Disclaimer: All characters and worlds are copyright to their rightful, oh so awesome, owner - Toriyama Akira-sama. So don't sue me! I've got soooooo much stuff to buy, I can't spend little money I have on court or other things.

Beta'd by the greatest Jyasumine! ( jyasumine.deviantart. com)

On with the story & have a nice reading!

The Prince of Air by schu-was-here

04. Of parents and duties

"Here you go, honey," said Bulma, giving her daughter a piece of cake. The girl nodded in thanks and slowly began eating her grandmother's chocolate speciality. Her face was still tear stricken and a bit pale – the tail's appearance had been a great shock for her, no doubt about it. And it wasn't that she hated it. She thought it was kind of cute, fidgeting clumsily around like a little furry animal. It was just that some kids had called her names at the pool, some tags more nasty than others, like freak or monster.

'That bastard!' Bulma was furious with Vejiita's crazy and, as usual, selfish idea. He hadn't even wanted to listen to his daughter's opinion on the furry appendage, just left for the Lookout, for Gods knows what reason.

What made him think a little girl like Bra would ever want to have something like that sticking from under her skirt? Bulma knew she'd freak out if she had one. It had never bothered Gokuu of course, but that was Gokuu - too thick to let anything get to him anyway But her little daughter wasn't like that. She was like Bulma – feminine in every way, and a furry tail did not fit her at all.

Besides they lived in a city, not a forest. People would stare and bother her about it. Bra was a people's person, so unlike her father. She sought approval from her friends, always trying to keep up appearances. Her reputation may have already been damaged by Gokuu's irresponsible wish.

Yes, she was blaming her oldest friend for her daughter's problem, but she also blamed Vejiita for being a cold self-centred bastard, not caring about her and Bra's opinion. Gokuu would never have done something to deliberately hurt anyone, but the prince… Although not as cruel and despicable as before, he didn't usually bother with such 'petty' things as other people's feelings.

She had hoped he would be different after the fight with Buu. When she was told by Lord Enma that Vejiita had sacrificed himself to protect her and Trunks, she was sure he had finally changed.

Fat chance.

He had remained his distant, anti-sociable, aloof self. Maybe even more than he'd been before Gokuu's return. He never wanted to speak about their fight against the smallest version of Buu and every time she mentioned anything about the earth-raised Saiyajin, Vejiita would only grunt in response and leave to train in the GR or fly off to do whatever the hell it is grumpy alien princes do.

She suspected something had happened between those two, but she couldn't figure out what. Vejiita didn't seem so stuck on beating Gokuu anymore but still avoided him. His blazing desire for victory was somehow cooled, and all she could see in his eyes was firm determination. And Gokuu… Well, his joyful nature didn't change at all. He was still the boy she had met all those years ago, only matured… just a little bit. But his attitude towards Vejiita changed…

At first she had thought it was normal, Gokuu had been dead for seven years – he must've changed a little, but the fact was he didn't change at all. She noticed the change only after that fight with Buu and only when he was around Vejiita. He was somehow more subdued in the proud prince's presence and very… aware of him. It was almost as if Gokuu had done something bad and was trying to make it up to him. It partially made sense, Vejiita did act as if he was upset with Gokuu, just no longer angry and hateful towards him.

How the Saiyan brains worked was still a total mystery to her. When she heard Vejiita had actually agreed to train with Gokuu, she was so shocked she began to wonder what could possibly be next…

And Vejita actually seemed pleased when he returned home half dead!

The first time Gokuu had IT'ed into her lab with a blooded prince clinging to his arm for support she thought she'd faint...

"Hiya, Bulma!"

"Kyaaaa!" she almost jumped out of her skin. She absolutely hated his technique! She turned fuming to a grinning Gokuu, although it wasn't the usual ear-to-ear grin.

"Will you stop that? Just appearing like that out of nowhere, you're going to give me a heart attack!"

"Ehehe, Chichi says that too. Sorry," he scratched behind his head sheepishly. His tail was curled around his leg, the tip twitching in agitation. He noticed Bra sitting on the couch, an almost untouched cake sitting on a plate in her lap. It's that bad, he thought. He knew Vejiita's daughter had inherited her father's likeness for sweets, as much as the prince denied he had a sweet tooth.

