Author's Note: Thankyou for your reviews! Greatly appreciated. Now there are a few people out there and when they write reviews they say "well it's getting too long now so I'll stop writing please update soon" don't do that! The longer the better! I LUV long reviews! Anyway I had a really good idea from Videl-14 but I'm sorry, Videl-14 but I just couldn't work it in anyhow, but you've got me onto a whole new train of though with your idea. Thanks for the inspiration, more than I can say for a lot of you *glares at reviewers who cower under maddening stare* And I was just thinking after I posted the last chapter I realised my characters spend an awful lot of time in the hospital! Maybe they should take shares in it…………………

Chapter 23:

"Vegeta!" Bulma yelled as he pushed himself out in the wheelchair. Bulma laughed as she got a look of the nurse's face behind him. She was obviously supposed to be pushing him but Vegeta wouldn't have any of that.

"Are you OK?" Bulma asked. Vegeta grunted. There was some wound dressing on his eye, he had a bandage around his four fingers (not thumb), which he had evidently broken when punching Kris, and there was a white support thingy on his nose.

"Where's Kris?" was Vegeta's first question. 18 laughed.

"Oh someone from the club brought him in here about an hour ago, he's in a coma in one of the rooms," 18 told him. Vegeta laughed, but winced as he felt a searing pain in his ribs.

Goku watched Vegeta silently. There was definitely something bothering him and he was guessing it was whatever he and Bulma had been talking about on their way to the hospital.


"Come on guys we'd best be getting home, it's one o'clock," Goku told them. They all nodded and, after Vegeta climbed awkwardly out of the wheelchair, they made their way to the cars.

Goku and Chichi went in Goku's car, Krillin and 18 in Krillin's, and Bulma climbed into the driver's seat of Vegeta's car.


"There's no way you're driving in your state," she told him, starting the car. Vegeta snorted, putting his belt on and yelping as it pressed against his chest.

"What do you mean by state woman? I am perfectly fine," he snapped. Bulma laughed.


"Tell that to your face."

There was silence for a while as Bulma made her way to Capsule Corp.

"You realise you're not gunna be able to play soccer?" Bulma told him. Vegeta snorted.

"Like a broken nose and a couple of cracked ribs are gunna stop me," he laughed coldly. Bulma shook her head and pulled up the CC drive.

"Home," she said. Vegeta frowned.


"For one so academically smart you really are quite dumb woman," Vegeta glared. "I don't live her, in case that minor fact emitted you knowledge." Bulma rolled her eyes and stepped out of the car.


"No, Vegeta, I did not forget you don't live with me, hell, could anyone forget it if you lived with them?" Vegeta glared. "Anyway, you can't drive home, I've got your car, I'm not walking home in the dark so simple, you're staying at my house now if you want to eat before you go to bed I suggest you hurry up and get your ass inside before I break another bone in your body." Vegeta laughed, undoing his seatbelt.


"Like you could woman," he snickered, but got out anyway, making his way inside.

Vegeta groaned as he got inside, collapsing awkwardly and painfully onto Bulma's living room couch. The open fire was warm and the orange flames were the only illumination in the room. Until Bulma turned the light on.

Vegeta sighed.

"Woman? Do you have to wreck everything?" he asked. Bulma frowned.


"Wreck what, Vegeta?" He shook his head.

"Never mind. Turn the radio on." Bulma glared at him but stalked over and pushed the power button.

'Hello, Bulma' flicked across the radio's screen. 'What station would we like today eh? Or should I say, tonight?'

"2XS," Bulma told the radio. (2XS FM or 92.2 XS FM is a really phat radio station in my part of New Zealand, it's the phattest of all the stations in NZ).

"You're here with AJ Fannelle, on the Big Night Live I'm here taking you through from 12-6. That was DJ Sammy, Boys of Summer on 2XS. Coming up, Eminem, 50 Cent, T.a.T.U, Big Brovaz and more, this is Justin Timberlake on 2XS." The radio voice told them. Bulma had tottered off into the kitchen to get them something to eat.

Vegeta sat on the couch listening to Cry me a River and wondering how Britney Spears could have liked someone who was so obviously gay.

Bulma returned just as the song finished, with toast for Vegeta and a cup of Milo for herself.

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the radio and the far off crackle of the fire.

"Vegeta?" Bulma asked putting down her Milo.


"Ar?" he asked through a mouthful of toast.

"Do you really think that guy will come after you?" Vegeta chewed thoughtfully.

"I think he wants Vega back."

"What?" Bulma asked.

