Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The King and Queen Diaries ❯ Arata Myou ( Chapter 21 )

Author's Note: I'm so sorry that it took me this long to post this chapter! Work has been crazy…although that's a crappy excuse since I've had this chapter written for months! Please enjoy!

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Chapter Twenty One: Arata Myou (A New Life)

Lord Frieza sat on his icy throne, his face set in concentration.

He had made many mistakes in the last few months, and he was fearful that it would ruin his plans. Well, not necessarily ruin them, because he was a genius and would always figure out another way to fix things, but he was certainly worried.

He had killed a majority of his army's generals due to their incompetence in a fit of rage; he had slayed many of his own men because they had angered him, and he had miscalculated the Saiya-jin Queen at almost every turn, causing a major loss of life on his side.

He had never expected her to be so very resilient. She had learned quickly to escape his spies, and she did so on a consistent level. When she didn't escape them and he didn't hear from them for days, it was generally assumed that they were dead.

But what the bitch didn't know was that he had someone on the inside feeding him information. It was amazing she hadn't discovered it yet. Either way, he knew everything about her that he could possibly need to know now.

He knew that she was pregnant, and he also knew that she was having relations with her own advisor.

He clicked his tongue and shook his head. So sad that the whore hadn't wasted much time going on to another man. Even he had been shocked to learn about it. He had heard so many things from his little spy about how much she had adored her king that it almost insulted him how quickly she carried on with her life. It was truly a pity....

Either way, he had dirt on her, and he could do many things with dirt. He could make it muddy, or he could just make a total mess. He smiled, twisting his face into an obscene smirk. Her being pregnant with King Vegeta's babes made things almost deliciously evil if it turned out the way he was planning. The only problem was if he wanted to expose his spy now or later. His "agent" as he liked to call him, was already creating drama in the camp. He had caused multiple injuries to several important people, which pleased him greatly. He had heard of Lord Brolli's tragic "fall" and had chuckled. Too bad he hadn't been completely buried. Poor Queen Bulma would have been utterly devastated if her new lover had been killed. Thinking of it now, perhaps that would make an interesting turn of events.

His features turned nearly demented at the possibilities, causing his guards to shy away from him slightly. Killing her unborn children or her lover...so many things to choose from! And why not both, even?

His laughter rang through the frozen chamber. He had many things to plan for, and this was just the beginning.

*********

When Bulma cracked open the hidden door to the throne room, she almost screamed in horror.

In the middle of the hall, were hundreds of the white aliens.

They were all curled up together sleeping. Well, most of them. She felt bile rise up in her throat and she gagged as she witnessed many of them mating on the edges of the hall, some of them partially hidden in the flowing red curtains that lined the walls, some of them right out in the open. Several groups of males, if she could correctly assume that's what they were, were trying to mount a single female and there were three or four of them trying to get at one. She saw this taking place in five different groups. The hissing and odd mating sounds disturbed her deeply. It even made her feel slightly sorry when she saw some of the females trying to escape the lecherous grasps of the males, but they were unable to. Their cries were unusual shrieks as they were taken against their will.

She was witnessing rape...but she couldn't, and wouldn't, do anything about it.

If it was a Saiya-jin woman, or any woman other than these creatures, she would kill the man or men trying to take advantage of her weakness. But this...this was their society and they were trying to take her planet. Maybe this was how it was done...either way, she needed to reach a room that was connected to the throne room, so she had to figure out a way to get around them without the enemy noticing her.

She waited for several minutes, but the mating did not stop. They did not seem to be paying attention to anything other than what they were currently doing, but she still dreaded sneaking out into the open.

She was about to despair ever reaching her destination when a sudden loud cry filled the room. She peered fearfully through the crack in the door as several aliens awoke. A clearly bulging female had just stood, and she was grasping her huge stomach with her clawed hands.

Bulma stared with fascination as all the mating groups stopped in the middle of what they were doing, and along with the ones that had just awoken, began to aid the female that was obviously going into labor.

