Lucy chapter 23
Everything is ready, it has taken quite some preparation but hopefully it will all be worth it, Goku will know just how much Vegeta loves him when he sees how much effort he has put in to make this evening perfect. All he has left to do is pray that Bulma doesn't notice how much money he spent from her bank account to get this right. She never remembered to take his credit card back once they broke up, but regardless of whether she noticed or not, it was worth it. He had made the biggest decision of his life, he wasn't entirely sure it was the right decision, shit it was probably totally wrong but he was going to do it anyway. Despite only having a few short months of life left, despite kind of already being dead, ignoring the strange and unpredictable person he has become, he is going to ask Goku to marry him.
The large yacht looks kind of out of place moored up just of the coast of kami island, its tall mast wrapped with strings of fairy lights fanning out over the deck to create a glittering pagoda, it looks beautiful, if Vegeta does say so himself, it has taken him hours to get it just right. He has hung flowers in all different colours round the decking to remind Goku of the night they first made love, even though he still can't remember it himself. He has stuck pretend butterflies all around to remind him of their second date. He is dressed in his sharpest black suit with a bright orange tie, the exact same colour as Goku's training gi. He has cooked Oyakadon for them to eat and he even managed to get hold of orange and blue roses, after much searching, and he has a beautiful bouquet waiting for Goku, much bigger than the last bunch he gave to him. he plans to sail the yacht out onto the calm ocean and dance to Latin music, ask for his hand in marriage, then, provided he says yes, fuck him senseless under the stars, if that doesn't show the fool that Vegeta loves him then he doesn't know what will.
Now he just has to try to calm the fuck down and get Goku out here. He downs a shot of whiskey and takes a few deep breaths, fighting the urge to just call the whole thing off. He can't stop worrying about Goku's answer, what if he says no? as much as Vegeta knows that is just stupid, Goku would never turn him down he still can't stop worrying about it. And what if Chichi refuses to divorce Goku? Vegeta also can't see any reason why she would as far as he can make out she is kind of getting involved with Piccolo now, but again, he can't stop fretting about it. Well, there's no point in putting it off any longer, he flexes his muscles and makes his way to the house to find his hopefully soon to be husband.
Inside kame house Goku is doing the laundry, his and Vegeta's bed sheets sure do get messy, he thinks to himself as he happily bundles them into the machine, glancing round to make sure Oolong isn't about, he really got cross when he saw how dirty the last load of washing was, he said the guys would have to stop bringing food into the bedroom if they can't keep from spilling it on the bed. Goku doesn't want to keep food out of the bedroom. food and sex is his favourite combination of things.
Just then Vegeta enters the utility room, wearing a beautifully tailored suit and grinning from ear to ear, a rare sight for the prince who mostly wears a grumpy frown
"Come Kakarot, I've a surprise for you," He says holding out as hand for the younger Saiyan to take
"What is it Geeta?" Goku asks excitedly, taking his boyfriends hand
"If I answered that it wouldn't be a surprise would it, idiot," Vegeta tells him playfully "Close your eyes" He instructs. Goku does as he is told and allows Vegeta to lead him slowly from the house, he peeks a couple of times just to make sure he doesn't fall over anything. He hopes the surprise includes food, he's hungry.
Roshi and Oolong sit on the sofa watching an aerobics video, they pay no mind to the giggling man being led across the front room with his eyes closed, they are more than used to the Saiyan couple's weird antics by now. it's nice to see Goku so happy.
Vegeta gets to the edge of the water, the boat is a little way off shore.
"Ok, lets fly a little, keep those eyes tight shut," He says raising slowly off the ground, Goku following with a smile. They float together over the calm water, Vegeta stops only once to kiss Goku's soft lips, then he leads them down gently onto the deck of the boat.
Goku knows they were above water and he knows they didn't fly long enough to get to any other dry land, so he can figure out that he just landed on a boat. The smells around him are confusing, he can smell food, this is a good start to whatever Vegeta has planned for him. he can also smell flowers, which is nice
"Wait there," Vegeta whispers into his ear, leaving him stood alone, eyes closed, mouth smiling on the deck of the beautifully decorated yacht.
"Now open your eyes," Vegeta's whispered voice tells Goku, who slowly, warily complies. The boat is beautiful, Goku can't hold the smile off his face as he takes in the splendour of the yacht Vegeta has somehow got a hold of, the lights above them twinkling like a thousand fire flies, the flowers filling the air with a lovely aroma
"Vegeta this is wonderful," Goku says blushing. He is handed a glass of champagne, he has never really liked the stuff much but since its Vegeta has givven it to him, he will drink it.
"To us," Vegeta holds his glass up for a toast.
"To us," Goku agrees and their glasses touch ever so gently, a tiny ting echoing around them on the silent ocean. Goku smiles at the man he loves, watching the land behind him vanish into the distance. They are all alone out here, just the two of them and it is perfect.
Vegeta throws the anchor when they are a good few miles away from shore, he serves dinner at a small wooden table on the deck, a small candle flickering in the sea breeze between them. He cooked enough for twelve men so hopefully it should be just enough for him and Goku.
Vegeta fingers the ring box in his pocket, the ring is simple, a single silver band with an inscription inside. He knows at first Goku won't understand what the writing means, he might be confused but when the time comes and Vegeta dies again he will understand. The words inside the ring simply say, "I'll be waiting". God, he hopes Goku is smart enough to understand what he is on about. He had to try and give him some sort of message, something to tell him he would be there on the other side, still wanting him, still his, forever. But he knows he must do it in a way that doesn't break the rules of his quest, he is sure Goku will understand.
