The Rekindling

By Otaku No Phantom

Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews, readers, it sounds to me like those who took the time to write me some comments really enjoyed my first chapter! And an especially big thank-you kiss to Arsenal Tengu, for actually reading! I hope the next chapter keeps you reading!

Chapter Two: After Twelve Long Years

"What the hell is this!" I couldn't move away from where I was back up against Korin's Tower, because of that unseen restraint. I could hardly breathe, but I decided to waste my breath on asking stupid questions anyways. Part of being a stubborn idiot.

"What is what?" The voice asked back. An equally idiotic question, I guess.

I whipped my head in the direction of the voice. Nothing. Nobody. I looked to the other side of me. Still nothing. What the hell is going on? Am I being attacked by an invisible assailant, or what!

"When you see me, you can't run. Understand?" The invisible restraints keeping me stuck to the tower began to wither.

"Yeah," I muttered through the raspy sounds of my heaving lungs, greedily taking in the air around me. I rubbed my now sore arms, and looked around again.

Then, as if from nowhere, he appeared.

"Ouji…' I stared in disbelief at what I saw. It couldn't be him! I told him I would never speak to him again, didn't he understand that when I said it to him twelve years ago when I left with Trunks and our bags? Then again…Vegeta was a stubborn asshole, who'd do anything to get what he wanted. But did this mean he wanted me back, or did he just want Trunks as a training partner, or money, or something? I don't get why he's here, we were through. Well…maybe he'd changed. But if he did, wouldn't he have stayed away like I said to? Or…

"Please." He said quietly, stretching his fingers to my face. He stroked my cheek slowly, as if he'd longed to for the past twelve years.

Was this happening, though? I mean, Vegeta, saying please? Forgive me, but something is screwy here. Vegeta would never say please.

So maybe he has changed?

"Why are you here?" I cut to the first question that had popped into my head.

"I need you…" Vegeta whispered, his hand wandering from my cheek to my neck.

I stepped back. "What's wring with you!" I demanded. He must have been high or something to say something like that. Vegeta was the kind of person who hid his deepest feelings from even someone like…well, like me. Why was he suddenly so open? And what did he mean by he 'needed' me?

"Did I do something wrong?" Vegeta blinked, stopping his hand after I stepped away. It dropped to his side. He looked so…innocent. This was wrong. Vegeta is not an innocent person.

"Yeah!" I started yelling. "About twelve years ago, when you took off with that bitch for a night, cursed at my son, and hit me!" I'd been longing to admit all that for a long time. Trunks never really knew about it, since he was only three at the time, so I had nobody to turn to. I could never tell my parents or my friends what Vegeta had done to me. So, I lied, and said it was simply a mutual agreement to go our separate ways because of our differences.

"Oh," Vegeta looked like he'd just been slapped. He adverted his gaze from me, and nervously watched the ground. "I had hoped you had forgotten about it…or forgiven me."

Oh, bloody hell. I can feel my heart melting on the inside. I wanted to forgive him, I wanted to the second it happened. But I'm too stubborn, and I put my pride first. But right now…God, he's acting so genuinely sorry, I can't stand it!

"I'm sorry…" Vegeta murmured, taking a step towards me to make up for the one I'd taken back.

Sorry! What the—oh, damn it. Am I crying?

Yep. The hot tears were running down my face like a river that had been dammed up all this time we were apart. I started to sob loudly, and found myself falling forwards, and landing in Vegeta's arms.

He was stroking my hair, so gently, and carelessly, even though I knew he was fighting back his strengths, being so careful not to hurt me. It still felt like he was doing it so effortlessly…like he wasn't strong at all.

I'd lost control of myself at this point. I was crying, and clinging to Vegeta so tightly, I don't think anything could pry me away from him. But something still felt wrong…

"Vegeta?" I rubbed my eye with a closed fist, shoving away the tears.

"Yes?"

"Why does this not feel real?'

"I don't know."

"Why are you acting so differently?" I looked him in the eye.

"Probably because I'm not who I was before. In fact, I'm not who I was yesterday, even."

"What?" He was starting to confuse me, big time. Vegeta wasn't making any sense at all.

"I'm not who you think I am," Vegeta stated.

"I don't understand." Je ne comprends pas! JE NE—

"I'm not Vegeta."

My eyes widened at this. How could it not be him? He looked exactly like him. It was his body. It was his voice. His eyes…nothing could imitate those eyes. His touch was so…unchanged, what was he talking about? How could he not be Vegeta!

Yet, he kissed me. Right here and now. He just…leaned in, and…

Why are my eyes closing? I'm not kissing back, I can't be! This isn't him, but it is, but it's not…Why am I kissing back!