Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Falling in Love a Second Time ❯ Miscommunication ( Chapter 11 )

Falling In Love A Second Time

Chapter 11 - Miscommunication

"Hey, Trunks!" Goten smiled as he answered the door to find his best friend standing before him. "What brings you by?"

"I was wondering if you knew where your dad went sparring with mine." Trunks, much like his father, went directly to the point. "I am a little worried about him; I wanted to make sure he's all right."

"Sparring with Dad?" Goten scratched his head. "But Dad hasn't been sparring; he has been here all morning," Goten explained, before gesturing for Trunks to follow him inside and see for himself that his father was still home.

Sure enough, as Trunks entered the living room, he found Chi-Chi, Gohan, Videl, and Goku all present. "Well that's weird," Trunks muttered, before receiving a greeting from Chi-Chi.

"Hey, Trunks." Chi-Chi jumped from her seat and rushed over to the boy, with some hard-hitting questions. "What brings you by? How is your mother doing? Is she all right? Has she been having any problems--"

"No, Mom's fine," Trunks interrupted her as respectfully as possible; his mother was not the one he was becoming more and more worried about by the minute. "Actually, I was looking for my Dad," Trunks directed his attention to Goku, "Mom told me that he went sparring with you this morning, but Goten says you have been here, did you cancel or something?"

"Ah," Goku thought a moment, "no, I think I'd remember if I was supposed to spar with your father. Your mother must have gotten mixed up."

"Hm, I guess that's possible," Trunks sighed disappointedly, "but I was really hoping to find Dad, I haven't seen him since yesterday, and I checked his bed this morning, it wasn't slept in. That's when I asked Mom if she had seen him, but I guess she was mistaken. Not that I'm not terribly shocked, she did seem a little off this morning."

"What do you mean?" Chi-Chi raised a brow, something didn't seem right with this scenario.

"Well," Trunks began to provide his proof, "I didn't actually see Mom when I spoke to her. She had her bedroom door shut and wouldn't come out to talk to me. She just spoke through the door. She seemed pretty distracted."

"Distracted, how?" Videl asked, she too was becoming intrigued by this peculiarity.

"I don't know, like something else was on her mind." Trunks shrugged before a grimace flashed across his face. "My guess is that she was just tired from her date with Yamcha last night."

The entire room became filled with fallen jaws, save the two youngest. "Bulma went on a date with Yamcha!" Gohan gasped, it simply didn't make any sense.

"Yep, that was my reaction." Trunks hissed as he crossed his arms over his chest in the image of his father. "But she promised me it was just a 'friend' thing, though I wonder if Dad saw it that way."

"Your Dad knew about this?" Chi-Chi couldn't believe Vegeta would allow such an absurdity.

Trunks nodded solemnly. "Yeah, well, he has been trying to be really understanding about all of this; I have to give him credit. But I don't think he had anything to worry about. As I said, it was just dinner and I assume she came home right after that because around ten o'clock or so I started hearing some noises coming from her room, so she must have been home by then."

"Noises?" Goten asked, incredibly obliviously. "What kind of noises?"

"Normal stuff," Trunks shrugged. "I used to hear noises like that almost every night when Mom and Dad shared a room. Stuff like heavy breathing and groaning, you know Goten, like after you've just spent hours and hours sparring, those kinds of sounds."

"Why would a sound like that be coming from your Mom's room?" Goten scratched his head, just as uninformed as his ten year old friend.

Trunks shrugged as the two boys then looked to the elder members of the group for answers. They didn't receive any however, as they suddenly noticed the wide-eyed expressions gracing the faces of all four adults. "What did I say?" Trunks blinked in confusion before Chi-Chi was the first to respond.

"Trunks, why don't you go play with Goten in his room, while we all figure out what happened to your father." Chi-Chi then shuffled the two children out of the living room with lightning speed, before huddling over with her comrades to determine if they had concluded what she feared. "Someone please tell me Yamcha wouldn't take advantage of Bulma's memory loss like this!"

