"Something good happened right before he left that world.

His heart was opened up". *

King Kai

And when the time was right, King Yemma had sent Vegeta to fight in the battle against Majin Buu and together, Vegeta and Kakarrot had fought bravely to destroy him, bringing a time of peace to the earth once again. But when the time came to restore the lives of all those killed on earth by Buu, Vegeta had already arranged with King Yemma to reserve the right to make that determination for himself, at a later time, and at a later place, and so, by his choice, he returned to the other world.

And then one day upon returning home, Bulma was drawn to the kitchen by the flickering light of several carefully placed candles on the kitchen table, which surrounded a perfectly folded white silk gown. And pinned to the gown, was a carefully scripted, handwritten note, and lying on top of the note was a single cherry blossom, which was exquisite in its perfection.

Her slender hands trembled as she unpinned the note, because she knew, without knowing how she knew, that her husband had returned to tell her goodbye.

Bulma,

Meet me at the quiet place at midnight.

I want you to wear the garments I have laid here for you.

And just moments prior to your coming to me, I want you soak your beautiful body in the bath, and I want you to scent the water with your perfumed oils, and then I want you drape your exquisite body in nothing but the while silk gown. Nothing, Bulma, but the gown is to touch your skin when you leave to come to me.

I await you.

Vegeta

After her preparations for the night ahead, she could scarcely breathe as she looked at herself in the mirror. The long sleeved, white silk gown flowed softly to the floor. It was held together in the front from top to bottom by dozens of tiny, brilliantly shaded, hand embroidered ribbons, which were meant to be tied in delicate bows. The obi that wrapped around her was the in the same brilliant shades of blues and indigoes, and almost seemed to have been hand dyed to match and compliment the blueness of her hair and eyes. And to be worn over the top was a long white silk flowing robe like jacket, and it too was long-sleeved, but was not meant to be fastened together and in it, she felt like a Princess.

But nothing could have prepared her for what she saw when she approached the quiet place. A large, hand woven, brilliantly colored rug in shades of deep reds and indigoes was laid out on the ground and upon the rug, was a small square black table with two black silk pillows set precisely across from each other, meant to kneeled upon. Upon the table, two places were set; each with tiny white porcelain cups, and in the center of the table was a tiny, white porcelain teapot, a smaller white porcelain container, and a small bamboo whisk.

And off to the side and a little ways away, was a nest like bed, fashioned with silk pillows and blankets in every shade of blue imaginable. And the flickering lights of candles dancing in the warm summer night air illuminated the entire area. Bulma thought that she had just stepped into a dream but what she had just stepped into was a traditional Saiyan welcoming ceremony, one as old as time itself.

Mesmerized by the exquisite beauty of what she was witnessing, she didn't even hear Vegeta walk up behind her.

And he stood before her as a member of Saiyan royalty, a proud Prince, who by the way he held himself, had already assumed his rightful place with the legendary Super Saiyan warriors of old. It was obvious to her when she looked at him. And her soft blue eyes welled up and overflowed with tears because he stood before her fully alive since there was no halo over his head and her heart sang with joy!

And as she was about to speak, he put his finger to his lips, indicating to her to not make a sound as he lead her over to the table and showed her the proper position to be in as she kneeled on the pillow. And Vegeta then sat silently across from her, and picked up the tiny white porcelain cup sitting in front of him, and he placed within it some of the green tea power from the smaller container on the table, and poured steaming water into the tiny cup from the white porcelain teapot. And he mixed it with the bamboo whisk. And when it had reached just the right amount of froth, he handed it to her in silence, but the love that was within his heart for her shone as brightly as the candles dancing all around them. And he indicated that she should drink the tea. Then, when she was done, he motioned that she should now do the same for him. And when she handed the tiny cup to him, for an instant he held both the cup. and her hands, in his. And after he had finished the tea that she had served to him, he finally spoke.

And before he even said a single word, his onyx black eyes were already welling with tears and he struggled to maintain his sense of control and dignity, because what he had to tell her was both exquisitely beautiful, and exquisitely heartbreaking to him.

