Blue Kissed Sky

A/N: This one shot is for The Prince and the Heiress Literature Challenge, and is based on the book The Outsiders as a reference. All Dragon Ball characters belong to Akira Toriyama, and The Outsiders is an original work that belongs to S.E Hinton. Rated M for strong language and sexual suggestions.

I'll never forget the first time I laid eyes on that color.

My life, the shitty cosmic joke that the gods seemed to give me, was a swirl of black and greys, an everlasting representation of death. I welcomed it, you'd have no choice to if you were born into the underbelly of a snake, and as far as I could tell, it wasn't going to change anytime soon.

The only other color that I was familiar with was red. A deep, cruel taunting red, the same hue as the substance that raced down my face and into the concrete under my cheek. I stared at it in a darkened humor, completely consumed with the idea that it was mine.

I could hear their laughs, the seedy vicious pangs of victory that escaped their grubby lips as they pounded their fists into my back, the bottom of their polished shoes scuffing my already busted cheek. A part of me wanted to patronize them for their half assed victory - the only reason they had the upper hand on me was because I was alone- but the words failed to climb the ladder of my throat, prisoned in by my swollen lip.

I was always taught to fight back, but damn there were so many of them that it was pointless to even unleash the beast that coiled in my belly, so I laid there, their voices becoming white noise as I focused on the cruelty of the thick red liquid that was now seeping through my nose.

I found the energy to look up at the bastard who knocked me down in the first place, the smug son of a bitch with the obnoxious, box dyed seafoam hair, attempting to call forth the darkest seeds of my anger to spill into my irises. If I couldn't physically fight back, I wanted the fucker to know that I hated him, and I would have my shining moment of victory in retaliation.

At least, that's what I wanted to do, but that damned color stopped me from my mission.

I knew my eye was swollen, the heavy stinging of my cheek and the heat of the socket was more than an indication, but was I hallucinating so much that I believed it to be the middle of the day, even though the moon shone directly in the center of the inked sky?

It drew me in like a moth to a flame, captivating me for what seemed like an eternity until I could give it a form. It was the most exhilarating shade of blue, the same hue that adorned the back of those Greek paintings that my cousin loved so damned much, short and curled, contrasting the pasty skin of its owner. Hair that color? , the only thing that I could think of at the moment, and the more I hypnotized myself into it, the less pain my body produced.

I skimmed down the figure, a girl with oceans for eyes, sad and determined and angry. Her cherry lips pouted in small pillows, and I realized she was talking. My chest felt light as I hoped that she was speaking to me, giving me that passion and fire and melting the ice that replaced my veins.

Instead, to my jealous discovery, she was pulling on the bastard with the ridiculous hair. Tresses that were not at all as wondrous as hers, but the kind that was picked up at a local drugstore, a science experiment gone completely wrong. Hers was, different, as if the sky kissed her in passing, granting her the luxury of pulling anyone into a trance with a mere flick of a curl over her shoulders. I held my breath so that I could hear the voice that accompanied the vision, wanting my ears to soak in her tone until they bled with satisfaction.

"Stop it, Zarbon!" Even screeching, it was beautiful, a melody that mothers used to serenade their babes at night. Had I the energy, I would've asked for a song. "Get off of him, you guys have done enough!"

Zarbon, the name ran through my mind like poison, instantly making my stomach clench with rage. He stood over me, wrapping his ugly arm around her waist, tainting her perfect skin. It was wrong, all wrong, and I knew that the colors of our flesh were much better suited.

"If you can't handle this, babe, then you should just run on home."

"You're going to kill him!" her melodic voice washed over me, easing my cuts and scars, her tiny fists pounding maliciously against his chest. Her succulent legs were so close to my face, tight yet soft, the perfect contrast, and I wanted to touch them and get a taste of paradise. "Hasn't he had enough?"

"Babe, do you know who this asshole is?" Zarbon threw his head back and laughed, cutting into the bliss that she cocooned me in. "He's a filthy Saiyajin," he spit his intolerance of the word physically by my face, and I could smell the wretched onions that lingered on his breath. My thoughts instantly went to her, wondering how she put up with the excruciating smell.

"I don't give a damn what he is, there's no need for this!" She successfully pulled away from him, and I wished her to look at me so I could stare into oblivion. She didn't; I frowned. "Call off your friends and leave him alone! Whatever he did, I'm sure he learned his lesson."

