Shattered Night

Summary: Set somewhere after GT. Sort of… Goten and Trunks are in college at 19 and 20 years of age. Pan and Bra are in middle school at 13 and 14. So yeah…The boys are younger than they should be. Goku has returned from his adventure with Shenron and has been wished back to his correct age using the Namekian Dragon Balls. Vegeta has almost completely closed the gap in power between himself and Goku and can transform into SS4 at will.

Warnings: M/M, MPREG

Pairings: Goku/Vegeta, Goten/Trunks

Author's Note: Perspective is kinda weird. The first four chapters are in Goku's perspective and then the rest so far aren't, so just letting everyone know I'm not consistent with perspective, but it's not to the point where you don't know what's going on.

On with the fic. Enjoy.

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Shattered Night: Chapter 4 - Halfway to Perfection


Vegeta squeezed my neck harder to the point where my throat was so constricted that no oxygen was getting through at all. My lungs began to feel searing hot as they were starved of air and my head was starting to throb. As much as I scratched and clawed at his hands I couldn’t pull them away.

My vision was becoming spotty and blurred with delirium, but I could still see his enraged scowl. All that anger, all that rage and fury right now; it’s all because of me, isn’t it? This is all because I couldn’t keep away from him. I just kept visiting more and more frequently trying to assuage my desire to be closer to him by merely being around him more. How could Bulma not suspect something? Even I could see the longing that burned in my eyes; all I had to do was look in the mirror.

I had stopped resisting by now, practically welcoming the numbness that overtook my body. I deserved this didn’t I? I’d ruined my oldest friendship and was being strangled by the one I loved most. Needless to say he hated me. If I had simply stayed away, then Bulma wouldn’t have suspected anything and we would never have reached this outcome. If I had just left things as they were…

Colors swirled through my line of vision, taking shape as the people I’ve known and things we’ve done together; training and fighting alongside my friends, my earlier Dragon Ball hunting days, my family having day at the beach... Then I saw Vegeta on the swings beside me at the park as he looked up and gave me that smile that had stolen my heart...

I mentally slapped myself. What the hell was wrong with me? Where was all this self-pity coming from and why was I just letting myself wallow in it? Things aren’t going the way I want them to, so I was ready to just give up? Not just on Vegeta, but also on life?

I gave myself another mental slap, changing my half lifeless eyes to ones burning with intensity as I glared angrily. I was furious with myself. Over and over, I’ve been whining to myself that this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. How in the hell would I know what it’s supposed to be like? I’m no psychic. I can’t peek into the future and take the easy paths; cheating at life. I’ve been such a pathetic little baby about all this. Sitting around and hoping things would just fall into place.

My eyes focused on Vegeta’s form. No, things can’t stay the same. Who knows how long Vegeta has been living under the illusion that Bulma cared for him, but I won’t allow it any longer. If Bulma doesn’t love him, then it’s time for her to step aside for someone that does.

I swung my leg around catching him partly across the shoulder and chest, and pushed him back.

Vegeta used the momentum with which I had thrown him off, transforming what could have been a nasty skid on his shoulders into a back handspring that quickly landed him on his feet.

I rubbed at my throat taking in huge gulps of air. “Vegeta…please…” I said breathlessly between gasps. “Just calm down…and we can…talk about this.”

He bared his teeth and growled as he dropped into a fighting stance.

Yep, definitely not interested in talking. I sighed heavily, “Vegeta…I apologize in advance.” With that I used Instant Transmission to get behind him and promptly gave him a swift hard hit to the back of the head rendering him unconscious. I caught him as his body slumped forward limply and IT’ed us to Kami’s lookout.

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Piccolo was startled out of meditation when I suddenly appeared next to him with Vegeta in my arms. Judging by his expression, well let’s just say happy isn’t the word I’m looking for.

“Can’t you call first or find someway of letting other people know you’re coming instead of just popping up next to them,” Piccolo yelled agitatedly.

“Sorry, Piccolo. I’ll remember that for next time, I promise, but right now I have to get to Bulma’s. Could you watch over Vegeta, maybe even keep him asleep for a while.”

“He can stay here, but why do you need him to? Or more importantly, why do you need him asleep?” Piccolo asked in a demanding tone.

“Well…Vegeta wants to kill me right now. I just need to buy some time until I can sort this mess out,” I answered as honestly and concisely as I could.

Piccolo gave me a skeptical look, “Mmhmm… You want me to keep Vegeta asleep while you sort things out?”

“Yeah, about an hour or two would be great,” I said cheerfully, shoving my Prince into Piccolo’s not so willing arms.

“Wha..?” Piccolo looked nervously upon the face of the sleeping Prince. “Goku, just how am I supposed to keep him asleep? I don’t exactly have sedatives on hand and if he wakes up then he’s going to beat me senseless, or kill me,” Piccolo’s voice was now little more than a hushed whisper as he tried not to wake Vegeta.

