In which Bulma is the woman of their lives.
2900 words.
Trunks was still trying to figure out what was going on at Capsule Corps. The evening before his parents had both come into his room at bedtime to talk to him. Last time his father had bothered to attend such a family council was when he and Goten had stolen the dragon radar and had somehow managed to gather five of the dragon balls before being stopped by adults. Trunks had almost believed his dad had reached a new level of transformation that gave him the ability to speak particularly loud and fast. This time however and despite his best efforts, the young boy couldn't remember doing anything wrong that he had not already been scolded for. His mother had started to explain that someone was going to visit them and stay for a couple of days.
"Do I know him?" the boy asked curiously.
"No, you've never seen him. We met him before you were born."
"Wow it's been a while! Is he a friend of yours like Goku?"
"Not exactly…" Bulma said as she looked at her husband for help. To her great surprise Vegeta actually took a few steps forward to the bed and started talking.
"Trunks, you know how smart your mother is, don't you? How she built the gravity room and designed space ships?"
"Oh it's Jaco, right?" Trunks cut with a little disappointment in his voice.
"No it's not Jaco, don't interrupt me. About 10 years ago someone came to meet us and explained us that he was from the future."
"Dad no. I'm 9 you can tell me the truth."
Vegeta pinched his lips in annoyance and went on:
"This someone traveled to our time using a time machine. He later told us that Bulma had built the time machine for him."
"Really Mom? And it worked? Oh please make one for me!"
"This person came from the future, it was not really me who built it but the Bulma in his future dimension."
"Two moms in two different timelines?" Trunks wondered.
"Yes, we could call her "future Bulma". But you understand that if there are two moms, there are also two dads, and two Gokus and Gohans."
"And two Gotens?"
Bulma's face distorted for a split second before she simply answered "His dimension was slightly different, Goten was not there."
"Mom… Were there two me?"
Vegeta sighed, glad to be done with this complicated conversation. He turned around and walked to the door as he confirmed:
"Future you is paying us a casual visit this weekend. Don't freak out." And with that he disappeared in the corridor, leaving Bulma alone with their confused son.
"This is heavy."
"He's really nice, I'm sure you'll both get along very well Trunks." Her warm smile slightly faded when she resumed: "His life however… was different from yours. He was born during a terrible war and his father died when he was a baby."
"Somebody killed dad? How?"
"Two androids attacked him at the same time. In this dimension future Vegeta died when future you was only a few months old. You understand he has a particular relation with the Vegeta we both know, it's an occasion for him to get to know the father he never had."
"Wow… What about Goku? Did he avenge dad?"
"Goku died from a heart disease a couple of years before the beginning of the war against the androids."
"Goku died?... Does that mean the androids won and everybody died as well?"
"No, future Gohan trained your future self and he was able to destroy the androids and save the Earth."
"Future me is a hero? I knew it! I'm super strong!" Trunks exclaimed as he threw his fist in the air with pride. Bulma chuckled lightly and pursued:
"You both will have a lot to talk about. You can ask him whatever you want when you meet him but remember, his life was difficult and he wasn't as lucky as you are."
"Ok mom… Can I ask him how to become a hero?"
"Sure you can." Bulma answered as she pulled the blanket over her little boy. She turned off the light and with a smile she wondered how Vegeta would react if he heard his own son ask for someone else's advice on how to save the earth when he had himself once given his life for it.
And this is how, as said in his message, Mirai and his time machine appeared in the Briefs' backyard on Saturday morning. Bulma had obviously invited everyone for a welcome barbecue party and they all cheered loudly when Mirai finally walked among them. He stood tall and confident, his long lavender hair tied in a low ponytail and his sword hooked at his belt. He shook hands and received several manly pats on the back as he greeted each of his old acquaintances with warmth and enthusiasm. He eventually made Bunny giggle with a short hug and a kiss on the cheek and looked at the group happily. Soon a movement in the back caught his sight. It appeared that Vegeta had just kicked his son away from behind his legs and the boy had rolled out of the small crowd, suddenly becoming the center of the attention. The two Trunks looked at each other for a moment as the everybody held their breath, before Mirai walked toward his younger version and squatted down.
"Nice hair." he said as he moved a purple strand away from his face with a quick nod to the side.
"Thanks, it looks better in gold though." Trunks answered with suspicion.
