It was remarkably easy, escaping the Briefs' home without being caught. It was almost as if someone had distracted everyone else so he could get away, or he was capable of making himself invisible. He would be glad if he could, seeing that there had been no time to change into something more presentable than the flimsy sleeping clothes he'd been locked up in.

Maybe Nappa had something more to do with his easy escape than simply providing the key. But either way, Goku was outside now, comfortable in the dusky evening with the exception of a slight chill in the air, as he looked appreciatively to the stars above. The moon was at a crescent in the sky, and its ambient light did nothing to harm him, like the sun had earlier done.

But Goku knew he had to hurry. Just because he escaped the mansion unseen did not mean he would make it all the way to Vegeta's castle without someone stopping him. What worried him more about running into someone along the way was not being detained from Vegeta's castle, but hurting the person who would get in his way. Goku would avoid that possible incident at all costs.

Choosing the hidden trails and cover of trees for his route, Goku proceeded through the town, towards that old, familiar hill where the castle resided which always seemed to call for him. He hadn't realized it before Vegeta said so, but it did. That was exactly what the castle was doing at that very moment. He suspected that even if he hadn't intended to seek Vegeta, he would be heading this same direction because the castle's magnetism was so strong, more than he had ever felt it. When he finally arrived at the base of the hill and viewed the dark castle, Goku felt like he was home. When he reached the front doors, he did not even have to knock. The doors were already torn open to expose the entryway lined with lit candles. Goku walked inside in awe, astounded by the tranquil quiet of a place which had clearly been broken into. He felt no threat whatsoever, though, as he entered. He only felt a growing, positive anticipation.

"So you made it."

Goku jumped at the unexpected voice from deep within the home. Although it was familiar and non-threatening, he couldn't help feeling startled. He quickly relaxed when Vegeta's face emerged from the darkness. Goku smiled back at him. He couldn't help eyeing Vegeta's lips as he recalled their last kiss. But he shook his head hastily, realizing that was not what he came there for.

"Vegeta," Goku said as Vegeta stepped forward, holding a candle to light the few unlit candles within the room, "I…I think I'm in trouble. Something is wrong with me."

Vegeta didn't look at Goku, but smiled as he listened. "Yes. Something is wrong with you. I've been telling you that all along, haven't I?"

Goku stepped forward eagerly. "You know what it is?"

Vegeta's smile became smug. "Of course I do."

"And you know how to fix it?"

Vegeta turned his gaze on Goku, eyeing the other man carefully. "I'm not sure if you want to be fixed."

"I do!" Goku practically yelled at him as he reached for him, but he suddenly withdrew his hand with a look of concern. "V-Vegeta…are you a…"

Vegeta cocked a brow. "Vampire? Immortal? Murderer?" Vegeta raised his chin and eyed Goku as he snuffed out the candle in his grasp with a curt nod. "No different from you."

Goku gasped and took a step back. "No!"

"Yes, Kakarot." Vegeta pressed a hand against Goku's cheek, causing the other man to close his eyes and inhale deeply at his touch. "For over two hundred years, you and I walked the earth together. For over two hundred more, I have carried on without you, collecting paltry brides to fill the void you left. Now, somehow you've come back to me, reborn. I won't let you go, Kakarot."

Goku stepped away from Vegeta's touch, furrowing his brows as a warning shiver ran through him. Vegeta's confession seemed incredibly romantic and possessive at the same time. He didn't know whether to be charmed or horrified by Vegeta's intentions.

Vegeta halted, lowering his chin in disappointment to Goku's reaction. "You see? I told you what is wrong with you, but you still seem unwilling to cooperate. You have to want to cooperate, Kakarot, if you want me to fix you."

Goku creased his brows tightly together. "How will you fix me?"

"Right now," Vegeta sighed and turned away, leading Goku deeper into the castle, "you are torn between two identities – the one of this current mortal life, and your true soul. If you don't commit to one, you will fall into madness."

Goku frowned deeply and panted, terrified by that news. "How do I commit to one?"

"I don't know how you would commit to the human life you have," Vegeta turned swiftly to face Goku, causing the other man to bump into him as they came face to face, "but I wouldn't help you do that, anyways."

Goku scowled. "So, you're forcing me to choose 'Kakarot'?"

"Oh," Vegeta chuckled, "I don't have to force you to do anything. I'm counting on Kakarot to make that decision."

