PART 9 When Cherry Blossoms Start To Bloom
It had been about three months since Aeka and Yamucha realized
that they were in love with each other. But even though, Yamucha
didn't agree to be Asahi's father. He still had respect for
Aeka's son. Aeka didn't mind, but she worried about Asahi
constantly asking about his father. Aeka knew she would have to
tell him sometime. Aeka and Yamucha's relationship was a good
one. It wasn't that stable but it was a good, healthy bond. They
didn't go out to places and goof around like most couples. They
weren't even in a real boyfriend-girlfriend relaionship but they
still cared about each other. They never actually said 'I love
you' to each other but they showed how much they did on most
occasions. No one even knew that they loved each other in that
way. They never told anyone or made public displays of their
affections. As said earlier, they weren't in a real relationship
and they didn't think that they were ready for one. The others
just thought they were very close friends, although not close
enough to be lovers.
Aeka and Yamucha didn't kiss since that one time by the lake
during wintertime. They acted, in a way, shy towards one another
when they were expressing love. But they acted very normal as
friends. Asahi and Sasami sometimes went with them. They also
got together when it was a group thing. Tenchi liked having
another guy to talk with since he was surrounded by girls 24/7.
It sometimes seemed though, as if Yamucha was scared by the older
men who acted weird when they had some tea...or a lot of sake.
Aeka and Yamucha weren't always together when they decided to
go outside. Aeka and Asahi were outside looking at the cherry
blossoms. They were so beautiful for it was the first day of spring.
"Mommy, why don't we have these in Jurai?" Asahi asked.
"Why don't you ask the trees of Jurai themselves?" Aeka suggested.
"How?"
"If Washu isn't too busy, we can ask her to lend us her dimensional
doorway."
Aeka and Asahi went to Washu's lab.
"Excuse me? Miss Washu?" Aeka called out.
"Little Washu!" Asahi said.
"Somebody called me?" Washu said, her head popping out of nowhere.
"Oh, there you are." Aeka said. "Can we borrow your doorway to
Jurai?"
"I can let you borrow it but..."
"But what?"
"Jurai is very far and my doorway can only reach up to 29O,OOO
miles."
"Then how can we get there?"
"The trees at Capsule Corp. are genuine Jurain trees, aren't
they?" Washu said.
"Well..." Aeka said. Vegeta was there and she didn't know if she
could accept. She looked at Asahi's eager eyes and agreed.
Aeka and Asahi arrived at the Capsule Corp. shed. It was still
the same. They went to the garden.
"They're all green." Asahi said.
"Place your hand on a tree." Aeka instructed. Asahi did so.
"Now try to talk to it." she said.
"Mr. Tree, sir, why aren't you pink?" Asahi asked. Then he
waited and finally looked as if he had gotten a signal. Then he
took off his hand.
"He told me! He told me!" Asahi cheered. Then he faced his mother.
"Mother, doesn't father live here?" he asked.
"Well, Asahi..." Aeka said. She saw her son's eager eyes again.
"Yes. Yes, he does."
"Yay! Can we see him?"
"Oh, Asahi...well,...alright."
Aeka and Asahi went outside to the Capsule Corp. building.
"Aeka?! Is that you?" a voice said. Aeka and Asahi turned around
and saw Mrs. Briefs coming toward them.
"It IS you!"
"Well, hello, Mrs. Briefs."
"How nice of you to visit!"
"It's nice to be here, Mrs. Briefs."
"And what a CUTE little boy!" Mrs. Briefs took Asahi and squeezed
him tightly.
"Eh! M-Mommy!" Asahi managed to say.
"You're so CUTE!"
"Please be careful with him!" Aeka pleaded. Then finally, Mrs.
Briefs let Asahi go.
"What a handsome young man!"
"Th-this is my son, Asahi." Aeka said.
"Oh really? Congratulations!"
"Eh...thank you very much."
"Who's the lucky man?"
"Lucky...man?"
"Who is his father?"
