Author's Note: Well it didn't take me too long to get the update. Rather quick actually given how long I've left my other stories. Anyway I was amazed how many Vegeta fans are out there! 'No you can't kill Vegeta!' I was amazed at how many people I made cry mwuahaha. Anyway on the story.


Chapter 17: Rest in Peace

Vega looked at the grave. She knelt down on one knee and threw some flowers on the freshly churned dirt. Vega knelt there, thinking about him. Okay so he hadn't been the most perfect guy in the world and there was quite a few times where she'd hated him. But he was nonetheless still her………. Vega turned her head away. Now that he really was gone, she didn't know what she'd been missing.


"I wish things could have been different," she said to the silent grave.

Vega swallowed a lump in her throat and stood.


"Rest in peace," she whispered, turning away. Lisa and Kevin were waiting behind her. The three of them looked at the grave. Lisa put her arm round Vega's shoulders.


"Let's go home," she whispered. Vega nodded and the three of them headed for the car.

Now that they had gone, Bulma walked up to the grave. She too threw flowers on the mound of dirt. Bulma turned to the person beside her.


"Aren't you going to put flowers on his grave?" she asked. He snorted.


"That man nearly cost me my life. I could care less about giving him flowers." Bulma sighed and moved closer to him.

"I know. I'm sorry," she whispered. He placed an arm around her shoulders and the two of them looked at the grave for a little while.

"Vegeta," Bulma said.

"What woman?" came the reply from next to her.


"I'm so glad it wasn't you. I thought I'd lost you there, when-when the paramedic pronounced you dead." Vegeta smiled.

"I'm not ready to die just yet woman," he smirked. He winced as his breathing irritated his bandaged stomach which covered the nearly fatal bullet wound.

*~*~Flashback~*~*~

One of the paramedics, a woman, stood up, her hands covered in blood and looked sadly up at Bulma.


"I'm sorry," she said. "He's dead." She bowed her head.

Bulma gave a cry.

"No. Vegeta," she sobbed.

Goku placed an arm around Bulma's shoulders.

"Bulma I'm so sorry," he whispered. Bulma began to cry, tears streaming from her blue eyes. Then suddenly a voice disturbed her grieving.

"He's moving!" someone shouted. Bulma spun around. A groan issued from Vegeta's body and his head moved slightly to the side.

"Vegeta," Bulma whispered. The paramedics rushed to where Vegeta lay in a pool of blood on the warehouse floor.


"Bag him!" someone yelled. Bulma gripped Goku's hand tightly watching as the medics tried desperately to revive Vegeta.

18 stood not far from Bulma and Goku. She was clenching and unclenching her fists. When the medics had pronounced Vegeta dead, she had felt suddenly ill. Vegeta couldn't be dead. He wouldn't give up like this. But now miraculously, it seemed it was true. Vegeta was very much alive but only just hanging on to life by a thread.

Bulma let go of Goku's hand as the paramedics stepped back. She rushed to Vegeta's side. He gave a small cough, blood running out of his mouth. But he was alive and Bulma was thanking every God she could think of.

"Vegeta," she whispered, placing a hand on his forehead. His eyes flicked open and he gave a half smirk.

"Woman," was all he could mage.

"Sssh," Bulma said, running her hand onto his cheek. "You're going to be fine." Vegeta gave a small nod.

"What about," he coughed, "Paul?" Bulma smiled.


"He's dead Vegeta. And Vega's safe." Vegeta gave an uncharacteristic smile and closed his eyes. But Bulma knew he wasn't dead. Something inside her told her he was alive. Bulma stood and stepped back as paramedics lifted Vegeta onto a stretcher and into the back of an ambulance. Bulma got in with him and Goku, 18 and Vega said they would meet them at the hospital.

*~*~End Flashback~*~*~

"I don't know what I would have done if you'd died," Bulma told him. Vegeta looked at her seriously.


"But I didn't so there's no sense in worrying about it."

Bulma sighed and nodded. Vegeta had been out of hospital two days now. It was a week since the incident at the warehouse and they were three weeks out from the end of term, and their graduation. The end of year dance was coming up in the week before graduation. Both Bulma and even Vegeta were looking forward to it and both hoping that Vegeta wouldn't be in the amount of pain then that he was now. As well as the gunshot wound he had somehow managed to break a rib. The nurse had said it could be as little as a week or as long as a month before Vegeta would be as physically active as he had been before. Bulma and Vegeta now headed for his car, his arm round Bulma's shoulders. It wasn't incredibly noticeable but since the accident Vegeta had been presenting what some would call more public displays of affection. It seemed that he now realized life was too short to be ruled by his pride. Of course, it was still there and Bulma doubted anything could ever change that, but Vegeta seemed to be making his own decisions now, ignoring his pride at times.

