Chapter 3 – Silence the Bell that Tolls

As fast as Vegata thought his injured onna could take, he raced through the clear night sky. He had set his course; his senses zeroed in on the one being that could help Bulma. Instantly, a figure appeared in front of him and he veered his flight sharply, grazing the idiot. Damned if he would stop.

"Vegeta! Wait up!" whined Goku loudly as he rubbed his arm. His ki burst around him and he rocketed after the Saiyan Prince.

"This does not concern you!" growled Vegeta over his shoulder.

"But Bulma does concern me!"

How dare Bulma's paterfamilias engage Kakarot. What more could the dense Earth-Saiyan do then he? There was one thing. "Kuso!" Vegeta hissed and put on the brakes, stopping on an imaginary dime.

Goku stopped as well, only less controlled. He jutted his bare heels out in front of him and flapped his arms to help slow his momentum; sliding to a stop not more than thirty centimeters behind Vegeta. His brow narrowed but it was purely out of concern for Bulma. He leaned over the Prince's shoulder to get a look at his dear friend. "She's hurt bad, isn't she?"

"I don't need your pathetic observations, Kakarot. Now take us to Dende."

"But you should..." Goku felt Vegeta tense then realized what the Prince asked of him, "I get it! You want Dende to heal her!"

Vegeta gritted his teeth and spoke slowly, "Transport us you-grrr." He thought a slew of names to call the baka but refrained from voicing them. After all, it was only yesterday the clown saved the cosmos, temporarily absolving the Earth-Saiyan of his past inadequacies.

"Oh, right!" Goku instantly went solemn and he placed a hand on Vegeta's shoulder and raised two fingers to his forehead. He coined the words, "Hang tight," and the three vanished with Vegeta thinking, '...as if I'd ever let her go.'

Dende waited in the Lookout palace bedroom. The Guardian remained robed in white; his outer red tunic removed and draped neatly over the bed's delicately embroidered spread. One corner of the cover was folded down, inviting the Namek to make use of it. He rarely used the huge bed, preferring to meditate by floating above it or resting on the throne of the Earth's Lookout. He was quite young by Namek standards; barely approaching adulthood. The Guardian had to be the youngest being ever to have the responsibility for this planet's wellbeing. Surprisingly, he was his worst critic. He only knew of one other that ever questioned his ability to do the job.

This early morning, Dende watched out of one of the long glassless windows that lined the bedroom wall. The Namek had sensed Bulma's plight and guessed what Vegeta was up to. Once again, the Guardian would have to decide whether or not to interfere with the natural order of things. Even with the Z Warriors, the choices made, remained difficult...more so with Bulma. Was her presence on this planet instrumental? And then there's Vegeta. He had proved himself worthy but was it enough to blanket his loved ones? Dende half chuckled at the possibility that Vegeta could even love. He didn't know if the Saiyan was capable of such a humanly emotion. What he did know was that despite all of Vegeta's faults, Bulma loved him. It was very strong and evident; a love that was becoming rare among this increasingly selfish race.

The room became dimly lit. The low light danced on the walls and caused long shadows to move across the room. Without turning around, Dende smiled and sighed, "Ah, Mr. Popo. Good of you to join me." The dark skinned keeper was in his night shirt that reached to his curled red slippers. He was still wearing the turban that you never saw him without. He carried a tray with a simple glass of water and a single candlestick.

"You should be resting with the rest of the world, young Dende."

"True. Regardless of what time of day it was, most of the Earthlings have taken upon themselves to relax on their first day back from the dead..." He turned and grimly looked at his faithful companion and added, "...most, but not of all of them." He met Mr. Popo and nodded appreciatively as he took the late night snack. The water was pure, and refreshingly cold.

"Vegeta's approach troubles you?" Mr. Popo took the tray over to the foot of the bed and set the tray down upon the stuffed silk bench. He then took the candlestick and went to each side of the bed to light the wall torches.

"Bulma is critically hurt. I'm sure he'll want me to heal her."

"How was she hurt?"

Dende looked in his glass and answered before taking another drink. "It appears, as fate would have it, to be an accident, Mr. Popo. A bad fall."

"I see. Then you must question whether to change the woman's natural fate." Walking over, Dende put the glass back on the tray and searched Mr. Popo's face for the wisdom that he could always find. But the wise man did not give him an answer, but questioned his motive. "If Vegeta was not the one asking, would you still be undecided?" Dende's eyes dropped. "Young Dende. Your decision cannot be clouded by another's actions. You must base your decision on Bulma's past; and her past only." Deep in contemplation, Dende returned to the window. Mr. Popo thought of leaving him to his thoughts but instead sat down next to the tray, returning the candlestick. Bulma's fate sat heavily on him as well. The dark man sighed; speaking his thoughts out loud. "I truly wonder."