"Oh...um...I-I'm...not married."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"My daddy lives here!" Asahi said.
"He does?" Mrs. Briefs said in surprise.
"Yes! But I don't know his name yet." Asahi replied.
"I-I don't know his name either!" Aeka said.
"Oh. Well, it's such a beautiful day, isn't it?" said Mrs. Briefs.
"Yes. Lovely." replied Aeka.
"Are you going to be at the Cherry Blossom Festival?"
"There's going to be a fair at Okayama and we'll be celebrating
it before we go there."
"Really? A fair? Wonderful! Well, must prepare lunch now. I'll
see you later! Bye!"
Mrs. Briefs went back inside.
"How come you don't know daddy's name?" Asahi asked.
"Eh...I just don't know." Aeka replied.
"Can we see him now?!" Asahi asked.
"Alright. No need for such haste." Aeka said. They went inside
and greeted the Briefs. Asahi was cheering about seeing his father.
As Aeka led Asahi to the room where she had seen Vegeta, she had
looked at Asahi and felt like she was stabbed on the back. Then
she stopped walking.
"Asahi, I m-must tell you the truth now." she said. Asahi looked
worried.
"What is it, mother?" he asked. Aeka squatted down to Asahi. There
were tears in her eyes but she forced a smile.
"Mother, why are you crying?" he asked. Aeka wiped her tears away.
"Oh, that's just nothing, Asahi. I really know your father's name."
"But you said..."
"I lied, Asahi. I just couldn't say it. I'm sorry."
"Mommy..."
"Asahi, your father's name is...is Vegeta."
"It is?"
"Yes. He is the prince of a race called the Saiyajins. That race
was destroyed by the Cold family. My father, the emperor of Jurai
wanted me to marry your father. He said that if we got married,
Vegeta could start a new race of Saiyajins with Jurain blood. He
accepted. But then it was called off. But then, when Freeza, son
of King Cold, Kagato and Dr. Cassius Clay came to Earth, Washu
had to send them to another dimension. When she did, we were all
sent to other dimensions. Me and Vegeta went together. And that
was when...I...fell in love with him. Then...after a turn of events,
you were born. But I had already come to Jurai and left your father
on Earth."
"But why didn't you tell me?"
"Because, Asahi, your father is married to someone else."
"Why?"
"I left to Jurai because your father wanted time to think about
whether he loved me or the other girl. He forgot about me while I
was away and married the other girl..."
"Who's the other girl?"
"Bulma Briefs."
"Who is she?"
"The daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Briefs."
"Why did my father do this to you?!"
Aeka didn't respond. She just stood up and continued to go to
Vegeta. Asahi had mixed feelings about his father now. Then they
reached the room. Aeka placed her ear on the door.
[He's still in there!] she thought in shock. Then she lightly
knocked on the door. He didn't answer. Then Asahi turned the
door handle and left the door ajar.
"Go in, mommy." he whispered. Aeka smiled. She pushed the door
open and peeked inside. He was there. With those weights as usual.
Then Asahi looked inside and saw Vegeta. He looked scared at first
then he was happy. He went behind Aeka and pushed her inside. When
Aeka was in, Asahi quickly went into Aeka's robe.
"Leave me alone, woman." Vegeta said. Aeka stepped back in
surprise. She blushed and looked down. Vegeta didn't look at her.
Then after a long pause, Asahi ran into Vegeta's arms.
"Hello, father!" he cried out happily. Vegeta stared at this
little boy hugging him. He looked at Aeka for her to take Asahi
off. But Aeka didn't make a move. Vegeta dropped his weights and
took Asahi off him. Then he walked out the door. Asahi tugged at
his mother's garments to do something. Then she saw her son's innocent
face and ran to Vegeta.
"Stop, Vegeta!" she called out. Vegeta did so and turned around.
"Can't you understand?! I don't want you!" he said.
"I don't either but Asahi does! He's YOUR son!"
"I told you to lie to the little brat!"
"I tried and I can't. I told him the truth about everything! Just
talk to him. Just one time. That's the only thing I ask of you.
