Darkness consumed the halls of Bulma's home as Vegeta entered. Adjusting
to the black he moved forward into the room. Looking around it seemed to be
like the capsule houses that where typical of the woman he had called mate
for a lifetime. Taking in the home with all senses he noticed the familiar
scents he had missed.
He turned toward the bedrooms. "My mate" he thought as he crept through the door. Standing at the bed he watched silently as she slept. "So peaceful" he mused as he looked at a face he had watched with care for seventy years. The lines he never saw had retreated, and the blue he had always seen had returned. She turned and her arms and legs soon covered the entire bed, he smirked. "Damn woman always did hog the covers."
*********
Bacon and coffee vapors wafted to his nose as the light bled through the room. He turned and growled trying to escape the brightness assaulting his rest. He picked up the sound of breakfast, or what passed for it, being prepared and then stopped as he groaned his sleepy compliant. The ki from the kitchen moved to his location. Bulma gasped as she reached the sofa; realizing who was in the house. He softly growled as he rose to sit, "Damn woman, where did you expect me to sleep, on the porch? Couldn't sleep in the bed, you were hogging it all."
"I hope I won't be on the sofa again tonight." He finished stretching back and smirking at her. She smiled warmly at her guardian angel. The bond revealed their feelings; making talking unimportant. The small man rested his arms on his legs and peered through the window. Sniffing he jerked his head back to her and yelled, "Bulma, get back in the kitchen, breakfast is burning."
"Shit!" She shouted running back to the now ruined food.
He snickered. "Damn onna, she could burn cereal." The prince returned his gaze to the window for a few more moments before slowly rising to join her.
Breakfast now on the table thanks to the some unexpected help from 18, the two couples sat around the table. Vegeta quietly ate as he listened to his three companions chatter about all the things that had gone on while he was gone. The usual dull activities were covered along with a few interesting tidbits. As they continued on about this and that he could feel the bonds he had with them growing back into place. The merriment of their voices mirrored the feeling rolling off them. Smiling, he piled on a third helping, the first time in a year he had managed to eat so well.
Krillen and 18 picked up dishes from the table as Vegeta continued to finish his meal. Bluma began to rise, "I'll break out some more pancake mix and make some more."
"Don't bother. I've had enough." The munching Sayian jeered.
Bluma suddenly looked worried. Turning to her mate she eyed him carefully. Vegeta always had at least eight helping, even on the rare days he didn't train. Three helpings was a snack. His skin was pale; as he looked up she saw his eyes where dull. Stuttering slightly she inquired, "Are you sick?"
"I just died last night woman. What'd you think; I was hit by a bus?" The testy royal sputtered out. Trying to cover up he added. "I'm just tired, leave me be."
The quick witted genius saw the comment for what it was. Bracing herself she retorted. "What's wrong? And I mean it, no excuses."
He looked at her with venom. He knew he was too tired to get into a full scale argument with the tenacious human. Grudgingly he mumbled. "Mishrat"
"What?" She retorted to his undistinguishable muttering.
"Mish-rat." He bellowed back at her in rage eyes narrowing in challenge.
The blue haired beauty took a deep breath. Their guests just looked at each other in confusion. They knew it must be a Sayian thing, and Bulma's reaction to his word made it clear that it was serious. Krillen cautiously approached the prince and spoke, "Um, Vegeta, would you mind filling us in?"
He snapped readying to say something terse and then paused. The woman would tell them if he didn't and she would make it sound as if he were on deaths door, again.
"It's not an illness, more like a condition prevalent to Sayians." He started then paused. "All Sayians have some telepathic, empathic, and sometimes spiritual "connection" to their families and "Velts" or clans. There are many different types and levels of these "connections" or bonds."
Krillen interrupted. "You mean like the bond you have with Bulma?"
"Hn" the prince acknowledged. "That is one type of bond; between mates. There are many others, from parent to child, child to parent, among friends. Some are so thin that it's only like a sixth sense of things relating to the other, some are so strong they cement themselves to your very soul. Some are more telepathic, others more empathic, and others are interlaced through the mind, the heart, and soul." Stopping he looked around, "Understand?"
They nodded at him in unison. It was a rare occasion when the tightlipped Sayian talked about anything bordering on emotions. Bulma had retreated to the counter, leaning against it and allowing him to deal with the explanation.
"When one person of a bond dies the bond frays and become damaged; it may even server completely. This leaves the person in the physical realm injured from the separation. It may just be an additional emotional pain, or it can cause very real damage to the person."
"So that's mishrat?" Krillen inquired. Vegeta just scowled at her. Krillen and 18 sat at the table, this was going to take some time.
