Author's Note: The final installment of this portion of the story…………. Who would've thought my little story would get this big? I really have to thank you guys so much for the reviews and dedication you've shown this story. It has been really appreciated and motivating so thankyou.

Chapter 31: Goodbye

There was a horrible tension in the air as the six friends stood in the airport terminal. Bulma and Vegeta were standing a little further away from the rest of the group, saying their last goodbyes.

"Vegeta," Bulma whispered into his chest. Vegeta wrapped his arms around Bulma and laid his head softly on hers. The two stood in silence for a few moments. "I don't want you to go," Bulma said, a small cry escaping her lips. Vegeta grasped Bulma by the shoulders and stepped back. He lifted her chin with his finger and she looked up at him. Vegeta's heart wrenched at the sight of her now tear stained cheeks.

"Bulma, look at me." Bulma turned her head away but Vegeta moved it back. "I don't want to leave any more than you want me to. But if I ever wish to do anything with my life I have to." He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. His heart that he had so longer pretended didn't exist, was making its presence known as it was being torn to pieces now that he finally realized that they weren't going to see each other for seven more years. At the least.

"Vegeta, you don't have to go," Bulma cried in a last desperate plea.

"You know I have to. Don't make this any harder than it's going to be. Bulma you've brought out a side in me I thought died with my family." Vegeta swallowed, tears threatening to spill.

Chichi, Goku, Krillin and 18 looked on as Bulma and Vegeta said their goodbyes.

"I can't believe Vegeta's actually leaving," Goku sighed. They were standing a small distance off, one arm around Chichi and the other around Vega. The young girl had tears streaming down her face. 18 stood silently and no one said any more.

"Vegeta I don't want this to happen," Bulma cried, looking up at him. Vegeta swallowed again. He had promised himself he wasn't going to cry but he was finding it hard to jeep that promise. He couldn't believe he was leaving everyone. "I need you," Bulma whispered. Vegeta placed his hands on her cheeks and pulled her head up to make eye contact.

Bulma looked into his eyes. The normally emotionless black pools were filled with foreign emotiong. Sorrow, pain and, dare she believe it, love. Suddenly a voice came over the inter-com.

"Flight 1342 West Capitol to Los Angeles boarding. Takeoff in ten minutes."

Vegeta closed his eyes. Ten minutes. That was all they had left together. It would be at least seven years before he was back.

Bulma had stopped crying now. Vegeta led her to an airport couch where he sat himself with Bulma leaning on his chest.

"You're really going," Bulma swallowed. Vegeta nodded, running his fingers over her soft skin. They sat there for a while, not saying anything, just for the sake of being together.

"Flight 1342 West Capitol to Los Angeles, take off in five minutes." Vegeta closed his eyes and shuddered.

"Why can't I go with you?" Bulma asked. She had now started crying again. Vegeta shook his head.

"You have a good life here, too much at stake."

"I don't care, Vegeta! I want to go with you." Vegeta smiled sadly and gently sat up.

"This is it, Bulma." He stood up, head held high and shoulders drawn back. He helped Bulma up and then went over to the others. He stood in front of Vega, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling.

"You've made me proud, squirt. I'm gunna miss you," he smiled, tears sitting on his eyelids. He leaned down and hugged Vega. The younger girl started crying and hugged Vegeta back.

"I don't want you to go," she cried. Vegeta hugged her tighter and closed his eyes. He stood, Vega wiping her eyes, but only managing to cry harder. Vegeta looked at Goku who nodded. No words were needed between the two of them. He stood there for a moment then stepped towards Goku and embraced him.

"Take care in America, Vegeta." Vegeta nodded.

"Kaka- Goku."

"Yeah?" Vegeta paused.

"Thankyou. For everything." Goku smiled sadly.

"Anytime Vegeta." Vegeta stepped over to 18 and hugged her.

"You helped me a lot, 18. I have heaps to thank you for."

"Don't worry about it," she laughed, shaking her head and wiping away her tears. "Take good care of yourself. I'll miss you. We all will." Vegeta nodded grimly.

"Last call for Flight 1342."

Vegeta turned to Bulma who stood crying. She looked pale and sick, Vegeta embraced her tightly and two tears rolled down his cheeks. Bulma looked up at him and began to sob. Vegeta leaned forward and kissed her. She responded, running her hands up his face and into his hair. Bulma parted her mouth on his. Vegeta crushed his mouth against hers, sliding his tongue in and closing his eyes, savoring everything about that moment. He could feel her wet cheeks on his and felt an enormous love swell up inside him. The kiss seemed to say everything he never seemed to be able to say.

