Chapter 14 - Inside Out
Goku's butt was numb from seating in the car. He'd been waiting still there for two hours already, hooked by the book about Bardock. He'd never been the type to read much, especially when it was about big books written by boring historians and yet for some reasons, he felt mesmerized by the history of the Saiyan general and the way he made it through his people's fate.
Bardock had been a basic soldier at first but he'd been able to foresee the Ice-Jinn's intentions thanks to an unusual insight. He'd tried to stand in their way even before they invaded the Saiyan realm but his third-class' opinion had been called insanity and he'd ended up in the Saiyan jail. Thus he'd been helpless preventing the Ice-Jinn Empire from taking possession of his own country, witnessing their arrival behind the bars of his cell. It had been when his true fight had started. He was successful gathering rebellious soldiers and forming a steady organization to withstand the Ice-Jinn power and connect secretly with the young Prince they had kept on the throne as a tool for their nasty domination. He had also been the guy overthrowing the invaders and freeing the little sovereign from their yoke. Goku had a hard time picturing Vegeta as the young Prince of the story and he couldn't help but wonder whether all this had really happened. The whole history was worth a breathtaking novel nonetheless and Goku couldn't wait to know what came next.
Yet, for now, the car's clock told him he had some job to do. His preys might show up soon. He snapped the book closed and dropped it on his passenger seat.
He took his camera out his bag and handled it as to tune it. He clipped an infrared system on the device as to shoot proper pictures despite the dim light and climbed out of the car. He prayed that tonight would be the night rewarding all his efforts. He had been going through the same boring routine for four days now but he hadn't gained anything useful so far. He was somewhat disappointed for his plan had gone unexpectedly well in the first place.
Locating Miwa hadn't been a tough work. Thanks to her phone number Vegeta had found on the picture in Yamcha's locker, Goku had been able to find out her name and the rest had been a piece of cake. The only thing Goku had been uncertain about had been the type of connection the girl had with the baseball player. When Goku had eventually figured out that Miwa was waitress in a downtown bar, he'd decided to try his luck. Having Yamcha facing the girl had been like a random chemical experience. The result had been unhoped for though.
At first, nothing had happened as Yamcha and Miwa had pretended they didn't know each other and Goku had thought that they had maybe never met for real. Maybe Miwa had been a former fan girl that had merely sent her picture to the baseball player and Yamcha had been totally oblivious of her. However, Goku's instincts had told him otherwise. He had his glass knocked down on his pants on purpose as to let them alone and he'd taken care to leave his phone on the table as to register their talk. When he'd listened to the record afterward, he'd felt like he'd won the jackpot. Walking her home? It had been much more than he'd expected.
He'd tailed them that night. Miwa lived three blocks away from the bar. It was a short walk but the point wasn't the walk. The point was the way it ended. As a matter of fact, it hadn't ended the way Goku had believed it would. A wave of the hand as a goodbye hadn't been a thing worth of a snapshot. Goku knew better though. Yamcha had two weaknesses. Good bets and pretty curves. Given their talk back at the bar, Goku had few doubts that everything was a question of time. Tonight was the fourth night the baseball player was walking the girl home.
A soft chuckle echoed in the silent alleyway, causing the reporter to step back into the shadows. Soon enough two figures turned the corner of the street and he made out Yamcha and Miwa. They were walking on the other side of the street, talking in low voice until they reached the gate of Miwa's house. They stopped there and stood face to face for a while. Yamcha whispered something to the girl. He had to lean over her as she was shorter than him.
"Closer," Goku breathed unwillingly while pointing his lens at them.
They stood still for a while, then kissed at last. Goku triggered his camera frantically. Although it hardly lasted a half minute, relief and excitement washed over him all along. Yamcha rested his hand on her shoulder and pushed her gently away. He mumbled something Goku couldn't hear. In reply, Miwa grabbed the baseball player and dragged him into another passionate kiss. The reporter pressed the button again with bated breath. Yamcha struggled the embrace and backed up with a shake of his head.
