'Face to Face'
Chapter Seven: Past, Present, Future?
'So let go all of these mixed emotions,
Forget all your hesitations…
Then he whispered in your ear,
He's absolutely falling,
The words he said are clear,
So don't insist on stalling.'
Colbie Caillat: Tailor Made
Yamcha woke up with a grunt and realised blearily that he had fallen asleep after his shower. He sat up and groaned. "Oh man, I totally knackered myself out." He stretched and checked his clock, and seeing it was 9.30pm he decided to go and look for Bulma. I won't ask her out for tonight, but I will see if she is up for it tomorrow or something! He headed for her bedroom first, and when he got no reply he headed for the lounge, figuring she must be in there with her parents. He was almost there when he heard a loud peel of laughter from the kitchen, and he grinned when he recognised it as Bulma's. Well, at least she's in a good mood!
He headed into the kitchen and his jaw dropped. He tripped slightly in surprise and blinked before his eyes bulged and he realised what he was seeing was indeed real: Bulma was sat on the kitchen table, legs crossed, and laughing hard. Sitting opposite, stretched out in one of the chairs was Vegeta. And he was actually smiling. Yamcha spluttered slightly. What the hell is going on? Vegeta's smiling? And hanging out with Bulma?! Man, I must be going mad…this can't be real!
He stood frozen in mid-step, his mind reeling, and Vegeta suddenly caught sight of him and the smile vanished off his face. He looked so murderous that Yamcha actually gulped and back pedalled a few steps.
Bulma noticed the expression on Vegeta's face change and she glanced around to see what had caused it and noticed Yamcha, looking kind of confused and stricken. "Yamcha, hey." She smiled as warmly as she could manage, but felt a little annoyed at being interrupted. She had been getting along with Vegeta pretty damn well, heck, they'd been talking for the last hour or so…she glanced over at the Saiyan Prince and noticed with disappointment he was slowly getting out of his seat.
"Where are you going?" she asked, eyes wide and pleading.
He glanced at her impassively, "To bed. Some of us actually train all day, every day." he shot a pointed glare at Yamcha and left the room swiftly but paused for a second when Bulma called, "Good night!"
Yamcha seemed to finally gather his senses back and he rounded on Bulma with bulging eyes. "What the heck was that?!"
Bulma tossed her hair, "We were just hanging out Yamcha." She smiled coyly all of a sudden, "Not jealous are you?"
He flushed to the roots of his hair and Bulma grinned. Heck, he's cute when blushes!
Yamcha gurgled slightly, "Wha..!? No! I mean, yeah, no…I mean, ugh!" He huffed slightly and Bulma started to giggle.
"It's ok, you've got nothing to worry about Yamcha." She slid off the table and slipped past him, snaking a hand to his shoulder and tiptoeing up to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. "Night." She winked and slipped out of the room, leaving Yamcha to gape after her.
Bulma smiled to herself, and hummed all the way back to her room. She got ready for bed, still humming cheerfully, before running the night's events through her mind. She giggled to herself as she remembered the look on Vegeta's face when she had started to explain her ideas for the new bots for the Gravity Chamber. He had actually looked impressed…and when she told him about how she had first met Goku, he'd actually chuckled and smiled! She snuggled her into her white sheets and closed her eyes with a sigh. It's a shame Yamcha had to interrupt us…we could have talked for hours! She felt a sudden lurch in her gut. Yamcha! Her eyes flew open. What must he be thinking? Oh, he probably is jealous! Imagine if he knew about that kiss! Her heart seemed to thump against her ribcage as she remembered it herself and she shook herself breathlessly. Bulma, stop it! You are not interested in Vegeta. Yes, he's attractive, and he kisses well…very well in fact…but that's not the point! The point is that what that kiss was…it was just lust and that's all. And that's something you definitely don't need. You and Yamcha are made for each other- you've just got to make it work this time. You're only trying to be Vegeta's friend…Yamcha is the one for you. She shook herself determinedly again and decided that tomorrow she would get the balls rolling with him.
Bulma went to the kitchen the next morning, determined to make breakfast as usual- but this time to do one especially for Yamcha as well. But to her surprise Vegeta was already in the kitchen, rifling through the cupboards and grumbling under his breath.
"Hungry are you?" Bulma grinned, making Vegeta turn and glare at her grumpily.
"Will you just make some breakfast already woman? That cereal stuff is crap!"
