Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Tasting Bliss ❯ Sharing ( Chapter 9 )

Bittersweet

 

Sequel to Tasting Bliss

 

Contains Male/Male pairings. Don't read if you don't like yaoi or shonen ai! Vegeta Seme/Goku Uke.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Vegeta, Goku or Dragon Ball Z. Akira Toriyama created the manga/anime, and it is owned/licensed by Shonen Jump and Toei Animation Co. Ltd. This is a fan fiction, and means no harm.

 

 

Musk existed. So did the scent of something spicy akin to cinnamon or brass. Halfway between iron and its oxide left a deposit on Vegeta's tongue. Slowly he twitched aching muscles, aware he was weighed down by someone else. Dark hairs tickled his nose, and he turned his head to the side. It was far too warm and comfortable to move out of the safe den he now occupied.

 

Daring to open his eyes at last, the Saiyan Prince saw nothing but black spiky hair blocking brightness. Narrowing his vision he could peer past the spikes and blur them so he could see a geometric grille of iron bars dividing the circle of light. Warm breath misted against the hollow of his left shoulder. Carefully Vegeta pushed up with one hand he realized lay along one side, the other pushed up against a bare solid chest. Moving the warm slumbering body off him he struggled to sit up, then flopped back down.

 

Someone whimpered, twining strong arms around Vegeta. Again he was imprisoned by the heavier body of his captor. Despite the scarlet fur on his arms Vegeta felt cold shivers of realization stun him. Reality asserted himself with the fact that he was in a one roomed structure. Peering up to the far wall he could see a circular pattern identical to the source of light. Orange sprinkles of light shimmered here and there on the wall, then flashed like a strobe when Vegeta again pushed himself up on one elbow to see where he was. He lay on the narrow futon along with the curled up form of the cabin's owner. Just under Vegeta's chin the other occupant of the futon nudged his spiky haired head, tickling the Prince's nose. A hand rested flat on Vegeta's furry chest, its mate slid under Vegeta's back to imprison him. One muscular thigh hooked over Vegeta's hip and the other lay between Vegeta's own numb legs.

 

"Idiotic fool," Vegeta chuffed, glancing down at the sleeping third class. He couldn't resist lifting his hand to finger the chaotic spikes. Just running his hand through Saiyan hair seemed a luxury long denied him. Familiarity knotted Vegeta's throat tightly, bringing back memories of another muscular titan curled up in his arms, covering them both with an abundant ebony mane. If he looked down at the peaceful smiling visage, Bardock's son seemed like a blasted angel.

 

"Mmm," mumbled Bardock's son, nuzzling into Vegeta's chest. Slowly something flickered from the base of Vegeta's spine, wrapping around Kakkarot's shapely muscled thigh. Half of the covers lay over their intertwined bodies, while the rest dragged on the floor. Still Vegeta hardly noticed because Goku's body radiated so much comfortable heat.

 

"I could lay here for a while," Vegeta mumbled, then cursed weakness. He should be up by now training, not lazing in bed.

 

What was the point, he asked himself. Anger pushed away any peace, and Vegeta flinched. Suddenly he wanted to push the slumbering guardian angel in his arms away and run for his life. How dare Kakkarot embrace him so readily! After what they had done?

 

"Enough," Vegeta growled. Slowly Goku's nose twitched and he opened dark eyes.

 

"What was that, Vegeta?" Goku murmured, blinking up at him.

 

"Nothing. Go back to sleep, idiot," Vegeta said, affectionately. Grim reality asserted itself again, reminding the prince that his only companion now was a once hated rival. Something existed between them that denied all other relationships, and Vegeta was still trying to come to grips with that. Here he was, prince of nothing and nowhere with one subject totally devoted to him. Ruler of all he surveyed that included a lonely mountainside complete with pagoda and a bunch of dusty antiques.

 

"Wow, I really slept like a log, man…" Goku yawned, that infuriatingly cheerful smile spreading over his face. How could he be happy after what had happened yesterday?

