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-------------[Present time]------------------
Vegeta huffed in exhaustion and placed two more dragon balls next to the four other ones. He was dripping with sweat but satisfied with the fruits of his labors. Weeks of searching and him and Goku were able to scour the earth for all the dragon balls. Goku landed next to vegeta and pulled out his four star dragon ball from his top gi, the last memento of his beloved grandpa, and placed it next to the others. The balls began to glow and resonate altogether.
"We actually found them." Goku sighed with relief, "Man, I'm beat. But we did it!" He walked towards vegeta. He wrapped his arms around vegeta's back and pulled him into a warm hug, Vegeta rested his head against Goku's chest and closed his eyes with a soft smile and Goku nuzzled into his spiky black hair.
"Are you sure you're up to doing this 'Geta?" Goku said softly. Vegeta huffed through his nostrils and smirked at Goku's words.
"'Geta", the name echoed in his thoughts. It's been four years since Goku returned from space after his fight with Frieza. In three of those years, Vegeta met with his future self and looked upon in jealousy, inner turmoil and rage at how close his future counterpart got to Goku. How he seethed at every shared touch between them and how much he tried burying his feelings deep inside. Feeling them twist and churn for years. He had worked together with his companions to deal with the androids and cell. But it all changed when his Future self confronted him and his hidden feelings for Goku bubbled and broiled to the surface. He then finally confessed his feelings, feelings that his future self helped him come to terms. And in return, his relationship with Goku had blossomed with passion and catharsis. It's been a year that he's been with Goku in a relationship and never thought a nickname from Goku's lips would ever bring him joy.
"I'm sure of it." He said. "It's the least I could do for myself" he chucked with a soft breath at his choice of words, but he knew he wasn't wrong.
"I'm proud of you." Goku said, pulling out of his embrace with hands now resting on Vegeta's shoulders. Vegeta smirked backed. "Thank you, Kakarot." He said and then turned to the glowing dragon balls as their glowing became a blinding light. The skies turned dark as the long, green scaled, magnificent Shenron burst through the light and intertwined his long majestic body in the sky. The enormous, mighty dragon floated above in the darkened skies, lit from the glowing golden light of the dragon balls on the ground. The dragon's tiled downwards and his searing red eyes gazed at the two saiyans standing side by side on the ground.
"You have summoned me from my slumber. Now tell me mortals, what are thy wishes?"
Vegeta glanced at Goku and his eyes and smile shining in the light. He smirked back, took a deep breath turned to Shenron and opened his mouth to speak.
-------------[Future time]-----------------------
A cold stale cup of coffee sat on top of a worn out table. Mirai Vegeta sat in the chair, neglecting his morning coffee and staring at the window with his elbow propped on the table and his head resting on his closed fist. He gazed at the ravaged city outside the cabin window. The outside was silent, except for occasional gusts of wind and sand. The quiet ticking of the kitchen clock didn't help to add to the emptiness of the world.
'It's been one year', he thought to himself with a sigh. 'I'm glad I was able to save Kakarot. I even let myself there have a better future.' he smiled despite the melancholy feeling in his heart at the last part. He saved Kakarot, but his younger self's Kakarot. He still couldn't shake off the intimate memories he had spending time with the Goku of the past, being able to touch his arm physically, being able to hug him, being able to hear his laughter again, being able to actually KISS him, like he never died in the first place. He closed his eyes wistfully trying to immerse himself in those fleeting moments of happiness with him. Happiness he never got to experience until it was too late in his time. His thoughts were interrupted when the cabin door creaked open. Gohan, now a full grown adult, came in with his one arm lugging a large bundle of chopped firewood. Vegeta stood up from the table.
"Let me help you with that, kid." He said rising from the creaking chair, trying to reach for the firewood. Gohan smiled, "Vegeta it's fine! I may have one arm but I'm still handy!", He chucked at his own sardonic humor as he walked to the worn out stone fireplace and dropped the bundle of fire wood on the floor near it.
"It's been a whole year, huh?" Gohan said, staring into the sooty inside of the fireplace as he loaded it with firewood, "y'know since you went back time." Mirai Vegeta nodded and leaned against the door frame of the kitchen.