She had her distraction. She darted from the doorway and slid across the walls, mostly hidden in between the flowing curtains. The sounds that filled the hall made her almost lose her stomach several times, but she continued on bravely. The female's painful cries made her mind whirl at what her own impending labor would be like. She was so glad that she had found Nana that she couldn't even imagine her own luck. Now she just had to make sure she made her way out of here alive.

When she found the hidden door, she quickly pushed the secret button that opened it. Sliding inside, she withdrew a deep breath. She had made it.

Pitch blackness assaulted her eyes, but she rectified it swiftly. There was always an oil lamp next to the door, and she lit it as soon as she stepped through the door.

When Vegeta's study was illuminated, she felt the air in her lungs evacuate entirely.

It was a mess. Apparently it wasn't exactly secret anymore....

She didn't know why she had felt the need to come here, but she had. Vegeta had shown her this room shortly after they had been coronated as King and Queen. She had felt special when he had shown her the room, for this was his one most private space. It had been his father's, and now it was his.

And someone had destroyed it. It was almost as if someone had actively searched out the most precious rooms in the palace and had purposefully done this. She wondered what other rooms had been wrecked....

Vegeta had told her after he had been cured of the Saiya-jin plague that he had created a will, a piece of simple paper that would leave her with every planet, every belonging, simply everything that had been bequeathed upon him the moment he had become King rather than it falling into the hands of some barely related male somewhere in his family tree. She had thought nothing of it then, for she had assumed that they would live easy, long lives together until they died together of old age in their sleep. A fairy tale, but it was what she had honestly believed at the time.

Now, she felt herself actively searching for it. She didn't know if she would actually ever need the paperwork, but she remembered with startling clarity when her ability as Queen had been questioned by the former King's generals before the attack on Tibernoa. She had proven herself...but who knew what it would be like after the war? Would she have to fight for her throne? Or would this piece of paper save her from possible misery? Would she be able to bequeath the Saiya-jin throne to one of her heirs?

When she reached his desk, many of the papers that had been inside were placed on top, as if someone had searched through them. She feared that she would not find what she was looking for. So many papers were flung about and torn apart, even crumpled and obviously tossed across the room.

Who could hate her family so much that they would do this?

The question was frighteningly almost answered as she searched through the paperwork. She found a small stack of mostly untouched papers, and she gasped aloud when she saw the large printed script at the top of the page.

WILL AND TESTIMATE OF KING VEGETA, THE HIGH KING OF VEGETA-SEI, INGUINE-SEI, TANITE-SEI, ANAUSIA-SEI, AND THE PLANETS, DOMINIONS, AND TERRITORIES THEREUNTO BELONGING.

And below that, written in scribbled, red ink in Saiya-jin symbols:

YOU AND THE WHORE QUEEN WILL DIE.

She felt fear unlike any fear she had felt in a long time. Someone...someone Saiya-jin...wanted her dead.

She felt panic grip her as her thoughts turned against her. Who? Who could possibly hate her and Vegeta so very much that they wanted them dead? Was this person solely responsible for his death, or was it the white creatures? Was it someone she knew? Or was it just a random stranger?

Fear crept up her spine. She began thinking of anything suspicious that she had witnessed involving all the people she was close to. It was so hard to think of when she thought she had the trust of everyone around her. It was possible that this horrid person wasn't even alive any longer, but just the same...this person could be alive.

She shook her head as she clutched the papers to her chest. She couldn't think of it right now. She just couldn't. She had to get back, and quickly before Bardock came searching for her.

Bulma, Queen of the Saiya-jins, dejectedly left her deceased husband's study, clutching the papers that undisputedly gifted her with everything that had ever been his.

