Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Win Her Back

Chapter 1: The Last Straw

(Italics represent thoughts)

The scene was set for disaster. The door was left wide open in the flurry of passion. Clothes were strewn across the floor making a trail leading right towards the bedroom. At that second Yamcha's home was a testing ground for trouble as Bulma was soon to discover. She walked through the open door, which was not unusual for her as Yamcha could easily expel any unwanted visitors that might happen to enter uninvited. The open door did not faze her but the black silk bra lying over an overturned lamp did.

''Yamcha you bastard.'' Her thoughts were interrupted by a giggle, most likely from the female assailant followed by male laughter. She fought back the temptation to turn around and run but her pride and hurt forced her towards the bedroom door. She took a deep breath and slowly opened it and peered inside. Her heart silently broke as she witnessed the scene and failed to suppress a sob.

The pair noticed the intruder for the first time.

''Bulma! I….''

Yamcha noticed the unbearable hurt in her eyes as she turned around and raced out of the house.

''Bulma! Wait!'' His calls were in vain as she was long gone.

The usurping female giggled with one hand held towards her mouth. ''You bad boy. You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend.''

He looked at her sheepishly. ''No I didn't.''

She giggled again. ''That just turned me on even more baby.'' He raised an eyebrow. '' Oh really? Guess we should do something about that then?''

She chuckled seductively and drew him into a passionate kiss. He carried on as if nothing had happened except for a feeling of burning regret.

Bulma arrived home in a daze. She had successfully withheld her desperate need to break down into tears. She opened the front door silently not wanting Vegeta to hear her arrive home but it was in vane.

''Woman! What does it take to get some food around here! Even your distasteful cooking would be adequate right now!'' There was no answer. ''Woman! Don't make me come in there!'' The silence continued. ''Stupid woman and their stupid crap!''

He stood up angrily and made his way towards the kitchen mumbling furiously about: if that low-level fool Kakorot weren't stronger than him he'd blow her to H.F.I.L.

His ranting was subdued as he entered the kitchen to find Bulma slumped on the floor with her arms protectively draped around her legs. She was shaking softly and he could detect faint sobs quietly racking her body.

''Woman? What the hells the matter with you? I only asked for food.''

It was enough to tip her over the edge. She broke down completely crying heartbreakingly enough for even Vegeta to feel mildly concerned.

''Come now, tears are for the weak.'' He said in a sort of comforting tone. It encouraged her to look up at him. ''Not that I care but what's wrong with you?''

''What's this? The hardcore asshole is trying to comfort me?''

She was amused through her sadness and decided to tell him.

''He (sob) he did it again (sob). Vegeta instantly understood. ''Your mate dishonored you?'' She almost laughed at the terminology but instead nodded her head pitifully.

''Why do you stay with such a disgrace? On my planet, if this happened which was barely a fraction of a percent of a chance, the perpetrator would be banished or destroyed.''

She shook her head feeling slightly better. '' I love him.'' Vegeta scoffed. ''And you think that dishonorable waste of flesh deserves your so-called love? You are pathetic along with the rest of your backwater race.''

Her heartbreak was instantly transformed into anger. ''Oh really? My backwater race? At least my race managed not to get themselves destroyed. His eyes glazed over with anger. His arm shot out and grabbed her around the neck, lifting her off of the floor.

She grabbed his arm and began to gag. ''If you ever…..ever talk ill of my people with your weak tongue again I will crush you!'' She fidgeted weakly whilst making slow choking noises, her eyes large and afraid.

Vegeta was griped by anger and couldn't stop himself. Bulma continued to make disturbing gurgling sounds and managed to say his name between hacks. ''What's that bitch? You want to die?''

Her hands began to go limp as they slackly started to loosen their grip over his arms. She looked into his eyes pleadingly her life starting to fade. The sight made his stomach turn and somewhere deep inside he managed to fight away his fury.

He leg go of her and watched as her seemingly lifeless body hit the floor. He panicked, not knowing what to do. Kakorot! He will surely destroy me for this. Pure fear ran down his spine at the thought of Goku's vengeance. He was truly afraid for the first time in his life, but more than that he was appalled at what he had just done. He had claimed tens of thousands of lives throughout galaxies and none had even so much as sparked a single flicker of remorse in him but what he has just done actually caused him pain.

