The leaves rustled above them as they made their way down the makeshift path. The dim afternoon light painting the world in a gentle orange layer. Through the canopy the sun could just barely be spotted in the ombred evening sky. Misty clouds hung drifting in the air, crossing that far bright orb as time passed by. The setting of the sun not too far away now.
The trees around them providing an incomplete maze that lead them to a destination one was familiar with. The animals and insects cheerfully chirping, calling out a soft melody. Life bloomed quietly in the scenery. Peace seeming to hang in the air.

"Hey," a voice - belonging to a man named Nappa - spoke up, "can I ask where we're going?"

"Just somewhere." the other - belonging to man named Raditz - stated. "I wanted to get some fresh air. Plus, I need to talk to you about something."

The first spoke again, "About what, exactly?"

"Just...something. Something important."

With that the taller saiyan gave a half shrug and dropped the conversation, instead continuing to travel down the beaten path. That was the third time now he had asked and still he got a mysterious answer that didn't actually answer anything. So he figured it was about time to let the topic go. The distant sky drawing his attention more, as his eyes carefully focused on the slight moving clouds and the drifting leaves from the trees.
It had been a while since he had gotten out of the house, so he wasn't complaining. He just found it a little strange was all. The past few days had been quite and rather uneventful, from what he knew the world's state was at a stand still in peace, the time was spent mainly just idly sitting by. So for Raditz to say something was urgent was odd; but not exactly unexpected. What really confused the tall saiyan was the fact that it seemed like they were in a rush or danger of some sort originally, and now they were casually strolling through the woods. Nappa didn't mind, of course, there was always some part of him that was fascinated with nature and it's ways.
The way that life seemed to prevail through thick and thin, disasters could happen and nature would still be there. It all worked together to thrive and live on; like a team. Each part of nature held beauty in it's own way, and each part was key to the system of it all.
As they walked through the small forested area, welcomed by the walls of trees and the roof of leaves; small animals dashing about from tree to tree. Then their path came to a stop at a clearing in the trees, leading directly to a high cliff that loomed far above the familiar city. A clear view of the sky was offered, the ombre shifting with a purple tint as the sun sank in the horizon.
They stood for a moment, eyes locked to the sky, before Raditz took a few steps forward. "C'mon." He spoke, gesturing for Nappa to follow him to the edge of the cliff.
The taller man only watched until Raditz glanced back at him, soon following in suit and walking forward to stand next the the long haired warrior once again. They remained quiet as they looked on out onto the city, watching as the cars passed each other on the road and the people on the sidewalks. The tall buildings just barely reaching the sky line, or the short buildings as high as the lampposts; the lights and signs with each intricate or bold detail. Each feature unique in it's own way, and gleaming with an odd beauty. Given with anew life, seemingly at peace.
Raditz stayed silent for a moment, then sighed and carefully sat at the edge of the cliff. He patted the soft grass next to him as a hint for Nappa to sit as well, which was soon taken as the taller saiyan took a seat at the edge of the cliff.
It was a beat of welcomed silence, no words needed to be said really. Only the sounds of the living forest around them. And as they sat and watched the sun finally set on the far blooming horizon, the world beyond darkened in a sea of purple glazed by a soft brush of speckled white. From past came the moon on its cycle drowning the world in a silhouetted light. The stars glints of different times in that great galaxy above, concluding of the pass of day and the welcome of night.

"The stars are lovely tonight, aye?" Raditz commented.

"Mhm, quite." Nappa agreed.

Raditz smiled, "You remember that star we named that one time?"

Nappa laughed softly, "How could I forget? One of my favourite memories."

"Yeah, good times." Raditz nodded. "I wonder if we can find it."

"I dunno, maybe." Nappa shrugged. "It might be too far to spot from here."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't at least try."

"True."

Eyes now drifting over the stars in a search for a fond memory of one light that shown brighter than the rest. A memory from years ago when they sat at a similar cliff on a far away planet founded on lush forests, just gazing at the night's sky until that one star was caught. It was bright, and held beauty beyond the rest of those speckles in the sky. And it was theirs; a name chosen to fit both in eternity. A combination of two names. That name was important, especially now.
In that moment the time clicked, and the topic changed. It was now or never, and the timing felt right.

"Hey, Nappa?" Raditz spoke up, glancing over at the tall saiyan sitting next to him. "Can I...tell you something?"

"Of course, go ahead." Nappa smiled.

"Well.." He paused, and seemed to hesitate. After a moment of thought, he posed a question; "You like stories, right?"

Nappa gave a confused look, but nodded and agreed. "Yeah..?"

"Then I have a story." Raditz stated simply.

"Okay, I'm listening."

The shorter saiyan looked to the sky then, the stars shining as he began his story. "It's about a boy. When he was younger he had someone who cared for him, someone he had grown attached to. That someone took care of him, made him feel safe and comfortable when no one else could."

He paused to look over at the man next to him, seeing him nod in confirmation that he was listening. They were quiet for a moment as Raditz thought of how to continue, the gentle rustling of the leaves and the slight buzzing and chirping of the bugs forming a soft melody behind them. The peace seemed in place, yet still not exactly right in time. Like there was a slight twinge of off to it.

Raditz sighed, and shifted his gaze to the city line below just beneath the cliff. And he continued, "Over time, though- when he got a little older, and things started changing- he started to grow more and more attached to that certain someone, and began to fall in love. But he knew that that wasn't right and he couldn't say anything."

"Oh.." Nappa mumbled, a twinge of sadness in his tone.

"So he stayed quiet, and locked those feelings away- but he never forgot them. And then..." Raditz's voice trailed off, that same sadness appearing in his own tone as he looked out to the sky. "he lost the chance to say anything, and he lost that someone. He felt distant after, like a part of m- him, was...broken."

