Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Too Close for Comfort ❯ A Friendly Visit ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. Darn.

A/N: Hello again! I've been typing up a bunch of chapters lately, this is starting to be a fun summer project that I wish I would have started earlier! Sorry for all of the weird updates, I tend to revise previous chapters when idle.

11/26/11 ? Edited for corniness and continuity. I thought this confrontation should be more believable and have less over-the-top stuff, and overall, this is one of my problem chapters that has needed fixing. I feel like there were probably people who stopped reading right here because it was too OOC and stupid, so I decided that needed some fixing.

Enjoy!







Too Close For Comfort





Chapter Two : A Friendly Visit



Bulma grumbled to herself as she strapped herself into her convertible, wearing a pair of frayed jean shorts and a red button down bandanna blouse with her hair in freshly-curled pig-tails. It was yet another day of fantastic weather, and even while taking a deep breath of cool air in an attempt to refresh her senses, she couldn't help but feel in a sour mood.

Even though deep down she was looking forward to it, the circumstances made the visit much less enjoyable. She had received a call from the leasing agent just hours before, yet her exhilaration of finally getting out of Chichi's hair was short lived once she realized her mistake. Her original plan had been to return home in the middle of the night, avoiding a confrontation with her parents and anyone else she might run into, however by waiting for the call from the leasing agent she had unknowingly backed herself into a corner where she had little to no time left to sneak around since she was moving the very next day. She couldn't move alone, and she couldn't recruit any potential moving assistants from the compound in the dead of night, unless she and Chichi were to do it themselves, and that was an undesirable concept. gWell, you're not the kind of girl who sneaks around, anyway,h Chichi had said, and Bulma thought that sounded about right.

She had left Chichi's house in a huff, wearing whatever she wanted to throw on (Chichi had been puzzled by her more western-style attire but Bulma assured her that it was just for fun) and there she was, driving the familiar streets to her old home, Capsule Corp. Reasoning to herself, she figured it was more logical to get it over with in the middle of the day when everyone was hopefully occupied rather than disengaging the security system to grab her stuff with the possibility of waking everyone up.  

At first she kept her composure, calmly listening to the radio, singing along with songs she knew and humming to the ones she didn't. As she neared Capsule Corp by the mile, regret after regret filled her mind to the brim, and she began wishing in that moment, more than ever, that she hadn't slacked off and had gone earlier in the dead of night. The possibility of running into him was too high during the day. Her nerves jolted as an all-too-vivid memory of the very night she left took her senses hostage as it replayed in her mind.



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They both sat facing one another in her lavish dining room having a romantic dinner. A lace tablecloth scattered with feathery light rose petals graced the table, with crystal candlesticks that held bright red candles, dripping down wax and glowing with sensuous light. At one end of the table, Bulma, wearing a little black dress, was happily gazing down at her perfectly cooked steak. She had prepared this night for them, a night of romance on which they would, ideally, enjoy the company of one another and have a relaxing evening. Even more ideally, they'd eat, watch a movie, and make love all night long. She loved playing it up for Yaumcha, and even though it was nothing more than a dressed-up version of an old fashioned dinner date, he seemed to love it too.

"Babe?" He said.

She looked up and smiled. He had been quiet for awhile, focusing on his meal, but she could tell by his body language that a thought had struck him, for he had set down his fork and knife and dabbed his mouth with his napkin in a polite gesture.

He cleared his throat. "So you've been doing some more work for your dad lately?"

She took another bite of her dinner and nodded. She knew he was probably working up to something as she had been assisting her father for years and it was not big news. "Yeah, but not recently. I don't want to make it a full-time thing, as I do have my own inventions and stuff that I want to get finished up also." She smiled again, but faltered when he did not smile back. "Why?"

"Well, I was wondering if you were actually working or not," He said offhandedly, but Bulma was not taking it as lightly as her boyfriend apparently was. Why was he so curious all of the sudden? It wasn't uncommon for Yaumcha to ask her questions about work, but something about his tone made her anxious.

"Sometimes I am and sometimes I'm not, as usual. Why does it matter? What do you mean by 'working' anyway?"

Yaumcha shook his head. "I'm sorry, it came out wrong. I didn't mean it like that, I'm not trying to meddle. I'm just worried."

Bulma was confused. "Worried? About what?h She paused for a moment but he didn't reply. gI don't see where you're going with this. Just say it if you're going to say it, don't just mention it and then pretend like you don't want to talk about it. That's silly."  

It took a minute for Yaumcha to reply, and his voice was unusually thick with tension. "I thought your dad just might need some help or something," He said, shrugging as if he wasn't as worked up as he was. Bulma raised an eyebrow. He was trying to lead her to her own conclusion, but not only was she not in the mood to follow, she also wasn't sure what he was talking about. Could he be asking about one of their inventions? She had no clue. She got the feeling he was meddling with something that wasn't any of his concern, which was the norm for Yaumcha, who could be painfully curious sometimes.

