Dragon Ball: Makafushigi Adventure
By Reid M. Haynes
Disclaimer: Dragon Ball and all characters within are the property of Akira Toriyama, TOEI ANIMATION, and various other companies. I am using them without permission, and I am making no money off of them.
Legend:
( ) Denotes thoughts.
Tale 5: Perspectives
*****
On a large, empty plane of pure whiteness, there stood figures of gargantuan proportions. They moved in an abstract, yet clearly patterned march, divided by dark streaks cutting thorough the milky surroundings. Their steady formation got more complicated as the front lines grew nearer and nearer.
And at the very end of all this, a thick trunk of wood slid across the whiteness, guided by the hand of Kami. It cut into the universe's mantle, and from within it carved yet more figures. Then, as if Kami had grown tired of this game of war, the entire trunk had toppled into the wasteland, lifeless and dead.
"Done!" Gohan cheered thusly, throwing his pencil aside of his calculus homework. It had taken him a bit longer than normal; almost two extra minutes, but he had still managed to stay ahead of his five-minute time limit. It simply wouldn't do to have his mom think he was slacking off.
"Well, I guess I got through that all right," he said to himself. "Next time, though, I'm cutting the time to three minutes."
"What are you talking about?" Startled by this new voice, Gohan turned to face a shorthaired girl sprawled along his bed. She wore baggy jeans, an oversized T-shirt and, currently, a very irritated expression on her face.
(Oh yeah. I invited Videl over.) His mind suddenly clicked back into reality mode. He had had some homework that he didn't complete, which had forced Videl to wait for him. Man, how stupid could he get?
"I'm sorry," he apologized to her. "I guess I got carried away a bit, what with the test and all."
"Gohan, you're the best student in this grade," Videl got up from the bed, the cramps in her neck snapping with the effort. "Even high-schoolers have a tough time keeping up with you. Loosen up! Take a break now and then!"
"That's what Dad keeps telling me," Gohan nodded once. "Of course mom tells me the opposite, so it gets kinda tough sometimes."
Like himself, Satan Videl was also a straight-A student, though probably not quite as obsessive. Then again, with a father like Mr. Satan, it was amazing enough that she had turned out as well as she did. Which was very well, in Gohan's opinion. She had quickly moved to the top of the list of he friends… although Gohan hoped she would become a little bit more than that.
"You know…" Videl put her hand to her chin. "I've never actually seen your father. What was he again? Some sort of fighter or something?"
"He's a martial artist," Gohan puffed up with indignant pride. "The best there is!"
She looked up at him. "Really?" she asked.
"Yeah!" Gohan stood up, all charged up and ready to defend his father. "He's always training and trying to better himself. And when the chips are down, he'll never give up a fight. That's the kind of guy my dad is!"
"I'd love to meet him," Videl said, walking up to him. "Is he gonna be home today?"
"Well…no," He lowered his head. "He's gone on a trip with a group of friends."
"That's what you said last time," she pointed out.
"Well, I guess he's really not home a lot," Gohan muttered quietly, almost too quietly.
"Man, can't he ever come home," she suddenly called out, startling him slightly. "Or doesn't want to be home?"
"Hey, don't go knockin' my pop!" he burst out, suddenly very angry. "He may be out a lot, but he's always been a good dad to me. Alright?"
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I guess I got too nosy, huh?"
"That's okay," he said. Getting up from his seat, he grabbed his coat. "Walk you home?" he asked her.
"Sure," she responded, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.
*****
In the evening, Gohan walked the three-mile trail back to his house. The trees led only the most insistent light rays shine through, so the forest was given the appearance of a shadowy cave. The birds remained silent, as if intimidated by this moody setting, so Gohan was given a nice quiet stroll through the woods. That is, if he could quiet the screams of his own mind…
What Videl had said was weighing against him heavily. What did she mean about 'spending time with mom and you?' Why wouldn't Dad be satisfied at home? It was true that Dad was never content to sit around and wax his boots. No, he was always going out to seek a new challenge, a new obstacle to overcome. But…
Did he really have to be gone all the time? When Gohan really thought about it, he couldn't remember the last time his mom and dad laughed together. He could, however, remember the arguments they had, mostly about him. Both of them never seemed to see eye to eye on anything. Most of the time, he dismissed it as inconsequential or ever funny.
