Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or anything to do with the Boys over Flowers franchise.

Chapter 16: Forgotten

Raditz sighed to himself as he knocked on the bedroom door.

"I'm not hungry mom!"

Raditz growled and knocked again. "It's not your mother."

He listened for a response and didn't think he was going to get anything until the door swooshed open revealing a not so glamorous Bulma. Her oversized shirt and baggy pants made her look bigger than what she was. Her hair was wild and was slightly up and slightly down as her pony tail was losing a battle with gravity and lastly her eyes were big and puffy letting him know that she was crying not too long ago.

"I told your father that I wasn't feeling well."

"That was 3 days ago."

Bulma raised her nose and sneered down at him. "And I still don't feel well."

"You are neglecting your duties."

"I can't work when I don't feel well!"

"You are being ridiculous and letting your human emotions control your life."

"Newsflash! I am a human and I have emotions!" She screamed.

"Bulma dear?" Bunny asked from the kitchen.

"...Uh yes Mom?"

"Ladies don't raise their voices...we raise our standards."

Bulma rolled her eyes and brought her attention back to the saiyan in front of her. "Look I don't have to explain myself to you."

"Well you will have to explain yourself to the King and tell him why you are no longer useful to him if you don't get back to your duties."

Bulma looked down at her feet and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't...that doesn't matter to me anymore."

It was Raditz's turn to sneer. "You lost your backbone because Vegeta left? I thought you were stronger than that."

"I am...I just...look I'm in the 'breakup period'. Human girls would sometimes spend months upset because they broke up with someone they had feelings for."

"You only know one other human girl!"

"I've read books!"

"Well your books are as ridiculous as you are!"

"Look...can't you just stall for me?"

"No your behavior is unnecessary. You must stop. Now I don't care if you skip school, as far as I'm concerned you don't even need it, but my father is expecting you later today in his lab. And if you're not there then he will order me to drag you there by your hair."

"You wouldn't dare."

"You have until school is out."

Bulma didn't bother to watch him go and went back to her bed. She crashed onto her pillows and glared at her tissue box and told herself that she didn't need it anymore but even as she thought it the tears came back to her. She had never felt more pathetic in her life. Tired of wiping her eyes she went straight for her shower. She didn't know how long she was in there, but she let the water try to rinse away everything that was wrong. But every time she closed her eyes she saw him ignoring her and treating her like crap. It was even seeping into her dreams. She would be at the docks screaming his name until her voice became hoarse and he didn't even pause the stride in his step as he walked into the ship.

But she decided to be a big girl at that moment and at least try to pretend that she was stronger than what she was feeling. She washed herself and prepared herself for work. And over the next few days she kept that up and even went to school but everything was still wrong.

Everything felt so empty.

She went to class but couldn't recall anything that the teachers taught and she went to work not really recalling what happened or what she worked on. Everything was on autopilot and she didn't know at all where she was going. She found herself staring at the door to whatever room she was in at the moment whether it was a classroom or lab, hoping that he would walk in at any moment and just kiss her with one of his assuring kisses that told her that she was his and to not doubt it.

And then someone would get her attention and take her away from her hope leaving her alone in her reality.

She knew that she couldn't go on like this and that she needed someone to talk to...she needed a friend and there was only one person that fit the bill. So she put her pride on the shelf and went to the place she had vowed weeks ago that she wouldn't go.

She knocked on the door and Kakarot opened it up. He was a bit surprised to see her at first but then smiled and welcomed her inside. "Hi, Is Chichi here?"

"She sure is. She's in the living room come on."

"I haven't seen you at school are you ever going back?"

Kakarot scratched the back of his head. "I don't know. Maybe. I have my hands kind of full here, but I'll let Chichi tell you about that."

"Tell me what?"

They heard from around a corner. Kakarot walked ahead and said, "Bulma's here to see you."

Bulma paused before turning to hear her reply.

"Well bring her here."

Bulma sighed and then came into view. "Hi."

"Hello."

Kakarot looked between the two and then walked over to Chichi and kissed her on the lips. "I'm going to grab some food. Call me if you need me." He said before he left, leaving the two former friends alone.

Chichi patted the seat on the couch next to her. "Well don't just stand there. Have a seat."

Bulma hesitated but walked over and sat down next to her. She had thought about what to say and how to say it and how she was going to be strong and the know it all that she usually was but she couldn't at that moment. So as much as she didn't want to her lips began to tremble as the tears began to overtake her being. "You were right Chi."