"Son-kun, you…"

"Look, I'm sorry," he said ashamed, looking guiltily from Bulma to Bra. The girl looked at her mom's friend - her eyes were so sad it hurt Gokuu to see her like that. "I didn't think my wish would cause any damage to anyone. I'm sorry, that it upset you."

Bra hung her head and sniffed, the memory of the name-calling still fresh in her mind. Bulma went to sit on the couch, drawing the little demi-Sayajin into a hug.

"But what made you wish for something like this? Why now? You never seemed to worry about not having your tail." Bulma, though still angry, could see the remorse in Gokuu's eyes and knew he was honestly sorry.

"I… it just sorta… slipped," he said truthfully, embarrassed.

"Slipped?" Bulma pressed. She could easily believe that but she wanted to know more details about it.

"Yeah, uh, it was something I was telling Uub's family, about Saiyajin. Then the tail came up. And later I had this dream where we, Vejiita and me, both had them. It was on my mind when I went to stop Pilaf…"

"Pilaf?" Bulma asked incredulously.

"Yeah. He'd gathered the dragon balls and wanted to be king of the world again so I interfered. I had to make up something fast and the idea of tails was just there and it… slipped."

"I see." She had been right. He was so naïve. He just wanted to protect Earth, as usual. Sighing, she stood up and patted him gingerly on the shoulder.

"No matter. You did what you thought was best at that time."

"So, you're not angry with me?" Gokuu's eyes lit up hopefully, tail flicking. He didn't want her friend to hate him. Nor her daughter.

"No, Son-kun, I'm not," she shook her head. "It was just a shock for all of us, you know? Having tails literarily sprout out of a person might be quite frightening. Bra's friends were pretty terrified."

"Aw, Bra-chan…" he stepped cautiously to the girl, who was still sniffing silently. He brushed her hand with his tail, which made her look up at him. "I'm really, really, really sorry I made you sad." He curled and uncurled his tail in front of her face and looked at her puppy-eyed. That made her smile a little and to his delight, he saw the tip of her thin tail wiggle. "Forgive me?"

She nodded and smiled, but it quickly faded. She was still worried her friends would make fun of her.

"Look, Son-kun. The tails are already there. You made the wish without giving it much thought and blaming you won't un-wish them. But still, it isn't anything I can't deal with."

"Deal with?" Gokuu looked puzzled. He thought she was ok with them now.

"Yes, I can remove them by surgery. Cut them off, like when the kids were born."

"Cut off?"

"Nobody's cutting anything off," snapped Vejiita who has just arrived through the window. The deep frown on his face made it clear he wasn't pleased with what was going on. "I told you, woman. The tails. Are. Staying. Period."

Gokuu squirmed. They were fighting because of him.

"Like hell they are, Vejiita!" Bulma shook with anger, her face getting red. "Did you even consider anyone's feelings about that matter? I bet you didn't, you never do. You selfish bastard!"

Vejiita was about to answer, probably in a very unpleasant manner, but Gokuu stepped between them, trying to soothe their argument. He didn't want Bra to be witness to an all out war.

"Vejiita, you shouldn't make anyone keep their tails…"

"What the hell are you talking about, Kakarotto? You wished them back, didn't you?"

"Ah, it was sort of…" Gokuu stammered. Vejiita might get upset about the truth.

"He didn't do it on purpose," Bulma cut in. "He just wished for the first thing that came to his head, so it's not like he wanted them back."

"But Bulma, that's not entirely…" Gokuu did want them back.

"Shut up, woman. Why would he wish for them in the first place, then?"

"I did want…"

"He had to prevent Pilaf from…"

"Hey!" Gokuu shouted, his ki jolting up. Realizing a second later what he had done, he smiled sheepishly, a little unnerved by Bulma's stunned expression – he had never raised his voice at her.

"Look, can I say something?" he sighed, exasperated. He wanted to clear this up. There was so much commotion because of him already and he didn't want to make it more complicated. "I wasn't planning on wishing the tails back. I wasn't really thinking about anything when I made the wish." He heard something like 'That's no surprise,' from Vejiita. He grinned a bit, relieved by the normalcy of the comment, but then became serious again. "Still, I always have wanted and still do want to have the tail." Bulma was about to protest, but he cut her off. "But that doesn't mean I want to force it on anyone who doesn't want it."

Vejiita scowled at him.

