A Permanent Fusion
School: It's just and idea…
Over the next two years, things seemed to improve for Vegeta. He got a pay rise and could now afford more than just the necessities, but he took the remainder of what was left and always put it in the bank. Piccolo came by every weekday when Vegeta was working to pick up Gojita. The two of them always went into the forest to do some training. But over the weekends, Vegeta had Gojita all to himself. Of course, they trained. But now and again, he'd take her out to places. Just driving out to the shops was something small, but to Gojita, it was one of the best outings she ever had. She had never been to the city before, so it was fascinating to her. He had once taken her to the beach, but he didn't again, as he picked to go visiting when Gohan and his family were about. Piccolo often took her, but she said it wasn't as fun without her tousan.
"It's not because you're not fun." She explained. "'Cos you are. But it's so much fun to watch all the stupid ladies in their stupid bathing costumes drool over him!"
Piccolo had to admit, he never thought he'd ever be able to withstand another child after Gohan, but he was wrong. Even though Gojita was Vegeta's daughter, she could be nice. To those she liked. At one incident, some punk was pestering Piccolo and saying how freaky he was, when Gojita began snapping her own witty remarks at the punk. And when the punk really pissed her off; she beat the living daylights out of him! But other than her fiery little temper, she was very sweet. Piccolo often wondered if that was how Vegeta raised her, or if it was her kaasan's side of the gene pool.
Two years flew by, and in no time, Gojita was five years old. She was still very small, and she had lost most of her puppy fat to reveal her slender little figure. Both Piccolo and Vegeta were very proud of her, as she had hit SSJ 3 and she was still a toddler. And they became friendlier towards one another. Often, Vegeta would ask Piccolo if she did anything bad, and that would usually start a conversation.
~By the beach~
One day, Piccolo stood on the beach, waiting for little Gojita to resurface with whatever she had picked up off the bottom of the sea bed. He had to admit he was very impressed with Gojita for reaching such a high level of Super Saiyan at such a young age. He knew Goten, Trunks and Gohan could do it as well…if they weren't so picky about it. They barely trained as much as she did, so he guessed that was why. But he also had a hunch that it also had to do with the fact that her parents had both reached SSJ4 and they were both pure blooded saiyans. Two minutes later, Gojita resurfaced in her deep crimson bathing costume and goggles, holding a empty mermaids purse, a couple of sharks teeth and a huge diamond. She drifted back, clutching the items closely to her chest as Piccolo held out her towel. She dropped them to the sand and Piccolo picked her, wrapping her in the towel as he dried her little body. She was still small enough to cradle, and that's what he loved about her. He knew that one day, he'd no longer be able to take care of her like he and Vegeta was now, so both made use of the precious little time they had to do so.
"Have a fun swim, Gojita?" he asked as he dried her hair.
"Hai!! It's been so much fun! I saw a couple of funny fish swimming around this rock, so I picked it up."
"Do you know what it is?" she shook her head.
"Iie. What is it Piccolo?"
"It's called a diamond."
"You mean those sparkling stones that we saw in the jewelers shop? The one's attached to gold chains?" she asked and he nodded. "Iie chigiamasu! You're pulling my leg!"
"Of course I am, I'm drying it, of course." He smiled at her. She gave a half pout, half smile as she crossed her arms.
"You know what I mean! You must be joking!"
"Iie, I'm not joking." He said as she stretched out her arm so he could dry it. "The diamonds we saw in the jewelers shop were cut and polished."
"But…diamonds are supposed to be the strongest substance on Earth."
"Hai, it is. But they do manage to cut it as they coat a blade with some kind of diamond coating, as the only thing that will cut a diamond is another diamond."
"Oh…" she said, absorbing what Piccolo was telling her. "So, they cut and polish it to make it look shiny and pretty so that people will buy it, ne?"
"Hai so desu." He nodded.
"But how come my diamond is so big and theirs is so small?"
"I guess it's because all the diamonds they get are small. You're lucky you found a big one."
"Hai…but it's not what I'm looking for." Piccolo put her back on the sand as he looked down at her curiously.