"Bulma-"

Bulma raised her hands to stop her friend from speaking. She had to get this out because she didn't want to prolong or even have to explain it again. "I thought I knew what I was getting into. I thought this would be an easy game to play like the other ones. But I got in so deep. I'm still in deep...and I don't know how to get out of it, because even though I've been hurt beyond what any normal person should ever have to put up with...I still want him. Every day I keep hoping that I get a message or he just shows up and every minute that passes that I get neither of those things I feel so utterly, desperately, heartbroken. I didn't know...that I would love him this much."

Finally the sob she was holding back racked her body and Chichi embraced her to let her friend cry on her shoulder.

Chichi hugged her friend and couldn't help but shed a few tears with her. "I never wanted you to get hurt and I never wanted to have to tell you 'I told you so'."

"I'm so sorry Chi…for everything."

"It's alright. It'll be ok. Hey you're Bulma Briefs right?"

Bulma pulled away and nodded her head while wiping away her tears. She hated crying in front of people and always felt stupid when she did. "Yes I am."

"You are the strongest woman I know. You'll get through this and if that idiot can't see what he's missing out on then I don't approve and whoever you end up with will definitely need my approval."

Bulma laughed a little. "Speaking of approval, Kakarot is a great guy."

"Yeah I know. And hey, there is some good news in all this madness."

"What's that?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Wow Chi that's...wow. You guys didn't waste any time."

"Haha. No we didn't. Apparently Kakarot's appetite doesn't stop at food and fighting."

"T.M.I Chichi."

Chichi laughed. "So do you think we can go back to being best friends so that you can be the god mother of my growing baby?"

"Yes and I would be honored."

"Good so that's two down."

"What do you mean?"

"Well Dad is here, he still doesn't like Kakarot that much but we are working through it. And then there's you and so now we just need to get Kakarot's family on board."

"They don't know that you're pregnant?"

Chichi shook her head. "Kakarot hasn't told them. He doesn't want to make the first move…something about his pride or whatever."

Bulma nodded her head. "I'll talk to them."

"No it's not your place."

"Fine but I'll at least help things along."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"By getting Raditz over here."

"He won't come."

Bulma smirked at her friend as she was starting to feel better already. "Sure he will..."

The next day Raditz watched Bulma out the corner of his eye in class. He knew that something was up. She had been a robot ever since Vegeta left and now she was back to her normal self it seemed. What could have happened in one day to make her change?

"You're staring at me." Bulma said not looking up at him.

Raditz only narrowed his eyes. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You are in a better mood."

"Am I not allowed to be in a better mood?"

"Don't avoid the question."

Bulma smiled at him. "This was easier than I thought."

"What are you talking about now?"

"I will explain everything later but you have to come with me after school and all will be revealed. But you can't bail on me; you have to promise that you'll stay until everything is explained."

Raditz felt a little uneasy. But he had his orders. Shortly after Vegeta had left he contacted him and told him to keep him updated on Bulma and her behavior. This really meant to make sure that she didn't fall for another guy and her behavior had become quite suspicious.

"Alright."

Bulma laughed to herself at how much easier it was to get Raditz to do things than Vegeta. She then tried her best to keep her mind away from the 'V' word for a while. She was so glad that Chichi was making her a God mother. She had something else to take her mind off of that hurt that she was still getting over...

After school, it didn't take long for Raditz to figure out where Bulma was going as she drove them in her air car but she reminded him that he promised her. When they got there he had his arms crossed and was looking like he was ready to fight. This time Chichi answered the door and she looked at Raditz and then Bulma in shock.

Bulma smiled and walked inside. "Told ya."

Raditz nodded to Chichi and stepped inside as well.

Kakarot came around the corner at that moment and paused as he saw his brother. "Raditz."

"Kakarot."

Chichi looked nervously between the two. "Do you guys want-"

"Chichi's pregnant." Kakarot blurted out.

Raditz looked at Chichi and laughed. "Didn't waste any time I see. Well it is what it is. What do you have to eat...?"

Kakarot smiled and led the way to the kitchen. Chichi and Bulma looked at each other and laughed at how Saiyans were such odd creatures. After that day, Kakarot's family welcomed Chichi into the fold, mostly because they were curious of how the child would turn out. Soon everyone was curious as well. People were taking bets on how weak the child would be, no one really believing that the child would be strong.

Meanwhile Bulma helped Chichi with decorating the nursery and buying things for the baby. She wanted to get to work on her restaurant but everyone told her it would be best to worry about that later and to concentrate on having her baby, after all no one knew how the pregnancy would be on her seeing as she was having the first Saiyan Earthling child in history.