"He wouldn't," Goku hoped, while rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Oh please," Videl said what was on everyone's minds. "I've only known the guy a few years, but it's clear he has been harboring feelings for her, not to mention he's still embittered by the way Vegeta 'stole' Bulma from him. If you ask me, you all should have considered this possibility sooner."

"Hey wait a second," Gohan brought a new possibility into the discussion. "You don't think the reason Vegeta is missing is because he heard or walked in on them, do you?"

Silence.

"Ok, Videl, I want you to see that Trunks and Goten stay here," Chi-Chi reacted quickly. "Gohan, find Yamcha and get the whole story. Goku, locate Vegeta and make sure he's not killing anyone, and I'll find Bulma and hope I can talk some sense into her!"

"Right!" a simultaneous agreement of unity followed. Goku then placed two fingers on his head and disappeared, as Gohan flew out the window, and Chi-Chi ran out to her Capsule Car.

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Goku was greeted by a punch in the face as he rematerialized in front of Vegeta. "Kakarrot?!!" Vegeta hissed in utter fury. "What the hell are you doing here!?"

"Geez, Vegeta," Goku moaned as he grabbed his nose to stop it from bleeding, "I'll make sure to transform into a Super Saiya-jin before I use my instant transmission in the future!"

"Do," Vegeta agreed with a half smirk, before demanding an explanation for why his rival had so unexpectedly interrupted him. "As I asked already, what the hell are you doing here?"

Goku, still holding his nose, replied, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"Well, I'm touched by your concern Kakarrot, but if you are asking in regards to having my mate home, it's none of your damn business," Vegeta admitted, before turning away from the taller man. He began throwing punches into the air, signaling to his fellow Saiya-jin that he wanted to get back to his training, having nothing more to say on the matter.

"All right then," Goku decided a different approach was in order. "If you don't want to talk, that's fine, but I'd hate to waste a trip over here." Goku stretched his arms, and back, "What say we spar." He knew the statement did not need to be posed as a question; he knew his prince would never turn down a battle.

"Well, I might as well finish what I started," Vegeta chuckled cruelly before launching himself at his challenger; intense battle was just the distraction he needed.

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"Ya mcha?" Gohan called, as he pounded on his friend's door. After a few moments he received an answer.

"Gohan!" Yamcha smiled widely, it wasn't often he was able to see the younger man. "What can I do for ya kid?"

"Can I come in?" Gohan tried not to show any presumptions in his demeanor.

"Sure thing," Yamcha stepped aside to allow him entrance. "So what brings you by?"

"Well," Gohan took a long breath, "to be blunt, I wanted to know about your date with Bulma last night."

Yamcha's eyes immediately widened, in shock. "Our date?" he choked, "but, it was just dinner."

"I don't like to be lied to Yamcha, especially by a friend," Gohan frowned deeply. "We already know what happened between the two of you, and it was a hell of a lot more than just a simple dinner."

"We?-You know? But, how?" Yamcha asked, completely baffled that knowledge of the kiss, what he assumed Gohan was referring to, he had shared with Bulma had become public so quickly.

"That's not important, Dende Yamcha, what were you thinking? She's supposed to be one of your best friends! You know she's in love with Vegeta, how could you help her cheat on her own husband when you know damn well that if she had her memory she would have never done anything with you!" Gohan had a hard time trying to control his temper. He couldn't stop imagining how devastated he would be if he were in Vegeta's place and Videl was in Bulma's. "What the hell were you thinking?! Do you have any idea what this is going to do to Vegeta? To Trunks!?"

"I know," Yamcha's head fell in shame, "but you just can't understand what it is like for me, Gohan. Bulma was my first love, with her memory loss-she reminded me of the old times, along with the old feelings. I-I couldn't help what happened."

Gohan truly felt sorry for his long time friend, he too remembered the old days, what Yamcha and Bulma were like together, but even at his young age he could see the vast difference between the infatuation shared between Yamcha and Bulma, and the truly impenetrable love that existed between Bulma and Vegeta. As understanding, and sympathetic as he tried to be for Yamcha's situation, he had a hard time doing so, knowing how this could destroy the Briefs family. "Look Yamcha, I believe that your intentions weren't to destroy Bulma's marriage and family in doing this, but regardless, there is a very good chance that you have. So, if what you say is true, and I am hoping that it is, if you truly care for Bulma, you'll keep your distance; for everyone's sake, including your own." Gohan cringed as he began to imagine the sinister things Vegeta would do to the man if he finds out.