I shrugged. “I figured you guys would have some sort of magic powder or potion to keep him asleep. If not here, then maybe Korin has something? And I highly doubt Vegeta would try to kill you.”

Piccolo looked down at Vegeta again and sighed. “Vegeta wants to kill Goku, so what else is new?” He gave another heavy sigh, “I’ll see what I can do. Maybe I’ll just pump him full of Nyquil or something.”

Smiling appreciatively I brought two fingers to my forehead. “I think you’re going to need something a little stronger than that, but anyway, thanks Piccolo. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I said, and then disappeared from the lookout.

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I was still berating myself mentally as I appeared in the air above the Capsule Corp. complex; chastising myself for my momentary lapse in my will to live.

Now that I think back, everything in my life had just fallen into place. Then, I fell for Vegeta. At first I tried to ignore it. I tried to tell myself that he was unattainable and that I would just be destroying friendships if I were to attempt pursuing him, so I should just put it out of my mind; but despite what I told myself, there was always a corner of my mind that would remind me that I’d never told him of my feelings so how did I know or not if it was just an unreachable fantasy.

It may have been ridiculous, but I feared being rejected by him so much that I never chanced it to tell him how I felt. If he didn’t know, then he could never reject me, and as far as I was concerned at the time, it was better that way.

However, today as he glared down at me with bloodthirsty eyes, I panicked. I just wanted to escape and simply forget any of this had ever occurred. Honestly, I still want to escape, but I keep remembering back to that smile of his. The only thing spurring me on at this time is the desire to see that smile once again directed solely at me. I know that’s a bit presumptuous of me, but it’s a nice goal to keep in mind.

I looked down at Capsule Corp. feeling a rage that was uncharacteristic of me, boiling just below the surface. Most of the lights were off or dimmed, save the ones in Bulma’s bedroom, which glowed brightly in contrast to the night. I could see her sheer white curtains swaying about as they played in the breeze from her open window.

It looked almost…inviting. I smirked in the fashion of my prince and descended to the window, casually climbing through.

Bulma was sitting on her bed, brushing sopping wet hair and clothed in nothing more than a towel that revealed an excessive amount of cleavage. She looked up when she heard my feet touch down on the floor of her bedroom, barely containing her instant annoyance with my presence. Quickly, she changed her annoyed appearance to that of a sweet smile. “Oh, Goku. What are you doing here?” she asked innocently, placing her brush down on the nightstand beside her bed and crossing her legs over one another seductively.

“I came to ask you why Vegeta tried to kill me today,” I stated flatly, advancing towards her.

She pouted slightly, annoyance once again gracing her features. “It’s because you pissed me off.” She leaned back on the bed resting her weight on her elbow. With her free hand she began playing with the water droplets on her chest that had remained after her shower. “…But, Goku,” she continued. “This isn’t the way I wanted things to turn out.”

I stopped directly in front of the bed, sneering down at her. “Vegeta said you showed him everything, Bulma,” I practically spat her name out as I reached out and cupped her chin in my hand firmly, pulling her back to sitting up, and forcing her to look directly into my eyes, my voice icy and threatening in a manner I never imagined possible for myself to produce. “Just what did you show him?”

She scowled at me and slapped my hand away, obviously not intimidated by my tactics. “I showed him what you should have said, you fucking bastard.” She stood up. “Seeing is believing, Goku, and with the wonders of technology at my fingertips, I can make anyone believe whatever I want.”

I instinctively made a guttural growl as I clenched my shaking fists, my tail slashing the air. Restraint was suddenly my fiercest opponent, as I wanted nothing more than to back fist her through the wall and follow it up with a Kamehameha wave.

Bulma closed her eyes and walked past me, exerting restraint of her own as she willed herself calm. “Goku,” she said again in a caring tone…or at least I would have believed it caring before this whole ordeal we had created from virtually nothing. Now I only saw it as a conniving farce.

I remained still in my spot, keeping my back to her as I waited for her to continue.

“Neither of us wanted things the way they are, my jealousy simply got the better of me; but it doesn’t have to remain this way. We could make it so that everyone wins. Wouldn’t that be nice, Goku?”

“How?”

“Simple. We can share.”

I spun around and gaped at her wide-eyed. She couldn’t seriously be suggesting this.

“I get you and Vegeta, you get Vegeta and me, and Vegeta gets you and me; everybody wins.”

“I want no part of it.”

“Do you want him or not, Goku?” she snapped back.

“Yes, but not like-“

“Well, too bad!” she cut in. “It’s a package deal. You get all or nothing, so take it or leave it!”

“Is that what he is to you?” I asked softly, suddenly filled with a great sadness for Vegeta. Bulma stared at me questioningly. “Is he just you’re leverage to get to me? Do you even care about him at all?” Bulma was positively fuming now. She stepped forward and swung her hand at me with all of her strength, but I was ready this time and caught her arm.

