| The Passing |
| The house started to permeate with the wonderful smells of Linhe�s cooking. Toma sat straight up in his bed, �It�s Sunday, and mom is making�sniff�her spaghetti sauce�yessssssss.� He drifted out of bed following his nose to the kitchen. Raditz and Akira followed right behind Toma, also awakening from the wonderful aroma. Zelena was already in the kitchen from the moment she heard the first pan hit the stove. They loved Sundays, for that�s the day when the princess would make a huge meal � the only big one for the week. Throughout the week it was either order out, go out, or something she would just throw together. Her job was so demanding which left little time to prepare a proper meal. �Oh mom, it�s been so long since we�ve had your spaghetti. You�re the best.� Toma said and kissed his mother on the cheek. She smiled warmly at him, but he saw something in her eyes that he just could not identify � sadness? Pain? The look in his mother�s eyes was killing him. �Mom? Are you okay?� Hearing the concern in his son�s voice, Raditz quickly bolted to her side. �What�s wrong princess?� He asked urgently. He searched her body to detect the small Ki within her. Satisfied that he still sensed it he waited patiently for an answer. �I�m fine you guys, I just feel a little strange.� She shrugged her shoulders, turned around, and continued with the task at hand. Feeling their concerned gazes boring deep into her, she turned back around, �Honestly guys, I�m okay.� She finished preparing the sauce, and now it would simmer for hours driving everyone crazy for the remainder of the day until dinner. Linhe started cooking her family the big Sunday breakfast. As she finished and started to serve them, she felt a strange cramp in her abdomen. She stopped and took in a deep breath. She waited for the pain to subside, and finished piling the food on the table then called her family in to eat. <><><><><> Raditz, Akira, and Zelena went up to the main house to get away from the aroma that gnawed at them like a rabid animal. Bulma greeted them at the door, and she smiled knowing exactly why they were there; to get away from the scent. Vegeta rounded the corner, saw the newcomers, scowled, but then he smelled the sweet fragrant of food. �Humph. I see that mate of yours is cooking.� He growled, but was secretly envious for he only wished Bulma could cook so well. �You�re silly uncle Vegeta. You guys know you�re invited. Mom always invites you guys.� Zelena said with a snicker. Vegeta gave her a throaty growl for calling him silly. The smirk quickly disappeared from her face. �Hey Vegeta, wanna spar?� Raditz asked trying to get his mind off of his mate, for he was deeply concerned about her. This pregnancy was way different from the last two, and now her saying that she felt strange worried him. He saw Vegeta shrug and followed him out the gravity room. �Where�s Toma? He�s always the first one here.� Bulma said with a smirk. �I don�t know, it feels like he�s still at the house.� Akira answered, but didn�t think anything more about it. �So is Trunks up yet?� �Nope, he and Bra have not stirred yet. Why don�t you two go get those lazy bones out of bed, huh?� Bulma watched them run up the stares, per her advice. <><><><><> Still not convinced that his mother was alright, Toma decided to stay close by. `Akira�s the pre-med student but I�m the one here.� He sighed and continued to watch over his mother protectively. She finished doing the dishes, and turned around to see her worried son. �I�m alright sweetie. Why didn�t you go with the others?� She said calmly, trying to relax her son. �Oh, I just didn�t feel like it. I have a report due tomorrow and thought I would get it done. Besides, I want to inhale my favorite dinner.� He smiled back, trying to hide the lie. He was still worried, the look he saw earlier made him down right frightened. �Alright Toma-chan. I�m going to go lay down for a while. Will you stir the sauce once a while for me?� He nodded, watched her pad her way to the staircase, and waited till she was out of sight before he let out the anxious breath. He feared that she would insist on him leaving and was relieved that she did not. He just had to make sure she was going to be alright. The fact that she was going to take a nap just compounded his worry. After a while he silently crept into his parents room. He sat in the chair that was adjacent to the bed and watched protectively over his sleeping mother. <><><><><> After dinner, Linhe went up to take a long hot bath. Zelena was spending the night at Bra�s house, which left Raditz, Toma, and Akira alone in the living room. �Toma, you�ve been acting strange all day. Is there something wrong? I mean you barely left your mother alone and you even helped her with the dishes. What�s that all about?� Raditz asked. �Dad, you didn�t see that look in her eyes this morning. I know she says everything is alright, but that look� � His voice trailed off for affect. Akira�s interest was peaked for he has been worried about exams coming up that he didn�t even pay attention. Raditz was concentrating on something, and he decided to go and check on his mate. He quietly opened the door to their bathroom and poked his head in. His heartbeat was racing with the anticipation of wanting to know if she was alright. He saw her in a shroud of bubbles that came right up to her chest barely covering her breasts, and not covering her swollen belly that housed the 5 month old. Sensing someone in the bathroom with her, she opened her eyes. �Hey you.� She smiled warmly at him. He entered the bathroom and leaned against the sink with his arms crossed over his muscle bound chest. �Alright Linhe, your son is concerned that something is wrong with you. I too sense something is not right so out with it.