 

"You weigh a ton," Vegeta grunted. "Move your fat butt will you so I can at least feel my legs again?"

 

"And a cheerful good morning to you, sheesh," Goku blinked with a momentary frown. "I bet you're just hungry…"

 

"How can you just lie there so damn happy, Kakkarot?" Vegeta grunted. "Are you insane or just…"

 

"What was that? Oh… you mean yesterday huh?" Goku blinked, not bothering to completely rise. Instead he shifted his weight enough so he could look Vegeta in the face.

 

"What do you THINK I meant you…" Vegeta spluttered, then flopped back down. "Why do I bother."

 

"Vegeta, I know what you're talking about, I'm not stupid," Goku answered, straddling the Prince's waist. From innocent to deadly serious Goku shifted in less then a second, his dark eyes holding an almost infinite sadness. It spooked Vegeta far more then Goku's cheerful demeanor.

 

"This is where you're living, since the harpy threw you out. This shack, albeit shabby and you're disgustingly cheerful. And now you're suddenly getting your head around what's happened? You're infuriating. Sometimes I wonder if you're playing dumb just to piss me off," Vegeta mumbled.

 

"I think you could use breakfast, Vegeta. Always easier to face the day when you don't have an empty stomach," Goku answered. "And before you start ranting about food, you know I'm right."

 

"Always thinking of your stomach."

 

"Just relax. This one's on me," Goku said.

 

"And what exactly are you implying? Of course I was on you last night…" Vegeta started.

 

"Don't get up you'll spoil it! Whenever I wasn't feeling great my grandpa made me breakfast in bed," Goku said.

 

"I'm not ill, Kakkarot!" Vegeta protested, throwing off the covers.

 

"Vegeta just work with me ok?" Goku asked, lowering his voice to a plaintive pleading tone. "I want to make you breakfast in bed, ok? It wouldn't kill you to have someone do something NICE for a change would it?"

 

"I don't do nice, Kakkarot."

 

"Tough. Cause house rules say that anyone moping needs to do it on a full stomach. And since you don't do nice, I'm going to hold you down and shove it down your throat Vegeta if you don't let me…" Goku wagged a finger at him, half serious.

 

"Was that a threat I heard?" Vegeta asked.

 

"Stay put!" Goku said, pinning the Prince with one hand on his shoulder. "You're always reminding me that you're the 'Prince of all Saiyans'. I figure it won't hurt for his Majesty to get breakfast in bed so he's not such a Mr. Cranky pants. Then maybe this will all be easier to take in," Goku suggested.

 

"Do what you want," Vegeta mumbled, drawing up his knee to fold his arms overtop and rest his chin on his knee. He often assumed this pose when he considered his options. To Goku it looked like the Prince was trying to curl into a ball and shut the world out. He remembered Gohan often taking that pose when he was upset.

 

Extricating himself from Vegeta he then wandered out into the morning stark naked. Yet he felt a hot flush realizing that someone was carefully scrutinizing every detail. This thought made him blush. Vegeta was 'checking him out' as Goten would say.

 

"Mind you only walk around like that in my presence or else," Vegeta said with a bit of an evil chuckle. Goku turned and rubbed the back of his neck. He was glad that Vegeta's somber mood was broken by his distraction.

 

"I'll be back," Goku said as he strode over to the large dresser and pulled out some patched gi. There were his old outfits from King Kai and Kami that he kept here for training purposes. Oddly enough his grandfather had taught him how to fix simple rips by sewing. From the state of Vegeta's clothes he wondered if the Prince would have the same wardrobe shortage.

 

Gohan. What was he going to say about all this, Goku soberly realized. OR Goten and Trunks? Videl and Pan? Granted Pan was rather young, but Videl and Chichi were quite close. Gohan might throw a fit, and Goten, it was hard to tell since he hardly spent time at home anymore. It dawned on Goku that Goten had said he was going with Trunks on some sort of trip, but the reason eluded him. No wonder Vegeta seemed so morose.

