Unfaithful

Ahh! Vegeta!

My eyes go open-shut-open-shut and still I see Vegeta's naked ass and Bulma's hands caught up in his hair. I don't see much of her, Vegeta probably meant for it to be that way. Still it is unmistakably my fiancé. I see her hair swaying about as a result of their rigorous movement.

This is me walking outside and literally walking into the two having sex. It's hard to really remember my thought process at the time.

She's not mine. She doesn't belong to me. She's just my girlfriend. I love her; I want her to be mine. These are mostly the thoughts that are racing in my head as I watch Vegeta thrusting into my fiancé, Bulma Briefs, the night before our wedding, outside in the cold night. He's having her against the Gravity Chamber and she's looking at him and only him and he turns around just slightly to look back at me, and grin.

Cat got your tongue? What's wrong weak Earthling, don't like that I've attained the services of your woman? Well, let's get something straight, shall we? She's my woman.

This is what Vegeta says to me as he leers over his naked shoulder and I see Bulma's exposed flesh and hear something like a squeak of surprise.

"Yamcha!" She calls out my name and tries to break away from Vegeta's embrace. Her arm extends in my direction but Vegeta catches it. "He didn't have to find out like this, Vegeta!" Her voice is thick with emotion and her eyes are wild with panic. This is what she says to him. She doesn't quite find the strength to look back at me. I guess at that point I'd heard everything I really needed to know: Bulma wanted Vegeta, Vegeta wanted to own Bulma, and neither of them really seemed to care if I was in the picture or not.

How does one describe the perfect combination of heartbreak, humiliation, and rage?

Come to think of it, part of me just shuts down at the sight. You know how occasionally you see something so wrong you lose your sight completely? That's what just happened. I'm kind of blinking as I'm standing here, registering the soundtrack of Bulma's calling my name and Vegeta's rough laughter.

He's a sick bastard, you know. Go ahead, root for him. It's not like I care. In complete honesty, all I can say is Vegeta did it to prove a point: this entire event is nothing more than a combination between a demonstration of his superiority and sadism.

My sympathetic best friend looks on. Poor guy, he must feel so bad. It was his idea to come outside to spar before Bulma got back anyway. Little did he know, when we came outside we'd find Bulma, naked, crying out Vegeta's name in pleasure. Anyway, fade to black or something like that. I can't bear to remember the rest of the ordeal. You're just going to have to wait. You're just going to have to see for yourself, the extent of Vegeta's possession over Bulma, and the extent of her submission.

Then tell me he's a good guy. Tell me that one day he'll be great like one of us.

You know, I may not be perfect, but it's still hard to wrap my mind around what exactly it is about Vegeta that made her run and throw away her life with me. Am I an insane control freak? No. I'm not bizarre or sadistic. Maybe that's my problem. Heh. I'm would ever try to hurt Bulma in any way, shape, or form. So, Yamucha, buddy, what exactly do you mean?

"Bulma... this is the wrong place to say it and the wrong time and it's probably going to come out all exactly wrong, but please... can you hear me out for a moment?"

She stopped her meal, delicately putting her fork down and looking me in the eye, "Hmn?" She acts as if she's bored, that nothing's important, but I can see the worry in her eye, "Of course you can tell me. Go ahead."

I took in a deep breath, "Like I said, I'm not the richest man in the world- I'm not the smartest, and I'm not perfect. But I'll make you happy, and… Bulma I love you. We've been going out since you were sixteen and it's only gone from a silly little crush to love." I exhaled, and took another deep breath, not able to look into her eyes, "So now," I slid my hand into my pocket to only pull out a small box, feeling the black velvet. My finger touched the fine fabric. Closing my eyes, I knew what my finger was now running across; there was the shape of a rose in the velvet, blood red and beautiful as always. Slowly, taking it out of my pocket, I flicked the box open before her, "I'm asking you to marry me."

Her eyes brightened, those big blue orbs so light, so beautiful, and the room's light seemed to flood in, absorbing her. I was afraid, for a millisecond that she was smiling to mock me, like she was going to stand up and shout, throwing her water at me, "No! Never! You're not good enough for me, Yamucha! I am Bulma Briefs, daughter of the owner of the Capsule Corporation, and who are you?" That she'd scoffed, and continued, "You're just some desert bandit I picked up and dusted off. If not for me where would you be? Dead? Still eating little lizards when there's no one to rob? You low-life! How dare you even think you could be enough! You're not good at anything! You couldn't even beat Gokou when you were a child! And now, you're a man, and where are you? Striving to catch up! Why should I, if you haven't already forgotten my brief explanation of who I am, marry someone like you? I need the best Yamucha," Her voice becomes deadly soft, "And you just aren't that."

What? No! Bulma Babe would never do that! Even if she thought I wasn't good enough-which I'm not- she'd just try to say something. She wouldn't stand up and act outraged. And she didn't.

