The next morning we found ourselves piled into Nappa's car on route to the hospital. Sleep did not take us the night before as we lay awake in our shared pain, huddled in the living room eating chocolate cake to our fill. Raditz decided to do a play by play of the fight, and minutes turned into hours as we celebrated our victory, and soon the sun had greeted us. I contacted the others to tell them to meet us, but Roshi assured us they were resting and I bothered them no further. I figured that they would come at their own leisure.

Kakarot was awake when we arrived, and I saw that they had moved him onto his back. He lay on aloe vera cloths, a new procedure they were trying to minimize his pain. His face was browned in some places due to the burning and pale in others. Kakarot nor Raditz shared my olive skin tone, but the pigment that possessed them was in no way pale; it was alarming to see such a sight.

He squint his eyes at us as we entered, a genuine smile capturing his face. Raditz made his way to his head, gingerly massaging his scalp. No matter how old Kakarot got, Raditz had never failed in his role as an older brother, taking on the role of guardian after their parents died. We were kindred spirits, in that fashion, and it created a bond between us that was unbreakable.

"Hey guys," his voice was raspy and light, but full of amusement, "you all look terrible."

"You should be one to talk," Raditz smiled down at Kakarot as his fingers continued their magic, "I wish I had a mirror."

Kakarot chuckled before breaking into a cough, and Nappa passed his Styrofoam cup of water to him, bending the straw so it was easy to drink.

"Thanks, Nappa. So," he looked at me and grinned, "how did it go?"

I grinned back, unable to stop the arrogance as they laced my words. "Exactly as I planned, Kakarot. We were victorious."

"Yeah, you should've seen those bastards," Raditz stopped his massaging to pump his fist outward, a display of the beating he gave Recoome, "they put up a good fight, I won't lie, but in the end they were no match for us."

"That's awesome, guys," he gave us a thumbs up, his eyes shining despite their lazy half lid, "I never doubted you guys for one second. And the others? Tien and the guys? Did they make good on their word?"

I nodded, feeling the same sense of pride I felt for them the night before. "They did. And they each held their own pretty well. I'm very grateful to them."

"We all are," Nappa spoke, although his tone wasn't as light hearted as ours, forcing me to look to him to see what was his problem, "without them we would be worse for wear."

"They're good guys," Kakarot reclined his head, breathing a sigh of relief at the ease of tension on his neck, "I knew it from the first time we met them at Roshi's. Remember, Vegeta? When Yamcha showed us that roundhouse kick?"

I chuckled, the picture of Kakarot's many attempts before finally landing it correctly painting in my mind. "How could I forget? I thought you'd break your ass with all the falls you took."

"He made it look so easy, but I got better. So much so that he had to tell me to back off. Those days were good. I wish I could have had more of them."

"Why are you talking like that?" Nappa grabbed my shoulder and shook his head, but I brushed his hand away. "When you get out of here, we'll have plenty of good days."

"Yeah," Raditz grinned at me, "especially now that those dumbass Icejins won't be a problem."

Kakarot lay quiet, the only sounds of his heart rate monitor and breathing machine filling the silent void. After a while he took a deep breath, the sudden sound causing me to jolt. "Bulma and Chi-Chi came to visit. They're nice girls."

"I ran into them before I came to see you yesterday," heat coursed through my lips as I remembered our embrace and my hands longed to rake through her curls again. After our encounter, I swallowed my need, knowing that we would not get the chance.

"That Chi-Chi sure is pretty," Kakarot swallowed hard and smiled, "and she's tough. I thought you were a gonner the way she talked to you Raditz."

"Hmph," Raditz scoffed, poking Kakarot in the shoulder, "she's got a lot of mouth on her. I could find better ways to put it to use."

"That's why you've always had problems with girls, Raditz. Mom always said that you would be a great uncle because no woman would give you her children."

"Yeah well, mom married dad, so she was no expert on great relationships."

"I guess you're right. But dad wasn't half bad though, he did right by us." Kakarot looked up at Raditz, his eyes shining. "Where do you think they're at right now, Raditz?"

Raditz looked as if someone had electrocuted him, his breath hitching in his throat. He understood the loaded question that Kakarot had asked and shushed him. "Somewhere that you won't be visiting for a long time, little bro. A very long time from now."

Kakarot ignored him, dipping his chin to the top of his chest and glancing my way. "Are you gonna ask Bulma on a date, Getes? You two would look nice together, way better than her other guy."

You mean Zarbon, I wanted to say, but thought better of it. Instead I shook my head, my eyes narrowing to the ground. "There's no point. At the end of the day, she's where she belongs and so am I."

