Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sapphire Flame ❯ Closer ( Chapter 5 )

I won't keep you guys any longer..............

 

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of the DBZ characters. They all belong to Akira Toriyama and all those other "names" that are too many to name

 

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Closer

 

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Chichi smiled inwardly as she watched Bulma move through the crowd arm in arm with that fine piece of man that they had just met. She had gotten her glass of water and then walked back to the party feeling uncomfortable and out of place.

 

The huge home and the fancy clothes were things she had never dreamed of having. Now she and Bulma were being given those things for free. It all seemed so weird. Too weird. That was why she was walking slowly at the margin of the crowd, trying not to be noticed, she didn't want to get sucked in.

 

There had been a few men that had approached her, but she had shot them down quickly. The conversations, the people, they were all so superficial. She and Bulma didn't belong in this kind of society.

 

Great. She needed to go to the bathroom now. She was leaning against a marble column, trying to sneak off to the bathroom, and as she turned the bloody heel went sideways and so did she. She braced herself for the impact with the floor, but she never hit it.

 

"Are you okay?" Chichi heard a soft, deep, male voice ask.

 

She opened her eyes and looked up as she found herself in the strong warm arms of a very tall man. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. He was absolutely handsome! So handsome that no words came out of her mouth but sputters.

 

He looked at her curiously and smiled. "Did you hurt yourself?"

 

"N-n-no," she whispered as she stood upright and pushed away from him. "Thank you," she said quickly, then as gracefully as she could, she stumbled towards the bathroom.

 

Kakarot smiled at her retreating form and walked over to Vegeta, who by the way had an aggravated look on his face. "What's wrong? You look angry," he commented. The other man didn't answer, so Kakarot turned to look towards the place Vegeta was trying not to glare at and noticed the beautiful young lady that was walking arm in arm with Duke.

 

"That's Bulma," Vegeta muttered.

 

The tall man looked back at him with wide eyes. "She's a beauty, and she seems to be taken with your brother." Then it dawned on him. "Does that bother you?" he asked slowly.

 

"No," Vegeta snapped.

 

Kakarot smiled to himself and looked around for that pretty little thing that had fallen into his arms. "I just saw a girl, she was very gorgeous. She has long dark hair in curls and she's wearing a blue-green dress," Kakarot said.

 

"That's Bulma's friend, the one that I told her that she could bring with her here. Her name is......." Vegeta tried to remember. "Ah, her name is Chichi."

 

"She literally fell into my arms," Kakarot chuckled. Then he watched as Duke and Bulma walked over to them. He smiled at the young girl who looked very comfortable with Vegeta's brother.

 

"Hello Kakarot, I haven't seen you in weeks. I believe that you have met Bulma already?" Duke asked as he smiled at her.

 

Kakarot shook his head. "No. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to meet her." He turned to Bulma and took her hand in his and kissed it. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Kakarot. We saw each other that day of the fruit stand incident."

 

Bulma laughed softly and nodded. "It's nice to meet you," she said. Kakarot nodded and looked at Vegeta briefly, who now had an uninterested look on his face. "Have we seen each other before? I mean, besides the first time? You look familiar," she said softly.

 

Kakarot shook his head and frowned. "I don't think so. I have never seen you before."

 

"Vegeta?" she asked slowly. He looked at her down his nose. Bulma frowned. "Take a walk with me? I think I need some fresh air."

 

"Why don't you go with Duke?" His voice held a hint of contempt.

 

"Because I want you to go with me, now are you coming or not?" she snapped as her eyes narrowed. She had kept her temper in check after speaking with all those crappy people and it had reached a boiling point. She didn't want to explode on anyone right now.

 

Kakarot and Duke stared at Vegeta and watched as he scowled and grabbed her arm, nearly dragging her out through the kitchen. Once outside Bulma snatched her arm from his hand and turned to glare at him.

 

"What in the hell is your problem? From the moment your brother and father came down to the dinner you have been on a roll. Why are you so angry?" Bulma asked with an angry frown on her face.

 

"I'm not angry," he said tightly. "I just feel irritated because of this stupid party."