"Nani? What do you mean, it's not what you were looking for?"
"I wanted to get something special for tousan…to show how much I appreciate him providing for me an' stuff." She said. "But I still haven't found anything that shops don't have yet!"
"Nani? Wakarimasen." He said, frowning.
"How can I show tousan that I appreciate him if I get him something he could easily buy in the shops?!" she said. Piccolo nodded his head understandingly.
"I see, so you want to get him something symbolizing your deepest gratitude for him." She nodded.
"Hai so desu. But I haven't found anything yet!" she whined. Piccolo smile at her. Sometimes, she reminded him of her kaasan as well.
"Saa, something will turn up." He assured her. Gojita turned her huge, inky black pools on him as she smiled. "But right now, I think we should head home." She nodded and they both took to the sky, flying so that they could get a glimpse of the city.
Piccolo looked to Gojita, and found she was curiously looking down on the city. He smiled, thinking of how much her insatiable curiosity reminded him of Goku. Even though this was the umpteenth time they had flown over the city to the beach and back, she still would look at the city as though she was seeing it for the first time. Piccolo smiled as he then decided to take a different route home. He flew over the West Side of the city, which was pretty near her home. But the only reason they didn't fly that way was because of the school. Things could get pretty sticky if some kids saw a Namek and a tiny girl with a tail flying over their school! But because it was about four, he doubted very much that anyone would be there.
As they flew over the school, Gojita's eyes widened in fascination.
"Hey! Piccolo-sama, what's that?"
"Nani? Doko ni?"
"There." She pointed to the school building.
"Oh that." He said as they stopped to hover above the building. "That's Red Honoo School."
"'Red Honoo Skool'?" she asked repeating the new name.
"Hai, it's the name of the school."
"Honto ni? That's a school?" she asked.
"Hai." Gojita was silent as she took a look over the huge building complex.
"Can we go down and see it close up, Piccolo-sama?" she asked. Piccolo's smiled faded as he shook his head.
"Iie, gomen. But we must get back…"
"Oh, onegai, Piccolo-sama?" she begged, liquidating her already liquid black eyes. "Onegai?" Piccolo tried to turn his gaze away from the huge, liquid eyes, but did a little too late. Calling him 'Piccolo-sama' and giving him those huge, puppy dog eyes always worked on him. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he sighed and gave in.
"Baijoubu…but just for a little while, got it?" he barked. "After that, we go straight home!" Piccolo nearly fell out of the sky when she flew at him to hug him.
"Dom arigato, Piccolo-sama!!!" she thanked him. Piccolo quickly regained his balance before turning a deep shade of violet.
"Fine, let's just go." He snapped. He wasn't angry with her because she wanted to see the school, but more because he gave into her 'chiisai neko' look. Whenever she gave him that look, he'd practically melt! She also used it on Vegeta, but because she used it quite often, he wasn't as affected as Piccolo.
They flew down and landed in the playground. Gojita looked around curiously.
"What part of the school is this?" she asked.
"This is the kindergarten playground." He said. "There are a lot of playgrounds for every grade."
"How many grades are there?"
"About…twelve to thirteen." Gojita nodded as she walked towards a swing.
"What's this?" Piccolo had to frown. It was so strange to see a chibi not know what a swing was.
"That's a swing." He explained. "Go on, sit on it." Gojita put on her things next to the swing and sat on the seat. Piccolo came around her and pushed her back. After a bit, Piccolo pushed harder, swinging Gojita higher. She giggled and laughed as he swung her back and forth. At one point, he pushed her so high; she should've gone right around the pole! To any ordinary chibi, they would've been scared out of their wits! But Gojita thoroughly enjoyed it.
After a little while, Piccolo stopped pushing and let the swing slow down.
"Come on," he said, once the swing had fully stopped. "Let's go."
