C&C makes me want to write more, so please feel free to send some!

<Part 1>
 

    Vegita walked through the streets of the city with his hands in his pockets and a perpetual frown on his face. It had been ten years *TEN YEARS* since Yamcha left, right after Goku. The Saiyan prince had told the warrior about his . . . feelings. They had been sleeping together since before the Cell games! //I go on a training journey for five measly years and he leaves! Hn!//

    //Of course,// that annoying little voice in the back of his head spoke up, //maybe you should have left him a note or something.//

    //He is my consort! I shouldn't need to explain my actions!//

    //He's your lover and you just left one day, for five years.//

    //Five years is nothing!//

    //You know it is to him.//

    //Hn!//

    //We should go look for him.//

    //I. . .// Vegita froze, halting his internal argument to stare at a poster in the record store window, "Yamcha!"

    A clerk smiled at him as he walked inside and up to a life sized cardboard cut out of the man he had lost. "He's really something isn't he. Have you been a Stardust fan long?"

    "Stardust?"

    "Oooh! You're a newbe! That's Ziggy Stardust! He's the hotest rock singer on Earth! I have every one of his albums!"

    "He's a singer."

    "Of course! He's going to be in concert at the HypaDome next week! Good luck getting tickets though. They sold out months ago!"

    Vegita swallowed back the emotions that filled him. //Yamcha.// "Do you sell his music here?"

    "Of course! We have the complete Stardust set for 12,000 Yen."

    Vegita nodded and pointed to the cutout, "That for sale?"

    "2,000 yen."

    The prince nodded and left the store with his purchases and flew home.

    Home was Yamcha's old house. The warrior had left everything, even his sterio which Vegita turned on for the first time. He was unable to stop the tears from falling over his cheeks and allowed himself that weakness since no one else was around. For the first time in ten years Vegita heard his lover's voice, and suddenly the house wasn't empty anymore. "Yamcha."

    "Dad?" Trunks opened the door silently, "Dad are you home? I. . ." He saw his fathers slumped and shaking shoulders and rushed to his side, "Dad are you hurt? You're crying!"

    Vegita shut his eyes in shame and tried to turn away as he roughly wiped away the proof of his weakness, disgusted with himself.

    "Uh uh! You're not going anywhere! What's wrong?" He heard the music and paused, "you listen to rock and roll?"

    "Listen to it. Look at the singer."

    Trunks turned and caught sight of the cut out, "Yamcha!"

    ". . ."

    The younger Saiyan held his dad, nervous at the very un-Vegita like behavior. He knew what loosing his mate had done to the Saiyan prince, even if he acted like he could care less. It was killing him inside. The fact the the aniversary of the day Yamcha had left him was that friday and Trunks had watched his father drink himself into oblivion every year on that day. "You should go see him dad. Gohan has tickets to the concert Friday. I can't believe I didn't see it, but usually his hair is in his eyes and the picures are warped for the albums, I can't believe Yamcha is Ziggy Stardust!"

    "Ten years."

    "Come on, lets go get those tickets, I'm sure Gohan will give them to you when he finds out. He won them on the radio, even got backstage passes. You can see him again."

    "A prince of Vegita-Sei shouldn't bend for a common warrior."

    Trunks groaned, "So what are you going to do? Drink yourself to the next dimension? Come on. At least you can say a real goodbye."

    Vegita stood and nodded to his son, "I have been shameing my station. I'll go tell Yamcha goodbye."

    "That's the spirit." Trunks smiled and followed his dad outside. //But I don't think you'll be saying goodbye.//
 

    The HypaDome was full of screaming fans and Vegita waded through the extremely odd people into the moshpit and stood in the far corner as Trunks and Goten joined the screaming fans in the middle.

    The warm up act was just packing up and Vegita was ready to run when a tall man with long black hair, black nails, and equally black leather pants on came onto the stage. The sudden hush was almost eerie after all of the noise before.

    The hair was fluffy and bleached pale blond, gelled down from it's usual unruly spikes to shadow his eyes and fall past his ears, in the back was a long and thin black tail tied up mid skull. He now had a tatoo of a bloody band of thorns gracing his upper arm, but Vegita recognised him. He knew the hard, lithe body as well as his own. The barefoot singer who stood there, in leather bondage pants, holding the audience of 3000 people in complete thrall, was Yamcha. His Yamcha.

    The husky tenor voice he knew so well filled the silence full of strangled emotion. "This consert has been dedicated to a warrior I knew a long time ago. Today is the anniversary of the day I lost someone very special, so we're going to start with a song that's a little different than what I usually sing."

    The band got into place behind him and Yamcha. . . Ziggy Stardust, slung his black electric guitar over his shoulder.

