by : Saiyajin Furnace
Two familiar figures walked on the scorching road. The sun was blazing wildly and there hardly was any wind. It was a terribly hot day, just perfect for a day at the beach. Krillin wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Goku raised his hand over his eyes and squinted over the horizon.
"Are you sure we should invite him, Goku?" Krillin asked. "I mean…"
He stopped and looked at a surprised Goku. Krillin waved his hands about, "Heck, you know what I mean."
Goku resumed walking again.
"Remember, Krillin, it’s not Vegeta’s fault that he turned out this way, okay?"
"Then whose fault is it?"
"Well look at who the heck raised him."
Krillin raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah."
What Goku said was true. Vegeta was evil, pure evil but he could never be blamed for his actions. He was raised by Frieza ever since he was a little boy. It looked more like an evil fairytale stepmother abusing a poor Cinderella. Goku turned to his bestfriend in puzzlement as Krillin giggled.
"What’s funny?"
Krillin stopped his giggling and smiled. "Ah, nothing, I was just thinking what kind of fatherly encouragement Frieza gave to Vegeta which made him this way."
Goku stopped in his tracks and looked at Krillin. Then he began to giggle too. Then laugh. He laughed so loud Krillin had to yell at the top of his voice to call out to him.
"Now what’s so funny, Goku?"
Goku tried to laugh softer, then spoke between giggles, "I just can’t imagine Frieza as a father, but a mother will do!" And with that he laughed loudly again. Krillin was laughing too.
(Meanwhile, in the next dimension, Frieza hears this rude comment – "Those @#$%^!!! How dare they insult me like that!" Then thinks – "Hmm… but being a mommy, that’s not a bad idea.")
Goku and Krillin walked on, feeling so much better after having a good laugh. They could just easily have flown over to their destination, but they were afraid that it’d drain their energy. As if the hot boiling sun wasn’t draining it already.
Goku suddenly stopped and pricked his ears. Krillin stopped too.
"D’ya hear that, Krillin?"
"Yah, but what is it?"
"Sounds like crashing."
They quickly ran over to Bulma’s house and barely missed the flying pieces of furniture, which was darting from out the house, accompanied by the screams and swears of an angry blue-haired woman.
Goku stared in amazement, "What the heck is going on?"
Then they saw Vegeta slowly ascending from the house. He had his back to them and he looked like he was walking backwards towards the door. Then they saw a raging Bulma pushing the King while nagging unceasingly. Vegeta was screaming too.
"I’ve had enough of you, baka! I don’t even know why I married you in the first place!!"
Bulma pointed an index finger at his nose and kept pushing him out the door, "Don’t flatter yourself, we never even got married! I must be plain stupid to fall in love with you!!"
That hurt Vegeta. He couldn’t believe that a little fight involving his training could get this serious. He wanted so badly to say sorry, but somehow, he couldn’t.
"Ha! You said it yourself! You’re just plain stupid!"
Bulma slapped his face but he hardly even felt it. She then pointed out the door.
"Get outta my house, you @#$$%^!!!!"
"No problem! I can live without a @#$%^& like you!!"
Vegeta started stomping out on the front porch. Bulma yelled in after him.
"And don’t you ever come back again, you baka!"
Before Vegeta realized what he was doing, he yelled back angrily.
"Fine!"
Then he realized that he just agreed to being thrown out the house. He turned back to Bulma but she already slammed the door at his face. He was left standing there, like a dummy, speechless and shocked.
Goku and Krillin watched on, thinking whether it was best to reveal themselves or not. Then, much to their surprise, Vegeta suddenly gripped his hair and yelled furiously.
"Arrrgghhhh!!!!!"
The King then turned around and stomped out on the front lawn, boiling with rage. He shook his fists and gritted his teeth. The two onlookers stepped out of the bushes. Vegeta saw them.
"What the hell are you two doing here?!" He screamed out. The veins on his forehead started to swell.
Goku tried to explain, "We just came to…"
Vegeta spat on the ground before Goku had time to finish his sentence. The Saiyan Prince glared at him.
"What the hell are you looking at?!!!" He bellowed. He was so mad his eyes began to turn red.
Goku slightly shook his head, "Uh… nothing."
Vegeta stomped away, clenching his fists and cursing under his breath. As he departed, he suddenly turned Super Saiyan.
Krillin watched the departing hothead and scratched his head. "Man! That was some fight they had! Are you sure it’s okay to ask Bulma? I mean, after what’s happened to her?"
Goku turned towards the house, "Sure it’s okay! The invitation may even make her feel better!"
And with that, they knocked on the door, waiting.
Suddenly, the door flung open, and a small vase came flying out the door to hit Goku directly in the face. It crashed into his nose and he let out a big ‘yeow!’ Then clutched his injured nose.
