The Awakened
Training
Whis' training began, and it was not as the Saiyan duo expected. Whis had them doing a variety of different chores around the planet – changing Beerus' bed sheets whilst he slept, washing up hundreds of bowls by hand, brushing and mopping all the floors, walls and even the large winding branches of the trees in Beerus' chamber. Goku and Vegeta cut the many lawns of the gardens using only a scythe and their bare hands.
"Hey, why are we doing chores, Whis? It's not the training I was expecting" Goku admitted, now laying on the floor, tired from the hours of work they had just done.
"Well, you didn't think I was going to train you for free, did you?" Whis replied, a small chuckle following. Goku sighed.
"This is worse than what Chichi makes me do at home" Goku groaned.
"If you can't handle it then leave" Vegeta shot at him, he too sat resting on the ground.
"Ha-ha, very funny" Goku shot back.
"The garden is looking splendid, you both did a very good job" Whis complemented, "Well, now your chores are finished for today, lets begin your training" Whis cheeped.
"Alright!" Goku exclaimed in excitement, jumping to his feet.
"I made you a new outfit, Goku" Whis began, "I designed it specifically for you". He prodded the ground with his staff and a new outfit appeared in mid-air, right in front of Goku. Goku smiled widely and took the new outfit in his hands. It was a whole new Gi, sweat bands and boots.
"I kept to the colours you seem to prefer. I hope you like it" Whis hoped. Within seconds Goku had stripped off his old Gi and put on the new one. He then pulled on the new longer wrist bands and new blue boots.
"Wow, this feels great!" Goku yelled, jumping around, stretching and throwing punches at nothing.
"I'm glad you like it. I wanted you to have a nice new outfit. I did not feel the need to get you one Vegeta, as your wife kindly made you the one you're wearing, and I imagine it has some sentimental value" Whis cooed. Vegeta turned away from the Angel with a 'Hmmf', Whis chuckling at his response.
Whis' training began …
Vegeta and Goku were made to lift heavy weights and had to walk the length around Beerus' chambers. They also had to do an excessive amount of press ups in weighted suits; so heavy they could barely move in them. This happened for the next 3 days – chores then weight training. It seemed trivial, but it was exhausting for the two Saiyans.
Whilst his father trained with Whis, Gohan found time to start training again with Piccolo. After the ordeal on Earth, and the fact that he was now expecting a child with Videl, he needed to get stronger in order to keep them safe. He had let himself go and lost a lot of the power he once had. He needed to get that back.
To his surprise his mother had also been training. After his father's death Gohan had caught his mother training quite frequently. She was the one who initially started training Goten, teaching him the basics so that he could defend himself. His mother hated fighting, she worried so much for her family's safety and was very much against it for that very reason, but she changed after Cell. She grew to hate fighting even more, without a doubt, most probably due to the fact that fighting took his father away from them, but she still trained, to help protect their family, and as if she wanted to pay homage to his father.
His father was everything to her, Gohan knew this, he saw how broken she was and how much she missed him when he died. Gohan was the one who heard her crying at night and he was the one who would comfort her. The amount of times he would get into bed with her when he was still a child to keep her company during those hard-sleepless nights. He would be lying if he said he didn't need that comfort too, because hell, he did. They became closer than ever after the loss of his father. He saw a side of his mother he hadn't seen before, her vulnerable side, a side of her probably only his father ever saw. They got each other through his father's death, they kept each other strong. It made him realise just how amazing his mother really was.
His mother was training with 18 now, something Gohan could not believe. She had told him that she wanted to get stronger to protect herself as well as him and Goten. With all that had happened back on Earth with Shin, she felt so helpless. His father was so easily brought to his knees … she felt that she was the one who needed to be able to protect their boys, but she couldn't do that with the poor strength she had. She needed to do something about it and fast. That's when she approached 18, who was quite accepting of the proposal.
His mother and 18 had become very close over those 7 years, making a nice little threesome of friends, with Bulma included. They all had a lot in common – their husbands were fighters, they themselves were strong women, they all had children and they had all been through so much together.
