Chapter Twenty-Five
Vegeta stared in disbelief, as if Goku had grown another head. "You...you died?!"
Goku nodded, looking sadly at the dragonball. "Yeah...sometimes I still have nightmares about dying. It was one of the most painful things I've ever experienced".
Vegeta stared open mouthed, unable to comprehend what Goku was saying to him. Goku...died. But here he was, standing naked in front of Vegeta as good as new. Vegeta's gaze slid to the dragonball cradled in Goku's hand. All thanks to that little shining orb.
Goku swallowed loudly before continuing his story. "I didn't come back straight away...Once a wish has been made, the dragonballs turn to stone and split up, disappearing to the corners of the Earth. They recharge after one year, but until that time there's nothing you can do".
Standing, Vegeta went over to Goku, taking the dragonball from his grasp, raising it to the light to examine it. The orb was cool against his skin, seemingly emitting a glow, holding Vegeta mesmerized. "So what happened?" he asked faintly.
"I went to Otherworld and stayed there for about 7...maybe 8?...months before they wished me back...but...that's all I can say about that" Goku replied, a faint smile on his face. "I was told I couldn't tell anyone about my time there".
"What?! Why the hell not?!" Vegeta said indignantly, his tone making Goku rub the back of his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry Vegeta but it's kind of the law...I mean, not everybody gets the same outcome in the afterlife. If I told you what I experienced, than that's not fair to you, who might have a totally different outcome when you die. I wish I could...truly I do".
Vegeta went quiet, digesting Goku's answer, bringing the ball closer to him, feeling somehow comforted by it. "So...not everybody gets a happy ending..."
Goku's expression faltered, hearing Vegeta's voice turn sad slightly and moved towards him hesitantly, wanting to take the Prince in his arms. "Vegeta..."
"I can understand why you would lie about something such as this Kakarotto...if word got out about something as powerful as this, it could fall into the wrong hands..." he rolled the ball around in his hands before looking up at Goku, furrowing his brow. "That still doesn't explain why you stayed silent about the senzu beans though...why tell the council...hell why tell my Father...about them at all, if you were just going to hide it from us?".
"Honestly I don't know why" Goku said, waving his arms slightly in a wild manner, as if searching for an answer. "It felt like the right idea at the time...they grow only once a year on Earth-sei and the number varies everytime...one crop might grow twenty, the next maybe just one. I was worried that if I gave them away..." he left the sentence unfinished, not knowing what else to say.
The two went quiet, both lost in their own thoughts before Vegeta finally looked up, handing back the dragonball. "Here".
"Thank you...King Ox let me bring it with me...it was my sensei's possession before he passed on...he said I should hold onto it...and the memories". He went back to the bookcase, putting the dragonball lovingly back on its pillow. "He also reasoned that it if I took it off Earth-sei, then nobody would be able to gather all seven and make some sort of selfish wish".
Vegeta nodded, not really listening anymore. "...I want the senzu beans".
Goku blinked, taken aback. "What? Why?"
"You lied to me...if you expect me to carry on trusting you, then I want you to hand them over" he answered stoically, holding his hand out expectantly. Goku averted his eyes and fidgeted, Vegeta growing impatient. "If you hadn't lied about them, I would've been able to give you one when you were poisoned and I...we wouldn't have had to go through all this".
Goku drooped, seeing the reasoning and hovered up, pulling the box from its hiding place and handing it over to Vegeta, who inspected it. "You...you wont tell anyone will you?"
"I haven't decided yet" Vegeta answered dismissively, pocketing the box into one of his boots then sitting back on the bed, Goku taking a seat next to him. "I'm still mad at you about all this. I'm supposed to trust you with my life and you keep important things like this from me?"
Wincing at Vegeta's harsh words, Goku scooted closer, trying to comfort him. "Please understand Vegeta...I thought I was doing the right thing at the time!".