Her eyes became rimmed in red as she made several attempts to tug her arm from my grasp, but I wasn’t letting go. Not until she answered me. “Do you?” I implored again.

She bit back a sob that was building in her throat. “Of course, I care about him,” she whimpered.

“Then why do you want to be with me?” I unintentionally shook her arm as I spoke, letting go once I became aware I was doing it.

Bulma pulled back and cradled her arm to her chest. “Because I only got half.”

“Huh?” It was more of a sound effect than a word, but I was too dumbfounded for words at this point.

“You don’t get it. Why would you?” she sniffled, desperately trying not to cry.

“Well, explain it to me then,” I retorted, disgusted with her pathetic display. It seemed as if she were attempting to appear fragile and vulnerable, while her words worked the ‘I’m so misunderstood’ vibe, to get sympathy from me. Had I been human it may have worked; instead, she looked weak and pitiful.

She shot me an angry glare through her tear brimmed eyes. “I’ve always wanted the perfect guy, and while Vegeta is wild, sexy, and intelligent to name a few…he only has half the traits of being perfect. You, Goku…you have the other half. You’re the kind, compassionate, and kind of goofy one. If I had you both, then I could have perfection.”

What started as a snicker evolved into a foolhardy laugh. I didn’t mean to stand there and laugh in her face, but I couldn’t help but find her reasoning absolutely ridiculous. “Bulma, I would have never figured you for such childish logic.”

“Excuse me!?” she screeched.

I shook my head calmly. “Everyone is halfway to perfection for someone out there. If those truly in love were Yin and Yang, then they would be the other half to each other. They would complete each other to perfection. If Vegeta, all by himself, isn’t you’re other half, then he’s not the one for you.” My rare profound moment had left us both a little awestruck.

Bulma slumped to the floor dejectedly.

“If you’ll excuse me, there’s someone else I need to talk to,” I said as I walked toward the window and let myself out.

Until next chapter…
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Reviewers: I LOVE YOU ALL. I went to check the reviews one day and I nearly died of a heart attack. I’ve never gotten so many reviews before. ::hugs all around::

Webtester01: Bulma’s a bad girl, but she’s got the skills when it comes to technology. I haven’t gone into detail about what she showed Vegeta, but it will come up later, although you probably have a very good if not accurate idea of what happened.

Macha: I’m glad you liked the dream sequence, though I think I could have done more with it. About the flirting while sparring…I’m not sure if they knew they were flirting…honestly, I DIDN’T KNOW they were flirting until you pointed it out.

Ryuuko Nakasawa: Uh oh…you were waiting impatiently? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take so long. I’ll try to be quicker now that my job search is over. I don’t want to give myself a deadline though, because I’m bad with deadlines. Nearly failed English back in high school because of it...coming in three months late with essays and all. Damn deadlines…

Fyrbyrd: The rose petals and a Kamehameha probably look very pretty together, but I’ll work faster (so don’t fire). What ever happened to the days when people got threatened with conventional weapons…like cattle prods and baseball bats? Then again…energy waves are much more effective…I’d certainly be scared if one came flying my way.

Moonlight6056: Yay for Goku/Vegeta pairing fans. Sometimes I think I’ve read one too many yaoi fics with those two and yet, I never get tired of them (ever get that feeling?) I never thought it would get to the point where I’d write my own.

Hikari Heijin: Wow…Kill her? I’ll think about it…::malicious grin:: It’s on my things to consider for future chapters list. No really…I’m actually considering this.

Lord of the Pies: …I never knew I could put someone on the edge of their seat. This calls for celebration! DANCE WITH ME! (Yeah, I’m a little warped, but hearing something like that makes me extremely happy.)

The Chichi Slaughter House: I believe you’ve just seconded the motion to kill off Bulma. (You and Hikari Heijin apparently want her dead) Did I make Bulma that evil? I kinda feel bad for her now…maybe I should lay off…or maybe I should make her even more vengeful and bitter. Lol. Maybe she can become the villain everyone loves to hate.

Kit-kit: A video? Something like that… you’ll find out specifics in later chapters…or maybe next chapter with Goku talking to Vegeta and all…if he’ll listen.

Pixelgoddess: Yep, she has and I’m not sure if she’s done with the lies just yet, but we’ll both see when the time comes. I should probably write these things out ahead of time instead of deciding along the way, is it better to do it that way?

Anon: My anonymous reviewer…I love reviews, but I wish I could call you by something other than Anon. Well, thanks for the encouragement all the same.

Kurok: Don’t cry there’s more. I don’t know how much more, but there’s certainly more. I’ll crank out as many as I can before the story’s end.

Thanks again to all my lovely reviewers and again I’m sorry for taking so long. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and those to come.

~Yuurei~