I just want you to talk to him. And I'll leave you alone, forever."
"Why should I?!"
"Because he's the only thing you have from me."
"What in the world are you talking about?!"
"You left me so I'm not just going to wait for you to come back.
I found someone else too and this is your only chance to see the
only thing that you have from me."
Vegeta was speechless. Aeka had nothing else to say. Asahi went
to his mother and they both left.
"Thank you, mother." Asahi said.
"For what?" asked Aeka.
"For letting me see daddy and telling me the truth. I'm still
happy even though I didn't get to talk to him."
Aeka smiled. When they got to the shed, Asahi stopped.
"Why are you stopping, Asahi?" Aeka asked.
"Mother, you stay here while I go." Asahi said.
"Why?"
"I heard what you said to daddy and I don't want you to leave him
forever until you have one last talk."
"I don't want to."
"Please? You told me that you fell in love with him. I just want
you to say goodbye to him before you leave."
"Well...alright."
Aeka kissed Asahi and he went through the doorway. When Aeka went
out of the shed, Mrs. Briefs called her to join in for lunch.
"Sorry Vegeta isn't here." Bulma said. "He almost never comes
to eat with us. We have to drag him out here if we wanted him to
join. He's too strong for us now."
"So what does he do?" Aeka asked.
"The usual: train. He sometimes trains somewhere in space or he
lifts weights and stuff." Bulma replied. "So, you really have a
kid?"
"Yes. His name is Asahi."
"How old is he?"
"He's thirteen years old."
"Really?"
"Yes. But he looks like two years. It is because he has Jurain
blood."
"I hope I don't seem like I'm butting in but may I ask who's
the father?"
"Well...I...it's so hard to say, really."
"I understand. It's hard for me sometimes to say that my kids are
Vegeta's but I'm pretty used to it now."
"I see."
Aeka looked at her tea. She couldn't stand hearing this woman
talk about Vegeta. She was so envious of her.
After lunch, Bulma wanted to show Aeka the new Capsule Corp.
building. Bulma was so proud of being married. She pointed out
that a whole floor belonged to her family.
"I made this room especially for Vegeta's training." she said.
"How nice." said Aeka.
"But to be honest, it seems that he hardly ever uses it."
"He doesn't?"
"Yeah. He hangs around in the gym most of the time."
"Where he lifts weights?"
"Yeah."
Aeka bit her lip. She just had a thought that Vegeta stayed in
the gym because he knew she was going to go there.
After the small tour, the two said their goodbyes and Aeka
went out towards the shed. Then she stopped. She wanted to see
the beautiful, pink cherry blossoms for a moment. She closed her
eyes and stood there, feeling the fresh cherry blossoms brush
her face. Then she opened her eyes again and went towards the
shed.
"I don't care that you'll be gone forever." a voice said.
"I will be gone forever." Aeka said. "There's no way to stop me."
"You won't have to worry about that."
"Don't think I'll be crawling back to you, Vegeta."
Vegeta stepped out of the shadows.
"If you talk to Asahi just for today, it doesn't have to end
here." Aeka said. "But if you don't...you'll lose me forever."
"I refuse to stoop so low as that!" Vegeta replied.
"Then why did you even bother to talk to me?" Aeka asked accusingly.
"Well I..."
"I thought as much."
Aeka continued walking. Then she turned around and slapped Vegeta.
"You deserve it! I will not tolerate anyone who tells me that
MY son is worthless!" Aeka said. Then she left.
That night, Asahi had went to bed early. Aeka decided to sit
outside and look at the stars. The cherry blossoms were blowing
in the cool spring breeze. Lights covered most parts of the forest.
