Life or something like it 3
Author's Notes: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I can't express how grateful I am to hear that this story was as emotionally charge as I intended it to be. I just hope that you stick around for more of this fic, and I'll promise that you won't be disappointed. Unfortunately I had a death in my family, and I couldn't write until I was over that. That's the reason why it took so long writing this chapter. So I'm sorry for the delay. So here's to another great chappie. Oh yeah misspelling are abound.
Disclaimer: No, these characters do not belong to me.
Dedications: Aznlilsmall Kirby-Yep I'm 28, Dark Gohan's Onna, Tyleet, Kutie Pan, Marsmoon Star, Inusayian Princess, Devilstitan. Thank you guys/gals for the kind words. I hope you enjoy the latest story.
Bra Briefs had been feeling a wide array of different emotions coursing through her body. The thought that her mother and her brother were now gone, was enough to send her over the edge. In the course of the night, she had lost it all. She had lost everything that had meant anything in her life, and for once she didn't know what to do.
Her life now seemed empty, like a hollow shell with no insides. She wanted her old life back, even if that meant having Goten back in her life as well. She could deal with his infidelity, if someone could erase this whole day away. If someone could turn back the hands of time, then she would've taken him in her arms and forgiven him.
There was no way that she could lie to herself. She still loved Goten with all of her heart, regardless of the things that he had done. She still longed to hold him in her arms, like nothing ever happened. However, it was too late now. Her husband lie dead, and not even the sezun beans could bring them back.
She wanted to end it all, but the fear that this action would crush her father prevented her from doing so. She thought about how easy it would be to end things at that instant, because at that precise moment she was standing on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. She could easily fall to her death, by jumping into the murky water below. She could have, but she dared not to.
Her love for her father suddenly overwhelmed her, and she knew that she couldn't go through with her decision to end her own life. If she were to die today, then Vegeta wouldn't have any family left. Of course Pan shared their say-jin heritage, but she was in no way a blood relation. There remained only one person that was a blood relation of the Prince of all Say- jins, and that was Bra. In essence she was all that her father had, and she wasn't going to purposely destroy that.
She wanted to go back home, and console her father. Vegeta may normally act like a hard ass, but in reality he was really a big softie. Bra tried to think about what her father was doing at that precise moment.
*I wonder if he has heard the news yet? Is he crying? Daddy never cries, but will he cry now?
There has never been a time that she has ever seen her father cry. There had been times when she saw him mad, but never did he cry. This had to hurt him, and Bra cursed herself for not being there for her dad when he needed her most. She needed to be home. So she turned around and went in search of her father.
I had been searching for Bra for the past three hours, and we still came up empty handed. As much as I cared for my best friend, I would have much rather be at home grieving my own loss. I didn't mean to be so self- centered, but I had my own problems that I had to deal with. I needed to call the funeral pallor to make the necessary arrangements, and I had only one day left to do so. It seemed like I hadn't had a decent night's sleep, since that terrible night when I found out my husband was gone.
I often found myself wondering if Trunks could see me from the other world. My Grandpa would always tell me that there were times when he would get special permission to look in on us, and I hoped and prayed that Trunks would get the same privilege. I know that he wasn't with us in the physical form, but knowing that he was still with me in a spiritual sense made me feel a little better.
I wondered if he missed me like I missed him. I wondered if they were treating him right, and most of all I wondered if my family was up there together. I don't think that I would be able to bear it if they were all alone, especially him.
I can't believe that I miss him this much. Why him? Why not me? Why was he taken away at a time like this? I wanted to tell him that a part of him was growing inside of me. I wanted him to know that he was going be a father for the first time in his life. Why was he denied the simple pleasure in knowing that he was going to be a dad? Surely the Grand Kai would allow him to look down on me, when it was time for me to deliver the baby. I could do nothing but hope and pray at this point.
I suddenly had a feeling of unease settle through my body, and I suddenly felt very weak. I don't know if it was a result of me walking through all this heat for three hours, or if it was a result of my pregnancy. I took a seat on the ground, and I tried to catch my breath. I couldn't stay out here in all this heat, and I decided that I was going to go back home.
As I sat on the hot ground, I saw images of Trunks dance through my head. I missed him so much, that I sat there and I broke down in tears. There were people out on the street and they all gave me a look of concern. There were even a few people that stopped by, and asked me if I was all right. I could do nothing but nod my head up and down, as heavy tears continued to fall out of my eyes. How could they understand what I was going through? How could they heal the wounds in my heart, when I didn't even have the strength to heal them myself? How could they know, the pain that I was going through.
