Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

Author's Notes: Thanks again to Omega, my one reviewer. (sighs) Boy, do I wish I could get more reviews. Not to get me wrong, Omega. Your reviews save me from writer's block, and I will get around to reading your fics when my professors don't assign me major projects two days in advance. Anyway, I'll be gone this weekend, so I decided to update before I left. Hope you enjoy.



Chapter 10: Answers

"Mommy, why can't I go back and see Daddy?" Bulma was busy tucking Bra into bed in what looked like Gohan's former room. A borrowed gown from Chichi seemed to swallow her up.

"Mommy?" Bra repeated.

"Baby, I don't want you hurt. I'm sure the fight will be finished when you wake up." Bulma couldn't stand to look into her daughter's eyes.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Bra."

"Is Daddy gonna die?" Tears were forming in her eyes.

"Oh, baby." Bulma wrapped her arms around Bra, rocking her back and forth. She began to sing quietly, to soothe Bra as well as herself. She trailed off as Bra drifted to sleep. Laying Bra down, Bulma joined Videl in the living room. Chichi had gone to the lake to convince her boys to get some sleep. Videl handed Bulma a cup of tea, which she gratefully accepted.

"How long have they been fighting?" Bulma asked miserably.

"About twelve hours," Videl replied. "I can't b-believe . . ." She trailed off, shivering.

Bulma shared in the younger woman's grief. Having two young girls who were best friends had brought the two women closer. "How's Pan doing?" Bulma asked gently.

Videl laughed slightly. "Angry, if anything. She can't believe she just froze. She was debating about who to ask for more training."

Bulma smiled. Sometimes she just couldn't figure out these Saiyans. "I . . ."

"Bulma!"

Bulma jumped at the sound of Chichi screaming her name, but also at the funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. It reminded her of when . . .

"Vegeta," she whispered. In a flash she was running down the trail to the lake. She was vaguely aware of Chichi telling Videl to stay with the kids. She heard Trunks screaming - and knew.

The woman - that witch sister - was kneeling over Vegeta - and pulling a sword out of his gut.

Bulma screamed.



Vegeta, still in shock from his near death experience, regarded his sister narrowly. "What are your questions?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did I die?"

Vegeta sighed. He knew it would be a little while before they began fighting again. Both needed to rest and recover a bit. He turned to see Trunks and Bulma pounding at the barrier. Jita, through ragged breaths, said, "Go on and talk to them for a few minutes before that son of yours does something drastic."

Vegeta realized she was right and left her to recover. Bulma and Trunks ceased their futile attempts at breaking the barrier as Vegeta strode purposefully toward them, despite the fact that his body was screaming in protest.

"Dad! Are you OK? You were impaled!" Trunks shouted, barely hiding the fear of losing his father again.

"I am well aware of that, Trunks. And she healed me. I am simply giving her the chance to recover some of her energy."

Bulma just stared ahead, tears running down her face. She had almost lost both her daughter and her husband in the same night. The suddenness of both close calls, and the fact that both were alive - it was all getting too much for her.

Trunks had lost all sympathy for his new-found aunt, but was slowly regaining it. She had healed him. "Why?" he asked.

"So she can continue fighting," came Vegeta's impatient reply.

Trunks realized his blunder. "No. Why did she heal you?"

Vegeta looked over his shoulder at his sister - who now, strangely, seemed to be staring at Goten - and then looked back at his son. "She realized she didn't need vengeance as much as resolution. She wants answers. And so do I." He paused. "I'll talk with her. I'll fight her. But I won't kill her again."

Vegeta turned and began to walk back to his sister, when Bulma broke out of her spell, saying, "Don't you dare get killed. You can't escape from me that easily."

Vegeta turned to her and gave her a look that seemed to reassure her, 'I'll never leave you.'



Jita half-closed her eyes in concentration. Healing the sword wound had taken a lot of energy, but she knew a few techniques to get back to at least his power level, if not a little more. She watched her brother reassuring his family. A very odd sight. It awakened something within her - something she would rather not face. She forced herself to look away. As she stared off into space, or so she thought, her eyes finally came to focus on Goten. His father was talking to him, yet he was only half listening. Instead, he seemed to be staring at her. For some reason she looked away. What was that she felt? It was almost like - shame. She had used him and lied to him, but she really almost - liked the boy. Shaking her head in frustration, she looked up to see Vegeta walking toward her.

The two Saiyans faced each other. They had reverted to normal form to conserve energy. The clouds had moved back, allowing the moon to shine enough to see.

"Why did I die?" Jita repeated her question in Saiyan.

"You weren't strong enough," Vegeta replied simply.

"All right. Why did you kill me?"

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "I had no choice."

Jita snorted derisively. "Don't give me that. We all have a choice. You could have joined with me."

"Against Frieza?"

"But together we could have . . ."

"We could have what?! Died a meaningless death - accomplishing nothing? You were already on that road. Joining you would have been pointless."

"But -"

"We would not only have thrown our lives away, we would have destroyed part of the Saiyan race - the entire royal family - the only potential threat to Frieza's power! I was waiting until we were strong enough! Of course I wanted to rebel against Frieza! I wanted to kill him! But it wasn't time! We weren't powerful enough!"

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I thought I didn't have to!"

The siblings stared at each other. They had been shouting and both were furious. Suddenly, the fight was on.