Dreamer: I LIVE!!! Ok, sorry, I had to do that! Anyway, I'm so sorry that this chapter took so long to do but I had a lot of trouble getting time to type. First I sprained my ankle during P.E. and then I broke my nose when a soccer ball hit me in the face… ouch! But I finally finish it!!! Oh, there is a REALLY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE BOTTOM! PLEASE READ SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON!!! Well, I won't hold you up any longer…enjoy the story!!!
Disclaimer: *turns to lawyer who is trembling in his shoes* "Did you get me ownership of DBZ?" Lawyer shakes his head fearfully and stutters, "N-no… I wasn't able to-" "What!?! Why you… Vegeta!!!" *Lawyer turns pale as Chibi Vegeta blasts him with attack* * I shake my head* "Shoot, that's the third one this month… oh well!" *turns back to readers and sighs* "Guess I don't own it…" *shrug* "Yet." *evil grin* "Just Kiddin! I will never own it! *sob* On with the story!"
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"Word" =speaking
'thought' = thoughts
**italics** = flashbacks/dreams
Chapter 1: Shadow Heart
Vegeta slowly opened his eyes, his head throbbing with a persistent pain. Light showered into his sensitive obsidian eyes and he groaned aloud. Suddenly, the last events before his unconsciousness struck him and he bolted upright, frantically searching the area he was lying in. He cocked his head in confusion. Where was he?
Vegeta was half-seated in a large, open plain, the grass wavering gently in the cool breeze. It seemed somehow unreal, as if it was all a dream that he couldn't wake up from. He peered up at the sky curiously, noting its shimmering blue shade. It reminded him of something… Bulma. It reminded him painfully of Bulma. A collage of images seared through his mind, before resting on one. Bulma, leaning into a fighting stance, blood gushing from the gashes all over her body and trickling from her mouth as she braced herself for the guard's next strike, never taking her eyes off of his face.
Tears stung at Vegeta's eyes and he bit his lip to keep from crying out. She was lying injured somewhere, all alone, and it was all his fault! Suddenly, Vegeta's trembling form went rigid. Someone else was with him.
Growling, Vegeta swiveled around only to come face to face with… his father. King Vegeta regarded his son skeptically, his face contorting in question when he noticed his son's barely contained tears. Shaking his head and looking away, the King inquired tactlessly, "The guard merely knocked you out boy, it can't hurt you that much can it?"
Vegeta swallowed hard, forcing his tears away with all his strength. "Very few things can hurt me, father, and physical pain isn't one of them." Vegeta replied bitterly, implying what his father could not possible understand. King Vegeta cocked his head at his son's answer. He opened his mouth to question him, but Vegeta cut in blandly, "Where am I?"
King Vegeta gave a slight smile and shook his head. "I can't believe you don't remember this place Vegeta. You created it, in your mind. It used to be your sanctuary after… after your mother died." King Vegeta answered with difficulty, his eyes becoming misty as he stated the last part. Vegeta's eyes widened and he scanned the scenery once more. Yes, his father was right. Why hadn't he noticed it?
Abruptly, Vegeta was brought back to reality be a sharp feeling of pain pricking his heart. Glancing at the sky, Vegeta's chin began to quiver. Turning back to his father, Vegeta spoke in a voice so quiet, his father had to strain his ears to hear, "Father… what happened… what happened to the girl I was with when the guards found me?"
King Vegeta's fists clench and his eyes narrowed into piercing slits. His breath seemed to become heavier, his form quaking with awesome power. "She," He hissed venomously, "Was terminated. In accordance with the laws. No one kidnaps my son." For a moment, Vegeta just stared at his father. For a moment that seemed to drag through eternity and slip soundlessly through the lives of the mortals. For that one moment, Vegeta just gaped blankly at his father. And then it struck. She was, Bulma his only real friend was… dead.
Vegeta howled with rage and torment and misery as his father's hollowed words ripped through his mind and into the very core of his soul. Bulma was dead. She was gone. Vegeta flung himself upon the silky ground, screaming and crying to all the heavens that ruled over space to save him from his pain. It was numbing and tearing all at the same time. Bulma was gone. She was dead. He would never see her brilliant smile or catch the gaze of her dazzling crystal eyes again. She was dead.
