The Rekindling

By Otaku No Phantom

Chapter three: It Feels Wrong, And Fake

I don't understand what's going on—for the first time in twelve years, I feel loved, really loved, by someone other than Trunks. But why do I feel loved by someone who claimed not to be Vegeta? How can I feel so loved by a complete stranger? This feels so great...and at the same time, so artificial. Like it's not really happening—I must be dreaming, I have to be!It's the only explanation.

I pushed away. "If you're not Vegeta..." I wondered. "Why do you look just like him? And why is it his voice? How come"

"I can't answer those questions." Vegeta stared through me, as if I were a glass wall, and his thoughts wandered to somewhere far away.

"What! You can't do that to me, you've been away for a dozen years! You have to tell me everything! No more lies!" I begged, and began beating my fists, on after the other, at his chest. Vegeta only looked away, and gave a thoughtful glance at the building.

"Why don't we say hello to everyone up in the tower? And we'll have a party back at home. That is...if you're willing to have me back," Vegeta smiled.

He's smiling? Smiling at me? And suggesting...parties? This feels so...weird. Different. This is not Vegeta. I guess he wasn't lying when he said he wasn't himself. "Why should I 'take back' someone who isn't Vegeta?" I questioned. "Are you asking me to invite you into my home, sleep with you, love you, when I don't even know who the hell you are inside?"

Vegeta frowned. "It's complicated. I want to tell you everything, but I can't, because" The Saiyan was cut short by a force that made him gasp loudly, and his hands flew to his gut. He cried out in pain, as the force shoved into him again, and again. The prince was at his knees, mumbling pleadings for it to stop. "Stop, stop, stop it!" Vegeta moaned, grasping at his stomach. It was like an unseen assailant was beating him up, or something. I flew to his side, crouching near where he lay, and rested a hand on his shaking shoulder. "What's going on!" I demanded. "Are you ill? I'll call a doctor!" I was alarmed. What could be as powerful as to cause someone as strong as Vegeta pain!

"No, I don't need any doctor...I'm fine." It seemed that the attack had discontinued itself. Vegeta slowly made his way from his knees, to his feet, still holding his gut, but more lightly. He winced one last time, then breathed out heavily, and nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Tell me what happened." I directed, lacing my arms though his, and beginning to walk towards home on the small sidewalk. No sense in using the bus, I had no money with me, and Vegeta wouldn't have a valid ID to get on the transit for free.

"I can't." Vegeta answered, much to my dismay. "If I say anything to you, the attacks will come again." He gave a concerned look to his stomach. I wondered if he was thinking about how much he'd be able to stand of such beatings going on for longer.

I was infuriated, all the same. "You mean you'll be given a penalty, if you tell me the truth!" The Saiyan only nodded. "From who?" I whispered. Did Vegeta have a new enemy with such powers, to do this to him?

"That's part of the truth. I'm sorry." Vegeta shook his head. "Will you take me back anyways?"

I thought about this for a moment. What should I do with a man who looked and sounded exactly like my former husband when he was asking to come home? In all my time as a genius, I had never come across any situation like this...so I didn't have an answer for this. I would have to wing it, this time, and go with my woman's intuition.

"You can stay at my place, until I figure out things." I concluded.

"Thank-you." Another shocking reply from Vegeta. I hated how he wasn't at all like his old self. This new change might not have been for the better, after all. I suppose I would rather cry every night about losing someone I loved so dearly, instead of having him back as a completely different person. Though, I had to admit...the new Vegeta was charming.

"Oh my God! Trunks! You have to meet Trunks!" I suddenly recalled my son never really knowing who his father was.

Vegeta looked up, and there was a new light in his eyes—a twinkle of excitement. "Trunks? My son?" He gave a wide-eyed, hopeful look to me. Vegeta knew Trunks? But he wasn't Vegeta...God.

"Your son?" I asked. "I thought you weren't Vegeta." I stated. "You're confusing me."

"Part of having complications in one's life is confusing the people you love the most." Vegeta told me.

We were home. Our home. This was so strange. "Wait in the doorway until I call you into the main room, alright?" I opened the front door, and slipped off my small shoes hurriedly, leaving the prince in the foyer as I rushed to find my beloved son. "Trunks!" I yelled up the staircase. "Trunks, where are you?"

My answer was a cry from near where I'd left Vegeta. Oh, no, Trunks must have taken the stairway that led straight to the doorway. "Trunks?" I timidly looked behind me, worried about what I'd see.