So I sat there and cried, and for a moment I forgot about everything else other than my love for my late husband. I don't know how long I sat there, but there was a sudden noise behind me that broke me out of my reverie. I glanced back over my shoulder, and I noticed that Vegeta was making his way towards me. I hurriedly turned around, and tried to wipe away my tears. The last thing that I needed was this cocky prick telling me that I should be stronger. To hear him say it, I did have say-jin blood after all. I was supposed to be stronger than this.
So as he made his way over to me, I turned my head so that I couldn't see him. He reminded me too much of Trunks, and I avoided looking into his eyes. Trunks had his father's eyes, and I couldn't look him in the face knowing that I was going to see my husband in his eyes. I felt his kai as he sat next to me, and I pulled my knees up to my chest. When I felt the tears returning, I buried my head in my lap and I cried
I felt a tender hand caress my back, and a weird new emotion stirred deep in me. I don't know if it was because another man had been caressing me, or if it was because he caressed me the same way that Trunks would whenever I was depressed. I wanted nothing more than to push his hand away from me, but something deep down refused to budge. At that precise moment I hated myself so much, because here I was enjoying the way Vegeta's hands felt against my back. I shouldn't be thinking about such impure thoughts, but here I was trying to pretend that Vegeta's hands were my husbands.
As if he could read my mind, Vegeta snatched his hand back, and placed them in his lap. I looked over at him, and I was surprised that he looked the way he did. His body was covered in sweat, and his eyes were blood shot red. He was breathing heavily, and there was something deep down inside that told me that there was something wrong with him. Vegeta was one of the strongest men that I knew, and I don't ever recall there being a time when he was sick.
I felt a sudden wave of panic rushing through my body, and I was aware that I wasn't ready to lose another friend this soon. So I raised a shaky hand to his sweaty forehead, and I immediately noticed that he was burning up. He tenderly grabbed my hand, and removed it from his forehead. I was surprised to see that he continued holding on to my hand, and that he looked at me with a look of concern.
"We have been looking for you. We found Bra, and she's at home." He said tenderly.
"Vegeta, you're burning up."
"That's not important brat. We need to get you out of this sun."
"And we need to get you to a doctor." I said angrily.
"The last thing that I need is some good for nothing doctor, picking and prodding at me!"
I stood up and I glowered down at him. He sure could be stubborn when he wanted to, and I found myself wondering how in the world Bulma was able to get along with him. He sat there and looked up at me, and I crossed my arms across my chest.
"You need to get to a doctor."
"Look, the last thing that I need is some spawn of Kakkarot telling me what I need. Now let's go home, before they send out another search party for us."
"Please Vegeta. Don't do this to me. I can't lose you too. I. I. I don't know what I would do if I lost someone else." I said as I began crying in my hands again.
I don't know when or how Vegeta stood up that fast, but I suddenly felt a pair of strong arms encircle my waist. I cried into his shirt until it was soaked with tears, and never once did he move away. I was glad that he was there, and that I could cry openly around him. Normally I would have been intimidated to cry in front of him, but something about the way that he held me was comforting. I pulled back only to see a pair of dark orbs staring down at me. The concern was still there on his face, as he grabbed my hands in his.
"Don't worry about me. I will be fine, but what we need to do is get you out of this heat."
"Why do you insist on worrying about me, when it's you that's sick?"
"I may be a little under the weather, but you're the one that's with child."
"How do you know about that? I haven't told anyone that I was pregnant."
His traditional smirk crossed his face as he looked down at me.
"I can feel its kai."
"But how is that possible?" I asked confusedly.
"That baby that you're carrying is going to be very powerful one day. The energy that he or she is emitting lets me know that they will be one very powerful say-jin. Now let's go home."
Vegeta slipped his arm around my waist, and we turned around to leave. Suddenly Vegeta's knees buckled from under him, and I grabbed onto his waist before he could fall. He tried to stand up, and had to lean on me for support. I wondered what was wrong with him.
"Vegeta, what's going on with you?"
"It's the bond that Bulma and I shared. I didn't think that this would happen this soon though."
We continued walking to my car, until we made it there barely. I helped Vegeta into the car, and I hurried to get into my seat. I started the engine, and looked over at him. His breathing became labored, and the feeling of fear invaded my body once again. He looked at me, and tried to encourage me to drive the car.
"What is this about some bond. I've heard about it, but I don't know what it means."
"A bond is like a link that bonds you to your mate. Once that bond is broken through death, the surviving member will most likely die as well. That's why you must promise me something Pan."
