by Syldana
Part 2
Drawing in a deep, revitalizing breath, Goku paused before the door, taking a brief moment to bolster his courage. It wasn't that he was afraid to go in, exactly, it was just� he knew the task ahead was going to be tremendously difficult. And truth be told, after what happened the last time, he wasn't sure he was up to it. Nevertheless, he had promised Bulma, and now Bura also, that he would watch out for Vejiita. It had been several days since he'd seen the prince�since the funeral.
He thought Vejiita had held up rather well that day, considering the alarming amount of grief that had been emanating from the man. It was funny, though, everyone else had commented how cold he had appeared, how unfeeling�cold-blooded, Yamcha had called him�as if Vejiita had not cared about Bulma. Couldn't they tell how wounded he was? How utterly heartbroken? Kami! He'd thought the man was going to physically collapse when they'd lowered her coffin into the ground, his pain had been so excruciatingly horrible. Yet he had not. Instead, he had stood there with his back straight and his head held high, regal, proud, every inch the Saiyajin prince. Oh, Kami, and what it had cost him to do so! Goku could only marvel at him in silent awe.
Vejiita's sorrow had not diminished much since then. Goku had known that all along, yet he had chosen to stay away, believing there wasn't really anything he could do to help alleviate it. The prince had his children with him; he didn't need 'that fool, Kakarotto' there, making another lame attempt at consolation. Trunks and Bura were what he needed most.
Goku sighed heavily. That was the problem. Vejiita wasn't letting them anywhere near him. He wasn't pushing his children away so much as pulling himself back, withdrawing from them, and�according to Bura�not just from them, but from everything else, as well. The girl had anxiously informed him that her father had scarcely left his bedroom since her mother's death, not to eat, not to train, and certainly not to seek out the company of his two grieving children. She and Trunks took turns bringing him food�Bura figured he'd probably starve, otherwise�but he rarely spoke to them even when they did. And now the time had come for Bura to return to school, which was the reason the girl had called him.
With Bura going back to the university and Trunks busy running Capsule Corp., there would be no one home to look after Vejiita. So the girl had asked him to stop by, to check up on her father, and to see if there was anything he could do to help. Goku didn't really think there was, but he had promised and so�
Somewhat apprehensively, he knocked on the door. He didn't receive an answer, but after what Bura had told him, he wasn't really expecting one. So he simply opened it and stepped bravely into the room.
"Vejiita?" he called out, hesitantly, into the dim shadows. The room was as dark as it could possibly be for the afternoon hour, with curtains drawn and all lamps turned off. Yet Goku could still see fairly well; his eyesight had always been better than the average human�but he supposed that was because he wasn't human. It was something he'd have to ask the other Saiyan about someday. But for now�
He could see the prince curled up on the bed, wearing only a dark pair of loose-fitting gi pants, and, to all reliable senses, he was fast asleep. That surprised the larger Saiyajin, for even as the thought crossed his mind that he had never seen Vejiita sleeping before, it occurred to him that the reason for that was because the man usually felt him coming long before he ever arrived. Yet Vejiita hadn't even stirred as he'd entered the room, hadn't even heard him. Another indication that the prince was still nowhere near his normal self.
Almost unconsciously the decision was made, and Goku was already moving toward the prince before he even became aware of it. And then he was standing before him, gazing down upon Vejiita's sleek, slumbering form. A soft sigh escaped through parted lips as a strange, coiled tension he had previously failed to discern, was suddenly, gratifyingly, eased. Without a second thought, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Vejiita?" His hand stretched forth of its own accord to settle gently on one warm, muscular shoulder. A moment later, the dark, fathomless eyes of the Saiyajin prince opened to take swift and forcible possession of his own�then they went wide in surprise.
"Kakarotto?" His eyes blinked once, twice, and then narrowed. "What have I told you about using that damned technique of yours inside my house?"
Technique? Oh. "But I didn't, Vejiita. I came through the front door like I'm supposed to."
The prince's expression grew confused; he was probably wondering why the alarm bell hadn't gone off in his head as usual to warn of his opponent's approach. Then he quickly shook off his confusion as he seemed to realize the position he was in�and just how close Goku was sitting, touching him.
"Get away from me, Kakarotto," he said with a snort of irritation, shrugging off the offending hand and pushing himself up to a more respectable position. "What are you doing here, anyway?"
"Well� it's Monday," he replied casually, scooting back a bit on the bed. "We usually spar on Mondays."
"We spar just about every day, baka," Vejiita returned dryly, then his eyes zeroed in. "Bura called you." It wasn't a question.
"Ah," he admitted with a nod. There was no use denying it. "She's worried about you."
"Hn. Nosy brat. I'll tell you as I told her: I'm fine." He waved his hand dismissively.
