with his slow manner at answering her to the point. Good looks could only get you so far in her book. "And do well to keep your flattery in the walls of your head," she added, not being able to help herself. She'd had a bad day all day and this man was just what her horrible mood needed to set her off.
"My, my. And she has a spark too," he chuckled, smirking at her, reminding her oddly enough of her former crush.
"Your business, sir."
"My business is with you."
"Me?" she nearly gasped, but quickly regained her composure. "I'm sorry, but I only offer assistance in regards to Capsule Corporation. So, if there is nothing you need here, please make haste to leave the premises, or I may have to inform security."
"I mean no offense miss, but if you were to inform security, I'm quite sure you would have done it by now. Your finger has been hovering near the button for quite awhile."
"Kuso," she cursed silently, glaring at him. "Your name, please."
"Gladly," he said with a smile, reaching into his pocket for his card, which he handed to her in the usual manner seen in movies. "The name's Eizan. Eizan Sunada, of Sunada and Sons Productions," he finally answered in his smoothest gentleman voice.
"Oh Kami," she groaned, smacking her forehead with the butt of her hand. But she soon remembered that she was still quite angry with this man who walked into her father's place of business and refused to give forth his name when asked several times. Rudeness was something she did not tolerate when working desk. "Sir, thank you for your name, but I must know the manner of your business with my father or I will be forced to find you an escort off the property."
"Well, this is a new one. Usually when girls such as yourself find out my place of business they bow at my feet. You are truly amazing."
"I am not like most girls Mr. Sunada—"
"Please, call me Eizan."
"Mr. Sunada," she repeated venomously, causing a chuckle from the only slightly older man; early twenties at most. "I don't take shit from people who seem to think they are holier than thou. Your business?"
He sighed deeply, looking into her eyes. She almost had to look away, but forced herself to glare angrily back at him. No one treated her in such a way and got away with it, no matter who they were. "I came here looking for a beautiful soda commercial star and found the perfect actress for my movie."
"Excuse me, but what did you just say?" Though she was stunned her voice never lost any of its anger, and Eizan couldn't help but smirk up at her.
"You, Bulma Briefs, are just what I've been looking for."
End flashback:
"I knew that name sounded familiar," Chi-Chi mumbled when Bulma took a rather long pause. "So, that's how you were discovered?"
"Yeah…" she sighed, leaning back, her arms holding her up.
"That guy sounds like Vegeta," 18 commented roughly. "Is that why you liked him?" she asked, catching both Bulma and Chi-Chi completely off guard.
"N-N-No…" she barely managed to say, averting her eyes from her cold blonde friend. She was just as she remembered, though much harder on the outside now. She must have been through a lot since they last wrote.
"Right," Chi-Chi said sarcastically. "I happen to know for a fact that you had the biggest crush on 'Geta back in the day."
Bulma frowned, crossing her arms and turned away. "That was then…"
Flashback:
"Alright…ACTION!!!" boomed the loud voice of the director, startling Bulma almost out of her chair beside her. They were on the movie set, the movie that she would be in. Eizan had picked her up at Capsule Corp. early that morning, around 6:00 AM, though Bulma scarcely remembered waking up. But she was wide-awake now; sitting next to Ms. Masuzoe one could hardly keep their eyes closed for more than a moment. But she was an exceptionally nice woman.
Everywhere Bulma looked, she saw experienced actors and actresses, the people she'd be working with for months to come. They were all professionals, having done at least two movies prior to this one. She was the only actress on set with no experience. "CUT!" another shriek caused Bulma's head to snap in her direction, nearly sending her a death glare, until her sensibility stopped her. This woman was her boss now, no matter how much of a morning person Bulma was not.
"So, Bulma, how do you like it?" Eizan whispered from the chair next to her.
"Its death," she sneered. Her distaste for him hadn't diminished in the least.
"Please, dear, do try and make the best of this. It may be your only opportunity at stardom."