 

"I guess we're going to have to figure out just what to tell everyone," Goku said quietly. The road ahead seemed clear, for he guessed Vegeta had no other place to go save back to Capsule. If Bulma was focussing her affections on Yamcha, she must have emotionally divorced herself from Vegeta a while ago. Trunks and Bulla most likely would resent things, but somehow he sensed they'd known something was amiss for a while. As for Goten and Gohan, Goku discerned they most likely would punch him in the face or far worse.

 

"It's not the first time they've been angry with my choices," Goku muttered, wiping sweat from his face. Carrying his clothes on his head he marched back with a huge six foot fish dragging behind him. Approaching the house he decided it would be best to put clothing on. Just the desire to cover himself in the presence of one who had seen him naked felt odd. Yet Chichi always demanded him to…

 

Chichi wasn't here, Goku told himself. She had made it all too clear that what he had done was unforgivable.

 

"Selfish bastard," she had called him. Goku carefully changed into his old Kami outfit, then strode the rest of the way back.

 

By the time he arrived he saw Vegeta clothed in blue spandex. Yet he had no gloves. The Prince was counting to himself in a different tongue as he performed pushups just in front of the open cabin door.

 

"Hey no fair!" Goku shouted, marching up.

 

"Took you long enough. I was getting bored waiting for you, Kakkarot," Vegeta answered, not looking up at him.

 

"But you were supposed to stay put! I was looking forward to…" Goku trailed off. Vegeta pushed himself off his hands and knelt before a pouting Goku.

 

"Fine if it will shut you up I'll go inside, Kakkarot, just stop your chattering," Vegeta huffed, climbing to his feet. Goku gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed Vegeta's shoulder as the Prince passed him on the way back inside.

 

"Thanks Vegeta," Goku whispered.

 

"For what?"

 

"for letting me… be nice to you. It's not as bad as you think, you know. Letting someone pamper you. And besides I thought a Prince would…"

 

"Hn," Vegeta grunted, strutting the rest of the way inside. He pulled off his boots and lay down on the futon, spreading himself out on one side. For the next few minutes he heard the clink of crockery and the sizzle of food cooking. Not to mention the tantalizing smell of grilled fish and steaming rice. He thanked Kami that Goku could cook at least as well if not better then Bulma. Fortunately if he remained here with Kakkarot he wouldn't starve.

 

"It takes him THIS long to serve his Prince. Talk about dense," Vegeta remarked. He laughed harshly at himself realizing how he would have gladly forced Goku to bow to him, and now the younger Saiyan was doing it out of affection. Not because he was ordered to but because Goku wanted to be 'nice'.

 

He had the most powerful being in the universe eating out of the palm of his hand. Serving him. Vegeta felt a perverse shiver of delight. Had he known it would be this easy to…

 

"Bullshit," Vegeta answered sullenly, banishing those thoughts away. "He's the last full blooded Saiyan. And rightfully he should be with his Prince. And he himself said that there was a new chance to start on Earth."

 

His eyes fell on the twinkling object sitting on a pillow atop the polished dresser. Vegeta shifted to get out of bed only to see Goku marching through the door with a tray in his hands. Grumbling a curse Vegeta settled down again and let Goku bring the tray over to him in the futon alcove.

 

"There you go, fresh steamed rice cake, and some fish. Eat all you want," Goku said. "It's just the first course. There's five more portions but I didn't have a tray or bowl big enough…"

 

"That will do, Kakkarot," Vegeta raised a negating hand. Eagerly he seized the chopsticks and set about struggling to use them to eat the simple but divinely smelling breakfast. How strange that the simple act of eating would bring so much pleasure because Vegeta was consumed with the smells and tastes. Hunger seemed the best sauce for such simple fare. However it was prepared by someone who willingly shared not from obligation but from dare he think… love?

 

"The idiot's waiting for me to eat," Vegeta realized when Goku brought the fifth tray of bowls and plates in. Waving to him he said, "Kakkarot, sit down and eat something before you pass out and I have to worry about your body cluttering the place."