"Bura doesn't seem to think so," Goku countered. "She's thinking about dropping out of school."
"What?" That had certainly gotten the man's attention.
"She's so worried that she doesn't think she should leave you here alone."
"That's ridiculous!" the prince exclaimed angrily. "Besides, the boy is here."
"Trunks is busy with the company right now," he reminded him gently. With Bulma gone, Trunks was now running the whole thing by himself, and her death had invested Capsule Corp. with a whole flurry of unforeseen difficulties.
"Look, Kakarotto," he began, anger and resentment staining his inflection. "I am not some snot-nosed brat who needs constant looking after. Hn, even when I was a brat that was true. I am the Prince of the Saiyajin; I can take care of myself."
"Then why aren't you?" Goku returned quietly, then went on in spite of Vejiita's ever darkening countenance. "You don't have to answer that because I already know. I know what you're feeling, Vejiita. I know how much you're hurting, and how alone you feel. And I know why you're avoiding Trunks and Bura." He could see that Vejiita was about ready to blast him for his blunt speech, but at his last statement, the prince visibly hesitated.
"What do you mean by that?" Vejiita questioned roughly. "I am not avoiding them."
"You are avoiding everything, Vejiita," he contradicted. "And if you weren't avoiding them, you would be with them now, grieving with them." The prince said nothing and merely glowered at him in typical fashion. A sure sign that he knew Goku was right. "You are avoiding them because they are a part of her," he continued, "and that is what you're truly trying to escape. You're trying to avoid anything that reminds you of Bulma."
Vejiita's expression grew even darker, yet his eyes abruptly glistened with moisture and a sharp dagger of pain slashed through him. Shimatta! Goku inwardly cursed himself. He had not come here to hurt the man even more!
"Vejiita, all I am trying to say is�" He faltered, horribly. "I just� Maybe you should get away," he finally blurted out, "like I did. It really did help me get over Chichi's death."
"And where would you suggest I go?" the prince asked with a sneer, his voice as thick as the unshed tears imbuing his eyes. "Another planet? Need I remind you that I have no pathetic friends eagerly awaiting my return to their world? All that awaits me out there are enemies."
"I wasn't going suggest you leave Earth, Vejiita," he said with a sigh. "I thought maybe you'd like to come stay with me for a while." The idea had come to him the moment he had hung up the phone from Bura. Vejiita needed time away to put himself back together, and Goku needed� well, Goku was more than willing to take him in. Bulma had asked him to watch out for the prince, after all. What better place to look after him than in his own home? The only problem with the idea was�
"Why the hell would I want to do that?" Vejiita growled in surprise.
Goku had several answers already prepared. "Well, it's quiet there, for one thing. You can go outside all you want and there's no one around to bother you."
"Except you," he pointed out contemptuously.
"I won't bother you, Vejiita," he promised quickly. He had anticipated this response, as well. "I'm usually off training somewhere during the day, and I go and visit Gohan and Goten fairly often. Plus there's the fact that I do know what you're going through. Kami, my friends were making me nuts the way they treated me back then; half of them not knowing what to say and the other half saying completely the wrong thing. I loved them for trying but� they just didn't know." He paused to see if Vejiita understood what he was trying to say, and it appeared by his pensive expression that he did. Goku mentally went over his checklist and then continued.
"It's also really pretty there," he said. "It has lots and lots of trees and a great river for fishing. Oh, and you don't have to worry about eating because I always keep lots and lots of food around. It's not as good as Chichi's, but it doesn't taste bad. You can have Gohan's room all to yourself and� and if I do start bugging you just tell me and I'll stop."
Vejiita stared at him. He could not believe it. He could not believe he was actually considering the fool's idiotic suggestion. Go and stay with Kakarotto, at Kakarotto's house. And yet� something about the idea just sounded right. Oh, Kami, he wasn't thinking straight. If he just wasn't so damned tired� so tired and yet he rarely managed to sleep. He hadn't been out of bed in days. He just couldn't seem to find the strength�
Ha! What a joke. That's what he was: a joke. Super Saiyajin. And he didn't have the strength to get out of bed. Afraid of his own children. But�Kami�Bura was the virtual image of her mother! And Trunks, gazing at him with those eyes� He couldn't look at them. He could not look. It HURT. It hurt too damned much�
Yet it did not hurt to look at Kakarotto. Perhaps that was all that was left to him now�the lesser pain. There would be less pain at Kakarotto's. There would be fewer reminders and, therefore, fewer memories. Therefore, less pain. It was not much, but it was something. And he realized his decision was already made.
"Whatever," he said in a low, uncaring tone.
The fool blinked. "What?" he said, his expression blank and clueless, as usual. "Do you mean it? You'll come?"
