Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Bejiita - Unattached ❯ Part 12 - Epiphany ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Rated: Strong R
Warnings: Yaoi, rather lemony, lil angsty, steamy, language. Enjoy ^^
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just using the characters for my own amusement. So don't sue!

| ...words.. | denotes thought.

===

I wonder how loud Bejiita would make me scream this time...

"Bejiiii..ta..."

That made his breath hitch. The inhalation was so small, almost imperceptible, but I noticed it. I notice everything about him now. Like his unease about my friends. But why...?

"Nnh...no... go see your friends. Don't let me keep you in this house any longer..."

Sigh. "Okay..."

===

Part 12

Trunks sits cross legged on my bed listening to music. Gyrating, and grooving, and playing air drums to his favorite song. The volume is so loud I can hear every word from here. I'm surprised how upbeat he is today. All things considered. But I think I'll take that as a good sign.

With the exception of Dad, things almost seem back to normal around here. The air isn't so tense anymore. Trunks visits more and more now. He doesn't have any new horror stories of his mother's off and on depression. I think she's getting better. And, believe it or not, Mom's even starting to mellow out again. Well, as mellow as she's ever been.

She's been very, contemplative, even quiet. She smiles more and yells less. Like some great weight had been taken off. Yet, oddly enough, she seemed a little heavier than usual.

===

I fly over to the KAME house. The late summer sun beating on my back, warming the exposed skin of my arms and neck. But I like the heat. It turns out this kind of weather is Bejiita's favorite. It reminds him of home he says. I wish I could have seen it.

I spot my destination after a short while of flying over the sun sparkled sea.

"Oi !!!" I yell down to everyone on the tiny island with the even tinier pink house. They're having a small barbeque. The aroma of burning meat tickles my nose, and renews my perpetual hunger. Kururin flips a hamburger patty on the grill and waves to me with a greasy spatula. 18 puts down a pitcher of lemonade and nods in my direction quietly. Roshi, barely noticing me, lounges in a brightly colored, plastic beach chair, with his nose in the latest in ecchi magazines. The man must be a thousand years old by now. But it's like he hasn't changed a bit!

"Kuririn!" I run over slapping him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me you were having a barbeque?" I ask, annoyed at the possibility of missing free food. "I thought we were pals!"

"Sorry! Sorry! I thought you'd be busy!"

That sounded odd.

"Too busy for food!?"

"Yea you're right. With your appetite! What am I thinking?" he says scratching the back of his head with sauce covered fingers, getting it all over his hair.

"...Your hair...Kuririn?..."

"Eh? Oh yea! Got so used to not having it ya know?" he says nervously, licking the sauce off his fingers. The setting sun shining off the beads of sweat on his forehead. It's not that hot.

18, quiet as ever, narrows her eyes at her peculiar husband. Then goes back into the house.

"Um, Kuririn is something wro-"

"Ooh It's ready!!" he says turning off the burner. "Hey guys it's ready!"

"All right!!"

"So Gokuu; burger, hot dog, shish-ka-bob, or sausage?"

"I'm sure he'll have the sausage," Roshi says getting up, tossing his dirty magazine into the sand, grinning at me.

| What's that supposed to mean? |

I give him an odd look then turn to Kuririn. "Actually I wanted a few shish ka bob and three burgers."

"What!? That's all?" Kuririn asked wide eyed, barely believing what he'd heard.

"Heh.." I laugh sheepishly. "I'm eating 'light' today. Jiita's making a big dinner." Big by my terms is colossal to anyone else.

He pauses a bit at the nick name, as he dishes out the food. I've never called Bejiita that in front of anyone else before. It was always a sort of private term of endearment.

| Maybe it should have stayed that way... |

"Where is he anyway? I miss his scowling face." Roshi asks. Somehow it annoyed me.

"I guess he wasn't in the mood for a party," I say. It's the best reason I can think of. Why didn't he want to come along anyway?

"Hn. Just as well..." Roshi says, stuffing a burger in his mouth, as 18 walks out the house. Followed by Trunks and Buruma.

My stomach churned from unease. I haven't seen Trunks in a long while, because I haven't seen my son. | The two are almost inseparable even now. | No. Not since Chichi kicked me out.

I haven't seen Buruma since, that day... in the restaurant. I'll never forget the look in her eyes. It chilled me to the bone despite the heat that flushed my body from Bejiita's kiss. It's very much like the piercing stare she gives me now. I realize then, I might never see her smile again. Her eyes are so cold. If she cried, her tears would freeze before they hit her cheeks. I'm almost certain she would cry if she'd let herself. I know why. And we used to be such good friends. But I hurt her terribly. And for that precise reason, what other greeting could I have expected really? I just didn't think I'd have to see her again so soon. It's still too soon.

The look leaves as quickly as it came, and is replaced by a small, forced smile.

