Author Notes: Quick reminder: Temporary Character Death is something I mentioned in the first chapter where I listed the tags I used on Ao3. Sorry, not sorry.

Silhouette

Part 1 - Control

Chapter 13 - Death

As the days rolled on, Chi-Chi received several phone calls from not only Gohan and Goten but Bulma and Krillin as well. They all wanted to know the same thing. How was she doing? How was Goku? Were they handling everything okay?

Of course she didn't go into any details that might bother any of them. Instead, she played it off as a new change to her husband that she would have to accept. So long as he didn't get careless with his power and recklessly destroy whole cities, then she could handle this side. This more Saiyan personality - as Bulma called it, thanks to what Vegeta said - made everyday activities and discussions harder to deal with than normal, but he would learn. A stubborn streak that had only been a minor character flaw in her Goku beforehand now raised itself to the forefront - and demanded sex so often it became almost unbearable.

Almost.

Sure, she had never experienced such violent sexual antics before, especially not with the way Goku always handled her as if she would break at the slightest wrong touch, but that didn't mean she hated this new forceful treatment. After all, the worst that happened was a slew of new marks and bruises, which nevertheless made Goku cringe away from her anytime he returned to his senses.

Which seemed to be happening less and less as the time marched forward - Goku returning to his normal, happier, sweeter self, that is. Even now, the other side hung around behind her as she tried to work on the new cracks in the wall. Cracks that were his fault to begin with, but that he didn't seem concerned about in the least.

"How long is that gonna take, Chi-Chi?"

"Long enough," she said, firmly. "Have some patience or go out and buy me some more plaster for the walls that you keep breaking."

"Keh, no way, I hate shopping," he said, standing behind her and leaning down to whisper in her ear. "I'd rather fuck you senseless again."

"Goku!" She snapped, rolling her shoulder to shove him back. "Patience!"

He whined but thankfully pulled back this time. Chi-Chi had already commented on his change in language, but he didn't seem to notice or care to guard his tongue. In fact, bringing it up only got him to drop into dirtier phrases with the intent of riling her up more. So she'd given up on getting him to speak like his normal self; instead, she put her effort into holding him back when he got too pushy.

It wasn't too difficult; she wasn't lying to those who called to check on her or anything. She could handle him. No matter what attitude he threw at her, Goku knew when she'd been pushed too far in the wrong direction and knew to follow her wishes. The small blessings, she supposed.

With a huff, Goku tightened the belt around the gi Whis had given him, and made his way to the front door. "Fine, then. Come outside when you're done. I'm going to exercise a little, but I'd love to spar against you like the old days, Chi-Chi."

She blinked and turned toward him, though all she caught was the tips of his wild hair bouncing as he left her vision and went outside. Shaking her head, she sighed and muttered to herself. "Sometimes, I can't tell which part of you is in control, Goku."

Not that it mattered now. She had to finish this repair project on her own since Goku refused to lend a hand. Once before, he would have taken everything in hand and told her to relax. Now, he grumbled and complained and went outside to train while she did all the hard work around here. Well, she had practice from those seven years of his death, so, again, she could handle this.

Lifting the tube of plaster to one of the holes, she squeezed until it filled and moved onto the next. The smell of plaster and wood and paint filled the air. So many cracks needing repair day after day because of how Goku threw her around so recklessly when having sex. She had the bruises on her back to prove it if the cracks in the walls weren't enough, too. He could certainly wear her out, even before this darker, harsher streak to his sexual appetite, but she wished she had some sort of break from him to recover.

Finishing the last touches on the plaster, Chi-Chi groaned as she stepped away and rubbed the sweat from her forehead. Her bangs, loose and free because Goku absolutely insisted that she keep her hair down, were damp from all the sweat her activity had worked up. Her purple cheongsam - because the yellow one had been reduced to a tattered mess - dripped sweat and stuck to her skin as well. She heaved a deep breath and smiled at her hard work, nonetheless.

