Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Memories & Revenge ❯ Garden Party... ( Chapter 3 )

Memories & Revenge

Chapter 3

"ChiChi," spoke Bulma in the telephone as she fed Baby Trunks at the same time. "I need your help. Trunks came back from the future to do a report on his heritage about being descendent of the Saiyan race. But Vegeta's being an asshole and refuses to talk "

Trunks quietly sauntered down the foyer steps into the kitchen to see his young mother talking on the telephone, as she spoon-fed his younger self. Boy I've grown since I've last seen me. He laughed as he sat down at the table--what a weird thought.

"I know that Goku doesn't know anything about being a Saiyajin," she took the telephone and pushed the mute button. "Trunks get something to eat." She pointed to a hover box used to keep food warm. "There's plenty in there, your father hasn't come down yet to eat."

"Thanks Mom," replied Trunks as he got a plate down and moved toward the hover box.

Bulma smiled and took her finger off the mute button. "All I need is your help and Gohan's help." She stopped and listened. "Well, you'll say that you have question about Saiyan development or something. We could work it out when you get here." She paused before exclaiming, "What! You'll do it, that's great. Thanks."

Smiling she hung up the telephone to regard her future son. "Boy, Trunks you sure have grown since you've last visited us. And you've gotten even cuter too." Bulma winked at her future son. "I thank Kami--or should that be Dende--every time I look at you that you didn't grow up looking like your father."

Trunks chuckled and blushed. "I thought the same thing--about me growing--when I came down earlier looking at the baby."

Bulma smiled with maternal pride. "Baby Trunks can walk now, and he eats solid foods." She looked at her son's faces carefully and noticed that, although they may look like her father in hair coloring, they had Vegeta's face. She mentally shrugged. Well, I guess you can't escape some things in life. After all, he is their father.

"Well, I spoke with ChiChi and she's going to help me get your father to talk about Vegetasei, and his memories. Okay."

"But won't that make Father angry," asked Trunks as he shoveled hash browns in his mouth.

"Please," muttered Bulma. "Breathing air that won't make him stronger gets your father angry. So, don't worry about that, I can handle him being angry at me."

"I mean angry at ChiChi for questioning him about Saiyajins. It didn't look like Father wanted to talk about them."

She grinned evilly. "You don't know ChiChi. She's the one who forced Piccolo to go and try and get a license." Bulma wagged her forefinger at Trunks. "She can be very forceful, when it comes to grades."

Trunks squirmed. He had only been back for a few hours and now his mother was trying to get him killed. "I don't think this a good idea. I mean mother always told me dad was a private person and since I've met him--well it's true."

Bulma pierced him with an ice blue stare. "And your mother is right. But when it comes to grades, I don't want you failing because your asshole of a father doesn't want to talk about Planet Vegeta."

Trunks sighed. "But..."

She gave him a harder look. "But what?"

He put his head in his hands, and mumbled, "Nothing."

Bulma smiled smugly. "Now, let's finish breakfast." She turned to Baby Trunks and saw he had tried to finish breakfast himself, by saturating himself and his clothes with food.

She was going to get him killed thought Trunks. He survived Perfect Cell, Imperfect Cell and four androids just to die at the hands of his father. He's going think this was my fault and then kill me. "Yep, and then I'm going to die. A very slow and painful death."

Bulma glanced back at her future son stopping with a towel in her hand where she was trying in vain to wipe down baby Trunks. "Did you say something? Something about death?"

Pushing the cold eggs around his plate, "No," said Trunks. "Nobody's death, but my own."

Bulma gave him a questioning look her teenage son sure was weird. "Okay, I'm going upstairs to clean up the baby. Do the dishes; the Son's should be here in a few minutes."

"Hai." He got up with his plate and asked, "Should I leave some food out for Otousan?"

Bulma looked out the large window to the training capsule. "No, if that jerk ever comes out he can forage for his own food." She left the dinning area muttering about family meals, and family refusing to show up.

Trunks grinned and shook his head. He loved his future mother, but he was glad to be back in the past. It gave him another opportunity to get to know his father better. Of course, that won't happen when he kills me when mom starts on her plan. He sat back down in his chair and hung his head in his hands.

