*Author's Note: Another chapter because the other was mainly about Gokuu (like this one) and because the other one was kinda stupid in my opinion. Well, this is a chapter where I declare Bulma the winner at the end, so I hope everyone enjoys that. Gokuu's mother, Oriibu, appears in this chapter. It's my belief that Gokuu's head injury isn't entirely why he acts so human. I think Gokuu's mother was a really strange Saiyajin, so that's why he as well as she acts really strange. I mean, she's fighting while pregnant against someone who wants to injure her child! Yep, she's weird. Oh, well. Please enjoy! ^_^
Chapter 7
Gohan sat quietly in a chair near his mother's bed, watching his father's solemn face as he placed another damp cloth on her head. His father watched his mother for a long while before he remembered his child in the room. Gohan's father smiled at him as if to assure him everything was all right. Usually the three-year old could return his father's smile regardless of the reason it was being given to him. The young knight had the kind of smile that made you feel good from the inside and was genuinely kind. Gohan felt there was a definite reason for his mother lying on her bed with her eyes closed as if she were ill. It wasn't anything he had seen before--his mother had reacted in the same way when he had played with his father's sword one day and had sliced a tree in half. But that was only for a while, and the child didn't believe this would be momentary.
"Tousan, what happened?" Gohan asked.
Gokuu smiled at his son for a minute before dropping into his grave face as he looked back at his wife. "Your mother didn't take some news so well," he said. He sat down on the edge of his bed and sighed. "I can understand though..."
"What is it?" Gohan wondered.
Gokuu shook his head. "Gohan, I found out I wasn't born here in Capsule like I've always believed," he said.
Gohan looked confused. "Where were you born?"
"I'm not really sure..."
"Well, if you don't know, how come Kaasan's fainted?"
"Do you know who the Saiyajins are?" Gokuu met his son's gaze again and made a light smile when his son nodded. "Chichi's right--you're really smart for your age."
"Kaasan says they're the most evil people in the world," Gohan added. "They were gonna destroy our kingdom, but Princess Bulma went to Vegita to form an alliance to set up peace between our two kingdoms."
Gokuu laughed at the incredibility of his son's intelligence. "Now that's a whole lot for such a little guy to know," he said. He sighed again. "You're right, though; Saiyajins are terrible people. I hate to say that I'm one of them."
"Tousan, you're not a Saiyajin--they're horrible people," Gohan said.
"No, that's why your mother fainted... I'm a Saiyajin."
Gohan's eyes grew wide. "Really?"
Gokuu nodded. "The King told me today...and tomorrow I'm going to Vegita to become one of the Princess's guards..." The knight trailed off, thinking about the other parts. "You also have an uncle and a grandfather."
"They're Saiyajins?" Gohan asked, receiving a nod from his father. "How long will you be gone?"
Gokuu shook his head. "I'm not sure," he said thoughtfully rather than regretfully. "I just know that I have to go now, not just to make sure the Princess is all right, but to...to meet my family, no matter if they are Saiyajins."
Gohan looked to his mother. "Do you think they'll like you?" he asked. He saw his mother's dark brows twitch.
"Mostly likely not, but I'm not going to let that stop me from going. As a knight, it is my duty to be honorable. I can't ignore my roots."
"Tousan, are you going to become like the Saiyajins?"
"Of course--" Gokuu was cut off as his wife woke up and grabbed his arm.
"Gokuu, you can't become like them!" Chichi said, staring at him hopelessly. "You just can't!"
"Chichi," Gokuu said, giving her his famous smile that assured everyone that everything was going to be all right, "don't worry; I'm just going to see what my father and brother are like. If I'm a Saiyajin, I can't ignore it. But, just the same, I can't ignore that I've been raised here in Capsule. It's my home...and it's always going to be my home."
"Gokuu..." Chichi had tears forming in her eyes.
Her husband gently removed her hand from his arm and held her hand tenderly. "There's nothing to worry about. We really need to worry about Bulma--many of the other knights think she might be in some trouble. If that's true, I need to go to Vegita and find out if this is true."
"Saiyajins are dangerous, though!" Chichi said, sounding like she had when her husband had shown eagerness to fight them.
"Chichi, I give you my word, I will be all right," Gokuu said, laughing off her concern. He looked to Gohan. "If you keep worrying, Gohan'll get upset, right?"
Gohan just quietly observed as he had been doing as his parents were talking. Chichi looked at her son too and forced herself to lay her fears away for the moment. She sat up, taking the cloth from her head.
"Well, I better get dinner started--we should be eating by now," Chichi said as though they had been talking about trivial matters. "Gohan, would you like to help me?"
Gohan smiled and got out of his chair quickly to take his mother's hand. The two walked out of the bedroom, leaving the knight behind with his thoughts. Gokuu frowned to himself once they had left.