Zarbon clicked his teeth, his eyes running back down to me in irritation before cocking his head to the side. I instantly felt the weight of the fat one's knee subside my back, giving me a breath of fresh air. Dodoria, that was his name, a boy so fat he looked etched in pink, huffed and stood by Zarbon. He snickered at me, flashing me a smile that said that he was better. I would punch him first, the next second I got. The rest of his godforsaken crew—Ginyu, Recoome, Jeice, Burter and Guldo- silly names accompanied with even sillier hair joined them, massaging their hands like they were so victorious.

"You heard the lady Vegeta," Zarbon spoke, his voice full of clever for a half wit, crouching down to my eye level, "and you owe her for the fact that you can go home to those other disgusting piece of shit Saiyajins." He pulled my hair so hard that my neck cramped, the pain forcing me to moan to his satisfaction. I disgusted myself in that instant. He leaned in closely, the revolting smell of his breath tainting my nostrils, and threatened, "don't ever let me catch you in our territory again, scum. This area," he waved his finger around for emphasis, "belongs to the Icejins. You stay your filthy, monkey ass in Saiyajin area. Know your place, or me and my boys will just have to knock you back into it again." I clenched my teeth at the slur; monkey because according to them our wild hair that grew from our scalps resembled primates, and tasted iron and metal. He dropped my head and I hit the concrete hard. Goddamn him; goddamn him and all of those stupid ass Icejins.

"Come on, Bulma," Zarbon called to the girl, who I realized had finally cast her oceans on me. It was sympathetic and sad, and I scowled that such a look was designed for me by a face such as hers. She shrugged her shoulders and mouthed an 'I'm sorry', before following suit behind them.

My eyes never strayed from her, the blue mop of hair taunting me with every bounce, the loose curls slithering around and enticing me like they were charmers and I was the foolish snake. Even when she left, and I finally found the strength to pull myself up, the color still swarmed in my memory.

I knew it would be the last thing I would see before I drifted my eyes off to sleep, and for once, dreaming did not seem as such a terrible notion.

"Fucking seven hells, Vegeta!" My cousin and guardian, Nappa, hit his fists against the table so hard it rattled the cake that he was consuming. He squeezed his forehead in agitation before casting me a raging glare, smacking me in the face before his words did. "Do you not learn your lesson?"

I immediately stared at the wall, the muscles in my healing lips writhing in fury from the weight of my frown, avoiding any other confrontational glares he could give me.

"Oh come on, Nappa, you know nothing scares good ole' Geets!" I looked up at Kakarot, my best friend, and scowled at his forced nickname for me. God bless the guy if he wasn't always smiles and laughter, even when I came home a week prior beaten to a bloody pulp. He helped dressed my wounds along with Nappa and Kakarot's brother Raditz, teasing me to lighten Nappa's fuming mood. His anger hung to him tightly like wet clothing, and I made sure to stay away from him for a few days. But he was a fool if he thought that I would keep away from what I wanted to do, because some asshole Icejins claimed their territory.

"He's a fucking idiot, is what he is!" Nappa roared, and I turned to him just in time to see the muscle in his thick neck tighten and pulse, the end of his fork pointed in my direction. "And if you're going to be scared of anything, Vegeta, you should be scared of me!"

"Tch," I couldn't stop my reaction. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I could easily take Nappa on, but then where would I go? Besides, he's been nothing but good to me since my parents died, and he's stepped up in more ways than one to see that I never wanted for nothing. Between him, Raditz and Kakarot—better known as the Saiyajins , named after the part of town we lived on- the need for a family was quickly washed away.

"This isn't a fucking joke, Vegeta," Nappa started to make his way over to me, "you could've gotten your dumb ass killed, going into Icejin territory alone. And now you want to go back? For a fucking three dollar show?"

"They don't own the drive in, Nappa," I retorted, the irritation sliding over me like a second skin, "And if we cower out, all we're doing is letting them think we're better."

"It'll be alright, Nappa," Raditz pushed forward, stuffing the last of his chocolate cake slice into his greedy mouth, "me and Kakarot will be with him. I guarantee those fucks won't mess with him as long as we're around."

