An: Aawww…gush gush gush! So many reviews for one little story! (Yes, I consider eleven reviews a lot!) And its good to see that people were actually reading the other Bulma and Vegeta story I wrote. I thought that one was hopeless! Big thanks to all that did.
Those who want the sub-chapter to Goku's Priorities, just leave me a note in your review that you want it, and your email address somewhere so that I can mail it out to you. However, it's just easier if you send me an email with a blank attachment. My email (and I hope doesn't screw it up here) is for those who aren't registered users and can't see my email on
Hehe, about the name change…the other name was just too bulky. I think this is better. Agree? Disagree? Let me know!
I'm still busy with my exams but there is always time to update! Ack! I've got geography soon. And next Friday, I graduate! Whoo hoo!!!
Shout outs: (because you are such wonderful people)
Omega Weapon: I don't do lemons…but I'm glad I left you speechless. And I really don't want anyone's death on my conscience so here's an update! Ps: love the email addy…
Viper-Vegeta: Zogeta bursts into evil laughter hah! Cliffies! Gotta love them…and you really are such a warm reviewer. It does my heart good to know that I have such talent, as you say. Don't fall off the edge of your seat…you might hurt yourself, and I like my reviewers to stay intact.
Dark Angel: You might have to wait a little while…and you'll see why at the end of this chapter.
Shi Rurouni of the Aphrodisiac: I'm quite tired of all the Kakarrot clichés and the Vegeta expectations, so I'll put a fresh spin on it, but I'm chuffed that you loved it despite the OOC.
Ozuma's girl: Don't hit them! That'll just piss them off, the poor bastards. But after being assaulted by so many updates, I had no choice but to update!
Katchan: Ah, Katchan, it's so good to have you back. SO many reviewers dumped me after Goku's Priorities because I wasn't writing G/V for a little while. Maybe it's a sign that this is my strength, no? Grab your plushies and hold on to them. You might need to give them hugs in a few minutes. I want a plushie!
Veggie's Boo: They took the fic down because it apparently didn't count as a real story, or some crap like that, and I got booted off for two weeks. If you check the author notes for Pickles and Vegetables, you'll see exactly when it happened because I couldn't update, much to the reviewers dismay. And you didn't overreact at all. I want people to get pissed with Kakarrot for a change because I'm sick of making him all sappy and the permanent victim of evil bastard Vegeta. Woah, long shout out…but you deserve it.
Gutterball: Grrr…I knew I should have sent mail to both addys! Anyway, I have a prezzie for you, so I'll send it now…it's 8am South African time, let's see what time you'll get it. And I'll send you a bandage as well. And I'll kick Vegeta into kissing it (and you) better…
Clarobell: No, there is a sad lack of elastic bands. I like them. They make great weapons. Let's see if your prophecy comes true.
Moonlight 6056: I dunno…but it makes a nice backdrop. And I claim rights to manipulate the best Saiyans in existence! For I am a fanfic writer! Bwahahahahaha
Review award for chapter 13You just had to leave it there, didn't you. I was on the edge of my seat at the end, then I realised that THE BLOODY CHAPTER RAN OUT! IT FINISHED! You...you...MEANIE! I really applaud your talent with the written word, but I think you are just too good at evil nasty clifhangers like that! You can so bet that I'll be waiting with baited breath for the next one, Bet on it!
- Viper-Vegeta (who also wins the I-hate-cliffies award)
Okay, this is starting to sound like a chat room…everyone, grab your tissues (at least, I hope I can bring you to tears) and lets go!
Chapter Fourteen: Pride-blind rage"Fucking asshole. Bastard! I HATE HIM!"
Vegeta sped along the road hugging the mountainside, barely able to see in the thick rain. It was monsoon season, and the rain was too heavy to be driving through. He swiggedback a bottle of vodka he had brought from Trunks' party, which he'd dug out of his suitcase. He didn't know where he was driving, nor did he care. The further he got away from the first person to break his heart, the better.
"Fuck, it hurts…I'd rather take a beam through the chest than this…it's not fair."
He didn't care any more that the tears were slipping down his face unchecked. He didn't care that his headlights were off, he didn't care that his safety belt wasn't on, he didn't care that he was going 180 miles along a narrow, slippery road that had a steep drop on one side into the forest. He didn't care anymore about anything. His life had shrunk to the pain of a broken heart and nothing more. He took another deep drink of vodka, feeling worse with each gulp, but at least the nausea counterbalanced the pain.
"Fuck you, Kakarot. Look what you've done to me, you prick."
Vegeta put his foot right down on the accelerator, forcing even more life from the engine and making the V12 sports car leap forward like an uncaged panther.