What Gohan couldn't understand out of all this, was that his mother wanted to keep it a secret from his father. She had been training with 18 out of the way, where his father couldn't see them. And with him being distracted and training with Whis, he probably didn't notice. He could not comprehend why though … surely his father would be delighted by this? But he trusted his mother had a good reason for it, and she had promised that she would tell him soon.
A few more days had passed. Goku and Vegeta continued to do chores and do weights, those weights becoming heavier and harder to carry each time. Whis would introduce something new every day – more weights, more tasks, more reason to tire the two Saiyans out. And tire them out he did. After a day of chores and training, they two of them would eat and then crash.
Goten and Trunks trained and explored Beerus' planet finding the most insane hidden locations such as caves and a tropical-like hideaway in the forest. They also found a variety of creatures about the planet, who they were quick to make friends with and play with. They were having the best time, considering the circumstances.
It was late afternoon the next day and Goku and Vegeta were finishing up their training for the day. Goku wiped the sweat from his brow after removing his weighted suit. Vegeta let out a breath, exhaustion settling in. That's when Shin appeared, before their family and friends just up ahead from them. Both warriors froze in shock, eyeing each other, then immediately flew over to stand with their family. They both landed in front of Shin; both standing in front of their family ready to protect them at whatever cost. So many questions were running through Goku's mind.
How did he know they were there?
Why was he there?
What was he going to do this time?
Goku began to feel anxious again …
Shin just stood there, that ridiculous smile slapped across his face just like last time.
"What are you doing here?" Goku almost snarled.
"I've come to see how you are getting on" Shin explained, "I heard you have been training with Whis. I was curious to see if you had gotten any stronger". His voice was so calm, he was so calm, his whole facade was the epitome of calm, yet there was an aura about him that made everyone feel so uneasy and tense.
It went silent, too silent. Goku's heart was pounding like a jack hammer in his chest once again. The atmosphere was so quiet he swore everyone could hear his heart beating. Shin made a move, and began to walk towards Goku, closing the very small gap between them. Goku swallowed and began to sweat, his fists clenched hard as he watched the Angel approach him. Shin reached Goku, mere centimetres between their bodies, making Goku feel even more apprehensive.
Shin just smiled. It was an unsettling smile, devious, playful, threatening. Goku and Shin stared each other out, neither one of them blinking in the process. Goku was trying so hard to figure him out. He couldn't read him, he couldn't feel his power level. All he could feel coming from him was darkness. Goku noticed Shin shift his eyes to behind Goku. Goku glanced back out the corner of his eye and could see his wife and youngest son there, with Gohan and Videl not too far behind. Goku's eyes darted back to Shin's, who continued to gaze at his family.
Goku shifted his body backwards, closer to his wife and children. He made sure to block Shin's view of them, he wasn't going to let this Angel so much as look at them. Gohan grit his teeth, him too starting to feel defensive. Little Goten frowning, and in a fighting stance ready to protect his mother.
Shin's smile grew wider.
He loved making Goku feel on edge. The panic that sparked in Goku's eyes every time he focussed on his family was incredible. It was obvious the Saiyan was very protective over his family, to the point of him appearing nervous every time Shin was around them. Shin was revelling in this. It was interesting to see what a Saiyan was like, after learning what he had about them. They were very territorial, that much was evident, and very protective of what was theirs.
It was very interesting.
"You are fascinating creatures" Shin observed, his eyes then shifting to look over at Vegeta, "Such a ruthless, aggressive race, yet, so protective of their loved ones" his eyes now back on Goku, "So fascinating" he repeated.
Beerus and Whis appeared a few feet behind him, one each side of him. Again, Shin smiled.
"Whis, Lord Beerus, a pleasure to meet you" he greeted.
"You are not welcome here" Lord Beerus immediately replied, "I suggest you leave". Shin turned his body slightly, to face Lord Beerus, that stupid smile never leaving his face. Goku looked over at Lord Beerus too, wondering what was going to happen next.
