The Little Orphan Girl
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z or any of its characters.
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Bulma had convinced everyone to see things her way, then could she not convince herself? It was much later when she thought about how her life would change by adopting Susie. She was definitely quite old to handle children now, would she be able to manage it? On the other hand she really wanted to help the child. She was pacing the room, thinking. It would be very hard. Would Bulla accept Susie as her sister? Bulma had noticed that her daughter was not particularly thrilled about adopting another girl. She was glad that at least her son had whole heartedly supported Bulma; he was actually getting curious to know who this girl was. Susie really needed friends and Bulma believed that Trunks would be the ideal person who could befriend her. Trunks had a way with people and he could befriend almost anyone quite easily.
Almost anyone.
Bulma stopped pacing and sat down. No, she had made a promise, she could not break it.
She would definitely not break it.
It had been a few days since the girl with blue hair had visited the orphanage with her mother. Susie was sitting under the tree, her eyes closed. She could not really shake away the thought of that blue haired woman. She could sense that something was going to happen but she did not know whether it would be good or bad. She hoped that she would not have to leave the orphanage. Susie never admitted it but she did not want to leave Janet. She was the only one whom Susie thought of as a… friend.
"Friend…" she whispered. The word sounded strange to her even as she spoke it. She thought about her mother again. There was not a day in the past eight years when she had not thought of her mother. Why did she leave her? She shook away the thought. It always hurt so much. And those would be the moments when she would think of her father. His photograph was old and crumpled but she still carried it in the pocket of her shirt, close to her heart. The thought of her father would always make her smile.
She heard footsteps approaching and opened her eyes to loom at Janet smiling down at her.
"Hello dear," the woman said.
"Hi Janet. Everything's okay?"
"Yes, and how about you?"
"Just fine."
This repeated every day. Sometimes Janet would try to venture further but Susie would not let her. Now Susie wanted to say more but she did not dare do that. If she did, she would get closer to Janet, and she did not want to get close to anyone.
"Dear, will you take a walk with me?" Janet asked. Susie frowned. This was absolutely new. A walk? Janet never took a walk with anyone. Was it bad news? The blue haired woman's face flashed in her mind. Why? She did not know.
Susie nodded and stood up. The two started strolling in the garden of the orphanage. There was no one else there. Beyond the walls evening traffic rushed past the orphanage, people returning home after the day's work.
"So Susie, do you like it here?"
"It's fine."
"Yeah, of course."
Susie saw Janet was nervous. The woman was struggling to say something, but was hesitating to say it.
"Janet," Susie said, "Just speak up. Don't be nervous."
"Ok," Janet took a deep breath, "There's a family that wants to adopt you."
Susie stopped. Adopt? This could not be true…
"You are joking," she said at last.
"I wish it was a joke."
"So you are sending me away," Susie said matter-of-factly. She saw the sadness in Janet's eyes and clenched her fists. Susie was angry but she was more sad than angry. And a part of her was confused. Who would want to adopt her?
"So who is this… family?" she asked. Her voice was barely a whisper. Susie was not able to speak any louder than that.
"You – remember that lady with blue hair? Well, it is her family –"
"That rude lady with the blue hair? The one who was talking to you?" Susie asked in surprise, "Seriously? The family of that, that weird girl! Her family?!"
"Susie, bad manners," Janet said gently. Bad manners? Janet was telling her off for bad manners?!
"Well, you can tell them I'm not available," Susie said.
"Actually dear," Janet said nervously, "I asked them to take you in."
Susie turned slowly to face Janet with wide eyes.
"You?" she gasped. She was not able to keep her cool anymore. "You asked them? You told them to take me in? You are sending me away?"
"Try to understand –"
"I DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND! WHY DON'T YOU JUST THROW ME AWAY! WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY YOU DON'T WANT ME HERE! WHY DO YOU WANT ME GO THROUGH REJECTION AND NEGLECT AGAIN, JANET! YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE!"
"I know what it is like."
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?! WHAT DO YOU KNOW, EH? YOU KNOW NOTHING! I WAS WRONG ABOUT YOU! YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND! I HATE YOU JANET! I HATE YOU!"
