The Curse of the Bond

DISCLAIMER: Dragonball Z belongs to Akira
Toriyama, BIRD/Shueisha Studios. Toei Animation, FUNimation, etc. 
Not me.

WARNING: Rated R for violence.

Chapter 17 - Blood-rain and Fire

     "Yamcha let me go!"
Bulma screamed.

    "No!" Yamcha yelled back,
flecks of spit hitting Bulma in the face.  "You tell me why he's so
damn important to you!"

    "Because I love him!"
she shrieked, her face crimson with fury.  Yamcha's jaw sagged and
his hands relaxed.  She jerked from his grasp.  "I'm sorry you
had to find out like this!  I'm sorry!  But so help me Yamcha,
if you try to interfere in anyway I'll make you pay no matter what it takes!"
They glared at each other breathing hard, ignoring the other's who made
no effort to hide the fact that they were listening to everything.

    "What they hell is wrong
with you?  He's a murderer Bulma!  What would make you want someone
like that?" Yamcha snarled, disgust evident in his features.

    "He's different now, he
died on Namek, did you even know that?  He's not like he was! 
He saved my ass more times than I care to think of, you make it sound like
he forced this on me!"

    "It sounds probable!"
he snapped in return, his face flushed.

    "Bull shit!  It took
almost a month just to get him to trust me enough to talk to me, I was
the one who started everything.  He was the one who tried to stay
away!" She demanded.

    "But why Bulma?" Yamcha
cried, his anger abating enough for his true pain to show.  "I thought
you loved me!"  Bulma's face softened.

    "I did.  And I know
this is unfair and cruel of me, but it wasn't like I planned it this way. 
I never meant to hurt anyone.  And I know you'll be okay Yamcha, admit
it.." she said smiling faintly.  "This was going to happen eventually. 
It was happening before you died, we were just growing apart."

    "But why him?" he cried,
giving one last futile effort.

    "Yamcha." Bulma growled,
her face darkening.  "I know Vegeta came here before with bad intentions,
but everyone gave Piccolo a second chance with no reservations.  Why
can't you do the same for him?  He's not the same person who came
hunting the dragon balls.  Trust me." She suddenly seized his hands,
and his dark, troubled eyes met her brilliant blues.   They locked
eyes for what seemed like forever as he searched for any hint of deception. 
Needless to say, he found none.

    "I believe you." He said
at last with a sigh.  "But I don't like it.  Or him.  But
I won't say a thing anymore." He pulled out of her grasp and turned away. 
With a trembling hand she brushed away the tears that were forming and
turned to glare at Krillin, Tien, Chao-Tzu and Piccolo, who had not-so-subtly
watched the whole scene.

    Each paled in fear at
her temper or colored in embarrassment at being caught.  With a huff
she turned on her heel and headed closer to the battlefield.

    She held back a scream
as Cooler broke through Vegeta's defenses with several lightning fast blows
that sent him hurtling towards earth.

 

    He was getting tired, and
gods did he hurt.  Several of his ribs were cracked or broken and
each breath he drew was a ragged, pain-filled gasp.  Cooler floated
before him as if speculating on his next attack.  The corners of his
mouth drew back in a mocking smile and Vegeta growled angrily feeling his
power level spasmodically shoot up.  He delivered a sharp kick towards
Cooler's head.  He was amazed when his foot actually connected with
the slim, gray neck.  But when Cooler grabbed his leg, he knew the
Ice-jinn had merely allowed the contact.  He felt himself spin and
then he was hurtling through the air.  He halted himself just in time
for Cooler's locked hands to come crashing down on his spine.
    He absorbed the blow with
a grunt as he shot towards the hard ground. But before he could hit the
dry earth, Cooler was there and drove his knee into Vegeta's abdomen, grinning
as the air rushed from the Saiyan's lungs.  Vegeta landed on his back
with a stifled gasp.  He tried to draw in much needed ai qui quickly
as he could, but the pain from his damaged ribs made it difficult. 
Suddenly he heard a cry and the sound of a very close chi blast. 
Then he heard footsteps coming right up to him.  His eyes shot open
and Bulma dropped down next to him and shoved something tart and bitter
tasting into his mouth.

    "Eat it Vegeta! 
Quick!" she gasped.  He chewed it up with a grimace and as it slid
down his throat he gasped as his ribs knit themselves back together and
the burning pain that had filled him suddenly vanished.  His strength
coursed through him, renewed and increased.  He sat up with a gasp.

    "What are those things? 
Kakarotto had them-" he was cut off by Bulma's lips covering his with quick,
fevered kisses.