"Well, that's done," she murmured. "I'll worry about painting over everything later."

For now…

Goku wanted her outside.

Strange how it felt like she followed his every whim (or almost every whim) now. Maybe a part of her was still scared of what he would do if she made this part of him angry. With all that terrifying power and force he controlled, Chi-Chi didn't want to risk him losing his top.

Of course she told herself everything would be all right. She could handle him. She'd lasted how many days already with mostly this darker side in control? She could withstand whatever he threw at her.

Or could she?

Finding a ribbon to tie her hair in a loose ponytail behind her back, Chi-Chi shook the thoughts away and went out to meet her husband. Sunlight streamed onto his body as he went through a string of forms, slow at first, then picking up to a speed she couldn't even hope to follow. For a moment, she watched from the doorway and smiled. She always did like to watch him go through his kata and whatever else he decided to do for exercise.

It brought back memories of him doing push-ups in the kitchen. Shutting her eyes, she held back a giggle at the images, remembering when he'd be doing hand-stand push-ups and she would push him over to tease him into making out on the kitchen floor. Or when he'd be doing more regular push-ups and she'd slip underneath him until he broke out of his concentration from the pressure of having her so close. Those were good times, good memories to forever hold onto.

"Hey, Chi," she looked over at him, grinning at the excitement in his eyes. "You wanna spar?"

Lost in memories, avoiding the nagging warning in the back of her mind, Chi-Chi shrugged and closed the distance between them. "Why do you think I tied my hair back? Come on, then. I know you love fighting me."

His eyes brightened and he grinned, much like the Goku she remembered. "Great! You're really hot when you're fighting, you know."

"Goku!" She flushed, feeling off balance even before she took her stance. "I -"

She didn't get the chance to finish. Goku went on the offensive immediately and charged into her. The punch to her stomach took the wind out of her, but thankfully, it wasn't anything she had trouble handling. She jumped back with a grimace and prepared to give him something in return.

But he came rushing forward again and she had to hold her arms up to block the attack this time. He smashed into her arms, making pain tingle all the way up her body as she slid back in the dirt. With a groan, she forced her arms to move and swing at him with overhand chops, interspersed with a kick to try to push him back.

Goku sprang away and grinned. "You really are still good at this, huh?"

Breathing heavy, Chi-Chi glared back at him. "You could stand to be less forceful! I'm out of practice and you're-"

"Tch, that's boring," he said, cutting her off. "Besides, I'm already holding back a lot. I think you could handle even more."

Eyes widening, Chi-Chi snapped out of her memories with a jerk. "Goku, wait."

"Aw, come on, Chi," he said, the palm of his hand facing her as glowing golden energy pooled in the center. "I bet you can take it. Maybe I'll teach you how to fire energy, too. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"Go-!"

Too late. Her voice cut off. The energy blast hit her full force and sent her flying back toward the house. The world around her dimmed down to a dark haze and time slowed to a crawl. Behind her, the wall of their house crashed into rubble and she fell amid the wood and plaster. She had the distinct feeling that she might be screaming or crying or both, but her ears wouldn't give her sound to hear any of it.

Instead, her world consisted of nothing else but the burning sensation of horrible, horrible pain.

~!~

Goku snapped back to his senses with a gasp. The headache receded and he groaned, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to remember the last thing he'd done. Holding a hand up to ward off the sun's glare, he stared into the sky and took a moment to breathe in the scents of nature all around him.

For some reason, things felt different when he returned to reality this time. As if someone were shoving him to the front and demanding he deal with the emotions or the situation. But why? Why did he feel like that? That didn't make any sense. And what could have happened to -

He froze, bringing his hand back to his side at a sudden realization. Chi-Chi… Her ki was fading fast. Where? Where was she? What could have happened while he was out of control? It couldn't be his fault, could it?

