AN: Wow…and I thought no one missed me!
Its so good to be back! All your reviews made me smile and prompted me to sneak onto the internet at home to update! Now, my next challenge is to learn how to drive! If only I weren't like Kakarot on the road…can't I be more like Piccolo in that regard? Nearly crashed last week…
I'm really, really sorry about the lack of updates! I've finally fixed up internet in my room so I hope to be better about it. Your patience with this story is greatly appreciated.
This update's plug:
If you haven't read Chuquita's work, what's wrong with you! The cutest Vegeta and Kakarot buddy fics, and even if you're a hentai like me, you'll still like it! She's on hunt her down!
Shout outs! I apologise if I've left anyone out, it isn't intentional.
Gutterball – Every word in the plug is true, my GB. I'm reading 'Trinity' by Xero Sky, its totally Majin! Thanks for putting me on to it, with 'All that Glitters'! And thanks for your email, it really made my day! Will reply as soon as Devgel-ly possible! (is that even a word?)
Clarobell – Thank you for the great yaoi pics! Love them dearly! Its good to keep in touch, and I'm blushing that you think I'm the best fanfic author in the universe. You're so good for my ego!
Dogyoukaijane – Your wait has been rewarded! Welcome to the readership, hope you enjoy it!
Griever Weapon – As soon as I'm a multi-millionaire, I'll pick up your therapy bills! I apologise for the lack of updates! Thanks for the congratulations and for putting me on your fave authors list! I'm on the list of 47 people now!
Joou Himeko dah – Thanks!
Moonlight-6056 – This is a major turning point, you're right about that. Glad you love it, and keep dancing! Its good for you!
x The Chichi Slaughter House x – Now you sound like someone I can get along with! Death to the screeching one! Cool screen name, and thanks for the review. And keep hugging those Saiyans…they need it.
Lenora - +passes Lenora-chan tissues+ Sorry, don't mean to make you cry! Thanks for keeping track of me!
Ozuma's Girl – I would never ever let you down! Next year when I'm at college I'm unleashing many great stories, so I won't be gone any time soon+blushes+ Yeah, a distance that big in updates might leave a bit of a memory blank…gomen nasai.
Midnight-flame-Princess – Thanks for the greetings, its good to be back!
Kat- Yaoi Maniac – Welcome to the gang, hope you enjoy this update.
Onwards, wonderful reviewers!
Chapter eighteen: Packing away
Goku arrived at home, and stood in his room, looking at the floor for a few minutes. Then he sank to his knees, tears curving down his face like rain down a window.
Goku simply sobbed.
Bulma went into Vegeta's room by herself. Piccolo had heard the entire fight, and told Bulma and Trunks. Bulma had decided to see if Vegeta was okay, although she knew he wouldn't be. He was staring at his knees, his fingers drumming on his cast. He didn't look up as she came in.
"Hey." Bulma sat by his feet. He looked up at her.
"I can't believe he tried to apologise, after what he did."
Bulma rested her hand on top of Vegeta's. "Vegeta, that's what most people do when they do something wrong. They apologise. Don't you think you were a little too hard on him?"
Vegeta shook his head.
"No, I wasn't. Bulma, what's the worst pain you've ever felt? And I'm not talking about physical pain, but emotional."
She thought for a second. "I guess it would have to be that time when you committed suicide."
Vegeta felt slightly thrown by this answer, but still pushed on.
"It made you feel sick, right? Like you'd never be whole again?"
She nodded. Vegeta's eyes looked into hers, as he tried to explain how he felt.
"Kakarot tore away a part of my soul when he told me that we couldn't be together. It made me want to die. I can't forgive him for that. It's worse than anything he could ever do to me on the battlefield. I gave him my everything, I gladly trusted him with my fragile sense of self. And what did he do? He tossed me aside like just another gnawed chicken bone. You know how hard it is for me to trust any one, Bulma. You know this better than even Kakarot does. He killed me on the inside."