    "Don't die! I only 
have two left!" She cried and ran off- blowing him a kiss on her way- before
he could tell her to hide anyway.  He felt his face flush with embarrassment
as he caught the gaze of the bald earth fighter with the dots on his head. 
The human was visibly stunned and he nudged his companions and whispered. 
Vegeta scowled.  They reminded him of those sycophants Zarbon and
Dodoria and the whole damn Ginyu Force with their gossip mongering; and
he turned his back on them all with a dismissive wave of his hand and shot
into the air.

    It was Gohan who had Cooler's
attention at the moment.  Vegeta snarled in anger.  The boy may
be strong, but he was totally outclassed!  But that thought was roughly
tossed aside as it appeared that Gohan was gaining the upper hand. 
Several of his attacks were actually hitting Cooler and forcing the Ice-Jinn
into a surprised defense.  Vegeta was not going to miss the opportunity
to hit him while he was distracted.  He powered up, preparing to shower
Cooler with a hail of ki-bombs.  But first..

    Hey kid, you better
back up. He warned.  But it was almost unnecessary, Gohan had
felt his chi shoot up, though he had been uncertain of what he planned
to do.  Gohan shot back and powered up and dozens of bright blue chi-spheres
began to rain on Cooler.  The Ice-jinn smacked several away but still
a few hit.  Gohan began to shoot a barrage of ki spheres as well until
the area where Cooler had been standing was engulfed in ki fire, the thunderous
explosions making the ground tremble.

    "What did I tell you,
brat?!" Vegeta growled, appearing before him.  Gohan shrank back at
the fury painted across the older Saiyan's face.

    "Wh- what?  I was
just trying to help!" Gohan stammered in confusion.  Why was he so
mad?

    "Get out of here before
you fuck up and he gets his hands on you." Vegeta snarled.  Gohan
shook his head in dismay and then Cooler's taunting words to Vegeta came
back to him: "Of course I'll have my fun first, as usual.  You
probably have figured out where Frieza learned everything by now." 
Vegeta closed his eyes, unable to repress a shudder…

    He couldn't imagine what
the androgynous alien did for amusement.  But judging by the expression
of horror that had swallowed Vegeta's features at the prospect, he didn't
want to find out.

    "You can't stop me from
helping you if I think you need it." Gohan shot back in defiance. 
Vegeta frowned.  He didn't need the death of another Saiyan on his
head, even if he was only a half-breed.  But how could he make the
boy understand that he had no chance?  He drew back his fist, preparing
to knock the boy out with a quick blow to the skull when searing pain lanced
through his sideONT>ONT>

    A pained cry escaped his
lips with flecks of blood and he clutched his side with a gasp.  He
raised his trembling hands and saw his fingers coated with his own dark
blood.

    "No.." he gasped, the
word stuck in his throat and he gagged, a gout of blood leaking from between
his quivering lips.

    "Look out!" Gohan screamed. 
Vegeta felt the clammy tail wrap around his throat and tighten.  The
world tilted at a strange angle and he felt the pressure and rush of wind
and he was again flung through the air.  He crashed into a cliff-face
and for a moment as rocks and dust rained down on him, he began to lose
his focus.  He pulled himself from the wall and swayed unsteadily,
the landscape was heaving and tilting alarmingly.  Pain flared in
his side as Cooler landed gently before him.  He tore his gaze from
the slowly approaching Ice-jinn down to his waist and saw his orange pants
were turning almost black with the blood that was steadily pouring from
a small hole.

    The strength drained from
his limbs and he could no longer support himself, and sank to his knees.

    "Your dying Vegeta." Cooler
said in a soft voice.  "Apparently that ki strike hit a main artery. 
If it hadn't you wouldn't still be bleeding.  Come with me now and
I'll put you in the regeneration tank before its too late." He coaxed. 
Vegeta crawled backwards and grabbed onto the jagged cliff face to keep
upright.

    "Nia.." Vegeta whispered,
his visage too pale for Cooler's liking.  The Ice-jinn had meant to
subdue him and bring him back relatively undamaged.  He had hoped
to avoid this.  Cooler's eyes dropped to the small hole in the Saiyans
side.  Blood spurted from it like a clogged faucet and it was steadily
turning his clothing from orange to crimson.  He heard Vegeta's breathing
quicken until he was gasping raggedly.  His eyes opened and closed
lethargically.

    "Vegeta.  Your choices
are dwindling rapidly.  I know you wish to live.  Come with me."
He said, holding out his hand.

    "Leave him alone!" Cooler
barely had time to dodge as Gohan shot towards him with a well-aimed kick.