Goku stepped back and glared at the gloating gaze he was receiving from Vegeta. "I should leave. Coming here was a mistake."

As Goku turned to leave, Vegeta didn't bother to follow. He had no reason to. Kakarot would turn around. Vegeta could already feel that he'd gotten under Kakarot's skin, and even Goku's. As much as the younger, purer soul tried to deny it, he and Kakarot were one in the same.

When Vegeta recognized another, larger silhouette appearing at the end of the hall, he smirked. Kakarot could play cat and mouse for as long as he liked, but he wasn't going anywhere. However, Vegeta knew this wouldn't take long at all. All he needed was Goku's acceptance.

"Prince Vegeta!" Nappa hollered down the hallway, "I freed him, as you said!"

Goku stopped mid-stride, turning to narrow his eyes at Vegeta. Vegeta smirked back at Goku as he answered Nappa. "So I see. You'll find your reward in the kitchen, Nappa. I believe I've spoiled you this time."

"Thank you, Master!" Nappa chuckled deviously. "You are too kind!"

"Stay vigilant, Nappa! We especially can't have any intruders tonight."

As Nappa bowed his head towards Vegeta and turned to leave, Goku gaped at Vegeta. He had suspected that Nappa released him on Vegeta's behalf, but he didn't expect Vegeta to so openly admit to it. The move certainly put his servant at risk, and though Vegeta didn't seem to care for Nappa, the loss or imprisonment of him would be a serious loss for Vegeta at a time like this. Goku couldn't help feeling flattered that Vegeta was willing to go to such extents for him.

"I see you wavering, Kakarot. I thought you were leaving. Now what will it be?"

Goku whimpered to himself in frustration. Vegeta was right. He was wavering, and he was descending rapidly into madness. If the only ways to escape his torn mind was Vegeta's way or returning to that cell until Vegeta's influence wore off, he expected to be suffering like this long before any resolution would be found.

Vegeta was not going to give him up. He'd already made that clear. And what was worse, Goku could feel his feelings towards Vegeta, that magnetism he'd felt since they first met, fighting against any desire he had to escape the castle and stay good. The desire to give in was just too strong.

Vegeta stepped closer, smiling confidently as Goku hesitated. He could see Goku's conflicted look in his eyes, but it wasn't because Goku felt trapped. It was because Goku didn't want to admit what he was. He didn't want to admit that he was Kakarot and always would be. He was being too damn stubborn, refusing to give in, like always. Vegeta knew how to break down his defenses though, and he wanted to move on to the next phase for the evening.

So with one smooth, decisive move, Vegeta swooped in, planting his lips against Goku's and his arms around Goku's back. The other man gasped and jerked away, but Vegeta held him in his grasp, refusing to let those smooth, soft lips pull away from his. It only took a few seconds before Goku moaned into the kiss, relenting by widening his mouth enough for Vegeta to slip his tongue inside. Vegeta didn't want to ever let the kiss end once Goku became an active participant, but they certainly couldn't fix Kakarot's problem in the middle of the hallway. So with a heavy sigh, he finally pulled away.

"Why don't you return to the same room where you slept here before?" Vegeta asked as Goku stared back at him, flushed and bewildered by that kiss. "I will come with the necessary equipment, and I will fix you."

Goku took a deep breath and exhaled heavily while he nodded. He could trust Vegeta. Vegeta seemed cold and ruthless, but he loved Goku. Goku could feel it. "Will you be long?"

Vegeta smiled. "Not at all."

Standing in the familiar guest bedroom, Goku looked around, absorbing the already-lit candles surrounding the room, which were more abundant than what had been in there the first time he stayed. He didn't know what Vegeta had planned for his 'fixing', but he thought he had a pretty good idea of what else Vegeta had planned. After experiencing that kiss, he hoped he had the right idea. He also hoped he was making the right decision. But 'right' was quickly becoming the least of his concern as the night wore on. He just hoped this wasn't anything that involved being poked and prodded by sharp needles or ingesting odd potions. Vegeta promised to fix him, so Goku was willing to do what he said.

Feeling a chill in the room, Goku sought the bed, tucking himself beneath the covers for comfort. It was only seconds after he pulled on the covers that Vegeta opened the door to reveal his sly grin to Goku. Goku couldn't help gaping at Vegeta's exposed, defined chest, or the notable bulge between his legs hiding beneath the thin fabric of the soft black pants he'd changed into.