"Bulma, you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. You are my mate, and I know now that we will continue, even into the next dimension. We will be together for the fullness of time, you and I." And he looked at her smiling.

"I have returned here tonight for two reasons Bulma, and it breaks my heart to tell you that I simply cannot dwell in this time and place any longer. I don't know how to be a warrior without the hatred that used to consume me and I don't know how to live without being a warrior. So, I have decided to stay in the other world and wait for you until the fullness of your days here in the land of the living have passed And when that day comes, I will be waiting for you in the other world, and we will be together there for all time".

And he watched her soft blue eyes begin to well up and overflow with tears because she knew that no matter how hard she was going to try to hold her husband, she would not be able to keep him there. And her tears soon turned into quiet sobs, as she so desperately did not want to let him go.

"And now, and I have planned this ceremony because I have a gift for you. Bulma, deep within my body dwells the seed of an exquisitely beautiful little blue haired girl, and I am here to give her to you tonight".

"Bulma, as she grows inside of you, come here to our quiet place often and know that I will be able to see you from the other world, and during those times when you yearn for my touch, just feel the breeze as it blows sensuously over your body and know that it will be me, savoring every beautiful inch of you".

"And I would like you to come back, right to this very this spot to give birth to my daughter and Bulma, she'll have blue hair and blue eyes and she'll be beautiful just like you. I want her to born right here on this very bed where we are about to make love and welcome her, and I want you to name her Bra. And the first time you hold my daughter to your breast, know that I will be right there beside you, holding the both of you in my heart, and even now I long to share that moment with you".

And Vegeta paused, struggling to restrain the contents of his breaking heart because this was the first time that he had ever said goodbye to her and as he watched Bulma sitting across openly weeping, he simply could not suppress his emotion any longer.

And she went to him and held him and both of them, husband and wife, wept together in each other's arms not wanting to say goodbye, not wanting to let each other go, but knowing also it was only for a time until they could met again when the fullness of Bulma's days were complete.

When their time of grieving had passed, Vegeta lead Bulma over the bed, and he watched her watch him as he slowly slid the white silk robe like jacket from her shoulders and untied the obi from around her waist. Without a word, Vegeta began to untie one by one, the tiny ribbons that held her long, white flowing silk gown in place, surprising her when he stopped with the one right below her waist. And he watched her watch him as he sensuously slid the white silk gown off her shoulders allowing it to hang at her slender hips.

With his onyx black eyes flashing, he smiled seductively at her as he dropped to his knees in front of her, and began ever so slowly to untie each ribbon on her white silk gown from the bottom up. And as he worked his way up, untying tiny ribbon by tiny ribbon, he stopped at her thigh and placed his hands gently on her hips, and gazed up at her. And he held her tightly as he began to nuzzle into her, his teeth searching for the end of each tiny ribbon, tugging it open, and tiny ribbon by tiny ribbon he slowly worked his way upward. And he was filled with love for her as he felt her legs begin to tremble and weaken, as she was so filled with desire for him that she could hardly stand. And he loved his wife that night in a way that was yet another first for him. When he was certain the time was right, he picked her up and laid her on the bed he had prepared for her.

And knowing that the evening was not about him, he determined to make love with her simply, and with all the love his heart for her, and so he laid her down, removed his own garments and positioned himself over her and tenderly placed himself deep within her, and whispered for her lie very still, and just take him and savor him. And he moved in harmony with her body's responses to him, intensifying his movements as her passion intensified. He held her face in his hands so he watch her eyes as he made love with her and he could always tell by her soft blue eyes when her time of exquisite pleasure was close. Vegeta wanted to enter that state with her and so he controlled his passion until her time of abandon overtook her, and at that exact moment, he released the seed containing his baby girl to Bulma, and he knew in heart that his daughter would be wild and passionate just like him. And when their passion had subsided, all Vegeta wanted to do was hold his wife while she fell asleep in his arms, telling her that when she awoke, he would be gone.

When Bulma asked him why didn't want to stay to talk to Trunks, Vegeta simply smiled, and told her that he and his son had been together all day, and that it was Trunks who helped him prepare the quiet place. And quietly weeping, Bulma lie there, spooned in her husband's powerful arms, waiting for him to enter her as he always did when they feel asleep together regardless of how many times they had just made love. And those times when her body desired release because of his touch, he was there for her, but mostly it was his time, and she loved him for it, and she had become accustomed to being rocked to sleep in this manner, safely tucked away in Vegeta's arms.