They closed the car doors as they got in. They were going back to Bulma's place. 18, Goku, Chichi and Krillin had said they would be there when the other two got back from the funeral. Bulma and Vegeta pulled up the drive less than half an hour later. They got out and headed inside.

Their four friends were sitting on the couch watching TV. None of them noticed Bulma and Vegeta entered. Bulma put a finger to her lips, indicating to be quiet and lead Vegeta into the kitchen.

"Woman what are you doing?" he asked, taking a seat at the table. Bulma rolled her eyes. "Waiting for them to finish watching TV. We need some time to talk." Vegeta nodded. He had been waiting for this talk ever since he had gotten out of hospital.


"Alright woman. Fire away."

*

A week later everything seemed back to normal. All of the gang were back at school, and to Vegeta's delight he was allowed to take his bandage off in 4 more days, almost perfect timing for the prom themed end of year dance. Vegeta mused as he walked down the B corridor. He still had to ask Bulma. He smirked, deciding to let her go to breaking point before he actually asked her. Girls always got uptight about those sorts of things and Vegeta found it amusing when Bulma kept trying to hint that he should hurry up and ask her. In the meantime, he was supposed to be in class but he was running a little purposely late. Word had spread round the school like wildfire that Vegeta had killed someone. For the first few days he had enjoyed telling enormously exaggerated stories but in the end Bulma had made him tell the truth.

Vegeta pushed open the door of his classroom. He took his allocated seat next to Goku.

"Mr. Ouji you are 15 minutes late," the teacher told him. Vegeta gave a small smirk that only Goku saw.


"My shot wound started hurting, I had to take a rest," Vegeta said, lieing smoothly. The teacher smiled at him.


"That's Ok then. Please take out your books." Vegeta inwardly laughed. His teachers were so naïve. Goku leaned over as Vegeta rummaged through his bag for a pen.

"Stomach hurting Vegeta?" Goku laughed. Vegeta smirked.

"It stopped hurting a couple of days after I was out of hospital but don't tell that dumb woman that." Goku shook his head, but seeing the funny side of it.


*

"So Vegeta still hasn't asked?" 18 asked Bulma. It was only three days till the end of year dance and Bulma was stressing. Apparently Vegeta hadn't even mentioned the end of year dance.

"No! Maybe he's not going?" Bulma asked.


"Nah I think he is. He'll just be trying to get a reaction out of you." Bulma smiled, but still felt slightly nervous. She had gone with Vegeta to the doctors yesterday to get his bandage removed. She had been sure he would ask then, but he had barely said anything the whole time.

"Well he better hurry up," Bulma smiled. "How does he know I won't go with someone else?"

"Because I know woman." Bulma almost had a heart attack. She had been sitting on her bed, back facing the door. She hadn't seen Vegeta walk on.


"Crap Vegeta! Don't scare me like that." He smirked. Bulma turned back to the phone.


"18 Vegeta just arrived I'll ring you later."

"K. Bye B." Bulma hung up the phone.


"Didn't anyone teach you how knock?" she asked, sitting cross legged on her double bed.


"Nope," Vegeta said, sitting down next to her. He took her hand and Bulma frowned. "Alright I wasn't going to ask you for a day or so more but given that you're doing the woman thing and stressing, I'll ask you now." Bulma smiled and Vegeta looked at her. "Bulma-" her name sounded funny coming from Vegeta, "will you be my end of year dance date?" This was obviously incredibly difficult for Vegeta. Usually arrogant and confident, he now seemed like he didn't know what to say. Bulma smiled.


"Yes," she said, grinning from ear to ear. Bulma launched herself at Vegeta and gave him a huge hug.

"Ah-stomach," he groaned. Bulma pulled back.


"Sorry," she said, still smiling elatedly. Vegeta frowned.


"Woman did you really think that, after what I said to you in what could've been the last moments of my life that I wouldn't ask you to the dance?" Bulma smiled guiltily.


"Well, I guess it's just a female emotion." Vegeta snorted.

"Women," he mumbled. Bulma grinned and hugged Vegeta. She gave him a kiss on the lips.