"You actually saved my dad," Gohan said wistfully as he looked back at Mirai Vegeta, "I know it's not in our future but...I'm still grateful that you went through all that to save him."
"Thanks, kid," Mirai Vegeta sighed with tired eyes and a weak smile, "I'm glad that other selves have a good future at least--" suddenly the sensation of several ki bodies entered the air. Mirai Vegeta and Gohan froze.
"What the--??" Mirai Vegeta spat out.
"Why are there so many...?" Gohan uttered too shocked to move. Mirai Vegeta rushed to grab his jacket and the Z-sword and bolted out the door. His ki burst as he flew in the direction of the ki cluster with Gohan zooming behind him.
"What the hell is going on over there?!" Gohan shouted at Mirai Vegeta against the wind.
'This is crazy. How did we overlook this?!' Mirai Vegeta's thoughts raced trying to find reason, 'Is it more androids? Another thing like Cell?? I thought I killed them!' He gripped the Z-sword handle tightly. 'I'll be damned if I let anymore destruction happen--' His thoughts came to a stop.
Nothing could prepare him and Gohan for what they saw in the ground. A large group of people were standing on the ground, mostly civilians were in shock and excitement. The group of people on the ground talked among themselves. Some clutched their bodies in confusion, as if something changed. Some were hugging and crying. Vegeta scanned his eyes around each person. All of them were in good condition. No tattered clothing, no cuts, bruises or wounds. As if they never left, never got hurt or never died in the place.
"A-are you seeing this, Vegeta?" Gohan stammered in shock. Mirai Vegeta was speechless. "Were they...were they brought back to life?" Gohan gasped. Mirai Vegeta's eyes widened when among the group he found the source of familiar kis and raced down to them. Piccolo, Krillian, Tien, chaotzu, Bulma, Trunks, Chichi, Yamcha the list of family and friends standing amongst themselves in the flesh, confused, in awe, and crying with joy.
Krillin was clutching his body with wide eyed. "Ohhh my god! What--?!" He gasped, "I could've sworn I was torn apart!!". Piccolo was also patting his body. "And I was incinerated." He spoke to himself. "How did we get here?" The two froze at a shouting unfamiliar voice.
"Krillin!! Piccolo!!" Gohan yelled and ran towards them. Locking Krillin in a one armed hug. "You're alive!!" He yelled in happiness hugging Piccolo next.
"Gohan!? Is that you? You're so big! And oh my god what happened to you!?" Krillin shouted. Looking at Gohan's missing arm. Gohan's eyes looked away in slight shame. "I-I lost it while fighting the androids. Vegeta was able to bandage what was left."
"Vegeta helped you?" Piccolo said with an eyebrow raised. Mirai vegeta lowered to the ground infront of them with wide eyes and shaken breath. "My god. You guys really are alive!" He ran to krillin rubbing his bald head.
"H-hey!! Not so hard!" Krillin yelped as he lifted his head to stare at the older saiyan's face. "Holy shit, Vegeta you look so different." Krillin said in awe. Piccolo's eye also caught the deep scar on the saiyan's cheek. Mirai Vegeta touched his cheek and laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, alot happened."
"Vegeta?!" A womans voice shouted out. Mirai Vegeta turned to see a blue haired woman and a short teen with purple hair gasping at the sight of him with shock. The woman had tears welling in her eyes with her hands clasped over her mouth. "It's really you..." Her voice cracked as tears strew down her face. "Bulma...! Trunks!!" Mirai Vegeta gasped and ran towards then with a big hug.
"Vegeta!! Oh god! We thought we'd never see you again!" Bulma sobbed of joy as she buried her face into his shoulder. Trunks ran into Mirai Vegeta's side and and embraced with a tight hug.
"Dad! Dad!! Are we alive ?!" Trunks asked with a shaky voice of disbelief. "Is this a dream? Are we really alive???" Mirai vegeta bent slightly to hug him tight and kiss his head.
"You're alive. It's not a dream!" Mirai Vegeta laughed in happiness as bulma joined in on the hug. "I missed you all so much!"