  &nb"You"You fool, I am the only
one who can help him.  And besides.  He belongs to me! 
I can do whatever I want with him!" he snarled petulantly.

    "He doesn't need your
help!" Gohan cried, enraged.  Vegeta was not a pet or a toy that Cooler
could just use as he would.  The very thought enraged the demi-Saiyan
and powered his frenzied attacks.  "And he is NOT your property!"

    Cooler was having difficulty
blocking and then each strike began to break through his defenses. 
The boy's fists connected with his jaw and gut repeatedly, fueling Cooler's
rage.

    "Vegeta!" Bulma shrieked
as the ki beam sliced through his flesh.  Everyone gasped in horror
as blood began to gush from the tiny wound.  She barreled forward
as he stumbled back several steps and caught himself on the face of the
cliff.  He slid to his knees and his features began to bleach. 
His mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a landed fish.

    No, Kami no! 
Bulma's mind chanted repeatedly as she darted to the Saiyan's side. 
Gohan was distracting Cooler for the moment so she had to act fast.
Damn
it!  After this there will be only one more left!  She cursed. 
She reached his side and dropped down.  His eyes were wide and stared
sightlessly ahead and his fingers weakly clenched the gushing wound.

    "Vegeta!  Vegeta! 
Look at me!" Bulma shrieked, gripping his shoulders and giving him a rough
shake.  His eyes slid over to barely focus on her.

    "Bulma.." he moaned weakly. 
She shoved another senzu bean in his mouth.

    "Come on!  Chew it
up!  It will make it better!" Bulma cried, tears streaming copiously
from her eyes.  The sight of him bleeding and beaten was almost too
much to bear.  But- surneurned in shock as she heard an astonished
cry and saw Gohan plowing into the earth.  Suddenly she felt a powerful
blow across her face and with a pained cry she was thrown back.  Her
head struck the ground and the impact sent her blissfully into unconsciousness.

    Vegeta felt his very life
draining from him and welcomed it without a struggle.  But then someone
was shaking him and screaming his name.  He felt emotions hit him,
painfully intense and he shuddered, trying to pull away but his limbs refused
to respond.

    A bitter taste filled
him mouth, one that he recognized and without conscious thought he began
to chew the senzu bean that slid between his lips.  Sound returned
and then feeling.  He drew in a great gasping lungful as the blood
flow halted and he felt a huge surge of power eclipsing his previous level.

    He heard a familiar voice
shriek in terror and his eyes snapped open as Bulma's fear coursed through
him and then.. nothing.   He sat up and his eyes darted across
the landscape and saw her laying in a heap on the ground and above her
was..

    Cooler.  No surprise
there.

    "Bulma!"  he cried,
his heart clenching painfully at the sight of her motionless form. 
Cooler turned to him with a victorious smile that grew into a grin upon
seeing the bloody red aura encircling the Saiyan.  With an enraged
shriek the aura widened sending a small shower of dust and rocks everywhere. 
The force of it alone sent Cooler staggering back a step.  He shot
forward with an enraged cry and Cooler met his frenzied attack, blow for
blow.

    "Good!" He marveled. 
"Frieza taught you well, but he should have taught you to be more responsive
in bed!" he said with a laugh.  Vegeta screamed in fury and brought
his interlocked fingers crashing down on Cooler's head.  Cooler merely
smiled and gripped Vegeta's wrists in an unbreakable hold.  "Let's
give your friends a show, shall we?"

    Krillin had had enough. 
While his friends stared stupidly, and Piccolo cautioned against joining
the fight, Krillin had kept his eye on Bulma.  Even if everything
she'd said about Vegeta was true, the Saiyan was too busy to help her.

    He was starting to feel
guilt well up in him the first time Vegeta went down.  Bulma had wrenched
her arm from Yamcha's grasp (not a simple feat when he was as angry as
he'd appeared) and had run to his side.  No one had even tried to
stop her despite the fact that Cooler seemed to be aware of their connection
and would undoubtedly use it to his advantage.

    But he hadn't.  At
least not at first.

    When Vegeta had been pierced
by the ki blast he'd felt like he was back on Namek watching him die. 
He never admitted it to anyone, but he'd had a few nightmares about that
little scene, but instead of Vegeta being beaten to death it had always
been him.

    But Krillin shelved his
trepidation when Cooler appeared at Bulma's side and back-handed her, sending
her flying.  Without even thinking he had taken off and headed to
her side.

    She lay in a crumpled
heap and Krillin gasped when Vegeta screamed her name, anguish in his eyes. 
For a moment the sight startled so mso much that he could only stare in
amazement as Vegeta powered up and began to attack Cooler with alarming
ferocity.

