Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Stealing Time ❯ Too Many Minds Alike ( Chapter 11 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Linkin Fantasy 
Vegeta has a disturbing realization. Goku and Piccolo are troubled by the prince's behavior.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Hentai / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 11.03.2007 | Updated On: 11.03.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.0K | Visits: 900 | Status: Completed
Vegeta has a disturbing realization. Goku and Piccolo are troubled by the prince's behavior.
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Hentai / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 11.03.2007 | Updated On: 11.03.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.0K | Visits: 900 | Status: Completed
AN/ I know it took forever to update and no excuses this time I just was just neglecting it but here it is a new chapter and hopefully you like it and I apologise for any mistakes I missed.
Warnings: Language, mild violence, thats about all I can recall right now.
Envy and self loathing Playful and crazy Anger Sad and confused Loving and fatherly
Stealing Time
Chpt 11
Too many minds alike
"I wonder if I should knock?"
"Kakarot." 'Damn him what the hell is he doing here, again!' He paced in the small space trying to relax and calm down. 'Oh I know, the boy must have called him to spy on me.'
"Vegeta! Are you awake?"
Better go down and face the music Vegeta, unless you want us to handle it
'No not them again, not now.'
What better time than now, you need us, free us...
The pain returned in his head but it went as soon as it had come.
"Maybe he's in the shower or something." Goku spoke to Piccolo neither noticing the other Saiyan entering the room.
"Ah Kakarot, you just can't get enough of me can you." He spoke with a sarcastic humor. "And I see you brought the Namek for my entertainment," He gave both men a look that sent shivers down their spines. "Then let's play shall we.".........
Piccolo gave Goku a wary glance wondering if the Saiyan male noticed something off about Vegeta, in his posture and tone. If Goku had noticed he gave no indications of it continuing on as he usually did.
"Oh there you are," he used his pleasantly merry voice. "thought you might have been asleep."
Vegeta slowly walked towards them. "Oh no Kakarot, I'm wide awake." He circled both men like a hungry shark sizing up its victim. Piccolo stood mentally readying himself for whatever the unstable prince might do. Vegeta walked away from them, back turned, as he went over to a shelf full of old antiques and flee market nick knacks, none of which were purchased by him.
"So uh what was that about entertainment?" Goku asked starting to feel Piccolo's tension in the room and getting a bit worried himself.
Vegeta picked up one of the old vases giving it a light toss in his hand. "I wasn't sure myself until just now, might as well be something in your element of-" He turned to face them. "expertise." With a smirk he tossed the vase unexpectedly to Goku, who fumbled it but managed not to drop the item. Without warning Vegeta laughed and threw another item and another.
"Whoa hey!" Goku tossed them all around in the air trying to stop each one from falling to the floor.
Vegeta laughed with amusement, "Yes that's it! Juggle clown." watching the spectacle unfold. Deciding to up the hysterics he tossed a few more things from different angles laughing as his personal entertainment struggled each time to catch and juggle more than six items.
Not being able to handle anymore Goku tossed some things over to Piccolo, who'd been standing by idly confused by the whole scene. "Take some of these will ya?"
"What the-" Reflex kicked in and the Namek caught each one but the last, which slipped off and crashed to the carpeted floor, shattering glass pieces at their feet. "Damnit Goku!" He scolded.
"Sorry."
Vegeta laughed haughtily at their antics and clapped in applause. "That's fine but I think it could use a little more.... flare." Pointing a finger he focused his energy into it; Goku's eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen.
"Vegeta what are yo- hey!" Having no time to speak Goku jumped out of the way of a thin blast aimed at his feet. He still juggled the items in hand, tossing a few onto the couch when he could. "Vegeta!"
"Dance clowns or you won't get any cotton candy later." The Saiyan laughed more, firing blast after blast at Goku watching him bounce around like a circus performer. Piccolo had slipped behind him ready to attack but Vegeta was more than aware of his presence and dodged before the Namek's arms could encircle him. "Ha ha ha, think you're clever don't you Namek? Well you've got to be faster than that to keep up with me."
"Huh?" Vegeta was gone in the blink of an eye and appeared behind the green man giving him a painful blow to the back. "Oo." Piccolo unable to stop himself crashed into Goku sending them both down to the floor, more of the antiques or flee market trinkets broke in the fall.
"Hahaha. Since you've broken our toys let's play another game, shall we? Catch me if you can." With that Vegeta was gone. Goku and Piccolo stood, arms finally empty of house hold shelvery.
"Where'd he go? And what the hell is going on?" Goku barked.
"Beats me but we'd better go after him. I don't know what's gotten into him but it can't be good for anyone."
"Yeah." The two started walking around the home searching in nearby rooms for the madman. "See this is what I meant," Goku started as they peeked into the kitchen. "this is the strange behavior he's been showing lately and later on, once he's calm, he'll deny any of it."
"We should split up, he might not even be inside anymore."
"Good idea. You sta-" There was a sudden crashing sound coming from above them. Both looked up then to one another and ran for the stairs. The noise came again. "This way." Goku lead them down a hall and into a large bedroom. Sure enough Vegeta was inside, blasting and tossing furniture around the old scientists former bedroom.
"Took you long enough." He said seeing them enter.
"Vegeta what are you doing." Goku ducked from a flying chair heading their way as they entered.
"Just redecorating. That old fossil Breifs has been dead long enough. It's time someone fixed this place up, maybe I could turn it into another training area. Care to lend a hand?"
"No Vegeta. You're being crazy, what's gotten into you?" Goku crept closer and just as he reached out a hand Vegeta flew out of the way.
"Uh uh, don't think I've forgot. You can't catch me that easily." Then he opened a window and flew out.
"Ah great. Come on Piccolo." The two followed out of the window after him only to be stopped midair by a ki blast coming from the one they persued. Vegeta laughed it up as they dodged out of the way. It was like playing one of those pilot videogames he'd seen Trunks and Goten with before.
"Rr, damn him." Piccolo geared up to fire back but Goku's arm shot across his chest to stop him.
"No Piccolo! He might be acting like an ass right now but there's gotta be a reason and aggravating him could make things worse. Then we'll never figure it out."
"Rrr," The alien balled up his fist to calm down but spoke through gritted teeth. "then what do you suggest we do, play his sick games and get ourselves banged up instead?"
"No, I don't know but we have to stop him before he gets into town or worse the city."
"Come on clowns! Can't you keep up? Fight back, do anything, you're boring me!" Vegeta called from the distance. He turned his back to them again and picked up speed flying farther away.
"If I knew it was going to be like this I would have stayed behind." Piccolo spoke with no amusement whatsoever.
"Ah just come on." The two chased after the childlike Saiyan like two parents after a toddler that refused to take a nap. Vegeta took them towards town weaving in and out of buildings, only the ones high enough to scrape the sky and join the flyers in the air. From time to time he'd pause briefly to fire blasts at anything in his way. Birds, trees, building tops and Goku and Piccolo scrambled to intercept and lessen any damage.
"Damn him." Goku cursed.
"This guy's out of his mind."
"I know and the funny thing is Gohan examined him a few days ago and found nothing wrong other than lack of sleep."
"Hm." The two flew along behind Vegeta and suddenly the man had disappeared from sight "Huh?" and reappeared behind them.
