Deep Circle

Hello! First I want to reassure everyone who got a bit uneasy after my answer to Camaro.
I saw that ‘…why not to email me?’ as an order, and I freaked out a bit. After I read Camaro’s second comment I realized that I jumped to conclusion too fast; Camaro really felt hurt. Seeing my mistake I apologized. There are no hard feelings from my side. I am glad that Camaro accepted my apology, and it’s end of the story. It was my fault, and I tried my best to redeem it.

Hello, Sliding_Pool! Well, as I already explained above, it was my mistake and I already apologized. I don’t have what to say much otherwise. No, I didn’t ever have any problems with Camaro earlier, as told, I just wrongly interpreted that ‘…why not to email me?’ That’s it. You have been right.

Hello, Webtester01! Yes, this fic is about unfolding. It unfolds and unfolds and unfolds. I myself have been very surprised to see that it unfolded almost until the very end (actually until almost 23 chapter ;). It’s quite unusual, but you already see that there’s a hint in these Goku’s ‘visions’.

Hello, geta_gfan,! Well, the story IS quite interesting, I can tell that without boasting (as I would read it myself being a reader). But if I were a great writer, I’d be sitting in a huge house, making millions of profit and not using someone’s already created characters. Oh, well, maybe one day. Hahaha, well, a girl can dream, can’t she? ;)

Hello, kit-kit! Thanks!

Hello, Macha! Oh, you’ll get your answers.
About someone noticing increase in Goku’s power. Well, it will be noticed, as you’ll see, but I feel that I should explain about scouters. Actually I have no idea how they work, but you should remember that already, when Goku had been training in the spaceship, Radditz saw him ascend and wanted to check his power level. Whatever device was used (yeah, I know, and I already told you not to complain about lack of my imagination in my note nr. 3 ;) it wasn’t able to measure Goku’s power level. It’s the same with scouters. They can show someone’s power boost but Goku’s power as Super Saiyan three is too high to measure. Besides how a scouter can tell that it was Goku’s power? Alright, there no one else was in that room with Vegeta, but anyway. So, this is how I IMAGINE scouters. In reality I know nothing about them.
And about the differences between both Vegetas. There’s going to be several chapters about those similarities or differences, how you called them. My point was to show that there are differences, but at the same time I wanted to show that behind those differences there were two almost identical persons. Oh, you’ll see, it’s chapter 17 that is going to solve that ‘problem’ about all the differences and similarities. Hahaha, a long wait, but don’t worry, this chapter is going to access that difference too (Goku is going to give that some thought). For now Goku is looking only for similarities. It’s natural, that at first he sees the both Vegetas the same, only later he will notice differences and such.
About the flashbacks. It’s important. For now they don’t mean much, but it will be the time when you will be able to build a side story to this one. If you’ll be able to solve this puzzle, I’m going to be very proud of you, but very unhappy, because I don’t want anyone to solve it until almost very end ;)

Hello, ChromeApparition! I did have some questions for you, but I haven’t been able to reach you (either you gave me the wrong email or ‘aol’ again was fucked up). I doubt that you ever would read this, but anyway. So this is what I tried to email you (I tried three times, one time I even deleted that one ‘p’ in Apparition. Didn’t help.)
Hello,
Although is completely not your business and such, I\'d
like to tell you that after I realized that Camaro
felt really insulted, I emailed her, explained
everything and apologized, and everything is
okay between us.

If you think that I wanted attention I have several
presumptions that you yourself wanted some attention
writing me that message or you simply didn’t have anything
better to do than stick your nose into other people’s business.
I answered Camaro like that
because I thought that that \'...why not to email me?\'
sounded as an order. I don\'t obey orders, and I sort
of freaked out. Well, I saw that she really felt
insulted what means she didn’t mean what I presumed. I
apologized. That\'s it. Hmm...And this all was not
your business. It might be very strange for you but sometimes
people can solve their problems by themselves.