    A soft moan from Bulma
brought him out of his momentary daze, and his features twisted at the
bloody gash across her cheek and the purplish skin around it.

    "Holy shit." He groaned. 
And then he saw something that lifted the sudden weight off his shoulders. 
He sighed in relief and grabbed the tiny senzu bean out of her limp fingers
and slid his arm under her shoulders, pulling her up to a sitting position. 
She whimpered at the movement and tears suddenly slid down her cheeks. 
"It's gonna be ok Bulma, eat the senzu."  To his astonishment, she
slowly turned her head away.

 &n&nbs  "Veh- Vegeta.. needs it."
she gasped.

    "Bull shit." Krillin said
and shoved it in her mouth and put his hand over her lips, sealing them
closed so she had no choice but to swallow the miraculous bean.  She
weakly flailed in his arms for a moment and more tears slid down her damaged
skin. But  the skin of the bean had broken and the pulp and oil was
sliding down her throat of it's own accord and the healing energies coursed
through her body.

    The pain vanished from
her jaw and limbs and she sat up angrily pulling Krillin's hands away. 
In fury she turned and slapped him.

    "I told you that was for
Vegeta!" She shrieked.  "Why didn't you just take me to a hospital?!"

    "Bulma!" Krillin gasped,
"I know you care about Vegeta and despite everything he's done, I'm starting
to see that he cares about you too.  Now in my place what would you
do?  If Vegeta knew that I gave him the senzu instead of you, what
would he do to me?"  Bulma brushed away her tears with a grimace.

    "All right." She murmured,
guessing his line of thinking.  She couldn't ignore the fact that
they all still feared Vegeta and worried about his retaliation over hers.

    Their conversation was
abruptly cut off by a piercing shriek.

    Their attention was drawn
back to the fight and Bulma barely repressed a scream when she saw Vegeta
in Cooler's embrace.  The Ice-jinn's long purple tongue was inching
towards his face.  Vegeta was thrashing madly and she suddenly felt
Krillrencrench he the the ground.

    "Get down!" he screamed. 
An aura of power developed around the thrashing Saiyan and then exploded.

    Nothing was working. 
Every attack he tried was blocked or sent flying back at him, even with
his new strength; which was beginning to wane.  He was starting to
panic,  but he knew if he lost his control it would be all over.
    As if sensing his thoughts
the Ice-Jinn streaked forward and his fd fld flesh was suddenly cleaving
to Vegeta's.  He flinched with a harsh cry but Cooler's arms locked
around him, pinning his to his sides.

    "Beautiful Saiyan." Cooler
purred.  "Now I see why Frieza was willing to make a fool of himself
by chasing you across the galaxy."  His slender, purple tongue slid
from between his lips like a poisonous snake.  Vegeta recoiled but
couldn't break Cooler's hold.  He began to thrash madly, a scream
ready to burst from his lips.  He felt a hand on his very manhood
and his entire body froze.  He felt his power swelling rapidly.

    Light enveloped them, as
golden and intense as the sun.  Every eye was screwed shut against
the onslaught.  The earth roared in protest.  The wind shrieked
in dismay.  If this was the end, then it had never seemed so beautiful…

    Suddenly everything changed. 
Golden ki enveloped him and the world took on a different aspect. 
The white demon in front of him was now a pesky shade and with a lazy sweep
of his hand, he sent him hurtling through the air, hundreds of feet.

    He stared down at his
hands in awe.

    Power, such power he had
no name to describe it.. Or did he? From his childhood came old legends
of power surpassing everything ever known.  Might incalculable, and
a savage rage that powered it.

But the wonder eclipsed everything and the
sudden sense of… Rightness.  He had finally done the impossible! 
He'd done what his whole race had only dreamed of, what he himself had
bled for countless times.

    He was a Super Saiyan.

    The Z Fighters were all
thrown several yards following the explosion and for a moment they all
feared the worst.  Then they felt it.  The dramatic rise in Vegeta's
ki totally obscured Cooler's and if they trusted Vegeta and his intentions
they would have breathed a sigh of relief.  The smoke cleared and
Cooler was nowhere in sight, though his chi was still strong.

    Vegeta was a different
story.  He was surrounded by a nimbus of gold making even his hair
and tail take on the hue.

    "What the hell-?" Piccolo,
Yamcha and Krillin gasped.

    "My God, do you feel that?"
Tien shuddered.  He didn't need to ask, they all felt Vegeta's power
beating down on them like the heat of the sun.

    "He's a Super Saiyan. 
Like dad!" Gohan cried joyfully.  Only Bulma shared his excitement.

