Broken In Pieces [Discontinued]

Broken In Pieces
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"Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

(Isaiah 43:19)

Chapter Four

Tilting his head back, Kakarrot inhaled the smoky air. He opened his mouth and could taste death in the wind. The planet simmered quietly all around him, but he could feel an undercurrent of despair. Namek's suffering radiated from every blade of grass and dripped from Kakarrot's fingertips as his hand glossed over the water.

Kakarrot peered into the mirror-like surface of the still lake. His hair had returned to its normal stance atop his head. However, his skin was another story. The bath washed away the dirt and oil, but with the mask of grime gone, his sickly appearance was more pronounced. Touching his abdomen, where cut muscles once were, Kakarrot made a face that resembled his old smile. 'If Vegeta could see me now,' he thought.

He looked over to the green ball from the previous night. 'Maybe be can see me.' Before he was able to reflect on that point, Kakarrot saw his brother land nearby.

"There you are!" Raditz ran to his brother and grabbed his shoulders. Kakarrot saw the sequential waves of shock and sorrow creep across Raditz's face as he took in Kakarrot's shirtless form. His face shifted back to its familiar grin before he spoke again. "We have been looking for you. Dad's worried."

"I'm sure he is." Kakarrot gently pushed away from his brother's grip and clothed himself, desiring to elude more stares from his brother. "He has been stressed a lot lately."

"Yeah, I haven't seen him this upset since his mate died." Raditz picked up a few rocks and threw them into the lake, sending a cascade of ripples across the water.

Kakarrot took up a spot next to Raditz and joined him in rock throwing. "I hate to bring Dad down with my troubles." Kakarrot crouched down and dumped his pile of rocks by the water's edge. "I'm sorry, Raditz. I've brought you in on this too. After Vegeta died, all I could think about was bringing him back. I didn't realize until today how much you, Dad, and Gratto have done for me. I just don't think I can ask anything else from you guys."

"What do you mean?" Raditz steadied his hand, leaving behind an eerie silence.

"I had a vision, Raditz. I'm not sure if you'll believe me, but I have been dreaming about Vegeta. The dreams have been very vivid, almost like they were real. I think Vegeta gave me a message last night."

"What message?"

Kakarrot retrieved the green ball from the ground and handed it to his brother, making certain that he did not accidentally smudge the writing.

"Earth – what's that?" Raditz stared at the word.

"I think it is a planet. I think a Namekian must have scribbled that on there. Maybe they knew we were coming. Maybe they went to this Earth place and want us to follow them."

"Whoa, Kakarrot, I think you are getting ahead of yourself. You cannot prove any of this. One word doesn't necessarily mean that the Namekians are trying to signal you to follow them across the universe. Do you know how crazy that sounds?"

"Of course, I do!" Kakarrot's voice raised involuntarily. He stepped away from his brother and clenched his fists. "This can't just be a coincidence. It can't be." He said more to himself than Raditz.

"Kakarrot,' Raditz moved closer to his brother and started to grab his shoulder but stopped when he saw Kakarrot's tightened fists, "I know you want more than anything to believe in a future with Vegeta, but you need to open your eyes. Look around, Kakarrot. An entire race was destroyed for the Dragonballs. Someone else has their hand in this matter. It is probably King Vegeta like Dad and Gratto said. Are you willing to go against King Vegeta and possibly Metga for Vegeta?"

Raditz paused. Kakarrot turned around at the mention of Vegeta's name, tears streaking down his face. "Brother, I will support you regardless of the situation, but we have to make a plan that is not based on feelings or whims."

"Raditz, you don't understand. I saw this vision as clearly as I see you. Try to put yourself in my place. What if your lover died, and you felt he was trying to communicate with you?"

Gears started turning in Raditz's head. He lived by his impulses and the things that he could see and touch. He had never been good at thinking about life from another person's perspective; however, he cared deeply for his brother and could see that he meant what he had said. Even though Raditz did not believe in ghosts or the supernatural, he knew he had to help Kakarrot on his mission. He knew if did not stand by his brother now, their relationship would never be the same.

"Okay, Kakarrot." Raditz said, followed by a loud sigh. "Let's do this. Let's go to Earth."

"Thank you, Raditz." Kakarrot embraced his brother.

"Don't thank me yet. We haven't convinced Dad. He has the final say. Remember?"

