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If Walls Could Talk
By Tituba Parris
If Walls Could Talk
These walls keep a secret
that only we knew
But how long can they keep it
Cause we're two lovers who lose control
We're two shadows chasing rainbows
Behind closed windows
Behind closed doors
-Celine Dion
"I guess this is the big day Goten, ne?" Goku asked his youngest son pleasantly.
"What are you talking about dad?" Goten gave his father a weird look. O_o Where did that come from? "Scarlet and I aren't supposed to get married for a while. I think in a few years. We haven't discussed it."
"Really?" Goku was in complete shock. "That means I can still get you guys a present!"
"Yes dad I suppose you could." Goten went about his business by stacking the dishes on the counter, preparing the sink to wash them. "What could you get us anyway? We aren't exactly rolling in money you know." Something he wondered if Scarlet would ever get used to... She was royalty.... hell, she had everything! And he had nothing to give to her but his love and protection.... and she really didn't even need that anymore.
"Oh, I don't know." Goku smiled radiantly, bustling around the kitchen, absently checking the cabinets for snacks and sweets. "I probably should get Frieza something too if he goes. He'll already be stressed out as it is!"
"Which is why you probably shouldn't give him anything dad." Goten turned on the hot water and let the sink fill up with sudsy water. "Besides the fact that he already isn't going to LIKE this one iota, the worst thing you could do would be is TOO be nice! Just back up and give him his space."
"Well maybe I can give Scarlet's mom something." Goku replied with airish confidence. "Come to think of it I don't even know her mother's name! What is it? Do you know?"
Goten turned off the sink and proceeded to wash the dishes while he talked. "She doesn't have a mother."
"Everybody has a mother, ne?" Goku laughed.
"No, that's not what I meant, she is dead." Goten paused for a second and resumed his chore.
"She's dead?" Goku looked at a loss of words. "Well, then I'll have to find an even nicer present, ne?" He said so softly that Goten's absent ears couldn't even pick up.
"What are you talking about?" Goten rubbed his itchy cheek, getting soap bubbles on his face.
"Oh nothing I was just babbling to myself like your mom always says I am!" ^_^ "I have to go now, have fun washing the dishes!" He tittered, while walking out the door. "See you Goten!"
"Yeah sure...." Goten frowned as he looked at the task before him, he groaned painfully, and started to clean the small flowered teacup his mother loved so much.
"That's the spirit!" Goku hollered loudly.
Absently he wondered about his father. Well, actually he was very focused oh him at the moment. Why had he left them for so long? While he was training that boy Oob. Sometimes he felt jealously burning inside him when he realized that his father really couldn't love him as much as he said he did. Gohan was their father's favorite, Chi Chi thought the same way. So where did that leave him? Oh, he knew his mother loved him, so did Gohan, he was more like a father to him than a brother. He didn't like it, but maybe he hated Goku all that time for leaving them like that. It wasn't his fault at first, he had been dead for a while, but then he didn't have any excuses for the time when he came back from the dead. He left his mother to raise their sons alone. Goku really did suck... but he was here now wasn't he? Even though he was all grown up now, did it prove anything?
*Mama where is daddy? It's my birthday! He said he would be here!* His little face was bloomed in happiness at the prospect of actually seeing his father.
*I'm sorry Goten, I guess he forgot.* Chi Chi looked on her son with a shame so evident it was practically written on her face. Goten knew her thoughts... Why did I marry that man? He doesn't care about anything! Goten thought on this for a moment. When he was so young.
A tear streaked across his face. He had shot across his eyes quickly, just in case some one were to see him. He didn't want his father to know his thoughts, didn't want his mother to know the, what he thought to be, shameful grudge he had against his father. Goku was so absent minded, he couldn't really be blamed to much. It was just a shame he didn't have the relationship that he wanted with him.
"Where is your father in such a rush too?" Scarlet peeped from behind him, making him just nearly fling a plate into the air. "He tore out of here like a bat out of hell!"
"I don't know." His voice was still scratchy, and he hoped she didn't take note of it.
Scarlet knew something was up with him. Through their physic bond she had felt a painful stirring in his heart. She wouldn't mention it, time would take care of itself, one day he would tell her. She sat at the table and watched him, not offering to help, because he was obviously avoiding looking at her. Curiosity could wait, he would tell her soon.
Goten turned off the faucet, looked over his shoulder at Scarlet. "You have a minute?" He asked in a monotone voice, very unlike him.
"That's why I'm here." Scarlet smiled with a quiet that beckoned him to go further in his speech.
"I have to tell you something.... about my dad..."
"Oh?
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With Goku....
Goku faced an odd green figure. "I need to ask you to have your dragon balls." He said, his voice without a hint of emotion. "I would not normally ask this Dendeshe, but since your powers are way better than your brothers I have'ta ask."
"I am not stronger than my brother." Dendeshe smiled, her eyes seemed to twinkle in this light. "But as you said my powers are different from his, and yes, you may use my dragon balls." She handed him a Drgaon Radar made especially for them. One that Bulma made for her, and has swore to never tell of unless an extreme emergency were to befall Earth. "Take care Son Goku.... and I hope you know what you are doing by giving Frieza this... gift you have told me of."