    As the first riffs drifted over the silent crowed Vegita closed his eyes a moment and let his mind wander back to the first time he had actually spoken to the warrior on stage. So long ago. The song sounded like he had felt when Yamcha went away. Lonely. So lonely.

    The warrior on stage began to hum along with the music.

    When The prince dared to open his eyes again the form on the stage was swaying his hips as his picked out the melody on the guitar, and a tell tale sheen coated his eyes beneath the gelled bangs. He had tears in his eyes!

    "People stared at the makeup on his face
laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace
the boy in the black blue jeans
jumped up on the stage
and lady Stardust sang his songs of darkness and dismay."

    //Is this song about himself or about me?// He thought painfully. It could fit either of them. //What are you doing to yourself?//

    Vegita watched the darkly clad man closely. His keen eyes noted how pale he'd become, and thin. Much more thin than before. He looked like he was trying valiantly to hide some inner pain. Probably 'was'. The Saiyan frowned. This wasn't Yamcha, this wasn't what he was born for. And it was killing him to face it all alone. Even the cold prince could see that.

    "And he was aaaaaaaaaaall right, the band was all together
yeah he was aaaaaaaaaaaaall right, the song went on forever
and he was aaaaaawful nice, really quite out of site. . .
and he sang aaaaaaaaaaaall night loooooooong. . ."

    The courus sounded very much like what Vegita had been chanting like a mantra inside his head since he had returned to an empty home. It hurt. He'd die before he told anyone that, and he kept his face trained into an emotionless mask, but he felt his heart throbbing painfully inside. //Yamcha.//

    "The fem fatals emerged from shadows to watch this creature fair
Boys stood up on their chairs to make his point of view
And I smiled saddly for A love I could not obey,
and Lady Satrdust sang his songs of darkness and dismay"

    He slammed down on the guitar strings at that second to last line and Vegita notice his shoulders shakeing. //He's getting drunk on the anniverary just like I do, but he's getting his high from his fans.// Vegita bit his lip until it bled to keep still and silent.

    He had listened to the songs on Yamcha's CDs over and over the past week. His theme still haunted the Saiyan. It was so hopless. It felt like Vegita had since he found out Yamcha had left him. One part stuck out very true now, 'He was finess with got give ass, he took it all to far but God could he play guiter. Making love with his ego, sucked up lost in his mind, like a leaper messiah.'  That's what Yamcha's attitude was now. Like he was selling himself to his fans aware that his touch was poison.

    //I've been listening to his songs too long.// Vegita growled softly.

    "And he was aaaaaaaaaaall right, the band was all together
yeah he was aaaaaaaaaaaaall right, the song went on forever
and he was aaaaaawful nice, really quite out of site. . .
and he sang aaaaaaaaaaaall night loooooooong. . .

    "Oh how I lied
when they asked if I knew his name!"

    Watery black eyes watched the broken singer. Vegita was sure he was the only one there who saw how broken Yamcha was. He was hurting. Like he was standing in acid as he sang. //Baka.//

And he was aaaaaaaaaaall right, the band was all together
yeah he was aaaaaaaaaaaaall right, his song went on forever
and he was aaaaaawful nice, really quite paradise. . .
and he sang aaaaaaaaaaaall night loooooooong. . .

    Now Vegita was sure the singer's shoulders were heaving. The crowed was silent as the song ended and they watched they're idol bow his head as is he could hide behind his hair and his guitar. He was crying.

    Vegita watched with an expression of stone unti lthe lithe boy looked up and smiled shakily. "Sorry guys. It still hurts." He smiled wider then and motioned to the band, "Ok, enough of that, let's rock!"

    The screaming started again and Vegita pushed his way through the crowed and backstage. offering his pass as he brushed by the guards. He settled in Yamcha' sdressing room and waited.

    Yamcha stood in the lobby once it was finished and greeted his fans. Signing autographs and standing still for the camera's. When he was finally able to get away he slipped backstage to the few fans who had passes.  They were always more tame. There were less of them and they were on his turf. That made all the difference.

    "Yamcha!"

    He froze solid, he hadn't been called be his Saiyan name in ten years. Slowly turning he found himself with two armfulls of Goten and Trunks. "Wha. . .?!"

    "We knew it was you! We just know it!"

    "Why'd you stay away so long?"

    "Vegita's been grumpy."

    "Did ya miss us?"

    "So you're famouse now? Can we ride in your limo?"

    The bleached blond  stared at the children in paniced shock.

    "Yamcha?"

    "Yamcha are you ok?"

    "I. . . I'm sorry you must have me confused with somone else. . ."