"Why not?" he replied with a diffident shrug. "Besides, I'm sure you're right. All I need is lots and lots of pretty trees." Of course, his scornful humor was completely lost on Son Goku.
The fool grinned at him like the idiot he was. "You'll like it there; I'm sure. We'll have lots and lots of fun!"
"No, we won't, Kakarotto," he contradicted, his inflection full of warning. "We won't have any fun because you promised to stay away from me. Right?"
The grin faded slightly, but didn't disappear entirely. "Right, Vejiita."
* * * * *
Goku sighed as he climbed out of the large, wooden bathtub. The twilight air was crisp and cool as he grabbed the towel off a nearby stool and began to dry himself. He vigorously rubbed his hair, which merely fell back into its usual disarray of black spikes when he was finished, and then moved down to wipe the water from the rest of his body. Then he slung the towel over his shoulder and pulled on a fresh pair of pants. Turning toward the door, he paused for a moment, releasing yet another sigh of frustration. It was getting harder and harder to keep that promise he had made to Vejiita.
At first, he had been really excited to have the prince in his home. Kami, it had been so long since he'd lived with anyone. However, the excitement had faded somewhat when he'd realized just how difficult it was trying to stay away from the man. Vejiita was� well, he was there. How could he just ignore the man when he was right there? So Goku tried keeping himself busy away from the house, but as the days began to pass, it became harder and harder to find things to occupy his time. Despite what he had told the prince, there was only so much training he could do, and the boys were usually too busy for any lengthy visits. And Vejiita was there.
No matter where he was or what he was doing, Goku knew that Vejiita was at home, and he always knew precisely what the other Saiyan was feeling. The anguish and sorrow were practically suffocating the man, which in turn made Goku simply itch to race back home and comfort him in some way, somehow. The problem was, he couldn't think of any way that would actually do some good. If he had, promise or no� Oh, well.
Since his arrival, the prince had pretty much kept to himself, even when Goku was there. He didn't talk much and, surprisingly, the two of them scarcely argued at all. Of course, that was mostly due to Vejiita's depression, which engulfed nearly every aspect of his usual personality. As for activities, as far as Goku knew, the man rarely left the house, the only sign being the prince's perpetual state of cleanliness. There was only the one tub, and it remained outside. So just what Vejiita did all day, the larger Saiyan hadn't a clue. They did eat dinner together, however, which made supper time Goku's favorite part of the day for a whole new reason. No real conversations took place, of course. Still, it was nice just to sit with him as they shared a meal. And speaking of meals�
Goku started moving again, all hesitations now forgotten as he opened the door and stepped into the house. All was quiet within, as usual, and he quickly and easily pinpointed Vejiita's location. He was asleep on the living room sofa. The prince was usually asleep when he came home, yet Goku knew that was because Vejiita had trouble sleeping through the night. Vejiita slept often, but not for very long. He didn't like waking him, but it was dinner time.
His bare feet made hardly a sound as they padded across the floor toward the sofa then came to a halt before the sleeping prince. Damn, he really hated to wake him. For asleep was the only time Vejiita was truly at peace, no signs at all of heartbreak or misery. The harsh lines of grief were smoothed out of his face and the feel of him was simply a wondrous whisper of peace. Goku's breath caught in his throat. Kami-sama, he loved him like this! He just looked so�
A moment later Goku was sitting on the sofa beside him, leaning over and gazing intently at the face directly below his own. He had never realized before just how good Vejiita looked. Subconsciously, his fingers moved to trace, ever so gently, the fascinating lines of his features, leisurely memorizing them with his eyes and his touch. The sharp angle of his brow, the high curve of his cheek, the thin, yet sensuous lips, even the straight, aristocratic slope of his nose� Vejiita was so exotic, so attractive, so Saiyajin. And his body was that of a fighter�a warrior unmatched by any except himself�sculptured in its beauty, every inch perfected by sweat and unprecedented training. No one had ever trained harder than this Saiyan prince. The strength of his will was that of cold, hard steel, solid, unbending, unbreakable, and never to be subdued. Goku respected and admired this man more than any other he had ever met. The changes he had wrought within his life, the concrete reality of Vejiita's actions, regardless of his verbal railings, were absolutely miraculous. There was no doubt in Goku's mind that the prince would survive this devastating loss; he just needed a little more time.