And then he was falling. Falling through the ground and into an empty darkness. All the while he screamed, wracked with a bitter despair that he could not over come. His heart constricted, his mind burning with a raging pain, as his soul felt like it was being ripped apart. "BULMA!" He yowled in pure sorrow and torment. She was the only one who had ever accepted him as he was… and now she was dead.
Suddenly a voice, indistinguishable and faint called to him desperately, "Vegeta!" The voice was too unfocused and distorted for him to recognize, but he knew that it was calling to him. And he reached toward the voice, pleading with his tear-stained eyes that it would save him from his darkness and suffering. A soft blue light washed over him, enveloping and soothing his tortured soul. And it called him back.
Vegeta shot straight up in bed, his eyes popping open. He was frenzied for a moment, but realized that he lay in his own room and his heart rate slowly went back to normal. Vegeta breathed heavily for a moment, taking in his surroundings, when a sudden emotion pierced his heart. Sorrow. Bulma was dead. He couldn't ever have her back.
Suddenly a faint marine glow filled the room. Vegeta jerked his gaze down to the source of the glow and his striking onyx eyes clashed with the glimmering of the crystal around his neck. It was glowing. Vegeta studied it for a moment before realization washed over him like an ice-cold wave from the ocean. Ki could only exist when its owner was still alive. This ki was still here. Bulma's ki was still here.
The memory of her speech of this marvelous gift flashed through his mind.
**"My father gave me that crystal on that chain when I was 3. He said that when I was a baby, I found that crystal and touched it and that somehow, a tiny bit of my ki went into it, making it glow that blue color. Now, it glows either brighter or dimmer depending on how close I am to it. See how bright it is now?" Vegeta nodded and studied it with interest. Finally, looking back up at her, Vegeta asked in confusion, "Why did you give this to me?"**
Vegeta's eyes widened. Somewhere out there she was still alive. Ki didn't lie. And he had to find her.
Without another thought, Vegeta jumped up from bed, still clad in his dark purple, saiyan training gi, rushed to the window, and throwing it open, leapt out, speeding off into the night. He was going to find her.
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Vegeta sped blindly down the street, the glow of the crystal pulsing furiously the deeper he went into the city. Shadows danced eerily against the broken buildings as he flew by, taunting and tempting him within there depths. But he ignored them. He had to find Bulma.
Suddenly, the glow burst into a bright light and rounding the corner, Vegeta saw her, laying unconscious in the dirty street, a small band of thieves digging into her pockets, searching maliciously for some money or something of value. Vegeta's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.
"And just what do you think with you're doing?!?" Vegeta growled venomously as he landed beside them. They turned toward him, somewhat surprised, and then smiled cruelly. "What do you want runt? Isn't it a little past your bed time?" One of them jeered, the others roaring with laughter. Vegeta smirked wickedly.
In a flash of speed, Vegeta closed the distance between him and the man that spoke and smashed his hardened fist into the doomed saiyan's stomach. Smiling devilishly, Vegeta whispered viciously, "I don't have one… but you do." And before the man could blink, Vegeta seared a ki string straight through the man's heart.
The others gaped at Vegeta and stumbled backward. "Who…who are you?!?" One of the frightened and alarmed saiyans stuttered. Vegeta smirked, a cruel, demonic smirk. "Vegeta. Prince Vegeta." Vegeta paused, giving pointedly glares to every one of them, "And if you don't leave now, then your name will be…dead." They didn't need another warning. Scrambling and screaming, they flew hastily from the spot, thoughtlessly leaving the body of their dead leader.
"Cowards." Vegeta hissed with disgust. Then, he turned his eyes back upon Bulma's still form. His eyes softened and his smirk dissolved, leaving a worried frown upon his childish face. He stared at her for the longest time. Just standing in the middle of the desolate and deserted street, watching her shallow breathing. Slowly, he stalked up to her body and bent down beside her.
"Bulma?" He questioned, his voice wavering as he lifted his hand to brush a smudge of dust of her swollen face. There was no reply. A tear skimmed down his soft cheek and fell onto hers. Holding the crystal above her face, so the brilliant light illuminated her delicate features, Vegeta pleaded frantically, "Bulma, please wake up." Everything was still for a moment, but then Bulma coughed, dribbling blood down her chin. However, she remained unconscious. Frenzied now, Vegeta rose quickly to his feet and snapped his head back and forth, looking for someone to help. But, to his dispair, there was no one.
