Vegeta does't even turn to acknowledge the presence that stood behind him as a certain young god approached.
"Vegeta."
Vegeta only continues into another uncontrollable round of sobs. "Go away brat....*sniff* my pride has been broken enough... *sob* I don't need your sympathy!"
Dende gulps, and tugs nervously at his puffy colar. "I think I know a way you can save Bulma..."
Vegeta turns to Dende, face red and eyes still watery. He whipes his eyes and sniffles. "N...Nani?"
"We may perhaps beable to save Bulma, but it's.... somewhat difficult."
Vegeta frowns, regaining his remaining dignity. "Hmmph, what is it?"
Dende hesitates to allow Vegeta to straighten himself up a little more then spoke. "You have to go and retreive her soul in heaven, but in order to do that you can only be there for a short time or you too will die."
Vegeta gets ready to reply, but Dende interrupts.
"But even if you find her soul, there's no way of healing her body."
Vegeta blinks. "Hmph. I'll do it..."
"But."
"Saiyan blood is immune to cancer you baka!"
Something clicked in the young god's head. "Perhaps I can exchange some of your life essance into her to revive her long enough to...."
Vegeta smirks while sniveling lightly. "See, now your thinking."
Dende's face brightens. "Oh course! Why didn't I think of that!" The young god slaps himself upside the head with a laugh. "Of course! It all works now! Come Vegeta, take my hand and we can go to Enma where he awaits our arrival!"
Vegeta nods and takes Dende's hand as he began to disappear into a flash of light, taking Vegeta with him.
Vegeta doesn't realize that before he can go into heaven, he must be purified...meaning that he must be forgiven.~~~~~1 day passes~~~~~
Trunks stood before a full body mirror, dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie including his black dress shoes. He had wished never to be prepared for this. His mother was still far to young to have died such a cruel and unforgiving death such as lukemia. What made it worse was that his father had disappeared and hadn't show neither hide nor hair of himself since his mother's death. He watches as his best friend Goten walked in and slung an arm around his shoulders.
The 15 year old Goten didn't have a big smile like he normally did. He looked just like his father, hair spiked out in all directions, yet... he no longer had that innocent smile.
Trunks leans against his best friend as he sobbed dryly, his tears long since dried up from crying so much.
Goten pats Trunks's back and leads him to the livingroom where family and friends awaited him. "G..gomen Trunks."
Trunks smiles weakly at his friend. "Don't apologize man, you had nothing to do with it. It just... happened because I guess it was her time. That's all..."
Goten nods and glances up at his taller father who wasn't smiling as usual either.
Without Bulma, everyone had lost a part of themselves... they all no longer smiled. It was the day of the funeral. Smiles were never present in a funeral...never...
~~~~~Enma's Office~~~~~
Vegeta stood before the enormous desk of Enma as Dende stood at his side with Piccolo standing nearby with his arms crossed as usual.
"Normally I'd never allow anyone to do this Vegeta, even for a man who used to be a ruthless killer such as yourself. But I've come to terms with Piccolo and Dende and after looking through your paperwork... *sigh* After all you've been through, me and my collegues have learned to forgive you for your sins. Your love for your family and friends has proven to us that you do have a heart and you are probably the only saiyan who's ever earned his way into heaven... not counting Goku of course. I know he's good."
Vegeta stood silent, yet impatient to once again see his mate.
"You may only enter heaven at one condition Vegeta. You are granted only a 5 minute total before you too will die, thus ending the whole idea of you saving Bulma and coming out of it alive. Even though your sins have been forgiven you must be purified before entering. Of course, you'll be yourself... your soul needs a little filtering though... Come this way Vegeta kun. Remain here Dende and Piccolo san and hopefully I'll return with good news."
The young god and namekan warrior Piccolo nod.
Vegeta could hardly wait to see her again, his heart was racing and he felt like dancing like an idiot because he was so happy. He knew he'd beable to find Bulma in time and return to Enma all before the 5 minutes were up, but this purifying thing. He didn't know what it was going to do to him while he was in heaven.
Enma stops at a golden doorway and allows Vegeta to stand at it's side. "Vegeta kun, your now going to undergo a purifying process. Remain still."
Vegeta watches as a sudden light enveloped him and suddenly he felt...strange... like as if 30 years were taken off his 50 years. He could feel so many different sensations suddenly coarsing through his very being and he wonders how he could have ever accually been forgiven after what he'd done. But he didn't need to ask, when he was forgive and told by the lord of the dead himself he definitely wasn't going to questions. The sensation finally died and he found the door to heaven open. He turns to the light as it enveloped him and he slowly entered. The light was incredibly warm against his skin and he had the urge to just lay down and bask all day, but he knew better. He shakes his head away from his pleasurable thoughts. Every second was counting... Seconds he could not waste. He flies through the brightness, searching and calling out to Bulma and what he found had him baffled.
There she stood, dressed in the finest of white silk, wings spread from her back and a golden halo hovering a few inches above her head. All her sickness was gone, she looked like she did when he first laid eyes on her. Young, sassy, beautiful and full of life. "Bulma... I can't explain now, but you have to take my hand."
Bulma turns to him eyes sparkling. "VEGETA!" She flew to him, throwing her arms around her beloved and kissing him full on the lips.
As much as Vegeta wanted to stand there and enjoy the kiss a little longer he knew he had to hurry. He took Bulma's hand and he flew as fast as he could to the gateway of heaven till at last it was just beyond his sight.
She couldn't believe it, Vegeta looked as young as she did now, he looked barely at the age of 20 even though his low saiyan ageing had preserved his youth. He still seemed younger than the 50 year old Vegeta she'd left upon her death. Bulma held tightly to Vegeta's hand as her halo and wings soon faded away as she approached the real word. She was blinded by light and she closed her eyes, hoping that all this wasn't just some, beautiful dream.
Vegeta had to hurry, the gate was closing and he suddenly flew at full speed, praying to god that he was fast enough... he couldn't die... his children...family....and friends were counting on him.
To Be Continued...