I died because of him, and to a certain extent, I died for him.
But I was brought back because of him, so one can't dwell on that too much.
When I realized Kakarotto was still alive, I departed Earth, vowing to discover and defeat him!
For six months, I've come up empty-handed, so I decided to take a hiatus and head home.
And by home, I meant Odayaka.
I was born and raised in the heart of Vegeta until I was 5, then my father consented to Frieza mentoring -kidnap- me.
When Vegeta was eradicated, or more accurately, when Freiza murdered my father, I became his property.
By the laws of my people, I belonged to Frieza.
I was a part of his court until he exiled me a few years ago.
I was born on planet Vegeta and grew up on Planet Freiza, but I called this planet home.
The ladies, the children, the sisters, and the planet had a chance to beguile me again; I missed them.
I bet Kakarott's spawn would like it here; it's like Mount Paozu.
'You're taking off to find my daddy?' He asked me before I left Capsule Corp.
'Yes.'
The boy watched me pack things into the ship the woman, Bulma, and her father built.
'What are you going to do?'
'I'm going to find and defeat him.'
'Can I go?' He half begged and whined.
'You want to travel to the other side of the galaxy with me so you can watch me; how do you say, beat up your father?'
'Yes.'
'No, I don't think- what would the Ox-King say?'
'You could kidnap me.'
'Kidnap you?'
'Yes.'
'So I can incite the furry of the Namekiam and these pesky Earthlings?'
'Please?'
'No.'
'You won't incite the furry of my daddy; he's nice.' The boy proclaimed. 'He'll forgive you.'
Perhaps I should have conceded and let him come along.
He would love the sisters, and they would have loved to learn about his life on Earth and his tales of space, and his time playing with the Namekiams.
The little brat was quite fascinating; he could babble about anything, and he was good company.
All of them, the Earthlings, are not so terrible.
I'm happy I didn't enslave them, but I wonder what Gohan was doing.
He's a cheeky little brat, but he is a good boy.
I should have a son; I hope he's like him.
'Lady Vegan!' one of the children, a girl dubbed Dove, cried out. 'Tell us again about the champions on Earth.'
I sighed and began my saga once again.
There's no mistaking it; that is her energy.
What was she doing on that planet?
What was she doing here?
The last time I spoke to Bulma, Vegan was on earth.
But now, she was out here surrounded by so many vulnerable lifeforms.
She was probably enslaving them!
She was probably massacring them!
She's playing kickball with a bunch of little children.
What?
The great sayain queen.
The scourge of Frieza.
Was here, playing ball with a bunch of giggling little kids.
I found myself grinning at the wholesome scenery.
I wonder if she played with Gohan like that.
She talked to them in a strange speech, and they appeared to hang on to her every word.
One of them, a celery-colored little girl, saw me and pointed while crying out in terror; she spoke in the same language as Vegan.
The other children fled as Vegan whirled around, getting into a fighting stance only to find me grinning.
She gasped at seeing me; I waved like a mindless idiot.
She called out to the children in that same language, then said, 'Kakarotto.'
They stopped running and turned to us, watching us both curiously.
'Kakarotto.' She swallowed. 'What are you doing here?!'
'I was on my way home when I felt your energy.'
'So?'
'So,' I slid closer, 'I hoped to see you.'
I must have emphasized the word you than I intended to because she turned pink.
'And why were you so keen on catching a glimpse of me?' Vegan
asked suspiciously.
Why was I so eager to see her?
Despite my initial suspicions, there was another explanation.
'I needed to make sure that you were behaving.' I said hastily.
'I am a princess!' She flared. 'I know how to conduct myself respectfully.'
For some reason, I found her anger entertaining.
I couldn't explain it.
'And just what are you grinning at?!' She demanded.
'You.'
'Me?' She huffed, clearly embarrassed. 'And what about me, pray tell is so comic?'
'I didn't know that you had a maternal side.'
