There You'll Be
Chapter Seven: Where you are
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~*There are times*~



It hurt.

To know that he was never coming back. To know that she would never again see the goofy smile he gave when he knew he'd done something wrong.

And to know that he'd gone off to fight someone else's war, without even thinking twice about it.

~*I swear I know you're here*~



To know that he'd willingly left her alone, to protect the people that had killed everyone they'd cared about.

Yamcha was gone. Goku was gone.

But Bulma.. Bulma was still here, still on Vegeta-sei, still pretending to be whore to the Saiyan Prince.

~*When I forget about my fears*~



Pretending, of course, was the operative word.

Vegeta had never even turned eyes her way. But still he protected her.

For what reason, she wasn't sure.

~*Feeling you my dear*~



Maybe he was as lonely as she was. Maybe he felt he owed something to Goku... Whatever the reason, she never complained. Bulma hardly even spoke as it was.

The few words she did say wouldn't be wasted on bickering and whining.

Bulma Briefs, in short, had become nothing more than a living shell of her former self.

~*Watching over me*~


Her tears had stopped falling a month ago, two months after his.. death..

But everyday it felt like a part of her was breaking. Like she lost a little bit more of what she had left with each new dawn that she unhappily lived to see.

~*And my hope seeks*~

"Woman? Where in Kami's name are you hiding now?" The Saiyan no Ou's voice broke through the silence in the spacious quarters he'd provided for her. It was all Bulma could do to repress a smile.

The words he spoke would never be kind ones. But even a fool could hear the worry in his voice when he'd called to her. She picked herself up off of the bathroom floor, and checked her appearance in the mirror, before shrugging and opening the door.

~*What the future will bring*~



The look of relief upon Vegeta's face was priceless.

"What took you so long? I told you to be ready over an hour ago..." He began, before abruptly halting his berate when he saw the annoyed gaze plastered on the blue haired beauty's face. "At least you're dressed. That's a bonus, I suppose."

Bulma merely rolled her eyes, before placing a hand in the one he extended for her. And then, Bulma Briefs, royal concubine, put on her game face. It was show time, yet again.

~*When you wrap me in your wings*~



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Bulma was never left alone, there was always a Saiyan guard, normally Nappa, hovering over her at every minute, growling at any man that dared slip within five feet of her.

Vegeta had been ushered off to the side, as usual, to shake hands and play nice with some old, green skinned creature from another planet.

~*And take me where you are*~



She knew he hated being here even more than she did, however. If the smile currently plastered on his face was any indication.

Vegeta never smiled.

Unless he was attempting to forge alliances with any creature strong enough to help wage the war against the Ice-jins.

~*Where you and I will breathe together*~



If that was the case, then the newly crowned Saiyan king was all smiles. Even if the way he balled his fists up did indicate that he was doing whatever he could to avoid blasting the man into oblivion.

For the first time in nearly three months, Bulma Briefs laughed.

~*Once again, we'll be dancing in the moonlight just like we used to do*~



And Nappa almost had a heart attack.

"Do you have any idea what people will say if they see you laughing at their King? They'll probably cut out your tongue or something."

Bulma merely shrugged.

~*And you'll be smiling back at me*~



"Good point. It's not like you use it that often anyway. Though, I'd rather imagine that you'd like to keep it."

She shrugged again.

~*Only then will I be free*~



"You're the most annoying creature I've ever met!" He began, before giving a sigh, and turning to growl at someone that was filling their cup with some beverage from the table behind them.

How was it possible that a woman who barely spoke could infuriate him so?

~*When I can be*~



Then, it was Nappa's turn to laugh.

He could only imagine that Vegeta had asked himself that question more times than he could count.

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~*Where you are*~



It hurt.

To know that he was never going back. To know that he would never again see the innocent smile she gave when he told her how much he loved her.

And to know that he'd given up his life with her, without even thinking twice about it.

~*And I can see your face*~



To know that he'd willingly left her alone.

Just like Yamcha had gone to fight to protect her, Son Goku had as well.

But Bulma.. Bulma was still there, still on Vegeta-sei.

~*your kiss I still can taste*~



All he could do was hope that she was safe.

And that was all that mattered.

His life as it had been was merely an illusion now.

~*Not a memory erased*~



All that was left was the pain.

And the darkness.

~*Oh, I can see your star*~



Beside him was a window. From there he could see a blood red star burning in the distance.

She was there.

He could see where she was.

~*Shining down on me*~


And yet, he would never see her again.

He suddenly began to understand what the line "so close but so far away" meant. It meant having something within your grasp, something you wanted more than anything.

~*And I'd do anything*~



And being forever damned to never see it again.

After the blast, Goku had waken up in a cell. He was chained to the wall. At first he had thought the chains were unnatural in someway. Struggle as he might, he couldn't break them.

~*If I could just be right there where you are*~



It was then that he'd noticed the collar around his neck.

They were suppressing his ki.

~*Where you and I will breathe together*~



Probably so that anyone who had tried to track him from Vegeta-sei wouldn't be able to find him. Or so that he would never be able to escape.

He let another tear slide down his cheek.

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~*Once again we'll be dancin in the moonlight*~




From out of the corner of his eye, Vegeta could see her.

Clad in a silver gown.

Hair piled atop her head in an array of blue curls.

~*Just like we used to do*~



Laughing outright, at him no doubt.

She was his downfall.

She was more trouble than she was worth.