This was what I wanted to email you. I made a mistake attacking Camaro like that, but you yourself are not better than me – you didn’t know what happened and attacked me. I’m ashamed that I didn’t quite understood what Camaro meant with that ‘…why not to email me?’ and attacked her without clearing it up, but you should be ashamed writing me that note too. (Oh, yes, if you are reading this, probably you’re going to tell me that I’m a stupid bitch and you are not going to feel ashamed for showing me my place. Oh, well, in that case I don’t have much what to say.) Have a nice day.

chayron

Deep Circle by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com) (beta-read by Vegeta’s Mate’)

Disclaimer: I don’t own DBZ. I’m not making any money of this fic.
Warnings: Yaoi, male/male. Goku/Vegeta.
Note: ‘Misuu’ is my made up word for a Saiyan terminus for a Saiyan male that had born a child.

Part 4

Goku looked at Vegeta who, with all the other stuff, had been blown into the corner by the immense power swish. He couldn’t suppress his smile when Vegeta angrily smacked the fallen books from his head and jumped to his feet. Vegeta looked funny. He even noticed a faint blush coloring the prince’s nose. He made himself look innocent when Vegeta glared at him.

Goku turned around as he heard chaos going on behind the room’s door.

“Power down,” Vegeta motioned for Goku then turned to the door, quickly barking orders, making the tumult quiet down. He turned back to Goku just in time to see the blond hair fade away, teal eyes change to black ones. Vegeta had to lean on the windowsill. Now he believed. He brushed a hand over his forehead then looked at his palm. He was sweating.

“Are you alright?” Goku felt a bit worried - Vegeta seemed to be shocked. Goku felt relieved when, after his question, Vegeta snarled at him. Yeah, Vegeta was alright, just couldn’t believe he had been surpassed. Typical…

Goku found his chair and sat back down across from Vegeta. He waited till Vegeta fished out the table from the top of the closet, put it down and sat upon his chair opposite him.

Vegeta stared at Goku for some time then loudly cursed. “And you want to go back?! You, coward! Selfish bastard!”

Uhhh. Goku gave a smug smile to Vegeta. He leaned back, putting his feet on the table. “Are you asking me to stay?” He still was smiling at now quieted Vegeta. “Because I will, I just want you to make a plan, or whatever. You always have been more brainy than I....”

“Hn.” Vegeta finally regained his speech. He unceremoniously kicked Goku’s feet off the table. The damn Saiyan knew him too well. Goku exactly knew what was behind his pretended outburst and Goku knew how to smooth him. Damn. “A plan?” he sighed. They all didn’t do anything more only made tons of plans. They’d gather, talk, talk and talk. And what? Even the brainiest leaders couldn’t think of anything. The fight was already lost. They could send their ships and warriors to fight, but what was the point? They’d be destroyed and killed not managing to do anymore damage to the enemy. The planet soon would be surrounded; they would need their last warriors to defend it. But even that was theoretical, because if finally lizards broke through defenses, they could simply blow up the planet, like they did with many others. “A plan?” he repeated. He gazed at Goku for some time. So what that Goku is powerful? What could he do? Now the damn Universe was full of lizards, any spaceship they would put Goku in, would be destroyed. He even probably would not have a chance to fight - where was mechanics the power of fist meant not much. The open space was not beneficial for them now. Unless the lizards came on Vegetasei where Goku could whip their whole ships with one blast even before they landed.

Vegeta sighed, closing his eyes. “I’m ready to fight whatever lands on this forsaken planet. If I failed - you’d be here. I don’t believe in Gods and all that bullshit, but it’s way too much coincidence that you are here now at this moment. It means something.”

Shit. Goku sighed, leaning in his chair. “Stop talking like that; as if you don’t know what to do.”

“No,” Vegeta mournfully leaned in his seat against Goku. He brushed over his hair. Paraphrases were good but they didn’t work on the tailless Saiyan. Damn.

“Alright,” Goku rubbed his forehead, which now was starting to burn. The perspectives of possible death on this cursed planet didn’t excite him much. “We’ll think of something.” He looked at Vegeta who seemed to be skeptical. “Oh, c’mon, you never give up!”