Goku plucked the Radar from Dendeshe's hand. "Thank you. I will bring it right back when I am done." Goku gave her one of his radiantly annoying smiles and fell off into the distance.
Dendeshe waved Goku off while a taller green figure appeared behind her.
This taller Nameck had a white turban around his head and huge shoulder guards that where surrounded by a cape. "What did Son want?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently, pulling her a little closer to him... She was so cold.
"He wanted the Dragon balls that I made." She looked behind her and up to see his face. "It involves Frieza, Piccolo."
Piccolo sighed, shaking his head. "I noticed that Scarlet and Son's child have been keeping company lately." He grinned at her. "Son even came up to me himself and told me that they were going to get married."
"That is part of the wish." Dendeshe had a matching expression draped on her face. "To make Frieza happy so he won't mind so much when Goten and Scarlet get married."
"Ah, I see." He grabbed the end of his cape and placed it around her shoulders as the wind started picking up. "I hope that idiot knows what he is doing... he could get us all killed."
"No, it's nothing that can really hurt anybody." Dendeshe assured snuggling into his warmth. "Let's not talk about Goku anymore." She pulled him with her into the shadows. "Why don't you take me to a movie?"
"Why?" Piccolo laughed, his mind off of his friend, Son, for the moment. "I hope you have money because I sure don't!"
"I don't think they'll say anything if we just walked in." Dendeshe laughed with him as they flew off to the city to see what was going on in the theater.
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"She must have hurt you a lot to be like you were." Scarlet sighed, pushing her hands through Goten's coarse hair.
Goten smiled gently, enjoying the pleasure of being in the company of someone who knew how to relax him most. He wished she wouldn't have mentioned Parisu. He didn't like talking about her when he had his new girl friend to fuss over, but still, she would find out sooner or later. "Hai." He nodded in response to her earlier question. "Let's not talk about her though." His eyes raked over her body and into her red gaze. "When there is so much more that we can do."
She grinned in a silly fashion, purring her contentment. "Really? Whatever could that be?"
"Oh, I don't know." He laughed, letting his head drop back down on her flat stomach, his eyes closed with the sheer happiness of it all. "We'll think of something to do, ne?"
Her palms soon cupped his face, peering into his heated eyes. "Oh, hai Goten-chan, I think we will."
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"If this doesn't make Frieza happy... then I don't know what will!" He grinned at the Dragon Radar's shiny green face. "Where is the next one?" He asked it as if it could talk to him vocally. It might not have spoken a word, but it did tell him where the next dragon ball was. "Ah thank you!" Goku rubbed the screen affectionately with his thumb. "The last one..." He couldn't believe that he was doing this, especially for someone who was such a jerk, as Frieza had always been.
He wondered silently about Frieza, he wondered why he would have such an attitude as he had. Scarlet told him once that Frieza had a kind and gentle mother… how was it possible that he came out the way he did? It was probably Kold's influence. He hadn't had a mother like that most of his life, so it was feasible. Even so, maybe this gift he was about to give Frieza might rectify the situation. Goku himself seriously doubted that he would be able to sway Frieza with something like this… but it was worth a try.
Goku's forehead showed signs of creasing. For some reason those thoughts lead him back to his son, Goten. Did he care also that he didn't have a father most of his life? Now that he thought of it, Goten was more distant from him than usual. How could he have not seen it? All those looks he received when he walked into the door. Goten looking at him with those eyes that were oh so familiar to him. Now that he really looked at Goten in his mind's eye, he realized that the happiness that was falsely displayed on his child's face, was really sorrow and dislike.
"You missed my birthday daddy! Didn't you remember it?" Goten got the hope back in his face for a second when the thought entered his mind.
"Oh you had a birthday?" Goten's face had shown drastic change.
"How old are you then? seven?" Goten didn't even look at his father's face at that point.
"No, I am twelve." Goku remembered how his son left the room with his shoulders slumped over. When this originally happened Goku had thought that Goten was simply tired and was about to take a nap. *G'nite Goten!* Goten didn't even so much as lift his hand in response to his father and walked into his room.
Goku wondered why he thought of this now. Why now? So many years later when it really didn't matter and there was nothing he could do about it? Goku had to shrug the feeling off for a while so he could fly out and collect the remaining dragon ball. The small fact remained that he Couldn't keep that nagging thought from that odd corner of his mind.
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Meanwhile....
"So Goten's not been around lately?" Oolong asked curiously to Trunks, who was currently working on a project.
"Nope, he has been hanging out with Scarlet for a while now."
"Don't they make you sick?" Oolong snorted, drinking a sort of red liquid through a straw.
"I don't know what you mean Oolong." Trunks grunted, dropping his mother's newest invention on his little toe, profanity, he was sure, could be heard from miles around.
"Well, you two used to hang out allot right?" Oolong smiled wickedly. "Seems she kinda came between you guys."
Trunks' cheeks puffed in annoyance. Oolong was just out to cause trouble today he guessed. "No big deal." He shrugged. "I used to do it all the time to him."
"Not that I was complaining." Oolong scratched his pig nose. "I wouldn't even pay them any mind unless I got some good snap shots of them from time to time."
"Huh?!" Trunks remembered his mother saying something about Oolong's perverted picture taking. Maybe he should investigate this matter further. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, they pose for me all the time." Pig ears twitching he went about to look for his photo album. "Here look." Trunks peered over Oolong's shoulder at the picture of Goten and Scarlet.
