Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Downward Spiral ❯ Chapter Fourteen ( Chapter 14 )

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

Chapter Fourteen

Warning: Some mature content.

He watched as the roses fell down into the breeze, drifting lovingly into the ocean below like feathers from an angel's wing, the soft petals floating elegantly on the water. He'd always enjoyed this place, the cliff was near to where Piccolo trained Gohan all those years ago and was the most serene place he could think of, but watching this was new to him, he'd been here so many times and so often and never had he seen anyone throw flowers to the wind.

He turned his eyes to Vegeta and smiled gently; he didn't understand it at all, he didn't even pretend to, all he knew was the smaller Saiyan demanded they go someplace quiet and `nice' at once and promised to go and see Gohan after like planned. In fact it was strange how Vegeta actually seemed to look forward to seeing Gohan . . .

As the last few roses fell Vegeta closed his eyes in remembrance, heaving a low sigh.

“Vegeta?”

“What?” Vegeta's arms folded as he took up an emotionless stance, gazing out over the ocean with an intense look of regret burning into his face. Something wasn't right with him, that much was obvious, and at the same time how Vegeta's hand involuntarily moved to his stomach worried him . . .

“What was that about? I mean you've never acted like that in your life, all sentimental and stuff. And why throw flowers into the sea for anyway? What's going on?” He watched as Vegeta's eyes opened wide as he turned to face Goku. The Prince seemed almost nervous, the way he looked everywhere except him, the way he rubbed his muscles as if he didn't know what to do, as if they burned with a fire. He didn't really expect Vegeta to answer him, which was why he was so surprised when he did . . .

“Someone died long ago and to cut a long story short I promised to carry on their memory, and with this cub within me it reminded me of their life . . . I guess I just felt it was the least I could do for them.”

“Who died?”

“It doesn't matter, Goku.”

“But who was it?”

“A child . . . Murdered . . . Betrayed.” Shaking his head he forced his usual scowl and looked away from the ocean quickly. “But it was long ago, before you went Super Saiyan, before Gohan was born and before I even came to Earth.”

Goku smiled. “I think our child really is making you sentimental, before you'd have just laughed and called that sort of thing `an act of human weakness and emotion'.”

“Actually, for this tradition I wouldn't have.”

Goku's face changed into a frown of worry as he stretched out a hand onto Vegeta's shoulder, gently stroking him through his jacket. Something was wrong and he could sense it, `Geta was never usually an emotional person and never would he be acting like this, and who was this child he was remembering anyway?

Moving closer he wrapped his arms around Vegeta's waist and held him tightly, kissing his neck gently.

“What's wrong Vegeta?”

“Nothing Kakarott, it's nothing.”

He watched as Vegeta turned his head away, gazing down solemnly at the flowers below, floating on the surface of the water. He seemed so distant and pained it hurt Goku to look at him.

“You can trust me Vegeta, you know that. Who are the flowers for?”

He felt Vegeta's body go tense as he gripped Goku's arms tightly and groaned slightly. “You want to know? They're for a friend's child. He was the closest friend I ever had and a strong Saiyan too, unfortunately he was also considered beautiful and he came under the spell of a stronger being falling in love with them, not knowing he was being used. He became pregnant. We were very supportive of him when he found out the father had left him, we promised to help him as much as we could, but then -.”

“Then what?”

“He came back.”

“Who did?”

“The father. He ripped the child from his body and exploded the contents of his hands, with a ki blast that forced Nappa and I flying.” He cringed as he realised he let an important name slip; he carried on hoping Goku wouldn't notice. “The blood painted the walls. It was the most horrific thing I've ever encountered. Our friend became hysterical and once we had healed him we had to watch him continuously to stop him from trying to kill himself. Every year on the day the child died he threw flowers to the wind. We promised him we'd do the same if anything happened to him, and we did - I still do. I guess this has brought back the memory and I thought it best to honour that memory the only way I knew how.”

“Vegeta -.”

“Don't. Besides we're supposed to be picking Gohan up from the hospital about now, Piccolo and that harpy will go berserk if we're late.”

“Yeah, but Vegeta - . . .” He said Nappa's name right? So did that mean their friend was Raditz? That this happened to his brother? Maybe he was just jumping to conclusions . . . “Never mind. You know, I can't wait to see Gohan! We've got to tell him the good news! He's going to be so excited!”

Vegeta smiled turning to face Goku. “Kakarott why don't you go ahead, I'll be right behind you. I need a moment alone.”

“Err, yeah sure. See you in a second, `Geta!”

He watched as Goku sped away and sighed, turning to the ocean below.

“Raditz . . . I'm sorry. It was my fault . . . It was all my fault.”

Opening his hand he let one lone flower fall into the breeze. Quickly he turned to follow Goku, leaving the flowers to the wind and waves . . .