The fair was still there and she could hear the faint sound of
people enjoying the festivities. She couldn't find the Purinsesu
no Senshi. It was strange. The lights weren't enough to hide
the stars in the sky. The stars shone brilliantly. Aeka had always
thought of the Purinsesu no Senshi constellation as the brightest
for she understood that the love of the princess and the prince
was that strong enough to outbeat the other stars and even the
moon. No one other lovers could be much brighter than of those
two. She went back inside to her room. She wasn't tired yet so
she decided to hang around her window and wait until she got
sleepy. Her eyes started to flutter and she yawned. But as she
was thinking of going to bed, she saw a strange glow. It seemed
as though she recognized that glow. She opened her window.
"Is anyone out there?" she called out. Then a hand covered her
mouth. As she tried to take it off, she saw him. She let go
of his hand and he put his hand down. Aeka stepped back and he
went inside.
"What are you doing here, Vegeta?" she asked. Vegeta faced the
floor.
"I don't understand why I'm here." he said. "But I know that...
that I have to see you just one last time before I lose you."
"You said you didn't care..."
"I know. But it's just that...I can't help it! Stop what you're
doing to me!"
"I don't know either. I thought I...I...never mind."
Both of them couldn't say a word. Then the window flew open and
cherry blossoms surrounded the room.
"I don't know what to say..." Aeka said. "But I'm telling you
that it's over. I don't...love...you anymore."
"I don't either but... Darn it, woman! Why is this happening
to me?!"
"Don't blame me for anything! It's your own fault!"
"My fault for what?!"
"You made me fall in love with you and now you're trying to
make me fall in love with you again!"
"I did no such thing!"
"I could only wish that you didn't but you are!"
"I...I am..."
"What...did you say?"
"I didn't say anything."
"Vegeta..."
"What?"
"Just...just shut up..."
"Don't you..."
Aeka closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Vegeta's. Just as
Vegeta was about to react to the action, Aeka pulled away from the
kiss. She shook her head.
"Vegeta, we can't just do this and call it a dream. I want you
to tell me that this is real. Not just an illusion. Do you really
love me? Did you ever love me?"
"Yes..." Vegeta whispered. By instinct, Vegeta kissed Aeka softly
and flew away. Aeka bent down and picked up a cherry blossom.
Then she went to close the window and saw the Purinsesu no Senshi.
It had been about three months since Aeka and Yamucha realized
that they were in love with each other. But even though, Yamucha
didn't agree to be Asahi's father. He still had respect for
Aeka's son. Aeka didn't mind, but she worried about Asahi
constantly asking about his father. Aeka knew she would have to
tell him sometime. Aeka and Yamucha's relationship was a good
one. It wasn't that stable but it was a good, healthy bond. They
didn't go out to places and goof around like most couples. They
weren't even in a real boyfriend-girlfriend relaionship but they
still cared about each other. They never actually said 'I love
you' to each other but they showed how much they did on most
occasions. No one even knew that they loved each other in that
way. They never told anyone or made public displays of their
affections. As said earlier, they weren't in a real relationship
and they didn't think that they were ready for one. The others
just thought they were very close friends, although not close
enough to be lovers.
Aeka and Yamucha didn't kiss since that one time by the lake
during wintertime. They acted, in a way, shy towards one another
when they were expressing love. But they acted very normal as
friends. Asahi and Sasami sometimes went with them. They also
got together when it was a group thing. Tenchi liked having
another guy to talk with since he was surrounded by girls 24/7.
It sometimes seemed though, as if Yamucha was scared by the older
men who acted weird when they had some tea...or a lot of sake.
Aeka and Yamucha weren't always together when they decided to
go outside. Aeka and Asahi were outside looking at the cherry
blossoms. They were so beautiful for it was the first day of spring.
"Mommy, why don't we have these in Jurai?" Asahi asked.
"Why don't you ask the trees of Jurai themselves?" Aeka suggested.
"How?"
"If Washu isn't too busy, we can ask her to lend us her dimensional
doorway."
Aeka and Asahi went to Washu's lab.
"Excuse me? Miss Washu?" Aeka called out.
"Little Washu!" Asahi said.
"Somebody called me?" Washu said, her head popping out of nowhere.
"Oh, there you are." Aeka said. "Can we borrow your doorway to
Jurai?"
