Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Coping: A Brief Story ❯ Part III ( Chapter 3 )

Coping: A Brief Story

Part III

Dr. Briefs walked down the long hallway toward his daughter's room. In his arms, he carried a tray of food. It had only been two weeks since his daughter and grandchildren returned to the house with their devastating news. His daughter running on pure adrenaline collapsed after telling them that Vegeta had died. He had carried her to her room after instructing Trunks to put his father into one of the regeneration tanks.

To him it seemed like an eternity, but it had only been two weeks, since the death of Vegeta.

His vibrant daughter, who could rebound from most events that had taken place in her life, now lay comatose in her bedroom. His equally vivacious granddaughter refused to leave her room and cope with the reality that her father was dead. His handsome grandson who was his major pride had locked himself in his father's gravity chamber refusing to come out or accept any visitors. Moreover, he, Dr. Briefs, famous genius was without any recourse to deal with his family's grieving.

He stopped at his daughter's door. He gave a polite knock. "Bulma-chan," he whispered. "It's your father. I've come with some breakfast." No answer came, but he didn't expect any. He pushed the door open.

Bulma was still in the same position on the bed; she hadn't moved since he brought her there. She hadn't even moved to change her clothes. She lay next to the spot where Vegeta slept hugging his pillow. Her eyes were red, swollen, and puffy from crying. She didn't respond to him or her mother. His baby girl looked so lost and he couldn't do anything about it. He was powerless to give her the one thing she really wanted.

Dr. Briefs glanced toward the trolley that held her food from the yesterday. It was untouched. Just like the previous trays. He dutifully replaced the old tray with the new one. "I brought you some fresh fruit Bulma-chan. I know how much you adore fresh fruit with your breakfast, Bulma-chan. Bulma-chan?"

She didn't respond.

He let out a sigh at her continual refusal to acknowledge his presence. "I know you are hurting now sweetheart, but the pain will fade. It won't go away completely but it will fade. Please, sweat-heart wake-up for me."

No response.

Dr. Briefs dragged a hand through his snowy white hair. "Bulma-chan, I know you feel like this is the end, but it isn't. Don't give up your life; remember that you have two wonderful children who are just as lost and devastated. Your children have already lost one parent; they don't need to lose the other one." He brushed a hand over her cold clammy cheek. "Bulma-chan don't give up; Vegeta wouldn't like a quitter."

Her eye flickered.

She still refused to respond.

"Bulma-chan, when you feel better, I'll be downstairs." Dr. Briefs walked to the door and opened it; he glanced back once more at his daughter he sighed. He took the old tray and left.

In the cold room, only subconsciously aware of her father's visit Bulma hugged Vegeta's pillow tighter. "Vegeta," she murmured as tears slipped down her face. "Come back Vegeta."

*************************************

Dr. Briefs entered the kitchen to see his wife standing over the sink sniffling as she pushed food down the garbage disposal. He sat the tray down on the counter. "Teddi," he called concern written on his face. "Is everything all right?" He turned off the disposal and turned his wife toward him. "Teddi?"

Teddi Briefs looked up at her husband, her blue eyes gushing with tears. She sniffled and wiped at her eyes trying to put on a happy face; but failing miserably, she burst into more tears. "Oh, Boxer," she cried into his shirt, wrapping her thin arms around him. "I made too much food again." Her sobs began to lessen as she poured her emotions out to her husband. "I keep forgetting he's not with us anymore. I keep forgetting that he won't be coming down to breakfast anymore and I shouldn't make as much food. Why can't I get it straight in my head?"

Boxer Briefs held his wife in his arms trying to soothe away her hurt as he tried to think of an answer to her question. Once again, the world-class genius was stumped when he had to deal with emotions. Maybe if he had spent less time with his machines and more time with his family, he would have a suitable response to his wife question, and he would be able to help his daughter face life again. "I don't know Teddi. I'm not very good at dealing with life." He let out a rueful chuckle. "I don't know."

Teddi pulled away from her husband to search his own blue eyes. He was hurting too. "You know it's funny. I want to tell Vegeta about something I saw, but then I remember he's not here anymore. I find recipes that I want to experiment with and see how Vegeta likes them, but he isn't here anymore." She sat down at the table her tears falling silently to the floor.

