Dragon Ball Yugure Z
A Dragon Ball Z fanfiction
by Son Goharotto (son_goharotto@hotmail.com)
Welcome to Dragon Ball Yugure Z, my personal pet project. This is what I like to call a "multi-generational alternaverse epic." Expect a complex story spanning several volumes that are littered with cliff-hangers and titanic battles. DBYZ has been revised in its entirety. While some episodes have merely been ridden of typos, others have been rewritten completely. I'll be starting from the beginning at one episode a day so new readers can join in, undaunted by DBYZ's length, and old readers can review past events. All this is leading up to the new Episode 37, from which I'll try to keep a normal updating pace instead of letting this be forgotten as it once was.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I mgiht wish it not to be, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama-sama and many others who (unfortunately) aren't me. I'm not trying to make any money off of this and it's just a way for me to show my love of all things Dragon Ball. Well, except maybe GT. Bleah. I is teh poor, so don't sue me.
WARNINGS: As a whole, this series contains mature language (usually in Japanese), graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
NOTES: A liberal amount of Japanese vocabulary is sprinkled throughout, though nothing extremely important is ever said in another language that isn't translated. Mostly just basic Otaku Japanese. I've compiled a list of phrases I use on my homepage here: www.enpitsudo-dojo.com/libjapanese.html.
"dialogue"
""layered voice"" (Fusion, for example)
{alien language}
[thoughts, telepathy, memories]
_stressed words_
*sounds*
~scene change~
Volume III -- Revelations
Episode 21 -- A Time to Bond!! Bad Thoughts!?
Goku reached down and touched the floor, stretching his back. It felt good to be back in the old routine as he cycled through the various exercises. Goku was expecting Paresu and his son to show up for a training session later and he was very eager to get started.
He was tremendously excited at the thought of sparring with Goten. His son had learned much over the years under Vegeta and Goku really wanted to test his son's fighting power. Paresu however, might be left out of a few spars, considering she was so weak in comparison, but she was the forgiving type, so Goku didn't give it much thought.
Goku stood up straight and took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. There was always a sense of calm about Paozu that helped Goku relax. This had always been his home, long before he had ever met Bulma or heard about the Dragonballs. Goku smiled, resolving to find Suuchinchu the four-star Dragonball, so he could tell his adoptive grandfather how things were going.
Turning around, Goku walked back into the house. However, this wasn't old Son Gohan's little pagoda. This was the house Goku once lived in with a beautiful wife and a wonderful child. He spent the past couple of weeks completely rebuilding the ruin, though it still felt a tug at his heart every now and then.
Goku reached out to touch a wall, almost tenderly. The house itself was different, but the feel of it was the same. The aging Saiyajin half expected his late wife to walk out Gohan's room and scold him for distracting their son from his studies with wild ideas about turning their boy into a fighter. But those times were long gone and Goku firmly set those memories aside. This was a different lifetime and perhaps he could help restore Chikyuu to the way it was before Nagareboshi.
Goku couldn't help but to laugh out loud. The demon was locked away in the Dead Zone, that is if anything was left after his Perfect Kamehameha. It was strange, but Goku felt almost malicious in thought at that moment, and it scared him. [What was that...?] He shook his head and those dark thoughts vanished. [Hope that won't happen anymore, don't feel right...]
Quite suddenly, Paresu materialized out of thin air just next to Goku. With a happy shout she flung her arms around him and snuggled into his broad chest. Goku laughed and held her in his arms. "Ohayo, Paresu-chan. You that happy to see me?"
Paresu pulled back to look into her mentor's face. She smiled sweetly, hitting him affectionately on the chest. "Of course I do, sempai." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before stepping away to look around. "Where's Goten-kun? Isn't he here yet?"
"Iie, not yet. Actually, he should show up--" he paused as he noticed a strong ki approaching the house, "--any second now."
As if planned, Goten touched down outside the newly rebuilt home, having sensed his father and Paresu within. He walked across a recently re-seeded front lawn towards the house, admiring the recent construction. When Goku emerged with his student, Goten couldn't help himself any longer. Like the little boy he never was, Goten dashed the rest of the way and seized his father in a great bearhug. "Yosh'!! Haha!!"
