Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Everything Happens For A Reason ❯ Take It ( Chapter 16 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Everything Happens For A Reason

Chapter Fifteen

Take It

Disclaimer - I have inspiration again! Unfortunately it doesn't make DBZ mine.

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Shuma was standing over him, the shadow of his body only partly blocking the suns harsh rays. Yamcha had become accustomed to this now. Failure. They'd been going over this same routine for over a fortnight and training with the Demon was starting to lose what miniscule appeal it had held to begin with.

The blue skinned creature wasn't a caring or talented teacher. It was obvious that he didn't want to be there in the first place, and Yamcha knew the only reason he was actually doing anything to help was because it was required of him if he ever hoped to return to his normal post in Other World. He had never in his life felt so angry and betrayed before.

King Kai had openly lied to him. He'd promised tuition and support and yet he had done nothing short of ratting him out to Other World authorities. Fair enough, he was receiving some sort of advancement from the situation, but living with a creature that gave him no respect and had no inclination to be there in the first place was hardly beneficial to his already weakened mental state.

Shuma was laughing - the arsehole was fucking laughing at him! How dare he - the little shit! Yamcha had no energy left, very little drive or determination to continue, and all he was able to do was take large lungs of hot, dust-filled air, as he lay exhausted on the surreal desert sand. He couldn't even muster enough power to scowl.

"You're an absolute fucking joke aren't you, Yamcha?" he smiled down.

Yamcha's throat was too dry - he couldn't speak.

"It only took me two days to master this. I'm gonna be stuck with your worthless carcass for the rest of eternity at this rate."

He unscrewed the cap from a bottle of water and held his arm out above Yamcha's head, letting a couple of drops fall into his open mouth.

"All I want you to do is try and sense through this dimension to Other World. It's not that difficult. Demon's are taught this at kindergarten level."

"I…I'm… not… a… demon!" The words felt like were ripping his throat. "More water."

Shuma sighed and turned the bottle upside-down, this time letting all the liquid fall over the Human's face. He couldn't drink fast enough - not a drop of the precious liquid was wasted.

"Which is why I've been so patient. Fucking mortals!" he spat. "And fighters are the worst. The great law of the arrogant, isn't it? That everything can be attained if you put enough power behind it! Well too bad for you. If you want to get this right then you've got to stop thinking that way. Ki has nothing to do with it, leave it in the mortal world with your ego. I don't want to see it."

"I can't help it," Yamcha protested, the water invigorating him as he pushed himself to sit up. "I can't concentrate that hard without my ki. It's just not possible!"

"Don't give me that shit! You're just too stupid to realize that it's only habit. You don't need ki to think and you don't need it to sense life-energy, you've just been adding it without realizing for too many years, so now you do it automatically. Try again!"

Yamcha looked up with absolute disbelief. "I've been trying for the last ten hours. I'm exhausted!"

"You wouldn't be tired if you'd been doing it properly. Again!" he demanded.

Yamcha sighed. He couldn't argue, and using his hands he pulled his legs into a crossed position and closed his eyes. His resurrection couldn't come quickly enough. He just thanked Kami that there was only a matter of days left. At least he'd be able to have some fun when he was wished back. Then Shuma would be the one in unfamiliar surroundings, and oh boy would he get his own back.

"You're powering up!" accused the Demon.

Yamcha tried desperately to suppress his ki. "Fuck!" he screamed. Pain ripped through his chest. It started in his feet and forced its way up in a spiral through his stomach, making him feel sick. It continued up until it reached his head, and that was where it stayed.

He caught faint sounds underneath it, twisting in a blur of sound and colour, rampaging through his mind at a dizzying rate. His stomach managed to lurch one more time before it gave out. The noise stopped as the bile rose to his throat. He couldn't hold it back.

He vomited, five, six - possibly seven times in a row, and then, much to both his and Shuma's equal relief. He passed out.

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Dende was a little lost. The other Namekians had retired several hours ago, but he hadn't felt like joining them. His young mind was confused. He was looking forward to finding a new planet, a new place to call home, and a new life to study and grow up in, but there was something, just something that made him feel a little sad at the prospect. In the past few months he had made friendships the like of which he had never had before. The human way of life was nice, the people themselves friendly and open. He felt a connection with them, one - when the time came - he would be sorry to relinquish.