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

B ulma lay on the floor playing with the baby, while older Trunks was sitting at an antique desk working on his report when a firm knock came at the door.

"It must be ChiChi," said Bulma as gracefully rose from the floor with Baby Trunks in her arms followed by Mirai Trunks. "Who is it?" she called out as a precaution. Living with Vegeta and being friends with Goku had taught her, she should always be on the safe side.

"Yo, Bulma open up, I'm thirsty," a rude male voice called from the other side of the door.

Bulma curled her lips in disgust recognizing the voice. "Yamcha," she hissed out. "Why is he here," she muttered as she unlatched the door. She opened the door to view an assortment of people on her front porch.

Yamcha, with Puar floating above his shoulder was lazily leaning on her doorway wearing a white and black outfit that she had bought him when they were dating. Behind him was Goku grinning like an idiot and a very pregnant ChiChi holding onto her husband's arm for either support or etiquette. Kurilin was talking to a laden down Gohan who looked like he would be studying until he was fifty years old.

"Come on in everybody," motioned Bulma as she stepped back from the doorway.

"Hey, Trunks," called out Goku. "We didn't expect to see you again."

"Yeah, Trunks," second Gohan. "Why are you here?"

Mirai Trunks grinned. "I didn't expect to see any of you either. Now, that everything has been rebuilt in my time, I've been going back to school. I'm here to do a report."

ChiChi poked Goku in the ribs, "See, Goku even Trunks knows the importance of studying. Fighting isn't everything. That's why I'm not letting this one," she said pointing at her protruding belly, "anywhere near you and your friends."

"But, ChiChi," whined Goku as he rubbed his stomach where her sharp elbow hit him.

"No excuses," she spun around a pointed a finger at Gohan. "I let you have your fun with Gohan, and now he's behind in his studies. I'm not letting you train this one."

Goku looked at her pregnant stomach and sighed. She had better hope it was a girl.

Yamcha came out of the kitchen with his mouth full of cookies and a serving tray full of the same cookies he had stuffed in his mouth. "So, Trunks, why did you come into the past to do a report?" He swallowed as he sat down. "Didn't you rebuild your libraries?"

"Yeah," Trunks answered scrutinizing at the man who might have been his father, if he hadn't been so fickle--and his mother so temperamental. "However, our libraries don't have extended data on Planet Vegeta and the Saiyajins."

"Why do you need that kind of information?" said Kurilin as he moved forward to sit down next to Gohan. "When did schools start making you do reports over blown up planets and extinct alien civilizations?"

Yamcha sauntered over and set down next to Goku. "Kurilin is right. Wouldn't it be kind of useless, since the people on Earth don't know that a Saiyajin race existed?"

A flare of anger flashed in Mirai Trunks' eyes over the cavalier, but unintentional remarks about the destruction of the Saiyajins. He took a breath, he knew Kurilin and Yamcha didn't mean anything by it, but still..."I have to do a report over my heritage. Aliens are pretty new to my timeline. Heck, I'm the first half alien my class has met."

Goku looked up from where he was gorging on white chocolate cookies with Yamcha. "Heritage. Is that like who you're descended from, Trunks?" innocently defusing the situation before it could become explosive.

Mirai Trunks nodded. "Hai, it's a report about ancestry."

"That sounds interesting," spoke Gohan looking up from the philosophy book his mother was forcing him to read. "I bet Vegeta has tons of information about Saiyajins and Planet Vegeta." He turned to his Dad. "Maybe Vegeta will let us listen in, since you're a full Saiyan dad, while Trunks and I are only half. We could probably learn more about your background Daddy."

Goku nodded his head, "That's a great idea Gohan. I would sure love to learn more about the different power levels of Saiyans." He turned to Trunks. "Do you think Vegeta would mind us coming for the lesson?"

"I don't know," uttered Mirai Trunks despondently. "Father doesn't seem to want to talk about them, he got upset when I asked at all about learning about Saiyans."

"But we're about to change that," proclaimed Bulma standing with ChiChi. "I'm going have ChiChi ask Vegeta some questions, so that Trunks can get his report finished."

"Now that's just mean," murmured Kurilin and Goku, both thinking of the torment Vegeta would go through with ChiChi involved. "Poor Vegeta."