"Too bad," he sighed and looked at the ceiling, "I would've loved to take Chi-Chi out. Find out what kind of food she likes to eat or cook. She looks like the kind of girl who makes good food for her guy. I would've treated her real nice."

"Stop it, Kakarot," Raditz hand squeezed Kakarot's shoulder gently, yet still drove his point, "stop speaking with such finalities."

Kakarot slowly, and painfully, raised his arm so that his hand rested on top of Raditz, his fingers lightly skimming his bruised knuckles. "You're a great brother, Raditz. You're a terrible cook, and sometimes you were tough on me for no reason, but I never loved you any less."

"Now you know I don't like that sentimental shit, Kakarot," Raditz chuckled but his voice was thick, and I could tell the way he gripped his brother's shoulder that he appreciated the kind words, "save it for your wedding day or something. I'll even give a speech about how we all thought you were gay for a while."

Nappa snorted and I laughed too, remembering a few years back when we thought of sitting him down and asking the truth, readily available to tell him that we would look at him no differently. Times had changed, and I would've never thought I'd end up here.

Kakarot laughed lightly, and I could tell the strain was hard on him. His eyes fluttered to mine again, and I wondered if he would kick us out to sleep. "Do you remember, Vegeta? Back at Roshi's when I asked you about the afterlife?"

My stomach turned and I caught my breath, the nature of the conversation striking me in the chest. Nappa and Raditz turned their shock to me, their faces coming alive with their various questions. I cleared my throat to escape their torment. "Yes, I remember."

He smiled lazily at me. "Good. There's this nurse that comes in right after they give me my meds and she reads to me. I don't know what religion she practices and I never thought to ask, but the words are….real beautiful. They talk about how anyone can find forgiveness if they ask for it, and how no one is doomed to a bad place afterwards if they seek repentance. I asked her if that meant murderers, and I swear to you she smiled at me so sweetly and told me even them. And it made me feel good, you know? To know that just like that I could be forgiven."

"Why," the back of my throat felt wet, as if tears would rush out before I gave them permission, and it suddenly became too thick to swallow, "why are you telling us this?"

Kakarot's expression changed; gone was his good hearted nature and in its wake was something more serious, more emotional. He gestured for me to come closer and I obliged, feeling the heavy weight of Nappa's eyes on my back. I need not turn around to see the words that lay beneath his gaze.

"I'm alright, Vegeta. I'm alright with how everything is going to be, and I don't regret it. I'm glad Chiaotzu is alright, and I'm glad you're alright too. If I had to, I'd do it again, except I would change that expression on your face," his mouth curved upwards in a smile, and I felt hot liquid rush down my cheeks. Damn him; damn that Kakarot.

"Kakarot," Raditz voice was breaking, and I trusted he too was finding it hard to keep his composure.

"It's okay, Raditz," Nappa spoke, his voice fatherly yet soft, and he nodded at Kakarot. "This is the best time, Kakarot. We're all here."

Kakarot nodded back, his blinks becoming slower. I whipped my head around to Nappa, my eyes widening. He bore his gaze into mine, forcing me to remember our conversation at the ice cream place. The tears came out harder, and I made no moves to stop them.

"Nappa," Kakarot rasped, "you do a good job with Vegeta. He's fortunate to have you, we all are. I know you'll keep doing it."

"Like my life depended on it."

I turned back to Kakarot, my eyes pleading with him to hang on. It was as if he was looking forward to go, and in that moment I had to ask if I blamed him. To go to this peaceful land that the nurse had shared with him seemed a lot better than this hell of an existence.

Still, the selfish part of me did not want to endure that pain.

"I'm tired, Vegeta," he broke my silent thoughts, and his voice portrayed his words, "I waited for you guys, and I'm glad I did, but I'm real sleepy." He blinked and for a second I thought he wouldn't open his eyes again, but he did. I didn't feel relieved, as I knew that the moments were dwindling down. Raditz took a shaky breath and moved towards the window, his fist pounding down hard against the wall. I heard him take more deep huffs and knew that he was trying to not crumble apart.

"Make sure Raditz is all right. Make sure everyone is all right," he reached out and grabbed my hand and I let him, squeezing his fingers lightly. "You're golden, Getes, you know that? I'm no expert in reading auras, but if I could I'd bet my ass that yours is a golden color, like the sun first thing in the morning. Always remember that, okay?" He closed his eyes and slowly opened them, a peaceful smile playing upon his lips. "Thank you for protecting the Saiyajins. You're super for that." He chuckled before continuing. "I guess I'd call you a super Saiyajin."