"Yeah, absolutely!" Kakarot rose to his feet and positioned into a fighting stance, "I've been itching for a fight!"

Nappa sighed and brushed Raditz hand away. "Kakarot, you're still a young sap, the youngest of us all, so don't go talking about fights when you've never properly had one. You're too soft to do any real damage anyways." He couldn't stop the smile that radiated from his face as he faced Kakarot, and I couldn't blame him; Kakarot just had that effect on people. Nappa turned back towards me, his smile vanishing and the brooding 'dad' frown instantly taking his place. I hated when he belittled me in that way, treating me as if I was Kakarot's age. He waved a finger in my direction, his eyes tightening with seriousness. "You're my responsibility, Vegeta, and I swear to god if you come home tonight with a scratch you'll have to deal with me," he shoved a thumb against his chest for emphasis, "all of you scoundrels will. I'd come with you if I didn't have to work in a few hours, but if shit goes down you run back here, got it?"

We all nodded, silently accepting the terms to his verbal contract. With our consent, his shoulders relaxed, and he mumbled something about us being a hassle before resuming his fixation on his chocolate cake. I couldn't entirely blame Nappa for being so strict; he'd given up a lot to make sure we were all taken good care of, including working two jobs. And while I didn't consider myself to be a punk, I wasn't going to the drive in theater to pick a fight with those fucking Icejins. Running into one wasn't hard on my own; I could easily turn the corner and come face to face with their too good, spoiled pompous asses. I wouldn't waste my good money to prove a point.

I was going because I wanted to run into her again, in better distance with that surreal color that soothes me with just a thought.

I didn't care who the hell she thinks she's dating; I wouldn't feel right if I couldn't wrap my hands through her silkened tresses at least once. I'd show her a real guy, and not just one who wants to look tough to contrast his absurd amount of money.

I'd take far more beatings if I could come face to face with that ethereal creature again.

"Let's sit up here, Vegeta," Kakarot pointed to the few chairs in front of the parking lot, for those who didn't have cars. His grin damn near split his face in two, parting ever so slightly to shove his buttery popcorn through. He didn't even wait for me and Raditz before he found a seat and sat down, his hair earning grunts from the ones who sat behind him. I laughed inside, wondering how they would react when my hair entered their vision.

We plopped down in our seats, Raditz instantly putting his feet on top of the chair in front of him and devouring his nachos and popcorn. Animated beverages and snacks danced in cartoonish fashion on the screen in front of us, and I looked around the lot to see if she was here. She looked like a Friday night social scene type of girl, and anyone who lived in South City knew that nothing was more social than the drive in.

The movie screen dimmed, and the title screen scrolled up, announcing the start of the action film. I glanced around one last time, inconspicuous so I didn't catch the attention of my friends, and surveyed the scene hard. They were engrossed in their snacks and the movie, and I was engrossed with the nagging disappointment that nestled its way into my belly, creating a home. No mop of blue, no flirtatious curls, no cherry lips begging to be sucked. Just darkness, a sliver of light washing over the crowd from the screen. I sank in my seat, angrily stuffing popcorn into my mouth for distraction. All of this, all of Nappa's nagging, and she didn't show. I couldn't take it as a slight for obvious reasons, but damn it all if I wasn't upset.

Halfway into the movie, we were disrupted by a loud screech. My stomach barreled over as the butterflies did their dance, and I turned my head to the source of the noise.

"You jerk!" she screamed, slamming the car door shut. I could see Zarbon's pathetic pleas over through his dash, but she was having none of it. I smiled sinisterly at watching him look so defeated, and focused my eyes on the beauty. She walked over to the car next to them and knocked on the window. After a few words, another girl emerged from the car, giving passing words to her date. She was cute, her black hair piled to the top of her head in a bun and her bangs intruding her eyes, a figure of a dancer, but she was in no way on the level of the blue haired siren. Her short curls drew me again, bouncing against her shoulders in every step, a few strands tucked behind her ear. She was wearing a black dress that hugged her curves so enticingly, and I was drawn into the way her hips moved as her feet pummeled the pavement. Fuck, she was so attractive when she was upset.

My breath caught in my chest as I realized they were making their way over to our seats, sitting down against the plastic chairs in front of us. I heard Raditz create a sound of approval in his chest before looking at me and Kakarot. He raised his eyebrow before nodding his head in their direction. I wanted to tell him that I had already marveled at that painting, but didn't.