Goku blinked in bewilderment as he sat upright, noting that Vegeta arrived notably empty-handed. "I thought you were bringing equipment."

As Vegeta approached the bed, his smile stretched wider. "Don't worry, I have everything we need."

When Goku opened his mouth to question Vegeta again, Vegeta seized his lips with another kiss and climbed onto the bed. Goku wanted to know what was going to happen next, how his problem would be fixed, but he couldn't pry his lips from Vegeta's delicious mouth long enough to form the questions on his mind.

Vegeta wouldn't allow Goku to stop kissing if he tried. The kisses were unlike anything either one of them had ever felt with anyone else. They seemed to improve with every occasion. As their hands came into the mix, reaching and grabbing at each other beneath the sheets, the kisses became more frenzied. Goku couldn't believe he was so eager to feel Vegeta, so much so that even caressing Vegeta's forearm or brushing his fingers over Vegeta's collarbone was enthralling. When his hands became greedier, Vegeta reciprocated his touch with equal fervor. They each enjoyed the strong hands on their skin just as much as the feeling of each other's skin beneath their fingertips.

Things became heated as their bodies pressed together with increasing urgency. Their kisses became more desperate, more open, more earnest. When they finally pulled their lips apart, panting as their bodies remained pressed together, Vegeta met Goku's gaze with an intense need. "It's time you remember, Kakarot."

Goku's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. This was Vegeta's cure. Things were escalating between them beyond where Goku intended to let this lead. But Vegeta was so good at what he was doing, Goku hadn't even realized he was being seduced. Now, he was suddenly nervous.

Vegeta kissed Goku again quickly to prevent the dubious haze that slightly crossed his intended's face. As both men rose to their knees in bed, Vegeta made an aggressive movement, turning Goku around by the shoulders. "For your mind to be whole again, for us to be whole again, we need to unite," Vegeta squeezed his arms around Goku's body and breathed into his ear, "in body and blood."

"Vegeta..." Goku groaned the name as Vegeta thrusted his hips through the imposing layers of cloth between Vegeta's hardening length and the crease of Goku's ass. "Vegeta, I-"

"Don't refuse me, Kakarot."

"What you want to do with me…I don't know about this." Goku admitted hesitantly. "I've never done this before!"

Vegeta seductively eased down the waistband of Goku's loose-fitting pants while kissing Goku's neck, before reaching around to stroke the other man's rigid cock in his palm.

"Maybe not yet in this life," Vegeta murmured into Goku's neck before licking it seductively and pulling his own pants down, "but I promise you won't regret this."

When the door creaked open, perhaps minutes, perhaps hours later, with a solitary preceding knock, Vegeta eyed the door with one eye open, knowing already who he expected to see.

"Prince Vegeta?" Nappa called politely.

Vegeta lifted himself off his passed out lover to eye the nervous slave at the door. Then he looked down at Goku's deceptively angelic face with a fond smile. He cradled Goku's head in his hand to position him in a way that exposed the long line of Goku's alabaster, already blood-stained neck. "When I'm done here," Vegeta said, "you will put him beneath the soil, in the crate beside mine, so we can rest."

"Yes, Master."

Vegeta glared at Nappa firmly, "You will move our crates as a precaution, Nappa. It is important that no one find us during the day! If that Piccolo comes nosing around here, I expect you to keep him away. Understand?"

"Yes, Prince Vegeta!" Nappa exclaimed hurriedly.

Vegeta pressed his lips to Goku's neck, sniffing in the aroma of awaiting blood before exposing his sharp fangs to the receptive skin. Vegeta hummed in delight as he bit down to experience his lover's fresh blood seeping into his mouth, the taste too delicious not to verbally express his pleasure.

Nappa stood by and watched in fascination as Vegeta took his time, sucking his blood-smeared, naked lover dry of the life-providing blood of humanity. He understood that he was to stand by and remain silent, but even if he felt like protesting, which he slightly did, he was too mesmerized by the morbid scene to say or do anything.

When the well finally ran dry, Vegeta looked to Nappa with a permissive nod. "Now take him."

Vegeta licked the excess blood from his lips as Nappa obediently lifted Goku from the bed, before carrying the naked, unconscious man gingerly through the door.

It was time for Vegeta to rest as well. He could already feel the sun beginning to rise. He didn't know exactly how this reincarnation was supposed to work, but he hoped that when he awoke, the real Kakarot would be rising by his side once again.