But this time, it was starting to worry him.
(I mean, I'm sure that most families aren't like this. The mom and dad are supposed to get along just fine, right? They're supposed to eat a nice meal, talk about the day, laugh at whatever antics their mutual friends did. Right?)
Arriving at the door to the Son-house, he opened it brusquely and walked in. There was his mother, marking off another calendar date with the felt pen. Her eyes had a distant quality to them, not really seeing the calendar at all, but instead seeing the man that was supposed to arrive on one of those dates.
(Again.) Gohan's mind spawned a million thoughts at once, and he franticly tried to sort them all. (She's keeps staring at that calendar like it's her lifeline. And then, he comes home and there's no warm welcomes or heartfelt declarations of love.)
(I know that she misses Dad, but she never seems to enjoy his company. Why?)
(Why?)
And then, almost unintentionally, Gohan spoke up. "Mom?" he said softly.
Chichi dropped the pen from her hand, as if trying to convince herself that she hadn't been staring at the calendar for minutes on end. "Yes, Gohan?" she responded, straightening up.
"Mind if I ask you something?" he continued, still speaking softly.
"Go on," she nodded.
Gohan took a deep breath, making sure he knew how to phrase it. Then, he let his mouth speak his mind.
*****
"Why didn't you go with Dad on the trip?"
The question hit hard in Chichi's guarded heart. She had asked herself this question many times, still unable to face the answers.
But she just sighed. "You know I have lot's of work to do, Gohan," she tried ineffectively.
"Yeah, I know but…" He looked to the floor for a moment, then said. "But couldn't you've taken a day off? I'm sure that Dad would've like you to go along."
"No he wouldn't," She said quietly. The hint of depression was evident. Gohan pressed her with his eyes for more, waiting for her to give in under his gaze.
"Oh Gohan, I'd just get in his way," she finally said, slumping down on the desk. "I don't know anything about adventures or Dragon Balls. He doesn't need me to slow him down."
"But how will you ever find out unless you try?" he asked quietly.
"I…I just…know it won't work out," Chichi tried her best to remain vague, for her sake as well as his. She didn't have the energy to go into it deep….didn't want to…no she didn't.
"Mom…?"
Stop the questions. I don't want to hear them. I don't have the patience…
"But…?
"No! No more questions!" she burst out. "Gohan, just please go to your room."
"Mom?"
"NOW!' The volume of her voice was surprising, as was Gohan's hurt expression. She made an effort to lower her voice, but it only came out horse and strained, her emotions still unmasked. "Please…"
Gohan took one more look at his mother. Then, sadly, he went to his room, and closed the door.
*****
The broom calmly did its work, aided by Chichi's unwavering grasp. It gathered up the dust mites coating the tiled floor and deposited them in the pile that its master had set up. That is, it would've deposited them in the pile, if not for the fact that its master really had no interest in it.
Chichi was not thinking about the pile, or the broom, or even the dust that had accumulated over the week. Due to this, her work was little more than pushing dirt around. But stubbornly, she persisted in her womanly duties, determined not to let her thoughts catch up to her.
She clawed away at the dust clusters hiding in the corners, and wiped away the cobwebs under the cabinets. After a few more minutes, Chichi checked her progressed on the cleaning…only to discover she had succeed in destroying the pile she set up, and spreading the dirt all over the kitchen. With this realization, she let the broom clang to the floor. Leaving it there for now, she pulled up a chair and led out a sad, repressed sigh.
She knew she really shouldn't have yelled at her son; heaven knows the sweet boy didn't deserve any of it. But the questions Gohan had asked were the very questions that she had asked herself daily, ever since Goku had left her. Now, her mental wall was broken once again, and she was left with sad reality once again.
From the start, she had wanted nothing more than to settle down with Goku and have a nice traditional family. But it was clear that Goku needed something different. Sitting around and talking about the weather wasn't in his bag.
For a long time she had run from this fact, clinging desperately to her loving family. Her son, who would grow up to be a famous scholar. Her husband who would always be there for her. But these sweet little fictions were becoming sour in the light of reality.
And now, time was running out.
For a while, she had been feeling that something was going to happen in their lives. Something big. She had ignored it, ignored it for a long time, thinking that if she did, it would be forgotten, just like the cobwebs that nobody could see. Because she was afraid. She didn't know if she could stop this storm.