"Yamucha, I, I, I'd love to!" She wasn't laughing at me, she was so happy she was about to cry! Excitement fills me. I'm happy that she's happy. We're beaming at each other in this one perfect moment.

"Am I… in a dream?" I spoke my thoughts aloud.

I blushed, as she responded, "Of course not, Silly!" She shined at me, but I just blushed more, I hadn't known I spoke my thoughts aloud. Shit! Shit! Shit! Stupid Yamucha, look cool! Suddenly we're kids again and she makes me feel weak, insecure, and awesome all at once. This is why I want her to marry me, the way that we love each other into good and whole people.

I smiled, and managed to stutter out, "But, I thought, you just said you'd love to marry me."

"I did!" She laughed, trying to sound annoyed at my shock, but she just fell out of her seat and hugged me.

I looked at the ring sadly, as beautiful as the box was, it wouldn't be enough-she was looking at me when she said yes, she hadn't even glanced at the ring, she gets more than this from her father for everyday wear that- like nothing more than a toy! She might have said yes, but when she took a look at the ring, her eyes would turn sad and immediately she'd wish she hadn't confirmed that she wanted to be my wife.

"What's wrong now, Yamucha?" She softly asked me, noticing my gaze. Following it, she reached forward for the black box.

I almost gasped out, "No!" But she just flicked it open again. It wasn't anything but a gold band with a simple teal jewel in the middle of two diamonds. I have no clue what size they or if it'll fit or what that teal jewel is but when I saw it all I thought was, 'Bulma!'

She opened her mouth in awe-she hates it! She's trying not to sob! She's going to throw it on the ground and stomp out, saying just as I thought she would before, maybe worse. I was wrong! Why is this so agonizing!

Wait, Yamucha, think straight, calm down, don't make a fool out of yourself! I stared at her, and began breathing hard.

"It's..."

I looked down and sighed, "I know, not much-"

"Beautiful! I love it!" I blinked, but she just beamed, "It's perfect!"

"You really like it?" I gave an unsure smile.

"Of course! How did you know?"

I blinked once again, "Know what?"

She laughed a little, "I described this almost exactly when my mom asked me what type of ring I'd dreamed of getting for my engagement ring." My smile faded, almost exactly. So she planned for one better. But Bulma didn't notice, "I didn't know it'd be so beautiful. I hadn't expected it to be so nice!"

I smiled, "The thought just came to me when I saw it. It just… called out to me. I heard your name when I saw it."

Placing the ring on her finger to prove it fit, which it didn't, a little too small and it made her finger look chubby and turn a little red, she smiled and admired her hand as if she didn't notice. It probably hurt and I frowned.

"It doesn't fit." I flatly said.

"Stop beating yourself up," She cheerfully said, putting her hand on my shoulder, "it can be re-sized."

I smiled and she sat back down for an excited meal- we were both trying our best not to explode from excitement.

She didn't talk about the things you'd think she'd want to talk about.

She didn't say anything about kids, or what to wear, or where to wed, or who to invite, anything. She didn't think about hiring the perfect designer for a perfect wedding of the perfect Bulma Briefs to the imperfect Yamucha. Oh yeah, wasn't he some baseball player?

But we ate and I tried to think. And then something really weird happens. I feel something, someone, who is out of place entirely. I What?

Was it him? I felt his ki, it was like he was breathing down my neck...

I should have known then and there. I should have figured it out, how obvious was it? It would have saved everyone a lot of time and energy and pain. This is one of those moments that you look back on and think about the way that things could have been different. I wonder if there was any way that Bulma and I could have ended up together.

I wonder if she was sleeping with him before or after she agreed to marry me. Not that she'll ever tell the truth. It didn't matter, that moment, anyway. I saw no fault in her eyes that day.

"Yamucha, what's wrong?" She looks concerned and attentive as she sets her eyes on me, trying to figure what it is that's caused me to suddenly look to the side and frown.

"Oh, nothing." I say this because I can't say his name. Even at this point, I am wary of her obvious attraction to him. Instead I resolve to find a way to get her to

It fades, and I close my eyes as she grasps my hand. I remember the word perfection came to mind. I really and truly with all sincerity believed that this moment was faultless.

As a result of my joy, I pushed the thought aside. The word delusional comes to mind. I really believed it couldn't have been him. Why would he be here?

Its times like this that I cannot help but remember different isolated events that should have tipped everything off. That should have made this all seem so obvious and apparent to me. It was like writing on the walls, like he wanted me to figure it out and I was just too stupid to.

Or something. I hate that bastard.

Sometimes I would want to go play with the Gravity Chamber. Vegeta would be asleep or gone or wherever he was when he wasn't training (was he with Bulma?) and I would sneak in. I thought I could handle anything he could. I thought that with enough determination and courage I could do anything that he did.