 

"Good. For a moment there I thought that you were angry with me," she said softly.

 

His anger lessened at the look on her face. "I am not angry with you. It's just that...... It's so damn annoying to see every single woman drool when they encounter my brother. You and your friend weren't the exceptions."

 

Bulma blushed at his words. "If I tried to explain to you the reasons for us doing that, you wouldn't understand. So I wont. But why does it bother you so much that Chichi and I look at him? I mean, I have seen men staring at women, and no one makes a big deal about it."

 

Vegeta just shrugged, not in the mood to continue the present conversation. "Are you enjoying the party?" She shook her head. "Why not?" he asked with a frown.

 

"Because I don't belong with all these people, or Chichi. Everyone is so fake and cynical, I think I have had my fill of everyone in there."

 

They looked up when Sacoda walked out towards them. "Tamara is here and she's bugging that she wants to see you," she told Vegeta with a scowl on her pretty face.

 

Bulma sighed. "Apparently I'm not done with cynical people. And she's the worse of them all. If it weren't for the fact that I'm actually hungry, I would go upstairs and lock myself in the room."

 

Vegeta looked at his watch. "We still have ten minutes before the dinner actually starts. Lets take a walk, and Sacoda, just ignore Tamara and don't tell her where I am. Got it?"

 

"Sure, but you know that mother is on her side and will probably tell her that you left with Bulma," Sacoda said.

 

"Let her do what she wants. I'm a grown man," Vegeta said as he grabbed Bulma's hand and walked with her towards the stables.

 

"Where are we going?" Bulma asked.

 

"To take a ride," Vegeta said with a smirk.

 

Bulma glared at him. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm wearing a dress!" she nearly yelled.

 

"So you don't want to ride with me?" he asked as he stopped.

 

"If I ruin my dress then I'll embarrass you and your family. That is the last thing I want to do," she said softly.

 

He actually smiled. "Then we'll take care so that we wont ruin your dress, stop stalling, we have to be back quickly." They ran to the stables and he had Tien saddle up Monarch.

 

Vegeta helped her up and made her sit sideways, there was no way that she would sit properly with a dress on. Then he got on behind her and pulled the reigns of the horse and they took off.

 

Bulma clung to his waist and watched as they sped off towards the endless land that surrounded his property. The sun had almost completely set and the sky was that really lovely color that was between blue, purple, and black.

 

"I needed a break from all that, too," Vegeta commented as he slowed the pace of the horse to a slow trot. "I am a more solitary person. Sacoda and Duke like to be surrounded by friends, but I rather keep myself peaceful and without many people. That is why I have such a big home out here and with almost no one here with me."

 

"I'm the opposite of you. I guess that because I didn't have my real parents with me, and the foster parents I had didn't care much for me, I like to spend my time with many friends, surrounded by them and knowing that they care for me."

 

Vegeta sighed. "I know how you feel. My parents weren't there for me either. My mother was and still is too caught up in her friends and my father in his companies. They dumped me off in a private school to keep me out of their ways, well Duke and I. Sacoda is daddy's girl so she had more attention. Now I could really care less for my father's orders. I changed from boy to man without his guidance, so there is nothing that he can command me to do."

 

"It's horrible to feel unloved, isn't it?" Bulma asked as she pulled back and looked at him.

 

"I use to think the same way as you when I was your age. But when I turned eighteen and my father helped me with my business, I didn't care anymore. I didn't need them then, and I don't need them now," Vegeta said with a small shrug.

 

Bulma lay her head on his chest and sighed. "You're not angry because they weren't in your life?"

 

Vegeta shook his head. "I was. Now it doesn't matter." After a while he started to feel uncomfortable for letting her know so much about himself. He had never said those things to anyone, not even Kakarot or his own siblings. "It's time to return."

 

Bulma reluctantly nodded. She didn't want to go to that stupid dinner, but Chichi was there, and Vegeta had been so nice to her that she felt that she at least owed him a bit by staying at the dinner.

