Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Eternal Treasure of Planet Vegeta ❯ Making and Breaking ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Eight ~ Making and Breaking

Chi Chi was about to call the police when Goten walked in casually. He said hello as if nothing was up, and strolled into his room. Chi Chi was about to holler at him, but was halted by Goku.

"Chich, just leave him alone. If you pester him now, he'll never come to Capsule Corp with us!"

~

Bulma led her guests into the kitchen. Chi Chi had a big bouquet of flowers in her arms, which she presented to Nikki along with her blessings. They hugged, and then came a flood of questions.

"Where have you been? How are you? How are the kids? Oh, look how much you've grown!"

Chi Chi delighted in examining Nikki, and then proclaimed she looked just the same as ever.

Goku and Goten had been standing awkwardly in the corner until Nikki caught sight of them.

"Goku! Oh my goodness!" Nikki threw her arms around him and hugged him. Goku grinned. "How come you're alive? It's great to see you!"

"I'm glad to see you too Nikki", said Goku.

"Who's this?" She looked at Goten. He blushed and held out his hand.

"This is my son, Goten!" said Chi Chi. "The one you predicted!"

"Oh yes, that's right! Goten, you look just like your dad!"

"I get that a lot", said Goten.

"Where are Valley and Terra?" asked Chi Chi. "I want to meet them!"

At that moment, Valley and Trunks walked in, followed by Terra who had Bra perched on her shoulders.

"That was fun!" said Bra. "Can we do that again, Terra?"

"Tomorrow, I promise!" said Terra, as she put the little girl down.

"Kids, meet Chi Chi. This is Gohan's mother! And this is Goku!"

"Goku?" said Terra, wide eyed. "Oh my gosh! Valley look! It -it's Goku! The Goku!" She dug her hands into her jean pockets, and came out with a pen and a small pad. She held it up to Goku.

"Would -would you autograph this?" she asked breathlessly. "It would mean a lot to me!"

"Uh, yeah sure", said Goku, taking up the pen and scribbling on the pad. He handed it back to her. She looked at it in delight and then put it back into her pocket.

"Oh gosh, Goku!" she grabbed his hand and pumped it up and down. "It's such an honour to meet a hero like you!" She had stars twinkling in her eyes. Goku backed away from her nervously.

"What's so great about him?" asked Vegeta, coming in, all sweaty from training. "Kakarott, what have you done to my granddaughter?"

"I'm fine Dada", said Terra, still gazing breathlessly at Goku. "I'm just fine!"

Vegeta snorted, and opened the fridge. He resurfaced with a can of cola and a chicken drumstick.

"Where's Gohan?" asked Nikki, looking around. "He must be so big now!"

"Gohan's on a business trip with Videl and Pan?"

"Who are they?"

"Oh, you don't know! Videl's his wife, and Pan is their five year old daughter!"

"Gohan is married?" asked Nikki in amazement. Chi Chi nodded proudly. "Yes, isn't it wonderful?"

"That's great news, I can't wait to meet his daughter!"

"Valley, Terra honey, have you met Goten?" asked Nikki.

"Goten's here?" said Terra, dropping her glass of cola that she'd stolen from Vegeta. "Where is he?"

"Uh, hi Terra." Goten stepped out from behind his father. Terra saw him and swallowed. Now she would have to apologize, and that had always been hard for her. She made desperate signs at Bulma, who got the hint and said, "Why don't you two go take Bra upstairs?"

"Yeah, alright", they said together. They left the room. Chi Chi watched them go.

"Your daughter is very pretty", she said to Nikki.

"Thank you. Yes, she is quite nice looking. But I'm always afraid that her good-looks will go to her head."

Chi Chi said nothing, but she frowned slightly as Nikki looked away.

~

Bra ran ahead of them on the stairs and dashed into her room.

"I win, I win!" she said, slamming the door shut. Goten and Terra were left standing outside. They smiled a little shyly at each other.

"I tried to call you today", said Terra, breaking an uneasy silence. "But, uh, you weren't home."

"Yeah, I slept at my friends' place last night. Sorry about that."

"For what? I should be the one apologizing."

"You mean about the beach thing?" Goten's cheeks started to redden.

