Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ….
Yaoi, you don't like m/m relationships…please don't read. Slight a/u not really, death, angst
Malicious
Breathe…breathe…just to remember to breathe. The room swirled a palette of colors. His stomach felt unsteady as the pit of it churned feeling like pure acid threatening to leave through his throat. He grabbed the wall or what he thought was the wall and leaned on it pressing his face to the cool surface. He was burning up. He felt as if his very skin were melting.
His fingers played mind games with him as he searched for the exit unsteadily, his hand gripping everything but the doorknob. His nose was on fire…the smell…it was horrible. He pinched his nose closed. The carpet was a mess of horrid red colors beneath his feet. The feet he was so desperately trying to get to leave the room. He finally backed into the door and quickly turned the knob.
Vegeta stepped out of his bedroom backwards, horror written on his face. He grabbed the doorknob and pulled it shut. Maybe if the door was closed he could forget what was behind it or, maybe if he ran out of this house what was behind that door would never exist.
He stood on the other side of the wooden frame just staring at it waiting…waiting for a voice on the other end, a voice that never came. He grabbed his hair and pulled at it roughly, messing up the normally perfect flame. What had he done? The question lingered on his mind. What had he done? Because he had no clue, he didn't remember.
On the other side of that door…was another world, a world he didn't understand, a problem that he didn't create. Or did he? He reached for the doorknob again, maybe it was a dream and if he opened the door everything would be ok. He was really to afraid to find out. His hand dropped from the knob as his feet messily stumbled backwards. He heard footsteps climbing the stairs in rapid succession. He forced his feet to stop moving backwards and begin going forwards.
Back to…the door…it was the closest room. He didn't want to go in, but he didn't want anyone to see him right now either, stepping back into that hell was his only choice. He opened it and fell inside the room kicking the door shut. He lay on the floor panting as if an attacker were behind him. His eyes clenched shut on the other side of the bed, was something, something horrible. Something he did! But he didn't remember doing it. So how was he sure he did it? A feeling of guilt knotted in his belly, that was how he knew. Or was it just intense fear he felt?
He heard the footsteps stop outside of his room and a knock came. He eyed the shadow of the person from beneath the slit in the door. He can't answer it, no. Vegeta's breath caught in the back of his throat. He scooted himself away, far away from the door and bumped right into…his nightmare. He shifted his head to the right looking at the horrid sight. Tears crept into his eyes. He loved this person, what had he done? Kakarott lay face down on the bloody carpet. His skin a pale grey and his eyes still open.
But the man was dead…
Vegeta flipped the body onto his back, the only cut was along his neck. He had slit Kakarott's throat, but why? He loved the man, he would never do that. He looked at the floor, all this blood, from only one cut. He tore his gaze away when another knock came and the feet by the doorway shifted in stance. He looked down at Kakarott. What was he going to do? He could never hide him, he would never get away with this. He should just tell everyone, besides he didn't know what he was doing…he didn't even remember.
He stood to his feet and wiped at his clothes. He glanced at himself in the mirror. He wasn't bloody at all. In fact it looked as if he had just taken a shower. The knock came a little harder this time and was attached to a worried voice that sent chills down his spine.
"Vegeta? Are you ok in there?"
The Prince froze in his spot on the floor terror gripping his heart. He had to be going insane. He pondered escaping from the window just to get away from this crazy house, but running away wouldn't help. He felt as though his heart was pounding right through his chest. He slid his hand across it just to try and calm it down. The doorknob turned and his mind began to race.
Millions of thoughts bombarded him, hide, run, go in the bathroom, move Kakarott's body. But he did none of those he just stood there as the door fanned open.
"Vegeta?" The man asked in a caring tone as he walked over to him.
All color drained from him as he looked at the other, his eyes wide with misunderstanding.
"Ka…Kakarott?" Vegeta lost feeling in his legs, but Goku caught him and held him straight.
"Yeah it's me Geta. What's the problem you seem really shaken up."
No, he thought. This can't be real. The room started spinning and his head started reeling. He is dead…isn't he? "Lets lay you down." Strong arms lifted him into the air and carried him over to the bed as Vegeta started to squirm. He didn't want to go near the bed the body was over there. Kakarott's body.
"No! Stop! I'm… I'm fine…" He said pushing his way out of Goku's arms. The taller saiyajin released him to stand on the floor. He kept glancing from the side of the bed to Goku. He wanted to scream, 'What the hell is going on?' But he just kept playing tag with his eyes, from floor to dead man walking.