"Hey, that's pretty good." Trunks admitted.
"That's nothing." Oolong chirped, his eyes slanting curiously. "You should see the one's I take when they don't know I'm looking."
Uh-oh. Trunks nearly did a nose dive. "Why?!" He grabbed the short pig up by the collar. "You better not be taking weird photographs of my friend or I'll-!!"
"Help!" Oolong squealed pitifully.
"Trunks!" A girl with blond hair and pigtails came up the two squabbling comrades. "Put Oolong down before you kill him."
"Oh thanks Marron!" Oolong giggled, rubbing his neck when Trunks placed him back on his feet. "So how has Krilin been?"
Marron smiled gleefully. "Oh, daddy is doing fine!" She took Trunks' arm and led him away from the offending pig. "Everybody seems to be all into Scarlet's and Goten wedding don't you think?"
"Yeah." Trunks nodded. "I think every one should mind their business though." He paused to think about it. "They will be going to the planet Freezer soon. Goten wants to ask Frieza personally if he can marry his daughter."
"Sounds like a silly thing to do to me." Marron said, hands behind her head, with on eye shut. "I think it would be better to keep Frieza blissfully ignorant."
"Hai, but they cannot. Goten says that he will drop by latter if time permits." He smiled. "But I think I could blow him off if I were to be with you...."
"Oh I think that would be a nice idea." Marron tittered.
"I'll call him in a minute.... he's probably too busy with Scarlet to care that I am even here."
Marron sighed. "I hope those two just get it figured out, ne?"
"Hai." Trunks nodded his head.
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Meanwhile back at the Ranch.... (Sorry I picked it up from my teacher)
"Goten I-" Scarlet was in mid sentence when the house suddenly got dark. It wasn't because of a power outage. There had been light streaming into the windows, sun beams casting their golden warmth around the room. Suddenly, as if nothing happened at all, the sun came out again and things were alright once more. "The Dragon." She pronounced carefully in a soft voice.
"I wonder who summoned it." Goten looked out the window, maybe we should investigate."
"Hai." Scarlet nodded, her bangs bobbing when she did so.
Goten led the way, practically breaking the door down as he rushed out. "C'mon Scarlet we don't have all day!"
Scarlet felt a sweat drop go down her face. Wow, he really should be more careful while leaving the house... he could break something someday! She smiled and took off after him. "You want me to come with you?! Then slow down big guy!" She lifted herself off the ground and followed Goten at a breakneck speed.
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"Wow! You look really nice!" Goku admired of the new comer. "No wonder Frieza liked you!"
"Are you a… Sayijin?" The woman asked innocently.
"Uh-huh!" Goku nodded idiotically.
"How did I get here?" Her graceful black hair danced behind her head as she studied the man. Her expression far from happy.
"Don't worry I won't hurt you." Goku noted the frightened look on the woman's face. "My name is GOKU!"
"… Eh…" Some of the fear went out of her voice as she extended her hand in greeting. Goku took her hand and took it gently in a handshake. "I just wished you back from the dead. You are on the planet Earth."
"EARTH?!"
"Ouch! Hey! I have very sensitive ears!" Goku complained at the racket. His eyes grew a bit wider as he felt to huge ki heading in his general direction. "Goten and Scarlet." Goku said simply.
"Who?" She asked, her eyebrows quirking.
"Dad?! You're the one?" Goten almost sounded disappointed, he wanted another fight.
The woman looked at the person that landed beside the Sayijin boy. Her eyes widened in recognition. She swore that the girl looked exactly like Frieza when he was younger! The same red eyes and the proud stance. That was Frieza's girl no doubt.
Damn! She was still short! It seemed that King Kold's blood had not circulate into her as well as his second son, Kooler. Her family was doomed to always be short, she guessed that much anyway. She wanted to touch her, but was afraid of the rejection.
Scarlet could hardly take her eyes off the older woman standing across from her. How many times had she seen that picture and that woman with those same purple eyes? She was as beautiful as she was then, same thick black hair, same small and pretty body.
Goku, of course, broke this magical moment. "Hey Goten you think they look the same?!"
Goten blushed at his father's abrupt outburst. "H-hai."
"Greetings." Scarlet ignored the two men and focused in on the person she never had the privilege to meet.
The woman's voice caught in her throat before she could say anything else, rushed over to hold her the girl before her.
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Goten's throat worked once again. That's what he did all day long, swallowing his fear. "Are you sure we have to go and talk to your dad?" He practically whined. "I mean, don't you want to hang out with your mother and ask her questions and stuff?"
"Goten you are being silly." Scarlet giggled. "My dad is a big pussy cat once you get to know him."
Yeah, for you maybe. Goten thought miserably. For me on the other hand... it will be like a starving mountain lion with a lamb.
"You need to pack something to sleep in at least. I cannot tell you how long we shall stay." Scarlet picked up a bag and handed it to him.
"You aren't suggesting that we stay the night with that father of yours?!!!"
"Of course we are." Scarlet's brow had a crease in it now. "What's wrong?"
"You father is not going to take to this ya know?!" Goten exploded. "He doesn't like me already, just for being a Sayijin!"
