The Colour Red

Your name is really 'Rice'?

Bulma could not help but glare at the burly Saiya-jin who was standing by the doorway.

How dare he! She shrieked furiously in thought. How dare he be the one whom Vegeta calls out first! How dare he be the one that Vegeta recognizes! It was an hour after Vegeta had uttered Goku's Saiya-jin name and passed out. He was currently lying on the sheets, resting from exerting himself so much. He had obviously had some rush of memory, otherwise he wouldn't have passed out so quickly. Bulma knew this because she had dealt with it before with other people. Sometimes they would suddenly remember something or some event so vividly that it would take up a huge amount of energy and they'd feel faint.

But she still could not help but feel angry with Goku, as though he had planned all this. She wanted Vegeta to say her name first, turning towards her and saying how much he loved her. She wanted him to say that he didn't know much about their past and beg if she could please tell him and show him all the things they did. She wanted him to think of her! But he didn't, and it filled her with rage.

Calm down, Bulma, she told herself as she took in a deep breath. Getting angry with Goku isn't going to help anyone. Especially not Vegeta. I suppose the only reason why Vegeta remembered him first was because they had spent so much time together when they used to spar and fight. It's only logical. The beautiful blue-haired genius suddenly felt very guilty in blaming Goku for what happened. Vegeta had practically been obsessed with surpassing Goku that he barely gave a second thought to his family at Capsule Corp. So it was only natural that he would remember him first.

Goku stood by the doorway, more than slightly puzzled on what had just happened. Why had Vegeta recognised only him? Surely if he knew him he must've recognised Gohan, Goten and Trunks? But despite that one simple thing that he found puzzling, what was even more confusing to him was that he was pleased that he said his name first.

Maybe Vegeta doesn't hate me so much, he thought, turning his eyes slightly on the sleeping prince. But he stopped and rolled his eyes. Or maybe he just hates me so much that he can't forget about me!

"Hey!" Goten's chirp voice called out. "He's coming to!"

Everyone turned their eyes on him as Bulma rushed to his side to help him up. She hoped that maybe a little more physical contact would jog his memory of her. But he didn't see her.

"Ah...nanda?" he asked.

"You passed out," she whispered softly. Her heart pounded as his new ruby eyes shifted around the room, slowly coming back in to focus, but still not landing on her. Even though she wanted to turn his head in her direction and beg him to try and remember her, she knew it would come to no good.

"Oh." He said simply.

Vegeta blinked his eyes rapidly.

Why did I have thoughts about him? What's so special about that man? He gave a slight frown. What is he to me? Is he... Vegeta shook his head. He really didn't know. Even though the blue-haired onna thought he hadn't noticed, he knew that she was clinging to him simply because she wanted him to remember something about her. Maybe she was his mate. Maybe it was the Saiya-jin called Kakarotto.

Maybe it was the other Saiya-jin who was staring at him constantly. Vegeta knew that the boy didn't know, but he had been staring at him ever since he woke up. He could feel his dark orbs boring into his skin and he even had the mordacity to stare after the bandage was taken off.

Iie, it's best not to say who's my mate at this stage in time. Hell, I might not even have a mate! He put his hands behind him and pushed himself up so he sat against the headboard. Besides, I first have to find out what happened and what I am to these people before I go about returning to my normal life. Whatever it was.

"Are you feeling kay, Vegeta?" Vegeta looked up. It was Kakarotto. He gave a slight smile and nodded.

"Hai. Arigato gozaimasu, Kakarotto." He said. For some unknown reason, looking at the happy face of Kakarotto made him feel...at ease. He didn't feel so alone anymore and he felt as though everything would be okay so long as he was around.

Goku smiled at Vegeta, trying desperately to hide the light rose that was starting to spread over his nose and cheeks.

Wow, so that's what Vegeta looks like with a smile, he thought. He actually looks quite cute... his eyes almost widened when he thought that. He mentally berated himself for thinking of something like that, telling himself that Vegeta was anything but cute!

I'm probably only thinking like this because Vegeta has come back and he's not his usual self. He thought. Yes, that's right. Vegeta hardly looks like himself. His eyes are too wide, other than the obvious fact that they've changed colour to a blood red. And his skin is far lighter than what it used to be. It's sorta, peachy. Like a fresh, fluffy peach sitting on a tree... Once again, he mentally slapped himself for thinking of Vegeta as 'fluffy'. But he was right; his skin had turned from the silken toffee colour to that of a lush peach.

"Ano," Vegeta spoke up. "But, I'm having difficulty in trying to remember your names. Could you please tell me them? It might make things easier for me. I mean, in terms of getting my memory back." Bulma looked to Trunks, Trunks looked to Goten, Goten looked to Gohan and he looked to Piccolo. Piccolo shrugged.

"Why not," he muttered under his breath. He gave a gruff cough before stating his name. "My name's Piccolo. I'm a Namek and I was born from Piccolo Daioh, an evil demon who wanted to rule this planet. I..." he stopped when he saw Vegeta's body shaking. "What?"

