She looked a lot like Bulma. The hair was different, as well as other features, but her structure was much the same. Goku narrowed his eyes upon her entrance. How dare she? ChiChi lay still in his lap, her breathing shallow. Absently, Goku tightened his hold on her.

"What did you do to her?" He demanded. Never before had he been so angry. Not since Krillin's murder by the hands of Frieza. His eyes flickered with a rage that consumed his heart. The woman cocked her head to the side and shrugged her shoulders in genuine confusion.

"What happened to her?" She pondered, observing the two casually. Goku growled and entombed her in his arms possessively.

"You hurt ChiChi!" He managed, trying to conquer his brewing anger.

He failed.

"Oh," she replied. "I see! The little woman got hurt when I landed? Well, who really cares? You have enormous ki." She stated after her cruel comment. "Fight me," she offered. Goku's eyes widened.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked softly. She grinned ruefully and looked down upon him.

"Because I can."

****

"You're very much alive, woman." She raised an eyebrow at his remark. Finally, she laughed it off.

"Vegeta," she mused. "I've been a hollow shell for two long years now. I died the day you told me to leave!" He shook his head.

"No," he said. "No, Bulma! I didn't do that to you! You've always been independent. No matter what blows life has dealt you, you've always had the ability to get back up." He stated this with affirmation. With surprise he drew back.

He believed in these words.

"I don't deserve anything! Much less your lying words of comfort! How dare you mock my pain." He shook his head. With determination he strode up to her. Grasping one slender hand, he brought it to him. His own actions startled him. He hadn't touched her in so long. The smooth skin of her hand lay gently within his palm. It molded so perfectly with his own. He remembered how wonderful the feel of her had been. A hidden hunger renewed itself and Vegeta wanted her badly. However, he would not give in to temptation, for it would surely mean his death. With a breath he looked straight into her crystal blue eyes. They regarded him with contempt, but Bulma did not move. She stood there quietly, calmly accepting what would come.

"Do..." Vegeta began, finding what he was about to say would be painful. "Do you remember the last morning we had together? Before you left?" She grinned.

"Before you sent me away? Yes, I recall it well. I woke up in your arms that morning." Bulma sighed and looked down smiling. "I've forgotten your arms, Vegeta." She finally said. "Feeling your touch again, it's almost painful." She looked back up at him slowly. Vegeta's heart leapt.

"So," he finally managed. "Do you remember what I told you?" She nodded with affirmation. "What did I say?" He wanted her to talk about this. It was hard for him to bring up those words. They had been created in an endearing moment, in a happier time.

A forgotten time.

But she remembered. She smiled at him.

"You were brooding over something. I asked you what was wrong and you said that you thought you knew what love was." Vegeta closed his eyes. He saw the morning again. When he opened his eyes there they were. Standing in their bedroom that only two years earlier they had shared. Vegeta still held firmly on to her hand, afraid that if he let go he'd lose her.

So her mind had resurrected that moment. He stared at her and realized her gaze hadn't left his face. Finally, she looked away to the window.

"See the sun?" She asked softly. He nodded and followed her stare. Sunlight poured through the glass and fell carelessly upon the floor. A large bed, the sheets tousled, was being bathed in the light as it lay silently in the open room.

"Yes."

"When it shone, just like that," she managed. She looked up to him. "That was when I was alive."

"You still are!" His determination to win her back surprised him. She shook her head and looked down.

"I fail to see your reason," she said.

"I..." Vegeta faltered and then controlled himself. "I told you I knew what love was." Bulma grinned.

"I guess you didn't." It was such a cold reply. Vegeta's heart had grown hard and stout through his lifetime, but her easy words shattered him. He sighed and looked down.

"Maybe I didn't, but let me tell you what I thought it was." Bulma turned back to the room. With a wistful look, another tear rolled quickly down her cheek. She gasped and turned away from the view. The world went black and their old home disappeared. The ruined wasteland returned.

"What did you think it was?" She asked bitterly. Vegeta squared his shoulders and released her hands. With a quick jerk, he had turned away. Over his shoulder, a muffled word carried in the air, but Bulma heard it clearly.

"You."

Her face softened. She gasped and stepped forward. One hand unconsciously reached for him while the other covered her mouth in astonishment. He turned to her yearning and his countenance was immersed in sorrow.

She was inches away. One more step would bring her into his arms.

She turned away.

****

Author's Note: Now now, let's not hate JZero!! =) Heheh.. sorry for the build up, didn't mean to make anyone angry! I also apologize for the wait, please forgive my recent procrastination!! I'll have the next chapter out very soon! However, I've been asked to complete another chapter to Nothing Else Matters, a fic in sore need of attention, so I'm off!! However, I do have plans for the next Chimera chapter and you're gonna love em!! Hopefully...

Special Note: Hidden_Angel, where the heck are you? Where is another chapter to your beautiful story? Where is my Power of Love? Oh cruel horrible world! How can I find my inspiration, when I lack my only drive in life? You figure it out...

Extra Special Note: Sorry for missing you Sarah! My away message can be quite annoying sometimes, seeing as how I always forget it's on!! =( My bad!

Overly Special Note: I drew a pathetic resemblance of what I think Bulma looks like in my fic... I like to call it boredom, and back artwork.. However, if anyone's curious, e-mail me and I'll send it to you!

Much luv to everyone

That is all
~JZero