Bulma rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm not making you anything unless you ask me nicely…and call me Bulma!"
Vegeta scowled, "I'm not going to beg you!"
"I didn't ask you to beg! I asked you to ask nicely. You know, use a little manners. You're a Prince aren't you? Where's your etiquette?" Bulma asked teasingly, brushing past him and ignoring the tingles along her arm as it touched his.
Vegeta gaped at her and shook his head slightly, this woman…she's so…ugh, I don't even know! "Fine." He grumbled, plonking himself in a seat roughly and trying to ignore how comfortable and relaxed he felt as she turned to grin at him. "Would you make some breakfast," he paused and gritted his teeth and Bulma waved her hand encouragingly, "Bulma."
Bulma beamed, "That wasn't so hard was it? Now, what do you want? I'll do a big grilled breakfast and some pancakes…I wanted to make Yamcha some anyway." She felt like she needed to say it aloud; that she still cared for Yamcha, and especially in front of Vegeta. But still, she felt a little like she was trying to convince herself, she couldn't help but inwardly admit that she didn't exactly get butterflies around Yamcha anymore, and as much as she tried, she couldn't deny that she felt like a tornado was in her stomach when Vegeta was around. Oh, Bulma, come on…this is Vegeta for goodness sake! It's nothing! Remember what you resolved to do last night! You can't give up years with Yamcha- no matter how on and off they were- for a little crush! She blushed brightly when she realised she had admitted she had a crush on Vegeta…even if it was only in her head. She swallowed hastily and started to cook the breakfast, keeping her back to Vegeta at all times so he wouldn't see her still flaming face.
Vegeta watched her again, getting a sense of deja-vu to the night before. Why are you wasting your time eating meals with her and talking to her? You should be training! You can't sit around her with her all day…no matter how gorgeous she is. He smirked as he thought back to the kiss, and how fervently she had responded to him. Then he shook himself with disgust. Ugh, get a grip on yourself you fool. It was nothing but lust…simple desire. There was nothing else to it at all.
Yamcha heard the knock at his door and smirked, pulling his t-shirt off and running a hand through his hair to mess it up. "Come in."
Bulma came in smiling brightly, but she paused and blushed when she saw him lounging topless on the bed, staring at her seductively. "Erm," she smiled shyly, "morning."
Yamcha grinned and patted the space on the bed beside him, "Morning gorgeous. Care to join me?"
Bulma bit her lip, a little surprised at his forward behaviour. "Sure," she said hesitantly, making her way over to the bed and balancing the tray precariously on the edge of it. Yamcha took the tray and put it on his bedside table, before reaching over and grabbing her wrist, pulling her towards him.
He grinned when she nestled on the bed next to him, and he turned on his side, so her arm was pinned against his toned torso and his face was mere inches from hers. Bulma stared at him in surprise.
"Breakfast looks great…but you look more tempting."
Bulma rolled her eyes and let out a chuckle, "Yamcha..." she trailed off as he snaked a hand around her waist and pulled her flush against him.
"Seriously Bulma," he said, bringing his other hand up to cup her cheek, "you're amazing…" he leaned in closer, "go out with me tomorrow. Please?"
Bulma swallowed, and her stomach fluttered slightly as he pressed his lips to hers gently. She didn't know whether it was nerves or excitement though. Nevertheless, she kissed him back softly, but pulled away quickly and nodded. "Sure. Sure. Tomorrow is good." She slipped out of his grasp and stood up as he grinned widely up at her. "8 o'clock?"
Yamcha nodded, "I'll book somewhere."
Bulma nodded, and left the room, before grimacing. Eugh, why do I let him book? He has the worse taste in restaurants. She sucked in a breath and nodded to herself. But it's a date at least…another date, she thought with a smile, not able to figure out why she felt a little pit of regret in her stomach. Ah whatever, I'll have fun, I'm sure of it.
"Bulma, dear!" Mrs Briefs' voice rung out loudly from the buzzer in Bulma's lab and startled her.
"Erm, yeah?" Bulma pressed the buzzer and let her mother in, pulling off her thick, fire-proof gloves and looking up at her mother with a smile.
"It's the phone for you. I think it's Chi-Chi." Mrs Briefs handed Bulma the phone with a smile and left the room with a cheery wave.
Bulma pressed the phone to her ear, "Hello."