"I can let you borrow it but..."
"But what?"
"Jurai is very far and my doorway can only reach up to 29O,OOO
miles."
"Then how can we get there?"
"The trees at Capsule Corp. are genuine Jurain trees, aren't
they?" Washu said.
"Well..." Aeka said. Vegeta was there and she didn't know if she
could accept. She looked at Asahi's eager eyes and agreed.
Aeka and Asahi arrived at the Capsule Corp. shed. It was still
the same. They went to the garden.
"They're all green." Asahi said.
"Place your hand on a tree." Aeka instructed. Asahi did so.
"Now try to talk to it." she said.
"Mr. Tree, sir, why aren't you pink?" Asahi asked. Then he
waited and finally looked as if he had gotten a signal. Then he
took off his hand.
"He told me! He told me!" Asahi cheered. Then he faced his mother.
"Mother, doesn't father live here?" he asked.
"Well, Asahi..." Aeka said. She saw her son's eager eyes again.
"Yes. Yes, he does."
"Yay! Can we see him?"
"Oh, Asahi...well,...alright."
Aeka and Asahi went outside to the Capsule Corp. building.
"Aeka?! Is that you?" a voice said. Aeka and Asahi turned around
and saw Mrs. Briefs coming toward them.
"It IS you!"
"Well, hello, Mrs. Briefs."
"How nice of you to visit!"
"It's nice to be here, Mrs. Briefs."
"And what a CUTE little boy!" Mrs. Briefs took Asahi and squeezed
him tightly.
"Eh! M-Mommy!" Asahi managed to say.
"You're so CUTE!"
"Please be careful with him!" Aeka pleaded. Then finally, Mrs.
Briefs let Asahi go.
"What a handsome young man!"
"Th-this is my son, Asahi." Aeka said.
"Oh really? Congratulations!"
"Eh...thank you very much."
"Who's the lucky man?"
"Lucky...man?"
"Who is his father?"
"Oh...um...I-I'm...not married."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"My daddy lives here!" Asahi said.
"He does?" Mrs. Briefs said in surprise.
"Yes! But I don't know his name yet." Asahi replied.
"I-I don't know his name either!" Aeka said.
"Oh. Well, it's such a beautiful day, isn't it?" said Mrs. Briefs.
"Yes. Lovely." replied Aeka.
"Are you going to be at the Cherry Blossom Festival?"
"There's going to be a fair at Okayama and we'll be celebrating
it before we go there."
"Really? A fair? Wonderful! Well, must prepare lunch now. I'll
see you later! Bye!"
Mrs. Briefs went back inside.
"How come you don't know daddy's name?" Asahi asked.
"Eh...I just don't know." Aeka replied.
"Can we see him now?!" Asahi asked.
"Alright. No need for such haste." Aeka said. They went inside
and greeted the Briefs. Asahi was cheering about seeing his father.
As Aeka led Asahi to the room where she had seen Vegeta, she had
looked at Asahi and felt like she was stabbed on the back. Then
she stopped walking.
"Asahi, I m-must tell you the truth now." she said. Asahi looked
worried.
"What is it, mother?" he asked. Aeka squatted down to Asahi. There
were tears in her eyes but she forced a smile.
"Mother, why are you crying?" he asked. Aeka wiped her tears away.
"Oh, that's just nothing, Asahi. I really know your father's name."
"But you said..."
"I lied, Asahi. I just couldn't say it. I'm sorry."
"Mommy..."
"Asahi, your father's name is...is Vegeta."
"It is?"
"Yes. He is the prince of a race called the Saiyajins. That race
was destroyed by the Cold family. My father, the emperor of Jurai
wanted me to marry your father. He said that if we got married,
Vegeta could start a new race of Saiyajins with Jurain blood. He
accepted. But then it was called off. But then, when Freeza, son
of King Cold, Kagato and Dr. Cassius Clay came to Earth, Washu
had to send them to another dimension. When she did, we were all
sent to other dimensions. Me and Vegeta went together. And that
was when...I...fell in love with him. Then...after a turn of events,
you were born. But I had already come to Jurai and left your father
on Earth."
