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Gone	By : TristaML Category: Dragon Ball Z > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 10329 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of the characters. I do not make any money off of writing this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
To Macha, I'm glad to hear you have to read it in sections lol !! Thank you!

Eighth Chapter

“What are you doing?” He felt like he had arrived in the nick of time, but time told him it was already too late. Vegeta was well underway in getting ready to leave and it looked like for good. He never saw this coming, not in a million years. He thought Vegeta would always stay here on Earth.

“Packing up this ship,” came the gruff answer slowly. He watched the other man move hurriedly about, putting things exactly where he wanted them, bringing on various boxes of concealed items and taking other items off.

“I can see that,” he said bitterly, “Why?”

“…(Isn’t it obvious?)…” Vegeta’s brief stare told him although he was certain Vegeta hadn’t even tried to convey a message. Gohan could feel Vegeta’s energy, though steady, it was a little bit higher today than any other given day. That’s what had tipped him off to come by in the first place.

Goku. His father, no one else could move Vegeta to make such a decision except for his father.

“Reconsider,” Gohan demanded it. He didn’t care what had happened between the two if them, watching Vegeta walk out of their lives was not something he was going to just let happen. Vegeta had always been around, always been available, Gohan liked that. He wanted Vegeta in his life, he and the other boys, they need him in their lives.

“I’ve been down that road,” Vegeta said, the sour-bite in his voice worse than Gohan’s. It was strange to hear any emotion in Vegeta’s voice, Gohan didn’t like it.

“I’llmm…” he shuddered, far too embarrassed to utter those words. He thought he could rush them out, but it didn’t work. He didn’t even try to start again and just stood by and watched the man pack up to leave them all behind. He didn’t understand why he was so bent out of shape about it since Vegeta never spends much time with any of them.

Vegeta said nothing in return, he didn’t ask him what he was going to say, and he didn’t stop what he was in the middle of doing, he didn’t even bother looking at him.

What could he say to convince Vegeta stay? Something he hadn’t said before- he’d said everything just to get him to fuck him and he wouldn’t even do that!

Gohan left quicker than he had arrived, it was unnerving. Nevertheless, all of it was irrelevant to the Prince now. He couldn’t stop to reconsider. He wanted to leave so badly before and there was only one thing in the way. Now there’s nothing stopping him, he wasn’t about to stick around.

---

“Vegeta is leaving,” Gohan had no sooner arrived than he told his father, though he figured he must already know that. He was trying to catch his breath, and it wasn’t from the flight over here.

“He is?” Goku looked up at his son from where he was seated on a large log. He acted surprised but Gohan wondered if it was forced before realizing he didn’t understand, “Where is he going?”

Gohan was in no position to be coming to his father for help; he was far too distraught with Vegeta to be calm with Goku. He just wanted to slap some sense into him! Why did he always have to be so behind? “I don’t know,” he finally answered, feeling himself heating up from the inside out. “He’s packing up to go off planet.”

Gohan noticed an unclear look cross through Goku’s eyes, though he didn’t seem concerned. Gohan wished he knew what his father was thinking, but he could never tell.

“Oh,” was all Goku said and then got up and turned his back to walk off into the forest.

Gohan took a step forward, his power level rising, “You won’t go talk to him?” He didn’t know why his father didn’t see the significance in Vegeta staying on Earth. Was he the only one that cared? (Funny, because he’d just told Piccolo he wished he would leave. It must be true what they say: you can say you what you would or wouldn’t do it any given situation, but you never know what you’ll actually do until it happens to you.)

“Gohan,” Goku stopped and turned to face him, “Vegeta can make his own decisions,” he told him.

He sounded wise but Gohan felt he was anything but.

“Calm down,” his father told him, his eyebrows turning downwards. Gohan hadn’t noticed he was still increasing his energy; he was trying to keep himself from becoming infuriated.

Gohan wanted to ask him why he didn’t care. He wanted to know what he said to make Vegeta want to leave because he knew it couldn’t be something he did. They had seemed fine for the last few months since they returned. His tongue was tied for the right words. Either it was yell and blame or cry and question, but Goku wasn’t the one to do any of those to.