Goku happily returned the hug. "Hai... hai... Goten," he said, though his words sounded a bit strained. Goku's face was slowly turning red. "Your... real strong... you mind... lettin' up?" the elder Saiyajin asked, his face now a soft shade of purple.
"Ara, gomen, tousan." Abashed, Goten stepped away to let his father breathe. Bowing formally, Goten greeted his father more sedately, then nodded to Paresu. "Ohayo, Paresu-kun. It's good to see you again."
"Doyo ni," she responded with a cute little curtsey. Of course, anything she did was either cute or little considering she was shorter than both men by over half a foot. "I'm really looking forward to training with the great 'Demon Killer'," she said with a laugh
Goku looked down at her a bit confused. "Who's zat?"
Goten scratched the back of his head. "Ah, it's nothing tousan. A lot of people think I killed Nagareboshi," he explained.
"Don'na demo," he replied with a shrug. "Let 'em think what they wanna. No big deal. So," he began, slapping his well-muscled stomach, "what're we gonna do 'bout dinner?"
"Sound's good, tousan. Demo, I can't cook."
"No problem! Paresu-chan can, honto?"
The young woman stared limply at her idol. "Don't you want to train first?" she asked, slightly annoyed.
"Iie, it's late and I'm hungry already. Lotta work today, ne?" As if to emphasize his point, Goku's stomach chose just that moment to rumble loudly. Putting his hands behind his head, Goku gave a short laugh. "See?"
Throwing her hands up in the air, Paresu gave up. However, her manner was betrayed by the smile on her face. "Hai, hai. What do you want for dinner?"
Goku tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Fish is good, I'll go catch some," he decided, nodding his head.
Goten looked a bit dubious at that. "Uhg, I've never been a big fan of fish. I prefer red meat. How 'bout I knock off a couple saurians?"
Goku nodded again, approving of his son's suggestion. "It's a plan then. Build a nice big fire Paresu-chan. I think we're gonna need it." At the same time, Goku and Goten took off in different directions, both waving behind them as the left.
Paresu smiled silently and walked around to the side of the house to gather enough firewood. The meal that night was very much a feast. Paresu had teleported back to the city to pick up some vegetables, which she prepared in any number of ways, to the delight of the two Saiyajin. They ate their fill, though Goku and Goten took considerably longer about it, and Goku announced he was going to bed.
As the sun set, Paresu and Goten sat outside and watched in awe as they were bathed in it's ruby glow. They were more or less silent spectators until Goten broke the quiet evening air. "You know, Paresu-kun, I think things are finally getting better. Tousan's back and Chikyuu's already on the mend. I feel blessed that I'm a part of that."
Paresu turned to face the young man, surprised and not a bit shocked to hear such a heartfelt admission from a rough- and-tumble Saiyajin. She studied his profile for a time. Goten's angular features were actually quite handsome, when he wasn't scowling. That made him look much too like Vegeta.
Wordlessly, Paresu got up from her seat beside the Saiyajin and prepared to retire for the night, pausing only to bend down and kiss Goten on the cheek. The young man was startled, but didn't say anything, only watching the sway of the girl's retreating figure. Goten touched his cheek, still feeling her soft lips on his face. He turned back to the sunset with a dreamy sort of smile on his face. [Sugoi...]
~~~~~
"OK, let's get started, eh?" Goku offered the following morning. The three had sat around the small kitchen table chatting idly in little spurts. During a brief silence, Goku missed the knowing glance Paresu had thrown at Goten, as well as the young man's blushing response. However, neither mentioned the previous evenings exchange. "So? What'dya say?"
Goten stood, pushing back the chair. "That's what I was waiting to hear!" he said eagerly. He flashed a smile and waved two fingers in a "V". Paresu smiled to herself and followed the two excited Saiyajin outside. "What's first on the agenda, tousan?"
"Nani? Oh, you mean what's first. I know you can both fight, so how 'bout a free-for-all to get things rolling?"