But she now knew she had to face it.
With new resolutions made, Chichi took the hallway into Gohan's room. She cracked the door to find her son once again studying his geometry, like a good little boy who got punished by his parents. (The poor guy.) And her heart soared to him.
"Oh Mom," he said, a little bit shaken by her arrival, obviously still taken aback back the earlier scene. "I've finished studying this section. Now I have to…"
"Pack your bags," Chichi finished for him, still keeping the stern look on her face.
"Mom?" At first Gohan's face spoke only confusion; then realization appeared on his face. "Do you mean…?"
"Yes," she said, and this time, she allowed the hint of a smirk to appear on her features. "We're going to find your father."
"Alright!" he cheered, throwing himself off of the bed. He reached underneath his bed for his bag: already packed, naturally. He maneuvered the shoulder straps into place, and grabbed a hat from the bedpost. "Then I'm ready to go!" he fixed the hat into place.
She smiled. (That's my Gohan.) She thought to herself.
*****
The dust spread out behind them as the family car shot Chichi and Gohan down the road and away from the Son-House. It was an old Capsule Cruiser, seldom used, but kept in great condition. Therefore it handled very well, leaving Chichi peace of mind to concentrate on other things besides just driving.
"You'll see, Mom!" Gohan said happily, letting the wind rustle his hair. "Everything's gonna work out. You'll see!"
Chichi didn't share her son's optimism, but she nodded anyway. After all he was right, in a certain way. It was time to stop running away from her feelings, and Goku's. It was time to finally find the truth about each other. The cobwebs surrounding their hearts would finally be swept away.
(I'm not sure what I'm going to find.) Chichi thought with a determined spark in her heart. (But I know this will be for the best.)
*****
Chichi and Gohan traveled down the country road on their new adventure. Making cheerful smalltalk along the way, mother and son coasted along, in heed of nothing. As it was, they were blissfully unaware of any distractions that would keep them from going onward. They were blissfully unaware of their watcher as well.
For high in the sky, beyond the eyesight of the family, the afternoon sunrays rested on one figure. At first, he seemed to be nothing more than a smallish man in his mid thirties. This lie was dispelled by just another look. The man was floating, seemingly on thin air, without aid of any outside force. His raven black hair shot from his temple like a kerosene blaze, sticking out backwards in a fiery crest. But most telling about this man was his hard features, engrained on his face from years of scowling, sneering, and obsessive hatred.
And once again, he was not pleased.
"What is this?" he murmured to himself, uncrossing his arms for the moment. His eyes focused on the cruiser, still peddling down the road. It only took him a second make out the occupants. And this displeased him further.
"Kakarrot's brat?" he said in confusion. "But why would he be out at now? Surely he would be filling his head with that ridiculous nonsense." Even to one such as him, Gohan's obsessive study habits were no secret. And any break in that obsessiveness was something to note and store away.
His sensitive hearing swept through the space dividing the overseer and prey, snatching up tidbits of their banter…
"… did you say they would be going?"
"Kame House would be where they'd start out. After that, I'm not sure."
"So how are we going to catch up to them?"
"Don't worry. Bulma always leaves a spare Radar with Kame Sennin in case of emergencies."
"What? Bulma? Radar?" His head was marked with lines of confusion. He tried to take these pieces and put them together, only there was no puzzle board to begin with. Unable to do anything with the shards of knowledge, he reverted to further eavesdropping.
"…hope Dad's doing alright."
"Yes…"
"Is he gonna be surprised! And Bulma and the others too!"
"Yes…"
"What the hell?" His eyes widened with shock. "What is going on? Why is that women with Kakarott? What…"
Like a meteor, the puzzle board fell from the sky, landing next to those few pieces he had acquired just then. They shook about a bit, sorting themselves as best they could, before arranging into a perfect picture any blind man could see.
And then it all made sense.
*****
One week ago…
The man walked out of the Gravity Training Room in a sweat. His spandex suit was charred and roasted, and his battle armor was frayed like party confetti, rendered completely useless for any sort of protection. In times like this, there was only one thing to do.
"Woman!" he hollered out through the Capsule Corporation. "New suit, now!" This was met with silence.
"Woman!" He screamed again, louder and clearer this time. "I need another battle suit! And I need it now!" More silence.