*I've got a bad feeling...* he thought, folding his arms over his chest. *I wonder what it could be...*
***
Bardaku wasn't sure how to feel at that moment. He had risen early and had taken some hours to train himself and spar with a fellow member of his unit. Later, he had taken a meal and reported for a short period of guard at some insignificant spot. Now he was, as he often was, at the little bar for the lower ranked soldiers. It was a little after noon and he had been in there for about ten minutes with the same mug of the ale in front of him. Radditsu had left not long ago, but Bardaku hadn't seen him all day. He had went by the boy's quarters, but hadn't found him there. This concerned Bardaku because it wasn't like Radditsu to get early except for an incredibly good reason. What was going on in his son's mind disturbed him. The scarred Saiyajin grasped the handle of his mug, but lost himself in thought again. That was unlike him, indeed. Bardaku was not one to over think things, but under the circumstances he could be a little out of character. After all, his son had risen
from the dead, or at least he had liked to think of him as dead. Never had Bardaku considered his son being found by some normal person and being raised in that manner. It was such a waste in the potential his mate somehow knew he possessed. Bardaku had been skeptical on that potential, but decided to see if there were any truth in it. His oldest son had limited potential and had reached it when he was ten years old. If Kakarotto had this potential and it had been squandered in Capsule--he would gladly want to see his son slain to prevent any further embarrassment. That was the Saiyajin way of thinking.
Bardaku frowned at himself. "Even in death she gets to me..." he murmured. Whenever an un-Saiyajin thought occurred in his mind, he credited it to her. His mate was a strong person indeed, but she was certainly odd by Saiyajin standards. She covered this by being clever and a devoted Saiyajin when necessary.
"A true Saiyajin will ultimately be a brainless fool desiring only battle, wealth, and reproducing... Once you add a touch of invention--the ideal Saiyajin is lost, but no Saiyajin, true or not, will admit that they are anything less than the ideal Saiyajin..."
His mate had told him that bunch of trash when he had reminded her of how a true Saiyajin should act. She always had an answer--un-Saiyajin often--which never pleased her mate. Bardaku had always wondered how his mate was never tried on insanity herself. He had always figured it was her strength--something she also cleverly hid. The reason for that he was unsure. Now that he had thought of her secrecy with her strength, he almost wondered if Kakarotto would secretly covering his strength.
Bardaku shook his head and lifted up his mug. He took a long drink before setting it down again. He didn't know how, but he knew that he would sense when Kakarotto arrived. Depending on what Radditsu's motive was for volunteering to retrieve him was, it could be any amount of time. Bardaku knew his son could have easily ignored Kakarotto's existence, so whatever was going on in his son's mind currently was something worthwhile to discover.
***
Bulma worked furiously with the contents within one of her chest. She twisted a screw in and stopped a moment to wipe her brow. A sly smile came on her face, wondering why she hadn't thought about using her scientific abilities from the beginning. A minute later she heard the sound of her door opening. She quickly dropped what she was doing and closed her chest. She sat by it, changing her expression to one of depression and hopelessness.
Pikaru poked his head in and looked at the Princess with raised brows. "You've been lying by that chest all day," he said.
The Princess, having not the ability to speak, opened the chest only wide enough to stick her hand within it. She fished around for a few seconds and finally pulled out a doll. Pikaru looked at the thing with disgust.
"I seriously doubt this is what the Prince meant..." he muttered, pulling his head back out and closing the door.
Bulma smirked once he had closed the door and shook her head. She had pulled the same trick when Sukuwa had checked twenty minutes ago. The Princess put something that would absolutely seem trivial to the Saiyajins inside the chest of her work to pull out whenever it seemed the two wondered what was inside. Saiyajins... she thought picking up her screwdriver again.
***
Radditsu's horse stopped at a house with a small brick chimney on the roof. He had thought knights of such kingdoms were as close to nobles as commoners could get, but obviously he had been wrong about such things. He got down from his horse and frowned at the cozy little setting of the place. It had a huge meadow behind it with flowers poking out of the ground at intervals and a single thick tree with a wooden swing on its limb. He had a good sense of what would happen to his brother by just the observation of where he lived.
The Saiyajin wasn't very accustomed to knocking on doors and didn't think the door would stand if he knocked on it more than once as he would a stronger door. However, Radditsu tapped lightly as lightly as he could at the door and backed away from it to wait for someone to answer.
Radditsu was taken back at the scowling woman who opened the door. She was pale like most normal people were, but could have passed for a Saiyajin if she were differently dressed. Her dark eyes posed a challenge and her arms were at her side as if ready to attack. The hair of the woman was much straighter than any Saiyajin's would be, however, and done into a bun at the top of her head. Radditsu couldn't help but smile at the woman, wondering if she would try to attack him.
"You're his brother?" Chichi demanded. It came across to Radditsu as a demand as well, producing a snort from his nose.
"Aa." Radditsu paused for a second. "Are you his mate?"
"I'm his wife," Chichi said, disliking the word he had used.
The Saiyajin hadn't even considered his brother had a mate and perhaps a son as well. "Does Kakarotto have any brats yet?" he asked, trying to observe the woman to see if she had signs of a normal woman who had gone through a pregnancy. The woman seemed to be in good shape, unlike several previously pregnant women.
"Chichi?" said a voice vaguely familiar before the woman could respond. Soon a man looking frightening like Bardaku stepped to the front door and put his hand on his wife's shoulder. "Go on back inside."
"But, Gokuu..."
Gokuu smiled at her. "Daijoubu," he said. His wife reluctantly went back inside, but gave Radditsu a mean look before she left. Gokuu looked at the man standing a few feet away from him for a long time.
Radditsu stared back at him, unable to fathom the likeness to his father. And yet, the manner in which he looked at him--with the un-Saiyajin like look--suggested to him something about his mother. He had always thought she would be killed because of this, but surprisingly she had had an honorable Saiyajin death.
