Authors Notes: Here’s a quick little song fic that is more than a little moving. It nearly brought me to tears. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don’t own DragonBall Z or its characters or the song "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. I’m not getting anything out of this except for the pure enjoyment of expressing my imagination to others. So, please don’t sue me! Believe me, you wouldn’t get much anyways! ^_^
Okay, if there’s anyone left… On with the fic…
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Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
Goku leaned back against one of the many large, lush green trees that surrounded King Kai’s training grounds in the other world. Sliding down against the trunk of the tree, he plopped down into a sitting position, his legs crossed. He could feel it so strongly today. He’d never felt it like this before. Vejita. Please… Be careful.
He knew well enough that his beautiful prince longed for him. He could feel Vejita’s soul emanating the impatience of his waiting, his yearning. Closing his eyes, Goku concentrated on the one and only ki that he could never forget. Vejita. Oh, Vejita…
He was training in the gravity room, taking his anger out on the piece of shit junk that damned woman’s father provided. If only he could escape his thoughts… Kakarotto… Growling loudly, the powerful prince disintegrated one of the training bots with a ki blast.
If only he’d told the fool sooner… If only he’d had a second chance to let the object of his affections know how much he really cared. Of course, what was he? Kakarotto was the strongest being ever, and he was nothing more than second best.
Letting his emotions tear at his throat, Vejita let a ragged howl erupt from his entire being as he powered up to his max and far, far beyond. The gravity room creaked as it’s metal shell bent and crumpled due to the immense force of raw power.
I need some distraction
Oh, beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
And let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
Bulma flew to her feet… An explosion? Vejita! Rushing outdoors, followed by Yamcha and her parents, the blue-haired beauty approached what was once the gravity room. That bastard! He never thought about anyone but himself! It had taken her and her father months to rebuild the last one.
Letting her eyes search the rubble, she gasped as she caught sight of the warrior’s bloody body lying limply among the debris.
Goku jumped to his feet. Vejita! Oh no…
Kakarotto… Vejita opened his eyes but was only able to make out blurs. What had happened? Was he dead? Oh, please, let me be dead. Training wasn’t working anymore. For years it had been all that he could do to distract him from the pain of being alone… He was nothing without that damned baka.
Finally, his vision focused and he could make out the faces of the fool’s friends. What were they doing here? Kakarotto’s best friend… Kakarotto’s son… His wife… Would he never be able to escape the memories?
He could remember the very first time he’d laid eyes on him… So, so long ago. I’ve always yearned for you, but I know now I can never have you… Please, just let me die… Let me be at peace.
Bulma’s eyes widened. No. He was… No! Slapping her hands over her eyes, she allowed the tears to flow freely. The father of her children was dead. She could hear voices… She turned to see the others looking to her for answers. Slowly, she shook her head and watched as the grief filled their eyes as well.
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
Goku ran at a speed unknown to even the gods… He could feel the tremendous amount of pain radiating from that oh so unique soul that he cherished ever so much. Why? Why had Vejita let himself slip away like that?! I should have been there!
A new burst of energy surged through his entire being as the check-in station came into view. Yes, he was nearly there…
All eyes turned to the well-known hero. His eyes searched desperately for him… Where was he? There! A familiar sadness flooded his heart as Vejita’s spirit came into view. Again, with amazing speed, Goku grabbed onto the cloud like spirit, quickly lifting two fingers to his forehead.
Vejita’s eyes slowly cracked open… Where was he? Again, it took some time for him to be able to see straight. Instantly his eyes watered… No… It couldn’t be…
"Kakarotto…"
Goku smiled lightly, "Oh, Vejita…"
And then soft lips were pressed to his own. The prince was questioning his sanity but didn’t dare pull back from the touch he’d longed for more than half his life. Regretfully, the sweet lips pulled away and he opened his eyes again. It was Kakarotto in all his glory… Bright, glowing white wings sprouting from his back and a soft golden halo floating just about his head…
"How?" Without hearing a word, Vejita knew. Kakarotto didn’t have to speak… Realization dawned on him as the beautiful warrior gazed at him through sorrowful eyes. He was dead. In the midst of his depression he’d lost his grip on life… But that’s what he’d wanted. He couldn’t have lived another day without this.
"Shhh…"
Vejita automatically obeyed the simple sound, stilling his thoughts as one of Kakarotto’s fingers pressed gently against his lips. The prince clung to the only other pureblooded Saiyajin as he lowered himself into the bed beside him. They were together… That was all that mattered. They were together.
Trunks had finally arrived. Upon entering the home of his childhood, he realized that it was true. The scent of death was everywhere. Everyone was gathered in the living room with tear stained cheeks. After comforting his mother with a strong hug, he turned to walk down the long hallway alone… Finally, he reached the last door… His father’s room… He needed to say goodbye. He had to say goodbye, but the door… It wouldn’t open. Locked?
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
Why? Oh, Vejita… If only I could have been there for you. You didn’t deserve all this pain. No one trusted you like I do… No one cared like I do… I should have never left you. Please, please forgive me. Goku crushed his face into his prince’s hair, letting the surprisingly soft locks soak up his tears. I should have told you then… I love you. I love you.
"I love you…" he finally voiced, "And you were never, never second best!"
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
And this sweet madness
Oh, this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
Vejita felt as if his heart were going to burst. The tears were flowing freely now, but he could feel a sadness building in the being so close… Why was Kakarotto so sad? They were together. They were finally together.
Goku hugged the smaller man tightly against him. There wasn’t much time left. He’d have to leave soon.
"No, Vejita… This is it… We only have a little longer… I have to go to Heaven and you…"
Vejita’s heart shrank within his chest. No… They were finally… No! Tears welling up in his eyes, he leaned into the orange clad warrior. What had he expected? He’d murdered so many… Hell was his destination.
In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
In the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
The room dimmed considerable before a pure white light filled it completely. The embracing warriors held one another with a death grip as Goku’s body suddenly began pulling back against his will… No! Just a little longer!
Trunks stepped back, startled by the glow that seeped from the crack below the door. What the Hell?
"Vejita… I have to go… I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Always remember I’m thinking of you! I love you! Vejita!" Goku’s voice grew with desperation as his body began to fade away into the light.
Vejita found himself in a trance, watching the warriors beautiful face… Those sweet lips… His glowing wings, they suited him. He was everything pure. Rising painfully to his feet, the Saiyajin prince reach out to his soul mate…
"At least we had this moment…" the prince whispered, "I love you, Kakarotto…"
With that he was gone… Kakarotto was gone. Vejita almost smiled as he pulled his hand closer to his face since his vision was beginning to blur… A feather… A shining white feather rested in his palm. He felt at peace as his vision faded to black, his senses leaving him an instant later. The only thing he could register was the silkiness of the feather… And somehow, he felt comforted.
Bulma, accompanied by all the others, hurried down the hall. Soon they could see the source of the pounding. Her son was trying desperately to get into the room where his father’s lifeless body lay. Tears sprung to her eyes as she reached her son. Suddenly, just as Trunks had released his grasp on the brass doorknob, the door flew open, everyone peering in cautiously…
Slowly, one by one, they filed into the room, surprised to find that the bedding as well as Vejita’s body wasn’t as they’d left it.
Chi-Chi nearly fainted as she was the first to feel the faint all too familiar energy that filled the room. Goku… Just as everyone had the chance to sense it, it disappeared. Upon closer inspection, they found their proof in the form of a long, pure white feather, grasped firmly in the prince’s fist.
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