    "Zig! Yo Zig! We're gonna start the set strike ok? Hey, who're the kids?"

    "They have me confused with someone they know."

    The stage hand laughed, "Awe don't be sad kiddies, it happens all the time."

    Trunks and Goten stood before the slim, pale singer and tried to make sense of what they'd been told. "But. . . you look just like him! You sound just like him! Yamcha don't do this ok?! It's mean!"

    He managed a very lost look and crouched in front of them, "Look, I'm really sorry, it's obvious this guy means a lot to you, but I'm not him. And I'm sure if he left he just needs some space or something, he'll be back."

    "Oh Gods! Dad!" Trunk's eyes grew wide, "What'll dad. . . it's a good thing he left! This would have. . ."

    Goten hugged his friend, "I know, come on, let's go find him."

    Yamcha watched them go and managed to get to his sancuary before locking the door and falling to his knees in tears. "Oh Gods. Oh Gods how did they know?"

    "Because no matter what color your hair is, you're still Yamcha."

    He froze again and drew a sharp and broken breath. "Vegita." He turned and found his prince almost nose to nose with him.

    "You left."

    "I. . . how did. . . oh Gods."

    "You 'left'."

    Yamcha fumbled with the door handle and Vegita melted it shut. "Eep!"

    "Why did you leave?!"

    "ME?!" The singer was nearing the end of his pacience. "ME! I LEFT!"

    "Hn."

    "You bastard!" Yamcha hissed and struck out, Vegita caught his arm just before it made contact and Yamcha fell to his knees again, "Shit."

    "Why."

    "Ten years ago today." Yamcha grit his teeth and forced himself to speak, "I came home with flowers and candles and a fucking engagment ring that took me every cent I had! I was going to propose to the man I loved. And he never came home."

    "Hn."

    "HN?! Is that all you have to say you fucking prick?! HN??!"

    "I went to train."

    "Yeah. And left me cold! Damnit I thought you loved me! You. . . you ass hole!" Yamcha had tears running down his cheeks, "I loved you more than anything I'd ever known and you didn't even say goodbye! You didn't even leave a note! You just up and  left. For FIVE YEARS!!!"

    "I am prince of the Saiyan. I don't need to tell you where I go."

    "But you were also my lover. And I had a right to know if you were coming back."

    "I do not lie." He glarred, "I said forever."

    Yamcha do hit his this time. he slammed his fist so hard into the prince that he went through the wall the kicked the door from it's hinges, "You bastard! Why did you have to come back!"

    Vegita stood slowly and answered, "To say goodbye." before flying away.

    The singer didn't reply. His vision shut itself down, and he crumbled to the floor outside his dressing room.

<Part 2>
 
 

    Vegita sat at the table, starring at his food as if he could make it emplode by glarring. The loss of the Saiyan no ouji's apitite was worrying all of the dragon ball warriors. Tein, Chatsu, and Puar were trying to cajole him into eating more when he finally lost his temper and shot his ki straight to level 5. "Get the fuck away from me!"

    The three were thrown back by the power build up and Vegita swore, snatching up his plate and hurrling it into the air before blasting it like a clay pigeon and sitting back down again, arms crossed over his chest.

    Goten and Trunks were downstairs in an instant at the ruckus, rumpled and clad only in their boxers they stared at the four warriors and Trunks closed his eyes in defeat. "If you starve yourself how will you beat Goku when he comes back?"

    "I don't give a fuck about kakarotto."

    Goten bit his lip helplessly. Beating his father's strength and speed had been Vegita's obsession  since before the boy was born! Saying he didn't care was like giving up on life! They went through this every year on 'that' day and during the following weeks.

    "You're acting like a spoiled brat."

    "You will respect me as your father!"

    "My FATHER wouldn't give up like this! My father would be out dragging his mate home not blowing up my china ware and beating up team mates!"

    "Shut up!"

    "No! Someone has to say this and since you terrify everyone you know, I'll say it for them! You've become a looser dad!"

    "I said SHUT UP!"

    "A washed up no body! If Yamcha hadn't left already he'd be gone after seeing you acting like this!"

    Vegita moved faster than sight and the slap he gave his child resonated through the house, "If you do not respect me as your father then do so as your prince!"

    "Goten! Trunks!" Gohan tripped over the doorframe and tumbled into the room in his haste, "Have you guys seen the headlines?!"

    Trunks glarred at his father, "We've been busy."

    "It's Yamcha! He's. . ."

    The prince snatched the paper from the young man and opened it with a snap. On the front page it stood out in bold letters, 'Rock Sensation Ziggy Stardust Collapses After Concert of the Century'. "What do they fucking mean he 'collapsed'?!"