Susie could not stop herself from crying now. She had not cried once in the past eight years but now she could not control herself. She was trembling with sadness.
"Susie…" Janet laid a hand on her shoulder. Susie looked at it furiously and then slapped it away.
"Just listen to me once dear," Janet pleaded.
"You have to say more?" Susie asked angrily, her voice again nothing more than a whisper, "Fine. Speak, Janet."
"This is for your own good," the woman said, "The family is very nice. They'll take proper care of you, they'll keep you happy. Your life will be much better dear, much better."
"Much better," Susie repeated, "Fine Janet. As you wish. And I hope you can guarantee that I don't have to return here until your death."
Janet flinched. Susie's words were dripping with venom.
With that the girl turned and stormed away in anger.
Janet wiped her tears but they just kept coming.
"I don't want to send you away my child," she sobbed, "I don't want to."
It was quite late now. Bulma was again pacing her room, thinking about everything that was going on. She did not notice Vegeta enter and lean against the wall. He watched her for a moment then spoke, "Are you sure?"
It was only then that his wife saw him.
"I didn't see you coming," she said then realised that it was not the answer to his question. "Yes, I am sure." Vegeta nodded. "Well, good luck," he said and left again.
Bulma looked at his retreating form in exasperation. "So many years and I still don't understand that fellow," she grumbled.
But one thing was sure; she needed all the luck she could get.
She should not have had exploded that way.
Susie was feeling quite bad about her outburst. She should not have said all that to Janet, especially her last line.
And I hope you can guarantee that I don't have to return here until your death.
She was really angry at herself for saying that. In her heart she knew Janet really cared about her, and she really thought that being a part of that family would be for Susie's good. But the girl doubted it. This was why she could not shake off the thought of the blue haired woman before. She was there to take her away.
She took a few constrained breaths and reached out for a photograph. It was midnight and there was a full moon so she could see the person in the photograph. It was her mother.
Her mother, who was the cause of all her pain.
Her mother, who was the cause of her miserable life.
Her mother, who had snatched away all her happiness.
"I really hate you," she whispered. Her face was devoid of any emotion. "It's your fault that I'm here." She crumbled the photograph. "It's all your fault that I don't have a family. You were weak and vain. Everything's your fault."
She was about to throw it away but then she stopped.
"It's my fault as well," she said slowly, her eyes brimming up with tears. She unfolded the photograph and looked at her mother's face. "It is my mistake that I thought that you will return. It is my mistake that after eight years I still believe you'll be back." Her voice was trembling now, her hand shaking. But then she smiled. This smile was not a happy one, but one that was full of rage.
"But you know what, Mrs Tanaka? I'm not going to make that mistake again. I don't need you. I don't want to see you ever again."
With that she crumbled the photo into a ball and then threw it away angrily. The photo landed in the dustbin.
Susie looked at the full moon. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I'm happy without you," she whispered, "And I've learnt how to live that way."
The next morning was bright. Bulma and Vegeta were there with their son. The parents had signed the adoption papers and Janet had sent someone to call Susie.
"The adoption will not be final after at least six months after taking her in," Janet said, "That'll be a settling-down period for her."
"Ok Janet," Bulma said and smiled.
Janet smiled back. "Thank you," she said softly, "Thank you so much. I'm indebted to you. I'll never forget what you did for me."
"No Janet. You're not indebted. We really want to give the child a happy life."
Janet hugged Bulma abruptly and just as quickly she released her. Bulma smiled at her again.
"Here she is," a boy said. Bulma looked behind him to see the girl standing casually, her eyes alert, her expression guarded. She was dressed in a black shirt and jeans.
Susie had come there with two suitcases but she was leaving with only one backpack. She did not own much so why pretend?
"Susie, this is your new family," Janet said. She behaved as if nothing had happened last night. Susie looked at Bulma and the rest carefully.
"She's your foster mother, Bulma. He's your foster father, Vegeta, and he is your elder brother."
Bulma smiled at her.
"Come dear," she said. The girl smirked at her. "Let's see for how long."
With that the girl walked out of the orphanage.
Trunks smiled nervously.
"Well, nice meeting you too," he muttered.
Bulma shut her eyes.
She hoped she would be able to manage this.
