He rolled over, fast asleep and snuggled deep in his cocoon made from the sheets and blankets on his bed. Everything was silent, everything was dark…
RIIIIIIINNG!!! RIIIIIIIINNNGG!!!
That is, until his alarm clock goes off. But as soon as it started, a slender hand slammed down on the button, silencing the alarm almost immediately. As he pulled his hands back into his nestled cocoon, he silently pondered if he should get up or just stay in bed.
Uh uh! He told himself as he tentatively one foot out from the mass of sheets. I said a week ago I wanted to do this, and I didn't for the past seven days! I am going to get up or else! Fuyuu doesn't last forever… Shivering slightly from the cold, he tossed the blankets back. Goosebumps appeared on his legs, for he was wearing only his boxers and a thick PJ top. Kuso! I guess this'll teach me to get up early without wearing the right stuff!! He slipped into a pair of slippers before scurrying over to his hiding place and setting everything up outside his window.
Just as he finished and sat himself down, he saw the first rays of light peaking over the mountains. It wasn't like a picture you see other artists paint. The morning sun didn't appear, but the signs that it was coming were there. The indigo horizon turned a light cerulean, then it bled into a shade of green, yellow, orange and crimson with a hint of pink. It was already a spectacular sight, but with the bare trees with their glittering frost covering and the ground covered in snow, clean and crisp and untouched by hands or feet of ningen or seibutsu, it was a beautiful scene.
For a mere moment, Vegeta sat very still, eyes wide with wonder. He silently questioned himself on how he hadn't noticed this when he first came to Earth, but quickly dismissed it as his urge to capture this beauty took over his mind and he began to paint furiously…yet with a gentle touch and graceful movements.
Beauty. That was all he was interested in these days. Trunks made a comment that it was a side effect of painting so well, but he thought it was something called 'Artist Heart'. It was a term he made up for the sudden rush of overwhelming beauty he was suddenly noticing. Vegeta was still a solitary Saiyan no Ouji, but he didn't spend all his time training anymore. Half of it was spent on painting and drawing. But more than 99% of that half was spent searching for the perfect beauty. He wanted to find the most beautiful creature on this planet and capture its radiance. But so far, he had found none the sparked his interest as such. Sure, as soon as he saw something his curiosity would be aroused, but the end result always didn't turn out the way he wanted it to. They never had that little thing he was looking for. Yes, they looked exactly like the object he was drawing, but there just seemed to be something missing!
Unsure of what, he usually ended up shoving his things away and stomping down to the Gravity Chamber to work off the stress and frustration he was feeling. Bulma didn't notice anything at all; she was far too busy in her own life. She was even too busy to notice the closeness developing between Trunks and Vegeta. Trunks knew that he was getting closer to his father, and he relished every single minute in the ouji's presence. Vegeta often told himself that he did not care for the brat, as he was merely just accepting his presence in order to help him with this 'art' thing. But secretly, he was growing fond of all the times he and his son spent together. But that sure as hell didn't mean he was going to let him psychically get close.
Goten often came by Capsule Corp as well to see how Vegeta was doing. Every day he went in, he came out with two or more drawings. Goten loved Vegeta's works of art. He willingly sat in silence with Trunks watching him paint a picture of a blossoming rose. Goten wished he could have it, but he daren't ask Vegeta. Vegeta already gave him the pieces he did as soon as Goten came over. He couldn't tell if they were rejects or not, but quite frankly, he didn't care.
But one day, when Goten came around, both Trunks and Vegeta noticed that he wasn't his usual preppy self. Vegeta often told himself that he didn't give a rat's ass what others felt about him or anything else, but he couldn't ignore Goten. Goten was like his second son, as he spent most of his life around Capsule Corp when he was growing up, and even more so after Chichi and Goku got divorced.
Goten sat himself down at the table and watched his friend eat while Vegeta stood at the counter, apparently cooking Spring Rolls and Onigirii with nori. Normally, Trunks ate at a very fast pace, scarfing down all that was in front of him before jumping up and trotting outside to play with Goten or watch Vegeta paint. But because he could sense a sort of troublesome feeling radiating off Goten, he ate far more slowly than usual. A normal ningen would never notice the difference, but Vegeta did. He, too, could feel the sorrowful aura of the normally bright and chirpy demi-saiyan. It worried him…to a certain degree.
"So, what do you want to do after I'm finished eating?"
"Nothing." This shocked both Vegeta and Trunks, as Goten was the first to suggest something.
"We can't do nothing,"
"Hmm…nan desu ka?" he asked, seemingly coming out of his trance. Trunks stared at him for some time, fork poised in his right hand as he searched Goten's eyes for a sign of what was wrong.
"I asked you what you want to do when I'm finished eating?" he said slowly.
"Oh," Goten shrugged. "I dunno." Now both Vegeta and Trunks were a little worried of what was going on. Vegeta had never been the type to care for anyone, but he was very much concerned with the boy.
Finally, when he could stand it no longer, he turned around and spoke to Trunks.