Her forehead smoothed and a smile found her lips. "Like I said, you are being a silly boy." She pushed him playfully.
"Exactly how are we going to get to your planet?" Goten grasped at anything he could get his hands on. "You don't have your ship, remember? Your uncle took it away, and your father's forces would shot any ship that Bulma makes strait out of the sky!" He followed her around: went into the closet, out of the closet, into the bath room, into the kitchen and back into the bed room, carting around everything she seemed to find useful during their trip. "I don't know if realize this, but I can't breath very well in space."
"I know that." She rolled her eyes, sighing. "You do not think I would make sure you were safe while going to my father's planet?"
"Well, yes but..." He shook his head.
"Let's go now. Time is wasting." She poked his side making his laugh.
"You still haven't told me how you were planing on taking me along with you." Goten wondered. "Are you sure you want me to even go with you?"
"Why?" She gave him a weird look. "Are you going to do something?
"I might." Goten admitted.
With an eyebrow raised she asked. "Of really? What is it that you're planing on doing?"
"I dunno, maybe I would kiss you, or touch you wrong. Then your dad would chew me up spit me out, run me over a few times with that hover thing he has. Oh, then he would grinned me up and feed me to sharks." Goten ticked off the events with his finger tips.
"Like where?" She smiled.
"Where what?" His face soon matched her own.
"Where touch or kiss me?" She gave him a sideways glance. "I think you want to piss my family off."
"Well," Goten admitted. "I kinda do!" He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Would you like me to show you where?"
"But I have to-?!" With a simple swing Goten tossed her on their bed. "Goten! We have to get ready!"
"We'll go tomorrow." He promised sitting on the bed's edge.
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Tomorrow...
"Where's the ship?" Goten held a single bag on his back. "Like I said... I'm not built like you, I have to breath oxygen."
She gave him the 'you-are-such-an-idiot' look, pointing a finger at him she darted a red light at him.
"?!" Goten found himself levitating without even trying to summon up the power to do so. He wiggled around a bit in mid-air. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
Scarlet only smiled in response, lifting him in the air with a wave of her palm, with him screeching at the way. Soon she joined him in flight. "Stop freaking out." She ordered as he tried grabbing at her wildly.
"Scarlet that is the atmosphere!!!" Goten looked up.
"That's very astute of you." Scarlet chirped.
Goten forgot his moment of danger and asked. "What does astute mean?"
"It means that you are very perceptive, smart, or cleaver." She said in a normal, unmocking tone.
Goten finally picked up on what she said earlier. "Hey! Were you being sarcastic with me?!"
"No." She grinned, her eyes crinkling on the sides.
"Argh!"
"Calm down silly boy, you are in space."
"Ne?" He looked around, there was nothing, but blackness. He started to wheeze and cough violently. "AIR! (Cough) DIEING!"
Scarlet looked at him with a mildly tolerant expression. "Goten?"
"Yes?" He still made a show of choking to death.
"Breath." Was the only word uttered.
He took her advice and found that he indeed found breath! "Cool! I'm in space and I'm breathing! I guess Sayijin can do it too!"
"WRONG!" She laughed at his foolishness. "Only my kind, and a few others can, but not you! The only reason you are not flipped inside out right now is because I'm protecting you!"
"But I'm in space!" Goten chirped his excitement. He flew over to her, kissing her cheek. "Let's go meet your dad now." They flew into the black void of space, after a while... he wondered if she knew where she was going. "Scarlet? I don't mean to be the aggravating one... but are we there yet?"
"Now why didn't see this coming?" Scarlet laughed. "We won't be there for a few days."
"A FEW DAYS?!" Goten whined. "B-but I'll get hungry!"
"Did you bring the food like I told you too?" Scarlet grinned at him, then frowned with dawning awareness as his gaze held a confused light to it. "DIDN'T YOU?!"
"I thought you were supposed to get it!" Goten smiled playfully.
Don't get mad at him, don't throw anything at him... LIKE THAT METORE THAT JUST FLEW BY... don't get angry.... TO LATE! "YOU! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! I CAN LIVE OUT HERE FOR YEARS WITHOUT EATTING! YOU ON THE OTHER HAND WILL DIE!"
Wow! Scarlet has really good lungs. Of course he never really realized it before. She had gotten angry with him before... but not quite so angry. "He he he he he." He laughed while backing away from her. "I'm sorry Scarlet."
Scarlet's face went back into it's usual repose. "I'm sorry I yelled." She looked around at the blackness around them. "How are you going to make it?" She frowned, with a sigh. "I don't have my planet locator with me so I don't know if we can make stops." She looked back into the distance where Earth should be.... so many miles away. "I guess we'll have to turn around."
"Too bad we can't teleport there." Goten let out a long breath, preparing to follow Scarlet back. "I knew I should have learned it from dad!"
Scarlet smacked her forehead with the heal of her palm. "Oh of course!" She laughed stupidly to herself. "My uncle knew how to do that!" She mentioned.
"Really?" Goten frowned. "Well I don't think Kooler wants to help us Sayijin... and now he won't help you thanks to me."
"Don't say that." She smiled. "What I meant was that he taught me how to do this procedure!"
Goten's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"No! Of course not!" Scarlet mocked.