"Damnit, man. Juts go on," Goku sighed under his breath. He'd hoped for more but that was the end of it. Yamcha walked away, and left the girl behind.
Goku had another sigh. Miwa stood there silent for a moment, then entered her house clearing Goku's way back to his car. "Fuck," he spat while climbing back into his car. He sat there and browsed the result of is shooting. It soothed his annoyance. The pictures were pretty explicit provided the beginning and the end of the story wasn't told. He shrugged. A kiss was still a kiss and the second one looked especially passionate. It would do. Goku smirked.
That was the easy part though. Hardly the spice of their story. He now had to take pictures of Yamcha with the Heiress.
He packed off his camera and started his car. He programmed his GPS all by keeping an eye on the road and made his way through the town according to the instruction of the device. He was feeling excited at the little treasure he'd just fished out. He couldn't believe how easy his job was getting. It made it all the less believable that he hadn't been able to track down the Heiress properly the first time he'd tried. He admitted luck had been on his side so far, with the sniper lurking around and Brief's secretary needing to be replaced but he had played it smart too.
As the GPS told him he'd reached his destination, he parked his car and climbed out still gloating about his success. His smile dropped at the sight of the filthy district he was now in. The place looked like it had been devastated by some old war with its cracked building and sidewalks. Although no one seemed to be around, he could make out some movements in the shadows and he became wary at once. He took his bag and locked the car while checking the area nervously.
The only sign of life in the street was the light behind the windowpane of a bar with a broken panel. As unbelievable as it stood, it had to be the bar Vegeta wanted them to meet in. Goku walked in. The place wasn't big, but he was surprised to find out it was crowded although the whole district seemed to be dead. A very young man was standing behind the counter. He looked up at Goku in wariness and everyone silenced instantly as the newcomer stepped in.
Goku couldn't help but clear his throat in unease as the all the drinkers were staring at him all of a sudden.
"He's my guest," a voice claimed from a corner of the room.
As if by magic, everyone went back to their chats and glasses and the barman greeted Goku with a nod. "What do you want to drink, man?" he asked.
Goku didn't answer as he was scanning the place for his "host". He found Vegeta sitting in the corner and walked to him. "Whiskey. With Ice," he told the barman.
"What the hell is that place?" he grumbled as he sat opposite from the Saiyan.
Vegeta smirked and sipped his vodka. "My place."
Goku rolled his eyes. "Filthy and dark. Don't see the point," he replied while resting his chin in his palm.
"Point is if anyone unfamiliar shows up, I know it in the blink of an eye," Vegeta claimed.
"Fair enough," Goku admitted with a shrug as the barman rested a glass for him on the table. "So, how was work?"
"Quite boring. Business meetings, hotels, congress. I should be glad she stopped acting crazy like she did the first night but I'm not sure I like her routine better," Vegeta grunted.
"Are you… you know, getting to know each other somehow?" Goku asked hesitantly.
The Saiyan raised his eyebrows and huffed. "Knowing each other? Goku, I'm supposed to be a bodyguard not a lady's companion. Either way, she's surrounded by a crowd licking her boots most of the time, so she hardly speaks to me and when she does, it's only sarcasms. I'm a pain in her ass as much as she is in mine. Yet, the deal wasn't for me to become her friend or anything like that. The deal was to be able to have a good shooting of her with the baseball player and if truth to be told we're way off base so far."
Goku sensed Vegeta's annoyance. The Saiyan was definitely a dork at connecting with people but beyond that statement, he sounded fed up with his role as a bodyguard. He wouldn't hold it long. "Calm down. I thought that spending so much time with her would allow you to get closer to her and gain her trust somehow."
"I don't think I'm about to gain her trust. I might more likely kill her before it happens. Not to mention, I haven't seen Yamcha around in two days. I'm wondering if we'll ever have any opportunity to get what we're looking for," Vegeta hissed before gulping down the rest of his vodka.
Goku smirked. "Don't worry for Yamcha. He'll be back soon enough. He was somewhat busy lately,"
Vegeta frowned. "What do you mean?"