"Thankyou," she whispered. Vegeta smirked and kissed Bulma back. He wrapped his arms around her back crushing his mouth against hers. Bulma gave a small groan and slipped her tongue in. Vegeta pushed her down onto the bed but stopped suddenly. He gave a small gasp of pain. Bulma sat up, concerned.


"Are you ok?" she asked. Vegeta nodded clutching his stomach. Bulma placed her hand delicately on his. "It's OK," she told him. "I understand." Vegeta nodded and got off the bed, still clutching his aching injury.

"It'll be fine in a couple of days it's just a little raw." Bulma stood up as well. "I need to go now anyway. Later woman," he smirked. Bulma rolled her eyes.

*

It was Wednesday after school. Bulma, Chichi and 18 were going to pick up their dresses. They had left it a little late, the dance was on Friday but Bulma had insisted they wait until Vegeta had asked her before they picked them up.

The three girls piled into 18's car. It wasn't an incredibly flash car, but it ran on the smell of an oily rag, not like Bulma's which drank petrol like water. And as they girls were intending to drive all over town looking for a good hairdresser, they didn't want to waste their money on petrol.

Fifteen minutes later they were in a designer clothes store that specialized in ball gowns. Bulma's parents had offered to pay for the dresses. Chichi and 18 weren't exactly poor but they didn't have thousands to spend on dresses. Bulma had told them they had to take it, that it was a thankyou from her for all the help that had given her.

Bulma worked up to the saleswomen.


"Excuse me, I have an order for Briefs? There should be three dresses," Bulma told the woman. The lady nodded and disappeared out the back. Bulma leant against the counter.


"Do you want to try the dresses on before we take them?" Bulma asked. Chichi laughed.


"That'd be a laugh if they didn't fit. Well- it wouldn't actually but you know what I mean." The other two smiled and nodded.

"Any ideas what hairdressers we should go to?" 18 asked. Bulma shrugged. Chichi frowned in thought.

"I think there's this one on the other side of the mall, er JustaCut I think it's called." Bulma shrugged.


"We can take a look." The other two nodded and the woman from the counter reappeared with their dresses.

"Here you go ma'am." Bulma nodded and then each of the girls took their dress, heading into the changing rooms.

*

Vegeta groaned. He was definitely not a shopping person. But he had to get a suit for the dance. It was 'prom' theme. He rolled his eyes as the suit man came out with their orders.

"For the sirs," he said bowing. Goku and Krillin took their suits and Vegeta roughly grabbed his. The three of them headed into the changing rooms

A few moments later Vegeta walked out, grumbling as usual. He was wearing a suit that had a white undershirt, silvery waistcoat and black pants and jacket. Grumbling, he did his collar up. There was a silver handerkerchief in his jacket pocket.

"You like sir?" asked the suit guy. Vegeta grunted and headed back into the changing rooms to take it off. He smirked he knew he looked damn good in the suit.

*

Bulma stepped out of the changing room. She was wearing a dress that had a top partially wrapped like a toga and had two thin straps. The top part of the dress dipped a little between her breasts but the bottom of the dress was puffy at the bottom, satin covered in ble netlike material. The whole thing was a gorgeous teal blue.


18 smiled.


"No matter what you wear, Bulma, you still look beautiful." Bulma smiled appreciatively.


"You two look beautiful as well," Bulma told them. 18 did a small turn. She had a straight black dress with silver sparkles in it. It had two thin crossing straps at the back. The dress went right to the ground and was accompanied by black satin gloves.


Chichi's dress was bright red. It had no straps and the top of it was cut in zigzag pattern. The top of the dress had silver sparkly diagonal lines crossing it and the bottom was red satin, puffy with crinkles in it.


"We'll get our hair done and look gorgeous," Bulma smiled. The other girls nodded and headed back into the rooms to change.

*

Next Chapter: Dance

Author's Note: Bet you all thought Vegeta was dead mwuahahaha. I'm evil and I know it made some of you guys sad but it was incredibly fun to write. Anyway no flamers please. :D Now I have an important question to ask you.

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DO YOU WANT A LEMON?

I'm going to keep a tally of votes. Say yes or no in your review. Every vote you place between this chapter and the next will be counted. So you guys get to decide if we have a lemon. Just leave a note in your review. Thanks.

Kaibun

P.S if you want pictures of the girl's dresses and Vegeta's suit just leave your email in your review and ask to see them. I'll send the links to your email it's just that they won't load up onto fanfiction.