Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Shelter From My Storm ❯ Moving On ( Chapter 2 )

Okay, after waiting for reviews and receiving none, I've decided to continue updating anyway. After all, this is all written already, so I may as well post it.

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A Shelter From My Storm

Part 2

"That was really good Vegeta." Goku attested the next week following an afternoon sparring session that the two Saiyans had planned. "You've improved a lot since the last time we sparred. At this rate, you may just pass me up after a while."

"Just wait Kakarot," Vegeta smirked evilly, "I'll have you next time!"

"Maybe." Goku grinned encouragement, "You must be doing nothing but eat, sleep, and train." He commented

"What else is there to do?" Vegeta replied scornfully.

"I'll bet Bulma doesn't like that." Goku raised his eyebrows knowingly.

"What do you mean by that Kakarot?" Vegeta narrowed his eyes at Goku suspiciously.

"Nothing," Goku shrugged innocently. "It is just that I've known Bulma for a real long time. She doesn't like it when she gets ignored."

"What are you talking about?" Vegeta scowled, "I haven't been ignoring her! We had an argument just last week!" Goku began laughing but stopped uncomfortably when he realized Vegeta was serious.

"That's not what I mean Vegeta. She needs a friend. If she wanted someone to yell at, she could just call Yamcha." Goku advised.

"Hmph." Vegeta crossed his arms indignantly. "She has friends. What does she need with me anyway? I'd rather train. That woman drives me crazy with her foolishness."

"I'll bet she does." Goku smiled, "The thing is, she's so busy running Capsule Corporation now that she can't find a lot of time to get out of the house. That was okay before, because Yamcha always visited her. But now they aren't together. I bet she's lonely."

"What? Lonely?" Vegeta's scowl deepened. "If she is so lonely, why doesn't she go back to her weak, human boyfriend! This doesn't concern me! I am the Prince of all Saiyans! What do I care if that silly Earth woman is having some damned, stupid emotional problem?!"

"Fine," Goku held up his hands defensively, "None of my business. You're the one who has to live with her."

"Hmph." Vegeta grunted before flying back to the Capsule Corp. to get some dinner before going to bed. Imagine, Kakarot having the audacity to suggest Vegeta, Prince of Saiyans, spend quality time with that weak human woman. Vegeta would do just as he pleased, whether that was training, or taking a break from it for himself. What did he care about her?

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Bulma was sitting in front of the television two days later, completely bored. She'd already made Vegeta his dinner and put it in the refrigerator. She had even thought about doing some extra work in her lab, but that prospect was even less enticing than sitting alone all day, so here she was. Bulma had thought to spend some time with Chichi, but she was busy today. Bulma was so bored that she was considering going to bed early when she heard someone enter the house and move around in the kitchen. That was something odd. Who would come in without knocking? She cautiously switched off the television and edged down the hall toward the kitchen.

"Who's there?" she called out, trying not to let fear seep through her voice.

"Who else woman?" she heard a familiar voice bark back.

"Vegeta?" she entered the kitchen and saw him snacking on an orange. "But…you…it's only 4:30." She was obviously very confused. "Are you feeling all right?" her brow furrowed in concern.

"Yes, of course I am, silly woman." Vegeta scowled at her, finishing off his piece of fruit.

"But…you never eat dinner until around seven or eight…usually later than that. You're too busy training." She voiced the cause of her concern, "Did you hurt yourself?"

"I'm not as careless as you think woman." Vegeta sneered contemptuously, "I have decided that I should take a break from training today. It will help me have a fresh mind when I go back to it tomorrow." He got up to throw away his orange peels and Bulma crossed to him. Her worried frown deepened.

"You're sick, aren't you?" she reached up to feel his forehead. At the contact, they both felt a tingling sensation which momentarily confused Vegeta to the point that he did not immediately pull away.

"What is wrong with you woman?" he spluttered once he regained his senses and stepped back quickly. Vegeta set his face back in its customary scowl as he stepped back. Bulma gave him a look of confused shock. She could have sworn that his expression had almost begun to soften a second ago. She shook her head softly, it must have been in her mind. For some inexplicable reason, she could feel her cheeks warming as a flush colored them.