"Yeah", said Terra. Her eyes were down-cast. "Goten, I'm truly sorry about the way I acted on Tuesday. I over-reacted; it was really stupid! Could you forgive me?"

Goten sort of squeaked, making the same noise that cat toys make when pressed. His cheeks got darker.

"I forgive you -I mean, of course! Yeah, no problem!" he babbled. "Sure, uh huh, yep, you're completely forgiven, I mean I -I'll shut up now."

Terra laughed. "So, do you think I'm forgiven enough to get another date?"

Goten nearly fell over.

"You wanna -wanna -wanna go out with me?"

"Only if you want to take me."

"Take you? Oh my God, yeah I want to take you! Wherever you want to go! To the moon, if that's what you want!"

"No, I think a quiet dinner will be fine. I think maybe we should spend some time getting to know each other."

"Whatever you want", said Goten.

"How about tomorrow? Is that too short notice?"

"No, tomorrow's fine. Great, in fact! Where do you want to go?"

"The Twilight Room. My treat, alright?"

"I probably couldn't afford it anyway", muttered Goten. Terra laughed again.

"Okay, it's a date. We'd better be going down, I think I should go and talk to the guests. Did you know that Goku is down there?"

"Yeah, he's my dad."

"Your DAD?" Now Terra nearly collapsed. "Oh, my God, Goku is your father? Hey, I can see the resemblance!"

"You haven't seen my kiddy pictures", said Goten, following her back downstairs. "That's family resemblance. I look like his clone!"

"Your brother is Gohan, right?" asked Terra. They arrived in the kitchen, which was deserted.

"Yes. He's the absolute greatest!"

"My mom and dad used to be really good friends of his."

"Used to be?"

"They, uh, had a `dead' relationship after a while. I guess they drifted apart."

"Oh, that's too bad", said Goten. "Well, I'm gonna go home and get some more sleep. I'll see you tomorrow night at seven."

"I can't wait", said Terra, smiling. Goten gulped, and opened the kitchen door. He flew up into the air, and soon he was only a dot in the sky. Terra leant against the doorway as he went. She felt better now, and apologizing hadn't been that bad.

~

It was very late at night, maybe even early into the morning. Vegeta refused to stop his training. He had been in the G. Chamber since he finished dinner, which was definitely more than six hours ago.

He was pleased to see himself able to move in one thousand five hundred times the Earth's gravity. He dodged the beams that kept trying to blast him. Although he wasn't ready to call it a night, every movement seemed harder to accomplish than the one before.

His body felt the fatigue, though his mind was immune. He punched, ducked, jumped, kicked and flew to avoid the gravity machine.

"Times 1600 Earth's gravity", said the computer in its mechanical monotone. Beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead. His arms were heavy and suddenly, he felt like he was made out of lead. One of the droids hit him on the arm, knocking him to his knees. He cursed, and tried to get up. The whole planet seemed to be on his back. He dropped onto his chest, too tired to get up. The droids were beating against him, pushing him down. And down he went; he sank into a subconscious hallucination:

`There is a growing threat on this planet. Frieza, that putrid lizard, has covered my father's mind in a dark blanket of greed. He doesn't know me anymore. He treats me like an outsider, and so does everyone else. Everyone, except my mother. She loves me still, through rose tinted eyes. I'm going to her.

I enter her chambers cautiously. I shouldn't be here; my father doesn't like it. But I care about my mother. I want to be with her. I am told by one of her ladies to wait while she finishes dressing. When she emerges, I must take a moment to admire her exquisite beauty. She is truly the most beautiful woman in the world, everyone says so. She is worthy of my father, though I don't think he's worthy of her.

She smiles at me. I'm not fooled, she's never been able to keep stuff from me. I ask her what is wrong. Her smile fades and she begins to cry. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's seeing my mother cry. I try to comfort her. She tells me through her tears that she is being sent away from Vegeta.

I ask her why, and she says my father has ordered it. She says she'll be safe from Frieza that way. She tells me that she will be put in a capsule tonight and blasted off into deep space. She and I both know that although Saiyans are technologically advanced, they cannot bring a craft back once they let it wander into deep space. Mother comforts me and tells me that I must be brave for her.