And when Chichi was too tired to help Bulma go shopping, Bulma would take Raditz with her. She was surprised at how he was willing to go with her, but she was glad. He always made her laugh and they had good times.

Before Bulma knew it, it had been 4 months since Vegeta left and she now only felt an echo of the pain but she was getting by and Raditz was a good distraction. Today they were painting the nursery for Chichi and Kakarot.

Bulma kept looking at Raditz and laughing. She found it funny seeing this burly man holding a paint brush.

"Will you stop laughing?"

"I can't help it. You look so out of place and stupid."

"Why am I doing this again?"

"Chichi can't and Kakarot will just mess it up."

"And we can't pay servants to do this because...?"

"...Because we are their family. Besides they can tell their son, "Auntie Bulma and Uncle Raditz painted this room just for you."

"Well as far as I care they can have the kid paint the room."

"You are such a downer." Bulma ended by flicking her brush in his direction and accidently flinging blue paint on his face.

Bulma busted into a fit of laughter which made Raditz growl in anger. He then flicked his own brush at her and got paint on her.

Then it was war.

They started flinging paint on each other until they were both a splotchy mess. At one point Bulma was going for the whole bucket but Raditz grabbed her hands before she could reach for it but actually ended up slipping on the paint and plastic underneath and fell bringing her down on top of him. Bulma laughed at Raditz groaning as he took the full force of the fall. But her giggles came to a stop as she stared down at him and realized the position they were in.

Raditz swallowed his suddenly dry throat. It was getting harder and harder each day to not give into his desires and go against his promise to Vegeta. But he had a promise to his Prince and comrade and besides he was no fool. Bulma still very obviously had emotions for Vegeta. And he was not going to attempt to replace them.

Bulma leaned down to kiss him but Raditz turned his head to escape it. Bulma felt like an idiot and got off of him. "I'm sorry."

Raditz groaned and got up. "I promised Vegeta that I wouldn't...I cannot get closer to you Bulma. Not in that way."

Bulma wasn't surprised and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I know he's your friend. But sometimes I feel like I was just his property and that he never felt anything for me."

Raditz wanted to tell her that she was wrong but instead he only said, "Let's finish this room tomorrow." She nodded to him and they both acted like what happened didn't at all...

Meanwhile...

Vegeta looked over the report that Chaya just handed him and nodded. "Everything seems to be in order. That last mission was too easy and this one is much more of a challenge. Tell the troops that they will have to transform to fight the kemono."

Chaya nodded. "Yes Sire I will do so."

Vegeta looked over Chaya. It was true that she was attractive with her full dark hair and deep eyes. She was an excellent fighter and he noticed her moves on the battle field more than once. She was sleek, sexy, strong, and would make a fine mate. She was everything that a Saiyan man wanted but she just wasn't what he wanted.

"Chaya you do know that I am highly aware that my mother sent you here correct?"

Chaya smiled. She knew it was only a matter of time before he asked. "It's true that your mother sent me here but she didn't need to convince me to do anything for you Vegeta. I honor you and I always will."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow at that. "Would you die for me foolishly?"

"You will be my king nothing you will do shall be foolish."

"So you wouldn't argue or try to conflict me with your judgment?"

"Never. I will always obey your every word and never oppose you. I would honor the very ground you walk on."

Just as he thought; another empty shell.

Bulma was everything but an empty shell. She is full of promising challenges and makes him forget all the unnecessary and it's just the two of them. She speaks her mind and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, her opinion is her opinion and any King would need that in his court. Any man would need that in his life.

"You are dismissed Chaya."

Chaya flinched and bowed to him slowly. She was obviously hoping for some type of advancement in their relationship after that confession but she had no clue that it wasn't at all what interested Vegeta.

It still amazed him to this very day of how he hadn't found another Saiyan woman that could match up to Bulma. After she left Vegeta went to his tablet and called Raditz.

"Report."

Raditz hesitated like he didn't know what to say and then he blurted out, "Bulma tried to kiss me."

Vegeta gripped the small machine. "What?"

Raditz gulped and was very glad that he wasn't' in the same room as Vegeta when he told him. "Vegeta she thinks that you don't care about her."

"Did you kiss her back?"

"No I-Vegeta she thinks she means nothing to you. You left without telling her goodbye-"

"I left to keep her safe! I left so that she wouldn't be sent out to another planet that would only give her a life of poverty and destruction! And I left her in your supposedly trusting hands!"