"Just typical, Kakarotto. Acting before you think." he shrugged. "I don't really care if your brats keep it or not. But mine are going to," he shot Bulma a glare, that was returned just as fiercely, "and I will not change my mind."

"Oh, you make me sick! You're only thinking about yourself and your stupid Saiyan pride, as usual! They are my children too! And I will not watch you make them miserable. They have the right to choose for themselves!"

Vejiita watched her, restraining himself not to growl at her in Bra's presence.

"You want them to choose? I'll let them choose then!" he walked over to the couch and loomed over his daughter's little frame. "Do you want to get rid of the tail!" he barked.

Bra curled into herself. She didn't like it when her parents argued and Vejiita scared her being like this.

"I…um…"

"Speak up, brat! Do you want it or not?"

"Vejiita, you're scaring her!" Bulma went to her daughter's side but he kept her away with his outstretched hand.

"Don't interfere, woman. You wanted her to choose, didn't you?"

"But not like this! Get a hold of yourself!"

"Vejiita, I think…" Gokuu began, steping up to his other side, putting a hand on his shoulder. The prince shook it off and snarled at him.

"Back off! This doesn't concern you!"

"But you're scaring her, Vejiita," Gokuu tried again, pleading. He could smell fear washing off Bra in waves. She was shaking.

"It's none of your damn business, clown! She's my brat!"

"She's mine too! And I say, leave her alone!"

"Shut up, woman!"

"STOP IT!" Bra yelled, tears flowing and her ki sparking in frustration. "Why are you always shouting? I hate you all!" she ran past Bulma crying and disappeared up the stairs, to hide in her room.

"Look what you have done, Vejiita!" she wanted to hit him, but he caught her fist in mid-punch, growling. Gokuu was about to react, when he let go and without another word, blasted out of the window.

"You bastard!" Bulma shook her fist at the disappearing prince. Gokuu sighed. It wasn't supposed to be like this. He was hoping having a tail would make everyone happy like it had made him. But apparently he was wrong - it was awful. He wished he could've come up with something else to tell the dragon but now it was too late anyway.

"I'll go after him. You should talk to Bra-chan."

"Do whatever you like, just don't bring that fucker near her. I swear I'll kill that man the next time he acts like that with her."

He sighed again, not wanting to sound harsh. "I know he overreacted but it was your fault too. If you hadn't pushed him, he'd never scare her like that. I hope you won't try to turn Bra against him because of this."

Bulma gaped after the tall Saiyajin's disappearing form flying after her ex, shocked that her usually dim friend had left her unable to talk back.

----

Trunks and Goten had left the Lookout, wanting to check out things with Chichi and Pan. Gohan was still unconscious after Vejiita's blow. Piccolo told them it would be better if they didn't tell Chichi about that stunt. That would undoubtedly make her angry with Vejiita again – she was so protective of her children.

They flew side by side, their tails fluttering freely behind them. It was Goten's idea. He said it felt really great to have the wind brush along the fur and Trunks let himself get persuaded into it. It was actually nice. He had his tail cut just after he was born. His mother said the doctors had been so freaked out by it, that she had decided it would be better if he didn't have it. She had claimed it would only get in his way and make him uncomfortable with other kids.

But he wasn't so sure of that now. He remained aloof towards children at school, only letting Goten get close. He'd ignored any remarks about his hair colour or him being a 'richie-Trunks' – he had been above that, thanks to Vejiita. He had taught him that these things were just a pitiful form of jealousy and that he, as a prince, should make nothing of it.

But the fact was that when they were 6 and 7 years old Trunks felt upset about Goten still having his tail. He had once told Bulma about it, saying that Goten could do some neat stuff with it. But after that Chichi cut Goten's tail… oh Gods! He's just realized that he had made his best friend lose his tail out of envy!

He glanced at Goten, who was humming lightly, totally lost in his happy little world.

He felt guilty remembering how his best friend cried, ashamed, after he had lost his balance in front of Trunks and had fallen on his face. And Trunks had laughed at him. Felt… satisfaction that Goten no longer had something he himself didn't have. 'I acted like a bastard. Even for a kid,' he thought.

"Hey Trunks? You ok?" Goten came back from his trance, feeling Chichi and Pan's ki near before noticing his best friend scowling.