**********

Bulma raced through the ancient trees on the back of Ucukusii, the cool wind whipping her hip-length aqua hair through the cool air. The horse ran faster than he ever had, flowing through the forest and through the trees as if he was part of the shadows. Not once did she have to steer him to their destination. It was almost as if he knew where to go. She urged him faster and faster, and soon she felt like she was flying...feeling free like she had not in so long.

Far behind her, Bardock was on the back of Warui, not even bothering to keep up. Although the horse was truly magnificent, nothing could match the spirit of Ucukusii when he had just been reunited with his mistress after so long.

Slightly behind him was Bulma's old nanny. Her horse was not a warhorse and was certainly not gifted like either Ucukusii or Warui, but it was still a Royal Horse and was resilient and beautiful. They had loaded up the older woman's medicines and few belongings onto the back of the underfed creature, along with an object that Bardock believed his Queen would love to be unified with once more.

They had spoken to the poor woman about how she had come to be in the Queen's room, and she had simply explained that she was one of the many slaves that tended to the frozen creatures during the day. She was left free during the night, for there was no way she would be able to escape, and she often found herself sitting in Bulma's room. The Saiya-jin Queen had hugged her fiercely, unable to believe that they were reunited.

For now, Bardock just had to get them back to the camp. He smiled as he pressed his heals into Warui's sides, and the horse picked up his pace to a canter, eagerly following after Ucukusii.

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When Bulma came soaring into the sleeping camp like she was riding the devil himself, Brolli felt his jaw drop in amazement at the sight. He swore time slowed as he watched her fling her long, luxurious blue hair like a whip out of her face and then dismount from the midnight black creature like she was some kind of wild warrior goddess, dressed in form fitting clothes and covered in deadly weapons. He blinked to snap himself out of his trance. The devil was a stallion, his coat pure black, and his mane and tail were long, making the creature look like it had been floating through the night by unseen forces. He watched Bulma and the horse interact with obvious affection before he strode furiously in her direction, sheathing his sword angrily, unable to contain himself any longer.

He was glad that the camp was asleep except for the guards patrolling the perimeter, for what he did next would have offended everyone in sight and he probably would have been run through or strung up by his neck.

He took hold of her by her shoulders, shook her enough to get her attention, and then growled lowly, "Never leave me again without saying so much as a goodbye." His growl grew louder as he grabbed her by the back of the neck, forcing her to look up at him, and kissed her fiercely.

Her surprise was evident when she gasped against his lips. It didn't take her long to respond however, and she was soon grabbing handfuls of his hair and plundering his mouth in return.

When they pulled apart, they were both breathless. Bulma managed to gasp, "I am sorry," before she was kissing him again. It felt amazing to let loose on some of the strange emotions she had experienced during her visit to the palace. She felt like she was releasing them upon Brolli through their kisses, but he didn't seem to mind as he kissed her back with an equal, if not more vigorous, zeal.

When Bardock entered the camp, he was glad that the poor older woman behind did not witness what he saw. He himself felt his eyes widen at the sight of Queen Bulma and Lord Brolli holding onto each other, clearly comforting one another...in view of anyone who wandered by. The way the advisor was holding her against him, one hand clutching the back of her head and pressing her against his chest, the other wrapped protectively around her, made Bardock pause. Even his long tail was uncommonly uncurled from around his waist and wrapped around one of her thighs, almost as if he couldn't get her close enough to him.

Lord Brolli's face was showing something that Bardock could only describe as utter love, devotion, and complete agony all at once. Maybe this thing that these two had was something more than a fling or a royal whim...especially if Bulma was not stopping his attentions when anyone who walked by could see them.