 

They walked into the stables and Tien grinned at her and tipped down his hat. When Vegeta jumped off his horse and wasn't looking at her, she smiled back at Tien and then stopped when Vegeta helped her down. She picked up her dress and took Vegeta's arm when he offered it and they walked to the mansion. When they were arriving, she felt Vegeta's arm tense in hers and that was when an angry voice stopped them in their tracks.

 

"Vegeta, how dare you leave in the middle of our party, leaving our guests and your girlfriend," she pointed at Tamara, "To deliberately go off with your charity case?" Lana asked as she stepped out, and right behind her, Tamara.

 

"Charity case?" Bulma nearly screeched. "Don't be disrespecting me lady!"

 

Tamara scoffed and looked her up and down. "No matter how they dress you, you will always be a filthy street urchin that has no manners and no class............ Even though that dress is admirable. Versace?" she asked as she motioned a hand to Bulma's attire.

 

"Prada," Bulma said saucily, giving Tamara a snooty smile.

 

"Trollop," Tamara sneered.

 

Bulma lunged herself at the other woman, but Vegeta kept a tight hold on her arm and didn't let her go. Instead he pushed her behind him and gave her a look that made her stand still. She knew what trollop was. In fact, she knew that word in different variations.

 

"Mother, I do what I want and I answer to no one. You should know that by now. Tamara is NOT my girlfriend. But you and my father persist on dumping her off on me, but listen both of you......."

 

"Vegeta!" Lana looked at him incredulously. "How dare you?"

 

"Listen both of you. I am not going to marry Tamara, I don't want to see you again, and we have never been anything other than mild acquaintances so I don't owe you a thing," Vegeta snapped. "Don't pester me anymore, and don't you dare take this out on her," he said as he motioned to Bulma and then grabbed her hand.

 

As they walked past the two women, Bulma stuck out her tongue childishly at Tamara and then turned back with a grin. When they stepped into the dinning room, almost everyone had sat down, even Chichi, who was next to Sacoda. The two seats on the other side of Sacoda were empty for Bulma and Vegeta. They were both going to give her a few pointers on how to use the silverware without anyone noticing. Thankfully for Chichi and Bulma, the rest of the night went on without a flaw. Then everyone moved out to the sitting room while the men had brandy and cigars.

 

Bulma pulled Vegeta aside. "Do you think I can go to my room now? I really don't want to stay her anymore. If Tamara keeps looking at me that way I am going to beat the crap out of her in front of everyone," she muttered into his ear.

 

Vegeta smirked at her words and watched awe as her eyes darkened again in anger. "We can't have that, can we?" he asked slowly. "Fine. I assume your friend is going with you?"

 

"Yes," Bulma replied. "I can't leave her here with all these leeches. And most of them are probably married."

 

"Tell her that Kakarot likes her. I've been watching him and he keeps sneaking off glances at her," Vegeta said with a light chuckle.

 

Bulma was staring. He was so handsome and sexy, and that laugh that he had, it made her weak in the knees to just hear it. Gosh, why couldn't she just ignore all the weird things she was feeling for him? She smiled at Vegeta and then walked off with Chichi. Not missing the way his eyes followed her the whole way.

 

"These heels are killing me," Chichi cried as she slumped onto Bulma's bed as soon as they entered her room. Then she began to untie the straps of her shoes. "At the beginning of the party I literally fell into this guy's arms because of these stupid heels."

 

"Was he cute?" Bulma asked as she took off her heels, too.

 

"Yeah, and he happens to be that guy that hangs around with Vegeta."

 

"Kakarot? The tall one with spiky hair and a nice smile?" Bulma asked as she walked into the closet to take off her dress.

 

"Yeah, I think that's him. He was very nice to me," Chichi said with a smile that Bulma didn't see.

 

Bulma walked back out dressed in a loose pair of pants and a tank-top. "I couldn't believe how good Vegeta's brother looks."

 

"But did you see the look on Vegeta's face? He was trying to hide it, but he was jealous. At least jealous of the way you were lookin' at his brother," Chichi said as she lay back on the bed and relaxed.

 

"Why would he be jealous? There's nothing going on between us because I'm 'too young.' So I might as well get on with my life. Once I become educated and I get a job, I'll get myself a man," Bulma said with a laugh.