"But why didn't you tell me?"
"Because, Asahi, your father is married to someone else."
"Why?"
"I left to Jurai because your father wanted time to think about
whether he loved me or the other girl. He forgot about me while I
was away and married the other girl..."
"Who's the other girl?"
"Bulma Briefs."
"Who is she?"
"The daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Briefs."
"Why did my father do this to you?!"
Aeka didn't respond. She just stood up and continued to go to
Vegeta. Asahi had mixed feelings about his father now. Then they
reached the room. Aeka placed her ear on the door.
[He's still in there!] she thought in shock. Then she lightly
knocked on the door. He didn't answer. Then Asahi turned the
door handle and left the door ajar.
"Go in, mommy." he whispered. Aeka smiled. She pushed the door
open and peeked inside. He was there. With those weights as usual.
Then Asahi looked inside and saw Vegeta. He looked scared at first
then he was happy. He went behind Aeka and pushed her inside. When
Aeka was in, Asahi quickly went into Aeka's robe.
"Leave me alone, woman." Vegeta said. Aeka stepped back in
surprise. She blushed and looked down. Vegeta didn't look at her.
Then after a long pause, Asahi ran into Vegeta's arms.
"Hello, father!" he cried out happily. Vegeta stared at this
little boy hugging him. He looked at Aeka for her to take Asahi
off. But Aeka didn't make a move. Vegeta dropped his weights and
took Asahi off him. Then he walked out the door. Asahi tugged at
his mother's garments to do something. Then she saw her son's innocent
face and ran to Vegeta.
"Stop, Vegeta!" she called out. Vegeta did so and turned around.
"Can't you understand?! I don't want you!" he said.
"I don't either but Asahi does! He's YOUR son!"
"I told you to lie to the little brat!"
"I tried and I can't. I told him the truth about everything! Just
talk to him. Just one time. That's the only thing I ask of you.
I just want you to talk to him. And I'll leave you alone, forever."
"Why should I?!"
"Because he's the only thing you have from me."
"What in the world are you talking about?!"
"You left me so I'm not just going to wait for you to come back.
I found someone else too and this is your only chance to see the
only thing that you have from me."
Vegeta was speechless. Aeka had nothing else to say. Asahi went
to his mother and they both left.
"Thank you, mother." Asahi said.
"For what?" asked Aeka.
"For letting me see daddy and telling me the truth. I'm still
happy even though I didn't get to talk to him."
Aeka smiled. When they got to the shed, Asahi stopped.
"Why are you stopping, Asahi?" Aeka asked.
"Mother, you stay here while I go." Asahi said.
"Why?"
"I heard what you said to daddy and I don't want you to leave him
forever until you have one last talk."
"I don't want to."
"Please? You told me that you fell in love with him. I just want
you to say goodbye to him before you leave."
"Well...alright."
Aeka kissed Asahi and he went through the doorway. When Aeka went
out of the shed, Mrs. Briefs called her to join in for lunch.
"Sorry Vegeta isn't here." Bulma said. "He almost never comes
to eat with us. We have to drag him out here if we wanted him to
join. He's too strong for us now."
"So what does he do?" Aeka asked.
"The usual: train. He sometimes trains somewhere in space or he
lifts weights and stuff." Bulma replied. "So, you really have a
kid?"
"Yes. His name is Asahi."
"How old is he?"
"He's thirteen years old."
"Really?"
"Yes. But he looks like two years. It is because he has Jurain
blood."
"I hope I don't seem like I'm butting in but may I ask who's
the father?"
"Well...I...it's so hard to say, really."
"I understand. It's hard for me sometimes to say that my kids are
Vegeta's but I'm pretty used to it now."
"I see."
Aeka looked at her tea. She couldn't stand hearing this woman
talk about Vegeta. She was so envious of her.
