Thorns
Disclaimer: Bite me. ^_^
By: Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Chapter Three: Grief
Vejiita was shocked into immobility for a half-second before horror replaced surprise, and he flew over to the exploding lab a breath later, frantically searching out her minuscule ki. "Onna!" he roared, flaring up his ki to shield himself from the flames and rubble. He absently felt the small ki levels from her parents as they started to run towards the wreckage, and scowled as he continued to probe for hers.
"Onna!" He used his speed to search through the still flaming building, attempting to find where her lab had been, cursing to himself. He couldn't explain it, or even hope to understand it, but he was scared. He was more frightened then he had ever been in his life as frantically pushing aside crumbled walls and ceiling, searching for her. She could not die! The fool Onna would not die in a stupid lab accident! She was too stubborn for that!
He suddenly felt a small flicker of ki, too low to get much more than a vague sense of somewhere to his right and he sped towards it, hoping it was her. He didn't even push the concern and fear away, his mind too busy with finding her to worry about his stupid affections for the female.
Pushing aside another crumbling wall, he entered a large space that must have once been the lab, if the familiar decimated robotic parts scattered around were any indication. Now, it was destroyed. He quickly started lifting the rubble off the ground, kneeling when he felt another flicker of ki, and began to carefully dig through the debris.
Within seconds, he had found her. She was half-conscious, her entire body covered in blood, so much blood, in fact, that Vejiita - who usually delighted in the sight and smell of it - felt ill. His delicate sense of smell picked up the scent of burnt flesh, and he cringed inwardly. "Onna!"
She moaned softly at his voice, blinking open her eyes - darkened to near midnight blue with pain - and slowly focused them on him. "Ve...jiita?"
"Of course, Onna!" he snapped, looking over her worriedly. He flared his ki shield to include her, to keep the smoke and heat away from her. The odd way she was lying, the short, tiny gasps coming from her chest, and the faint gurgling sound that he easily heard scared him even further. Blood was seeping into her lungs, probably from a broken rib puncturing them, and he knew both legs were also broken, and quite possibly her back as well. And not to mention the internal bleeding from the force of the explosion, her gashes and burns, and probably head injuries as well.
She was dying.
There was no way she could survive much longer. He suspected not even he could survive such injuries. He realized he had to get her out of the decimated building, but knew moving her could be even worse. What did it matter if she was to die anyway? Perhaps Kakarotto had those stupid beans on him...
He heard a faint choking noise come from the bloody woman and looked up into her face, unable to keep the horror and fear from his face as he stared at her. He suddenly realized she was chuckling softly, despite the agony she was feeling.
"Looks like I blew myself up after all," she whispered almost inaudibly.
"Shut up, you fucking idiot!" he snapped, his voice betraying his fear and pain. He was losing her. "Do not talk; it will just drain your strength."
She attempted a smile, groaning softly. "I'm dying anyway..."
"No!" he hissed, glaring at her angrily, even if it wasn't her he was furious with. He reached out with his mind, using one of the skills he rarely indulged in, and contacted his rival. ::Kakarotto! Senzu now!:: he snarled into the Saiyajin's mind.
He could feel the softhearted warrior's surprise and confusion as he answered back, ::Huh?::
::Now!::
::Vejiita, I don't have any more. And Korin won't have any harvested for another few months.::
Vejiita snarled both aloud and in the younger Saiyajin's mind. He was furious and scared, yet another part of him was hurting at the thought of the Onna's death, and he didn't understand. He had seen death many times! He had killed the man who had raised him without a second thought! Why did he suddenly feel like *crying* at the thought of losing a female he had met less than one year ago?
::Vejiita, what's wrong?:: the one he called Kakarotto asked seriously, his concern reaching the distraught Saiyajin's mind easily.
::Kakarotto, teleport here now!:: he ordered, disgusted with himself for asking for help.
Half a breath later, Vejiita jumped as he felt the air beside him displace abruptly and the sudden appearance of a ki beside him didn't help. He found Kakarotto's new technique annoying that way. He heard his rival gasp in shock and choke out, "Buruma!"