I believed what I always believed, because I don't think at that time I truly understood how freakish Goku and to a lesser extent Vegeta truly were in raw power.

The room went red like crimson and sweat immediately begins to pour down my face as I struggle to breathe and move. I've let the machine go full-strength because I'm too hard-headed to have thought better.

The intensity of it all was maddening! And Vegeta spent hours under this level of gravity. I was afraid for my life. I never worked so hard for so little. All I could do was struggle just to turn the machine off. I collapsed on the floor for several minutes when it was all over with.

Really, I have always been a little afraid of Bulma. Why would I want to go run off and fight the androids when I couldn't even stand to fight with my own girlfriend? Somehow with Bulma you always end up feeling like a coward and a wimp.

And why did I want to marry her again? Oh wait. Never mind.

This is my annoyed resignation, years later.

We're driving home now, and even though it might have seemed like it was odd that after I propose to the woman, I take her to a movie, but I promised I'd take her to a movie and I did. We were pretty excited, giggling. Like kids again. This is the first movie we've gone to in a long time, and it's nice.

I'd been short on cash lately, and it's been embarrassing taking her out. Not because of her, there's nothing embarrassing about going out with her unless she makes a scene when I screw up, but because I'd have to take her to the cheaper places and dollar movies we'd see all the time.

She wasn't pleased, a woman like that wouldn't be, but she was always polite about it and never threw it in my face. Where was a guy to get money when he had to train? Baseball worked-until I left for how long? Dying kind of puts a damper on your career and social life.

First I was training, and then I happened to die. I'm on some sort of penalty and my salary got cut. I'm not dependable, or something. I'm way stronger than all of those people and I took a pay cut because I was off saving the world, or trying to.

Something about this seems pretty inherently wrong to me. I ought to write them a letter. I'll tell them, 'Well, I'm sorry I died.'

So, I've been practically living at Bulma's, half because my rent's overdue and I'll be kicked out when I dare show my face, and half because I don't trust Vegeta. When I do come home, it's long after my landlord's fallen asleep, and I have to leave. Sneaking around isn't that hard, there are perks to being a great warrior by normal human standards.

Still, the more immediate concern is Vegeta. He's letting her push him around, for now... he'll snap sooner or later. Did I mention I don't trust Vegeta? He's dangerous, and she just keeps pushing his buttons.

Everyone has a limit. But Vegeta… when he snaps, it won't be pretty.

I wish I had fast cars designed for rock stars and wads of cash, but I can't give that to her. She leaned against me, tired but content. One thought pounds in and out of my head.

I'm getting married.

Did I think about this? Of course I have. And not just since Goku made that comment about a baby... We're finally going to do it; we're finally going to get married. Tie the knot!

It feels so weird. So I've asked. She's accepted. We have so much to talk about; so much to plan, but all is calm right now. I laugh a little bit to myself as I think of what Hell it's going to be doing anything but what Bulma wants as far as the wedding plans go. She's got quite the temper, but I think maybe it'll be tamed when we get married.

Will everything be better when we get married?

I reached the Capsule Corp. and got her out of the little air car. She'd probably think I'm a pervert for carrying her out, she still has the independent woman arrogance streak, the same one that's going to get her killed the one day Goku or Krillin or I'm not around.

She probably thinks I expected sex just because I proposed. How could I put this without sounding like the exact type of person she thinks I am?

Sex with her is like a million sensations at once. Her perfect little body, tiny shoulders and gentle hands drive me mad, not that I'm not a lady pleaser myself. My fans were very excited about my return, and I'm not just talking about the guys with the beer bellies and season tickets. I love Bulma, I love making love to Bulma. Silk smooth skin, but that's not it. It's the way she looks at me, not even the clouded lust in her eyes. It's... love. Only when we're one is when her eyes cloud up. It's so... weird.

When she took off her dress I smiled at the body I'd seen a million times. Call me a romantic, but I could see us merging into one being when we had sex that night. Still, she was exhausted from a long day of training and I was restless and excited and awake. She tied a robe about her.

She yawned, stretching. Too tired to say much at all to me, or perhaps she just was too happy, she managed out of my arms, my embrace and my lips, and as if I wasn't even there, she stumbled to her room.

I didn't bother follow. I had too much on my mind.

I'm getting married!

I've got to tell someone!

I need to celebrate!

Jealous and it's not even like I can do anything about it. Vegeta knows how I feel about him, this, all of it. When I see Bulma I inevitably see Vegeta. He doesn't have to be at her side constantly to be trailing her in my thoughts. No longer can I isolate the two. They are a couple, the two have merged into one in my mind, whether Vegeta likes it or not.

There is now no Bulma without that Vegeta to follow her name. The memory of that damnable evening has been burned into my memory, as per Vegeta's intentions to be sure.

I'll never forget the hum of the Gravity Chamber that night.

-CL