Goku took his camera out of his bag and turned it on. The Saiyan reached out for the device and browsed the pictures on the screen. "Shit. How did you get that? Who's that girl in the first place?" he exclaimed.
Goku's beam widened in pride. "Remember Miwa? The bikini with phone number you found in the locker?"
Vegeta shook his head in disbelief. Goku could say he was impressed although the Saiyan would rather die than admit it. "I want a copy of these pictures. Don't try to fool me, Goku," Vegeta spat instead.
Goku pouted and took the camera back. "Jeez. What a paranoid. You'll have them. Why would I show them to you if it were to play behind your back."
"We still don't have any pictures of the Heiress, though," Vegeta pointed flatly.
"I'm working on that issue. We have to figure out the best time and the best place. Considering tracking you down is somewhat too risky, I thought about getting information otherwise and I might have something by tomorrow."
The barman showed up and replaced Vegeta's empty glass by a new one without a word. Goku watched him with some bewilderment. "Man, you don't even have to order your drink. You're someone here, aren't you? Are these people around Saiyans as well?"
Vegeta rolled his eyes at the stupidity of the question. "Of course not, idiot. Nappa's owns the place though."
Goku had a thoughtful nod. The thought that Vegeta had once been a Prince still felt weird. "You know, I bought a book about Bardock's life. I can't believe the Prince mentioned down there was you."
Vegeta looked stunned at Goku's statement. "Someone wrote a book about him?"
"Yeah. Some historian from Satan City University. I have to admit I usually hate books but this one is really captivating. You were right, the guy was an impressive badass. Do you think I could find a book about your life too?" Goku chuckled.
Vegeta scowled and took a sip of his vodka. "Don't think so. I'm not dead enough, yet. Either way, I'm pretty sure everything that's written down are bullshits."
"Why don't you write a book on your own? Like your memoirs, your know," Goku resumed.
Vegeta had a bitter chuckle. "Who would be interested in such shit? Besides, it would mean gathering memories and there's nothing I'd like to remember."
"You knew Bardock though. What sort of person was he for real?" Goku insisted.
Vegeta frowned and kept silent for a minute. "Listen Goku, we were talking about snapping some pictures of the Heiress. You said you might have some information by tomorrow. How is that?"
Goku sighed and considered trying to have Vegeta speak further about Bardock, but he felt the Saiyan had already said much more than he was willing to. "My son got a Martial Art local tournament tomorrow afternoon. Join me there and I'll give you everything I have. Might be I'll have a plan to end this contract once and for all. No news of the sniper by the way?"
Vegeta shook his head. "Everything was calm and boring like hell and if you really feel like having my opinion, there is no sniper. There is only a whimsical millionaire craving for attention.
Goku shrugged. "Interesting but hard to demonstrate. The only perk of such situation is that you had the opportunity to get hired." He had picked up his words carefully, but he could hardly repress his annoyance at Vegeta's insane theory. He didn't buy it and he didn't even care to hear about it. If anything, he would swear that the Saiyan was trying to make up a better story than her romance with Yamcha in order to deny the value of his work.
As a reply, Vegeta gave him a grudged glance. He didn't like to be hold for a fool, that was for sure.
"It's already late. I have to go home,"Goku stated as to break the awkward silence. He finished his glass and stood up while fumbling his pocket for money.
"Leave it already," Vegeta cut off. "Just figure something out. I won't stand that vixen and her moron endlessly."
Goku nodded with a smile and rushed out of the bar. It was close to midnight by now and he hoped that Chichi wasn't already asleep. He hadn't seen her for a few days and he missed her. He jumped into his car and sped through the town again.
As he stood in front of his house, every lights were off. He repressed a sigh and walked up the alleyway leading to the main door. When he would be done with the Heiress, they would go back to Mount Paozu and he wouldn't have to sneak into a sleeping house by night.
He pulled his keys out of his pocket and struggled the lock for a moment. The light was weak and something was blocking the lock. He cursed under his breath while growing irritated at the key's reluctance.
