Here's chapter 3! Thanks to Guest, Rawrzx3 and RoyalBlueRoses for the reviews on chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
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Gohan sighed as he went over the list of chores that "Goku" had completely forgotten he was responsible for. Maybe it was time to see Bulma about his father's absentmindedness. Turles gave the demi-Saiyan an incredulous look when informed of the need to procure and stack wood for heating the outdoor tub. Kakarot and his family's bathing facility was located outside the dwelling? He'd been forced to cleanse himself in a body of water outdoors on occasion after a purge or a hunt like any other Saiyan. But what civilized beings failed to install a proper bathing facility indoors?
Turles handled the task of hauling away the refuse by simply blasting away the neat pile of bags Chi-Chi had stacked out of the reach of scavenging wildlife. The resulting horrific odor had him instantly regretting the decision. Chi-Chi's resulting tirade had him wishing his sense of hearing was less pronounced.
Supplying fresh meat for the week was an agreeable task. There was nothing a Saiyan relished more than a fresh kill...
...
Gohan was beside himself with excitement as he led "Goku" to their favorite fishing spot. 'How did Dad forget this place?' the youth wondered. Landing on the bank beside the river, the halfling set down the basket Chi-Chi had insisted on packing it with their lunch. A dubious Turles held what Kakarot's brat had referred to as 'fishing poles.' Were they going to beat the fish into submission? The confused pirate commander watched as Gohan took one of the 'poles' and blithely placed a squirming bottom feeder on a hook which hung from a cord attached to the 'pole.' When he sat down on the bank and dangled the hook into the flowing current Turles silently questioned the child's sanity.
Something pulled at the submerged hook and Gohan squealed as he reeled in a plump fish.
"Wouldn't it be more efficient to just blast the water?"
"Where's the fun in that? Besides, we'd hurt the other creatures in the water!" Gohan scolded.
Turles ignored the rebuke as he reasoned Kakarot would also probably piddle along with the 'pole' instead of harvesting a quantity of fish quickly. Emulating the spawn of Kakarot, the Saiyan impaled one of the slimy wrigglers on a hook and lowered it into the current. A fierce yank produced nothing but an empty hook when Turles retrieved it. Gohan giggled at the glare he received.
"The fish stole your worm!"
The space corsair was not going to be outdone by a juvenile half-blood! He placed another one of the disgusting lower lifeforms on the hook. The subsequent tug on the line revealed a sizable fish. Gohan clapped in delight. Turles was actually pleased.
"So the "boss-lady" let you have some time off, huh?" a familiar voice called out.
It was Kakarot's bald acquaintance. Turles rolled his eyes but kept quiet as the diminutive human approached them.
"Hi Krillin! Dad and I are catching some fish for supper!" Gohan declared.
"Maybe we should drop in for a visit!"
The scar-faced one called Yamcha made his way over.
"Uh I don't think Chi-Chi would appreciate us just dropping in for supper unannounced, " Krillin warned.
Turles wondered how many more of Kakarot's "friends" were going to appear. He was thoroughly annoyed when Gohan suggested sharing the contents of the basket the Earth female had packed. The Saiyan had no desire to allow the interlopers to indulge in whatever delectable items it contained. He was relieved to discover that the Namek who arrived had no interest in consuming any of the food.
It didn't take long for the deserter of Frieza's forces to realize that the muscular green alien observed his every move.
When Gohan walked over to retrieve the basket, the Namek leaned in and whispered, "I know for a fact you ARE'NT Goku!"
"Then PROVE it!" Turles snarled back.
"I WILL...eventually!" Piccolo warned.
Gohan couldn't help but feel the tension emanating from his father and the Namek.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Of course not, is there?" Turles challenged.
"No!" Piccolo huffed. He couldn't prove anything at the moment.
Turles made certain that he consumed the greater share of the chocolate cake Chi-Chi had included in the lunch spread she prepared. The Saiyan had snatched a generous pile of what the brat called 'sandwiches' which were piled high with thick slices of meat and a thinly sliced red fruit. A large covered bowl contained a tasty concoction of tender vegetable cubes prepared with a tangy sauce, Turles filled half of his plate with it.