Goten deflated. "Oh, I didn't think you did." He turned once more to leave, his eyes closed. "You should really watch your sarcasm Scarlet..." He noted that she wrapped her tail around one of his legs. "It's really disappointing when you find-"
"Goten?" Scarlet interrupted.
"Yeah." He went on mechanically.
"We're here."
"We are?" He stopped for a second, thought, then looked around in astonishment. We're here!"
I wonder if this is what daddy meant when he said the Sayijin were stupid... Scarlet felt bad about thinking things like that, but sometimes it hard not to. Goten could seem pretty out of it when he was living his normal everyday life. For some reason everything changed when he was fighting. I guess I'll never understand the Sayijin mind. She sighed. Might as well get this over with... Daddy is going to have to find out sooner or later... and better me than Uncle Kooler.
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"Lord Frieza?" Zarbon asked before walking in the door way.
"What is it Zarbon?" Frieza asked in a annoyed fashion. "Can't you see that I am busy?"
"Why, yes Lord Frieza." Zarbon explained. "But Lady Frieza -er- Scarlet wishes to see you at once."
Frieza pushed his glasses higher on his nose. "Why didn't you say something sooner?" He picked himself up out of his chair and regarded Zarbon curiously. "Why are you standing there you fool?! Go get her immediately!"
"But Lord Frieza... there is also more news."
Frieza knew he wasn't going to like the next thing Zarbon said. "What news? Out with it!"
"It seems that your daughter has brought a Sayijin with her."
"..." Frieza would only look at him as if he had gone mad. "WHAT?!!!!"
Zarbon winced from his master's outburst. "Yes, it's true."
"Bring her here." Frieza ordered, arms crossed tightly around his chest. "I want to know what this is all about."
"Yes sir." Zarbon was only gone for a few minutes, he brought back his daughter and the Sayijin he'd mentioned earlier.
"If Zarbon may excuse us?" Scarlet asked her father, giving a fleeting glance at the man in question.
"Of course." Frieza permitted, wondering what this was all about. He knew his daughter would never even think of overthrowing him, so it had to be something else. He looked at the monkey, he seemed to be finding the floor tiles more interesting that the conversation at hand. "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
"Father," Scarlet started. "I do not know if Uncle Kooler told you this already..."
"Your uncle has told me nothing.... but then again I haven't seen him lately either." Frieza stated. "Go on."
She closed her eyes gathering courage to say what she had to say next, surprisingly, Goten intervened.
"I love your daughter Lord Frieza." Goten blurted, lest he loose the moment to cowardice. "A-and she loves me too. I wanted to marry her… sir." He struggled vainly not to sound to ignorant… he wanted to make the best impression possible with the manners his mother taught him. Some how he wished he would have paid better attention then, it would have been helpful at this point in his life.
Frieza looked at both of them, if it had been anyone else, they might have laughed. He must have stood there for a full five minutes. So taken off guard, Frieza couldn't find his voice, then ever so slightly his lips turned up, he threw his head back and laughed uncontrollably. "You expect me to believe that?!" He thought this was all a big joke. A horrible one, but he wouldn't let it show. He whipped the forced tears away from his face. He looked at the children and realized that they were not laughing with him. The sudden shock of it hit him like a lightening bolt, they were not kidding. "A Sayijin?!"
Scarlet flinched. "Daddy-."
"A-a SAYIJIN?!!!!!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs!!! He watched on with seething hatred at the boy that dared make that claim. "Surely you jest?! You idiot! You animal! You monkey!!!!!!!" Frieza was soon blinded by rage. Walking toward the boy with every insult flaunted.
"Daddy no!" Scarlet put a gentle hand on her father's shoulder.
Frieza stopped, closed his eyes as if he had gone through some strenuous physical ordeal. He pinched he bone on the top of his nose. "No." He said simply going back to his seat, sat down in it. He was holding his face in his hands remorsefully.
"We'll leave you alone for a little while to sort this out daddy." She whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek. She looked at Goten, he knew too knew that Frieza needed to be left alone above all else. He nodded his consent and walked out of the room with her, arm in arm.
Finally being left alone, Frieza stood up, shaking visibly. How dare he?! He thought with a black sort of anger. He had known Scarlet would be married one day, but not like this. It was bad enough already that she was growing up and would leave him sooner than he would have wished, but then she had to fall in love with that Monkey's son! No, no! He denied even to himself. His vision blurred, never realizing the tears being squeezed from his eyes. Not her, not my little girl. He moved over to the nearest window, pushing his hot face on the cool glass.
Scarlet would always be the only thing that kept his broken heart beating. After Tituba had died, he had been so devastated. Only two years with her wasn't enough. She was probably the closest thing her would even have to heaven. He wanted to live with her forever, but even that wouldn't have been enough time. She was taken from him, by the very thing he loved the most: Scarlet. He didn't blame his little girl though, Tituba wanted her, it wasn't Tituba's fault either. It wasn't fair.
Now Scarlet, the only reason he breathed at this very moment, would be taken from him. That in itself was enough to shake his whole existence. He wondered why he hadn't killed that Monkey the second the words left his mouth, but no, he would never do anything to hurt his daughter. He would never put her through the same pain he felt when her mother had died. Frieza didn't want her opinion of him slighted in anyway.