It was an interesting situation, indeed. Bardock and Turles had known for many weeks that Bardock had been showing almost lover-like attention to the Queen, showering her with affection, spending all of his time with her, neglecting his training to be with her. They had thought that maybe the monarch had requested his presence to be near at all times, but they had found out quickly that it was not the case. Brolli was with the High Queen at all times because he chose to be, and couldn't help himself. Both of the older men had assumed that Lord Brolli was possibly infatuated, had even talked about it, but neither had thought much would come from it. But as the last two weeks had worn on, both of them had grown concerned with his attentiveness towards her. She had never seemed uncomfortable with it; in fact she had seemed much happier, so they had not said anything. If it had been any other case, neither of them would have hesitated to take him to the side and beat him into the ground for insulting her, but it had not, and apparently would not, come to that. Oddly enough, Bardock was almost grateful that his Queen had decided to try to press on instead of staying locked inside herself, mourning for King Vegeta. It was not like Saiya-jins to mourn for long periods of time, in fact it was discouraged. Only in the upper classes and in the event of a mate becoming deceased was there ever a mourning period, and it was usually only a month or so. Several months had already passed...maybe she was ready to move on? He pursed his lips as ideas and thoughts tossed about in his mind. She still seemed so hurt by King Vegeta's death, but Lord Brolli was bringing out a side of her that he had not seen in a long time. How could he argue with that?

They were whispering to each other, but still closer than proper as Bardock dismounted. He cleared his throat subtly to get their attention, and they both separated, blushing. In the next moment, the Queen's former nanny came bustling through the trees, huffing.

Bardock didn't understand the next words that were spoken, because the old woman began blathering in another language, possibly upset at not being used to riding a horse. At the sight of the Queen's face breaking out into an excited grin, Bardock could only assume it was Anausian, her native language.

"Allani et herlans? Saseki valla let'ha getalon! Yarsla et teralm...."

Brolli came to stand next to the Queen's Captain, a look of wonder on his face. Bardock chuckled and shook his head. Clearly infatuated.

"That is the second time, I do believe, that I have heard her speak that language." At the sight of Brolli's eyebrow rising in question, he said, "The first time I think she was cursing me for some idiotic thing I did that she didn't appreciate. She is very forceful in her opinion at times."

Brolli smiled widely. He hoped that one day he would be the recipient of her beautiful language, but maybe not because she was cursing him. However, that might be interesting....

His thoughts of Bulma and their future came to a halt as the old woman suddenly cried out as if she had just been attacked, making both men begin to sprint in their direction. They stopped however, when the gray haired woman began sobbing and holding Bulma. Both men, looking at each other in confusion, tried to figure out what had caused such an outburst.

"Tersala Bulma-fai....teji vey Vegeta-hetu...I am so sorry...het'alay cetum...."

At the mention of Vegeta's name and the clearly spoken words in Saiya-jin, Brolli felt his heart skid to a stop. The women were crying and holding on to each other. Nana, Bulma had said her nickname was, appeared to be nearly holding the Queen up as they both sobbed piteously, looking broken-hearted in every definition in the book. The beyond devastated expression on the pregnant woman's face made Brolli feel both weak and ill. He had not seen that look on her face since the day King Vegeta had died.

She was reliving his death all over again.

He knew...he knew that Bulma would never forget her late husband, but he had hoped that he was helping her put him in the past. He had been hoping that she had been healing, so that she could continue on with her life, a life with him. The whispers and sweet kisses that they had just shared were suddenly taken away, as if they had never happened.

He should have known the instant Bulma had mentioned her childhood caretaker that this sort of thing would come up. Of course the two women would talk about Vegeta, his life, his death, his love for the Queen...their children. He should have known that Nana would bring everything about Vegeta to the forefront of her mind. She would make the Queen remember everything about him as they talked about memories. Not only that, but he doubted the older lady would find it appropriate that her former charge was...was what? What were they doing? What were they? They certainly weren't friends, but they definitely weren't lovers.

The last few nights when they had held each other close was almost like nothing now. Dust, smoke...gone. She didn't care. He was just here for comfort when she needed it, and she didn't need him anymore. She had the old woman....

Devastated and feeling like he had lost something precious, Brolli turned and walked away, no longer able to watch her cry over her lost king. It hurt...it just hurt too much....