Goten looked to Paresu for her opinion. She shrugged and when the both turned back to Goku, he was already charging towards them. Goten was used to that type of tactic from Vegeta and managed to defend himself, only being driven back a few meters by the rush, but the startled young woman at his side was quickly bowled over.
Goten jumped and whirled for a kick to his father's back. Goku blocked it and lunged in for a punch to the gut, but Goten was ready for it and rolled over the strike. He kicked his father in the head and flipped away to land near Paresu. Helping her to her feet, "You okay?"
Paresu kneed him in the stomach and flipped Goten onto his back. Smiling down at him, "Free-for-all, remember?" She punched down at his chest, but Goku rammed her, not roughly but enough to push her away. With reflexes only a Saiyajin could muster, Goten thrust both his feet up and caught his speeding father in the stomach. Goten the flipped to his feet and smacked away a ki bolt Paresu had fired. Goku fired his own a split second later, but Goten spun and kicked it, then fired ki beams towards both aggressors.
Paresu barely dodged it in time and rolled away as the father and son flew up to in a fury of fists and feet. [I think I'm waaaaay out of my league here!] Concentrating, Paresu called up the final technique Goku had taught her. "KAIOU- KEN!!!" The red aura burst around her, casting the area in red light. Paresu was actually surprised how far up she could push her ki.
Powering into the air faster than ever before, Paresu flipped at the last moment and dove upwards into Goten's face, then flipped off it and turned to fire a ki blast at Goku at point-blank range. Goku was pushed back, then flew in, winding up for a punch. Suddenly, Goten fell from the air and grabbed both of them by the head. As a group, they plummeted to the ground and Goten drove both heads into the turf before jumping back, blasting away the ground around them with a ki bolt.
Goku jumped up out of the rubble and flew straight ahead, then used the Shunkan Idou to teleport around back. Caught unaware, Goku smashed the younger Saiyajin in the back then grabbed his leg and flung him into Paresu, who had just dragged herself out of the crater. Goten barreled into her, but immediately flipped over and flung the girl at her mentor.
Goku easily caught the girl in his arms and she thanked him be punching the man in the face. She then kicked him soundly in the chest and fired a ki bolt at Goten. However, Goten was already closing in and smacked it aside before slamming into she and Goku respectively. He wrestled the other two to the ground and held them pinned, placing a forearm under either's chin. "Ha, gotcha! Yatta!" he gloated with a wide grin.
Paresu was exhausted, her aura having faded on impact, and Goku was too busy laughing to retaliate. "Hahaha! Ore kofuku! I surrender! You win! Hahaha!" Goten stood and helped the two to their feet. Goku stepped back to dust himself off, but Paresu leaned into Goten and kissed him quickly on the cheek again. The young Saiyajin tried fiercely to control his blush and was glad when Goku announced, "Let's take a break, ne?"
Goku ducked back into the house to grab a drink. Goten was about to ask Paresu why she had been teasing him like that, but when he turned to face her, she was gone. Exasperated, Goten flopped down onto the lawn and watched the clouds float by, forcing himself to ignore her advances. Goten sighed inwardly as a familiar song popped into his head once again.
~~~~~
During a lull in their sparring, Goku approached his son, a big grin on his face. "Goten, I want to show you something."
"Hai, tousan? What is it?"
"C'mere. Follow me."
Goten obediently followed his father farther away from the house, waving to Paresu as they passed. Goku nodded and he took off into the air, his son right behind him. They flew for several minutes before Goku raised his hand for a halt. He set down on a particularly high and mist enshrouded plateau and Goten joined him, wondering what it could possibly be. "C'mon tousan. What's so important?"
"I want show you this," he said, waving his hand across the fog-hidden horizon. Bunching the muscles in one arm, Goku thrust out and open palm and pushed the very air away in a great gust. The mist parted, revealing a beautiful jungle valley. A sparkling waterfall crashed into a crystal clear pool at the far end and the wide, flat leaves of sprawling trees were covered with dew.