Bulma ran her fingers through his hair, and sighed.
"Vegeta, I'm sorry. I know you hate hearing it, but you've got to learn to forgive."
Vegeta flopped back against his pillows and stared up at the ceiling. Bulma moved closer, until she was next to his chest. She took his hand and held it between her two slim hands, hands that have given birth to great machines, yet had comforted many people in her time as well.
"Do I deserve all this, Blue? Do I? Am I going to be punished for eternity because of my past?"
He kept his eyes on the ceiling, his fingers curling amongst Bulma's.
"You don't, Vegeta. Just give yourself time. We'll get you healed properly by the dragon, and maybe we can even restore your body to the way it should be, without all your injuries from the past."
Vegeta smiled. "That's all I need. Time, and a brand new body."
Goku woke up the next day, body stiff and complaining from a night on the floor. He'd cried himself to sleep, not moving to go to bed. He got to his feet, moaning as he stretched. He scratched his chest, as he walked towards the kitchen. As he switched on the kettle to make coffee, he leaned against the fridge, head back and eyes closed.
"So, no more Vegeta. Guess I'd better get used to it. Today, I go back to my old life. I'm going to pack up his stuff, and send it to Capsule Corp, then I can start getting over him. I don't need him.
He doesn't need me. I'll be just fine."
Goku tried to smile but couldn't. As he poured hot water into a mug, he choked back a sob.
"Who am I trying to kid? I can't live without him."
After a week or so, Vegeta was allowed out of hospital, surprising the doctors with his speed of healing. His pride took a knock though, because he had to be wheeled out of hospital in a wheelchair because Bulma wouldn't let him fly.
"Vegeta! If you want them to treat you like a medical specimen, then go ahead and fly! Just deal with the damn wheelchair!"
Vegeta grumbled as he floated into the chair. Having both legs in cast was a bloody nuisance. He glared at Piccolo, just daring him to make a comment.
"Laugh, Namek, and I'll put a Big Bang right between your eyes."
Piccolo just smirked as he pushed Vegeta's wheelchair all the way to Bulma's jet. They checked to see if anyone was looking, then Vegeta floated up into the passenger seat. He was wearing tracksuit pants four sizes too big so that they could fit around his casts, but he had to use a belt to keep them up.
"When we get home, my mom has lunch ready for you. You look like you've lost some weight. And after lunch, we'll call up the dragon. We collected the dragonballs while you were in a coma, to save time," said Bulma as she checked the flight controls. Trunks and Piccolo climbed in behind Vegeta and buckled their safety belts. Vegeta tried to do his, but it's a lot harder with just one arm.
"Grrr…stupid thing." he muttered, as the belt kept snapping back. Bulma strapped him in, and soon enough, they were flying back to Capsule Corp, for lunch and a bit of wishing.
Goku had telepathed Uub, and said that training was cancelled indefinitely. Uub didn't ask why and was secretly grateful for the time off. Goku had got some boxes and was starting to erase Vegeta from his life. All the reminders of him were painful. Goku started with Vegeta's bedroom. Not much here; he had managed to pack most of it on the night he left. Goku put in all the photo frames. When he looked under the bed, there was a pair of sneakers, and an orange long sleeve shirt. Goku pulled out the shirt, and looked at it. It was the one he had bought for Vegeta, not for any particular reason, but because he had thought that the other Saiyan would like it. He'd worn it a few times, but Goku supposed that was because he didn't want to hurt his feelings. Goku folded it and put it into the box, along with the sneakers. He picked up the box, and went to the lounge. Here, he packed away all of Vegeta's magazines, which ranged from Time to National Geographic to Finance Weekly. The box was soon full, and Goku had to start the next one. Even more photo frames went into the box. Goku found Vegeta's apron, and it felt like barb wire was being wrapped around his heart. In white writing on black fabric, it said "Kakarot's Not-so-Naked Chef." Goku ran his fingers along the letters.