The black haired girl turned her head in disgust at Raditz's feet before turning around, her dark brown eyes alive with fury. "Hey, guy, where are your manners?" A wave of admiration wove in my chest at her attitude. "Feet belong on the ground, clown."

Raditz snorted, shoveling another fistful of popcorn into his mouth. "And little girl's mouths belong shut, unless it's opened around my cock."

She gasped, and blue turned around to glare at Raditz as well. Kakarot leaned over and pushed Raditz's feet down, his face in an apologetic grin. He leaned closer to whisper to the girl.

"Sorry about my brother, he's just rude like that. We don't want to disturb you ladies."

Of course by the power of Kakarot, the girl smiled, her expression easily softening. "That's hard to believe that you two are brothers. He's so vulgar and mean, but you're nice," if she tried to, she didn't do a good job at stopping the blush that intruded her cheeks, reminding me of apples, "and cute."

Kakarot laughed awkwardly before rubbing the back of his head, something he did whenever he was in the presence of a pretty girl. Or hell, any girl. "Oh, well thanks. You're…you're pretty cute too."

The girl turned in her seat so that her knees touched the back, resting her chin against her hands. I willed blue to do the same. "What's your name, handsome?"

"K-Kakarot." The idiot couldn't even give his name without stuttering.

"Kakarot?" She raised an eyebrow before laughing, and the offense struck me in the chest. Her eyes, however, betrayed her tone, taking on a mild look. "That's a cool name."

"Chi-chi," blue said, tugging against the girl's sleeve. Hearing her voice again did wonders for my stomach, and I found myself holding my breath again like I did that night. "You're flirting with him while Jeice is behind us!"

"Oh who cares about him, Bulma," she responded, and my heart tightened with recognition of the name, "I only agreed to go with him because of you and Zarbon. He's too arrogant. Besides," she looked back at Kakarot and blinked her lashes at him, "I like nice boys."

Kakarot giggled and tried to find the words to say back before Bulma turned around looking at him. Her eyes drew me in deeper, the lightest shade of blue, like the sky before the sun has a chance to kiss it, and she smiled. "Sorry for my friend, I think she and her date were drinking in the car." Her eyes fluttered to mine, and those pillowy lips circled, her eyes widening with realization. I looked down briefly before noticing that she painted them in a shade of pink. A pity, cherry was definitely her color.

"Oh," she breathed, and I let go of the breath I had been holding, "it's you."

"You two know each other or something?" Raditz looked at me with a cocked brow.

"Or something," she said quietly as she bit her bottom lip, her eyes giving that damned sympathetic expression again. I didn't mind it too much this time, as I was too distracted by her bottom lip hidden behind her row of white teeth. I wanted to replace it with my own.

"It's alright," I gruffed, not wanting to show how awestricken I was. She had impossible beauty, the kind only crafted by an artist's hand, and I didn't want to taint her with my ogling.

"It's not," she shook her head, her eyes momentarily shifting back towards the car behind us, a glimmer of anger echoing throughout her irises, "he's terrible."

"And you just noticed it?" I couldn't help my anger at her choice in men, wondering how she put up with it for however long she had.

"It's not like he was always this way," she replied defensively, before softening her tone, "but it's not my business anymore. I broke up with him."

"Oh," was all I could manage to say. I'm pathetic.

"This week," the girl, Chi-chi retorted, "we'll see how long it lasts."

"I mean it, Cheech," Bulma scolded, before looking back at me, her eyes soft and gentle, like a deer in the book my mom read to me when I was little, "I think I need a nice boy too."

I felt my cheeks go hot, and my arms uncrossed themselves at her words. There was no inclination that she was talking to me, but the smile that accompanied her statement and my nerves cast me doubt.

"Your name's Vegeta, right?" she asked, and I wanted to hear my name escape those lips under different circumstances.

I nodded, my thumb lazily pointing down the row. "That's Raditz and Kakarot." Raditz winked in her direction; I wanted to slap him.

"So," her eyes weaved over the three of us, "are you all Saiyajins?"

"Yep," Raditz said proudly -he would never be ashamed of the label- "and judging by your whole wardrobe," his eyes skimmed over her curves to my dismay, "you two must associate yourselves with those Icejin bastards."