"Uh, yeah. Um listen…" He felt the need to be honest with his best friend, but it was hard. "Remember the day your mom had cut your tail off?"

"U-huh. What about it?"

"I… I told my mom the day before that I was jealous of you having it… and she convinced Chichi to cut yours off too." He looked down, unable to face his friend. He had been so stupid. Goten had loved his tail and he had taken it away from him.

"Oh." Goten sounded surprised, maybe hurt. But then… "Hey, don't sweat it. That's past. I don't really care anymore," he said with a smile. Not a Son grin, but a genuine bright smile. "But I'm glad you told me." Then he grinned, leaving Trunks speechless and smiling to himself.

They touched down and before they could make one step towards the house, the door burst open, with Pan flying at Goten with top speed.

"Uncle Goten!" She grabbed his neck and squeezed. He stuck out his tongue as if he was choking and rolled his eyes into the back of his head. Pan laughed at him, and then, noticing the other boy, jumped ship and clung to Trunks.

"Uncle Trunks! I missed you!" her tail was thrashing behind her, hitting Trunks in the face a few time before Goten caught it and pulled his niece of his friend and settled her on his shoulder.

"I missed you too, Pan-chan." Trunks smiled at the little livewire.

"Lookie at my tail!" she pulled it out of Goten's grasp and wagged it, showing off. "Isn't it great!""Yeah, we have ours too," said Goten, and tickled her face with his own.

"Wow! This is so cool! And Uncle Trunks has one too!" She reminded them of how they used to be when found something exciting. Always hyper and babbling. "But granny says it's not good. She said we have to cut it off." She made a sad-puppy face, probably practicing before trying to change Chichi's mind.

"Do you want to get rid of it?" asked Goten, tilting his head. Pan shook here head like mad, hugging her furry addition to her little body.

"No! I love it! It's so fun!"

"Then we'll convince granny not to cut it, how does that sound?"

"Yay! I love you uncle!" she hugged his head as they entered the house.

"Goten! Trunks! Oh, Kami! What's happening! Tails growing back everywhere!" Chichi shrieked when they came into the kitchen, where she had been busying herself preparing dinner.

"Hi mom. Don't worry. It's ok."

"What's ok! Pan hasn't been admitted to kindergarten because of it! It was the last one in the neighbourhood! Hopefully we'll be able to find something in another region when the tail is cut off."

"Granny, I dun wanna cut it off!" cried Pan, still clinging to her uncle's head. Chichi paled.

"What do you mean you don't want to? We have to get rid of it! If you have it no kindergarten will want you! And then what! You won't have an education!" Pan made an unhappy face and then hid it in Goten's bangs.

"Aw, look what you've done, mom. You made Pan sad." Goten chided, trying to make her feel guilty about it so she would let Pan keep her tail. But that was no use against Chichi. When you have raised two Saiyajin boys, you knew how to deal with matters like that.

"No, Pan. You can't keep it. Your daddy wants you to go to school and learn a lot so you can find a nice job and a rich, loving husband!"

"Mom, that's what you want," Goten said annoyed. "If Pan wants to keep it, then let her."

"But… but school!" she was starting to get frustrated. Trunks watched the exchange and then something hit him.

"Chichi, I could teach Pan."

"Don't be silly, Trunks! You're still going to school yourself!"

"But mom! Trunks already knows everything we have at school, cuz Ms. Bulma made him learn it ages ago. He's wasting his time there."

"And instead I could give Pan some lessons when she's old enough."

Chichi stared at both her son and his friend, convinced this was some kind of joke. She was almost growling as she finally turned on her youngest.

"You, Goten! Don't think I don't know you're up to something. You've got that smile your father always used to have when he thought of an idea that usually ended up with Gohan all bruised and blooded." Goten's eyes widened innocently. Trunks smirked. "And you, Trunks! You don't have any experience with teaching. And besides, you won't be a good teacher for her, you'll just let her do as she pleases or worse! You'll train her! No, I will not allow that!"

"I want uncle Trunks! I dun wanna go to school! I want uncle Trunks!" Chichi gasped and fell to the ground.

"Ah! Why? Why me? First Gohan gets kidnapped by that green guy with fangs and antennas, scaring me to death! Then Goten, barely passing from class to class. And now Pan, who doesn't want to go to school at all!" She started to weep dramatically, still sitting on the carpet. "Why can't my children be good kids and learn normally like other children do!"