"What is it Vegeta?"
"Promise me that you will find another mate before you end up like me. This bond crap isn't something that you would want to play around with, especially in your condition."
"Vegeta, what are you talking about?"
"This broken bond crap really hurts like hell, and the only way to stop it is to find another mate. I want you to give my only grandchild a chance to live, because if you don't find a suitable mate then you and your baby will die."
"What in the hell are you talking about? I don't understand the logic behind what you are saying."
"This is quite natural for our species. We were born to fight, and nothing else. When we consummate a relationship with someone we make a bond with him or her. That's why I never bonded with another female on Vegtai. Well that's until I met Bulma. I couldn't help it. I loved her, and now she's gone."
I stared in his face for a second, surprised to see the look upon Vegeta's face. It was a look that I'd never thought that I'd see. I guess I must have stared too long, and I wasn't watching the road. I suddenly heard Vegeta shout off a bunch of expletives, and I forced my eyes to look back at the road.
"What are you trying to do onna? Keep your eyes on the road. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were trying to kill me before this virus has a chance to!"
"Virus? I thought you said that this was a result of the bond that you shared with Bulma?"
"It is, but I used the word virus for the lack of a better word. Besides if you keep driving like a mad woman then this broken bond will be the last of my worries."
"I just want to get you home. You're turning all red. I'm worried about you Vegeta."
"Well don't be. I can take care of myself just fine. Now will you just watch the road?"
"You really did love her huh?"
Vegeta turned and looked at me. His expression was unreadable, and I couldn't discern if he was still mad at me or not. That scowl that he wore on his face daily made reading him darn near impossible. Still I watched him from the corner of my eye, and there was an unmistakable look of sadness written all over his face.
"How could I not? She was the first woman that ever loved me. She was the only one that really cared about me."
"Vegeta, that's not true."
"She was the only one that cared."
"Vegeta we all care about you. Why can't you see that?"
I waited for him to answer, but when he didn't I turned to look at him. I felt my pulse quicken when I noticed that his eyes were now closed. I reached out, and placed my index finger on the underside of his neck, hoping to find a pulse. When I felt the rhythmic pulsation of his heart beating, I leaned back into my chair and relaxed a little. He was still alive, but the fact that he didn't stir when I touched him had me worried.
I continued to drive home in silence mulling over the things that Vegeta told me. There was a part of me that was frightened at this revelation, and there was still a part of me that didn't want to believe the words Vegeta spoke. However, the proof was sitting right next to me, and it was currently passed out in the passenger seat.
Maybe he spoke the truth, and I was trying to ignore it. Somehow I knew that I couldn't ignore it forever, because time wasn't on my side. Look how fast it took for Vegeta to get like this. Was there a possibility that I would end up just like him, and what would happen if I didn't find another mate? Would I really die just as Vegeta predicted? It wasn't as simple as that though. I didn't want to find another mate, and I surely didn't want to die. As a matter of fact, who was there that I could possible mate with? The only available suitor's that were left was Vegeta, Tien, and Piccolo. All three men were many years older than me, and I was sure that none of them ever thought of me in a more than friendly way. Besides I just wanted to spend my time alone envisioning the way Trunks used to look at me. I just wanted to forget the fact that he was now gone away from my life.
I must have been so caught up in my thoughts, that before I knew it I was home. I quickly opened the door to my car, and I jumped out. I went to the passenger side of the car, and I opened the door. Vegeta's heavy body fell into my arms, and I pulled him out of the car. He was really heavy for a man of his size, and I found myself struggling just to keep him upright. I looked over towards my house, and I called out to anyone that could hear me. Pretty soon my mother and father rushed out of the house, and my dad grabbed Vegeta in his arms. Pretty soon everyone else followed behind, and they all looked at me wanting to know answers, especially Bra.
"What happened to my dad Pan?"
"I don't know. He was talking about some kind bond being broken, and he passed out in my car."
"I was afraid that this might happen, but not as fast as it did." Gohan said as he pulled Vegeta's weightless body inside Pan's house.
"What is all of this talk about broken bonds, and finding another mate? What does that mean daddy?" Pan said exasperatedly.
"It means that Vegeta's dying." He said as he struggled to pull Vegeta up the stairs.
"What? There's no way that he's dying. Why are you lying?" Bra shouted.
"I'm sorry Bra, but it's the truth. This is a part of our heritage, and unfortunately for you, Pan, and your father it's also a reality that you're not going to make it either."
"Daddy why are you saying that. Haven't we had enough deaths in this family already, and now you're saying that there might be more."