Morley had told him on countless occasions that he should view the thought of helping to rebuild their home world with great honour and respect, and that Guru would be proud of him for it, but Earth. It was so different, so beautiful (in its own way) and held something over his young heart. He would be sorry to leave it, even if it was for the greater good.

Unable to sleep as easily as the rest of his kind, he padded into the large Capsule Corporation kitchen. The lights were still on as he entered and he saw Bulma was still up. She was sat at the long breakfast table, a large stack of papers and binders in front of her, and a pen held distractedly in her hand. She wasn't working, that was obvious, she wasn't even looking at the folders in front of her. It almost looked as if she were as lost as him - staring out of the window as she was. She'd been like this ever since returning from her holiday - almost distant. He wondered what was wrong.

"Bulma-san?"

She jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Dende!" she exclaimed. "You startled me." Roused from her daydream she looked down at her papers. "I was just catching up on some of the work." She looked over to him. "What are you doing up this late, kiddo?"

"Couldn't sleep," he mumbled.

"Nightmares?"

He shook his head and looked to his feet.

"Come here," she said, pulling out a chair for him. "Tell 'Auntie Bulma' all about it."

He wasn't sure.

She smiled, closing a folder and laying down her pen. "I don't bite. You never know, sharing what's on your mind might make you feel better."

Returning the smile, he did as she asked, climbing onto the chair next to her.

"So?" she asked.

"I'm sad," he admitted. "I've made so many good friends here - I'll be sorry to leave."

She smiled sadly, running a hand over his antenna. "It can't be easy on you can it - all this moving around? You've been through more than a child your age should. Seen things…." She trailed off.

"It's okay, Bulma," he promised. "You can talk about it. I don't mind."

She shook her head. "There's no reason to drag up bad memories. You like it here then?"

"Yes. I like the city, I like being here with you, and I love being around Gohan. It's going to be hard, knowing that I might never see you all again."

"But you'll be going to a new planet. To a new life, away from Earth and free from any danger."

"But I feel safe here!"

"And you won't on a new Namek, and with your own people?"

"I feel safe with Gohan. He's so strong - and he's my friend. I never had a good friend like him before."

Bulma's expression darkened a moment. She muttered something about 'wishing all alien's were like him' but it cleared soon enough. Instead she turned to him with a smile.

"The elders need you," she reasoned. "You're the next generation in an almost extinct race, as much as you might not like it, your obligation is with them now. We'll all miss you. I'll miss you," she corrected. "But just because you're needed now, doesn't mean that we'll never see each other again. You can always come to visit when you are older, and I don't see why I or Gohan couldn't make the trip to see you as well. I have a feeling that we will at some point, and my woman's intuition can't be ignored, okay?"

He laughed a little. "Okay!" he agreed. "I'll miss you too Bulma-san!" he said and launched forward to give her a hug.

They stayed that was for a while.

"Bulma?" Dende asked, at last.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you so sad?"

Her surprise was evident and she looked down at him with wide eyes. "What makes you think I'm sad?"

"It's part of my teaching. I can sense emotions."

"Oh," she smiled, placing him back on his chair. "I forgot. Well it's hard to say."

She got up, switched the kettle on, and poured Dende a glass of water.

"There are several things," she continued, passing him the glass. "I guess I'm a little uncertain about the future, about what might happen when Goku is wished back."

"You mean, what Vegeta might do when Goku gets wished back."

She sucked in a shaky breath and nodded.

"You like him, don't you? Vegeta I mean."

She nodded again. "I know it's probably not right, but I've come to think of him as a friend, and I had hoped he would feel the same."

"He doesn't?"

"I don't know. It's all so confusing. I just know that his pride is bigger than anything else. He will fight Goku."

"Yes," he agreed.

"It makes me so angry, and so… so sad. One of them is going to die. I never thought I would say this, but I care about them both now. I don't want Vegeta to win, it would be horrible to lose Goku again, and then there's no telling what Vegeta would do with Goku out of the way, but I don't want Vegeta to die either. The more and more I think about it, the more depressed I get. I just wish there was some way around it, but I can't see it. It's so awful!"

Dende wasn't sure what to say. There was nothing his young mind could give her in way of comfort.

Bulma seemed to see as much, and sighed. "I'm sorry. You don't need to worry about it. It's inevitable, I just have to come to terms with it in my own way."

He nodded. "I'm sorry, Bulma."

"I know you are, kiddo." She sighed. "It's out of both our hands now. I just wish Vegeta would let me talk to him, but I haven't seen him. Have you?"

