We just sat there on the peaceful beach. We didn't even need to talk to know what each other was thinking. We both knew what loss felt like.

The smooth waves lapped at my bare feet, my sandals had been thrown off a couple minutes ago, and I relaxed, on the outside, though tears still fell down my face. But inside, I was screaming. No one could help me, I was alone. I wasn't the kind of person to open up to just anyone.

"When did your mother die?" I asked softly, I just had to know.

Vegeta looked away from me, and I could tell it was hard for him to open up to *anyone*. I almost didn't expect an answer from him.

"My...my mother died when I was about four years old," Vegeta started. "And my bakayaro father didn't even *care*. He just waved his hand, and they took her away."

I nodded. How horrible...my father had always respected and loved my mother deeply.

"She died when my father struck her for talking back to him. She wanted for me to have a peaceful life, spared from the pain she knew I would endure if I ever became a warrior, and she was right. She wanted me to wait to learn to fight until I absolutely had to."

"That's terrible...why haven't you ever told me?"

"Because it was kept secret from everyone, except the witnesses. Everyone believed she killed herself, even me. I didn't know the truth until my father told one of his advisors, and I was eavesdropping. I believed that my very own *mother* didn't love me enough to stay alive and with me." Vegeta shook his head, and he looked angry, but when I saw his eyes, I saw that he was sad.

"I am so sorry." What else could I say? And I thought *I* felt pain! If that happened to me at four years old, I wouldn't have been able to go on.

"It...it happened such a long time ago. My father is an asshole. I hope he is rotting in hell right now," Vegeta swore slowly and quietly.

I looked back over the ocean silently, mulling all of it over. Vegeta's own father had killed his mother and didn't even care. I couldn't imagine feeling the pain after thinking that she had killed herself. Vegeta was so closed off, and it was no wonder he didn't trust anyone!

I wasn't sure what to do or say. There was nothing I could do to make him feel better, at all. I guess that I just took a big chance, I was delerious anyway, so what the hell?

I sat down next to him and kissed him. He was surprised at first, but after he got over it, I was really suspicious, he was too good a kisser to only have been with *me*!

~*~

By the time we made it back to the hospital, Lela was in hysterics. She met us outside the hospital, practically screaming.

"Bulma! Your mother, she...she is slipping!" She yelled, and I felt an enormous dark cloud slide over my once-good mood. I ran as fast as my human legs could take me to room 206, where doctors were busily checking clipboards and computer screens.

"Mother! Mother, don't leave me!" I cried, tears streaming down my flushed face. Vegeta and Lela burst in, I guess my sudden take off had startled them, obviously.

"Bulma...I-I-love you," Mother whispered, chest heaving with effort. She kissed my forehead gently. "You are my little Princess."

I smiled softly and spoke my very last words to her, the exact same as I had said with my father.

"I am no Princess, Mommy, just a normal girl."

"But you are, Bulma! You are...in time, of course," Mother said, and she closed her eyes for the last time.

I let out a scream and grabbed her wrist frantically. She was gone...gone, and she had left me behind, alone. I was a family of one now, by myself. I had barely known my mother, and she slipped through my very fingers, like everything else I had ever had and loved.

I kissed her gently on the forehead and retreated from the room in tears, leaving the last thing I had been holding onto behind.

My old self.

~*~

I know, I am sick of writing sad chapters, too! But don't worry, she won't be like this for the rest of the story! Hehe, anywayz, tell me what ya think!! Methinks that Bulma's mother dying is kinda building her character more....but that is just me! Ja ne, and I hope to hear from you!

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Chapter 34