Without thinking he scooped her lifeless body up and raced towards the infirmary. He kicked the door down and flew inside with lightning speed. ''Help! Anyone!''

''What's the commotion there son?'' Mr. Briefs question was answered as he saw Bulma's limp body in his arms. ''What on earth happened?''

Vegeta growled. ''Forget all that right now old man! Just do something.'' The DR. was taken back. ''Yes, yes of course. Put her on the bed.''

He did what he was told without hesitation. ''Good, now it's best you leave the room.''

His demand was met with another growl. ''I will do no such thing! Stop wasting time for Kame's sake!''

Ignoring him the DR. immediately began to work. He felt for a pulse and was most horrified when he discovered that their was none. ''Quickly, wheel that machine over here.'' He said pointing towards the respirator. It was within his grasp in seconds. ''Good.''

He attached the mask to her face and turned up the oxygen. He followed this up with CPR. Vegeta watched horrified. Please woman. You have to pull through. Please Kame

The tension mounted as Bulma failed to stir. After the fifth round of CPR Dr Briefs stopped. ''She's gone.'' The statement affected Vegeta like a slap in the face as he recoiled backwards into a wall. The room was consumed with silence for what seemed like an eternity.

All of a sudden out of the silence, as if by a miracle a frantic gasp for air could be heard. Vegeta's head shot up in utter disbelief. Both men looked at Bulma in wonder. ''Bulmy! You're alive!'' yelled Dr Briefs jumping up and down ecstatically. Bulma looked up groggily. ''What..?'' The memory of the past few minutes happening returned. She looked up at Vegeta in fear.

The look caught Vegeta off guard. It was almost painful for him and he couldn't bear it. He couldn't meet her eyes anymore and looked down.

Bulma saw the flicker of emotion and recognized it as shame. She felt a stir of pity for the Saiyan Prince.

''Bulma. What happened to you?'' She looked up at the concerned face of her father and back towards the downcast head of Vegeta. ''I did it.'' Dr Briefs looked up at him in surprise. ''You Vegeta? This is an outrage! How dare you! Goku will hear about this I assure you!''

Vegeta stood by and took the abuse willingly, not saying a word. ''Dad! Stop!''

Her father looked at her in surprise. ''But Bulma, he tried to kill you!''

''It was an accident dad! He just forgot his strength for a second.'' Dr Briefs looked at her utterly shocked. ''Bulma you almost died! How can you even think about considering this an accident?''

''Please dad, just let's forget this whole thing. Please….'' He shrugged his shoulders and went back to what he was doing before they got there. ''My daughters lost her mind, hasn't she Scratch?'' The black cat meowed in acknowledgement.

Vegeta looked at Bulma questioningly his dark eyes scanning hers. All of a sudden he felt awkward and wanted nothing more than to get out of the infirmary as quickly as possible.

Instead he kept his composure and started to walk out calmly. ''Vegeta wait!''

He ignored her and left the room.

Yamcha lay awake totally oblivious of the days happenings, the girl he had just betrayed Bulma with sleeping lightly in his arms. He was racked with guilt. He remembered her eyes as she looked at him. It broke his heart and he was ashamed of his actions. He looked down at the sleeping girl. She was pretty he thought, but Bulma was beautiful. This girl barely had a personality but Bulma? She was something else. She had a fire in her that made him weak at the knees. Why do I keep doing this to her? It has to stop.

He gently roused the girl. She yawned softly putting a dainty hand in front of her mouth. ''Hey you. Want seconds?'' He smiled sadly. ''No thanks babe. I think you should leave now.

The girl didn't question his request. She stood up and began to dress herself. ''Are you ok baby?'' He smiled weakly. ''I'll be ok.'' She nodded in understanding. ''Well, call me ok?''

He shook his head. ''This is goodbye babe. I'm sorry. I've been an asshole long enough. It's time to sort my life out.''

She nodded sadly, regret in her eyes. ''You're a good guy to me Yamcha. Goodbye.''

He smiled lightly and watched her leave.

I'd better give her some time. A few days and I'll go over there and apologize.

There We Go. It's Different I'm sure and if you don't think so you'll soon see. Anyways, any comments or anything jus fire away…