    Cooler shook his head in
amazement.  What had happened?  His pet looked different. 
Not in a bad way, he was in fact rather attracted to the change. 
If his scouter hadn't shattered during the transformation, he wouldn't
be so busy with details.

    But it didn't look like
Vegeta was going to continue the fight yet.  He merely stared at his
hands in a stupor and Cooler decided to use the opportunity to attack.

    Vegeta watched as Cooler
approached, and was amazed by how slow the Ice-jinn was going.  He
spread his arms and caught Cooler's wrists easily as he approached.   
Cooler tried to wrench free from Vegeta's grip, but it was impossible! 
He pulled and tugged, nearly dislocating his wrists.  He began to
scream in fury as a small smile lit up Vegeta's features.  As Cooler
tugged, Vegeta released him and the smile spread as Cooler flew backwards
through the air.

    "What happened? 
The monkey couldn't even hit me before?!" Cooler snarled and began to raise
his chi.  But before he could something hard struck hi the the face
breaking his nose and sending him hurling into a cliff-face.  Before
he could gather his wits and pull himself free a knee drove into his gut
and hands dragged him out of his impact crater.  He felt himself falling
and began to slow his descent.  But before he could stop and turn
Vegeta was there.  He brought his knee up, crushing Cooler's diaphragm,
sending the air rushing from his lungs, then plowed both fists down into
his back sending him hurtling towards the ground.

    The impact sent rocks
and dust raining down on the Z fighters who could only stare at the spectacle
in awe.  It wasn't even really a fight anymore.  If it ever had
been.  Cooler staggered from the impact crater and Gohan and Piccolo
could see his purplish blood leaking from his mouth and nose.

    "Damn you!" Cooler screamed
and sent a volley of ki blasts at Vegeta.  The Saiyan Prince smiled
lightly and easily slapped them away.  Cooler clenched his fists so
hard his nails drew blood.  Sweat poured down his face as he began
to sense his defeat.  The thought enraged him and with a scream of
fury a huge chi sphere appeared above his cupped hands.  It expanded
in bursts until it's diameter was twenty feet.

    The Z fighters eaaledaled
in turn and Krillin began to pray as each feared the end.  The sphere
was massive.  There was no way Vegeta could deflect it.

    With a shriek Cooler flung
the sphere.  It's shape compressed as the front end surged forward,
the other half sluggishly catching up and it began to slowly move forward.

    Vegeta snorted in contempt. 
What an insult.  It was like Cooler throwing a ball of string at him. 
The only person who wouldn't be able to dodge a slow blast like that was
an amputee.

    Vegeta wasted no time
and shot forward, and with a well-aimed kick sent it flying into the atmosphere
where it detonated with a purple shower of light.

    "No!" Cooler gasped, his
eyes bulging.  "It's impossible!"  he began to send another flurry
of chi-strikes, each more powerful than the last.

    "He's mocking me." Vegeta
said in a low, detached voice as he smacked the weak ki-bombs away. 
The thought angered him and as soon as he thought of a proper punishment,
Cooler's throat was in his hands.  The red eyes bulged in shock and
Vegeta tightened his grip, hearing bones pop.  Cooler desperately
tried to wrench out of his grasp and Vegeta allowed him to slip out with
a small smile.  But  he only let him get far enough to form his
own enormous ball of chi above his head.  Cooler began to fire his
own blasts, screaming in fury when Vegeta again languidly swatted them
away with one hand.

    "Noo!! I won't be beaten
by a damn monkey!" Cooler roared as the sphere above Vegeta's head expanded. 
With a flick of his wrist the giant ki sphere began it's inexorable descent. 
Cooler stayed his place and prepared to kick it out of the way.  But
as the golden sphere began to fill his vision, making the entire landscape
look like it was gilded, he had his first stirrings of doubt.  As
he lashed out at the destructive ball he screamed in agony as it engulfed
him and burned through his chi and then his leg.  Then it traveled
up to his waist as Cooler's screams grew piercing and his flesh evaporated. 
Then all he could see was a golden haze.  It reminded him of the first
sunset he'd seen on the third or fourth planet he'd personally razed. 
And the burning pain lapsed into a warm tingling and faded into nothing.

    Piccolo stared in awe as
the giant ki-bomb began to swallow Cooler.  His eyes burned, but he
was the only one besides Vegeta who seemed able to keep them open. 
Then he heard the screams as Cooler's body was rent to tiny pieces and
burned away.  The following explosion was so loud, he heard a pop
and then nothing.  He felt warmth trickling down the sides of his
face, but didn't tear his eyes away from the radiant explosion.  Golden
sparks showered the earth  after the light faded and when he could
see again only Vegeta stood among the ruins.

