Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Deep Circle ❯ Part 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Hello, LadyKATT! Thanks for your review. At least you are reading. It doesn't seem that anybody else is interested in this fic. Oh, well can't complain too much - I'm glad that you still are here.

 

Deep Circle by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com ) (beta-read by Vegeta's Mate)

 

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. I'm not making any money of this fic.

Warnings: Yaoi, male/male. Goku/Vegeta.

 

Part 6

 

Goku sighed. He brushed with his fingers over rough, reddish sand then leaned against the huge rock. He missed them, his sons. Missed them so terribly.

 

Goku raised his head to look at the setting sun. The last rays of the sun made this world seem orange-red, the color sliding up and down over hard stones and rocks, shimmering, changing all the time.

 

He used to watch sunsets at home with his sons. Gohan was already grown-up, and Goku would feel warmth and happiness engulf him when his oldest would show up from time to time to join him and his brother on a big rock next to the lake, near their house to watch the sun set. He would smile at his oldest, who'd smile back, sink on the ground next to them, and they all would silently watch, admire, cherish the world they lived on, the world they would and already had given their lives for.

 

Soon there will be another, smaller, sun visible. Goku closed his eyes, imagining Goten and Gohan sitting beside him. He summoned his memories of them, of their faces, smiles, laugh. They would go for a swim later, if it were not winter. He'd play with his sons: dive, laugh, race. At those moments he thought how lucky he was to be alive, to have such wonderful sons. Maybe people didn't see, didn't understand luck or happiness even when they were happy but, oh, he did. He always did. He knew to treasure those moments. Life seemed perfect then. Perfection of perfect. It seemed he could touch his luck then, it was so reachable and thick. He adored those moments. They were what made it worth living.

 

Goku opened his eyes to catch the very last strands of the sun, the happy picture in his mind dispersing. He felt lost. He was who he was because of his sons, his love for them, for his friends. He had nothing here. No one to understand, to share. Alone, homesick, trapped.

 

All they were trapped here. He shouldn't complain. But he didn't even belong here! He felt helpless and angry - it wasn't him controlling the situation, the situation was controlling him.

 

He admired Vegeta, he always did - the prince never gave up; he planed, mused, plotted. Nothing fertile, but still… He could see the lights in Vegeta's chambers still on when he himself went to bed. He wondered if Vegeta slept at all. Vegeta was tired; he knew as much, he knew Vegeta. Vegeta was tired of the unknown, of all that pressure.

 

Goku closed his eyes as the sun left the world. He leaned against the rock again.

 

“Come, sit with me,” Goku said.

 

Vegeta's breath hitched as he was caught hiding behind the rock, farther. Several times he had seen the tailless Saiyan leave the town and head somewhere to the north. This time he followed Goku. He always had been a curious person.

 

Vegeta walked over, looked at Goku's calm face with closed eyes, silently sat down. Heaved a sigh and leaned his head against the rock. “Thinking about them?”

 

Goku gave a wordless nod. Vegeta's eyes left Goku's face. He turned to the horizon. He had never had children, he wasn't sure if he wanted them. Not at these times, anyway. The only child in his life was his brother, Vedeno.

 

“Was he strong? My son in your world?” Vegeta asked.

 

Goku smiled with his eyes still closed. “Yes, he IS stronger than mine.” He grinned as after opening his eyes he saw Vegeta smile contently.

X

Vegeta smiled at him then turned to look at Trunks, the breeze catching the prince's dark flame-hair, swaying it slightly. He saw Vegeta's smile broaden. Vegeta turned back to him.

X

Goku blinked, the picture evaporating from his mind, but Vegeta's smile still repeating in this world, on this Vegeta's lips.

 

“How did he look?” Vegeta drew his knees to his chest and put his chin on them, wrapping his tail around himself.

 

“Purple-haired.” Goku grinned at Vegeta who turned to look at him, his chin rising from his knees in surprise. “He's a beautiful kid, Vegeta. You probably wouldn't recognize him if you saw him - he doesn't look like a Saiyan -, but he's the most beautiful kid I have ever seen, except my sons, of course,” Goku added, silently laughing.