� He said briskly. �Oh good grief, not you too. I had to take a bath to escape Toma. Where can I go to escape you?� she answered teasingly. �Seriously Raditz, I�m alright.� He watched her face go from trying to be convincing to forlorn. His eyebrows raised, and he went over to the side of the tub. He knew she would tell him, for they kept no secrets from each other. �I�m scared Raditz. This pregnancy is so different from the others. I keep having sharp pains, and� � a tear fell from her eyes, he winced at the pain he saw in them. �Did I ever tell you how Vegeta�s and my mother had died?� He took her hand that was laying on her chest, and brought it up to his mouth waiting for her to continue. �You do know that she died when I was two, but you don�t know how.� Her heart was aching at the memory. �My father later told me how. She died in her 5th month of pregnancy.� His eyes widened. Fear started to show in his face. 5th month, third pregnancy, he pieced together. �Something horribly went wrong. The baby died, and she started hemorrhaging. Of course with their primitive practices she could not be saved.� More tears slid down her face. �I�m not worried about dying, I�m worried that I�m losing our baby.� The words struck him with such force it knocked the wind out of him. The thought of losing one of his children was horrible enough, but the thought of losing her was just unbearable. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He stuck both of his arms into the water and put them underneath her. He gently picked her up out of the water, and put her to a standing position where he grabbed a towel and wiped her off. Then he picked her back up, carried her over to their bed and pulled the covers over her. He climbed in beside her and she scooted as close as she could to him. �Tomorrow we will go to the doctors and everything will be okay.� He said trying to convince himself, she nodded in agreement and buried her head further into his chest. <><><><><> Raditz sat straight up in bed, sensing something horrible was happening. He looked at the clock and saw that it was 1:00 a.m. Then he quickly looked beside him to find that his mate was not there. He jumped out of the bed, and was panicking trying to find out where she was. He heard her moaning in the bathroom, which was still dark. He quickly headed towards the open door feeling something wet under his feet. Not caring he rushed into the bathroom, flicked on the light and saw her clutching at her stomach. Blood was pouring from her like a faucet. �OH KAMI. NOOOOOOOOOOO!� He screamed and lunged at her not knowing what to do. He picked her up, and ran over to the balcony doors where he kicked them with such force that it shattered the glass and splintered the wood. He flew out into the night carrying his beloved as tears streaked down his face. Toma and Akira heard their father yell and they rushed in to see him disappear into the night. They saw the blood, which was everywhere, and knew something happened to their mother. Their hearts beating with such ferociousness as they took off after their father. <><><><><> Vegeta woke with a start. It took him awhile to focus, for he was still in bliss from the heavenly meal at Linhe�s. `I still think she drugs the food� he thought grumpily. Something woke him, but he just didn�t know what it was. He got out of bed, and walked to Trunk�s room. His son was starting to stir from the sweet dream�s interference. �What�s going on? Is Bra and Zelena okay?� Trunks asked trying to shake off the sedation. Vegeta bolted from Trunk�s doorway, and went into Bra�s room. �Where�s Raditz�s brat?� asked a perturbed Vegeta, seeing the empty bed next to Bra�s. �Great I�ll never hear the end of this.� He mumbled something about losing Zelena and having to hear about it from Linhe. He snorted, then saw the window was open. He ran to the window and scanned the area for his niece�s Ki. He found it along with the rest of her family, and he took off out the window. Trunk�s and Bra followed suit after changing into some real clothes. <><><><><> At the hospital Goku, Gohan, Goten, Bra, Vegeta, Trunks, Toma, Akira, and Zelena waited impatiently for word of the princess. Although it was late Goku called Chi-Chi to tell her where they were. She said that she was going to pick up Bulma and Videl on her way to the hospital. This was a tight knit group, and if one was hurting they were all hurting. <><><><><> Raditz refused to leave his mate�s side even as they worked to stop the bleeding. He had to wear a gown and mask to prevent contamination. He growled when they tried to force him to leave, and made his point for them to save her and leave him alone. They had her sedated so she was unaware of the fact that they were removing the unborn child. Before cutting her open, they pleaded with Raditz to leave, he only glared at them and they continued on their work at hand. He never took his eyes away from Linhe�s face, never! After the procedure Raditz walked beside the gurney as they took her to a private room. The nurses worked around Raditz, knowing that he would not budge. They were frightened of the power that radiated from him, but they worked methodically just the same. �Sir?� a nurse said nervously. He turned his head to her slowly. �Um there is a huge crowd in the waiting room asking about your wife. Would you like us to tell them?� My wife? He thought that was so hysterical, but he just couldn�t laugh. `Silly humans, and their pathetic terminology�. �No, I�ll do it.