They had built so many memories around food…
"This looks incredible, Geta."
"You're just saying that."
Goku looked at the little stack of ostrich fillet medallions on his plate, drizzled with a sweet fig sauce, and decorated with herbs and artistically cut vegetables. It reminded Goku of French cooking. He almost didn't want to eat it, it looked so pretty.
"No, I'm serious! This looks like something out of those complicated cookery programmes that I watch. I've got my own Jamie Olivier!"
"I'm not a pretty boy."
"But you are a brilliant cook."
"Don't get used to it. It's only for special occasions."
Vegeta smiled over his glass of red wine. Goku picked up his glass, and leaned it towards Vegeta.
"A toast. To Saiyan friendship."
"To our friendship." replied Vegeta, gently clinking his glass against Goku's. They both sipped, not taking their eyes off each other.
"Kakarot! Dinner's ready!"
Goku bounced into the kitchen, and slammed right into Vegeta, knocking him and the bowl of pasta in his hands to the floor. Vegeta yelped as the bowl upturned onto him, drenching him in a cream seafood sauce and long strands of fettuccine. Goku had managed to stay on his feet, but Vegeta had fallen to the floor. Goku had laughed, as he helped Vegeta up, then picked a shrimp out of his sauce soaked hair and ate it.
"Mmm, delicious!"
Vegeta snarled, and pulled off his shirt, which was soaked in sauce, and wiped his face.
"There goes dinner, Kakarot! I spent forty five minutes on that sauce, and two hours making the pasta from scratch! Dammit, you drive me mad, Kakarot!"
Goku looked crestfallen, as Vegeta pushed past him towards the bathroom to shower, leaving behind a trail of sauced footprints. Goku felt really bad. Vegeta really had made a huge effort for that dinner. So, the younger Saiyan decided to make it up to him. He cleaned the entire kitchen, and quickly made a phone call. By the time Vegeta had stepped out of the shower, and gotten dressed, Goku had organised supper.
Vegeta walked into the lounge, and saw Kakarot carrying lots of packets. He spoke before Vegeta could.
"I feel really bad about destroying dinner, so I decided to get your favourite foods, just for you. Sit down, I'm going to go dish up."
I remember the stunned look on Geta's face. After I set before him platters of fresh seafood, pasta and hot sloppy chips, he looked much happier. After he ate…
"Look, Kaks, I'm sorry I snapped at you like that. It was just an accident, you didn't mean to knock me over. I overreacted."
Goku waved away Vegeta's apology.
"You spent a lot of time on that meal, and I know how seriously you take your food, and I shouldn't rampage into rooms anyway. I'm a klutz, and I know it. You relax, and I'll clear up. But first, stand up."
Vegeta got to his feet, and Goku stood in front of him. Vegeta looked up, wondering what Goku was going to do, when he was enveloped in those muscled arms and held tight. Vegeta smiled into Goku's chest, as he hugged back, although his arms went around Goku's chest and barely touched at the back.
"Sorry, Geta. I'm just a stupid third class clown."
"Yeah, but you're my third class."
"I'll never stop asking myself why I let you go, why I didn't take my chance." Goku said to himself, as he slowly folded up Vegeta's apron and put it into the box.
Goku spent the entire day getting together Vegeta's stuff. Putting each object into boxes had hurt, and by the end of the day, he was emotionally exhausted. He had six boxes (lets not forget, these were normal moving boxes about the size of television boxes) and he was ready to get rid of them. He placed them all next to each other, then teleported to the Capsule Corp lobby. He told the receptionist that this was a delivery for Vegeta, and would she please ensure that he received it. Before the woman could even respond, he was gone. Goku reappeared back in his house, and flopped down onto a couch. Dulce hopped up onto the couch, and settled herself on his lap, purring loudly. Goku scratched her ear, and thought out loud.
"That's it. It's over. Back to square one."
Goku wiped his eyes with his sleeve.