I land softly, as I carefully watch him standing, alone on the cliff. His eyes are closed, yet he is completely on guard. I know he senses that I am near. We both stand in silence for a few moments.
"Kakkarot."
The sudden break in the air startles me…only a little.
"Vegeta? Are you okay?"
I watch quietly as he opens his eyes. He doesn't answer me for a long time.
"I'm fine, Kakkarot."
His voice isn't as harsh or cold as it always is. In fact, it sounded…serene…almost.
Which is kind of odd.
I hadn't even thought about it when I saw Vegeta out here…but…
…now standing here, beside him, something does feel…off…just very distant.
"Vegeta…maybe you should go back to Capsule Corps." I reach out for his arm, but stop when he turns his head to look at me.
He asks me why.
"Everyone's worried about you. Bulma…she's afraid something might be wrong…"
He snorts and turns away.
"She shouldn't worry, nothing is wrong."
I don't believe his words. Something is wrong. Something feels wrong…just what exactly?
"But…"
"Idiot!" he hisses, "I said nothing is wrong."
It's silent again, but this time, I break it.
"Alright, nothing is wrong, but still, you should go back to Capsule Corps."
His arms stay crossed and he does not answer me. I continue.
"And when you get there, Bulma will be convinced that –."
"Kakkarot, shut up!"
I clench my jaw together.
"Can't you hear?"
He tilts his head to the side and cups his ear with his right hand.
"They're calling me…" he whispers, almost inaudible.
I blink confused.
"Who is, Vegeta? Who's calling you?"
His eyes are closed again, that serene look coming back across his features.
It's a bit disturbing.
"There's always something to stop me…isn't there Kakkarot, isn't there?"
What does he mean? Stopping him? From doing what?
Still, I am silent. His eyes open and flicker. Trunks and Goten are coming. I watch as he drops his arms to his sides. A moment later, Trunks blasts past me.
"Oi! Father! Father!"
The small purple-haired sayian looks so energetic…so happy.
"Dad! Here you are! Mom is worried about you for some reason! You're the strongest in the universe! How can she be worried?" I watch as the little boy speaks to his father. Goten lands next to me and calls out.
"Uncle! You're here! Les' go play fight!?"
His eyes shine and grow big. My son. I smile, at five years, he is already as strong as me when Gohan was his age.
I look at Vegeta. I frown, some. His gaze is turned to where it first was, before I found him. He moves is head and stares straight at me. His face unreadable, and for a moment, just a moment, every single thing around us has disappeared, leaving only him and me. Darkness surrounding him, his eyes swirling with…with…with what? Then, I blink, my son is now tugging at his "uncle's" pants, Trunks is still talking animatedly to his father.
"C'mon, Dad! Let's go home! That way, Mom won't be worried and we can spar! PLEEEAAASSSSE!?"
And I still watch, as Goten jumps excitedly, Vegeta looks at his son, then, momentarily, to mine, and nods.
"Hmm… fine."
Trunks jumps up with joy.
"Yay! Woo-hoo!"
Vegeta and Trunks fly off, the full-blooded saiyan, trailing a bit behind.
I turn my attention to my son.
"Cooli! Hey!!! Trunks! Uncle Vegeta!!! Wait for me!"
He blasts off, leaving me behind…
…alone, with my thoughts.
Who or what is calling Vegeta? What's always stopping him? Stopping him from what?
Sighing, I place two fingers upon my forehead and return to Other World.