"I went out yesterday to escape the house and accidentally found this quaint little pastry shop. I wrote down the address and wanted to bring both Vegeta and Bulma here, but he's not with us, and Bulma has gone away to her own world." Teddi finally glanced back up to her husband. "You know, I've always known that Vegeta considered my small talks with him useless prattle, but you know he never walked out on me. He always stayed to listen when I was speaking to him. He may have never talked directly to me, but I knew he was listening. I just knew." Tears sparkled in her eyes. "Who am I going to talk with now? Who will listen?"

Boxer bent down on his knees ignoring the sounds of cracking and popping his old body was making to clasp his wife's hands into his. He stared into her azure eyes. "You have me. I can pretend to have a stoic face. I could even slick my hair up in spikes, or I could invent a machine to do it for me."

"Boxer," murmured Teddi with a smile that warbled on her lips. She leaned down to kiss her sweet husband. "I am the luckiest woman."

**************************************

Bulma lay in the bed she had formerly shared with the Saiyajin prince clutching his pillow. The pillow retained his scent. It was all she had left of him, all that was left of her prince.

She had lost her Vegeta.

Bulma squeezed the pillow. She didn't remember how she got up to the room and undressed but little trivial matters like that she could care less. Her only main concern was reuniting with Vegeta. Somehow, she surmised, if she held onto his pillow, that held the last essence of his life force, she could find him and bring him back--or join him. "Vegeta." Tears poured out her already swollen eyes; her mind would never let her forget him lying on the sterile hospital bed. He seemed so peaceful and young with his ever-present scowl missing. She had wanted to lie down next to him and savor the moment.

It hurt. She pulled the pillow closer to her chest inhaling its scent. "Where are you Vegeta?" She closed her eyes and allowed herself to be captivated by the sweet song of oblivion.

********************************************

Bulma awoke to find she was alone in a cabin dressed in a light gown of white muslin. Laughter floated in the serene greenness that Bulma found herself waking in. She knew this was a dream from the way that it felt. She had been here many times before, but she had never been allowed to leave the cabin. She calmly walked to the window and gaze out at the scene before her.

Vegeta was standing in a field doing katas, but he was wearing a strange garment. I was like his blue battle-suit without the armor. The uniform of a blinding white wasn't form fitting, but it flowed, clung, and moved with his own gracefulness. Vegeta suddenly stopped his practice as he sensed he was being observed. He turned slowly to view Bulma gazing out at him from the cabin.

He motioned her forward.

Bulma shook her had no as she watched her dream Vegeta gesture for her to come and join him. She gave him another affirmative shake of the head when he beckoned her once again. She smiled at him. "I'm content to watch you from here." She was content but she would have loved to fling open the cabin door and throw her arms around Vegeta. However, she knew what was going to happen. The moment she opened the door to step outside the cabin…Vegeta would melt. Her dream would end sending reality crashing upon her.

Dream Vegeta regarded his wife from beneath heavily hooded eyes. "I would like your presence over here, madam." He watched as she sent her blue locks swinging to and fro declining his offer. "I would have never taken you for a coward, woman. Why are you afraid to leave the safety of your cabin?"

"How dare you," said Bulma, stamping her foot in outrage. "I'm no coward and I am not afraid of leaving his cabin. I just choose not to, that's all."

Dream Vegeta mulled the idea over in his head before he gave her a toothy smile. "You often choose what isn't good for you. And I might have erred in calling you a coward, but you haven't given me cause to rescind my statement." He flew a few paces in the direction of the cabin. "Show me that you are not a coward."

Bulma chewed on the bottom of her lip. Dream Vegeta was so close she could smell the exotic scent that always clung to him in life. He watched as he arched a perfect ebony brow in questioning. She knew he was waiting for her to abandon the cabin and come out to him. But she couldn't she couldn't risk leaving the cabin and watching him disappear. She had already lost him in the real world she wasn't going to take that risk in a dream. "I can't Vegeta. I won't risk watching this world disappear. I am happy and content to view you from this cabin."