"Trunks, could you go and fetch my book." He said. "It's the one with the deep indigo cover." Trunks nodded, totally understanding why Vegeta asked that. He stood up and pushed his plate away from him, then trotted out the door as fast as he could. Once Vegeta was sure that he had left, he walked over to Goten with a plate with Onigirii. He sat down in Trunks spot, right next to Goten, and took a look at him.
"What's wrong, kid?" he asked abruptly. Goten's eyes immediately flickered up to his own, a little apprehensive about the sudden question.
"Na…nan desu ka, Vegeta-san?" he asked.
"What's up with you? And don't say it's nothing because I can damn well see it in your eyes!" he snapped as Goten opened his mouth. Vegeta knew that he was going to say that nothing was wrong, then laugh and slap that stupid 'Son grin' on his face again. Well, he wasn't going to have it! Goten realised that there was no use in telling Vegeta there was nothing wrong, as he knew he couldn't deny it in front of his ouji. Besides, he really did want to tell someone what was wrong, and Vegeta was asking. Even if Vegeta didn't seem like the first person that would care, still…
"It's," he started, then took in a deep breath and exhaled. "It's my dad."
"Kakarot?" Vegeta asked, heart suddenly hitting the sides of his ribcage. Dammit! I thought I had that under control!!
"Hai," he sighed.
"What about him?"
"Saa, I went to his house to visit him a few weeks ago and…" he paused, mentally deciding whether he should tell him or not. After all, Vegeta was a pretty fair person and he would let you have your say. But, sadly, he was also a bit of a demon when it came to emotions. He knew Vegeta disliked his father for being stronger than he was, for taking away what should have rightfully been his, and at the first sign of weakness, Vegeta would be there to see his downfall, as though it would make him feel better. But because Vegeta had seemingly changed over the past few months, he couldn't see the harm in taking the risk.
"He's what?"
"He's…not looking too good." That was an understatement.
"Elaborate."
"Saa, my dad looks really worn down. He looks so…depressed! I mean, I don't know if it's because he misses my mom, but he looks so sad! He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks! And he's having trouble looking after himself." Oh me, oh my, oh my! We are understating things, aren't we, Goten?
Goten suddenly looked at Vegeta in such a way, it made him nervous.
"N…nani?" he growled defensively.
"Ano…Vegeta-san," he said. "It wouldn't be too much if you…if you…if you go and visit him?" Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise.
"Nani?! Nande?!" he yelped.
"Saa, it's just that…you seem like the only person who understands him, Vegeta-san." Goten admitted. "He also asks about you all the time." Vegeta felt his heart do double somersaults on hearing that, but he growled inwardly to himself, berating himself to getting so hyped about nothing at all.
"Honto ni?"
"Hai, he asks how you are doing and stuff, and how you're doing with your training." Vegeta felt his heart hit the bottom of his stomach like a rock.
Baka!! Of course he'd ask that! You're his rival! He's also your sparring partner! "So, I guess he misses fighting a real opponent, ne?" Goten nodded.
"Hai so desu," he blushed a little, gazing down at his fingers. "So, will you…would you…?" Vegeta studied Goten only for a moment before making up his mind. Sighing in an almost exasperated tone, he rolled his eyes and said,
"Okay, okay! I'll go and see how that third class baka is doing."
What happened next, Vegeta never, in a million years, would have thought that it could happen. Goten beamed happily up at Vegeta before launching into his arms and giving him a big hug.
"Domo arigato, Vegeta-san!" he cried happily, burying his face in the crook of Vegeta's neck. Vegeta blushed a deep shade of scarlet, hands hanging limp at his sides, as he was unsure as of whether he should hug the boy back, or do nothing at all. He went with option two. As Goten pulled back, he saw the shocked expression on Vegeta's face accompanied with the blush. He, too, flushed a light rose. "Oh! Gomen, Vegeta-san." He said, his cheeks turning a delicate pink.
"Uh…okay…" Vegeta muttered, unsure of exactly what to say to the boy. He knew he could always berate the boy, yell at him for getting so close and pretend like he didn't like it at all. But that was just the trouble; he did! He had never gotten that close with a person…willingly, at least. But before he could make another movement, Goten's cute little voice piped up.
"Ano, Vegeta-san, may I please have one of your oishii onigirii?" Vegeta looked at the little Goku-clone, rose blush still present on his cheeks, making him look cuter than ever.
"Uhh…sure," he said as he pushed the plate towards the Son child.
"Arigato!" and Goten slowly dug in; savoring the delicious cooking that was Vegeta's. Sure, Vegeta couldn't cook as well as his mother, but he did give his food a certain type of flavoring that was irresistible.
Vegeta looked over that Son child. He wondered why in the hell was he behaving so friendly all of a sudden to him, when he realised that he had been like that for a couple of months now. And besides, Goten looked so remarkably like Goku; it was hard not to kind of like the boy. He sighed as he reached for an onigirii.
Looks like I'll be paying that baka a visit tomorrow…/Don't call him a baka if you really like him! / His inner voice berated him.
Urasai!!