Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten tears of a Warrior ❯ chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

I don't own the rights to DBZ so please don't sue me. Thanks.

A/N I'm sorry for the delay of update. I haven't been motivated to write much at all.

Warnings: None really.

This has not been beta read yet, so please excuse the mistakes.

Forgotten tears of a warrior-SDPG-SSM

The blanket of darkness lifted, welcoming dim light to the city. Rain clouds had moved in sometime over night giving everything a gloomy feel. The prince of all Saiyans stirred slightly from the warmth of his slumber. It had been a while that he felt so comfortable, so warm in his own bed. Dark eyes opened, blinking several times to push the haze away. He found his left hand still tangled deeply in ebon locks, his right resting against the curve of his former foe's waist. Goku's face was buried deeply into the navy blue training shirt the smaller Saiyan was wearing, both hands in a death grip with the material.

"Hn." Vegeta snorted, untangling his fingers from Goku's silky locks. He was relieved that the younger Saiyan didn't try leaving again. He needed help, that's all there was to it. All of the Son's would need help to get through the rough spot in the road of life.

"No…" Goku faintly whispered in his sleep, tightening his grip on the front of Vegeta's shirt. This caused the prince to frown, wanting to get out of bed and stretch, but also not wanting to wake the younger Saiyan in the process. Carefully prying the tight fingers from the material, Vegeta moved himself away from the warm body, stretching out the kinks of sleep. He was slightly embarrassed with how he found himself. What would people say if they saw the way Kakarot was clinging to him and himself keeping the younger Saiyan pulled close in sleep? He shook his head, willing away the thoughts as he climbed out of the bed, making his way towards the door. He gave one glance back at the sleeping Saiyan in his bed before leaving the bedroom in search of a warm breakfast.

Bulma sipped at her steaming cup of coffee, blue eyes raised over the rim. Trunks was sitting beside the youngest Son, giving a heartbreaking look when Goten pushed his food on his plate with his fork. A small shuffle of plates behind her made Bulma turn to see who was in search of food next.

"You didn't bring him back to the medical bay last night." She whispered, her eyes turning back to the young demis at the table.

"He didn't want to go back there. He is sleeping in my room." Bulma raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on her thin lips.

"Don't even think that, onna. It was the only way to keep an eye on his baka ass."

"Sure it was." Bulma smiled, a small laugh escaping her lips. Vegeta growled, maneuvering around his ex to sit at the table with his heaping plate of food. He eyed his heir and his boyfriend closely, noticing the food being shifted from place to place on Goten's plate.

"That food will enter your body one way or another." Trunks' head shot up, eyes wide with his father's comment. Goten slammed down the fork, getting up and leaving the room quickly.

"That was uncalled for, Vegeta." Bulma hissed out in irritation, her blue eyes filled with anger. Trunks just glared at his father for a moment before retreating from the table in search of Goten. Razzing banter from his father was to be expected, but that comment was way harsh.

"I knew I should have enrolled you in those sensitivity classes." Bulma growled out, placing her empty coffee cup in the sink and leaving the kitchen all together.

"I am sensitive…to your damn screechy voice!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Goten found himself sitting in the gazebo in one of the many flower gardens around the Capsule Corp. compound. Even though the weather wasn't the nicest, the fresh air did wonders to calm him down before he blew up something.

"Thought I'd find you out here." Goten smiled slightly as a red rose was dropped into his lap from behind. Leave it to Trunks to mutilate one of his Grandmother's rose bushes to steal a flower for him.

"Sorry about Dad. You know how he is…he just doesn't know when to keep his mouth in check."

"That's not it, Trunks. I'm just so confused. I don't know what to think anymore, you know? I didn't know any of this was going on until yesterday. How could have I been so blind not to see this, Trunks? Am I a bad son for not seeing this?"

"No." Trunks answered, walking around the gazebo and sitting down next to his koi.