"What was that," demanded ChiChi arms akimbo making her look ferocious even in her very pregnant state.

"Nothing," they quickly blurted out in unison making the people gathered laugh.

"Now, all I have to do is think up a reason why Vegeta needs to leave the gravity training capsule." Bulma turned and looked at the others, "Any ideas?"

Gohan again spoke up. "How about we send my dad over and say that he wants to spar with Vegeta. You know he would come out for that."

Goku grinned and popped his knuckles. "That's not a bad I idea, Gohan. I would like to spar with Vegeta since I'm over here."

Mrs. Briefs walked in the room hearing the last statement. "You can't do that, Goku."

They turned to stare at her. "Why not, Mom?" Bulma finally asked.

"Look at all these cute men," said Mrs. Briefs ignoring Bulma's question. "Aren't you lucky to have so many nice looking men friends." She turned and looked at Mirai Trunks, "And look it's that really cute boy, that has the same name as Trunks." Mrs. Briefs regarded her daughter and grandson. "You're so lucky Bulma to have such cute male friends and beautiful son and husband."

"Mom. You said something about Vegeta," reminded Bulma impatiently. "Why can't Goku interrupt with Vegeta's training?"

Mrs. Brief blinked her large blue eyes at her daughter. "Oh, because he isn't in there training dear," she conspired with a giggle. "Poor Veggie-chan has been sitting under a tree in the backyard reading a book on human genetics and new technology since early this morning."

"What?" demanded Bulma. "Are we talking about the same Vegeta?" She pointed to the baby crawling on the floor. "Father to Trunks, supposed husband to me--the guy who spends almost all of his free time training? He's in the garden reading a book on human genetics and technology."

"Of course dear, whom else would I be talking about," she inquired looking at her daughter with confused blue eyes. "Veggie-chan came down this morning and asked Papa for some books. I remember this because I gave him some fruit to take with him."

"I can't believe it," Bulma muttered to herself. "That bastard has time to read, but not to help our son become one of the greatest minds of the future."

Goku stood up and stretched, "Yeah, who would have guessed Vegeta would be reading instead of off training somewhere." He glanced around the room, noticing the mirroring looks of disbelief, and shock on their faces. "Well, since ChiChi and Bulma have things to do, I think I'll go outside and enjoy the sun," he finished moving slowly toward the door.

Yamcha quickly glanced up and saw that Goku was heading for one of the back doors that led to the garden. "Oh, no you don't Goku," he called out. "I want to see this also. Man, I can not believe it; Vegeta reading."

Mirai Trunks looked at his mother, she glanced back at him. First Vegeta passes up a chance to expound on the greatness of being a Saiyan, then he misses breakfast and now he's in the garden reading. There must be something wrong. They glanced around at the rest of the people in the room.

The rest of them looked out the door that Yamcha and Goku had just exited. They quickly got up and bolted for the doors too.

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

"Prince Vegeta," called a bald headed young Saiyan. "You're not supposed to be at the throne room now. You are supposed to be in your economy class."

The young prince turned around, "Hush Nappa, you will get me caught. I heard Frieza has come back with some new demands. I want to hear what they are."

"But my Prince, you shouldn't be listening to them without your father's permission."

"Nappa how am I supposed to become a great King when I don't even get to be a part of or hear the important decisions on Vegetasei."

Nappa glanced behind him worriedly. Great only his first few days on the job and he was going to be killed by King Vegeta, because the Prince didn't want to go to class. "But--"

Prince Vegeta turned from looking between the dark curtains to glance at his guard. "Nappa, I do believe you forget yourself. I am the crown Prince of Planet Vegeta." He looked at him with hard unforgiving eyes like his father. "Don't presume to tell me again where I'm supposed to be or what I should be doing. If you should cross the line again I will be forced to kill you, and then replace you with that idiot Radditz."

Nappa bowed. "Hai, your majesty. I am sorry for my impertinence. I was only trying to do the job King Vegeta gave me. There's no need to replace me with that half-wit Radditz."

Prince Vegeta inclined his head and turned back to the curtain to see the emissary enter the throne room.

"King Vegeta," said the emissary as he kneeled in front of the throne. "I bring back a new request from Lord Frieza."