"I think he wants Vega back. Technically, she's his daughter," Vegeta frowned at the thought, "and maybe he wants to claim her back. He just wants me dead, I know that. We'll worry about that in the morning. Go upstairs to sleep," he told her.

"Are you gunna come upstairs?" he shook his head. "Well then I'll stay down here with you." Bulma got up and pulled her couch out, turning it into a much-bigger-than-double bed. She grabbed some pillows and blankets from under Vegeta's chair and curled up on the couchbed.

"Night Vegeta," she smiled. He grunted, nodding and Bulma turned her back to him.

Vegeta sat there for a while, thinking about nothing in particular, and watching the fire. Fire amazed him, being the pyromaniac that he was. The way it was so untamed, the way nothing contained it, or dictated to it.

"In Regional News this hour a 18 year old Australian exchange student lies in a coma in the Orange Star hospital, after a fight at a club. The student has suffered several facial injuries and cracked ribs. The whereabouts of the other fighter is unknown and police are urging anyone with information to come forward." Vegeta groaned. How the fuck had they got that notion? He hadn't beaten Kris up, he'd got in a scrap with him. Great. Just some more worthless shit in his life that he'd have to deal with one way or another.

"In Regional Sport the Orange Star Crusaders showed up the Stormers in a pre semi finals game. The hometown won by a margin on two points, an excellent win to come off going into the semis. I'm Keri, this is Regional Sport, the weather is next on 2XS."

Vegeta groaned and hobbled his way over to the couchbed where Bulma lay sleeping. He climbed in under the blankets and placed his arm protectively around Bulma's waist, falling into a deep sleep.

*

"Why do I get the horrible feeling of déjà vu?" came an amused voice. Vegeta groaned and moved his arm from around Bulma's waist, sitting up against the arm of the couch and looking at the source of the voice. His eyes widened and he nudged Bulma. She groaned and rubbed her eyes groggily before following Vegeta's line of sight to-

"H-hi daddy," Bulma smiled, sitting up against the arm next to Vegeta. Vegeta winced.


"Watch my ribs," he hissed. Bulma smiled in apology.

"Don't worry, I'm not angry but your mother and I have just got home and it's six o'clock in the morning, so you can go back to sleep if you want," Dr. Briefs told them. Bulma stared at her dad through half lidded eyes.

"Yeah, thanks Dad. Night." Bulma laid back and down and snuggled against Vegeta. Vegeta smirked, she was obviously not wholly conscious.

"Good morning, Mr. Briefs," Vegeta said, tilting his head to the older man. Dr. Briefs raised an eyebrow and disappeared upstairs, leaving Vegeta and Bulma alone again. Vegeta slid back down the couch into sleeping conditions, as graciously as his injuries would let him.

"Fucken Kris," was the last thing he thought before he went back to sleep.

*

Monday morning in form room

"Mr. Ouji, Miss. Briefs, you are requested at the deans office," Mr. S told them. Bulma groaned. Great.


"Five bucks says it's about our green slips," she grumbled. Vegeta smirked and picked up his bag. They walked out of class and made their way across the courts, through the hall and student centre, into the Malina Dean's room.

"Ah, Mr. Ouji, Miss. Briefs, Mr. Doryth informs me that you two were wagging, among other things," Mr. Mc Cullivan told them, swinging around to face the teens. Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"Just sign the green bits of paper and give them to us, unless of course you want us to be late for another class," Vegeta snared. The old man glared, but scrawled a loopy illegible signature on two bits of green paper and thrust them into the teens' hands.

"Get out, before I suspend you," he snapped. Bulma snorted and walked out, closely followed by Vegeta. Once out of the student centre, Bulma started sniggering.

"Suspending us for poking a little fun at him? Man someone get that guy some psychiatric help." Vegeta smirked but said nothing as the made their way through the tunnel between B and C, and then across the car park to E Block for English Extension.

*

"Krillin have you seen 18 today?" Chichi asked as they headed for English. Krillin shook his head.

"Nah, she's at home with my cough. I told her she shouldn't come near me when I was sick." He shook his head in mock disapproval.

"Ah well it's gunna be a boring day I can tell already." Chichi sighed. They walked in silence for a while.


"Why did Vegeta and Bulma get called to the deans?" asked Krillin. Chichi snorted.

" 'Cause they walked out on their teacher and wagged last period so Mr. Doryth put them on green slip," she told him.

"Green slip?" asked Goku, totally puzzled. Chichi sighed.


"Yes Goku, green slip. Daily report," she told him. Goku stared blankly back at her.

