Hallo again. Yes, another update! Which, since I'm writing it overnight, may be either short or shoddy… hopefully the first if it must be one or the other! Sorry, I'm cold, and the heater just ain't doing enough…
Lady Sakura-chan: No such. That is my light half's version of the perfect room, only it needs plants and the walls painted in a kaleidoscope of colors. My version of a perfect room is more like Vegeta's. What I have is a mess of papers, clothes, and other assorted odds & ends… As for the multi-chappy updates, well, they're pretty much essential.
Minna-sama no megami: Call him Kuroku, by all means… come to think of it, mind if I use that? It just might come in handy later…
Suisheu: Were you flaming? I finally got one, I think, but it wasn't from you, or for this story. Cranky person wrote it - I've actually found a Chi-Chi fan. Bulma, by my rough calculations, was 70-some odd years old, or maybe early 80's. Mostly, she died of age, with a nasty bit of a memory-destroying disease. (I have no idea what it is, due to the fact it only exists in the DBZ world cause I don't want it here.) Um, I know the time is getting a bit blurry, that's my fault. I've gotten a bit lost myself - need to print it all out (minus A/N's) and get that figured out. Each give.. Oh! No. Trunks was with Goten - and Goten always knocks. Trunks forgot what he wanted to talk to his dad about, and I can't read his mind. Only Vegeta, Kuroku (thanks minna!), and occasionally Goten's.
Tatoosh: Yeah, there's a bit of… I don't want to call it reconciliation yet… but it's starting. You're the only one who noticed… er, commented, on that particular oddity. Attention to detail, that's a good thing. The detail stands. No, it isn't fun feeling trapped, worthless and incompetent, and no one should have to, but a lot of us do. J Yes, indeed, why should he??? I think I'm up to 5, or 6?
The-only-sabi-san: Yeah, well I made it up there the other day and discovered I was slightly off… the doors aren't exactly spiderwebby after all. I know, I know, shouldn't'a gone, but oh well. The occasional splurge (oh, wow, I bought a sticker..) is allowed. MONKEY PLEASURE??? Are you serious????? *snickers* What a thing for Gokuraku to mean… *falls on floor, will get up and type more later… when she quits laughing*
Ciily siyn: yeah, the reasons why and wherefore are to be revealed. At least, that's the plan. I've been writing a chapter or so a night, generally, on several different fics. That's part of the reason they're always so short - and short is easier to update quickly.
Agent -182-: For some reason, I'm thinking me no has signed reviews from you… but I'm glad you like the ficcy!
DarkSerapha: Oh, you're the one? *thinks* Talon, too, wasn't it? Yes, chatting would be nice. *Glares at anyone reading who works for Sprint - FIX IT!* Actually, I've discovered that there is actually a local number (finally), so I may just drop the ld and Earthlink for that. Maybe. I'll still have a horrible bill if this doesn't get resolved, and they'll probably shut the phone off while I'm fighting them. It's going to do horrible things to that deal that passes for my credit rating. Yeah, I tend to pick on Goku… I forget how many times I've killed him or worse, and he never seems to die prettily… *whimpers* why is everyone calling me evil? Oh, wait. Maybe I should be proud of that? How cool of you to send me the lyrics! I don't have that one, but I know & love the song… it may find its way into the ficcy now!
Mitchell: *blink* *blink blink blink* Um, you just implied I can draw. I can manage a fairly decent Vegeta, can't draw Goku at all (like I said, that pic was copied & edited), and barely managed to draw my 'self-portrait' Ally did the good one. Fan art, however, is accepted. (Blatant hint to readers with talent & the interest to provide such) I'll pull a Hella and get an MSN group for posting them up. Or just use my unused Yahoo group…
I've had a request for a dip into Goten's mind. It's a quickie.
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"Goku!" She ran for him, he swung her up and around, grinning hugely.
"Hey, Chi-Chi! You aren't mad at me anymore?"
"Oh, Goku, no. Of course not!" She looked up at him. "Wait a minute. Mad about what? What'd you do?"
"Radda. You're not mad about her anymore?"
"Rad… oh. No, Vegeta explained that. I told you that last night."
"But, Chi-Chi," Goku held her out at arm's length, "I wasn't here last night. I have a job! It pays really well, and I have my own room at my boss's house. I got a vacation this week, and I thought I'd come by and see if you were still mad at me. I'm glad you aren't. What's wrong? You look sick."
