Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Until Death ❯ Mysteries ( Chapter 2 )

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

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonaballz. I am merely writing this for entertainment purposes. No money is gained. (At least for me.)

Until Death

By: VCelestialGoddess

Chapter 2 - Mysteries

Early the next morning, Bulma was brought to the hospital's radiology department. She would spend a portion of her day undergoing X-ray procedures, such as CAT scans and MRI. Her mother had come back from Ariitzia to spend the time with her.

“Mother? Do you think the same problem is happening to me when I was five?” Bulma studied her mother's reaction to the question.

Bulma's mother, Valira, was a slim, blonde-haired woman in her mid-thirties. She was stylishly and expensively dressed, perfectly groomed and smelled of a unique, floral scent. The mother and daughter had always been close, probably because Valira Briefs had endured a medical hell in order to conceive a child. Bulma knew that her parents had spent thousands of leshroi on four attempts in vitro fertilization before she had been conceived.

Bulma knew her parents loved her, but sometimes she felt as if she were being smothered by them. They showered her with material and goods and made certain that she had every advantage. She was their beloved princess and they treated her like one.

Elanae, her best friend, once told Bulma that she couldn't believe she wasn't the usual spoiled and whiny child. Bulma was kind, sensitive, angel like; almost mushy actually. She shed tears over sad songs and wounded animals. When she was a child, she had cried endlessly for hours after Yamcha had scraped his knee on the pavement near her house. After seeing the crimson liquid that drained down his knees, she screamed for help. The two became friends by a simple kiss on the cheek after he was cured. Not a passionate kind of love, but a child kind of fondness.

Now, looking back, she suspected that what had happened to her when she was five contributed mightily to the person she had become.

Her mother stiffened and a worried frown settled over her face. Now that the words were finally released, Bulma could see just how much her headaches and blackout were affecting her mother. “That's why we're doing all this testing,” her mother said softly. “I personally believe two things are related. They told us then they were sure they had gotten it all.” Her mother affectionately stroked Bulma's long, silky cerulean locks. “Let's talk about something else and let these tests do the work. No use in making up scenarios. Are your friends preparing for the Harashi festival?”

Bulma was disappointed. She wanted to continue on the discussion about her illness, but it was clear her mother didn't. But perhaps her mother was right. Why get all worked up before the results? “They left this morning. I'd give anything to be with them.”

“I wish you were, sweetie.”

Bulma's doctor had suddenly entered the doorway. “How are you?”

“Fine,” Bulma smiled. Not really.

Dr. Lesto was a tall man with a head of black hair with small threads of gray. He was wearing a lab coat, the pale color toned with his emerald irises. “I'm just out of surgery,” he said. “I wanted to check on you, to see if the medication I gave you was working.

“It's doing a good job.” Bulma had been taking special pills for the aching headaches. She was glad that no serious injury had inflicted upon since then.

“Maybe Bulma could just take a prescription of the pills and it would straighten her out,” her mother suggested.

“We have to know the exact cause of the headaches,” Dr. Lesto said. “Unless we know why her head aches, the pills will only be a temporary fix. I'll have more information after results of today's work.”

“When can I go home?”

“Not for another few days.”

“I hate this place.” Bulma was frustrated.

“Food getting to you?” He smiled.

“This whole place is,” Bulma replied with a quiet sigh.

The doctor patted her arm. “Not much longer.” He faced Valira. “I have her old records from when she was five and I've gone over them. Unfortunately, the doctor who treated her then is deceased.”

“Dr. Silthis was a helpful doctor. He operated, drained the tumor, and said he thought she would be fine.” Her mother's voice sounded challenging, as if daring Dr. Lesto to contradict the other doctor's diagnosis.

“Yes, Bulma had low-grade astrocytoma.”

Bulma hated their talking around her, as if she were a young child once more. She remembered that nightmare all too well. She hadn't understood what was happening to her, but she'd never forget the terror from the shots and IVs and being separated from her parents during the X-rays, surgery, and recovery in ICU. But Bulma recovered fully, up until now had led a perfectly normal life with an uncomplicated future.

“The headaches aren't the same,” she told the doctor and her mother. “Before, when I was little, I mostly had dizzy spells and fell down often.”

“She had a seizure,” her mother confirmed. “We rushed her to the emergency room. But this time it seems different.”

“No use speculating,” Dr .Lesto said. “We'll have some answers soon enough.”With that, he left, leaving Bulma on her own to deal with her fears.

Eventually, her session in radiology was complete and she returned to her room. By now it was late afternoon and pale spring sunlight slanted through the window. Her father, Mateo, was waiting when they arrived. “How's my girl?”

Bulma hugged him lovingly. “Bored. I didn't expect you here so early.”

“I couldn't concentrate at the lab, so I came over.”

Bulma could observe the look that passed between her parents. “Any news?” her father's gaze asked. “Nothing yet,” her mother's eyes answered.

“Did you bring me these flowers?” Bulma asked, wanting to distract them.

“I brought those.” He pointed to a huge spring bouquet with unique assorted flora. “I don't know who sent the rest.”

Bulma picked up the single scarlet rose, impressed by the softness of the petals. Opened the card and read the message:

Rendezvous: We shall both meet outside the parkette Wednesday morning.

Curious, she skimmed for a signature. None! Bulma took one more look at the fresh, garnet rose that was attached to the small card. Was it Yamcha? Bulma smiled to her self. But he would have at least signed the card. Seeing that her parents were still talking, she tucked the gift inside her knapsack, deciding whether or not to meet this stranger.

Bulma smiled as she glimpsed at her father's hug for Valira. This was the way she was used to seeing them. None of her friends' parents acted as much in love as hers did. When her friends complained about parents who argued and threatened divorce, Bulma could only listen, glad that her parents' relationship was different.

“I've made arrangements to have dinner at The Red Palacia,” Her father said.

“Sounds great!” Bulma was excited to spend time with her family once more.

Within an hour, the delicious food was placed on their table. Each sat in peace and quiet, enjoying the exclusive taste of the restaurant while eating by the gentle, golden glow of the candlelight. Mateo talked about his current lab experiment, and the newest member of the lab team to join them. He mentioned Bulma being in the place of that person one day, to finally graduate as a scientist with her ultimate intelligence.

At the end of the meal, they each opened a kisho. Laughing, they read the strips of paper aloud. Bulma's mother was informed that she would be showered with riches; her father that he was wise and admired.

Bulma pulled out the fortune tucked inside her kisho and waves of quivers crept through her nerves as she read the words on the paper. A change is approaching. Be well prepared.

~*~*~*

Translations:

Kisho- Fortune cookie

Leshroi - Type of currency