"Teleport us to that stupid human medical place!" Vejiita snarled at the Saiyajin, not looking away from the dark blue eyes of the female lying before him. He felt his stomach drop when he noticed the glassy distant look moving into her normally clear and alert gaze, and growled. "Onna!"
He tensed immediately as he felt the gentle touch on his shoulder, and then they were no longer in the burning lab, but in the hospital, appearing in front of a startled nurse. He paid them no attention as the injured female's eyes focused on him shortly, her breathing still labored and obviously painful. He absently noted his rival yell for help, but all his focus was directed towards the dying woman.
He thought about taking the pain from her, using a technique or two he had learned while serving Furiza, but was afraid the numbing would prevent her from trying to breathe. "Onna," he said again quietly.
"You're worried about me," she whispered faintly, the same choked gurgling sound rising from her chest.
"I am not!" he snapped automatically, although his pained voice betrayed his words.
She smiled at him again, her eyes moving over his shoulder a bit and he glanced behind him to find a group of medical staff running towards them, a stretcher with them. He glanced back at her, frowning. Humans didn't have the medical technology that most races did, and he didn't like it. He suddenly felt angry at himself for not making her build a regeneration capsule, but even he knew it wouldn't have helped if her injuries were as bad as he thought they were.
He felt his eyes sting, and cursed himself for the weakness, forcing back the tears. He would *not* cry. Not for her! He would not lower himself for tears the second time in his life for a weak, human female! He growled loudly as the doctors and nurses surrounded the three of them, but didn't stop them from gently moving her broken body onto the white stretcher.
He ignored the muffled gasps of horror as the doctors saw her, ignored their mumbled conversation about how injured she was that he could clearly hear, and ignored his rival's obvious concern for his well-being as well as the Onna's. He snarled at the doctor who was foolish enough to suggest he go into the waiting room, and followed beside the stretcher as it was moved through the hospital, down halls he didn't pay attention to, and into a large room that reeked of chemicals that tickled his nose.
He growled at the protests of the doctors about his presence in the operating room as they called it, and stubbornly told them he was *not* leaving, and luckily for them, the larger Saiyajin had followed Vejiita into the room and warned them against trying to force the issue.
Vejiita consented to being covered with a hideous green gown, growled at the fool who tried to cover his face with a white mask, and moved up beside the Onna who had been placed onto the large table in the middle of the room.
She was still breathing and her eyes were closed, although he knew she was still conscious. He tuned out the noises of the medical personnel that worked furiously to save her, useless as he knew the effort to be. "Onna," he said quietly, willing her to open her eyes.
She complied with the unspoken wish, and slowly opened those beautiful blue eyes and stared up at him. He could see the confusion, the pain, and the knowledge that she was dying in her gaze. She gasped softly, trying to speak again, but Vejiita shook his head, silently telling her to shut up.
She didn't listen, of course, and swallowed painfully. "Vejiita, I will be wished back," she murmured quietly.
"I know, idiot," he told her gently, disgusted with himself for the soft tone. At least his words didn't betray him. He could still insult her, pitiful as it was.
She coughed slightly, wincing as the movement shot pain through her and he felt his own heart twist in response to it. He knew she had to hurt badly, and yet she was still so very brave, staring up at him and trying to hide just how much agony she was in. He found himself incredibly proud and in awe of her as he watched her proudly deny any pain. He had seen hardened warriors, whose strength rivaled his own, cry out with less reason than what this little female was enduring. He had himself cried out in pain many times while being beaten, and yet this little female refused to put voice to the severe pain that she felt.
"My parents," she forced out. He nodded and turned to Kakarotto, who was looking a little green and standing at the far end of the room.
"Kakarotto, her parents!" he ordered huskily, again cursing himself for his lack of control over his own voice.
The taller warrior nodded and put two fingers to his forehead, disappearing moments later. Vejiita turned back to find her grimacing as another wave of pain hit her and his stomach clenched in sympathy. Sympathy, from him... He almost laughed bitterly at the thought.
