A/N: I'm back dear readers! Here's part 21.

A word of warning: There are crude words and content that may offend some people. Meaning: foul words and sexual content. So if you're a minor or you hate these things, please do not read.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except a few DBZ Mangas, DVDS, cards and a toy Vegeta. And this idea.

Suspicion and realisation

Kakarotto never got used to it, this 'silence'. It never got easier; it remained a familiar ache he had endured everyday for the last five years. He could search an eternity and he would never get an answer, his mate was gone; dead. The silent link they once shared now served as a bitter reminder of the events that took Vegeta from him, events that could have been avoided. Kakarotto sighed as he tossed and turned in his attempt to get some rest.

Then he felt it; the link that he thought was long silenced opened. He must be dreaming... a twisted illusion; another trickery this 'silence' wanted him to believe. Too many times, he had fallen for its empty promises and it was going to work again. He relaxed his mind as he made contact, reopening the link that was severed years ago.

...

Mount Paozu, a strange place for his mind to take him. Still it held some memories for him, fond ones while they lasted. The wilderness, its rivers and Grandpa Gohan's hut… wait… that wasn't there before. Kakarotto walked up to it, pressing a hand to it as he analysed the structure beside Grandpa Gohan's hut. A house, but whose was it? This was different… this wasn't Mount Paozu as he remembered it.

That meant this wasn't his memories, then whose was it?

His ears picked up the sound of running footsteps; it would seem his answers would be revealed soon. He headed towards the sound; they were coming from the front of the house. Curiosity pushing him to seek his answer; he turned the corner.

Vegeta? Kakarotto thought he had died then, to finally be able to see his face again… but something was off; and that something was Vegeta. That wasn't a sign of recognition on Vegeta's face; he did recognize him but it wasn't the look he was expecting to see and there was something akin to shock if not, terror in his eyes… A pair of hands around Vegeta's shoulders caught Kakarotto's attention. Kakarotto stopped a growl in his throat before it surfaced, his eyes traveled upwards; locking onto the stranger's face.

This… This had to be the best one yet. His torment truly knew no boundaries. So now this 'silence' was showing him an opposite mirror image of himself, holding Vegeta no less. Damn it.

Wait. Something wasn't right. He wasn't in his own mind right now, the surroundings were not part of his memories and he had traveled into an existing link… Kakarotto narrowed his eyes as the wheels in his head spun; he still didn't have a clue. He hated this lack of knowledge.

In that case, there was another way to find out. He threw a ki-blast at his doppelganger.

Both Goku and Vegeta separated, avoiding the ki-blast that headed towards them. Vegeta quickly regained himself. Shit! Kakarotto was here too!

Goku turned to face Kakarotto, immediately he could sense the dark aura from his lookalike. Vegeta joined Goku, standing by his side as they watched; preparing for another attack from Kakarotto.

"Vegeta… Who's that? Why does he look like me?" Goku asked, refusing to take his eyes off Kakarotto.

"You, in this universe" he gave a summarised answer. Damn it, he wasn't expecting Kakarotto to discover the link this quickly.

Kakarotto was impressed, his doppelganger was quick; his smirk quickly turned into a frown when he noticed Vegeta standing beside him; Goku noticed Kakarotto's trail of vision as well. Responding to an instinct he never knew before, Goku positioned himself in front of Vegeta; shielding him from Kakarotto's view.

Both Vegeta and Kakarotto growled, for different reasons.

"I don't need you to protect me, Kakarotto!" Vegeta started his protest before he realised Goku wasn't paying attention to anything he said.

The Earth Saiyan remained dead focused on Kakarotto, growling threateningly. Kakarotto returned his growl; his tail bristled to three times its size, swaying in agitation and hostility. Vegeta realised what was taking place and the realisation made him growl as well.

They were challenging each other for rights to him, and neither wanted to back down.

Like hell they would! Instincts or not, he wasn't going to allow himself to be viewed as a trophy anymore!

Vegeta was about to get around Goku when Kakarotto powered up; Goku followed his example, both powering up to Super Saiyan. Both dominant males immediately engaged; their blows clashed with intense force on a level similar to Goku and Vegeta's fight during his brief Majin transformation.

There would be no stopping those two fools now, Vegeta cursed as he backed down. He didn't like how this had turned out, but as a Saiyan warrior, he would have to give them some level of respect and let them fight it out. As they would have, had they been on Vegeta-sei; the fought over Saiyan had no right to intervene. Not yet at least.

Something was wrong with Goku, Old Kai could see how his brows knitted together tightly; twitching as if in deep concentration, he was begining to sweat profusely, he was breathing hard as if in battle or pain and his muscles were shaking. He wasn't calmly placing his hand on King Kai's back anymore; he was gripping a handful of the guy's clothes.