"What is that, Mr. Popo?" questioned Dende who still stared at the countless points of light in the night sky.

"Pardon the disturbance, Holy one. I was thinking to myself." The Guardian had to smile. He knew this was Mr. Popo's way of offering his suggestion without really offering.

"I value your thought, my friend. Please share it."

"I wonder...if the younger Bulma had not found and befriended the younger isolated and recluse Goku...would he have saved the Universe again, and again...and again? Would he have been capable?"

Dende's mind had no time to answer for he suddenly felt three beings materialize behind him.

As soon as Vegeta sensed his footing, he charged at Dende who immediately put up an outward palm to halt him. "Kakarot! Tell the Namek to heal her!" Vegeta knew that Dende was less likely to refuse the Earth-Saiyan.

Goku came up behind Vegeta and humbly asked, "Could you Dende, please?"

Dende's brow furrowed and he spoke sternly to Vegeta. "This was an accident, Vegeta. I--"

Before he could finish the Prince seem to suddenly tower over Dende; his face becoming dark and menacing, "If you do not heal her, I will--"

"Let me finish Vegeta." Surprising all, Dende's commanding voice rose over Vegeta's stopping him before he would say something they all would regret. "Healing her would go against the natural order of the inhabitants of this planet, however..." He raised his healing hands towards Bulma's limp body halting Vegeta's next outburst. "I will do as you ask. Not because of you, Vegeta." Dende's hands began to glow. "Nor do I do this for Goku. It is for Bulma I do this. This extraordinary woman has earned the right to choose a full life on Earth."

Vegeta earnestly studied his onna's face for any sign of recovery. She remained still. The Prince's apprehension grew within as he finally comprehended Dende's last words. His voice seemed to come from far away when he asked, "What do you mean choose?"

Troubled by her lack of response, Dende moved one of his hands over her head and murmured, "Choose whether she wants to continue to live...there!" The luminosity that surrounded his hands and Bulma faded.

"What?! Why did you stop, boy?!"

"She's-she's healed," Dende exclaimed with uncertainty. After being called boy by the one he knew would never see him as anything else, he worked to resume his authority and gestured him towards the bed. "Put her down on the bed, Vegeta, so that I can get a better look."

With unlikely care and gentleness, Vegeta laid Bulma down on Dende's bed, mindful of her head. He slipped her legs under the cover and eased it over her scantily clad body. Then he stood tall and stared at her peaceful face as if afraid to look away. "Onna," he breathed.

Goku had walked to the opposite side of the bed and sat down to get closer. He immediately felt uncomfortable and realized Vegeta was disapprovingly glaring at him. He got up, smoothed out the wrinkles he had made and asked, "Uh, why isn't she waking up, Dende?"

"I'm not sure, Goku. Maybe, if I could get a look at her?"

A low growl escaped the Prince before he stepped aside. He kept his back to the Namek, but watched him and Bulma closely over his shoulder. From the blood stain on Vegeta's arm, he assumed her injury was behind her head. He turned her head to the side and found no wound or blood. "Is this were she was injured."

"Yes, According to the human's father, she suffered both a coup and a contre coup injury."

"A contre coup what?" innocently asked Goku as he leaned over as far as he could to see.

Vegeta growled before clarifying. "Gods Kakarot! It means a severe blow to the head."

"I know she fell on her head, Vegeta. I just wanted to know what contre and coup means."

Vegeta ignored Goku. He turned, clenched his fists and addressed the Namek, "Is she healed?!"

"Yes, yes of course. Physically, everything is as it's supposed to be."

"Then move aside, guardian." Vegeta pushed Dende out of the way and sat next to Bulma. He leaned across her body, bracing his right arm on the other side of her. His face softened and in a low voice, he coaxed, "Walk up onna. It is time to go home."

Goku smiled at the sight. The Saiyan Prince had just revealed a tenderness towards Bulma that he suspected was never revealed to outsiders before now. It was short lived.

"Get up, woman!" Vegeta had grabbed Bulma's arms and roughly shook her. Courageously, Dende attempted to stop him by grabbing the Saiyan's shoulders. Vegeta knocked the guardian away, standing up to pursue the retreating form. Dende hit the ground and slid to a stop against the far wall. "Why does she not wake-up Guardian?! What did you do to her?!" He stood over the Namek. When he reached down to grab Dende by the collar, Goku flew to his side and placed a restraining hand on Vegeta's arm. The Prince jerked away, his fiery eyes glaring at the Earth-Saiyan. "I will destroy this lookout and everyone with it, Kakarot."