"Well, help with what?" She asked sharply, taking the bait. Yaumcha paused for a moment that was too long for Bulma, and she was growing even more irritated. She felt like the buildup was not necessary, and that if something was wrong, he should tell her. Why is he suddenly caring so much about me having a job? Is that what this is about? She really had no idea.

"Um..." He paused again and averted his gaze. Bulma's penetrating sea-blue eyes were fixed directly on him, and her gaze was so intense that he instantly became a nervous wreck under her scrutiny, which was nothing new.

"Uh, well... So I was reading the newspaper, right? And, I read in the paper that Capsule Corp wasn't doing so well and I thought you would want to... Umm, help," He managed to say, visibly relieved that he finally got the sentence out in the open.

If Bulma had been confused before, now she was completely dumbfounded. She didn't pay much attention to her father's stocks aside from reading the occasional newspaper article, but as a whole, the idea that her family wasn't doing well financially had never occurred to her. Weren't they always doing well? She didn't help her father on the business end of things very much yet, she just occasionally lent her genius to her father, helping him fix things and trying to make things work. Maybe in the future when she was closer to inheriting the company she would worry about it, but it wasn't an issue she thought about much. As far as she knew, they were doing very well, as always.

Yaumcha's sudden interest in her financial affairs was even more puzzling. Why was he making such a big deal out of it? It didn't have an effect on him either way, did it?

She smiled and waved it off in an attempt to lighten the mood and change the subject, as she could feel the situation could turn bad at any moment, judging by the way Yaumcha was looking at her. "It's probably nothing, hun. If it was that bad, which I truly doubt it is, my dad would definitely ask me for help, you know he would, and you know I would do anything he needed me to, even if it didn't have to do with me working in the lab with him like I normally do. He hasn't said a word that suggested that we're, like, going under or anything, if you know what I mean." She joked lightly, looking back down at her plate, but she noticed Yaumcha visibly stiffen at the other end of the table.

At that moment, she tilted her head at him inquisitively. Due to the shadow the candlelight created on his face, she couldn't really see his eyes or tell what he was thinking, but the glow of the light made him appear a little scary, as if he was getting legitimately angry with her. What is up with him? She tried to hide her confusion but she couldn't help but be a little suspicious.

"Yaumcha." She leaned back in her chair. "What makes you suddenly so interested in my father's business affairs?" Taking a sip of her wine, she watched Yaumcha stumble over his words for a moment as he often did when he became flustered.

"Well, I.... was thinking... you know..." He quickly composed himself. "If Capsule Corp isn't doing well, maybe..." Her confusion suddenly evaporated and a look of realization passed over her features. Yaumcha immediately began stuttering again. "Just...just forget about it. Doesn't matter. Forget I said anything." He leaned back dismissively and looked away.

She pursed her lips in anger. "You're just worried about yourself, aren't you? What are you even talking about? This isn't like you. " Bulma asked quietly, her eyes smoldering like a fire about to start.

Yaumcha looked like a deer caught in the headlights, which was an obvious sign of guilt to Bulma. She sighed and shook her head.

"Why do you have to do this?" She asked, exasperated. "You always mooch off of me for stuff, and you know I don't mind, but this line of questioning is really going too far. You know we have a lot of money, babe, and the fact that you're even worried about this is really selfish. Are you expecting me to take care of you for the rest of your life?"

Yaumcha frowned and sat up straight in his seat. "I don't mooch off of you, and you know it! I thought you wanted me here! I have a job, I don't need you to support me."

Bulma had reached a new level of annoyance. Whatever Yamcha is trying to pull tonight, I am so not in the mood. "I do want you here, but if you're going to just worry about yourself then there's no point in you even staying here with me." She stated simply.

Yaumcha looked incredulous, and she quickly corrected herself.

"I don't mean forever. I mean, right now. Just get out, I'm pissed off." She said forcefully. "I don't want to say shit I don't mean, because you know that happens when I'm mad." She rubbed her forehead with irritation.

"Look, babe, it's not..." He stopped abruptly and stood up from his chair. "Wait, why should I leave? YOU leave." He pointed at her and she looked at him in disgust.

"Hey, don't point at me, you know I hate that! What the hell are you talking about!?" She yelled, standing quickly and wincing as her chair screeched backward on the wood floor. "I told you to go, quit being a jerk. This is my house, get the fuck out!" He thinks he can point at me and order me around? I'm so not playing that game tonight, screw that. Yaumcha looked at her as if not registering what she had said, and she stared right back. He remained silent, and then broke into an odd smile, as if he was humoring her little tirade and not taking her seriously, at all.

