PART 5 Vegeta's True Feelings
Sasami opened the envelope quickly. There was a wad of papers
stuffed inside. She straightened it out and read it. It was so
long that she didn't even finish it by the time she got to
Okayama.
[So this was what Gohan was working on last night.] she thought.
"Mother, may we PLEASE see father the next morrow?" Asahi asked.
"Asahi, why would you want to see him?" Aeka asked.
"It would be a pleasure to see father because he is cool!" Asahi
replied. Aeka giggled and patted her son on his head.
"When you're older, you'll understand why I can't let you see
him." Aeka explained. "This is a matter between you and your father."
"B-But..."
"No excuses Asahi! Now get to bed." Asahi diligently went into
bed and tucked himself in.
"May I PLEASE hear father's story, mother?"
"Asahi, why do you admire him so much?"
"I don't know."
"Well, I don't know much about your father."
"Then how'd you meet?"
"I told you, we were engaged by grandfather and the Jurai Royal
Council. Not much of a story."
"Then how'd you gt married? If you are my mom and dad then you
probably got married!"
"Well...I can't keep it from you forever. Me and your father
never did get married."
"What? But grandfather and the council..."
"He never married me."
"Why?"
"Because...I don't know."
"You didn't know what, mommy?"
"I don't know why he forgot to marry me..." Tears were filling
Aeka's eyes and Asahi noticed. He got up and wiped them away.
"I'm sorry, mommy. I won't ask you to talk about daddy."
Aeka smiled and hugged her son. She tucked him into bed.
"Good night, mommy." Asahi said.
"Good night, Asahi." Aeka said. Then she turned around. "Asahi, I
don't know if your father really loved me but I know that he'll
learn to love you."
Aeka was at Capsule Corp. the next day. She had to talk to him.
She used a bus again this time and she didn't want her money to
just be wasted. She looked in the room where she last saw Vegeta.
She heard him in there again. The door was ajar and she slowly
pushed it open. Vegeta was carrying weights three times as the last
one with no difficulties at all. If she tried to carry something
like that, she would hurt every muscle in her body. She stepped in
lightly and went toward Vegeta.
"Good morning, Vegeta." she said. Vegeta turned to her with his
ferocious look.
"Get out, woman!" he said.
"I didn't finish what I wanted to do the last time." Aeka said.
Vegeta dropped the weights slowly and stood up. He walked past
Aeka to the door. Aeka didn't want to let him go so easily. She
grabbed his wrist.
"This is not about me, it's about Asahi." Aeka said.
"I don't care about him!" Vegeta said, trying to pull away his
hand. But he didn't put any effort into it and Aeka still had him.
"I know you're his father, Vegeta. You're the only one I've...
I've...ever...I've ever... I know you're his father!"
"Listen, I already have a son that I'm having trouble with and
I don't need any more!"
"Then why did you come into my life?"
"I never wanted to marry you!"
"Me neither but now I do. And I know that once, you did too!"
"Stop bothering me, woman!"
"You started it and I want you to admit you're Asahi's father!
Every night, he asks me about you and I can't because you don't
want to admit you are his father and that you ever cared for him!
He admires you so much..."
"Then lie to him! Tell him he's some other bloody man's son!"
"I don't want to."
"I don't either but I'm married, can't you see?! I never thought
this would happen!" He grabbed his hand away from Aeka's grasp and
left her. Aeka squeezed her hand into a fist. Then a drop of
water stained her sleeve.
"Do you have to go so early, dear?" Mrs. Briefs asked Aeka.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Briefs but I must go to Okayama now."
"Why don't you stay here? The shed will always be yours to stay
in. And you can take one of the rooms here if you'd like."
"Are you certain it won't be a bother to you?"
"Of course not! You're always welcome here!"
"Well, I really didn't see you for such a long time. I guess I
would love to accept!"
"Wonderful!"
