Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, so don't sue me.

A/N: This is my first fic, so please be nice. I would also like to thank my sis, Miyanon, for helping me out with this.

Warnings: This story has bad language and is shounen-ai, which means that it has male/male intimacy in it. If you don't like it, then just go away. Right now.

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Excruciating pain seared through Vegeta's jaw as his rival delivered a powerful blow to his face, sending him tumbling aimlessly through the air before he gained control, only to be hit by another powerful punch in the stomach.

Sensing that his sparring partner was off today, Goku stopped his bombardment and said breathlessly, "Vegeta?" The prince just ignored him. "Vegeta, are you alright? You seem distracted today."

Vegeta snarled, "That is none of your concern! Now fight me!" Before the taller saiyajin had a chance to speak again, Vegeta charged at him with all the venom burning in his veins.

He couldn't stand the sight of this third class bakayaro. He tolerated Kakarotto enough to be civil when the woman was alive, just for her sake. But now that she was gone, all the hatred that Vegeta felt toward the younger saiyajin came back tenfold.

Just looking at him brought so many painful memories. And the realization of how alone he really was.

Vegeta laid a quick cuff to the side of Goku's head. His rival yelped and covered the side of his head with two hands, "OW! Dammit! My fusion ear!"

Unfortunately for the two of them, after they unfused from what was supposed to be a permanent fusion, their ears had been permanently affected, becoming much more sensitive to sound and to pain. It erred the prince to no end at having what he called, 'a mutated organ.'

Goku glared at Vegeta with a childish pout and said, "Why are you always so cheap?"

The prince's eyes widened just slightly as a wave of déjà vu passed over him.

~Flashback~

A small boy with unruly hair glared at him, covering the side of his face and pouting, "Why are you always so cheap?"

The prince, only a small boy then, laughed, "Life's a bitch, Kakarotto. Get used to it."

They first came to know each other, not through their parents, but because Kakarotto was such a klutz. Vegeta had found Kakarotto stuck in one of the courtyard's trees, trying to sneak into the palace because of a dare. He'd leap into the trees aiming to just jump off the branches and onto the ground.

It was a good plan, except that he jumped into the only Venutian Leptar in the whole garden, a living tree infamous for trapping anything in reach by wrapping its victim in vines. Kakarotto was stuck there for nearly two hours when the prince found him, and he probably would've stayed there for nearly ten more days if he hadn't been rescued.

Vegeta found the whole situation very amusing and decided to keep Kakarotto around for his entertainment. They eventually became the best of friends.

They never told their parents about their friendship, although they knew that at least the king probably suspected, watching the two playing in the courtyard nearly everyday.

The two young boys were in the middle of the palace garden, playing what they called 'Stealth Mode.' One of them would go and hide, while the other counted to whatever number they chose and went looking for the hiding one.

Only in this rendition of hide-and-seek the person hiding would throw stuff at the person seeking, and if the person got hit ten times before he found the hider, the hider wins.

When Kakarotto was hiding, he humiliated the prince by throwing mud at him nearly twenty times before Vegeta managed to find him. Not wanting to be outdone, the young prince decided to throw rocks. One had struck Kakarotto pretty hard on the side of the head and now he was bleeding.

After that last remark, Kakarotto looked down at the ground, obviously struggling not to cry. Only then did Vegeta figure that maybe he threw that last rock a bit too hard. Awkwardly, the prince approached his subject and asked, "Um... It doesn't hurt that bad, does it?"

Kakarotto sniffled, "No," obviously lying. Vegeta bit his lip and took Kakarotto's hand away from his head. The whole side of his head and his hand was caked with blood and more kept flowing from his wound. Noticing, Vegeta's pale face, Kakarotto asked nervously, "It's not that bad is it?"

The prince said quickly, "N-no, it's just a light scrape. How about we get you over to the med room, huh?" He started leading his friend over toward the palace.

"Thanks a lot, Geta," the younger saiyajin said quietly. Then he gave the prince a genuine smile, something that Vegeta didn't receive all too often.

Vegeta stumbled for something sarcastic to say, but then he just settled for a, "No problem."

~End Flashback~

"Vegeta?"