King Vegeta leaned forward and snapped, "Well, what is it? What does Frieza demand now? We're already sending our babies off to become part of his mercenary ideals."

The emissary looked up to see the hard onyx eyes regarding him with such coldness a shiver ran down his spine, and it didn't help that the news he was about to impart could likely get him killed. "Well, your Majesty. Lord Frieza has demanded that you give him Prince Vegeta."

"What!" roared the enraged King as he came off his throne swishing his tail in angry motions. "Has Frieza lost his mind? Does he actually believe I will hand over my son to that monster? He is the crowned Prince of Vegetasei! He is not some property to be yielded to Frieza!

The frightened emissary gulped, "Sire, there's more."

King Vegeta frowned and stopped pacing. "What is it?"

"Lord Frieza, says that if you do not give up the boy he will replace you as King and put another on the throne of Planet Vegeta-or destroy the planet if you refuse his request. He says that the choice is yours."

"The choice is mine," King Vegeta dryly laughed. "Either I give up my son, or my throne will be taken away, or my people will be destroyed." He laughed again. "Some choices. Did you hear those, Elders? Frieza is trying to use my son as a bargaining tool for the throne. What do you advise me to do now?"

From the dark sides of the room and raspy voice called out, "Give up Prince Vegeta."

"What?" exclaimed King Vegeta and Prince Vegeta at the same time. "Give him up."

"Yes," said another voice. "Trust us. It's for the good of Planet Vegeta. Give Lord Frieza the prince."

King Vegeta turned and studied the dark walls where the Elders of Vegetasei dispensed advice to the ruling monarch. They had better have a good plan he thought. "Fine I will do as you say." He turned to the quaking ambassador. "Tell Frieza he may have my son."

The emissary cautiously glanced up shocked that the King and Elders would give up the young prince so effortlessly. "Hai, sire."

"You can take the boy when he's finished with today's work."

The consul rose and bowed to the king as he left the room to deliver his message.

"Let's go Nappa," said young Vegeta as he turned from the curtain. His own father was giving him over to Frieza. "You're right I should be in economics right now."

Vegeta twisted in his dream, as he watched his younger self walk stoically away. His own father had given him away. His own father hadn't fought to keep him, the throne was more important.

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

"Capta in," called a female Nekojin at the navigational bridge. "We're approaching the Type 3 planet called Earth."

"Good. How long until we reach its orbit?"

"Thirty to forty minutes top, sir."

"Fine, carry on, I will relay the information to Prince Alle." The captain stood from his chair and went to inform the prince of their approaching destination.

The captain marched up to the room that Prince Alle was occupying for the trip to the Type 3 planet. He knocked politely. "Alle-sama, I'm coming in."

"What do you want Tama," asked the Prince from his reclining position on a white futon bed. "Is there something wrong on the bridge?"

He bowed. "No, sire," answered Tama. "I thought you'd like to know that we are approaching Earth's orbit. "The bridge is waiting for your instructions."

Alle sat up quickly at his words. "Vegeta," he hissed out. "It's almost time for our meeting." He looked to the captain. "Tama return to the bridge. I'll join you shortly I have to go get a package ready to deliver to my old friend."

"Hai, sire," Tama bowed and walked back out the sliding metal door.

Alle moved from the futon to stand in front of the mirror. Vegeta I wish you a painful death, he thought, and I'm the one who's going to give it to you. He chuckled as he walked out the door.

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

Vegeta lay silently sleeping with his head resting back and a book on genetics spread across his lap. Unbeknownst to him two tears had slipped down his cheek leaving trails of wetness behind.

"Hey Goku," whispered Yamcha as they stood over the reposing figure. "Do you think we should wake him?"

"I don't know Yamcha," he whispered back uncomfortable seeing tears on Vegeta's face. "You know the only other time I saw Vegeta cry was on Planet Namek, when Frieza killed him."

"Goku," called ChiChi as she neared with the rest of the group. "Why are you looking so sad? Is it Vegeta?"

"What," yelled Bulma pushing herself to the front of the group. "Is something wrong with Vegeta? What happened, people don't get hurt reading books in gardens?"