Gohan opened up the door to Pan's bedroom, and walked over to the bed. He laid Vegeta on his back, and instructed Videl to get a wet washcloth. He covered up Vegeta's body with the heavy blanket that was on the bed. He needed to get Vegeta to sweat out his fever, and so he turned up the heat on the thermostat. After he was done he walked over to his daughter, and he stood in front of her. Bra was crying on Pan's shoulder, and he waited until both of their eyes settled on him.
"Will there be any more deaths?" Bra asked through a veil of tears.
"Yes there will be more, unless you find another mate to bond with. I'm afraid that it might be too late for Vegeta, since he has displayed some of the symptoms associated with losing a bonded mate."
"Symptoms? Is there some kind of process that we have to go through before we die?" Pan asked disbelievingly.
"Well I'm not exactly sure about the particular order that they go in, but I know a few of the symptoms that will most likely occur. My dad told me that a high fever is the first symptom to watch out for. The other symptoms include paranoia, increased heart rhythm that could result in a heart attack. There's also the risk of depression, and chills. Lost of appetite is another factor, and sometimes the body will shake uncontrollably."
"Why is this happening to us?" Bra said.
"We're say-jins. It's our blessing, but at the same time it's our curse. The only chance at survival would be to find another mate. Time is not on your side, and there's nothing that I could do to stop this. I really wished that I could change this, but I can't. The knowledge that I might lose my only daughter, her best friend, and a man that I learned to respect a great deal is really tearing apart. I really don't think I strength to do this Pan. I can't lose you too." Gohan said.
Tears spilled from his face, but he still stood tall and proud. Pan let go of her best friend, and walked over to her dad.
"Daddy don't you dare cry, and don't you give up on me. Don't give up on any of us. We're say-jins, and we're not going to let this defeat us. This family line has stood up and fought for what we believed in. We have fought tooth and nail against the likes of Majin- Buu, Cell, and Frieza. Did they stop us? No. Could they defeat us? Hell no. We're say-jins, and say-jins don't give up without a fight. You should know that better than anybody here."
A noise from the back of the room caught everyone's attention. They turned around to see Vegeta straining to sit up in the bed.
"Finally there's a say-jin among us worthy of the name." Vegeta said.
"You should be resting." Bra said.
"You want me to sit here and deteriorate? That's not the say-jin way. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some training to do."
Everyone watched on as Vegeta stood to his feet, and walked out of the room. For once that day they all felt a little better. They were about to walk out the room, when Vegeta stuck his head back in the room. He looked at Pan, and he flashed her that trademark smirk. She questioned him with her eyes, as he cleared his throat to speak.
"Well are you going to tell them, or should I? This crowd needs a little good news."
Pan smiled at the man, and she turned around to face her family and friends.
"I'm glad that Vegeta brought that up, and he couldn't have picked a better time for either. So thank you Vegeta. What I have to tell you is that some blessings have come from this tragedy. As a matter of fact, I'm glad to announce that I am pregnant. That was last gift that Trunks gave to me, and I want to share this wonderful gift with each and every one of you."
Pretty soon hugs and kisses were given, and the mood changed drastically from that of a somber one to that of a happy one. It was a much-needed distraction from the knowledge of their dearly departed ones. Even if it was a short distraction, everyone welcomed it. That is everyone but one lone figure. She watched on as everyone wore smiles on their faces, and pretended like nothing bad had ever happened.
*How can they act like this, when my daughter is dead and gone? They never cared about anyone but themselves. They will pay. They all will pay, and I won't forgive them for this. They all will die, the same way that my daughter did.
No one noticed that 18 had walked out of the room, and no one noticed that she had a look of anger written all over her face. It was a look she wore before she married Krillen, and there was nothing but hatred in her heart. It was a look that she wore now, and if anyone were to stop her right then and there she might have killed someone. For she was not the same girl that everyone here knew and loved. She was the killing machine pent on destroying humankind, starting with the doctors at that so called hospital. They would pay for not saving her child, and she aimed at killing each and every one of them.
Wow that was long. I worked on this story for the entire day, and I hope that you guys/gals liked it. I know I misspelled a lot of names, but I didn't have anything here with the correct spelling. So I'm sorry. Anyway in the next chapter 18 goes on a rampage. The funeral is about to take place. Vegeta tries to defeat this whole broken bond process, and he unleashes his anger out on Pan and Bra. The next chapter will be another emotional roller coaster. Did anyone notice that I tried to lighten the somber mood? Until then T.T.F.N.
