Chapter 4

A/N: Hey guys! Here's chapter 4 of this fict. Sorry for taking so long. Those of you that still go to school know what I mean: tests, homework, projects …
Anyway, in this chapter, Vegeta recovers almost completely from his little "accident" in the Gravity Machine and things start to get better between Bulma and him.
Enough talking, here you go…

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"Vegeta? Was that you?"

"Who else could it be?" Retorted a low voice.

"Oh my God!!! Vegeta, are you OK? How are you feeling? Bad?" Asked a very excited yet preoccupied Bulma.

"I will be if you don't stop your stupid blabbering."

"Sorry about that."

Bulma couldn't believe it. One moment he was almost dead, and the next minute he was already arguing with her. She was glad, in an almost sick way. At least now she could go take a shower and get some sleep without having to think about him. Plus, her aching heart was now completely healed as well, it didn't hurt anymore, in fact, it was almost jumping of joy in her chest.

"Um…Vegeta…I'm gonna go upstairs to take a shower. If you need anything just call me and I'll be right here. OK? She asked.

"Whatever" Replied a not very enthusiastic Prince.

She got up and raced to her private chambers in order to get some well-deserved rest. Vegeta would probably fall asleep again because of his too recent recovery, which meant she still had a few hours before having to prepare dinner.

She quickly undressed herself and started her shower. The hot stream soon relaxed her sore muscles. For a short while, she completely forgot about reality focusing on the wonderful sensations the water was producing. However, all the good things have to end and she got out of her shower and dried herself. After putting on some used short shorts and a pink tank top she sat at her vanity. She started to comb her ocean blue locks. Even though her self-esteem wasn't as high as everybody thought, she had to accept that not everyone had such beautiful hair as she did.

Soon, she realized that it was getting late and couldn't afford a nap right now. She had to prepare lunch for the probably very hungry Saiyan. She finished drying her hair and slowly made her way down to the kitchen where, to her surprise, what sitting a very angry looking prince.

'Man, he sure heals fast.' Thought Bulma.

"Hurry up woman! I'm starving!" Said Vegeta. Since he was still weak from the explosion, he decided not to lose his energy by shouting. To his astonishment, Bulma did as she was told. A few moments later, a dozen of full filled plates were in front of him, waiting to be consumed.

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A few weeks later, Vegeta was almost fully recovered. He still hadn't resumed his training because the Gravity Machine wasn't repaired yet. He knew the woman was taking her time in order to annoy him but he didn't do anything to try to speed her up. He just waited patiently. For once in his life he didn't see the need to lock himself in that technology filled dome that increased Earth's gravity thousands of times. He wanted to rest a little. 

Lately Bulma and Vegeta were getting along very well. They hadn't had a fight for over a week now. O course, that was due because of Vegeta; as much as he liked his verbal matches with the woman, he didn't want to upset her. Why? He didn't have a clue. His mind was mostly focused on the instants before the explosion. Something very strange had happened. It wasn't the fact that he had finally reached that new level of power he had for so long dreamed of, it was the fact that he had reached it because of his confusing feelings.

A few seconds before the explosion his heart had felt something strange. It was as though the old and rough cage that imprisoned it had disappeared. Now he felt like he had a new heart that was actually alive within him. He could feel it beat in his chest with a new and powerful pace. He knew it was the beginning of something completely different. He still didn't understand it very well but he was getting used to it. He didn't feel that urge to annoy people like he did before, now all he wanted was peace.

He spent his days exploring the planet. He would look for beautiful places where he could rest and meditate without having to be interrupted. He needed to think. His mind was as clouded as it had been before the explosion. He now knew that he felt something special for Bulma but still couldn't identify it. All these new feelings were confusing.

Since his relationship with Bulma was getting better day after day he thought very differently of her. Before he only saw her like a beautiful loud-mouthed wench that wasted her time on a pathetic Earthling. Now she was a beautiful, intelligent, nice, caring, and passionate young woman to him. He couldn't lie to himself anymore.

What had triggered his ascension to Super Saiyan wasn't his rigorous training; it was the fact that he had felt something different than hatred. It had something to do with this warm sensation and sudden urge of caring towards Bulma. He didn't see her as his rival or enemy. She was the only person that ever dared to confront him. She wasn't scared of him. Her physical weakness was excused by her strong and determined mind.

Everything seemed to make sense. He could never understand why Goku had ascended before him. He always thought of him as weak minded and a disgrace to the Saiyan race because he had settled down, formed a family, had lots of friends, helped and saved people. Now he remembered, what had triggered Goku's ascension was the fact that Freezer had killed all his friends and specially that bald Earthling, Krillin, that he called his "best friend". Could it be that his life long goal could have been achieved before if only he would have learned to care?