Then his head suddenly dipped lower as his senses picked up something else, something that set his blood instantly afire. His heart began to beat with a rapid, uneven rhythm as his nostrils drank in the heady scent of the man below him, and that rich, masculine scent, in turn, drew him tantalizingly closer. His mouth came to a warm rest in the hollow of Vejiita's neck, and Goku inhaled the sweet, stimulating scent deep into his body, feverishly allowing its potent power to overwhelm all reason. Then his lips were gliding over the smooth skin along his jaw line, across his cheek, until they finally brushed softly against Vejiita's own, which were parted slightly in sleep. He could not resist the temptation. His tongue swept across those sensuous lips, licking, tasting, then slipped inside with unbounded relish. A moan of sheer pleasure rumbled deep within his chest.
It was then his tongue was seized by the very mouth he was savoring, seized and then pulled in deeper to caress another that was eagerly awaiting. The kiss was exquisite, warm, delectable, and the mouth passionate, desperate, demanding. A feeling of tremendous need erupted around him, yet whether from himself, Vejiita, or them both, he could not discern. Nor did he care. And for the moment, neither did Vejiita.
The prince had awakened to a most pleasurable sensation sliding over and then into his mouth. He didn't question it at first, for pleasure was something practically nonexistent and therefore despairingly coveted. He had latched on to it without vacillation, attempting to fill the lack, to satisfy the need that burned wildly out of control beneath his skin. The presence behind the pleasure was familiar, so there was no need for alarm, only response, swift and devouring. Vejiita's hands lifted to bury his fingers in thick, damp tangles, to tug him closer, to kiss him harder, and to give the prince the leverage needed for a warm, wet invasion of his own. The mouth yielded instantly before his onslaught, and he claimed it with a vigor that stole away the other's very breath. Vejiita purred wickedly in jubilant satisfaction. Now he had him. Now the fool would be his�
Vejiita's eyes popped open in less than a heartbeat. His mouth abruptly froze, and his hands and tongue summarily retreated. Then the prince suddenly found himself gaping up in utter shock at a breathless, panting, half-naked Kakarotto.
He� Vejiita blinked and licked his lips, still tasting him and the warm, lingering impression of his mouth. Oh, Kami, he� he had�
"Get off of me, baka!" Vejiita hissed in burgeoning rage, forcing his arms to move, to push the man away. He only managed to send him as far as the opposite corner of the couch, but it was enough for the prince to quickly scramble up into his own corner and, from there, shoot forth a glare of an unsurpassable magnitude. "What� what the hell do you think you're doing?!!"
"Um� I don't know," Goku returned lamely, his eyes wide with pure, unfeigned innocence.
"Well, you'd better figure it out fast, kisama," Vejiita snarled, "because I am damned close to killing you for your third and final time!"
"Well� I was just� I was�" Completely flustered, Goku stumbled over his words. "I was� I was hungry!" he got out finally. "So I� I came over to wake you."
"And?" he prompted angrily.
"And� I don't know," he said again, shrugging his shoulders. "You just looked really nice lying there. You know� all peaceful like. And I was trying to decide if I should wake you up for dinner, 'cause I'm pretty hungry. But then�I don't know�I guess you started looking really good, and you smelled real good, and I� I guess I just wanted to see if you tasted good, too. That's all."
Utterly dumbfounded, Vejiita could only gape at the other man in astonishment. Bottom line, that was the absolute truth. Son Goku was not known to lie, and the childlike innocence shining forth from his honest eyes was fully corroborated by the exact same innocence radiating from his incorruptible soul. It took the prince nearly a full minute to regain the use of his voice. "Let me get this straight� you� you wanted to taste me?"
The fool nodded dumbly, then put his hand behind his head. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I guess I got a bit carried away. Can we eat, now?"
The prince shook his head in disbelief. The idiot had literally stuck his tongue down his throat, and thought nothing more of it than some minor infraction of etiquette. Kami, the fool had probably been so preoccupied with his own empty stomach that even he had looked good enough to eat. Vejiita growled in disgust. "Low-class baka," he muttered. "No, we can't eat yet, not until you promise never to� taste me again. Understood?"
Goku opened his mouth, but then hesitated.
"I said, understood?"
"Yeah, Vejiita, I understand," he said. "And I promise I won't do it again, just�"
"Just what?"
"Just� I don't know. You really tasted good." And with that, the fool climbed off the sofa and moved off to the kitchen to begin dinner. Vejiita's eyes trailed after him, blinking in silent wonder. Then he gave a snort of disdain and rose to follow.
"Of course I did, baka," he declared contemptuously. "You are Saiyajin, and I am the Prince of all Saiyajin."
"Ah," was all the fool said in reply.
* * * * *
The next few days passed by rather quietly. To Vejiita's vast relief, there were no more tasting incidents. The whole episode had been unbelievably strange, and he wasn't really sure how to react to it. Only the patent fact of Goku's clueless nature, along with the realization that the fool had obviously been living alone for far too long now, had managed to smooth the prince's ruffled feathers. Still, Vejiita now watched the man's every move with a twitchy wariness, and, no matter how hard he tried, he could not seem to regard the other Saiyan the same way he had before. Of course, what else could one expect after a kiss like that? The fact that Goku had kissed him didn't bother him so much as his own initial response�that he had, in fact, responded. That was just plain� disturbing. Although, he had been asleep. That was what Vejiita kept telling himself. Yet it wasn't disturbing enough to make him want to leave the place.