Bulma was shocked to see them. She quickly ran to Goku and began fussing over his face, embarrassed and ashamed.
"Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Goku! I thought you were Vegeta!"
"Yeah, that proves your aim likewise." He slowly uncovered his nose and asked. "Is it bleeding?"
"No, oh gosh, but it’s all red. I’m so sorry, Goku, I didn’t know."
"Yeah, it’s alright."
Bulma invited them inside her house. Krillin and Goku looked around. The house was a disaster. Broken pieces of china, glass and fragile ornaments were scattered everywhere. A wooden chair lay broken on one corner of the room. This was some fight Bulma and Vegeta had. Bulma pretended not to notice.
"Make yourselves comfortable. Sit on the couch."
Krillin glanced at the couch. It was covered in shards of sharp broken glass.
"Uh, there are pieces of broken glass on the couch."
Bulma waved her hand innocently towards the floor.
"Then sit on the floor." She definitely does not know what she was saying.
Krillin made a face, "Uh, it’s also covered in broken glass."
Bulma turned red and bit her lower lip. "Well, then, do you want something to drink?"
She was obviously worried and upset. Goku saw that her mind was afar off. She had no idea what she was doing.
The goody-goody saiyan pretended not to notice the mess, "So, Bulma, how are you?"
She tried to lie, "I’m… I’m fine… just fine." As a trickle of tear ran down her cheeks, she quickly felt it and turned away, wiping it with her hand. Of course, Krillin and Goku saw. They felt sorry for her.
Goku continued on, "Uh… you see, it’s pretty hot weather outside and Master Roshi had this idea for a beach party over at his house, because it’s in the middle of the sea, you know. So, we thought that maybe you’d like to come over at Kame House and join the party?"
Bulma still had her back turned to them. She made sure her eyes were dry before facing them again and saying, "Sure, I’ll be there."
Goku smiled, nodding, "That’s great."
Suddenly, Chibi Trunks was heard crying in the nursery. Bulma immediately settled herself and went to her son. She came out again, holding her baby. C Trunks was looking innocently at the two visitors while sucking his thumb. Goku played with him and made him giggle.
"Aw, he’s so cute. I sorta miss having a baby again." Goku smiled, tickling C Trunks under the chin.
Bulma looked at her son, "You won’t miss it for long, I heard Chi-chi’s pregnant."
Goku smiled happily, "Yes, she is. And I have this feeling it’s a boy again. And if my feelings are right, I shall name him Goten." He said proudly.
"Well, we better get going." Krillin quickly put in. He felt uncomfortable and longed to get out of the house.
Bulma looked down, "Bye. Thanks for inviting us."
Vegeta stormed along the road, still in his SSJ1 form. He was heavily upset and angry. But he was also in much grief. He loves Bulma so much, but unfortunately, something always manages to make them fall apart – like his temper for instance. His eyes started to felt irritated and a small tear began to form and slide down his cheek. He roughly wiped it away. He was crying because he hurt his wife, his Bulma, the one and only creature in the whole entire universe that he ever cared about and he blamed himself for it. He knew she was crying as well, she always does whenever they fight and he felt even more depressed at the thought. He and Bulma always had fights, but they were the kind when they forget about it afterwards and get back together again. But this fight was the worst. Somehow, a little argument about his training exploded into a war. And now he was thrown out of the house.
Vegeta was so deep in thought that he didn’t notice Future Trunks pass him by. F Trunks pretended to ignore him but turned when they were quite far apart. He was utterly surprised to see his father erupting, in his SSJ form and wiping wet tears that were uncontrollably gushing from his eyes. He then realized what happened.
"They had a fight again," He thought and then continued on his way to his mother’s house.
Goku and Krillin strolled down the walk, wiping their foreheads.
"Master Roshi’s a genius. I’ve always wanted to do something when it gets this hot. But I never came up with a good idea. This day’s meant to have a Beach Party." Krillin remarked.
Goku squinted his eyes at the sun. "Yeah, who’s going anyway?"
"Oh, almost everybody you know. But I’m not sure if Chaotzu and Tien are coming. They said that they weren’t sure they’d make it."
He suddenly stopped and shaded his eyes to peer at the horizon. He could see a tall figure approaching them.
Krillin watched him intently and then looked at the direction he was facing. He spied the figure – tall, masculine, purple-haired… saiyan.
"It’s Trunks!" Krillin said.
They kept on walking until they reached the Prince.
"Hey," Goku greeted, "Lighten up, this day’s meant to have smiley faces."
Trunks did not respond but turned his head towards the direction of the sea. He wanted so badly to ask Goku about his parents, but he did not.
Krillin inserted his hands in his pockets. "So, where yah going?"