“No, I don’t,” Vegeta nodded. “But one has to stay close to reality.”

Goku gave Vegeta an insulted look. “Easier said, than done…”

Vegeta rolled his eyes. “Stop complaining - you said you had been dead before…”

“Oh, what encouragement!” Goku snorted. Who the hell knew what happened if one died in this dimension?!

Vegeta got more thoughtful look on his face. “Alright, listen, I’ll try to think something. Meanwhile it would be good that you stayed close to the castle just in case something important happens. Besides it has been a long time since I had a decent spar partner. I can give you a room, if you don’t have where to stay.”

Goku sighed agreeing with everything. “Yeah, if I’m going to die, at least lets have some fun before that.”

XXXXX

Goku had been wandering through the castle for twenty minutes now.

Goku snorted at himself - he was lost. Alright, Vegeta gave him a room, but where the hell was it?! And weren’t there supposed to be guards at each door or whatever that he could ask for directions to reach that damn room?!

“Hi!”

Goku turned around to see Vegeta’s brother run to him. He almost laughed, noticing the little prince’s bodyguard visibly panic, try to grab Vedeno by his collar, miss it then run after the kid.

“Hi,” Goku smiled down at the child. “How was the ceremony?” he asked.

The prince just waved off. “Zarbon looked funny. Well, he always looks like a girl,” he added after thinking a second, “but this time he looked the same as his mate. I couldn’t tell who was who.”

“Your highness,” the bodyguard tried to grab Vedeno by his hand. He winced as the kid simply pushed him to the side. “Your father…”

“Go away,” Vedeno annoyed pointed his bodyguard to the door.

“I can’t!” the guard panicked. “I’m your bodyguard, your misuu will kill me…”

Vedeno rolled his eyes at Goku. “It’s his first day as my bodyguard,” he explained.

Goku laughed. “You’re not a very good boy, Vedeno. Why are you torturing the poor guy?”

“Prince Vedeno,” the boy corrected him. He thought a moment. “Well, I suppose I’m bored. Vegeta promised to spar with me, but I think he found you much more interesting…” Vedeno winked his one eye at Goku.

Goku blinked down at the small prince, surprised. What that kid had just implied here?! Goku noticed the guard’s eyes fix on him with curiosity. Yes, of course, now the whole planet would hear about this nonsense! And it didn’t help a bit that Vegeta gave him permission to live in the castle as his bodyguard.

“Where are you from?” Vedeno asked Goku. “Your pronunciation is very funny. I’ve never heard a Saiyan talk like that.”

“I left Vegetasei as a small boy, I lived on another planet and came back only now. So, that is where the accent comes from.”

“Oh,” Vedeno shrugged. “Clear then.” Then the boy’s face lit up. “Hey, will you spar with me?”

“Your, highness, I…”

“Shut up!” Vedeno silenced the guard, raising his hand. “So?” he expectantly looked at Goku.

“On one condition,” Goku smiled sheepishly at the vibrant child. “Could you tell me where the room next to the guests’ rooms is?”

“Although you have no right to request anything, and I was just nice by ASKING you nicely…” Vedeno frowned thinking, “…you know Ethics...” he sighed then. “My misuu is very fond of it for some reason. Don’t know why, though…” Vedeno seemed to remember then. “Yeah, I know where that room is. It’s the room of my brother’s former bodyguard. That is, before Vegeta killed him. I can show you, but we spar later,” Vedeno motioned for Goku to follow, beginning to lead Goku through the castle maze.

“Why did Vegeta kill his bodyguard?” Goku asked a bit nervous.

“‘Prince Vegeta’ to you!” Vedeno turned around to poke on Goku’s leg with his small finger. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “He was very angry with him for some reason. Nobody knows why.”

“Very encouraging…” Goku muttered. He heard Vedeno laugh and realized he had forgotten how sensitive Saiyan hearing was.

“So, you’re his new bodyguard?” Vedeno pushed his bodyguard aside as that wanted to open the door to the training hall for them and opened it by himself.