He knew he was drunk. He knew what he was doing was dangerous and stupid. But it didn't matter anymore.
"Serve him right if something happens to me. Like he'll care. Kakarot, the world's greatest hero, and the biggest bastard on it too."
Another gulp of vodka.
"Stupid, clumsy, idiotic, greedy, infuriatingly childish, beautiful, kind, caring, great Kaks…"
Vegeta nearly choked on a sob, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, a fresh wave of tears seeping out of his eyes. He scrunched up his eyes, the rain from his soul dripping onto his lap.
"Why won't anybody let me love them…?"
Vegeta didn't see the sharp turn in the road going around the mountain, too occupied by his tears. There was a ripping of metal as Vegeta drove right through the barrier and over the edge; the car seemed to hover for a second, then plunged nose first down the embankment, a sickening crunch of metal as the bonnet connected with the side of the hill, crumpling like paper. The black car tumbled down the hill, cartwheeling and bouncing, Vegeta trapped inside. He couldn't summon up the energy to fly out. Even if he could, the car was moving too fast for him to do anything. Instead, he screamed as the car became more crushed with each crunch against the side of the mountain. He was flung about inside, almost going through the glass, his body like that of a limp rag doll, tossed around as though by a giant. The car finally landed on it's roof amongst the tops of the trees, Vegeta still inside, but quiet now. He lay dead still, blood oozing down his face, limbs at unnatural angles, ki ebbing away. Silently, an alarm in the car went off, and a computer screen in the emergency room of Capsule Corp was flashing red.
Bulma's cell phone rang, and she picked it up, turning down the volume on her television with the remote. She was enjoying take-away sushi in bed and wasn't pleased at being interrupted.
"Miss Briefs?" asked a slightly nasal voice.
"Yes?"
"This is Maurice, from the Monitoring Centre. We've just got an emergency signal from one of our cars."
"So? What's so important about this one? Usually you guys can deal with it without my help."
"Yes, ma'am, but we thought this particular vehicle might be of importance to you."
Bulma's blood suddenly went cold. She remembered now…there was a list of cars that were on special alert. These cars belonged to her family and friends, and she was to be alerted if the black box inside them sent out an alarm, similar to the SOS signal sent out by airplane black boxes. Her heart seemed to contract. Please let it be a false alarm, please…let it be a mix up…
"Which car is it?"
Her first worry was Trunks. He's already been a couple of accidents, but he's always come out fine. Yet…
"It's the black V12 Dodge Viper, ma'am, currently registered to your ex-husband, Vegeta."
She was silent for a moment. Vegeta? In an accident? Something very large seemed to be stuck in her throat, but she pulled herself together. She could panic later. Right now, she needed to keep her head clear. She already started pulling her shoes on, phone tucked between her ear and shoulder.
"Have you alerted the paramedics?"
"Yes, they are on their way there."
"Where is it?"
She grabbed her capsule box, ran into the corridor, down to the elevator and was already pressing the button.
"In the Drakensberg Mountains. The G56 area."
"Got it. Thanks, Maurice."
Bulma snapped her phone shut, and got into the elevator, pressing the ground floor button, her heart thumping and making her feel sick. She looked down at the floor as the doors hissed shut.
"Please, God, let him be okay. Please let him be okay," she whispered.
A tear was lost amongst the threads of the blue carpet.
"Man, that was quite a fall."
The helicopter pilot let down an engineer on a harness to the car, it's trashed form balanced precariously on a few branches. The medical people were all waiting on the road. It wasn't raining as hard now, but a wind had come up, making it hard for the pilot to hold the helicopter in place. The plan was for the engineer to attach a clamp to the car so that they could lift it onto the road, instead of trying to work amongst the treetops.
The engineer tried to find a secure place to attach the clamp, but no luck. He decided that the only place that would be acceptable was the middle of the chassis. He carefully clamped it on, and sent a signal to the pilot. Slowly, the pilot started rising, and the rope became taut. The car groaned as it was lifted, but it didn't seem too secure. Gravity seemed to be clawing at the car, making it bend and begin cracking. The pilot continued to lift upwards, but gravity and the wind were against him.
There was the screech of metal tearing, and the body of the car came away, falling into the trees, Vegeta going with it.
"Oh, shit!" yelled the pilot, as he quickly flew a short distance away and dumped the chassis of the car some where else. He came back, and let down the engineer, who negotiated his way through the branches of the trees. He landed on the ground, and walked over to the wreck that remained. He saw an arm hanging out the side, the skin torn and the clothes tattered. When he saw Vegeta, he had to choke back the bile that jumped up his throat.