The voice snapped Vegeta out of his memory and he looked up to see Goku watching him worriedly. "Maybe we should stop. What do you think, Geta?" Goku said, frowning.

The prince tightened his fists until his knuckles went white. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" he screamed in fury and charged at the younger saiyajin, who was caught off guard once again.

Only Kakarotto was allowed to call him Geta! HIS Kakarotto! Not this traitor! Not this stranger!

~Flashback~

Vegeta ran through the dark corridors of the barracks, trying to find his friend before he was shipped off to a different planet. He ran straight past the docking bay and had to backtrack, quickly rushing into the room.

Several docksmen yelp and jump to salute as Vegeta passed by them and went straight over to the sole soldier in the area.

Kakarotto sensed his friend and turned around, smiling at the prince, "Geta! You're here! I'm glad you came."

Vegeta looked over the young teen, dressed in the standard armor assigned to all the soldiers who were to be sent out. A wave of pride washed over the prince as he thought about how Kakarotto had grown, from the child that he had known.

"I need to talk to you," he said. Then he grabbed Kakarotto's hand and pulled the younger saiyajin away from the group.

"Um, okay," Kakarotto said with a frown. They went off out of the docking bay into the empty fluorescent hallway. "Geta, what's wrong?"

Vegeta yelled in frustration, "Everything's fucking wrong, you fool! You have to be shipped off to some backwater planet over in god knows where! Meanwhile I've been sold into Frieza's service by my father! We may never see each other ever again!"

Kakarotto's eyes widened hearing the hurt and emotion in his friend's voice. "But I thought that you were okay with this when I told you, Geta. I would go on this purging mission to raise my rank so that I could gain enough status go enlist onto Frieza's ship! Then we'd be able to be together for good!"

"Dammit Kakarotto, you don't know what it's like to be under Frieza. It does things to people. I've seen saiyajin who go there perfectly normal and then leave as ruthless, godless animals." Vegeta's eyes flashed angrily and he demanded, "If I'm already condemned to such a life, you don't need to go down with me. Why do you want to go into something like that?!"

Kakarotto took the prince's hands and hushed him. "Vegeta, I could never be without you," he said in a low, comforting voice. "When we're together, Frieza won't be able to do anything to us. It'll only be a couple years and then I'll be back in no time." He hugged Vegeta and said, "Frieza won't be able to touch you. I'll take care of you. I promise."

Vegeta sighed and received the hug without protest like he usually would. Suddenly Kakarotto frowned, "Geta? Is it just me or am I taller than you?"

The prince gave a dry laugh. "I can't believe you haven't noticed yet. You have to be about an inch taller now. Not surprising, considering your heritage."

Kakarotto gave a childish grin, "I bet I'll be loads taller by the time that I come back!"

With a playful shove, Vegeta pushed him away. "Well then you just have to make sure that you come back soon," he smirked weakly.

"It'll take me only a matter of days to clear the planet," Kakarotto said confidently. "Besides, you did train me," he added with a small smirk.

Vegeta nodded and his smirk grew, "Hai, I did."

One of the docksmen come out into the hallway and said nervously, "P-Prince Vegeta, if you're done, we need to get this third class shipped out as soon as possible."

"His name's Kakarotto!" the prince snapped angrily.

Kakarotto shook his head and smiled when the worker hastily corrected himself and fled. He turned back towards Vegeta and said, "I guess that means I have to go. I'll see you later, Geta." He hesitated a moment, then suddenly pecked Vegeta's cheek and ran into the docking bay towards his space pod.

Vegeta stood there, stunned a moment. Did... he just... Frantically, he ran after the third class, nearly stumbling on his cape and he got in just in time to see the hatch door close on the pod. Kakarotto spotted him and mouthed something to him. Vegeta screamed, "Kakarotto! I can't hear you! Speak up, damn you!" The third class just grinned and sat back, waving at his friend as the space pod got ready to launch.

One docksmen pulled Vegeta away and said, "Your highness, you need to leave the area!" Vegeta let himself be dragged away, his despair taking up most of his thoughts. They took him behind a thick steeled wall to protect themselves from the heat of the rockets and the toxic fumes of the fuel.

