AN: Just when I thought the reviewers loved me….now, I'm not so sure I want to update. Apparently, I'm a crap author again.
No matter.
Anyway, moving VERY swiftly along…
Shout outs:
Shi Rurouni: I know I'm not that original…and I know that I'm not the first to do something different. But I am working on something new and different. And have you ever seen a car accident? I claim artistic licence. Anyway, please don't ditch the story. Well, you can if you want…but it would be nice if you didn't.
Veggie's boo: yikes! I'm sorry! Just give me some time, this will all be resolved! I'll add it on as a sub-chapter to "Goku's Priorities", since that's where it belongs. I'm just worried that they delete the entire story…but, hey, what's the loss of 120 reviews? Glad you like the name change. I hope to be your favourite author again some time soon!
Katchan: I wonder what the graduation song sounds like…I'm really honoured that I moved you to tears, although I suspect that you might be saying that to coddle my ego. But thanks for the thought. It brightened up my day.
Gutterball: Ah, Kakarrot-lovin'…indeed the ambrosia of the gods, ne? I sent you another prezzie, don't know if you got it. It was attached to a long-ass email comprising of two day's worth of email and a word document? I sent it to both email addys, hope it works.
Viper-Vegeta: Don't worry, I'm not offended at all, promise. And you wouldn't be reading and being touched by the writing if I suck, so that's good to know. Chibi Vegeta, I'm really, really sorry…gomen.
Clarobell: Okaaayyyyy….that it is just weird. But, admittedly, it could taste good.
Lenora: You know I won't let him die…but that doesn't mean that things are going to be easy.
Review award for chapter 14:
OMG! This is so sniff sad! I just wanna sob go hug Geta all blows nose better, and if he dies, I just wanna cook him over a nice cough big sniff fire so that I can feast on his fresh sob sob sob juicy flesh! ...but I hope he survives of course! So, what do you think? Do I win the most cannaibalistic review award? hehehe. Update soon plz!
---Clarobell (who wins the I'm-a-sick-but-lovable-puppy award as well as the I-eat-Saiyan-flesh award)
"My friend you would not tell with such zest to children desperate for some ardent glory,
the old lie:
Dulce et Decorum est pro patricia mori"
(it is sweet and honourable to die for your country)
Chapter fifteen: AftermathThree hours later, the surgeon straightened up after bending over to cut, stitch and repair the body on the operating table. He nodded at a nearby nurse.
"That's all we can do right now. He's at least stable."
The nurses nodded, and wheeled Vegeta away, off to ICU, the intensive care unit. Bulma and Goku were allowed in to see him after about half an hour. When they walked in, they both stared, Bulma giving a little gasp of horror, Goku staring and wishing that this was just a nightmare that would go away with the night.
He'd heard that it was bad, but he'd had no idea. Both of Vegeta's long legs were in casts, as well as his left arm. He had a neck brace on, and there was a long, ugly cut down the right side of his face. There were two drips in his right arm, and his face was badly bruised, one eye swelled shut. Some of his hair had been shaved to get to cuts on his scalp. He had a long one along the left side his scalp, about six inches long and half an inch wide, amongst others. Bulma had her hands over her mouth, her head shaking slowly, almost in disbelief. Vegeta only had pants on, his chest swathed with even more bandages. He looked so helpless. And all the tubes…he was hooked up to various machines, a steady beep coming from the one, another that monitored his breathing rate. One kept his heart beating. He had an oxygen mask over his mouth as well. Goku felt another wave of nausea. This isn't happening…this can't be happening…
"Bulma, I'm gonna go fetch Dende. Or a senzu bean. Something! I can't just leave him like this! It's my fault he's this way!"
Before Bulma could ask, he was gone. She felt confused.
"Why is it Goku's fault?"
Goku arrived at the Temple, looking around desperately.
"Dende! Where are you?!"
A gruff voice came out of the shadows. "He isn't here."
Goku spun around, and saw Piccolo leaning against a pillar.
"Why?"
"He's gone to Namek for a pilgrimage. He'll be back next month."
"What?! But I need him now! Vegeta's in hospital and needs to be healed! For crying out loud, Piccolo! This is urgent!"
Piccolo's face softened, and he walked up to Goku.
"I'm sorry, Goku. Dende has gone to get his powers regenerated. He can't heal indefinitely without a visit home every year. As far as I know, he won't have his powers for another two weeks."
"I guess I'll have to go visit Korin then."
Goku started walking towards the edge of the Temple, but Piccolo put his hand on Goku's shoulder.
"Goku, I'd like to see Vegeta. If that's okay with you. He's also my friend."