After lunch, Bulma wanted to show Aeka the new Capsule Corp.
building. Bulma was so proud of being married. She pointed out
that a whole floor belonged to her family.
"I made this room especially for Vegeta's training." she said.
"How nice." said Aeka.
"But to be honest, it seems that he hardly ever uses it."
"He doesn't?"
"Yeah. He hangs around in the gym most of the time."
"Where he lifts weights?"
"Yeah."
Aeka bit her lip. She just had a thought that Vegeta stayed in
the gym because he knew she was going to go there.
After the small tour, the two said their goodbyes and Aeka
went out towards the shed. Then she stopped. She wanted to see
the beautiful, pink cherry blossoms for a moment. She closed her
eyes and stood there, feeling the fresh cherry blossoms brush
her face. Then she opened her eyes again and went towards the
shed.
"I don't care that you'll be gone forever." a voice said.
"I will be gone forever." Aeka said. "There's no way to stop me."
"You won't have to worry about that."
"Don't think I'll be crawling back to you, Vegeta."
Vegeta stepped out of the shadows.
"If you talk to Asahi just for today, it doesn't have to end
here." Aeka said. "But if you don't...you'll lose me forever."
"I refuse to stoop so low as that!" Vegeta replied.
"Then why did you even bother to talk to me?" Aeka asked accusingly.
"Well I..."
"I thought as much."
Aeka continued walking. Then she turned around and slapped Vegeta.
"You deserve it! I will not tolerate anyone who tells me that
MY son is worthless!" Aeka said. Then she left.
That night, Asahi had went to bed early. Aeka decided to sit
outside and look at the stars. The cherry blossoms were blowing
in the cool spring breeze. Lights covered most parts of the forest.
The fair was still there and she could hear the faint sound of
people enjoying the festivities. She couldn't find the Purinsesu
no Senshi. It was strange. The lights weren't enough to hide
the stars in the sky. The stars shone brilliantly. Aeka had always
thought of the Purinsesu no Senshi constellation as the brightest
for she understood that the love of the princess and the prince
was that strong enough to outbeat the other stars and even the
moon. No one other lovers could be much brighter than of those
two. She went back inside to her room. She wasn't tired yet so
she decided to hang around her window and wait until she got
sleepy. Her eyes started to flutter and she yawned. But as she
was thinking of going to bed, she saw a strange glow. It seemed
as though she recognized that glow. She opened her window.
"Is anyone out there?" she called out. Then a hand covered her
mouth. As she tried to take it off, she saw him. She let go
of his hand and he put his hand down. Aeka stepped back and he
went inside.
"What are you doing here, Vegeta?" she asked. Vegeta faced the
floor.
"I don't understand why I'm here." he said. "But I know that...
that I have to see you just one last time before I lose you."
"You said you didn't care..."
"I know. But it's just that...I can't help it! Stop what you're
doing to me!"
"I don't know either. I thought I...I...never mind."
Both of them couldn't say a word. Then the window flew open and
cherry blossoms surrounded the room.
"I don't know what to say..." Aeka said. "But I'm telling you
that it's over. I don't...love...you anymore."
"I don't either but... Darn it, woman! Why is this happening
to me?!"
"Don't blame me for anything! It's your own fault!"
"My fault for what?!"
"You made me fall in love with you and now you're trying to
make me fall in love with you again!"
"I did no such thing!"
"I could only wish that you didn't but you are!"
"I...I am..."
"What...did you say?"
"I didn't say anything."
"Vegeta..."
"What?"
"Just...just shut up..."
"Don't you..."
Aeka closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Vegeta's. Just as
Vegeta was about to react to the action, Aeka pulled away from the
kiss. She shook her head.
"Vegeta, we can't just do this and call it a dream. I want you
to tell me that this is real. Not just an illusion. Do you really
love me? Did you ever love me?"
"Yes..." Vegeta whispered. By instinct, Vegeta kissed Aeka softly
and flew away. Aeka bent down and picked up a cherry blossom.
Then she went to close the window and saw the Purinsesu no Senshi.