Goku didn’t bother knocking. The sign on the door had said to come right on in. As soon as he and his family entered, he was bombarded with greetings. Bulma and Chi-Chi practically ran to one another, chatting about the latest news. Trunks grabbed Goten and dragged him out of the room, probably up to his room to show off his newest toys. Gohan remained beside Goku as they sat at the table with their friends.
"Goku, wow. You look the same." Krillin said, enviously.
"Piccolo-san, hi. I didn’t know you’d be here. You seem stronger." Gohan said, excited to see his old friend and first master.
"It doesn’t seem like you’ve improved much. Are you still caught up in all that justice and peace keeping?" Piccolo asked in his normally gruff voice.
Blushing, Gohan nodded.
"Goku, you’ve improved a great deal since I’ve last seen you." Roshi said, slurping down another beer.
"Hai. I’ve been trainin’ a lot lately, especially with Goten." Goku said, trying to keep his tone friendly
Goku smiled as they began laughing. Someone must have told a joke. He was so detached today. He was just so worried about running into Vejita. If he came in contact with the older man he knew for sure that all his confusion would fall back down upon him. It was hard enough to keep him out of his thoughts. What he needed was something to eat. Something to get his mind off things. Quickly, Goku stood and made his way to the kitchen. That was easier than he thought.
Opening and leaning into the refrigerator, Goku suddenly felt an all too familiar ki. Vejita. He quickly turned, his arms filled with various meats.
"You look upset." Vejita said, surprised that he hadn’t sensed the warrior before he’d stepped into the room.
"I… I’m fine." Goku said, closing the refrigerator door and taking a seat across from the older man, letting the food tumble from his arms to the tabletop.
"I can see that." Vejita said through a smirk as he watched the blushing Kakarotto fumble with a package of meat.
"Maybe I should go." Goku mumbled, pulling his hands away from the food.
Vejita had to control himself, arrogance was getting him nowhere, "No. Stop. I’m just being an ass."
Waiting, Vejita watched as Kakarotto’s expression stayed the same, "I don’t understand what’s going on. I know you want me." He said, feeling his pride disappear, as if he were a new and better person by just coming out and saying it.
Goku closed his eyes, feeling the painful stab of truth, "Please, it’s all too much. I don’t understand all of this and it just seems easier when we’re apart."
"You still haven’t figured it out have you? You’re still trying to be a good man, trying to keep that damn woman happy." Vejita scoffed, standing from the table, but just before he left the room, he added, "She’s not worth it. I mean, you don’t even love her."
Goku had been right. All the confusion, the frustration, it all toppled down upon him, and he hated it.
Quickly he stood, knocking the table over as he did so, "Vejita!" he yelled, powering up to Super Saiyajin Two.
"What the…?" Krillin pondered as all the little decorations and trinkets in the house, as well as their plates and glasses began shaking and clattering against whatever surface they rested on.
"What did you do?" Bulma screeched at Vejita, as she pulled a passing Trunks and Goten onto the couch with her and Chi-Chi.
"It’s Son." Piccolo announced, amazed at the power he sensed.
They’d all heard Vejita’s name being called out, and now they stared as Vejita walked through the room followed by Goku, his hair blazing a golden yellow and his eyes a beautiful shade of sea green.
"What!?" Vejita yelled back, turning to face the younger Saiyajin.
"I’m sick of it all. Just watch what you say." Goku said, a lot quieter now.
Vejita could see the hurt in the beautiful man before him and felt sorry for what he’d said, "Look, Kakarotto, I know I’m a bastard most of the time, but you should know me by now, damn it. You need to sort through all this shit! All my demons… All my shit… It all seems to disappear when I’m with you."
Goku instantly changed back to normal, staring in wonder. He had a sudden urge to throw his arms around the prince, but why?
Chi-Chi wasn’t sure of what was going on. Lately things had been fine. Goku seemed to be returning to normal and everything was fine. Now all she could see was the same troubled Goku. The one she’d feared losing not long ago.
Goku watched as Vejita neared the door. His mind was screaming for him to stop. He didn’t want to be left alone to give explanations and answer questions, but he remained silent.
That same silence helped Vejita decide that he needed to get out of there, but before he blasted off into the darkening sky he added, "You know, it’s been a while… But I can still remember just the way you taste."
Goku’s vision was blurring. The kiss. He was talking about the kiss. Using all his strength, Goku fought back the tears.
"The way you taste?" Meijin Roshi asked, more to himself than to the others.
Krillin was confused, "Goku, what did he mean?"
"I… Uh… I dunno."
"Taste?" Bulma asked the air.
Chi-Chi spoke up, "Goku, what the Hell does that mean?"