"You… you weren't here last night?" One hand pressed over her mouth. "I… didn't dream that, did I? No…. You were here. I saw you. We made love. I know we did!"
"Nope. I was in my room at my boss's house, trying to decide if it was safe to come back or not. I mean, I told Kuroichi to tell you guys I killed myself, because I was really feeling… all torn up, but I'm better now, and I missed you guys. So last night, I was trying to decide, and today I came." He pulled her close. "I've missed you so much. You must have missed me a lot to have dreamed that," he added, and kissed her.
"Kuroichi?" Goten tapped on the door. It swung open, so he walked in. "Kuroichi?" He looked behind the door, confused. No one was in the room. "Where are you?"
He pushed the door shut, making sure it latched properly, before looking around. "Kuroichi? Please. I'm sorry… about earlier. I was just upset. I should've knocked. I shouldn't've just barged in. Kuro?" His face twisted, tears beginning to flow. "Daddy, please…" He dropped to his knees next to the bed. His father wasn't here, he realized that now. But he kept talking, his voice slightly muffled by the pillow he buried his face in.
"Oh, Daddy… I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't tried to make you talk to me by telling you my problems, none of this wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't have had that extra trouble on your soul, and you wouldn't have taken Vegeta to the pool. I know about your special place, Daddy, where you used to go to cry. I even know you took Vegeta there to spar… and I know what happened.
"He told me, Daddy. I don't think he meant to, but he told me. And it happened twice. I wish I hadn't made you think that you couldn't talk to me, I wish you would have told me. Then maybe it wouldn't have happened again. Maybe you wouldn't have gone to Yardrat, you would have come to me instead.
"But, Daddy… I know you're so much happier with Vegeta than you were with Mom. All I have to do is look around. Or see you with him. I can tell… you love him the way I love Trunks." Goten gasped, a little hiccupping sob.
"Trunks told me… what he did… that he beat you. I'm so sorry… he did it because you were hurting me, and his mother, and taking his father away from him. I hate that he hates you, Daddy. I love you both so much… it's tearing me up, and I can't tell him what's wrong."
Goten hiccupped again, his tears soaking the pillow. "I hope you heal, Daddy. I don't care if you don't come back, just as long as you're better, and happy. Even if… even if you never accept or recognize me as your son again… I want you to be happy." His voice faded as he sagged down to the floor, emotionally spent.
He felt, distantly, someone pick him up off the floor, lay him on the bed. His eyes were too puffy and tearful to see, he only knew that it was someone who cared. He threw himself into comforting arms that wrapped around him and pulled him tightly against a strong chest. "You cry too much, boy," a rough voice said, even as strong hands rubbed his back gently.
"He's my daddy," Goten whimpered.
"Of course he is, mini baka. He's treating you the same way I used to treat Trunks. He knows he's your father, but he's too wrapped up in other things to care. I knocked him around for that… probably not the best thing to do," Vegeta added reflectively.
"No," Goten whispered.
"And you can't blame yourself for what I did. That… was my own choice, and I alone carry the blame." Vegeta sighed. "It is not something I would do now."
"You wouldn't have to now." Goten loosened his death clutch on Vegeta to wipe at his eyes. "You can just tell him to strip."
"Hn. That's not what I want, brat. I want him willing for his own sake, not just doing a job. I want your father happy, not hiding behind a smile like he did for so long, or that emotionless mask he has now. I want him to stop crying when he sleeps, and I want him to sleep longer than a few minutes at a time. I want his nightmares to end, but I'm the cause of some of them." Having finally gotten Goten's tears to stop, Vegeta pushed him back a little and tipped the younger man's head up. "Now, what was that about Trunks beating him?"
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… should I flee spork armies?
Vegeta: I am mush again.
Jewel: Yah, I know. Do you have a point?
Goku: Hey! I went home! I thought I loved Vegeta?
Jewel: You do. *looks at Vegeta, temporizes* In the story, I mean.
Goku: Oh. So… why am I at home with Chi-Chi?
Vegeta: Kakarot?
Goku: Yes?
Vegeta: Shut up. And believe me when I say you don't want to know. *eyes Jewel* Does he?
Jewel: Nope.