Bulma realized that both her body as well as her heart would miss him beyond words. And soon, the familiar rocking and sensations he was creating within her lolled her off to sleep, in spite of herself.

When he was certain she was soundly asleep, he quietly withdrew himself from her as to not wake her, replaced his garments, and began to fly back to Kami's lookout to meet Baba who would escort him back to the earth's check in station.

Vegeta arrived at Kami's lookout only to see the big and brave, gruff and green Namek standing there, struggling to suppress his tears and not doing a very good job of it. Up to that very moment, Gohan was the only other person he had wept over.

"Namek, you're pathetic!" The proud Prince said with a wicked smile on his tear stained face. "You weep almost as much as I do. Take care them for me, Piccolo."

As soon as he was done speaking, and even before Baba had arrived, Vegeta found himself standing at the doorway to the earth's check in station to the other world, but before he could cross through the door, a bizarre little creature with a silly little horn in the middle of forehead stopped Vegeta and told him that it was time for him to get on board the small plane that had just landed on the special landing strip to the north. And soon as he got on board the only other passenger was an exquisitely beautiful little former Saiyan Queen, and she was smiling excitedly at him.

"Sit down, Vegeta, we're going home."

"What? Home? What are you talking about woman?'

"You'll see".

The journey seemed endless to Vegeta. He didn't know where he was going and he didn't like it. But he refused to look over at his 20-year-old mother and ask 'are we there yet, mommy', so he sat in an uneasy, frustrating silence. But eventually, the plane landed and several Saiyan warriors all dressed in a similar fashion to him met the plane as it landed. As he got off the plane, Vegeta was in awe and he felt as though he had just stepped back in time to a far away and distant time in Saiyan culture, as the stories he had been told about Vegetasei in the times prior to Frieza were coming to life before his very eyes. There were no vehicles anywhere, and no signs of technology, and the warriors had arrived on horseback and had brought two additional horses with them, one for Anuhea, and the other for him.

"Hurry Prince Vegeta", they said, "we don't want to be late!"

And they rode for nearly an hour, finally approaching a palace literally flourishing with activity, and again, Vegeta asked Anuhea what was happening and why they were there were in the first place.

"A coronation is taking place today, my son. Now hurry and get dressed! The Old One will show you where you need to go, and what you need to do." And with that, the Old One, who had befriended Anuhea all those years ago, proudly escorted Vegeta to his room.

And Vegeta could scarcely believe the garments that were laid out for him to wear. Everything was white, except for the robe. The leggings were form fitting, meant to tucked inside of the soft white leather boots, and the tunic cut at his mid thigh and it was fastened by elongated beads of ivory which were inserted into embroidered loops sewn directly across from them. It was long sleeved, and hand embroidered at the end of sleeves, with the embroidery traveling halfway up each forearm.

But the robe! The robe was meant to be worn over his shoulders, brushing the floor as he walked. And it was held together with a single clasp at his upper chest and its upturned collar just barely touched him at his hairline, and a soft white fur edged the perimeter. The robe itself, in contrast to the white silk garments it was meant to be worn over, was brilliantly colored with in hues of reds and ambers, each swirling together and into each other and blending together. And after he had prepared himself, he walked alone down a long hallway, and as soon as he opened the large double doors, the music began.

And the hall was filled with Saiyan warriors and royalty and their families who had gathered together from all of the different ages of antiquity, and they stood to their feet as Vegeta passed by. And covering every square inch of the walls in that great auditorium were the portraits of former Saiyan Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses of old and their families, who had taken their honored places among them. Vegeta approached the thrones where the great King and Queen sat, and he noticed that the king was holding a crown in his hands, and on the wall behind him, there was room for only four more paintings, and once those were in place, every inch of the auditorium would be covered by the portraits of Saiyan royalty. And as he stood before that great king, the crown was placed upon Vegeta's head and a portrait of him was placed upon the wall right beside Queen Anuhea's, leaving the only three remaining spots available directly to right beside his portrait. When Vegeta asked whose portraits would fill those spots, he was reminded that he had a wife, a son, and an unborn daughter who would be joining him one day.