Something was very wrong with the picture.

"We should stop for a break… Goku doesn't look so good" Kibito Kai suggested. Old Kai nodded.

KIbito Kai went up to Goku, shaking his shoulder gently as he tried to rouse him. A sudden scream shocked everyone as Goku was send flying back as if he was hit by an unseen force.

"GOKU!?" Everyone immediately gathered round him. Goku opened his eyes, gasping for air before he suddenly shot back up onto his feet.

"Vegeta's in Universe 9!" Goku grabbed onto King Kai's shoulders, shocking him as he shouted in his face. "King Kai, I have to go back there and get him!"

"Calm down, Goku! Ok so we know where he is now. Did you find out what body he's in and where he's at?" Old Kai inquired of him.

"I couldn't! There was another me and he's mean, he was wearing a saiyan armour! I got to get back there, King Kai!"

King Kai nodded. Again Goku placed his hand on his back… nothing. Goku tried as hard as he could, calling for Vegeta again. It remained silent.

"It's not going to work, Goku. You're exhausted, your mind's tired." Old Kai put his hand on Goku's arm. "I'm afraid you'll have to rest before you can try it again."

"I can't rest… Vegeta's still with him" Goku was in no shape to protest, Old Kai was right. He was exhausted, it was written all over his face. The search across the previous eight universes, the fight and the lack of rest he suffered. His body couldn't take it anymore.

"Goku, listen to me. I know you're worried, we all are. But you are tired; you can't help anyone if you don't take care of yourself first. Vegeta's a fighter; he can hold his own until you get there. Have faith in him. You saw him, didn't you? He's still alive, and he's waiting but we're not going to have him wait forever, just a little longer. For you to be at your best, the next time you will succeed." King Kai held Goku's arms, reassuring him as best he could.

"You already know where he is, Goku. Take comfort in that, the rest will follow soon enough. Everyone did well today; now take that well deserved rest. Because I know you're going to try it again, and next time you will have better results." Old Kai crossed his arms behind his back and smiled. "Right?"

"Ah" Goku nodded, his face focused with determination.

Wait a little longer, Vegeta…

Goku was winning.

Vegeta continued to look upwards as the fight continued. Pride filled him as he witnessed the intense ferocity Goku displayed, yet he hadn't ascended beyond the first transformation. Vegeta shook his head; Kakarotto would have been insulted had he known Goku wasn't giving his all in this fight. Vegeta saw the end to their fight as Goku brought a hand up, he recognised that tactic. Goku wasn't going to hurt Kakarotto too much; he was merely going to blast him with air pressure.

Just as Goku was about to obtain victory, Vegeta thought he saw his body flicker like a flame about to be extinguished. Vegeta gasped, he wasn't hallucinating.

Goku was going in and out of existence, barely able to stay in Vegeta's mind. He was losing concentration… someone was calling him.

Kakarotto had also noticed an advantage the distraction provided. Charging a blast, he send it into Goku at point blank range; knocking him out of the sky.

"Kakarotto!" Vegeta flew up towards him. Just as he was about to grab him, Goku disappeared, forcefully expelled out of Vegeta's mind. Vegeta clutched his fists, holding back a scream of frustration as he set his feet back onto the ground.

Kakarotto smirked in triumph, he was the victor. Then the realization sank in, he was still in someone else's mind. His doppelganger was out, so that meant… Vegeta. He turned immediately in Vegeta's direction. He was still here… so, that meant… this was his mind, his memories?

Kakarotto started walking towards him; reaching him, he was about to touch him when his hand was smacked away before it could make any contact with Vegeta's face.

Kakarotto blinked, surprise evident in his eyes at Vegeta's behavior. Then he heard it.

"Get out…"

"What?"

Kakarotto was pushed back some distance by a sudden burst of power and a brilliant light that had him shield his eyes. He blinked, adjusting his eyes to the glow before he witness a sight that left him awed. A Super Saiyan… Vegeta was a Super Saiyan.

Kakarotto's body tingled with excitement. He was beautiful.

"GET OUT!" Vegeta roared in anger, shutting off the link with such force that it send them both falling off their beds in their respective rooms.

...

Kakarotto jumped to his feet… what was that? He thought back… he saw a doppelganger of himself and Vegeta… a Super Saiyan Vegeta. It wasn't a dream… there had been a link. A link that was always there… but that Vegeta… he wasn't his Vegeta, he would have recognised him otherwise.

But he did sense some form of recognition, there was something familiar about that Vegeta too… Serori's face came to mind. Kakarotto slammed his hand against his face, not again… why was she always coming up in his mind.

