And quietly from the other world, a gathering of familiar faces -- Krillin, 18, and Marron, Piccolo (who was allowed by King Yemma to return to heaven), Master Roshi, Tien, Chiaoutzu, OxKing, Puar, Oolong, and even Yamcha, who stood at a safe distance, Mr. and Mrs. Briefs, and Goku, ChiChi, Gohan, Videl and Goten, as well as Queen Anuhea, Vegeta, Bulma, Trunks, and Bra -- all joined to together to watch as little Vegeta, Jr., and little Goku, Jr., took their places on the arena floor of that Tenkaichi Budoukai taking place in the world of the living, some 100 years in the future.

"You've done well in your lifetimes, my son and my daughter" the still young and exquisitely beautiful, former Saiyan Queen Anuhea said proudly to Vegeta and Bulma.

"Just look at him!" the wild little Queen beamed. "He looks just like you, Vegeta!"

"Vegeta, that little warrior exists today only because you, my son, in the face of great adversity, chose life rather than death, chose love rather than hate, and chose to create rather than to destroy".

And the onyx black eyes of the exquisitely beautiful, tiny Anuhea welled with tears as she smiled proudly at Vegeta, knowing that her son had indeed assumed his place with the legendary Saiyan warriors of old. And the onyx black eyes of the proud Prince welled with tears as he smiled right back, knowing that she knew.

When she walked up to him and embraced him, he didn't turn her away even though he knew everyone was watching.

****

Greetings from the author:

In the anime world of Akira Toriyama's DBZ and DBGT, Vegeta starts out as a ruthless killer and almost 30 years later, ends up a proud middle-aged warrior completely devoted to Bulma and to his family. He goes on to have a daughter named Bra, who he adores and spoils rotten. And apart from his time spent in the other world after he sacrifices himself to try to destroy Majin Buu, he stays with his family on a daily basis from the conclusion of the Cell Games forward to the end of DBGT. The power of love in his character's life changes Vegeta dramatically, and throughout the anime, the passionate Prince cries more times than even Krillen. He eventually even calls a truce with Kakarotto and together they fight Majin Buu -- and in a true act of impassioned heroics, Vegeta helps save the very earth he set out so long ago to destroy.

And although I will never know for sure, it is my belief that Akira Toriyama patterned the character of Vegeta after the noble Samurai warriors of old. And with that, I would like to include the following as a tribute to Toriyama as well as to the culture that produced this anime which has touched all of our lives so greatly. See if you can hear the sound of Vegeta's voice, somewhere, somehow, as you read the following.

The Samurai Creed

I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents.
I have no home; I make the Tan T'ien my home.
I have no divine power; I make honesty my Divine Power.
I have no means; I make Docility my means.
I have no magic power; I make personality my Magic Power.
I have neither life nor death; I make A Um my Life and Death.

I have no body; I make Stoicism my Body.
I have no eyes; I make The Flash of Lightning my eyes.
I have no ears; I make Sensibility my Ears.
I have no limbs; I make Promptitude my Limbs.
I have no laws; I make Self-Protection my Laws.

I have no strategy; I make the Right to Kill and the Right to Restore Life my Strategy.
I have no designs; I make Seizing the Opportunity by the Forelock my Designs.
I have no miracles; I make Righteous Laws my Miracle.
I have no principles; I make Adaptability to all circumstances my Principle.
I have no tactics; I make Emptiness and Fullness my Tactics.

I have no talent; I make Ready Wit my Talent.
I have no friends; I make my Mind my Friend.
I have no enemy; I make Incautiousness my Enemy.
I have no armour; I make Benevolence my Armour.
I have no castle; I make Immovable Mind my Castle.
I have no sword; I make No Mind my Sword.

Could you hear him?

****

"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".

"The samurai's life was like the cherry blossom's, beautiful and brief.

For him, as for the flower, death followed naturally, gloriously".

Ancient Warriors - The Samurai
The Learning Channel (1994)

****

P.S. Now let me finally tell you about conclusion of Vegeta's ultimate plan for revenge on Yamcha!

At that fateful Tenkaichi Budoukai which had turned out so tragically, a film was going to be shown to the world about how Satan "defeated" Cell. Well, the day before the tournament, Vegeta had switched out the videos, and a PG-13 version of a film of a slightly different nature titled, Yammilocks and The Three Horney Bears, was shown not only to the spectators in the arena, but was telecast into the homes and offices of viewers all around the world. Some of the were viewers speechless, and of some of them were outraged, and some them even liked it and asked if copies were for sale!

And likewise, the morning of the day before of the tournament, Vegeta had played the uncut XXX version of the video in private showing for Yamcha, just the two them, and he told Yamcha exactly what he was going to do with the other tape. Vegeta also took special care to make sure Yamcha fully understood what would happen should there be any type of interference with his plan. And by the time Vegeta left, Yamcha saw the film, saw the light, saw the error of his way, saw stars, and was still alive to see Vegeta walk out the door. But strangely enough, no one really ever saw Yamcha after that day……..

Thank you, Vegeta, for touching our lives. We love you.

LindaN

****

SOURCES

Dunn, Charles J. Everyday Life in Traditional Japan Tuttle 1969

McCullough, Helen C. The Tale of the Heike Standford 1988

Morris, Ivan The World of the Shining Prince Peregrine 1985

Sadler, A. L. (trans.) The Code of the Samurai Tuttle 1993

Turnbull, Stephen Samurai Armies 1550-1615 Osprey Military 1979

Yamamoto Tsunetomo Hagakure Kodansha 1983