When they broke apart, Bulma was crying even harder and Vegeta closed his eyes. Then he looked up at the luminous 'Gate 3' sign and down at Bulma.

"I love you Bulma, if I never say it again, know it now. I'll never forget you and I promise you I'll be back."

"I love you too Vegeta. I'll be waiting." Vegeta clasped his hands on her cheeks and kissed her forehead. Vegeta reached around his neck and pulled off a chain. A small cross hung off it.

"This was my brother's," Vegeta told her as he placed the necklace in her hand. "He was a Christian. I never wore it; I never believed any god could be so cruel. But I look at my life now and I know He's up there. I want you to have this for now, Bulma. Look after it until I come back." Bulma nodded, in tears, and Vegeta picked up his bag and Bulma started crying again. Vegeta looked back at her, smiling.

"I love you," he mouthed. Bulma said nothing but covered her mouth with her hand and wrapped the other hand around Vega who stood next to her. Vegeta looked at the others and nodded, raising his hand to his head and then waving it down, in military salute. Then he turned, bag on his back, tears in his eyes, shoulders held high and walked towards the gate. He paused as the woman looked at his ticket before letting him through. Then Vegeta turned and looked at his best friend Goku, his friends 18, Krillin and Chichi, his sister and then to the woman who had changed his life, who had rescued him. The one he now knew he loved with every fibre of his being. Bulma. He lowered his head to them before turning and walking out the gate, out of sight and out of their lives. He heards Bulma's sob as he stepped outside.

"Vegeta," she whispered as she watched through the glass as he ascended the stairs onto the place. Goku put his arm around Bulma's shoulders and she cried into his chest. The plane started its engine and Bulma walked silently and dejectedly over to the glass. "Vegeta," she whispered again, pressing her hand to the glass.

Vegeta looked out the window as he sat on the plane and saw Bulma standing at the window, tears streaming down her face. Their eyes met and Vegeta could see so much sadness and pain in her eyes and he hated himself for being the cause of it.

All of a sudden two huge tears streamed down his face. He blinked and more tears rushed down and fell onto his legs.

"I'm crying over a woman," he laughed sadly. But Bulma wasn't just a woman. He knew this now. She had a hold on his heart and he doubted anything would ever change that.

'I love you,' he thought as the plane started taxing. Vegeta felt like part of his soul was ripped away as Bulma disappeared from his sight. He wondered if he'd ever see her again. More tears streamed down his face as he delved into his thoughts and memories. Suddenly a song came across the radio.

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

Vegeta placed his head in his hands and cried.


I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

and the reason is you

and the reason is you

and the reason is you

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

A fresh wave of tears hit him as he realized she was his reason. The only reason he would ever have. He loved her. And he'd be back.

"He's gone," Bulma whispered as the plane left the runway and soon disappeared from sight. Goku came over to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah. He's gone. But he'll be back. Just wait." Bulma looked at the necklace clasped in her hand and ran her finger down the cross. "Let's go home," Goku said. Bulma nodded sadly, tears running down her face.

"Bulma!" 18 said suddenly. Bulma looked at her friend through teary eyes. 18 fished around in her pockets before pulling out a folded piece of paper. "Vegeta told me to give this to you when he'd gone." 18 handed the paper to Bulma who unfolded it and read.

Bulma,

If you're reading this, I'm on my way to LA. I'm writing this as a last goodbye. I love you beyond what I thought humanly possible. If I never tell you, know it's the truth. I promise I'll come back. I swear it on everything we shared, Bulma. I'm going to miss you more than you can know.


Love, Vegeta Ouji

Bulma folded up the letter and slipped it into her pocket. She wiped away the tears and together Bulma and her five friends, with Vegeta's little sister at her side, walked out of the airport to continue and reshape their lives without Vegeta in it. The adjustment would be hard, especially for Bulma and Vega. And the seven years were going to be long and hard, there was no doubt about that. But somewhere deep inside her, Bulma knew Vegeta would return to her. Even still as she sat in her car a fresh wave of tears hit and streamed down her face. She placed her head in her hands and shook as she cried.

"Please come back, Vegeta. Please."

The End

Kaibun

Author's Note: How did you like that? Let me know what you thought.