"Come on what fun are you guys if you don't play along?"
"Goku grab him!"
"Alright." The other Saiyan tried his hardest to make a grab for the wirey prince but failed to hold onto to him. "Come on Vegeta stop this nonsense."
"Ha! That's a lot coming from you Kakarot." The prince flew casually backwards watching as the other two huddled together in a whisper. His brow quirked at what they might be planning.
"I've got an idea, you distract him and I'll use instant transmission to get behind him. Once I've got him you hold on to him too and I'll take us back to the house."
"And if it doesn't work?"
Goku replied with a cheap defeated laugh, "Gimme a break will ya." then he straightened up. "Let's go."
"Right." The two separated so quickly that Vegeta in his amused distraction almost missed the move. Piccolo showed up first in front of the small male making a grab for his neck and as planned Vegeta tried to get away backing up but Goku, quick to action, was already behind him taking hold and pinning Vegeta's arms.
Vegeta only laughed as he squirmed a bit. "Now that's more like it!"
"Ready Piccolo?" With a nod Goku readied himself for the transmission thinking of where he was headed but Vegeta wasn't giving him much time still moving frantically in their arms. "Hold him steady."
Realizing getting away wasn't going to be easy, Vegeta was suddenly feeling trapped and frantic. Thrashing as hard as he could to get free. 'Stop this, stop it now!' A weak voice rang in the prince's head, his own, trying to regain control of his body.
No! not now. I'm not ready to go back.
A memory of an unpleasant time ghosted its way through his mind and desperation began to kick in. He began to build up energy ready to release it and take out who or whatever was keeping him locked down.
"Goku do something!" Piccolo yelled struggling to keep his hold.
"I was getting ready to." Tightening his grip he quickly took everyone back to capsule corp just outside of the building and dropped them to the ground. Piccolo backed off and Vegeta slid from Goku's arms squirming on the ground still stuck in the mental battle of gaining control.
"What's he doing now?" Piccolo asked looking to Goku who had worry written across his features.
Goku rememberd the first time he'd seen Vegeta in this condition, out in the woods followed by a chase similar to the one they'd just had then the man had blacked out. Then he recalled the second time, in the isolation chamber when Vegeta's state was much worse. "I'm not sure but it's not good."
Vegeta was remembering the straps tightly binding his arms from behind. His head being pushed hard to the linoleum floor beneath him. Voices, so many, ranting incoherent things. Hands touching him in violent and unpleasant ways. He tried, tried so hard to get free but as strong as he was, his young boys body couldn't do a thing at the time.
"Stay away from me!" He screamed at the memory still writhing on the ground. As the scene in his mind got worse he started to build up energy again as his last resort to get the intruders away.
"He's going to hurt himself if he keeps this up." Goku said frozen mentally and physically as far as knowing what to do went.
"Hn." Piccolo approached the thrashing form. "It seems like he's beng attacked or atleast he thinks he is."
"Careful." Goku warned.
The Namek placed a finger to Vegeta's head and another to his own trying to get inside the mans mind to calm him down. "Ah!" Backing off Piccolo stumbled a bit but kept on his feet.
"What happened, are you ok?"
"Something was blocking me from getting in, something dark."
The touch and a sudden jolt of electricity from his brain caused Vegeta to snap out of it. "Huh!?" He sat up too quickly feeling a tightening in his head. The two other men stared at each other in question then Goku slowly inched towards the man on the ground.
"Uh... Vegeta?" Hearing the words Vegeta opened his eyes, his hand dropping from where it clutched at his hair. He looked around noticing his surroundings and the two that are standing over him. Dread was the first and only emotion that hit him right away. "Are you feeling ok?"
This scene was all too familiar to the Saiyan prince now. Waking up confused and lost completely unaware of anything. The first thing he thought was how to deal with this. He couldn't recall anything that might have happened in the, who knows how much, time he was blacked out. 'When and where did Kakarot and the Namek come from?' He sat there blinking hard like a lost animal.
"Vegeta?" Goku's voice came again and a hand touched his shoulder that he quickly shrugged away.
"Wh- what?" His voice came out harsh and cracked.
"Uh, I asked if you were," Goku hesitated remembering how Vegeta had reacted every other time he asked him questions about these... episodes. Vegeta stood on shakey legs but held himself steady with everything he had left in him, not wanting to appear weak in front of the two. He brushed himself off and regained his air of royalty.
"Of course I'm fine," His voice was back to cocky and arrogant. "That is assuming the two of you hadn't done anything to me." Goku and Piccolo shared a look of concern and disbelief. "I don't know what went on out here and I don't care. So whatever reason you're here forget it and go." He started to the house.
Goku started after him "But we can't just leave you, you nee-" Piccolo's hand stopped him.
"Just let him go Goku. If its anything like you said he doesn't need us prying right now it'll only make him angrier."
"I know you're right but Trunks said-" Suddenly Goku thought of something. If Vegeta really couldn't remember he knew how he could find out. He followed Vegeta into the house, Piccolo sighed but went after as well, and found Vegeta coming from the hall bathroom drying his face. "Guess we must've hit you too hard there and you blacked out for a while." He spoke casually following Vegeta into the kitchen.
Goku couldn't see it but he knew there was a puzzled look on the older Saiyan's face. He jabbed Piccolo, who stood beside him, in the ribs telling him to play along. "Sorry about that." He added.
"What are you babbling about Kakarot?" Vegeta questioned, back still turned to them. He paused and looked at the food left on the stove top then to the clock on the wall, its was almost noon. 'Why is there breakfast food wasting when it's near lunch? Have I been out of it since morning?'
"Well we came over to train, remember....? and you told me and Piccolo to give you everything we had, so I guess we did and kinda surprised you but I don't think you're hurt too badly, are you?"
Vegeta turned to face them, arms crossed, he didn't believe Goku's cheap excuse but he played along anyway. "Is that so?" They both nodded. "Well then I must be getting rusty." He walked past them missing Goku's disappointed expression. "Clean up this mess you left before you go." He gave his order and left the kitchen.
"Damnit." Goku cursed when Vegeta was upstairs and out of earshot.
"What did you expect him to do?"
"I was hoping he'd call my bluff and admit something was wrong, that none of it happened, and that he couldn't remember what really went on. I don't know what happened myself but I know that the guy we were just with wasn't the Vegeta we just talked to."
Piccolo made a small sound of agreement. "So what now?"
The unruly haired man sighed. "I guess we leave him alone but I won't leave the house, not until Trunks comes back." He sat defeatedly in one of the kitchen chairs. "Guess I'd better use that time to think of a way to tell Trunks what happened and confess to having lied about the other incidents."
"Should I stay?"
"Nah that's alright, you've probably got other things to do, watching over Earth and all. Besides you've done enough, thanks by the way."
"No problem." Goku waved goodbye. "Good luck." and Piccolo left. Goku sighed heavily then went over to the stove and turned the heat back on to warm the food Trunks had left for them.
"Can't think on an empty stomach after all."
............