"Argh, don't worry. They're just in trouble OK?" Krillin told him. Goku continued staring, and then suddenly, realisation dawned on him.

"Oooooh Daily Report! Yeah now I getcha." He smiled goofily, then walked off, quite content in his own little world.

"I worry," said Krillin and Chichi in unison.

*

Lunchtime

"Has anyone seen Vegeta or Bulma?" Chichi asked as they took their usual seats at the back of the cafeteria.

"Nah they're probably wagging," Krillin grumbled. Chichi glared.

"Vegeta's having a bad effect on Bulma, she never used to be naughty 'til she started hanging round with him," she said as she leant against the wall.

"Yeah I sorta agree, but they seem to be doing each other more good than harm," Goku piped up. Chichi let hmmmmmed and then started digging in her bag for something.

Thirty minutes later, when Vegeta and Bulma still hadn't shown up, Goku was beginning to worry.

"Guys they said they'd be here at lunch, and it's nearly over," he told them. Krillin made a noise of agreement. He seemed rather depressed without 18 there. "I'm gunna go look for them," Goku told them. Krillin just grunted and Chichi stood up.

"I'll come with you, I need to talk to Bulma anyway." Goku nodded as Chichi grabbed her small bag and followed Goku.

Krillin sighed.

'Stupid eggs ditched me. Oh well I'll go see Yamcha I guess.' And with that he tottered off to find his other friend.

*

"Well this would have to be the most fun of my entire life," Bulma rolled her eyes. Vegeta swung his chair around and looked at her.


"Well at least it's better than listening to the hippy." Bulma sighed. He was right.

~*~*Flashback*~*~

"Some people have a very poor body image, and it doesn't help them when girls with better looking bodies go around wearing nearly nothing and acting like sluts," the health teacher, Mrs. Green told them. Her eyes met Bulma's and Mrs. Green glared at Bulma as she said slut slowly.

Bulma's eyes flashed and she stood up, slamming her hands on the desk and taking everybody by surprise.

"I AM NOT A SLUT!" Bulma screeched. "You're just a hippy bitch who can't handle the fact that you're as ugly as anything on Hell, Heaven or Earth, so don't call me a slut because no one wants you," she snarled at the woman. There was only one thing she couldn't stand, actually there were a lot of things, but being called a slut was high on that list.

Mrs. Green's eyes flashed and she raised her shaking arm, pointing to the door.

"Out," she said in a voice of deadly calm. "Get out. Go to the Student Centre right now," she hissed. Bulma raised an eyebrow.

"That's it?" Vegeta asked her as she walked past him. "All you get is sent to the Student Centre?" Bulma smirked and walked off. She was out the door faster than they could see, and it slammed with a tremendous noise behind her.

"Now if any others of you wish to voice your opinions, by all means go ahead." Mrs. Green glared around the classroom.


"I got an opinion," Vegeta called. Most of the class sniggered.

"No, Ouji. I'm not even going to listen to you. You get out now as well." Vegeta rolled his eyes and picked up his stuff. Maybe if he hurried he'd catch Bulma.

~*~*End Flashback*~*~

Since they were both on daily report, they were now sitting in the withdrawal room. With it' plain white walls, square structure and nothing but two chairs and a desk to accommodate it, the withdrawal room was hardly a place one wanted to be, but like Vegeta had said it was much better than listen to Mrs. Green.

"Chichi'll be worried about us," Bulma said after a while. Vegeta shrugged.

"Should I care?" he asked, tilting his head back to look at the white ceiling.


"No I didn't expect you would." Silence again. "Do we really have to stay in here for the rest of the day?" Bulma whined. Vegeta sighed.

"Yes woman now shut up I'm trying to sleep." Bulma frowned.


"Oh well that-" she was cut off as the door opened and an old man with a grey balding head and thick glasses peered in through the door.


"You're in da wishdrawal room I shuggesht you shtop talking now or I'll go get ze headmashter." Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"Put your teeth back in pop," he jeered. The old man stood there, eyes wide.

"You're ashking for it boy," he warned.

"I think I know when I'm asking a question old man." Before the guy could answer there was the sound of something hard connecting with the wall outside the withdrawal room and then a slosh.

"Shtupid little bratsh. Shrowing water ballonsh at de wishdrawls room." He stepped outside and began yelling at the kids. Vegeta stood up and locked the door.

"Much better," he said.

*

Next Chapter: OK that was really boring so something exciting has to happen in the next chapter. I got an excellent idea from a reviewer but I can't remember it so I'll just have to leave you hanging I guess.

Kaibun