 

“Hn,” Vegeta turned back to watch the darkening horizon. “I would like to see him.”

 

Goku's head cocked to the side while intently watching the prince then he sighed bitterly and closed his eyes again. “I'd like to see mine too… Both of them.”

 

“Do you have many friends back there?”

 

Goku smiled. “Yes, many.”

 

“Is that other me your friend?”

 

Goku's eyes opened again. He thought a moment about the meaning of all this. “He was pain in the ass most of the time, but he IS my friend.” He heard Vegeta laugh softly. He questioningly looked at Vegeta.

 

“Yesterday,” Vegeta began to explain, “my brother asked me how you had lost your tail. I told him that probably bad guys cut it off. Vedeno said that I was wrong and that they had been good guys, because the stupid tail was just pain in the ass,” he laughed then coughed, a bit embarrassed, not sure how this fit what Goku had said. “Well, I didn't know that he knew that word…`ass' I mean…” Vegeta scratched his head almost as Goku used to do.

 

Goku smiled seeing Vegeta squirm. “You love him very much, don't you?” He nodded when Vegeta didn't say anything. He knew Vegeta loved Vedeno. He could see that in Vegeta's eyes when the prince would look at his brother. These eyes held no expression otherwise… “Why you don't have your own children?”

 

Vegeta leaned his back against the rock, shifted, trying to get in a more comfortable position so that the rock would stop digging into his back. “I have had enough of my brother in these past years…” He wasn't sure whom he was trying to convince - himself or Goku. Goku probably…

 

Goku let his gaze drop from Vegeta. Back on the Earth Vegeta loved Bulma. Well, maybe not loved, but felt for her very strongly. Didn't he find anyone here? Or hadn't he been looking? He wanted to ask that Vegeta, but he didn't dare. Vegeta wouldn't answer anyway, and he didn't want Vegeta to feel like he'd be invading his personal life. He himself wasn't keen on talking about his own. What concerned his sons - fine, he could talk about them, how much he loved them, the whole day long, but when it concerned that different love…

 

“It's getting dark. Let's go home,” Vegeta stood up after he noticed Goku's mood getting worse. He stretched his sore back, cursed the rock mentally.

 

Goku watched Vegeta's tail bow behind him while he stretched, his arms raised high, then it came back to wrap around Vegeta's waist. Vegeta still didn't ask how he had lost his tail. Well, maybe Vegeta too thought that it would be too personal…

 

“Go to sleep,” Goku sighed. “It's not healthy to stay up for such a long time.”

 

Vegeta's head twitched to the side. He observed Goku from the corner of his eye. Then he remembered that Goku's room had windows that were pointed into the yard, where he could see almost all the other windows. “I'm fine.” He wasn't sure why he said that. Something in the other Saiyan's voice…worry..?

 

“No, you're not,” Goku rose from the ground to his feet. “You can pretend that you are but you're not. Go to sleep. You're too tired. Several hours won't change anything. Maybe even will make it better, maybe after you rest, you'd think something.”

 

Goku sighed as Vegeta scowled at him. Then Vegeta sighed too.

 

“Maybe you're right,” he said softly.

 

“If you want I can stay at your door so that nobody would wake you up.” He heard Vegeta laugh.

 

“Would you?” Vegeta asked curious.

 

“Yeah,” Goku nodded, laughing too, realizing how silly it sounded.

 

XXXXX

 

Goku plopped on his bed, kicked his boots away and contently dropped on the bed on his back. He bounced several times then comfortably settled on it with his hands under his head. Somehow he felt relieved after that chitchat with Vegeta. They didn't talk much, but it still worked on him like some kind of therapy. He wanted to talk to someone. He probably should have gone to Radditz, but after that night, when he sloshed almost to death in Radditz's flat, he was a bit afraid to see him. He didn't remember much. He only remembered that he got to know that Radditz mated Raaven, and that he said something not very nice to Raaven. He didn't remember what; usually he talked much while drunk.