"What? In your pajamas?" smirked Goku; hoping to dispel the Prince's anger.

Vegeta stepped back from Dende and eyed Kakarot critically. He took notice of the silk white boxers with red and pink hearts which were a far cry from his royal blue pajama bottoms. Indignant, he crossed his arms. "Feh. Speak for yourself, fancy pants. And you call yourself a Saiyan."

Goku looked at himself. His face went red and he scratched the back of his head as he sheepishly said to Vegeta. "Oh, haha, yeah. Chichi asked me to wear them. She bought them before I died for a Valentine--"

"Spare me your pointless domestic niceties, Kakarot. Bulma is what matters here. She- all of her, is mine." Vegeta pulled out a hand and pointed it at Dende. "You know what I'm talking about Guardian. Dead or alive, Bulma's remains with me."

"Not exactly." Popo came around Vegeta to help Dende up. "The deal was that you were to be reunited with her and Trunks, dead or alive...Are you alright Dende?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Popo. Thank you."

Vegeta realized he had made a grave error in his request to King Yama and the Gods. His jaw locked as his anger and frustration boiled. He threw his arms down to his sides and balled his fists. "Grrrr...Are you telling me, the Kia's allowed me to live, to be reunited with my family, just to tear us a part again?!" He squeezed his eyes shut and hissed through clenched teeth, "Is this some kind of sick joke...on me and my family?" The Saiyan Prince's eyes shot opened and he laughed sinisterly, "Ha ha ha. Well two can play this dirty little game." His aura began to glow and swirl around him. "Your Gods are so determined to keep me in Hell?! I will show you Hell! Your HFIL does not compare to the torment I will unleash!"

"Hold on, Vegeta!" Goku had jumped in front of Dende and Mr. Popo bringing him deadly close to the enraged Prince.

"Ha ha. Try and stop me Kakarot." Vegeta's hair flashed golden yellow.

"What about your son, Vegeta. What about Trunks?"

Leave it to Kakarot to remind Vegeta that he had a conscience. Briefly, Vegeta glanced away as he tried to sense his boy's ki, one last time. "Feh. The half breed is better off without me."

"I can't let you do this. Not to Dende or Mr. Popo. I won't let you take Trunks' mother, your wife, Vegeta...and-" Vegeta almost smirked at his insinuation that the Prince of Saiyans would ever go through a human's matrimonial ritual.

"You fool; Bulma apparently has made her choice. If the Kias and (he nodded over at Dende) that joke of a Guardian will not bring her back, then I will go to her and take these bastards with me as restitution." Mr. Popo pulled on Dende's arm moving them away. No matter. Vegeta remained focused on Kakarot confident they would not leave the room. He wouldn't allow it.

Instantly, Goku powered up, matching Vegeta's climbing energy. "I can't let you do that." Vegeta chuckled but stop short when the Earth-Saiyan added, "I won't let you die, Vegeta. Not this time, not again."

Vegeta's eyes narrowed to study the witless Saiyan that stood before him. Was the clown actually concerned for the Prince's wellbeing or did he come to the ingenious conclusion that if he could keep Vegeta from dieing the plan would fail, causing Vegeta to re-think his strategy.

Mr. Popo cleared his throat loudly then announced, "Why do you want to die Vegeta when Bulma still lives?"

"Baka! What would I want with a soulless body?"

It was Dende who answered him, "Her soul is still here, Vegeta."

Vegeta glared at his contrary rival; his eyes burrowing into Kakarot's. Was this a trick? One thing was certain; he would find only truth in the Earth-Saiyan..

Goku seemed to sense Vegeta's mistrust. He called over to Dende, "Dende? If there's nothing the matter with her, why doesn't she wake up? I mean, come on guys, if anyone could stop this, she could."

"I've seen this before," mumbled Mr. Popo who was leaning over Bulma, pulling up her eye lids. "She's retreated into the confines of her mind."

"Come on guys! What about some smelling salts, hot coffee, a cold shower...something, anything to get her to come around." Goku's eyes pleaded at Vegeta to stand down.

"I'm afraid it is not so simple," answered Dende after looking for confirmation from Mr. Popo.

Suddenly, Vegeta's visible aura vanished and his hair returned to coal black.

As Goku did the same, Vegeta smacked the back of his fisted hand on Goku's chest; leaving it poised in a threatening manner. "She has pledged herself to me, Kakarot. I will have her at any cost."

Goku eyes closed as he grinned from ear to ear. His hands want up in mock surrender. "Ha ha. You know what they say, Vegeta! Where there's a will, there's a way! And you definitely got the will!"

Vegeta grunted and removed his fist. "You better hope there is a way...for the sake of everyone on this planet."