Dream Vegeta nodded his head in understanding. "What if I decide not to practice here anymore? What if I decide to exit this place? Will you still stay confined in your safe cabin?"

Bulma reached a hand out the window as if to stop him from leaving. Just the thought of him leaving her caused her blood to run cold. "So, I admit it I'm a coward. I know what will happen once I leave this cabin. You will disappear and I will wake up alone. And I don't want to wake up alone."

"So, you're clairvoyant now," said Vegeta as he moved closer. "I remember a woman who--despite what her friends and family would say decided she wanted the Saiyajin that lived in her home. I remember that regardless of what rebuffs the Saiyajin prince dolled out to the female, she held strong and refused to quit, until she achieved her ultimate goal. The female I remember wasn't a quitter; she wasn't a coward; and she didn't let what might happen stop her from living. Where did that female go?"

Tears ran down Bulma's face as she listened to Vegeta's rendition of her character. "She died when what she wanted more than anything she ever acquired was taken from her. She didn't know how much she cared and how much she wanted it by her side for all eternity until it was gone. And now with all the money her family has and all her genius inventions she can't get back the one thing she would die to have and to protect."

Vegeta's eyes got soft. "Who said that it was gone forever?" whispered Vegeta as he moved just inches from her window. "It still exists even when it's gone. Even if you have it around for only a few hours it leaves an imprint on your soul. This impression can never be permanently erased."

"But I--," said Bulma before she was interrupted by Vegeta. He placed a single finger to her lips.

"Woman, you have to come out of the cabin some time," whispered Vegeta. "You can't hide from life forever. So, the thing that you missed is gone and it hurts right now, but you can't give up your life to get it back. Do you think that the thing that you would give your life to protect wants you to die and withdraw from the world? I told you that everything makes an impression on your life, so what was the impression this thing left on yours?"

At the dream Vegeta's question an image of a laughing lavender hair boy flashed in her mind. It soon was joined with a picture of a baby girl with beautiful blue hair. The pictures in her mind widened even further to include a photograph of two elder persons: one with blonde hair and the other with fading lavender hair. Her family. Tears began streaming down her face. She had forgotten her family in her own anguish of loosing Vegeta and wanting to die. "I am so sorry."

Vegeta smiled. "You have a reason to leave the cabin."

Bulma nodded her head. "Yes, I do, but I don't want to lose you again."

"I'll always be right here with you, woman," said Vegeta as he clasped her hands. "Are you ready to leave the cabin, now?"

Bulma nodded her head vigorously. "I'll be right out." She turned from the window not seeing the smirk on Vegeta's face. She clutched the door's handle in her shaking hand…and turned. She took a step out and the world didn't fade as she had expected. Bulma's heart pounded furiously as she ran around to the other side where she had left Vegeta.

But nothing was there.

He wasn't waiting for her.

Bulma wandered around the area breathing in the air that still held a faint trace of Vegeta.

She smiled and placed a hand over her heart. She was out of the cabin. Be happy woman and live. Bulma felt the words whispered to her. A few tears escaped unashamedly down her cheeks as she answered back:

My name is Bulma…not woman.

**************************************

Inside her room Bulma awoke with a sense of peace. Vegeta wasn't gone from her totally. He had left an impression on her life. He had given her two wonderful children and now she had to help them with their grief.

It was time for her to leave her cabin.

She wasn't afraid anymore.

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End. Part 3. Created [07/19/02] and Finished [02/16/03]. Hmm, well, I didn't intend for this to be more than three parts, but it seems like it will be. Oh, well, that is the will of the writing. So coming next time is Part IV the final chapter. Send all comments, questions, criticisms, and flames to me at pmchivas@hotmail.com Dark Shadow Princess.

Straightjacket Musings:

Boxer: The name I chose to represent Bulma's father. Plus, if you say the name 'Boxer Briefs' it just sounds cool. ^_~

Dragonballs: I thought I got around this part, but I'm not sure. Vegeta died of a heart attack directly linked to the infection he had. So, I guess this would be considered natural causes? If not, we'll just say that Vegeta got wished back too many times for the balls to be used on him again.

Also, in the finale there will be no suddenly returning to life. Vegeta is dead.