    Piccolo shot to his feet
when Vegeta's aura vanished and his hair turned black.  The Saiyan's
eyes rolled up in his head and he fell to one knee.  Bulma screamed
his name and leapt to her feet, running towards him.

    "Vegeta!!" He heard a familiar
voice shriek.  Suddenly a warm body collided with his and he felt
fevered kisses cover his brow.  His eyes slowly opened.

    "Bulma.." he said a smile
slowly creeping onto his face.  "I did it."

 

    A few days later Vegeta
finally awoke from the seeming coma he had slipped into only moments after
defeating Cooler.  The first jump to super Saiyan was extremely 
taxing and his body was already weakened from the numerous injuries he'd
sustained.  The energy gained by the senzu beans had been immediately
spent.  And so he slept for forty-eight hours during which time Bulma
rarely left his side.

    She explained the events
of the past few months to her parents and- albeit reluctantly- ChiChi. 
Bulma's mother, of course, had no problems with any of it.  Her father
was more reserved with his enthusiasm, but had come to understand that
Vegeta had done an amazing thing by allowing hily dly daughter into his
heart.  It didn't really surprise him that much, Bulma had a magnetic
personality.  And she was as beautiful as her mother.

    ChiChi wasn't so easily
swayed.  She was convinced that Vegeta was nothing but a murdering
space-ape, and told Bulma in so many words when she went to visit her at
Mount Paouzu.

    "First of all," Bulma
began hotly, "Goku happens to be a member of that race!"

    "I'm aware of the rumors."
She sniffed, keeping her eyes on her cooking.

    "Rumors?!  He had
a tail for Kami's sake!  If a human is born with a tail it's only
a little hairless stub, not a full-length, furred fifth limb! I can't believe
you would say something so ignorant!"  ChiChi lifted her nose with
a huff and Bulma seriously contemplated just walking out and never speaking
to her again.  But she knew she would regret it later.  "ChiChi,
Goku is a Saiyan too, and Gohan is half-Saiyan.  You know as well
as I."

    "But Bulma!" ChiChi suddenly
cried, her eyes full of contradictory emotions.  "He's a murderer! 
Goku's never hurt an innocent thing in his life!  It isn't fair to
compare him with that- that-" she sputtered.

    "I know what he's done. 
And I can't say that he wouldn't have done it without being forced, but
ChiChi, you have to understand that I love him and I know he would die
to protect me.  Just like I know Goku would do for you and Gohan." 
ChiChi finally relented at that.

    "Alright Bulma, but I
still don't like him.  But I'll keep my mouth shut for you." 
She said with a rueful smile.

    "Thanks Chi, you don't
know how much that means to me." Bulma said, giving her a hug.

    "But, how did his tail
grow back?  Goku's never came back after Kami cut it off."  She
wondered aloud.  Bulma shrugged, she had wondered the same thing herself
and was still wondering how she would get Vegeta to abstain from turning
into a giant ape and demolishing everything.

    The Z fighters were another
story.  She knew Vegeta would never explain himself to anyone- except
perhaps her- and so, after her taith ith ChiChi and her parents she had
intercepted the gang the next day at Kami's look out.

    The reception she got
was one she'd anticipated.  As soon as the fighters saw her craft
land all of them came forward at once.

    "Bulma, is he awake?" 
Tien said.

    "Did you cut off his tail?"
Chao-Tzu wondered.

    "Are you sure he isn't
going to finish what he started over a year ago when he wakes up?" Yamcha
shot.  Bulma snarled in anger, reminding everyone forcibly of Vegeta's
influence.

    "He's asleep still, and
no I will NEVER cut his tail off, and I know he won't try anything like
that." Her voice lowered as she added; "He actually apologized to me when
we thought Cooler was taking over."  Everyone, except Piccolo blinked
in amazement.  "Look, I know none of you like this, and I'm sure,
me even less- but so help me if any of you try anything funny with him
and I will be the least of your problems."

    "That's what we're worried
about." Yamcha snapped.

    "Well, if you don't act
like your usual asshole self everything should be fine!" Bulma shot back.

    "Look, this fighting is
pointless.  Bulma, our concerns are perfectly justified and you know
it.  Stop being so defensive.  We've all accepted your decision,
even Yamcha despite his continuing stupidity." Piccolo rumbled.  "But
you have to realize, just because Vegeta won't hurt you doesn't say anything
for the rest of us."