"Well, you look enough like Bardaku," Radditsu said, wondering why he was still shocked even though he had seen him in the album book. "Doesn't mean you're anything like him."
"Bardaku?" Gokuu repeated, his brows raising.
Radditsu frowned, noticing his features truly resembling his mother's when he did that. "He's our father. I'm Radditsu, by the way."
"I see..." Gokuu said, tightening his features.
Radditsu didn't know why, but the way he kept switching between looking like his father and his mother disturbed him. A combination of his two parents' personalities? That would be dangerous. Take the un-Saiyajin qualities and put them into a low-ranked soldier and you get a soon dead Saiyajin. The lower your rank was, the more you need to be like a Saiyajin mattered. If you were powerful enough no one would question you on your Saiyajin-ness; however, if you were weaker and found to be acting like normal people--you were easily put out of your misery.
"You're Kakarotto," Radditsu said. Remembering the Princess telling him how he didn't know his name, he felt it necessary to include that bit of information.
"That was the name I was going to get?"
"It is your name. You may be `Gokuu' in Capsule, but in Vegita you will be Kakarotto."
Gokuu frowned, looking even more like his father. "My name is Gokuu--that will never change."
Radditsu narrowed his eyes at his brother and then smirked. "Whatever," he said. "Let's get going."
"Excuse me for a moment," Gokuu said, stepping back into his house. A minute later he came out with a large bag over his shoulder. He was smiling for some reason, and Radditsu had a strange desire to know exactly why.
Gokuu made a little whistle and a chestnut-colored horse galloped to the front of the house from the meadow. Attached to its saddle was a sword, resting in its own holster. The Capsule Saiyajin got onto his horse easily and smiled at his brother patiently.
"I'm ready."
Radditsu looked at him strangely. "I don't know what Kaasan could have seen in you," he said gruffly. He got onto his own horse and rode off with his brother close behind.
When they had started to get a steady pace together, Gokuu thought to question him about his previous comment. "What were you saying about our mother?" he asked.
"She thought you had potential or something," Radditsu said, laughing. "What a joke."
"Potential? For fighting, you mean?"
"What the hell else, Kakarotto?"
"I see..." Gokuu said thoughtfully.
Radditsu scowled in front of him. *Impudent little brat...* he thought. *Well, Kakarotto won't be a thorn in my side for much longer. Long ago I thought I would have to show him up, but he goes missing and I think there's no more of him. Now turns out to be alive and I have to deal with him again. Well... unfortunately for him the Prince will deal with him... and showing him up isn't necessary once again...*
***
Oriibu was humming--an un-Saiyajin like quality--while she went through some motions with a sword. Radditsu watched her angrily; she often combined activities that had no business being together such as she was doing at the moment. She smiled nearly sweetly at enemies before fighting them, and laughed almost as if she were happy when she were being beaten up. Sometimes it made Radditsu wonder what his practical father saw in her; he had liked to think it was her looks. By Saiyajin standards, and maybe even normal standards, she was appealing. Her eyes were a wild green color that shined whenever she was thinking of something. She was well-toned for a female and her skin, supposedly, was quite soft for a Saiyajin. If she kept her mouth closed, Radditsu could see someone desiring her.
"What the hell are you humming for, Kaasan?" Radditsu spat.
"This child," Oriibu said, thrust her sword into an invisible enemy, "will be a great solider."
"Hmph! He'll be no higher ranked than the rest of us."
Oriibu laughed, causing her son to clench his teeth. It was that laugh that was so genial and lacking a wicked tone that it was more irritating than if she had been trying to mock him.
"No, this child will even...oh, let's say give the Prince himself a run for his money," she said seriously.
"You're truly insane, woman!" Radditsu said, checking behind him to make sure no one heard what she said. "You and that brat of yours could be killed for even joking about that!"
"I can't help what is the truth."
"Your mate won't like that you're going around saying such things," Radditsu warned in a growl.
"My mate doesn't care what I say about this child," Oriibu shrugged. "He has his mind made up about how he will turn out, and I have made mine. He's never been one to take my opinion seriously, anyhow."
"Grr!!" Radditsu said, drawing his sword. "I'm tired of all of your babble! Are we going to spar or not?!"
"One of your weak points, boy," Oriibu said rather nicely. She faced him with a ready stance. "Right now you're having thoughts of beating me so well that your brother is killed in the process."
Radditsu didn't respond. Now that his mother had become ready, he wasn't going to be distracted by her words. She often talked too much in a battle, getting her opponent off guard.
Oriibu's face became dark, typical of a Saiyajin. "Don't think for a moment, you'll succeed," she said lowly. Her lips curved into a small smile that wasn't gentle or kind at all.
Radditsu snarled at her and decided to make the first attack. His mother remained still, awaiting his attack...
***
"Have you seen Bulma?" Gokuu said, interrupting his brother's thoughts. It was just as well, as Radditsu didn't want to be reminded any more of that.
"What's a Bulma?" Radditsu said, frowning. He was quickly noticing how much he didn't like Kakarotto all ready.
"She's the Princess of Capsule."
"Oh, that woman," Radditsu said, frown lifting a little. "Yeah, I saw that woman yesterday."
"Is she all right?"
"Why are you concerned about her? I thought you all ready had a mate to worry about."
"Huh?" Gokuu said, turning red. He put his hand behind his head and laughed. "She's my friend... I just want to make sure she's not in any trouble."
