Risk

Chapter 36

Five years slowly passed without incident. Kakarrot had not made his presence known or spoken to anyone since that fated day. On top of everything else, there were no signs of trouble within the family.

That was until one stormy night…

Goten awoke and went towards his mother's room to only see the door was open. He heard footsteps in the living room and ran towards the entrance. Fear began to overcome the young child when he noticed the shadows dancing from the brief flashes of light that barely lit the room. It was too dark to see and then, a close flash of lightning revealed a feminine shadow of his mother.

"Mommy? What are you doing?" Goten asked confused, hoping she was just awake. The rain fell heavily upon the ground as the lightning tore though the heavens mercilessly.

Chi-chi stood at the doorway, looking out in the horrible storm, dressed in her own fighting clothes that she never wore in her son's presence before. No words were exchanged to her youngest son before she flew out into the tempest that awaited her.

"MOMMY!" Goten tried to go after her; however, the lightning flashed again, startling the poor six year old child. When it cleared, his mother had vanished into the darkness. His hand was outstretched to the cracked door that she had vanished through only moments earlier. "No, mommy… MOMMY!"

"Daddy, daddy, mommy's gone!" Goten cried as the Earth-raised Saiya-jin woke up. The look in his eyes was different than the warm ones he was used to, but the didn't notice or cared at the moment. What was more important to him was that his father went after his mother that had fled into the raging storm without a word mentioned on where she was going at this hour.

"When did she leave?" Kakarrot asked his youngest son. Goten was highly unaware of the dark persona due to him not bothering them for five years of peace. Not even Gohan mentioned this to his brother seeing he never bothered the family after the incident with Kirin since the odd personality seemed to vanish like a dream.

"Just… just a few minutes ago…" Goten muttered.

"I can't feel her chi… she's suppressing it…"

"Does that mean she's hiding?"

"For now. She'll show up soon enough…"

"Daddy? How come you're not as worried as you usually are?"

"I am, but right now, we will have to wait…" Kakarrot reassured his son. He could have flown off into the storm, but then who else would stay and comfort the boy if he lost not one, but two parents to the tempest that roared outside their home? His eldest son was sleeping unaware of the absence of their mother at the moment and did not need to be dragged into this just yet.

'And seeing this is my first time interacting with Goten, it'll be best to learn what he hasn't been told since I have been absent from his life for five long years…'Kakarrot added as an afterthought. He looked down at the trembling form in his grasp that he held in a protective embrace.

"C-can I sleep in here tonight?" Goten whimpered as the storm raged outside. He hated thunderstorms with a vengeance and wanted the safety of his father after his mother became unavailable.

"Sure." Kakarrot made room for the boy, attempting to reassure him in any way possible. 'Why now though? Why now after five years?'

Early the next morning, Goten woke up to find his father asleep holding him in his arms fast asleep. It was perhaps the first time he resorted into keeping the young boy calm as a comforting purr escaped his throat while he slept. The youngest son noticed his mother was gone before the memories of the night returned to him. Squirming in the warrior's arms, he woke with a start.

"You alright?" Kakarrot asked.

"Yeah daddy, but why isn't mommy here?" Goten asked.

"I think she needed some time alone." Kakarrot lied; not wanting to tell the boy what it could have been.

"I hope she comes back soon."

"Same." Kakarrot gently rubbed his hair. He felt the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's consciousness starting to awaken and quickly, he released it before Goku became aware of another presence.

"Goten? What's wrong? Did the storms scare you last night?" Goku asked his son, a little surprised that he was holding the child in a comforting pose.

"Yeah, and mommy's gone," Goten muttered sadly.

"Huh? When did she leave?"

"Last night. I already told you." Goku had to comfort the boy when he started crying in his chest.

'Could it be… did Goten talk to Kakarrot?' Goku almost thought it was impossible, but why now? 'Is he still upset?' Not wishing to confuse his son further, he reassured his youngest that he would find her. The last thing he wanted was to scare the boy further.

"We should find mom," Gohan seemed upset by this. "What if this is another one of Kirin's tricks?"

"Then we'll have to confront him like the last time," Goku sighed. He was grateful Goten went out to play instead of hearing them talk. "I just hope she's alright."

"I'm sure she is, after all, it was his fault it nearly tore the family apart." Goku had to admit that after what Kirin did.

Though it was a mixed blessing that he returned home to his family; however, it wasn't as warm as it used to be before the day he died to Cell's hand. The hardest part was going day after day without Kakarrot interacting in the slightest.

"I think he also talked to Kakarrot."

"When?" Gohan was bewildered. For years, he wondered whatever happened to the man he considered his second father. He almost thought Goku had made it up back when he was a child, but after interacting and accepting the darker persona, he had gained a newfound respect in his heritage.

"Probably last night, but I'm not sure why he's getting involved now after six years. Maybe he only reacts when there's danger involved or doesn't seem to fit into this family anymore."

'That's not exactly it.' The dark persona's voice suddenly echoed through Goku's mind. 'I figured that what happened the last time, you were done feeling like there was a gap when we both had control for fleeting moments at the time. I remember bits and pieces of what transpired, but the rage blinded us both and… I can't risk hurting our love… that's why… I stayed quiet all this time.'

"Dad? What's wrong?" Gohan noticed his father had gone stiff and quiet. He had never seen his father look this lost in such a long time and wondered if Chi-chi's disappearance had something to do with it.

