Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unconditional Bonds (revamped) ❯ Moments in Life ( Chapter 16 )

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

By: Makota

Now beta'd: Special thanks to Pixelgoddess

Chapter Sixteen: Moments in Life

Blood rained from the sky, smearing the landscape in a washed out crimson. The clouds were swelled; black and heavy they loomed low overhead, threatening the terrain with flesh searing lightning. Their ominous presence was a sickening reminder of what was to come.

The air felt heavy and thick in the lungs, making it hard to breathe and leaving the taste of ash on the tongue. So easily it could make one sick, and the smell? Rotting eggs would be as the finest of roses in comparison.

Fear, in its purest of forms, leaked into the cracks of the small space pod. He blinked and counted down the seconds in his head. He had looked forward to this moment. He had pleaded and implored his master for this mission. It would be his first, and now that he thought of it, maybe his last.

He didn't think it was like this. When he had gone out with his father things were different. They were already dead. Only a few were left to be picked off and all he had to do was stay in the background and simply watch. He had thought it great fun; pathetic weaker beings deserved to die. He found their pitiful armies amusing, especially when they would scramble and run in terror when they realized their attacks were in vain. It proved to him over and over that the strong were meant to rule the weak. But the best part of all was he got to spend actual time with his father. The King was usually too busy to waste time dealing with a child; besides it was a servant's duty to nurse him, not his father's.

In his earliest of memories he could still remember his mother as well. She was just a vague shadowy image in all reality, but there was one distinct moment he could clearly see her face. She was walking towards him, half of her soaked in blood, be it her own or an enemy's he never knew. A triumphant look shone on her sharp features as she proudly held her head high. When she finally stood before him, she had swooped him up in one swift motion. She held him up proudly over her head and looked into his eyes.

“Ah my son! My little prince. One day you too will know the glory of battle. Some day you will be a great warrior like I am. Even greater.” She then lowered him until he was eye level.

“Yes, I can see it. Someday you will rule this place... what a fine King you will make. You will be unstoppable.....you will be the best.”

That was all he could remember, not long after she had gone off on a purging mission and had never returned. Yet her words had stayed with him. He had eagerly trained and had gone through every single drill available at least three times over. The young prince had pestered those above him to let him tag along on the cleansing missions, so at least he could observe. Yet, much to his aggravation, he was only allowed on the occupied planets once the majority of the fighting was over. His determination to live up to his mother's words was unbreakable. He would be a great fighter, not just great but the finest. His father, who was now far away on his home planet, also had expectations for his young son. He had once said that he out of all of the Saiyans had the possibility of attaining the legendary Super Saiyan level, for it was in his blood-line.

The morning after his father had made such a prophetic declaration, the small prince was escorted off the premises into a small space craft. He was told he would be going away for a while to receive special training. After he had completed it he could come home.

It had been seven months now, and he had trained as hard as he possibly could. He begged Frieza for a mission, one that he could actually participate in. The tyrant had been dubious at first. The prince was still young, and had much to learn yet. But finally he agreed to let him go, he had been curious to see just how strong the Saiyan child actually was.

Well now here he was on this raging dying planet. This wasn't what he had expected, not in the least. He hadn't even gotten out of his space capsule yet and he was already soaked with blood. The door had opened facing the sky, he looked into the air; thousands of tiny dots were flying at each other in a maddening frenzy. Proof of their battles rained upon his head in dark red torrents. The fumes from the blazing fires where burning his eyes and throat, and the stench was making him sick. But it was the awful screaming that was the worst. It entered his ears and punctured his brain like needles. He didn't feel glory or triumph, not even a bit of blood lust. All he felt right now was scared; he wanted to go back to his quarters. Suddenly the moment he had dreaded came upon him. The monitor beeped, a face, just a little older than his, appeared on the screen.

“Prince Vegeta, it's time.”

Not wanting to look like a coward he squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes.

“I can see that you fool! I don't need a dunderhead like you telling me when it's time.”

Radditz couldn't help but smirk, he was well aware of his prince's apprehension; after all it was his first purging mission.