"You should worry about yourself, Kakarotto," Radditsu murmured.
"Maybe," Gokuu agreed in an easy-going way that irked his brother. "Vegita isn't a place to go vacationing or something."
"Well, at least you're not completely stupid."
Gokuu sped his horse up a little so that he was side by side with his brother. "I have a good sense that the Saiyajins aren't going to like me very much," he said. "Judging how my own brother receives me."
"You're a fool, Kakarotto," Radditsu said, narrowing his eyes. "Why did you agree to come?"
"I may always think of myself as a subject of Capsule," Gokuu said, "but I can't deny what relatives I have, whoever they may be."
Radditsu shook his head at him. "You will regret this, brother," he said.
***
Vegita wasn't planning to check to on Bulma until Gokuu had arrived, but when he had passed Sukuwa on a break and had asked him about the Princess, what he told him was a little curious. She had been sitting by a chest all day, supposedly looking at items in a chest. His Saiyajin instinct told him that she was of no concern; however, a new instinct told him that he shouldn't take the woman as lightly as any Saiyajin would. He had to think a bit differently when faced with such a strange female. Once again, he walked to her room, ignoring Pikaru who was still at guard at the door. As Sukuwa had reported, the woman was lying on the floor next to a chest. The smile on her face as Vegita entered, however, was disturbing. He wasn't sure how she could possibly do anything that might ruin what he had in store for Kakarotto, but he didn't want to take any chances.
"Up to something, woman?"
Bulma shrugged slyly and placed her hand on top of the chest. Vegita took a step closer. He frowned down at the long container, wondering what the woman could possibly have in it. The soldiers had reported that she kept pulling out dolls or something, but the Prince had a good feeling that this wasn't what the box was all about.
"Open that chest, woman," Vegita commanded.
Bulma made a look at him as if he were absolutely sure. He scowled at her in response, and Bulma shrugged again. She grasped the lid of the chest and slowly opened it. Inside were nothing but a collection of dolls and a screw driver. The tool was what set the Prince off as suspicious. What was it doing with the figurines?
"Nothing but dolls?" Vegita said, folding his arms over his chest. He wondered if perhaps she wasn't hiding something under them.
Bulma smiled and picked up a doll, holding it up for him to see. It had yellow hair made out of yarn and a sickly smile painted on his face. It was poorly crafted as if someone had homemade it instead of purchasing it somewhere. Vegita's face screw up in disgust. He thought about taking it from her and tearing off his head, but that was a waste of time. He wanted to be there when Kakarotto arrived.
"Hmph," Vegita said, about to turn away. From the corner of his eye he saw Bulma press something on the back of the doll's back. "What the--"
Vegita was cut off as a high-pitched sound emitted from the doll. It cut through his eardrums like a knife through cream and forced him to cover his ears and bend down to his knees. He bared down on his teeth and tried to get himself up, but the noise was too painful. Bulma watched him cry out with a satisfied look and waited for the guards to take notice.
Pikaru and Sukuwa came into the room like clockwork, only to fall to their knees, howling in pain. Bulma set the doll down on her bed and wondered how long it the sound would keep before she would be discovered. She grabbed two more dolls and exited the room quickly, leaving the door open so anyone who came to see what was going on would be effected as well.
*Good thing I remembered that Saiyajins have those sensitive ears,* she thought as she ran through the castle, setting off her doll any time she encountered a guard. *They're just like dogs--they can pick up those high-pitched sounds normal humans can't and it nearly tears their ears apart! Haha! I got Vegita again. Now they won't be able to trick Son-kun into thinking that I'm all right. He'll have to know once he's found out that I've escaped from my room.*
Vegita, meanwhile, while Bulma was making fast tracks, was slowly edging toward the doll in her room, sweat dripping down the side of his head. He was getting a horrible headache and the sound was like a peevish bird flying inside his head and squawking its lungs out. At one point he had to stop and just will himself to not hear the sound that was undoubtedly going to make his ears bleed. But he knew he had to stop it before Bulma could get too far and Kakarotto had arrived. He thought of how he could easily kill her right then and forget about making her suffer, but the way he was suffering now, he wanted to destroy everything that meant even a smidgen of significance to her.
*Almost there...* Vegita thought, starting to feel numb as he reached out one hand on the bed while keeping the other on his ear. It took him a full minute to grab the doll, but only a second to smash it. He let out a long breath and sunk down, leaning against the bed. Pikaru and Sukuwa also sat there, panting and rubbing their ears. They moaned in pain and fought to get back to their feet. Vegita growled once he got his breath and clenched his fists.
"I want that woman found and chained to a wall!!" Vegita roared hoarsely. He stood shakily on his feet. "Damnit!!"
Pikaru and Sukuwa forced themselves to stand up and salute to their Prince. "Hai, Vegita-Ouji!" They stumbled out the room.
Vegita fell back down as soon as they left. "Kuso...!" He had a faint ringing in his ears and the pain in his head was excruciating. "She will regret this!"
***
Bardaku was just about to get up from the bar when a Saiyajin came into the area and began shouting a rumor that he had just heard that the Prince had let the Princess go missing for a brief period two days ago. He raised a brow and watched the others, most drunk, started volleys of laughter and loud conversation. Bardaku shook his head and wondered what was happening to the Saiyajin empire. If the Prince couldn't keep track of one measly woman, how was he supposed to rule over the Saiyajins one day?
