The product of an attempt at a story in which Yamcha gets the girl. Somewhat angsty- somewhat humorous- I'm not entirely sure where this will go. So praise me, flame me… whatever. Just let me know what you think.

'It was great when it all began'

It all started with a telephone call.

Sounds harmless enough, right? But pain was the least of which it would inflict on me.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had never answered it. If I had just rolled over, fallen back asleep and blocked out the incessant ringing. Whatever would have followed had to have been better.

Maybe not better. Maybe just simpler.

Still, sometimes I think I'd like to know. But I'm only deluding myself by thinking the choice was ever in my hands.

You see, I knew it was her. I knew it as surely as I knew my name. When you're in that deep, you begin to develop a sort of sixth sense about these things.

Even after I answered it, the moment I heard her voice I should have flung it far away from me. I should have unplugged the phone, pulled down the blinds, locked the door and hid under the covers of my bed until it was safe.

Cowardly?

Maybe… but given the choice- not that I ever was- I'd choose to lose my life over my heart again any day.

"You dated Bulma Briefs? What was that like? Man I'd like a piece of that action."

I was sitting in a bar watching the game –no, that's a lie, I might as well tell it right- I was getting wasted when the subject inevitably came up. It didn't matter that I was somewhat of a celebrity myself, or that I had no desire at all to dredge up those memories. They wanted to know and I guess I sort of felt a duty to warn them, someone should anyway, like a public service announcement or something.

"No- no you wouldn't."

I shook my head, hoping to leave it at that but I knew they wouldn't. Maybe some masochistic part of my subconscious wanted to talk about it. Maybe I get off on the pain or something, it'd explain why I had stayed with her for so long.

"She's hot. I wouldn't mind getting burned by that!"

His comment was met by hollers of men old enough to be her father agreeing. I waited until it died down and was silent again before I replied. Some of her dramatics must have rubbed off on me.

"It's not getting burned you'd have to worry about, it's getting frost bit."

I could tell they appreciated my comment or maybe it was just my buzz.

"I'm telling you guys, she's a real ice queen. Cold, man, cold. If you ever see her, run the other way. Don't ever look her straight in the eyes, that's when she'll get you."

"C'mon, what's a chick going to do? Don't tell me your scared of her?"

"You should be scared- you should be quaking in your boots. This chick is lethal. She's got no emotions. She's as cold-hearted as the poor bastard she's fucking. She'll reel you in and spit you out."

"Doesn't sound too bad to me."

Two of the men high-fived and I ordered another drink.

"Is that what this is all about? She dumped you for someone else and now you feel scorned? Hell, we thought you were a man!"

"She didn't dump me, she cut me loose and I thank my lucky stars every day that she did. I pity the poor shmuck she captures next."

"If she was that bad, why didn't you leave her?"

"It's not that easy. Even when she was right in my face screaming at me… all I could think about was how she smelled better then any girl I've ever met…"

The conversation wasn't particularly uncommon. One of a dozen alcohol induced warnings- never sure if I was warning them or me- taken place at ungodly hours in even more godless places. It strikes me now only because of it's place in the timeline of my demise. It was exactly one week before the start.

I was free then. Free and, well, miserable… but I was free.

See, the problem is that 'was' is the operative word there.

It wasn't much longer before I received the call. I don't know what prompted it, maybe she had gotten in a fight with Vegeta or maybe she was just feeling nostalgic. Whatever it was, I wasn't prepared for the hold hearing her voice still had over me. I was hooked the moment I heard her say my name in that voice she uses when she's uncertain but doesn't want to show it. I could see her chewing on her bottom lip, her free hand coming up to tug at a strand of hair. I thought if I just avoided her face to face I'd be fine, but that's kind of hard when her countenance is emblazoned behind my eyelids. I never did have much in the way of self-control when it came to her.

"Yamcha? It's me… Bulma."

"Yeah… I know." I answered her after some time. Did she think it's possible for me to forget her voice?

"I was just wondering how everything was going."

"Fine." I'm not wallowing in despair since you left me or anything, promise.

"How's training?"

"Good." That's what I was supposed to be doing. My memory has been somewhat faulty lately, I've been forgetting the damnedest things… like oh, you know… breathing.

"I- I've missed you."

There, she said it. She had to say it. I could feel my resolve crumbling as if made out of sand. How I hated myself for the joy sweeping over me, how I loathed the automatic grin I couldn't suppress at her words. I tried to cover my elation with sarcasm.

"I can tell."

"I have." She sounded… hurt? I knew better then to believe it. She'll never understand the pain she's put me through. I refuse to feel any sympathy towards her. But she was oh so convincing. "I've missed… us."

"Oh." Stay calm, don't give in. Focus on all the pain she's put you through. You don't want to get involved with someone like her.

"Don't do this to me Yamcha. I'm sorry, all right? I made a mistake." I didn't hear anything after my name. I love hearing her say my name.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're going to make me say it? It was a mistake to break up with you. I don't know what happened. I guess I was just trying to prove that I grew up and I thought having a boyfriend was childish. And then Vegeta was there and he was so much of a man I thought being with him would prove my maturity but I was wrong. There's nothing wrong with having a boyfriend."

"Oh."

"Yamcha?"

"What do you want me to say? Tell me what you want to hear Bulma. That its ok that you ripped my heart out but didn't think it worthy enough to keep? Is your conscience bothering you? Is that what this is about?"

"No- I just, I just wanted to talk to you."

"Fine, talk. I'm listening."

"Not like this… look I have to go. Can I come over tomorrow? Lunch time?"

"Sure. We'll talk."

Without another word she hung up. The dial tone sounded in my ear but I chose not to release the phone. I wasn't quite ready to let go of it yet.

The defenses I had built up during our conversation came crashing down as I reviewed our conversation. I chose to ignore the insults and focus on the main point.

She wanted me back.

I did a happy dance and got tangled up in my phone cord.

Looking down at the wires wrapped around myself was somewhat sobering, like a metaphor for what was happening. As I extracted myself from the mess, I vowed not to let myself get caught up in her trap again. We could be just friends. I hoped anyway. I was staking my freedom on it.