"Same ol' Goku!" Krillin chuckled.
Yamcha nodded in agreement while stuffing a sandwich in his mouth.
Piccolo sighed in irritation. He could just feel something wasn't right. Maybe he and Tien should pay Chi-Chi a visit to make her aware of their suspicions.
...
After sampling the light crispy fried morsels of fish Chi-Chi prepared for the evening meal, Turles resolved that a regular weekly "fishing trip" was an absolute necessity!
...
Turles purred as he felt feather-light kisses on his neck. For a moment he enjoyed the sensation and lifted his head back then his eyes snapped open. Kakarot's mate was kissing him! A soft hand was suggestively caressing his left hip. The Saiyan vaulted out of the bed immediately!
"GOKU! Where are you going?" Chi-Chi protested.
"I NEED A SNACK!" "Goku" shouted as he bolted out of the room.
Sometime later Turles returned to the room he shared with his doppelganger's mate. The brunette female was sleeping now so he carefully slipped back into the bed.
...
Turles awoke again. He swallowed hard as he realized what had disturbed his slumber. The Earth female's head was lying on his chest with her arms wrapped around him. Trying to extricate himself from her embrace would only succeed in awakening her. He didn't want to chance a repeat of her previous amorous behavior after all he wasn't made of stone! Cautiously touching a lock of her midnight tresses revealed the softness of the silky strands.
'Kartellian silk would be no comparison, ' Turles thought. He mentally scolded himself for entertaining such a thought. Any association with Kakarot's woman was for shelter and sustenance only until he decided when he would begin the conquest of this planet. She had no other purpose as far as he was concerned.
...
Chi-Chi looked in the small mirror on her dresser. As of late any romantic overtures on her part were quickly rebuffed by Goku. Had she simply lost the ability to appeal to her husband? Turles had gotten quite creative with his excuses to not engage in any amorous antics with the mate of Kakarot. Sudden hunger pangs, an agonizing leg cramp out of nowhere and the realization that the wood pile for the outdoor tub had dwindled and had to be be replenished at that very moment!
...
Chi-Chi poured another cup of hot tea for the Tri-clops and his short statured companion.
"I appreciate the concern, Tien. But Gohan and I are doing just fine. Goku may be a little forgetful but he hasn't done anything that's so completely out of the ordinary. And I most certainly would notice if he were "someone else" as you and Piccolo put it, " the Ox-king's daughter assured the pensive Z-fighter.
Tien raised an eyebrow at Chiatzou who merely shrugged his small shoulders as he sipped his own beverage.
"I can't shake the feeling that something just isn't right about Goku. We'll be keeping an eye out just in case, " Piccolo insisted.
Chi-Chi carried the empty cups to the sink after Goku's friends departed. Now that she thought of it there were some marked differences in her husband's behavior.
Goku no longer failed to complete a task because of distractions, he only sparred with Gohan. His table manners were remarkably improved and he didn't allow her to override him just to keep the peace. He would politely allow her to express her opinion but he would have the final say in matters. To be honest Chi-Chi was beginning to appreciate the more assertive Goku. One day she entered the kitchen to find her cast-iron frying pan resting on top of the stove neatly pressed back into its original state.
...
Turles stared out into the morning mist. He'd been "playing Kakarot" for a month now and the notion of conquering the planet on which he now resided hardly entered his thoughts. He was beginning to understand what home actually meant...
...
An exhausted Chi-Chi stepped out of the kitchen piled high with assorted dirty pots, pans, plates and bowls. The cool evening breeze on the porch was a welcome respite from the sweltering aftermath of preparing a supper for the two voracious eaters she fed. After a few brief restful moments the mother of Gohan returned to begin washing the mountain of dishes. Chi-Chi was utterly stunned to find each and every kitchen implement and utensil scrubbed clean and put away in its proper place.
The brunette burst into happy tears as she looked over at the dining room table. At her usual seat was a bouquet of wildflowers. A smiling Gohan peeped out from behind the sideboard. The flowers were his idea but "Goku" had insisted on cleaning up the kitchen. Funny how he'd never had the notion to do so before...
'Dad was right! That DID make mom happy!'
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Until the next chapter! Please read and review!
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