"What are you thinking about

Afterlife Post

By Zogeta

Author's note: Wow. Um, okay. After an absence of about two or three years, I'm back here. Oh dear. Well, I thought I should offer this little thinglet for the many people that have faved my works. Thank you for your thoughts and time, everyone. For those who have not read my stuff before: I have grown muchly as a writer, and I hope that you read nothing of the rest of the drivel I have posted on this site. Thanks!

Onwards!

PS: There is a sequel, which I will only post if there is sufficient interest in this.

"What are you thinking about?"

Vegeta shrugged, not turning to acknowledge the sudden appearance of his long-time rival and now new friend. Kakarot sat beside him, looking out over the lights of West City, feeling millions of ki beats synchronize into a slow, heavy heartbeat that both Saiyans felt echoed by their own. Strange how they could be part of something bigger that they could so easily destroy with one small blast.

Vegeta leaned back on his palms, tipping his head back to look at the sky, though stars were a rarity. "Doesn't death scare you, Kakarot?"

Kakarot mulled this over, a hand lifting to rub calloused fingers along the side of his neck absently. "Not so much the actual occurrence of it. I've been there twice now; I have nothing to fear. Does this have anything to do with you wishing for immortality last month?"

Vegeta sighed inwardly. No matter how many times he'd cursed over the years, the idiot insult had never held true with Kakarot. Kakarot had no idea how his intelligence both irritated and pleased the Prince. But the younger, stronger, happier Saiyan never rubbed it in his face. Never acknowledged his lurking intelligence, and, sadly, rarely acted on it.

"Why did you ask for something like that, Vegeta? I thought that…that thirst for power was gone."

"It's not about power, Kakarot."

A heavy sigh.

"The Buu debacle got me thinking. About divergence."

Kakarot cocked his head to the side. "Divergence?"

Vegeta dropped his head back down, chin on his chest as he looked down at his boots. "About death. I know that no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I hate myself or love the world around me, I'm condemned. That's why I made that selfish, lonely wish. I don't…I don't want to be eternally separated from this home, my family…I'd rather be alone on this planet than alone in hell. Does it bother you that I'm running from the punishment I'm owed?"

Kakarot pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on his arms. "I think you were punished enough by Frieza. By me, even. And you're right; I can believe in you, Vegeta, but that doesn't matter in the face of your past. And this might sound stupid, but I still think you should be allowed to move on with us. There's something so…tragic about leaving you behind."

Vegeta managed a weak smirk. "I'll be fine. I'll have endless families. I'll watch them die and bury them over and over again. I'll look after this planet because its almost home. I'll keep cloning you so that I have someone to spar with. The bean stalk will spend a good few centuries with me after everyone else has gone. I don't…I just don't want to go back there."

Kakarot knew what Vegeta was scared of. Reincarnation. Being recycled. Losing everything he'd worked so damn hard for because of a fucked-up past that he'd had almost no control over. He understood his comrade fairly well, though sometimes Vegeta's logic took a turn he couldn't counter. He smiled and bumped his shoulder against Vegeta's.

"I'll miss you."

He sensed Vegeta's faint smile, and leaned his weight ever so slightly into the smaller body next to his. Gratitude had never been a verbal thing with Vegeta.

Goku never liked to think about mortality. He liked to believe that things would always be the same. Roshi would always be a pervert. Goten would always be his little boy. Bulma would keep inventing and…and Vegeta would just be there. Close like this. But he'd lost his Prince twice now, and someday he'd lose him forever. He hated to think about it. He hated the unfairness of it all. He'd been through so much, fought so hard for this tiny slice of life and Yemma still wouldn't budge on his decision. Forty years of blood and pain and loss and sorrow, and the last ten years spent in some attempt at redemption, thrown away in a glorious moment of Majin weakness and stadium destruction.

Goku uncurled an arm and put it around Vegeta's back. They'd come so close to losing each other so many times. Seven long years had put everything back into perspective. Now they got separation anxiety if kept apart without communication. Amazing how death and near-death could make so many things seem so trivial.

Vegeta sighed and leaned against the greatest rival he'd ever had. He'd fought so many battles in his life, but this was one he could not win fairly. He knew it was cheating to wish for immortality, but there was the chance he could perhaps work off his debt with a few centuries of community service. Or maybe Kakarot could sneak off Snake Way and visit him. But still…it was going to be damned lonely between families and lovers as the centuries and millennia wore on.

"Kakarot…is there email in Heaven?"

Goku blinked, then laughed, clapping Vegeta on the back. "Aw, no, Vegeta. But there's unicorn post between Yemma's office and Dende. I'm sure Dende will let you use it to post me."

Vegeta smirked softly and chuckled. "I can always address my letters to 'Kakarot, Fluffy Cloud number four, Snake Way."

Goku grinned and tightened his hold on Vegeta. "We'll be okay. Somehow, we always are. Death is a long, long way off for me…we can work something out with Yemma. I want you to be there with me to annoy King Kai for eternity."

Vegeta turned to smile at him, that rare, heartmelting smile. "I've got faith in the power of Saiyan tenacity. And in your puppy dog eyes."

And they both laughed at that.

END