 

"Well if you insist," Goku said, lowering himself to sit on the floor with folded legs. Picking up a spare pair of chopsticks he grabbed one of the bowls of rice. Immediately particles of rice flew into his hair and all over the front of his orange and blue shirt. A few grains even alit in Vegeta's spiky crown. Vegeta picked them out.

 

"Watching you eat is like watching a natural disaster," Vegeta humphed, resuming his own meal. "Somewhere between ridiculous and…"

 

"Hey just remember who said I could eat," Goku said through a mouthful of food, poking the air with the points of his chopsticks. Vegeta had to admit that Goku did handle them quite well. Eating rice with those blasted little splinters of wood was not exactly easy when you're accustomed to using forks and spoons.

 

"No wonder you make that sticky rice. Strange you get it all over you instead of in that mouth of yours," Vegeta further commented. He leaned across the tray to pick grains out of Goku's hair.

 

"Oops sorry. I guess I get carried away. Chichi always says…" he chattered before stopping himself. Pain crossed Goku's face and he set the empty bowl down with a thud.

 

"Kakkarot, who gives a shit? The harpy isn't here. I could fucking care less what she thinks, could you?" Vegeta interrupted. Goku snapped his eyes open and looked at Vegeta's irritated glare with surprise.

 

"I guess you're right Vegeta," Goku murmured. He brushed the gleam of tears out of his eyes with his free hand, angry with himself for starting to show emotion in front of Vegeta. No doubt the Prince would rail him verbally for being 'weak' but he couldn't help it.

 

"Screw her, Kakkarot. It's in the past. She made her decision loud and clear," Vegeta continued, reaching over and grasping Goku's wrist in his hand.

 

"Yeah, you're right, but still…" Goku mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut. He pressed his face in his hand and uttered a low curse.

 

"Humph, are you just going to sit there and mope about it, eh? You're a Saiyan, Kakkarot. Of course she couldn't comprehend what happened any more then you till you learned the reality. She'll naturally judge you by human standards since you've been whelped and raised here. How can she understand?" Vegeta continued.

 

"I'm still an Earthling Vegeta," Goku snapped, glaring at Vegeta through the sheen of tears. "I know I'm a Saiyan and all, but I'm not going to just push all that aside just because you and me… well you know…"

 

"Am I ASKING you to, Kakkarot? I'm simply stating the obvious," Vegeta snorted.

 

"But what are you going to tell Trunks? And I'm not sure of what I'm going to say to Gohan and Goten. I'm sure by now Chichi's ranted dozens of times to the poor boy…"

 

"True. But Trunks has most certainly been aware of what's happened. No doubt even your younger son wouldn't fail to notice things on his own. But they will have to accept it. There's no going back, judging from what's happening now?"

 

"And what is happening now?" Goku asked plaintively. "I guess you'll be staying here from now on? Chichi won't want to see my face again, and I've got to talk to Goten…"

 

"The boys must be brought to face facts. We'll simply inform them of the changes. What they do is their affair. But they will accept things will not be the same," Vegeta answered.

 

"Then you do… want to stay," Goku answered.

 

"Would I have lowered myself to spend time here if I wasn't, Kakkarot?"

 

"Well, you could have gotten into a ship and left, if you really wanted," Goku slowly answered. "But I guess you like living on earth more then you'd like to admit."

 

"Saiyan blood flows in my veins but I call the Earth my home," Vegeta stated firmly. "Have you forgotten what you said to me before we faced that pink menace?"

 

"Oh," Goku answered, blinking at his Prince. Still the Prince's hand had gripped his tightly, dark eyes drilling into Goku's soul. They willed him to think back to the time just before they joined bodies through the potara earrings.

 

"Yes, I do remember," Goku nodded. "And it's true no matter where you or I stay. I couldn't leave earth any more then you. And running away isn't going to solve anything with our sons, or your daughter. And then there's Pan…"

 

"She's young, Kakkarot. The brat will learn to accept things as they are," Vegeta said.

 

"But what exactly does this… this… thing we have… mean? I mean other then living together here?"