I look up at her. I can't help the tears that escape me. Although I know it's weak to show such emotion, I hold my mother and cry. She cries too, until at last I am told to go. My father is coming, and he will be very angry to see me here. I dearly want to say I don't care, but Mother loves the stupid monkey, and it would upset her to hear me say that.

I hang onto her fingers as long as I can.

"Smile, little one", she says. "I can't bear to see you frown."

I smile despite the tight pain in my chest. She smiles too, and another tear runs down her cheek. I stand on my toes to wipe it away. I can hear my father's heavy footsteps on the marble floor. She leans down to me, and I inhale her familiar scent for the last time. Her lips brush my cheek, and a small sob leaks out of me. Then her hand is in the small of my back, and she pushes me forwards.

"Son, never forget", she says. I am confused.

"Forget what, Mama?"

"Never forget the heart of Vegeta. Never forget our Eternal Treasure." She reaches to the back of her neck and removes her necklace pendant. I know that is her most prized possession. She opens my palm and presses the pendant into it. I look at it with wonder. It is a pretty and delicate thing. She closes my palm and tells me in a hushed voice, "Keep this near you heart forever, son. It will find its way into the hand of a Saiyan who will wield it."

"What do you mean, Mama?"

"Your heart will tell you in time, my son. When you realize who's your heart truly is, the treasure will find its bearer."

"I only love you, Mama", I said defiantly. The idea of myself loving a woman other than my mother repulses me. My mother's eyes are full of light reflected from her tears.

"Your heart will reveal it all to you. I love you eternally, little one. Now go, to your destiny." She pushes me again.

"Run!" she urges. I start to run, although my brain is telling me to turn around and run back into her arms. I keep running, and don't look back because I'm too afraid of what I'll see. I run and run, not knowing where I'm going. I just keep running, and running and running…

Vegeta woke up, gasping for breath and looked around him. He was in his bed, in his own room, the room he had moved to after he and Bulma had split up. He put his hands down beside him to support his heaving chest, and drew them back sharply when he felt soft flesh next to him. Drawing up a ball of light, he cast it over the body of the person next to him.

It was Terra; huddled up near his body. She was still wearing the tight t-shirt and jeans she'd been in the whole day. Her brown blonde hair had long escaped its binding and was loose around her shoulders. Vegeta looked her over. She was tall, taller than her mother. And she was slim and probably fit too. She was intelligent and sarcastic, that part could have come from either side of the family. She was elegant, well behaved, sophisticated. In fact, she was a princess. Literally and metaphorically.

"How did I get here?" Vegeta wondered out loud, and grabbed his head as it began to throb. Terra stirred next to him. He decided to lie down and get some sleep. He wanted to train again in the morning.

~

Nikki was still awake, though she knew it must have been almost sunrise. She sat on the wide window sill in her room, and looked out of the window. The grounds were illuminated by the silvery moonlight. A gentle breeze was blowing, rustling the leaves of the trees and the bushes. Nikki reached over and picked up the double photo frame that was standing on her bedside table.

The gilded frame bordered two photos. The top one was a snap of all of them on Terra's first birthday. She was sitting in her high chair with a cute bib tied around her neck. Bulma was desperately trying to get her to eat some cake, but she was refusing. Trunks had Valley on his shoulders, and his arm around her.

The photo below was a picture of the last time they had been here in the past on their wedding day. Nikki's downcast head was tucked under Trunks' chin, and their hands were together. Both rings were visible on their fingers. Overcome by grief, Nikki pressed the frame into her chest and began to sob until she heard the door opening. It was Trunks.

"So this time I'm coming to be with you when you cry", he said. He sat down on the window sill next to her.

"It's so late, Trunks. You should be in bed!"

"So should you", he pointed out. He pulled a hanky out of his pocket and offered it to her. When she took it, he saw the photo frame and picked it up.

"What's this?"

"That's my wedding picture and Terra's birthday."

"Our wedding, you mean."

Nikki sighed. "This was taken right after we said our vows. I'll never forget the moment I looked right into his eyes and said the words that decided the rest of my life. I'll never forget the moment I said `I do', and he put the ring on my finger." She held up her hand to show him the diamond encrusted band on her ring finger. It glinted eerily in the lamplight.

"Look Trunks, I'm really all right. I was just -remembering."