Goten was awe-struck at the sight. The pure, untainted magnificence of the valley was nearly beyond comprehension. That such a place could exist in this battle-scarred world must have truly been a miracle. "Tousan... It's beautiful. When...? I mean --"
"I know," he said, raising one hand. "I found this a long time ago, I was just a kid. It was the greatest thing I had ever seen--" he paused, "--next to your kaasan of course. I decided I'd keep this place a secret between me and okaasama Chikyuu. I've never found a good reason to come here again until now."
"Oh? Doshite?"
"There's something I wanna teach you, Goten-kun. I learned this from my first sensei, Kame-sen'nin. I also taught this to your niisan, Gohan. Now I wanna teach you. The Kamehameha." Without another word, Goku drew back, cupping his hands at his side.
Quickly, Goten copied the pose. There was a kind of rushing exulted feeling in his heart that seemed to tell him 'Hurry, baka! He may only do this once!' But Goten knew that wasn't true. His father would repeat himself all day and all night if it meant he could pass on just this one thing to his son.
The two practiced for may hours, even well after Goten had mastered the technique. The sheer joy of being together with his father now was enough to keep Goten going for weeks, months on end. When the low hung sun announced the arrival of dusk, the elder Saiyajin finally called an end to the lesson. They had resolved to return home the next day, despite ready access to the Shunkan Idou.
As they lay next to each other, the last thing Goten said to his father that night was the one thing Goku had yearned to hear. "Aishiteru, tousan."
~~~~~
It went on like that for the next couple of weeks, although because Goku and Goten had to push their fighting powers down, Paresu was the only one really benefitting from their sparring sessions. One early morning Goten had risen early to find his father sitting at the table in silence, soaking in the first rays of golden light from outside. Without looking, Goku beckoned his son over to sit next to him.
Goten pulled up a chair and turned it around backwards before sitting down. Resting his head on his arms, Goten glanced only momentarily at the new day's dawn before turning to face his father. "Tousan," he whispered in the way people do so early in the morning. "What are you thinking about?"
Goku smiled a bit sadly before answering. "The gold-colored sun... reminds me of... Super Saiyajin..." He shook his head and took another drink from a mug of water.
Goten's brow nit, trying to make sense of what his father had just said. [What a...strange thing to say...] "What do you mean by that, tousan?" he asked slowly.
"For all my power..." As if finally realizing Goten was there, Goku turned to face his son. "I keep getting stronger, but I keep feeling like things just get worse. When I can finally handle one battle, the next is always too much for me..." Goten was mortified at this sudden revelation into his father's thoughts, but was too stunned to interrupt. "I keep thinking I'm helping out, just trying to fight back against something bad, ne? Demo, ore..." He stopped suddenly, his eyes widening. Quite unexpectedly, Goku dropped the mug and buried his head in his hands, his broad shoulders shaking with heavy sobs.
Goten immediately wrapped his arms around the weeping Saiyajin, cooing as if to a baby to help relax the usually intense, strong-willed man. Goten himself felt weak with shock at his father's grief and tried to shake the sudden feeling of dread that hit the pit of his stomach harder than any blow. The time for words had passed, and Goku still held that mournful pose of sorrow.
Roused from sleep, Paresu stumbled into the kitchen yawning into a hand. She was still a bit tired, but the sight of Goku, crying his eyes out, shook the drowsiness from her mind. Paresu froze, shaking her head as if to deny that this wasn't happening. Goten turned to look at her, his eyes pleading. 'Help me' they said. 'I don't know what to do. Please help my father. Please.'
Paresu rushed over to the weeping man, her bare feet slapping on the cold, smooth kitchen floor. She threw herself onto Goku, hugging him for all her worth. The two youths sat in silence, both nearly on the verge of tears themselves. The sun rose on time, unheeding of one man's plight.
Hours had passed and Goku had long since stopped crying, but neither of his two children, one true by blood, the other adopted through love, dared move from his still form. When Goku's voice finally shattered the oppressive mood, it was broken and strained through a tight throat. "Bad thoughts..."
~~~~~
Amatsu Mikaboshi watched the Saiyajin's agony with glee, ignorant of Bishamon's startled and confused cries. While the samurai god scrambled to find out what was the matter, the dark lord chuckled mentally. [This is just the beginning. Soon I will have my opportunity. Soon...]