She was going to die, and he knew it. He was going to lose her, even before he had realized he felt something for her. He glared at the doctor nearest her suddenly. "Will she die?" he demanded loudly, almost choking on the words.
The doctor looked at him, and although he looked like he was going to reassure the Saiyajin, who did not want the lies anyway, Vejiita could see the truth in the weak man's eyes. He nodded curtly and glanced back at the woman lying beside him.
"Leave," he ordered the medical staff quietly.
Everyone, the three physicians and four nurses, looked up at him in shock. "But sir, there is still hope-" one protested before a murderous glare from the small warrior silenced him.
"We can make her more comfortable at least," a doctor told him quietly.
"We cannot just leave-" another put in.
"I said leave!" he roared angrily, powering up, a blue aura surrounding him. "Or I will kill you all!"
"Vejiita," she whispered, the nearly inaudible voice pushing through his rage, and he looked at her again. He didn't even acknowledge the doctors scurrying from the room, having been too frightened to even argue with him. If only he had known it was not only his display of power, but also the angry anguish on his face that caused them to flee like frightened mice.
"Stop scaring them, idiot," she demanded quietly.
He growled and put his hand behind her head gently, fingering a few nerves, and watched as the tension in her face left, her pain dissipating her. "Stop ordering me around, Onna," he mumbled, watching her.
She smiled weakly at him. "Even dying, you won't give me a break," she teased, her voice choking softly on the words.
He snorted and continued to stare at her. He couldn't do a damn thing to save her... Why he would want to confused him, but he supposed it was because she was his friend. His friend. The only person in the universe he had met that didn't despise him for his race, didn't fear him for his power, and didn't hate him for his arrogance and aloof attitude. The only one brave enough to risk his temper on a regular basis. The only one who would dare order him around. He had found a friend on a planet he had wanted to destroy, and still wanted to most of the time. A friend...
It was an oddly alien thought to the Saiyajin no Ouji, and one that startled him, and made a part of him shy away in fear. He stared at her, his eyes unable to hide the fear and grief he felt, and he knew that he was right. She was his friend, and Kami help him, he cared for her. A friend after all these years of being alone, and wanting to be alone. A friend he didn't realize he had, or even wanted, until that very moment.
And he was losing her.
He didn't know much about friendship, having never had one before, and didn't know if he should be so upset about losing her. He didn't know if the attraction he had been feeling for her was something friends felt for each other or not. But a sudden jealousy filled him at the thought that she might harbor such feelings for his rival, who was also her friend, decided him that it was probably not a normal thing. He didn't think she felt such jealousy towards the other Saiyajin's mate, so it must not be normal. Despite that, he knew that she *was* a friend, one he cared for very much, and while a part of him cursed inwardly for allowing himself the weakness, the other felt oddly satisfied. A friend, and it felt right, even if a part of him wanted more than mere friendship. He squished that line of thought fast.
"Onna, you will be wished back, so I do not see why I should give you a break," he told her, his voice gruff and soft, despite his attempt at sounding like his usual cold, uncaring self.
"Yeah, I know," she breathed closing her eyes, and he sensed the faint ki, which had been stubbornly clinging to existence, slowly began to fade.
"Onna!" he groaned out, feeling his eyes water, but by sheer stubbornness alone, he refused to let himself show such a weak display of emotion. He might be angry with himself for *feeling* the weak emotion, but he would die before he'd allow himself to show it.
"It'll be okay, 'Jiita" she murmured out almost silently, and she breathed out once more, her chest rising one last time, before it stopped. Almost ten minutes after he had seen her lab explode, she had finally died.
He stared at her still form silently for a long moment, his eyes continuing to sting. She would be back, he knew that... But why did it hurt so much? His breath started coming out in fast, quiet pants, and his heart jumped into his throat, and a pain hit him in the stomach. He couldn't stop himself from pressing an arm to his middle where the sudden pain was coming from, and he dropped to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. His ki rose unconsciously as he tried to force the control he had always prided himself on back.