"That's no way to greet a fellow God of Destruction" Shin replied to Beerus.
"You are no longer a destruction God, you were stripped of that role and banished. Now leave" Lord Beerus demanded firmly once more.
"My, my, how hostile" Shin commented, "It was only going to be a flying visit" he assured them, turning his attention back to the Saiyan in front of him, "I just couldn't help myself. You intrigue me" he continued.
"Lord Beerus has asked you to leave" Goku strictly reminded the Angel. Shin took another step closer to him, a droplet of sweat now cascading down the side of his face, but he kept his composure.
"I've done my research … I know everything I possibly can about you, Goku. I know that you were sent here as a child to ready the planet for sale. I know that you were found by an old human named Gohan who decided to raise you. You bumped your head and became a happy child, a pure child. You have grown up fighting the most ruthless and strongest of enemies, getting stronger yourself with every victory and even through defeat. The Red Ribbon Army, Piccolo, Vegeta, the Ginyu Force, Frieza, the Androids, Cell, Buu … you have pushed yourself every single time to be the best you could possibly be … yet …" he paused, his face now inches from Goku's, "You're still not strong enough" he harshly whispered, a smirk spreading across his malevolent face.
Goku's frown deepened, his eyes fixated on Shin who was a mere few inches away from him.
"But here you are, still pushing yourself, still desperate to become stronger, still aching for that feeling of surpassing even yourself. You just can't help it can you? You can't help but long to be the best. You can't help but desire a challenge like me. And what really puzzles me is, you are so protective of the ones you love, yet you are the one who puts them in danger every time. Your thrill and hunger for a fight puts them in harm's way, it's always been you. You are so reckless" Shin analysed. Goku grit his teeth. He didn't need to hear any more of this. Shin was really starting to push his buttons.
"But here you are, yet again, risking it all, just to beat me" Shin whispered dangerously.
"I believe you have overstayed your welcome" Whis interrupted.
There was silence. Shin pulled away from Goku and sneered.
"I will be seeing you again" Shin informed Goku in a testing tone. He raised his right hand to Goku's face and gently slapped his cheek twice, almost as if trying to humiliate Goku, and then walked away. Goku was furious. He tensed up, his fists were shaking with anger, his eyes glaring, his lips tightly pressed together, he could feel the pressure building up inside of him. Everybody noticed Goku's energy starting to rise. Chichi, feeling the change in her husband, reached for him and gently grasped his arm, caressing him in a calming motion. Almost instantly, Goku began to cool down.
Shin then disappeared.
Goku and Vegeta exchanged looks, whilst the rest of the group let out the breaths they were holding in. They were glad that was over.
Whis upped their training, and finally allowed them to start fighting with him. They did their chores, did their weight training and then fought with him. But it wasn't without it's challenges. Aside from the obvious fact that they were nowhere near as fast and as strong as Whis, he called them out on their flaws.
"I am disappointed. Neither of you have improved in speed. Look, I even managed to sign both of your tops during the training" Whis chirped. Goku and Vegeta both looked down at their tops and noticed that Whis had indeed signed their tops with his training symbol.
"Oh wow, when did you do that? That's amazing!" Goku exclaimed.
"God damn it" Vegeta barked.
"You are still thinking before you move, instead of just moving. I'm afraid this habit is especially strong with you Vegeta. This overthinking is limiting your fighting speed. You are losing precious fighting time with all this thinking" Whis observed.
"heh, he's right Vegeta, you do like to overthink everything" Goku chuckled.
"Oh, shut your face! The only reason you don't overthink anything is because you're an idiot!" Vegeta shouted at Goku.
"Spoilt sport" Goku murmured.
"Let's focus on you, Vegeta" Whis began again.
"Oh, shall we?" Vegeta grunted, his arms folded in annoyance.
"No matter how hard you work and how strong you get, you are always one step behind Goku. Do you know why you are Goku's lesser?"
"Enlighten me" Vegeta spat.