"Vegeta what are you looking for?" Goku followed the gaze of the other to side of the bed. "Is something over there?"
"No!" He answered quickly, but it was ignored as the taller of the two walked over to the side of the bed.
Vegeta ran behind him grabbing his arm. "Don't, don't look!" Goku was confused. He turned to Vegeta and ran a hand through his hair. Then stepped out of the way to give him a view.
"There's nothing here." He pointed out. The Prince stood with his mouth agape. It was true, nothing was there. Not even a spec of blood. The carpet was it's normal tan color, and there was no lifeless Kakarott decorating it.
Had he imagined the whole thing? No, it was real, so very real. He had touched the body himself, he remembered how chill the skin was. "It was here…you! You were here!" He pointed at the floor. He was not crazy, but he knew he looked it. He had to calm down he turned back to the mirror and Kakarott stepped out of view of his reflection. Again, questions assaulted the Prince a flurry of thoughts.
Kakarott had purposely stepped out of the view of that mirror, why? What was the big deal? It's not like he was a vampire or anything. He looked at him, he looked the same, acted the same. Calm…he just needed to calm down. This was a good thing he convinced himself. It meant he didn't hurt Kakarott.
He was alive and talking. The Prince was suddenly embraced by Goku. That's why he moved, he was just moving to hug him.
"Are you sure your ok?" Vegeta pushed him off.
"Yes, I'm ok. I must have had a nightmare or something." He stared back at the carpet one last time before heading out of the room.
"I was worried about you for a second."
Vegeta snorted and walked down the stairs. He was worried about himself to tell the truth.
"Well don't. I am fully capable of taking care of myself."
He was in no condition to think straight, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to. Yes he had imagined that, but why? It made no sense, why did it seem so real? Why was Kakarott able to come in this house without him sensing his ki? How had he known something was wrong with the Prince in the first place? He pushed it all aside, no he would not do this to himself, he would not drive himself crazy. Especially when everything was perfectly fine. He was creating questions that had no answers because nothing had happened. Ice cream he needed some ice cream to get his mind off of this crap.
He walked into the kitchen, opened the freezer and grabbed a carton of ice cream and two spoons. Sitting down at the kitchen table he stared as Goku pulled up a chair fairly close to him. He handed the other saiyajin a spoon which was taken from him kindly.
"So do you want to tell me what was freaking you out upstairs."
Vegeta scooped some of the ice cream and put it in his mouth.
"No." He continued to eat.
"I know something was bothering you. If you tell me maybe I can help you." Vegeta slightly annoyed stuck the spoon in the ice cream leaving it there.
"I told you, I had a bad dream or something. Now drop it."
Goku shifted in his seat also sticking his spoon in the ice cream. "I have never seen a bad dream 'terrify' the Almighty Prince of Saiyajins…" Vegeta rolled his eyes.
"And I have never seen a hungry baka not devour a carton of ice cream in ten seconds or less…"
Goku gave a half hearted laugh then stared at Vegeta who was leaning back in his chair arms crossed and a little smirk across his face.
"Tell me please."
"Why do you want to know so badly?" He did want to tell him, but he wasn't sure of what the other saiyajin would think. Besides it obviously wasn't real, or Kakarott wouldn't be seated so closely to him.
"Because I hate to see you so shaken up. I care about you, and I love you." He cares of course he cares. What was the harm in telling him it wasn't real. He formed the thoughts in his mind but just couldn't bring them to life. Reliving what he saw, it was so hard to put to words.
He would never hurt Kakarott like that, but he obviously killed him. He shook the thoughts away. He had killed no one, everyone was alive and well. He looked out of the kitchen window as the sun poured onto the empty driveway. Something wasn't right. He could feel it in his bones. Yes, Kakarott was next to him, but his ki felt so strange. He couldn't explain it, it seemed like a replica of his ki and not the real thing.
But that didn't make any sense. He skin felt prickly and clammy as he slid his hand across the glass kitchen table. He pushed himself off of the table and stood up and so did Kakarott. He turned to the younger man and examined him closely. The same wild hair and joyful eyes. It was him…so what was the problem?
"Vegeta? What's wrong?" He reached out and poked Goku's chest, he was real. What was his fucking problem? It was a stupid dream, not real in the least. That's what he kept telling himself. But he knew he hadn't been asleep since last night. Kakarott knew it too. Then it was a daydream. How could he daydream something like that?