                ---

“Stay in touch with me,” Gohan’s words were barely understood. He ran into the spaceship, catching Vegeta walking around, pacing. He had started talking before he was even completely in view.

There was some shock on the Prince’s handsome face, and he looked over to see Gohan holding out some little device. “…What?” he finally voiced, surprised to see the young man again, “What for?” He glared up at him, annoyed at his interruptions.

“Take it,” Gohan demanded it of him. He held out the simple looking piece of technology and tried to put it in Vegeta’s hand. “Take it,” he insisted.

Vegeta took the device from his hand, and Gohan watched him put it down on the control panel in the ship. Vegeta looked it over, though he didn’t seem too curious about it, perhaps he was familiar with this particular model of Bulma’s.

Gohan put his hand on Vegeta’s cheek without thinking about it, he’d had a drink or two in between the time he’d come to him first and now. The Prince was visibly surprised and backed away, walking to the other side of the room. Gohan said, “I need you to stay.”

Vegeta was thankful he hadn’t been facing the young Saiyan when he said that- he couldn’t have hid the emotion that coursed through him and surely shone plainly on his face. He was leaving, bottom line. None of this- this life, or pathetic excuse for it- was anything he’d ever planned on and it wasn’t enough to stop him. The driving force to leave was too much to ignore any longer.

Gohan walked around to face him and boldly asked, “Why am I not enough?” He watched Vegeta lower his head, not something he usually does. His beautiful and un-dismissible eyes intrigued Gohan.

Vegeta knew the younger man didn’t understand. He wouldn’t have understood if someone had explained it to him, not until recently. Vegeta took a few steps forward and put his hand on Gohan’s forearm; he looked at him and told him, “This has nothing to do with you.”

Gohan was speechless.

                Vegeta removed his hand from Gohan’s arm and told him to follow. They walked outside of the ship and over to a small cupboard Bulma’s father had installed in this place. He opened the liquor cabinet and grabbed and bottle of whiskey and some glasses and poured out two shots.

                “I,” Gohan tried to say something but he was nervous and upset, and he knew he wasn’t very good at handling his emotions. Vegeta put the shot in his hand and looked at up him, his lips slightly parted, his eyes serious and deadest. There was so much emotion it caused more of a stir in Gohan than any alcohol ever could.

                “Drink,” Vegeta said, as he picked up his own glass and began bringing it to his face,

                “Wait,” Gohan stopped him short, breathless and confused, “What are we drinking to?”

                Vegeta looked at him and answered, “It doesn’t matter,” there was a small shake of his head, and his usually loud voice was very quiet, “We’re doing it together.”

                Gohan swigged it back with the Prince like it was nothing, feeling the warmth as it spread down and into his body. Vegeta gave Gohan and small smirk and began walking back to the ship, allowing Gohan to walk beside him, and taking his time.

                There was so much Gohan wanted to say, but the words fell short of escape. He wanted to touch Vegeta, but he felt even shakier when he tried to concentrate and control his movements. He wanted to fight him, but that would only leave him with a few bruises to remind him of how he was too weak to change it.

                They stopped outside of the ships doorway and Vegeta turned to Gohan and he knew this was it.

                “I-” Gohan began, but he heard his voice being cut off.

                “Take care of Trunks and Goten,” he scolded with the usual indescribable look on his face and tone in his voice. He was leaving Gohan with a project while he was gone. Gohan took him very seriously although he wondered why he bestowed him with the care of his own son and brother; he was barely a decade older than either of the two. Still he found it fitting somehow and he felt obligated to do his best.

                Gohan gave a curt nod and Vegeta smirked, his smirk slowly growing wider, his eyes looked away and he closed them and he turned to walk into his ship.

                “Prince Vegeta,” Gohan put his hand out to stop him, not ready to say good-bye.

                Vegeta turned halfway and Gohan could tell the Prince was looking down on him even though he was hiding his disgust well.

                Gohan got the idea in his head that Vegeta may become disdained and try to become stronger and stronger, and perhaps come back one day, thinking he could destroy his father, once again. He wondered if he should even mention it, or if that would be the seed that planted the desire in the first place.

                He wondered how strong Vegeta’s feelings were for his father if it was really so easy for him to just leave?