Goku nodded, feeling worse. He didn't realise that so many people cared about Vegeta. Bulma was utterly distraught, even Piccolo was showing some emotion. He didn't even want to know what Trunks was going to think. What was he going to tell the others? Yeah, sorry guys, I upset Vegeta and its my fault he had an accident…oops, my bad, hehehe?
Goku landed in Korin's Tower, and called for the wise cat.
"What are you doing here at this time of night, Goku? It's eleven!"
Korin had his little blue nightcap on, which kept falling in front of his eyes. He leaned on his cane, and looked up at Goku.
"Hi, Korin, I really need a senzu bean. Vegeta's severely injured, and he needs one. I know it's late at night, but it's urgent!"
Korin yawned.
"My apologies, Goku. Yajirobe ate them all while sleep walking last week. The soonest we can have them ready is in three weeks. Besides, if you were to use one, he'd heal with drips and machinery inside him. The best thing to do would be to let him heal on his own, until he is able to walk, then have the dragon fix him up totally, better than the senzu beans or Dende ever could. I know it sounds terrible, Goku, but this is for the best. "
Goku nodded sadly, and put looked over his shoulder at Piccolo.
"Guess we'd better get going then. Bye, Korin."
The fluffy white cat looked up at Goku.
"Look after Vegeta for us."
"Will do. Come, Piccolo."
Goku and Piccolo reappeared by Vegeta's bed, and Goku watched Piccolo's face change when he saw Vegeta. It went from blank to sympathetic surprisingly quickly for him.
"What happened?"
"He drove off a cliff in his Viper. The doctor said that he had a really high blood alcohol level. He was practically hammered drunk. What I can't understand is why he'd drink so much. He hardly drinks at parties, and except for the occasional glass of wine with meals, he doesn't drink otherwise. He's a light social drinker, because he knows how badly it affects him. Something must have upset him really badly," said Bulma, looking over Vegeta's still form, his chest dropping with each exhalation.
She turned to Goku.
"Do you know what upset him? I know that he's always been such a hothead, getting angry too easily and going totally overboard. But still…he's never gotten drunk on purpose before. They found an empty vodka bottle in the wreckage, and a packed suitcase. He was coming from your house, Goku."
This woman is far too perceptive…I'm not ready to tell them the truth yet. I mean, I can't just say that Vegeta kissed me and I got freaked out and acted like a total idiot!
"I'd rather not say why."
"Oh, so it does have something to do with you."
Oops.
"I didn't say that!"
"Goku, you're a hopeless liar. You always have been. Spit it out. What happened between you and Vegeta? And if you won't tell us, then you can explain it to Trunks," said Piccolo.
The Namek and Bulma had Goku cornered. Strangely enough, in spite of her height, Bulma was just as intimidating as Piccolo. Goku looked from one stern face to the other, and gulped.
"I don't think Vegeta would want any one to know…"
"Vegeta isn't in a condition to really care about that sort of thing. Dammit, Goku, the guy is on life support! He's got thirty-four fractures, seventy-nine stitches in total, a concussion and more injuries than I can count on two hands, and I want to know why he was out driving in the middle of a fucking storm, drunk out of his massive mind! You said or did something to set him off. What was it?"
Goku looked at the floor.
"I broke his heart."
"You what?" Piccolo's eyebrow ridges went up.
"He kissed me, and I freaked out, and said some things that I shouldn't have. There. You happy now?"
"No. Why did you freak out? Don't you like him the same way?" Bulma asked.
Goku froze. The question hit him like a slap to the face.
"I do. I just didn't see any chance of a relationship working out. And I didn't think you guys would approve."
Piccolo looked exasperated at Goku's logic.
"Goku, you idiot. You weren't even willing to try! And if you're happy, then what does it matter what everyone else thinks!?"
Goku looked at the floor.
"I know what I did was stupid, and I feel bad enough without you all climbing into me! Fuck it, I'm only human!"
Bulma snorted.
"Wrong, Goku. You're only Saiyan. You're Vegeta's best friend. He told me that you were the best thing to ever happen to him. On the way home from Trunks' party last week, he told me about his feelings for you, and you can't understand how deep those emotions of his go. Don't you realise that this was an attempted suicide?! He couldn't see a life without you. You were his Kakarot, his reason for breathing. And then you do this. I always thought you were so good at sensing other people's feelings, but, this time, you were wrong."
Goku bit his lower lip, his eyes shimmering. It was all true.
Bulma sighed.
"The doctor told me something else while you were gone. Vegeta suffered some severe trauma to the head. He's got amnesia."