    "I'm sorry." Bulma said. 
Yamcha grumbled incoherently about Piccolo's remark, and although the Namek
heard every muttered curse he merely smirked and said nothing.  Now
wasn't the time or place to discuss his lack of respect.  "I don't
know what to say, except.. if he leaves, I will go with him."

    "What?!" Yamcha and Tien
cried.  Krillin said nothing, having seen the side of Vegeta that
Bulma fell in love with, he had no argument that Bulma wouldn't throw back
in his face somehow.  And he had seen Vegeta die.  Only he, Gohan
and Piccolo had.  That HAD to change a person.

    "Come on guys!" Gohan
piped up.  "I don't think he'll try to destroy the planet."

    "Why not?" Piccolo demanded,
knowing that Goku had always been able to sense emotions in people, and
hoping that Gohan was the same.

    "Because, he's different
now.  I don't think it's just going Super Saiyan either." He said,
completely oblivious of Bulma and Vegeta's relationship.  Bulma smiled
wistfully, and Yamcha grimaced at the sight, as did Tien.  They still
weren't convinced, least of all, Yamcha who suspected deep down that Vegeta
had some kind of strange hold on Bulma.  If only he knew what then
he could somehow stop it!  He almost laughed bitterly.  Vegeta
was a Super Saiyan now, he had a snow ball's chance in hell in a fight
against him.

    Piccolo remained silent
for a minute considering what he knew.  He'd seen Vegeta shed tears
at his death, and had always found it confusing.  Upon first meeting
the Saiyan he would have never imagined it, even when he saw Krillin holding
Yajirobe's sword above his head from King Yamma's office, he never expected
to see any remorse and he wasn't disappointed.  Vegeta had grimly
accepted it, so what had changed on Namek?  And what had happened
after he'd pulled himself from the Namekian soil Goku had buried him in? 
Only Vegeta knew.  And perhaps..

    His gaze focused on Bulma
who was staring towards the Capsule Corp. empire.

    "Bulma." Piccolo began. 
"How long do you think he will be able to tolerate this kind of lifestyle? 
Do you think he will be content to remain on Chikyuu with all his power
and not use it?" For the first time doubt marred Bulma's features.

    "I don't know." 
She said softly.  Again she glanced towards the house, confusion painted
her expression for a moment and she took a step towards the house.

    "What is it?" Krillin
asked, seeing her confusion become one of concern.

    "I'll be right back."
Was all she said as she took off running.  The other's glanced at
confusion and without anyone having to say it aloud, they all knew that
it had to do with Vegeta in some way.

    "Vegeta really is different."
Gohan said, breaking them out of their trance.

    "How exactly?" Piccolo
asked.  Gohan's small face pouted in concentration.

    "Well, I know this may
sound weird, but it feels like.. It felt like Vegeta was somewhere close
when Bulma was standing here and now that she's gone..  I don't know."
He offered with a shrug, blushing at the other's incredulous expressions. 
"I mean, it's hard to explain.  But I felt it with Vegeta too. 
When Bulma got hurt I felt his ki… spike up for that one second. It kinda
reminded me of.." He was silent for long moments, contemplating. 
"It felt like Dad!" his eyes lit nbspnbsp; "Yeah!  It reminded me
of my mom and dad.  If something ever happened to my mom he knew right
away, before anyone else.  That's what I felt!" he said, certainty
in his voice.

    Piccolo, Tien, Krillin,
and Yamcha were stunned.  Chao-Tzu gasped in amazement.

    "But does that mean he
won't kill us?" Chao-Tzu squeaked.

    "I think so." Gohan said
confidently.  Their gaze was all drawn back towards CC and Bulma who
ran towards it.

    Something was wrong. 
She could feel the part of Vegeta that always stayed with her, and through
it she felt… Panic.  It was wearing away at her nerves as she ran
down the halls towards the infirmary.

She threw herself through the doors and saw
Vegeta thrashing in bed, a pained murmuring issuing from his lips. 
She ran to his side, her heart clenching at the fear she felt emanating
from him.

    "Vegeta." She called his
name.  He froze and slowly his eyelids began to flutter.  "Vegeta."
she repeated, her voice soft and caressing.  With a snap his eyes
opened and he shot up to a sitting position with a strangled gasp. 
"It's ok." She murmured, seeing and sensing his confusion.  "This
is my house.  Remember what happened?  You killed Cooler."

    "I thought it was a dream."
He rasped with an expression of wonder.  Bulma shook her head with
a smile.

    "No.   It was
amazing.  Scary, but amazing.  You look good as a blonde." She
added with a wink.  Vegeta smirked and Bulma climbed up onto the bed
next to him.  But he could feel her hesitation.  She wanted to
ask him something but was afraid to.

