Author's Note: *sighs* I know, I know. I haven't updated this in like... a VERY long time. I'm really sorry, everyone! I've been awfully busy with school, as the first semester is coming to a close --- in fact, it's mastery test week already, and then on the 16th (Three days after my birthday, what a bummer!) will be our midterms. *fumes* I hate school! But I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about it to change the fact that I HAVE to go to school.

Anyway, I felt like updating, so I did, even but the chapter is VERY short. Don't blame me, I don't have much time for these things anymore! I decided to update because I was reminded by the novelized version of this fanfic which I submitted for our English class as my project. My English teacher informed me that my book has been MISSING since the second day of our book exhibit, and that she doesn't know who has it.

*sighs* So much for writing a best-seller! *gets thrown with tomatoes and attempts to dodge them in vain* I'm just kidding, geez! Don't get too worked up! *forces a smile* Well, so much for that... here's the new chapter for you guys! I know it's short, but... please review!


Crimson Tide
Chapter Ten: Two Words Are Enough For A Wise Man

"Don't ask me, second-copy idiot," Vegeta spat with his arms crossed, the scowl on his face intact as ever. "He is your son, and thus he is your problem and your responsibility. Not mine. You've given me enough head spasms for the day, so get out of my sight and get lost!"

Goku, however, refused to accept the other's answer. He was desperate to get his son back, and in his desperation he was somehow losing his mind. He looked at the other saiyajin --- his rival and former mortal enemy, to say the least --- with pleading eyes as he begged, "Vegeta, please! I'm begging you, please help me! I want to get him back, I want to get my son back!"

"Where have you been all this time? He had wanted you to be with him, he had wanted you to spend time with him, for a long time --- and I mean long --- but you just weren't there. You either enjoyed your planet-hopping spree too much, or you simply prioritized training over your son --- who, let's say, is your least favorite."

"You're wrong."

"Am I, really?" Vegeta asked as his fierce gaze met his pleading, pathetic-looking one. "Am I really wrong, Kakkarot? I don't think so. Tell me, did you spend as much time with Goten as you did with Gohan? Did you spare a few moments to know what was going on with Goten's life as much as you got yourself involved in Gohan's life?"

Goku said nothing.

"Let's see, then. Answer me with a yes or no. Yes or no, and nothing more," Vegeta paused for a few moments to ensure that Goku was clearly with him. Then, he slumped against the wall with his arms still crossed, as always. "Today was your brat's wedding --- did you know about it?"

"No," Goku replied in all honesty.

"Have you seen any of his movies?"

"No."

"Did you even know that your son is an actor?"

Goku paused for a moment, swallowing hard, and then he finally said, "No," with downcast eyes filled with guilt and regret.

Silence took over for a couple more seconds, and it was then when Vegeta decided to put an end to the silence as well as to their conversation. "Let me tell you something, then, Kakkarot. Just two words," the older man said as he moved out of his usual position to hold up two fingers right in front of Goku's face. "Too late."

And with that, he walked away.

"Things have not been going good, to say the least. You heard the unfriendly exchange between Goten-niichan and Goku-san, and you know the deadly disease Chichi-san acquired, as discovered just today. But there's more to it than those. Goten-niichan's wedding was disaster --- this weird alien Seth came and interrupted the wedding to take Celeste-san away, and your uncle nearly got himself killed in his attempt to protect her."

Pan sighed heavily as she walked alongside Boxer. "Don't feel too bad, you're not alone with all that trouble. Seth came to my homeworld too, along with his stupid lackeys. And I feel bad because I was the one who told them that Celeste-san's here!" she exclaimed in frustration before she turned to him with a pained look in her ebony orbs. "But I had no other choice! They were armed with weapons that knocked out the best Sabrean warriors in a flash, and they were capable of killing everyone on the planet, including my parents!"

He patted her shoulder, smiling lightly. "It's alright, Pan. I'm sure they understood what you did."

