'Guess who's back? Back again? Shady Gurl's back. Tell some friends! Guess who's back, guess who's back…'

A/N: Cut that crap off. Sorry. Its been awhile hasn't it? Oops. Please forgive me!!!

Writers block has been a bitch. But now a vaguely have a plot!!! And I owe it all to Muse, for giving me inspiration to this chapter.

This is the beta'd version. So go read if you where fed up with my mistakes!!

Disclaimer: Anything you recognise I don't own.

Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed my story so far. With out your encouraging words, I don't think I would off come this far.

-I love you all very much. Virtual hugs and kisses to you all!!!

The Near Past

Chapter 7:



"Chi Chi, I can explain..." Goku said, craning his neck so he could look at his furious 'wife'.

She stood there immobile; eyes extensive, and mouth gaping like a fish. Her fist shook in mid air from where she dropped the pan. Her eyebrows were knotted as she stared daggers at the man on top off her husband, staring with narrowed eyes until Goku had the decency to get up.

He wriggled out from under Vegeta, which made him descend face first into the soft cushions, and cautiously approached his ex-lover. He paused inches in front of her, and when she didn't budge or say anything, he whispered her name.

Her mood changed instinctively, upon hearing his voice again, becoming conscious at how close he had become, like she was in deep sleep, and being roughly brought back to realization.
Goku moved her arm out of the way, which made her skin crawl with revulsion, and quicker then he could see, she took her arm out of his grasp, and slapped him smartly across the face. Her hand hovered over the pink skin. She was incapable to speak, unable to move, from all the adrenaline pumping through her body. He made eye contact with her, and she stared into obsidian black eyes, becoming angry at the fact that he looked upset.

"How dare you," she said through clenched teeth. Goku looked away and muttered something that sounded like an apology.

"HOW DARE YOU?" She screamed at him, a deafening sound. He didn't face her, so she screeched even louder, shouting at the top off her lungs, whilst banging her fists against his upper body. He couldn't face her, as she took her pain out on him, couldn't even look at Vegeta. Cuts were produced on his bare chest from her razor-sharp, claw-like nails, as she furiously pounded his chest, becoming repulsed at the reason why he had no top on in the first place.

"Chi…I'm- I'm so sorry… I never meant to hurt you." He said bowing his head. The raged woman pushed away from him. "What I have with you- I love you."

"How can you say that?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"I do love you … like a friend." He opened his mouth to continue, but decided against it. He had to be completely honest with her. "Vegeta. It's different. I hardly know him, yet I know we're right for each other." Chi-Chi scoffed at that remark. "I feel- I can't even put words to how I feel about him."

"That makes a bloody change Goku."

"Please. Don't be like this," Goku pleaded, taking a few steps closer to her.

"How do you except me to fucking feel? You bloody turned gay overnight! How dare you do this to me?" She screeched at him, not giving Goku any chance to speak himself. "I can't believe we were married. We shared the same bed. Uggh. I even kissed you." She made a gagging noise, and continued sharply.

"Is this some rotten trick? To make me feel even more disgusted with you. It was bad enough before. But this... You bloody ponce." She took a short gasp of breath, and continued, "I bet this has been going on for ages hasn't it. Hasn't it! You and your lover boy fucking when I have my back turned,"

"It wasn't like that Chi. Honestly. It just sort of..." She didn't listen, and continued, her rage obvious since her face was flaming red.
"I bet all of my so called friends put you up to this. Bulma. God I have hated that slut. I bet she has known all of this time hasn't she. The whole lot off them have come up with crap like. 'Piccolo is going to destroy the earth. Goku has to help us!' when really you where with HIM weren't you. WEREN'T YOU!"

"No. It wasn't anything like that. I would never do anything like that to hurt you." Goku pleaded.

"Oh. I see then. So he just 'accidentally' fell on top off you. Huh? You, didn't realize you where half naked. You didn't mean to snog him, on MY couch. HUH! Come on 'sweetie' tell me," She spat angrily, and distastefully, at Goku.

"I'm sorry." Goku said, and turned to leave. Before he even moved an inch, she had grabbed his hair, pulling him inches away from her fuming face.

"Don't you think you can get out off it that easily," She shouted, causing him to flinch. "You're not sorry are you? You fought it was funny having us both didn't you. Well no more Goku. I'm not going to live with you. I deserve so much more than your kind."

She roughly and with all off her strength, pushed Goku away from her. His head hung low ashamed, and listened to her footsteps as she marched across the room, and to the door. She stopped, and turned her head so she could look at him one last time.