                Vegeta knew Gohan was going to be mad at him for a very long time, but that didn’t change anything between them, he was already angry with him. Besides, Vegeta wouldn’t be back to torment him anyways.

                When the Prince noticed Gohan’s eyes focusing back on him and out of his thoughts, Vegeta smirked at him again and let their eye-lock hold for a gripping moment. He turned away and walked inside of the ship, closing the door behind him.

                Suddenly the ceiling started opening up and Gohan felt the wind snapping his hair this way and that. Vegeta took no time in starting up the ship. Gohan jumped away but never turned his back to the enormous transportation unit.

                Goten and Trunks arrived just in time to catch the take off, standing to either side of Gohan, wondering what was going on. They could sense Vegeta inside, but they just couldn’t believe it.

                “Gohan,” Goten asked what Trunks wouldn’t, “Where is he going?”

                Gohan walked over to the bottle of whiskey and refilled his glass, “I don’t know,” he answered after what felt like minutes to all of them. When he looked down he noticed something familiar looking sitting on the edge of the counter; the communication device. Another wave of emotion coursed through him. He didn’t know if he could handle this, it felt like he was losing a part of his life.

                Vegeta really wasn’t coming back. And how could he ever know where he went?

---

                One month prior

                Vegeta was trying hard not to laugh (genuinely), a gesture that was not something that usually occurred, much less while in the company of others. But Kakarot had a way of making him laugh. Sometimes he even made him smile (when no one was looking) without even trying.

                If he could stomach the other man’s terrible eating habits he knew he could handle the worst of Goku. That didn’t make him happy, even though the feeling was within him nonetheless. Vegeta didn’t know why he was so amused by the other man, perhaps because he’d never met anyone like him.

                It was strange to the Prince; Goku was so simple, yet so impressive. He could never conjure up a character quite like him. He would have never imagined meeting a man like him and knew BILLIONS of people.

                He didn’t like the fact that he was in love with the idiot, it made him uneasy and nervous. Still he planned on keeping that information to himself if at all possible. He knew Goku well enough to know any sort of confession on his part would not be well accepted. It was best to keep inside everything that he could for as long as he could.

                He looked away, grinning, rolling his eyes and resisting a sigh. Kakarot was so unusual to Vegeta, from his care for woodland creatures to his strange way of fishing, Vegeta never had a dull moment when they were together. There was something in his stature that screamed supremacy. And something in his eyes that held you forever.

                “Here, Vegeta,” Goku handed him a rather large fish as he chewed, smiling, his cheeks bulging.

                Vegeta turned back to look at the dead animal, “I thought you were hunting for yourself. I can capture my own game.”

                “Aww, come on,” Goku wiggled it around at him, “I got it so you don’t have to, there’s plenty more.” He pointed to his pile with the half-eaten fish in his other hand, still chewing.

                Vegeta looked away again making a disgusted face but took the food from him. He instantly barbequed it and began eating, content for the moment.

                It had been almost two months since they’d returned to Earth. Goku was completely back to normal, although since the transformations he could sense the changes within himself and knew it would be a while until he felt normal again. He realized that this feeling had been there for a very long time, he just never paid any attention to it. He was grateful to be more aware of his own situation, and wondered how long it had truly been going on. It didn’t really matter, he knew, he was feeling good, and he supposed he had Vegeta to thank for that.

                The younger Saiyan looked over at the Prince curiously as he ate, trying not to be obvious that he was staring at him. He was just so surprised by the older man lately. He’d known there was something else about Vegeta, but all these years he could never really put a finger on it. Still, he was having a hard time figuring him out.

                Vegeta had been coming around quite often since they’d returned to Earth, and Goku liked the company. Vegeta never told him what to do or yelled at him for what he was doing. Besides, he was always game for sex and Goku more than enjoyed those moments.

                Still, there was something odd about the whole thing.

                While off planet, for the last three weeks Goku hadn’t transformed, not even once, but Vegeta continued to insist they stay. Goku, not really wanting to go home, but knowing they should, was confused as to why he would want to stay alone with him any longer than necessary. Maybe Vegeta thought he wouldn’t notice that there was no more need of the separation. He couldn’t figure it out; Vegeta had never really shown any interest in leaving the planet with (or without) him before.

