My Secret- 5. Two Brotherly Son's Great Chase. Dodge, Goten!

"Vegeta... I have something to tell you."

"Hm."

"I realized today that... that you are really the one who I meant to be with."

No comment.

"Before, I've always wondered if I made the right choice... to be with you. I thought, maybe I should have stayed with Goku. I know I shouldn't have measured you with him, but I couldn't help it. When you went to space to train before Cell came, I thought, 'Goku won't abandon his family like this.' I guess I was being just selfish. You told me you were training to surpass Goku, but I knew you were also training to protect us. But even after Cell was defeated, you continued to train, taking Trunks with you. At first, I didn't like that. I wanted our son to be a human, as much as you wanted him to be a Saiyan. I didn't want you to push him, and turn him into a fighting machine."

"A Saiyan is pratically a fighting machine."

"But Goku trained Gohan, and look where he's now."

"Indeed. Look where he's now, being a scholar."

"He has a heart, Vegeta."

"As does Trunks, unfortunately. A heart is just part of what it means to be half human. You can't erase it from them."

"Goku has a heart."

"Kakarot was raised in human ways. That's the only disadvantage. The human way, they are permenant whether they have been born or raised into you. The Saiyan customs could only be obtained through birth."

"But then again, there were a couple of times when I saw myself fortunate to have chosen you. Actually, Chichi had to show them to me because I just took you for granted. She said that unlike Goku, you are always training in the gravity room. Even though technically I don't see you other than meal time, I agree it makes me feel safer to have you so near. I mean, Chichi said sometimes Goku goes all the way to the deserted mountains on the east coast to train, and in those times, she have to send her sons to fetch him. And today, you showed that you don't forget, unlike Goku. Vegeta, I was really happy when you told me you didn't forget my birthday. And my gift... it's priceless. I know from personal experience that Goku's idea of a birthday gift would be a dandilion. Poor Chichi."

Bulma finally looked at him, but his face was emotionless. "Are you mad?"

"Tell me one thing. Do you measure me against your ex, too?"

"Yamcha? No. But then again, there's nothing to measure. I've came to that conclusion a long time ago. Have I ever told you, Yamcha always went to the desert or somewhere uncharted on the map and left me with Puar for years? And as if that's not enough, he has no respect for my feelings! I mean, I can understand if girls fall for him... I fell for him myself, but he doesn't have to boast about it! I mean, I know you have more fans, but at least you drive them away. So, to answer you question, no, you are such an improvement over him in all the categories that I have nothing to compare and weigh with him."

He picked her up, and slowly flew them both home. At their bedroom balcony, Vegeta set her down, and said quietly, "I'm not mad." He jumped over the railing.

"Wait, Vegeta. Where are you going?"

"There's still few more hours left. I'm going to train."

Bulma was about to protest, when she backed down. She watched him fly down to the Gravity Room, and shut the door behind him. Bulma looked silently at the round dome, and she could almost imagine it jump and tilt, trying to keep itself together under the pressure Vegeta has set it.

"Vegeta," she told the sky, "I thank you for going out of your way to make me happy today. Train hard."

She went inside and changed into her pajamas. Getting into bed, Bulma turned on the lamp and held her necklace against the light. She could stare at this for hours.

---

The bright moon shines through the window, spilling a ribbon of yellow into the room. Beside him, sheets shuffled repeatedly.

"Gohan, is something wrong?"

"Oh, sorry Goten. I didn't mean to keep you awake. It's just that, I can't understand something."

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing. Go back to sleep."

"Come on, tell me."

"No, it'll probably solve itself in the morning."

So he was going to play that way, eh? "Does this have anything to do with Vegeta?"

Gohan sat up, and looked at Goten like with big eyes. "How..."

"I overheard Dad telling you how he got that black eye."

"Goten..."

"I know he's lying. Vegeta was in the Gravity Room the whole day." Wow, Goten thought, I actually surprised him... I could get used to this.

"Goten, you know it's not polite to listen."

"I'm sorry." He looked down, then looked up again, now in an accusing tone. "But he's lying, isn't he? He's just telling us that just so we won't worry, right?"

"I... don't know. Dad has never lied to us before."

"But... Vegeta can't be at two places at once!" He stood up.

"Goten, keep your voice down. Mom and Dad's room is just next door."

He hands quickly flew over his mouth.

Gohan continued. "Besides, we can't be sure Vegeta was in the Gravity Room the WHOLE day. Remember, we went there pretty early. He could have left after us. It doesn't take that long to fly here."

"Why would he do that?"

"Maybe he wanted to take out his annoyance with Dad. That'll explain his lack of serious damages. And I could understand why he would be annoyed." Gohan looked at Goten meaningfully.

"I still think Vegeta didn't come here."

"I agree with you, Goten. Something feels wrong here, really wrong. What we need is solid proof. We have to make sure he didn't leave Capsule Corp. Then we can bring the case to Dad."

"Oh, I know, I know! I know where to find solid proof!"

"Do you even know what the words mean, Goten?"

"Um... no. But we can ask Trunks! He can tell us."

"I doubt Trunks will know either. Solid proof is court terms."

"No, not solid proof!" He nearly cried out in exasperation. "We can ask Trunks to find out whether Vegeta left the house or not!"

Gohan smiled. "Good thinking. We should call him now."

"We can't, Big Brother. Mom said we can only call someone between 8am and 8pm."

"It's only going to be for a while. Mom will never notice. Besides, I can't sleep until I have the answer."

Goten walked into the shadows. "But when the phone rings at Trunk's house, his parents would hear it. And then they'll tell our parents."

"Oh don't worry about that. I remember Trunks saying he has his own line. Their house is pretty well insulated."

"And what if he says yes? What if he tells us Vegeta never left the house?"

"Then... we'll think about that IF Trunks says so. I'm pretty sure the chances of that is slim to none."

Gohan stood up and searched his desk. "So, do you know where my phone directory went?"

Goten shook his head nervously.

Gohan looked at him suspiciously. "What's that you got hidden behind you?"

"Nothing." He pulled out his hands.

"Stand away from the wall."

Goten took one step towards his brother. A small book fell from his back.

"Goten!" Gohan whispered fiercely.

Goten wasn't about to give up that easily, however. He grabbed it, and made a dash towards the ceiling. Gohan, determined to get his directory back, also got airborn. Goten frantically flew away from his brother's reach while Gohan kept diving, and missing, his agile little brother.

---

So the great chase has begun. Who will come out victor in this brother against brother match? Have mercy, Gohan!

I feel like the narrator. This is probably the first chapter that sounds so much like a DBZ episode, starting from the title to the last narrator's line. It sure doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who's going to win. But that's not very important in the long run, I'll tell you.

Oh, this is far from over. And yes, there's two Vegetas right now. Congratulations. You are actually the first to figure that out, I believe.