~*And you'll be smiling back at me*~


And she was the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes upon.

She still mourned her loss, as she always would. But Vegeta had been too quick to give the woman up for dead. She was resilient.

And whether she knew it or not, she was going to survive the loss of Kakarot.

~*Only then will I be free*~



The first few days had been unbearable, for both of them.

The loss of a mate had long been something Vegeta hoped he would never have to suffer. He had decided that when his mother had died.

And watching Bulma had reminded him why.

~*Then I will be free, so take me where you are*~


For nearly a week, she'd done nothing but sob, her eyes distant and blank. She had refused to eat, and that in itself might have done her in, had Vegeta not employed the use of the Regeneration tank.

He had taken her in as a concubine, because it was the only thing he could think of at the time. It had been a mistake from the very beginning. He had wanted her then. He wanted her now. And unless something changed drastically, very, very, soon, he was going to tell her about it.

And then he was going to rip her clothes off, and mate with her right here in front of the Trebla-jin leaders.

~*Now baby there are times when selfishly*~



Vegeta couldn't help but smirk. If THAT didn't make her talk, then nothing would.


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~*I'm wishing that you were here with me*~

Goku had long ago decided that he wanted nothing more than to touch her face again. If he could only see her again, then everything would be ok, even if it was only for a minute.

It was then that the large metallic door to his cell opened, and a large Saiyan male stepped into the room.

~*So I could wipe the tears from your eyes*~



Goku winced. He'd met five Saiyans since he'd been here.

Wherever here was.

And he liked exactly zero of them.

~*And make you see*~



The light was bright, and his eyes weren't used to it, so he had to clench them shut when the person entered.

If they'd been open, he might have been shocked to see himself standing there.

Or at least a reasonable facsimile.

~*That every night while you are sleeping*~



"Kakarot... so then, it is true."

"Who.. who are you?" Goku asked, his eyes still shut tightly.

"Open your eyes and figure it out, you idiot. I don't have time to sit around and play guessing games."

~*I'm here to guide you from afar*~



Goku did as he was told, and nearly fell over from the shock. "You're..."

"Yeah. And save the warm greetings and reunions.. I don't have time for 'em. If Frieza finds out I'm here, he'll kill both of us. And I'd like to stay alive."

Goku, still reeling from the shock of meeting his father.. however Saiyan-like he might've been... merely nodded.

~*And anytime I feel alone*~



"I'm going to get you off of this ship, and I want you to get a message to Vegeta for me. Tell him Bardock said to get him the fuck home. And when I get back, I expect a full retirement."

The cold metal around Goku's neck was gone then, and it took less than a second for him to break through his chains.

The Saiyan called Bardock motioned for Goku to follow, and he did, his legs moving with a speed that he didn't even realize he had.

~*I close my eyes and dream of where you are*~



Only one thought was running through his mind.

Bulma.

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~*where you are*~


The damned party was finally over.

And the Saiyan Prince had never been as thankful for anything in his entire life.

If he'd had to look at her for another second, he would explode.

~*Where you and I will breathe together*~

It wasn't until her arm joined his that the realization dawned on him that she wasn't something he could run away from.

Because she was something that would be going to bed with him tonight.

As a royal concubine, the only one claimed specifically by the Saiyan King, Bulma had certain duties, and privileges, that were hers and hers alone.

~*Once again, we'll be dancing in the moonlight*~

And she did them all with extreme ease.

Either that, or she made others think she was doing them.

Vegeta couldn't help but smirk.

~*Just like we used to do*~


One day, he'd get the little minx into bed, and then, then he'd make sure the entire kingdom heard her scream for him.

It didn't take him long to figure out that visuals weren't something he really wanted at the moment. He shook his head to clear his mind a bit, before pulling her closer to him, and heading for the door.

In some ways, it was really hard to decide who got the better deal.

~*And you'll be smiling back at me*~


Himself, or Kakarot.

To be so close, but never close enough was all Vegeta had to deal with.

The other man, however, had been cursed to be able to smell her fragrance, and touch her skin. To feel her respond to his touch.

~*Only then will I be free*~

No.. Kakarot got the better deal..

It was then that realization dawned on Vegeta.

If he wanted her, he could have her.

~*Then I will be free*~



She WAS a concubine, after all. There was no reason why he couldn't make arrangements with her. Perhaps a negotiation of some kind.

Then, his smirk widened.

Tonight was the night.

~*Baby I still believe*~



Tonight, he'd find out, one way or another, if his blue haired minx would respond to his advances.

Tonight, he'd make the nearly mute girl scream.

..He hoped..

~*Oh I've got to believe*~



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Goku barely registered the time it took to reach the space pod he was to escape on.

~*I still believe I will touch you that sweet day*~



His mind had almost completely shut down when it sunk in that he was going home.

Or back to the closest place that he had to home.

And back to the only thing that still mattered to him.

~*When you take me there*~


The control panel in his pod showed one week until he reached Vegeta-sei.

Seven days until he'd get to hold her again.

~*Where you are*~



And seven days until, unbeknownst to him, his world would cave in around him.

~*Oh, Where you are*~



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So, how's THAT for an update? *giggles maniacally* Come on, lets see a show of hands here.. Who REAAAAALLY thought I killed Goku, huh? Hmph.. you should know better. I love conflict far too much to do something like that. :)

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed, and I'll catch you next time!

Lovies,

~*Vegetas-Princess*~