Upstairs Vegeta lay face up on his bed. "Kakarot lied to me, but why? What was he keeping from me?" He sat up bending his knees up to rest his arms on them. "Hours have gone by and I don't remember being a part of any of them." One realization dawned on him just then. 'It had to have been another mind game, these damn voices in my head are messing with me, trying to make me look a fool, an insane fool.' Something did come back to him then, the book he was reading earlier. 'I have to figure out how to stop this nonsense right away.'
"But where did I put that blasted book?" He got off the bed and looked around the room. "Shit, I left it downstairs.... and Kakarot's down there."
...........
'This is all too much too soon and I don't even know when it happened. One day I'm thinking about the boys and how they've found someone to share their lives with. The next I'm realizing how lonely I am and suddenly wanting Vegeta- Vegeta of all people- to fill the void. As if that wasn't bad enough he seems to have suddenly gone nuts and for no explainable reason.'
Goku ranted to himself while picking up the remains of proof- broken vases and pieces of glass- to Vegeta's insanity. He dumped it into a small waste backet he'd taken from the bathroom in the hall, "There, last bits of it." He stood looking around satisfied at his tidy job then pulled the bag out from the basket to take outside and despose of it properly. Vegeta watched from the stairs wondering just what had happened in his home to leave it in such a condition but he shook the questions off to focus on the task at hand. Once Goku was out the door he ran down the stairs and started pulling up the pillows and cushions of the couches until he found the book he needed.
"Aha!" Before he could truly rejoice Goku was already back at the door starting to open it. "Damn him." Knowing he'd never make it upstairs without being seen he decided to toss the book up them instead and stay put himself. The book hit the floor with a thud just as Goku came in and closed the front door behind him. Vegeta stood looking at him with a frighteningly innocent expression as they engaged in a brief stare down.
"Uuh.. is everything alright?"
"Fine, just fine. I thought I'd come down and join you."
"Oh yeah, I thought you wanted us to go?"
Vegeta smirked giving a completely natural response. "I knew you wouldn't."
'Well he sounds like Vegeta.' Goku gave the older male a hard stare in the face trying to find any trace of difference in his look or behavior. 'Seems like Vegeta too, but I can't be too sure yet. Is there even more than one of him?'
"Will you stop gawking at me you idiot!"
'Oh yeah that's gotta be him.' He laughed absently rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry about that." Vegeta made a sound of displeasure than walked casually to the couch taking a seat. 'I gotta try and find out what's been going on with him, for Trunks's sake and my own. This kind of behavior just isn't normal even for Vegeta. Once I know for sure I can tell Trunks and stop lying to him.' Going to join the other on the couch but sitting at the opposite end Goku opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself not sure how to bring up this sensative and bizarre subject.
"Uh Vegeta... can I ask you..."
Vegeta gave the studdering male a questioning glance, when it looked like Goku was still tongue tied he spoke for him. "Spit it out Kakarot you sound like a dribbling infant."
"Oh," Goku laughed nervously and kept his gaze away from the scrutinizing prince of Saiyans. "Well uh its..." 'Damnit this is gonna be harder than I thought.'
"Well....?"
Vegeta's gruff tone alerted Goku's sensability and he knew now wasn't the time to bring up anything. "I was wondering what you wanted to watch?"
Vegeta cut his eyes at the man. "What?"
"On Tv." He smiled almost too big and Vegeta looked away.
"Doesn't matter."
Goku sighed relieved that his bad idea had gone unnoticed. He reached for the remote on the table and turned the television on. Once settled on a fighting based program he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just a few more hours until school let out. 'This is gonna be a long afternoon.'
______________
"There you are." Goten spoke in relief seeing his boyfriend round the corner of the school corridor. "Thought you might have bailed on me to go home."
Trunks gave an airy laugh. "I wouldn't do that without telling you. I was worried about my dad though but if Goku and Piccolo are there what could happen right?"
"Exactly." With his usual hgih spirits Goten flung an arm around Trunks and started directing him down the hall. "Now lets get lunch I'm starving."
After situating themselves with their food at their usual table the lunch hour progressed as normally. Goten and a few other friends going on about this and that and making jokes. Usually Trunks would join in but today he was distracted only half listening to the groups conversation.
'I've gotta find a way to get Vegeta to open up to me.' He laughed at himself mentally. 'Yeah like that's even possible. But I have to do something to find out what's causing his strange behavior. Does Goku know something that he's not telling me? He's been around my dad more than any of us and would notice a change right? Especailly lately but wouldn't he tell me if anything was wrong or if Vegeta spoke to him about it?' He shook his head to remove the doubt. 'What am I saying of course he would but... then again this is my dad and if he did confide in Goku he'd never let him share the information.'
"Hey T' you still in there?" Goten's voice broke his train of thoughts and he looked up from his plate of fries to find a hand waving in front of his face. "Did ya hear me?"
"Oh, no, sorry."
Goten frowned but only for a second. "Geez space cadet. Anyway you comin' to work with me tonight? I got dragged into the "open till midnight and later" shift and don't wanna be there alone. Hardly anyone comes in at that time so you wouldn't be in the way and we could have dinner during my break."
Trunks thought about it for a minute. He really did want to work on Vegeta tonight but how far could he get with the man? Then there was the worry of leaving the unstable prince alone all night. What if something happened and he missed it? Trunks got a look at Goten's hopeful face and couldn't say no. 'Maybe Goku wouldn't mind staying with him a bit longer or even Gohan. He could check in on him. And its not like I couldn't call.' Making his desicion he answered. "Yeah that sounds like a good idea."
"Alright." His boyfriend cheered then went back to dvouring his meal and talking with the others.
'Atleast I hope its a good idea.'
...........................
'Damn Kakarot why won't you get lost I need to get back to that book and find out what the hells wrong with me so I can stop it before anyone else realizes somethings wrong.'
The Sayain prince glanced quickly at the man to his right laughing at some idiotic cartoon on the T.V. He decided to slip out while Goku was busy focusing on something only a child could possibly find interesting or funny for that matter. Of course Goku noticed the movement he was Sayain after all but he remained where he was only speaking to Vegeta. "Going somewhere?" Vegeta froze by the bottom of the stairs.
"To the bathroom." He lied.
"All the way upstairs?"
"Yes, I happen to like my privacy and what does it matter anyway. Are you my babysitter now?"
"No, I... guess... not."
"Good then I'll be on my way." He headed up the stairs hoping Kakarot wasn't following him with his eyes. Seeing the book sitting at the top he pushed it carefully so it would slide along the floor in front of him until he was far enough out of sight to pick it up. Heading into his room he locked the door and took the book to his easy chair opening back to the previous chapter he'd been reading.
"Head Trauma..." His eyes scanned over the pages until he'd found what he'd been reading before and continued in hopes to understand it better this time. "Multiple personality disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality that controls behavior. The "alters" are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other." He paused in his reading, eyes wide from frightened recognition of what he'd just read. 'Alternate personlaities?' He continued on. "The unity of consciousness, by which we identify our selves, is said to be absent in MPD. Another symptom of MPD is significant amnesia!" His voice rose in shocked disbelief. "Which can't be explained by ordinary forgetfulness." He stared blankly into his room. 'All these things, black outs, loss of time, confusion... I've experienced them all.'
"Damnit!" He gripped the book in his hands frustrated that there was a possability and a damn good one that he was experiencing Multpile Personality Disorder. He dropped the book standing up and began pacing the room furiously.