"Your house? This isn't your house and you know it." He said with an odd tone that she hadn't heard before.

Bulma could not believe her ears. She put her hands on her hips. "Uh, excuse me? I live here, asshole!"

"Shut up!" He yelled, and Bulma immediately obeyed in response to the unfamiliar tone from her boyfriend, who only seemed to raise his voice when he was really serious. Was she mad enough to yell back? No, too confused... She stood still with her mouth still slightly open, listening.

He continued. "This is your parent's house. You haven't done one day of real work in your whole damn life, have you? I mean real work that's not for mommy and daddy." Bulma grit her teeth hard. She silently fumed, but said nothing. She felt as if she were constantly stifling a yell, keeping it bottled up inside.

Yamcha threw his arms up as if exasperated. "I'm sick of this self-entitled bullshit! If anyone has been mooching, it's been you!" He slammed the table with his palm, the slam making her jump in shock. His voice escalated louder and louder. "I've been working my ass off out there in the real world and it's not a picnic, unlike what your parents might have you thinking with the way they coddle you! Have some independence! You couldn't last a minute out there providing for yourself, so excuse me if I'm worried about my girlfriend's well-being! At least I earn my keep, nowadays you don't do shit! Really, Bulma, if anyone should be getting the fuck out, it's you!"

Color rose to Bulma's cheeks. She was quite angry, but also a little embarrassed. She always left it up to her boyfriend to tell her the truth about everything, no matter what. Had he always thought that she was just a spoiled brat? What about the fact that she was a absolute genius and completely gorgeous, did that mean nothing? It's not like she was some slacker, was she? Yaumcha just having these thoughts was one thing, but to actually say them to her face, and in such a way it made her feel like nothing?

A moment of silence passed as Yaumcha and Bulma remained standing at opposite ends of the ornately decorated table, the setting of what was once a romantic dinner. Bulma was completely still, soaking everything in, thinking. She was amazed that his words were having such a powerful effect on her. He really meant it, he wasn't just trying to make her mad. The look in his eye, the strength in his voice, the way his fists were clenched... Every word was from his heart, and it was a very harsh awakening for Bulma, who could feel the shock to her very core. Something about what he had said struck a chord deep inside her. Every word, all of it, slowly seeped into her mind against her will. What it all meant, coming from anyone, yet, coming from the one she loved so much...

She accidentally allowed a tear to slide down her cheek before she hastily wiped it with the back of her hand,  hiding her face in private shame and ran up the back stairs. She never planned to have let him have the satisfaction of knowing that he had made her cry, yet she foolishly let his words get to her.

Deep down inside, she had hoped that he would come after her, that he would hold her, and tell her that it was all right, that he didn't really mean it the way he said it, he just got out of hand and got angry, but no footsteps followed her up the stairs, except the empty echo of her own, reminding her that neither of her parents were even home to hear the venomous things her boyfriend has just said. Yet were they really poison? How much truth did his words hold? Perhaps she was letting those thoughts effect her more than necessary, but she couldn't help herself. She felt completely isolated when all she wanted was someone to hold her and assure her that she was none of the things that Yaumcha had just accused her of being. She rushed into her room and stuffed a pile of clothes into an old duffel bag along with her purse and her toothbrush.

She had to get out before she could realize how empty and baseless his words had been, and allow herself to forgive them as a result. She had seen truth in his words; it was time for her to finally go. She had never really considered it before, but now it seemed so easy. Break away from responsibility, from everything, make her own way. What he had said, even if he had just said it to hurt her feelings and maybe not even because he actually thought it, hit her hard.

She shook her head in disbelief and hurt, another wave of tears full of emotion overpowering her will. Who was she to defend him, if he couldn't even follow her to defend himself? She could  feel how much he meant it when she was looking into his eyes as he spoke.

Exiting the room, she took one last look, but right as she was beginning to be convinced to stay just by looking back at her room in sorrow, she turned away and headed to her parent's room. She wrote a short note to her mother and father and left it on their bed in case they would be wondering where she was when they arrived back from their vacation, but she knew they might not even realize she was gone. For now, they would remain blissfully unaware, far away on yet another vacation, not even knowing for possibly days after they came home. That was okay with her.

She rushed down the back stairs, avoiding glancing in the dining room just in case Yamcha was sitting in there waiting for her, and into the garage, throwing her bag in the trunk and buckling herself into her car. As she drove to nowhere, her steering wheel became wet and slippery from wiping the tears off of her face. As much as she wanted them to stop, she couldn't. She cried for herself, cried because she couldn't stop crying, and wallowed in the self-pity that she loathed so much to feel. After an hour of driving around aimlessly and calming down, she gathered her senses and chose her destination.

