Chapter 12: Life and Death

Vegeta approached Nappa's house Thursday night after having spent the day with Bulma. He smiled, remembering her relaxing at Senzu Bean as he worked, adorably snuggled under a blanket with a pencil in her mouth as she looked over some schematics. He had to shake his head clear before his mind wandered to what happened after his shift... He walked straight into the kitchen to see Nappa in there stirring something bubbling in a big pot. Vegeta could just make out the card table and folding chairs that were set up in the living room next to the sofa.

"What's this?" Vegeta asked, suspicion clear in his voice.

"Thought we could have a little family dinner tonight."

Just then, Vegeta heard an annoying voice yell from the living room, "aw, come on! That was so unfair. You did not have to throw that turtle shell at me like that!"

Raditz just laughed at Goku's whining.

Vegeta groaned. "The Son's? Really, Nappa."

"They're family. And right now we need to be around family."

"Why're you being so sentimental all of a sudden?"

Nappa put his spoon down. "Because like it or not, kid, I care about you and those two idiots in there. And if a war is coming, we need to be prepared. I want one normal day before everything goes to shit." He mumbled the last part into his stew, continuing his stirring.

Vegeta's heart gave a weird squeeze. He didn't like seeing this side of Nappa. He didn't want to be around the sappy bastard, so he went to join Goku and Raditz in the living room.

"Hey 'Geta!" Goku exclaimed. He was always so excited to see Vegeta for some odd reason. Vegeta just flopped himself in the recliner, ignoring the greeting. He looked at the TV to see the two brothers playing Mario Kart. He scoffed. Amateurs. Vegeta grabbed a controller to show them how it was done.

"Ha! And The Prince reigns supreme," Vegeta declared a half hour later, standing from his chair and throwing his fists in the air. The TV showed Bowser in the winners circle jumping up and down, with Mario - Goku's character - in second place, and Raditz - who played as Princess Peach this round - in last place.

"Cheater," Raditz grumbled lowly.

At that moment, Nappa walked in with several serving dishes. "Dinner's ready!"

The boys walked the short distance to the card table, each taking a seat on a folding chair. Vegeta in between Nappa and Raditz with Goku sitting across from him. They all began dishing out meat and potatoes onto their plates, scarfing down the hot meal.

"So how's classes going for you guys?" Nappa asked as if they had dinner like this every night.

"Pretty good!" Goku answered. "Chi Chi has been helping me build better study habits and I've been getting B's on tests!" Nappa smiled at the boy's excitement.

"Well I've been making good money at the shop lately. Lots of richy riches coming in with fancy cars needing fixin' and who do they get but yours truly!"

"Too bad for them," Vegeta said drily. "They couldn't find any other mechanic in West City?"

"Shut it, you spikey-haired runt. You're just mad cuz I'm the better salesman. And I could always get the ladies when you couldn't."

"Oh please." Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Even if I had been trying, I would've been a smoother operator than you."

"Oh! Remember when Raditz tried to get that bartender's number and turned out she used to be his gymnastics coach when he was four and she told him the story of when he peed his pants!" Goku guffawed.

"Ha! Yeah!" Vegeta laughed. "What about that stripper that used to be his middle school English teacher!"

"So what! That means nothing," Raditz barked.

"It shows you sure know how to pick em! I think you need to stop goin' after cougars, bro. The next one'll be our old piano instructor. " Goku laughed, imagining his brother with old Mrs. Gertrude.

"Mom dropped you on your head too much as a child," Raditz retaliated.

Goku and Vegeta just kept on laughing at Raditz's expense. Nappa smiled at the three bickering boys. Ah, this is how life should be, Nappa thought as he took a sip of his beer.

"Hey, speaking of ladies. How're things going with you and Bulma?" Goku asked Vegeta. "Chi Chi has been saying how she's barely seen Bulma lately because she's always with you."

"Yeah, how's the nookie?" Raditz butted in, glad to have to conversation focused on someone else. "Man I wish I would've hit that when I had the chance." His eyes glazed over.

"Like you ever had a chance," Nappa stated.

"Oh, I definitely could've. Many times. But you know how fickle women can be."

Vegeta casually stabbed Raditz in the back of the hand with his fork.

"Ow! What the fuck!"