"Hah! Why should I listen to you?! I bet you were just waiting for the perfect time to make your escape and leave with those Earthlings! So you could go back to Earth-sei and make your own wish!" Vegeta vented, turning his back to Goku, unwilling to look at him any longer.
Goku blinked at Vegeta stupidly. "Why would I do that? My wish is right here in front of me".
Vegeta blinked as a blush bloomed on his cheeks, glancing over his shoulder at Goku, who looked at him distraught. "...what?"
"Vegeta...I meant what I said earlier..." he pulled the Prince into his embrace, Vegeta's back against his bare chest, holding him lightly as he nuzzled him slightly. "I love you".
Vegeta gripped the sheets beneath him tightly, his face hot as he avoided Goku's gaze, not daring to look Goku in the eye. "You...you do?"
He felt Goku nod above him, his breath in Vegeta's ear. "I realized I almost died without you knowing how I truly felt...I don't want to make that mistake again" he said as he closed his eyes, moving to lay his hand over Vegeta's heart, the two going quiet, Goku completely aware that his Prince had no reciprocated his words.
Shifting slightly, Vegeta looked up, reaching up to stroke Goku's jawline. Goku opened his eyes and the two locked eyes, Goku smiling slightly before leaning in to kiss Vegeta tenderly, chuckling when Vegeta bit his lip softly. "I...guess I can forgive you...this time!" Vegeta said, holding up a finger in warning, trying to distract from the awkwardness. "No more secrets!"
"No more secrets! I swear it!", Goku said, holding his hand up as if swearing an oath.
Vegeta grinned wickedly and turned wrapping his arms around Goku's neck. "In that case then, c'mere and show me how sorry you really are" he whispered huskily, pulling Goku down over him, Goku grinning back just as widely as he did as bidden.
Bulma walked on down the hall nervously, trying not to make eye contact with any of the Saiyajin's that she passed, ignoring the stares and whispers as she walked exited the grounds of the palace she was staying in. Making her way across the lobby, she walked up the stairs and turned into the hallway that led her into a sectioned off part of the palace, two guards standing at the entrance to the hallway giving her a cursory once over before letting her through. She relaxed more as she walked down the hallway, blinking in surprise at the quietness of the place after the hustle and bustle of the rest of the palace.
Pausing, she pulled out a piece of paper, studying the directions before continuing on. Despite having come to this part of the palace before, she still found herself consulting the directions she'd been given but after a few moments she found the door she was looking for and smiled, brushing back her hair and dusting off imaginary dirt from her dress.
Clearing her throat, she stood slightly straighter and knocked lightly on Goku's door, pausing when she heard nothing before knocking again, more insistently the second time around. Leaning closer to the door, she heard something shuffle before a voice called out. "Yes? Can I help you?"
Bulma brightened, hearing the voice she'd been after. "Goku! It's me Bulma! Can I come in?". She went to open the door, narrowing her eyes when it jiggled in her hand but did not open, Goku's voice calling out from behind the door. "Bulma!?"
"Yes Goku, Bulma. Why is the door locked?! Can you let me in?" she asked, trying to open the door again but to no avail. Frustrated, she put her hands on her hips, banging on the door again. "Goku?"
"Ahh I...I'm sorry Bulma but this is a bad time...can...can you come back later?" Goku called out, Bulma raising an eyebrow at the slightly panicked tone he was using.
"Goku what's going on? Why wont you let me in?! We've all been so worried about you! Chi-Chi asked me to come over here to ask if she and the others could come and visit...I know the Doctor wanted you to rest but..." she trailed off, biting her lip in worry. Maybe Goku was worse then they had been told? The King had come to them at once and told them to rest easy, that Goku was awake and up but was to be confined to his room for the remainder of the day, to rest off the effects of the regeneration tank he had been holed up in. But what if they were just playing down his injuries? She had only been around Saiyajins a couple of months, but she could already see they were as stubborn as mules when it came to their health.
There was another pause before Goku answered, his voice weak behind the door. "I...I'm sorry Bulma I just...I cant see you guys today. I promise I'll come by tomorrow and see you I just...I need to rest ok?".