A Dragon Ball Z fanfiction
by Son Goharotto (son_goharotto@hotmail.com)
Welcome to Dragon Ball Yugure Z, my personal pet project. This is what I like to call a "multi-generational alternaverse epic." Expect a complex story spanning several volumes that are littered with cliff-hangers and titanic battles. DBYZ has been revised in its entirety. While some episodes have merely been ridden of typos, others have been rewritten completely. I'll be starting from the beginning at one episode a day so new readers can join in, undaunted by DBYZ's length, and old readers can review past events. All this is leading up to the new Episode 37, from which I'll try to keep a normal updating pace instead of letting this be forgotten as it once was.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I mgiht wish it not to be, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama-sama and many others who (unfortunately) aren't me. I'm not trying to make any money off of this and it's just a way for me to show my love of all things Dragon Ball. Well, except maybe GT. Bleah. I is teh poor, so don't sue me.
WARNINGS: As a whole, this series contains mature language (usually in Japanese), graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
NOTES: A liberal amount of Japanese vocabulary is sprinkled throughout, though nothing extremely important is ever said in another language that isn't translated. Mostly just basic Otaku Japanese. I've compiled a list of phrases I use on my homepage here: www.enpitsudo-dojo.com/libjapanese.html.
"dialogue"
""layered voice"" (Fusion, for example)
{alien language}
[thoughts, telepathy, memories]
_stressed words_
*sounds*
~scene change~
Volume III -- Revelations
Episode 21 -- A Time to Bond!! Bad Thoughts!?
Goku reached down and touched the floor, stretching his back. It felt good to be back in the old routine as he cycled through the various exercises. Goku was expecting Paresu and his son to show up for a training session later and he was very eager to get started.
He was tremendously excited at the thought of sparring with Goten. His son had learned much over the years under Vegeta and Goku really wanted to test his son's fighting power. Paresu however, might be left out of a few spars, considering she was so weak in comparison, but she was the forgiving type, so Goku didn't give it much thought.
Goku stood up straight and took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. There was always a sense of calm about Paozu that helped Goku relax. This had always been his home, long before he had ever met Bulma or heard about the Dragonballs. Goku smiled, resolving to find Suuchinchu the four-star Dragonball, so he could tell his adoptive grandfather how things were going.
Turning around, Goku walked back into the house. However, this wasn't old Son Gohan's little pagoda. This was the house Goku once lived in with a beautiful wife and a wonderful child. He spent the past couple of weeks completely rebuilding the ruin, though it still felt a tug at his heart every now and then.
Goku reached out to touch a wall, almost tenderly. The house itself was different, but the feel of it was the same. The aging Saiyajin half expected his late wife to walk out Gohan's room and scold him for distracting their son from his studies with wild ideas about turning their boy into a fighter. But those times were long gone and Goku firmly set those memories aside. This was a different lifetime and perhaps he could help restore Chikyuu to the way it was before Nagareboshi.
Goku couldn't help but to laugh out loud. The demon was locked away in the Dead Zone, that is if anything was left after his Perfect Kamehameha. It was strange, but Goku felt almost malicious in thought at that moment, and it scared him. [What was that...?] He shook his head and those dark thoughts vanished. [Hope that won't happen anymore, don't feel right...]
Quite suddenly, Paresu materialized out of thin air just next to Goku. With a happy shout she flung her arms around him and snuggled into his broad chest. Goku laughed and held her in his arms. "Ohayo, Paresu-chan. You that happy to see me?"
Paresu pulled back to look into her mentor's face. She smiled sweetly, hitting him affectionately on the chest. "Of course I do, sempai." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before stepping away to look around. "Where's Goten-kun? Isn't he here yet?"
"Iie, not yet. Actually, he should show up--" he paused as he noticed a strong ki approaching the house, "--any second now."
As if planned, Goten touched down outside the newly rebuilt home, having sensed his father and Paresu within. He walked across a recently re-seeded front lawn towards the house, admiring the recent construction. When Goku emerged with his student, Goten couldn't help himself any longer. Like the little boy he never was, Goten dashed the rest of the way and seized his father in a great bearhug. "Yosh'!! Haha!!"