Author's Notes: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I can't express how grateful I am to hear that this story was as emotionally charge as I intended it to be. I just hope that you stick around for more of this fic, and I'll promise that you won't be disappointed. Unfortunately I had a death in my family, and I couldn't write until I was over that. That's the reason why it took so long writing this chapter. So I'm sorry for the delay. So here's to another great chappie. Oh yeah misspelling are abound.
Disclaimer: No, these characters do not belong to me.
Dedications: Aznlilsmall Kirby-Yep I'm 28, Dark Gohan's Onna, Tyleet, Kutie Pan, Marsmoon Star, Inusayian Princess, Devilstitan. Thank you guys/gals for the kind words. I hope you enjoy the latest story.
Bra Briefs had been feeling a wide array of different emotions coursing through her body. The thought that her mother and her brother were now gone, was enough to send her over the edge. In the course of the night, she had lost it all. She had lost everything that had meant anything in her life, and for once she didn't know what to do.
Her life now seemed empty, like a hollow shell with no insides. She wanted her old life back, even if that meant having Goten back in her life as well. She could deal with his infidelity, if someone could erase this whole day away. If someone could turn back the hands of time, then she would've taken him in her arms and forgiven him.
There was no way that she could lie to herself. She still loved Goten with all of her heart, regardless of the things that he had done. She still longed to hold him in her arms, like nothing ever happened. However, it was too late now. Her husband lie dead, and not even the sezun beans could bring them back.
She wanted to end it all, but the fear that this action would crush her father prevented her from doing so. She thought about how easy it would be to end things at that instant, because at that precise moment she was standing on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. She could easily fall to her death, by jumping into the murky water below. She could have, but she dared not to.
Her love for her father suddenly overwhelmed her, and she knew that she couldn't go through with her decision to end her own life. If she were to die today, then Vegeta wouldn't have any family left. Of course Pan shared their say-jin heritage, but she was in no way a blood relation. There remained only one person that was a blood relation of the Prince of all Say- jins, and that was Bra. In essence she was all that her father had, and she wasn't going to purposely destroy that.
She wanted to go back home, and console her father. Vegeta may normally act like a hard ass, but in reality he was really a big softie. Bra tried to think about what her father was doing at that precise moment.
*I wonder if he has heard the news yet? Is he crying? Daddy never cries, but will he cry now?
There has never been a time that she has ever seen her father cry. There had been times when she saw him mad, but never did he cry. This had to hurt him, and Bra cursed herself for not being there for her dad when he needed her most. She needed to be home. So she turned around and went in search of her father.
I had been searching for Bra for the past three hours, and we still came up empty handed. As much as I cared for my best friend, I would have much rather be at home grieving my own loss. I didn't mean to be so self- centered, but I had my own problems that I had to deal with. I needed to call the funeral pallor to make the necessary arrangements, and I had only one day left to do so. It seemed like I hadn't had a decent night's sleep, since that terrible night when I found out my husband was gone.
I often found myself wondering if Trunks could see me from the other world. My Grandpa would always tell me that there were times when he would get special permission to look in on us, and I hoped and prayed that Trunks would get the same privilege. I know that he wasn't with us in the physical form, but knowing that he was still with me in a spiritual sense made me feel a little better.
I wondered if he missed me like I missed him. I wondered if they were treating him right, and most of all I wondered if my family was up there together. I don't think that I would be able to bear it if they were all alone, especially him.
I can't believe that I miss him this much. Why him? Why not me? Why was he taken away at a time like this? I wanted to tell him that a part of him was growing inside of me. I wanted him to know that he was going be a father for the first time in his life. Why was he denied the simple pleasure in knowing that he was going to be a dad? Surely the Grand Kai would allow him to look down on me, when it was time for me to deliver the baby. I could do nothing but hope and pray at this point.
I suddenly had a feeling of unease settle through my body, and I suddenly felt very weak. I don't know if it was a result of me walking through all this heat for three hours, or if it was a result of my pregnancy. I took a seat on the ground, and I tried to catch my breath. I couldn't stay out here in all this heat, and I decided that I was going to go back home.
As I sat on the hot ground, I saw images of Trunks dance through my head. I missed him so much, that I sat there and I broke down in tears. There were people out on the street and they all gave me a look of concern. There were even a few people that stopped by, and asked me if I was all right. I could do nothing but nod my head up and down, as heavy tears continued to fall out of my eyes. How could they understand what I was going through? How could they heal the wounds in my heart, when I didn't even have the strength to heal them myself? How could they know, the pain that I was going through.