I wiped my nose and laughed at his terrible joke. "You just couldn't resist huh?"

"Naw, it wouldn't be me if I didn't say something that you thought was silly. I need you to remember me by something other than these stupid scars."

"You're a fool if that's what you think, Kakarot," I found the next words hard to say. Not because of their sentiment, but because my words got caught in the web of tears lodged in the back of my throat. I forced them out anyways, my voice soft and heavy, "you're…you're my best friend, Kakarot."

"Ditto, Getes." His hand went a limp in mine as he closed his eyes. "Ditto."

He drew a breath, the same satisfying breath one takes as they relax in their bed after a long day, and then he was gone.

The heart rate monitor taunted us with this fact, humming a monotone loud enough to wake the whole damn hospital.

"Kakarot?" Raditz whirled around, pressing his palms against either side of Kakarot's shoulder blades. "Hey, damnit, wake the hell up! Come on, don't do this shit, you can't do this shit." He slapped the side of his face in short, light contacts, the sound of his hollow flesh making me sick to my stomach.

"Raditz-" Nappa stepped forward, his own eyes red and cheeks puffed.

"Shut up!" He turned to glare angrily at Nappa before resuming his actions to his brother, "Kakarot, wake up you son of a bitch or I'll fucking kill you! How are you just gonna leave, huh? How!?" His words turned into sobs as he broke down completely, the weight of his body falling down on Kakarot's chest. His cries were deep, coming from the pit of his belly, and his chest vibrated so hard that it shook the table. "How are you just gonna leave me like that? After mom and dad, you selfish punk!" He rose up, his nose globbed with mucus and tears and his eyes puffy. He whipped past me, but I was unable to move my eyes from Kakarot.

"Hey!" Raditz called into the hallway, "What the fuck is wrong with you guys?! My brother in here needs assistance, damnit! What the fuck kind of shit job nurses are you?!"

I could hear the scattering of feet and a woman's voice trying to calm him down, only to be met with more of Raditz' obscenities. They moved in forcefully, demanding that we leave the room and closing the door behind us. The monotone of the heart monitor still buzzed in my ears, as everything else drowned around me, fading into a haze as I tried to come to grips with what the hell just happened.

The week after Kakarot left us was a blur of grey.

People called to pay their respects, and even a letter from Bulma and Chi-Chi had arrived in the mail, along with a gift certificate to a florist for his grave. He would appreciate the gesture, this I knew.

Neither Nappa nor I had heard from Raditz. He stormed out of the hospital after we got kicked out and I hadn't seen him since. Nappa assured me that he needed time to get his head together, seeing as Kakarot was the only person he really had left. I knew this to be true as well, and I pressed the subject no further.

We planned a private service, inviting Roshi and the guys, and anyone else who wanted to come pay their respects. It was small, an attendance of only about fifteen, as we buried him in the ground. His coffin was plain, but Nappa had put every ounce of money he could to make sure he had better than a cardboard box, so it was fitting. The skies sympathized with us as grey clouds hovered above, singing their song of sadness upon us as heavy rain mucked the dirt.

Raditz was still a no show.

I was beginning to worry, wondering how he could miss something so important, but I didn't need to wonder for much longer.

Later that evening, Nappa received a call from him, drunken off his ass after binging on whisky and cheap beer.

"Raditz," I heard Nappa grunt, "I know this is hard for you, but you missed your own brother's funeral so that you could get piss drunk on the streets of South City?"

"Fuck, Napper," Raditz was screaming so loud that I could hear him clearly and I shook my head, the fool. "He's gone, he's really gone, 'n thurs nuffn I can do bout it." His words were completely slurred, and I wanted to punch him in the face for his disrespect.

Something told me that wherever Kakarot had found himself, he was getting a good laugh out of this.

"You'll make it, Raditz," Nappa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "hey, who the hell are you shouting at?"

"These no good fucking Icejiins!"

"Icejiins!?" Nappa rose to his feet abruptly, forcing me to do the same, "what the fuck do you think you're doing, Raditz? Are you trying to start a war again!?"

"I'm tryna get some revenge! They took my bro 'way frumme, Napper. So come out 'n fight me, you fuckin cowardssss!"

Nappa motioned for me to grab my coat as he grabbed his keys, muttering curses under his breath. "Goddamnit, Raditz! Where the hell are you?"

"I dunno, but I got mah pistol ready to spill some blood," Nappa had placed him on speaker, and it sounded like he took another swig of his liquor.

"Stop and wait for me, Raditz. Don't do anything fucking stupid." He fumbled putting the keys into the ignition, but managed to start the car.