There was silence then, except for the quiet chirping of the crickets and the shift of the grass. And time seemed to drift, like it wasn't really passing as they sat there in a comfortable quiet just watching as the unchanging sky above looked down upon them. The little glints of light in that dark ocean showing peeks into the past and future alike from afar, as they swirled in a still pattern. It was odd; how distant the sky was yet how close they were because of it.
It was something that was a safe source, something that they found in a time of need. The stars above were comfort when nothing else was. Those little stars in the galaxy somehow giving a hope. A hope that they both held with no hesitation. A hope of new.

"How does it end?" Nappa spoke up.

"What?" Raditz replied, confused.

"That story, how does it end? What happens next?" Nappa explained, dragging his view from the stars above to meet the eyes of the other saiyan sat next to him

"Oh, well..." Raditz paused, taking a moment to think before he picked up from where he left off in the story. "They met again; found each other. They spent more time together, grew closer, and were glad to have each other's company. But, they were stuck in a bad place. A place where they were both slowly...disappearing, I guess."

The tall man nodded slightly, a way to show he was still listening.

The shorter saiyan continued again, "Then they were given a second chance. A chance to semi-start over. A chance to help. So, their new story began, fighting off new foes and helping the world on the side."

"So, they were heroes now?" Nappa asked.

"Yeah, heros. I guess you could call it that." Raditz clarified, nodding slowly. "Anyway, they were heroes, and as most heros do they were left to live peacefully. It was normal, they both felt that that was how life should have gone originally. But..."

He trailed off again, seeming to hesitate. It was uncertainty that held in his eyes as the little dots of light above captured his attention. It wasn't like he had lost his wording, as he knew what came next, it was more of a moment of questioning to continue. Eventually, the silence was broken.

"But what?" The other saiyan asked suddenly, his tone soft yet patients wearing thin.

Raditz sighed then, and city was his new focus. He closed his eyes, and continued, "But the boy, or the man now, felt that something was wrong. That something had to change. That there was still something that that special someone had to know."

"He never forgot.." Nappa mumbled, repeating past words.

"Mhm, never once did he forget." Raditz nodded. "So he decided it was time to be honest, and tell that someone how he really felt. He gathered up his courage, and when he felt the time was right, he asked if they could talk and could go somewhere a little more private."

There was a beat of pause and the other stayed quiet. The shallow sounds of the night and the city life being dwindled out as the seconds passed. The distant cars and people dispersing; and the near life of insects and plants quieting. Nappa only nodded, as a somehow calm shock took over his features. Listening as things slowly became more clear and it started to click, and he remained silently waiting for Raditz to speak up.

Then the quiet was parted, and the story carried on. "In the afternoon they left and found a nice forest to walk through, just talking. That special someone ask what was going on, and he only responded with the same answer of 'I just wanted to get some fresh air.' There was a small clearing next to cliff where they could see the city below and the sky above. They stayed there until the stars were up."

"Mm," Nappa hummed, nodding slowly as that calm shock from before drifted to a realization. He glanced over at the man next to him, who only gazed at the night sky once more.

"They talked for a while, and eventually the man told a story. A story about himself. A story were he fell in love with someone. That special someone, sitting right next to him." Raditz's voice quieted, and his eyes glinted with a shallow nervousness.

The silence remained then, with those last words lingering in their minds. The atmosphere returned then, and the sound lit with new life. Everything around them moved and breathed, even if it was unseen by the naked eye, or went unnoticed by anyone- it was there. But they were still, with a calm gentle tranquility that was shared.
The peace was welcomed, just as a second chance was.

"Is there an ending?" Nappa questioned.

"No. There isn't." Raditz replied. "The story isn't over yet, it's still going. I don't know how it ends."

"It's a true story, right?"

The shorter saiyan nodded, "100% true."

"That story, it.." Nappa paused, and looked over to Raditz. "it's about us, isn't it?"

Raditz nodded in agreement again, more hesitant this time. "Mhm, yeah. I-it's about us."

"It's a good story." The tall man stated simply, a slight smile taking its place on his features. "And I think I know how it ends."

Raditz tilted his head, that same nervousness from before still held in his eyes.

Nappa explained, "I think the man tells that special someone how he feels, in his own words and not in a story. And I think that that special someone feels the same. I think they're happy then."

There was no audible response, just a look of surprise from the other saiyan. He was at a loss for words.

"I think that's the ending."

"So, you..." Raditz began, then paused as hesitation took the lead once more. When he finally continued his voice was softer than before, "you feel the same..?"

"Well, that depends on how you feel." Nappa stated calmly. "You'll have to come to terms with that first."

"Nappa..." Raditz cut himself off again, taking a moment of thought. He knew how he felt, and he knew he wanted to say it. He knew that the thought of that happy ending, and he knew that was what he wanted. But it was the thought of rejection that scared him. It was difficult to say, yet he had to. And, finally, he did; "I love you."

It was quiet for a moment, and he looked over to Nappa. He was met with a smile. Then, the tall saiyan nodded and spoke, "I love you too."

With those four simple words all of his worries disappeared. And that feeling of oddity and wrong was gone, like finding the final piece of a puzzle. Everything falling into place as a last note of peace. The gentle melody of the crickets setting the scene of a moment to never forget. And, under those same stars they met all those years ago, they smiled as the words came forth once more. A confession and a confirmation.
A star may have been lost in the crowd of others, lost to time and distance. But it wasn't forgotten. The memory would live on. Just as they would, even with the slow ticking time. Memory would hold strong.

~~~~

A memory that stayed in time.

"The stars are pretty tonight."

"Yup, they sure are."

"Hey, Nappa?"

"Yeah, Raditz?"

"We'll always be together, right?"

"Of course. I promise."

~~~~