She went to the only place she could go, because she didn't just need a warm bed and a working television, she needed comfort. When she arrived, even though she worked hard to suppress them, the tears poured out again, and Chichi held her as she bawled like a baby, petting her hair and whispering softly.

"You don't have to prove anything, you don't. It's okay. It's all right..." Chichi had whispered into her ear, and regardless of her words being true or not, Bulma was comforted by her presence. Relieved, she allowed herself to feel liberated, to allow emotions bloom inside her that didn't feel the same as  when she had felt them before while packing her things in her room... Freedom, responsibility, and fear.



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Bulma didn't see anyone outside Capsule Corp and deemed it safe enough to venture inside. Hesitantly pulling the key out of the ignition, she stepped out of the car, feeling comforted by the familiar crackle of the gravel in the driveway underneath her cowgirl boots. Judging by the time of day, she thought she would be the least likely to run into anyone if she went in through the side porch door, so she headed around the large house.

Looking around at the newly tended garden and smelling the freshly cut grass made her appreciate what she had always taken for granted before, the beauty of her own home. She spotted the far-away buildings on the compound that she knew her father must be working inside at that very moment, and missed him more than ever now that she knew he was so close.

Bulma crept through the grass and finally reached the side door, and she unlocked it quickly. Pulling it open, she almost fell over in shock.

"What!?" Was all she managed to say before she was suddenly smothered by someone, but as Bulma had been caught totally by surprise, she had no idea who it was until she heard the voice.

"Oh, Bulma dear! I missed you so much!" Her mother squealed, squeezing her so tightly that it was difficult to breathe. Bulma could tell that her mother had missed her very dearly, for usually the intensity of her hugs were directly proportional to how happy she was to see her. Bulma squeezed her mother back with  matching enthusiasm. She had been separated from her parents for longer periods of time, but this had felt like so much longer.

"I missed you too, Mom." She said weakly, her tone of voice diminished and cracking due to the fact that her rib cage was being crushed. Her mother released her and quickly rushed her inside. Since her mother had come out of practically nowhere and she hadn't expected for anyone to be in that part of the house, she was feeling particularly wary of her surroundings. Who else was hiding around, waiting to pop out? Likely no one, but she felt a little on edge not knowing the current situation of her own home. Or what used to be her home, she supposed.

"Is he here?" She asked, cutting into her mother's chatter that she wasn't paying any particular attention to.

"Who? Yaumcha? Oh, no. He hasn't been here for a week, or so." Her mother said, sugary sweet. "I didn't know you'd be coming back home today, otherwise I would have made you some cookies!"

Bulma shook her head as her mother led the way to the kitchen, her blond hair bouncing with her step. They chatted about things going on at home and Capsule Corp, but her mother had avoided asking her about leaving until the current subject grew bland, which happened quickly as not much had changed in the two weeks of Bulma's absence.

"So you've been staying at Chichi's? Having fun?" Her mother asked with more enthusiasm than necessary for the topic, as if it were just one big slumber party holding up Bulma at her friend's house. Bulma watched as her mother stirred her tea with a practiced hand and thought about what to say.

To her surprise, Yaumcha hadn't talked to her parents at all about their argument and had managed to keep his mouth shut for once. Well, rather than not talk about it at all, he had lied about the situation, or pretended it had never happened. Two days after she had left he had called her and tried to apologize, and at first she was eager to hear his defense, but when it didn't satisfy her she wasted no time in hanging up on him. After that call, she ignored his calls and eventually all calls as a result. He seemed confident that it wasn't over and that they would eventually get back together, otherwise he wouldn't still be living in her house. Or, wait, her parent's house... Damn it, she just couldn't get used to that.

She sighed softly. She didn't even want to start thinking about what to say about Yaumcha quite yet.

Bulma felt a familiar pang of regret strike her as she remembered what exactly she had told her parents she was doing. As the note she had written for her parents the night she left did not satisfy her conscience, she had called them the next day telling them that she felt like staying at Chichi's for awhile. They asked no questions, and Bulma was once again relieved that her parents saw her as her own person, free to make her own decisions, but she knew that while they respected her choices, they wouldn't take the whole 'moving out' thing too lightly. Everything she had told them was completely true, but there was no question that she had omitted several necessary facts.

She had felt that it would be best to tell them exactly what she was doing once she was more settled in, if the circumstances stayed favorable. She had everything planned out now and she hoped that everything would work, but if it didn't, she would make it work, no matter what! Bulma was definitely looking forward to the interview coming up, as a new job, a real job, was her first step to true independence.

"Yeah, fun." She smiled serenely at her mother and nodded, smiling to herself and sipping her tea. "Lots of fun..."




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A/N: Did you like it? Let me know! Please review!

Thanks for reading.
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