In his mind's eye he would always remember what those beats had done to his mother. He just couldn't imagine anything they might do to Scarlet. Who was more trusting, and loving than his mother ever was.
"Daddy?" A soft voice came from behind. "I know your not happy."
"..." He looked, but said nothing, waiting for her to go on.
"Surely it is not worth all this suffering." She put her arms around his shoulders and hugged him, closing her eyes. "He will never come between you and I. You know that... don't you?"
"No." He shook his head.
"I love you Daddy, he'll never change that." She looked in the glass before them both, gazing into her father's almost soulless eyes. "But I won't let you stand in the way either." She kissed his cheek. "I love him too now. You don't have to like him, you don't have to accept him either. All I ask is you don't hurt him, and treat him with a measure of respect... like you did Vegeta... before you were beating him up that is." She could see a smile touch her father's lips. "I will come visit you, as much as I can. You can see me too, as long as you don't cause any problems with the people of Earth."
"I'll try." Frieza patted one of her hands with his own. "But you must understand, I-" He paused, his breath catching. "I won't ever accept him as our family.... I can't."
"I know." She nodded, her face looked sad.
"I'll always love you my little darling." He turned around holding her tightly. "And you shall always have a home here, you know that don't you?" She nodded her understanding.
"Daddy... I know this is hard, but will you come to the wedding?" Her arms squeezed him even harder. "You don't have to if you don't want. Goku said he would-."
"No." He shook his head. "I'm not having that monkey give you away." She held her father as his face gentled a little. "I just don't want to loose you."
"You never did daddy, you never will." She was crying now by her father's obviously saddened state.
"I'll give you away Scarlet-chan." He buried his face his her hair crushing her unbearably tighter before he let go and compose himself. "I want to talk to your 'friend' before you leave. When will you have the wedding?"
"Next year." She grinned. "We want to make sure things will work out."
"You mean there is a chance you won't marry him?" Frieza's voiced carried a ring of hopefulness to it that couldn't be mistaken.
"You keep talking like that and the date might become even shorter." She half-threatened.
Frieza smiled at the foolish notion. Scarlet was almost as stubborn as he was himself! The more one would pester him the more determined he would become. "I'm still having a talk with him."
"You're not going to threaten or hurt him are you daddy?" She placed her hands on her hips, unconsciously mimicking her father.
"Maybe." He laughed.
"Go easy on him." She smiled like a cat, knowing his meaning. Well, if her father wanted to carry on tradition then why not she let him? "He is after all, just a boy."
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A little later… with Goten and Frieza…
"So you would like to marry my daughter? Isn't that right my little tree monkey?" Frieza strained to hold back a smile of pleasure at being able to say this to this most hated being.
"Yes it is."
"Ah I see." Frieza didn't miss Goten's less than perfect speech. "Well then I have to say a few words with you... step this way." Frieza couldn't help his excitement at the prospect at what he was about to do.
"Where are you taking me?" Goten looked at the doors and tapestries that hung on the wall. He was so engrossed in the wall hangings that he nearly bumped into Frieza when the shorter alien stopped moving.
"In here." Frieza motioned to the door.
Trying to please his future father-in-law Goten complied. Once he was in the door closed behind him and Frieza. A huge arena was presented to him. "What is this?!" Goten gulped.
"You wanted to have my daughter's hand didn't you?" Frieza chuckled from behind him, savagely chopping the back of his neck. "This is a tad bit barbaric..." Frieza informed him. "But since I'm going up against a lowly creature such as yourself I think this is appropriate. Don't you think?" Frieza asked Goten's back.
"What are you doing?!" Goten shouted.
"Whenever a man from another house wanted to marry a daughter of royal blood, he would have to fight for her." Frieza explained. "The actual fight for most part consisted of the challenging males that wished to marry that particular woman." He tittered. "But..." He drew out in a long breath. "Since there is no to fight for my daughters hand, and this would happen at times back in the old times too, I, Frieza will have to fight for my daughter to make sure you are worthy enough!"
"I don't have to prove anything to you." Goten got up, whipping the bit of dirt collecting on his chin as a result of being hit to the ground.
"Then you will not have my daughters hand." Frieza stated simply. "I will not condone it. You will fight me, or I will kill you now. It's your call."
Goten said nothing, just shook in the anger of the moment.
"You will not fight?" Frieza looked shocked, but underneath he (Goten) knew that he was mocking him. "You think so little of my daughter that you will not even take on her old man?!" Frieza laughed loudly. "YOU INSOLENT BRAT!" His face turned ugly. "DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK THAT I WOULD LET YOU MARRY MY DAUGHTER WITHOUT SOME SHOW OF YOUR SKILL?!" He composed himself. Calm yourself Frieza. He thought. Even if this complete looser is trying to get out of fighting for my only child! "Good, that is very good." He grinned merrily. "Now I won't have to suffer giving my child away." Frieza headed to the door. "After all if you won't even fight me," He shrugged. "Then you must not want her too badly after all…"
Goten thought on that for a moment. He had saved her from those Sayijin that came to Earth a while ago. Frieza is right though. Goten admitted to himself. If I won't even fight her father for her… Then what good am I? This is my chance to become a knight once more! To once again fight for my lady. "Your on Frieza!" Goten picked his favorite fighting position and held it. He smiled, rubbed the blood off of his cheek. When he was finished grooming himself he let out a mighty roar and went Super Sayijin. "Bring it on!"