"If you're so 'right' for each other. Then where the hell is he? Huh. Answer that." Chi-Chi said looking over at the empty sofa, that mere minutes ago occupied Vegeta. Walking out off the door, she shouted over her shoulder. "Goodbye Goku. I really hope you both rot in hell." And with that, she had left the house, and Goku, behind.

He stared at the open door, no longer able to see Chi-Chi anymore. He held back tears, as he could no longer see her in the distance.
Slowly he turned his head to the left, hoping to all the gods that she had lied. His heart gave an enormous lurch into the pit off his stomach, when he saw the vacant sofa. Frantically looking around for him, he shouted his name. No response. He turned on his heel, and ran into the kitchen, eager to find him.

"Vegeta." He wasn't in there either. "Where are you?" He slammed his hand down on to the work surface, a split running the length of it. "I need you." He couldn't hold them in any longer, and one single tear ran down his face, followed by several more.

"Vegeta where have you gone?" He sunk to the floor, holding his legs to his chest. "Why have you gone?" He threw his head back, hitting the work surface, and once again causing a split. He closed his eyes momentarily, desperately searching for Vegeta's ki. He wasn't very good at it, since he was only taught about ki the day before, but he had to try it. He was getting worried when he couldn't trace any sign off him, not even the slightest flicker to indicate where he could be.
"This is hopeless!" He shouted, and once more thumped the ground. He inhaled deeply, and closed his eyes upon exhaling. He felt useless. He had no idea where he would have gone. Why would he have gone without saying anything to him? Why couldn't he feel his energy? His head felt like it was going to burst with the all the unanswered questions. The most prominent one being if he even felt the same way about him.

Tears welled up in his eyes once more, and he stood up on shaky legs. He clutched the side off the breakfast bar, steadying himself. He hadn't felt so emotionally broken since when he could remember. Not even when Chi-Chi lost her baby- his baby, had he felt so upset and useless.

He sighed, and looked out the window. It was raining now, perfectly fitting his mood. The moon was beginning to rise, as the sun slowly set in the horizon, castings it final glow on the Earth. Something caught his eye out the window, and he looked closely at it. A tiny scampering squirrel tried to dodge the rain as it headed towards the forest, and out off sight.

Goku tilted his head in thought, and his black eyes lit up. The forest. He had to be in the forest, he had nowhere else to go, no one who he knew. Where else could he have gone? As soon as the thought struck him, he ran up the stairs, and just as quick, came back down, but this time wearing a blue t-shirt. He ran straight out into the blistering cold rain, but that didn't stop him. He wouldn't stop running until he found Vegeta.

Deep into the forest he ran and searched. Past the lake, which held so many memories. Past a cave, which reminded him off his night the day before. Until he came to a sudden halt. There in front off him was the crater, created by none other than Vegeta's space pod. He looked into the depths off the hole, and luckily found it still in place where he left it.

"Vegeta. Are you down there?" No answer. Maybe he couldn't hear him. Determinedly he slid down the side off the muddy slope, almost falling flat on his face when he reached the bottom. Anxiously he held onto the space ship, for support, and he only had to walk less than a meter to see the door he had ripped off, was now back in its original place.

"Vegeta?" He whispered. No response. "Are you in there?" What a stupid question, he thought, as he looked into the empty vessel. "Where have you…"

"Kakarot." Goku blinked, and turned around. His heart gave a flutter when he saw Vegeta. He would have run up to him and planted a kiss to his lips, if it wasn't for the fact he was scowling at him.
"Vegeta. Where were you?" Goku asked, and took several steps towards him. He stopped when Vegeta unfolded his arms, and walked towards him, closing the gap between them. He held back the urge to hold Vegeta, instead he watched him, as his eyebrow furrowed in confusion.

I think I'm drowning
Asphyxiated
I wanna break this spell
That you've created

"Goku…" Vegeta started to say, and he chose to stare at his feet instead off Goku's confused face. "I…"

"Yes." Goku asked in anticipation, stepping closer to the smaller, yet stronger Saiyajin. Vegeta lifted his head when he felt a cold hand on his arm, and he couldn't take his eyes off the well-built man in front off him. What he needed to say was forgotten as he watched Goku's slightly parted lips exhale an amount of air. He slowly lifted his hand, and moved Goku's wet bangs out of his face, and gently laid his hand on his face.

"You're freezing," Vegeta said in a whisper. Stroking his thumb over Goku's cheek.

"I was looking for you." Goku said just as quietly, leaning into his gentle touch, tears slowly building up in his eyes.