"No. Let me continue; I will get to it." Vegeta stated flatly, groaning. "With most bonds the tearing will heal, but a thread of the bond will always remain connected. If those sharing the bond are reunited then the bond will grow back around the scar left behind."
He paused again. They let him collect his thought, soaking in what he had already said. "Best to try to finish this." He thought. "When a bond is broken there is still a connection that pulls on the ones possessing it. But, if a sayian outlast all the others they share a bond with then their soul starts to be pulled to the afterlife. That is what mishrat is. Roughly translated it means screaming soul."
"Then why are you still sick Vegeta?" Krillen ask unsteadily.
"Hn" He grunted. "The bonds will keep pulling on me until I make a connection with those I am bonded to. The mishrat will fade with each bond that's restored. I'm healing even now."
Krillen, and 18 relaxed feeling that things would be alright in time. Bulma knew better. She crossed her arms and stared at the proud prince. His face remained like stone as always, but he knew she would call him out. He only hoped that she would what until the others were gone. Let him deal with this privately. He wasn't that lucky, as usual.
"Well then Mr. High-and-Mighty I can handle anything and this is no big deal. Tell me what happens if you don't connect with everyone? What happens if you can't connect with someone you have a major bond with, uh? I'll tell you what. You'll die Vegeta. Utter death, end game, oblivion."
Eighteen paused and turned to her sayian friend. "Is that true Vegeta?"
"The woman is being melodramatic. There is time to remedy this situation. All I have to do is find those I share a major bond. The bonds will heal and I will be fine."
"Oh really." The fiery scientist retorted. "So tell them who the people you have major bonds are."
Vegeta balked. This was not good. He tried to think of a way out, but it was no use. He took a breath to speak but each word grew softer. "You, my uncle, and my parents."
"And what will happen if you miss even one of those people?" The blue hair woman drove the point home to him. As if he didn't already realize what could happen.
"The bond could tear and I would go into Azurrat and die. There are you happy now!" He bellowed standing up and moving to leave the room.
His friends quickly blocked his path. Standing firm, he looked at them indignantly and nonchalantly added. "Look, I have already almost repaired my bond with Bulma. The others are distant, but I can sense them. All I have to do is find them."
Krillen couldn't help himself. "Um, but how are you going to find your family, it's been a long time?"
"I spoke with Yamma before coming here. He gave me a general direction to look. It will make things easier." He paused and looked at his mate. She wasn't going to let him of the hook that easily. "The longer it takes, the worse I will become, so I will need to find them without delay."
The blonde android looked quizzically at her dark haired friend. "So how much time do you think you have?"
"Hard to say exactly. Perhaps months, or only a few weeks. That is why I must concentrate on finding them quickly." He said cocking his head to the side.
Satisfied Krillen and 18 nodded to the warrior. Krillen happy proffered, "What can we do to help?"
"Go to the Kais. See if they can locate the Sayians that Freeza killed when he destroyed my world. They're somewhere in the south, southeast section of the west heaven, but that's a lot of area to cover. Narrowing it down at all would make things move faster." He stated with a commanding air. "I will help Bulma pack up things her and then meet you there."
"I think we can get North Kai to help; maybe the others to." 18 said as she and her height challenged husband started to leave. As they moved to the door Krillen added. "Take it easy Vegeta. We'll see you at the Grand Kai's."
"Now all I have to do is get the woman to come with him." He thought as he sized up his woman. "Well, speak up. We haven't got all day."
The woman who knew him better than any, who had seen his nightmares and dreams was glaring at him. His mind reeled as he collected a few things from the cupboards placing them in his pockets. He knew she didn't like this, but even without the bonds pulling him he would have gone. He would not break his word, keeping it was the only thing he had truly been able to hold on to."
Bulma finally opened her mouth to speak. "So you just expect me to pack up and leave my happy little home and tromp off into kami knows what?"
He smirked at her. "Of course, you're my mate. Where I go; you go."
They had been together to long for her to be shocked or even mad, but she wasn't giving in without a little fight. "Oh, of course, your royal pain in the ass. I'll just go throw on some animal skins so we can go roll around in the dirt. Yes, that sounds like fun."
"It will be an adventure."
"Sure, a fun filled road trip, strait into the heart of hell." She retorted caustically.
He had had all he could take and began to bellow. "Look woman. I am trying to make this as pleasant as possible. Your dislike for rustic outing is well known, but we are going. Even if there was no bond I would go. I gave my word that I would find my father, and I have never broken my word, ever. And no, I do not like the timing, but there is no choice."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it." She quickly retorted.