"The past? Well, maybe you should start thinking about the future."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked suspiciously. If she had been suspected he was flirting, her reservations were not unfounded. Trunks leaned over and pushed his mouth against hers in a passionate kiss. His arms snaked around her waist, and before she could react he was in control. As much as she struggled, she couldn't possibly free herself from his grasp, he was far too strong.

His attentions continued, as he moved away from her mouth and began on her neck. Though she couldn't deny that she mildly liked the experience, she knew that it could not continue.

"Trunks!" she panted. He was crushing her. "S-stop it! Get off me!"

"What's the matter?" Trunks paused. Nikki tried to pry his arms off, but she couldn't. Tear droplets started to form in her eyes.

"Oh, just let go! Please, I'm begging you! Let go of me!" Her voice frequency slid up and down. Trunks reluctantly let her go, and she stood up. Her whole frame was trembling. She opened her mouth to speak when Vegeta burst into the room.

"What the HELL is going on?" he yelled. He glowered at Trunks, who shrunk back into the wall. Nikki kept trembling, and then suddenly her consciousness deserted her and she collapsed. Vegeta caught her before she hit the floor. Her skin had paled to white. She half-opened her eyes.

"Trunks? I missed you- oh…" she fainted again. Vegeta picked her up, and turned to his son who was waiting.

"What in Kami were you thinking, boy?" he demanded.

"I -I just thought; she was lonely Dad!"

"You baka idiot! She's a married woman with two children! She's twice your age!"

"So?" yelled Trunks. "She didn't mind kissing me the first time!"

"Why are you attracted to her? She is ALREADY mated! Get that into your thick skull!"

"Yeah, well get this into yours!" yelled Trunks. "I love her, and I want to be with her!"

"If she wasn't unconscious in my arms boy, I would pound to an inch of your life! How dare you even think you deserve her?"

"I'm her husband!"

"No! You're another person! She's married to a different Trunks, not to you!"

"We're the same person!"

"Brat, why don't you understand? The Trunks she loves is different to you. He acts differently, he talks differently, he thinks differently! He was raised in a different way!"

"You love that Trunks more than me!" said Trunks.

Vegeta didn't answer, her just glared. Trunks was unnerved, but he continued to meet his father's eyes.

"I love her, Dad", he said. "I really love her. I want her to stay with me."

"No love-sick speech is going to get you out of this one!" snapped Vegeta. "You were a fool for even imagining such an idea! You are not to be in a room alone with her anymore, or I can assure you that you'll be spending a week in the hospital!" Nikki stirred in his arms again.

"I'm taking her to the hospital", he told Trunks. "Tell your mother and the other brats."

He turned his heel and exited the room. Trunks turned around and looked out of the window in time to see him fly out towards the city. He sighed, and went to his mother's bedroom. Knocking but gaining no response, he quietly opened the door. He went over to the bed and shook his mother awake. She jerked up sleepily.

"Trunks? What's the matter honey?"

"Nikki fainted", said Trunks. "Dad took her to the hospital."

Bulma opened her eyes wide. "Nikki's in hospital? This is awful, I wonder what happened! I'll go get Terra and Bra, can you get Valley? We're leaving for the hospital in ten minutes!"

"Yeah, sure", replied Trunks. He went to the bedroom upstairs where Valley was sleeping. He stood over the bed and said, "Wake up!"

Valley sat up immediately.

"Dad?" he said, still half asleep. "What is it?"

"Your mom fainted and she's in hospital", said Trunks. "We're going over there now to see her. Come on."

Valley didn't ask questions, for which Trunks was grateful. He got out of bed and put on a jacket over his pajamas. They went downstairs, where the girls and Bulma were waiting. Bra was too sleepy to stand so Terra had her on her back.

"Let's go", said Bulma. "I'll take the Chevy, it's fastest!"

"Grandma", said Terra. "Wouldn't it be faster if we just flew?"

"Oh yes, that's a good idea", said Bulma. Valley and Terra looked at each other.

~

They came running into the hospital room to see Nikki lying under crisp white sheets with a drip in her wrist. Vegeta was standing beside her, a worried frown on his face. The little box next to her sounded slow rhythmic beeps to her heartbeat.

