Note: This story is one of fourteen that I am writing - companion pieces to my as-yet-unpublished-book, DRAGONBALL Z: AND THE GREATEST OF THESE. While the book itself fits accepted DBZ canon, these stories are meant to expand on themes not explored in depth in AND THE GREATEST OF THESE, or as in the case of "Twisted Timelines," are tales based on those two words of such promise… 'What if…'


Because I forgot to mention it last time, thanks to VideliGohan for convincing me to come on here and post a story! I hope your faith in me was justified…

Twisted Timelines

Chapter Two

Vegeta and Kurenai stood side by side on Mount Paoz, shivering in the light spring breeze. It was a bright day, filled with sunshine, and birds were singing in the trees, but the whole place felt hushed, almost reverent. Together they watched the others slowly move away, alone or in pairs, their voices hushed and their faces sad.

"And the world and I just continue on," Kurenai said softly.

He turned to his wife. "What do you mean?"

She sighed deeply and bowed her head. "The curse of immortality. People will come and go, live and die, but the world always goes on, and I along with it."

He lightly rubbed his hand against the small of her back. "I actually find that thought comforting."

She looked at him in surprise. "Why?"

Vegeta shrugged. "Because I know that when I die, your memory of me will continue. An immortality of another kind, you could say. I may be gone, but you'll be here, you and our son."

"Or daughter."

He shrugged again. "Either way… the legacy of the Saiyans will go on. We may never attain our former glory and power, but we will endure. And believe me, after Frieza tried so hard to eliminate the Saiyan race, I take a certain grim satisfaction in the notion."

Kurenai turned her head away and flinched.

Vegeta glanced sharply at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You can't lie to me any better now than you could when we first met."

Her eyes met his in despair. "What will I do without you?"

"You will go on, as you always have, as you always will," he said with quiet determination.

"Alone."

"No." He reached out for her hand and lightly caressed his thumb across the golden band on her third finger. "Since the day I gave you this, you have never been alone. And you never will be."

Vegeta saw Gohan lead his mother away, ChiChi openly sobbing, her son trying manfully to keep his own tears inside. As they passed the couple, Kurenai reached out to lightly touch Gohan's shoulder.

"Gohan… I'm so sorry."

The boy sniffled back his tears. "It's okay, Kurenai. I know you tried, but even your power has its limits."

That was true, Vegeta thought. He'd stood beside Kurenai for days, lending her his quiet strength as she had tried to undo the virus's effects, tried desperately to do what modern medicine could not. She had even been prepared to draw the virus into herself, but fearing for the unborn child within her, everyone had convinced her not to risk it.

"If there's anything I can do… anything at all…"

Gohan shook his head. "Just… just be there for us, like you always have."

Her own tears spilled over. "I will, Gohan. I will." She reached out and drew him into a hug, and Gohan wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "Oh, God, Gohan, I wish that I could change it all… I tried… I tried so hard…"

The prince stifled the chill he felt at her words. It had been one of the hardest things he had ever done, letting his wife risk her life like that, and the idea that he nearly lost his unborn child was almost more than he could bear. To put her life… my child's life… at risk for him… But for her not to try would destroy Kurenai's spirit, and not even Vegeta could live with that idea.

Piccolo approached from where he'd stood by the edge of the trees and rested his hand on Gohan's head. "Don't blame yourself, Kurenai. The last thing any of us want is to lose you, too. You did everything that you could, and more."

She choked back her tears and nodded. "Thank you, Piccolo."

Vegeta glanced over at ChiChi, who was being drawn away by her father, the Ox King. "If you or your mother need anything, Gohan, let us know."

"Thanks, Vegeta."

Finally Kurenai and Vegeta were the only two people still there, arms around each other's waists, listening to the wind in the trees. With everyone else gone, the prince at last let his guard down and his shoulders slumped in resignation.

"This… just cannot be," Vegeta whispered softly. "It should have been by my hands."

"Did you really hate him so much?" his wife asked, turning to him, her eyes filled with sorrow.

The prince thought for a moment. "In a way, yes. I… I hated the fact that he so effortlessly could achieve what I'd struggled for all my life. I hated the fact that he defeated not only me, but the tyrant who had held me in bondage most of my life. I hated the fact that although he was a low-class warrior, he had more honor than any five Elites I'd ever seen."

His voice dropped. "I hated the fact that he was the one that saved you."

"That was pure chance, Vegeta, and you know it."

"I hated the fact that he meant enough to you that you would have risked everything to save him."

"Do you think I would do any less for you?" she gasped, but he shook his head.

"It's not that. I can be a selfish bastard, Kurenai, and to share you with anyone is still hard for me. Especially with him."

He reached out and touched the granite stone, tracing the carvings upon it with his fingertips.

SON GOKU – FATHER, HUSBAND, FRIEND.

Kurenai watched her husband clench and unclench his fists as he struggled to find the right words.

"But underneath it all, I still respected him. I always will."

Vegeta pointed at the stone, and light flashed from his fingers. For a moment, the glen was lit brightly, then, as the glare faded away, Kurenai saw that Vegeta had carved something underneath the other words.

KAKAROT – SAIYAN.

To be continued...