"Damn it woman, I know you heard me!" The anger was clear in his voice. "Don't make me have to come over there!" When a third wave of silence echoed emptily in the air, he clenched his teeth and finally started the walk through the large complex.
What insolence! To think a Saiyan Prince should beg like a pauper to those that are already bound to serve him. The indignities of this forsaken planet. These were the thoughts churning through his angry mind as he made his way down the stairs and into the study, where he hoped to have better luck with his commands.
His mate, instead of immediately setting to work on his bidding was instead yakking away on that cursed telephone device, probably to some inane crony of hers. How dare she ignore me like this! Does she not know who she is dealing with? Just as he made up his mind to smash the receiver on the upper crust on Venus, her words reached his ears.
"Really!" she shouted into the speaker. "That's a wonderful idea! Wow, after all this time!"
The women was silence for a bit, pressingly listening to the unnamed others responses. "Well of course I'm coming!" she said a moment later. "I wouldn't miss this for the world!"
"Yeah…uhuh…one o-clock…okay. Bye." She finally hung up the receiver, and when she finally noticed the man.
"Oh, you," she said, a sarcastic tone dripping into her voice. "What does the all powerful Prince of Saiyans want now?"
"Don't be flippant with me," he snarled at her "You will address me with proper respect, woman!"
"Yeah, yeah?" The woman was completely unfazed by this threatening gesture. "What do you want, anyway?"
"My suit's been damaged." He said brusquely, folding his arms. "Repair it now."
"Can't," she stated simply. "I got plans to accomplish." With that, she got up off the chair, and headed for her room.
"What?" He jerked up suddenly, unused to being blown off so flippantly. "Explain!" he said, blocking her path.
Not looking like she really wanted to bother with an explanation, she sighed tiredly. "Me and the old gang are taking a trip to find the Dragon Balls. You know, sorta like a nostalgic look-back. And I'll be gone for a few weeks."
"By 'old gang', I supposed you mean Kakarrot and his idiots!" he suddenly screamed out at the mention of his hated rival. "I will not allow it!"
"What?" Now, the woman was starting to get mad herself. "So I can't hang out with the friends that I've known all my life? That's bullshit!"
"It will be a cold day in Hell before I allow my mate to associate with my mortal enemy!" He said, folding his arms. "And that's the end!"
The woman's eyes flashed with feminine fury, full of defiance for his will. And just as their flames were reaching a peak, they sizzled into a tiny spark at the center of her pupils.
With an exaggerated sweep of the hand, she bowed to him. "Whatever pleases his majesty," she said grandly.
"That's better," he assented, letting the sarcastic tone slide off his ego. He turned from. "Get started on my new suit. It must be ready by my third training session."
His mate did not respond to this, but merely walked away to another room. (Well, best she gets busy on my suit as soon as possible. Every minute I slack is another minute for Kakarrot to surpass me.)
With that, he headed once again into the Gravity Machine, ready to catch up on his missed training time. He didn't thing twice about his mate's comments, or the strange gleam in her eye.
*****
Until now.
"That woman…that woman lied to me!" A heavy battle aura surged around the man, wrapping him in gold light. "How dare she deceive me to consort with that weakling! How dare she!" The anger within him was building higher and higher at the provocation of these thoughts, like the spreading of a rash you can't help but itch.
"RRRAARGH!!!" he growled out, his aura growing to full blaze now. "I will teach her not to trifle with me! And I will show Kakarrot just whose mate he is dealing with!" He turned back to Gohan and Chichi, examining their path. And then, a smirk appeared on his face, the first sign go positive emotion in days. "And I know just how to find you too!"
With that, Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, continued his silent vigil over the small family cruiser, following their path straight to his mate and Kakarott. He followed silently, attracting no attention to himself, although the two were too distracted to notice him anyway.
As this continued, Vegeta's mood slowly brightened up. Yes, this would be a perfect opportunity for him. He'd show Kakarrot just how powerful he had become in such a short time. Then he nor his mate would be so disrespectful a second time. Upon this he actually laughed a bit, as a good fight was just the thing he had needed these past weeks.
"Just you wait, Kakarrot." he snickered to himself. "You will see what a mistake you have made. Just you wait…"
Authors Notes: Well, finally, we're starting to get somewhere! What situations will our Saiyan Prince and Ox Princess cause for the group? Tune in later to see!
Until next time, Ja ne! ^_^