"Mmm...n...nan...nan demo nai," Vegeta said. The edges of his lips were curling, as though he were suppressing a laugh. "Ah...you're name's really Piccolo, ne?" he asked, as though he was making sure he had heard right. Piccolo blinked then frowned, slightly irritated with the way Vegeta was behaving.

"Yes, my name's Piccolo." He answered curtly. The curling of Vegeta's lips got bigger and a smile could be seen. His body started to shake and convulse a bit more.

"Ah...o...o...kay," he said. "Um, what's your name?" he asked, turning to Trunks.

"My name's Trunks. I'm your son." He was going to say more, but the shaking in Vegeta's shoulders increased. "Tousan? Daijoubu desu ka?" Vegeta suddenly gave a light snort, which he covered up by simply waving at his son and saying:

"Nan demo nai, nan demo nai,"

Goku stared Vegeta, confusion taking over what was left of his little mind.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say Vegeta was laughing!

"Um...an...and you?" he asked, looking at Goten. "I think your name reminded me of 'sky'." He calmed down enough to form words without stuttering, though he didn't stop shaking. "Is it sky?"

"Jitsu wa, ore no onamae ga sora desu," he told Vegeta shyly in Saiya-go. "Demo, ore no onamae ha Goten desu." Vegeta had completely calmed down now, taking in a normal name rather than giggling at the absurdity of Piccolo and Trunks's names.

"Goten," he repeated. "Ten meaning 'sky' or 'heavens' in Saiya-go. Probably means something else on this planet, but it's a beautiful name in Saiya-go." Goten blushed furiously, never having got such a compliment from the abrupt and 'verbally eloquent' ouji. Trunks glared at his best friend, feeling more than slightly jealous that Goten's name was praised and his was simply laughed at for sounding so similar to 'swimming trunks'.

"My name's Bulma," she suddenly spoke up, having kept quiet for long enough. Even though she knew that Vegeta would more than likely laugh at her for her name, her lonely heart was still hoping that somewhere, in the back of his mind, he'd remember her and what he means to her. She certainly expressed it more times than she could count. She also knew that those kind words were never repeated. Never. Not even on the night they consummated Trunks.

Vegeta turned his head and looked up into her eyes, his brilliant garnet ones piercing her opal blue ones. She had hoped that he would suddenly say that he knew that name and would ask her if he knew her from somewhere, but she knew that it was mere fantasy. By the blank look in his eyes, it seemed as though he knew nothing about her. But she wasn't about to bail out just yet until she heard those words fall straight from his lips.

He stared at her some more.

"Bu...Bulma?" he asked. "I...I think I might remember a name like that." Bulma heart jumped into her throat, but it sank back down to the pit of her stomach when he continued. "No, wait. Berta. I remember someone called Berta. But I can't remember whom..." he looked up at her again. "That's not you, is it?" he asked.

She couldn't believe it. She just couldn't. How had he forgotten her? Why wasn't she at the back of his mind? Was what he said really true, that he didn't give two shits about her so long as she looks after his child?! Tears prickled the back of her eyes, burning them and causing her to blink rapidly. She felt her lower lips begin to quiver, but instead of bawling right there in front of Vegeta, she swallowed her tears and all the sad emotions beating her heart and smiled.

"No. That's not me." She said, trying to sound as light as anything. "My name's Bulma."

Goku stared at his best friend, feeling extremely sorry for her.

Gosh, Bulma looks so upset! I mean, her own husband not knowing her name must be really heartbreaking! I know Chichi'd burst into a flood of tears if I ever had amnesia, but Bulma just swallowing it for the sake of her pride. She's not showing how she really feels 'cos she knows Vegeta will never understand. How can he? If he can't remember her name how in the hell is he supposed to know why she suddenly started to cry?!

"And what's your name?" he asked, finally turning to Gohan.

Gohan blushed slightly, but introduced himself nonetheless.

"Gohan." He said. Vegeta stared, mouth slightly agape. But, a few seconds later, he went straight from shock into a fit of giggles! Everyone stared at him, not knowing how to react to this.

"Go...go...Gohan?!" he shrieked, his voice reaching pitches no one had ever thought were possible. A bright red blushed burned Gohan's cheeks as he narrowed his eyes and glared at the ouji.

"Yes, my name's Gohan," he snapped. "What's so funny about it?" Vegeta heard the anger in his voice and calmed down slightly. Gohan looked rather upset, and he didn't want to get on the bad side of anyone just yet.

"Ah...gomen ne," he apologized. "It's just that your name in Saiya-go is very funny."

"Oh?" he asked, his frown disappearing into an interested look. "What does it mean?" The corners of Vegeta's lips started curling again, and his body started to shake, but he managed to stutter out the meaning before lapsing back into giggles.

"R...rice." He stuttered.