                Not that Goku was complaining, all they did was talk some and do light sparring and have incredible sex. For the most part Vegeta left him alone to do whatever he pleased, Goku liked that. He knew that it couldn’t last, though. When Goku suggested they go back home, Vegeta acted like he’d been waiting for him to say those words, but Goku somehow knew he was bluffing.

For the first few days when they arrived on Earth things seemed to go back to normal. Vegeta stayed at Capsule Corp and Goku did his own thing. But after a week Vegeta showed up at his house. He didn’t say much, and it didn’t take long for him to come onto Goku. When the older man got on the tips of his toes to kiss him, how could Goku back away? He allowed the Saiyan to sway himself once more, but he wasn’t sure he could continue on this way. The more he could feel Vegeta melting beneath his fingertips, the more uncertain he became.

He’d been feeling differently about the whole thing since the transformations stopped. Not that he didn’t like Vegeta or didn’t enjoy the sex, he just wasn’t sure what he thought about it all, or where it would fit in to his rather standard lifestyle.

He did want Vegeta, oh yes, badly, sometimes even worse now than he did when in the altered state. The thought of Vegeta in those moments sent Goosebumps all over him, an uncontrollable shiver that ran throughout his entire body. However, he was convinced it was the completion and not the relationship that drove him to be with the other man.

But the weeks turned into months and now. Although he was fully enjoying himself and every day with Vegeta, he had the feeling that things were changing between them, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about the whole thing. Both men were married with families and lives of their own, why would Vegeta want to complicate things? Goku had thought that the older man had only helped him out because he knew no one else could. But there were signs that told him otherwise, and he knew he would have to eventually nip it in the bud.

But how?

How was he supposed to explain to Vegeta that he didn’t want him anymore? That wasn’t true, not entirely. He would love to still have the benefits of being with Vegeta, without actually being with him. That was so wrong. How could he ever tell him that? He couldn’t, he would have to simply give the man up entirely.

It seemed like the right decision, as much as his body told him he stupid for even thinking it, and his heart told him it would miss the older man’s stirring gaze and unprecedented touch, his mind was telling him he couldn’t be with Vegeta, and he knew that’s exactly what Vegeta wanted, to be with him.

The outing they had was only meant to be a temporary thing and all was well and back to normal now, so he needed them to get on with their lives so he could feel normal again.

That meant “breaking up” with Vegeta, permanently.

                “What the hell are you staring at?” Vegeta growled at him, still holding his piece of fish close to his mouth.

                Goku smiled crookedly and laughed a little nervously, “Nothing, Vegeta.”

###

                Two weeks later

                Vegeta is on his way here, my mind told me, and I was glad I paid attention. Usually he shows up rather unannounced though each time I think about it; I had already sensed him subconsciously. This time my senses were more attuned to his departure as I need to be on my toes about this. I’m nervous, and I don’t like it.

                Vegeta touches down and I can tell he can tell something is off. I don’t mean to be this obvious about it.

                He doesn’t say anything, and I wish he would, because I don’t want to say anything.

                “Hey,” I smile, but it’s small. He doesn’t respond, just looks more irritated by me by the second. “I’m glad you came over,” I speak softly. I shouldn’t have said that, I know, because I know Vegeta will be dissecting this entire conversation and he’s not gonna be happy about any of it.

                “Get on with it,” there is a bite in his voice that I don’t recognize. His face is nothing but masked, his dark eyes storming. He hadn’t moved a step closer since he landed.

                “Vegeta,” I speak again but it does no good. I shouldn’t say his name, that’s an insult already since I don’t even properly address him.

There’s a deep look in his eyes. He already knows. How was I that obvious? I thought I was better at hiding my thoughts that this. His arms are crossed, he looks good, and I briefly wonder what I’m thinking.

“I don’t want to do this with you anymore,” I told him my bluff. I am looking directly into his eyes and he doesn’t react in any way. I open my mouth again and tell him, “I think we should stop.”

There’s a fleeting moment when I wish he would disagree, I wish he would tell me he knows me better than that. As it passes and Vegeta doesn’t say anything I continue, “Thank you for helping me with… all of that,” I look down at the last moment, not trying to gauge his thoughts anymore, it wasn’t working. When I look back up Vegeta sneers at me and turns away.