Yamcha moved aside when he heard her voice and saw her approach with both Trunks in tow. It still hurt that she cared for Vegeta enough to have his child and 'marry' him. It hurt more when he thought about his part in their final breakup. It was his own fault for thinking there would always be time for him to settle down with Bulma and start a family. That Bulma no matter how many times they broke up, she would continuously be there--waiting for him to return. But when he came to return he found his way blocked by a Saiyan Prince--who wanted to see him dead--and a baby that wasn't his. "Bulma, Vegeta was..."

"Vegeta was what," asked the Saiyan Prince rousing from his slumber. Damn more memories were surfacing. He glanced up. Great, just what he needed to see when he woke up--his mate's ex-boyfriend and that idiot Kakkarot standing over him.

"Oh, Vegeta you're awake," exclaimed Goku.

Vegeta glared at him. "Kakkarot you have an amazing ability to state the obvious." He stated grimacing.

Goku smiled. "Thanks, Vegeta."

"That wasn't a compliment, Kakkarot." Vegeta sneered and looked towards Yamcha standing slightly behind Goku. "You there, Scar-face. What were you saying about me?"

Yamcha clinched his fists over being referred to as 'scar-face.' But Puar spoke for him. "Yamcha-sama has a name. And it's not Scar-face."

"I don't care what his name is cat." Vegeta turned at looked at Yamcha. "If he doesn't answer my question his name will be of no consequence--to anybody."

Yamcha leaned forward. "You can't do anything Vegeta. Goku wouldn't like it and neither would your wife."

Vegeta smirked as he drew one leg up grimacing at a sharp pain that ran along his lower back. "You might not know this, but I'll inform you anyway, so you can always keep this information in your simple mind. I do not care what my mate or Kakkarot thinks. If or when I kill you, the last thing that will be on my mind, is if my mate or Kakkarot would approve."

"Vegeta," warned Goku.

"Quiet Kakkarot. I don't believe I was addressing you."

"You know you really are a bastard," yelled Yamcha stepping around Goku for a minute, and then quickly assuming his shielded position.

Vegeta expression turned from bored amusement to fiery anger. "Scar-face, I know that you value your life, so I'm not going to kill you right now. But if you ever cast aspirations on my legitimacy--and you're not mated to me--I will kill you on the spot."

"Fuck you, Vegeta," muttered Yamcha. "At least I don't cry in my sleep."

"What was that? Crying who was crying," questioned Bulma as she pushed her way to stand beside Goku.

Goku turned waved at the baby in her arms as he answered, "Vegeta was."

Bulma shifted the baby to the other arm as she bent down to scrutinize her husband's face for traces of a tear path. "Vegeta?"

"Humph," said Vegeta moving the human genetics book aside to rise slowly to his feet. "Kakkarot and his friend are lying. I do not cry. Crying is a weak human emotion. Saiyans have no need to cry after they are more than two days old."

Mirai Trunks watched his father stand and glimpse the quick grimace of pain that flashed across his face. "Father, are you okay." He moved forward to stand next to his mother waiting to give support if it was needed.

"I'm fine boy," declared Vegeta. "Mine your own damn business."

Bulma turned to look at her husband and saw the pain he was holding back glazed in his eyes. "Vegeta, if you're tired then you should sleep inside the house instead of outside in the garden."

Vegeta closed his eyes against the discomfort in his lower back and snapped out, "Woman don't presume to tell what to do. I'm not some child that needs your constant supervision."

"Then don't act like a child Vegeta, and I won't treat you like one," she yelled back.

"Hey Yamcha," muttered Kurilin. "Aren't you glad to get away from that."

"Yeah," he answered back with a heavy sound of remorse in his voice as he watched the couple interact with each other. "I'm lucky."

Mirai Trunks came forward again and grabbed his father's arm when he saw another flash of pain in his father's eyes. "Father you are not all right. Something's wrong with you. I saw the pain in your eyes."

Vegeta turned to his son with a look of hatred and betrayal. "And I told you that's nothing wrong with me boy." He slapped his hand away. "Now, get out of my face."

"Vegeta," called Goku who noticed the last flash of pain in the prince's eyes when he yanked his arm away. "I think there is something wrong with you."

"Shut up Kakkarot," replied Vegeta. "When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it." Vegeta moved forward to walk past his wife's friends, when another sharp point of pain shot through his back and causing his knees to buckle as he fell forward.