"Kakarotto's here..." Bardaku murmured as he decided to stay put where he was. The surrounding Saiyajins were endlessly discussing how furious the Prince was over the whole ordeal. A thing more to worry about than his leadership skills. "Somehow I think I don't need to leave here to run into him..."
Chapter 7
Gohan sat quietly in a chair near his mother's bed, watching his father's solemn face as he placed another damp cloth on her head. His father watched his mother for a long while before he remembered his child in the room. Gohan's father smiled at him as if to assure him everything was all right. Usually the three-year old could return his father's smile regardless of the reason it was being given to him. The young knight had the kind of smile that made you feel good from the inside and was genuinely kind. Gohan felt there was a definite reason for his mother lying on her bed with her eyes closed as if she were ill. It wasn't anything he had seen before--his mother had reacted in the same way when he had played with his father's sword one day and had sliced a tree in half. But that was only for a while, and the child didn't believe this would be momentary.
"Tousan, what happened?" Gohan asked.
Gokuu smiled at his son for a minute before dropping into his grave face as he looked back at his wife. "Your mother didn't take some news so well," he said. He sat down on the edge of his bed and sighed. "I can understand though..."
"What is it?" Gohan wondered.
Gokuu shook his head. "Gohan, I found out I wasn't born here in Capsule like I've always believed," he said.
Gohan looked confused. "Where were you born?"
"I'm not really sure..."
"Well, if you don't know, how come Kaasan's fainted?"
"Do you know who the Saiyajins are?" Gokuu met his son's gaze again and made a light smile when his son nodded. "Chichi's right--you're really smart for your age."
"Kaasan says they're the most evil people in the world," Gohan added. "They were gonna destroy our kingdom, but Princess Bulma went to Vegita to form an alliance to set up peace between our two kingdoms."
Gokuu laughed at the incredibility of his son's intelligence. "Now that's a whole lot for such a little guy to know," he said. He sighed again. "You're right, though; Saiyajins are terrible people. I hate to say that I'm one of them."
"Tousan, you're not a Saiyajin--they're horrible people," Gohan said.
"No, that's why your mother fainted... I'm a Saiyajin."
Gohan's eyes grew wide. "Really?"
Gokuu nodded. "The King told me today...and tomorrow I'm going to Vegita to become one of the Princess's guards..." The knight trailed off, thinking about the other parts. "You also have an uncle and a grandfather."
"They're Saiyajins?" Gohan asked, receiving a nod from his father. "How long will you be gone?"
Gokuu shook his head. "I'm not sure," he said thoughtfully rather than regretfully. "I just know that I have to go now, not just to make sure the Princess is all right, but to...to meet my family, no matter if they are Saiyajins."
Gohan looked to his mother. "Do you think they'll like you?" he asked. He saw his mother's dark brows twitch.
"Mostly likely not, but I'm not going to let that stop me from going. As a knight, it is my duty to be honorable. I can't ignore my roots."
"Tousan, are you going to become like the Saiyajins?"
"Of course--" Gokuu was cut off as his wife woke up and grabbed his arm.
"Gokuu, you can't become like them!" Chichi said, staring at him hopelessly. "You just can't!"
"Chichi," Gokuu said, giving her his famous smile that assured everyone that everything was going to be all right, "don't worry; I'm just going to see what my father and brother are like. If I'm a Saiyajin, I can't ignore it. But, just the same, I can't ignore that I've been raised here in Capsule. It's my home...and it's always going to be my home."
"Gokuu..." Chichi had tears forming in her eyes.
Her husband gently removed her hand from his arm and held her hand tenderly. "There's nothing to worry about. We really need to worry about Bulma--many of the other knights think she might be in some trouble. If that's true, I need to go to Vegita and find out if this is true."
"Saiyajins are dangerous, though!" Chichi said, sounding like she had when her husband had shown eagerness to fight them.
"Chichi, I give you my word, I will be all right," Gokuu said, laughing off her concern. He looked to Gohan. "If you keep worrying, Gohan'll get upset, right?"
Gohan just quietly observed as he had been doing as his parents were talking. Chichi looked at her son too and forced herself to lay her fears away for the moment. She sat up, taking the cloth from her head.
"Well, I better get dinner started--we should be eating by now," Chichi said as though they had been talking about trivial matters. "Gohan, would you like to help me?"
Gohan smiled and got out of his chair quickly to take his mother's hand. The two walked out of the bedroom, leaving the knight behind with his thoughts. Gokuu frowned to himself once they had left.
*I've got a bad feeling...* he thought, folding his arms over his chest. *I wonder what it could be...*
***
Bardaku wasn't sure how to feel at that moment. He had risen early and had taken some hours to train himself and spar with a fellow member of his unit. Later, he had taken a meal and reported for a short period of guard at some insignificant spot. Now he was, as he often was, at the little bar for the lower ranked soldiers. It was a little after noon and he had been in there for about ten minutes with the same mug of the ale in front of him. Radditsu had left not long ago, but Bardaku hadn't seen him all day. He had went by the boy's quarters, but hadn't found him there. This concerned Bardaku because it wasn't like Radditsu to get early except for an incredibly good reason. What was going on in his son's mind disturbed him. The scarred Saiyajin grasped the handle of his mug, but lost himself in thought again. That was unlike him, indeed. Bardaku was not one to over think things, but under the circumstances he could be a little out of character. After all, his son had risen
from the dead, or at least he had liked to think of him as dead. Never had Bardaku considered his son being found by some normal person and being raised in that manner. It was such a waste in the potential his mate somehow knew he possessed. Bardaku had been skeptical on that potential, but decided to see if there were any truth in it. His oldest son had limited potential and had reached it when he was ten years old. If Kakarotto had this potential and it had been squandered in Capsule--he would gladly want to see his son slain to prevent any further embarrassment. That was the Saiyajin way of thinking.