Dejectedly, Vegeta plopped down and crossed his legs, deep in thought. If he didn't get her help immediately, she was going to… die. Vegeta's form trembled violently. She was his only friend. If she died… he would be alone. All alone. Sure he had his father, and a whole kingdom to watch over him, but only she cared for and understood him for who he was. Bulma was the only one. He didn't have to be fake and cruel around her. He could just be a child. He could just be what he was. If he lost her, he would slip back into that dark emptiness that had swallowed him after his mother died. An emptiness so thick, that it would suffocate him. Smother him with void emotions and morals that were too distant to reach. He needed Bulma. Because he knew that he could not live through facing that emptiness again.
Vegeta carefully opened his eyes and intently scanned the street. Where could he take her? He didn't know how to get to her home; he had been unconscious when she had taken him there. And he certainly couldn't take her to the palace. 'If my father ever found out I was friends with a peasant girl, she'd be executed and I would be disinherited.' Vegeta reflected bitterly. Suddenly an idea popped into his head. A genuine smile graced Vegeta's lips as he digested the thought. It was a long shot, and it was risky, but it was his only hope. And hers as well. Lifting Bulma gently and cautiously, Vegeta headed for the only place he could think of… his nanny's house.
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Kincara absently stirred the soup that was boiling in her pot. It was old and blackened from many years of use, but she had always loved it and always would. She usually enjoyed cooking for her son and husband, but tonight her heart wasn't in it. She was worried and distraught. Admittedly, she had been many times since accepting her daily job of taking care of the prince, but tonight was different. Kincara was the prince's nanny, and in all her years of watching the feisty young monarch, she had heard and seen many tendencies in his behavior. Not to say that he was ever cross with her, no, she was quite fond of him and he treated her like a mother, but she had indeed witnessed more than her share of cruel acts performed by her beloved ward. Yet, never before had he pulled a stunt like that of yesterday afternoon.
'Leaving the palace! Of all the unheard of trouble the prince has gotten himself into, this takes the cake! And then when his father heard and sent the guards out after him… the poor boy! I can understand him wanting to leave, not that he should have, but a boy needs to have some friends and see what life outside his own is like. I feel so horrible about the child they accused of kidnapping him though… beating her like that! How ridiculous! Why would a child…' Kincara's thoughts were interrupted by a small monotonous voice, "Mistress, I have finished cutting the onions."
Kincara turned around, startled, and then smiled at the child in front of her, holding a bunch of onions in her hand. The little girl, 6 years in age, had pale blond hair and icy blue eyes. Her face, once innocent and loving, was dull and emotionless. She stood obediently, but her whole presence spoke of self-assurance and defiance.
"Thank you 18, will you tell my son that dinner is almost ready?" Kincara requested politely. 18 didn't reply, just turned and walked off toward Kincara's son's bedroom.
Kincara's face softened as the child departed. She was an orphan, her parents died in an explosion that almost killed her as well, and to save her, doctors had to replace parts of her body with metallic materials. Now she was an android, almost unable to feel emotion. Kincara was 23 when she found the then 4-year-old girl, and since she had a son the same age, she agreed to keep the child as a servant in her home.
A loud banging at the door yanked her out of her reverie. It sounded as if someone was trying to bash the door in. She furrowed her brow guardedly. Who in Vegeta-sei could be coming to visit them at this time?
"I'LL GET IT MOM!" A 6-year-old boy called as he raced toward the door. He was short, with a shiny baldhead and childish features. He was wearing a orange training gi and his tail was waving around behind him in excitement.
"Krillin, no, don't-" She was cut off by the sound of her son screaming as the door was blasted in, "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
A loud shout and heated arguing resounded throughout the hallway and she rushed into the entryway only to see the last person she was expecting. She skidded to a stop and stared as the young prince stood yelling at Krillin, rain dripping off of him into puddles on the floor as he held a drenched form in his arms. Her eyes widened. "Vege-Vegeta… what is that? You're soaked! What were you doing-" Kincara was abruptly interrupted by a frantic Vegeta, " She needs medical attention! NOW!"
Kincara knew that he wasn't playing around. Something was wrong and he wasn't taking no for an answer. She nodded for him to follow her and swerved toward her medical room. Vegeta zipped after her, until he found himself in a tiny, closet-sized sterile room. He glanced around skeptically, noting the bland walls and dim lights. In the center of the room lay a crooked table and med-kit. Vegeta hurried up to it and carefully set Bulma down, his eyes flitting to her face for a split second before turning to his nanny.
