I never conquered when you came
Sixteen just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
-Blink 182
Bulma heard an annoyingly loud tapping sound inside her head. It was soon followed by a voice.
Woman...
She furrowed her brow, trying to block out the voice, but it only grew louder.
Woman...
She put in more effort, forcing her eyes to stay closed.
WOMAN!
Giving in at last, she opened her eyes and found Vegeta standing next to her bed, arms crossed and tapping his foot in a very impatient manner.
"Finally, you're awake. I'm hungry and it's not like you left a note telling me where to find breakfast." Bulma sat up, blinking a few times to clear her vision and get a hold on reality.
"In other words, get me some food woman! Unless you prefer I go out and kill an 'innocent little deer'. I know how much you dislike hurting those pieces of lunch."
"V-Vegeta?" Bulma stammered.
"Oh good, we've established First Contact. Now are you going to get me some food or not?" With astounding speed Bulma freed herself of the IV's and WHAM! Her fist found its way to Vegeta's face. Vegeta stumbled backwards, rubbing his cheek.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" yelled Vegeta.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'WHAT WAS THAT FOR'? THAT WAS FOR LEAVING THEN COMING BACK HERE AND DEMANDING FOOD OF ME LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED!" Bulma topped his voice well. She brushed herself off.
"Now, what would you like for breakfast?" she said sweetly. Vegeta stared at her as if she were insane.
"Nani?" Bulma asked sharply.
"Nothing, I just forgot how many moods you go through in five minutes." Vegeta sneered.
Trunks awoke with a mouth-full of bills and magazines lying on top of his stomach. He sighed and sat up. He had been awoken by the sound of his mother's voice. Trunks realized who his mother might be yelling at and leapt out of his sleeping bag, up the stairs and into his mother's room. Vegeta was standing in his usual pose, indicating that he was pissed off by whatever Bulma had said. Trunks mentally beat himself for not waking up earlier. He had meant to talk to her before Vegeta could.
"Oh Trunks, you're up!" Bulma greeted. Trunks flashed a glare to Vegeta then turned his attention to Bulma.
"How are you feeling today mother?"
"I'm hungry, let's all go down to eat."
"Firstly," the doctor entered the room, "Bulma, I must give you a thorough check-up after what happened yesterday." Bulma groaned, but complied.
After thirty minutes Bulma jumped up, sang,
"Breakfast!" then ran downstairs. Vegeta followed quietly. Trunks, though eager to witness Bulma interrogate Vegeta, stayed behind to question the doctor.
"How is she?" he asked, half terrified of the answer.
"Incredible."
"Nani?"
"Remarkable, her stats in all areas have improved dramatically." The doctor explained. "It seems to be directed to that man, Vegeta, wasn't it? He's the only thing I can think of. He's the best thing that's happened to your mother in some time. I don't know what's happened between them, but he's giving your mother the will to live."
When Trunks entered the air was stiff and unpleasant. Vegeta and Bulma were eating their breakfast quietly. Trunks chose a cereal and sat down with the other two. As soon as he finished Bulma said,
"Trunks, upstairs."
"But," Trunks protested.
"No 'buts'! Upstairs."
"Mother-"
"Upstairs! I need to talk with you father." Trunks muttered something inaudible. He headed for the stairs, but as soon as he sensed Bulma's eyes turn off him he disappeared into a hidden fort he had built with Goten for the sole purpose of eavesdropping.
"So," Bulma advanced on Vegeta, "Why did you leave?"
"Wouldn't you be more interested in why I came back?"
"Iie, I know why you came back. I want to know why you left. I still haven't figured that out, and five years is a long time to think on it." Vegeta remained silent.
"Tell me Vegeta, you could always do that." Bulma placed herself on the couch. She invited Vegeta to do the same. He took the offer.
"I cannot tell you, not yet." He answered carefully. Bulma smiled weakly.
"You were always that kind of person. I'm sure you'll tell me soon, you'd better." A dim expression of relief that only Bulma could have caught crossed Vegeta's face, followed by a sense of content and tiredness.
"Did you sleep at all last night Vegeta?" Bulma asked, concerned. She did not wait for a response before saying,
"Lay down and rest, you're home." He did so slowly, almost cautiously, and soon the sound of deep breathing and a soft snore could be heard.
Mother's been waiting five years, growing weaker everyday. And they mean to tell me that the only thing that's kept her alive is him!? Why does she still love him? He left, he obviously doesn't love us. He watched as his mother stroked the now sleeping Prince's cheek. But he came back, another voice reminded the child. Why would he return if he didn't love you? Trunks shook the thought. It doesn't change anything.
So, review please! Again, not alot going on in this chapter, it's sort of a flop, but still a necessary prelude to the next chapter. It's 2:28 a.m Sunday morning! Aren't you happy that I stay up to post stuff just for you? That, and I was watching Trigun.