AN: Sorry about the lateness of this chapter, I was recently in Costa Rica for ten days, without access to a computer, much less the Internet. FF.net crashed after I got home, and I just came back from yet another trip (a week and a half). Lo siento, but merci for waiting!
Disclaimer: Refer to previous chapters.
Through Thick and Thin
Chapter Seventeen: Correct
WHOOSH.
Vejita seemed to slice the air with a knife as he continued on to the Kame House. He could tell that he was only a few miles away; the ki-levels of three organisms were getting clearer and clearer as the seconds passed. His facial features tightened as he saw the small pink dot that signified the Kame house. On the beach, he could see five figures laughing. A young woman with straight, soft aquamarine hair; a young man who was bald- Vejita snickered at this observation- an old one who was also bald; another young woman, but with straight black hair which was up in a bun and who had flaming eyes; and last but certainly not least, a young man who stood beside the black-haired girl with spunky black hair that stood out in all directions. "Kakarott," Vejita growled, satisfied.
Now he was but a mile away, and three of the figures were glancing about rapidly trying to find an invisible force. Of the remaining two, one was looking quite annoyed and frustrated (although Vejita could sense the light blanket of fear and doubt that coated her), and the other was just plain going mad. Insane, that is.
Vejita chuckled and licked his lips, his tongue moving over his prominent, sharp teeth. "Here I come," he whispered, and emerged out of the clouds he was then in and purposely flew within the sight of all on the island.
He could see the distrust, anger, and fear already settling into their features; the blue-haired one fumbled for a small device. Swiftly Vejita landed in front of Goku and smiled malignantly. Goku's features were etched into a countenance of dislike as he gazed upon the Saiyajin warrior. Vejita didn't wait for Goku to make the first move. "Hello, Kakarott. Lovely day, isn't it?" Vejita smirked, his arrogance showing clearly. Goku didn't miss a beat.
"That's not my name. You must be mistaking me for someone else."
Vejita raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Kakarott, the name in which I called you is your real name…I believe, however, that you go by the pitiful name the Chikyuu-jin installed upon you," he paused, and spat out a nearly incoherent word. "Goku."
Goku said something that went completely unnoticed by Vejita as he continued. "Goku. Heaven. Ha, how incredibly fitting…and yet, how incredibly not." He left his words in suspension briefly, and then plunged again. "Tell me…do you have any recollection of your life before your accident?" He finally stopped and waited, poised, for a reply.
"What? What accident?"
Vejita was furious. "I have a short temper, Kakarott," he growled, "and you're testing it. Not advisable."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Goku's growl matched Vejita's, and all were taken aback save the two Saiyajins. Vejita appeared pleased.
"See, Kakarott?" He asked smugly.
"What?! What are you talking about!" Goku was annoyed beyond all reason…this was when Muten Roshi stepped in.
"Goku, you did have an accident when you were young. You- you used to be…unbearable…before it. Before you hit your head. Then, you turned into such a nice, sweet boy…a little naïve, but nevertheless sweet." Muten Roshi seemed almost apologetic with this admission, and Goku was getting more enraged.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Vejita was enjoying this exchange immensely, and an amused smirk played on his lips.
"I didn't think you'd need to know," Master Roshi replied softly. Goku sighed angrily.
"I think I'd want to know what happened to me, don't you?!" Vejita laughed out loud, and Goku turned his attention back to him.
"What do you want?!" Vejita chuckled, shaking his head with an impure glee.
"Just like a Saiyajin," he remarked, completely aware of what he was saying. Goku's expression turned into one of total bewilderment.
"Pardon?"
"Saiyajin," Vejita repeated. "It's what I am. What you are. What you father was, what you mother was…what you brother is."
"Pardon?!"
"Cease saying that irritating word," Vejita snapped. "But, yes- you are not of Chikyuu, this planet, Kakarott. You are a Saiyajin, from the planet Vejita-sei." He considered something for a moment, and continued. "My name is Vejita," - he grinned in anticipation- "and your name is Kakarott. Do you understand now?"
"I'm…not from Earth. Is that what you're saying?" Goku was determined to deny it until he was told straight. Chi-Chi cringed; she could literally fell him breaking down. All he knew would be false, dead if that was true…and all it would need for Vejita to say one word! For Vejita to merely say…
"Correct."
Goku stared at Vejita, who seemed to know be his mortal enemy, yet, even so, his one link. A link in a chain; without the link, the chain would collapse.
In other words, Goku needed him somehow. He felt a bond with him: forged by hate, sealed by distrust changing to rapidly to trust that it's hold is the strongest of them all.
"Well?" Vejita tapped him foot impatiently.
"Y-you said I had a brother…" Goku murmured. Vejita brought his chin up, and led it back down in one decisive, curt nod.
"Yes." Vejita felt not the slightest tinge of sympathy as Goku stared at the ground. He observed the young, black-haired woman give the warrior a comforting hug; for Vejita (who, by the way, had extreme powers of observation), it seemed slightly sensual. Goku clung to her, and didn't let go in the least when he asked softly of Vejita,
"Where is he?" Vejita's face hardened even further, and he replied stiffly,
"You will know in time." Goku seemed to relax for an unknown reason, and questions were overflowing his mind.
"So, what's the difference between a Saiyajin and a human?" Vejita smirked, and began.
"It's quite simple, really…you see, it is in our blood to fight. The very fiber of our being is pulsing to exchange blows, taste blood, kill…" Vejita smiled evilly. "You might say that we are like the fantastical vampires in Chikyuu stories…cold, supposedly "evil", and we thirst for a fight to the death and vengeance like they thirst for, well, blood." Vejita shrugged a deliberate and controlled shrug.
"We are not evil! I am not evil!" Goku protested. Vejita chuckled.
"I didn't say we were," He said enigmatically.
Goku fell silent, pondering the information that was poured into his mind. He decided on another question, and held his chin up challengingly, almost daring Vejita to fight him if he didn't answer.
"Why are you here?"
AN: Ugh. Short…but I'm so tired form the jet lag, and my head's killing me. I really hope to get the next chapter out SOON. B/V will be coming up, also.
Must…get…Advil…
--hazelwand