Vegeta watched the video cam on the monitor as Kakarotto passed out from the elevated G's up until the pod went out of broadcasting range. Then he was gone. The docksmen congratulated themselves on another successful launch and went on their own way to get ready for the standard launches for within the same galaxy.

Still watching the static screen that held the picture of his friend until it faded out, Vegeta put a hand to his cheek. His grief is taken over by anger at Kakarotto and at himself. Did Kakarotto actually kiss him, meaning it? Or was it a ruse? He wouldn't actually know until Kakarotto comes back. Which would be in years. Vegeta cursed him and knew that the younger saiyajin did that on purpose! One last prank before he left, trying to get the last laugh.

Vegeta smirked and left the room to go off to his own quarters to pack for Frieza's ship. He couldn't wait until Kakarotto woke up to see all the Needle Bugs that he put in the ship while the docksmen weren't looking.

~End Flashback~

Kakarotto said that he would be back! That they'd both work on Frieza's ship and wouldn't let the icicle bastard do anything to them! He promised to protect him! And what did he do? He went and got himself fucking hit in the head and getting himself fucking amnesia!

As he pounded the younger saiyajin mercilessly, he remembered how long he had waited for Kakarotto to return. His feelings of betrayal as Frieza toyed with him as he pleased. His anguish when he finally realized that Kakarotto was never going to return, either lost for good or dead.

Vegeta vowed that he would find out what happened to his friend no matter what. He finally got the chance nearly a decade later. Frieza was always suspicious of his little "monkey pet" and wouldn't allow him out of his sight without good reason or unless it was a mission. So Vegeta managed to send Kakarotto's nearly useless brother to Chikyuu-sei to see if he could find any clue of Kakarotto's whereabouts.

He could barely contain his shock when he realized that Kakarotto was still on the planet. Alive and well! And actually mated to some weak ningen onna! Without any regard to the consequences he left Frieza's stronghold with Nappa to get to the bottom of it.

~Flashback~

Vegeta couldn't believe how much that his friend had changed. They were both adults now and while Kakarotto looked like his father when he was a teenager, he was his clone now, besides the blemish free skin and the different light in his eyes.

He was also fuller in frame than his teenage counterpart, though he was still leaner compared to many other soldiers that Vegeta had seen. And he was indeed much taller than the prince, as predicted. He was the perfect piece of saiyajin manhood.

However, all of that is insignificant to the fact that Kakarotto had become the most self-righteous, idiotic bakayaro that Vegeta had ever seen in his life! And his tail had gotten cut off. The silky tail that the prince had admired so often was now gone.

But the most treacherous sin that the younger saiyajin had committed was by declaring himself to be one of those weak, pathetic ningen, casting aside his saiyajin heritage! Granted that the bakayaro had amnesia, but he could at least embrace his legacy instead of trying to disown it!

But even given all that, Vegeta couldn't help but be so proud of the taller saiyajin. He had defeated Nappa so easily. An elite saiyajin warrior!

Standing face to face with his old friend, now enemy, Vegeta entertained the idea of showing Kakarotto the mercy that he certainly didn't give Nappa and allow Kakarotto to be at his side once more. He would more likely than not need all the help he can get considering that he probably incurred Frieza's wrath by now. Besides, they were the unbeatable team! And Kakarotto would have to keep the promise he made so long ago.

Vegeta smirked and said, "You should feel honored that the ultimate elite warrior is going to be entertained by a mere third class like you." Though obviously disproved, it was an ongoing joke that the two entertained when they were younger.

Kakarotto just glared at him through hateful eyes. The smirk fell off the prince's face and Vegeta sighed, "Kakarotto, I have a proposition for you. Forget about this planet. Come and join forces with me! Together there is nothing that we can't achieve!" Like they always said when they were little.

The younger saiyajin snorted derisively in response. "Thanks, but no thanks. I saw how you treat your partners. As if I'm going to get tricked into that!"

Vegeta's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. Kakarotto had just refused him! This isn't what he came here for! The prince honestly didn't think that the Kakarotto he had known was completely wiped out of existence, replaced by this mere shadow of him. A complete stranger...