Bardaku frowned at himself. "Even in death she gets to me..." he murmured. Whenever an un-Saiyajin thought occurred in his mind, he credited it to her. His mate was a strong person indeed, but she was certainly odd by Saiyajin standards. She covered this by being clever and a devoted Saiyajin when necessary.
"A true Saiyajin will ultimately be a brainless fool desiring only battle, wealth, and reproducing... Once you add a touch of invention--the ideal Saiyajin is lost, but no Saiyajin, true or not, will admit that they are anything less than the ideal Saiyajin..."
His mate had told him that bunch of trash when he had reminded her of how a true Saiyajin should act. She always had an answer--un-Saiyajin often--which never pleased her mate. Bardaku had always wondered how his mate was never tried on insanity herself. He had always figured it was her strength--something she also cleverly hid. The reason for that he was unsure. Now that he had thought of her secrecy with her strength, he almost wondered if Kakarotto would secretly covering his strength.
Bardaku shook his head and lifted up his mug. He took a long drink before setting it down again. He didn't know how, but he knew that he would sense when Kakarotto arrived. Depending on what Radditsu's motive was for volunteering to retrieve him was, it could be any amount of time. Bardaku knew his son could have easily ignored Kakarotto's existence, so whatever was going on in his son's mind currently was something worthwhile to discover.
***
Bulma worked furiously with the contents within one of her chest. She twisted a screw in and stopped a moment to wipe her brow. A sly smile came on her face, wondering why she hadn't thought about using her scientific abilities from the beginning. A minute later she heard the sound of her door opening. She quickly dropped what she was doing and closed her chest. She sat by it, changing her expression to one of depression and hopelessness.
Pikaru poked his head in and looked at the Princess with raised brows. "You've been lying by that chest all day," he said.
The Princess, having not the ability to speak, opened the chest only wide enough to stick her hand within it. She fished around for a few seconds and finally pulled out a doll. Pikaru looked at the thing with disgust.
"I seriously doubt this is what the Prince meant..." he muttered, pulling his head back out and closing the door.
Bulma smirked once he had closed the door and shook her head. She had pulled the same trick when Sukuwa had checked twenty minutes ago. The Princess put something that would absolutely seem trivial to the Saiyajins inside the chest of her work to pull out whenever it seemed the two wondered what was inside. Saiyajins... she thought picking up her screwdriver again.
***
Radditsu's horse stopped at a house with a small brick chimney on the roof. He had thought knights of such kingdoms were as close to nobles as commoners could get, but obviously he had been wrong about such things. He got down from his horse and frowned at the cozy little setting of the place. It had a huge meadow behind it with flowers poking out of the ground at intervals and a single thick tree with a wooden swing on its limb. He had a good sense of what would happen to his brother by just the observation of where he lived.
The Saiyajin wasn't very accustomed to knocking on doors and didn't think the door would stand if he knocked on it more than once as he would a stronger door. However, Radditsu tapped lightly as lightly as he could at the door and backed away from it to wait for someone to answer.
Radditsu was taken back at the scowling woman who opened the door. She was pale like most normal people were, but could have passed for a Saiyajin if she were differently dressed. Her dark eyes posed a challenge and her arms were at her side as if ready to attack. The hair of the woman was much straighter than any Saiyajin's would be, however, and done into a bun at the top of her head. Radditsu couldn't help but smile at the woman, wondering if she would try to attack him.
"You're his brother?" Chichi demanded. It came across to Radditsu as a demand as well, producing a snort from his nose.
"Aa." Radditsu paused for a second. "Are you his mate?"
"I'm his wife," Chichi said, disliking the word he had used.
The Saiyajin hadn't even considered his brother had a mate and perhaps a son as well. "Does Kakarotto have any brats yet?" he asked, trying to observe the woman to see if she had signs of a normal woman who had gone through a pregnancy. The woman seemed to be in good shape, unlike several previously pregnant women.
"Chichi?" said a voice vaguely familiar before the woman could respond. Soon a man looking frightening like Bardaku stepped to the front door and put his hand on his wife's shoulder. "Go on back inside."
"But, Gokuu..."
Gokuu smiled at her. "Daijoubu," he said. His wife reluctantly went back inside, but gave Radditsu a mean look before she left. Gokuu looked at the man standing a few feet away from him for a long time.
Radditsu stared back at him, unable to fathom the likeness to his father. And yet, the manner in which he looked at him--with the un-Saiyajin like look--suggested to him something about his mother. He had always thought she would be killed because of this, but surprisingly she had had an honorable Saiyajin death.
"Well, you look enough like Bardaku," Radditsu said, wondering why he was still shocked even though he had seen him in the album book. "Doesn't mean you're anything like him."
"Bardaku?" Gokuu repeated, his brows raising.
Radditsu frowned, noticing his features truly resembling his mother's when he did that. "He's our father. I'm Radditsu, by the way."