Bardock observed as Lord Brolli turned and left without a word. He had watched a nearly indefinable expression fall over his face like a shadow as he viewed the two women crying pitifully, and he had been growing concerned at the sight. He went to turn to him to ask what was wrong, but as he turned, he watched the young man break out into a run...then disappear into the darkness of the forest.

*********

"I want you to meet Lord Brolli, Nana."

The aging woman smiled softly as she helped put away some of her belongings in the Queen's tent. The poor girl had wanted her to stay with her, but she had insisted in having her own privacy, as she always had. Bulma was a grown woman, and if she ever needed her, she would be near.

"Oh? Who is this Lord Brolli? He must be newly titled for I have never heard of him."

Bulma blushed just enough for Nana to cock a gray eyebrow. "Well...he isn't a knight or just a mere lord, Nana." She hesitated, and then continued. "I appointed him as my personal advisor. Lord Brolli was given a position so powerful he is on the level of a prince."

Nana gasped, pressing her wrinkled hand against her heart. "Child, what would give you any reason to give some unknown man a position so powerful? Are you sure that was the right thing to do?"

Bulma nodded as she folded a faded nightgown, her tresses falling across her face so that Nana could not see her eyes. "Yes. Lord Brolli and I connected immediately from the moment we saw each other. We are best friends, Nana. We are able to tell each other everything. We spend almost all of our time together."

It became quiet in the large tent. The lights from the lanterns flickered in the wind, causing the shadows to shift on the canvas. Nana turned and looked at the beautiful pregnant woman and observed her closely. Bulma did not turn away from her scrutiny.

"You feel something for this man other than friendship."

Bulma felt hot tears begin to fall down her cheeks at Nana's statement. She hadn't even felt her eyes water. "Yes."

Nana came closer to her, but did not touch her. "Why are you crying, child?"

Bulma felt emotions surge to the surface and she struggled to contain herself. She had to bite her lip to keep herself from sobbing, but it was hard. She had not been able to talk to anyone about how she felt in so long, and finally she was able to. Everything came out all at once, in a gush of overwhelming emotion. It was hard to understand her between the sobs and hiccups and how fast she was talking.

"Nana, I t-think I love h-him. B-but I feel like...Vegeta...how could I? I love Vegeta so much, Nana! He is always in my t-thoughts, but Brolli...he makes the p-pain go away. He makes me happy. He makes me laugh. He makes me feel like me again."

Nana came close enough to stroke the blue hair away from the distraught woman's face as she continued to cry. "Shh, child. You have every right to feel confused right now. King Vegeta has been dead only for a few months, but now you are having feelings for a new man." She paused, thinking and stroking her hair at the same time. "Is it possible that you are only having these feelings for this particular man because he is the only one who has attempted to make you feel better? Could you be comforted and feel this way for another man that would try to do the same thing?"

Bulma shook her head immediately. She wiped away her tears, but they kept coming. "No, Nana. Brolli was here for me before I even knew Vegeta was dead. He took care of me then, and he takes care of me now. He has sacrificed so much to make me as happy as I can possibly be. Everything he does, he does for me. And it's not just because it's his job. It's because...well, I think he loves me too, Nana."

Nana shushed her and told her to sit. Moments later, Bulma felt the soothing sensation of a brush being run through her hair. She sniffed, remembering the feeling from when she was a child. It made her feel warm inside. Or maybe she felt warm inside for another reason.

"He does so much for me, Nana. I catch him staring at me all the time. The way he touches me...it is...it was the same way Vegeta did. With caring, tenderness...love. It's like he is afraid that if he touches me the wrong way, I will break. He treats me with respect, and not once has he ever made me feel uncomfortable, nor has he ever hurt me. He is fiercely protective of me and my unborn children. He...he lost his wife and four daughters to the white aliens."

Nana made a sad sound from behind her as she continued to pull the brush through her hair. Bulma felt herself being lulled by the continuous strokes.