“Yes,” Goku nodded. He caught a glimpse of Vedeno’s bodyguard tripping over his own feet, before they entered the training hall.

“Hmm…” Vedeno turned to Goku. “I don’t think he needs a bodyguard. The last one Vegeta had ten years ago and he killed him. Why the hell does he need another one then?”

“Hey! You weren\'t even born yet!” Goku frowned. “How do you know what happened to him?”

Vedeno looked at him, surprised. “I know everything. Well, except why he killed the guy…”

Goku observed the training hall. Not as spacious as the last one he visited but big enough. There was the royal sign on the ceiling.

“Your highness, it’s way past your bedtime…” the bodyguard whined after he saw Vedeno throw his cape away and getting ready for the spar. “Kamala…”

“Shh” Vedeno waved off. “Who is the prince here?”

Goku suppressed his smile - the kid was Vegeta’s copy, only younger. Probably Vedeno learned much from his big brother. He observed the kid who was ready to spar. Now he wasn’t so sure if that had been a good idea… he didn’t know how strong the child was, what if he injured the kid? The whole planed would clamor to cut his head off, and guess who would be in the front of the crowd? Vegeta, of course.

Goku’s musings were cut short when Vedeno made the first move to attack. Goku easily defended himself from various punches and kicks. The kid was strong - he still lacked in skills, but he could see that several years and Vedeno would follow Vegeta’s footsteps. That is, if he’d have time for that. Goku frowned. He didn’t have anything to lose here, except his life, which he wasn’t so afraid to do. To lose a chance to see his sons was more important to him: he didn’t want to die with his children hating him and thinking that their father left them again for some foolish adventure. But Vegeta...Vegeta had a lot to lose here: his people, his brother, his father.

Goku smiled after Vedeno angry glared at him for holding back. The prince expected a serious spar. Well, he couldn’t beat the child, could he? Maybe later, when he figured out how far he was allowed to go.

“Vedeno!”

Goku and the prince turned around at the shout to see a blue dressed Saiyan standing in the doorway. Goku felt his breath catch in his throat at the sight - that was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The Saiyan was younger than him, tall, muscular, with long spiky hair, falling past his shoulders to his waist. Very handsome face - full lips, high cheekbones, and eyes, he had never seen such beautiful life sparkling eyes. Goku blushed, realizing he had been gaping.

“It’s past twelve!”

“But misuu” Vedeno whined, wanting to finish the spar.

“Bed! Now!” Kamala angry pointed at the door. “And you,” he turned to the guard. “What the fuck is that?!”

“Fuck!” Vedeno happily replayed.

“Bed!” Kamala shoved his son through the door and closed it behind the kid’s back. He again turned to the poor guard. “You’re not his nanny! You’re his bodyguard! If the kid refuses - make him! What, you can’t cope with five-year-old?!”

“Uhhh…” the guard nervously scratched his hand, looking at Kamala.

“And who the hell are you?!” Kamala turned to Goku. “You have to inform me first if you’re going to spar with my son! I’ll see that you are punished! Both of you!”

Great, very beautiful but very angry. Goku sighed. “Alright. So can you tell me where that room next to the guest rooms is?”

XXXXX

Goku yawned, turned to his side, dozed for some time again, but his body already was refusing to sleep more as it found nine hours of sleep more than enough. Goku turned on his back, yawned again then observed the room. Yesterday he was too tired for that - after Kamala’s shouting session he felt drained, and after the guard showed him to his room, he threw his clothes away and just fell into the bed.

The room wasn’t very spacious, but there was enough place if one decided to do some morning exercises or kata. There weren’t many things in the room: a bed, a table, a closet, two chairs, a bathroom and a big window next to the bed. Goku raised his head to look out of the window. Yay! He could see the inner yard of the castle and many other windows across from his.

Goku decided that he probably should see Vegeta. Officially he was Vegeta’s bodyguard, so he ought to behave like one.

Goku faltered as his stomach rumbled, complaining about lack of nutrition. Right, he didn’t eat very much yesterday! Where could he find some food in this building? Goku frowned at the thought about wandering through the castle again - probably he’d grow old and die before he would reach the food. Damn, he’d die from hunger first!