Bulma hesitated then nodded, even though she knew Goku couldn't see her. "I understand...feel better soon Goku ok?".
No answer. Bulma waited a few seconds before looking around, making sure no one was coming in either direction before she crouched by the door, pulling the bobby pins from her hair, shaking it out as it fell to her shoulders. Looking at the keyhole, she leant in and pushed in both pins, turning and twisting them in an attempt to open the door. As she worked, she heard shuffling behind the door, which grew more frantic with every passing second. "Bulma!? Waht're you doing!? Bulma! "
Ignoring him, Bulma continued to twisting the pins until they gave a resounding click, smiling widely in triumph. Standing she slipped the pins into her pocket and opened the door slightly, poking her head into the room, a wide grin on her face which quickly dissolved into one of shock.
Goku stared back at her, the look on his face mirroring her own. "B..Bulma?!...", he said faintly, trying to cover himself, which in his current position, was slightly difficult. He was sat up naked against the headboard of his bed, the pillows stuffed behind his lower back to give him support, his arms above his head, locked into place with what looked like glowing handcuffs. He hurriedly tried to cross his legs to cover himself, but found the position uncomfortable, so instead resorted to bunching the bed sheet up with his foot till it covered him adequately. "I..I told you to come back later!"
"I...I'm sorry I just..." Bulma said, blushing bright red as she tried to stifle the giggle that was currently lodging itself in her throat. She came into the room, quickly closing the door behind her so that nobody else could accidentally see what was happening and turned back to face Goku, trying to keep her gaze on his face. "So...ahh...what ahh...what's happening here? You and your girlfriend playing kinky games or some such? Is she here? Does the Prince know you do this stuff?" Bumla asked timidly, looking around as if searching for signs of the other person who would do such a thing to her friend.
Goku looked at her blandly. "Bulma you need to get out of here! You shouldn't be here!".
"What are those things? Are they some sort of weird Saiyajin handcuff?" she asked, coming closer to inspect the glowing bands around Goku's wrists, her scientific curiosity battling with her womanly instinct not to stare at the hunk of man laid bare before her. As much as she loved her boyfriend Yamucha, Goku had always managed to arouse her lust so easily when he was around and she could not quite believe what she was seeing.
"Their called Ki-Rings...similar to handcuffs but made from Ki energy, not metal. Only the person that made them can manipulate them" Goku answered simply, looking up at the rings as he spoke, his attention distracted from the original problem momentarily, wiggling his fingers to try and keep his blood flow going. He shook his head, getting back to the matter at hand. "You should go! Now!"
"Goku what're you freaking out about? Surely the Prince wont care what you and you're girlfriend..." Bulma trailed off, her eyes glazing over as she slowly put two and two together, covering her mouth with a hand to stifle the gasp as she straightened. "You!? And the Prince?!"
Goku hissed, straining at the restraints, his eyes wide with fear. "Please Bulma! You cant say a word! This has to be between us! Promise you wont say a word Bulma! Not even to Yamucha! And especially not Chi-Chi!"
Bulma turned away, biting her lip as she thought about it, glancing over her shoulder at her friend. He leaned forward again, his voice pleading. "Please Bulma...I deserve this secret...after what happened on Earth-sei with the cyborgs...Yamucha wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for me!"
Bulma folded her arms, frowning at him. "That's low Goku! Don't try and blackmail me like that!"
"I'm sorry Bulma just...please..." Goku hung his head, hiding his expression from Bulma, whose expression wavered as she watched him. After a few moments, she sighed and tutted, looking away. "Fine! I wont say anything! I swear...we do owe you our lives after all!"
Goku looked up, a small smile on his face. "Thank you Bulma! I owe you one!". His tail wafted out from behind him, wagging slightly before going rigid, Goku's head turning sharply towards the door. "He's coming back...you have to leave Bulma! Now!".