"It sounds like a complicated situation, my dear. Have you tried...talking to each other about your feelings?"

Bulma nodded almost imperceptibly. "We have tried, but we both have much to heal from. He didn't love his wife, but he cared for her deeply. And his four daughters...I could not imagine, Nana. You should have seen the utterly destroyed look on his face when we found him. He had no will to live."

Nana felt the pain in her Queen's words. She felt sorrow towards them both, even though she hadn't even met this Lord Brolli. However, any man that had caught Bulma's attention, was certainly worthy of her own.

"It does indeed sound like you both need to heal. You two haven't...rushed into anything, have you?"

Bulma nearly gasped as she shook her head vigorously. "No, Nana. We have only kissed a few times, and when we can, we hold each other. He has taken to...staying with me at night. He sleeps next to me, keeps me warm and it makes me feel safe. He has been taking care of my pregnancy pains as I grow larger. He has much experience from his late wife."

Nana pursed her lips, then tsked as she lightly rapped her on the head with the brush. Bulma flinched at the faint pain, but she accepted the punishment. "Bulma, you naughty girl. That poor boy is probably so frustrated that it's a wonder he hasn't ravished you yet!"

They both laughed loudly. Still laughing, Bulma said, "Brolli is honorable, Nana! He would never do that!" After their laughter died down, she gushed, "I can't wait for you to meet him. He is the most sweet and kind man that I have ever met. I bet that he will be the first man to charm you since men have been coming to claim my hand."

The older woman tutted. "Doubtful, my dear. No man has ever charmed this old bird! Vegeta came the closest, once he straightened out his act, but none other!"

The women continued talking long through the night, until Bulma felt her eyes nearly unable to stay open. Almost as if on cue, Bardock and Turles entered the tent, ready to escort Nana to her new home—the tent next door. Smiling and with love in their eyes, the women hugged and promised to see each other in the morning.

Bulma yawned and stretched. Her body was going to be sore in the morning. She couldn't wait until Brolli came in for the night to rub her back. It was aching something fierce. Maybe he had been right when he had said she shouldn't have gone to spy in the palace. But it had been worth every ache and pain.

"My Queen," both men said, bowing. Bulma gave them a weird look, wondering why they were acting so formal when they were alone.

"Yes?" she said, preparing her bed of furs for sleep.

Turles spoke first, clearly uncomfortable. He wanted to damn the situation thrice over for Bardock making him say something. He would have gladly kept his mouth shut and started his guard duty. "We thought that we would let you know, your Highness, that Lord Brolli is in the forest."

He didn't mention that the man had been clearly distraught, yelling at both of them to leave him alone for once in their miserable lives. Finally, once he had no longer been able to take their bothersome presence, the former peasant turned lord had chucked several daggers in their direction, and they had fled in terror.

Bulma frowned, straightening from fluffing a large pillow Brolli had made her a few days ago. The men had managed to kill enough birds to gather enough feathers to make a down pillow, and it was utter heaven. She remembered thanking him for it...a soft kiss to his cheek. The look in his eyes had meant so much to her.

"Is something wrong with him?"

Bardock cleared his throat, not sure what to say exactly, especially after the way Brolli had thrown knives in his undeserving direction. He didn't understand what had happened, particularly after witnessing the affection that had been exchanged between the two earlier. Did it have something to do with what had happened before Brolli had run away? "Bulma, if I may venture to say...I was there when Brolli initially left. He...witnessed you and the Lady Nana crying."

Bulma felt her frown deepen. "What do you mean? I don't understand. What is wrong with crying?"

Bardock looked down. He too, felt uncomfortable discussing this, but he was unwilling to see the pair miserable, especially the Queen. And if he was right...then this whole thing had something to do with the late king.

"Bulma...he heard you talking about Vegeta."

