Disclaimer: I still don't own DBZ. Oh, darn, somebody bring out a stretcher. It appears that particular bit of information truly shocked, well, no one. Never mention. The stretcher is uncalled for.

Chapter 2:

Folk Tune

The days were too long it seemed to Vegeta. Too long…to full of people who would be better off sleeping their lives away. People who insisted they cared about him. Damn them all to hell.

And there's Kakkarot, come to spar, just like he does every day at the exact same time. What would happen, Vegeta wondered dully, if he told him that he didn't feel like sparring today. Probably he would be carted off to the emergency room where he would be poked and prodded until they came up with a fake disease to label him with.

He regretted it now, coming back to earth. He had a label here, a label he would never escape from. So he continued on under that label while his true self withered and died underneath the act.

If only they could see me now, they wouldn't know who I was. I don't know who I am.

"Hey Vegeta!" Goku chirped in his obnoxious voice. "Ready to spar."

"Yes, Kakkarot. Do even have to ask?"

"Yeah, I guess that was a stupid question," Goku said, laughing. Vegeta narrowed his eyes. It's not funny…

"Let's go then!" It would be rather funny if some day his face cracked because he smiled too much, Vegeta thought. Or maybe he's just had so much practice with it his face has become like putty.

Today's training spot looked remarkably like yesterday's spot. And the day before. And the day before. And the day before. And the truly sad part was they were all different places. The planet was a little two green for his taste, not even city, not enough civilization. How does anyone do anything here? What a horrible place to grow up.

Kakkarot was stretching. He supposed he should stretch a little two, just to play the part in character.

Soon they were both in fighting position, and Vegeta knew Kakkarot was waiting for him to initiate things. Goku couldn't- it would disturb the order of thing in the taller Sayian's mind. Very well. The sooner things start, the sooner things are over.

He didn't know why Kakkarot liked to spar with him so much. The result was always the same. He was lying at the base of another tree, battered to an extent he didn't want to think about while Kakkarot stood, looking a little tired but otherwise no worse for the wear.

"Gohan was asking about you," Goku said suddenly. "He wanted me to say hi and ask you why you haven't been around in a while. I think he means since we defeated Buu two years ago. I mean, you haven't actually come to visit us once since I got back."

"I'm busy," Vegeta offered shortly.

"Doing what?"

"Why the fuck do you care?" Vegeta asked irritably.

"'Cause you're my friend, and I'd never see you if I didn't come to spar with you. And for some reason both my sons wish you were around more," Goku looked a little troubled at that, but only a little and the expression passed quickly enough into his normal, happy but oblivious smile.

"And for some reason," Vegeta echoed quietly. "Kakkarot. We aren't friends."

"Of course we are. What are you talking about? Did I hit you too hard?"

"Hit me too hard?" Vegeta said in disbelief.

"Well yeah, you're saying some really weird things," Goku shrugged.

At least I'm not saying stupid things, Vegeta thought darkly. And for some reason my sons want you around…you imbecile…I died to avenge Gohan. That's what Piccolo told you, isn't it? Why the hell do you think I did that! I don't like you Kakkarot! I hate you! You ruined me- ruined my life! But I don't hate your sons- and quite frankly you don't deserve to have them as sons, and I sure as hell don't know what they did to deserve a bastard like you for a father. You were never there for them. I was there for them, for seven years. I was the one who was there when Goten took his first step, said his first word. I was there when Gohan became a teenager, when his voice started to change. I was the one they came to- not you Kakkarot. I know them better than you do. They were as much my sons as Trunks is. And then you came back. Damn you Kakkarot, you always ruin everything. But you were back and I figured they would want to have their real father, so I've stayed out of your way, trying to give you time to bond. But no, you're never home. You're always out training. I can't figure out what your problem is!

But he didn't say any of that. It would have been pointless.

"I'm just tired," he said instead. "Didn't sleep good last night."

"Oh, well lets stop for today then, go home and get some rest."

"Right. See you tomorrow then."

"Bye Vegeta! Hope you get some sleep!" And then the imbecile flew away.

Vegeta, on the other hand, didn't move. He closed his eyes and lay back against the tree. If he concentrated hard enough, it was like he was back on the space station, and they were all there, and they were all singing quietly to each other,

"Recolha as estrelas

Siga-os à extremidade do universo

Onde todos estão livres

Para viver

Recolha as almas

As almas que são perdidas

Assim nós podemos todo o achado

Outra vez

Recolha o espírito da vida

Aproximado à extremidade

Apenas algumas mais etapas

Junto

Recolha as estrelas

E deixe-nos junto viajar

A onde nós podemos finalmente estar

Ourselves"

But then he opened his eyes again and he was still sitting in the forest. And they were still dead.

Song Translation:

"Gather the stars,

Follow them to the universe's end,

Where all are free

To live.

Gather the souls,

The souls that are lost,

So we can all find each other

Again.

Gather the spirit of life

Come on to the end

Just a few more steps

Together.

Gather the stars,

And together let's travel

To where we can finally be

Ourselves."

Author Notes: Well, chapter two as promised. I must admit, I was really really shocked that I got any reviews. So thanks. Personally I don't think this is really well written, but perhaps when I finish it I'll go back and re-write it until I like it…who knows. But since people took the time to review, I'm going to take time to reply to your reviews. I know, I am a nice person deep, deep, deep, deep down. –laughs-

Midnight-flame-Princess: Thank you, althought…I must admit shocking that its attention worthy…I thought it was bit of garbage personally…

Miako6: Now that I can agree with.

Queen Freaky: Thanks. You know Japanese, personally I know a bit for French and Latin (I don't actually speak Portugues. Enter the handy dandy translator- giggles-)

Anjanka: Thanks. And don't worry, I will. Give me time. I'm a lazy person and thus writer by nature…It takes me time to update stories I'm actually really working on.

Kit-kit: Thanks. The song was my favorite part of that chapter. I don't like this one as much ,but hey…

So thanks for all the reviews. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Next one should be up tomorrow…