She quietly snatched a towel up from the ground and attempted to dry Vegeta off. Vegeta roughly pushed her away, and commanded urgently, "No, her first!" Kincara was stunned. Vegeta never put anyone before himself. It was always, whatever he wanted, he got immediately. Nothing else mattered to him. Everything was about what he needed. He himself believed he was the prince of the gods. But this girl… now only she mattered. She studied his eyes uncertainly, searching for some trace of an answer. The impertinent prince just stared back at her, directly into her eyes. She held back a gasp. His dark, obsidian orbs held a hope and pleading that she had never before seen present within their depths. He truly did care about her.
Without another word, she stumbled over to Bulma, throwing open her med-kit. She couldn't take looking into his eyes anymore. It hurt to see so much pain and mis-trust in such ageless eyes. Kincara began to stonily check her over and drew in a sharp breath. "What?!?" Vegeta demanded in alarm, striding up to her side and searching Bulma over quickly. He stumbled back a step. He hadn't known how severely injured she really was. Kincara pulled her eyes slowly along the bloody gashes and blooming bruises along her arms and legs. Her royal blue training gi was slashed and torn, blood streaming down the open wounds, thinned and worn by the rain. Her face had a long, searing slash down her cheek, like a burning symbol to remind others of the sufferings of those innocents who are caught up in battle.
Kincara forced her eyes closed. She couldn't look at it anymore, it was too gory and painful to see a child, a pure little girl, ripped up like that. Breathing deeply, Kincara glanced back at Vegeta. His breathing was rigid and his eyes were wide, his whole body heaving as he leaned heavily on the door. The shadows enveloped him in darkness, but she could almost feel the pain and disbelief swimming in his black pool-like of eyes. She slowly moved over to him, cautious of the prince's unsteady emotions. "Vegeta?" She called out softly. Nothing. She sighed, and tried again, "Vegeta… I think I can heal her." Vegeta's head shot up and he stared at her questioningly. A raging silence descended upon the two, each one appraising the other.
Vegeta studied her with eyes so vulnerable and hopeful, Kincara couldn't stand to peer into their murky depths. Shifting her gaze around the dimly lit room, Kincara added, breaking the silence, "I mean, she is very badly injured, but I think I can-" She was abruptly silenced by a harsh and menacing voice, "You better." Kincara jerked her gaze back to Vegeta, startled and alarmed. He was now standing with his arms pressed across his chest, slightly leaning more on one leg than the other. His face was relentless, his lips twisted into a vivid line and his eyes flashing with deadly meaning. Kincara shivered involuntarily and measured a frightened step backward. Vegeta glided gracefully but pointedly forward and stopped right in front of her. His lips tangled into a cruel smirk, "I'm going to go spar with that brat of yours and I will be back in one hour. If she is dead when I return, then you and everyone on this entire block will be too." With one last fierce look, a direct glance so careless yet piercing, into her eyes, Vegeta strode out of the room, the click of the door faint as his footsteps faded into the night's air.
Kincara stared after the young prince, her eyes wide and terrified. This was the side of the prince that had been whispered about fearfully so often as she walked down the street. The side that would rip the heads off his half-brother's toys and beat peasant children to a pulp when he was bored. The side that would maim nurses as a baby instead of cry and destroy sections of town for fun. The side that murdered people just because he felt like it. This was the side of Vegeta that only came out when he was truly bored or unbelievably desperate and had no other place to turn but cruelty; and this was the side that Vegeta had never even hinted of to her.
Kincara shifted her teary gaze back to the little, ravaged girl, lying motionless on the cold table. So this was the girl that meant that much to him? She carefully walked to the half dead child and glanced her over again. She sighed deeply. Vegeta would be back in one hour, and if she wanted to save her life and keep her own, she had better get started.
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Krillin quietly bounced the ball against the wall for the hundredth time in a row. The dusty brown ball rolled lazily back to him and he repeated the action. Krillin shook his head as the ball returned to him again. 'This is soooo boring!' Krillin thought haphazardly. Out of the corner of his eye, Krillin watched the dainty blond girl carry a large tray toward him. Smiling, he hopped up and jogged over to her, carefully taking the tray from her arms. "Thanks 18! I guess my mom is busy with that little girl and prince Vegeta, right?" Krillin inquired cheerfully. 18 merely turned and started to walk away. Krillin frowned to himself, and then grinned and called out, "Hey 18! I have tons of food! You want to stay and eat with me?" 18 continued walking.