And with that, Vegeta, who had sought so desperately all of his life this type of recognition and honor, suddenly realized all that he had truly sacrificed to achieve it. And rather than feeling the intense pride he always imagined himself to be feeling at a moment like this, he was filled instead with a deep sense of longing and grief, and all he wanted to do was go home to Capsule Corporation. And there, in front of everyone, ashamed of his emotion but unable to suppress it, and wishing he either knew instant transmission or could just disappear and unable to either, he buried his face in his hands and began to weep.

Much to his amazement, the great King arose from his throne, and in front of all those thousands of fierce and legendary Saiyan warriors of old, he embraced Vegeta, enveloping the proud Prince in his massive arms, telling him that it was okay to weep openly and freely, because tears brought life, telling him also to never again feel shame for being who he truly was. And he continued to tell Vegeta that he belonged to a strong warrior race of people who lived and loved passionately, and fought passionately, and yes, even wept passionately. He went on to tell the proud Prince that they were the Saiyan race of old, existing prior to the destruction caused by Frieza, and that somehow, he, Vegeta, had been born completely connected to the old ways, which was why he could transform. The King then told Vegeta that the one called Kakarotto and his family had also been invited to join their ranks one day, and would live out eternity on the heavenly Vegetasei as well.

And the great King himself was now openly weeping because of the compassion he felt in his heart for the wounded warrior in his gigantic arms. And so, having ability to heal, he reached down deep into those hidden places of Vegeta's heart and drew out and healed all the pain and humiliation that Vegeta had suffered at the hands of Frieza. And finally, for the first time since he was just a small boy, Vegeta felt free. The great Saiyan King then told Vegeta to fully embrace every part of who he was, even his tears, because he was strong, one of the strongest warriors the King had ever seen.

"And now, Prince Vegeta, you must forever chose your path. One will lead to us, and the other will lead you back to the land of the living and your family."

"What? Why?… I do not understand!"

"Prince Vegeta, the fullness of your days have not yet passed and it is not your time to be here. And as soon as you began to realize that you could openly carry love in your heart and still be a fierce and powerful warrior, your heart began to long for home. And that is why, at Anuhea's request, we brought you here, so that you could see that your life is now truly in balance. And we brought you here, still fully alive, to give you the chance to think again about what it is you truly wish to do."

"You must now chose your path Prince Vegeta, one will end your life prematurely, and the other will take you home where you belong. But before you go, leave the crown and robe!" And the great King said all these things smiling, his face still wet from the tears he had just shed.

Prince Vegeta bowed before his King, then removed the royal robe from his shoulders and draped it over the King's outstretched arms. Next, the Prince removed the crown from his head and placed it upon the robe, and then he turned and embraced the exquisitely beautiful, tiny Saiyan Queen who had never left his side the entire time. And for the first time in 33 years she heard her son say the words, 'I love you'.

And the instant before the great King of the heavenly Vegetasei was about to teleport Vegeta back to Kami's lookout, Vegeta noticed there was something different about his portrait. When it had been hung just moments before, there was no robe around his shoulders, one now was draped there, and where there was no crown, one now appeared on his head. And the coronation ceremony that he had waited all his life for, and deserved, was complete.

In a heartbeat, he was standing back on Kami's lookout where he had only been gone for a just a split second, making it look as though he had never left at all. And when he saw everyone - Kakarrot, Gohan, Krillen, Tienshinhan, Master Roshi, Oolong, and Puar (who left Yamcha at home), all begin to walk out onto the courtyard of the lookout, he realized that they had gathered to try and talk him out of going back to other world.

And while Vegeta had just been though a life changing experience, he was still Vegeta, and the sly warrior decided to toy with them for a while. After all, he knew he was staying in the land of living, but they didn't. And he wanted to hear everything they would say to him as they attempted to talk him into staying. Then when all was said and done, he determined to play hard to get for a while. And then he planned to shock them all by flinging his arms up into the air and using his best 'Yammi' falsetto voice say, 'Oh, okay. Guess I'll stay then. Bye!' But he also fully planned to put an end to his little game should a sudden and emotional group hug loom on the horizon.