The door swung open, his rival rushing into the room, finding his friend, his sister gone, and the only other living Saiyajin on his knees, shuddering and gasping painfully. A few moments later, Dr. Briefs and his wife entered, the blonde woman screaming shrilly, and clutched to her husband with a loud sob. Dr. Briefs himself had paled and gasped when he had seen the blue-haired genius on the table, his arms wrapping around his wife as she wailed into his chest, his own eyes moist.
Vejiita didn't even realize his reaction was being observed - he hadn't even heard the loud scream of the Onna's mother - and nearly blasted his rival when the softhearted warrior placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. He snarled wordlessly at the larger man, forcing himself to his feet, and trying unsuccessfully to control his trembling limbs, and the sharp agony in his gut.
Pushing past his rival, Vejiita fled the room, and made his way out of the hospital, heedless of who he ran over on his way. He would have simply blasted out of the room and into the sky, but for some bizarre reason, he could have almost felt the Onna's disapproving glare when the thought had occurred to him.
He took to the sky the moment he burst out the hospital door and flew faster then he ever had before, pushing himself with everything he had, just to get away from that place. He didn't have a destination in mind; he just wanted to be away from there.
He knew she would be wished back, the fool Kakarotto would see to that, but it did not comfort him at all. It did not lessen his regret, grief, anger, or pain. Kami, this was why emotions were weaknesses! He could be destroyed all because he cared for a weak, human female! One little female had him shaking with grief and rage, on his knees fighting back tears, and he would have gladly welcomed a deathblow about then. Just to put an end to the pain.
'What is *wrong* with me?! She is coming back! She will not stay dead, it will be only one year before she will be back, and I am feeling like my planet had just been destroyed all over again!' He felt the familiar sting in his eyes again, and snarled as he felt himself lose control, tears finding their way down his cheeks to be swept away from the harsh wind.
And the Saiyajin no Ouji cried for the second time in his life, completely unaware of why he was doing so, but knowing he would miss the fiery blue-haired genius he had been living with. He would miss their arguments, her flushed face, and her swinging hips. He felt the longing for her sweet scent fill him already and closed his eyes against the images in his mind, the memories of her, and put on another burst of speed. Trying to flee from the agony in his heart.
~~~
Goku blinked after the disappearing Saiyajin, and frowned worriedly. He hoped Vejiita would be all right... He seemed awfully upset for someone who didn't care about anyone. But Trunks had said that Buruma and Vejiita would get together, and it seemed as though the young man had been right. Vejiita was devastated at the loss of her, even knowing that she would probably be wished back. The violent trembling and tortured eyes left Goku with little doubt to the Saiyajin's feelings towards Buruma.
He only hoped that the Saiyajin, unstable at the best of times, would be okay for this next year until the balls become active again.
Goku glanced at his friend's parents, his eyes softening at the distraught couple. He gave them his best reassuring smile. "Don't forget about the dragonballs, Dr. Briefs. Little less then a year away and we'll have her back."
Dr. Briefs nodded, slightly relieved, but the grief was still there, so very real to them as their daughter's body was still in the same room they were in. Goku felt his own grief choke his throat, and forced back tears, motioning the couple to leave the room ahead of him.
After they had gone, he turned back to let his eyes linger on the broken body of one of his dearest friends. "I will miss you, Buruma," he murmured quietly before leaving the room. He needed to inform the doctors of her passing now, and after that, he'd go home to his wife.
He needed the reassurance only she could give him right now. Buruma's sudden death hurt him deeply. She had been like a sister to him, after all... Even with the knowledge that the dragonballs would bring her back, he felt the dull ache in his heart at her loss.
After informing the staff of her death, he teleported her parent's back to Capsule Corporation, and then went home himself. He entered the house silently and padded softly up the stairs towards his wife's ki. When he located her in their bedroom, he walked in softly and ignoring his wife curious and worried glance, he fell to his knees in front of her. She blinked down at her husband from her spot in the desk chair, suddenly very frightened. "Goku-sa?"
A choked sob came from the pure-hearted warrior as he buried his head into her lap. "Buruma's dead," he whispered before his grief choked him, and he tightened his arms around his wife.
Then he wept.
~~~
AN: DO NOT freak! ^_^;
Lovies!