"Trunks?" A voice called out. The boy turned his head and stared at the tall man with short black spiky hair and one arm. "G-Gohan?" He whispered.
Gohan rushed to Trunks and hugged him tightly with the only arm he had.
"Trunks!!! It's really you!" Gohan said shakily. He buried his face into Trunks' purple locks and began to sob as endless tears spilled from his eyes. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..." his shoulder's heaved with every word. He remembered that day he lost his arm. He remembered the android's smirking at his battered body. He remembered holing the lifeless body of Trunk's small frame with a quivering hand. His pale face and broken neck had haunted Gohan's nightmares for years. And now Trunks stood before him healed and alive.
Trunks hugged him back tightly. "Gohan it's ok--"
"No it's not!! I couldn't save you!" Gohan sniffed as he held Trunks tighter, "I wasn't strong enough. If only I was back then. Then you would've never..." His voice cracked at his last words.
Bulma's warm body hugged Gohan's back.
"It's ok" She whispered, "you both did everything you could. We've missed you guys..." she smiled with her eyes closing in relief. Another voice rang out,
"GOHAN!!!" An older black haired woman with a bun rushed to him with a tackled hug. "IT'S YOU!! IT'S REALLY YOU!!" Her eyes were widened with relief that soon turned to horror at the arm of her son. "W-WHAT happened to your arm?! Oh no!!" Chichi cried as she held the stump of Gohan's remaining arm. Gohan's eyes widened with more joy and hugged her back.
"It's-it's nothing mom!" Gohan spoke as he wiped his tears away to console his mother.
"IT'S NOT NOTHING! My poor little Gohan! Oh, You've grown so much!" She clasped at his face making sure he was not a figure of her imagination. "You look just like your father!"
Mirai vegeta sighed with a smirk at that remark. Gohan really did grown up with his father's determined eyes. His face was almost the splitting image of him, save for the small scars on his right face. Mirai Vegeta wouldn't be lying if his heart occasionally ached looking at Gohan's face during the years they've worked together. He always reminded him of how much he missed his father.
"Mom...I'm so happy to see you! I've missed you..." His face sank into Chichi's shoulder and warm hug.
Mirai Vegeta and Gohan reunited with the rest of the fighters and their loved ones. Yamaha was crying and hugging Puar, when he was then scooped up into a bid hug by Tien. Mirai vegeta even scooped up Oolong into a hug and noogied his head much to Oolong's shock and chagrin. Mirai Vegeta was in shock and awe at all the sight of all his friends and loved ones that he's lost over the years now miraculously back in the flesh. Something that he yearned for so long and then a thought came about that Mirai Vegeta spoke to himself out loud. "If...If you guys are alive...then--?"
A voice then spoke out, it was quiet compared to the murmurs of the crowd but to Mirai Vegeta into cut through the noise directly into his being. A voice that had only echoed in his dreams.
"V-vegeta?"
Mirai vegeta turned his head to the small voice. A figure stood in his orange and blue gi.
It was like time stopped for Mirai Vegeta. The voices of the crowds became muffled and quiet to his ears. His gaze on the man's spiky black hair, widened eyes and his small gasp.
"Ka...ka..rot." Mirai Vegeta whispered out loud. Deep inside him a dam of full of a years worth of repressed emotions and guilt burst open and flooded Mirai Vegeta's insides. All his memories, all his feelings, all his regret and guilt, bubbled to the surface to overflow and spill from his eyes as his vision blurred from the spilled tears streaking his face. His faces scrunched up in a mixture of happiness then sadness and pain as he burst his ki to rush to Goku's side and tacked him. Goku felt the wind was knocked out of him as he landed on his bottom. Mirai Vegeta sat on his legs and gripped his body into a crushing hug.
"Vegeta! I-It's...you. It's really you!! And y-you're hugging me?" Goku's voice stammered as he was shocked by Mirai vegeta's crushing hug. "You really missed me--? But his voice was cut off by Mirai vegeta.