 

"You know," Chichi started, "We aren't going to get ourselves rich guys."

 

"Why not?" Bulma asked as she began to brush her hair.

 

"Because we have lived on the street, and because we're poor and class-less," Chichi said it in an 'it's-so-obvious' tone.

 

"Duke and Vegeta already know that, so if I can get with one of them, then it'll be alright. Kakarot is Vegeta's right hand man, so he's another candidate. We'll never have money problems again," Bulma said with a shrug.

 

"And I bet you're rooting for Vegeta," Chichi said with a smirk.

 

"I wouldn't mind," Bulma said softly. 'Besides, he gave me my first kiss,' she thought with a small smile. "But he made it clear that nothing would happen between us."

 

"And why would you think that you had a fraction of a chance with Vegeta?" A new, sarcastic voice said from the door.

 

Both girls looked over and Bulma scowled. "What the hell are you doin' in my room?"

 

"Yeah, don't you know how to knock rich girl?" Chichi snapped as she sat up and glared at her.

 

Tamara sniffed at them both and pointed a finger at Bulma. "I want you to stay the hell away from Vegeta. He's mine and no one else's, especially not a poor street girl like you. Why don't you just leave?"

 

"Bitch please," Bulma said darkly, "Vegeta told you in your face that he wanted nothing to do with you. Why the hell are you after a man that don't want you? Do you like begging?"

 

"She must," Chichi commented.

 

"You stay the hell out of this." Tamara threatened Chichi with a fist.

 

"Don't threaten me lil' ho," Chichi growled as she stood and stalked towards the woman.

 

"Chi, don't," Bulma said.

 

"Why not? Are you afraid I might kick her ass?" Tamara asked evilly.

 

"Not unless you plan on using your fake-ass nails to stab her. I have seen Chichi beat the shit out of five people at the same time. She's the most vicious fighter I know, and personally I doubt that you will stand a chance against her," Bulma said matter-of-factly.

 

"Five people, that's absurd," Tamara laughed.

 

Bulma scoffed and looked Tamara in the eyes. "Believe me, it's not."

 

"Care to prove it?" Chichi asked as she grabbed a rubber-band from the vanity and tied her hair back.

 

"Get out of here," Bulma said tiredly. "I don't want blood spilled all over the nice carpet, and I don't think it will be Chichi's. Why don't you go back to Vegeta and keep begging him to see you differently?"

 

"Do you really think that you are the one that stands a chance with him?" Tamara asked softly, walking over to stand in front of Bulma. "Vegeta doesn't want a girl, he wants a woman, and I know for a fact that he desires me. Any man with eyes would," she said with a smirk.

 

"Why the hell are you telling me all this? I don't give a shit. Get the hell out of my room or I'll drag you out," Bulma snapped.

 

"I know that all you want is Duke and Vegeta's money, I overheard you and your friend talking about it just now. Let us see what Vegeta has to say about it."

 

"He wont believe you because I haven't asked anything of him. Vegeta is the one that has given me all this without anything in return. It's a one up on you because I'm living with him." Bulma smirked. "Besides, I really don't want his money, it was just girl talk with Chichi. But I bet that is what you're looking for."

 

Tamara ran a hand through the long and manageable curls of her real brunette hair. "I don't need money. I was born to a millionaire family," she said with a superior smile.

 

"No wonder you're such a fuckin' vain little shit," Bulma laughed.

 

Tamara reared her hand back and slapped her. Bulma gasped and felt Chichi grab her arm to hold her back from kicking the other woman's ass.

 

"You won't be living with Vegeta for very long, I am going to take care of that. When I get through with you, you dirty little bitch-......." Tamara couldn't go on because Bulma's fist connected with her jaw and Chichi let her, watching with a grin as Tamara fell flat on her butt with the impact.

 

"No one, but no one, calls me a bitch. Keep running your mouth rich girl, and I swear that I will knock out your teeth," Bulma growled softly. "Since you have so much money, I'm sure that you can afford a set of dentures with whiter teeth. Now get out of my room."

 

Tamara stumbled to her feet and went for the door. "I swear that you are going to pay for this. You just wait!" she cried as she held her chin and ran out.