Disclaimer: Bite me. ^_^
By: Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Chapter Three: Grief
Vejiita was shocked into immobility for a half-second before horror replaced surprise, and he flew over to the exploding lab a breath later, frantically searching out her minuscule ki. "Onna!" he roared, flaring up his ki to shield himself from the flames and rubble. He absently felt the small ki levels from her parents as they started to run towards the wreckage, and scowled as he continued to probe for hers.
"Onna!" He used his speed to search through the still flaming building, attempting to find where her lab had been, cursing to himself. He couldn't explain it, or even hope to understand it, but he was scared. He was more frightened then he had ever been in his life as frantically pushing aside crumbled walls and ceiling, searching for her. She could not die! The fool Onna would not die in a stupid lab accident! She was too stubborn for that!
He suddenly felt a small flicker of ki, too low to get much more than a vague sense of somewhere to his right and he sped towards it, hoping it was her. He didn't even push the concern and fear away, his mind too busy with finding her to worry about his stupid affections for the female.
Pushing aside another crumbling wall, he entered a large space that must have once been the lab, if the familiar decimated robotic parts scattered around were any indication. Now, it was destroyed. He quickly started lifting the rubble off the ground, kneeling when he felt another flicker of ki, and began to carefully dig through the debris.
Within seconds, he had found her. She was half-conscious, her entire body covered in blood, so much blood, in fact, that Vejiita - who usually delighted in the sight and smell of it - felt ill. His delicate sense of smell picked up the scent of burnt flesh, and he cringed inwardly. "Onna!"
She moaned softly at his voice, blinking open her eyes - darkened to near midnight blue with pain - and slowly focused them on him. "Ve...jiita?"
"Of course, Onna!" he snapped, looking over her worriedly. He flared his ki shield to include her, to keep the smoke and heat away from her. The odd way she was lying, the short, tiny gasps coming from her chest, and the faint gurgling sound that he easily heard scared him even further. Blood was seeping into her lungs, probably from a broken rib puncturing them, and he knew both legs were also broken, and quite possibly her back as well. And not to mention the internal bleeding from the force of the explosion, her gashes and burns, and probably head injuries as well.
She was dying.
There was no way she could survive much longer. He suspected not even he could survive such injuries. He realized he had to get her out of the decimated building, but knew moving her could be even worse. What did it matter if she was to die anyway? Perhaps Kakarotto had those stupid beans on him...
He heard a faint choking noise come from the bloody woman and looked up into her face, unable to keep the horror and fear from his face as he stared at her. He suddenly realized she was chuckling softly, despite the agony she was feeling.
"Looks like I blew myself up after all," she whispered almost inaudibly.
"Shut up, you fucking idiot!" he snapped, his voice betraying his fear and pain. He was losing her. "Do not talk; it will just drain your strength."
She attempted a smile, groaning softly. "I'm dying anyway..."
"No!" he hissed, glaring at her angrily, even if it wasn't her he was furious with. He reached out with his mind, using one of the skills he rarely indulged in, and contacted his rival. ::Kakarotto! Senzu now!:: he snarled into the Saiyajin's mind.
He could feel the softhearted warrior's surprise and confusion as he answered back, ::Huh?::
::Now!::
::Vejiita, I don't have any more. And Korin won't have any harvested for another few months.::
Vejiita snarled both aloud and in the younger Saiyajin's mind. He was furious and scared, yet another part of him was hurting at the thought of the Onna's death, and he didn't understand. He had seen death many times! He had killed the man who had raised him without a second thought! Why did he suddenly feel like *crying* at the thought of losing a female he had met less than one year ago?
::Vejiita, what's wrong?:: the one he called Kakarotto asked seriously, his concern reaching the distraught Saiyajin's mind easily.
::Kakarotto, teleport here now!:: he ordered, disgusted with himself for asking for help.
Half a breath later, Vejiita jumped as he felt the air beside him displace abruptly and the sudden appearance of a ki beside him didn't help. He found Kakarotto's new technique annoying that way. He heard his rival gasp in shock and choke out, "Buruma!"
