Chapter 9 – Truth

Goku can't help feeling restless after Vegeta's rejection. His nights have become lonely and sleepless. He gets out of bed for the millionth time and takes off to Capsule Corp, looking for Vegeta.

Vegeta feels Goku's ki nearby and sighs. He knew this would happen. He jumps off the balcony and crosses his arms as soon as he lands on the lawn.

"What is it now, Kakarot?"

"I don't sleep anymore, Vegeta. I need to know. Why do you reject me?"

"I'm just being realistic, Kakarot. I have tons of reasons to turn you down."

"If you're using your past as an excuse, you are weak, Vegeta. I know what you've been through."

"It's not just my past, Kakarot… Goddamn it, do you have to keep nagging about this forever? Accept it! We can never be!"

"You're just being overdramatic, Vegeta."

"Like hell I am, Kakarot. Do you want to know the truth? I'll tell you the truth! You're a dominant Saiyan, just like I am! Yes, Radditz was submissive, that's why we established some kind of bond. You and I will never achieve such a thing. Instead, you will fight me and kill me, since you are stronger than I am."

"I'd never kill you over some stupid dominance issue, Vegeta. You're delirious." Goku is shocked by hearing Vegeta's reasons. He can't believe Saiyan bonding is tied by rules.

"Feh! What do you know about Saiyans, Kakarot? Tell me, I'm listening."

"I…"

"You grew up on Chikyuu. All you know about Saiyans you've learned from me. Stop questioning my knowledge about my race, you're insulting me! I know what you are! A submissive Saiyan would never have kissed me like you did!"

"Damn it Vegeta, I don't care what I am! I can't shake off these feelings, it's driving me insane!"

Vegeta looks at the sky and then back at Goku.

"Fine. In a few days, I'll show you how serious this is, Kakarot. If you won't take my word for it, then I'll have to let you become what you truly are. Trust me, it won't be pretty."

"Why in a few days? Vegeta?"

Vegeta's already gone, leaving a very confused Goku.

Several days later… Goku's restlessness has become almost unbearable. He doesn't know what to do with himself. He flies away from his house, racing up to the few clouds that float in the dark sky. He comes abruptly to a halt when Vegeta appears out of nowhere. Silver moonlight lines out his muscled form.

"Are you ready, Kakarot? I can see you're already on your way to become… You feel totally jumpy, don't know where to put yourself…"

"Vegeta, I don't understand. Become what? I never felt this way before, it's… scaring me!"

"I can imagine," Vegeta chuckles. "It feels like you have to peel off your skin to find any comfort. Have you been scratching yourself a lot lately?"

"All the time." Goku looks at Vegeta, getting really scared now. "Is this… some kind of transformation? Like going Super Saiyan?"

"It's quite different, Kakarot. But enough talk," Vegeta hisses and grabs Goku's head, tilting it back.

"Look at the full moon, Kakarot, and see your true self."

Goku tries to break free, but Vegeta holds his head in an iron grip.

"Don't you dare close your eyes," Vegeta snaps. "You refused to believe me. Now pay the price!"

The moon seems to increase in size as Goku looks at it. It's hypnotizing him… He feels his lower back itch right where his tail used to be. Then the world becomes a red haze.

Vegeta feels Goku struggle in his arms. 'It won't take him long to break free,' he thinks. 'Goddamn it, I hope I can handle this. If not, he can wish me back with the Dragon Balls one more time.'

Goku roars like an animal and breaks free. He turns around, his eyes glowing red. He looks at Vegeta hungrily.

"Now do you understand?" Vegeta whispers. "Dominant Saiyans become animals when the full moon rises. You'd rip me to shreds and wake up the next morning without knowing what you had done."

Goku grins and approaches Vegeta. "Mine…"

"Dream on, Kakarot. I came prepared." Vegeta throws a capsule at him. It explodes and surrounds Goku with ki-absorbing bars.

"Now I could say I'm sorry to have to do this, but then I would be bending the truth." Vegeta pushes a button on the cage's remote, and the bars extend to Goku's body, draining his ki. Vegeta fires a blast at Goku's head, knocking him out.

"Goodnight, Kakarot. See you at breakfast."

Goku wakes up, covered in dew. The sun has just come up.

'That was a terrible dream…' Then he sees the bars surrounding him.

"You wish it was a dream, Kakarot." Vegeta looks at him coldly. "I told you it wouldn't be pretty."

"That monster last night was me?"

"Now you know what your instincts are telling you to do with an attractive Saiyan."

"But then… Kami, Vegeta, how the hell did Radditz survive the full moon?"

"Planet Frieza has no moon, Kakarot. Your brother would have died for sure if I had become… trans-Oozaru."

"That's what it's called?"

"Yes. Radditz' power level would have been too low to survive. That's why Saiyans always choose a mate with a power level close to their own."

"But Vegeta, we're almost even…"

"Kakarot!" Vegeta snaps. "After all that you have seen from my past, do you think I'd enjoy to be raped by the likes of you?"

"No," Goku says barely audible. "I can't imagine anyone would enjoy such a… mating ritual."

"Full moons were rare on Vegeta-sei, Kakarot. And Saiyans have always loved sex as well as violence. Mixing the two can be rather appealing… Or so I've heard."

"I don't think I'll ever understand Saiyans, Vegeta," Goku whispers, almost in tears. "I had no idea…

But wait! How come I never killed Chi-Chi? And you… Bulma?"

Vegeta smirks. "They're not Saiyan, Kakarot. Sex with them isn't half as intense as sex with a Saiyan. You know that! Even your homophobic Chikyuu-sated mind became aroused by the memory of Radditz and me f… having sex."

"That's true… And there's no way around the full moon?"

"It's not just the moon, Kakarot. We're both dominant. It would never fit. Only if one of us was submissive, or both. As long as we're not, we still end up killing each other over dominance."

"That's not fair…"

"I never said it was." Vegeta capsulizes the cage and puts his hand on Goku's shoulder.

"If it helps you, I am attracted to you, Kakarot. But I have a thing for dysfunctional relationships. Why else would I have married Bulma?"

Goku smiles, but the spark of it never reaches his eyes. He clenches his jaw as he feels Vegeta's hand slide off his shoulder. Then he takes off. They say heroes never cry, but Goku did that morning. Even the bright sunrise didn't look as promising as it used to…