"Not anymore," Bulma's voice was full of attitude, and a heat began to brew in my belly, "I just told you that."

"Why are y'all called Icejins anyway?" Kakarot's innocence would put him in the ground someday.

"Not us, them. And because of Mr. Cold," Chi-Chi answered, her eyes batting in an overly flirty manner at Kakarot. I'm sure if she knew that he was probably two years younger than she, her enticing manners would cease. "He owns the condominiums on the city's west side."

"Hmpph," Raditz snorted, "all that fucking money just for houses. Mommy and daddy lawyers and doctors, breeding stupid little shits like Zarbon. I hate that bastard."

Bulma flinched at the mention of his name. No one seemed to notice but me, which I didn't mind.

"I heard that Cold's son, Frieza, is doing time for that gang stint a few years back. And now Zabon thinks he can take his place. I can't wait to beat that motherfucker into the ground." Raditz nodded in my direction, catching the attention of Bulma. She pressed her chin into the back of her hands deeper, appearing childlike and innocent, casting her pooled orbs my way. God, I wanted to kiss her.

"So," Chi-chi smoothed out her bangs and leaned more over her seat, purposely showing her cleavage in her tight purple shirt to Kakarot, "you guys wanna get out of here? Maybe go to the arcade?"

Kakarot's eyes drifted down, catching her bait, and she smiled with satisfaction. I'd never want Bulma to go that far for my attention; she could just look at me and have whatever she wanted.

Kakarot nodded his head before standing, allowing Chi-Chi to lead the way. She tried hard to twist her hips in a womanly manner to entice him, but her frame wasn't as curvaceous as Bulma's. Without trying, her hips swayed back and forth, feeding a starving man with dark desires.

We followed them out of the lot, making our way into the cooling night air and down the street. I stuffed my hands in my pockets as Chi-Chi cradled her arm into Bulma's, occasionally turning around to talk to us. Bulma's laugh was infectious, and I had to look down to make sure I didn't trip over the pavement because of the distraction. Once or twice, I caught her looking at me out of the corner of her eyes and casting me a smile. Damn it all if this girl knew the hypnotizing magic she cast on me.

I wondered briefly if she was noticing the scar that etched its way onto my lip, tattooing itself on my flesh without my consent, before casting that insecurity aside. I had many scars that lined my body, and if she couldn't handle a small one on my face, then fuck her. She didn't seem like that type of girl, but one never knows.

I caught the light of the arcade teasing us up ahead, and Chi-Chi skipped a little farther in anticipation. "Almost there!" she sang to us, well to Kakarot. He brought his head down with flush embarrassment; Raditz chuckled.

A rush of feet on the pavement behind us ceased our walking, the heavy stomps growing more and more threatening. Bulma turned first, and the look on her face made my stomach tighten.

"What the hell are you doing following us," she said through clenched teeth.

I turned to see the little maggot Zarbon and his pathetic friends approaching us, hatred lining their faces. His jaw clenched as his eyes roamed over Bulma before landing narrowly on mine.

"I can follow you if I damn well please, Bulma," his eyes never left mine, his voice low and menacing, "you are my girlfriend."

"I'm not your anything," she walked a little forward and stood next to me, and my stomach did that stupid dance again. "I thought I made that pretty damn clear to you back there."

Zarbon laughed, although the tone was anything but pleasing. "So you decide to hang with these fucking clowns? Your boy here," his finger stuck in my direction, "can't even hold himself properly in a fight."

"You say that because you caught him alone, you piece of shit," Raditz scrunched his fists together, and I could feel the tension radiating off his body like sunrays, "but I can guaran-fucking-tee it that it won't be so easy this time."

Zarbon threw his head back and laughed, this one heartier than the previous. "Raditz I always knew you were dumb, but god man, you are really terrible at math." He pointed to the group behind him. "There's seven of us, and three of you. Do you really want to bet against those odds?" He cracked his knuckles for demonstration.

Raditz chuckled darkly before turning to the girls. "You guys may want to head on to the arcade. We'll be there in a bit after properly disposing of this trash."

Zarbon growled deeply in his chest, and instantly I felt my defense rise. "You dare tell my girl and my buddy's girl what to do, you filthy fucking monkey?"