"Teleport us to that stupid human medical place!" Vejiita snarled at the Saiyajin, not looking away from the dark blue eyes of the female lying before him. He felt his stomach drop when he noticed the glassy distant look moving into her normally clear and alert gaze, and growled. "Onna!"
He tensed immediately as he felt the gentle touch on his shoulder, and then they were no longer in the burning lab, but in the hospital, appearing in front of a startled nurse. He paid them no attention as the injured female's eyes focused on him shortly, her breathing still labored and obviously painful. He absently noted his rival yell for help, but all his focus was directed towards the dying woman.
He thought about taking the pain from her, using a technique or two he had learned while serving Furiza, but was afraid the numbing would prevent her from trying to breathe. "Onna," he said again quietly.
"You're worried about me," she whispered faintly, the same choked gurgling sound rising from her chest.
"I am not!" he snapped automatically, although his pained voice betrayed his words.
She smiled at him again, her eyes moving over his shoulder a bit and he glanced behind him to find a group of medical staff running towards them, a stretcher with them. He glanced back at her, frowning. Humans didn't have the medical technology that most races did, and he didn't like it. He suddenly felt angry at himself for not making her build a regeneration capsule, but even he knew it wouldn't have helped if her injuries were as bad as he thought they were.
He felt his eyes sting, and cursed himself for the weakness, forcing back the tears. He would *not* cry. Not for her! He would not lower himself for tears the second time in his life for a weak, human female! He growled loudly as the doctors and nurses surrounded the three of them, but didn't stop them from gently moving her broken body onto the white stretcher.
He ignored the muffled gasps of horror as the doctors saw her, ignored their mumbled conversation about how injured she was that he could clearly hear, and ignored his rival's obvious concern for his well-being as well as the Onna's. He snarled at the doctor who was foolish enough to suggest he go into the waiting room, and followed beside the stretcher as it was moved through the hospital, down halls he didn't pay attention to, and into a large room that reeked of chemicals that tickled his nose.
He growled at the protests of the doctors about his presence in the operating room as they called it, and stubbornly told them he was *not* leaving, and luckily for them, the larger Saiyajin had followed Vejiita into the room and warned them against trying to force the issue.
Vejiita consented to being covered with a hideous green gown, growled at the fool who tried to cover his face with a white mask, and moved up beside the Onna who had been placed onto the large table in the middle of the room.
She was still breathing and her eyes were closed, although he knew she was still conscious. He tuned out the noises of the medical personnel that worked furiously to save her, useless as he knew the effort to be. "Onna," he said quietly, willing her to open her eyes.
She complied with the unspoken wish, and slowly opened those beautiful blue eyes and stared up at him. He could see the confusion, the pain, and the knowledge that she was dying in her gaze. She gasped softly, trying to speak again, but Vejiita shook his head, silently telling her to shut up.
She didn't listen, of course, and swallowed painfully. "Vejiita, I will be wished back," she murmured quietly.
"I know, idiot," he told her gently, disgusted with himself for the soft tone. At least his words didn't betray him. He could still insult her, pitiful as it was.
She coughed slightly, wincing as the movement shot pain through her and he felt his own heart twist in response to it. He knew she had to hurt badly, and yet she was still so very brave, staring up at him and trying to hide just how much agony she was in. He found himself incredibly proud and in awe of her as he watched her proudly deny any pain. He had seen hardened warriors, whose strength rivaled his own, cry out with less reason than what this little female was enduring. He had himself cried out in pain many times while being beaten, and yet this little female refused to put voice to the severe pain that she felt.
"My parents," she forced out. He nodded and turned to Kakarotto, who was looking a little green and standing at the far end of the room.
"Kakarotto, her parents!" he ordered huskily, again cursing himself for his lack of control over his own voice.
The taller warrior nodded and put two fingers to his forehead, disappearing moments later. Vejiita turned back to find her grimacing as another wave of pain hit her and his stomach clenched in sympathy. Sympathy, from him... He almost laughed bitterly at the thought.