 

So he wasn't sure if his `brother's' mate would even let him in the flat. Probably Raaven stayed with Radditz now, what would be a logical thing to do for mated Saiyans. Logically, because he had no idea about that part of Saiyan life. He didn't know how the mating worked, didn't know traditions.

 

That brought him to another pestering thought - the Saiyan language. It was a mystery how he appeared here, on this world with the Saiyans still alive, with the planet still not destroyed, but not lesser mystery was how he was able to speak the Saiyan language. He was able to speak and understand it and even read and write as soon as he came round on the spaceship. He didn't speak very well, sometimes he didn't understand some words, especially if they were specific termini, but he was getting better at it. If he didn't understand something, he would ask, if he didn't know some word, he tried to do without it making definitions for it till the person, whom he would be talking to, would understand what he meant.

 

He had an accent. True, but nobody laughed at him, so it must be not so bad. But he had an accent, and that led to a very strange presumption - he learned the language. That sounded hardly believable, because it wasn't true. He didn't ever remember learning it.

 

Goku lifted his head from his hands to look out of the window. Vegeta's window was dark. Goku felt smile spreading on his face. Good, Vegeta needed to rest.

 

XXXXX

 

And he again was late.

 

Goku cursed silently. He had never slept so much on the Earth! He presumed it must be because of the different planet cycle or something. He didn't know much, only that days on Vegetasei were longer than on Earth. It seemed he should have enough sleep then, but it didn't work like that. His inner clock was messed up, or was it his head?

 

Goku found Vegeta's room already empty. Vegeta went to the Meeting Hall without him. As much as Goku tried he couldn't feel guilty or upset - the last time he almost fell asleep there. They had no serious ideas or plans anyway, and he himself never had been good at making strategic plans. He was waiting for Vegeta to tell him what to do.

 

Goku frowned on his way to the kitchen but then shrugged. Vegeta really was much more clever than him and many others, and there was no reason to feel upset or uncomfortable about that. He never referred to himself as very clever anyway.

 

“Hi,” Goku greeted the chefs in the kitchen. “Can I have a snack? I overslept again,” said Goku, letting out a long, noisy breath and taking seat near the window.

 

“Sure,” one of the cooks nodded, already going through pots and looking through what had been left after the royal family had eaten.

 

Goku began to salivate after various smells began to waft in the kitchen air as the tops were lifted. He shifted closer to the cook and big table where all the pots were standing. Goku liked the chef. He had met him only several times, but he reminded Goku of Chichi. The chef liked his job; he liked to prepare food and especially liked appreciation and compliments. They didn't talk much - that was a bit difficult with the mouth full -, but Goku liked him much better than that another chef, who always was stressed and was always running everywhere like mad. There was another reason too: after Goku was late first time and asked the cook for a snack he got only a glare.

 

Goku presumed that there should be more cooks but as he always was late he had never seen more of them. And when he wasn't late he would eat with everyone living in the castle in a separate room, just next to the kitchen. The royal family ate separate from everyone. There must be some sort of luxurious dining hall for them, but Goku had never seen it. Actually Goku found himself surprised when yesterday, when he woke up in time and decided make up for his lateness to Vegeta, he went to the prince's room and saw Vegeta, Kamala and Vedeno eating there. They all were sitting at the same big, oval table, which had been blown on the closet by Goku's transformations, and simply eating. Like a normal family. Kamala was saying something to Vegeta then turned to his son to smack him on the hand after he saw Vedeno fish out some green leaves from his plate and put them on the table. Vedeno whined something and turned to Vegeta for help, but Vegeta only shook his head and told him to listen to his misuu.

 

King Vegeta wasn't present, but that didn't seem to have any effect on them. It was obvious that Vegeta and Kamala weren't at each other throats as he first thought that it should be. Although Kamala was much younger than Vegeta, to be exact twelve years - not to mention the King himself - Vegeta didn't seem to have any grudge against Kamala. Several times, when Vegeta spoke about Kamala, he heard warm notes. He heard Vegeta tease Kamala several times, but that was it. At that table they were one friendly and happy family. Until they noticed him standing in the doorway and gaping at them.