He just had the urge, he had to, he ran back upstairs. He had to look on his floor to be sure, to be sure it was just a daydream. He felt Goku close behind him as he practically ripped the door open. The sun suffocated the room painting the walls and floor with its bright colors. Vegeta ran to the side of the bed and looked…nothing…just carpet.
He sighed a breath of relief and turned to Goku.
"What is going on tell me, what are you looking for?" He grabbed Vegeta's shoulders and shook him slightly demanding an answer.
"You! I am looking for you!" The Prince shouted. Goku took his counterpart into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"What do you mean? I am right here, and I am not going anywhere…ever." He smiled into the Princes hair.
"But…all I remember is getting up and…there you were on the floor…bloody. I thought I killed you. But I didn't, because you're here, your alive." He shoved his face into Goku's chest gripping to him tightly.
"Yes, I am right here. You would never kill me. I know that. Why do you think you saw that?"
Vegeta looked up at him. "I don't know why I saw that."
"You think maybe somebody wanted you to see that, maybe it wasn't your imagination. Maybe someone wants to scare you…"
"Kakarott…your not making any sense. Why would someone do that? How could they?"
Goku shrugged as he held the Prince in his arms. Vegeta sighed as he gathered his breath together. This day was turning out to be an awful one.
His head turned to the side when he heard something downstairs. It sounded like a jumble of sounds as if someone had dropped or broken something. Vegeta scooted out of Kakarott's grips. "I better go see what's going on down there." Goku nodded as he watched Vegeta leave the room.
The Prince entered the living room and saw Bulma who must have broken the vase on her way in she was on her knees picking up the pieces. She set them on a nearby table and looked up. Vegeta stared down at her, as her face streamed water. "Bulma?"
She stood up and her small frame shook as her body racked with sobs. He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "What is it?"
"Goku…" She barely managed the name as his two very sullen children walked into the living room. He looked at Bra and Trunks as they walked closer to the embracing couple.
"Dad…" Trunks started.
"What! Tell me what's going on!" He felt his heart skip a few beats as he imagined the worst…that being what he saw on the floor of his bedroom. But that wasn't real, Kakarott was alive and he was upstairs.
"It's Goku…he's been murdered…" The words fell and fell until Vegeta's ears finally decided to catch them. How? This was not possible.
"Are you sure?" Bra threw her arms around her parents and cried along with her mother.
Trunks stiffened his back as he looked into his dad's eyes. He brushed a piece of hair out of his face as he spoke. "Yeah dad…we found him in the woods." He voice started to shake a little as he remembered it.
"We?" Vegeta asked.
"Goten and I. We were sparring, and as we got a little deeper into the woods, there he was on the floor of the forest. His throat was slit." He shut his eyes.
No, no, no! He refused to believe it! Did that mean he killed him? No! He would never do that no matter what the circumstance. He shook his head…no Kakarott was upstairs, if he was dead how could he be upstairs? None of this made any sense to the Prince. Who would kill Kakarott? For what? Vegeta almost fell to the floor, but remembered he was holding up Bulma and Bra. He thought of the sight of Kakarott on the floor in his room. No, he can't be dead, he loved him.
Vegeta brought the two girls to the couch and sat them down. "Trunks go get them some water." Trunks nodded and went into the kitchen.
"ChiChi, is really shaken up about this, so we were going to go back to her house to stay with her for a little bit so she doesn't have to be alone. You can come to, if you want." Bulma said.
"I will, but I will be there later. I have something to do." Bulma wondered what could be more important than going to comfort ChiChi, but she didn't ask, she wasn't in the mood for a fight. Trunks walked back in with two glasses and handed them to Bulma and Bra.
"Dad you left the ice cream out it was melting so I put it away, and since when did you need two spoons to eat ice cream?" Trunks tried to joke.
"Kakarott and I…" Vegeta tried to rewind his words but found it impossible as everyone stared at him.
"What dad?" Bra asked. "You and Goku what?"
Vegeta coughed and crossed his arms. "We were supposed to spar today."
Bulma nodded. So he did care. If that's what you called it. She stood up and straightened out her long skirt.
"Well Vegeta, we are going over to ChiChi's, I just had to come to tell you what happened."
Vegeta nodded and took Bulma into his arms hugging her tightly. "Thank you. I will be over there later."
"Ok." She left the warm embrace of her former husband and walked out of the door with her two children. He waited until he heard the engine of the car roar to life then turned to the stairs flying up them and walked back into his room, but Goku was not there.
"Kakarott?" Where was he? Had he imagined that whole thing? No…it was to real…so where was Kakarott?