Vegan's face when he dropped the news, it looked like something broke inside of her. As the dark waters pulled her under, Goku began to feel apprehensive.
She wasn't coming back up; Krillin and Eighteen began to yell as Goku stared at the presently empty spot.
It was darkness calling her back, only this time; it wasn't her soul it wanted.
Goku leaped into the water, rushing to her defense; he would not let the darkness retake her.
She was at the bottom of the river, in the fetal position, sobbing like a child.
Oh, God.
She loved him; she truly idolized him, and he deemed her a second opinion.
Goku scooped her up by the arms and swam to the surface.
'I'm fine. I'm fine.' She fibbed as she broke away from him.
She stormed off; Eighteen turned to him and flared, 'Did you possess drop it on her like that?!'
Eighteen stormed after her as Goku sighed and swam to shore.
'She needed to know.'
'But did you have to drop it on her like that?'
Poor Vegan!
She's been like this for a month; it hurt to see her friend so unhappy.
Eighteen had to get her out of this depression; she contemplated tricking her into taking antidepressants but decided against it.
Vegan just needed to be reminded of who she was; nothing a girls' day couldn't fix.
She, Vegan, and Marron could go shopping, get a makeover, and have strangers tell her she's hot!
And boom!
Vegan would regain her confidence!
She dialed Goku one day and demanded to speak to Vegan.
'Hello.' Vegan said in a groggy voice.
'Marron and I are coming to get you.'
'I don't-'
'I don't care! We are coming!'
Vegan groaned and ok, and the line went dead. Eighteen grabbed her baby and told Krillen what she was going to do.
He mentioned taking Goku to Capsule Corp to see if Trunks would like to see his mother.
Vegan was waiting, wearing a blue shirt and gray sweats, and white boots.
'Vegan, you can't sit around and be miserable forever. The best revenge you can get on Bloomer is having a good life.'
'I don't want vengeance. I just want the pain to it to stop.'
'Marron and I are here to help with that.'
Vegan groaned but reluctantly followed her onto the plane.
Goku and Krillin were heading to Capsule Corp to talk to Trunks.
Trunks was sitting in his grandfather's lab playing his video game while Bloomer was drinking and typing.
'Trunks, can you turn the sound off on that thing?'
'Hey, guys.' Goku chirped.
'Hello.' Bloomer said, rubbing his forehead.
'Hey. Hey, Trunks.'
'Hello.'
'Put that thing down, and look at people when they speak to you.'
Trunks sighed and looked at the two men; Goku looked at his feet. 'So, Trunks. Goten says that you don't come around and play as much anymore.'
'He wants to run around outside and get dirty.'
'I'm sure Goten wouldn't mind playing video games.'
'His mother does.' Trunks said in a harsh voice.
'Trunks!'
'I'm going to my room.'
The boy stormed out of the room; Krillin turned to Bloomer. 'Goku told me that you and Yamcha are getting married.'
Bloomer threw the sayian an irritated glance. 'Why don't you just tell everyone!'
'Where is Yamcha?'
'In the studio, she's working on a new album.'
'When are you two getting married?' Goku asked.
'I haven't even asked her yet.'
'When are you going to?'
'When I get ready!'
'So how is Trunks?' Krillin asked.
'Fine, when he's not playing that stupid game! I wished I never bought it.'
'Why did you buy for him?'
'To keep his mind off his mother!'
'Does he miss her?'
'I don't know, but I hope not! Yamcha is a better mother!'
Goku thought of Vegan sinking to the bottom of the river; this remark would pull her back into the darkness.
Hopefully, Trunks didn't feel the same way.
Vegan just wanted to be alone, watching the television or listening to music.
The quiet made all the thoughts in her head made louder.
'Vegan, let's go shopping.'
'I left all my cards at Capsule Corp, and I bet Bloomer cut them all off.'
'It's the East District; I could probably buy and sell this place with the change in my purse.'
'I have a satchels Bloomer bought me-'
'I bet if we sell them-'
'Don't touch any of Bloomer's gifts to me!' Vegan said sharply. 'He gave me those to cherish.'
'Ok, ok.' They rode in silence for a while. 'I think we should get you a haircut.'
'Haircut?'
'That Rapunzel look is dead.'
'Rapunzel?! Oh, the princess in the tower, you mean.' Vegan ran her fingers through her hair and stared vacantly out the window. 'Bloomer said that I was his princess.'
'And he let Yamcha usurp you!' Eighteen flared. 'She sleeps in your bed with your man! If you continue to wallow in self-pity, they win!'
'A lady knows where and when she's not wanted. I'm not wanted in my own family.' She stopped playing with her hair. 'Sometimes the best way to show you love someone is to let them go. I have to let them go.'
They were silent the rest of the ride; Eighteen wished she could coax Vegan into seeing Trunks, but maybe she had that how can I miss you if you don't go away logic.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
'I don't have to look like a man, do I?'
'What?'
'They won't scalp me, will they?'
'No.' Chuckled Eighteen.
Goku followed Trunks' ki and found him sitting in Capsule Corp's lobby, playing his video game.
'Hey, Trunks.'
'Hello.' The boy sighed and put down the video game.
'Oh, you don't have to stop playing on my account.'
'Ok.' Trunks resumed playing.
'Do you miss your mother?'
'No.'
Goku did dare to ask the boy if he wished for her death.
'Well, if you want to see her, I'll find her for you.'
'Have you ever been to this place before?' Krillin asked Goku as they sat in a dark restaurant in Satan City.
'Hercule took me here once.' Goku said quietly.
When they returned from Capsule Corp, Eighteen ordered them to put on some nice clothes and met them at a restaurant in Satan Tower.
Krillin wore a lavender button-down shirt, black pants, and shoes; his matching blazer was folded in his lap. Goku wore a white button-down shirt, a black waistcoat, a matching tie, pants, and shoes.
Usually, he didn't like dressing up, but if it'd make Vegan smile, he would wear a suit every day.
'When?'
'When Chi Chi left.'
'Is it any good?'
'I don't remember; Hercule and I got drunk, and I woke up in a strange woman's bed.'
'What?! Did you sleep with some woman?'
'I don't remember. I grabbed my clothes before they woke up and ran home. I didn't know you could have sex with more than one person at a time!'
'Yeah, it's a trip when first you find out.'
'How long have you known?!'
'You can't do it unless the other two people also want to.'
'I know!'
'Hey!'
Goku turned and saw Eighteen standing in front of the table, wearing a short spaghetti-strap dress that seemed wrapped around her; it was the color of her eyes.
'Hi, honey.' Krillin got up and kissed his wife, then pulled out a chair for her.
'Where is Vegan?' Goku asked as she stood.
'I am here.'
Goku turned to see Vegan approaching; she looked so...
So...
'Wow.'
Vegan long fairy tale hair was now waist length, wavey, and layered with long bangs that framed her face. The black dress she wore was strapless and short with a plunging neckline.
The way she looked tonight took his breath away.