“Oh, you’re welcome, Kakarot,” he is snide with me, his arms still crossed over his broad chest.

“Vegeta,” I say his name again. I didn’t want him to turn his back on me like that, I don’t like it.

He turns halfway around and looks at me, “What do you want?” the question crescendo-ed. His eyes were unbelieving, he asked, “Is there anything else?” He looks like he’s holding in a breath.

“Look, you know I didn’t mean it to sound like that,” I shook my head at him.

Vegeta turned back away, “No, I know what you meant,” he said softly, softer than I thought he’d be capable of speaking to me. He took off quicker than he’d arrived and I knew the worst of it was over.

Only I felt far worse now than I did before he got here.

                Back to Current

                I am curious about Vegeta. He actually left the planet. I wonder if it’s something he’s always wanted to do. It probably was an interest of his to continue to travel. I wonder what he’ll do. I wonder who he’ll meet. As I watch his ship leave the atmosphere from my place in the sky I wonder for one moment if he’s planning on coming back.

                I shouldn’t be thinking about him, after all if I had really wanted to know about Vegeta I could have never said anything and seen where our paths took us. I have been finding myself missing him and I feel kind of stupid about it. But I had to do what I did, I’m convinced of it. Vegeta and I are just so different and things were just fine between us before. I never meant for any of this change and I don’t see how it could have worked.

                I wonder why Gohan is so angry, and I wonder if he’s mad at me.

I tell myself I’m not the reason Vegeta left, although that’s what it certainly seems like.

I wish him luck out loud into the wind and return back to the Earth to find my peace.

---

Vegeta, finally alone- permanently alone- brooded over Kakarot until his heart was content. He couldn’t escape his emotions. He had known the outcome; he had known it for years prior to the actual moments that passed. Somehow it saddened him more than he had ever imagined. Vegeta wondered at this marvel called the psyche. He had been put through pains and terrors that that stupid bastard could never handle, but those memories have faded and a new torture has risen. How can it hurt this much?

He should’ve given Trunks over to that Saiyan.

He knew he didn’t really feel that way. He wouldn’t trade his time getting closer to Kakarot for anything. That’s what was so disturbing. Nothing had seemed to be wrong, even though Vegeta knew it would eventually come to an end. He always had known that the other man was incapable of loving him.

If he could change anything it would be that he never told him he was in love with him.

What the hell is wrong with me? Vegeta thought, coming to his senses enough to get angry. He wanted to destroy everything around him. Perhaps leaving in a ship wasn’t a good idea. He needed to let it all out, but the only things that came out were tears.

He was embarrassed and no one was even around, still he was ashamed and no one was even around. The only thing that gave him some peace was to know he would never have to look Kakarot in the eyes and be rejected again.

He knew eventually this crippling pain would pass and he would be able to start anew. He looked forward to that day in anguish, wishing he’d never let himself become involved in the first place. Until then he had a lot of meditating and training to do.

---

                Six months later

Gohan stayed and talked to Bulma for hours the night Vegeta left. She cried and cried, confused, she hadn’t thought that he would do this again. She didn’t understand what would make Vegeta want to leave this time, and knew that there was absolutely nothing she could have done about it had she known. That small fact didn’t make her feel any better.

She wasn’t happy about pouring her guts out to her best friend’s son, but she figured if anyone understood her, it was Gohan. He was strong that night for the both of them, but Bulma knew it was tearing him up inside just as much as it was destroying her defenses.

Gohan was adamant in keeping in touch with him and had hoped that there was a tracking device on the ship that the Prince took. But when Bulma checked there was no communication between the device and her tracker at Capsule Corp. She explained that Vegeta knew just as much about the designs on most of the ships as she did. What’s more, she knew her husband, if he didn’t want to be found, none of them were going to be able to.

Interestingly, after the first few nights, Bulma was handling her husband leaving much better than the boys. Gohan supposed that was because last time Vegeta left he left her with a baby to take care of, and eventually he did return. If Bulma was going to pick a time to be pissed off it would be then, the second time around didn’t seem to hit so hard. Plus, there was a small hope in Bulma that he would return eventually, maybe once he’s cooled off or picked something else to become furious about, and she refused to let that hope go.