He quickly dressed in his combat suit and put his armor on. He didn’t like these clothes very much but he realized that it would be a bit strange if he walked behind Vegeta dressed in orange.

Food first.

Goku opened the door. Looked around. Hmm…which way…right or left?

“You, come with me!”

Goku startled then turned to his left where it seemed the guard appeared from nowhere. “Food?” Goku asked hopefully.

The guard snorted at him. “Prince Vegeta wants to see you.”

“Oh…” Goku felt disappointed. “Can I eat first?”

“No.”

Great. Goku sighed. Well, maybe Vegeta would give him something.

This time Goku was looking around with his eyes wide, trying to remember the way through all those never ending corridors and halls.

The prince was in the training hall, doing his kata. Goku blushed as instead of greeting his stomach made a loud gurgling-burbling sound. Vegeta turned to the noise. He observed a blushing Goku then motioned for the guard to leave them alone.

“I want to spar,” Vegeta declared after the guard was gone.

I want to eat, Goku thought but didn’t say that loud. To make Vegeta mad in the very morning never was a good sign.

“We can go to a place near here, there’s a forest nearby. First you are going to catch some food,” Vegeta turned to go.

“Yes!” Goku nodded enthusiastically. “Have salt?”

Vegeta turned back to Goku, his both brows raised then just shrugged. “Ask in the kitchen. Next time don’t sleep so long. Breakfast is served at seven.”

“Oh,” Goku said. “And where is the kitchen?”

Vegeta shook his head in bewilderment then just motioned for Goku to follow.

“Heard, you met Kamala.” Vegeta chuckled on their way to the kitchen.

“Yeah,” Goku scratched his head. “I didn’t know I had to ask his permission if I wanted to spar with his son,” Goku thought a moment. “Do I need to ask your father’s permission?”

Vegeta gave Goku an odd look then shook his head again at no one in particular. “Kamala wants to punish you. I think he is going to challenge you or something like that.”

“Uhh…should I..?” Goku asked.

Vegeta faltered a moment. “That would calm him down for awhile…he is overprotective anyway… Kitchen,” Vegeta motioned at the big wooden door.

Goku nodded starting to salivate after several pleasant smells reached his nose. “When do they serve dinner?”

XXXXX

Vegeta observed the Saiyan across from him. Goku still wore that abrasive fighting suit and cracked armor. Probably he didn’t know where to get another. Goku was a strange person. Despite the fate that the tailless Saiyan was stuck here with them, he didn’t seem to be very unhappy - he was smiling, bubbling, enjoying. He was probably one of those who managed to find a good side in any kind of situation. And although the other Saiyan was much more powerful than him, he somehow felt no threat or insecurity while around him. Well, he felt a bit angry - that’s true - he never liked to be outmatched. But the tailless Saiyan wasn’t mocking or trying to insult him. Even that stubborn refusal to use the royal titles was somehow not insulting. It was because he could sense that Goku respected him, with the title or without it.

Goku finished disemboweling his prey and stuck it on several sticks over the fire. “Want some?” he looked at Vegeta.

Vegeta observed Goku’s catch. “Maybe after the spar.” He didn’t feel hungry yet.

“Alright, I’ll leave some,” Goku happily nodded. He sat on the ground next to the fire with the roasting wolf-like creature. Nice. Goku contently leaned back on his hands while watching the fire. Peace and quiet and a friend beside…well, ally would be closer… Even though there was a war going and the future was unclear he couldn’t help smiling. “Sit,” he patted the ground next to him for Vegeta.

They silently waited till the ‘wolf’ was ready then began to eat. After Vegeta took a taste of one rib, he decided he already was hungry enough after one and a half hour of waiting till Goku’s catch roasted.

“With spices it would be better,” Vegeta noted.

Goku nodded agreeing and hid his smile behind his chunk of meat. Who’d have known that he’d be discussing receipts for preparing food with his royal pain in the ass? If he ever escaped from here, he’d make that other Vegeta blush.