He unclipped his walkie-talkie, not taking his eyes off Vegeta.
"Sir, you'd better send the medics down here. With a body bag."
Bulma landed on the narrow road, her one-seater jet landing perfectly in the middle of it, a short distance away from the ambulances. She hopped out before it finished powering down, and ran up to the nearest paramedic.
"What happened here?" she demanded.
The tall paramedic turned to face her, his blood red jacket seeming to grate against Bulma's already tense nerves.
"Well, ma'am, it seems that the car went through the metal barrier and down the side of the hill. We've sent down some paramedics with a stretcher to bring him up. The car was totally written off. We tried to lift it, but it fell apart. What is your relation to the victim?"
Bulma didn't like that word.
"He's my ex-husband and close friend. He'll survive, I know he will."
The paramedic looked at her sadly, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, but there is a very great chance that he might not be alive."
Bulma pulled away from him.
"But there's still a small chance that he might be alive! Until I see his body, he's alive. I refuse to believe that he's dead."
Where am I? What's wrong with my body? Why isn't it responding? Why can' t I move? What happened? I remember falling, I remember screaming, but I can't remember anything else. I hear voices…they sound worried. Why are they worried? What's happening to me?
His body…it's so…mangled. I don't know how else to describe it. He looks dead, but the paramedics have found a heartbeat. They say that there's still a chance for him. Oh god, its horrible…how did this happen? I'm trying so hard to not lose control, but I'm so scared for him. I don't care that I'm crying. He's lost so much blood. I overheard a paramedic say that they can't find a blood match for him. He needs blood, but none of our human blood is going to work. There's only one person that can help you, Vegeta. Please, Goku, you have to be at home…
There was a slamming of ambulance doors. Sirens screeched through the night, carrying a broken Prince who was on a knife's edge between life and death.
Goku was curled up on the couch crying silently when his phone started ringing. He didn't feel like answering it, but something in his head told him to. He got up and picked up the phone.
"Yeah?" he said moodily.
"Goku! It's Bulma!"
Goku's eyes widened as he heard Bulma's voice. It sounded like she'd been crying.
"Bulma? Is everything okay? What's wrong?"
A sob on the other side.
"It's V-V-Vegeta. He's d-dying, Goku! He's DYING!" Bulma felt her whole body shake, her hand over her eyes as she slid down the wall.
"WHAT?!"
Goku felt like he'd just been thrown into a swimming pool with weights on his feet. For some reason, he felt deaf, and everything seemed to be moving differently. Time seemed warped, and he felt dizzy, like he was suffocating. Bulma was stammering, as Vegeta was wheeled past her into surgery, doctors shouting and nurses rushing around.
"He was in a c-c-car accident, drove off a c-cliff. It's awful, Goku, there's so much b-b-blood all over him and he needs your blood, the paramedics say he's going to d-d-die, they can't save him, you have to come!"
"Just hold on, Bulma, I'm coming!"
Goku let go of the phone and had teleported before it even hit the ground.
Goku found himself in a corridor of the Koala City General Hospital. Bulma thudded into him, throwing her arms around him. She buried her face in his jersey, her shoulders shaking.
"Goku! You're here! It's terrible! They're trying to save him, he's in surgery, but they need Saiyan blood, and you're the only one that can save him, please Goku, you've gotta!"
She looked up at him, her eyes red. Goku nodded, feeling nauseous with fear.
"Take as much as possible. I owe Vegeta this."
Bulma found a nurse to take blood from Goku, and for once, he took a needle without a single word, no theatrics. He took several needles, actually. He gave up four litres of blood, which just made him feel a little dizzy, nothing more. The nurse carried it away, and Goku sat next to Bulma in the corridor, leaning back against the wall, eyes closed, as he tried to reach Vegeta telepathically. But there was no response, which scared Goku. He turned to look at Bulma, who was blowing her nose. She looked so anxious. Goku wanted to throw up.
This was all his fault, he thought, as he rubbed his fingers along the plasters on his inner arm from the injections. He'd driven Vegeta to do this; he'd made Vegeta reckless. He tried to sense Vegeta's ki, but it was so weak. Like a candle in the middle of the endless desert night. A single tiny star lost in the cold cosmos of the universe. Not the blazing fire that it usually was. Not the centre of the solar system, the way Goku remembered it. Nothing more than a flickering glow amongst all the dying energy Goku felt in the hospital. There were average humans here who had stronger energy!
Goku felt himself slowly letting go of his inhibitions. He put his head on Bulma's shoulder and cried. I'm so sorry, Geta.