“Forgive me, my Prince.” He said the last word with a bit of mockery.

Vegeta sneered; if he did live through this he would beat Radditz soundly for his snide behavior.

He took a deep breath and blasted out of the space pod, his heart racing in fear...This was one of the most frightful moments in his life.

The scenery became fuzzy, the planet he had been standing on faded and was replaced by a hospital room. He hated hospitals, always had. A woman lay on a bed. Her forehead was beaded with sweat and her blue hair was plastered around her head. She looked absolutely exhausted. This had to be the most beautiful female in existence. Her cerulean eyes settled on him and she smiled. In her arms was a tiny bundle, it squirmed in her embrace, and another set of blue eyes looked in his direction. The elite reached out timidly. The small creature reached forth and wrapped a tiny hand around his finger. The woman smiled, her eyes lighting with love.

“Vegeta, you're a father.”

The most lovely creature in the universe had just given him the most precious of gifts. After all he had been through, all that he had done, he wondered if he deserved such a blessing. The woman and the tiny infant were the only things in his cold dark world that mattered to him. He'd give everything for them, his heart, soul, power, and pride. He leaned closer to his mate and kissed her on the forehead, thanking her. She smiled and motioned for him to take the little parcel curled in her arms, which he did with shaking hands.

Trusting blue eyes looked up at him, realization hitting him; this was his son, his flesh and blood, his heir.

His heart burst...this was the most joyous moment of his life.

The scenery violently changed once more, the hospital room whirled out of view with a nauseating alacrity. A large bedroom with gray carpeting abruptly appeared. The woman he had known and loved for years stood before him looking like a statue. Her face didn't seem to alter when she spoke but stayed carved of granite. Her words came out in a crystallized fog as if the room was freezing even though it was the dead of summer.

Her glacial voice chilled his soul.

“Vegeta, I'm pregnant...It's not yours.” The ice cracked and shame oozed forth through the fissures. He swore he could smell it on her.

“I've been having an affair.” A lengthy list of excuses. “I just don't feel close to you anymore. I think my love for you died along with you. When you came back, you were like a stranger. I've found another. Someone who really and fully completes me.”

The love of his life had found another and bonded with him. His one true mate had betrayed him. He had known, in the back of his mind he had always known, but he wouldn't allow himself to acknowledge it. Everything started to fall apart. He had failed her, or had he?

Or was it she who had failed him. She didn't even try to work things out, yet neither had he. He had simply turned a blind eye and trained. They were both to blame, but still did she have to dishonor him like this? She should have said something. What was to happen to him? Saiyan bonds are for life. He remembered his father had been devastated when his mother had died. He was never the same, he grew cold and became a recluse and sent his son off to be trained by a blood-thirsty maniac. Yet had he done it willingly or did Frieza force him? The question had always plagued him, but it mattered little now. Besides, now he was being sent away again, and by the only one in creation he fully trusted. His world shattered; this was the most painful moment in his life.

He had no choice, death was the only escape, he couldn't live without her; he refused to. Running away wasn't solving anything; it was time to let the darkness claim him. He let himself go, and allowed exhaustion to overtake him. He no longer cared. Yet strong arms lifted him from the mire of his sorrow.

This being of light and warmth who resided in the shadows healed his wounds, physical and otherwise. It nursed him back to health with the utmost patience and tenderness.

Earlier in time he sought after this being as only a guide and confidant. Little did he know how much dwelled within this entity. So much like him. So much to give, begging to give, but not knowing how to.

“...I couldn't stand seeing you like that...the pain was unbearable...how unbelievably wrong you had to suffer because of it...I had to fix it somehow...and when you didn't protest it overjoyed me...I couldn't stand seeing you in so much pain, ...it was killing me…”

In astonishment, “How long have you felt—?”

“For a long time. I think I'm just beginning to realize how long.”

His heart, now reborn and renewed, soared with new life. This was the most heavenly moment in his life...and it was only going to get better.