She couldn’t help but feel sorry for her son though, and Goten and Gohan seemed to be pretty down in the dumps about it. Worse off perhaps than she imagined they would be at first.

She had a feeling Gohan knew a little more than he was letting on and kind of hoped he would find the time in his busy mind to fill her in, but she wasn’t about to rush him. She could sense a slight change in him, he had more focus during the day and paid more attention to what’s going on around him. His attitude towards the boys was a little more stern, and he begun insisting upon them training together much more often.

It was strange to see how Gohan had stepped up to the plate with Vegeta out of the picture. She suspected that there was some reason behind it all, but from her perspective the only reason she could see was that Gohan didn’t want to disappoint Vegeta should he ever return by being weaker than he was when he left.

In the midst of all this she wondered where Goku was, he had only stopped by once and it wasn’t to see her. He came to get Goten, who was being a normal stubborn child and didn’t want to go home to his mother’s house. Goku gently made him come home that day, but he hadn’t really made Goten do anything he didn’t want to since then. Probably too moved by the fight the young man had put up to stay with Trunks.

The dynamic between Goku and both of his sons had changed since Vegeta walked out on them, and Bulma didn’t need to be around them all the time to tell. She heard the way Gohan would talk about his father, not that he was disrespectful, just that he seemed put off by him, almost unimpressed. She could tell Goten was much more concerned with Trunks than anyone else and she wondered why she had never noticed these relationships between the boys before. They were all growing up so fast, Gohan especially.

As much as it hurt her that Vegeta had left, she could see much more pain in Gohan than what he was trying to lead on. Some sort of twisted determination had been released from within him, not that Bulma was complaining, he’d been a big help lately, she was just trying to make sense of it all.

It isn’t odd for Piccolo to stop by frequently now a days and chat with the young man, though Bulma never gets a chance to overhear any of their conversation. She figured that if Piccolo was helping, she shouldn’t interfere, although her curiosity was definitely getting the better of her.

That’s what had brought her to her newest discovery. About two weeks after the Prince left Bulma had continued to try to track him down by hacking into satellite surveillances all across the known galaxy. It was tedious and very difficult, but well worth it if she could catch a glimpse of him or the direction that he went in.

Months into the research and she still hadn’t had any luck in finding the ship, but along the way she’d noticed something else. She wasn’t sure what to make of it yet and didn’t know if she should mention anything to anyone since the mention of space travel put everyone in her house on guard. However, the fleet of oncoming spaceships wasn’t something that she felt could be ignored.

If her calculations were correct, and they were impeccable, than these travelers, whoever they are, are heading straight for Earth. Her estimated arrival time, 9.6 months.

To not warn someone would be foolish, she had to alert the others but she didn’t want to raise any alarm.

She didn’t know if she should be alarmed, honestly she knew she should, it’s not a normal thing to have ships heading this way, this far out into the cosmos. Half the planets out here contain no life, what could these things want with Earth?

It was unusual that she questioned herself on whether or not to tell anyone. Any other time she’d be telling everyone the news, no matter the details she had on it. Were they all that upset over Vegeta? She guessed she wasn’t sure how Goku would react and even less certain of the effects on Gohan and the boys this issue may cause.

Not letting someone know wasn’t an option, though. If it is alien squads coming to take over, those freaks were going to have to fight for it.

After deliberating for a few more weeks she decided she needed to make a move. She was already on her way in one of her newest model hovercrafts to see her very good friend. It was no Saiyan speed, but by far the fastest vehicle in creation. It cut normal travel time in half, which was good, considering Goku lived out in the middle of nothing.

After a long and peaceful fly she touched down and hopped out. Chi Chi came outside, concerned but happy to see her.

“Bulma,” she cried out from the doorway, a wash cloth in her hand still scrubbing a plate clean, “How have you been? Come inside, there’s food on the table.” She vanished through the doorway.

Bulma smiled at Chi Chi and thanked her, following the younger woman inside. “How are you Chich?” Bulma asked politely, she wasn’t concerned with the woman, but she did care.

“Good,” she set down her cloth and dish and turned to give Bulma a hug, “I’m sorry, Bulma.”