"Otousan!" screamed Mirai Trunks.

"VEGETA!" screamed Bulma as she dropped to her knees in front of the fallen prince. "What's wrong?" She handed baby Trunks to ChiChi standing behind her. She took Vegeta's head into her lap. "Anata, what's wrong?" But his eyes remind shut. Her azure eyes filled with tears as she turned to her future son and oldest friend. "Let's get him into the house, and I'll call the doctor."

"This looks serious," said Goku as he bent down to lift Vegeta in his arms.

Vegeta moaned in pain. "Don't touch me Kakkarot. I don't need your assistance."

"Father," broke in Mirai Trunks. "You need help, something's wrong. Let Goku help you into the house." Trunks bent down, "If you won't have Goku's help then take mine. I'm your son."

"Vegeta," whispered Bulma tears forming in her eyes. "What's wrong with you."

"Nothing is wrong with me," he muttered as he went to stand up. He looked into her sad eyes, his hands itched to wipe away her tears, but he knew he could not show any emotion in front of her friends he wasn't going to be thought of as weak. "You waste you tears on me, woman." He moved his head toward his son and stared at him with dark unfeeling eyes. "Boy, since you are bent on 'helping' me as you put it. I will allow you to 'help' me to my feet. Then, I want you to take your whimpering human mother away from me. Got that."

Mirai Trunks looked relieved at his father's word. "Hai, Otousan." He came forward and gingerly helped Vegeta to his feet. Moving back he took his mother's arm and helped her to her feet, while pulling her backwards like his father instructed.

Looking up at her son Bulma saw the worry in his eyes so much like her owns. "But," she said pointing to her husband who was now leaning against a tree for support.

"Gohan," whispered Goku. "Come here son."

Gohan left his mother to run to his father. "Yes, Dad."

"Son we're going to have to double-team Vegeta in order to get him into the house so Bulma can call a doctor. Be careful not to harm his back more than necessary."

"Hai," the young boy whispered looking toward Vegeta. This was going to be a hard job. Vegeta had amazing power when his Saiyajin pride was on the line. They cautiously moved forward.

"Stop where you are Kakkarot," called Vegeta. "There is nothing wrong with me. So, you and your brat can move back."

Yamcha walked forward when he saw Goku and Gohan pause in their approach. He took a deep breath and glanced at Bulma from the side of his eye. This was for her; since he could not be her husband or father to her child he was going to be her friend. "Look, asshole," he called to Vegeta. "Stop being such a jerk and let Goku or your son help you into the house so you can get some medical help. For some odd reason Bulma actually cares about what happens to you."

"Ahh, Yamcha," called Kurilin as he stepped up next to his friend trying to pull him back behind Goku and Gohan for protection. "Are you trying to get yourself killed? You know this is Vegeta that you're yelling at, I do believe that out of all of us--Goku included--he'd like to kill you the most."

Yamcha stepped back a little just in case Vegeta decided to take a hit at him. "He needs help. Besides in his weakened condition he can't do anything to me, without hurting himself. So, I say we all attack at once and we can get him into the house." He tapped Goku on the shoulder, "Just to be safe you attack first."

That useless human was yelling at him again, and was calling him weak. "Look you incessant bug. I do not happen to need a doctor, I know exactly what's wrong with me. So, all of you just shut up and mind your own damn business. And stay the hell away from me, I'll be fine in a few minutes."

Bulma let go of her future son's arm to walk toward her husband. He may be uncaring jerk sometimes, but for some reason she loved him deeply and didn't want to see him hurt. "Anata," she called softly. "Why don't you come into the house and let me call the doctor."

Vegeta leaned his head against the cooling bark of the tree. "Wo--Bulma," he amended causing a few eyebrows to be lifted in the garden. "I'll be fine in a minute. Just wait..." he stopped on a groan. "I'm going to be fine."

She moved forward. Bulma didn't care that he wanted to preserve pride in front of her friends, Vegeta was in pain, and that was something she couldn't ignore. "But you're in pain, Vegeta. I know you are very strong, but I'm not so...please."

"Damn." Sweat rolled of his face. This was much harder than he thought it was going to be. Vegeta let out a terrifying howl and held the tree in a death-grip.