Aeka dialed the Masaki phone number. The phone rang.
#"Hello?" asked a familiar voice. #"This is the Masaki residence."#
"Hello? Sasami?" Aeka asked.
#"Hi, Aeka!"# said Sasami.
"Sasami, it seems that I'll be staying here with the Briefs for
the night. Please tell Asahi."
#"Don't worry, Aeka."#
"And if he asks you a story, never tell him about...about Vegeta."
#"Why not?"#
"He's too young to know."
#"I'll try."#
"Well, I have nothing else to say. Make sure he gets to bed on
time, alright?"
#"Of course."#
"Well, goodbye, Sasami."
#"Bye! And don't worry."#
Aeka put the phone down. Then she went to the shed garden. In the
shadows, a figure has listened to her conversation on the phone.
"I'm sorry..."
That night, Aeka decided to stay at the Capsule Corp. building
instead of the shed. She didn't want to sleep all by herself in
such a big place. She was given a guest room on the second floor.
That evening, she didn't have any dinner because she was afraid to
see the married Vegeta and his family. She couldn't after the last
couple of meetings. The one with Asahi and the kiss... Aeka was
tossing and turning in her bed. The sheets were all array.
"Please don't leave!" she said in her sleep. "Vegeta..."
Then Aeka was awoken by shaking. Th night wasn't as dark as it
was in Okayama but she still couldn't make out who had awoken her.
Before she could speak, a rough finger was placed onto her lips to
silence her. She reached up to the hand that the finger belonged to.
It was a strong, well-defined hand. She went furthur and felt its
wrist. The pulse was fast and strong. Then she felt the bulging
muscles of the arm. A warrior. But who? She placed her hand back to
the other person's hand and she lifted it off her.
"Who are you?" she whispered. He didn't answer. She could tell it
was a man. Then he gently caressed her cheek with his hand and lifted
her chin. Aeka felt his lips press against hers. Then she knew
immediately who it was. She could tell from how he kissed her.
She pushed him away.
"Why do you do this?" she whispered.
"I can't help it." he said. "Let's just pretend that this is a
dream, Aeka."
Aeka knew that she certainly was correct. It was Vegeta. She
could never forget the rough kiss of his. Then he kissed her again.
This time, it was only her dream.
The next morning, Aeka was sitting on her bed, thinking about last
night. When Vegeta came. When he kissed her and she kissed him
back...and it was wrong. But it was just a dream. It didn't really
happen. But she was only pretending it was a dream and she and
Vegeta both knew that it was real. They both wanted an excuse to
say that it never happened because they knew it was wrong and they
both were desperate for it. That night was also when Vegeta told her
his true feelings and the truth. He knew that Asahi was his son
and that he was very proud to have such a good son but he he couldn't
admit this because it would disgrace him if he gave a son to someone
other than his wife.
(flashback)
"But if you love me, why didn't you marry me?" Aeka asked.
"I forgot you." Vegeta said. "It was years ago."
"Then why didn't you come when you DID remember me?"
"I didn't remember you. But why didn't YOU come?"
"Am I not here right now?"
"Why didn't you come earlier?"
"I didn't know if you had enough time to think. You train so much
and...and Bulma..."
"I don't care about her."
"Then why did you marry her?"
"I...she proposed to me and I had to do it as a favor to my
children. But I still care about you! And I'm...I care about Asahi."
"You do?"
"I said those things because it is dishonorable to give a child
to a woman who is not your wife."
"Then you didn't mean all that?"
"No."
(end flashback)
He said he cared about Asahi but it was only a dream. What if none
of that were true?
"Good night, Asahi." Aeka whispered. Asahi was already asleep.
Aeka went downstairs and sat on the couch. She was really tired
and she fell asleep on the couch. When she woke up, it was dark.
Then she heard footsteps coming down.
"Oh, Aeka, you're awake." she heard a voice say. She looked behind
her and saw Tenchi.