The fool had actually gotten it right for once. Usually, Goku had to have everything spelled out for him�simplified and in triplicate�before he could even begin to grasp what was going on. Especially on any matter pertaining to Vejiita. Kami, he'd had to fuse with the moron just to get an inkling of how his peculiar mind worked. Goku had even less of a clue as to Vejiita's thought processes. Trying to have a decent conversation with him was absolutely pointless; he never understood the things his prince would say, let alone the intricate subtleties that lay behind the words. And as for understanding Vejiita, himself, well� that was positively laughable. He'd had better rapport with a brick wall than with the only other pure Saiyan left�fusion or no. The man was just so� odd, a plethora of contradictions. On the one hand, Kakarotto was a warrior of incalculable power, who fought with a passion and fury to rival any Saiyajin, and on the other, he was a kind, happy innocent, who loved life and revered every living creature with the whole of his gentle heart. At first, the prince had thought it was because Goku had been reared on this pitifully weak planet, childhood head trauma aside, but he had yet to meet any human that was like him, either. The man was entirely unique�or a total freak of nature�whichever way you wanted to look at it. Vejiita usually chose the latter. This time, however, Goku had not only had true insight into his prince's state of mind, but had come up with a solution that was actually turning out to be somewhat helpful. This place was exactly what he needed.
Quiet, Kakarotto had called it, as usual finding the simplest term to describe something that was so much more. Peaceful, unobtrusive, soothing�these were closer to what the lush, green forest of Son Goku's home was to Vejiita. And, yes, the trees were pretty, and there were lots and lots of them. The peaceful solitude that abounded out here made the writhing chaos that was his inner nightmare ebb somewhat, if only just slightly.
Bulma�
His whole being still felt as if it had been virtually torn in half. Everything seemed different. The hue of the sky, the feel of the wind upon his skin, the scent of the earth beneath his feet, all was now warped, tainted, twisted, as if someone had sloshed an entire bucket of vile colorant across his senses. Too much had been taken from him. He hadn't even realized just how much of a claim the woman had had on him. Kami, how had she gotten so much? Had he really given all that to her? And when? The giving and the taking had gone ungoverned for such a long period of time. How could he have known she would take so much of him with her? Nappa had warned him�
He had ignored it, completely. His pride had not allowed even the possibility. The result was a huge, gaping maw of pain and desolation. What remained of himself� well, it was still too early, too fresh and jumbled, to tell.
Vejiita's eyes slowly drifted open to gaze at the tall, green canopy of leaves above him. He lay on his back with arms listlessly outstretched beside him and only a small patch of soft grass to cushion his languid body. The faint, murmuring sounds of the forest wafted through his head, but left no abiding imprint as the wind swept them eagerly away. Yet another day�
But what to do with it? It was a question he had just begun to ask himself; he hadn't really cared much before now. There were no bright, forthcoming answers as of yet, however. He fruitlessly tried to recall what he had done before, but, looking back now, he couldn't see anything of any real consequence. It was all just one, long, monotonous treadmill of relentless training.
And for what? he asked himself bluntly. What had he actually ever achieved? Super Saiyajin? Even his greatest triumphs were marred by the towering shadow of Kakarotto. All he had really accomplished was to waste away the precious time he could have been spending with his mate. How often had he scoffed at her when Bulma had requested his presence for something he'd considered trivial, thoughtlessly brushing her aside in the name of training? As if defeating the fool was actually a concrete possibility. And how ironic that he should finally attain the same power level as that stupid bastard at the cost of the only thing that had truly mattered. He was the actual fool. For now none of it mattered.
Vejiita let out a sigh, bitter and weary. Kakarotto had persuaded him to go on, somehow. He really didn't know how. He had been teetering on the razor-sharp edge of a proverbial chasm, the voracious pit yawning before him dark and forbidding; yet that darkness had called out to him like an intimate friend, whispering promises of sweet, dead, nothing. It was not merely the death of his body he'd been contemplating, that he had already suffered twice before; no, this would have been true, merciful, death�the death of his soul�where he would simply cease to be. He was not stupid; he knew the appalling wealth of his sins. He would never see his mate again. The words Kakarotto had flung toward him had rolled right off, flimsy and feeble in their potency, never touching, never swaying. Yet here he was. Something had drawn him back from the awaiting abyss, something had burst through at the last minute, and it had impacted tremendously deep. Vejiita still couldn't get a handle on it�his emotions were a total shambles�but whatever it was had leveled out the ground beneath his tottering feet. And, suddenly, the all-consuming despair had become that much more tolerable.