So I sat there and cried, and for a moment I forgot about everything else other than my love for my late husband. I don't know how long I sat there, but there was a sudden noise behind me that broke me out of my reverie. I glanced back over my shoulder, and I noticed that Vegeta was making his way towards me. I hurriedly turned around, and tried to wipe away my tears. The last thing that I needed was this cocky prick telling me that I should be stronger. To hear him say it, I did have say-jin blood after all. I was supposed to be stronger than this.
So as he made his way over to me, I turned my head so that I couldn't see him. He reminded me too much of Trunks, and I avoided looking into his eyes. Trunks had his father's eyes, and I couldn't look him in the face knowing that I was going to see my husband in his eyes. I felt his kai as he sat next to me, and I pulled my knees up to my chest. When I felt the tears returning, I buried my head in my lap and I cried
I felt a tender hand caress my back, and a weird new emotion stirred deep in me. I don't know if it was because another man had been caressing me, or if it was because he caressed me the same way that Trunks would whenever I was depressed. I wanted nothing more than to push his hand away from me, but something deep down refused to budge. At that precise moment I hated myself so much, because here I was enjoying the way Vegeta's hands felt against my back. I shouldn't be thinking about such impure thoughts, but here I was trying to pretend that Vegeta's hands were my husbands.
As if he could read my mind, Vegeta snatched his hand back, and placed them in his lap. I looked over at him, and I was surprised that he looked the way he did. His body was covered in sweat, and his eyes were blood shot red. He was breathing heavily, and there was something deep down inside that told me that there was something wrong with him. Vegeta was one of the strongest men that I knew, and I don't ever recall there being a time when he was sick.
I felt a sudden wave of panic rushing through my body, and I was aware that I wasn't ready to lose another friend this soon. So I raised a shaky hand to his sweaty forehead, and I immediately noticed that he was burning up. He tenderly grabbed my hand, and removed it from his forehead. I was surprised to see that he continued holding on to my hand, and that he looked at me with a look of concern.
"We have been looking for you. We found Bra, and she's at home." He said tenderly.
"Vegeta, you're burning up."
"That's not important brat. We need to get you out of this sun."
"And we need to get you to a doctor." I said angrily.
"The last thing that I need is some good for nothing doctor, picking and prodding at me!"
I stood up and I glowered down at him. He sure could be stubborn when he wanted to, and I found myself wondering how in the world Bulma was able to get along with him. He sat there and looked up at me, and I crossed my arms across my chest.
"You need to get to a doctor."
"Look, the last thing that I need is some spawn of Kakkarot telling me what I need. Now let's go home, before they send out another search party for us."
"Please Vegeta. Don't do this to me. I can't lose you too. I. I. I don't know what I would do if I lost someone else." I said as I began crying in my hands again.
I don't know when or how Vegeta stood up that fast, but I suddenly felt a pair of strong arms encircle my waist. I cried into his shirt until it was soaked with tears, and never once did he move away. I was glad that he was there, and that I could cry openly around him. Normally I would have been intimidated to cry in front of him, but something about the way that he held me was comforting. I pulled back only to see a pair of dark orbs staring down at me. The concern was still there on his face, as he grabbed my hands in his.
"Don't worry about me. I will be fine, but what we need to do is get you out of this heat."
"Why do you insist on worrying about me, when it's you that's sick?"
"I may be a little under the weather, but you're the one that's with child."
"How do you know about that? I haven't told anyone that I was pregnant."
His traditional smirk crossed his face as he looked down at me.
"I can feel its kai."
"But how is that possible?" I asked confusedly.
"That baby that you're carrying is going to be very powerful one day. The energy that he or she is emitting lets me know that they will be one very powerful say-jin. Now let's go home."
Vegeta slipped his arm around my waist, and we turned around to leave. Suddenly Vegeta's knees buckled from under him, and I grabbed onto his waist before he could fall. He tried to stand up, and had to lean on me for support. I wondered what was wrong with him.
"Vegeta, what's going on with you?"
"It's the bond that Bulma and I shared. I didn't think that this would happen this soon though."
We continued walking to my car, until we made it there barely. I helped Vegeta into the car, and I hurried to get into my seat. I started the engine, and looked over at him. His breathing became labored, and the feeling of fear invaded my body once again. He looked at me, and tried to encourage me to drive the car.
"What is this about some bond. I've heard about it, but I don't know what it means."
"A bond is like a link that bonds you to your mate. Once that bond is broken through death, the surviving member will most likely die as well. That's why you must promise me something Pan."