 

"She's gonna snitch on you, you know," Chichi said dryly.

 

"I know," Bulma said with a shrug, rubbing the skin of her cheek. "The little ho left a sting. But it doesn't matter because Vegeta told her in her face that he didn't want to see her again. So I'll bet you your hair that he'll be on my side."

 

"I am so not betting my hair," Chichi laughed as she pulled on a curl of her dark hair.

 

Bulma grinned. "As soon as she returns, run down and get Vegeta for me, will you?"

 

"Sure, I'll even throw in a few of the details of when she was here."

 

Bulma looked at her face in the mirror. Tamara's hand was still imprinted there, so if she wanted trouble, then she would get it. And it came five minutes later.

 

"How dare you lay a hand on Tamara the way you did? Who do you think you are?" Lana yelled at her as soon as she stepped into her room. Chichi ran out and tried to make it fast, she didn't want to leave Bulma alone with the she-wolves for too long.

 

"First off, I punched her out because she was the one that laid hands on me first, see?" she asked as she pointed to her cheek.

 

"Don't believe her Lana, she probably used blush to do that," Tamara whined as she held her jaw.

 

"I'm not a make-up artist, moron," Bulma snapped. "Second of all, I know that I'm a nobody here, but that doesn't give her the right to come to this room uninvited to insult me and to hit me."

 

"You have so much to learn. In this home, and family, we don't solve things with violence," Lana said seriously.

 

"Oh, so what? You just forget about everything? About arguments, your children? You just ignore anything other than yourself?" Bulma asked scathingly.

 

Lana looked at her darkly. "What?" she spat.

 

They were interrupted by Chichi and Vegeta. He glared at everyone in the room, even Bulma. "What is going on here?"

 

"Your guest," Lana made sure to say it with scorn, "Attacked Tamara."

 

"Attacked?" Bulma asked incredulously. "Why would I attack her here in my room? She was the one that came here lookin' for trouble. She called me names and then slapped me when I called her one."

 

"One? You called me a medley of names!" Tamara yelled.

 

"I was a witness, so you can ask me whatever you want," Chichi said in a serious tone.

 

"No way, you will probably twist the story in order to help her," Tamara said as she nodded towards Bulma and clung to Lana's arm.

 

Vegeta settled that dark gaze on Tamara. "What were you doing up here in Bulma's room while the party was still going on?"

 

"I was using the rest room and....... I happened to pass by and hear that...... they were talking about...... ensnaring you for your money." Tamara had trouble thinking up her lie.

 

Bulma looked at Vegeta and snorted softly, he didn't look convinced. "She came in here and told me to stay away from you. That she would find a way to get you to throw me out. I called her a vain shit, she slapped me, she called me a dirty little bitch, I socked her. Then she left running to tattle-tale ," Bulma said as she nodded towards Lana.

 

"Tamara?" Vegeta asked in a soft threatening tone.

 

The woman looked at him with wide eyes. "I-.... well........."

 

"That is enough. Stop badgering her Vegeta!" Lana yelled at him.

 

"If she doesn't want me to badger her, then stay the hell away from Bulma. That punch was well deserved." Then Vegeta turned to Bulma. "As well as that slap. You are both acting like children and I want it to stop!"

 

"I'll do anything to never see that person again," Bulma said as she sneered at Tamara.

 

"Why wont you believe that she was the one that attacked me?" Tamara screeched. Then she looked at Vegeta. "You like her don't you? That is the only explanation! But your parents will never accept her! No one in this society will ever look at her as a person with class! She will always be a filthy street rat!" Tamara yelled.

 

"Better a dirty street rat than a desperate rich girl," Bulma spat before Tamara ran from the room. Bulma didn't show it, but those words hit her to the core and she knew now more than ever that nothing would come of her attraction to Vegeta. She watched as Lana threatened Vegeta and then she too walked out of her room.

 

Chichi sighed and shook her head. "B, we'll talk tomorrow," she said as she grabbed her heels and then walked out of the room towards her own.

 

"Don't worry about me, you can go back to the party," Bulma said as she walked towards her bed.

