Author's Note: First, I'd like to mention that I own nothing except the plot and my own characters. If I had owned DragonBall Z I'd be sitting on a beach in Hawaii instead of sitting in my bedroom where there's like a foot of snow outside. Second, this story was written in August 2004, but don't ask why I put off posting it until now. I suppose the success of my more recent DBZ fic (Shadowed Spirit) motivated me. This story is actually comprised of several previous stories I had written long ago, but put together in a much nicer fashion and with more additions. It is my own little tale of Kaioshin's life. Some chapters are rather short, but they serve their purpose. The only I will apologize for ahead of time is any typos, grammatical or spelling errors you might pick up. I do believe I had edited most of it sometime after I finished it, but I'm much too lazy to read through all 84 pages again. The story is complete, but it will take me a few days to get post everything since I have to change formats and stuff and it's much too late to do so now. Please review, but most of all, enjoy!

Privilege and Despair

The Life of Kaioshin

Part 1

Chapter 1

Miyabita Touten rocked comfortably in her rocking chair that sat outside on the porch of the small house she shared with her husband. It was a perfect day. The sky was clear of all clouds, the magnificent purple looking as luscious as a piece of ripe fruit. The air smelt like a field of wild flowers, and there was just enough of a breeze to keep things cool. Such was a normal day on the Kai Planet—the only planet that wasn't part of the vast universe that surrounded it.

The Kai Planet was inhabited by the oldest race to have ever existed—the Kais. These people are simple and usually friendly in nature, taking great pride in not only themselves, but their work and loved ones. Such a planet like this was only found in Other World, which to some would be considered heaven; to others it was simply a separate space where people go when they die.

The light flutter of air barely lifted a few strands of the silky-smooth blue hair that lay over Miyabita's shoulders. Lately she had been feeling so weak and tired, but today she had a chance to sit down and do nothing.

Then there was a small bump inside her stomach. Miyabita smiled and rested her light-purple skinned hand on the large swell. It had been seven months since she found out the good news. Any day now, Miyabita Touten and her husband Keikan would be parents. It would be their first child. Although they were older than most parents in the neighborhood, they hadn't had much success in the past with pregnancies. The first three were miscarriages, and then there was the still birth, and next another miscarriage. But finally, after so long, Miyabita and Keikan were lucky enough to be blessed with the gift of either a baby girl or boy.

"Well someone's certainly letting her mind wonder," a soft male voice said.

Miyabita looked up from her stomach and met eyes with her husband. He was similar in stature compared to her, not very tall and built on the thinner side. His complexion was much darker, except for the pure-white hair that sat on top of his head.

"You're home early," she said. Putting both hands on the arms of the chair and pushing herself to her feet, Miyabita held out her arms for a greeting hug, which her husband acknowledged instantly.

"Business was slow today," Keikan replied. "Besides, you're close to the date. I wanted to make sure you were alright, my darling."

Miyabita waved her hand in a non-sense sort of matter. "I'm fine. I didn't do much today. I mostly sat inside working on the blanket for our baby."

"How's it coming?"

"Its inside," she said as she opened the door to the house and entered.

The furnishings were typical of a normal middle-class Kai family; the rooms were comfortably dressed with color, furniture, and an array of art. The Toutens were not rich people, nor did they wish to be. Keikan was a craftsman, making unique items out of wood or other fine materials, decorating them with rare gems or giving it a one-of-a-kind painted texture. His work was done in the town market, where other people either sold or bought whatever one could think of.

Keikan followed his wife into the main living quarters of their small home and was amazed at the progress she had made since that very morning.

"Do you think he'll like it?" Miyabita asked as she held up the finished blanket, consisting of pale blues, oranges, and reds.

Keikan nodded, letting out a small laugh. "What makes you so sure our child will be a boy?"

Miyabita looked thoughtfully down at her large stomach and smiled. "I just know."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was barely dawn when Keikan heard a loud moan from his wife next to him in their bed. Without even asking he knew that the baby was on its way. He wasted no time calling a priapi, or as some would say a midwife.

Keikan was told he would be of no use to stay in the room with his suffering wife as she struggled to give birth to their child. He could hear the screams, the moans, the urges from the priapi to not give up and that it was almost over.

Minutes became hours, and hours became an entire morning and afternoon. Keikan hadn't eaten a single crumb all day; in fact, he hadn't left the small sitting space outside of his bedroom. His mind kept playing tricks on him, thinking of possible scenarios, like he discovered himself living only two years ago when Miyabita had given birth to a dead babe, naturally no fault of her own.

The sudden high-pitched cry from the other side of the door was the only thing that caught Keikan's attention. Immediately bouncing to his feet and reaching for the doorknob, Keikan was ready to face the new member of his beloved family.

Opening the door slowly and cautiously, Keikan saw Miyabita being given a small blanket-wrapped bundle. She looked extremely tired while sitting up in bed with her face covered in sweat.

Miyabita's eyes caught sight of her husband peeking into the room. She smiled, but was too weak to call for him. The priapi, however, waved him over and gave a broad smile over her pale pink face. "Congratulations on your new baby boy."

Keikan had never felt such a happy feeling being washed over his body. Their first baby; the baby they had been praying for ever since they had been married eight years ago.

Keikan was careful not to crowd his wife, but sat down next to her legs and looked over at the small bundle in her arms. The only visible part of his new son was his little head. He was amazed at how much this little baby already looked so much like Miyabita. The only thing that differed between him and his mother was the little bit of white hair that was matted to his soft and smooth head.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" Miyabita said softly, tears welding up in her eyes. "We've waited so long for you, little one."

"Have you chosen a name?"

"May I?" Keikan nodded. Miyabita brought her hand up and brushed her index finger over her son's small cheek. "I've always liked the name Migikai. I think it suits him well."

"Migikai Touten it is then," Keikan said proudly. "I can already tell he'll grow up into a fine Kai."

"Yes, well he won't be growing very much if you keep him awake all night," the priapi sad after tapping Keikan on the shoulder. "They both need rest. You can make plans for the boy's future tomorrow."

Keikan had no desire to leave. He wanted to spend every fraction of his time with his wife and son. Yet he knew how tired they both were. Migikai's cries had already subsided, even before Keikan walked into the room completely. Miyabita wanted to hold her son for eternity, but her eyes barely served her enough to stay open.

"Sleep well," Keikan said as he kissed his wife goodnight. "And you as well, my young Migikai."

Once Keikan had left the room, Miyabita's entire focus remained on her son as he was brought to his small cradle only a few steps away from where she lay in bed. The priapi would stay the night and tend to anything Migikai needed, allowing Miyabita to rest. But rest would not come easy this night, for all she could think about was the little boy that she had wanted since she was a little girl.