'This should be good!' he thought to himself with a certain amount of glee as he turned his back to them, looking over the edge of the lookout so that no telltale signs of amusement could be seen on his face. To the others, it looked as though he was grieving and they were deeply touched to see him this way.

"You didn't think we'd just let you leave and not say goodbye, did you Vegeta?" Kakarrot said as he walked up to him. "She needs you Vegeta, please change your mind and stay with her".

And then, of all the warriors there, the typically quiet Tienshinhan walked up to Vegeta.

"Vegeta, I too have a difficult time living in this world that doesn't understand my need for my culture and tradition, which is why I spend most of my time high in the mountains away from everyone. But that doesn't mean I just run away to an easier place whenever I get my feelings hurt. And while, up to this very moment, I did not like you and still don't, I at least had respect for you and for your position as both warrior and Prince, but if you turn tail and run now, that respect will be gone".

And smiling to himself, Vegeta made a mental note to add that statement to his list of things to remember.

"I guess what we're all trying to say, Vegeta" Master Roshi piped in, "is that none of us want you to go back to other world. We think it would be a darned shame if you made that choice. Your wife and son would be alone, and the earth's special forces would be minus one of its best fighters".

"Vegeta", Gohan began "you've been around almost all of my life. And for most that time, I've either hated you or been afraid of you, or both. And man, Vegeta, you're more powerful now than you've ever been but I'm not scared of you any more, and I kind of like to know who you are now, you know? And you know what else Vegeta, even though most of me understood why my dad chose to stay in the other world for seven years, I still thought that if he really wanted to be my dad, he would have stayed with me". And with that, Vegeta turned to look at Kakarrot, who looked as though Gohan had just slapped him right across the face.

And Gohan too, was looking at his father as he continued.

"Vegeta, don't do that to Trunks. He needs you, just like I needed my dad. And I always felt sort of jealous that Trunks had his father around every day and I didn't. Don't go back, don't make the same mistake with Trunks that my dad did with me. He's told you he's okay with this, but he's heartbroken Vegeta, you mean the world to him".

And Vegeta continued to watch in amazement as Kakarrot walked right up to his adult son, and embraced him and wept openly in front of everyone, completely without shame. 'I hate him, but he too is a warrior of old', Vegeta thought to himself, and was rather amused to think that he would be able to spend eternity trying to beat Kakarrot to a pulp. And he liked that, in an arrogant sort of way.

"Vegeta, look" And with that, Piccolo cleared a window down to earth where Bulma had just woke up to find him gone.

And Vegeta watched her as she lie there weeping tears that literally emanated from the very center of being. She was completely heartbroken and he was filled with compassion and passion for her. And as he imagined holding her tightly in his arms again, realizing that he could still detect the faint scent and taste of his mate on his body from the night before, his body began to respond to the desire in his heart, straining against its confines, and he determined to take to flight at that very moment to go to her.

Krillen had chosen just that very moment to walk up to the very deep in thought and impassioned Prince, and all he did was pat Vegeta on the back in an act of attempted friendship and so totally surprised Vegeta that he nearly launched himself wildly into the air rather than down to Bulma. And he realized that the sudden surge of adrenaline not only affected him adversely causing him to want to jump out of his skin, but that part of him that belonged to Bulma that was becoming so ready for her went into shock as well. And he looked down at himself, and he feared that it might take days for his body to wish to come out hiding again. And Vegeta's thoughts quickly turned to Krillen and the infinite number of ways he could maim and torture him and dismember him for the unwarranted interruption.

"Go to her, Vegeta." Krillen quietly urged Vegeta, still touching him. "Don't leave her again".

"I hate you, Krillen!" Vegeta snapped, still staring down at Bulma and still struggling to regain his composure. "Now take your fucking hands off me!"

And at that moment, Krillen held his breath and literally waited for death to come and Vegeta smiled to himself as he realized that he enjoyed being able to do that to him. Vegeta also realized how difficult it must have been for his fellow warrior to attempt to befriend him that way and so his intense frustration quickly subsided.