"I will not hear another word on this." He stated. She knew that was the final word and that he would do as he saw fit; too stubborn to consider other options. Whatever the reason or cost Vegeta had set his course and would follow it.
She sighed. "All right; I'll go pack."
He turned toward the bedrooms. "My mate" he thought as he crept through the door. Standing at the bed he watched silently as she slept. "So peaceful" he mused as he looked at a face he had watched with care for seventy years. The lines he never saw had retreated, and the blue he had always seen had returned. She turned and her arms and legs soon covered the entire bed, he smirked. "Damn woman always did hog the covers."
*********
Bacon and coffee vapors wafted to his nose as the light bled through the room. He turned and growled trying to escape the brightness assaulting his rest. He picked up the sound of breakfast, or what passed for it, being prepared and then stopped as he groaned his sleepy compliant. The ki from the kitchen moved to his location. Bulma gasped as she reached the sofa; realizing who was in the house. He softly growled as he rose to sit, "Damn woman, where did you expect me to sleep, on the porch? Couldn't sleep in the bed, you were hogging it all."
"I hope I won't be on the sofa again tonight." He finished stretching back and smirking at her. She smiled warmly at her guardian angel. The bond revealed their feelings; making talking unimportant. The small man rested his arms on his legs and peered through the window. Sniffing he jerked his head back to her and yelled, "Bulma, get back in the kitchen, breakfast is burning."
"Shit!" She shouted running back to the now ruined food.
He snickered. "Damn onna, she could burn cereal." The prince returned his gaze to the window for a few more moments before slowly rising to join her.
Breakfast now on the table thanks to the some unexpected help from 18, the two couples sat around the table. Vegeta quietly ate as he listened to his three companions chatter about all the things that had gone on while he was gone. The usual dull activities were covered along with a few interesting tidbits. As they continued on about this and that he could feel the bonds he had with them growing back into place. The merriment of their voices mirrored the feeling rolling off them. Smiling, he piled on a third helping, the first time in a year he had managed to eat so well.
Krillen and 18 picked up dishes from the table as Vegeta continued to finish his meal. Bluma began to rise, "I'll break out some more pancake mix and make some more."
"Don't bother. I've had enough." The munching Sayian jeered.
Bluma suddenly looked worried. Turning to her mate she eyed him carefully. Vegeta always had at least eight helping, even on the rare days he didn't train. Three helpings was a snack. His skin was pale; as he looked up she saw his eyes where dull. Stuttering slightly she inquired, "Are you sick?"
"I just died last night woman. What'd you think; I was hit by a bus?" The testy royal sputtered out. Trying to cover up he added. "I'm just tired, leave me be."
The quick witted genius saw the comment for what it was. Bracing herself she retorted. "What's wrong? And I mean it, no excuses."
He looked at her with venom. He knew he was too tired to get into a full scale argument with the tenacious human. Grudgingly he mumbled. "Mishrat"
"What?" She retorted to his undistinguishable muttering.
"Mish-rat." He bellowed back at her in rage eyes narrowing in challenge.
The blue haired beauty took a deep breath. Their guests just looked at each other in confusion. They knew it must be a Sayian thing, and Bulma's reaction to his word made it clear that it was serious. Krillen cautiously approached the prince and spoke, "Um, Vegeta, would you mind filling us in?"
He snapped readying to say something terse and then paused. The woman would tell them if he didn't and she would make it sound as if he were on deaths door, again.
"It's not an illness, more like a condition prevalent to Sayians." He started then paused. "All Sayians have some telepathic, empathic, and sometimes spiritual "connection" to their families and "Velts" or clans. There are many different types and levels of these "connections" or bonds."
Krillen interrupted. "You mean like the bond you have with Bulma?"
"Hn" the prince acknowledged. "That is one type of bond; between mates. There are many others, from parent to child, child to parent, among friends. Some are so thin that it's only like a sixth sense of things relating to the other, some are so strong they cement themselves to your very soul. Some are more telepathic, others more empathic, and others are interlaced through the mind, the heart, and soul." Stopping he looked around, "Understand?"
They nodded at him in unison. It was a rare occasion when the tightlipped Sayian talked about anything bordering on emotions. Bulma had retreated to the counter, leaning against it and allowing him to deal with the explanation.
"When one person of a bond dies the bond frays and become damaged; it may even server completely. This leaves the person in the physical realm injured from the separation. It may just be an additional emotional pain, or it can cause very real damage to the person."
"So that's mishrat?" Krillen inquired. Vegeta just scowled at her. Krillen and 18 sat at the table, this was going to take some time.
"No. Let me continue; I will get to it." Vegeta stated flatly, groaning. "With most bonds the tearing will heal, but a thread of the bond will always remain connected. If those sharing the bond are reunited then the bond will grow back around the scar left behind."