Bulma nodded and turned quickly exiting, leaving the door unlocked, hoping Vegeta wouldn't notice. She quickly weaved her way down the corridor, only just missing Vegeta, who came from the other direction carrying a tray of different fruits and a bottle of wine, a wicked smirk on his face.
Carefully maneuvering the tray he held, Vegeta looked around before unlocking his door and walking inside, locking it behind him before going to the connecting door, slipping inside, grinning at Goku who looked over at him, a mixture of lust and worry in his eyes. Vegeta took two steps into the room before something hit him, making him stop dead in his tracks. His eyes narrowed in an instant, looking around the room, growling as he sensed for any intrusive Ki's. "Who was here?!"
"What!? I...I dunno what you're talking about Vegeta" Goku said, shuffling slightly on the bed.
"Don't bullshit me Kakarotto! I can smell them!". Vegeta stomped forward, practically slamming the tray on the bed as he began to search the room, looking in the cupboards and bathroom, even going so far to look under the bed. "Where are they!?"
Goku swallowed noisily, Vegeta glaring at him. "It...it was Bulma...she came to see if I was alright..."
"How did the wench get in the room!? I locked it!"
"..." Goku averted his eyes, shuffling uncomfortably under his gaze. "...She picked the lock".
Vegeta's eyes widened and he instantly went to the door. "I'll rip the bitches head off!"
"NO! No Vegeta stop!" Goku cried out, straining to get free, almost wrenching his arms from their sockets. "Aah!"
Vegeta stopped and turned instantly, hearing the pain in the others voice. "Kakarotto!?"
"I...I'm ok..". Goku panted then sat back, looking up at Vegeta. "Vegeta please...she gave me her word...she wouldn't say a thing. She owed me one...I trust her...please...come back to bed".
Vegeta hesitated, Goku seeing the indecision in his eyes before he gave in, walking back over to Goku undressing as he went. Taking the tray he sat beside him, opening the wine and pouring a small goblet full before taking a small berry like fruit from the tray, dipping it into the wine. "I suppose I could let her off...for now"
Goku scrunched his nose at him. "Don't be cruel" he said, opening his mouth to catch the dripping fruit as Vegeta held it out to him, placing it in his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully. "Sooo...when are you gonna release my hands? Not to sound like a pussy but I'm kinda worried about the lack of circulation" he said, glancing up at his bound hands, wiggling his fingers as to make his point, making Vegeta smirk.
"All in good time Kakarotto. The doctor told you to rest didn't she? Well I'm here to make sure you keep your word" he growled playfully, holding out another wine soaked treat, letting the droplets of wine fall onto Goku's body before leaning in, delicately licking the collected pools from Goku's abs.
Goku blushed as he hardened, watching Vegeta lick and nibble his soaked flesh before looking up at Goku with a wicked smirk. "I'm not sure she would think this counts as resting..."
Woo! Ok so, not much happened in this chapter but I felt like I should give these two a break and let them enjoy themselves. They've been through some shit and I'm not gonna lie, its going to get worse ^^;
Reviewer Replies!
dbzlover135 - Haha thanks! Am glad I can still surprise people heh :D
Tankun - Aww thank you so much! Your comment really made my day lol! Well as you can see, not much was revealed (except for Goku and Vegeta of course!) But more and more will be revealed as the story continues :) I just hate to feel like I might be rambling in some of the chapters! I try to leave them at a maximum of 3k words a chapter. But otherwise, I'm really enjoying my time writing this ^_^ Thanks for your kind words!
VictoriaLovesSmut - I'm glad you agree ^_^ just makes the whole thing a lil easier to write heh. Hehe yeah Celipa's quite fun to write when she pops up heh. I like having a "no nonsense" character around heh
Skywalkerlove203 - Well as you can see, he's undecided...for now hehe. As for Turles, well he was the easiest for me to write as a bad guy, mainly cause he blends into the background so well. I am hoping to maybe redeem him by the end of the story but for now we will have to wait and see! Thanks for reading!
And that's it for now! Please don't forget to review and comment! Thanks for reading!