 

"I see you have accepted this. Accepted the inevitable. You have no regrets or second thoughts? Even now you are at liberty to spend time with that… harpy mate of yours. What exists between us here is not exclusive to…"

 

"Vegeta, I can't think like that. I'm sorry, it's all so confusing. I just… it's all so new," Goku protested.

 

"Obviously it will be up to me to teach you what that damn accident has denied you," Vegeta answered.

 

"Why wait till now?" asked Goku, aware of the implicating of Vegeta's words. Was Vegeta now going to divulge far more about Saiyan culture?

 

"You never expressed the interest. Bound as you were to accepting your Earthling heritage in favor of your true nature," said Vegeta. "It would have been a waste of time. But now that you…"

 

"I see," Goku said quietly. "Makes sense. But I think it should go both ways. If you're going to live here like this, I think you should know more about me and my past."

 

"I hardly see why that…"

 

"It's only fair Vegeta. I don't want you thinking that it's all just one sided. I want you to know why being an Earthling is as important to me as being a Saiyan is to you," Goku interrupted, squeezing Vegeta's hand. Vegeta saw the earnest pleading in his eyes, mingled with Goku's pride. Suddenly the Prince realized he was being most unfair in pushing culture on one who had just come to terms with part of his nature long submerged. Hadn't he wanted to know the secret of Kakkarot's strength, and if Goku was willing to divulge his past, then Vegeta would eagerly know. Perhaps in the memories Vegeta would discover the path to Goku's incredible power.

 

"So, what would you first tell me then, eh?" Vegeta asked, pushing the empty tray aside. "That Bulma hasn't already told me?"

 

"Well, I want you to know what it was like for me to grow up here. Why this home, this place is so important. You should know since we're… sharing things together like this," Goku insisted. Vegeta counted mentally to ten, and then felt Goku release his hand. His eyes immediately traveled to the bright orange sphere sitting on the pillow.

 

"You noticed the dragonball there. Right where it was all those years since Grandpa gave it to me. I bet you're wondering why I bother keeping it there, after everything," Goku said. He got up and wandered over to pick up the small sphere, and then carried it back over to a rather surprised Vegeta watching him intently.

 

"Obviously by entrusting it to you, and you oblivious of its true purpose," Vegeta started. "He was protecting it from anyone else using it."

 

"What was that," Goku asked, cupping the sphere.

 

"You've never realized just WHY he gave it to you. The old man was no idiot," Vegeta laughed. "Giving it to you was the best way of stopping them being used."

 

"Oh… I never thought of it that way," Goku blinked, peering at the four bright stars shimmering in the matrix of orange. "It reminds me of Grandpa. And now that Chichi's kicked me out, I need to know he's near… because I…"

 

"Point taken," Vegeta said. "It's all you have of your home. Typical sentiment. And well you should hang onto it considering what might happen."

 

"You're not thinking of gathering them to become immortal or something, are you?" Goku blinked at him with a raised brow.

 

"There are no more enemies to fight, Kakkarot. And you are already stronger then I. An eternity of training would still not diminish that fact. And were I to live on alone, it would scarce have any significance with none to remember," Vegeta muttered.

 

"That's not so, Vegeta," Goku interrupted. "Knowing you you'd want to have SOMEONE around to keep you company. And I guess you're realizing now it's a pretty stupid wish."

 

"Humph," Vegeta answered. "Says someone who has the world in his hands and doesn't use it."

 

"I don't want to use it. Not unless there's a great need, Vegeta," Goku answered.

 

"Then it didn't matter if you knew its true purpose or not," Vegeta snickered. "Just as well you thought of it as a mere keepsake then a means to power. You're too pure hearted to have any selfish ambitions."

 

"Unlike you?" Goku asked. "I knew you wouldn't wish for immortality. I just wanted to hear you say it out loud."

 

"Annoying Third class," Vegeta mumbled. "I suppose this is where you're going to tell some long story that will last hours..."

 

"Hey, you said that you'd be fair," Goku again pouted.

 

"Fine," Vegeta relented. "Tell your tale."