A deep shade of red tinted her cheeks as she whirled away from me.
Oh god, she was blushing.
Was I making her blush?
The gown was virgin white, except for the hem encircled in mud.
'There's enough of what you don't know to make up a whole new world, Kakarotto.'
That accent of hers was always at its heaviest when she said Kakarotto.
When Raditz or another guy called me that, it felt like an insult or a curse.
It made me feel ugly, and it disgusted me.
I wanted to disassociate myself from it, disassociate myself from them.
But when she cooed it out, it felt like her tongue was caressing every letter of my name.
And the thought of her tongue caressing made me vibrate with anticipation.
How would she caress Goku?
'You'll learn I'm full of surprises.'
'What do you want, Kakarotto?'
'Why did you leave Earth?' I asked casually.
She tossed me an aggravated scowl as the youngsters flocked behind her.
'It's none of your concern.'
'Where are we?!'
'Odayaka.' Said the little girl.
She, along with the other children, stood behind Vegan; she looked like she wanted to ask me a question.
'What is it?'
The girl jumped and buried her face in Vegan's skirt and shook her head.
'Go on, Dove; you can talk to Kakarotto. He will not harm you.' Vegan said sweetly.
I glanced at Vegan; she looked like a mother reassuring a child that their father would not scold them for making a mistake.
I could picture Gohan clutching Vegan's skirts because he was afraid I would be angry about something.
Why was I thinking that?
'Did you vanquish Freiza?' The girl Dove asked.
'Yeah, I guess.'
I replayed the memory of her talking to the children in a strange language.
Was she telling them about me?
The image of her surrounded by children talking about me made me smirk.
'You should hurry back to Earth.' She said dismissively. 'Gohan misses you.'
The image of Gohan's sad face took joy from me.
'Is he alright?'
'He's lonely; he only misses his father.'
I felt like a deflated balloon.
Vegan turned to the children. 'Children, this is the warrior, Kakarotto.'
They swarmed me, and I was quickly on the ground with children clamoring around me.
Vegan veered to the girl, Dove, and spoke in that strange language; she nodded and ran off.
Vegan turned to the children and put her hands on her hips.
'Now, now, that's not how we greet guests.' She announced, descending over to us; they backed up as she approached.
Despite being sweaty and muddy, she was the pinnacle of regal beauty.
The sunlight gave the dark waterfall cascading down her slender back a reddish tint.
She bent slightly and extended her tiny yet toned arm, her dainty hand in my face.
'Take my hand.' She said in a gentle voice.
She spoke with a bright silvery tone, a bird's chirp, and not her usual toneless hum.
I reckon the knowledge of knowing the despot who systematically terrorized her is no more is enough to brighten anyone's day.
'Take your hand?'
'Yes, I will not harm you.'
I wasn't worried about her hurting me; on the contrary, I worried about hurting her.
That was a constant concern when Chi-Chi was alive.
'No, I reckon I can make it on my own.'
Picking myself up was no energetic task, or rather it shouldn't be If I'd wholly healed for my fight with Frieza.
I stumbled, but she took hold of me before I could hit the ground and hurt myself.
Her hair had a sweet sweaty smell; I liked it.
She'd gotten stronger since Namek; I wonder whether she had become a super sayain too.
Super saiyan versus super saiyan would be quite the test of strength.
Which one of us would win?
'God, Kakarotto, you're such an idiot!'
Oh God, her scent, it put the fire in my veins.
'How?' I challenged.
'Because you're still recovering from your battle with Freiza.' She said as she sat me on the boulder. 'Where does it hurt?'
'Ribs.'
She lifted my (I want to call it a) shirt and stroked the bruise, her touch was gentle, but her hands were cold.
'You have soft skin.' She hummed as her index finger gently traced my bruises. 'Raditz and Nappa had rough skin, but yours feels like petals from a flower.'
I quivered, and she stepped back; I whirled to face her.
'Kakarotto, has my touch- have I caused you pain?'