"Bulma! Hi!" Chi-Chi responded brightly and Bulma smiled.
"Hey yourself. How are you?"
"Oh, good thanks. What about you?"
"It's good…a little busy but you know- the usual. What's up?" Bulma sat down and pressed the phone to her ear with her shoulder, using her hands to re-do her messy bun.
"Well, I was just wondering if you fancy going out sometime? Like, tonight?"
Bulma sat up, bolt-right. "Seriously? Chi-Chi, we haven't been out in ages!"
"I know, I know. I'm just," she paused and let out an exasperated cry, "Bulma! Goku is driving me mad! He's constantly training with Piccolo and Gohan- who should be studying if he wants to make anything of himself when he's older! And… NO! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW YOU LOT!" Chi-Chi suddenly bellowed and Bulma held the phone away from her ear with a wince.
"Right, I have to get out of here Bulma." She sounded desperate and so wound-up that Bulma felt a swell of sympathy for her. She and Chi-Chi didn't always get on well; Bulma often suspected jealously on Chi-Chi's side. But she liked her a lot, and when they got on- they got on great.
"Sure. Tonight sounds great Chi-Chi. Why don't I send a car over for you for around 5 and we'll get ready together here, go out for dinner and see where the night takes us?"
"Oh Bulma, that's great. See you later!" Chi-Chi sighed happily down the phone, and Bulma grinned and said her goodbyes, hanging up and feeling a lot better herself.
A girly night certainly will do you good Bulma Briefs. She grinned and got back to engineering her new bots with more fervour than before.
"No way Chi-Chi!" Bulma burst out laughing as Chi-Chi nodded emphatically.
"I'm sure of it Bulma…it would explain so much!" Chi-Chi hiccupped, and took another gulp of champagne.
Bulma grinned, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter again. "Piccolo is not gay!"
"He is!" Chi-Chi hissed, downing her glass and waving at the barman, "Champagne!"
Bulma nodded, "Yes! Yes! More champagne please!"
As the barman hurried over with another bottle of champagne on ice, Chi-Chi turned to Bulma slyly and said, "So, how's your love life?"
Bulma gulped her drink hastily, "Fine!" she squeaked, hoping Chi-Chi wouldn't notice the blush on her cheeks.
"Aha!" Chi-chi squawked loudly, "Something's happened!"
"No! NO! It hasn't!"
"It has! With Yamcha? Oh my, Bulma, what's going on with you two?!"
Bulma gulped at her drink and shook her head, "I don't know Chi-Chi. We went on a date and we're hanging out…" she paused briefly and Chi-Chi nodded eagerly, "and today he kissed me and asked me out again."
Chi-Chi giggled and clinked her glass with Bulma's, "Nice one!"
Bulma grinned but remained silent and Chi-Chi stared at her curiously.
"What's the problem? Not secretly in love with Vegeta, are you?" she teased.
Bulma almost spluttered her drink all over the table, "What?!" she cried squeakily, she could practically feel her face burning with embarrassment. In love with Vegeta? What is she talking about?! "No! Of course not." She shook herself. "NO, I just…I'm not sure I'm in love with Yamcha anymore. I mean, after so long and all those times we broke up and he cheated…" Bulma necked her drink and slammed it down morosely.
Chi-Chi frowned, "He was such a jerk."
"Exactly! I mean, what, do I just forget all that and hope it doesn't happen again?! I mean, how can I be so sure he loves me at all?!"
Chi-Chi's frown deepened and she sipped at her drink thoughtfully, "But do you really want to give up all those years? Goku told me Yamcha had said something about settling down…and you know he does love you." She paused and took another gulp, "I don't think you should hesitate any longer Bulma…not when he so obviously wants to be with you again."
Bulma nodded thoughtfully and Chi-Chi grinned and raised her glass.
"A toast- to idiot guys and the great girls who love them!" she clinked her glass with Bulma's and downed her drink.
Bulma watched with a small smile, Is Chi-Chi right? Should I just go for it with Yamcha? Ugh! Why can't I make up my mind? I would have died to have this chance again before…what's wrong with me? Why am I so off of Yamcha all of a sudden? She didn't really want to put too much thought to that though. Oh, Chi-Chi is right. He does love me…he does want to be with me. And if I keep putting it off I'll just lose him forever. She sighed and downed her drink too, forcing a big smile on her face as Chi-Chi filled up their glasses again.