It took a while to register what Bardock was talking about. Why would he be so upset about her crying and talking about Vegeta...? She talked about him all the time. The look on Brolli's face always became melancholy when she talked about him, almost as if it bothered him, but she had thought nothing of it most of the time. But within the last week or so, as they had begun slowly exploring a relationship together and Brolli had increasingly showered her with affection, the mention of Vegeta's name had seemed to bother him more and more. It was almost as if the name physically hurt him when he heard it come from her lips....

Bardock and Turles saw a blur leave the tent. They attempted to chase after her, but for being a pregnant woman, she was damn fast. They kept their distance, wanting to give the pair privacy, but also provide protection if needed.

They watched as she ran full speed towards the forest. How she knew which direction to run, baffled them both. The blood red cape that she had donned once returning to the camp flowed behind her, along with her tumbling blue hair, which she always had up and was quite the sight to see when it was flying behind her like it was. Both men watched silently as she sprinted towards the dark figure leaning dejectedly against one of the many enormous trees in the forest.

When Bulma reached him, she could tell immediately that something was wrong. She was almost afraid to approach him, for she was unsure what to say.

Instead of saying something, she attempted to touch his arm, the one he had hurt just earlier that week. He flinched away from her, but not from pain.

"Don't," he said, his voice breaking. Bulma jerked her hand back, first afraid that she had caused him pain, but then realizing upon closer inspection that something really was wrong with him. In the glinting light from the moon, Bulma caught the sight of dried tear streaks on his cheeks.

"Brolli," she whispered, fear threading through her voice as she tried to step closer. He turned away further, not wanting her to see him. She was unsure what to do. She had never seen him break down before, and she felt like her heart was being squeezed in her chest until it hurt to breathe. Brolli...so strong, so resilient. What had broken him enough to make him cry?

She moved close enough up behind him to wrap her arms around him. She made sure to press herself close enough to make sure he wouldn't make any sudden movements for fear of hurting her or the babes. He stiffened, and made as if he wanted to flee, but he just stood there, his body strung so tight that she could feel all of his muscles bulge and tighten impossibly.

"Please...please don't, Bulma," he choked, and Bulma pressed her face against his back, unwilling to let him go. She felt a shudder move through his whole body, and when he looked up at the sky, anywhere but at her hands wrapped around him, she felt several warm tears fall onto her bare arms.

Tears of her own filled her eyes. Fear and unknown feelings assaulted her. She didn't know what else to say or do. She didn't want to let him go, because she just knew he would run...run away from her.

He spoke again, and the plea in his voice nearly undid her. "Please...I beg of you...I cannot do this anymore."

Her tears began flowing more earnestly as she began to take on the meaning of his words. He began trembling, and she squeezed him tighter.

"Brolli...please, tell me what is wrong. Tell me so that I can make it better."

A particularly violent tremor racked his body before he spoke. "You cannot. I...I have tried. Tried so hard. But it hurts. I cannot take the pain anymore.... If I keep doing this, I will ruin myself."

Bulma shook her head against his back, her breathing becoming erratic as she cried and panic began to grow inside her. "Brolli, I don't understand. Please, please...you are scaring me."

He laughed, and the sound of it was almost violent it was so dark. "Scare you? You cannot be serious, Bulma. I have never harmed a hair on your body."

Bulma shook her head again as she struggled to understand what was going on. "No, I know that, Brolli. You are scaring me right now because something has you upset and you won't tell me...and I feel like you are pushing me away."

At that moment, she let her guard down enough for her hold to loosen and that stray second of inattention was just long enough for him to break free. She gasped as he jerked away from her. He stared at her, the presence of tears clear on his face. His eyes were wide and his shockingly pale face held an expression that she had never seen before and could not describe. He looked nearly wild, his hair more tousled than she had ever seen, and his bloodless lips parted as he breathed deeply through them, trying to control himself. He pointed accusingly at her, his tears falling down his pale cheeks.

"Not once in my life have I ever cried but on the day I discovered the bodies of my daughters. But now I cry for you, Bulma. I love you. I love you...and it hurts so much."