She was going to die, and he knew it. He was going to lose her, even before he had realized he felt something for her. He glared at the doctor nearest her suddenly. "Will she die?" he demanded loudly, almost choking on the words.
The doctor looked at him, and although he looked like he was going to reassure the Saiyajin, who did not want the lies anyway, Vejiita could see the truth in the weak man's eyes. He nodded curtly and glanced back at the woman lying beside him.
"Leave," he ordered the medical staff quietly.
Everyone, the three physicians and four nurses, looked up at him in shock. "But sir, there is still hope-" one protested before a murderous glare from the small warrior silenced him.
"We can make her more comfortable at least," a doctor told him quietly.
"We cannot just leave-" another put in.
"I said leave!" he roared angrily, powering up, a blue aura surrounding him. "Or I will kill you all!"
"Vejiita," she whispered, the nearly inaudible voice pushing through his rage, and he looked at her again. He didn't even acknowledge the doctors scurrying from the room, having been too frightened to even argue with him. If only he had known it was not only his display of power, but also the angry anguish on his face that caused them to flee like frightened mice.
"Stop scaring them, idiot," she demanded quietly.
He growled and put his hand behind her head gently, fingering a few nerves, and watched as the tension in her face left, her pain dissipating her. "Stop ordering me around, Onna," he mumbled, watching her.
She smiled weakly at him. "Even dying, you won't give me a break," she teased, her voice choking softly on the words.
He snorted and continued to stare at her. He couldn't do a damn thing to save her... Why he would want to confused him, but he supposed it was because she was his friend. His friend. The only person in the universe he had met that didn't despise him for his race, didn't fear him for his power, and didn't hate him for his arrogance and aloof attitude. The only one brave enough to risk his temper on a regular basis. The only one who would dare order him around. He had found a friend on a planet he had wanted to destroy, and still wanted to most of the time. A friend...
It was an oddly alien thought to the Saiyajin no Ouji, and one that startled him, and made a part of him shy away in fear. He stared at her, his eyes unable to hide the fear and grief he felt, and he knew that he was right. She was his friend, and Kami help him, he cared for her. A friend after all these years of being alone, and wanting to be alone. A friend he didn't realize he had, or even wanted, until that very moment.
And he was losing her.
He didn't know much about friendship, having never had one before, and didn't know if he should be so upset about losing her. He didn't know if the attraction he had been feeling for her was something friends felt for each other or not. But a sudden jealousy filled him at the thought that she might harbor such feelings for his rival, who was also her friend, decided him that it was probably not a normal thing. He didn't think she felt such jealousy towards the other Saiyajin's mate, so it must not be normal. Despite that, he knew that she *was* a friend, one he cared for very much, and while a part of him cursed inwardly for allowing himself the weakness, the other felt oddly satisfied. A friend, and it felt right, even if a part of him wanted more than mere friendship. He squished that line of thought fast.
"Onna, you will be wished back, so I do not see why I should give you a break," he told her, his voice gruff and soft, despite his attempt at sounding like his usual cold, uncaring self.
"Yeah, I know," she breathed closing her eyes, and he sensed the faint ki, which had been stubbornly clinging to existence, slowly began to fade.
"Onna!" he groaned out, feeling his eyes water, but by sheer stubbornness alone, he refused to let himself show such a weak display of emotion. He might be angry with himself for *feeling* the weak emotion, but he would die before he'd allow himself to show it.
"It'll be okay, 'Jiita" she murmured out almost silently, and she breathed out once more, her chest rising one last time, before it stopped. Almost ten minutes after he had seen her lab explode, she had finally died.
He stared at her still form silently for a long moment, his eyes continuing to sting. She would be back, he knew that... But why did it hurt so much? His breath started coming out in fast, quiet pants, and his heart jumped into his throat, and a pain hit him in the stomach. He couldn't stop himself from pressing an arm to his middle where the sudden pain was coming from, and he dropped to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. His ki rose unconsciously as he tried to force the control he had always prided himself on back.