"I dunno." Goku repeated.
Piccolo knew what was going on. Exactly. It was just as Dende had seen. Something "romantic" was going on between the two pureblooded Saiyajin. Instead of speaking up though, the Namek just watched as Goku explained that he wasn’t feeling too well. Soon, the Son family was leaving, and soon after that everyone, including himself, was leaving as well.
"Shit." Bulma muttered under her breath as she threw the last of the trash away.
The get-together had been ruined by Vejita, of course. Figured. She’d just have to plan another one.
Vejita paced back and forth near the pond. What was he going to do? He couldn’t handle the longing anymore. He had to have Kakarotto. Before, his main dilemma was defeating the low ranked warrior. Killing him. It was rather ironic now.
"Dad, I need to talk to you." Gohan said as they all stepped into the dim house.
"Uh… Kay." Goku agreed.
"With you too, Mom." Gohan thought he knew what was going on now, especially after he’d talked with Vejita.
"Right now?" Chi-Chi asked, looking puzzled at her son’s seriousness.
Gohan nodded and watched as his mother sent Goten off to bed, "Let’s go outside."
Once outside, they all sat at a large picnic table. Gohan sat beside his mother and across from his father. Goku had his arms resting against the tabletop, the fingers from both his hands intertwined into one large fist, which he rested his chin on. Chi-Chi sat up straight, her hands folded neatly on the table’s rough surface. Gohan looked from his mother to his father and prepared himself.
"Dad, I talked to Vejita a while back… He told me something about you and Mom. If it’s true, I think Mom has a right to know." Gohan blurted out the best he could.
Fear filled Chi-Chi’s heart. What was going on? Was Goku cheating?
Goku tensed up, but kept his position, "I don’t think we should talk about this just yet."
"What is it, Goku?" Chi-Chi asked, dying to know the answer.
It was too late now, he had to tell her, "Chi-Chi, I’ve been havin’ some trouble figurin’ out what my purpose is…"
"Your purpose?" Chi-Chi asked, more than a little confused.
"Hai. All it’s ever really been was to defend Earth. To defend you and my sons."
Gohan could feel a slight blush creep over his cheeks. It wasn’t often that his father said how much he cared about he and Goten.
"Well, through all of this I’ve been really… Frustrated, I guess. That’s why I’ve been comin’ home all wrecked."
"What does all this have to do with me?" Chi-Chi asked, finding it hard to follow what her husband was saying.
"That’s it though. You never… You never comforted me," Goku was finding it harder and harder to explain the farther along he got, "I’ve fallen out of love with you."
Goku couldn’t tell her the real truth, that he wasn’t sure if he’d ever loved her. That just seemed too cruel.
Chi-Chi couldn’t believe it, "So, what does this mean? Are we over?" she said, her voice trembling as the tears welled up in her eyes.
Goku nodded and whispered, "Hai."
Gohan didn’t think it would go this far. He knew his father was having a little trouble and knew there was something wrong with the relationship, but he didn’t know that it had gone as far as Vejita had said. It made sense though.
"What’s supposed to happen then? Are you going to move out? Are you going to take my sons?" Chi-Chi cried, a little louder than necessary.
"No. I think it’d be best if they stayed with you." Goku said, keeping his gaze on the table’s chipped surface.
Chi-Chi nodded, not bothering with holding back the tears, "When?"
"Huh?" Goku asked, not following what she meant.
"When are you moving out?" she asked a little louder.
"I dunno."
Chi-Chi didn’t feel like holding back how truly upset she was, but she had to. Her son was right there watching the drama play out. Then she remembered something. Goku’s answer, "I dunno," reminded her of the events that had taken place earlier that day.
"What did Vejita mean?" she blurted out.
"Uh… About what?" Goku asked, knowing very well what she was referring to.
"When he said that everything disappears when he’s with you and that thing he said about remembering the way you taste."
"I dunno." Goku said quietly.
"Enough of that. I know you know what he meant. I could see it in your reaction when he said it. What did he mean?" Chi-Chi said raising her voice again.
Gohan felt sorry for his father, being questioned like he’d committed some crime, but he too wanted to know what Vejita had meant earlier that day.
"I’m sorry, Chi-Chi." Goku whispered, feeling the pain he was causing her.
"I’m going to sleep. I think it’s be best if you slept on the couch." She said calmly, giving up on her interrogation, standing, and heading towards the house.
Goku watched as she pulled her hair out of its bun, causing it to cascade around her shoulders and down her back. Soon, she was inside, closing the door behind her.
"Goodnight." Gohan whispered as he stood and headed towards the house as well.
"Night." Goku whispered back, letting his eyes fall shut, listening as the door opened and closed as his son went in.