Tolerable. Yes, that was what his existence had become� barely tolerable. So, what was he supposed to do with it now? The question was beginning to haunt him.
Kuso! I cannot think about this anymore! He gave his head a fierce shake of exasperation. It was too much. All he'd been doing now for days upon days was reflecting, pondering, remembering, and trying to sort things out, terrible, dismal, depressing things that would probably never be sorted out. He needed to stop. He needed to think about something else, damn it, anything else, even if only for a little while. A low groan of frustration emerged as he pushed himself up and then stood, his body abruptly charging with energy for the first time since the funeral. His eyes quickly darted around the forest as he mentally sought his escape.
What was that fool doing now, anyway? Ah, that's right. He had said he was going fishing today. Kakarotto had asked if he wanted to come along, just as he did every day before leaving, but Vejiita had again refused. Besides, fishing had always appeared rather boring to the prince. Now, however, it sounded like the best damned distraction ever envisioned�and the fool was usually good for a laugh.
Finding him was a simple maneuver. He didn't even have to think about it, really, he just started moving toward the other Saiyan's location. A few minutes in the air was all it took, the familiar sensation of flight vitalizing him even more as he glided effortlessly over the treetops. Then he casually slipped down to land soundlessly on the bank of a wide river. His eyes immediately rolled in annoyance, for there was Kakarotto, all right, sprawled out on his back upon the riverbank, face to the sun, and totally sound asleep amid the thick, luxurious grass. The only evidence of his fishing was the rod and reel wedged tightly in a small formation of rocks, and attached, a thin, near invisible line cast carelessly into the water below.
So much for finding an interesting diversion. Vejiita's tenuous fortitude instantly dissolved. He let his body sink to the ground, his legs moving to dangle limply over the edge of the river. The prince supposed he could wake the idiot, but that would imply he actually wanted Goku's company�which he definitely did not. He was merely bored. He didn't need that moron to do this 'fishing'. His hand reached almost defiantly for the nearby pole.
The thing felt rather awkward in his grip, for he wasn't really sure what the proper way to hold it was�if there even was a proper way. It was only a stupid stick, after all. At least the line was already in the water, so he didn't have to worry about that part of the procedure. He held the thing for a few minutes, exactly as he had seen others do, before his mind began to wonder just where the damned fish was. It was supposed to grab the string, right? Well, why didn't it? Was there something else he was supposed to do? His gaze swept over the fishing rod again. There. On the stick there was a little metal crank thing. He pinched the tiny lever between his fingers and started turning it�the string started to curl into a spiral ringlet along the pole as it slowly went slack. No, that didn't seem right. The prince immediately spun the lever in the opposite direction, and the line grew taut once more. Then it was slowly being dragged toward him, winding masterfully around the metal cylinder affixed to the crank. Vejiita abruptly halted the action. That wasn't what he wanted, either. The string was supposed to stay in the water. He snorted in vexation.
This was stupid. Why not just dive in the water and get the fish? What was the point of using the stick if it didn't even work right? Then again, this was Kakarotto. What was the point of anything the idiot did? He was just about to put the fishing pole back, when suddenly the little crank began to spin rapidly all on its own.
Vejiita stared at it blankly for a few moments, not quite knowing what was happening. Then it clicked. Something was tugging on the line. His fish! Finally. Then he froze again, this time in indecision. What was he supposed to do now? The concept�turn crank to wind string�flashed through his mind. His hand reacted, jumping to halt the whirling lever. If he hadn't had a firm grasp on the pole, it would have been ripped out of his fingers. As it was, the pole curled forward with the thrashes of the panicking fish, and the prince was surprised at how far the stick bent without breaking as he instinctively pulled back on it.
"Not so hard, you'll lose it," a familiar voice said. Startled, Vejiita nearly dropped the pole, then cast a quick glance to see Goku coming to a halt beside him. "You have to reel it in slowly or the line might snap."
"I know that, baka!" Vejiita barked reflexively, though it wasn't anywhere near true. He was swift to implement the advice, however, letting the line go slack for a moment and then slowly beginning to turn the little lever.
"You sort of have to take turns," the taller man went on, patiently, ignoring his mendacious outburst. "You know, reeling it in, then letting it out a bit, and so on."
That only confused the prince even more. "That doesn't make any sense!" he stated hotly, his fingers fumbling with the unfamiliar mechanism. "If I let it out again, then the damned thing is right back where it started!"