Krillin shook his head, but set down his food and ran over to catch up with her. Skidding to a halt in front of her, Krillin stated kindly, " You don't have to ignore me, I don't care that you are an android. We can still be friends!" 18 studied him uncertainly and then gave him a beautiful smile, nodding and agreeing, "I guess we could be-" Her statement was interrupted by a dark and disdainful voice, "How disgusting, a saiyan slobbering over being friends with a pathetic android." 18 and Krillin spun around to find themselves face to face with Vegeta. 18 clenched her fists and held back the tears threatening to burst from her eyes before bolting from the room. Krillin watched her leave with dismay and then turned angrily to a smirking Vegeta. "Why did you do that?!? You have no right to say things like that to her!" Krillin shouted in outrage.
Vegeta's smirked deepened. "I have every right to say that to her, I am a prince and she is a lowly android. She is even lower scum than you." Vegeta sneered amused by Krillin's rage. Krillin's body tensed with hatred and then something struck him. Grinning triumphantly, Krillin questioned in a low voice, "Well what about that girl you dragged in here? She is a peasant female of the lowest ranking father, you can tell by her clothes and appearance, lower than any male saiyan on Vegeta-sei! What are you doing associated with such… trash?" Vegeta's smirk disappeared and he scowled evenly. Every muscle in his impressive body tensed, like a leopard preparing to strike it's prey. His childish, once creaseless face twisted into a raging surface. His eyes narrowed into deadly slits and he growled, "What did you call her?" Krillin shifted nervously. He hadn't expected such a strong response. Smiling uneasily, he stuttered in a broken voice, "Uh…what I meant was… you see…" Vegeta trembled with rage and hollered, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" Before lunging at Krillin.
A swift kick smashed into Krillin's gut, sending him sprawling across the room and jerking to a stop right before slamming into the wall behind him. Krillin didn't even have time to blink before Vegeta appeared right in front of his face. Vegeta's fists flew and smashed against Krillin's unprotected body and Krillin cried out in pain as he failed to block attack after attack. The blows came hard and swift; a disgusting crack sounded throughout the room as one of Krillin's bones snapped. Krillin tried to scream from pain, but a sharp fist connected with his jaw. Vegeta rammed blow another blow into Krillin's aching body before slamming a bloodthirsty roundhouse kick into his gut, his anger and hatred for the small boy peaking with each furied hit.
Unpredictably, a loud, booming voice demanded, "What the hell is going on here?!?" A confused and infuriated Nappa yanked the prince from his battered son and stared at him in surprise. After a slight moment of silence, Nappa questioned quietly, "Prince Vegeta?" Vegeta responded by slamming his fist into Nappa's unsuspecting face. Nappa dropped the prince in shock and held his hand up to his bleeding nose.
"What was that for?!?" Nappa shouted while frantically trying to stop the blood that was dripping carelessly from his nose. "For interrupting your brat's beating." Vegeta snarled menacingly.
Vegeta scowled tensely at Nappa, studying him skeptically. He had heard a lot about Krillin's father, Nappa. Supposedly the saiyan was a skilled fighter, one of his father's most-trusted royal guards. He was strongly and securely built, his muscles rippling beneath his spandex training suit. His eyes were mocking and daunting, the kind of eyes that bore into a fallen opponent's right before killing them. Vegeta shook his head as the man's nose continued to trickle with blood. Letting out a deep breath, Vegeta's thoughts wandered unconsciously back to Bulma. Vegeta suddenly snapped out of his reverie. The hour was up. It was time to check up on Bulma, and decide what happened to the others of the block.
"As amusing as it is to watch your nose bleed, Nappa, I must go now." Vegeta stated with a slight smirk, before turning with a glare to Krillin, "I will finish with you later." And turning sharply on his heel, Vegeta strode soundlessly out of the room, leaving a very confused Nappa and a relieved and bloody Krillin.
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Vegeta stood silently in front of the door, his impassive mask giving off none of the emotional turmoil and apprehension within. His eyes closed in reluctance and fear and his body trembled. 'What if she's…' Vegeta wouldn't let himself finish the thought, squeezing his eyes tighter as tears splashed onto his cheeks. No, he had to be strong. If she was dead, then that was it. He would never care about anyone else again and he would make the world a desolate, icy plain to match his broken heart. But she couldn't be dead. Life would mean nothing to him if she was. Vegeta sighed and tensed his muscles. He would have to face it one way or another. He was not a coward, and he would not run away. Clenching his teeth, Vegeta forced himself to roughly push the door open.