Bulma and the others ran forward to surround Vegeta. However, held back when they saw something pushing through the navy blue jump suit that he wore without the traditional Saiyan armor.

"It's his tail," exclaimed Gohan as he saw the rest of it slide through the opening it had made in Vegeta's suit.

"That was so gross," murmured Kurilin to Goku. "Did you see the way it just slid on out his back side."

Mirai Trunks stood in awe. He had heard about Saiyajins having tails, but this was unbelievable. "I didn't think it would look like this," he whispered to his mother.

"He grew his tail back? Why?" asked Yamcha.

Bulma ran towards Vegeta who was now flicking his tail in an up and down motion as he caught his breath. "Why the hell did you scare me like that Vegeta," she hit him in the chest pissed and relieved that he wasn't seriously sick. "I thought you were dying or worse."

"Shut up woman," Vegeta affectionately growled back at her. "Do you know how dangerous it is for a Saiyan tail to grow back after it's been removed for several years?"

"No," she snapped back at him. "I don't. I happen to be human."

Vegeta glared at her. "How unfortunate for you."

"So, Vegeta," called Goku. "Why'd you grow your tail back? And why is it so dangerous for a Saiyan to do it?"

Vegeta turned and smiled at Goku. "Because Kakkarot it requires a lot of energy to summon up and hit yourself with it." He held up a finger and formed a small white ball of energy at his finger's peak. "See Kakkarot. Do you feel that energy."

"Wow, Vegeta," he exclaimed honestly impressed. "That's a lot of ki for a small ball. But how come it caused you so much pain. Even with the energy that it's giving off now, you shouldn't been hurt as much."

"Because Kakkarot," Vegeta explained in bored tones. "Since, I was using it on myself I had to increase the power level."

Goku considered processed the information and then nodded his head. "That doesn't explain why you grew your tail back. I mean you've been fine this long without it, how come you want it back now?"

Vegeta turned his head up to the sky. "For an experiment on my power level." From the corner of his eye he saw the gleam in Goku's eyes and the questions on his wife's face. "That's all, I'm going to say about this for now until I work out the details."

Trunks walked forward amazed at seeing his father's tail grow in front of his eyes. He'd heard that Saiyajins possessed tails but this was the first time he'd seen one. "Otousan, how does that work?"

Vegeta smirked and glanced at Gohan from the side of his eye. The boy was busy talking with his mother. "So, you want to see how it works boy?" He smiled at Mirai Trunks. "Hey! Kakkarot's brat....catch." He flicked the small energy ball at Gohan.

Gohan turned to see a small white ball of light coming straight at him. "Crap," he whispered knowing that he couldn't jump out of the way. The spinning ball of hot energy hit in the middle of his chest. "Ouch," he cried as he rubbed the spot where the ball struck him.

"Gohan!" screamed ChiChi and Goku at the same time. "Are you okay," questioned his mother as she felt all over him for any damages that spinning ball might have caused him.

"I'm okay Mom," replied Gohan as he looked behind him to see his tail. "Its back!" he burst out as he experimentally wiggled his new grown appendage.

"Vegeta," frowned Goku. "Why did you do that? That might have seriously hurt Gohan. Not to mention it scared ChiChi to death. You shouldn't have done that."

Vegeta sneered. "If that little brat died from that, I would be amazed." He pointed his finger at Mirai Trunks. "Besides he wanted to see what the ball did. So, I tested on the nearby Saiyan." He moved tail to check if it was dry. It was. He wrapped it around his waist. He almost felt like a true Saiyajin prince with his tail back again.

"Vegeta," yelled ChiChi as she pushed back Kurilin with one hand as she held Baby Trunks in her other arm. "How dare you fire some strange beam at my son." She gestured to the baby in her arms. "How would you like it if Goku shot a beam at your son? Next time try it on your own son and see how you like the feeling."

"I can't. Bulma had Trunks' tail removed when he was a few days old," his statement tinged with the tangible sound of remorse over his son's lost Saiyajin connection.

ChiChi faltered when she heard the sound of regret in Vegeta's tone. A very human sentiment, and an extremely un-Vegeta like emotion. Once again reminding her that the blood that flowed through her own cherished husband flowed through his. "Oh, I just assumed that Trunks wasn't born with a tail. I didn't know that Bulma had it removed."