"Kakarrot's talking to me again, but he seems sad, like he regrets what happened years ago during that battle." His eyes closed softly. 'That's not important. You're a part of me and if we both lose control, that's fine. Someone will pull us out of it and…'

'Will this be before or after we kill her?' Kakarrot snapped; irritated. 'If you haven't forgotten, we had to get her healed before taking her home.'

'Point, but we can learn to gain control of the power,' Goku offered. 'What do you say?'

"Gohan? Why's daddy being quiet?" Goten questioned while walking into the house.

"He's trying to think of where mom went," Gohan covered for his father; knowing he was still attempting to work out something between Kakarrot.

"Yeah, but he's acting serious like he was last night and this morning for a bit."

"Well of course, he's trying to make sure mom gets home safely. Why don't I cook you something to eat while dad finishes up here," Gohan offered. He was grateful that his mother had taught him to cook some basic things during the whole Kirin ordeal.

"Okay!" Goten followed Gohan out of the room.

Elsewhere in a laboratory in the desert, a long, white-haired male stood before a puny figure and a demon.

"So tell me why we should work with you to unleash Majin Buu?" the small, yellow-skinned male asked.

"Because I have a weapon that will help you achieve your goals of revenge much faster against your father's murderer," the male replied. "All I need is some of that energy you have been collecting."

"Master Babadi already has…" the demon started.

"If Kirin's fallen to a warrior stronger than him, then he's picked the perfect subject," Babadi grinned. "We really ought to join forces and get the perfect revenge."

"Yes, and if we're lucky, we'll also get our hands on the Dragon Balls."

"Dragon Balls?" Babadi eyed the male.

"From what I translated so far, they grant wishes…"

"Excellent, we'll gather them after Buu's released."

"Just don't forget the deal," the male replied while he adjusted the glasses on his face.

"Of course, we'll bring forth a new revolution to this universe," Babadi cackled evilly.

The demon glared at the doorway where Chi-chi stood silently with an empty look in her eyes. It was though she was a puppet instead of a living being.

"Come on Goten, we're going outside," Goku called his youngest son. Though he had worked something out with Kakarrot, he wanted to at least give the child enough room to vent if needed.

"Where are we going daddy?" Goten chased after his father; almost afraid that he would disappear if he didn't keep up.

"We are going to train…" Goku started.

"Train? But you wouldn't let me before, why now?" Goten had no chance to get the answer when an aimed fist narrowly missed his head. The boy's fast reflexes prevented him from being harmed. Looking up at his father, he gasped when he noticed the darkened expression on his face. "Daddy?"

"Give your all Goten and don't hold back," Kakarrot told the boy before launching his assault on the child.

'I really don't want Goten getting involved,' Goku told Kakarrot earlier.

'You held back his rights to his Saiya-jin heritage long enough. He either fights or dies if this is Kirin's doing. The last thing I ever want is for him to die is to be murdered…'

There was a deafening silence between them. It was though Goku was hesitating giving Kakarrot an answer.

'Perhaps I should train him. You are too kind to keep shielding him from the truth. Sooner or later, he'll know what's going on and he'll demand that you give him the answers.'

'If he does, then…'

'If you're going to continue protecting him, then we'll never see our love again. We need to settle matters that Kirin started years ago before this becomes something we cannot control…'

'Fine, but…' Goku hesitated. 'Just don't burden him with too much…'

'Of course.'

"Daddy! Calm down!" Goten's voice interrupted Kakarrot's assault on his youngest child. He thought he was holding back, but there were already telltale signs that the boy wasn't properly trained by anyone.

"Stand up and stop complaining," Kakarrot barely had patience when it comes to fighting. He had spent years not being a part of the family because he felt unwanted; especially after defeating Kirin.

"I just want mom to come home…" Goten grew angry. The black hair flickered gold and the boy lunged at his father to take the frustration out on him. Kakarrot was surprised by his youngest son's transformation and quickly went on the defensive.

'Only six years old and he's a Super Saiya-jin… impressive…' Kakarrot mentally thought. 'Almost wish I could have trained him sooner…'

The one-sided fight ended as quickly as it started when Goten finally lost control of the transformation. He was breathing hard looking up with tears in his eyes.

"Mommy… I want mommy…" Goten felt arms embraced him and it was then a purr escaped the warrior's throat.

"I'm sorry for pushing you too hard Goten," Kakarrot reassured. "…but he insisted…"

"Huh? Who insisted?" Goten looked up and noticed Kakarrot smile sadly.

"Your father…"

"W-what do you mean? Are you my father or…?" Goten was confused and thought he was having another nightmare.

"Ah, it's best if I explain from the beginning…"

There was a knock at the door and Chi-chi went to answer it. There stood a male wearing a dark hooded cloak. He stood tall and proud and despite his appearance, the female did not back away.

"It seems my princess has finally arrived," the figure touched Chi-chi's cheek softly. She seemed almost cat-like and nuzzled the palm. "You have done well ensuring that my precious cargo arrived, Lamoch."

"Of course my lord," Lamoch replied. "I have contacted Babadi and he has agreed to our plan."

"Excellent…" the male gently lifted Chi-chi's chin. "Everything is going according to plan. The sacrifice to open the gate has arrived and all we need now is the energy that Babadi will surely share with us in order to connect the two worlds together."

"Yes, soon Earth will become that of your kingdom, Lord Dominion." Lamoch smirked in a rather amused way.

To Be Continued…