'And that scar, you bit her, didn't you?' Raditz's words came back to him. Kakarotto threw on his pants before heading to her room.

Vegeta cursed in a number of languages, as well as the ones he had not used in years. Fuck that Kakarotto! And speak of the bloody devil himself!

Kakarotto entered, noting she was awake.

He came up to her. "Can't sleep?"

"What the hell do you want, Kakarotto" he spoke through gritted teeth.

Kakarotto reached out, with the intention of lowering her tank top enough to get a good look at the scar he left on her. He hissed when Vegeta instinctively smacked his hand off before contact could be made.

"That's twice you've done that, woman"

"You deserved it, bastard" Vegeta caught himself before he fell into Kakarotto's trap. "And I can do more than just slap your hand, does your face still hurt?"

Kakarotto raised an eyebrow; there had been a slight pause. A slip up or a comeback? He couldn't tell.

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Kakarotto waved it off, then he smirked. "But I must say you were quite a feisty bitch that night; I was referring to your battles, but I also rather liked how you came onto me after you've had Raditz. In heat were you, how about now? We could fuck."

"GET OUT!" Vegeta growled.

"I WON'T! NOT TWICE IN A DAY!"

The room was in chaos again, furniture, fixtures and paint works. Nothing was spared.

She was getting better; Kakarotto was covered with bruises, scratches and bites before he finally had Vegeta subdued; using his weight, he pinned her onto the floor.

"Do we have to do this every time I want to touch you, Serori. Or do you seriously enjoy pain?" Kakarotto caressed her skin. "You know what a hunt is, do you also know what this means." His fingers caressed the healed bite wound on her neck. "Saiyans bite their mates here, and forge a link, joining their minds as they become a pair. I've claimed you as mine."

"Ch!"

"All you have to do is submit, Serori." Kakarotto reached downwards, scraping her neck gently with his teeth; enjoying how she squirmed.

"You're going to have to bind me with your strongest bindings to make me stay, Kakarotto! And I would rather die than submit!" Vegeta took whatever small pleasure he got from Kakarotto's anger, he knew retaliation would not be far behind.

"Damn you, Serori!" Kakarotto growled in Vegeta's face. "Damn it. You're mine!" Kakarotto forced himself to calm down, or he might risk hurting her again. He took a deep breath, brought her into his arms, holding her close.

"Kakarotto?" Vegeta was at a loss for words.

"Damn it… You're mine. I'll keep reminding you until it stays in your thick head."

The two guards guarding Vegeta's door that night blushed as moans and groans echoed from within. They waited for Kakarotto's orders to open the doors for him as was his usual practice, but none came until morning.

"You ok? You look as though you've not slept all night. Take a seat will you, your legs are shaking." Nappa helpfully stated the darn obvious.

"Shut. Up. Nappa" Vegeta gave a tired growl. "And I don't need a seat."

"Here. This will help pick you up" Raditz gave Vegeta a cup of something that looked like piss and smelled like a compost heap; took one for himself and another for Nappa. Both males down it all in one gulp, not willing to take more than one taste of it.

"What the hell is this?" Vegeta eyed his cup with suspicion.

"A health drink, nasty but it works. Drink it all in one gulp and you won't taste too much of it." Raditz suggested. Not to be outdone, Vegeta downed it all as well.

"Just so you know, that one gulp thing... bullshit. It still taste like shit." Vegeta chewed on a piece of meat to rid his mouth of that nasty taste. "Where's the bastard anyway."

"You're just about the only person who gets to keep her life for calling him that, you pack a serious set of balls. I suppose asking you to at least keep up appearances in front of everyone else would be a no?" Raditz stepped up behind her, his eyes roaming her curves. He could still remember her skin against his, he swallowed as he fought the urge to touch her.

"Damn right. So where is he."

"Paperwork."

"Good. I have questions." Raditz and Nappa turned in Vegeta's direction.

"What sort of questions, just know we can't answer everything, especially confidential issues. So let's hear them"

"I want to know about Kakarotto and the war." Both males raised their eyebrows.

Vegeta growled. "What!? They don't give all the details in that pit, except who you're going to be given to." Vegeta crossed his arms, hoping the lie held up.

Raditz was first to speak.

"My brother was sent to a weak planet as a baby. He destroyed it when he was 12, we picked him up then. Vegeta, me and Nappa; we all served a bitch, Freeza. My brother became a soldier in her service as well." Raditz stopped there.

It wasn't enough for Vegeta. "What else."

"What else is there to tell." Raditz avoided the topic.

"What else happened. How did Vegeta come into the picture, and the war?" Vegeta probed for more details.