The pain was not why I shuddered; it wasn't even because of her cold hands, but if they touched me again, I would lose control.
'Your hands are cold.'
'I apologize; you're not used to the temperature of this planet.'
She placed her hands behind her back and looked at my boots; Vegan looked like a child admonished about something.
I hope she didn't think that she hurt me and felt terrible.
'What exactly is this place?'
'Odayaka. Beautiful, isn't it?'
'Very.'
'I just love staring out into the sea or field.'
She was babbling about the planet; I wasn't.
'Did you conquer this planet?'
'This planet is nothing but women and children, no need to conquer.'
'Where are all the men?'
'Before Freiza gained control, they were sent to another order when they came of age.'
'And now?'
'They are sent to fight in Frieza's armies.'
'What are you doing here?'
'Relaxing, there's nothing else to do-'
'No, I mean, what are you going in space?'
She glanced at me as one of the children tugged on my pants leg.
'Are you the brother of Raditz?' Asked a boy with skin colored like amber.
'Yes, did you know him?'
'Yes, he was friendly to us.'
I felt a thump in my chest and glanced at Vegan; she nodded and stoked the child's face.
'Raditz visited this planet frequently.'
That was good to hear; at least he wasn't entirely evil.
'Raditz came here all the time to see the princess.' Said Dove in a sing-song voice.
The other children giggled as Vegan turned away and stared into the distance.
Was she thinking about Raditz?
Was Raditz her lover?
'You should stay and rest.' She mumbled in a dreamy voice. 'The ladies would love to meet you.'
The people of Odayaka were very generous, and the food was great!
They wanted to hear of my travels, my battle with Frieza, my struggles, and my life. I told them about my early life when I met Bulma and Krillin Roshi.
Vegan always lingered nearby, watching and listening to me, seemingly fascinated by my tales. I'd often catch her stealing glances at me; she'd blush and look away like a schoolgirl.
She looked stunning in the moonlight; her skin seemed to shine.
When she wasn't looking at me, I'd catch her gazing at the moon; it made me think of the first time I saw the moon on Yardrat.
I'd always been terrified of the moon before, but seeing it for the first time was breathtaking.
She stared up, fascinated with the moon; she was so beautiful.
I wanted to be alone with her, and from how she stole glances at me, she wanted the same.
I knew what I wanted, but what did she want?
I mean, I think I knew what I wanted.
What did I want?
'Come with me.' I whispered in her ear as my hand slid around her waist.
Her eyes fluttered when my voice reached her ears, and her body quivered when my fingers skimmed her waist.
She looked around, then turned to me, sipping her wine. 'Where?'
'Don't worry about that, just come.'
'Why?'
'I want to talk to you.'
'Why?'
Sipping some of my wine, I took her by the hand.
'I'm tired, and I want to know where I'm sleeping tonight.'
'Oh, okay, I'll take you there.' She led me away from the castle.
She took me to a small bungalow from the castle, outside the forest.
It prompted me to think of Grandpa's hut, except for the size; Grandpa's house was tinier.
'Stay.'
I took Vegan by the hand when she began to leave; she stared at me with shy yet yearning eyes.
What do you yearn for, Your Grace?
'Stay?' She echoed in a silvery voice.
'Let's talk.'
'Talk? What shall we discuss?'
'What are your plans?'
'My plans? Plans for what?'
'Earth.'
'Oh.' She whispered flatly. 'I'm not going blow it up if that's what you mean.'
I chuckled at her reply. 'No, that's what I meant, Princess Vegan.'
'Oh.' She swayed from side to side. 'Well, what do you mean?'
'Well, do-'
'And you don't have to keep calling me Princess; I have no kingdom. Planet Vegeta is no more.'
She must have been inebriated.
'Do you plan to go back to Earth, Vegan?'
She giggled at the sound of her name. 'I like the way you speak my name.'
I found myself chuckling; she's dazzling when drunk.