Vegeta grunted. "Saiyans can not, not be born with tails. It's a major facet in our genetic coding. Hybrid Saiyans may be whelped without certain aspects of our inherent coding but a tail is not one of them. It would be the last symbol of the Saiyajin race to disappear when interbreeding with several species."

Mirai Trunks and the others spun toward Bulma whose face now resembled the scarlet tank top that she was wearing. She didn't know Vegeta knew Trunks was born with a tail and she had it surgically removed a few days after giving birth. She was mortified that she unwittingly removed a part of her son's heritage without even consulting Vegeta about its importance before hand. "Vegeta--"

"Be quiet, woman. Someone's coming," interrupted Vegeta staring at her with cool black eyes. He didn't want to hear any of her excuses as to why she was ashamed that her son was born with a tail.

At his father's announcement Mirai Trunks ran in front of Bulma with Yamcha flanking her other side, while Kurilin and Gohan took up a stance in front of ChiChi. Both Vegeta and Goku stood next to each other in front of the group as the person descended from the sky.

"It's Piccolo-san," cried out Gohan sensing the familiar ki. "What are you doing here?"

The Namek nodded at Gohan but spoke to Goku and Vegeta. "Son. Vegeta. I was with Dende when he felt a large ship coming here."

"To Earth," asked Goku. "Is there something wrong with the ship?"

Piccolo rolled his eyes. "Yes to Earth, but more importantly the ship seemed locked down on this position over Capsule Corp." He turned to look at the others. "It should be here in a few minutes."

"Good," smiled Vegeta. "It's been a long time since I've had a good workout."

"I know what you mean Vegeta," said Goku as he flexed his fingers.

Piccolo just stared at him. Sure, he liked to fight but he didn't want to die trying to get into every fight like these Saiyans did. He glanced toward Gohan and noticed that a brown thing was waving up and down. "Gohan, you've got your tail back."

"Yeah, Vegeta grew it back for me. Isn't it neat." He wiggled his tail again. "It's kind of nice having it back again."

Vegeta peered out the side of his eye at the tail waving to and fro. "Boy, if you want to keep your tail, wrap it around your waist like a true Saiyan, not wagging it like some dog."

"Hai, Vegeta." He flicked his tail once more and wrapped it around his waist imitating the prince's counter clockwise wrap. But his mother soon made him move it from around his shirt and made him wrap it underneath.

Mirai Trunks looked at his father's tail and wondered how come his mother had his removed. He would have liked to have a tail, plus it would have given him one more bond with his father. He watched as ChiChi passed his younger self back to his mother's waiting arms. She pulled out a pacifier and stuck it in Baby Trunks' mouth as she rocked him to sleep. What right did his future mother and past mother have to cut off his tail? A vital piece of his Saiyan heritage.

"It's here," commented Goku as a blue ship descended out of the sky and hovering over Capsule Corp. and the Z warriors leaving them all in it's enormous shadow.

"Really Kakkarot," came the dry reply from beside Goku. "I do believe we would have missed that great big ship coming into the Earth's atmosphere to hang over us like a dark cloud without your astute recognition."

Goku chuckled. "Your welcome Vegeta."

ChiChi and Gohan silently moaned behind him in pain. Goku was too innocent to understand that he was being royally insulted.

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

"Prince Alle," called Captain Tama. "We've arrived, sire."

Alle sat his book aside and rose in front of the wide screen window. "Turn on the external viewing. I want to see Vegeta."

"Hai sire," called a young Nekojin at the controls. "External viewing window on screen."

"Good." The wide screen blipped and then focused on the group below. The Saiyan prince was standing amongst a group of people he did not recognize. They must be inhabitants of his planet, well except for that green guy. "Vegeta," he purred in his throat. "Open the doors, I going out to meet an old friend."

=============================================================== ======

End Chapter 3. Created [01/09/01] and Modified [02/04/01]. Not where I wanted to end but I was getting a little sidetracked. The next chapter will be better organized, I promise. Hope you enjoyed it. Send all: comments, questions, critiques, and flames to me. pmchivas@hotmail.com Or if you rather you can sign the guestbook. Thanks. Dark Shadow Princess.