We heard shots, and my chest dropped. I couldn't believe Raditz would act like this, considering all that we had been through.

"Stop fucking shooting, Raditz! What the fuck man!?"

"Tell dem sonsabitches to stop shooting first!"

"Who? Is it Dodoria?"

"Hell no, I wish it was Dodoria!" Raditz was shouting something unintelligible in the background to whomever he was arguing with before returning to the phone "It's the goddamned cops!"

Nappa damned near jerked the car off of the road, and my eyes widened. I knew Raditz was a dumbass, and I knew he was handling this poorly, but I had never expected him to have a shootout with the police.

"RADITZ!" Nappa yelled into the receiver so loudly I clutched my ears. "Raditz, put down your fucking gun, you dumb piece of shit!"

"You sound like em, Napper," he laughed, his actions fueled heavily by his liquid poisons, "and I say the same thing to youse," another three shots were heard, "fucking never!"

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Nappa began to speed faster now, barely dodging other cars and running red lights. "Where the hell are you, Raditz!?"

He didn't reply, a thunderstorm of bullets echoing from the phone. Nappa's face went pale and my breath hitched as he came to a stop. In the background, after the bullets died, a muffled voice was heard shouting, "Alright he's down! No pulse, shooter is declared dead."

Nappa pulled over, clutching the phone so tightly I thought he would break it. He slammed his hand against the steering wheel, the honking of the horn blaring in short bursts of protest. "Goddamnit!" he breathed, not knowing whether to be livid or cry, and continued his string of curses. I could do nothing but lean my head back against the seat, and take deep breaths.

Raditz would make the paper the next day; instead of entering Icejin territory, he had wandered directly into downtown South City in his drunken stupor, outside of a senior citizen building. The cops had been called and he shot at them, and the rest was carefully detailed in the paper, labeling him a thug.

I had hoped that Raditz would find Kakarot, hoping that he too asked for forgiveness in his last breaths, and found their parents. I hoped they would find mine, too, and live together, watching down on myself and Nappa.

It's the only thought that I have that helps me make peace with all of this.

With all that had happened so suddenly, I held little regards for my court case the following week.

I had spent the afternoon before the final trial with Nappa, talking about how fucked up my life had managed to go. Nappa told me to consider myself lucky that I still had a life, and I couldn't argue with him.

Walking into the courtroom, dressed in the only suit I owned, I felt the condemning stares of the occupants swallowing me alive. I couldn't tell who was related to Zarbon, and no Icejiins showed up, but it didn't matter as they all looked at me with a mixture of pity and hatred.

I took one look at the judge in his hardened years, a man who had a reputation for no nonsense, and knew he would throw the book at me. I envisioned myself as an old man with greying hair, leaning back on a bunker and considering my life choices. The thought alone made my head ache and my stomach turn, but there was no taking anything back. If only I could wish it, to whomever was listening, Kakarot and Raditz would still be here, and Bulma would be under the heat of my body, crying out my name in a passionate fury.

I shook my head of the trivial thoughts, forcing my brain to comprehend reality. I stood before the judge, crossing my arms and holding my hands like Nappa had instructed me to. My lawyer was some court appointed turd who didn't give a damn if I was guilty or not, just as long as he got his check. "Makes no difference to me if you're innocent," he told me prior to the hearing, "just as long as some poor son of a bitch believes you are."

The judge had petitioned for no jury, and I found it odd yet disappointing. If he didn't need anyone to decide my fate, then that must have meant his own mind had been made. Vegeta, the Kind-of Murderer, or Dumbass Kid Makes Bad Decisions and Gets Life and other dramatic headlines surged through my mind leaving me to shiver at the core. The real kicker, Kid Goes to Prison and Dies at Hands of Gang Lord Frieza, caused vile to litter my mouth.

The judge read over various testimonies, most of them anonymous and telling of how I should rot, annoying my ears. A few stood out, telling of what really happened, and by the nature of the words, I concluded they came from Raditz, Nappa, Chi-Chi and Bulma.

He rubbed his temple and sighed, clicking a pen in his hand that resided on his cheek, and stared at me square in the eyes, readjusting his glasses. Make them red, and he could pass for Roshi, if I could be so lucky.

"I won't pretend that you're some saint, and it's a shame that you're so young and caught up in this mess," he spoke, shuffling through his papers, "but from my understanding, the real suspect here passed away recently. My condolences go to any member of his family that is sitting in the benches, yourself included young man." My stomach dropped, knowing that the only other family member Kakarot had sealed his own idiotic, and sad, fate.