Eyes looking in every direction as fast as he could think, Goku jerked himself in the middle of a spin when he finally locked onto her direct position. Ice ran down his spine at the sight and he ran across the grass in a panic. Shoving debris from the broken wall to the side, he found his wife laying in the rubble, coughing and staring up at him with shaking eyes.

Chi-Chi was in pain. Oh, no, it was his fault, wasn't it? Her ki kept dipping lower and lower and he gasped back tears as he lifted her out of the mess of plaster and wood.

"Chi-Chi?" He managed to croak out. "Babe, it's me. Can you hear me?"

"Goku…."

She grimaced and clenched her teeth and he knew, from the way her side looked and the blood flowing out, that there wasn't a quick way to save her. Senzu beans? Korin didn't have any more. He'd already checked on that after seeing the bruises on his wife. This...She…

"Chi-Chi, tell me," he shuddered, holding her hand, rubbing the back of it softly. "Did I lose control that badly? Did I really - ?"

The look in her eyes was all the answer he needed. Goku swallowed the words in his throat and gently brushed hair out of her face. It had actually happened. His worst fear. This wasn't a dream. Not a nightmare. The whole reason he had stayed away so long after reaching Super Saiyan...that loss of control...and it had happened. What had he done?

"I'm sorry. Babe, I'm so sorry," he whispered, trying to keep his voice steady as he talked to her, knowing it would be her last moments until somebody could revive her. Revive her with what dragon balls? He'd already used them. "I'll fix it. I'll bring you back as soon as I can and - and I'll have it all solved by then. I promise."

Her hand came up with an obvious effort, touching his chest, leaving a light streak of blood on his gi. "Shh, sweetheart. Just...hold me."

Swallowing the rest of the promises on his lips, he took his wife in his arms and held her close to his chest. So much blood. Her body trembled and stiffened against his, and he knew she suffered. Chi-Chi suffered because of him.

He couldn't believe his worst nightmare had actually come to pass. Couldn't believe Chi-Chi was literally dying in his arms right now. Each breath came out harsher and softer. The glow from her ki, the warmth he took so much solace in, faded out bit by bit.

Until eventually...nothing remained. She stopped breathing and her ki signature disappeared. Goku continued to hold her for a few more moments, lost in the shock and the grief, rocking back and forth in the grass. His eyes stung with the tears he held back. His jaw hurt from the strength with which he clenched it tightly.

Chi-Chi was dead. Gone. Because of him.

At some point, he managed to pick her up and set her aside. He didn't want to bury her, not just yet, but he couldn't keep holding her like this. He had to...had to...let it out...the frustration and anger and helplessness…he needed to get away.

So he stumbled to his feet and moved a short distance before he crashed into the ground, unable to make himself go any further. On hands and knees, he cried out and pounded fists in the dirt, shaking the earth. Tremors echoed from each strike and he only got faster and faster, harder and harder, until his ki exploded and he screamed.

Wrapping himself in the Super Saiyan God ki he let the tears fall and screamed until his voice went hoarse. Power flooded the air, electricity sparking from his transformation as he wailed and let it all go. Everything that had been building with this new headache, with these memory losses, these terrible acts of destruction… all that stress and pain, he pushed it out until he couldn't feel anything anymore. Until numbness was all that filled him.

"Dad?"

Goku jumped to his feet and spun at the voice, eyes growing wide when he saw his two sons hovering nearby. "Gohan?"

Gohan, wearing his green tracksuit, which told him his boy had been working out recently and had only come running at the explosion of ki. "Dad, what happened?"

"I - you don't - He grimaced as the headache hit him right between the eyes. "You need to get out of here. You need to take Goten away right now, Gohan. Before I -"

He choked on the words. Before I kill you too. His hands were shaking, his chest hurt, his legs felt weak. He wanted to throw up. This couldn't be happening.