"It definitely does!" Future Trunks laughed frankly, slightly impressed by the boy's assurance.
"I told you you guys would get along!" Bulma said from behind the little crowd. She had been busy in the kitchen and had not greeted her guest yet.
Mirai's face changed instantly and Trunks couldn't exactly tell what it expressed. It was surprise, hesitation and joy surely, but also anxiety and doubt.
Mirai stood up and watched Bulma walk up to him joyfully. He kept a rigid smile on his face, afraid to move or talk. When Bulma stopped in front of him he slightly bent down and hugged her. Not like he had hugged Bunny no, not a short and conventional hug you give to greet someone. He wished it would look casual but once in his mother's arm he could barely hear the crowd anymore. He held her close as he let her warm happiness fill his heart. He felt her arms tighten around his waist and his chest burnt with relief as her embrace appeased his pain. It took him he all the willpower in the world not to hold on when Bulma slowly moved away from him.
"Wow Trunks! You've been training hard, you're even stronger than you were last time, careful not to break me haha!"
Mirai forced a smile as his ears reddened and awkwardly tried to shrug his embarrassment away.
The party went on late in the afternoon and the guests soon began to leave, each of them thanking Bulma for the day and whishing Mirai a good stay at Capsule Corps. The Briefs had a quiet dinner, Mirai gave a few news from his own dimension, how they were still rebuilding some parts of the city but enjoyed peace and security. Bulma asked about her future self and Mirai promised to communicate her greetings to his mother. The three men agreed to spar together the next day and Bulma, tired by her little welcome party, stood up and wished both Trunks goodnight. Mirai jumped from his chair and hugged her before she left.
"Goodnight Mom" he whispered as he held her close against his chest, slightly longer than necessary. Bulma got briefly weirded out but Mirai wore a smug smile when he let her go and she understood he was just kidding with her.
The men left the house in the early morning. The gravity room was too small for three persons to train in and they decided to find a place far enough from the city to spar freely. They flew for a few minutes before reaching Trunks' favorite arena, a wide grassy plain surrounded by rounded hills. Vegeta was eager to see how strong Mirai had become and Trunks was motivated to prove his worth against his future self. After a short warm up they took turn and fought one to one. Despite trying as hard as he could Trunks lost both against his father and against Mirai. The fight between Vegeta and Mirai lasted a while but at the end of the afternoon Vegeta was the last standing up. They had both fought seriously but Mirai had not expected such a determination from his opponent. He suspected it had something to do with his younger self's presence and careful attention to the spar. Also Vegeta hardly ever had the occasion to face a true opponent other than Goku and wouldn't have missed the opportunity to fight with the great and total extend of his power. The older Saiyan helped Mirai stand back up, signifying that the battle was over and they cleared the field together. Trunks was well decided to one day beat them both and took the occasion to practice the sequences he had just seen. Vegeta sat down next to Mirai and they both looked at Trunks as he repeated his movements over and over in a familiar quest for perfection.
"He's strong." Mirai said after his breathing and heart rate had gone back to normal. "I didn't train before I was about thirteen so I can't really tell, but I wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed you."
"He will. Soon." Vegeta said with a small smirk. Trunks was the only one he would ever allow to be stronger than himself, and that day would mark the proudest defeat of his life. "He could train harder but his mother won't let him."
"I see."
Mirai remained silent for a moment and eventually looked away. Vegeta tried to find the best words to express his thoughts but decided the simplest would be the easiest. Carefully, lowering his voice and looking at the young man next to him he asked:
"Bulma is dead, isn't she?"
Mirai knew Vegeta would guess easily and his words didn't surprise him. He took a moment to think, nodded quietly and muttered: "I buried her last month."
"How?"
Another silence followed Vegeta's question. Even in Mirai's timeline Bulma was too young to die of old age. The answer came, short and heavy, loaded with anger and sadness.
"Murdered."
"Murdered?"
"After the fall of the androids some people got bitter." Mirai explained, looking right in front of him at the low hills, far away on the gray horizon. Thin strands of purple hair danced as the wind blew them across his face but he didn't seem to be disturbed. "They were thieves and traffickers and used to take advantage of war time to swindle frightened people and helpless families. My mother was very helpful to the population, about all the Brief fortune disappeared as groceries and medical supplies for the inhabitants. The robbers hated us. When I killed the androids I put a definitive end to their little business and we became their main target. I couldn't kill them all but had no real difficulties keeping them away from our house, they were neither smart nor strong and we had a great security system. But you know how she is… The war was over and the only thing she wanted was to live a normal life again. I left thinking she would stay inside but when I came back..."
