Madness

Chapter One

Vegeta landed on the safety of Kami's tower, looking down toward Earth with disgust and contempt. He looked at the young Namekian Guardian as he approached. "It's getting worse," he growled in the deepest note Dende had ever heard him use. His voice hitched before returning to normal. "There's-... There's more and more just losing it in the middle of what they're doing. I think... I think..." Vegeta hesitated and dropped to one knee suddenly, making Dende rush over anxiously.

"Vegeta?"

"I'm fine," he said, holding up a hand to stop him. The Saiyan shook his head slightly. "I just need to rest. I haven't eaten in... days," he realized with a grimace.

Dende helped him up. "Well, come on, then," he insisted gently. "We'll get you something to eat and you can sleep here. Goku and the others should be back soon."

"Dende, what's going to happen?" Vegeta asked, pulling the young Namek to a stop. "You can see Earth's future; I know it. What's going to happen to us? Is this the fight we lose?"

Both stood silently, staring at each other. After a few moments, Dende glanced away. "There are only two ways this plays out." He sighed. "One of us goes or we all do."

Both were silent. Vegeta nodded thoughtfully. "Does that mean that one of us is going to die?"

"Maybe," Dende sighed wearily. "It's so unclear. I wish I could give you a more thorough answer." He led the Saiyan into the Lookout. Vegeta could feel every muscle crying out in pain as he continued to follow the Guardian. He'd been feeling aches running through his body for days now, but he hadn't done anything to cause the strain. It had been months since he and Kakarrot sparred, and fighting the diseased was unnecessary. They were either too lost deep in their minds or in hiding. Occasionally they'd venture out to attack, but they had grown relatively quiet.

"Vegeta?"

Vegeta snapped back to attention just too late to avoid walking straight into the doorway. He hissed and rubbed his nose, wincing. When he focused his gaze on the little Namek, he saw intense worry. "Are you ok, Vegeta?" Dende asked. "You seem distracted."

"I'm ok," Vegeta muttered, rubbing his forehead. A peculiar dizziness had come over him. "I... Dende, I need to sit down."

Dende sensed the urgency in his voice and led the unsteady Prince to a chair. "You relax," the Namek instructed. "I'll have Mr Popo bring you some food. You've worked yourself raw, Vegeta. Just rest for now."

Vegeta nodded, accepting the cool hand Dende rested on his forehead. He heard voices. The others had returned. Their chattering voices, tired but hopeful, suddenly cut off when they entered the room. "Vegeta!?" he heard. He felt someone kneel beside him and brush callused fingers over his cheek. "Kakarrot... I'm ok, I'm just tired."

"He's exhausted," Dende corrected, his voice quite a bit harder than normal. "Goku, I'm actually disappointed in your lack of ability to take better care of your mate. He hasn't eaten or slept in a week."

"I'm fine!" Vegeta snapped, harsher than he meant to. He opened heavy eyes. Goku looked surprised and worried, and everyone else watched carefully. He closed his eyes again, gritting his teeth at the tension in his back and shoulders. "I'm sorry, Dende," he said.

"It's ok," Dende replied with a gentle smile. "Here." He handed Vegeta a plate of food, but Vegeta only stared at it. The Namek saw a moment of complete shutdown that chilled him to the bone. Then Vegeta shook himself and accepted the plate. The exhausted Saiyan murmured a thank you and began to eat.

Dende struggled to breathe for a moment. No... Not Vegeta. If he gets it, we're doomed.

Goku watched Vegeta eat. He saw his hands trembling and noted the slow pace with which he ate. "Are you sure you're ok, Vegeta?" he asked, rubbing Vegeta's thigh. "I don't want to sound repetitive or annoy you, but you're not acting like yourself."

Vegeta set the empty plate aside and rested his head on Goku's shoulder. "I'm ok. I'm ok." He nodded and murmured it again. Goku felt deeply concerned. He'd never seen Vegeta in a state like this. The exhausted Saiyan had already gone limp on his shoulder, fast asleep. He lifted him up and held him close.

"Goku," Dende murmured. "We need to talk."

Goku nodded. He followed the little Namek, still holding his slumbering mate. He had a feeling he knew what Dende was going to say, so he spoke first. "Dende, he's fine. He's just tired. There's no way he's... sick. I- With our link, I'd feel it, wouldn't I?" He halted.

Dende looked at him, eyes dark. "We can't deny it forever, Goku," he said sharply. "Vegeta has exposed himself far beyond what's necessary. Don't you remember what the first signs are? Insomnia. Vegeta hasn't slept in a week, even though he's had many opportunities to do so. Changes in the voice. I've heard it twice now. He's been dizzy and unfocused. He walked into a wall before you got back. Goku, this is getting serious."

Goku closed his eyes and went on his way. He's not sick. He's not sick. Vegeta?

Through Vegeta's subconscious, he got a faint blur of a surprised reply.

Are you ok?

He received flickers of images instead of spoken words. It was mainly things he'd done that day, racing around the world, investigating how bad the sickness had become. Goku saw people simply halting in their daily activities and melting into screams or laughter. There was a vague fog throughout the scenes, as if Vegeta had been in a bit of a daze. Considering his lack of sleep, Goku wasn't surprised. Although he did take Dende's words to heart...

Vegeta seemed to sense his worry, for a soft breeze of comfort wafted through him. He shifted on Goku's shouldering, burying his face deeper into his chest. Goku smiled and settled the sleeping Prince on a bed. He looked absolutely beautiful when he was asleep. Goku lay down beside Vegeta and held him close. He ran his fingers through Vegeta's soft hair, and after a few minutes of this, a soft rumble emitted from Vegeta's chest. Goku smiled, pressing a kiss to Vegeta's forehead as he thought, Mine. No disease or madness is going to take you away from me. I love you, my little Prince.