"Mom?" Goten's voice; he shut his eyes on the inevitable. "Mom! Gohan! Mom's not moving! I can't feel her ki even when I look for it! She's - Gohan! Mom's dead! He killed her! He killed her!"

Eyes snapping open, Goku turned away from the shock on Gohan's face and stared at his youngest son. Power built around Goten, the ground cracking underneath him as the boy shook and screamed. Gold flashed as the Super Saiyan aura surrounded his son, anger clouding his vision. No, not just anger. Rage.

And that power kept building.

Gritting his teeth against the wind rushing outwards from Goten's position, Goku couldn't keep his eyes from his son. So much ki flared around him, covering him, wrapping around him, much like what Goku had done earlier. The most common Saiyan response to grief: uncontrollable rage.

Electricity snapped along the ground and Goku jumped back to avoid one of the larger sparks. He gaped as Goten's power continued to rise. The golden hair on top of his son's hair spiked up further, reaching that far more jagged state. His fists were clenched and shaking as he roared his rage into the air, his muscles bulking up and most noticeably tearing the arms of the red T-shirt he wore.

When the ki explosion finally settled, Goten's screaming died out, and the sheer malice in the teal gaze sent toward Goku made him tense. "Goten…"

"You're going to pay for hurting Mom," Goten said, the Super Saiyan 2 aura crackling around him, drying the tears he shed with the heat he exuded. "You're going to pay!"

In the next blink, Goten flew toward him, his aura skimming along the ground. Goku held his hand up to block the obvious punch, squeezing his son's fist and pulling it off to the side. A kick came for him next, so Goku grabbed that with his other hand.

"Goten, stop," Goku said as firmly and sternly as he could manage. "You have to calm down, son."

"Shut up!" Goten snapped, throwing an energy blast in Goku's face. "You're not my dad!"

Goku's eyes grew at the energy attack and the words, dropping Goten so the boy could fly away. He grimaced as a flash of pain hit his head. Then he frowned because that hadn't been the headache, though that pain pounded hard, too.

Glancing over his shoulder, he groaned. "Gohan, not you, too."

"Gohan!" Goten called from his other side. "Let's Kamehameha at the same time!"

Goku shook his head. The headache got worse with every second. He needed to get the boys to leave.

But still, knowing his youngest had reached Super Saiyan 2…. He would probably feel a lot more pride if he hadn't been the triggering cause. It hurt to know his own son hated him that much right now. It hurt almost as much as the actual physical pain hammering into his skull.

"Goten, Gohan," he growled. "You need to calm down and leave. Right. Now."

White light filled his vision. He gasped, cursed when he realized what was happening, and then his world dropped away from him and he lost control.

~!~

Vegeta cursed as he shot away from Capsule Corporation. Bulma shouted on the ground behind him, waving a paintbrush in the air, complaining that they'd barely gotten started on the new paint job. Other things mattered more right now. He would deal with his angry wife later.

Kakarot's ki had flared and then disappeared in a tell tale sign of a transformation into god ki. If that weren't enough, Kakarot's second spawn had jumped in sudden power not too long after his father. Vegeta gritted his teeth at the feel, knowing it meant Kakarot's brat had beaten his own to the second Super Saiyan transformation.

Of course that kid probably had a good reason for it, and Vegeta had to admit to the sick feeling in his stomach at the realization. What else could make the brat transform so suddenly? The only threat around them was Kakarot himself. And Kakarot had been left alone with his wife for days. To have this sudden -

He jerked to a halt in the air, dodging past a stray energy blast and glaring down at the sight near the Son family household. Another curse left his lips when he saw both of Kakarot's sons fighting their father. Goten shot off with a flurry of punches at Kakarot's head, only to be grabbed by the leg and thrown to the ground hard enough to make the boy spit up blood as he coughed and bounced back from the earth. Gohan, on the other hand, followed right behind Goten and tried to catch his father off guard to no avail.