"No, you just let it out a little bit between pulls," Goku explained. He squat down on his feet and reached over the prince's shoulders to grab a hold of the fishing rod. Then his hand closed over Vejiita's, which was still awkwardly rotating the crank. "Like this," he said, and then he began to demonstrate.
His hand gently maneuvered Vejiita's, the motion on the crank instantly becoming smoother, more fluid, in rhythm. Then his other hand joined in the motion, alternately tugging the pole and then lowering it in a movement that appeared both measured and effortless. And slowly the end of the thin, transparent line drew closer, presumably with fish in tow.
"I do not need your help, Kakarotto!" the prince declared moments later, shrugging him away after having briefly studied the process. Goku immediately released him, then sat down on the riverbank beside him to watch.
Vejiita continued the newly-learned maneuver as best he could, and was inwardly pleased that the line did not break as the other Saiyan had warned. And then he could see it. His fish. His eyes swiftly perused it, instantly deeming it a good-sized fish, not that he would know either way. Still, the thing appeared to be almost as large as himself; perhaps he'd get at least one decent meal out of it.
As he dauntlessly drew the fish nearer, Vejiita's eyes began to gleam with the savage glory of the hunt. Well, perhaps not quite that fiercely, but it still felt dynamically good considering all he'd been through. The feeling rising within his gut was similar, anyway, to the one he always got whenever he was about to pounce triumphantly on his prey, be it man or beast. The feeling tingled through him, wondrous in its simple, animalistic nature. The prince had always preferred the hard, straightforward emotions to anything weak and convoluted. His supreme anger had always been the greatest weapon in his arsenal; his pride, a mantle of invulnerable armor; his hatred, an impenetrable shield. They were the only things of value his father had given him, for they are what kept him alive for all these countless years. Without them, he would not have lived beyond that first year aboard Frieza's ship. Perhaps there was still a modicum of sanctuary in their dark power. The fish never stood a chance.
His lip twisted involuntarily as he jumped to his feet and hauled the fish out of the water, a gloved fist reaching to grab it by the mouth and raise it appraisingly before him.
"Ah, that's a nice one, Vejiita!" Goku exclaimed, also rising. Vejiita's smirk twisted wider. "That's gonna taste real good after we cook it!" Of course, the idiot was always thinking with his stomach.
"Hn," he grunted, baring a good portion of his teeth. "Get your own, Kakarotto." The larger Saiyan blinked at that, looking a bit startled. The prince couldn't imagine why. When had he ever shared anything with the fool? Then the stupid grin returned to Goku's face.
"Okay!" he returned, merrily, and then he began peeling off his clothing. "You're right, that probably won't be enough for the both of us. I'll just be a minute." And then Goku was stark naked, and he sprang with a whoop of glee into the massive river.
"Low-class baka," Vejiita grumbled with a shake of his head. Then he turned his attention back to his fish. The prince gazed at it for another admiring moment, and then set to work on preparing it. He was kneeling on the ground, just about to slice into its belly with his ki, when Goku finally resurfaced with a loud splash.
"Yatta!" he crowed jubilantly, landing on the riverbank behind him with a muffled thud. Vejiita craned his neck to see the other Saiyajin standing wet and tall with a huge fish held triumphantly aloft above his head. The prince could only gape up at him. First of all, because the man was still totally, blatantly, nude.
It was a minor detail that usually wouldn't bother him. Considering the fool's complete lack of decorum, Vejiita had seen Goku in such a state countless times before. It probably never would have bothered him if the idiot hadn't found the necessity to taste him the other day. That was the first thing that had sprung to his mind as he took in the sight of Goku's large, muscular body, prominently displayed and dripping with water, the memory of that kiss�
The prince blinked, then realized he had stopped breathing. With a quick intake of air, he immediately rectified that, then deliberately focused his gaze on the second troublesome image before him. The man's fish. The thing was even bigger than the man holding it, bigger than Vejiita's own fish. The prince could hardly believe his eyes. Then, after the enormous wave of incredulity passed, all Vejiita could think was how much he truly hated him sometimes.
"Tell me something, Kakarotto," he said flatly, his eyes narrowing. "If it's that easy for you to catch a fish, why bother with the fishing pole at all?" He watched as Goku's head tilted to the side, his expression turning thoughtful as he pondered the question.
"Well," he replied after a moment, "I guess just 'cause it's fun."
"And that way isn't?" Vejiita countered.
"Well, that way's fun, too. They're both fun," he said with a grin. "I just find fishing with the pole more relaxing. Come on!" he went on eagerly. "Let's get these babies cooked so we can eat!" With that, the larger Saiyan lowered his fish to the ground, then knelt, preparing to clean it, as well.
Vejiita felt his lip twitch as he watched him. Then Goku glanced over at him and raised his eyebrows.
