Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Eden ❯ After-effects. ( Chapter 5 )

Authors Disclaimer: Akira Toriyama is the creator/owner/supreme lord of the Dragonball/Z/GT franchise/brand/universe, I do not make any profit from writing and I stress that I don't make any claims to own DBZ. Any original characters do belong to me, such as Evana.

 

Fallen Eden

 

Chapter Five.

 

 

Estimated 2 solar years after the attack

 

 

“Daddy! Daddy! Look what I found!” The small blue haired child wobbled over to him clumsily, still getting the hang of being upright and not being carried everywhere. She managed to finally reach her father who was bent double over a small metal device examining it closely. She tapped him roughly on the shoulder, stumbling in her excitement. He looked up at her through tired eyes, his glasses smudged with grime and grease.

 

She held out a red flower to him, “Isn't it pwetty Daddy?” She grinned cutely, showing proudly her few teeth which had recently come through. Her father was almost annoyed at the interruption, but everytime he looked at her, his heart melted.

 

She always looked at him so lovingly and happily, despite the scars that had been bestowed upon her fragile skin. That day, those short years ago they had been attacked through a careless mistake by Nappa, his beautiful young daughter had been injured in the crossfire. She now was emblazoned with scars on her arm, neck and face. It was heartbreaking for a father to see, even Nappa himself had shown regret and sympathy. Back then Briefs had thought the Saiyans to be ruthless and harsh, but now he realised they were passionate, not arrogant, they felt emotions far keener than he had ever thought them capable, every Saiyan that Briefs had met so far had surprised him in some way. And he had to be quite pleased that most times, the surprise was positive.

 

When Bulma had had her accident, Briefs had been so angry and so full of rage that he could hardly believe himself capable of feeling that he could commit bodily harm or even murder from the sheer anger, but he felt it and it was nothing but a miracle and a Saiyan holding him back that he hadn't attacked the culprit. He had never been a soldier or a fighting man, but when he took the time to think about it and take his time contemplating the situation, he understood how a mistake like that could have happened; she was simply caught in the crossfire. It hadn't been intentional and it hadn't been to kill, it was never meant to happen.

 

He looked at his young daughter, into her shining blue eyes, glancing at the pink and painful scars that adorned her cheek and neck. He could feel his eyes begin to sting. He would never be able to look at her without feeling such terrible guilt that this was his fault for bringing her along. What would her mother have said...

 

Smouldering anger and revenge burned in his heart at night so fiercely that sometimes, he could barely stop himself from leaving his bed and hunting down Freeza, but what would that bring but his own death? Freeza was responsible for her death, the reason why his beautiful daughter was burned and hurting. It had been a long time since the accident, but the injuries had never fully healed, they still stood pink and swollen on her young face, painful to the touch.

 

She hurt inside though, it was an injury she had taught herself to rarely show, she had cried so much when it had first happened, but then for a time, she had seemed normal. But as time passed he could see her withdrawing into herself, she didn't laugh as much as she used to, her eyes didn't sparkle with unlimited happiness when she saw someone she missed or loved.

 

“Daddy, what's wong? Have I been baaad?” She looked worried and scared, as her shining eyes changed from happiness to sadness in the space of afew seconds. Her arm fell to the side, the flower dangling from her fingertips. He found his voice, his throat tight and constricted, “No...no, you haven't been bad. Daddy's eyes have dust in them, it's making them water.” She didn't look reassured.

 

He tried a new tactic, “That sure is a pretty flower, where did you find it?” He took the lovely red flower, not unlike a rose, and placed it into a glass test tube and slid it into a rack full of more little tubes. He looked back at her sweet smile, and he resolved himself once more, he had to be strong, for him, for his daughter, and lastly...for his wife. He could still feel her presence, despite how long it had been since her death, he could feel her sometimes, as though she had just walked into a room, or she had just told a silly story. He could think of no other explanation for why sometimes his heart suddenly became light and carefree, as if undamaged. He supposed it to be a fanciful scenario, but nevertheless it eased his mind somewhat to think that she was still nearby, and if anything happened, Bulma wouldn't completely be alone. It was a small comfort, but still, it was a comfort.

 

In those two years he had grown to rely and depend on Zarbon, he had shown himself to care for Bulma and Briefs in times when they would otherwise be alone and lost in such unfamiliar and alien places and situations. So maybe he was wrong, maybe Bulma did have someone that would be there if all others were gone. Zarbon had risked his life so many times to protect her, it seemed natural to assume he would look after her if something happened to him, her father.