"You forget, Mr. Sunada, that I did not want this opportunity, at all."
"Then what made you change your mind so suddenly last night? It was 3:00 AM if I remember correctly."
"My mother," she stated, still not looking at him. "She had the chance when she was a girl and turned it down, and she regrets it. She urged me not to make the same mistake. So I decided to please her and try it. And even though she told me disrespect is unladylike and that you, above all, deserve the most for your offer, I assure you, sir, that you will get as much respect as if you were a murderer of children."
"Ouch! Miss Briefs you make my heart ache," he cooed, brushing the back of his hand across her face. She immediately slapped it away, glared daggers at him, then turned to Ms. Masuzoe.
"It's a wonderful script," she commented as the other woman watched the performance carefully for the slightest mistakes.
"Yes, child, indeed it is. But hush, I need to concentrate," she said sweetly, waving her away.
"Oh of course. Sorry."
"Wow, you're being polite…It doesn't suit you," he laughed, leaning back in his chair to pay attention to the goings on before him for the first time since they arrived. It didn't matter to him what the movie looked like so long as he got his share of the money.
"Bite me," she growled, crossing her arms and turning her attention to the scene as well.
They watched the story of the particular scene unfold before them, though Bulma guessed it would look much better if there were no scripts and they were in costume. But still, they were wonderful to her; everything she thought she could never be. Until Eizan that was. Even with her mild hatred for him, he still made her feel wanted in a town that otherwise denied her a chance at anything but what her father offered. And, even if she did have a severe case of stage fright, she still wanted to experience the feeling of presenting a story to the world in such a way. True, her mother did have to almost force her into it, but she was glad for that. "I definitely have to tell the guys about this," she thought as Chi-Chi, 18, Vegeta, and all the others suddenly bombarded her thoughts. She missed them so much, she would definitely start a letter when she got home.
End Flashback:
"I never got a letter," 18 huffed, interrupting Bulma's story. She couldn't bear another pitiful word. How could she even think they'd welcome her back as if nothing happened, without explanation?
"Well I started writing one, to both of you…I still have them," she sighed, leaning over and grabbing her purse where she'd stuffed the letters in an envelope at the bottom long ago. "See," she said, pulling them out and handing one to each of the girls.
(Chi-Chi's Letter):
Dear Cheech,
Sorry I haven't written in so long, I've just been really busy with things, which I will tell you all about. You'll be happy for me, I know it! I'm so excited it scares me. Well, I won't drag this on forever, I bet you're probably grumbling right now at how slow I'm being (I know you too well). So, I was at work one day and this unbelievable man comes in, and he's the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid eyes on, but—get this—he has an attitude that would crush Vegeta's! He was so insufferable! I could have slapped him if not for what he was there for…It was Eizan Sunada, Chi! Eizan Sunada! And he was there to cast ME in a TV commercial!! Weird thing though was that even after I found out who he was, I was still yelling at him. But that's not the best news, cause I'm not doing the commercial. I'm going to be in a movie!!! Its called Playing Murder. It's only a small part, and I don't really have that many lines (Thank Kami), but its still an important part that the story line needs. Can you believe it!? I hardly can! Its so –And that's where the letter cut off.
"Why didn't you finish it?" Chi-Chi asked, placing the tattered piece of notebook paper on her nightstand.
"I got caught up in a lot…" she mumbled, averting her eyes from her former best friend. By now she must have been only thought of as the ex-best friend.
"What about mine?" 18 hissed, crumpling it up and throwing it none too gently back at her. "All it says is: Dear 18, I don't know what to say, sorry I haven't written, but I've been busy. I'll explain though in—and then it stops. Honestly Bulma, you made no effort at trying to stay friends with us. Do you have any idea how many letters I sent you after not receiving any!?"