The older son went flying through the air with a ki blast to the gut and since it was nearby, Vegeta caught the idiot. He could feel Gohan struggle to free himself and go back at it with his father, but Vegwta held him firm and jerked him back, flaring his own ki until he reached the blue Super Saiyan form.

"Gohan!" He growled. "Snap out of it!"

"Shut up, Vegeta!" Gohan snapped back, rage sparking in the teal gaze. "This doesn't concern you."

"The hell it does," Vegeta snorted, twisting Gohan's arm behind his back and getting the younger Saiyan to cry out in shock. "Your father is still in there somewhere. You know that."

"He killed - "

"I know! But it doesn't matter, Gohan!" He twisted harder, bringing the boy's arm to the edge of breaking. "If you don't grab your brother and get out of here now, he'll kill you both and be even more distraught when he snaps out of it. Do you want that?"

While the young Saiyan struggled and spat insults at him, Vegeta clenched his teeth and held on, refusing to back down. He turned his gaze to Kakarot and the younger son. Goten kept going at Kakarot over and over, being swatted away like a fly with each charge but getting back up and going for it again. That one had no hope of control right now.

He needed to get through to Gohan. Kakarot's older son should have far more sense. There was a reason Vegeta gave grudging respect to the man, even if Gohan had dropped his training and focused on a peaceful life of studies. Still. He had to get through to him faster and while he didn't want to break the young man's arm or anything too drastic…

With a grunt, Vegeta punched Gohan hard in the center of his back. "Focus! I'll handle your father. You need to get your brother away from him. Before. Anymore. Damage. Can be. Done."

Gohan screamed with each jolt to his wrist or back, but eventually the Super Saiyan transformation dropped and the young man whimpered. "Right. Right, I know. I know, Vegeta."

"That's better," Vegeta smirked as he dropped his hold on Kakarot's oldest. "Take your brother and get out of here."

"Right."

While Gohan sparked back into his transformation with more control - he wouldn't be able to pull Goten away without it - Vegeta turned his attention down to the ground of the Son family's yard that had become a wrecked battleground. The younger son still shot electricity from his powerful new form, but he currently rested on hands and knees in the dirt, coughing up blood. Kakarot hovered over the boy, no doubt spouting some kind of nonsense since he wasn't attacking anymore.

Grunting, Vegeta landed on the ground not too far from where they resided. Kakarot barely spared him a glance before returning to mocking his younger son. No doubt trying to get the boy to come up and fight more, a perfect Saiyan response to their child's rage - egging them on for more passion and more power.

Having had quite enough of this nonsense already, Vegeta lifted a hand and shot a ki blast at Kakarot's back. "Kakarot! Your fight is with me now!"

The Saiyan turned and smirked, hands on his sides. "What? And miss the chance to train my son? You've got to be kidding."

"Tch. That's not training," Vegeta spat. "They'll forever be pathetic anyway. What's the point?"

Narrowed eyes met him and he knew he'd touched a nerve. "That's not true. You're just jealous."

"Pft. Jealous? Of a weak brat like that? Not on your life."

Energy coalesced into being around Kakarot and his blue aura flared, eyes hard. That was the only warning before the other Saiyan appeared in front of him, a well timed punch to the gut putting Vegeta off balance for a half a second. He took the punch and ran with it, though, reaching out to grab his rival's arm and throw him off to the side as hard as he could. He watched the blue aura skimming into the distance and followed quickly behind, trusting in Gohan to take care of his brother and get out while they could.

Kakarot flew back and met Vegeta in a hard impact of power, though Vegeta blocked the first and second attacks without problem. The battle heated up, blows being traded. First a kick to his side and Vegeta grunted at and responded to by spinning away only to swing back around to meet a fist to the face though he managed to land the same thing on Kakarot.

Spit flying he flew back and wiped his mouth, shooting a couple of energy beams at his rival. "Pathetic son, pathetic wife. Is that why you killed her, Kakarot?"