Someone ended up turning on the light in the hallway and Goku felt sorry at the idea that he had waken up his wife. The door opened but just when he was about to step in, Chichi's frame stood in his way. "Goku," she sighed.
He chuckled. "Hey, yeah, who else? I didn't mean to wake you up, sorry. My key wouldn't work.I don't know why…"
"I changed the lock, that's why."
Her voice was low and cold and his brain needed a minute to consider her words. "You… Why? Is there something wrong?"
She rubbed her eyes in weariness and gave another sigh. "You. You are wrong. You don't belong here any longer, Goku. You have to face the truth. We're divorced. You're not supposed to hang around like you do. It doesn't make sense and it won't get us anywhere."
He gaped and stared at her in puzzlement. It wasn't the first time she would serve him with such speech, yet it was the first time she had the idea to change the lock. Furthermore, she was unusually calm as if her decision had been maturing a long time in her mind. "Chichi, we talked about our situation before and we agreed that…"
"We never agreed much, Goku. You have your way and I handle the mess, that's how it works most of the time," she claimed.
Only then did he feel a dull unease in his guts. She was trying to break up their relationship for good and he couldn't stand that prospect. He never could. He rubbed his head sheepishly. "Why not talk about it inside? Huh? Let's have a cup of tea and try to sort things out," he offered.
"It's too late for such crap, Goku. You can't show up uninvited and beg for a cup of tea at midnight like that," she replied.
"Uninvited?" he repeated in shock. "I don't need to be invited,Chichi. You're my wife! Well, I know we're officially divorced but you're still a wife to me and you always will. Don't leave me behind like this, let me in." He was getting frantic. She wasn't so hard to coax in normal times. She would at least let him in.
She crossed her arms and shivered at the crisp air of the night but she still wouldn't back up as to clear his way inside. "Your wife, huh? And what about the other girls? You think I never knew about them? Even though I no longer care, you have some nerves to claim you still hold me as your wife."
He frowned. "No, I swear. I mean, yes at some point there were other girls but that's old history. Now, I promise there's only you."
She had a bitter chuckle and he became aware that his confession had hurt her more than she was willing to admit. "Really? And since when is that so? Since we divorced? All this is senseless shit. We are senseless shit, Goku and I don't want such life."
He couldn't help but grab her hand in despair. "Listen, I'm going to… I'm working on something huge and when I'm done, I'll get a big pack of dough. Then we'll do whatever you want. I'll do whatever you want me to. I'll quit my job. We can move back to Mount Paozu, buy a big house and fill it with kids. What do you think?" His voice was resounding with hope and he gave her a pleading gaze.
Yet, her hand slipped away from his. "Supposing all this could happen, I'm pretty sure it would never be enough to make you happy. You know what? All these years I've spent by your side, I've always felt like a wagon dragged by a crazy locomotive and unable to keep up with it. Now, I'm tired Goku. For your sake as much as for mine, we have to end it."
He stared at her in disbelief, unable to find any more words. "Chichi," he whispered in shock. As a reply, she averted her eyes and shut the door. He stood numb and speechless, watching the light turned off in the hallway and the house returning to its previous stillness. A lump had formed in his throat. This couldn't be happening. She was out of her mind. He'd never seen her like that. She'd been so calm, her voice soft despite her distance.
He felt like yelling her name, but the silence of the sleeping neighborhood somehow cowed him. He walked back to his car and sat behind the wheel for a while, expecting the light inside the house to turn back on and the door to crack open again. Yet, the house remained dark and quiet. He gave a deep sigh and remembered that he would see her again the next day during Gohan's tournament. And the day after that when he'll bring Gohan back to her home. And the week after that when he'll pick up his son again. She wasn't willing to listen to him for now, but he would have a thousand opportunities to gain her back. And if he couldn't change her mind in the coming weeks, he would be able to coax her thanks to the money he'll earn for his work about the Heiress. All wasn't lost. All couldn't be lost.
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