'That makes two of us.'
'Go back to earth?!' She blurted out, then lowered her eyes, blushing. 'I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. It all depends.'
'On what?'
'On how I feel.'
'Oh, and how do you feel?'
'How do I feel about what?'
'About Earth, do you see yourself going back?'
'I don't know, maybe.'
'I think you should.'
'Why?'
'You and I are the last two sayains,' I casually took a step closer. 'We should stick together.'
'Stick together?'
'Yes, we should live together.'
Fuck! That's not what I meant!
'For protection?' Vegan proclaimed, throwing me a life preserver. 'Safety in numbers?'
Protection?
Safety?
She's talking about battle companions.
Oh boy, and I thought I was inexperienced with the opposite sex.
'Yes, but no.'
'What do you mean?'
'I want to get to know you.'
She looked at me briefly, then looked outside; she seemed anxious.
My confession sobered her up because she tightened her shawl and tucked her hair behind her ear.
'Let's build a flame outside.' she said as she did this. 'I want to go outside."
'You want to go outside?'
'Yes, it's a bit stuffy in here.'
Before the Sisters, as Vegan called them, threw me a banquet, Vegan cleaned herself up.
Now she looked like that princess from a game Bluma let me play once.
What was it called again?
The legend of ...somebody, it was so long ago I don't remember.
I forget exactly, but she dressed like she should be sitting in a tower, waiting for a charming prince to rescue her.
Vegan didn't need some prince to save her; she was her own Knight in shining armor.
Was she waiting for me to save her?
What kind of prince would I be?
What kind of husband was I?
Vegan turned to face the moon, which held her captive once more. I, too, looked at the moon; it made me think of my grandpa.
'You seem troubled; what ails you?'
'No, nothing. It's nothing.' I lied.
She ran her slender fingers through her ebony, long tresses and locked her onyx eyes on me.
I could drown in those orifices if she let me. She stared at me for a while, then looked away. The loss of her eyes made the warmth leave my body.
'What?' I had to touch her hand; Vegan gasped and turned to me. 'What's wrong?'
'Bulma told me about your grandfather.' I dropped her hand and turned away; I felt her gaze. 'You didn't know we could transform before our battle, did you?'
Just what I didn't want to talk about.
'Kakarotto?'
My body tightened at the sound of my name, and I peeked at the princess; she was reaching for me.
'I don't,' I turned away, 'I don't want to talk about it.'
'What was that little move you did on earth?'
'What?' I turned to her.
'That little attack nearly destroyed your body and broke Nappa's back.'
'My kaio-ken attack?'
'Is that what it's called?'
'What about it?'
'How did you learn it?'
'King Kai.'
'This King Kai, is he the one you trained with after you fought Raditz?'
'Yes.'
'Did he teach you how to become a super sayain?'
'No.'
'How did you do it?'
'I don't know.'
'Kakarotto-'
'Vegan, I don't want to speak of war tonight.'
'This isn't war! Kakarotto, I know you don't understand, but you being a super sayain is- it's a 1000 years in the making! I've
been hearing tales about super sayaian my whole life. I-' she stopped and turned to me. 'What do you wish to speak of tonight?'
'What?'
'You said that you don't want you to speak of war,' she let her shawl fall around her arms; the room got hotter, and my throat went dry, 'what do you wish to speak of?'
Her gown wasn't sexual; on the contrary, it looked like something my wife would wear if she were a princess during the Renaissance.
She was modest, but there was something... sensual about it.
I needed to get out here.
'Boy, it is hot in here.' I laughed nervously.
She looked over at me, her large deep eyes making me of the femme fatales in those old detective movies Dr. Briefs used to let me watch with him.
'You must show me one day.'
'Show you what?'
'Your super sayain form. You must show me one day.'
'If you promise to come back to earth, then I'll show you whatever you want.'
'Are all earthmen as forward as you?'
'No one on earth is like me.'