~End Flashback~

Goku tried blocking all the hits that he could without seriously hurting Vegeta too much. As he dodged a punch meant for the head, he demanded, "Vegeta! What's wrong with you?! Why are you doing this?!"

"Why?!" Vegeta nearly screamed, "You dare ask me why after all that you've done! All that you are?!"

The taller saiyajin protested, "But I thought that we were over this! Aren't we friends?"

The prince paused his attacks long enough to hiss, "Friends? You don't seem to understand do you?" His blows became frantic, more careless. He didn't care what he hit as long as he felt the impact of the younger saiyajin's flesh against his fist.

Goku had had enough. He grabbed Vegeta's fists and yelled, "Vegeta! That's enough! Quit fighting me!"

The prince struggled against the vice like grip and snarled, "I don't want to, you bastard! Don't you get it?! I HATE YOU!!"

Goku looked genuinely hurt and asked, "B-but Vegeta, what do you mean? What did I do?"

"It's not what you did. It's what you are!" the prince said as he wrenched his hands away from the younger saiyajin's grip. "Every time I fucking see you, I am reminded of someone who is dead and gone, but whose memory is desecrated by your mere existence! Every breath that you take, every time you show your face to the world, he is suffering because of it!"

Insanity. It was all insanity. The rising of the painful memories. Everything that Goku was doing was reminding Vegeta of him. And all the urges to hurt him, protect him, cry for him. Insanity.

"Well what do you want me to do about it?" the taller saiyajin demanded.

Narrow eyes flashed, and Vegeta raised two hands above his head, turning super saiyajin 2. He screamed, "I want you to fucking DIE!" Two strong hands come down onto the unsuspecting Goku's head, slamming him down onto the hard ground.

Vegeta winced when he heard the menacing crack and shivered when he realized that Goku was out cold. Black crimson started flowing onto the ground. "Son of a fuck!" He kneeled onto the stained ground and flipped the younger saiyajin up to face him. There was a dangerously large wound on Goku's forehead, large enough to be fatal.

All the color drained from the prince's face. He didn't think that he hurt him this much. He couldn't let the saiyajin go! No matter how painful it is to see him, Goku was the only one like him left. Vegeta's hands shook as he fumbled through Goku's clothes for any sign of the familiar leather bag.

He found it hidden under Goku's blue sash, miraculously still in one piece. He extracted the real object he was searching for. A medium sized senzu bean. Vegeta jutted in between Goku's lips and muttered, "Come on, Kakarotto. Chew and swallow. This should be instinct by now!"

Goku didn't move, his wound was too great. Vegeta cursed and shoved the bean right up against the back of the younger saiyajin's throat, trying to get it down Goku's esophagus. It slipped away from Vegeta's grip, and slid down Goku's throat. At once the healing powers of the bean started taking affect. The bleeding stopped and flesh knit together until the wound was invisible. Although Vegeta had doubts on whether the blow had affected the younger saiyajin's brain or not.

Goku began to stir, the whole side of his face stained with crimson blood already fallen. "Kakarotto," Vegeta shook him, "wake up. Kakarotto!" The taller saiyajin groaned and opened up bleary looking eyes. A wave of relief washed over the prince and he said, "Alright Kakarotto, can you talk to me?"

The younger saiyajin just watched him for a second, then gave a confused look. "Geta..." he started out weakly.

"Kakarotto, just shut up. You lost a lot of blood and getting yourself sick by trying to move isn't going to help either of us." He pulled Goku's head onto his lap to see if the bean really did do all of its work.

Goku watched him and then said weakly, "Naigi wo manna'ai deku ca, Geta?"

Vegeta stared at the younger saiyajin in shock. He had just spoken in saiyago. He took up the other's head into his hands and demanded, "Kakarotto wei deshu ca?!" Roughly translated it was 'Kakarotto, is that you?'

The saiyajin in his hands smiled, "Hai, Geta. Who else would it be?"

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A/N: Aw man, I feel like passing out. I'm glad that I finally got to finish this chapter. My sis, is supportive about this, but she doesn't like to give up the comp to actually let me type! Anyway pleaze R&R! I desperately need some feedback!