"Hello, Tenchi. What are you doing up so late?" she asked.
"I just wanted to get a glass of water." replied Tenchi. "Would
you like one?"
"No, thank you." Aeka said. Then Tenchi went into the kitchen and
came out with his glass of water. When he came back into the living
room, Aeka looked worried about something.
"Hey Aeka, are you upset about something?" he asked.
"Tenchi, I-I am." Aeka replied.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Probably..."
Tenchi sat down next to Aeka. He looked at her. She was really
disappointed about something.
"So?"
"I'm worried about Asahi."
"What about him?"
"I'm worried that his father might not want him."
"Who IS his father?"
"I...it's..."
"No, never mind. You don't want to talk about him, I can see that."
"I have to tell somebody. I didn't even tell Sasami about it.
Only my father knows."
"You don't have to tell me, Aeka. I completely understand."
"But I..."
"I know you don't want to tell anybody."
"I should..."
"You don't have to tell me. I can see that you want to keep it
a secret and I'm perfectly fine with it. It's really OK, you see..."
"It's Vegeta!"
Tenchi stopped and stared at Aeka. Vegeta? Her and Vegeta? He
couldn't understand. It was completely out of his state of mind.
"So Vegeta's the father..."
"I know it's pretty unbelievable. I don't believe it myself."
"You mean that you and Vegeta..."
"Yes. And that's why I can't tell Asahi."
"Why not?"
"I don't know if Vegeta wants him. He already has two children."
"He does?"
"Yes. And a...a wife..."
"I'm sorry, Aeka."
"Don't be, Tenchi. It's all really my fault."
"You don't have to tell me about it."
Then Aeka stopped talking. She sounded choked.
"Are you alright, Aeka?" he asked worriedly.
"I-I'm fine." she stammered. Tenchi put his hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Oh Tenchi! I'm so confused." she said. "And I don't know what to
do anymore. I don't."
Tenchi held her close.
"It's going to be OK, Aeka. Trust me."
Sasami opened the envelope quickly. There was a wad of papers
stuffed inside. She straightened it out and read it. It was so
long that she didn't even finish it by the time she got to
Okayama.
[So this was what Gohan was working on last night.] she thought.
"Mother, may we PLEASE see father the next morrow?" Asahi asked.
"Asahi, why would you want to see him?" Aeka asked.
"It would be a pleasure to see father because he is cool!" Asahi
replied. Aeka giggled and patted her son on his head.
"When you're older, you'll understand why I can't let you see
him." Aeka explained. "This is a matter between you and your father."
"B-But..."
"No excuses Asahi! Now get to bed." Asahi diligently went into
bed and tucked himself in.
"May I PLEASE hear father's story, mother?"
"Asahi, why do you admire him so much?"
"I don't know."
"Well, I don't know much about your father."
"Then how'd you meet?"
"I told you, we were engaged by grandfather and the Jurai Royal
Council. Not much of a story."
"Then how'd you gt married? If you are my mom and dad then you
probably got married!"
"Well...I can't keep it from you forever. Me and your father
never did get married."
"What? But grandfather and the council..."
"He never married me."
"Why?"
"Because...I don't know."
"You didn't know what, mommy?"
"I don't know why he forgot to marry me..." Tears were filling
Aeka's eyes and Asahi noticed. He got up and wiped them away.
"I'm sorry, mommy. I won't ask you to talk about daddy."
Aeka smiled and hugged her son. She tucked him into bed.
"Good night, mommy." Asahi said.
"Good night, Asahi." Aeka said. Then she turned around. "Asahi, I
don't know if your father really loved me but I know that he'll
learn to love you."
Aeka was at Capsule Corp. the next day. She had to talk to him.
She used a bus again this time and she didn't want her money to
just be wasted. She looked in the room where she last saw Vegeta.