    Gohan took the paper back and read it out loud, "'After his much anticipated concert at the HypaDome, Ziggy Stardust was found in a heap on the floor of his dressing room. The stage hand who found him has been with the touring crew since the begining. His comments to us were, 'Zig is an awesome boss, he never did no drugs or nothin', he just got really sad alot, but most artists are deep like that right? He'll be fine! Zig'll be back in no time.'  Doctors are at a standstill as the rock and roll legend battles for his life. No diagnosis is available at this time except that he has not regained consciousness. For now, fans have gathered outside the Tokyo City Hospital to wish their idol well but as the coma refuses to lift, it doesn't look good for Ziggy (lady) Stardust.'"

    The room was silent and Vegita was shaking softly.

    "Dad, he isn't Yamcha, we saw him last night and. . ."

    "I saw him too." Vegita interupted, "And it's Yamcha."

    "But how do you. . ."

    "I marked him when we first mated, on his neck. The scars are still there."

    "Then Yamcha. . ." Goten snatched the paper from his brother, "We have to go to the hospital!"

    "Vegita?" Gohan placed a hand on the Prince's shoulder and jumped when it was almost bitten off.

    "How dare he try to leave like this!" Vegita swore in every language that he knew, "That fucking ningen loving panzy! If he thinks he can just die on me. . ." Without finishing the thought Vegita was gone.

    Goten and Gohan exchanged a wide eyed look then turned to the others, "This is soooo not good!"
 
 

    Vegita slid into the open window of the hospital room and stalked up to the bedside, "Wake up!"

    His only answer was the beeping of the life support machines.

    "I said WAKE UP! TEME!" He shook the light form and then let his head fall to the barely moving chest. "Wake up."

    "Dad!"

    He jumped back and glarred at the window that his son was climbing through. "I'm not going to kill him. Go away."

    "You can't be in here, if they catch you. . ."

    "I don't give a damn about ningen rules! He is my mate whether he wants it anymore or not and I am not leaving until he tells me to!"

    "He's in a coma."

    "I see that."

    "Dad. . ."

    Vegita stood stubornly and Trunks groaned, I was a losing path to follow when his father got stubourn.

    "Just don't say anything that could upset him ok?"

    "Hn."

    "I'm serious! Studies show that people in comas are aware of their surroundings but unable to comunicate outside their minds. He probably thinks he's talking at us and being ignored as we speak."

    ". . ."

    "Dad. . . listen to me ok? I know how much he hurt you. Prince or not you still feel and it crushed you when he left, but he probably felt the same way. He was raised human. To ningen when someone just leaves one day it's forever."

    "He should have known. . ."

    "But he didn't. He couldn't know. Goten and I were there that day. He was so happy that he practically bounced into the house and when you weren't home and didn't come back it was like all the life got sucked out of him."

    "Ningen no baka."

    "Saiyan no baka! He is a Saiyan no matter how he was raised, you're his prince so teach him! Don't just expect him to magically know all of our traditions and life mannerisms. He can't."

    "Hn."

    "Just think about it ok?" Trunks squeazed his father's shoulder and stepped toward the window, "He loves you."

    "I know."

    "You love him."

    "Aa."

    "Don't let pride mess this up." The boy winked, "You're good for eachother."

    "Smart ass."

    "I learned from the best. Ja!"

    Vegita payed his son's exit no heed. His whole being was focused on the motionless body in the bed. "Wake up." He held the lip hand tight and fought back tears. "Teme."

<Part 3>

    //What happened?// Yamcha tried to open his eyes and found them too heavy, //Oh damn not again! Shit! Is someone there? Anyone?//

    "You're a bastard you know."

    //Vegita!//

    "You had no right to leave like that."

    //You're the one that left!//

    "I wasn't leaving you forever. I had to train. I need to beat Kakarotto."

    //Can you say obsessed? Sure, I knew ya could.//

    "I expected you to be there when I returned."

    //Yeah sure, bad Yamcha no nookie.//

    "I. . . missed you."

    //???//

    "You are part of me. My consort. Trunks told me that you were unaware of Saiyan ways, I took for granted that you understood. He also said you can hear me."

    //Of course I can! I'm talking to you aren't I?! What is this about Vegita? What are you up too?//

    "On Vegita-Sei, a consort is a companion. A lover. The barer of your children."

    //Nani?!?!//

    "You are married to me by Saiyen law. I did not realize that you weren't aware of this."

    //Vegita. . . I've never heard you say so much at a single time.//

    "I. . . love you. Yamcha. I won't say that often, it isn't my way. But it is true. You're leaving almost killed me. I can't loose you. Not like this. I refuse to!"