"Where you came from," Trunks answered blankly.
Goku shifted a little bit. "Oh," He looked at Krillin who looked back at him and bit his lip.
"Uh… Trunks, I think it’s best not to see your parents now."
"I’m not going to see them, I just want to get a Dragonradar."
"What for? You’re collecting the Dragonballs?"
Trunks nodded his head.
"For what? What are you going to wish for?"
Trunks didn’t answer. He just turned and went away.
Krillin stared at the departing teenage saiyan. "Not much of a conversationalist, is he?"
"Oh well," Goku replied, "Most of the people here aren’t anyways."
Everyone appeared at the party, even Chaotzu and Tien. Yamcha came in his black swimming shorts and in one muscular arm he carried a surfboard. He lost no time in running straight to the tides, screaming in delight. He accidentally splashed Oolong, who had been eating unceasingly on a beach mat.
"Hey!" The pig yelled in annoyance. He grabbed a paper towel and wiped himself.
Puar was making a giant sandcastle with Gohan and Dende. The little Namek was overjoyed. He liked this planet. He accidentally dropped a pile of wet sand on Gohan’s head when he tried to place it on top of the sandcastle tower. Gohan yelled in surprise and then shook his head to rid it of the itchy brown sand.
"Oh, sorry," Dende apologized. But he could not help laughing. His laughter was smothered when a big ball of wet sand hit his face. He could hear Gohan laughing as he wiped it away. Very soon a sand fight began. Puar was horrified. He had thought he had made such a nice sculpture and he looked worriedly as the two young friends circled around it, threw sand at each other and dodged behind the castle.
Chichi called over to her son, "Now, Gohan, dear! Don’t go hurting yourself!"
She turned to Bulma who was sitting with her on a beach mat, under the shade of a beach umbrella, "Are you sure you’re alright?"
Bulma sighed and then replaced a fallen hat back on Chibi Trunks’ head. "Yeah, I think I can handle this." She glanced over to her husband. "I just wish that this’d get over soon. I just can’t live without him."
Chichi yelled over to her son again, "Gohan! Now don’t get all dirty!" She turned back to Bulma. "Well, you know how it goes – ‘you only hurt the one you love…’"
"The one you shouldn’t hurt at all." Bulma finished. She glanced at Vegeta again.
He looks so alone. She thought. Oh what have I done? I don’t know whose fault this fight is, I know it’s not mine, but I can’t say it’s his either.
She ran after C Trunks who had crawled towards the sand fight and carried him in her arms.
"Anyone for lemonade?" Master Roshi announced, coming out of the Kame house. He was holding a tray of glasses and a pitcher of lemonade, which suddenly disappeared. He surprisingly looked at the empty tray and at his visitors. Everyone was already gulping down the juice.
"Wow, that’s a whole new record. I didn’t even hear the glass tinkle." He saw Goku drinking from the pitcher itself. "He even uses Instantaneous Movement in eating." He sighed and went back inside the house.
Tien and Chaotzu flew towards a surfing Yamcha.
"I can surf without a board, see?" Tien clowned around, trying to walk on water.
Yamcha grinned at him, "So can I!" And with that, he levitated from his board and clutched it quickly so it wouldn’t be swept away.
"So what’s the board for then?" Chaotzu asked.
"Hey," Yamcha declared indignantly, "I bought it, I might as well use it."
Krillin floated on top of the water, humming to himself. "What a beautiful life I live." He murmured. "Now all I need is a wife, some children and then I’m set."
Piccolo sat on the roof, meditating. A sandball suddenly smashed into the side of his head and distracted him. He knew who it was before looking.
"Gohan," He said vexed, "Stop that."
He knew the only person who would dare to do that was Gohan. The saiyanjinn grinned and waved his hand at Piccolo.
"Well, okay, Piccolo-san, but honestly, you shouldn’t spend the day like that, come down here and join us."
Piccolo resumed his meditation, "I have better things to do than build statues out of sand."
Vegeta stared ahead, unblinking. He was sweating terribly in his armor. He watched the sun slowly make its way to the rim of the sea. He then placed one of his hands on the rock he was sitting on. He had no idea why he came – perhaps it was because he thought he should, or was it because Kakarot was insisting on it? He had met Goku when he was walking around aimlessly, and the good-hearted saiyan nagged him until he said yes. He took a quick glance at his wife. He closed his eyes and wrinkled his forehead. Is she still mad at me? He glanced at her again and saw her playing with their son. His heart melted. This is my family I’m staring at, he thought. They are the only reason I have to live. The only ones who ever cared for me. He turned towards the sea again and clenched his fists. But look at me, I’m like a stranger to them.