Dende shook his head.

Several minutes of silence passed.

"You had better try and get some sleep," Bulma said once he'd finished his water.

He wasn't sure. Bulma still looked sad.

"I'll be okay," she said, forcing a smile.

"Are you coming too?"

"I've still got work to do," she said, burrowing into the white sheets of paper.

With a sad sigh, he did as she asked.

"Night night, Bulma," he whispered. It wasn't fair that she had to worry about this, but there was nothing either of them could do. They both had to accept that their fate was at the hands of someone other than themselves, and they both had to hope that it would turn out for the best, in the long run.

He left the room, but not before he heard a long sigh from Bulma and a whispered. "Where are you, Vegeta?"

His heart clenched. It pained him to hear how sad she was. It made his own troubles seem like nothing, and he went to bed determined not to be sad about going away any more. There were more important things to worry about than being with people who cared about you. He would help Bulma by being strong - it wasn't much he knew, but she didn't need to be worried about him as well.

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Vegeta knew he'd run out of time. He wasn't Super Saiyajin. He wasn't Super Saiyajin and Kakarrot would be wished back any day now. He didn't know how he felt about that. Was he resigned? Was he unhappy - was he angry? He couldn't tell. His training had not been enough. Keeping his distance from Bulma, he admitted, might not have been the right decision after all. There was no saying that he would have been Super Saiyajin now if he had continued her instruction, but at least he would have been more applied.

He had not been calm during their last meeting. He had not been disinterested, despite his behaviour. Bulma, well she was Bulma in every situation, and he had found it inexplicably hard to be cold to her. It didn't make sense. He had never had any regrets about pushing people away before, but now - now it was different. It was a unique and not altogether pleasing feeling - and the cost. Well, he knew the cost might well be high.

He'd left in a fouler mood than he'd imagined. He thought it might have felt good to finally disentangle himself from her human emotion and ideals, but it hadn't. The anger he had because of the attraction he felt for her had blinded him. Anger had won over reason and he'd left. Left to find someone else to learn compassion from. Of course, this had proved harder than he had originally realized.

His first thoughts were to find Gohan, but that was just plain stupid. He was just a child, and Kakarrot's son. He would have been biased from the outset, and how could Vegeta put any kind of trust on the child of his greatest rival?

Trust. Vegeta had mulled over the word. There was no one he trusted, no one, except -.

Bulma.

Bulma. He trusted her, and he had given it without thought. There was no one else on the planet to equal that. Trust, he realized, was fundamental to his progression. It was obvious now, but it was too late. He'd lost two weeks of training in pride, and he would pay for it.

Now he was making his way back to the Capsule Corporation. There was no point staying away longer. He was unsure of the precise date Kakarrot would be wished back, and he wasn't going to chance missing it. He would be there and Kakarrot would have to meet his challenge head on.

He wasn't Super Saiyan, it was true, but he was a prince, and as the last true Saiyan alive it was his duty. He had his pride. He would even the score. It was the only way forward, and even if it meant his death then so be it. What was there left for a warrior with no people, no planet and no pride? Nothing. That was it. At least in death he would have pride, if nothing else. Dying and knowing you weren't good enough was a hell of a lot better than living and knowing you were not brave enough.

They would fight, and he'd enjoy it, no matter the outcome.

It was in the early hours of the morning when Vegeta touched down. The domed buildings of Capsule Corporation loomed in front of him, only the security lighting illuminating the scene. He stepped around the side of the factories and headed towards his training room.

He was about to walk up to the space pod and let down the ramp, when something caught his eye. He had been wrong. There was one light on. The kitchen window was slightly ajar, and a warm fuzz of light was spread out across the lawn from it. Vegeta's stomach growled noisily at the thought of food. Hunting was all well and good but it was messy and time consuming. A neat, well put together dinner, served on a plate, and with no fuss sounded good after weeks of nothing but raw meat and berries.

His hand paused at the control. What did it matter? He wasn't going to get any stronger through his usual training; he might as well have a decent meal before he continued the abuse.

He walked away and into the main house. All the other lights were off, but he didn't need them. He knew the house inside out now, and so confidently strode along the hall and towards the kitchen. When he reached the door he saw the woman. Bulma. She was asleep, slumped over the table and with a pile of documents serving as a makeshift pillow.