"I didn't do anything! I must tell her the truth of why you left otherwise-"

"You just do your job and keep your mouth shut." He said slamming his fist into the tablet effectively cutting communication by destroying it. He didn't care at the moment though. He was furious. He ran his hands across his face and wanted to destroy something badly. He couldn't tell Bulma anything, if his mother found out the truth there would be no telling what she would do. It was bad enough that Raditz knew. And the only reason why he was told was because he didn't want the fool to make a move on Bulma but that was apparently a waste!

Vegeta grabbed his tossed aside armor and left for the bridge. "When do we land?"

"We will be in the atmosphere in 10 minutes sire. The troops are ready to-"

"No! I will go out there myself."

The saiayns looked at one another. "But sire, the kemono are strong-"

"Is your prince not strong?!"

"Of course you are sire-"

"Then shut up and prepare to open the gate. When I want your assistance I will tell you."

They didn't know what happened but they were sure that their prince just lost it.

Vegeta stormed his way to the back of the ship and yelled, "Open the gate!" to whoever would listen on his scouter.

"But Sire, we're not in position to-"

"What did I say? OPEN IT NOW!"

They were supposed to attack from all sides and transform and take out the kemono that way because of how dangerous they were. But all Vegeta wanted to do was punch and get punched really hard. He flew down to the planet and landed in the midst of them. They were tall brooding creatures that looked part bear and part wolf. They growled at him in warning and he growled right back. They began to circle him while he cracked his neck and powered up. One charged him and then it was all out war. He fought them ruthlessly as they did him. He took pain and gave it back but he didn't care because all he could see was the two of them together.

Bulma and Raditz.

Just thinking of their names side by side produced a deep anger inside of him.

She tried to kiss him?

What did that even mean? Was he lying? Could he be lying? What if his mother found out and by the time he got back they were mated?

With that thought Vegeta powered up even more and saw nothing but blood. It was a mixture between his own and the creatures he was fighting but once again he didn't care. He just had to keep going...

She tried to kiss him? It only took her a couple of months to find someone else? What kind of loyalty was that? I thought she wanted to mate me and now she moved on to one of my comrades in only a few months?...She tried to kiss him?

"AHHHHH! COME ON YOU STUPID FREAKS! SHOW THE PRINCE WHAT YOU GOT!"

Up above Vegeta's troops became horrified as their prince was starting to become over run by the kemono. His last show of power did nothing but signal the rest of them and it was only a matter of seconds before he would be ripped apart.

"What is he doing? Not fighting these creatures in oozaru form is suicide!"

"We have to help him!"

"Without transforming?"

"If we transform we will go against his pride. He is not transformed so we shouldn't be either."

Chaya listened to the other troops banter back and forth and she wasn't about to stand there and do nothing. "We can't transform be we will follow our prince and if we die, we die!" She shouted right before she leaped out of the hanger and into the growing number of kemono. The rest of them followed after her believing they were going to their deaths.

Vegeta began to chuckle as blood flowed from his body once he realized that this was probably a bad idea. One of the beasts threw him and he crashed into something hard and it felt like a whole planet smashed into his brain. He could hear screams and growls from all directions and feel the heat of some type of explosion behind him but his mind was slipping away into the realm of sleep and right before be blacked out all he could think of was blue...

LATER

Bulma was on her way to the lab when she saw scientists running down the hall. It wasn't unusual to see them do that, most of the time it was because they had a deadline to meet, but something about this time made the hairs on the back of her neck stick up. "What's going on?"

"The prince is hurt!" One called out over their shoulder.

Without another word she ran with them. They all headed into one of Bardocks labs and she somehow pushed herself to the front of the crowd and stood next to Bardock as he tracked a ship on the computer.

"Bardock what's going on?"

"Vegeta was just put into a space pod. He's hurt bad."

The hairs on the back of her neck stood straighter. "Why wasn't he put inside of a tank on his ship?"

"Something went wrong with the mission and the ship was partially destroyed. He should be here any moment and he must be put into a tank as soon as possible." Bardock growled as he sent messages to other ships to get out of the prince's path.

Bulma started panting nervously and the whispers behind her weren't helping either...

"If the prince dies there will be no heir."

"What will the King do?"

"The Queen is passed breeding age he will have to find another."

'If the prince dies? If Vegeta dies?'

Bulma shook her head trying to get the thoughts out. She grasped Bardock's bicep and looked at him pleadingly. "Bardock please let me go in there with you. I have to see him and know that he's alright."

"Bulma, only the doctors, myself and the King and Queen will be in there."

"Bardock please I just want to know that he's ok."