"Gokuu..."

| She used to call me Son kun...|

"... Long time," was all she could manage. Though in truth it had been less than half a year. I've been dead longer than this. But when so much happens in such a short while, time gets distorted.

I can relate.

Trunks, looking worried, tries to break the tension a bit with generic questions.

"Hey Gokuu san! How's it goin'? You still trainin' hard?"

I perk up a bit. "Yup! At least 3 times a week." Though what for I don't know. I leave my 'sparring partner' out of it for now. A bit afraid to even mention him.

"Good Good! Though I really can't imagine you of all people getting out of shape..." he says half joking. I smile, chewing my food slowly, not even tasting it.

We talk a little more, and after a while Buruma stops her icy glares, and goes to get some food. When she's out of ear shot, and the silence between Trunks and I stretches on. He asks more questions.

"Gokuu san..."

"Hn?"

"How's... my Dad?..."

Pause.

I not really sure how to respond to that. How do I give an answer that is true, but won't hurt his feelings?

"He's ...happy. Happier than I've ever seen him." I decide to go with the truth anyway, hoping he'd realize I wasn't implying anything by it. He's a big boy now. He'll know that Bejiita's leaving him and his mother was not the cause of his happiness.

His lips curve into a small, but sad smile.

"Good. I want him to be happy..."

Another pause.

"How's my son...?"

Sigh. "Not so good at first. But I think our being there for each other helped a lot. He's much better now, and so am I. And Chich...uh, his mom too. She'd been talking to mama a lot and..."

I feel sick again at the name, both of them. I'm sure he noticed.

"I'm sorry he didn't come today. Goten's gotten pretty popular with the ladies, but he would have liked to see you."

"He misses you."

"I miss him..."

"Chichi misses you too..."

"..."

===

The sun has almost set now, and in that time some of the tension had returned. I watched my plate get emptier and emptier as I push food into my mouth. Only looking up to say something funny or silly, in an attempt to lighten the mood. Which worked occasionally, but still, everything is off somehow. I see that now.

People looked at me differently.

I suppose I am different in some ways. But fundimentally, I'm the same old Gokuu. Except now I am with Bejiita. Except now I'm happy, really happy. What's so wrong with that? I could understand this being a problem in Buruma's and Chich-- their cases. I even wondered if Trunks felt some half hearted animosity towards me for 'taking' Bejiita away. But, why everyone else?

It can't be because Bejiita and I are male. Gohan told me... it was okay.

Then what is it?

| Am I really so naive? |

I look up at the darkening sky, noticing how late it had gotten.

"Hey guys. I gotta go. Okay? I'll stop by a little later!" I say taking off.

They used to try to get me to stay when I left one of their parties. Now they just waved.

===

The trip home was a quick one. I'd hate to be late, especially for Bejiita's cooking. It's surprisingly good. And after that warm reception at the KAME house, I appreciate home and Bejiita that much more.

Not much time had passed, but my friends were not as I remembered them. I guess it really is too soon. They need more time. Perhaps I do too.

Luckily, now, all I have is time.

Time and Bejiita.

===

I walk through the house towards the kitchen. The warmth of the room and its occupant is sweet and inviting.

"I was wondering where you were," Bejiita says over his shoulder. His voice smooth and low. He had just finished cooking and leaned down to turn off the stove. The food smells almost as good as he does.

| Perhaps I'll devour them both before the night is done. |

"Gomen Jiita. I was at a barbeque at the KAME house." I say into his cheek as I kiss it.

"Oh yea? How was it."

"..."

"Let's just eat for now, we'll talk about it later. I'm still starvin'!"

He narrows his eyes but lets it go. "Even after the barbeque? I guess that's no surprise."

"Well I ate light to save room for your cookin'!"

Bejiita smirked at my 'thoughtfulness.'

===

We eat in near silence. The sound of chopsticks hitting a bowl every now and then. The clattering of used plates. The tingle of glass. The jumbled sounds of many different types of dishes being stacked together.

Bejiita, being unsatisfied with the answer I gave him earlier, was the first to start conversation again. He knows I'm hiding something. He can read me so well. And I him.

"So who came to the barbeque?"

"MMmph? Why..?"

"You seemed a little too happy to be home," he says around a mouthful of rice.

Sigh. "Some people who I may or may not be able to call friends anymore. And one that wants nothing to do with me. "

"Chichi?"

That was the first time I'd heard the whole name spoken in a while. It upset me like I knew it would.

"No."

He seemed surprised.

"Buruma. She hates me. Maybe Trunks does too. But I doubt that one."

I couldn't read his reaction to the news. He's far better at masking his emotions when he wants to. I've always been an open book, if anyone ever took the time to read.

"It didn't quite go as you hoped?" he asks plainly.

"No."

"Was he there?"

"No..." I say, making no secret of my disappointment. Bejiita abandons his food and walks around the solid oak table to put a hand on my shoulder.

"Then I think it's time you saw your son. And it's about damn time I saw mine."

TBC

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