Goku happily returned the hug. "Hai... hai... Goten," he said, though his words sounded a bit strained. Goku's face was slowly turning red. "Your... real strong... you mind... lettin' up?" the elder Saiyajin asked, his face now a soft shade of purple.
"Ara, gomen, tousan." Abashed, Goten stepped away to let his father breathe. Bowing formally, Goten greeted his father more sedately, then nodded to Paresu. "Ohayo, Paresu-kun. It's good to see you again."
"Doyo ni," she responded with a cute little curtsey. Of course, anything she did was either cute or little considering she was shorter than both men by over half a foot. "I'm really looking forward to training with the great 'Demon Killer'," she said with a laugh
Goku looked down at her a bit confused. "Who's zat?"
Goten scratched the back of his head. "Ah, it's nothing tousan. A lot of people think I killed Nagareboshi," he explained.
"Don'na demo," he replied with a shrug. "Let 'em think what they wanna. No big deal. So," he began, slapping his well-muscled stomach, "what're we gonna do 'bout dinner?"
"Sound's good, tousan. Demo, I can't cook."
"No problem! Paresu-chan can, honto?"
The young woman stared limply at her idol. "Don't you want to train first?" she asked, slightly annoyed.
"Iie, it's late and I'm hungry already. Lotta work today, ne?" As if to emphasize his point, Goku's stomach chose just that moment to rumble loudly. Putting his hands behind his head, Goku gave a short laugh. "See?"
Throwing her hands up in the air, Paresu gave up. However, her manner was betrayed by the smile on her face. "Hai, hai. What do you want for dinner?"
Goku tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Fish is good, I'll go catch some," he decided, nodding his head.
Goten looked a bit dubious at that. "Uhg, I've never been a big fan of fish. I prefer red meat. How 'bout I knock off a couple saurians?"
Goku nodded again, approving of his son's suggestion. "It's a plan then. Build a nice big fire Paresu-chan. I think we're gonna need it." At the same time, Goku and Goten took off in different directions, both waving behind them as the left.
Paresu smiled silently and walked around to the side of the house to gather enough firewood. The meal that night was very much a feast. Paresu had teleported back to the city to pick up some vegetables, which she prepared in any number of ways, to the delight of the two Saiyajin. They ate their fill, though Goku and Goten took considerably longer about it, and Goku announced he was going to bed.
As the sun set, Paresu and Goten sat outside and watched in awe as they were bathed in it's ruby glow. They were more or less silent spectators until Goten broke the quiet evening air. "You know, Paresu-kun, I think things are finally getting better. Tousan's back and Chikyuu's already on the mend. I feel blessed that I'm a part of that."
Paresu turned to face the young man, surprised and not a bit shocked to hear such a heartfelt admission from a rough- and-tumble Saiyajin. She studied his profile for a time. Goten's angular features were actually quite handsome, when he wasn't scowling. That made him look much too like Vegeta.
Wordlessly, Paresu got up from her seat beside the Saiyajin and prepared to retire for the night, pausing only to bend down and kiss Goten on the cheek. The young man was startled, but didn't say anything, only watching the sway of the girl's retreating figure. Goten touched his cheek, still feeling her soft lips on his face. He turned back to the sunset with a dreamy sort of smile on his face. [Sugoi...]
~~~~~
"OK, let's get started, eh?" Goku offered the following morning. The three had sat around the small kitchen table chatting idly in little spurts. During a brief silence, Goku missed the knowing glance Paresu had thrown at Goten, as well as the young man's blushing response. However, neither mentioned the previous evenings exchange. "So? What'dya say?"
Goten stood, pushing back the chair. "That's what I was waiting to hear!" he said eagerly. He flashed a smile and waved two fingers in a "V". Paresu smiled to herself and followed the two excited Saiyajin outside. "What's first on the agenda, tousan?"
"Nani? Oh, you mean what's first. I know you can both fight, so how 'bout a free-for-all to get things rolling?"