Yamcha, having already been infected with guilt, nodded silently in agreement, before escorting Gohan out. The half Saiya-jin was right. As much as he was tempted to explore the feelings that were revived in him, he didn't want to do so at the expense of the woman in question. Even if he didn't like Vegeta, or how he lost Bulma, he couldn't change that now. Now, he had to make the unselfish choice, he had to let her go.

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"Bulma!" Chi-Chi cried, as she stormed right into Capsule Corp through the kitchen door, not wasting any time to knock. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

"Ah--" Bulma took a moment to try to digest her friend's sudden appearance. "What are you talking about?"

"How could you do it, Bulma? How the hell could you sleep with him?!" Chi-Chi demanded tactlessly.

Bulma's eyes widened, taking a moment to stop herself from falling over after hearing her friend's blunt question. "How… How could you-How did you find out about that?" Bulma couldn't understand how Chi-Chi had learned about her night with Vegeta.

"Dende, then it is true," Chi-Chi whispered in shock, it was one thing to know of the possibility, but to hear it confirmed. "By the kais Bulma, I can't believe-Trunks came over this morning looking for Vegeta, he mentioned how he heard noises coming from your room last night and the distracted conversation you two had. Dende, I hoped there was another possible explanation, but… How could you do it?"

"I…" Bulma couldn't answer that question herself, how could she offer a response to Chi-Chi? "I don't know," Bulma admitted with a half sob. "I didn't mean for it to happen, but Chi-Chi," Bulma calmed a little as she reflected upon the night they shared. "Look, I know I wasn't thinking clearly, I know that, but at the time I… I wanted him like I have never wanted anything in my life," Bulma admitted for the first time, to Chi-Chi and herself; even knowing how meaningless the interlude may have been for him, she still couldn't deny what it had felt like for her.

"Bulma," Chi-Chi shook her head with gravity, "Do you have any idea what you have done?"

"I know," Bulma hissed as she shook her head and stepped away from her friend. "Trust me I know exactly how big of a mistake having sex with him was. And I made damn sure he knew as well." Bulma wiped a hard tear as she recalled the angering and yet confusing exchange they shared this morning.

"You did?" Chi-Chi relaxed a little; at least the confused woman had determined that much. "So you told him this never should have happened, and you both are going to stay away from each other at least."

"I assume so, I mean, I haven't seen him since this morning," Bulma admitted with a long sigh, before walking over to the kitchen table and taking a heavy seat. "Chi-Chi, how could I have been so foolish? I have never fallen into bed with a man before, at least from what I can remember, why was he any different?"

Chi-Chi sighed as she walked over to her distraught friend and took a seat next to her. "I wish I had an answer for you, but all I can assume is that without your memories your old feelings are coming back to you. I suppose part of those feelings were the lust you held for him, but Bulma you have to understand, it is only lust. You never felt anything more for him in all the years you have lost, so trust me when I tell you that staying away from him is best."

"Never?" Bulma whispered softly, suddenly recalling the dream she had had. 'I never loved him, or was it that he never could love me?' she wondered briefly, before posing a few questions of her own. "So what now? How can I go on living here, acting like nothing has happened?"

"I-I don't know," Chi-Chi sighed honestly, she had no idea the kind of hell that can spin loose from this once Vegeta finds out about his wife's affair. "But try to remember this Bulma, he took advantage of you, he knew damn well where you were in life and that he wasn't a part of it. He should be ashamed of himself and I had Gohan go make certain he told him!"

"Gohan?" Bulma gasped, "You had Gohan go talk to him about what happened between us? Chi-Chi that was--"

"A brilliant idea, I know. I am certain Gohan will pound some sense into him, but in the meantime I need to you promise me Bulma, that you won't talk to anyone about this!"

"What does it matter," Bulma chuckled bitterly, "it seems everyone already knows."