"Oh look boys!" Raditz put his hands on his knees, "it even talks like Frieza! Using his pet name for us and everything! How good it will feel to watch the blood spill out of those underling lips." Raditz ran his tongue over the top of his teeth.

Zarbon's face twisted into something evil, almost reptilian, and he nodded towards Bulma. "Get out of here, Bulma and take Chi-Chi with you. I can't promise this will be pretty."

"I'm not going anywhere, not without these guys." She reached down and squeezed my hand. I looked down at our linked flesh before glancing back up at her face. She was still looking square at Zarbon, who looked like he was failing at holding up the dam of rage.

I squeezed her hand back, half for show and half because, damn, her skin was soft. "It's alright," I told her quietly, "just do as Raditz says and go on up ahead. Wait for us, we won't keep you waiting for long."

She looked at me, and something - I don't know what- flashed in her eyes. She smiled softly at me before kissing my cheek. Time stopped for myself and for Zarbon, who was engulfed in an angry flame. She looked at me again before pulling away, the cold air cruelly replacing her warm palm. She grabbed Chi-Chi and began to walk ahead, turning back and looking at me with sad eyes. I nodded at her, silently telling her that it would be okay.

When they were out of distance, I turned back around to see Raditz walking toward Zarbon, his fists clenched. I had no time to let my mind wander off behind Bulma or her maddening aroma as the fight started. Something primal coiled throughout me, manifesting its way through my chest until a roar escaped my mouth.

This fight was long overdue.

I don't remember blacking out, but I guess I did.

Everything was swirling around, the stars above twinkling and bringing me slowly back into reality.

Above?

My head was pounding as I came to the realization that I was on my back, the cold pavement only causing more pain to the bruises I could feel were forming.

Something jerked my attention, a low mumbling, and I sat up slowly to see the source. The pain came crashing down at once, and I caught my forehead with my palm and groaned. The mumbling brought me back to my attention, and I cocked my head to the right to see Kakarot sitting against the fence, rocking. His head was pressed low, and I was thankful to see he wasn't too badly injured. Raditz was pacing to his side, running his fingers through his long, untamed hair and sputtering out curses. I tried to clear the haze inside my brain to catch onto what Kakarot was saying.

"I had to do it, I had to do it, what have I done, what did I do, I had to do it…" he chanted the mantra over and over to himself, and I grunted loudly to catch his attention. He looked at me with watery eyes, his yellowish skin glittering under the moonlight. Kakarot was crying and my concern grew.

Raditz stopped his pacing and looked at me, catching a breath and tensing his arms at his sides. He walked slowly in my direction and bent down, his eyes soft and confused.

"Hey," he tilted my head back to see my neck, surveying for damage, "you alright?"

I nodded slowly, the tightness in my neck causing me to flinch. I tried jogging my memory to the last thing that happened, but came up short. A montage of kicks, punches and curses came to the forefront, yet everything else was white noise.

"I don't want you to freak, Vegeta," Raditz said slowly, causing me to search his face for answers to my frantic questions, "but I need you to listen to me and keep quiet. Nod if you understand." It was only then that I realized he was talking in low tones, and I did as he said.

"Okay," he breathed with relief, "good. Now I want you to look behind you, but I need you to not react before I explain. Can you do that?"

I nodded again, aware that verbal words were not what Raditz wanted from me at the moment. Slowly I turned my head, the body of someone sprawled out behind me. He was unmoving, still as the fence that surrounded him, the only movements he carried was his jacket dancing in the wind. I rubbed my eyes to make sure this was not an illusion, and with the confirmation, I took in the figure again.

It was Zarbon, and he was obviously dead.

I whipped my head around, my eyes asking the questions that my mouth dare not speak. Raditz sighed and motioned to Kakarot, who was still rocking in his position. My mouth went agape.

Kakarot's eyes met mine and he squeezed them shut instantly, fresh tears staining his cheeks. "He was gonna kill you, Vegeta. Oh god, I couldn't let him do that, I didn't mean to, but he was gonna hurt you real bad!" A shimmer of something caught my eye, and I looked down to see a pocket knife at the base of Kakarot's feet. I instantly recognized it as a gift Nappa had given to me a while ago, the same knife Kakarot held onto for me when they were doing searches at a mall.

The same knife that he had saved me with now condemned him.