Once their food is gone and Goku's belly is full, Vegeta goes over the little stereo in the corner, he made a playlist already, starting with the song he translated to Goku all those months ago. The music drifts around them, the swaying of the waves seeming to move in time to the beautiful melody. Vegeta takes Goku's hand and pulls him into his arms, they swing together in silence, enjoying the music and the gentle lapping sounds of the waves rubbing the sides of the boat. The full moon hanging heavy above their heads casting a blue glow across the pretty scene. Vegeta wanted to wait a little longer but this is just too perfect. He steadies himself to say the most important sentence he has ever said, checks the ring for the thousandth time and takes another deep breath in a final attempt to still his beating heart.
"Kakarot, I need to ask you something," He says, his voice tight with worry
"What is it Vegeta, you can ask me anything," Goku answers, his eyes full of stars as he looks down at the strained expression of the man he loves
"Close your eyes," Vegeta whispers
"Again?" He chuckles
"Just do it clown," Vegeta snaps, his voice full of affection. Goku closes his eyes for the second time that day and waits to be led somewhere, he isn't. he waits in silence for a moment, what can Vegeta be doing?
Vegeta is panicking, he is down on one knee in front of the love of his life, or death? And he is about to ask the biggest question he could ever ask, he holds his breath, it's all he can do to keep from hyperventilating. It wouldn't be very fun at all if he passed out right now, not to mention completely un-manly. He mentally slaps himself, man up, he tells himself sternly
"Open your eyes," He instructs, his voice sounding confident even if nothing else was.
Goku opens his eyes, Vegeta isn't there. He wonders where the smaller Saiyan could have gone to, maybe he wants to play hide and seek, that would be fun. Yes, that must be it. Goku goes to step forward only to see Vegeta is on the floor in front of him, what on earth is he doing down there. He moves to help him up, then suddenly he realises what is happening, he notices Vegeta's stance, down on one knee. He sees the silver ring sitting snuggly in the black velvet ring box. Vegeta is proposing! Goku is speechless, he just stares open mouthed at the other Saiyan
"Kakarot…...Son Goku. Would you do me the honour of becoming my husband?" Vegeta asks in a voice clear and confident.
Goku has never been happier, he cannot find words so he simply nods. Vegeta beams up at him, looking like the Cheshire cat and slides the silver ring onto his ring finger, it's a perfect fit.
Goku yanks Vegeta up, his feet leaving the ground and kisses him, deeply.
"Yes, Vegeta I'd like that," Goku sobs through happy tears, holding his fiancée so tight never wanting to let him go.
Vegeta feels so proud of himself, he looks into Goku's eyes and sees his whole life there, everything he has been searching for is right here. He feels a strange feeling that he puts down to the overload of emotion, he is wrong. His body feels different somehow, as though it is not his own, his face becomes a picture of confusion as he tries to figure out what the hell is happening to him. before he knows it, his mouth is speaking, saying words he didn't tell it to say, but he is powerless to stop it
"Kakarot," He says, "I love you,". And just like that his body is his own again. His hands fly to his face in shock, why did he say that? what the fuck happened?
"I didn't mean to say that!" he yells
"It's ok Vegeta, you can say it. I love you too." Goku answers still crying happy tears, not understanding the situation in the slightest.
Vegeta feels an excruciating pain searing through his chest, his heart that was so full of love and beating so fast, suddenly becoming still. The false life that had been gifted to him draining away
"Kakarooot," He calls as he falls to his knees clutching at his aching chest
"No," He calls out. He knows he is dying, he knows he has failed. He will never see Kakarot again. The realisation makes him feel emptier that he has ever been. Fighting for breath he looks up at the love of his life who is now kneeling at his side calling his name frantically
"I love you," He sighs as the very last breath leaves his tired body, his eyes close and his world drifts to black.
Goku feels the world stop spinning, he hears Vegeta's heart stop, his whispered declaration of love then he moves no more.
"Vegeta, no Vegeta wake up," He screams in vain, pounding his fists into his lover's chest trying to force his dead heart to beat
"Please Vegeta," He cries, tears causing his vision to become a blurry mess. He sobs into Vegeta's chest willing him with all his heart and soul to wake up, but knowing he won't. With a desperate wail, he lifts his fingers to his forehead, he will take Vegeta to Bulma, she can make him come back, she has to. SHE HAS TO.
As he disappears Asmodius smiles from the shadows, his work here is done.
Bulma sits in her office working on the same damn formula she has been working on for over a year now, she has finished animal trials and is now ready to move on to Human testing, it was a nerve-wracking procedure and finding test subjects was going to be hard considering the type of medicine she has created. But she will do it, she is determined.
She hardly jumps when Goku appears in front of her, she is almost used to it at this point, it is his face that scares her. He looks totally distraught, tears streaming down his face
"Goku what's wrong, where is Vegeta?" She asks, immediately worried about her estranged husband
"HE'S GONE, WHERE IS HE GONE?" Goku yells looking at his empty arms that moments ago held his fiancé. Bulma watches in bafflement as he disappears and reappears a few times, looking more and more terrified each time he comes back
"BULMA, HE DIED, HE DIED IN MY ARMS AND I LOST HIM," Goku screams, clutching at Bulma's dress in total desperation
"Help me, I need him back, HELP ME HE'S GONE," He whimpers falling to his knees in defeat not knowing where to look for his dead lover
Bulma looks down at Goku, he is struggling to breath, bent over in agony at his loss, screaming for help. She doesn't know what to do he is clearly catatonic, she does the only thing that seems logical, she reaches into her medicine cabinet and grabs a needle, she injects it into Goku's neck and after a few more moments of his blood curdling screams he finally drops to the ground and falls silent.
Once he is asleep she gets trunks to carry him to a bed and calls Goku's old house, she knows Piccolo will be there. She is going to need his help if she is going to find Vegeta.