"I'm sorry." The horse voice croaked out. His hands gripped Goku's back and spiky hair. "I'm sorry...!" Mirai vegeta's voice cracked as he began to sob profusely. "I'm so SORRY!" he cried out loud into Goku's shoulder. He cast away any pride hat his younger self would have and he wept openly into Goku's shoulder and neck. His shoulders heaved and shook with every sob.
Goku was stunned by Mirai vegeta's cries. "Hey..." He said as his hands softly held the sides of Mirai Vegeta's shoulders, "w-why are you sorry? Vegeta you didn't do anything wrong--"
"YES I DID!!" Mirai vegeta cried out. "I've always treated you horribly! Even when you were always there for me, even when you saved me all those times, and when you needed me the most I..." his voice began to crack as more horrible memories raised to the surface of his inner flood. He remembered Goku's pale lifeless face on the bed when he exhaled his final breath. He remembered being speechless amongst the cries of others and paralyzed at the sight. He couldn't register the noises around him as he stare at Goku's closed lids. Lids that would never open again. Eyes that wouldn't brighten every time he saw Vegeta, eyes that wouldn't glint with excitement when he was sparring with Vegeta, eyes that now would never pierce into Vegeta's soul and see the glimmer of his inner yearning and love for the earth saiyan. All his regrets and past sins came flashing back on that day and it that moment that he had truly felt helpless, useless and a failure. broken from lost of the one person who secretly meant the world to him, snatched away again permanently by the heart virus.
"I couldn't save you..." He sniffed, burying his head in Goku's chest. Goku was speechless at his words. And and hugged Mirai vegeta back and rested his head on his heaving shoulders. "I...I didn't know you much you've missed me. I thought you didn't like me--" Goku spoke back to have his words cut off by Mirai Vegeta pulling back from the embrace.
"I LIED!" Mirai Vegeta cusped Goku's soft face with both rough, battle rugged hands. Goku's cheeks went pink at how close he was to the sight of Mirai vegeta's tears steaming down his wrecked face. A face that had one been full of sarcasm of spite was now gazing back at Goku with raw, unbashful emotion. A face Goku never thought he'd see in his life.
Tears began to form in Goku's eyes, "You...you don't hate me?" He asked softly.
"I don't hate you." Mirai Vegeta answered leaning in closer.
"Vegeta...I.." Goku's voice softened as tears slipped down his cheeks caught by Mirai Vegetas hands around them
"I've never hated you." Mirai vegeta's nose brushed against Goku's.
"I..." Goku's voice became a whisper.
"Because I love you. I always have." He spoke with a soft wrecked breath as pressed his lips against Goku's. His eyes closed and finally feeling peace after hellish years to finally tell Goku how he truly felt. Goku's eyes slowly closed and eased into the kiss. His hands held the back of vegeta's head and through his black spiky locks.
Goku pulled back and wiped his tears away sniffling but more pooled out "I always wanted to tell you that. But I thought you didn't feel the same way, so I was too scared to a-and. And I never got to tell you." his voice began to crack.
"I knew. I knew for a lone time. And I loved you back." Mirai Vegeta spoke softly, his thumbs brushing against Goku's soft readend cheeks and wiping away tears, "I was a coward for not telling you when I had the chance. I'm sorry, and I love you" Mirai vegeta spoke back kissing away Goku's tears and leaning his forehead against Goku's
Goku cusped his head and leaned in for another kiss. Resting his head against Mirai Vegeta's shoulder and nuzzling into his neck. "I love you too." Mirai vegeta leaned his head against Goku's spiky hair.
The other fighters and family looked happily at the reunion and bulma and chichi smiled and sighed with relief.
"I always knew." Chichi smiled with a shoft huff and turned towards Bulma, "Goku had told me a long time ago how he felt about him and for years I wondered when he'd tell him."
"Same here, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner from Vegeta's end. Especially with how much Goku was on his mind." Bulma giggled to Chichi. " Still, I'm glad they're finally happy." She sighed.
Mirai Vegeta's eyes closed as his head rest in the crook of Goku's neck and shoulder. In his warm embrace, the thought of who granted him this miracle came to his mind.
'Even though I helped you have a good future, you didn't want to leave me out.' He thought with a soft smile of pure graitude.
'Thank you, for helping me too...'