"What happened to her?" Bulma asked Vegeta. Terra and Valley rushed to their mother's bedside. Vegeta said nothing, but his frown deepened. Terra cautiously touched her mother's white hand. It was cold. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

"Mama", she squeaked. Valley was frowning as hard as Vegeta. He stood beside his sister and watched his mother's pallor face.

"Vegeta! How did this happen?" demanded Bulma angrily. "Oh doctor!" The doctor walked into the room.

"Are you this young woman's family?" she asked.

"Yes, we are", said Bulma.

"I'll need to know how you're related ma'am", said the lady doctor.

"I'm her son", said Valley. "This is my sister, and our grandparents. And ,uh, our uncle."

"Please tell us what the matter with her is", pleaded Bulma.

"Well ma'am, she's unconscious. Her pulse is very weak, she's dehydrated, and frankly I think this isn't a physical condition."

"What do you mean?"

"Has this lady had any recent stressful experiences? Any household tension? A recent death in the family?"

"Well, her husband is -missing", whispered Bulma, glancing warily at Terra. "And, uh, she lives in a place that isn't famous for good security."

"I see", said the doctor, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. "She'll be able to go home tomorrow evening. She's been losing a lot of fluids, perhaps from crying. You should try and keep her occupied, keep her away from stress and tension, and don't let her feel lonely. There's only so much medicine can do."

Bulma swallowed and nodded. She returned to the bedside. The doctor checked the machines and left.

"Is she going to be alright, Grandma?" asked Valley. Bulma hugged him and said, "She'll be just fine darling. You kids should really go home. Vegeta and I will stay here with her."

"Alright", agreed Valley.

"No!" cried Terra. "I don't want to go!"

"Shut up!" hissed Valley. "You ignoramus! D'you want the whole hospital to wake up because you're wailing?"

Terra glared at her big brother but shut up. She patted her mother's hand gently. Nikki stirred. Everyone stopped talking and watched her intently. She continued to move. Her lips opened and closed.

"She's speaking!" whispered Terra. "Maybe she's awake!"

"Shh! Watch!"

"T-trunks? Honey, don't eat that, it's for dinner…I'm going to get Valley from nursery school, darling, watch Terra…Is that for me, little Strong Man? It's lovely, thank you…"

"She's hallucinating", said Valley, shaking his head. "She used to call me `Strong Man' when I was little."

"…Oh Trunks, what a beautiful ring! …Yes, yes, yes! I want to marry you, only you! I want to be your bride…I say yes, forever…I love you…"

Bulma wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.

"That's so romantic", she sniffled. "That's so lovely"

"…No please, you mustn't go! You can't defeat him by yourself…Trunks, NO! Wait for me, I'll come, I can fight, I can fight…Trunks…"

She screamed loudly, she body twisting and flailing in imagined pain.

"NOOOOAAAAAHHH…TRUNKS, COME BACK! COME BACK COME BACK!"

The doctor, called by the loud noises, came rushing in. She ran to Nikki and fiddled with the machinery.

"What's wrong with her?" screamed Terra in a frenzied fear. "Grandma, save her! She's going to die!"

"Terra, don't say that!"

"Mama!" wailed Terra, throwing herself onto the bed. Nikki continued her passionate screaming, as she struggled under her daughter's weight. The lady doctor fiddled more furiously, trying to stabilize her condition. Terra was completely on the bed from her waist up, holding onto her mother's body and howling like a baby.

Valley grabbed her waist and pried her off. She thrashed about until Valley hollered into her ears.

"TERRA! CALM DOWN NOW OR I'LL POUND YOU INTO THE GROUND!" Terra stopped, her eyes wide with fright. Valley was glowing as the rage had driven his power level up.

"Oh, Valley, I'm sorry!" Terra began to cry. Valley pushed his little sister's head into his shoulder and let her weep there. He walked her out of the room.

"Boy, out!" barked Vegeta, pointing at the door. Trunks glared at his father, but left, closing the door behind him.

"You're too hard on the poor child", said Bulma.

Vegeta said in a cold and quiet voice, "Woman, shut the hell up."

"Bastard", said Bulma.

"I probably was", replied Vegeta under his breath. Bulma didn't catch it.