"I will see about getting you to him after he awakes but before that time I cannot." He said without even looking in her direction.

She only nodded her head and sniffled back a sob. It was then that Bardock sighed and looked at her.

"Go home. I will keep you updated."

Bulma did just that and waited anxiously on her bed as she hacked into every scouter and listened to every bit of chatter as she could surrounding Vegeta. Apparently Vegeta charged a deadly enemy by himself, almost died, and was actually thrown into his ship. The kemono then ran after him into the ship and half of it was destroyed.

She was so worried for him, everyone was, he was hurt very bad and could die at any moment. He needed a tank as soon as possible.

'He's here!'

Bulma froze. She listened to people yelling out orders and running. She hesitated but hacked into someone's live view and was grateful that she was already sitting down otherwise she would have collapsed. He was covered in blood and there were actually chunks missing from parts of his body like something had tried to eat him. She turned it off and ran to the bathroom and threw up everything she had eaten that day. She had hoped that the image will leave her body just like her food did but unfortunately it stayed.

"Oh Vegeta." She said as she fell back onto her bottom on the cold tile and shook with fear. "Please be alright."

2 Days Later

Bulma hadn't really left her room as this was the best place to get information on Vegeta with all of her private hacking. He was going to be fine. But even with all the advancements of the tank he still needed 2 days to heal properly some argued that he needed more. The mission was a total disaster and no one knew why he did what he did. They started that mission with about a hundred Saiyans and only a handful had survived. Once they couldn't find Vegeta in the mass attack they gave up fighting in their natural state and transformed. But so many had already died by then. Some were calling him foolish while others praised him for taking on the challenge.

She was angry that he put his life and everyone else's at risk like that but right now she just wanted to see him. Bardock had told her that the Queen didn't want any visitors so she was going to have to be creative. By hacking into everyone's scouter she was able to pick the best time to go see him. She put on her lab gear and grabbed a tool kit and walked straight to his private recovery room. There were three doctors in there who had been assigned to not leave his side until he awoken, which she didn't mind. She didn't care that she couldn't be alone with him as long as she could see him.

Before the doctors could ask why she was there she said, "I'm here to do a check on the tank, make sure it's running properly."

They nodded then got back to reading their charts or whatever it was that they were doing. They all knew who she was and did not deem her as a threat which she was glad for. Bulma then turned to the center and saw him.

"Vegeta..."

Seeing him floating in the glowing blue water safe and stable made her heart finally slow down to a normal rhythm. He looked good and healthy which was more than a relief to her.

She flexed her fingers as they itched to touch the glass. She wanted so badly to lean her head against it and get as close to him as possible. It was just so good to see him again...alive and well. She didn't care that he had hurt her and ignored her; she just wanted him to be ok.

And as if he heard her request he opened his eyes and stared back into hers. She mouthed his name and smiled as she did so. The doctors around her who noticed pushed her out the way to get him out and check his vitals but she never took her eyes off him.

The room quickly filled with people including the Queen who didn't look pleased to see the human girl there but Bulma didn't care. Vegeta was alive and well and he was looking at her. He wasn't ignoring her like her nightmares but he was actually looking at her. She felt a peace inside of her that she hadn't felt since before he left and she wanted to do nothing more than to just run in his arms and feel his warm body against hers. She needed that warmth after feeling cold for so long.

The tank opened and Vegeta stepped out and glanced at everyone in the room and was about to command someone to hand him a towel when Bulma stepped forward.

"Vegeta?"

Vegeta's head snapped to her and silence filled the air as he frowned at her. He gave her a look that Bulma didn't understand and then he turned to his mother and said...

"Who is this alien and who gave her permission to speak to me so formally?"

Author's Note: And cue the amnesia! If you have seen the boys over/before flowers then you know that memory loss is a big event in the story and one that I could not pass up. And if anyone thinks it's silly for him to get brain damage and not heal from it, let's keep in mind that Kakarot would never have become Goku without it. Real quick guys, my sister is about release her 5th book called 'The Queen' and it's really good. The main character kind of has a Bulma type of personality that I think you guys would really love. So she is actually doing a kickstarter to promote it so if you guys would like to help out go to the kickstarter web site and do a search for 'The Queen' and the project will come up and you can get all the details on my sister, Christina Barr and her project. Any little bit helps even tweeting and posting it on Facebook or anything else you know of will help. I really do believe her work could be just as successful if not more so than Stephenie Meyers books so please support. So back to the story, where does this leave Bulma? And what about Chaya? And what will the Queen do? And I already started on the next chapter so I will definitely have it up quickly. Please review!