Vegeta just smiled evilly as Raditz rubbed his hand. "Serves you right."

"But seriously, dude, how're you two? Last couple times I saw you guys together, you didn't seem very... I don't know. At the club she was begging you to fuck her and you turned her down. Very dramatically, I might add. Then here the other day you both looked scared shitless."

Vegeta stabbed at a piece of meat on his plate. "We're fine. You happy now?"

"No."

Nappa chuckled then. "From what I can tell, they're better than fine. Like rabbits. Can't get enough of each other." After all, I'd seen the evidence for myself...

"Quiet, you creepy fucker," Vegeta growled.

"Well, I'm happy for you, 'Geta," Goku said with his goofy smile. "You and Bulma are good together. And it's made me 200 bucks richer!"

"What the hell are you talking about, Kakarot?"

"You didn't know?" Raditz bellowed.

"I don't pay attention to you brainless apes."

Raditz and Nappa just started laughing. Goku nervously rubbed at the back of his neck. "Well," he began. "You know how you and Bulma used to bicker all the time?" Vegeta just gave him a menacing glare. "Bulma's roommates started a bet about when you guys would end up having sex," he said in a rush. "And I won." His voice grew small.

There was an intense silence. Finally, Vegeta said, "fork it over."

"What?" Goku asked confused. The other two men just stared at Vegeta.

"The cash. You ever bet against me, I get to keep the profits. That's the rule."

"But that doesn't even make sense!" Goku argued.

"Tough shit. Next time don't bet against me. Maybe you'll learn your lesson now."

Goku grumbled as he pulled out his wallet and handed Vegeta a wad of bills in differing values. Raditz just sat there laughing his head off. Nappa smirked, glad to see the boy could still have a sense of humor.

"Now who else partook in this idiotic bet?" Vegeta asked, counting the money. I need to know who to pummel later...

Goku looked nervous. He pushed his food around his plate.

"Well you know I did," Raditz admitted.

"All our usual group did. Krillin and 18 both said around Christmas. Chi Chi said New Year's. I bet before midterms."

"I said around finals. So close," Raditz chimed in grudgingly.

"Yamcha voted you guys wouldn't bang at all." Goku continued. "He lost a lot of money on that one."

Vegeta's eyes narrowed at the mention of Yamcha. Spineless little weakling. Goku had brought him a few times to the gym. He was pathetic. And he'd heard about how he'd treated Bulma. Any man that cheats on his woman like that deserved to be pummeled into the dirt.

"That spineless jackass didn't deserve Bulma anyways," Raditz said, mirroring Vegeta's thoughts.

"Is that the kid with the scar on his face?" Nappa asked.

"Yeah. He doesn't come around much anymore after breaking things off with Bulma," Goku said.

"She broke things off with him," Vegeta corrected. Raditz just smiled.

"Hey, 'Geta," Goku interrupted. "Are you really going to see King Cold tomorrow?"

The room went silent for a beat. Nappa and Raditz both had their forks in the air mid-bite.

Vegeta was unfazed. "Yeah," was all he said.

"Good. I'm glad you're finally gonna get your life back. You deserve to be happy." He gave Vegeta a brilliant smile. Vegeta didn't know what to say. He just scowled in return.

Raditz cleared his throat. His brother really did know how to silence a room. "Well, I wish you luck, man," Raditz said, clamping his hand on Vegeta's shoulder.

"Vegeta doesn't need luck. He can hold his own. He's the strongest fighter I know."

"Hey!" Raditz yells, offended. "What am I! Chopped liver?"

"You're all brawn, Radz. No strategy. You need to start picturing your attacker before..." Goku went on to tell Raditz how to better improve his fighting style, with Raditz scoffing at the audacity of some of the suggestions. Vegeta had tuned them both out. The interaction was starting to give Vegeta a headache. But he still appreciated their words of encouragement. Even though they're both imbeciles. He hated to admit it, but he's actually had a pretty good night with these bozos. He sat at the table, finishing his dinner contemplating what he was about to do tomorrow. Nappa looked at him with concern in his eyes but Vegeta didn't notice.