'Let's hope not,' Chi-Chi thought worried. "Not everyone knows, just my family. So, don't say anything around anyone else, especially Trunks and Vegeta."

"Ha, no problem there," Bulma agreed rather bitterly; she didn't expect him to have any interest in seeing her after what happened between them last night.

Chi-Chi just relaxed a little, after hearing her friend's promise. "Good," she nodded before leaning over to give Bulma a quick hug. "I'm going to head home and see how Gohan made out, but if you need absolutely anything, call me, all right?"

After receiving a nod from Bulma, Chi-Chi left the problematic woman and headed home to find out if Gohan had been as successful in neutralizing the other half of the quandary.

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After about an hour, Goku and Vegeta both collapsed onto the gravity room floor, each utterly exhausted. "You… are… getting… weak… Kakarrot," Vegeta barely breathed out.

"You're… not doing… so great… yourself… Vegeta," Goku was equally as breathless as he slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position and glanced over to his opponent. "Now, do you want to tell me what this was all about?"

Vegeta glared at his rival as he stood. How many years had they been enemies? And the man still actually believes they could have a heart to heart. "As I told you, my affairs are none of your business."

"All right," Goku threw his hands up in defeat as he stood. "Just so long as your personal affairs don't include killing anything."

Vegeta's brow shot up as he turned back to face his fellow Saiya-jin. "What the hell kind of statement is that?"

"Um… It… Ah… Was just a joke!" Goku scratched the back of his head in his goofy manner; he had never been any good at lying.

Had Vegeta not come to expect such insanity from the man, he might have been suspicious. "Don't worry Kakarrot, should I feel the need to kill someone, you will be the first on my list," Vegeta offered, before turning to leave the gravity room.

Goku let out a breath as soon as he did. 'That was close,' he thought, before placing two fingers to his head and returning to his family.

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"So, they both admitted to it?" Videl wanted to clarify, after she finished listening to her husband and mother-in-law explain the conversations they had with Bulma and Yamcha.

Chi-Chi and Gohan nodded in affirmation, before suddenly being joined by a rather beaten looking Goku, as he reappeared.

"Oh my Dende, he does know!" She assumed that had been the only explanation for all of her husband's injuries.

Goku quickly placed his hands on his wife's shoulders to calm her. "No, I was just sparring with him. He wouldn't talk to me directly so I had to find out indirectly. I can always tell how enraged he is by the level he fights at, and he definitely wasn't fighting like a man who just found out his wife had cheated on him," Goku finished, completely assured of his induction.

"Well, I suppose that's a relief," Gohan sighed, as he and his parents took a quick breather and sat exhaustedly upon the couch.

"But for how long?" Videl questioned, "I mean what if he finds out?"

"All we can do is hope he doesn't," Chi-Chi shook her head, "Look I've spoken to Bulma and she's agreed to stay the hell away from Yamcha, and according to you," Chi-Chi nodded to her son, "Yamcha's agreed to do the same. So, I think the best thing we can do right know is keep our mouths shut. The last thing we need is a pissed off Saiya-jin prince out for vengeance!" Chi-Chi then lowered her voice, becoming very serious. "Not to mention there is a little boy upstairs who will be devastated to find out what has been going on. He's already lost his mother for six months; he doesn't need any more destruction in his family."

"I suppose you are right," Gohan was reluctant to agree. He felt Vegeta had a right to know what happened; but now, and from one of them, definitely didn't seem the way to go about informing him. "But you know I hate lying."

"Me too," Goku nodded, "but your mother is right. We shouldn't do anything right now, at least not until Bulma's memories return. When they do, I am certain she will tell him, as devastating as it might be, he shouldn't be hearing it from anyone else."

Three heads nodded in acceptance of this scenario. They would keep their knowledge to themselves to protect their friends, at least for now.

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Author's Note: Ow, my head hurts after writing this chapter! How could so many people get their lines of communication so completely crossed!? Oh well, so how long with this misinterpreted secret be kept? Not long comes to mind, but you all will just have to wait to find out. In the next chapter, we get back to B/V and they finally have a calm and collected discussion about what really happened between them the night before, or at least it is as calm and collected a B/V discussion/argument can get! Until next time…