I looked over again at Zarbon, now becoming aware that a fresh pool of blood haloed around him, making him appear as a fallen god. The stillness in his body caused my stomach to dance, but unlike the effect of Bulma, it was not pleasant.

I leaned over, away from Raditz, and wretched.

Raditz sighed and rubbed my back, letting me heave until only dry coughing fits were left. He used the opportunity to fill me in.

"He was choking you, Vegeta and you passed out. Kakarot had just finished fighting Guldo, impressive I might add, I'll have to tell Nappa," he chuckled guiltily, aware that the situation was not right for jokes, "and before I could stop him he ran over and stabbed him in the chest. It happened so fast, Vegeta. The other guys ran off, but we waited until you came to."

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, looking down at the street that I littered with the contents of my stomach. Everything had gone so wrong, and I couldn't help but think how Nappa would react when he found out.

Almost as if he was clairvoyant, Raditz spoke. "Don't worry about Nappa, I'll explain everything to him. He'll be concerned of course when you guys aren't there in the morning, but I'll calm the brute down."

I looked at him again, and this time the words left my lips beyond my control. "Why are we going anywhere, Raditz? Aren't the police coming?"

"They might." Raditz looked around and cursed, running his hands through his hair again. "It hasn't been long, and I suspect those guys just made it to the station, if that's the first place they were going to go. Now that you're awake, we gotta take you and Kakarot and get you on the first train smoking out of here. A buddy of mine that I did juvie with works at a yard, I'm sure he can get you something."

"W-why?" My brain had still not wrapped itself fully in the situation. Had I the time to process the turn of events, I would've seen the clarity of Raditz words within reason. But now, my brain could only think about what I was leaving behind.

Nappa.

My home.

My parent's items they left me.

Bulma.

My stomach turned again at the last thought, and I thought my body would betray my resolve to stop the sick. How would she react when she found out her boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend, was dead? Or that we were the cause? How would her blue curls frame her face, or her cherry lips purse as she cursed our names to the heavens?

I touched my cheek in remembrance of her pillows against my flesh, the softness of it making me relieved and upset in a helix. Raditz shook my shoulders, bringing me to the present.

"Hey," he said sternly, "we've got no time for you to be lost in your thoughts. We gotta get you outta here, especially Kakarot! They'll throw him in the electric chair, Vegeta. Do you want that? Do you want my little brother, your best friend, to wind up in that predicament?"

I shook my head no, rising to my feet. Raditz was right, time was of the essence, and we were its borrowers. He dragged Kakarot to his feet, still mumbling and whimpering, but complying. He looked at me with saddened eyes and mumbled an apology, and I nodded to let him know it was okay. I hoped, sincerely, that he also took a heap amount of gratitude from the nod, regardless of how he was feeling at the time.

Raditz pulled out a cell phone and made a call, before crushing it to the ground and stomping on it. Raditz was a prime example of a career criminal and he took no chances when it came to covering his steps. He turned around to face us.

"Alright my buddy says that a train heading to the countryside, east of here, is leaving in the next thirty minutes. He's gonna give me the location of you guys when you arrive, and I promise I'll send you some more money and clothes when you get there. Until then," he pulled out a wad of cash, handing us both a hundred dollar bill, "this is all I can spare for now, but it should get you guys started. Don't talk to anyone random when you get there, and for god sakes, lay low. Keep out of sight until you hear from either me or Nappa."

We nodded, Kakarot's sniffles filling the silent void that slept between us. Raditz pulled him into a hug and nestled his hair. Breaking the embrace, he lay a hand on my shoulder and shot me a stern look.

"Vegeta," he breathed, his voice cracking under the strain of the emotion.

"Yes," the huff of air the came out of my chest felt improper, as if I wasn't supposed to be breathing at all.

"Take care of my little brother, alright? You two are all you guys have now, and you'll need each other. But he'll need you first, okay?"

I looked Raditz in the eyes, rising to his challenge as a man, as a proud Saiyajin, despite the negative connotations the Icejin's tried to belittle us with. I grabbed his hand and shook it, letting my fingers express my consent and words.

I took another look at Kakarot, his demeanor pressing heavily into my mind, and vowed that we would make it through this ordeal.

A/N: I will be posting this in about 3 chapters, and I will finish uploading the rest tonight. Please read and review, I'd love to know what you guys think!