You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction

"Shhhh." Vegeta placed a single finger over his lips. "I'm here now." He placed a light kiss on his cheek, warming Goku from the slight touch, and brought the shuddering body to his own. Goku rested his head on Vegeta's shoulder, and his warm breath caressed his neck, his lips parted, but no words came out, not wanting to spoil the moment.
Minutes flew by like mere seconds. Neither spoke a word but they both knew what they needed. Parting away slightly, there lips met in a delicate kiss. Vegeta's hand travelled the length of Goku's toned arm, and interlocked there hands together, and his other hand, brought Goku's body closer to him, both being warmed from the tender touch.

But you will be the death of me

Vegeta squeezed Goku's hand, and his kiss became more urgent and needy. Goku understood, and parted his lips, moaning when their pulsing tongues met in a hungry kiss. They both rose into the air, not parting to even get a breath. Vegeta moved there hands to Goku's hip, and brought them closer still.

Touching back on to the dewy grass, they finally parted. Their foreheads rested on each other, and their breath deep. There eyes locked, and confusion, and disappointment no longer visible in Goku's eyes, instead they showed all the happiness and love he held for Vegeta.

Vegeta closed his eyes, not able to look at him anymore, and lightly kissed Goku all over his face, except for his lips, muttering 'I'm sorry.'

Our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
We can't stop it screaming out

"I'm sorry." Vegeta muttered once again, and parted away from Goku. He pushed their entwined hands to Goku's chest, over his heart, and looked back down at his feet. Closing his eyes, he let go and walked back over to the crater, which contained his space pod.

Goku stood, confusion ebbed in his face. He watched Vegeta take several steps away from him. He wanted to shout to him, but he was frozen to his spot. Vegeta stopped at the edge of the slope, and looked over his shoulder, opening his mouth to speak, but found the simple task harder than he thought.

I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted

"Forget about me, Goku." He took a deep breath, and struggled to keep his emotions controlled, and continued. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused." He rose into the air, about to descend to the ground inside the crater.

"Wait!" Goku shouted, and ran over to him, staring up at the hunched back. "You can't leave just because Chi-Chi left me…I'm glad she did."

"If only it was that simple." Vegeta said, not moving in his air borne position.

"What? NO! You can't leave Vegeta."

"I have to." Vegeta said simply, and started to descend.

"Vegeta." Goku shouted, lined with desperation. "You don't. You can't. I need you. I…I love you." Vegeta stopped, and turned around.
"No. You don't. You think you do. But you don't." Vegeta said solemnly. "We can't be together. Its just not possible."

Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'd never dream of breaking this fixation

"Why Vegeta? Why can't we be together?" Goku shouted, and Vegeta stopped in his tracks once more. There was silence. Goku was worried he had disappeared, until he saw him rising out off the pit, back still facing him.

"He knows I'm here." Vegeta whispered, and Goku could just about make out what he said.

"Who knows you're here?" Goku asked. "Why does it matter?" Vegeta turned around, and touched back down on the grass. His eyes closed, and head bowed, he whispered.

"He will kill you all if I don't leave. I can't…I won't let that happen. Not to you. You deserve so much more."

"Vegeta. What are you talking about?" Goku asked, wearily walking towards Vegeta. He stopped dead in his tracks, when he remembered back to last night. How could he have forgotten?

"Frieza." Goku growled. Vegeta flinched at the harshness he spoke his name with, and turned around, nodding once, being unable to say another word.

I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it

"I promise I wont let him hurt you again. Stay here. We will be fine," Goku said, placing a tender hand on Vegeta's shoulder.

"No. You don't understand. I can't stay here." He flinched away from Goku's gentle touch. "I don't want to stay here. Not with you. I won't. And I'm not." He said shouting now.

"But Vegeta. I lo…" Goku started to say.

"No you don't. Don't say that again." Vegeta started to back away from the taller Saiyajin. "I don't love you. I never will." Vegeta shouted now. Goku headed towards him, his arm stretched out.
"No! Get it through your thick skull. I don't want to be with you." Vegeta shouted once again.

"But Vegeta. Just a minute ago…" Goku pleaded. But to no avail.
"Think off it as a goodbye kiss." Vegeta levitated off the ground.
"You can't go. Your ship is broken." Goku stammered.
"I will find a way." He attempted at a smile, but failed miserably. "Goodbye." He rose in the air higher, and instead of going to his ship, flew off in the opposite direction.

And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
We can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this

…to be continued…

Eeep. Uhh did you like? LOL! Don't flame to much. Vegeta was like that for a reason. Ok hopefully I will have the next chapter up quicker than last time. Until then.

Please review!!!