"This can't be happening, not to me, why me? What caused this?" He paused and stood in front of the mirror above his dresser drawer. He stared into it and was startled backward as his face contorted into an evil sneer, one he was familiar with, but that time he wasn't making the expression on his own. What was worse when Vegeta looked back into the mirror from the floor the image was still there. "The hell?" He continued to sneer at him and began laughing as the image split into three then four, the sight had Vegeta paralyzed where he sat.
Bang bang bang.... "Huh?" A knock on the door brought him back to reality and the images of himself disappeared.
"Vegeta the doors locked, are you alright?" Goku called through.
Looking back at the mirror still horrified at what had just happened Vegeta shook his head to try and regain his reality. He stood crookedly from the floor and went to unlock the door that was being repeatedly pounded on before the muscular Saiyan broke the thing down. "Calm down Kakarot everythings.. fine." He spoke calmly but wasn't quite sure if he sounded or looked that way to the other.
"Oh well I was just-"
"Checking in," He finished for the other. "its alright Kakarot. Let's just go back downstairs." Vegeta left the room and Goku didn't miss the fear in the mans eyes or his odd behavior. Something he felt he should be an expert on by now.
'Something happened up here and it must have been bad if it rattled Vegeta. Not to mention he's talking way to nice for my liking.'
The younger Saiyan glanced around the room to see if he could pick up on anything odd and saw nothing out of the ordinary but on a double take he noticed the book on the floor and picked it up. "Head Trauma's and Mental Illnesses." He read the cover looking puzzled. 'Why would Vegeta be reading this?' He flipped through the pages. 'Unless he's going out for neuro-surgeon.' He laughed mentally. 'No that can't be right. Then why?' He was tempted to stand there and contemplate this new mystery but hearing sounds coming from the kitchen he put the book back on the floor as he'd found it and decided to join Vegeta before anything else happened that he could miss.
In the kitchen Vegeta was rummaging through the cabinets letting the doors slam when he couldn't find any food item he wanted. The reality of it was he was trying to distract himself from what had just happened in his room and the unsettling things he'd read about.
'This has to be some kind of trick, maybe I really am sick and my minds playing games with me making me hallusci- no that's exactly what that damned book was talking about.' He slammed the door of their pantry and walked to the refrigerator opening that while leaning loosely on the door. 'Perhaps its all a dream, yes a long nightmare that's trying to be the death of me. Then damnit Kami let me die in my sleep already so I can end this torture.'
"Uh Vegeta?"
His attention went to the man that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. "What Kakarot?"
"You're gonna let all the air out of that thing if you don't close it," Was his lame response. "Though I can't point the finger I do it myself." He laughed at his own accusations. Vegeta wasn't amused and backed away from the chill of the frige letting the door close. "So what's going on?"
"Nothing, I was hungry."
"Oh." Goku followed the Saiyan's every step around the kitchen as Vegeta continued his hunt for something to eat looking again in the places he'd already tried.
"I could make you something if you want." Goku offered. Vegeta stopped turning around and almost bumping into the man who was following so close behind. He eyed him for a minute wondering if the other had plans to poison him or worse give him medicine that would put him to sleep. Giving in he decided he was too exhausted right now and apparently truly hungry from the sound his stomach just made to protest.
"You can cook?" Was what came out other than a simple agreement.
"Sure!... well sorta. I've picked up a few things after Gohan left the house and I had to fend for myself and Goten but its usually good enough, atleast Goten says so. Though sometimes I think he's just being nice or worse he's like me and will eat about anything no matter what it taste like."
"Alright Kakarot just do whatever." Vegeta cuts in sounding agitated with the rambling the other had been doing.
"Uh sure, sorry 'bout that. It won't take long, you don't care what it is right?" He was answered by a grunt and Vegeta took a seat at the table to wait. Goku could tell the other man was still distracted or worried by something but he had no clue how to go about asking him what was wrong and bringing up the book he'd found on his bedroom floor. 'Maybe while we eat I can slide it into conversation cleverly like Goten does when he's brought a bad grade home from school.' Leaving the man with his thoughts for now Goku went about making some kind of meal for them for a late lunch, a second lunch for himself.
Vegeta sat at the table hands folded under his chin, elbows resting on the table top as he thought. His mind a swirl of questions from his readings and the disturbing images he'd seen in the mirror. 'Multiple personalities, it just can't be possible. I am a Saiyan prince one of the elite warriors in the universe. I could never be subjected to such a... a stupid disease. I'm too strong for that. How did this happen? No I won't believe it I won't!' A hand came down on the table making a loud thump and alerting Goku who turned around from the stove. The sound also shocked Vegeta out of his own thoughts.
"Something wrong?"
"...No just thinking. I guess I got caught up in it."
"Oh..." 'Now's your chance Goku just be smooth.' He cleared his throat before continuing. "Anything you wanna talk about?"
Vegeta eyed the other suspiciously. 'He knows something, he has to and he's not being straight with me about it either. He's probably fishing for more information right now. Well Kakarot I don't think so. If anyone's getting information it'll be me.'
"No not really." Was Vegeta's thought out answer.
"You sure cause I-"
"I said no, finish your cooking already, I'll be fine."
"O-kay then." He cursed under his breath turning back to the stove.
Vegeta continued to stare the other down. 'If he does know something I need to find out just what and how much and keep him from opening that food guzzling mouth of his from telling anyone else.'
Goku whistled happily finishing his food and anounced, "Done!" when the food was ready. "Hope you like it." He plated the meal and took it to the table setting one down in front of each of them then he took his own seat. Vegeta eyed the food suspiciously wondering if he should have watched the other prepare it incase he laced it with some kind of drug. "Well dig in." Goku chirped up already feeding his own face.
"Hn." Vegeta reluctantly did the same, his stomach giving protest to having been starved for so long. As he ate to appease the noisy intestine he stared at the other man readying himself for a game of questions and answers. He put his spoon down letting it clank noisely to get the others attention and cleared his throat incase the man thought nothing of the sound.
Goku looked up with a worried expression. "Something wrong with your food?"
"No its fine, you're uh... a good whatever." He waved a hand dismissing whatever compliment he was attempting to make. "Actually I wanted to ask you something, you did say before I could talk to you right?"
"Yeah go ahead." Goku spoke with more enthusiasm than he should have.
"Hm yes, well about this afternoon."
"Yyyeah?"
"I wasn't myself then."
Goku looked puzzled and scratched his head. "Really, cause you seemed like you just more of an old version ya know."
"How so?"
"Uh, well for starters you gave me and Piccolo a real run around thats for sure."
"And thats how we ended up outside?"
Goku quirked a brow. "Yeah, but don't you remember that?"
Frowning Vegeta barked back. "Of course I do, I'm just trying to get the story straight." He had to remember to keep his cool or he'd give himself away and lose his chance to trick the other into telling him exactly what went on that he actually had no memory of. "I'm just a bit hazy that's all."
"Right, well you didn't seem to be all there at the time and when I asked you what was wrong you denied that any of that stuff ever happened."
"What stuff?"