The other Saiyan froze in the air mid strike, growling deep in his throat. "You're lying."

"Hah! You think I am?" Vegeta gestured back toward the man's house. "Her dead body is over there. Your fault."

Kakarot stared back at him, the twitching eyebrows and frown on his face making Vegeta realize this side had no idea what he'd done. As could be evident by his next defiant scream. "You're lying! You're lying!"

Vegeta had more nasty words prepared, but they caught in his throat. The man before him was losing control. Fists clenched, body shaking, energy spiraling everywhere. And then...the blue aura disappeared and Kakarot dropped to his knees in the earth below, hands digging into the grass.

Hovering for a moment in bewildered confusion, Vegeta cleared his throat. "Did that - ?"

"Yeah, it worked, Vegeta," Kakarot murmured, shoulders shaking, head facing the earth and refusing to look up. "Thanks. Are the boys okay?"

Landing on the ground, Vegeta shrugged. "Depends. Physically, they're fine. Mentally and emotionally I think they're a little wrecked."

"Heh. I don't blame them."

Frowning at the cracks he heard in his rival's voice, Vegeta stepped closer. "Do you - " He cleared his throat, feeling awkward even asking such a thing. "Is there anything you'd like me to do?"

Kakarot shook his head. "Besides keeping everyone away from me? I don't think so."

"Right…" Vegeta hovered for a few moments more. "I'm sorry this is what happened."

"Yeah," Kakarot sighed, a sob making it past his lips, though Vegeta ignored it. "Me too."

Considering the awkward state of things, Vegeta took off into the sky in the next few beats. His only goal now was to think of somewhere they could hold Kakarot. Maybe talk to Bulma about something they could do to keep him under guard. He was too unstable.

Far too unstable to be safe around anyone right now.

~!~

It should have been raining. Storms should have blown in and echoed the emotions he was feeling. Darkness and shadows should have met him when he came to, not the bright sunlight. Not the chirping and chatter of unsuspecting animal life. Not the cool breeze ruffling the grass between his legs, clenched in his hands.

If he hadn't already used so much energy, he might have exploded for the second time. The sense of his ki seeping out in waves, the warmth it created as it left his body, he wanted to feel that again. So at least he could maybe feel something.

But he was too tired to let it all go again. Too exhausted. Too worn. The ever-pounding headache was still there. Everything else had gone numb but that -

Goku grimaced as he brought his hands to his head, digging his fingers into his hair as if he could pull out the thing that had caused all this in the first place. Why was this happening? Why? He had never lost control. Not like this. Not to the point of forgetting his own actions. Not since Namek and Yardrat. What was he like when it happened? Scaring Goten, killing Chi-Chi… how could he do something like that? How? Why?

"You mean you don't like the idea that this could have been the real you if you'd never hit your head in the first place."

Something Vegeta said while they were hunting dragon balls came back to him; the other Saiyan was right. He didn't like the idea that this could have been the real him. Everything was all wrong. He never considered himself to be perfect or anything but this -

How could he kill her? How could any part of him be okay with killing her?

A twinge in his head, a sickness in his stomach, and he somehow crawled over to her dead body. "Chi-Chi."

She looked so serene, even in death, even with the ground being a wreck around her. Long black hair down around her shoulders, matted in blood in spots here and there. Blood that was on his hands, too. Although it was drying now, he was still covered in it, and even now he wanted, needed to pick her up again and cradle her body in his arms. Tears made silent tracks down his face as the reality of the situation set in, as he held her lifeless form and knew it was by his own hand that she'd died.

"Hold me."

Her last words echoed through his pounding head as he rocked back and forth in the grass, as he tried to feel past the sickness in his gut, the cold slowly taking over any little feeling he had left.

"I'll fix it," he muttered, echoing what he had told her before she died. "I'll bring you back, Chi, and I'll have everything back to normal by then. I promise."

I promise.