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Back on Planet Earth…
"HELP!" Goku ran away from a mad man who was on the verge of killing him.
"How could you be such an idiot Kakarot?!!!!!" Vegeta shrieked, running wildly. "Frieza will come here now! Have you completely lost your senses?!"
"But it isn't so bad!!!" Goku shouted, running full speed. He could easily thwart Vegeta if he wanted to, but Goku was Goku and defending himself against his friends and family was just something he wasn't very good at. However, this time might have been a huge exception. He turned swiftly and brought one of his knees up. What he hadn't meant to do, was have Vegeta run into his leg at full speed, and then cower in pain. "I'm sorry Vegeta." Goku almost hugged the small man, but thought better of it. "Are you alright?"
Vegeta smirked as he recovered enough to stand up right. How foolish of me... I must be getting careless or something. He chuckled to himself. I ran into a leg that was out even before I charged... I must be out of practice. "Apology accepted... but if you ever, ever do that again..." His eyes told Goku of untold horrors.
"I'll sure try Vegeta." Goku nodded. "Bringing the woman back isn't a bad thing." He explained. "She is staying over at my house right now! She isn't all that bad, hasn't caused one ounce of trouble."
"Kakarot... Frieza might want her back once he finds out that we have her." Vegeta's hair swirled in the wind. "I don't want to ever see his face again." His booted feet crushed the long since dry chunks of dirt, soiling the whiteness of them. "He made me a slave to him... he humiliated me beyond what you can ever imagine."
"I know." Goku nodded sympathetically, his black boots also made crunching noises as he shifted his feet with nervous energy. "I guess the reason you acted so bad at first was because of him."
"What?! Are you kidding?" Vegeta smiled finally. "I would have been that way even if Frieza never got his claws on me."
Goku looked slightly confused. "What do you mean?"
"Frieza is a bastard to the umph degree, but I would have been a little bad ass anyway. It is in my blood, it's in yours. Sayijin have the ultimate capacity to be rude and selfish. My father was a big bastard himself... but he would have never hurt me the way Frieza did."
"What exactly did Frieza do to you?" Goku's eyes narrowed curiously, with a grasping nature he rarely possessed.
"It's not what you are thinking." Vegeta laughed. Maybe Kakarot is getting brain in his head. "Remember how I told you that Frieza said he would kill my father if I didn't do what he wanted?"
"Yes, I remember." That has been so long ago. Goku mussed. How could I remember that and not remember my own son's birth date? He looked to the cracked earth in shame for a moment before he listened to the rest of Vegeta's story of the evil tyrant he used to be owned by.
"He told me to go away for years at a time, I really didn't want to, I wanted to be with my father... even if the bastard didn't like me. They weren't really big things, Frieza telling me to go these places. It's the fact that I couldn't do anything about it, is what got me so... depressed." Yes, that was the right word. "I felt like I was being crushed in every way."
Goku once again nodded his head in agreement. As always, Vegeta's little reveries had always sparked something in Goku... something that made him respect the proud man all the more.
"Heh," Vegeta laughed. "But I guess you can't blame that tailed freak for being the way he is... like me he wasn't given a fair deal in life either."
Goku smiled a little. "And how is that?
"When I was sure no one saw me," Vegeta explained. "I watched Frieza and his family." He smiled happily. "Frieza used to get beaten all the time for nothing." He flicked at some dusk on his shoulder as he spoke so nonchalantly. "Kold is such a bastard."
"Frieza's papa used to hit him?" To Goku this sounded very odd. He didn't see them openly strike, and/or talk to each other disparagingly.
"That's right." Vegeta's old frown appeared on his face again. "I thank God Frieza never beat me when I was a kid."
"But I thought-"
"You thought nothing." Vegeta broke in. "I wasn't stupid... lots of people might think that Frieza abused me physically, but he didn't. He didn't need to. He all but broke my spirit as a young child. Attaining the Super Sayijin power was the only thing I looked foreword to, it was all I had left to live for."
The two Sayijin's voices trailed off as dust swirled around them, clinging to their sweaty limbs. It was long after night fall once they were done conversing of the once dominating ruler of the galaxy.
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Back on Planet Freezer….
"Are you really sure I have to get this done?" His tousled hair was pushed from his face with a headband.
"Of course it is my dear boy." Words were brought forth from a pair of silky black lips. "Strap him in." He told the doctor then turned to the patient. "This hurts a little... but since your such a strong boy I'm sure you will be fine."
"Really? Thanks!" Goten settled himself in a little better. "I'm sorry I beat you up so bad..."
"Don't worry this will make up for it." Frieza tittered. He really shouldn't do this to the boy... but it was so hard not to. The brat had beaten him, but it didn't mean that paybacks weren't in order.
"Scarlet was pretty mad." Goten fretted.
"Yes she was." Frieza agreed, his face not showing the slightest bit of emotion.
"This isn't going to be permanent right?" Goten asked when the doctor started up the little machine. It made a little whirring notice that worried him. He looked at the edge of the instrument, a small needle jutted forth. Oh god I hate needles... Goten closed his eyes as the doctor instructed. He felt this needle pierce his skin many times in the same area... just around his right eye lowering down over a portion of his cheek. It didn't hurt, he was as tough as they came... he just didn't like fact that there was a thin, sharp object going anywhere near his skin right now.
