Author Note: So, this is the long awaited (I hope) Chapter Three of Wandering Fire. I've actually had it done for a while, and have been debating whether or not I should post it. Anyway, comments are always welcome! Thank you if you reviewed my last chapter!
Wandering Fire
Chapter Three
It was a monumental day. It was a birthday party, the eleventh for Usagi. They had all gathered at Capsule Corp, bringing presents with them. The Sons, The Briefs, Bulma, Vegeta, Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo, and Chiaotzu were all gathered around the beaming eleven year old. Yet, she was the only one completely happy. They all smiled, but their hearts were hurting.
The others knew that this would be the last day they would see her. No one had told her, since they didn't want to ruin her happiness. Her parents were moving, and it didn't make sense to drive two hours everyday so that she could remain in home schooling with Gohan.
Currently, she was sitting at the head of the large table, with all of her brightly wrapped presents piled in front of her. "Are you ready, Usagi?" Goku asked, as he ruffled her golden colored tresses. He grinned as she laughed, the high tinkling sound infecting his heart with joy.
"Yeah, come on!" She bounced up and down in her chair, making her waist length hair sway. Her hands moved nervously in her lap, twisting her pink dress into wrinkles.
"Ok. Here's the first one." He set the large box, which was wrapped in shiny pink paper, in front of her. "This one's from Bulma."
They watched as she tore into it, the paper flying everywhere. Suddenly, she grinned, and pulled her present from the tissue paper. "It's beautiful! Thank you, Bulma!" It was a necklace, and at the end was a moon. Inside the points of the blue rimmed crescent moon was a star. The necklace was made of gold, and at the center of the star was a diamond.
"You're welcome, Usa." Bulma stated, grinning widely. Usagi jumped from her seat and tackled the woman in a hug. After letting go, she reclaimed her seat. "Here's the one from Piccolo." Goku set a black silk bag in front of her. A golden rope ran around the top, holding it closed.
She slowly opened it, and pulled one of the smooth, glowing stones out. She turned it over in her hands, reveling in the warm feel of the stone. She held it to her face, her eyes wide in wonder. She glanced up at Piccolo, and grinned. "It's wonderful Piccolo. Thank you."
Waiting to hug him until later, she stayed in her seat. The next present was something that the Son Family took great pride in. It was a large brown, leather bound book. The thick cream colored pages were covered with pictures.
Every picture that had ever been taken of Usagi with the Z senshi was in that book. She had multiple pictures with everyone, but the most with the Son Family. They all knew the book was filled with smiles.
Closing the book, She smiled at the three people closest to her. "I love it. Thank you." She hugged them before going back to her seat. Another book, midnight blue, was put in front of her.
"This is from Gohan." She already knew what it was; something very important to Gohan. All of the hours of motionless posing for him had paid off.
Flipping through the pages, she smiled. "Thank You." She held him close, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He laces his arms around her waist, as she buried her face into his shoulder. "I love you, Gohan," She whispered softly, before letting go.
The rest of her presents were opened quickly, and they included a set of videotapes from the whole gang (every one had a special message from each person), a set of fairytale books from Krillin, a pink stuffed rabbit from Yamcha that had her name on it, and a set of crystal stars and planets from Tien and Chiaotzu.
Finally, they came to the last present. Vegeta's. Usagi was anxious to see what the Saiyan prince had brought her. It wasn't a large box, or one wrapped elegantly. It was a simple white box, with a pink bow on top. Though it didn't look that special, she knew that he had put a lot of thought into it. After all, Usagi was the only one who knew about the present Vegeta had bought Bulma.
She had been walking around Capsule Corp, lost. Trying to find her way back, she opened every door to try and find someone who could help. Gripping the last door handle at the end of the hallway, she swung it open.
Surprisingly, Vegeta was sitting at the large bay window, looking out upon the people gathered in the backyard. "Sorry, Vegeta. I'll go." She prepared to leave, yet he whipped around to look at her.
"Come here, Usagi." His dark unflinching stare made her uneasy. Shifting from foot to foot, she nodded. Walking forward, she noticed the small box in his hands.
"Why aren't you outside, Vegeta?" She asked, as she tentatively sat beside him. He smirked at her, before looking back out at the people.
"How many of them forgive me, Usagi? Really in their hearts, hold nothing against me?" He questioned as he returned his gaze to her eyes. The churning pain and loneliness in his eyes stabbed at her heart, making her hold her breath. After a few moments, she sighed.
"Goku does," She answered, simply. He laughed mockingly. There was one person that could match the small girl's naiveté, and that was the third class Saiyan, Kakkarot.
"Do you know, have they told you, how many people or civilizations I've killed! Millions of people died by my hands, and I shot them down without regret." He was trying to shock the pure-hearted girl, yet was surprised when she smiled, sadly. She placed a pale hand on his arm, and he was comforted by the warmth.
"Vegeta, what you've done…no longer matters. You've changed for the good now, and that's the important thing," She stated quietly, as she clasped her hands together. He was shocked by her sincerity. "Even f it did matter, what you did is understandable. You were forced into a life of servitude under Freiza, and you closed yourself off so that the quilt wouldn't rip you apart. You vowed to kill him, by becoming a super-saiyan, by becoming stronger. Yet, you found that Kakkarot, Goku, did what you could not." She looked into his eyes, smiling.
"How do you know all of this?" He demanded, as he grabbed her shoulders. It hurt, but she wouldn't let on. She continued to look into his eyes, wishing he could feel the love she offered.