She heard him in there again. The door was ajar and she slowly
pushed it open. Vegeta was carrying weights three times as the last
one with no difficulties at all. If she tried to carry something
like that, she would hurt every muscle in her body. She stepped in
lightly and went toward Vegeta.
"Good morning, Vegeta." she said. Vegeta turned to her with his
ferocious look.
"Get out, woman!" he said.
"I didn't finish what I wanted to do the last time." Aeka said.
Vegeta dropped the weights slowly and stood up. He walked past
Aeka to the door. Aeka didn't want to let him go so easily. She
grabbed his wrist.
"This is not about me, it's about Asahi." Aeka said.
"I don't care about him!" Vegeta said, trying to pull away his
hand. But he didn't put any effort into it and Aeka still had him.
"I know you're his father, Vegeta. You're the only one I've...
I've...ever...I've ever... I know you're his father!"
"Listen, I already have a son that I'm having trouble with and
I don't need any more!"
"Then why did you come into my life?"
"I never wanted to marry you!"
"Me neither but now I do. And I know that once, you did too!"
"Stop bothering me, woman!"
"You started it and I want you to admit you're Asahi's father!
Every night, he asks me about you and I can't because you don't
want to admit you are his father and that you ever cared for him!
He admires you so much..."
"Then lie to him! Tell him he's some other bloody man's son!"
"I don't want to."
"I don't either but I'm married, can't you see?! I never thought
this would happen!" He grabbed his hand away from Aeka's grasp and
left her. Aeka squeezed her hand into a fist. Then a drop of
water stained her sleeve.
"Do you have to go so early, dear?" Mrs. Briefs asked Aeka.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Briefs but I must go to Okayama now."
"Why don't you stay here? The shed will always be yours to stay
in. And you can take one of the rooms here if you'd like."
"Are you certain it won't be a bother to you?"
"Of course not! You're always welcome here!"
"Well, I really didn't see you for such a long time. I guess I
would love to accept!"
"Wonderful!"
Aeka dialed the Masaki phone number. The phone rang.
#"Hello?" asked a familiar voice. #"This is the Masaki residence."#
"Hello? Sasami?" Aeka asked.
#"Hi, Aeka!"# said Sasami.
"Sasami, it seems that I'll be staying here with the Briefs for
the night. Please tell Asahi."
#"Don't worry, Aeka."#
"And if he asks you a story, never tell him about...about Vegeta."
#"Why not?"#
"He's too young to know."
#"I'll try."#
"Well, I have nothing else to say. Make sure he gets to bed on
time, alright?"
#"Of course."#
"Well, goodbye, Sasami."
#"Bye! And don't worry."#
Aeka put the phone down. Then she went to the shed garden. In the
shadows, a figure has listened to her conversation on the phone.
"I'm sorry..."
That night, Aeka decided to stay at the Capsule Corp. building
instead of the shed. She didn't want to sleep all by herself in
such a big place. She was given a guest room on the second floor.
That evening, she didn't have any dinner because she was afraid to
see the married Vegeta and his family. She couldn't after the last
couple of meetings. The one with Asahi and the kiss... Aeka was
tossing and turning in her bed. The sheets were all array.
"Please don't leave!" she said in her sleep. "Vegeta..."
Then Aeka was awoken by shaking. Th night wasn't as dark as it
was in Okayama but she still couldn't make out who had awoken her.
Before she could speak, a rough finger was placed onto her lips to
silence her. She reached up to the hand that the finger belonged to.
It was a strong, well-defined hand. She went furthur and felt its
wrist. The pulse was fast and strong. Then she felt the bulging
muscles of the arm. A warrior. But who? She placed her hand back to
the other person's hand and she lifted it off her.
"Who are you?" she whispered. He didn't answer. She could tell it
was a man. Then he gently caressed her cheek with his hand and lifted
her chin. Aeka felt his lips press against hers. Then she knew
immediately who it was. She could tell from how he kissed her.
She pushed him away.