Getting married didn't require a tattoo over and under the eye anymore. Just some black make-up would have sufficed. Frieza thought over. But if this brat thinks he can have my daughter without me causing some sort of ruckus, he is insane. He might have beat me but at least I can have this. This tattoo was permanent... I can't wait till he tries to wash it off. Frieza thought of that moment and basked in it. "Now, if you would my good boy... why does Scarlet want me to go to Earth so badly?"
"Not supposed to tell." Goten said cleverly, wincing every so often at the constant jab of the needle. "She wants it to be surprise. Ouch." He looked at the doctor giving him this particular operation. "Hey, isn't a tattoo artist supposed to do this sort of thing?"
"Tattoo artist?" Frieza's brows drew up. "What ever do you mean?"
"Never mind." Goten allowed the man in the white coat stick him with his worst of enemies.
"Well, I'll find out what she wants me to see sooner or later." Frieza sighed, why did every one have to be so secretive around him? He told the doctor to finish… he wanted to look at something. Just a little something before he left.
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Just two people making memories
Too good to tell
And these arms are never empty
When we are lying where we fell
We're painting pictures, making magic,
Taking chances,
Making love
-Celine Dion
Later with Frieza...
"Ah Tituba." Frieza held a little beaten up picture of her in his hands. He touched the delicate curve of her throat with his finger. Her rubbed his thumbs over the picture as if savoring the moment lost in time. Heh, after nineteen years... I still love her. I wish I would have shown her. He smiled ruefully. Unfortunately, some of us never get a second chance. He replaced the photo back in it's frame and went to his bedroom. There he opened his closet, at the foot, there was a large oak trunk. He kneeled down before it, and for the first time in seventeen years... he opened it. What was the harm? Of course, two years after her death he finally decided to put all of this away forever, no need to cause him unnecessary pain. Just once... He thought, Just this once, and I will not look in it again.
First he lifted out her wedding dress and accessories. Huge blue flowers patterned the skirt, while all the ties and the shirt were a variation of the shades within the flowers. He presses his face into in and breathed deeply, he could still smell her. He put the dress down and looked at a few of her drawing books, seeing how she progressed throughout the years of her life.
I think I'll go to Earth and figure out what Scarlet is so excited about. I also better go before she gets a crazy notion to keep it from me longer. He would leave tonight as Scarlet and that rodent slept.
I love you Frieza... I love you. He swore he heard Tituba speak, he even looked behind her, and saw a fading memory of her standing in the door way with tears in her eyes.
It just a memory that had haunted him to this very day. Do you love me Frieza? Truly? But he had never said it, never said he cared. When they got married, he hadn't said it, and when they had made love he had never told her.
He had meant to, in time. Then suddenly one day, time just ran out, and by then… it was too late... she had already passed away.
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Tomorrow on Earth…
I wish Frieza could see me now. She looked at her reflection in the water. It was night time now... He still wasn't here, of course she expected nothing less. She felt this sort of disappointed run through her body never the less. She remembered with a smile when those women, those humans tried to get her dolled up a bit. Frieza would no doubt be horrified to see her in such a manner as this.
I think you are beautiful just the way you are. Frieza had told her that once... when she had tried on some make-up. She would think of him tomorrow, and until he came for her... or not. Maybe I shouldn't impose on Chi Chi and the others anymore. I think I should stay here for now...
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Back on Freezer, the same day… (Wow… lot's of planet jumping huh?)
Goten woke up in the softest cushions that he had ever been on in his life. A smiled touched his lips as he patted the mattress beside him, searching. "Scarlet?" He turned his body completely over until he was on his back. He sighed his disappointment. She had been curled up by his side every morning since that night a while back. Finally he could get married to her with Frieza's some-what blessing.
Last night he tried to get that black thing put on his eye and check off, but for some reason nothing was happening. Well, since it was done with a needle I guess it is going to stay one for a while. He had one of his silly Goku-like grins on his face.
"Scarlet!" Goten shouted. The room that they had been assigned was huge! He thought it might have been Scarlet's but she assured him that she had always slept in her father's bedroom. He found that vaguely odd. Teenagers tended to want their parents away from them, to have their own privacy. Scarlet was very weird indeed.
"Pack up!" Scarlet shoved a duffel bag at his midriff, much like she had when they were first leaving for this frightening and very cold place. "I don't know where daddy went!" Scarlet worried, twisting her fingers together nervously.
"Well I'm sure-" Goten tried to comfort her only to get cut off.
"He's not here! I would have sensed him!" Scarlet grew even more frustrated. "Oh dear! What if he has gone back to Earth?! What if he doesn't know about her and tries to blow it up?!"
Goten hadn't thought of that. Oh no! Gohan! Mama! Dad! "We've got to go back! If Frieza tries to blow up the planet dad might not sense him before it's too late! Your father has learned to control his ki, ne? if he uses that then there will be nothing left!"
"I'll go get a ship read-" Scarlet stopped short just to look at Goten's face, almost forgetting the task at hand. "Goten... why do you have that black stuff over your face. Your not supposed to put that on until we get married."
"Really?