    "What, onna?"  he
murmured in his ear as his lips brashed across her smooth cheek.

    "I- I'm just wondering
if you'll like it here.  I don't-" she paused collecting her thoughts. 
"I don't want to make you stay here if you want to find someplace else-"

    "Why, do you want to leave?"
he asked, confused.  She had been dying to get here the whole time
they'd spent together.  What was she talking about?

    "No, it's just that-"
without warning, Piccolo's earlier statement floated into his conscious:
"Bulma.
How long do you think he will be able to tolerate this kind of lifestyle? 
Do you think he will be content to remain on Earth with all his power and
not use it?"  Bulma knew he'd heard the stray thought, but as
his silence grew, she began to worry.

    "I don't know." 
He said honestly.  "I do want to test my new limits, but it could
easily destroy any planet.  I won't lie to you, maybe I will anyway. 
But I'll come back.  I don't think I could leave you for too long."
He said with a wry smile.

    "Then I guess I'll try
not to worry when I wake up and find you gone." She said, but there was
doubt in her voice.  Vegeta smirked and pulled her close.

    "Listen to me.  I
haven't had a home in almost twenty years.  I really don't know how
this will work, but it will.  I may get pissed off and leave for awhile,
but you don't have to worry about it.  I said I'd come back and I
will.  It's just something I'll have to do occasionally.  Believe
me, one day you'll be thinking to yourself: Man I wish he would fucking
get the hell out of here already." He said with a grin.

    "No!" Bulma cried, wounded. 
"I wouldn't!"  Vegeta began to laugh.

    "Just wait."

 

Epilogue

    It was unexpected, but
Vegeta elected to remain on Earth with Bulma.  She surprised him with
a gravity room to train in after the first week, and he'd surprised her
by kissing her in front of her father as a thank-you.

    The Z fighters began to
realize that he had, indeed changed for the better.  It was surprising,
but not totally shocking.  Yamcha, Tien and Piccolo had all been rivals
of Goku's once. And now they all fought on his side.  And they knew
without asking that Vegeta would too if ever needed.  Not because
he would willingly help "Kakarotto" as he still insisted on calling him,
but for one reason only.

    Because Chikyuu was Bulma's
home. He'd made it clear to everyone that he still intended to fight Goku
whenever he returned, but had accidentally let it slip to Bulma that he
wasn't really interested in killing him anymore.  But he was more
than curious to see if he was the stronger Super Saiyan.

    Gohan had taken to visiting
as often as ChiChi would allow to beg Vegeta to spar with him.  Vegeta
was more than willing and it was becoming routine for Bulma to be woken
at the butt-crack of dawn by Gohan throwing rocks at their window in an
attempt to wake Vegeta.

    Bulma's mother had obviously
fallen in love with Vegeta and had nearly become his personal chef, cooking
for him anything, whenever he desired it.  Vegeta had been shocked
by the whole idea at first, as he was used to killing his own dinner or
eradicating a solar system just to get permission to eat.  It was
a pleasant surprise to get what he wanted when he wanted it.  He actually
felt like the royalty he was supposed to be.

    Another surprising revelation,
he loved chocolate.  Even though it made his throat dry to the point
he'd begin to cough if he ate too much.  But it never stopped him
once Mrs. Briefs offered him a piece.  It was a miraculous thing,
after never having anything like it.  And the first time he'd gotten
a hold of Mrs. Brief's secret stash, he'd eaten it all and had actually
felt sick later on.  So he was forced to retain a measure of self-control
when confronted with the sweet stuff afterwards.

    But all in all, he didn't
mind staying on Chikyuu at all.  The fact that he had a beautiful
woman to end each day with really solidified it.  There was only one
thing he needed to make everything complete though he would never admit
it even to Bulma.

    He desperately wanted
Kakarotto to return.  They HAD to finish that fight if it was the
last thing he ever did.  And while he didn't see it ending in a fatality
anymore, he knew they had to have one more, all-out brawl.  Besides,
if he was truthful (which he usually was) he had to admit, if only to himself,
that he really didn't like being the last Saiyan.

    He tried to impress some
of these things on Gohan who was genuinely interested in his Saiyan heritage,
but the boy had a human's heart.  He would never really understand.

    But it was alright. 
He was content.  Content to stay with the fiery onna who had done
the impossible, captured the heart of the Last Saiyan Prince and claimed
it as her own. Content to make her home his as well, and content to wait
for his rival to return and again give him the blessed release of combat.

    He couldn't wait.

THE END!!!