There was a difference between them, but Goku couldn’t exactly tell what it was - it was different small things and tiny details, something Vegeta said or did. He hardly could grasp it, but there was a difference. This Vegeta was more relaxed, the other one probably would have never accepted his invitation to join the meal, the other one probably would have tried to kill him after seeing his much higher power level, the other one probably was a bit suicidal when one came to think about it…

Goku sucked the last bone clean, threw it away and licked his fingertips clean. He loudly belched and contently patted his stomach. Vegeta frowned at his manners but didn’t say anything; he was a guest to the other Saiyan’s table after all.

Goku felt a bit puzzled - now he really didn’t want to spar. He was too full. But after he cast a glance at the prince he decided that he was not the only one who lost all interest in sparring: Vegeta was comfortably stretched on the grass beneath the sun like a cat; his face calm and relaxed. Goku smiled at the display.

Vegeta’s tail contently swished beside him. The prince hardly could remember when he had felt so good, so relaxed. Usually he didn’t allow himself such luxury, unless with Kamala or Vedeno. But something about the tailless Saiyan relaxed him, it was probably because the other Saiyan knew him. Well, not him, that other, but it was similar. But that was weird too - usually he would be uptight while being near a person who knew him but whom he himself knew not much about. With Goku it was a bit different. There was something about the other Saiyan...it seemed that that other Vegeta had been his friend in his dimension, and Goku somehow maintained that attitude to him and here.

There was another reason why he wasn’t afraid to trust Goku - Goku seemed to be unreal: hell knows where he was from, and nobody knew when he was going back. Even if it appeared that he said or did something too much, Goku sooner or later would go home, or die here, like they all were going to die. Well, death probably was included too; one can’t ever forget such factor like death: when it started to breath into your neck, you cared less about such things like what to eat or with whom to eat.

Vegeta looked at the dozing Goku. “Hey,” he kicked Goku’s booted feet, “don’t sleep. I want to spar.”

Goku whined, refusing, but had to shut up as Vegeta’s tone became angry.

They got up and flew several kilometers farther from the place they had been eating and found almost a clear place to spar.

It was a good fight: Goku didn’t power up more than Vegeta was able to and the fight was more or less equal; what Vegeta lacked in his size he compensated with his agility. They both liked it - Goku was grinning all the time, and Vegeta was smirking at him, like saying ‘wait a moment and I’ll wipe that your grin off your face’.

Goku grinned down at Vegeta - the prince like usually didn’t accept his defeat and fought like mad till the very end. Well, that was the very end - he had Vegeta pinned to the ground, one of the prince’s hands twisted painfully behind his back, other in his grasp.

“Good fight,” Goku let go of the prince.

Vegeta just growled in response. He rubbed his wrists. “We will spar tomorrow.”

Goku nodded. Although Vegeta was no match for him in power, Vegeta was a perfect match for him in fighting skills, the prince was good at martial arts, any of them. The fights between them now weren’t about the power - it was about skills.

Goku sat on the dusty ground next to standing Vegeta. “Listen, how about that bodyguard-thing? What I need to do? Do I HAVE to be a bodyguard?”

Vegeta sat down too. “I don’t like the idea either - I’d rather prefer that you wouldn’t be running around, but it’s only for your own sake. I actually don’t care what people are saying.”

“Ooh…” now Goku understood. Vegeta made it easier. Goku remembered he already had seen curiosity in Vedeno’s guard’s eyes. If Vegeta simply gave him a room in the castle, he’d be seen as the prince’s lover. Goku felt his cheeks redden. “Clear,” he coughed, embarrassed. “So, what do I have to do?”

“First come to my room at eight and later just walk behind me all the time and keep your mouth shut.”

“Say, why did you kill your last bodyguard?” Goku saw Vegeta’s face grow cold. That seemed to be a very unpleasant question for the prince.

“Not your business.”

Goku wanted to protest that it would be better if he knew and could avoid the same deadly mistake the previous bodyguard made, but one glimpse at Vegeta’s face told him that he had better keep his mouth shut.

TBC