    //Like what?//

    "Open your eyes Yamcha."

    //They're closed?//

    "Talk to me. Tell me how stupid I am. Tell me I should open up more."

    //Aren't I talking now?//

    "After living through all we have I will not loose you to a coma. You are stronger than this. Wake up. Yamcha. Wake up!"

    //I. . . oh Vegita! I didn't know! I. . . Please don't be upset. I'm here.//

    Vegita continued, unaware of Yamcha's thoughts, his voice broken and rough with held in tears. "I made a mistake once that almost cost me you. I won't do that again. I want you to be my mate again Yamcha. I want you to carry my children. I just want you."

    //Vegita.//

    "I. . . Yamcha!" The prince lost his battle with himself and lay his head on the silent man's chest, silently crying for his beloved consort.

    ". . .'gi-ta."

    "Yamcha!" He shot to his feet and ran a hand over the other man's fingers, lacing them with his own, "Yamcha say something!"

    ". . . l-ove. . . 'o-u."

    "I'm sorry Yamcha, don't go away again I. . . I never meant to. . ."

    "I. . . kn. . . ow. h. . . h-ear. . . 'u."

    The prince lifted the prone man and hugged him tight, letting his head rest on his shoulder, "I knew you were stronger than that."

    ". . . y-eah."

    "Sleep. Get your strength back, I'll get a sensue bean and. . ."

    "d-n't g. . . go."

    "I'll be back."

    "no."

    "Ok. I'll stay."

    ". . .gita."

    "Rest now."

    "'k."

    Yamcha closed his eyes and Vegita felt his heart breaking. //What did I do to you Yamcha?// He held the sleeping man close, //I'll never leave you again. Just get well.//

<Part 3>
 

    //What happened?// Yamcha tried to open his eyes and found them too heavy, //Oh damn not again! Shit! Is someone there? Anyone?//

    "You're a bastard you know."

    //Vegita!//

    "You had no right to leave like that."

    //You're the one that left!//

    "I wasn't leaving you forever. I had to train. I need to beat Kakarotto."

    //Can you say obsessed? Sure, I knew ya could.//

    "I expected you to be there when I returned."

    //Yeah sure, bad Yamcha no nookie.//

    "I. . . missed you."

    //???//

    "You are part of me. My consort. Trunks told me that you were unaware of Saiyan ways, I took for granted that you understood. He also said you can hear me."

    //Of course I can! I'm talking to you aren't I?! What is this about Vegita? What are you up too?//

    "On Vegita-Sei, a consort is a companion. A lover. The barer of your children."

    //Nani?!?!//

    "You are married to me by Saiyen law. I did not realize that you weren't aware of this."

    //Vegita. . . I've never heard you say so much at a single time.//

    "I. . . love you. Yamcha. I won't say that often, it isn't my way. But it is true. You're leaving almost killed me. I can't loose you. Not like this. I refuse to!"

    //Like what?//

    "Open your eyes Yamcha."

    //They're closed?//

    "Talk to me. Tell me how stupid I am. Tell me I should open up more."

    //Aren't I talking now?//

    "After living through all we have I will not loose you to a coma. You are stronger than this. Wake up. Yamcha. Wake up!"

    //I. . . oh Vegita! I didn't know! I. . . Please don't be upset. I'm here.//

    Vegita continued, unaware of Yamcha's thoughts, his voice broken and rough with held in tears. "I made a mistake once that almost cost me you. I won't do that again. I want you to be my mate again Yamcha. I want you to carry my children. I just want you."

    //Vegita.//

    "I. . . Yamcha!" The prince lost his battle with himself and lay his head on the silent man's chest, silently crying for his beloved consort.

    ". . .'gi-ta."

    "Yamcha!" He shot to his feet and ran a hand over the other man's fingers, lacing them with his own, "Yamcha say something!"

    ". . . l-ove. . . 'o-u."

    "I'm sorry Yamcha, don't go away again I. . . I never meant to. . ."

    "I. . . kn. . . ow. h. . . h-ear. . . 'u."

    The prince lifted the prone man and hugged him tight, letting his head rest on his shoulder, "I knew you were stronger than that."

    ". . . y-eah."

    "Sleep. Get your strength back, I'll get a sensue bean and. . ."

    "d-n't g. . . go."

    "I'll be back."

    "no."

    "Ok. I'll stay."

    ". . .gita."

    "Rest now."

    "'k."

    Yamcha closed his eyes and Vegita felt his heart breaking. //What did I do to you Yamcha?// He held the sleeping man close, //I'll never leave you again. Just get well.//
 
 
 

~tbc~