"Baijoubu!" she chirped as she hopped off the swing, picked up her stuff and flew up to Piccolo. While flying back, Piccolo couldn't help but think that Gojita should go to school. He knew that would take up most of their training time, but he didn't want Gojita to grow up stupid and senseless! He almost felt quite guilty at knowing that Gojita was too bust training and becoming stronger to even know what a swing was…let alone enjoy it. Of course, he knew it was impossible for her to grow up stupid and senseless. Gojita's kaasan may not have been the brightest crayon in the box, but he did have some intelligence to him. But Gojita seemed to take after her tousan, so there was no need in worrying that she'd have a thick skull. But he was worried that maybe she should get out of the forest area and meet some kids her own age.
He was brought back to reality when Gojita tugged on one of his antennae.
"OW!! KUSO! That hurt!!" he yelled. Gojita just grunted.
"Saa, maybe I wouldn't have to if a certain Namek kept his eyes on where we were going!" she snapped. "You flew right past my house!!" Piccolo blinked a couple of times before he looked down, and that he had almost flown into the heart of the forest. He looked up again and saw Gojita with a smug smirk on her face. "Come on. As you said, we must go home." Piccolo growled in annoyance, but Gojita just sniggered and flew back.
~The Ouji's Residence~
Vegeta was waiting for them in the front yard. He looked up to where their ki was. Strange. Why did they fly past the house? But he didn't have time to think of an answer, as something small but powerful flew right into him. He rolled a couple of metres before coming to a halt.
"Konbanwa, tousan!!" chirped a happy little voice that Vegeta loved. He lifted his head to see Gojita sitting on his chest, grinning from ear to ear. Vegeta lifted himself up on his elbows and grinned back at the saiyan chibi.
"Konbanwa, Gojita-kun." He looked down to what she was holding. "Why don't you go drop those inside?"
"Hai!!" she chirped as she jumped up and ran into the house.
"Coming too, Piccolo?" he asked. Piccolo shook his head as he walked up to Vegeta.
"Iie, I must be going." He said. "But there is just one thing I'd like to talk to you about." Vegeta frowned, but turned towards him.
"Hai, what is it?" Piccolo paused for a second, trying to contemplate on how Vegeta was going to react to this.
"Well, it about Gojita." He said. "Today, Gojita made me stop by a school. We landed in the playground, and proceeded to play when…" he paused again.
"Nani? What is it?" growled Vegeta, growing a little impatient. "Spit it out!"
"Well…she didn't know what a swing was." Vegeta frowned.
"So?"
"All the chibis I have seen at least know what a swing is!" he paused again, deciding he'd cut to the chase. "I'm afraid we may have been keeping her hidden away from society." Vegeta looked shocked at first, then frowned in anger.
"And what of it?!" he snapped. "What's your point?"
"Vegeta…I think you should send her to school." Vegeta's eyes bugged out at this before he scowled.
"Nani? What do you mean, I must send her to school?!" he snapped. "Do you know how she'll be teased because of her saiyan heritage! Not even because of that! She'll be teased for having a tail and super strength that rivals that of Kakarot!!"
"But what about when she's older?" Piccolo persisted. "What then? She'll never be able to survive in ningen society because she's never learnt how to handle it!"
"But…Gohan, Goten and Trunks…"
"You know that those onna were the one's behind them." He said loudly before toning down. "You're the only family she's got." Vegeta's scowl disappeared as he looked down to his feet. He knew Piccolo was right. He was just lucky that Gojita had shown him the brochure for the business course, as he didn't know a thing about ningen business. He was lucky. But Gojita may not be so. When he thought about it, it was also a good way to ensure that she got whatever papers necessary to get her a good job when she got out of school. He'd be insuring her future on this mudball.
Piccolo watched nervously as Vegeta shuffled his feet in a thoughtful manner. He knew the ouji very well. He was stubborn, arrogant and a little bit too proud for his own good. But over the last two years, he found out that Vegeta was also rather thoughtful, and he did have a softer side to him. But once pride kicked in, so did the stubbornness. He may decide to go with the idea, or he'd just boot it. He heard a soft sigh as Vegeta looked up.
"Fine, I'll send her to a school." He was a little surprised by this reaction, but nodded his head. He knew that at the mention of Gojita's future, Vegeta might have seen schooling in a different light. But he didn't really care for the reason. All he cared about was that Gojita could now grow a social life. She'd have some ningen friends with ningen contacts, and she could learn how the system worked on Earth. "But," he warned. "If she suddenly comes home with make up and dolls, it's you head on a golden platter!" Piccolo smirked.