A slit of light traveled up the floor and sliced through the silent shadows. The moon shinned brightly through the window, reflecting in Vegeta's dark eyes. The crystal light glowed slightly brighter and cast an eerie glow over the room. No one else was in there, Kincara had left. Vegeta slowly closed the door and stealthily glided over to the table in the center of the room. The deathly blue glow cast shadows on Bulma's pale face, giving the impression of lifelessness. Vegeta searched her face desperately. She couldn't be dead. Not Bulma. Not his Bulma. His only real friend, she couldn't be dead. Vegeta pounded his fists against the table and a cracked wail broke from his lips. Why did it have to end like this?
Suddenly a small, frightened voice, quivering in the darkness questioned with confusion, "Who…who's there?" Vegeta's head jerked up, his black inferno strands of hair jutting up in the slight glow of the crystal. Black, burning coals clashed with sapphire blue orbs as their eyes met in the darkness. Bulma blinked dumbly before her lips parted and she let out a wild cry. "Stay away from me! Leave me alone!" She howled and she stumbled backward in fear. Not realizing where she was, Bulma tumbled right back off the table. She started to let of a yelp of surprise as she dropped of the edge, when she felt warm, protective arms embrace her, catching her just before she slammed into the ground. "Shhh… it's ok. You're ok." A dark, soothing voice comforted next to her ear as she felt her feet placed on the cold floor, though the arms still held her steady.
Bulma yanked herself from the comforting arms, and scrambled across the room, pressing frantically against the wall behind her. Vegeta stood by the table, watching her with a hurt confusion. Swallowing hard, Vegeta offered quietly, "Bulma, it's me. Remember?" And as if to emphasize he words he stepped into the moon light that shafted into the room. Bulma narrowed her eyes into frenzied slits. "I know it's you! Why do you think I'm trying to get away?!?" She hissed hoarsely. Vegeta was stunned. Hurt washed over him like the moonlight washed over the sea. 'She knows it's me…and she's trying to run away?' Vegeta couldn't understand, didn't want to. He truly cared about her, selflessly and fully, the only friend he had and she wanted to leave him?
Vegeta carefully took a step toward her, his hand trembling as he reached out for her. Bulma cringed and cradled her self, shying away from his touch. "Don't t-touch me! Leave me alone!" Bulma stammered, her resolve and courage draining slowly, like water down a drain. Vegeta withdrew his hand as if she had burned him. His eyes filled with rage and torment, burning with pain. "Why do you do this to me?!? What have I done to you!?!?" Vegeta shouted in anguish.
Bulma glared back up at him with steady defiance. Her hands clamped into tiny balls and her eyes narrowed into blazing orbs. "You…you had me beaten! I may not have seen it when it happened, but I sure as heck see it now! You are probably some rich son of a noble that the royal guards themselves would came after me! After all I went through to help you… this is how you treat me?!?" Bulma exploded with outrage and indignation. A deadly silence blanketed the two children, caressing the once hostile presence and calming it.
It was Vegeta who finally broke it. "Yes… I am the son of a noble man. A man that can never love me and will never look upon me as anything other than a disgrace to his name. No matter how strong I become, it will never be strong enough. My mother died when I was just 2 years old. I think that is why he hates me, I remind him of her. She loved me. But after she died I was forced to move on without even mourning her death, and my father's bastard children came to live with us. I thought I could never care about anyone again, even my nanny wasn't the same to me after that." Vegeta paused, taking a deep breath and looking Bulma straight in the eye, tears streaming down his damp cheeks, before whispering in a broken and pain-laced voice, "But I care about you, Bulma. More than anyone in the world, I care about you. You give me something to live for, let me feel emotions I never thought would reign in my cold heart again. You are my only friend, the person who saved me from a darkness that I cannot escape, and I would go to the end of the universe and back just to be able to hear you call me a friend."