"You're not really angry at Kakkarot, Vegeta. You're angry at yourself for not being able to defeat Freiza, to fulfill your promise. You train harder so that you can defeat Goku, and prove to yourself, that you are strong." He dropped his hands from her shoulders.
"You assume too much!" Vegeta yelled, as he looked away from her. He had to look away, because what he saw in her cerulean eyes shook him to the core. He saw acceptance. He saw everything that he had ever wanted, needed, in her eyes. It shocked him that this slip of a girl could give him so freely what others could not.
His eyes widened when he felt her arms encircle his shoulders. "It doesn't matter if they don't forgive you, Geta. I do, and I love you," She whispered into his ear. She hid nothing from him, and she wasn't scared of his capacity for violence. He had the power to rip her to pieces, yet she didn't turn from him.
After a few minutes of silence, he showed her what was in the box, and he silently took pride in her gasp. Inside were two earrings, and at the end of each was a small circular stone. It was clear, yet on the inside all of the colors shifted beautifully, creating a wonderful cascade of color.
She knew that he hadn't given the present to Bulma yet, since he wanted to wait until the perfect moment. She was still with Yamcha after all.
Slowly, she opened the box. Reaching into it, she lifted the book out. Flipping it open, she smiled. At first glance, it was a simple history book for Planet Vegeta. Studying it closer it held more information then that. It was filled with customs, beliefs, and everything about the society. In the very back was Vegeta's life, in his own words. He made no attempt to hide who he was from the child, merely taking the acceptance she offered.
The last page was a vow of allegiance, for her to give to Vegeta if she wished. In return, she would receive his protection, and would become a member of his council. In short, it basically meant that she would be like a member of his family. Meeting the prince's black gaze, she nodded. Going forward, she knelt to one knee in front of him.
"I, Usagi Tsukino, hereby swear my allegiance to the rightful heir--"
"Usa, what are you doing?" Gohan asked, stepping forward.
"Of Planet Vegeta," She continued, as if she hadn't heard him. "King Vegeta, until my soul has parted for the afterlife." She looked up at Vegeta, and smiled.
He stepped forward. "I, King Vegeta, hereby place under my protection, Usagi Tsukino. No harm shall be put upon her by anyone, or they shall report to me.She is now the head of my council, and, should the need arise, my rightful heir." A few seconds passed in which Vegeta reveled in the moment. Now, he had the family he had always secretly wanted.
"There you go again, Vegeta. Spouting off more of that crap from your dead society to a little girl!" Bulma stated, as she stepped forward to help Usagi up. Vegeta held his hand out, and Usagi placed her small hand in his. He pulled her up, and she frowned at Bulma.
"You should be ashamed of yourself, Bulma," She stated, quietly. She moved closer to the Saiyan Prince, and gripped his shirt with one small hand. He showed no emotion, simply watched the scene. "You judge him on his past, and will not accept him as a person. His past, his people, they were important to him! Just like Earth and it's people are important to you. How would you feel if your world were destroyed, like his was?" Her voice was quiet, yet they could all see the anger burning in her eyes.
"Horrible," Bulma acknowledged, as she blushed in embarrassment.
"He is doing this, not to press his opinions on you or anyone else, but to help you understand him so that you can accept him fully. He is doing what anyone would do. He is not brainwashing me, or lying to me, he is simply taking the acceptance that I try to offer everyone." Bulma took an unsteady step back as the small girl's angry, yet quiet, tone washed over her.
"I'm sorry." Bulma's voice came out quietly, close to a whisper. Usagi laughed, before walking forward to hug the taller woman.
"I know. I just want you to understand that I love you all. I would hope you'd all try to get along, for my sake." She pulled back, and smiled at Bulma. "Now, let's eat!" They all laughed, and followed her to the cake.
The day passed quickly, and before they knew it, Usagi's parents were there to take her home. They all had hugged her, and were at the last person, Gohan.
He had Usagi in his arms, and he was gripping her tightly. His face was buried into her hair, and he was trying desperately to memorize everything about her. He breathed in the sweet, vanilla scent of her hair, and sighed. Her arms were wrapped around his waist, her hands laced behind him.
He pulled away slightly, to look into her large, cerulean eyes. "I love you, Usa," He stated, quickly. He blushed as she grinned. Raising a delicate hand, she pushed some dark hair from his face, and let the pale fingers trail over his cheek.
"I love you, too. I'll never forget you," She whispered. She watched as his eyes widened in surprise. Looking into her eyes again, he could see the sadness in them, that she had hidden before.
"You know?" She nodded, letting her smiled fade.
"I didn't want to make it harder then it already was. We will see each other again, so don't forget me." Tears filled his eyes, as he nodded. The pain was already starting, stabbing his heart.
"I promise. I never could." She kissed his cheek, before turning to the others with a smile. "I love you all! Goodbye!" She blew them all a kiss, before climbing into the waiting car. Instantly, he missed the warmth she offered.
Chi-Chi watched her waving hand until she couldn't see the car anymore. She turned to the others, and found most were fighting tears, or staring at the ground, frowning. She turned to Gohan, and found that he was staring at the ground, his head lowered. His hands fell to his sides, slack. He raised a tear-stained face to her. "I know I'll see her again, but it still hurts."
She hugged him, knowing that there was nothing she could say to make it better. Gohan wrapped his arms around his mother, as much to comfort her as himself. He was silently thinking. That night had marked the first time he'd ever been the first one to say 'I love you'. It shocked him, to know that he meant it more then ever, and he hadn't even known the depth of his own feelings. Already, his heart felt like it had been ripped out, and put into a blender.