"You have constantly got a chip on your shoulder and you are always so uptight. This tension makes it difficult for you to move and fight to your full potential. Your lesson is to learn to relax and to take rest when you have the opportunity, like Goku does" Whis pointed out. Vegeta huffed.
"You gotta admit, he's right, Vegeta! I love me a good nap!" Goku chirped. Vegeta growled at him.
"But you have your issues too, Goku" Whis began, approaching Goku as he spoke, "being too relaxed is also a significant weakness" Whis confirmed, suddenly punching Goku in his side, Goku groaning in pain as he held his side, "And don't get me started on your issues with over confidence during a fight. No matter how strong you are physically, if you let your focus waver you're set up to fail. I have already noticed several times where you are so sure of yourself that you completely let your guard down in battle"
"HAHA! He got that one right!" Vegeta snorted, his eyes on Goku.
"Maybe, but that was a cheap shot" Goku whined.
It was later that evening and Chichi, Bulma and 18 were cooking and setting the table ready for dinner. 18 left the kitchen area to tend to her daughter and Bulma had gone outside to find her husband and son. Chichi was busy stirring a large pot of food when Goku walked in, a smile gracing his features when he saw her.
"Wow, Chichi, something smells really good" he complimented as he approached her at the stove. Chichi beamed proudly.
"Why thank you, Goku. Have you washed up?" she questioned him, her eyes not leaving the pot. Suddenly but gently, two large strong arms wrapped around her small waist, more specifically, her husband's arms, and his nose nuzzled into her neck making her squirm slightly, a small giggle fleeing her lips.
"Goku" she tried to protest, "I need to get dinner finished! Anyone could walk in right now"
"No one's gonna see us" Goku confirmed, his lips now brushing across her skin in small kisses.
"I've heard that one before, Son Goku" she reminded him more sternly. Goku couldn't help but chuckle as he turned her to face him.
"Aw, come on, I didn't know it was sacred, and neither did you" he pointed out, "besides, it's not like you protested against it" he commented with a cocky smile. Chichi cocked an eyebrow.
"You started it and you got us into trouble with Lord Beerus!" she retaliated, poking his chest with her index finger. Goku gave her his special smile. That special smile which she adored, one he only reserved for her. It was loving, honest, appreciative, happy, dreamy, everything you would want in a smile from your husband. It made her weak at the knees every single time and he bloody knew it!
His lips hovered over hers, his eyes gazing into her eyes, before he closed them and made the kiss.
The kiss was so soft and tender, it was lighter than air. Chichi always wondered just how he managed to do it … how could someone so powerful, touch her so gently and so carefully. Sure, there had been many times where this wasn't the case, especially after achieving a new level of power which he hadn't learnt to completely control yet. She had been sent through walls, put through kitchen tables and one she will always remember – thrown so hard onto their bed during a moment of passion, that she went through the bed and dented the floor beneath.
Chichi blushed at the thought. He had bruised her so many times and she wasn't going to deny that sometimes he hurt her, accidently of course. But there was something inescapably alluring about it, something about it that turned her on in ways she couldn't fathom.
He could snap her like a twig … and the thought of that excited her.
Goku removed his lips from hers ever so slightly, before moving in on them again, gently, lovingly. His hands came up to cup her delicate cheeks, his mouth then opening to hers, her one hand still holding the wooden spoon from where she had been stirring the pot, the other one tugging at his Gi shirt. She lost herself in him and melted against him, his mouth completely captivating her. She suddenly felt her body being lifted and found herself sat on the kitchen worktop, next to the stove. Goku removed the spoon from her hand and gently placed it down beside her.
"Goku" she gasped, his hands on her hips as he pulled her quite snuggly against him, parts of him touching her that probably shouldn't be right now. His mouth took hers again, passionately, and she couldn't help but resist as her arms wrapped around his neck.
He broke the kiss and began kissing across her right cheek and down her neck.
"Goku, seriously, we need to stop" she again tried to protest, but it didn't come out that way. He nibbled her ear, causing a giggle to erupt from her mouth.