"Why do you do this?" she whispered.
"I can't help it." he said. "Let's just pretend that this is a
dream, Aeka."
Aeka knew that she certainly was correct. It was Vegeta. She
could never forget the rough kiss of his. Then he kissed her again.
This time, it was only her dream.
The next morning, Aeka was sitting on her bed, thinking about last
night. When Vegeta came. When he kissed her and she kissed him
back...and it was wrong. But it was just a dream. It didn't really
happen. But she was only pretending it was a dream and she and
Vegeta both knew that it was real. They both wanted an excuse to
say that it never happened because they knew it was wrong and they
both were desperate for it. That night was also when Vegeta told her
his true feelings and the truth. He knew that Asahi was his son
and that he was very proud to have such a good son but he he couldn't
admit this because it would disgrace him if he gave a son to someone
other than his wife.
(flashback)
"But if you love me, why didn't you marry me?" Aeka asked.
"I forgot you." Vegeta said. "It was years ago."
"Then why didn't you come when you DID remember me?"
"I didn't remember you. But why didn't YOU come?"
"Am I not here right now?"
"Why didn't you come earlier?"
"I didn't know if you had enough time to think. You train so much
and...and Bulma..."
"I don't care about her."
"Then why did you marry her?"
"I...she proposed to me and I had to do it as a favor to my
children. But I still care about you! And I'm...I care about Asahi."
"You do?"
"I said those things because it is dishonorable to give a child
to a woman who is not your wife."
"Then you didn't mean all that?"
"No."
(end flashback)
He said he cared about Asahi but it was only a dream. What if none
of that were true?
"Good night, Asahi." Aeka whispered. Asahi was already asleep.
Aeka went downstairs and sat on the couch. She was really tired
and she fell asleep on the couch. When she woke up, it was dark.
Then she heard footsteps coming down.
"Oh, Aeka, you're awake." she heard a voice say. She looked behind
her and saw Tenchi.
"Hello, Tenchi. What are you doing up so late?" she asked.
"I just wanted to get a glass of water." replied Tenchi. "Would
you like one?"
"No, thank you." Aeka said. Then Tenchi went into the kitchen and
came out with his glass of water. When he came back into the living
room, Aeka looked worried about something.
"Hey Aeka, are you upset about something?" he asked.
"Tenchi, I-I am." Aeka replied.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Probably..."
Tenchi sat down next to Aeka. He looked at her. She was really
disappointed about something.
"So?"
"I'm worried about Asahi."
"What about him?"
"I'm worried that his father might not want him."
"Who IS his father?"
"I...it's..."
"No, never mind. You don't want to talk about him, I can see that."
"I have to tell somebody. I didn't even tell Sasami about it.
Only my father knows."
"You don't have to tell me, Aeka. I completely understand."
"But I..."
"I know you don't want to tell anybody."
"I should..."
"You don't have to tell me. I can see that you want to keep it
a secret and I'm perfectly fine with it. It's really OK, you see..."
"It's Vegeta!"
Tenchi stopped and stared at Aeka. Vegeta? Her and Vegeta? He
couldn't understand. It was completely out of his state of mind.
"So Vegeta's the father..."
"I know it's pretty unbelievable. I don't believe it myself."
"You mean that you and Vegeta..."
"Yes. And that's why I can't tell Asahi."
"Why not?"
"I don't know if Vegeta wants him. He already has two children."
"He does?"
"Yes. And a...a wife..."
"I'm sorry, Aeka."
"Don't be, Tenchi. It's all really my fault."
"You don't have to tell me about it."
Then Aeka stopped talking. She sounded choked.
"Are you alright, Aeka?" he asked worriedly.
"I-I'm fine." she stammered. Tenchi put his hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Oh Tenchi! I'm so confused." she said. "And I don't know what to
do anymore. I don't."
Tenchi held her close.
"It's going to be OK, Aeka. Trust me."