 

"I know that you're angry about what just happened. I don't blame you and I apologize on behalf of my mother. Don't take it personal. My mother has always liked Tamara for me, but I haven't. But she wont give up."

 

"I pity you," Bulma said with a shrug.

 

He ignored her comment. "My mother and my siblings will be leaving this weekend," Vegeta said as he walked after her.

 

"I'm going to miss your sister, she has been a real friend to me," Bulma said sadly.

 

"Whenever I have time I will take you over to my parents home in the city so that you and your friend can spend time with her." He said, his heart skipping a beat as he watched her smile. "You did good tonight. You were fitting in perfectly with everyone."

 

Bulma smiled, but shook her head. "I don't belong here, no matter how I fit in when I behave good. It would be like living in a golden cage," she said as she ran her fingers through her long hair.

 

He looked at her curiously. "It is true then, that money doesn't matter to you. You would live your whole life poor before you'd give up being yourself and being free."

 

Bulma nodded. "It feels as if you crawled into my mind and pulled out those thoughts with you," she grinned.

 

"We have many things in common," he whispered. Then he shook his head, he didn't like the way his thoughts were going when it came to Bulma and the way she smiled. "Get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow," he said as he walked out of the room.

 

She quietly watched him leave. Something was happening to him that made him feel uncomfortable every time they were together alone. Things had changed between them after that kiss they had shared, and the way he had looked at her tonight gave her something to think about. There was something definitely going on, and she couldn't wait to find out exactly what it was.

 

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Two Months Later...........

 

In that space of time, Bulma had become a pro when it came to horse-riding. Her birthday was coming up, and Vegeta was being sneaky about something. From the moment that his family had left the estate, he had made it a habit to have dinner with her and Chichi. He only missed dinner whenever he was excessively busy with work.

 

They had become closer in the way of friends, but he was always careful to not let her know too much about himself. Her thoughts were off in wonderland but she hadn't shut off the fact that she was on a horse that was guiding her around the large pen.

 

Bulma blinked and looked around, feeling as if she were being watched. She then noticed that Vegeta was leaning against the pen's door watching her. She smiled to herself and hit the horse once, taking off at a fast speed towards Vegeta. She came to stop in front of him and jumped off.

 

"What are you doing here so early?" Bulma asked as she pushed the long tail of her hair back. "You're usually at work right now."

 

Vegeta smirked. "I remembered that you told me that your birthday was next week, and I have something for you." She gave him a questioning look. "A present."

 

"What?" Bulma asked with wide eyes. "I have never gotten a present in my life!"

 

"Come with me," he said as he grabbed her hand and helped her climb over the wooden fence. She jumped down and he pulled her along to that stables. They entered and walked over to the very last shed. He stopped and motioned a hand at the room.

 

Bulma turned and gasped, her eyes growing even wider. "Oh my gosh! This is my present?" she whispered. He nodded. It was a big beautiful horse the color of the darkest ebony. The long mane was such a deep black, it almost had blue highlights in it.

 

"I bought him for you because I have seen the way you are attracted to horses. From the moment you arrived to this estate I know how much you have come to appreciate these animals. So for your birthday I bought you one of your own."

 

"I can't believe it. This is so wonderful!" Bulma cried as she reached up and touched the horse's head. Then she turned to Vegeta and did the first thing that crossed her mind. She jumped into his arms and kissed him.

 

Vegeta just froze and stood there, then his body reacted without permission and he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. He savored her with so much relish that it scared him, and he was the type that didn't scare easy.

 

Bulma was jumping up and down inwardly when she felt him react to her, taking control of the kiss. She had wanted to taste his lips again for such a long time now, but she didn't want to take advantage, so she pushed gently away and took a step back.

 

She touched her lips with the tips of her fingers and smiled shyly. She looked so beautiful and nothing like the child he had seen when she had arrived almost three months ago. God help him, he grabbed her around the waist and kissed her again.

 

 

 

 

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Did you guys like? I'm very sorry that I took this long to update my work but my job keeps me from updating very often. I hope these three chapters have made up for it and I will see you all soon!