 

King Vegeta he had seen only twice - in the Meeting Hall. Similarity to Vegeta was astonishing; probably he should say Vegeta's similarity to his father was astonishing. But King Vegeta was taller, much taller.

 

Something about the king made him not to like monarch. Although he undoubtedly was wise and clever and intelligent, what he already was proven when the king went through all the plans and suggestions, discovering all the weak points at once, there was something what rubbed him the wrong way, made him feel uneasy. First time when he met the king's eyes…something there was… At first he thought that his mind was playing with him - it couldn't be true, but the second time it was even more evident. He completely felt sure when Vegeta hissed at his father to stop. Nobody else could hear that, but he had been sitting on Vegeta's left. The king stopped. Probably…because he hadn't been after that time to the Meeting Hall and couldn't say for sure if the king wouldn't start again undressing him with his eyes.

 

“Hello, Alarn.”

 

Goku raised his head from his plate at the voice. And again he felt fascinated, unable to tear his eyes away. Kamala. The beautiful Saiyan was standing with his back to him and saying something quickly to the chef. Today Kamala was dressed crimson, wearing white armor on top of his suit.

 

Goku's eyes wandered over the Saiyan's back. Kamala was perfect: beautiful, tall, had a powerful body build with muscular arms and legs and powerful thighs. The perfect picture of masculinity…and the paradox that Kamala was mated to a male and that he had born a son didn't reduce it a bit.

 

Goku forced his eyes to look away from Kamala's backside and puffy silky tail and to concentrate back on his food.

 

“Hi, Goku!” Vedeno lunged through the door. “Let's go spar!”

 

“Vedeno,” Kamala's firm voice stopped the child in his midway to Goku, “come here.”

 

Goku watched Vedeno obediently, though very mournfully, comply his misuu and go to stand next to Kamala's side.

 

“Hello,” Kamala nodded in greeting to Goku. “I'm sorry I didn't notice you earlier.”

 

Goku greeted too. Sometimes he forgot that the Saiyans here couldn't feel each other's ki and they were oblivious to who was where without their scouters. He had never seen Kamala wear a scouter. Neither he saw Vegeta or his father. Probably royals wore it only on a battlefield. But was Kamala royal?

 

“You don't need to worry, I'm not going to hurt your son,” Goku lifted spoonful from his plate to his mouth. Yet again he had to order his eyes leave Kamala's face. Kamala's features were sharp, very clear and easy to remember. Full lips made Kamala's features seem milder and his hair…that was worth even more attention - Kamala had long, thick, black and shiny hair, which was not as long as Radditz's, Kamala's reached only to his waist, but the spiking manner was very similar to Radditz's, and reaching to Kamala's waist made it seem even more narrow than it already was. And his eyes… That was the only thing that made that picture of masculinity crumble a little - those eyes were warm. Once seen you'd never forget those eyes.

 

Goku blushed when he realized he had been staring. He noticed Kamala's perfectly shaped brow rise then Kamala laughed at him. Soft and warm. Goku felt relieved - probably Kamala was used to the glances and stares.

 

“Why aren't you with Prince Vegeta?” Kamala asked, sitting down on the wooden bench near the oven, a bit farther from Goku. Kamala motioned for his son to sit next to him.

 

“Overslept,” Goku sheepishly looked at Kamala. “Besides they can do perfectly without me. I have no experience in these things. I know only about hand-to-hand combat.”

 

“Oh.” Kamala's head cocked to the side. “Well, yes, probably you are better fighter than all of them put together.”

 

Goku looked at his plate frowning. How did Kamala know? Did Vegeta tell him?

 

“I saw you with Prince Vegeta,” Kamala explained after noticing Goku's confusion. He laughed then. “The whole planet knows that you are the Legendary.” Kamala's face darkened. “You surpass Prince Vegeta and surpass very much. Why we have never heard about you earlier?”