He hung his head in depression. @#$$%!!! He swore. I wish I’d have the nerve to go up to her and apologize. But he couldn’t.
He was suddenly enveloped in a shadow. He looked up and saw Goku, watching him.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Kakarot? Why aren’t you over there, stuffing your face?"
Goku understood his bad temper. "They pushed me out, they said I almost ate the table the food was on." He sat on the rock beside Vegeta and watched the setting sun.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?" He admired. Vegeta gave a ‘hm’ for an answer. Goku chatted on.
"Did we have views like this in our homeplanet?"
Vegeta kept his eyes on the sun. "No, our planet was a dead wasteland. Nothing to see but death and debris."
"That’s sad. But I still want to know what it feels like to live there." Goku was talking like a child.
Vegeta turned to him, "No you don’t. You’re happy here. You got a wife, a brat and you’re gonna be getting another one."
"Are you happy here, Vegeta?"
No answer but the King turned back at the sun.
"You got a lovely wife and a son too." Goku went on.
Vegeta looked him in the eye and then gazed at his family. He is happy here. He found one thing that he knew he could never find on Planet Vegeta - Love.
Goku smiled at him and left.
Vegeta stayed gazing at his family.
Bulma glanced at her husband. He’s looking at me. She thought and then placed C Trunks’ sunhat on his head again.
Oh god, she thought. I love him so much. What I wouldn’t give to be able to hold him again. She suddenly stopped.
"What the heck am I thinking?!" She said to herself. "Why am I being so selfish? I expect him to come to me and apologize?! I should be taking the first step! How stupid I am! Sulking here, wishing this and that, when I definitely can do something about it!"
She carried her son and shook the sand off his clothes. She slowly marched up to her husband.
Vegeta was sitting there, watching her until she was in front of him.
"Vegeta," She said, uneasily, "I’m sorry. I always wanted you to apologize, even when it’s also my fault."
Vegeta looked up at her, no response. Bulma felt worried. What if he’s still mad at me? She thought.
Suddenly, he swooped her up in his arms and kissed her. He then hugged her so hard her breath quickened.
"Vegeta," She said, "You’re squishing our son."
Vegeta stepped back and smiled. He looked at his son, who was rubbing his eyes at him. He carried C Trunks in one arm and wrapped the other around Bulma’s shoulders.
"You don’t need to apologize." He said, "I’ve already forgiven you even before you did. I just hope you’ve already forgiven me."
Bulma was overwhelmed. Tears began to form in her eyes. She hugged him.
"I was never mad at you. I was mad at myself for hurting you. You do know that I never meant what I said, right?" She asked.
Vegeta smiled. That was exactly what he was feeling. He hugged his wife again.
"Well, whaddyah know," Goku said, watching the King, Queen and Prince happily reunited at last. "I knew they’d work it out."
Chi-chi tugged at his pants. "I saw you talking to Vegeta, you sweet-darling. I’m positive you were trying to help him."
Goku blushed and scratched his head. "Well, yeah, I was, but it’s up to him if he’s going to listen or not. I guess he listened after all."
"You can sweet talk your way into anyone." Chi-chi said admiringly.
Goku sat down beside her. "Yeah? Well then, I’m sure I can sweet talk you into giving me a kiss?"
Chi-chi smiled, moving closer to him, "Yeah sure." Just as their lips were about to meet, a sandball suddenly smacked both of them in the face. Chi-chi sputtered in anger.
"What the…" She looked at the culprit. "Gohan!"
Gohan ran along laughing. "Sorry, mom! Didn’t mean to hit you! It was meant for dad!"
Goku heard and ran after him. "Oh yeah? Well, you’re messing with the wrong saiyan!" And with that, he zoomed at lighting speed, forming sandballs and hitting Gohan, Puar and Dende unceasingly.
"Hey!" Dende cried out, "I didn’t do anything!"
Puar glanced at his creation. The sandcastle was destroyed.
"Oh, woe is me! My efforts are…" He was splatted on the face with another ball.
Gohan laughed and shielded his face as the sky rained sandballs on them.
Future Trunks ambled along, holding the bag, which contained the seven Dragonballs. He summoned up the Dragon.
"Yes, what is your wish?" Shenron asked.
Trunks looked up at him. "Wish the big fight my parents has is all settled."
Shenron shook his green head, "That wish cannot be granted."
Trunks jumped up, "Why?"
"Because it’s already solved."
Trunks looked up at the dragon. It hurt and embarrassed him to see his parents acting like teenage lovers so he decided to do something about it. But he had done all that for nothing. He sat down and sighed.
"So, do you have another wish?" The impatient dragon asked.
Trunks sighed again and then frustratingly waved his hands about. All that trouble for nothing.
"I wish I’d mind my own business."
THE END