"I see..." Gokuu said, tightening his features.
Radditsu didn't know why, but the way he kept switching between looking like his father and his mother disturbed him. A combination of his two parents' personalities? That would be dangerous. Take the un-Saiyajin qualities and put them into a low-ranked soldier and you get a soon dead Saiyajin. The lower your rank was, the more you need to be like a Saiyajin mattered. If you were powerful enough no one would question you on your Saiyajin-ness; however, if you were weaker and found to be acting like normal people--you were easily put out of your misery.
"You're Kakarotto," Radditsu said. Remembering the Princess telling him how he didn't know his name, he felt it necessary to include that bit of information.
"That was the name I was going to get?"
"It is your name. You may be `Gokuu' in Capsule, but in Vegita you will be Kakarotto."
Gokuu frowned, looking even more like his father. "My name is Gokuu--that will never change."
Radditsu narrowed his eyes at his brother and then smirked. "Whatever," he said. "Let's get going."
"Excuse me for a moment," Gokuu said, stepping back into his house. A minute later he came out with a large bag over his shoulder. He was smiling for some reason, and Radditsu had a strange desire to know exactly why.
Gokuu made a little whistle and a chestnut-colored horse galloped to the front of the house from the meadow. Attached to its saddle was a sword, resting in its own holster. The Capsule Saiyajin got onto his horse easily and smiled at his brother patiently.
"I'm ready."
Radditsu looked at him strangely. "I don't know what Kaasan could have seen in you," he said gruffly. He got onto his own horse and rode off with his brother close behind.
When they had started to get a steady pace together, Gokuu thought to question him about his previous comment. "What were you saying about our mother?" he asked.
"She thought you had potential or something," Radditsu said, laughing. "What a joke."
"Potential? For fighting, you mean?"
"What the hell else, Kakarotto?"
"I see..." Gokuu said thoughtfully.
Radditsu scowled in front of him. *Impudent little brat...* he thought. *Well, Kakarotto won't be a thorn in my side for much longer. Long ago I thought I would have to show him up, but he goes missing and I think there's no more of him. Now turns out to be alive and I have to deal with him again. Well... unfortunately for him the Prince will deal with him... and showing him up isn't necessary once again...*
***
Oriibu was humming--an un-Saiyajin like quality--while she went through some motions with a sword. Radditsu watched her angrily; she often combined activities that had no business being together such as she was doing at the moment. She smiled nearly sweetly at enemies before fighting them, and laughed almost as if she were happy when she were being beaten up. Sometimes it made Radditsu wonder what his practical father saw in her; he had liked to think it was her looks. By Saiyajin standards, and maybe even normal standards, she was appealing. Her eyes were a wild green color that shined whenever she was thinking of something. She was well-toned for a female and her skin, supposedly, was quite soft for a Saiyajin. If she kept her mouth closed, Radditsu could see someone desiring her.
"What the hell are you humming for, Kaasan?" Radditsu spat.
"This child," Oriibu said, thrust her sword into an invisible enemy, "will be a great solider."
"Hmph! He'll be no higher ranked than the rest of us."
Oriibu laughed, causing her son to clench his teeth. It was that laugh that was so genial and lacking a wicked tone that it was more irritating than if she had been trying to mock him.
"No, this child will even...oh, let's say give the Prince himself a run for his money," she said seriously.
"You're truly insane, woman!" Radditsu said, checking behind him to make sure no one heard what she said. "You and that brat of yours could be killed for even joking about that!"
"I can't help what is the truth."
"Your mate won't like that you're going around saying such things," Radditsu warned in a growl.
"My mate doesn't care what I say about this child," Oriibu shrugged. "He has his mind made up about how he will turn out, and I have made mine. He's never been one to take my opinion seriously, anyhow."
"Grr!!" Radditsu said, drawing his sword. "I'm tired of all of your babble! Are we going to spar or not?!"
"One of your weak points, boy," Oriibu said rather nicely. She faced him with a ready stance. "Right now you're having thoughts of beating me so well that your brother is killed in the process."
Radditsu didn't respond. Now that his mother had become ready, he wasn't going to be distracted by her words. She often talked too much in a battle, getting her opponent off guard.
Oriibu's face became dark, typical of a Saiyajin. "Don't think for a moment, you'll succeed," she said lowly. Her lips curved into a small smile that wasn't gentle or kind at all.
Radditsu snarled at her and decided to make the first attack. His mother remained still, awaiting his attack...
***
"Have you seen Bulma?" Gokuu said, interrupting his brother's thoughts. It was just as well, as Radditsu didn't want to be reminded any more of that.
"What's a Bulma?" Radditsu said, frowning. He was quickly noticing how much he didn't like Kakarotto all ready.
"She's the Princess of Capsule."
"Oh, that woman," Radditsu said, frown lifting a little. "Yeah, I saw that woman yesterday."
"Is she all right?"
"Why are you concerned about her? I thought you all ready had a mate to worry about."
"Huh?" Gokuu said, turning red. He put his hand behind his head and laughed. "She's my friend... I just want to make sure she's not in any trouble."
"You should worry about yourself, Kakarotto," Radditsu murmured.
"Maybe," Gokuu agreed in an easy-going way that irked his brother. "Vegita isn't a place to go vacationing or something."
"Well, at least you're not completely stupid."