Goten looked to Paresu for her opinion. She shrugged and when the both turned back to Goku, he was already charging towards them. Goten was used to that type of tactic from Vegeta and managed to defend himself, only being driven back a few meters by the rush, but the startled young woman at his side was quickly bowled over.
Goten jumped and whirled for a kick to his father's back. Goku blocked it and lunged in for a punch to the gut, but Goten was ready for it and rolled over the strike. He kicked his father in the head and flipped away to land near Paresu. Helping her to her feet, "You okay?"
Paresu kneed him in the stomach and flipped Goten onto his back. Smiling down at him, "Free-for-all, remember?" She punched down at his chest, but Goku rammed her, not roughly but enough to push her away. With reflexes only a Saiyajin could muster, Goten thrust both his feet up and caught his speeding father in the stomach. Goten the flipped to his feet and smacked away a ki bolt Paresu had fired. Goku fired his own a split second later, but Goten spun and kicked it, then fired ki beams towards both aggressors.
Paresu barely dodged it in time and rolled away as the father and son flew up to in a fury of fists and feet. [I think I'm waaaaay out of my league here!] Concentrating, Paresu called up the final technique Goku had taught her. "KAIOU- KEN!!!" The red aura burst around her, casting the area in red light. Paresu was actually surprised how far up she could push her ki.
Powering into the air faster than ever before, Paresu flipped at the last moment and dove upwards into Goten's face, then flipped off it and turned to fire a ki blast at Goku at point-blank range. Goku was pushed back, then flew in, winding up for a punch. Suddenly, Goten fell from the air and grabbed both of them by the head. As a group, they plummeted to the ground and Goten drove both heads into the turf before jumping back, blasting away the ground around them with a ki bolt.
Goku jumped up out of the rubble and flew straight ahead, then used the Shunkan Idou to teleport around back. Caught unaware, Goku smashed the younger Saiyajin in the back then grabbed his leg and flung him into Paresu, who had just dragged herself out of the crater. Goten barreled into her, but immediately flipped over and flung the girl at her mentor.
Goku easily caught the girl in his arms and she thanked him be punching the man in the face. She then kicked him soundly in the chest and fired a ki bolt at Goten. However, Goten was already closing in and smacked it aside before slamming into she and Goku respectively. He wrestled the other two to the ground and held them pinned, placing a forearm under either's chin. "Ha, gotcha! Yatta!" he gloated with a wide grin.
Paresu was exhausted, her aura having faded on impact, and Goku was too busy laughing to retaliate. "Hahaha! Ore kofuku! I surrender! You win! Hahaha!" Goten stood and helped the two to their feet. Goku stepped back to dust himself off, but Paresu leaned into Goten and kissed him quickly on the cheek again. The young Saiyajin tried fiercely to control his blush and was glad when Goku announced, "Let's take a break, ne?"
Goku ducked back into the house to grab a drink. Goten was about to ask Paresu why she had been teasing him like that, but when he turned to face her, she was gone. Exasperated, Goten flopped down onto the lawn and watched the clouds float by, forcing himself to ignore her advances. Goten sighed inwardly as a familiar song popped into his head once again.
~~~~~
During a lull in their sparring, Goku approached his son, a big grin on his face. "Goten, I want to show you something."
"Hai, tousan? What is it?"
"C'mere. Follow me."
Goten obediently followed his father farther away from the house, waving to Paresu as they passed. Goku nodded and he took off into the air, his son right behind him. They flew for several minutes before Goku raised his hand for a halt. He set down on a particularly high and mist enshrouded plateau and Goten joined him, wondering what it could possibly be. "C'mon tousan. What's so important?"
"I want show you this," he said, waving his hand across the fog-hidden horizon. Bunching the muscles in one arm, Goku thrust out and open palm and pushed the very air away in a great gust. The mist parted, revealing a beautiful jungle valley. A sparkling waterfall crashed into a crystal clear pool at the far end and the wide, flat leaves of sprawling trees were covered with dew.