 

Everyday since that first attack he had known his days were numbered. Sooner or later, Freeza would find out who was aiding the Saiyans, who was giving them technology that Freeza could not defend against, who was one of those in a select circle who knew of Prince Vegeta's whereabouts and fate.

 

He was broken once again from his thoughts. “I found it under a twee! I wanna give it to Mummy!” Briefs was no longer smiling.

 

 

~*~

 

“What are you crying for? Stop being stupid!” A small boy with an upswept dark brown, almost black hairstyle said with scarcely hidden revulsion. He was stood over the short little blue haired girl, she sat huddled against the wall of the underground cave which was their home. She looked up slightly, her red blotchy face was tear streaked and her once blue eyes were red and puffy, once he saw the state of her, his demeanor changed slightly. His face wasn't as fierce or harsh as a moment ago. Bulma rested her head on her knees again and cried quietly.

 

“Whats wrong Bullmah?” Vegeta's young voice asked. She smiled ever so slightly, hidden under her arm. He hadn't been able to pronounce her name properly since they'd known each other. But then the reason why she was crying came to her again. “Daddy said that my Mummy's gone away, and I can't see her!”

 

Vegeta looked down confused. “You haven't seen her for ages Bullmah, have you ever seen her?, why are you sad about it now?” He stood just above her, his dark hair flowing in natural spikes upwards. She sniffled and looked at him, “Don't you wanna see your mother?” she asked him curiously. He looked taken a back for a moment. “What use would she be? I've done alright not knowing her so far, women only seem to slow men down.” His little eyebrows knitted together.

 

But his words didn't cheer her up, instead they seemed to have the opposite effect. She looked at him beseechingly. “But don't you miss her?” Her little voice trembled. He sat back against the wall opposite her, one leg laying straight out, and the other kneeled to his chest. “I've never known her, so how could I miss her? You say such stupid things.” His eyes danced as he looked at her. She didn't answer right away, she bowed her head and sniffled some more. After afew minutes, she said very quietly, “Vegeta... if I went away, would you miss me?”

 

His eyes widened slightly, and his mouth barely opened then shut again. He took his time in answering, and when he did, he made sure the answer would infuriate her enough to stop the tears. “Well, go away for a really really long time, long enough so I forget I even met you, then ten years after that, come back and I'll tell you the answer. Do we have a deal?” His lip curled ever so slightly.

 

Her head snapped up. “Whut?” Her eyes narrowed. She hastily wiped her tears on her sleeve, gave a long sniff, and glared forcefully at him. “Do you wanna say that again?” Her lips were pulled into a sort of angry pucker full of tension.

 

“Are you deaf as well as annoying then?” His lips pulled back to reveal small white sharp teeth. He tapped his hand on his knee, his tail flickering on his stomach as it was wrapped around his small waist.

 

“Shut up with big words!” She screeched, throwing her body forward, landing on top of him. She began flailing her arms in an effort to hit him, “You're so mean!” She angrily whimpered. He managed to repel or dodge most of her attempts, but she got a lucky hit around his midsection. Dangerously close to his tail.

 

“Bullmaaah! Be careful! You almost got me!” He threw her aside and quickly checked his tail for any side of damage. She sat panting next to him, no sign of a tear on her face. “Sorry Vegeta,...”

 

A voice echoed through the cave, disturbing their short silence. “Brat! Prince Vegeta! The evening meal is about to begin!” They both looked up to the sound of the voice., and then to each other. “Why does she call you by your name, and not me?” Bulma said, still angry. Vegeta shrugged, dusting his clothes from the residue on the cave floor. “Easy, I'm better than you.” He smirked slyly.

 

He was expecting her to start arguing again, but as she stood up and cleaned off her clothes boredly and without care, (they were already covered in grease and grime anyway), she asked a surprising question as they began to walk to the Communal Hall “Vegeta, if women slow men down then, if I slow you down, are you gonna leave me behind?” He glanced at her but she was looking straight ahead.

 

He wasn't going to try to annoy her, or infuriate her, the words just sort of fell out without any effort. “Of course not! I already know you're slow, I'll just carry you.” He glanced at her again, she was smiling broadly and a small giggle echoed lightly off the walls. As they walked through the carved door, she said “I hope we have juice today. I like juice.”

 

He sighed as she pushed in front of him. The only thoughts to pass through his mind were, I'm never getting mated.

 

 

I hope you all had a nice Xmas. I'm very sorry for the long wait, I was really busy at work :)

Also sorry for the short chapter. Have fun!

Neafiir.