With this, Vegeta turned away from her, his tears salty against his lips as he fought not to break down and weep in front of the only person he trusted. His form quaked and he fell to his knees, tearing sobs cracking from his lips as the eerie moonlight cast shadows on his tear-streaked face. His eyes closed in pain and torment, black orbs that could pierce the hardest-heart and he pleaded incoherently to any god that might exist that his eyes would never open again if she rejected him now. For that one moment, he was alone in the world, completely empty and alone and he did not know if he could face life again. A gentle hand landed on his shoulder and a blanket was draped over his form as he felt someone cuddle up to him. He turned his head slowly and uncertainly only to be met by two dazzling blue eyes, tears falling from them like crystals. Bulma slowly reached up her hand and brushed her fragile fingers against his cheek, wiping away the tears that crested there.
Vegeta watched her in silence for the longest time, his heart not even being able to comprehend what he saw. Bulma softly ran her hands over the crystal, the light pulsing strong as she touched it. Staring back up into Vegeta's questioning eyes, Bulma murmured quietly, "You kept the crystal…" Vegeta nodded distractedly and took his shaking hand in hers. "Friends Forever?" He questioned, his voice breaking and uncertain as he stared unwaveringly into her unreadable eyes.
Bulma gazed into his obsidian orbs, so strikingly beautiful and yet fiercely ageless at the same time. The eyes that could pierce fire. With a soft smile playing at her lips, Bulma slowly clasped her other hand over the one that was grasping to her desperately and whispered almost soundlessly, "Friends Forever."
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Dreamer: Ok, so how did you peoples like it? I don't know if that was any good and I was going to make it longer but… well, that just seemed like such a perfect place to stop. Don't worry, it's not the end of the story (I'm not that cruel! ;p) but there are a few things I want to mention before I this note.
First off, thank you to: Candy Chick, Android18 (You are one of my favorite authors!!! Thanx for the long review!), mee!!, Trinity (I'm glad you liked the Chibis!), C is for Cinnamon ( You are way to kind! I hope you enjoy this chapter!), the person who left their reviewer name blank (uh, I don't know who you are, but thanx so much for the reviews!), Callisto&Gita, Aiya (Wow, I'm glad you were so enthusiastic about last chapter! Hope you liked this one!), Keneko, Neo-arach (Thanx for the support, I'm glad you liked my surprise), Figment (I hoped this lived up to your expectations), Tricia (I tried! J ), Rose Tatoo, and Blue Lotus6399@aol.com!
Your guy's support and reviews really meant so much to me!
Ok, now I want to respond to two reviews that I got.
Android18: Ok, the question about her father, I can't answer… it's a secret for later! J But, about the little girl… I'm sorry for the confusion! I really am! Thanx for pointing it out to me! What happened with the little girl is I just kinda decided that Bulma would tell Vegeta about it during that time that they were talking after he first woke up! I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you! I hope this clears it up! Thank you again for reviewing and if you see any problems in this chapter, please tell me!!!
Blue Lotus6399@aol.com:
I'm glad you like the Goku/ Vegeta rivalry… I thought that it was kinda kool and it fits into my plans for this story. Now, about what you thought about me saying that I might not continue… I'm really sorry if that's what you thought I meant!!! I REALLY AM!!! What I really meant to say was that I wouldn't continue if no one liked it because I didn't really have a story plan in the beginning. I had every intention of continuing if people liked it and I'm sorry if you thought I was being mean! I hope this clears it up!
Ok, now that I've finish with that part, time to move on to the next item. Some of you reviewed my story and said that you wanted a mailing list… well for you guys, I've decided to make one. If you want to be on it and have me e-mail you whenever I'm going to post another chapter… just leave your e-mail in a review and I will add you on! J Oh, Blue Lotus and C is for Cinnamon, I've added you on like you asked, so from now on I will e-mail you!
Now finally, My last bit of news has to do with the story itself! Ok, I have finally gotten a plot line for my story to follow! YAY ME!!! It is exciting and I think you guys will like it! So, I will add some CC/G in upcoming chapters… Yay for those of you who want that couple and I hope the rest of you don't mind! Chi Chi, since I have finished this chapter without adding it in, will have been instructed by the Prince (more like had her life threatened) not to tell Bulma who he is, so that it works with my story! Hehe! And more important… I have decided that I will have the ages of each character in the story go up by a year in every chapter for now. So, since Vegeta and Bulma in this chapter are 7 and 6 in this chapter, they will be 8 and 7 in the next on and so on and so on until I indicate otherwise… got it? Ok, kool! Whew! I guess I'm finally done with this chapter! Thanks for reading and please drop off a review on your way out… Thank you!