Kakarrot pulled back from Raditz and nodded with a small smile spreading across his face. He felt tremendously better. Now, he had an accomplice on his mission. It was a small glimmer of hope that did much for Kakarrot's heart.

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Bardock threw up his hands. He had been searching the computer on the control panel for the past few hours. He had looked up information on nearby planets, trying to plan out their next step. He growled while pushing away from the panel. He nearly bumped into Gratto without noticing it.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention." Bardock backed away from his fellow Saiyan.

"No, you're okay. I know you've been working all morning. Why don't you come to kitchen? I'll make you something to eat." Gratto smiled.

"Alright, sounds good." Bardock walked to the kitchen and seated himself in the nearest chair.

"You push yourself too hard, Bardock. You should relax some." Gratto placed a beverage in front of Bardock.

"I know. I can't stop though. I've got to help Kakarrot in whatever way I can. He's been so heartbroken about Vegeta." He paused, whispering his next words. "I thought he was going to kill himself or die of starvation."

"I understand, Bardock." Gratto placed a hand atop Bardock's. "He is your son. Of course, you are worried. I'm just saying that you don't need hurt yourself. You have to be Kakarrot's strength right now. You cannot do that if you are sick from stress."

Bardock pulled back his hand gently. "Thank you, Gratto. You have been very supportive throughout this entire thing. I'm truly grateful."

"There's no need to thank me. Kakarrot might as well be my family. Once Vegeta is back, those two are going to be mates." Gratto grinned as he turned back to the sandwich he had been preparing.

When he returned to the table with sandwich in hand, Gratto saw Bardock holding his head in his hands, eyes shut tightly. He had been alone for so long. He worried when he agreed to take on this adventure that his emotions would not stir from such a long sleep, but as he watched Bardock calm himself, he was over-powered by a sense of awe.

Gratto could hardly imagine enduring the tragedy of watching his child wither away in front of him. Tokata had been taken from him so suddenly. Gratto had been fortunate in that way.

He felt compelled to pull Bardock to his chest, hold him, and tell him that everything would be okay, but knowing the universe like he did, Gratto could not rightly say that. All he could do was support Bardock and his son's mission, uncertain of where their path would lead.

Giving into his emotions, Gratto silently placed the sandwich on the table and pulled Bardock up and into his arms. "Bardock," He whispered into his ear, "I will see this path to its end with you, but when Kakarrot is not here, you don't have to be strong for me. Let go or you'll lose your sanity."

Bardock shook violently as the tears erupted from his body. He grabbed Gratto's neck with all his strength, scared that he would fall into darkness without an anchor.

Gratto soothed Bardock as he wept, rubbing encouragement into his flesh with every touch of his hands against Bardock's back.

Time passed slowly while Bardock wept and cried out incoherent words into Gratto's neck. When the tears subsided, Gratto pulled back softly and wiped the remaining tears from Bardock's exhausted face.

"Thank you." Bardock sniffled. "I needed that."

"I know. I've never had a son, but I did have a brother that was taken from me." Gratto rubbed Bardock's cheek.

Bardock nodded and pulled Gratto's hands from his face and held onto them, not wanting to break the contact that radiated peace and understanding. He looked down at his and Gratto's hands, not remembering the last time he had been touched this sweetly. When he turned his head up to speak, he found a warm pair of lips on his.

Gratto's kiss did not push Bardock for more but was soft and held steady. Bardock glanced at Gratto's face and saw closed eyes. Without quite knowing why, Bardock mirrored his fellow Saiyan by shutting his eyes and kissing back.

The kiss was sweet. Bardock sensed no pity behind Gratto's lips. All he felt was warmth. He pushed a bit harder, craving more. He was rewarded with Gratto's large hands snaking their way around his neck, pressing heat into his sensitive skin.

He was about to venture further when he heard the distinct sound of his eldest son's voice outside. He pulled back and stared into Gratto's eyes for a moment, but the sound of the door opening drew him away. He had just grabbed his sandwich and took a huge bite when Raditz and Kakarrot entered.

He ate his meal while listening to his son's plan, trying to avoid eye contact with Gratto. Bardock worried that even the smallest glance would betray what he and Gratto had been doing mere moments ago. He was not yet ready to admit to himself, let alone his boys that he might be falling for Gratto.

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To be continued.