� He said in a growl. She left the room quickly, and he returned his attention back to Linhe. His eyes were tearing, and he could no longer hold back. He shuddered from the memory of her prediction. He kissed her softly, and quietly left the room. He walked out to the waiting room without lifting his head. Everyone jumped up from their seats to hear the news. A teardrop fell to the floor where he stood still face down as he told them about the unborn child, and continued on with Linhe�s health. He heard sniffling from some of the women, he didn�t know who and he didn�t look up for he felt like he was going to just crumble if he did. He made his way to the hospital doors and flew off into the night. He was in rage, pain, deep despair, and thankfulness. Raditz made his way to their home, and he entered through the now damaged balcony doorway. He lifted his head to see the macabre scene in front. Blood pooled in their bed, and trailed all the way to the bathroom. He slowly sank to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably for what seemed like hours. As he got himself under control he felt someone behind him. He knew who it was but chose to ignore the intruder. To get his mind off of things he stormed downstairs grabbed some cleaning solutions, rags, a bucket, and headed back to his room. The intruder was still there, just watching. Raditz ripped the sheets off of the bed, walked over to the balcony, never looking at the silent form that leaned in the corner with his arms crossed over his chest, and threw the sheets over the balcony then shot them with a Ki blast which vaporized the stained sheets leaving no trace of their existence. Satisfied with that done he walked back to start cleaning the blood that was everywhere. Vegeta does not know why he came, but he would rather be there then in the hospital. He never acknowledged Linhe as his sister, it just was not important to him. For the most part she left him alone, which makes her presence tolerable. He took in a deep breath of air as he scanned the bedroom. It had looked like someone was massacred. He stood in the corner with his arms crossed, but the usual scowl was replaced by sadness. His mind was telling him that it could have been Bulma, and her being Vegeta�s unedited life, would die if something happened to her. Raditz didn�t know why Vegeta was there, nor did he care. He was glad it was he and not someone else, for anyone other than Vegeta would try and tell him everything would be alright. He did find comfort in having someone with him. Vegeta forever stunned Raditz, and he could not believe what the seemingly uncaring Saiyan did next. Vegeta walked into the bathroom and started scrubbing the floors, until there was not a spot left. Then he went into the bedroom to help Raditz clean the carpet. They both worked feverously to get the already soaked stains out. Raditz got out a clean set of sheets and proceeded to remake the bed. When they were finished, Raditz put the cleaning paraphernalia back in its proper place. Her kitchen was dark, and he felt safe here. He wanted to be with her, but knew the others were probably in the room silently sitting by her bed watching. The thought of her in that hospital bed made him grab a seat at the kitchen, he laid his head in his crossed arms and allowed the onslaught of tears to overcome him. He felt a strong reassuring hand on his shoulder. No words were spoken, and they stayed that way for a few minutes. Raditz finally lifted his head, tilted it up and just roared. The comforting hand never left his shoulder, but only tightened its grip. �Why Vegeta?� Raditz said as he gained composure. �I can�t keep from thinking that she is gone too.� <><><><><> Toma, Zelena, and Akira walked in their dark quiet house. They sensed their father was there and shockingly, Vegeta as well. Knowing the two were in the kitchen, they decided it was best to leave them be. They headed off towards their rooms, when they felt the two older Saiyan�s had taken flight. The kids were miserable and decided to hang out in the living room to provide each other with silent comfort. Trunks, Bra and Goten came through the front door to see their cousins sitting around the room, and they too went to provide comfort and be comforted. Trunks pulled Zelena to him, and stroked her hair while she silently cried. Bra�s head was on his shoulder looking distraught. The boys sat in chairs opposite the couch and stared down at the floor. The aroma of yesterday�s meal still wafted through the air, which brought a tear to Toma�s eyes. <><><><><> Vegeta went back home to be with his mate, while Raditz continued to the hospital. Chi-Chi was sleeping not so soundly in Goku�s arms on the couch, Gohan and Videl were snuggled together in an oversized chair both had their eyes closed but weren�t asleep. Vegeta silently passed them and went straight to his room. Bulma was in bed already, but not asleep. He quietly laid down beside her and pulled her close to him. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and whimpered softly in his chest. <><><><><> `Good she hasn�t woken yet.� Raditz thought as he silently crept into her room. He found a little room on the side of her bed, and he moved into it not wanting to be too far from her. He inhaled her scent, matching it with the permanent scent that has been engraved on his soul. His eyes were bloodshot, and stinging from the tears that he had been shedding. He closed them, and soon fell asleep with her in his arms. <><><><><> A few months had passed and the entire gang was at a get together at the Brief�s-Vegeta house. It was a beautiful, clear day. Normally there would be sparring, swimming, and chase games in progress, but not today. Although everyone was chatting away, there was still a sense of melancholy. This was the first time Goku, Raditz, and Vegeta�s family had gotten together since the loss, and it was their way of uniting together to mourn the first passing of one of their own. |