"But I missed you" he whined.
Ah, her Goku, her sweet Goku. It absolutely melted her from the inside out that he was whining like a child, because he simply missed her.
"Goku, I have been here with you every day" she chuckled, secretly squealing like a little school girl on the inside.
"But I been training all day" he reminded her, kissing her cheek again, "And I missed you" he finished, before placing his lips back on hers.
"Ahem" a male's throat cleared, both of them stopping in their tracks, wide-eyed. They didn't shift their positions, only their heads as they both looked to see who it was.
Gohan was stood there, intensely staring at the ground, a blush forming across his cheeks, whilst Goten stared open-mouthed in wonder.
"We …. Uhhh … come to see if … you wanted any … Uhhh … h-help?" Gohan managed to spit out, his eyes still not daring to look up at his parents right now. Chichi pushed Goku out of the way so she could hop down off the counter top.
"Gohan, Goten, boys, your father was … Uhhh … helping me finish off dinner" she lied, "Have you both washed up?" she quickly questioned. They both shook their heads, "Well go and get yourselves washed up and I will be serving dinner then" she demanded in a sudden frantic high-pitched voice.
"Okay mom" Goten chirped, almost as if he had already forgotten the scene they had walked in on. Gohan scratched his head and without a word he followed his little brother and left the room. As soon as the boys left the kitchen, Chichi picked up the wooden spoon and slapped her husband across the arm with it.
"Ouch, Chichi!" he whined.
"Seriously, Goku, what is wrong with you? You need to control yourself!" she scolded, resuming her cooking.
"What?" he managed to blurt out, confused by why this was his fault.
Dinner was finished, and the dishes were cleaned up. Whis stated he had a surprise for them and told them all to come to the lakeside. They all made their way over to the lake, where indeed, Whis was waiting for them with a smile on his face.
"Good, you all made it" he chirped.
"What's the surprise, Whis?" Goten questioned in excitement.
"Yeah, we wanna know!" Trunks added with just as much excitement. Whis chortled.
"Well if you all care to sit upon the grass, I will show you your surprise" Whis ordered. Everyone sat upon the lush soft grass in anticipation for what Whis was going to show them. Whis hopped back amongst several glowing bushes and with his staff he tapped one of the bushes. The next thing everyone knew, there was what looked like fireworks shooting up into the sky and exploding stridently into various beautiful bright colours and sparkles.
"WOW! DO THAT AGAIN WHIS!" Goten exclaimed loudly.
"WE WANT MORE!" Trunks shouted. Whis chuckled at their excitement and continued his actions several more times, releasing several more fireworks into the dimming purple night sky.
Goku sat next to his wife, his eyes more occupied with her and not the fireworks. He studied her as she was in awe over the beautiful display, her eyes lighting up with every explosion in the evening sky. He turned his head to face the rest of the group, his family, his best friends. They all looked on in amazement, enjoying the show Whis had selflessly put on for them.
This moment right here, was one to savour. His family and friends were so relaxed and at peace right at this very moment. This was everything. This was the reason for all his hard work, the endless training and fighting, his absences, everything. This was it.
All he wanted was for them to forever have moments like this.
Vegeta caught his eyes and gave his once-rival a small smirk, almost as if he knew what was on his mind. Vegeta was so hard-faced and stubborn, but Goku knew that underneath all that, Vegeta savoured these moments, just as much as he did. Together, they needed to get stronger, so they could protect this, this very moment, this feeling, their feelings, them.
If this moment wasn't a reason to fight for, then nothing was.
"WOW DADDY! DADDY DID YOU SEE THAT?!" Goten shouted in exhilaration, bouncing around his father. Goku laughed affectionally at his youngest son and ruffled his hair.
"I sure did son" he answered him. Goten smiled his biggest smile before running off to stand by Trunks again. Goku peered over at his eldest son who was holding onto Videl, both of them admiring the fireworks. Goku smiled with absolute pride and adoration.
This was definitely it.