"There is no one to blame besides your Mother, Chibi. I don't know everything concerning it either, but I think your Mom is one sick individual that needs some serious help. I know my Dad is upset as well. He should have seen it along time ago, but Goku kept it hidden so well that no one was the wiser."

"He won't be the same again, will he?"

"Probably not, Chibi, probably not." Trunks whispered, pulling Goten into his arms. All he could do was comfort his koibito.

Vegeta stood on the patio, watching the two boys as they talked. He had been on Earth almost twenty years and still some emotions were nameless to him. There was no doubt that he knew was anger was, happiness from the third class clown, but all the sadness as of late was getting to him. The prince cared, just in an unconventional way of course. His comment to the young Son was only his way of saying, 'eat, before you become sick again'. But what the others heard was a threat that didn't settle well with them.

"Damn confusing bakas!"

"We're not all confusing, Vegeta. How's Dad and Goten doing?" Vegeta closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't realize that Gohan was standing behind him until he spoke.

"Your brother won't eat and your father is a baka." The news only made Gohan's already twisted stomach tighten more.

"I'll talk with Goten. Is Dad coherent enough for me to speak with him?"

"He tried to run away last night and fight me. I believe that will answer your question."

"Doesn't he understand that we're trying to help?" Gohan raked his fingers through his ebon spikes, frustration clearly showing on his youthful looking face.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Gohan had managed to get his younger brother to eat some of the left over breakfast before taking both him and Trunks out to pick up the rest of Goten's belongings from home. The flight over was leisurely, Gohan and Trunks taking their time as Goten lagged behind them deep in thought. Gohan thought it would be best to let his father sleep a while longer and take time to spend with his little brother, hopefully to help calm the confused emotions rolling off the teen.

Goten stared at his childhood home for a moment, watching Gohan open the front door, waiting for him to enter.

"She's not here, Goten. She disappeared the day Vegeta came and took Dad out of here." Goten gave a small nod, swallowing a lump in this throat before entering. The house looked like it did every other time. Everything was spotless, the ongoing work of his Mother and her quirk of keeping the house in tip top shape. Trunks rested a comforting hand on Goten's shoulder as they made their way to his bedroom to pack up his stuff and get the hell out of there.

As they entered the bedroom, the signs of a few days ago were still there. A crushed syringe lay on the floor near the bed. Goku's famous orange colored gi was crumpled near the old desk. Some of Goten's bags that Goku had packed himself were still sitting next to the door, waiting for someone to take them. A cold shiver went down each of the demi Saiyan's spines as they glanced around the room. The youngest Son was quick to retrieve what wasn't packed already and strode from the bedroom in a hurry. He never wanted to go back to that room, the room where Vegeta had found his Father in such a state.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Vegeta was bored. There was no doubt about it. He sat near the window in his bedroom reading some old book that he found in one of the many bookshelves in the main living room area. He had concluded that all people on earth were bakas. Now and again he was startled from reading because of a groan or a whimper from the earth raised Saiyan that now occupied his bed.

"I have turned into a damn babysitter." Vegeta grunted, tossing the book aside to glance out at the rainy weather outside. The brats had left a while ago. Bulma was around some place, all he knew was that she was still pissed about his comment at the breakfast table that morning. Yamcha had taken Bura-chan to ballet class an hour ago, so the house was peacefully quiet.

His thoughts had turned back to the time he was under the control of the tyrant Frieza. Being brainwashed and manipulated was what the menacing ice-jin did to the Saiyan prince starting at a very young age. It took years for him to weed out the lies, sort out emotions that were once foreign to him. One by one the damage that the monster, Frieza had done was undone. Kakarot would have to do the same. Rid his mind of all the hate and lies that his 'wife' had force-fed him for years. Cleanse himself of the fears that she had instilled in him. The prince shivered, eyes drifting back to the younger warrior. How could such an innocent soul endure so much pain?

The loud rumbling of his stomach interrupted his thoughts. Vegeta frowned, standing up to work the tightness of his muscles out. He would grab lunch and come right back. Kakarot wouldn't be alone for very long he thought as he opened the door and headed towards the kitchen.