"Dad and Mom had a fight because of me," she blurted out as she kicked a pebble on the pavement that was on her way. "Mom was mad, and I suppose you know how she is when she loses her temper. Dad was trying to pacify her, but I don't think they completely settled the matter when we left. I really hate it when they fight; their voices hurt my ears and their pointless arguments bore me to death."

"At least they only yell at each other when they're fighting. Otousan practically yells everyday, fight or no fight," Boxer said with a sigh as he stopped to look at her. "The house gets really chaotic sometimes, it's annoying. I end up messing up the blueprints I'm supposed to hand over to Trunks-niichan because of their stupid noises."

"Blueprints?"

He grinned. "Trunks-niichan gave me this job of sorts. I've been making the blueprints for the new products and gadges they're developing at Capsule Corporation ever since he became CEO. It's tiring, but I'm glad because I get to do what I want and get paid."

"Ewwwwwww," Pan muttered as she acted like she was throwing up. "You enjoy locking up yourself in your room and facing all those large papers and mechanical devices?! You must be crazy! That has got to be the most boring place in the entire universe, and that job has got to be the most boring job ever! How can you stand it?!"

"Well I'm sorry if I'm not a fighter like you, Princess," Boxer countered with a Vegeta-ish scowl before he walked away towards his home, leaving Pan behind. The other demi-saiyajin quickly followed, calling out to him with an apology, but the Ouji's son paid no attention to her.

After all, she hurt his ego.

Time flew so fast that Goten was oblivious to the fact that night had already come. He only discovered that when Vegeta --- who had been standing by watching over him, to his amazement --- woke him up from his slumber.

"Get up, brat, and go home. Your father's here to watch over her, so go home and rest up."

Goten shook his head in disapproval. "I'm not going home," he said sternly as he gazed at the pale face of the woman who brought him into the world he was living in now. "And no, he is not my father, because you are."

A sigh escaped Vegeta's lips as the older saiyajin took a chair and sat down beside Goten. "You're really stubborn, brat."

The other did not flinch on the comment, for his eyes still rested on the slim figure lying among the dainty white sheets. Vegeta, on the other hand, just shook his head, and concluded his comment with the words, "But if you insist in watching over her then I'll stay here with you."

"You don't have to, father. You better go home and rest up."

Vegeta shook his head. "You know me, brat."

"You're really stubborn."

"Well, isn't it said that like father, like son?" Vegeta asked with a smirk, and both warriors burst into laughter soon after. When their laughter died down, he continued, "I'm utterly serious, brat. Like father, like son. So you should begin paving your future if you want to succeed, just like me."

The other's raven eyes twinkled mischievously at that, and not controlling himself any longer, Goten said, "I suppose you're right, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to destroy a couple of cities to demonstrate what I'm capable of doing. Then perhaps I can take over the world and have everyone be up and about at my command! And finally, we can have all the cake and candy we have always wanted!"

"You're getting out of hand, brat," Vegeta blurted out with a chuckle. "Your childhood fantasies are surging through your head at the very moment with incredible speed that cannot be matched. Ah, the good old days, yes."

Those words made the twinkle in Goten's eyes fade away, however, and sadness filled his ebony orbs just a second later. With a heavy sigh, he murmured, "Childhood fantasies... I had so much dreams and aspirations ever since I was a little boy, yet only so few of them have been fulfilled. Getting loads of cake and candy for dinner, taking over the world... yes, those were some of our fantasies with Trunks. However, there was one thing that I so wanted---"

"Kakkarot."

"Yes, my father."

Goku, who had been eavesdropping all the while, turned to leave with a pained look on features. He could not take it any longer. The pain Goten was feeling at the moment, a pain with roots from so long ago, was caused by him. By his negligence, by his wrong beliefs, by his wrong philosophies.

And now, there was a new person in his place as Goten's father. There was someone else getting all the attention he was supposed to get. There was someone else forming a bond with Goten, a bond he was supposed to form with his youngest son.

Vegeta was right. He was indeed too late.

"If only..." he began, but found himself unable to continue. His heart held too much guilt and regret that no words could stand for what he felt at the moment.

If only was all he could say.