It looked uncomfortable, but that was of no concern to him. All he wanted was something to eat - thinking about anything else was pointless. He moved quietly from the open door and opened the fridge. Much to his relief it was fully stocked and he grabbed an armful of food and set it on the worktop.

He was half way through separating it onto plates when he heard her stir. He froze for a moment, hopping she would just fall asleep again, but he wasn't so lucky. She sat up, sleepily rubbing a hand across her face.

"Shit," she mumbled, stretching out her arms. "I can't believe I fell asleep down here."

She pulled a piece of paper that was stuck to her cheek and crinkled her nose. Her hair was a complete mess, the tie holding it back, on the verge of coming out completely. Still, despite the frizz of aquamarine that haloed her face, there was something about the sight that reawakened his desire. He couldn't deny it. She was a beautiful creature. The vision stirred the memories he would always hold, of her naked on the beach, and the pleasure of holding her bare flesh against his own.

He only had a few days with her left, and he felt a little disappointed. She'd called him her friend and he'd said the same. Was this feeling he had right now, friendship? Or was it something more? Did 'friends' want to ravish one another and take pleasure from each other's bodies over an over again? Probably not, but that was what his traitorous mind was thinking about right then.

Only one thing stood in the way. Her human. Then again, he wasn't Super Saiyan, and wasn't likely to become one before Kakarrot was wished back. What did it matter now?

He heard a gasp from the Woman's direction and came back to reality to find that two blue eyes were looking straight at him.

"Vegeta!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

He snorted, turning back to his food. "What does it look like? I'm getting something to eat and then I'm going to train."

"Oh," she replied quietly. "How's that going? The training that is?"

"Fine!" he groused.

"Are you…?"

She stopped there, but Vegeta knew where her thoughts were.

"Am I Super Saiyajin?"

She nodded.

"No."

She didn't seem to know how to react to that. She stood up, pacing along the tiles and looking a little flustered. At length she stopped and her shoulders sagged. She looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling under the artificial lighting.

"I'm sorry."

What the hell? What did she have to apologise for?

"Don't be. It is not your fault - it's mine."

"Are you still going to fight Sun-Kun?"

"Yes," he replied firmly. "It is our destiny."

"That's bullshit and you know it!" she screamed, no longer able to keep her emotions down. "You don't have to fight him. It's so pointless! I don't want either of you to get hurt. I don't want…."

"Silence!" he ordered. "You will say no more. I have never lied to you, Woman. You have known for a long time that this will happen. Deal with it!"

"I know," she spat. "I know and I've tried to, believe me, but I can't help it. Goku is my best friend, and you… you… I …."

"You?" he asked, walking towards her, and looking haughtily down. "What? Tell me Bulma, say it to me!"

"I…" she looked up to him, tears standing in her eyes. "I can't bear the thought of losing you either. I care about you, Vegeta. I like you."

"Like?" he questioned. "As in friends?"

"Yes," she said, her voice cracking. "And no!" she snapped looking away. "I can't explain it. You make me insane. One minute I like you, the next minute I'm angry and then the next I… I want you."

Vegeta was surprised at the last admission. After everything he had done - after the way he had treated her friendship so callously - after throwing her trust in her face. She still cared, and more.

"God!" she spat, turning her fiery eyes back on him - the same fire that had long held his fascination and desire. "I mean, I have a boyfriend! I love Yamcha, but every time I think about you recently I… I get this feeling that I need you - even if it's just once. I…"

He didn't let her finish. "Then quit bitching about it!" he snarled, and grabbing her face with both hands, crushed his lips to hers.

She stood for a moment - her lips unmoving and her body rigid. He pushed against her more forcefully, making her take a step back against the kitchen cupboards. "Quit bitching," he reaffirmed on her lips. "Take what you want. I am offering it to you. Take it!" he demanded, ending the kiss and looking straight into her questioning eyes. "I will not offer it again."

She continued to stare. He could feel his control hanging by a thread. She was breathing heavily and so was he.

"Take it!"

Something changed. The indecision in her eyes disappeared and something stronger, more indomitable took over. The fire was back and she laughed. Laughed!

"I must be fucking insane!" she exclaimed, and he had no more warning.

She pounced on him, kissing him back just a violently as he had her. Her hands were all over him, and much to his dismay, it felt -- good.

"I couldn't agree more!" he snarled, and pushing her firmly against the cupboards, he held back no more.

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AN - I am sooooo sorry this chapter took so long. It won't happen again. I promise!

*hugs*

Ember