Goten was awe-struck at the sight. The pure, untainted magnificence of the valley was nearly beyond comprehension. That such a place could exist in this battle-scarred world must have truly been a miracle. "Tousan... It's beautiful. When...? I mean --"
"I know," he said, raising one hand. "I found this a long time ago, I was just a kid. It was the greatest thing I had ever seen--" he paused, "--next to your kaasan of course. I decided I'd keep this place a secret between me and okaasama Chikyuu. I've never found a good reason to come here again until now."
"Oh? Doshite?"
"There's something I wanna teach you, Goten-kun. I learned this from my first sensei, Kame-sen'nin. I also taught this to your niisan, Gohan. Now I wanna teach you. The Kamehameha." Without another word, Goku drew back, cupping his hands at his side.
Quickly, Goten copied the pose. There was a kind of rushing exulted feeling in his heart that seemed to tell him 'Hurry, baka! He may only do this once!' But Goten knew that wasn't true. His father would repeat himself all day and all night if it meant he could pass on just this one thing to his son.
The two practiced for may hours, even well after Goten had mastered the technique. The sheer joy of being together with his father now was enough to keep Goten going for weeks, months on end. When the low hung sun announced the arrival of dusk, the elder Saiyajin finally called an end to the lesson. They had resolved to return home the next day, despite ready access to the Shunkan Idou.
As they lay next to each other, the last thing Goten said to his father that night was the one thing Goku had yearned to hear. "Aishiteru, tousan."
~~~~~
It went on like that for the next couple of weeks, although because Goku and Goten had to push their fighting powers down, Paresu was the only one really benefitting from their sparring sessions. One early morning Goten had risen early to find his father sitting at the table in silence, soaking in the first rays of golden light from outside. Without looking, Goku beckoned his son over to sit next to him.
Goten pulled up a chair and turned it around backwards before sitting down. Resting his head on his arms, Goten glanced only momentarily at the new day's dawn before turning to face his father. "Tousan," he whispered in the way people do so early in the morning. "What are you thinking about?"
Goku smiled a bit sadly before answering. "The gold-colored sun... reminds me of... Super Saiyajin..." He shook his head and took another drink from a mug of water.
Goten's brow nit, trying to make sense of what his father had just said. [What a...strange thing to say...] "What do you mean by that, tousan?" he asked slowly.
"For all my power..." As if finally realizing Goten was there, Goku turned to face his son. "I keep getting stronger, but I keep feeling like things just get worse. When I can finally handle one battle, the next is always too much for me..." Goten was mortified at this sudden revelation into his father's thoughts, but was too stunned to interrupt. "I keep thinking I'm helping out, just trying to fight back against something bad, ne? Demo, ore..." He stopped suddenly, his eyes widening. Quite unexpectedly, Goku dropped the mug and buried his head in his hands, his broad shoulders shaking with heavy sobs.
Goten immediately wrapped his arms around the weeping Saiyajin, cooing as if to a baby to help relax the usually intense, strong-willed man. Goten himself felt weak with shock at his father's grief and tried to shake the sudden feeling of dread that hit the pit of his stomach harder than any blow. The time for words had passed, and Goku still held that mournful pose of sorrow.
Roused from sleep, Paresu stumbled into the kitchen yawning into a hand. She was still a bit tired, but the sight of Goku, crying his eyes out, shook the drowsiness from her mind. Paresu froze, shaking her head as if to deny that this wasn't happening. Goten turned to look at her, his eyes pleading. 'Help me' they said. 'I don't know what to do. Please help my father. Please.'
Paresu rushed over to the weeping man, her bare feet slapping on the cold, smooth kitchen floor. She threw herself onto Goku, hugging him for all her worth. The two youths sat in silence, both nearly on the verge of tears themselves. The sun rose on time, unheeding of one man's plight.
Hours had passed and Goku had long since stopped crying, but neither of his two children, one true by blood, the other adopted through love, dared move from his still form. When Goku's voice finally shattered the oppressive mood, it was broken and strained through a tight throat. "Bad thoughts..."
~~~~~
Amatsu Mikaboshi watched the Saiyajin's agony with glee, ignorant of Bishamon's startled and confused cries. While the samurai god scrambled to find out what was the matter, the dark lord chuckled mentally. [This is just the beginning. Soon I will have my opportunity. Soon...]