“Oh,” she shook her head, returning the hug and letting it go quickly, “I’m fine, really,” she didn’t feel like getting into it, she had other things on her mind. “Is Goku home by any chance?”

“When is he ever?” Chi Chi asked, smiling a little sadly, a standard look on her face. “He usually comes in around supper time, not too much longer now.” She insisted that Bulma have a seat and sat down as well, “You’re more than welcome to stay a while.”

“Thank you,” Bulma was grateful, no matter how shortened that trip was it was still a tiring ride. She could use the rest and the company of an old friend.

They spent a few hours catching up while waiting for Goku to come home. Bulma helped Chi Chi cook (a little bit, she’s not very useful in the kitchen). Bulma was thankful for the time out of her own head; it proved more of a stress reducer than she thought. Maybe she should consider spending more time with other people instead of computers all day long. She couldn’t see that happening, though, people had a way of bugging her.

That was partly why she loved the Prince, he’d never lied to her about the things he really thought and what was really going on. She couldn’t help but miss him.

Goku walked through the door commenting how good the house smelled and it brought Bulma out of her thoughts and Chi Chi out of her talk.

“Hey dear, hey Bulma, what brings you all the way out here?”

Bulma stood up and asked for Chi Chi to excuse her from the table. She felt a little bad about not wanting to have this conversation in front of the other woman, but that wasn’t going to make her change her mind.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” she said, and Goku walked back outside, allowing his friend to exit the cozy home after him. They walked a little farther into the wilderness, speaking their normal “how’s it been?” Goku didn’t apologize for Vegeta leaving and Bulma was grateful for it, she knew she could count on him to be real about the situation. Vegeta was Vegeta, and what was is, and that’s that.

“I have been busy with a new project lately, Goku, and I found something,” Bulma began, knowing she didn’t need to give details; Goku didn’t care for them and wouldn’t understand either way. She continued, “I picked up a signal, very clear, of a small group of ships heading this way.” She looked at her friend to see what his reaction was. She knew if anyone was going to handle it well, it would be Goku.

He scratched his chin, “You’re sure?” he asked, “Hmmm, let me see,” she could see the concentration going across his face and wondered what exactly he was doing. A few moments later recognition went through his eyes, “You’re right Bulma, they’re still pretty far away but they’re definitely headed this way.” He looked a little surprised, “I wonder how long until they get here.”

“Nine months,” Bulma said knowingly.

“Oh, that’s all? That’s not too far away, I wonder what they want?” He brought his hand down to his side, “I didn’t even notice them before, that’s incredible, Bulma.”

“Why thank you!” she said, maybe a little bit too proud. She’d always loved getting recognition for her work, but there were more important matters at hand right now. “Well, what do you think Goku, should we be worried?”

“Hmmm,” he hummed and put his hands on his hips, “I’m not sure, I don’t sense anything... negative from them,” he seemed to trail off, his thoughts more important to him than talking right now.

Bulma didn’t want to break his concentration. If he wasn’t worried, she wouldn’t be. It sure would be nice to have Vegeta around, though, he was always so solidifying. She was brought back out of her musings when she heard her friend speaking again.

“There’s another group of ships, I can barely sense them, they are much further behind than the others, but they seem to be headed this way too, from a different direction in space,” Goku told her.

“You’re kidding!” she was shocked, her research had picked up nothing else and she had been very thorough. The others must have been way out there. “Why would anything be heading all this way?” She exclaimed, feeling nervous despite the comfort that Goku always brings.

He shook his head, still looking off into the distance as he tracked the on-comers.

“Goku,” Bulma spoke softly, she hesitated for a moment before asking him, “If you can sense those ships…”

Goku shook his head at her, “There’s no use Bulma,” was all he said, and he had confirmed her fears. Even Goku could no longer contact Vegeta. Silly things to be thinking at during a time like this but she couldn’t help it. Something is better than nothing, isn’t it?

She never even noticed the ever so slightly sad look that went across her friends face as he turned to walk away, “I’ll be in touch with you, soon,” he said, finishing the conversation for both of them as he headed towards his home to eat. He invited her in with him, but she said she’d better leave and he left it at that.
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