"What?" he asked curiously. And Vejiita realized he was staring.
"Aren't you going to put something on?" he queried dryly, purposely embedding the caustic edge in his tone.
"Oh, yeah," Goku returned, blithely, with a laugh. "I forgot. Guess I'm more hungry than I thought."
"Hn. You always are."
"Ah," he agreed, reaching for his discarded pants. "You know me, Vejiita."
"Yes, I do," the prince returned smoothly. "Baka," he added with a smirk. Then he turned his attention back to the task at hand.
* * * * *
It was still dark outside when Goku's eyes suddenly snapped open. At first he didn't move, instead choosing to lie there motionlessly for a minute as his senses spiraled outward, questing for the ripple of troubling discord that had disturbed his sleep. His search ended as abruptly as it began. Of course. A sigh that was part relief and part sorrow eased out of him. Ah, Vejiita�
Nighttime was always the worst for the Saiyan prince, as Goku well knew. This was not the first time he had been roused from sleep by the dynamic force of Vejiita's emotions. After another ruminating moment, he sighed again, and then slowly climbed out of bed. It was no use trying to get back to sleep, not when Vejiita's emotions were radiating so strong and so terrible. He had tried a few times before, but had never succeeded. Might as well get something to eat.
Stepping out into the hallway, Goku flipped on the light, not that he really needed it to find his way down to the kitchen. Still, he did it, for turning the hall light on served a completely different purpose. It was an invitation. It was his way of letting Vejiita know that he was awake and about. The prince could then make his own decision whether or not to join him for a midnight snack. Yet as he passed by Gohan's bedroom where the prince was now staying, he suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Kami, Vejiita had never felt this bad before� not since that day in the desert.
The inexorable depression that had practically demolished the Saiyajin's spirit felt as if it was snowballing downward into a whole new low, and as Vejiita's spirits sank ever lower, his distress began to escalate, pain and torment wracking his blighted soul with bestial savagery.
Goku reacted without really thinking, because if he had, he might have remembered that Vejiita didn't like him barging into his privacy. Of course, that probably wouldn't have stopped him anyway. In a second he was opening the door to the bedroom, and hastily strolling inside.
"Ve�" He stopped instantly when his gaze took in the sight of the prince� sound asleep. Goku blinked in surprise. But�
A dream. That had to be it. How else�
A low moan suddenly pervaded the room, so broken and so aggrieved that it was nearly a sob. That soft, anguished sound drew the larger Saiyajin involuntarily closer. The light from the doorway cast enough light into the room to faintly illuminate Vejiita's features, which appeared to be tautly distorted in a permanent wince of pain. Goku felt his heart wrench at the sight of him as its great, tender strings were mercilessly bombarded with Vejiita's mournful suffering. Oh, Kami�
His hand stretched forth toward him, but then paused for a moment in the air just above the prince's shoulder. He knew that if he woke him, Vejiita probably wouldn't get back to sleep the rest of the night, and yet whatever dream he was having was clearly an agonizing nightmare. Kuso� if only he could just�
His hand moved again, almost unconsciously, drifting from Vejiita's shoulder to his face, his fingers sweeping lightly across his temple, across his brow, and, with the gesture, Goku sent a soothing wave of liquid serenity flowing into the troubled waters of Vejiita's emotions. Before he even realized what he had done, or how, the grief and misery began to dissipate around him, the crumpled cast of Vejiita's visage fading into the familiar aspect of tranquil peace that the larger Saiyan loved so much. A small smile of relief curved his mouth as he gazed down upon the prince; he was glad it had worked, that he'd actually been able to do something to help him, never mind how the idea had come. Now, perhaps, Vejiita might get the rest he so desperately needed.
Goku let his fingers trail back down his warm cheek. His smile widened. The prince really did need his rest for tomorrow, for yesterday afternoon he had finally agreed to start sparring with him again. Tomorrow was going to be a good day, just like today.
Vejiita had truly surprised him. When he had roused from his nap at the sound of the spinning reel, Goku had been, not only surprised, but purely delighted to see him sitting there holding the fishing pole. He didn't know what had changed Vejiita's mind, and he hadn't dared ask. The reason hadn't really mattered, anyway. The larger Saiyan had been far too excited to give it any kind of real in-depth analysis. He'd just assumed that the prince was finally getting his feet back on the path of life, and he had enjoyed having his company thoroughly. Tomorrow promised to be just as fun.
Goodnight, Vejiita, he thought silently. Then he bent over to press his lips to the prince's brow, just as he had once kissed the small boy who had long ago occupied this very room. They lingered there for only a moment, as Goku remembered Vejiita's clear-cut warning, then he straightened once more. Sweet dreams. Now that he knew how, he would make sure of that.
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