His pointing finger felt like he was shooting her with an arrow. She felt the air in her lungs leave, and she stood there, her hand clutched over her heart. She struggled to find the words that needed to be said, but she felt like she was coming up empty handed. What could she say to make this right? What could she say to make him understand?

Before she could say anything, he sliced his hand through the air, frustrated beyond the point of caring. "I hate that I cannot control myself right now!" he shouted, dashing away his tears in disgust. He was quiet for a long moment, and then stared at her with his pitch black eyes, his tone nearly dead. "I saw you talking to your old nursemaid about Vegeta, and it just tore something up inside of me. I feel like everything you and I have gone through is being thrown away, like we are taking a huge step back. I feel like now because she is here, she is going to make you remember everything about Vegeta, and I am going to lose you. I cannot take that pain, Bulma. Before this becomes any harder...I have to leave. I can't continue like this. I...I will be leaving tonight. You will never see me again."

Full-blown panic hit Bulma square in the chest. It was like something snapped inside her at his words, and she felt her world become off balance. Images of Brolli smiling at her and laughing with her flashed through her mind's eye. Pictures of him standing there, his sword in his hand, ready to die for her. Then she pictured him not by her side and not seeing his beautiful smile ever again, of never laughing with him again. She saw an empty space in the bed next to her, the missing presence of her friend and advisor as she went through every day life.

It broke something inside her.

Screaming unintelligibly, she ran towards him. He caught her against his chest, and the way he clutched her against him made anger burst inside her. How could he say these things yet hold her like this? Like he never wanted to let her go? How could he say he was leaving her when she needed him so much?

"Don't you dare leave me!" she screamed, uncaring if the whole world heard as she sobbed uncontrollably. She began pounding his chest, his shoulders, anything she could reach, but he caught her fists and held them so she wouldn't hurt herself against his armor. "How can you say these things!" she yelled, her tears flying into the darkness as she shook her head, trying to make sense of the situation. "Don't you understand how I feel? I'm scared! Brolli, Vegeta is gone, he just died, and I still love him! I will always love him, I cannot help that! I carry his children! But you...you are here for me, caring for me...and I love you too. I love you, Brolli. Please...please don't leave me. I love you. I love you...."

He was quiet for the longest time, until he released her hands and then squeezed her so tightly against him that she struggled to breathe. He spoke against her hair, emotion thick in his voice.

"Promise me that you mean that. Tell me that you aren't lying just to make me stay."

Bulma choked on tears at the devastated tone of his voice. "I would never lie to you. I love you so much, and it scares me, Brolli. Please understand how confused I am...."

He nodded, and she felt the movement against the side of her head. He let out a shuddering breath and released her, only to cup her face with both of his hands and wipe away her tears with his fingers.

"I am so tired of hiding my feelings for you. It seems like for so long...for so long I have fought the way I have felt for you, but I cannot anymore. I love you, Bulma. I have never felt this way about anyone before, and it scares me too. It scares me to know that I would die for you without hesitation, that I would lay my life on the line to make sure you were saved. That I would sacrifice my soul, my body, my heart, my everything...to make you happy."

Bulma felt something blossom inside of her that she had thought would never come back with the death of Vegeta. She had assumed that she could never love the way that she had loved before, but she had been wrong. Brolli...she knew, that somewhere through space and time, that if Vegeta wasn't in the picture, that Brolli and her would have been soul mates.

Could they still be? Did she have enough room in her heart for Brolli?

Yes....

The kiss they shared at that moment was the most electrifying and amazing of any kiss she had ever experienced. Both of their emotions surged, their tears of both sorrow and absolute happiness mingled and fell...fell together and disappeared into the dirt beneath them, along with their past lives.

Their lives were together now, and there was no room for anyone else.

Author's Note: Well, don't kill me lol. Like I've said before, things will turn out alright in the end :) Please review!!!