"Well wrecking the house, making us chase you down, attacking us out of the blue." He explained watching carefully as Vegeta's expression contorted with thought. 'And I thought this was my chance to be getting answers out of him, but it looks like this interrogation's taken a turn. He really doesn't know what happened, but why? It can't just be sleep deprivation, can it? And if this is serious I really should tell Trunks when he gets home.' Glancing at the clock there was only an hour left before the boys would be home and he promised to spend every minute of it trying to get Vegeta to admit there was something going on.
Warnings: Language, mild violence, thats about all I can recall right now.
Envy and self loathing Playful and crazy Anger Sad and confused Loving and fatherly
Stealing Time
Chpt 11
Too many minds alike
"I wonder if I should knock?"
"Kakarot." 'Damn him what the hell is he doing here, again!' He paced in the small space trying to relax and calm down. 'Oh I know, the boy must have called him to spy on me.'
"Vegeta! Are you awake?"
Better go down and face the music Vegeta, unless you want us to handle it
'No not them again, not now.'
What better time than now, you need us, free us...
The pain returned in his head but it went as soon as it had come.
"Maybe he's in the shower or something." Goku spoke to Piccolo neither noticing the other Saiyan entering the room.
"Ah Kakarot, you just can't get enough of me can you." He spoke with a sarcastic humor. "And I see you brought the Namek for my entertainment," He gave both men a look that sent shivers down their spines. "Then let's play shall we.".........
Piccolo gave Goku a wary glance wondering if the Saiyan male noticed something off about Vegeta, in his posture and tone. If Goku had noticed he gave no indications of it continuing on as he usually did.
"Oh there you are," he used his pleasantly merry voice. "thought you might have been asleep."
Vegeta slowly walked towards them. "Oh no Kakarot, I'm wide awake." He circled both men like a hungry shark sizing up its victim. Piccolo stood mentally readying himself for whatever the unstable prince might do. Vegeta walked away from them, back turned, as he went over to a shelf full of old antiques and flee market nick knacks, none of which were purchased by him.
"So uh what was that about entertainment?" Goku asked starting to feel Piccolo's tension in the room and getting a bit worried himself.
Vegeta picked up one of the old vases giving it a light toss in his hand. "I wasn't sure myself until just now, might as well be something in your element of-" He turned to face them. "expertise." With a smirk he tossed the vase unexpectedly to Goku, who fumbled it but managed not to drop the item. Without warning Vegeta laughed and threw another item and another.
"Whoa hey!" Goku tossed them all around in the air trying to stop each one from falling to the floor.
Vegeta laughed with amusement, "Yes that's it! Juggle clown." watching the spectacle unfold. Deciding to up the hysterics he tossed a few more things from different angles laughing as his personal entertainment struggled each time to catch and juggle more than six items.
Not being able to handle anymore Goku tossed some things over to Piccolo, who'd been standing by idly confused by the whole scene. "Take some of these will ya?"
"What the-" Reflex kicked in and the Namek caught each one but the last, which slipped off and crashed to the carpeted floor, shattering glass pieces at their feet. "Damnit Goku!" He scolded.
"Sorry."
Vegeta laughed haughtily at their antics and clapped in applause. "That's fine but I think it could use a little more.... flare." Pointing a finger he focused his energy into it; Goku's eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen.
"Vegeta what are yo- hey!" Having no time to speak Goku jumped out of the way of a thin blast aimed at his feet. He still juggled the items in hand, tossing a few onto the couch when he could. "Vegeta!"
"Dance clowns or you won't get any cotton candy later." The Saiyan laughed more, firing blast after blast at Goku watching him bounce around like a circus performer. Piccolo had slipped behind him ready to attack but Vegeta was more than aware of his presence and dodged before the Namek's arms could encircle him. "Ha ha ha, think you're clever don't you Namek? Well you've got to be faster than that to keep up with me."
"Huh?" Vegeta was gone in the blink of an eye and appeared behind the green man giving him a painful blow to the back. "Oo." Piccolo unable to stop himself crashed into Goku sending them both down to the floor, more of the antiques or flee market trinkets broke in the fall.
"Hahaha. Since you've broken our toys let's play another game, shall we? Catch me if you can." With that Vegeta was gone. Goku and Piccolo stood, arms finally empty of house hold shelvery.
"Where'd he go? And what the hell is going on?" Goku barked.
"Beats me but we'd better go after him. I don't know what's gotten into him but it can't be good for anyone."
"Yeah." The two started walking around the home searching in nearby rooms for the madman. "See this is what I meant," Goku started as they peeked into the kitchen. "this is the strange behavior he's been showing lately and later on, once he's calm, he'll deny any of it."
"We should split up, he might not even be inside anymore."
"Good idea. You sta-" There was a sudden crashing sound coming from above them. Both looked up then to one another and ran for the stairs. The noise came again. "This way." Goku lead them down a hall and into a large bedroom. Sure enough Vegeta was inside, blasting and tossing furniture around the old scientists former bedroom.
"Took you long enough." He said seeing them enter.
"Vegeta what are you doing." Goku ducked from a flying chair heading their way as they entered.
"Just redecorating. That old fossil Breifs has been dead long enough. It's time someone fixed this place up, maybe I could turn it into another training area. Care to lend a hand?"
"No Vegeta. You're being crazy, what's gotten into you?" Goku crept closer and just as he reached out a hand Vegeta flew out of the way.
"Uh uh, don't think I've forgot. You can't catch me that easily." Then he opened a window and flew out.
"Ah great. Come on Piccolo." The two followed out of the window after him only to be stopped midair by a ki blast coming from the one they persued. Vegeta laughed it up as they dodged out of the way. It was like playing one of those pilot videogames he'd seen Trunks and Goten with before.
"Rr, damn him." Piccolo geared up to fire back but Goku's arm shot across his chest to stop him.
"No Piccolo! He might be acting like an ass right now but there's gotta be a reason and aggravating him could make things worse. Then we'll never figure it out."
"Rrr," The alien balled up his fist to calm down but spoke through gritted teeth. "then what do you suggest we do, play his sick games and get ourselves banged up instead?"
"No, I don't know but we have to stop him before he gets into town or worse the city."
"Come on clowns! Can't you keep up? Fight back, do anything, you're boring me!" Vegeta called from the distance. He turned his back to them again and picked up speed flying farther away.
"If I knew it was going to be like this I would have stayed behind." Piccolo spoke with no amusement whatsoever.
"Ah just come on." The two chased after the childlike Saiyan like two parents after a toddler that refused to take a nap. Vegeta took them towards town weaving in and out of buildings, only the ones high enough to scrape the sky and join the flyers in the air. From time to time he'd pause briefly to fire blasts at anything in his way. Birds, trees, building tops and Goku and Piccolo scrambled to intercept and lessen any damage.
"Damn him." Goku cursed.
"This guy's out of his mind."
"I know and the funny thing is Gohan examined him a few days ago and found nothing wrong other than lack of sleep."
"Hm." The two flew along behind Vegeta and suddenly the man had disappeared from sight "Huh?" and reappeared behind them.
"Come on what fun are you guys if you don't play along?"
"Goku grab him!"
"Alright." The other Saiyan tried his hardest to make a grab for the wirey prince but failed to hold onto to him. "Come on Vegeta stop this nonsense."
"Ha! That's a lot coming from you Kakarot." The prince flew casually backwards watching as the other two huddled together in a whisper. His brow quirked at what they might be planning.