"Mom," Goten said patting her on her shoulder, a triumphant grin plastered to his face. "Don't forget it was you who had married a guy who grew up in a forest and couldn't read till he was 13, his first reading articles being master Roshi's naughty magazines. It's the genes' fault we're like this!"

Chichi burst into tears.

----

Gohan stirred.

Kami, that kick from Vejiita had hurt like hell. He wasn't thinking straight and hadn't anticipated such swift and brutal revenge to his attack. And he should've. Especially when he was behind the aggressive prince in terms of sheer power.

He hadn't had a serious training since Buu. He was too preoccupied with his new girlfriend, now wife, and building a stable home. He had a job now, and responsibilities.

So was it so wrong that he didn't want to lose this security for the sake of Vejiita's whim to distinguish himself from humans even more than he already was? Was having his tail so goddamn important that he'd risk his family's well being for it?

Gohan remembered how hard it had been to keep his friends at school from telling everyone about what they had seen at the tournament - that he was the Saiyaman AND the 'golden haired warrior'. He didn't want people to bug him to demonstrate his powers or make him join their sports clubs, or worse, to be scared of him and cast out of their society. He wanted to be treated as one of them.

Damn Vejiita for pointing out exactly what he'd been trying to ignore.

He was half-Saiyajin, and yes, he found being a part of his endangered species significant, like he was a keeper of some extraordinary treasure. This treasure was the Saiyajin blood flowing in his veins. He felt a part of the legacy and wanted to keep it safe… but he wanted other things too.

He had always been torn between his dream of becoming a scientist and the instinctive urge to fight. But it had not truly been his need, it had been what was needed by others. And he had always obeyed his duty as Earth's protector. But he didn't want to be like his father, as much as it hurt to admit, he found little pleasure in that kind of life. He was more human mentally but fate tricked him into being the one with the most power within him, which he had never asked for.

Gohan opened his eyes slowly, fully conscious now. He inspected the Lookout. Only Piccolo.

…only Piccolo.

Only Piccolo understood him. Not his father but the mentor and step-father, that had always been there for him. He had understood him from the first day they met – become who you want to become, but save the Earth first.

The Earth always came first. It was his home. His to protect and care for.

But only Piccolo really let him choose to be who he wanted to be. Not that his father ever dragged him to train by force, it wasn't like that. It was the pressure he'd always felt, being with his father. It was this need to make him proud, and keep this sort of tradition intact.

But that was ages ago. He had been a kid then, unsure of what he was supposed to do or how to act. But now he did know and wanted to follow his chosen path.

He was certain Piccolo understood. And his father would too. It was Vejiita who had a problem.

Piccolo heard Gohan sigh. He was sorry for the kid. He was aware of what the problem was but he would not interfere or take sides anymore. Gohan had always had his support but he also knew, or rather Kami knew, what was going on in Vejiita's head.

'Veggie-head got all fired up to preserve what was left of his kind,' he smirked. Who would've thought, Prince Ego, the protector of a bunch o' monkeys.

He walked up to Gohan, who was rubbing his stomach, wincing in pain.

"…Gonna leave a bruise, for sure."

"Better make sure Videl doesn't harass you in bed tonight," Piccolo chuckled.

"Ha, ha." he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. This isn't funny. He really hit me hard."

"He's got all pissy about your tails. Better stay out of his reach until he's calmed a bit." Gohan sighed and stood next to his mentor. He groaned when he pulled his glasses out of his pants' pocket. They were completely shattered.

"Aw, he may be getting 'pissy', but I have my limits." He put the broken glasses on, and saw eight Piccolos smirking at him. "Damn, I just got these too."

Piccolo pointed his clawed index finger at the glasses, mending them instantly.

"Wow! Thanks Piccolo. You could teach me that trick, Pan's a bit of a handful, she's managed to brake almost every piece of pottery in the house."

"Sorry kid, it's a Namek thing."

"Aw. Well, I better get going. Can't let Chichi stay alone with Pan for too long." Gohan jumped into air when Piccolo stopped him, saying:

"Kid, you who you are, not just the blood that's in you."

Gohan smiled at him. "Thanks Piccolo! You're the greatest!" And then he was off.

:) R&R much much MUCH appreciated! Makes me wanna do more!