He awoke. His head rested on his new chosen's chest. Yes he had finally met his true match, one who could return his bond. Although his emotions where still in disarray, he had deep feelings for the Namek beside him. And apparently the Namekian warrior had feelings for him as well and for a long time. But what of love? Despite his past bond he still found the ideal of love mawkish. However, given the situation, he wondered if it was something that he should consider.

The tall one had wanted him; that much he was certain of. They were now bound, which spoke of an overwhelming fondness. A more important question, what of his own feelings? He didn't think it possible that he could love anyone other than Bulma Briefs, the human genius. His feelings for her had been deep and true. How could they just vanish? If she were to die tomorrow it would hurt him considerably; he still cared.

He tried to think back on all their happy memories, whenever he had done so it had filled him with a sense of warmth. But now as he touched on them, it was like watching a movie. He saw quite clearly the actions, but the feelings associated with them couldn't be felt. And although he thought them sweet, there weren't any lasting emotions. They were just memories, simple as that. He thought it terrible that his love for her could just be thrown away like garbage, but apparently she had done the same and without a second's hesitation at that.

Bonds were a big pain in the ass. He perched himself up with one arm and looked down at the sleeping warrior beside him. They had been through so much together. Piccolo knew more about him than Bulma ever did. This was due to the simple reason that he didn't cover his ears and change the subject whenever the elite spoke of his sanguineous past.

Bulma didn't like hearing about it, ever. She would simply wave him off saying he wasn't like that anymore and it was pointless talking about it. Yet, he found it hard to simply push his past aside while trying to adapt to the ways of Earth. Here entered Piccolo. His past wasn't exactly immaculate either. Although he was a saint compared to Vegeta, he could relate to him and his mind-set.

At the time the Saiyan had fallen in love with the earth woman, Bulma, he had wanted her but knew he couldn't have her unless he changed his ways. It was the Namek who guided him through the darkened woods of his soul. The blue-haired temptress was the goal, even though she was still seeing Yamcha at the time. True, she would help along the way, offering encouragement, but it was the green warrior who had really supported him. Vegeta had been so engrossed with Bulma that he had been blind to Piccolo's amiability.

He cursed himself; that should have told him right then and there who he really should have been focusing on. Bulma was just a tease at first; she'd go out of her way to attract his attention. He found it disgraceful, especially since she was dating another. Yet she was the first to care for him, and the first to stand up to him with out the slightest of fears. He fell in love with that. And apparently she fell in love with his `bad ass attitude' as she liked to term it.

But that was years ago. Their love blossomed, but after awhile grew boring. They never talked about their true feelings, despite the fact that she loved to bitch about everything under the sun. Yet, when it came to her dreams and fears he was left in the dark. He on the other hand wasn't much better. He never thought anything of her closed-hearted ways, because he had been raised to feel nothing. So it had worked out fine for a time, but inevitably it had to end one way or another. It was a relief, sad to say, but now he felt an actual peace in his life.

Although he had felt content with Bulma he had always felt restless, like there was something much more that he was missing out on. Only now was he starting to see what he hadbeen missing. The Namek put him in a tranquil state, yet matched his itinerant demeanor with his own. The bond had already formed in such a short time, and to his utter bliss it was working both ways for a change. No longer did he have to be the ever strong unwavering mate, he could let go and for once let someone take care of him for a change. He didn't have to put up a facade anymore. True, he was a bastard, but not 24/7; it was a relief to let his defenses drop now and again without fear of appearing weak. He no longer had to prove anything. The feeling was euphoric. He leaned down and kissed his sleeping companion, his emotions becoming a bit clearer.

“Why did you wait so long?” he whispered, “I wish you would have come into my life sooner, things would have been so much easier…better. But I'm thankful you're here now…” he trailed off not certain he could say the rest out loud. “One day I'll show you my appreciation ten-fold.”

He regained his place at the Namek's side, he placed an arm around him and squeezed him, and shortly fell back to sleep.

Piccolo opened his eyes for a moment and studied him, a small smile playing on his lips.

Although he too wasn't ready to say it, his own feelings for the Saiyan Prince intensified ten-fold.