"I was…just…" she struggled to speak with little success. Vegeta snorted impatiently and left to go the living room. He sat comfortably on the couch, switching on the television, though he was watching nothing in particular. Bulma immediately followed him to the living room without thinking about what she was doing. She paused when she saw Vegeta sit on the couch, but after a bit she sat on it as well. When she noticed how awkward the atmosphere had become, she began watching his face for expression as closely as she could without being obvious about it. Bulma couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't been seeing things when she looked at his face in the kitchen, and she didn't want to miss it if it happened again.

"What do you want now, woman?" he scowled without turning to face her. Vegeta hoped she would just yell at him and go away. He didn't want to lose his composure in front of her, but he was feeling very flustered at the moment.

"Vegeta!" she frowned. Then she bit her lip and turned to look straight at him. She gave him a penetrating gaze as she continued in a soft, calm voice Vegeta could never remember her addressing him with. "Why don't you ever just call me Bulma?" she asked simply. His eyes went wide with surprise as he quickly sat up and gave her a look of puzzlement. He was quiet for a moment before answering.

"What kind of question is that?" he finally shot her a look that was not nearly as indignant as he had hoped for it to be.

Bulma fought back a triumphant grin. Now here was something. He hadn't expected that at all. She had never seen him struggle so hard with his expression. Now if she could just probe this a bit…

"A good one." She replied calmly. "Well? What is the answer?" He looked lost for an answer for almost two full minutes. Then he set his jaw angrily.

"Woman!" he tried to sound impatient, but came out as almost pleading. "Why can't you just let me be!" Bulma decided to play into this, keeping her calm expression and voice; seeming to be unaware of the turmoil she was causing within Vegeta.

"Because," she replied, "you confuse me. I want to understand why you are the way you are." She smiled pleasantly as she tried to hold back the laughter which his befuddled reaction tempted. He was quite adorable when he was confused. Now that she thought about it, he was an enigmatically attractive man in her eyes whether he was confused or not. Funny how she didn't realize it until, for the first time, she found herself winning one of their frequent verbal battles. Perhaps it was because she wasn't being completely blinded by rage at his presence. That must be why he drove her so crazy. She was attracted to the very things about him which most infuriated her.

"I confuse you!?" Vegeta's eyes were huge and baffled, "I confuse YOU!? How can you be confused by me? YOU are the confusing one Bulma!" She could hide her mirth no longer. Bulma burst into a loud bout of laughter, rocking back and forth in her glee. Vegeta just sat and watched her in shocked, indignant silence. She turned to him, wiping her eyes, to explain her outburst.

"Y-you-you c-ca-called, y-you, you," she fought desperately to speak through her laughter. Once she was reasonably composed, Bulma started over. "Vegeta, you got so confused that you slipped. And you called me Bulma!" she laughed again. "If only I had a camera. The look on your face! It was priceless!" she laughed momentarily before calming down again. Vegeta sat in stunned silence, until his pride got the better of him. He scowled at her the best he could.

"Agh!" he fumed, "Woman! Why do you have to be so-mmph!" he was cut off as Bulma quickly put her mouth on his. Vegeta's eyes went wide for a moment before he began to give in. She broke it just as he was overcoming his surprise and his instincts were kicking in.

"Oh Kame." Bulma muttered as she pulled back, blushing furiously in embarrassment. "Um, I'm sorry Vegeta," she apologized, looking away in extreme discomfort, "I didn't mean to…just…"

"Bulma." He grabbed her chin, turning it toward him and pulling her forward. Vegeta tilted her head up as she gasped in shock. Then he was kissing her on the mouth hungrily as he wrapped an arm around her waist possessively, the other one holding her head. He stood up then, lifting her easily with one arm while the other held her to him. He carried her upstairs, heading toward her bedroom as his animal instincts demanded he do more than kiss her. She had fleeting thoughts as he opened her door and carried her to the bed. What was she doing? Why was she with Vegeta? Was she insane? She had thought he had no feelings. Was she being proven wrong? Would this work out? Would things be different from now on? Then he joined her on the bed and soon after that, it became too difficult to think and question what was happening.

***The End (Of Part 2, that is)***