There were voices coming from the downstairs area, which startled Vegeta slightly. He was so wrapped up in his thinking that the arrival of the demis escaped his senses. Goten was first to slip up the stairs, remaining quiet as he passed the prince. Trunks was next hauling two duffle bags, mumbling some sort of greetings as he passed. Gohan waited at the bottom of the stairs, a few bags at his feet.

"I packed some of Dad's things as well. I'm not sure what all that he wanted, so I grabbed a few gis."

"I'm sure if he needs anything else, he'll let someone know."

"So, can I?"

"He's still asleep. If I were you, I'd leave him alone until he's recovered from that nasty crap." Vegeta spat the last words, the memory of the haziness he was in for days after Bulma had given him the same drug.

"Let me know how he's doing? I have to get back to school, I have a few lectures this afternoon." The prince nodded curtly to the eldest demi, watching him leave the house.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Goten found himself wound in Trunks' embrace when his eyes snapped open. He couldn't figure out when he went to sleep, or how long he was out. He shook his head, untangling himself from the lavender haired prince to get out of bed. The youngest demi quietly left the room, and made his way towards Vegeta's room just down the hall. All he wanted to do was check on his father, to make sure he was all right after what had transpired late the night before.

He found his father, sleeping soundly, a soft snore resonating through out the room. Goten sighed, slipping into the room and into the bed next to Goku. Something about Goku's light snores was enough to comfort the young Son, coaxing him back to sleep, his head resting against his sire's chest, eyes sliding shut.

The prince of all Saiyans reentered the room, cursing himself for running into Bulma while grabbing his lunch. He knew better then to start his smart-ass comments when she was already pissed at him. He was mildly surprise to see Goku sitting up against the headboard of the bed, gently stroking Goten's messy ebony locks.

"You're awake." Goku didn't answer the prince's simple remark, keeping his eyes staring straight ahead, fingers still gliding through his son's hair. Vegeta didn't miss the slow, lazy tear that fell from Goku's right eye. He wanted to yell, scream at the mighty warrior to stop with the baby act. Stop the whole charade that he was putting on. But the events started to replay over and over in his head. It wasn't an act any more. The real Kakarot was right before him, no acting this time. Maybe Bulma was right, he should have taken sensitivity lessons, and then maybe he wouldn't feel so uncomfortable around the gentle Saiyan.

"She hurt him." Goku's voice was light and raspy. He swallowed thickly, his dark eyes turning to look at his prince.

"She told me she would never hurt the boys. They didn't have to know about this, I…I didn't want anyone to know. She never loved me, she lied to me…took all of my money from the tournaments…I have nothing left…" Another tear escaped, traveling faster down his cheek than the first.

"Bullshit, Kakarot. You have your life, your children and your granddaughter. Hell all of those damn friends of yours." Vegeta growled out, advancing on the bed.

"Why would my children want me now? I…I was never around for them, and when I was…" Goku choked on a sob, his eyes closed tightly. He couldn't believe he was telling Vegeta about this…Vegeta didn't care; there was always an ulterior motive in there someplace. A hand grabbed his chin, turning his head to the side. Goku opened his watery eyes, seeing Vegeta behind the tears. He could feel the slighter Saiyan's breath against his face that sent a shiver of fear down his spine.

"Tears don't suit you, Kakarot." Vegeta's thumb smoothed away a tear, still keeping his grip on Goku's chin, his dark eyes staring back into equally dark eyes.

"Do you think Goten would be here if he didn't need you, Kakarot? Do you think you'd be here if people didn't care about you? For Kami sake, you're in my freaking bed!" Another tear was brushed away by smooth fingers.

"People care, Kakarot." The prince whispered the last sentence softly. Goku opened his mouth, ready to protest against his Vegeta's words when soft lips brushed against his own.

"Geta…"

"I care, Kakarot. I care."