 

Goku brushed over his spiky hair. “You wouldn't believe…”

 

“Vegeta told me the same,” Kamala's pointy nose crunched in irritation. “Try me.”

 

“Not here,” Goku shook his head.

 

“Training hall?” Vedeno happily suggested.

 

Kamala even didn't look at his son; he waited for Goku to answer Vedeno's suggestion.

 

“Well, why not…” Goku shrugged, “it's not that I'm very busy… I'll just finish my meal.”

 

XXXXX

 

Goku watched Kamala's face, trying to read his reaction to his story while Kamala just stared at him, his big, beautiful eyes unblinking.

 

“Well…” Kamala exhaled breath he had been holding, “it's interesting.”

 

Goku chuckled. Kamala didn't believe him. That didn't surprise him at all. But he was surprised when Kamala suddenly went through his unblinking state and disbelief and began to talk.

 

“So, you're Kakarott, only eight years younger? The same person?” Then Kamala's eyes widened. “Ooh, you're third-class… Radditz…”

 

A low growl erupted deep from Goku's throat making Kamala jump away from Goku. Vedeno quickly hid behind Kamala's back.

 

Goku cursed himself mentally - he didn't want Kamala or Vedeno to be afraid of him. He always tried to maintain good relationships with everyone, only that lately he was reacting to that `third-class-thing' very sensitive…

 

“I'm sorry,” Goku apologized. “It's just…”

 

Kamala observed Goku's face then shrugged. “Practically you don't need to worry, I don't care. Your brother mated mine, so we are sort of pack now.”

 

Goku's eyebrows rose in surprise. “Raaven is your brother?”

 

Kamala laughed at him in disbelief. “Are you blind?”

 

Oh. Goku's forehead furrowed while he was summoning Raaven's picture. Well, yes, the both were very similar and, though Raaven was almost as beautiful as his brother, his features were much darker than Kamala's. Raaven looked much more fierce and harder, colder one should say. But except that the similarity was obvious. Even the scent was almost the same - cherries.

 

Goku scratched his head. Well, he never was good at noticing things until they just landed on his nose. “He's older than you?” Goku more stated than asked.

 

“Yes, about ten years,” Kamala confirmed.

 

“Oh,” Goku scratched his head again. Even ten years.

 

Goku noticed that Kamala had finally relaxed around him, and Vedeno stepped from behind Kamala's back to watch him and Kamala talking. Gods, Kamala was handsome! The only thing he didn't like on Kamala's body was the claim-mark on Kamala's neck and shoulder conjunction. Though completely uncovered it was hardly seen in comparison to Raaven's fresh mark. But the small, oval, a bit whiter than the rest of the skin, mark somehow annoyed him. It spoiled the otherwise perfect picture.

 

“You are not against Raaven's and Radditz's mating?” He saw Kamala frown.

 

“I don't like it, but Raaven is my brother,” Kamala discontent shook his head, his long hair cascading around his shoulders,” I will support him. If he really wants that, it's his business.”

 

Goku silently sat on the white floor. “Your father wasn't so understanding…” He started as Kamala's suddenly icy eyes flashed at him at the same time he heard a low short growl.

 

“My father is a moron thinking that status and class can bring everything.”

 

Whoa. Goku suddenly realized something. “You're not happy with your mating?” Kamala startled and gave him a scared look. No, obviously Kamala wasn't, and he shouldn't have asked that. “I'm sorry, it's not my business…”

 

“Exactly,” Kamala cut Goku short. “Vedeno, do you want to spar?” he turned to his son.

 

“With you or Goku?” Vedeno asked.

 

“Err…” Kamala faltered and looked at Goku who shrugged then smiled.

 

“Don't worry, I have two sons of my own, I have never hurt them too badly,” Goku laughed.

 

“Please, misuu,” Vedeno made puppy eyes at Kamala.

