Status: Daily Updates

The Bond

The True Beginning

Katima moaned softly, trying to lift her head, but it ached too much to do so. Such pain… it covered her whole body, surely her entire skeleton was broken. She heard a voice from far off. For a moment she thought it was calling her name. Surely this was too painful to be death. A hand was on her shoulder, gently shaking her.

“…safe. You’re safe now. Katima…”

Katima moaned again, gritting her teeth, and managed to open her eyes. There were lights shining down on her from a white ceiling. She blinked a few times up at them. Maybe this was heaven.

“Katima!”

She turned and saw Gohan smiling at her. His head was bandaged and he had a cast on his arm, as well as a hospital gown on his torso.

“G-Gohan?” Katima sat up sharply.

“Whoa, easy!”

Katima turned to see Krillin on the other side of her, also pretty bandaged up, “Don’t move too fast, you have five broken ribs!”

Katima looked down at herself to see her torso bandaged heavily, and a cast on her right wrist. Wow. Those were her only injuries?

“What happened?” Katima asked, looking around herself.

She was in a hospital room, and in a strange machine to her left was Goku, smiling over at her. There was also a black-haired woman, a girl with blue hair, an old man with a staff, a small pig and a floating kitten.

“Okay, I must have a concussion,” she said, looking at the pig and kitten.

“Two,” said Krillin, laughing.

“What happened to Vegeta?” asked Katima, “If I’m alive… did he die?”

“Er,” Krillin turned red and glanced at Goku.

“We let him go,” said Goku shamelessly.

“What?!” Katima shouted, eyes bulging, “Are you kidding? You let that monster leave?!”

“He left in his space ship,” said Krillin, “Goku said to let him leave.”

“Why?” Katima looked at her brother with wide eyes, “Don’t tell me your nobility got to you!”

Goku frowned at her, “There is nothing wrong with showing mercy.”

“Yeah, tell him that when he comes back,” sighed Katima laying back in the bed.

“I don’t think he’ll be doing that in a hurry,” said Goku, “He was barely alive when he left. I think that’s why you’ve been out for so long. It’s been nearly a month.”

“A month?!” Katima’s mouth dropped open.

“Yeah, Gohan and I are ready to be out of our casts,” said Krillin, smiling, “And boy do we have news for you!”

“Can I get introductions first?” Katima asked, “Who are all these people?”

“That’s Chichi,” said Krillin, pointing at the black-haired woman, “She’s Goku’s wife, and Gohan’s mom. The old guy is Master Roshi-”

“Who are you calling old?” Roshi demanded, shaking his staff threateningly.

Krillin ignored him, “the pig is Oolong, and the cat is Puar. Yasurobi is around here somewhere, he’s the one who cut off Vegeta’s tail, and-”

“And I’m Bulma,” the blue-haired girl declared, smiling, “So you’re Goku’s sister? Yeah, I can see the similarities! It sure took you long enough to wake up.”

Katima wondered why it had. As soon as Vegeta was out of range, the bond should have stopped channeling pain. Perhaps Vegeta was in a coma, and she had been trapped in it with him. Strange.

“What news were you going to tell me?” she asked Krillin.

“Well, when Piccolo died, the Dragon Balls went with him,” said Krillin, “See, his other half is Kami, the Guardian of the Earth. Kami is the one who made the Dragon Balls, and if he dies, so do they.”

“Other half?” Katima asked, “Are they bonded?”

“Not like you and Vegeta,” said Krillin, “It’s much stronger than that. If one dies, so does the other. But anyway, we can’t use the Earth’s Dragon Balls to wish our friends back, the ones that died in the fight with the Saiyans. But here’s the good news!” Krillin beamed, “Kami’s assistant, Mr. Popo, told us about a planet called Namek, it’s where Kami and Piccolo came from!”

“That explains the green skin and pointy ears,” Katima said, “But what about it?”

“Namek has Dragon Balls,” said Krillin with a smile, “And we have a ship!”

“So…” Katima frowned, “You’re going to a distant planet to wish people back to life? That sounds pretty intense.”

“Actually,” said Krillin, blushing a bit, “We were hoping you could come. Bulma is going, she’s our pilot. I’m going and so is Gohan,” Katima saw Chichi scowl and guessed the mother was no excited about her son leaving, “And, we saw how well you can fight. We could use your help, since Goku needs more time to recover.”

Katima looked down at herself. Yes, her injures seemed close to being fully healed. And leaving to go to a planet in outer space? That sounded amazing to her. It would certainly be better than hanging out in the forest.

“How soon are we leaving?” she asked.

Gohan and Krillin cheered, “Thanks, Katima!” Gohan said, and looked over at his mother, “See, mom? My aunt will be with me! We’ll be fine! You should see her fight!”

“Girls shouldn’t be out fighting,” said Chichi sternly, “And neither should you!” she turned and stormed from the room.

“Don’t mind her,” said Goku, “Chichi worries too much.”

“It’ll be nice having another girl along,” said Bulma, smiling, “I’m glad you agreed! We’re leaving in a few weeks.”

“I’ll need to get a few things,” said Katima, looking out the window.

“That’s fine,” said Krillin, “I’ll go with you when you go, that way I can show you to Roshi’s house.”

*“scene change“*

Two weeks later, Katima climbed in through the window of her log home and looked around, frowning. Krillin hopped in behind her, eyes wide.

“You live here?” he asked.

“Perhaps not for long,” said Katima softly, “Now that I have a family, I may move to the city. But that we will have to worry when we return”

She went to her bedroom and piled clothing into the bag Chichi had given her. Her new sister-in-law wasn’t too terrible once Katima got to know her, and once Katima shared her worry for Gohan’s well being with her they practically became best friends. Katima had promised she would protect Gohan with her life.

“I think that should be enough clothing,” she muttered, and grabbed her hair brush other bathroom essentials, “Now, where is it?”

She went to her supply closet and found it, her music player, the one bit of technology she kept. It was made by Capsule Corp, Bulma’s father’s company, and so she rarely had to charge it. She placed it in her new sweater’s pocket. Bulma had taken her on a shopping spree for decent girl clothes, which Katima found rather ridiculous, but she had to admit, it beat wearing handmade tunics. Last, she grabbed her sword, something she had forgotten the fateful day she had chased after Vegeta and Nappa. She strapped the sheath across her back.

Turning to Krillin she smiled, “Okay, I think I have everything.”

“How long have you lived out here?” Krillin asked as they left the home, flying up in the sky to head for Roshi’s home.

“Most of my life,” said Katima, “So, you nervous about this journey?”

“Not too bad,” said Krillin, shrugging. He himself was hearing a sport’s jacket and a baseball cap, “I’ve been through much worse- but I got to say nothing that has taken me into space before.”

“I think this is exciting,” Katima’s eyes gleamed, “I’ve never truly had any adventures, until I met Vegeta.”

“Speaking of…” Krillin glanced at her, “Have you felt anything from him yet?”

“He’s alive,” said Katima, “I know that. But he’s still in a coma. Maybe he’ll just drift around in space forever.”

“I certainly hope so,” said Krillin softly.

Katima looked forward as they sailed out over the open ocean. Vegeta was still out there. And Katima had a feeling they would not have the luck that he would not come back to haunt them. She just hoped it wouldn’t be for a long time.
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Song for this Chapter: Someday by Nickelback