"But I thank you. And rest assured that it is only in my mind that I shall continue to dismember you." And with that, he smiled.

"Trunks! You are yet not skilled enough yet to hide your ki from me and get away with it. Stop trying to hide and come out here right now son, and let's go home".

And just as father and son were about to fly down to gather up Bulma and take her home, a realization hit Vegeta with the power of an energy blast. So he stopped, turned around and walked up to Piccolo.

"Namek! When you and Dende watch us down there, just how much do you actually see us do?!"

And with that, Piccolo, knowing what that he always stayed true to his ethics, turned a questioning look to Dende, and he simply had no idea that someone so green could turn so many different shades of red, all at the same time!

"Dende!" Piccolo scolded. "You know we're not supposed to peek!" And too embarrassed to ever face anyone again, Dende went running inside and down the halls and into the basement until he could no longer hear the sounds of their uncontrollable laughter!

And a time of peace had returned to land of the living.

"Something good happened right before he left that world.

His heart was opened up". *

King Kai

And Vegeta and Bulma went on to live out the fullness of their days together and had many wild and sometimes difficult adventures, but never parted again. And so they determined that when the time came, they would journey to the other world together.

Then one night, after they had made love as they had done every night they were together, the elderly couple fell into a deep sleep and awoke to find themselves standing beside each other at the entrance to the earth's check in station. After King Yemma processed them, a familiar little plane landed on the special airstrip to the north, and the same odd looking creature with the small horn in the middle of his forehead indicated for them to board the plane. And Vegeta wondered if someone like Bulma would be happy on the heavenly Vegetasei because it had no technology.

But when they landed, several attendants met the plane and handed Bulma a small Capsule Corporation container with various capsules enclosed. They also handed Vegeta and Bulma a map to the new home that had been specially prepared for them. And so Bulma chose a fast air car and they were off on their first heavenly adventure. Neither of them could believe their eyes as they saw an exact replica of Capsule Corporation waiting to greet them. They walked in to find replicas of everything they owned and had loved in the land of the living.

Both were drawn to kitchen where numerous maps were spread out on the table for them. One of the maps showed the layout of the heavenly Vegetasei, including Anuhea's mountain village and her street address. It also showed the exact location of Kakarrot's house, which was on the far side of the planet.

Another map showed the locations of the thousands of planets in the other world along with directions for how to journey there. And when Bulma found the heavenly Earth, it even pinpointed where Mr. And Mrs. Briefs home was.

For Vegeta, there was a schedule of all the upcoming other world tournaments for all eternity. There was also a personal invitation from the Grand Kai himself, asking them to visit him the day after tomorrow. Then when Vegeta and Bulma looked at each other, they both had become young again, and overjoyed, they rushed upstairs to that familiar bedroom and spent all that day there. And they realized that they were now in a place where everyone got what they truly needed.

And on another part of the heavenly Vegetasei, a palace was flourishing with activity as the legendary warriors and royalty of old had gathered to watch as the newest member of royalty had joined their ranks. And the portrait of the blue-haired, blue-eyed wife of Prince Vegeta was hung on the wall. In her portrait, she was wearing a white silk grown that was fastened together by dozens of tiny embroidered ribbons, meant to be tied together in tiny bows and a white robe like coat was worn over the gown. After the portrait was set in place they arose to their feet clapping, and they welcomed Bulma to their ranks as she had taken her rightful place beside her husband among the legendary Saiyan warriors of old.

****

And so ends The Shattering, a story written about the life changing power of love in a bitter and ruthless warrior, who learned to survive by hating the fact that love even existed and who set out to destroy it for his own pleasure as he had done to those lovers on the planet Arlia all those many years ago. Yet, he encountered a beautiful blue haired, blue eyed woman one day on the Planet Namek and his life was forever changed, as she along with his son Trunks, staked claims on his heart that became so large it was simply not possible to drive them out, no matter how hard he tried. And one by one, his barriers to love shattered until one day, he was set free.

And on to the epilogue…

* Episode 72, The Ultimate Battle