"No, no, no, you're the best, Chi-Chi. You put up with so much…hiccup!...so much crap from those boys. And you know, Goku's…hiccup!...he's always running off and training and …hiccup! Men are so useless!" Bulma slurred as they stumbled back into the house, Bulma's heels clattering loudly.
Chi-Chi clung to the doorframe and groaned, "I know! Goku, ugh, he had no idea how hard it is when he just…uughhh….ups and leaves! I want Gohan to be smart! Not some…dumb…fighting...monkey-boy!" She stood up and wobbled precariously, before slouching to the floor with a loud burp. "Oh, crap, sorry Bulma."
Bulma giggled and waved her arms wildly, "Ha! Don't worry Chi-Chi!" She leaned back against the wall and lifted her foot, wobbling as she tried to take her shoe off. "You're right. They are useless. All of them! Yamcha and Goku and Vegeta! And," she slid down the wall and looked at Chi-Chi seriously. "And they are hot."
Chi-Chi blinked, her drunken mind trying to adapt to the change in conversation. "Oh yep, hot."
"Sooo hot." Bulma said, too drunk to be startled by images of Vegeta in her mind and she suddenly burst out laughing. Chi-Chi laughed too, before burping loudly again.
"Ugh," she tried to stand up but couldn't. "Yep, they're very hot." She tried again and managed to pull herself to her feet unsteadily. "But I need to go home."
Bulma nodded emphatically, "Yep. Yep." She sprang to her feet and then groaned as her head spun. "I'll call you a cab…oh, wait. There's one outside!" she pointed with confusion at the yellow cab outside her house, haven't already completely forgotten they got home in the cab and had told the driver to wait.
Chi-Chi clapped her hands together and then kissed Bulma sloppily on the cheek. "Bye Bulma, I'll see you…hiccup!..soon. I'm going to give my husband a what-a…ugh…well, he's in trouble!" she waved and staggered to the taxi, practically collapsing in as the driver hurriedly opened the door.
"Byeeeee!" Bulma cooed, waving merrily before tripping back on her heel and falling into something with an "oomph." She looked around as arms encircled her waist and blinked wearily. "Vegeta?"
Vegeta gazed down at Bulma dispassionately, but his mind was whirring. He'd heard what she and Chi-Chi had been talking about as he came to see what all the noise was about and he was slightly curious. Have they been talking about us all, all night? And why are they so drunk? What's the occasion? He looked down in surprise as Bulma loped her arms around his waist and nuzzled into his chest with another hiccup. Oh, this is just great. "Woman, Woman. Get up."
"Bulma!" Bulma said sternly, and Vegeta let out a dark chuckle. So she's able to tell me what to do even when drunk? When she merely clung to him tighter, he rolled his eyes and bent down and scooped her up in his arms. I can't believe I'm doing this. Me- A Saiyan Prince- carrying her to bed. This is ridiculous, I should just leave her to sleep in the hallway. Stupid woman, it's her own bloody fault. But he carried her to her room and laid her on her bed, frowning down at her as she immediately snuggled into her bed covers. She opened her eyes blearily as he begun to move away and giggled, "Night night Vegetable Head…"
Vegeta growled and clenched his fists. "Stop calling me that." When Bulma didn't respond- she had fallen asleep- he let out a gruff, annoyed grunt and stalked out of her room and into his own. Bloody woman. He thought as he climbed into his own bed and tried to will himself to sleep.
please review and rate as usual- they always keep me going! any favourite quotes/moments/etc/etc are always appreciated, and useful too! :D cheers.
AN: these are just little notes for regular reviewers, who keep me writing and posting as quick as i can! :D thanks guys!
Nintendocat- ah i'm glad you like the slow progression, but i promise it will heat up again soon enough...and Bulma's going to sort her head out and deal with Yamcha soon too! this chapter and the next are quite slow but after that i'm adding in some more action and...well, can't tell you too much ;) cheers for reviewing again!
Kitty- thanks for reviewing again! I'm glad you liked the conversation, but i know you liked the kiss before so i'm assuring you that things are going to be heading that way soon enough for Bulma and Vegeta!
MelodiMoon- thanks for another review! glad you are enjoying the conversations too...and yep, i think Bulma was more than a little shocked...but at least she knows he's warming to her now!
RangerInBlack- thanks for continuing to review! :D