"I've got an idea, you distract him and I'll use instant transmission to get behind him. Once I've got him you hold on to him too and I'll take us back to the house."
"And if it doesn't work?"
Goku replied with a cheap defeated laugh, "Gimme a break will ya." then he straightened up. "Let's go."
"Right." The two separated so quickly that Vegeta in his amused distraction almost missed the move. Piccolo showed up first in front of the small male making a grab for his neck and as planned Vegeta tried to get away backing up but Goku, quick to action, was already behind him taking hold and pinning Vegeta's arms.
Vegeta only laughed as he squirmed a bit. "Now that's more like it!"
"Ready Piccolo?" With a nod Goku readied himself for the transmission thinking of where he was headed but Vegeta wasn't giving him much time still moving frantically in their arms. "Hold him steady."
Realizing getting away wasn't going to be easy, Vegeta was suddenly feeling trapped and frantic. Thrashing as hard as he could to get free. 'Stop this, stop it now!' A weak voice rang in the prince's head, his own, trying to regain control of his body.
No! not now. I'm not ready to go back.
A memory of an unpleasant time ghosted its way through his mind and desperation began to kick in. He began to build up energy ready to release it and take out who or whatever was keeping him locked down.
"Goku do something!" Piccolo yelled struggling to keep his hold.
"I was getting ready to." Tightening his grip he quickly took everyone back to capsule corp just outside of the building and dropped them to the ground. Piccolo backed off and Vegeta slid from Goku's arms squirming on the ground still stuck in the mental battle of gaining control.
"What's he doing now?" Piccolo asked looking to Goku who had worry written across his features.
Goku rememberd the first time he'd seen Vegeta in this condition, out in the woods followed by a chase similar to the one they'd just had then the man had blacked out. Then he recalled the second time, in the isolation chamber when Vegeta's state was much worse. "I'm not sure but it's not good."
Vegeta was remembering the straps tightly binding his arms from behind. His head being pushed hard to the linoleum floor beneath him. Voices, so many, ranting incoherent things. Hands touching him in violent and unpleasant ways. He tried, tried so hard to get free but as strong as he was, his young boys body couldn't do a thing at the time.
"Stay away from me!" He screamed at the memory still writhing on the ground. As the scene in his mind got worse he started to build up energy again as his last resort to get the intruders away.
"He's going to hurt himself if he keeps this up." Goku said frozen mentally and physically as far as knowing what to do went.
"Hn." Piccolo approached the thrashing form. "It seems like he's beng attacked or atleast he thinks he is."
"Careful." Goku warned.
The Namek placed a finger to Vegeta's head and another to his own trying to get inside the mans mind to calm him down. "Ah!" Backing off Piccolo stumbled a bit but kept on his feet.
"What happened, are you ok?"
"Something was blocking me from getting in, something dark."
The touch and a sudden jolt of electricity from his brain caused Vegeta to snap out of it. "Huh!?" He sat up too quickly feeling a tightening in his head. The two other men stared at each other in question then Goku slowly inched towards the man on the ground.
"Uh... Vegeta?" Hearing the words Vegeta opened his eyes, his hand dropping from where it clutched at his hair. He looked around noticing his surroundings and the two that are standing over him. Dread was the first and only emotion that hit him right away. "Are you feeling ok?"
This scene was all too familiar to the Saiyan prince now. Waking up confused and lost completely unaware of anything. The first thing he thought was how to deal with this. He couldn't recall anything that might have happened in the, who knows how much, time he was blacked out. 'When and where did Kakarot and the Namek come from?' He sat there blinking hard like a lost animal.
"Vegeta?" Goku's voice came again and a hand touched his shoulder that he quickly shrugged away.
"Wh- what?" His voice came out harsh and cracked.
"Uh, I asked if you were," Goku hesitated remembering how Vegeta had reacted every other time he asked him questions about these... episodes. Vegeta stood on shakey legs but held himself steady with everything he had left in him, not wanting to appear weak in front of the two. He brushed himself off and regained his air of royalty.
"Of course I'm fine," His voice was back to cocky and arrogant. "That is assuming the two of you hadn't done anything to me." Goku and Piccolo shared a look of concern and disbelief. "I don't know what went on out here and I don't care. So whatever reason you're here forget it and go." He started to the house.
Goku started after him "But we can't just leave you, you nee-" Piccolo's hand stopped him.
"Just let him go Goku. If its anything like you said he doesn't need us prying right now it'll only make him angrier."
"I know you're right but Trunks said-" Suddenly Goku thought of something. If Vegeta really couldn't remember he knew how he could find out. He followed Vegeta into the house, Piccolo sighed but went after as well, and found Vegeta coming from the hall bathroom drying his face. "Guess we must've hit you too hard there and you blacked out for a while." He spoke casually following Vegeta into the kitchen.
Goku couldn't see it but he knew there was a puzzled look on the older Saiyan's face. He jabbed Piccolo, who stood beside him, in the ribs telling him to play along. "Sorry about that." He added.
"What are you babbling about Kakarot?" Vegeta questioned, back still turned to them. He paused and looked at the food left on the stove top then to the clock on the wall, its was almost noon. 'Why is there breakfast food wasting when it's near lunch? Have I been out of it since morning?'
"Well we came over to train, remember....? and you told me and Piccolo to give you everything we had, so I guess we did and kinda surprised you but I don't think you're hurt too badly, are you?"
Vegeta turned to face them, arms crossed, he didn't believe Goku's cheap excuse but he played along anyway. "Is that so?" They both nodded. "Well then I must be getting rusty." He walked past them missing Goku's disappointed expression. "Clean up this mess you left before you go." He gave his order and left the kitchen.
"Damnit." Goku cursed when Vegeta was upstairs and out of earshot.
"What did you expect him to do?"
"I was hoping he'd call my bluff and admit something was wrong, that none of it happened, and that he couldn't remember what really went on. I don't know what happened myself but I know that the guy we were just with wasn't the Vegeta we just talked to."
Piccolo made a small sound of agreement. "So what now?"
The unruly haired man sighed. "I guess we leave him alone but I won't leave the house, not until Trunks comes back." He sat defeatedly in one of the kitchen chairs. "Guess I'd better use that time to think of a way to tell Trunks what happened and confess to having lied about the other incidents."
"Should I stay?"
"Nah that's alright, you've probably got other things to do, watching over Earth and all. Besides you've done enough, thanks by the way."
"No problem." Goku waved goodbye. "Good luck." and Piccolo left. Goku sighed heavily then went over to the stove and turned the heat back on to warm the food Trunks had left for them.
"Can't think on an empty stomach after all."
............
Upstairs Vegeta lay face up on his bed. "Kakarot lied to me, but why? What was he keeping from me?" He sat up bending his knees up to rest his arms on them. "Hours have gone by and I don't remember being a part of any of them." One realization dawned on him just then. 'It had to have been another mind game, these damn voices in my head are messing with me, trying to make me look a fool, an insane fool.' Something did come back to him then, the book he was reading earlier. 'I have to figure out how to stop this nonsense right away.'
"But where did I put that blasted book?" He got off the bed and looked around the room. "Shit, I left it downstairs.... and Kakarot's down there."