"Vegeta was our prince, the Alpha male of our pack then. Status didn't help, we were still slaves to that bitch. She hn, she enjoyed games, bloody, mind games." Both Raditz and Nappa frowned at the memories. Vegeta sympathised. "Most times, Vegeta was the one she enjoyed playing these sick games with... but then she noticed Kakarotto too." Both males were reluctant to continue. Vegeta had a guess.

"She tried to break him then? Bring him down to her level?"

"That's right" Raditz nodded. "You probably never got to see the other side of Kakarotto, but once he wasn't like this. He was a different Saiyan, different in a good way but frustrating at the same time."

Vegeta rolled his eyes. Like he didn't know, his Kakarotto was just as much a pain in the ass. Raditz misinterpreted Vegeta's reaction.

"His view on life kind of grew on us, it took years but eventually our eyes opened. All the more so when we found out she destroyed Vegeta-sei, our home and how she lied to us, used us."

Nappa took over. "That was when Vegeta decided to do something about it. One of the few things we all agreed on. So we managed to gather soldiers from six planets, Freeza had eight planets fight for her. One of them yours. We won but it didn't come easy. Vegeta died during the war, Kakarotto became a super saiyan and took care of Freeza. After that, we took over the Cold Empire."

It was all too summarised for Vegeta. They were omitting details.

"Did Kakarotto mate Vegeta? What happened to have him change this much." Vegeta wanted to know.

"I need to go to the bathroom, you take over" Nappa left them. Raditz sighed as he shook his head.

"The rest of that story is Kakarotto's to keep or tell, Serori. I can't tell it for him. But I'll tell you this, he loved Vegeta and it almost destroyed him... until you came. I could tell, Kakarotto and I... we have the strangest habit of loving the same person."

It had been awkward, Vegeta could not find a more suitable word to describe it. Still, it had been a declaration in itself, he did not have the confidence to stay in Raditz's company any longer. He had excused himself in an attempt to distance himself from the Saiyan. Raditz blocked his path; had held him by the shoulders, wordlessly he coaxed him into accepting a kiss before he released him. Vegeta had left without hesitation and with haste.

He took a deep breath, Kami... what a clusterfuck his life had become and in such a short period of time. He needed space away from them.

Vegeta took a stroll along the circular town square, exploring the market as he did. All the while, noting that someone was following him. He turned into a corner, pulling the guy in as he tried to follow.

"Why the hell were you following me?" Vegeta kept his hand tightly around the guy's neck. Said guy raised both hands to show he had no weapons and had meant no harm.

"I wish to speak to you, Serori. I'm Rongan, a soldier in Kakarotto's army. I'm not trying to do anything to you. I merely wanted to speak with you, but first I need to know. Are you really Kakarotto's... please excuse me... pet or lover?"

Vegeta growled.

Rongan raised his hands again. "No offence, I wasn't trying to insult you... but I need to know which side of the fence you're on. If you would be willing to fight for your freedom and free a few more people at the same time"

"Cut the bullshit, just say what you mean" Vegeta was growing impatient.

"I'm trying to find people to join me, to end the tribute and Kakarotto's tyranny. I'm hoping you would join me, life as a slave of any sort; even a pampered slave isn't a life at all, is it? Your friend's also on my side, Ayla and my sister who's part of the Saiyan's harem. Please consider, you're a smart woman and a fighter. I can see the fire still in your eyes, would you be happy being Kakarotto's whore for the rest of your life. I need people like you on my team."

Vegeta was about to say something when Rongan's scouter began running numbers, Vegeta felt it too. Nappa was looking for him.

"I'll contact you again, soon. Serori." Rongan quickly made his exit as Vegeta came out of the corner as well.

"There you are, been looking for you." Nappa shook his head. "Let's just get going."

They barely covered any distance when something caught Vegeta's eyes.

"Nappa, what the hell is that" Vegeta pointed to a familiar red machine in the middle of the makeshift market.

"Oh that? Someone said it was some kind of air purifier, blasted thing's been there for awhile though and I don't smell nothing."

Vegeta's gut instincts were acting up again. He had seen three of the same machines already. Something was brewing... and it was likely to be big; and that Rongan guy... he didn't trust that guy, not for a moment.

Vegeta had been to the ladies room before, he had seen the females that were in there. None of them could have been his sibling.

Because none of them were Tuffles.

To be continued ~

Hi everyone, I managed to squeeze in some time again.

Thanks for the reviews everyone :) Your support kept me going.

..

Hi hellomynameisidontknow

So glad you're enjoying it :) so sorry for the wait though, real life is taking up most of my time.

...

As always I hope you all enjoyed it. And don't forget to let me know what you think.

I hope to see you all again soon ~