Gokuu sped his horse up a little so that he was side by side with his brother. "I have a good sense that the Saiyajins aren't going to like me very much," he said. "Judging how my own brother receives me."
"You're a fool, Kakarotto," Radditsu said, narrowing his eyes. "Why did you agree to come?"
"I may always think of myself as a subject of Capsule," Gokuu said, "but I can't deny what relatives I have, whoever they may be."
Radditsu shook his head at him. "You will regret this, brother," he said.
***
Vegita wasn't planning to check to on Bulma until Gokuu had arrived, but when he had passed Sukuwa on a break and had asked him about the Princess, what he told him was a little curious. She had been sitting by a chest all day, supposedly looking at items in a chest. His Saiyajin instinct told him that she was of no concern; however, a new instinct told him that he shouldn't take the woman as lightly as any Saiyajin would. He had to think a bit differently when faced with such a strange female. Once again, he walked to her room, ignoring Pikaru who was still at guard at the door. As Sukuwa had reported, the woman was lying on the floor next to a chest. The smile on her face as Vegita entered, however, was disturbing. He wasn't sure how she could possibly do anything that might ruin what he had in store for Kakarotto, but he didn't want to take any chances.
"Up to something, woman?"
Bulma shrugged slyly and placed her hand on top of the chest. Vegita took a step closer. He frowned down at the long container, wondering what the woman could possibly have in it. The soldiers had reported that she kept pulling out dolls or something, but the Prince had a good feeling that this wasn't what the box was all about.
"Open that chest, woman," Vegita commanded.
Bulma made a look at him as if he were absolutely sure. He scowled at her in response, and Bulma shrugged again. She grasped the lid of the chest and slowly opened it. Inside were nothing but a collection of dolls and a screw driver. The tool was what set the Prince off as suspicious. What was it doing with the figurines?
"Nothing but dolls?" Vegita said, folding his arms over his chest. He wondered if perhaps she wasn't hiding something under them.
Bulma smiled and picked up a doll, holding it up for him to see. It had yellow hair made out of yarn and a sickly smile painted on his face. It was poorly crafted as if someone had homemade it instead of purchasing it somewhere. Vegita's face screw up in disgust. He thought about taking it from her and tearing off his head, but that was a waste of time. He wanted to be there when Kakarotto arrived.
"Hmph," Vegita said, about to turn away. From the corner of his eye he saw Bulma press something on the back of the doll's back. "What the--"
Vegita was cut off as a high-pitched sound emitted from the doll. It cut through his eardrums like a knife through cream and forced him to cover his ears and bend down to his knees. He bared down on his teeth and tried to get himself up, but the noise was too painful. Bulma watched him cry out with a satisfied look and waited for the guards to take notice.
Pikaru and Sukuwa came into the room like clockwork, only to fall to their knees, howling in pain. Bulma set the doll down on her bed and wondered how long it the sound would keep before she would be discovered. She grabbed two more dolls and exited the room quickly, leaving the door open so anyone who came to see what was going on would be effected as well.
*Good thing I remembered that Saiyajins have those sensitive ears,* she thought as she ran through the castle, setting off her doll any time she encountered a guard. *They're just like dogs--they can pick up those high-pitched sounds normal humans can't and it nearly tears their ears apart! Haha! I got Vegita again. Now they won't be able to trick Son-kun into thinking that I'm all right. He'll have to know once he's found out that I've escaped from my room.*
Vegita, meanwhile, while Bulma was making fast tracks, was slowly edging toward the doll in her room, sweat dripping down the side of his head. He was getting a horrible headache and the sound was like a peevish bird flying inside his head and squawking its lungs out. At one point he had to stop and just will himself to not hear the sound that was undoubtedly going to make his ears bleed. But he knew he had to stop it before Bulma could get too far and Kakarotto had arrived. He thought of how he could easily kill her right then and forget about making her suffer, but the way he was suffering now, he wanted to destroy everything that meant even a smidgen of significance to her.
*Almost there...* Vegita thought, starting to feel numb as he reached out one hand on the bed while keeping the other on his ear. It took him a full minute to grab the doll, but only a second to smash it. He let out a long breath and sunk down, leaning against the bed. Pikaru and Sukuwa also sat there, panting and rubbing their ears. They moaned in pain and fought to get back to their feet. Vegita growled once he got his breath and clenched his fists.
"I want that woman found and chained to a wall!!" Vegita roared hoarsely. He stood shakily on his feet. "Damnit!!"
Pikaru and Sukuwa forced themselves to stand up and salute to their Prince. "Hai, Vegita-Ouji!" They stumbled out the room.
Vegita fell back down as soon as they left. "Kuso...!" He had a faint ringing in his ears and the pain in his head was excruciating. "She will regret this!"
***
Bardaku was just about to get up from the bar when a Saiyajin came into the area and began shouting a rumor that he had just heard that the Prince had let the Princess go missing for a brief period two days ago. He raised a brow and watched the others, most drunk, started volleys of laughter and loud conversation. Bardaku shook his head and wondered what was happening to the Saiyajin empire. If the Prince couldn't keep track of one measly woman, how was he supposed to rule over the Saiyajins one day?
"Kakarotto's here..." Bardaku murmured as he decided to stay put where he was. The surrounding Saiyajins were endlessly discussing how furious the Prince was over the whole ordeal. A thing more to worry about than his leadership skills. "Somehow I think I don't need to leave here to run into him..."