...........
'This is all too much too soon and I don't even know when it happened. One day I'm thinking about the boys and how they've found someone to share their lives with. The next I'm realizing how lonely I am and suddenly wanting Vegeta- Vegeta of all people- to fill the void. As if that wasn't bad enough he seems to have suddenly gone nuts and for no explainable reason.'
Goku ranted to himself while picking up the remains of proof- broken vases and pieces of glass- to Vegeta's insanity. He dumped it into a small waste backet he'd taken from the bathroom in the hall, "There, last bits of it." He stood looking around satisfied at his tidy job then pulled the bag out from the basket to take outside and despose of it properly. Vegeta watched from the stairs wondering just what had happened in his home to leave it in such a condition but he shook the questions off to focus on the task at hand. Once Goku was out the door he ran down the stairs and started pulling up the pillows and cushions of the couches until he found the book he needed.
"Aha!" Before he could truly rejoice Goku was already back at the door starting to open it. "Damn him." Knowing he'd never make it upstairs without being seen he decided to toss the book up them instead and stay put himself. The book hit the floor with a thud just as Goku came in and closed the front door behind him. Vegeta stood looking at him with a frighteningly innocent expression as they engaged in a brief stare down.
"Uuh.. is everything alright?"
"Fine, just fine. I thought I'd come down and join you."
"Oh yeah, I thought you wanted us to go?"
Vegeta smirked giving a completely natural response. "I knew you wouldn't."
'Well he sounds like Vegeta.' Goku gave the older male a hard stare in the face trying to find any trace of difference in his look or behavior. 'Seems like Vegeta too, but I can't be too sure yet. Is there even more than one of him?'
"Will you stop gawking at me you idiot!"
'Oh yeah that's gotta be him.' He laughed absently rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry about that." Vegeta made a sound of displeasure than walked casually to the couch taking a seat. 'I gotta try and find out what's been going on with him, for Trunks's sake and my own. This kind of behavior just isn't normal even for Vegeta. Once I know for sure I can tell Trunks and stop lying to him.' Going to join the other on the couch but sitting at the opposite end Goku opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself not sure how to bring up this sensative and bizarre subject.
"Uh Vegeta... can I ask you..."
Vegeta gave the studdering male a questioning glance, when it looked like Goku was still tongue tied he spoke for him. "Spit it out Kakarot you sound like a dribbling infant."
"Oh," Goku laughed nervously and kept his gaze away from the scrutinizing prince of Saiyans. "Well uh its..." 'Damnit this is gonna be harder than I thought.'
"Well....?"
Vegeta's gruff tone alerted Goku's sensability and he knew now wasn't the time to bring up anything. "I was wondering what you wanted to watch?"
Vegeta cut his eyes at the man. "What?"
"On Tv." He smiled almost too big and Vegeta looked away.
"Doesn't matter."
Goku sighed relieved that his bad idea had gone unnoticed. He reached for the remote on the table and turned the television on. Once settled on a fighting based program he glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just a few more hours until school let out. 'This is gonna be a long afternoon.'
______________
"There you are." Goten spoke in relief seeing his boyfriend round the corner of the school corridor. "Thought you might have bailed on me to go home."
Trunks gave an airy laugh. "I wouldn't do that without telling you. I was worried about my dad though but if Goku and Piccolo are there what could happen right?"
"Exactly." With his usual hgih spirits Goten flung an arm around Trunks and started directing him down the hall. "Now lets get lunch I'm starving."
After situating themselves with their food at their usual table the lunch hour progressed as normally. Goten and a few other friends going on about this and that and making jokes. Usually Trunks would join in but today he was distracted only half listening to the groups conversation.
'I've gotta find a way to get Vegeta to open up to me.' He laughed at himself mentally. 'Yeah like that's even possible. But I have to do something to find out what's causing his strange behavior. Does Goku know something that he's not telling me? He's been around my dad more than any of us and would notice a change right? Especailly lately but wouldn't he tell me if anything was wrong or if Vegeta spoke to him about it?' He shook his head to remove the doubt. 'What am I saying of course he would but... then again this is my dad and if he did confide in Goku he'd never let him share the information.'
"Hey T' you still in there?" Goten's voice broke his train of thoughts and he looked up from his plate of fries to find a hand waving in front of his face. "Did ya hear me?"
"Oh, no, sorry."
Goten frowned but only for a second. "Geez space cadet. Anyway you comin' to work with me tonight? I got dragged into the "open till midnight and later" shift and don't wanna be there alone. Hardly anyone comes in at that time so you wouldn't be in the way and we could have dinner during my break."
Trunks thought about it for a minute. He really did want to work on Vegeta tonight but how far could he get with the man? Then there was the worry of leaving the unstable prince alone all night. What if something happened and he missed it? Trunks got a look at Goten's hopeful face and couldn't say no. 'Maybe Goku wouldn't mind staying with him a bit longer or even Gohan. He could check in on him. And its not like I couldn't call.' Making his desicion he answered. "Yeah that sounds like a good idea."
"Alright." His boyfriend cheered then went back to dvouring his meal and talking with the others.
'Atleast I hope its a good idea.'
...........................
'Damn Kakarot why won't you get lost I need to get back to that book and find out what the hells wrong with me so I can stop it before anyone else realizes somethings wrong.'
The Sayain prince glanced quickly at the man to his right laughing at some idiotic cartoon on the T.V. He decided to slip out while Goku was busy focusing on something only a child could possibly find interesting or funny for that matter. Of course Goku noticed the movement he was Sayain after all but he remained where he was only speaking to Vegeta. "Going somewhere?" Vegeta froze by the bottom of the stairs.
"To the bathroom." He lied.
"All the way upstairs?"
"Yes, I happen to like my privacy and what does it matter anyway. Are you my babysitter now?"
"No, I... guess... not."
"Good then I'll be on my way." He headed up the stairs hoping Kakarot wasn't following him with his eyes. Seeing the book sitting at the top he pushed it carefully so it would slide along the floor in front of him until he was far enough out of sight to pick it up. Heading into his room he locked the door and took the book to his easy chair opening back to the previous chapter he'd been reading.
"Head Trauma..." His eyes scanned over the pages until he'd found what he'd been reading before and continued in hopes to understand it better this time. "Multiple personality disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality that controls behavior. The "alters" are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other." He paused in his reading, eyes wide from frightened recognition of what he'd just read. 'Alternate personlaities?' He continued on. "The unity of consciousness, by which we identify our selves, is said to be absent in MPD. Another symptom of MPD is significant amnesia!" His voice rose in shocked disbelief. "Which can't be explained by ordinary forgetfulness." He stared blankly into his room. 'All these things, black outs, loss of time, confusion... I've experienced them all.'
"Damnit!" He gripped the book in his hands frustrated that there was a possability and a damn good one that he was experiencing Multpile Personality Disorder. He dropped the book standing up and began pacing the room furiously.
"This can't be happening, not to me, why me? What caused this?" He paused and stood in front of the mirror above his dresser drawer. He stared into it and was startled backward as his face contorted into an evil sneer, one he was familiar with, but that time he wasn't making the expression on his own. What was worse when Vegeta looked back into the mirror from the floor the image was still there. "The hell?" He continued to sneer at him and began laughing as the image split into three then four, the sight had Vegeta paralyzed where he sat.