"Hn. I don't think she would." He said. "You know Gojita…she's like a bull to a red rag when she sees anything pink or 'girly'." Vegeta smirked at this as well.
"Fine. But you do know this will mean she'll be spending a little less time with you?"
"Hai, but I am prepared." He said. Vegeta nodded as Piccolo took off into the sky. "Oyasumi, Gojita!" he called. A small head with deep black hair tied in a plait popped out of a window to look up at Piccolo.
"Oh…oyasumi, Piccolo!!" she called as he flew up and out of sight.
Vegeta sighed. He knew that even if he gave in to the idea, who said that Gojita would agree with it too? She may be nice and all, but she could be just as stubborn and arrogant as her tousan! He knew that he'd have to weave his way carefully through to her.
~Later~
Gojita sat perched on the chair, doodling away again, trying to draw the Powerpuff Girls. Vegeta was at the stove, cooking chicken and noodles. He glanced up at Gojita, who was proudly admiring her perfect work of art. He was very worried about what she was going say about the idea of going to school. He knew Trunks hated it, but he knew it was for a good cause. Of course, even though he knew of the link, he forgot that Gojita could feel what he felt.
"Tousan?" she asked, looking up at him. His eyes flickered out of thought and he looked at Gojita. "Is something wrong?" Vegeta looked down at the pot. He knew he could lie, but she'd be able to tell so. He shifted, feeling a little uncomfortable before deciding on how he was going to face this. Just as he always did in battle; head on and blunt. Very blunt.
"Well, after you went back inside, Piccolo wanted to talk to me about something."
"Hai, what was it?" she asked. Vegeta opened his mouth to answer, but his tongue felt numb. Gojita frowned at him.
"Vegeta?" Vegeta tried to shake himself of the strange sensation, but found it was near to impossible. He hadn't felt this way before he told his mate his true feelings. And then, he had to use the psychic link.
'The psychic link!' he thought.
"Ne, what about it?" she asked out loud. Vegeta decided he's talk to her through their link, seeing as his tongue didn't feel like working.
'Piccolo wants you to go to school.' Very, very blunt. Gojita's eyes nearly popped out at the mention of going to school.
'Nani?!' she yelped through their link. 'What for?'
'To learn things.' He said. He didn't want to say 'and make friends', as that might sound very insulting to the young oujo.
'But why can't I learn here?' she asked. 'I can already read, and write, and draw and…'
'Gojita.' He whispered softly. 'You may know all those stuff. But the government on this mudball is the one who gives you a certificate, or whatever, to say that you are able to work and earn money. I can't do that.' Gojita looked a little shocked at the idea that there was something her tousan couldn't do.
'But…aren't you the Saiyan no Ouji?'
'Hai, but that's saiyan. I'm not the Ningen no Ouji! I can't say what should be done and what should not on this mudball!' he said defensively. 'Besides, I want you to learn how things work on this planet. Look how long I've been here…and I still don't know how they work in society.' Gojita was silent.
'But…why?'
'Honestly…I guess we both want to ensure that you have a successful future. Maybe not rich, but we want to make sure you grow up okay.' Gojita dropped her head as she thought about it. They were thinking of her? Gojita thought about it a bit more and decided that she would give it a go. After all, Vegeta went to that business-training course, so she could go to school. And besides, if she worked really hard and became rich, maybe then she could repay her tousan for all the things he did for her. Piccolo too.
"Okay." She said. "I'll give it a go." Vegeta smiled at her as he gave her a hug.
"That's my little oujo!"
"I said, I'll give it a go! I didn't say I'd like it!" she snapped. Vegeta just smiled at her. "And I'll also go only if you answer this question."
"What?"
"How in the hell does noodles catch fire?" she asked as she pointed behind him. Vegeta looked and saw that the pot of noodles was indeed, on fire!
"HOLY SHIT!!!" he yelled as he ran over to put the fire out, leaving Gojita to fall to the floor in fits of laughter.