"What is it Vegeta?"
"Promise me that you will find another mate before you end up like me. This bond crap isn't something that you would want to play around with, especially in your condition."
"Vegeta, what are you talking about?"
"This broken bond crap really hurts like hell, and the only way to stop it is to find another mate. I want you to give my only grandchild a chance to live, because if you don't find a suitable mate then you and your baby will die."
"What in the hell are you talking about? I don't understand the logic behind what you are saying."
"This is quite natural for our species. We were born to fight, and nothing else. When we consummate a relationship with someone we make a bond with him or her. That's why I never bonded with another female on Vegtai. Well that's until I met Bulma. I couldn't help it. I loved her, and now she's gone."
I stared in his face for a second, surprised to see the look upon Vegeta's face. It was a look that I'd never thought that I'd see. I guess I must have stared too long, and I wasn't watching the road. I suddenly heard Vegeta shout off a bunch of expletives, and I forced my eyes to look back at the road.
"What are you trying to do onna? Keep your eyes on the road. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were trying to kill me before this virus has a chance to!"
"Virus? I thought you said that this was a result of the bond that you shared with Bulma?"
"It is, but I used the word virus for the lack of a better word. Besides if you keep driving like a mad woman then this broken bond will be the last of my worries."
"I just want to get you home. You're turning all red. I'm worried about you Vegeta."
"Well don't be. I can take care of myself just fine. Now will you just watch the road?"
"You really did love her huh?"
Vegeta turned and looked at me. His expression was unreadable, and I couldn't discern if he was still mad at me or not. That scowl that he wore on his face daily made reading him darn near impossible. Still I watched him from the corner of my eye, and there was an unmistakable look of sadness written all over his face.
"How could I not? She was the first woman that ever loved me. She was the only one that really cared about me."
"Vegeta, that's not true."
"She was the only one that cared."
"Vegeta we all care about you. Why can't you see that?"
I waited for him to answer, but when he didn't I turned to look at him. I felt my pulse quicken when I noticed that his eyes were now closed. I reached out, and placed my index finger on the underside of his neck, hoping to find a pulse. When I felt the rhythmic pulsation of his heart beating, I leaned back into my chair and relaxed a little. He was still alive, but the fact that he didn't stir when I touched him had me worried.
I continued to drive home in silence mulling over the things that Vegeta told me. There was a part of me that was frightened at this revelation, and there was still a part of me that didn't want to believe the words Vegeta spoke. However, the proof was sitting right next to me, and it was currently passed out in the passenger seat.
Maybe he spoke the truth, and I was trying to ignore it. Somehow I knew that I couldn't ignore it forever, because time wasn't on my side. Look how fast it took for Vegeta to get like this. Was there a possibility that I would end up just like him, and what would happen if I didn't find another mate? Would I really die just as Vegeta predicted? It wasn't as simple as that though. I didn't want to find another mate, and I surely didn't want to die. As a matter of fact, who was there that I could possible mate with? The only available suitor's that were left was Vegeta, Tien, and Piccolo. All three men were many years older than me, and I was sure that none of them ever thought of me in a more than friendly way. Besides I just wanted to spend my time alone envisioning the way Trunks used to look at me. I just wanted to forget the fact that he was now gone away from my life.
I must have been so caught up in my thoughts, that before I knew it I was home. I quickly opened the door to my car, and I jumped out. I went to the passenger side of the car, and I opened the door. Vegeta's heavy body fell into my arms, and I pulled him out of the car. He was really heavy for a man of his size, and I found myself struggling just to keep him upright. I looked over towards my house, and I called out to anyone that could hear me. Pretty soon my mother and father rushed out of the house, and my dad grabbed Vegeta in his arms. Pretty soon everyone else followed behind, and they all looked at me wanting to know answers, especially Bra.
"What happened to my dad Pan?"
"I don't know. He was talking about some kind bond being broken, and he passed out in my car."
"I was afraid that this might happen, but not as fast as it did." Gohan said as he pulled Vegeta's weightless body inside Pan's house.
"What is all of this talk about broken bonds, and finding another mate? What does that mean daddy?" Pan said exasperatedly.
"It means that Vegeta's dying." He said as he struggled to pull Vegeta up the stairs.
"What? There's no way that he's dying. Why are you lying?" Bra shouted.
"I'm sorry Bra, but it's the truth. This is a part of our heritage, and unfortunately for you, Pan, and your father it's also a reality that you're not going to make it either."
"Daddy why are you saying that. Haven't we had enough deaths in this family already, and now you're saying that there might be more."