"After careful deliberation and speaking with the persons who gave these testimonies, it is in my most humble judgement that the only mistake you made was finding yourself caught up in these silly gang wars, fighting and what have you," he scoffed and rolled his eyes, leaving me to wonder just how many times someone like me stood before him. "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing that you waste your life away in some confinement, when I could have made a different decision. Besides," he cleared his throat, "there's already been too much pain here. I'm not an old turtle hermit, and I'm very much aware of the heroic act you and that other young man did, and I will tell you that it heavily influences my verdict. So let the court show that as of today, at 12:15 pm, I, the honorable Judge Gero Dokuta, find that the defendent, Vegeta No'Ouji, is in no way responsible for the death of said victim, Zarbon Generu, and hereby free of any punishments under said court system. I hope that this makes you rethink your life, Mr. No'Ouji. Second chances are rarely given, and I rarely give them. I don't want to have to see you in my court again, not even for an unpaid traffic ticket. Go on and live your life the right way. This court session is adjourned." He rang down his gavel, and at the sound of the wood meeting wood, my knees buckled and only the podium held me up.

Nappa shouted behind me in glee, while others groaned their anger. I didn't care; I was a free man and nothing or no one could change that. As we exited the courtroom, I couldn't help but look at the sky and thank Kakarot, my gut somehow believing that he had something to do with my change of luck.

The sun beamed warmly against my back, and a gentle breeze swam through my hair, and no one can ever get me to believe that he hadn't embraced my thanks with a response of his own.

Keeping the vow to myself, and following the better advice of the judge, I decided to leave South City and return to Roshi's. Nappa understood, mumbled some shit about how he would miss me and tried to pretend that he had never uttered the words. I didn't hold him to his lies.

Nappa soon followed suit, meeting some blonde haired girl at a bar and deciding to entertain her notion of dinner at an appropriate time. One date and he was smitten; making the notion to settle down and make an honest woman out of her. Last I heard she was pregnant, and he couldn't be more elated, thanking me for showing him what kind of headaches to look forward to.

Roshi welcomed me back along with the others, chuckling about how he kept good on his word about seeing each other again. He's annoying, and I'm sure that I will have words with him someday, but he's good to me, and I refuse to complain.

Life with Krillin, Tien, Yamcha and Chiaotzu is fulfilling, and I'm thankful that they give me company to occupy my days with. Of course we still spend those days working under the hard labor of Roshi, but my muscles have no grievances. I do plan on being Roshi's age and in better shape, if I have my say so.

I won't pretend like some days aren't hard, or that when the wind blows I don't hear echoes of Kakarot's laughter, ceasing my activity and forcing me to fight back tears. I wish I had the opportunity to have more good days with him, like I so naively expressed to him at the hospital. Most nights I talk to him before I sleep; my mind alluding to me that he responds, and the thought lulls me to a quiet sleep.

I also won't pretend like I don't spend afternoons thinking about her, wondering what she's doing or if she found someone else to adorn on her arm. I wonder, if such is the case, if he looks at her with marvel like I had, getting lost in her sea of curls and her cerulean eyes, sucking away at her cherry lips until they are plump with mercy. I torture myself with the ideas, and quickly find something else to distract me. It's not an easy task, as the color that is so magnificently hers surrounds me, either in the depths of the lake out back, or in the fresh dawn of morning, the sun rising perfectly to meet the blue kissed sky.

And in those moments, where my chest agonizes with the what ifs, I stop and think, if we had been destined to live that other life, how different my life would be, if for more than a few fleeting moments, Bulma was mine.

THE END

A/N: And that's all she wrote guys.

I was debating on if I wanted to take my time and upload it, but I'm super excited and I wanted to post it now. :D

Thank you to everyone who voted, read and had lovely comments to write on this story, you guys are the best and I love it!

Congratulations to LadyVegeets who won the Literature Contest. And she most definitely deserved it, as her story (ALL of her stories) are amazing! Haven't read any? What are you waiting for! You're missing out!

You guys should take a moment to read all of the submissions on The Prince and The Heiress (tumblr or google+) because they are all GOOD. Like sooo Good, and they all deserve all of the praise and feedback. If you're die hard DBZ/Vegebul fans like we are, come on and join and meet some awesome people with amazing talents. I promise you it's a good time.

Thank you guys again, and I hope you enjoyed my take on this classic. R&R please!

If you liked this, I am currently writing a B/V dark sci-fi entitled Odd|yssey. I'm currently in chapter 2 and writing chapter 3,and I would love to converse with you guys!

Till next time, friends!

-Bitchii-Usa