Mirai covered his face with both his hand as he swallowed painfully. When he looked up his eyes were hollow and shock dragged down every trait of his face.
"I found her on the doorstep. Covered with her own blood. Dead."
"How did you let them..." Vegeta's voice was shaking. Horror and anger filled his chest as Mirai's words painted terrible pictures in his mind.
"I don't know I… It looked like she had left the house to buy something and they had found her... Of course I hunt them down, I killed more of them than necessary, but it couldn't bring her back. I can't explain why I thought I could leave her alone."
Vegeta silently took in the information. He knew Bulma was the last person to survive with Mirai in his dimension. When he looked at the young man again he saw the deepest loneliness. He was a strong fighter but his sword could nothing against the sorrow that consumed him from inside. He seemed to be in constant and terrible suffering and Vegeta didn't dare imagine how painful it would be if he had himself lost his own Bulma.
"A month ago." he eventually said pensively.
"27 days." Mirai confirmed. "That's about how long I managed to survive without her."
"Not bad." Vegeta judged.
"I hope the guilt will one day fade away but for now I think I'd have killed myself if had had not been able to use the time machine and see her alive again. Of course she's not my mother but..."
"Does she smell the same?"
Mirai pinched his lips and nodded. "Her smell, her voice, her hair... I feel like whatever the time and the dimension Bulma will always be Bulma."
"You can stay with us." Vegeta declared strongly. "As I understand nothing holds you back there."
"Well I've thought about it but… It might sound cocky but I feel like the city needs me. And Capsule Corps is still the largest business, it'd be a disaster if it were to shut down. I don't belong here I can't stay."
"I understand. That's brave."
"Bulma..." Mirai started with a tight throat. His eyes crossed Vegeta's and the Saiyan felt the deepness of his words. "You'd better protect her or die trying because the day she dies is the last day worth living."
xXx
"Woman, the other Trunks has become weak as fuck. I won't let him leave like this, he's the shame of the Saiyans. He'll stay for a few weeks until he can give me a decent fight."
"Really? You still look quite strong!"
Mirai didn't have time to think and Vegeta's severe glance pushed him in the trap.
"Well you know... Now that we're at peace I kind of skipped training a bit too often I guess." He simply answered.
"You're welcome to stay as long as you want, but don't let Vegeta boss you around! I'll send a message to your mother to tell her."
"No don't worry, I'll just set the time machine to go back to the day I left the house it'll be like I was never gone."
"Alright then. You can keep the room you were in last night or choose another one. Something tells me Trunks will be happy to have you here a little longer, he has always been a bit jealous of Goten's big brother."
"The room is fine thank you. I might pay a visit to Gohan if he has time this week, I heard he has a daughter, I'm really happy for him."
"I'm sure he'll have time for you."
Mirai stayed at Capsule Corps for three weeks, slowly rebuilding strength and confidence among oblivious but caring friends. He taught Trunks a secret attack that he knew Vegeta had trouble blocking, he congratulated Gohan for his cute family and his impressive career and even had the privilege to fight against Goku a few times, despite his wife's starvation threat for fighting during farming hours. At the end of the third week Mirai joined Vegeta in the gravity room and announced his upcoming departure. Vegeta was about to offer him to stay longer but when he crossed Mirai's eyes he only saw calm and assurance and understood it was time for him to go back. The young man gathered his belonging, said goodbye to the Sons and was soon ready to leave. In the warm Sunday afternoon, the time machine flickered and eventually disappeared, leaving the Briefs alone in their backyard.
"Did he finally become strong enough for your Highness to acknowledge him as a Saiyan?" Bulma asked mockingly.
"He's stronger than me."
"You wouldn't last long without me, would you?"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow but admitted that Bulma was also able to understand her future son's troubles. He remembered the young man's words and somehow he knew he was right. Bulma, as a mother or as a wife, was the highlight of this life on Earth. Deep inside he knew his plans for the future had changed the day he had married her. He, who had spent half of his life trying to become immortal, had unconsciously let go his oldest dream, for it made no sense anymore to live without the ones he loved. He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her closer before answering sincerely:
"Not a day."