Gohan opened up the door to Pan's bedroom, and walked over to the bed. He laid Vegeta on his back, and instructed Videl to get a wet washcloth. He covered up Vegeta's body with the heavy blanket that was on the bed. He needed to get Vegeta to sweat out his fever, and so he turned up the heat on the thermostat. After he was done he walked over to his daughter, and he stood in front of her. Bra was crying on Pan's shoulder, and he waited until both of their eyes settled on him.
"Will there be any more deaths?" Bra asked through a veil of tears.
"Yes there will be more, unless you find another mate to bond with. I'm afraid that it might be too late for Vegeta, since he has displayed some of the symptoms associated with losing a bonded mate."
"Symptoms? Is there some kind of process that we have to go through before we die?" Pan asked disbelievingly.
"Well I'm not exactly sure about the particular order that they go in, but I know a few of the symptoms that will most likely occur. My dad told me that a high fever is the first symptom to watch out for. The other symptoms include paranoia, increased heart rhythm that could result in a heart attack. There's also the risk of depression, and chills. Lost of appetite is another factor, and sometimes the body will shake uncontrollably."
"Why is this happening to us?" Bra said.
"We're say-jins. It's our blessing, but at the same time it's our curse. The only chance at survival would be to find another mate. Time is not on your side, and there's nothing that I could do to stop this. I really wished that I could change this, but I can't. The knowledge that I might lose my only daughter, her best friend, and a man that I learned to respect a great deal is really tearing apart. I really don't think I strength to do this Pan. I can't lose you too." Gohan said.
Tears spilled from his face, but he still stood tall and proud. Pan let go of her best friend, and walked over to her dad.
"Daddy don't you dare cry, and don't you give up on me. Don't give up on any of us. We're say-jins, and we're not going to let this defeat us. This family line has stood up and fought for what we believed in. We have fought tooth and nail against the likes of Majin- Buu, Cell, and Frieza. Did they stop us? No. Could they defeat us? Hell no. We're say-jins, and say-jins don't give up without a fight. You should know that better than anybody here."
A noise from the back of the room caught everyone's attention. They turned around to see Vegeta straining to sit up in the bed.
"Finally there's a say-jin among us worthy of the name." Vegeta said.
"You should be resting." Bra said.
"You want me to sit here and deteriorate? That's not the say-jin way. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some training to do."
Everyone watched on as Vegeta stood to his feet, and walked out of the room. For once that day they all felt a little better. They were about to walk out the room, when Vegeta stuck his head back in the room. He looked at Pan, and he flashed her that trademark smirk. She questioned him with her eyes, as he cleared his throat to speak.
"Well are you going to tell them, or should I? This crowd needs a little good news."
Pan smiled at the man, and she turned around to face her family and friends.
"I'm glad that Vegeta brought that up, and he couldn't have picked a better time for either. So thank you Vegeta. What I have to tell you is that some blessings have come from this tragedy. As a matter of fact, I'm glad to announce that I am pregnant. That was last gift that Trunks gave to me, and I want to share this wonderful gift with each and every one of you."
Pretty soon hugs and kisses were given, and the mood changed drastically from that of a somber one to that of a happy one. It was a much-needed distraction from the knowledge of their dearly departed ones. Even if it was a short distraction, everyone welcomed it. That is everyone but one lone figure. She watched on as everyone wore smiles on their faces, and pretended like nothing bad had ever happened.
*How can they act like this, when my daughter is dead and gone? They never cared about anyone but themselves. They will pay. They all will pay, and I won't forgive them for this. They all will die, the same way that my daughter did.
No one noticed that 18 had walked out of the room, and no one noticed that she had a look of anger written all over her face. It was a look she wore before she married Krillen, and there was nothing but hatred in her heart. It was a look that she wore now, and if anyone were to stop her right then and there she might have killed someone. For she was not the same girl that everyone here knew and loved. She was the killing machine pent on destroying humankind, starting with the doctors at that so called hospital. They would pay for not saving her child, and she aimed at killing each and every one of them.
Wow that was long. I worked on this story for the entire day, and I hope that you guys/gals liked it. I know I misspelled a lot of names, but I didn't have anything here with the correct spelling. So I'm sorry. Anyway in the next chapter 18 goes on a rampage. The funeral is about to take place. Vegeta tries to defeat this whole broken bond process, and he unleashes his anger out on Pan and Bra. The next chapter will be another emotional roller coaster. Did anyone notice that I tried to lighten the somber mood? Until then T.T.F.N.