Bang bang bang.... "Huh?" A knock on the door brought him back to reality and the images of himself disappeared.
"Vegeta the doors locked, are you alright?" Goku called through.
Looking back at the mirror still horrified at what had just happened Vegeta shook his head to try and regain his reality. He stood crookedly from the floor and went to unlock the door that was being repeatedly pounded on before the muscular Saiyan broke the thing down. "Calm down Kakarot everythings.. fine." He spoke calmly but wasn't quite sure if he sounded or looked that way to the other.
"Oh well I was just-"
"Checking in," He finished for the other. "its alright Kakarot. Let's just go back downstairs." Vegeta left the room and Goku didn't miss the fear in the mans eyes or his odd behavior. Something he felt he should be an expert on by now.
'Something happened up here and it must have been bad if it rattled Vegeta. Not to mention he's talking way to nice for my liking.'
The younger Saiyan glanced around the room to see if he could pick up on anything odd and saw nothing out of the ordinary but on a double take he noticed the book on the floor and picked it up. "Head Trauma's and Mental Illnesses." He read the cover looking puzzled. 'Why would Vegeta be reading this?' He flipped through the pages. 'Unless he's going out for neuro-surgeon.' He laughed mentally. 'No that can't be right. Then why?' He was tempted to stand there and contemplate this new mystery but hearing sounds coming from the kitchen he put the book back on the floor as he'd found it and decided to join Vegeta before anything else happened that he could miss.
In the kitchen Vegeta was rummaging through the cabinets letting the doors slam when he couldn't find any food item he wanted. The reality of it was he was trying to distract himself from what had just happened in his room and the unsettling things he'd read about.
'This has to be some kind of trick, maybe I really am sick and my minds playing games with me making me hallusci- no that's exactly what that damned book was talking about.' He slammed the door of their pantry and walked to the refrigerator opening that while leaning loosely on the door. 'Perhaps its all a dream, yes a long nightmare that's trying to be the death of me. Then damnit Kami let me die in my sleep already so I can end this torture.'
"Uh Vegeta?"
His attention went to the man that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. "What Kakarot?"
"You're gonna let all the air out of that thing if you don't close it," Was his lame response. "Though I can't point the finger I do it myself." He laughed at his own accusations. Vegeta wasn't amused and backed away from the chill of the frige letting the door close. "So what's going on?"
"Nothing, I was hungry."
"Oh." Goku followed the Saiyan's every step around the kitchen as Vegeta continued his hunt for something to eat looking again in the places he'd already tried.
"I could make you something if you want." Goku offered. Vegeta stopped turning around and almost bumping into the man who was following so close behind. He eyed him for a minute wondering if the other had plans to poison him or worse give him medicine that would put him to sleep. Giving in he decided he was too exhausted right now and apparently truly hungry from the sound his stomach just made to protest.
"You can cook?" Was what came out other than a simple agreement.
"Sure!... well sorta. I've picked up a few things after Gohan left the house and I had to fend for myself and Goten but its usually good enough, atleast Goten says so. Though sometimes I think he's just being nice or worse he's like me and will eat about anything no matter what it taste like."
"Alright Kakarot just do whatever." Vegeta cuts in sounding agitated with the rambling the other had been doing.
"Uh sure, sorry 'bout that. It won't take long, you don't care what it is right?" He was answered by a grunt and Vegeta took a seat at the table to wait. Goku could tell the other man was still distracted or worried by something but he had no clue how to go about asking him what was wrong and bringing up the book he'd found on his bedroom floor. 'Maybe while we eat I can slide it into conversation cleverly like Goten does when he's brought a bad grade home from school.' Leaving the man with his thoughts for now Goku went about making some kind of meal for them for a late lunch, a second lunch for himself.
Vegeta sat at the table hands folded under his chin, elbows resting on the table top as he thought. His mind a swirl of questions from his readings and the disturbing images he'd seen in the mirror. 'Multiple personalities, it just can't be possible. I am a Saiyan prince one of the elite warriors in the universe. I could never be subjected to such a... a stupid disease. I'm too strong for that. How did this happen? No I won't believe it I won't!' A hand came down on the table making a loud thump and alerting Goku who turned around from the stove. The sound also shocked Vegeta out of his own thoughts.
"Something wrong?"
"...No just thinking. I guess I got caught up in it."
"Oh..." 'Now's your chance Goku just be smooth.' He cleared his throat before continuing. "Anything you wanna talk about?"
Vegeta eyed the other suspiciously. 'He knows something, he has to and he's not being straight with me about it either. He's probably fishing for more information right now. Well Kakarot I don't think so. If anyone's getting information it'll be me.'
"No not really." Was Vegeta's thought out answer.
"You sure cause I-"
"I said no, finish your cooking already, I'll be fine."
"O-kay then." He cursed under his breath turning back to the stove.
Vegeta continued to stare the other down. 'If he does know something I need to find out just what and how much and keep him from opening that food guzzling mouth of his from telling anyone else.'
Goku whistled happily finishing his food and anounced, "Done!" when the food was ready. "Hope you like it." He plated the meal and took it to the table setting one down in front of each of them then he took his own seat. Vegeta eyed the food suspiciously wondering if he should have watched the other prepare it incase he laced it with some kind of drug. "Well dig in." Goku chirped up already feeding his own face.
"Hn." Vegeta reluctantly did the same, his stomach giving protest to having been starved for so long. As he ate to appease the noisy intestine he stared at the other man readying himself for a game of questions and answers. He put his spoon down letting it clank noisely to get the others attention and cleared his throat incase the man thought nothing of the sound.
Goku looked up with a worried expression. "Something wrong with your food?"
"No its fine, you're uh... a good whatever." He waved a hand dismissing whatever compliment he was attempting to make. "Actually I wanted to ask you something, you did say before I could talk to you right?"
"Yeah go ahead." Goku spoke with more enthusiasm than he should have.
"Hm yes, well about this afternoon."
"Yyyeah?"
"I wasn't myself then."
Goku looked puzzled and scratched his head. "Really, cause you seemed like you just more of an old version ya know."
"How so?"
"Uh, well for starters you gave me and Piccolo a real run around thats for sure."
"And thats how we ended up outside?"
Goku quirked a brow. "Yeah, but don't you remember that?"
Frowning Vegeta barked back. "Of course I do, I'm just trying to get the story straight." He had to remember to keep his cool or he'd give himself away and lose his chance to trick the other into telling him exactly what went on that he actually had no memory of. "I'm just a bit hazy that's all."
"Right, well you didn't seem to be all there at the time and when I asked you what was wrong you denied that any of that stuff ever happened."
"What stuff?"
"Well wrecking the house, making us chase you down, attacking us out of the blue." He explained watching carefully as Vegeta's expression contorted with thought. 'And I thought this was my chance to be getting answers out of him, but it looks like this interrogation's taken a turn. He really doesn't know what happened, but why? It can't just be sleep deprivation, can it? And if this is serious I really should tell Trunks when he gets home.' Glancing at the clock there was only an hour left before the boys would be home and he promised to spend every minute of it trying to get Vegeta to admit there was something going on.