The door swung open, his rival rushing into the room, finding his friend, his sister gone, and the only other living Saiyajin on his knees, shuddering and gasping painfully. A few moments later, Dr. Briefs and his wife entered, the blonde woman screaming shrilly, and clutched to her husband with a loud sob. Dr. Briefs himself had paled and gasped when he had seen the blue-haired genius on the table, his arms wrapping around his wife as she wailed into his chest, his own eyes moist.
Vejiita didn't even realize his reaction was being observed - he hadn't even heard the loud scream of the Onna's mother - and nearly blasted his rival when the softhearted warrior placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. He snarled wordlessly at the larger man, forcing himself to his feet, and trying unsuccessfully to control his trembling limbs, and the sharp agony in his gut.
Pushing past his rival, Vejiita fled the room, and made his way out of the hospital, heedless of who he ran over on his way. He would have simply blasted out of the room and into the sky, but for some bizarre reason, he could have almost felt the Onna's disapproving glare when the thought had occurred to him.
He took to the sky the moment he burst out the hospital door and flew faster then he ever had before, pushing himself with everything he had, just to get away from that place. He didn't have a destination in mind; he just wanted to be away from there.
He knew she would be wished back, the fool Kakarotto would see to that, but it did not comfort him at all. It did not lessen his regret, grief, anger, or pain. Kami, this was why emotions were weaknesses! He could be destroyed all because he cared for a weak, human female! One little female had him shaking with grief and rage, on his knees fighting back tears, and he would have gladly welcomed a deathblow about then. Just to put an end to the pain.
'What is *wrong* with me?! She is coming back! She will not stay dead, it will be only one year before she will be back, and I am feeling like my planet had just been destroyed all over again!' He felt the familiar sting in his eyes again, and snarled as he felt himself lose control, tears finding their way down his cheeks to be swept away from the harsh wind.
And the Saiyajin no Ouji cried for the second time in his life, completely unaware of why he was doing so, but knowing he would miss the fiery blue-haired genius he had been living with. He would miss their arguments, her flushed face, and her swinging hips. He felt the longing for her sweet scent fill him already and closed his eyes against the images in his mind, the memories of her, and put on another burst of speed. Trying to flee from the agony in his heart.
~~~
Goku blinked after the disappearing Saiyajin, and frowned worriedly. He hoped Vejiita would be all right... He seemed awfully upset for someone who didn't care about anyone. But Trunks had said that Buruma and Vejiita would get together, and it seemed as though the young man had been right. Vejiita was devastated at the loss of her, even knowing that she would probably be wished back. The violent trembling and tortured eyes left Goku with little doubt to the Saiyajin's feelings towards Buruma.
He only hoped that the Saiyajin, unstable at the best of times, would be okay for this next year until the balls become active again.
Goku glanced at his friend's parents, his eyes softening at the distraught couple. He gave them his best reassuring smile. "Don't forget about the dragonballs, Dr. Briefs. Little less then a year away and we'll have her back."
Dr. Briefs nodded, slightly relieved, but the grief was still there, so very real to them as their daughter's body was still in the same room they were in. Goku felt his own grief choke his throat, and forced back tears, motioning the couple to leave the room ahead of him.
After they had gone, he turned back to let his eyes linger on the broken body of one of his dearest friends. "I will miss you, Buruma," he murmured quietly before leaving the room. He needed to inform the doctors of her passing now, and after that, he'd go home to his wife.
He needed the reassurance only she could give him right now. Buruma's sudden death hurt him deeply. She had been like a sister to him, after all... Even with the knowledge that the dragonballs would bring her back, he felt the dull ache in his heart at her loss.
After informing the staff of her death, he teleported her parent's back to Capsule Corporation, and then went home himself. He entered the house silently and padded softly up the stairs towards his wife's ki. When he located her in their bedroom, he walked in softly and ignoring his wife curious and worried glance, he fell to his knees in front of her. She blinked down at her husband from her spot in the desk chair, suddenly very frightened. "Goku-sa?"
A choked sob came from the pure-hearted warrior as he buried his head into her lap. "Buruma's dead," he whispered before his grief choked him, and he tightened his arms around his wife.
Then he wept.
~~~
AN: DO NOT freak! ^_^;
Lovies!