 

Kamala dramatically rolled his eyes at the ceiling. “Stop that. It doesn't work on me. Only your brother is stupid enough to fall for that.”

 

Vedeno began to pout but then grinned widely as Kamala motioned him to Goku.

 

After twenty minutes Vedeno was lying on the floor, panting, his tongue almost hanging out off his mouth like that of a dog.

 

“He's a very strong boy,” Goku sat on the ground, near standing Kamala, after he decided that Vedeno had had enough for that day.

 

“Royal blood.”

 

Goku's ear caught some eerie note in Kamala's voice. “Are you good at fighting?” Goku raised his head to Kamala not questioning further. He saw Kamala smirk.

 

“Not as good as you, but…well, I'm not too bad.”

 

“Do you spar with Vegeta?” Goku saw Kamala frown at him for not using the title but ignored that.

 

“Sometimes. He gets bored quickly - I'm not an opponent for him…”

 

Goku nodded. He could understand Vegeta. “Do you want to spar?”

 

“Me? Now?” Kamala's eyes a bit widened, he even stepped back from Goku a little.

 

“Don't worry, I'll be gentle with you…” Words somehow came out very soft, not as intended for a mild mockery. Goku cursed himself feeling blush spreading over his face. What the hell was wrong with him?!

 

Goku was relieved, as Kamala seemed not to notice his red face. He smiled as Kamala began to stretch then moved into his fighting stance. Goku jumped to his feet, moving into his.

 

At first he only blocked Kamala's hits, kicks and punches while testing Kamala's skills and strength. Although Kamala didn't do a good job complimenting his skills - that smirk on Kamala's face was for a reason. It was like Kamala would be a different person while fighting; he could see murder in Kamala's eyes. All the mildness was gone - even knowing it was impossible, Kamala fought to win. Kamala was a very good fighter. Well, he hadn't fought many Saiyans, only Radditz and both Vegetas. Kamala was in-between them. He had triple or more power than Radditz, but much, much weaker than Vegeta. What concerned skills he was high above Radditz, not so far away for Vegeta and him, what must mean that Kamala trained a lot or was very talented, or both. And he noticed something more - Kamala moved a lot like Vegeta. Was Vegeta training Kamala or they had the same trainer?

 

Kamala let out a pained yelp as he was thrown down, his back making a loud impact with the hard floor. He closed his eyes as his vision blurred, showing only colorful dots for him. Kamala grit his teeth in frustration and shook his head, trying to get it work again. He can do better than be defeated in five minutes!

 

Goku contently watched Kamala get up from the floor. Mostly of the fighters he knew would have been knocked out by the impact; Kamala had great stamina. He could see that Kamala was angry. Probably Kamala's pride hurt to be defeated to fast.

 

Differently than most, Kamala was getting better when angry and furious. Goku grinned, blocking Kamala's high kick. He grabbed Kamala by his ankle and with his own foot swept Kamala off his feet. A mistake. Kamala suddenly turned to the side while he was still holding Kamala by his ankle and kicked him into the chest before falling on his arms to prevent his face hitting the floor.

 

Goku cursed, rubbing the back of his head after he slid down the opposite wall. Definitely he will have a lump there. Nice…

 

Goku got up from the floor and went back to Kamala. This time he wasn't going to make the fight easier for Kamala - now he attacked with full force, powering up to get the leverage with Kamala's power level.

 

Kamala managed to defend himself for about thirty seconds, but with his back quickly nearing one of the walls. Goku saw Kamala make a mistake while avoiding his kick and the next second Kamala was in his arms.

 

Goku heard Kamala let out a strangled gasp then Kamala's body went lax. Shit, he had knocked Kamala out! Kamala's silky tail unwrapped from his waist to limply thump besides his thigh. Kamala's head fell back, his long hair cascading backwards. He quickly laid Kamala's lifeless form on the ground to check for injuries. Goku felt relieved to find none. He leaned over Kamala to shake him by his shoulders but felt a painful sting in the back of his neck and shut down himself, collapsing on top of Kamala.

 

TBC