"Forty-seven," she replied solemnly, looking at the floor. "And I saved them all. I saved all of everyone's letters in a binder. I used to read them all every night before I could fall asleep…"
"Then what?" 18 growled, not moved in the least by the tears that were beginning to fall on her cheeks. The nerve! "You stopped and just forgot about us, is that it!?"
"No!" Bulma cried, covering her face with her hands. "It wasn't like that! I swear!"
"You know, at one time I thought you were one of the only people I could trust that would NEVER hurt me! Never! And now look! You leave, cut off contact, and then come back and expect everything to be all sun shine and daises!? Well I don't think so! I've heard enough!" She turned sharply to Chi-Chi, trying her best not to glare at her startled friend, who should have been used to her blonde friend's outbursts by now. "I'm sorry Chi, but I can't stand to be around that sorry excuse for a person anymore! I'll call you." Without another word to anyone, 18 was out the door.
"Oh Kami," Bulma moaned, curling into a depressing little ball on the floor, wishing her old life was back. She'd missed everyone here so much, she'd longed for the moment she they could all be "the gang" again. But in the back of her mind she'd always known that this would happen. There was no other way for it to go. She'd left them, stopped writing, and gave no explanation. And now, crying in front of her old friend, she knew that they would never hear her story; they didn't deserve to be put through it, have to sit in anger and listen to her words, wanting her gone, and then, suddenly, feeling sorry for her just because of her past. She couldn't have that. She didn't want them back out of pity. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it could have easily been prevented if she never came back at all. It was her worst fear coming to life; both 18 and Vegeta were bitter at her, and had been for Kami knows how long, Chi-Chi was understanding but skeptical, Goku was happy, but indifferent, and Krillin, well, she really didn't know what Krillin was thinking. But right now all she was concerned about was 18, and if and how she could make things right before she went back to Watanabe City, for that was her only remaining option now. "Chi, what am I going to do!?" she cried, toppling over and curling into a ball of helpless sobs.
Chi-Chi didn't respond. Bulma's heart stopped.
"Chi?" she squeaked, looking up at her supposed friend who was glaring down at her. "N-No…"
"I don't see how you couldn't have expected she'd act like this. Hell, I should be acting like that! You're damn lucky I pity you!" she yelled, slamming a fist angrily into her mattress.
"No! Please no! No…Why didn't I see?"
Chi-Chi only continued to glare, having never felt so angry in her life, not even at Vegeta when he'd sleep with girls and leave them. This was utter hatred, something she'd never felt so deeply before, which made her even more angry. Bulma had just gone too far. How could she expect to leave then come back and have everything be just like before? It was impossible. And further more, she expected them not to be mad at her in the least for cutting contact! Well, she'd be damned if she was going to let her so called friend get away with that. "I-I…"
Bulma looked up at her with watery eyes and tear-stained cheeks, begging her not to finish her sentence. She would leave without another word, but if she continued—
"I want you to leave," she said firmly, pointing a shaky finger at the door. She could hardly keep the tears from escaping her chocolate brown eyes.
"A-A…Alright…I…I'll never bother you again…" she sighed, picking herself up and trudging to the door. "I…No matter what you guys think of me now, I've never forgotten you. Never…All I ever w-wished f-for…All I-I ever wanted…w-was to come b-back and be with you all again…I'm sorry my problems got in the way…I'm sorry that I got caught up in…other things…But I swear to you, I will never bother you again if that's what you really want…Good-bye Chi…"
All she did, all her anger would allow her to do, was glare at Bulma as tears cascaded down her face, her body quivering as she finally left the room. "Good-bye B…" Chi-Chi whispered, letting a few tears run the length of her face, then splash on her hand only seconds before she collapsed on her bed in a fit of tears.
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---Chapter 3! Wow…Poor Bulma…Poor everyone…But don't worry, you'll all find out why she didn't write or visit in all that time. And it's a very very good reason. Bear with me, there's a method to my madness :P
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Next time: What more can Bulma do?…PLENTY! :P