4. Clarification

Goku sat down in a clearing in the forest close to his home, propping his elbows on his knees and his chin in his palms. He frowned as Chichi's words echoed through his head, and he wondered if the universe had gone mad while he was gone.

But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Saiyans were drawn to power…as much as Vegeta might have resented Gohan's strength, it was so like him to try control it. And then there was Goten, and he was amazed by how highly his son thought of 'Ji-san Vegeta'. It seemed that Vegeta had taken both his sons under his tutelage. He couldn't help feeling a little jealous of his boys for getting to train with the one man that Goku had admired for the sheer beauty and intelligence of his fighting. Sparring with his kids had been a surprising challenge, and in their fighting style he saw Vegeta's creativity and Piccolo's efficiency of movement.

What had happened when he was dead? How could he have come back to such a different world to the one he had left behind? So much had changed, and he felt the world had shifted fundamentally under his feet. His wife, who had always pushed his buddies away, had made his two rivals her friends. His kids adored a man who only strung enough words together to either be condescending or demanding. Piccolo had helped his wife sustain her household.

God, how he had failed.

Chichi was right…she nearly always was. He had chosen to leave, to go train. But it had seemed like such a good idea at the time. Gohan would be most capable of defending the planet, and he would be able to get really strong and have the time of his life. He'd never wanted to be tied to a house, and expected to do chores and support a family. He had been clueless eighteen years ago…he wasn't much more informed now. Chichi had just known what to do, and he'd felt useless in the face of her innate ability to do what needed to be done.

In fact, he mused, all the women he knew always knew what to do. Bulma with her ideas and technology, Chichi with her practicality…

He knew how to be strong and save the world…but he knew he was poor husband and father material. And his family had been better off without him. Vegeta and Piccolo had filled most of the gaps and his sons were well-adjusted and Chichi less stressed than he'd ever seen her before.

And then there was Vegeta.

He couldn't help blushing when he thought of the crush he'd had on Vegeta from the moment he met him. He had been so confident and powerful and intelligent…he'd been annoying as hell but he was the headiest drug and Goku had been swamped by it.

Having a fine ass didn't hurt either, that bastard…

But after fusing with the loud-mouthed prince, he'd had his heart broken when he'd seen the violence of Vegeta's past, the anger and pain suffered and inflicted. He'd been so disappointed and now he was trying to find ways to justify himself to himself. He'd taken it out on Vegeta, and he'd disappeared months ago.

And he can't come back either…

Goku sighed as he pushed to his feet, brushing gold and brown autumn leaves off his gi. He owed Chichi an apology, at the least. The strongest full-blood Saiyan's shoulders slumped as he started walking home.

Maybe I should go back to Otherworld…then things will be better for everyone.

***

"You're a hard man to find, Vegeta."

Vegeta paused in the middle of washing his gi top in the river, then grinned as Piccolo landed next to him, first on one foot, then the other. He'd always had that weird habit of landing as though the earth was made of thin ice. The Saiyan wrung out the gi, standing up to greet his friend.

"It's not my fault, Namek. Energy is out of tune since I got landed with this stupid curse. Immortal and undetectable. Little bit dangerous for the universe, I'd think. How did you find me?"

Piccolo folded his legs and floated in mid-air. "There's a room on the Lookout called the Chamber of Crystal. It amplifies one's meditations and allowed me to search for your energy signal. I looked for the biggest unidentified energy on the planet and then went towards it. So here I am."

"The 'Chamber of Crystal'? Sounds like one of Trunks' Yu Gi Oh! cards. Not very imaginative people, these Guardians."

Piccolo watched Vegeta go to a fire where a dinosaur leg was roasting, and turn it to make sure it would cook evenly.

"I thought you ate that shit raw."

"Tastes crap that way. Besides, even undercooked dinosaur plays hell with Saiyan insides," said Vegeta. "I learnt that the hard way. Haven't been that sick since Bulma got me drunk at Gohan's sixteenth birthday."

"I remember that. Fortunately, your hair naturally stays well out of your face when you vomit," grinned the Namek.

Vegeta sat down on some grass near the fire, and leaned back on his palms. "Don't remind me. So…what's been going on in the last six months? I feel so out of touch."

Piccolo settled into his air-seat. "I haven't seen Chichi…Goku's been rather twitchy about anyone visiting, including me. I kept up sparring arrangements with the trio though. Goten and Trunks have been nagging me every other day about news from you, but I only managed to refine my search for you yesterday after you came to help us. Gohan is applying to med school, and he'll know next week whether he's been accepted or not. Speaking of whom, he's on a massive search for you and a solution."

"Really? Why though? Surely he's enjoying the time off from the abuse I masquerade as sparring?"

"Vegeta, don't be so obtuse."

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are. Gohan practically worships you…he'd sing your praises if you'd let him."

"Since when have I been averse to anyone praising me?"

A fanged smirk. "Touché."

Vegeta leaned over and adjusted his dinner before flopping backwards, the grass tickling his back. "I still don't see why he'd go out of his way. It's pointless for him to try. There is no reprieve for an Unforgivable, hence the term."

"Back up a moment. What's happened here exactly?"

"So it was just small talk, Namek?"

"You always need softening before an interrogation, Matchstick."

"Fair enough. Where to start…"

Piccolo waited, knowing that Vegeta would talk eventually.

"I…I went to find Kakarot, to find out why he was avoiding me like he was. One of my less spectacular ideas, I must admit." He took a deep breath. "When I confronted him, he was rather explicit about how much he dislikes me, which is understandable, and then handed down the most powerful energy-curse known to Saiyans. It marks me as unforgivable for prior sins and in Saiyan society, I would have been exiled the moment it happened."

"He did this on purpose?"

"No, I doubt it." Vegeta dropped his chin to his chest. "It's not in his nature to punish. He gave Frieza a second chance, after all."

Piccolo heard the quiet pain and avoided Vegeta's eyes, hated how they went grey when he was sad and how they had been like ashes for two years. He let a moment pass, then looked up at this strange friend the universe had sent him. He thought about the seven years he'd shared with this man, how much time they'd spent together raising Gohan, Goten and Trunks, how often Chichi had asked them to stay for dinner and Vegeta looking ridiculous as he washed the resulting dishes with bright yellow gloves.

Then Goku came back, broke up our group and screwed Vegeta over.

Piccolo sighed. "Well, Gohan will find a way around this. Until then…keen to spar?"

Vegeta was about to reply when his stomach howled, and then he half-scowled. "I'd best eat, otherwise I'll take a bite out of you. Five minutes, Namek."

They were in the air in two, Vegeta smelling like roast meat and adrenaline.

****

AN: I hope this clears everything up =)

Working on next chapter, constructive criticism welcome.