He realized that not everything was about training and power. Feelings, something he considered before only fit for low class or stupid people had proved to be more important than anything else. However, all that still didn't tell him what was it that he was feeling for Bulma.

'What's this I feel for her? Why do I suddenly care for her? No, it's not only caring…there's something else.' thought Vegeta 'How am I supposed to figure out this all by myself? Maybe I could ask the woman…NO! That would mean me showing a weakness!

Seeing that he wouldn't be able to solve that mystery anytime soon he decided to leave the beautiful Island he was on and return to Capsule Corp. Probably Bulma would be very upset because he had left without telling her and she insisted that he had to stay at home to "recover".

"Humph, I'm fine. She's probably saying that because she wants to keep me by her side." Said Vegeta.

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Meanwhile Bulma was at home wondering where Vegeta could possibly be. She had told him to stay at Capsule Corp. because he still needed to recover but he never listened to her. Today when she had woken up he had already left. Now it was almost 7 pm and he still hadn't come back.

Lately, they had grown closer. Even though she still knew nothing about him, their fights had almost stopped and they managed to get along. He was a lot nicer with her. In response, she had also tried to be less annoying, loud and demanding. Sometime she wondered if his relatively nice behavior didn't have something to do with the explosion, had he hit his head or something? However, she knew that it was the same old Vegeta that she had tried to get along with for the last year.

She had almost forgotten Yamcha. A few days after their fight he had called to say that he forgave her and that he was willing to take her back. Bulma had told him to go to hell and that she didn't want to continue their false relationship. She knew that she didn't love Yamcha anymore; he was more like a brother to her than a boyfriend. She was a bit hurt by their fight because even though she didn't want to keep going out with him, she did want them to be friends. She just hoped that sometime in the future they would reconciliate.

However her main concern right now wasn't Yamcha. He was part of the past and she didn't want to linger in the past like she did before. She was more focused on the present and the future now. What she had been thinking about lately was Vegeta. He had changed so much; he wasn't like on Namek anymore. Every time they were together a warm feeling in her stomach appeared. It was a feeling she had felt once ten years ago when she had first met Yamcha. She knew what it was but wouldn't accept it.

'It's just coincidence…It can't be that…It can't be…love?' she asked to herself.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted when she heard someone open the front door and then slam it shut. It could only be one person, and that person was Vegeta. Her parents were on one of their numerous leisure trips. This time they had left to the Virgin Islands and weren't expected to come back for a few months.

Vegeta entered the kitchen and sat down at his usual spot on the table.

"Hi Vegeta, are you hungry?" asked Bulma.

The only reply she received was a loud "humph".

"I'll take that as a yes."

She quickly filled his plate and sat down next to him.

"Where were you? I was really preoccupied you know."

"It's none of your business woman. Now shut up and let me eat."

"Yeah, whatever, you're welcome. Anyway, I don't feel like arguing right now so I'm just gonna go upstairs. If there's anything you need you know where to find me."

"Humph"

With that she got up and went to her room. She changed into her pajamas which consisted of a long midnight blue nightgown that exposed a lot of skin. She had bought it for Yamcha a few months ago but never got the opportunity to wear it for him. She got into her bed to try and get some sleep. She was very tired for some unknown reason.

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Vegeta had soon finished his dinner and quickly headed upstairs. He badly wanted to get some sleep. Even though he hadn't done anything particularly exhausting he was very tired. He figured out it had something to do with the fact that he still hadn't fully recovered, however the woman wasn't supposed to know that. She would think he was weak.

He changed into a pair of silk midnight blue pajama pants. He preferred to sleep naked but the woman insisted that he wore that to sleep. He thought it was useless to wear something to sleep but he still put them on; the woman had this bad habit to enter his room without knocking on the door. Once she had come in when he wasn't wearing any pajamas. She had started to shout and annoy him about how improper that was.

He soon pulled the sheets and got into his bed hoping to get some much needed sleep.

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A few hours after, it was about 1 am, and Bulma was still trying to find some sleep. She had been turning and tossing in her bed for hours without being able to fall asleep.

"Not again! Why can't I get some sleep?" she asked herself.

She then got up from her bed and headed downstairs towards the kitchen. She needed to calm down.

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Unbeknown to Bulma, Vegeta was also having troubles falling asleep. He had heard her move in her room all night and guessed that they were in the same situation.

Annoyed, he got up and went down stairs to the kitchen to hopefully clear his mind.

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Well, that's all for now guys. Nothing really happened; it was more like a transition chapter but I hope you liked it because I worked really hard on it. It mainly explained how our favorite couple feels about each other.
Next time: Bulma and Vegeta start talking and discover things….. Ok, I'm not telling you, it's a surprise.
Anyway, please R&Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanx a lot for those who wrote me those beautiful reviews. You guys really made my day! Oh, and sorry for take so long to update, I've just been very busy!
Till next time!