He paused again. They let him collect his thought, soaking in what he had already said. "Best to try to finish this." He thought. "When a bond is broken there is still a connection that pulls on the ones possessing it. But, if a sayian outlast all the others they share a bond with then their soul starts to be pulled to the afterlife. That is what mishrat is. Roughly translated it means screaming soul."
"Then why are you still sick Vegeta?" Krillen ask unsteadily.
"Hn" He grunted. "The bonds will keep pulling on me until I make a connection with those I am bonded to. The mishrat will fade with each bond that's restored. I'm healing even now."
Krillen, and 18 relaxed feeling that things would be alright in time. Bulma knew better. She crossed her arms and stared at the proud prince. His face remained like stone as always, but he knew she would call him out. He only hoped that she would what until the others were gone. Let him deal with this privately. He wasn't that lucky, as usual.
"Well then Mr. High-and-Mighty I can handle anything and this is no big deal. Tell me what happens if you don't connect with everyone? What happens if you can't connect with someone you have a major bond with, uh? I'll tell you what. You'll die Vegeta. Utter death, end game, oblivion."
Eighteen paused and turned to her sayian friend. "Is that true Vegeta?"
"The woman is being melodramatic. There is time to remedy this situation. All I have to do is find those I share a major bond. The bonds will heal and I will be fine."
"Oh really." The fiery scientist retorted. "So tell them who the people you have major bonds are."
Vegeta balked. This was not good. He tried to think of a way out, but it was no use. He took a breath to speak but each word grew softer. "You, my uncle, and my parents."
"And what will happen if you miss even one of those people?" The blue hair woman drove the point home to him. As if he didn't already realize what could happen.
"The bond could tear and I would go into Azurrat and die. There are you happy now!" He bellowed standing up and moving to leave the room.
His friends quickly blocked his path. Standing firm, he looked at them indignantly and nonchalantly added. "Look, I have already almost repaired my bond with Bulma. The others are distant, but I can sense them. All I have to do is find them."
Krillen couldn't help himself. "Um, but how are you going to find your family, it's been a long time?"
"I spoke with Yamma before coming here. He gave me a general direction to look. It will make things easier." He paused and looked at his mate. She wasn't going to let him of the hook that easily. "The longer it takes, the worse I will become, so I will need to find them without delay."
The blonde android looked quizzically at her dark haired friend. "So how much time do you think you have?"
"Hard to say exactly. Perhaps months, or only a few weeks. That is why I must concentrate on finding them quickly." He said cocking his head to the side.
Satisfied Krillen and 18 nodded to the warrior. Krillen happy proffered, "What can we do to help?"
"Go to the Kais. See if they can locate the Sayians that Freeza killed when he destroyed my world. They're somewhere in the south, southeast section of the west heaven, but that's a lot of area to cover. Narrowing it down at all would make things move faster." He stated with a commanding air. "I will help Bulma pack up things her and then meet you there."
"I think we can get North Kai to help; maybe the others to." 18 said as she and her height challenged husband started to leave. As they moved to the door Krillen added. "Take it easy Vegeta. We'll see you at the Grand Kai's."
"Now all I have to do is get the woman to come with him." He thought as he sized up his woman. "Well, speak up. We haven't got all day."
The woman who knew him better than any, who had seen his nightmares and dreams was glaring at him. His mind reeled as he collected a few things from the cupboards placing them in his pockets. He knew she didn't like this, but even without the bonds pulling him he would have gone. He would not break his word, keeping it was the only thing he had truly been able to hold on to."
Bulma finally opened her mouth to speak. "So you just expect me to pack up and leave my happy little home and tromp off into kami knows what?"
He smirked at her. "Of course, you're my mate. Where I go; you go."
They had been together to long for her to be shocked or even mad, but she wasn't giving in without a little fight. "Oh, of course, your royal pain in the ass. I'll just go throw on some animal skins so we can go roll around in the dirt. Yes, that sounds like fun."
"It will be an adventure."
"Sure, a fun filled road trip, strait into the heart of hell." She retorted caustically.
He had had all he could take and began to bellow. "Look woman. I am trying to make this as pleasant as possible. Your dislike for rustic outing is well known, but we are going. Even if there was no bond I would go. I gave my word that I would find my father, and I have never broken my word, ever. And no, I do not like the timing, but there is no choice."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it." She quickly retorted.
"I will not hear another word on this." He stated. She knew that was the final word and that he would do as he saw fit; too stubborn to consider other options. Whatever the reason or cost Vegeta had set his course and would follow it.
She sighed. "All right; I'll go pack."