Vegeta woke up in a cold sweat. He sat up quickly, forgetting where he was for a moment. I forgot I stayed over at Nappa's. He grabbed his phone to check the time. 5AM. He knew he wouldn't be able to fall back to sleep, so he got out of bed and took a shower. He methodically dressed, tugging on his hoodie and headed out the door. He needed to spend some of this pent up energy he had and started a slow jog around the block. The longer he ran the more his surroundings changed. Suddenly, without realizing where'd he been running to, he found himself at a place he hadn't visited in years. He slowed to a walk and passed through the gates. He walked down the grass covered center path until he came to a small hill on the other side of the lawn. He stopped in front of two headstones connected into the shape of a heart boring the names Vegeta Ouji Sr. and Kumiko Ouji. Underneath their names read 'loving father, mother, and friends'. At the bottom of the stone, written in small script were the words 'gone too soon'. Vegeta dropped to his knees before the headstones. His breathing was ragged and he wasn't sure if it was because of his run or the emotions bubbling up inside him. He could feel hot tears prick his eyes. And the dream he'd woken up from flooded back to his mind;

Vegeta was losing. He could see his opponent approach him but he couldn't get up. He was flat on his stomach in the middle of the ring, his cheek pressed against the rough material on the ground. In the crowd he caught a flash of blue. Staring back at him was the woman he loved, her face twisted with worry and fear. Beside her was a man cackling in triumph, holding a gun to Bulma's head. 'I told you what would happen, Prince.' The gunshot rang out clear in the crowded stadium and Vegeta screamed, reaching for his beloved, but it was like he was under water. Then he was on his feet, running. Running toward a house flickering in flames. He couldn't seem to get his legs to move any faster. He could see his parents waving at him from the front door, oblivious to the fire and smoke around them. Suddenly, the image changed. Instead of his parents smiling at him through the open door, it was Bulma. Bulma with a small child in her arms. Bulma, her face contorted in pain. And Frieza appearing out of nowhere beside her, a gun to her head. 'You said you wouldn't let anything happen to me, to us,' Bulma whispered. And then he heard the bang of the gun.

"I figured you'd make your way here at some point," Nappa said from behind him, pulling him from his nightmare.

The scene was almost picturesque. Vegeta still knelt on the ground before his parents' headstone, tears running down his cheeks, as Nappa placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. The sun was rising, making the sky a swirling mixture of pink and orange.

"They'd be proud of you, you know."

Vegeta just shook his head. Nappa had never seen him like this before. So... distraught.

"You're finally doing something they never got a chance to do. You're protecting the person you love. Kumiko would've been ecstatic-"

"Stop. Don't tell me what they would've been. They're dead. Because of me."

"No," Nappa said harshly. "They're dead because a maniacal tyrant threw a temper tantrum like the child that he is when he didn't get his way. This isn't your fault, Vegeta. None of it is."

"I'm hurting her. No matter what happens, Bulma will get hurt." Vegeta's voice cracked.

Nappa scoffed, making Vegeta turn his head up to him. "You really think that young lady would go down without a fight? She's a tough cookie, son. You need to remember that."

Vegeta looked down at his hands. He tightened them into fists. He stared hard at the headstone in front of him, reading over and over the words gone too soon written in delicate script. He wasn't about to let history repeat itself. He pushed himself off the ground, brushing the dirt off his knees. He put his hand on his mother and father's grave marker. I'm going to finish this battle. And I'll win this time. I won't let her become a tombstone next to you. Vegeta straightened. He shrugged off his nightmare and his emotional episode. He turned and stood up next to Nappa.

"You opening the gym today?" He asked him.

Nappa raised an eyebrow at the question. "Wasn't planning' on it. Why?"

"Because I need to beat some shit up before I go confront anyone. Otherwise you'll be dragging me out in a bodybag later." Nappa just nodded at him and they walked back through the gates of the cemetery, neither one saying a word on their trip back.

Several hours later, Vegeta and Nappa stopped at the big double doors of the entrance to the Cold Gym. Vegeta's nerves were surging through him, steadily turning into anger, making his hands shake at his side. If I step through these doors, I might not step back out... he thought. An image of Bulma's face flashed before his eyes.

Nappa put his hand on Vegeta's shoulder. "We gonna do this, kid?" he asked.

Vegeta looked up into the eyes of the man who was like a father to him. He couldn't help but think how lucky he was to have Nappa. He straightened up and nodded his head. Together they pushed open the doors before them.