Rock Your World
Part 18 – Reunion
A few days passed in their usual way; nothing interesting happening until Bulma came by and announced that she was having a get-together for the end of November; before the snow set in for real. She asked if Vegeta and I wanted to come.
I considered the invitation for a long while, wondering if I even wanted to see the other Z fighters – or whatever they were calling themselves now. I didn't have to answer, however, because Goten beat me to it.
"Sounds fun, Bulma," he smiled, sitting on the couch next to me and Vegeta, "I'll go if Dad goes." He looked at me expectantly and I knew there was no way I could refuse.
"Okay," I said quietly, leaning against Vegeta, suddenly nervous, "Will everyone be there?"
"Kakarot, it's not like you to be antisocial," Vegeta muttered, "You haven't seen some of your friends since…." He and I shared a brief glance and I knew he'd been about to mention ChiChi's funeral, "…In a long time." he finished, wrapping his pale tail around my darker one.
"So you guys will come?" Bulma asked hopefully.
"Yeah, okay," I nodded.
Bulma smiled brightly and hugged me.
"Thanks, it's been a while since we've all been together. It doesn't always have to take a tragedy to bring you Saiyans out of hiding."
I returned her smile, albeit a little more forced than hers.
It was kind of cold, in the biting way that makes your eyes and nose sting, but not cold enough for snow. It was time to go to Bulma's get-together thing. Goten put a hand on my shoulder – though he had to stand on tiptoe, almost hovering, to reach – and Vegeta took my hand; I IT'd the three of us to Capsule Corp, where; in Bulma's spotlessly manicured lawn, a really fantastic barbecue had been set up. The smell of cooking things and charcoal was enough to make my mouth water.
We were early, but not the first ones there. Piccolo greeted us with a smirk that showed some fang and a teasingly barbed comment to Vegeta…. something about the prince turning into a mellow sap since he became my – and I quote – "boyfriend". I don't know why, but the word made everything from the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes tingle pleasantly. Vegeta muttered something indignant, but only I saw the self-satisfied smirk hidden by his scorn.
Bulma's welcome was a bit more enthusiastic. She beamed and hugged everyone, even managing to entangle Vegeta in her grasp before he wriggled away with a curse and a promise for vengeance. Then she turned and beckoned over her shoulder.
"There's plenty of food, but make sure to save some for when Tien and Gohan show up, they've been sparring in the mountains all day and I'm sure they'll be hungry." The blue-haired woman chirped.
I winced at the mention of my older son, but I don't think anyone noticed.
"Who else is here?" Goten piped up, racing ahead of me to get first dibs on the impressive spread of food.
"Krillin and Eighteen just showed up with Marron a few minutes ago, I'm not sure where they are now; but they were talking about you, Goku," Bulma replied, though Goten was out of hearing range.
"They were?" I remembered Vegeta mentioning that Krillin and Yamcha were against my relationship with Vegeta. I wasn't sure if I believed the lavender-haired preteen, but maybe he hadn't been lying if Krillin had been gossiping about me.
"Yeah, just about how much they missed you," the woman shot me a look that made me squirm uncomfortably. It wasn't accusing, just penetrating, and it really got under my skin, "How you're never around anymore."
I blinked, maybe Trunks had been lying.
"Look out below!" A high-pitched voice squeaked. Vegeta and I looked up, then bolted in opposite directions to avoid the blonde and orange missile plummeted from above; both of us with exaggerated yelps of abject terror.
Marron, clinging to Yamcha's gi, bounced to her feet upon coming in contact with the ground and raced over to Vegeta fearlessly; talking a mile a minute about who-knows-what.
Yamcha dusted himself off, muttering about crazy toddlers and sneak attacks.
"Hey Yamcha," I waved, wondering whether I still stood in his good graces. Had I ever?
Yamcha looked up from cleaning his gi of dirt and grass stains to give me a distracted return wave and a "what's up?" that didn't sound hostile. I felt my hopes soar. If my friends were on my side, maybe I could get Gohan to accept me too.
Marron had finally stopped terrorizing Vegeta to bounce over to me, smiling.
"Hi Goku!" she squeaked.
I bent down so that I was almost at her eye-level, "Hi Marron, why did you attack Yamcha?" I said teasingly.
"'Cuz he can fly and I can't," she said as if that explained her actions perfectly.
"Hey, Goku!" a voice called. I stood up straight, looking up, my nerves returning as I saw Krillin walking over to me. The once-bald monk scooped up his daughter and tipped his head to one side, as if sizing me up or something. No, that wasn't it… he was comparing me to something, or someone.
"You're taller," he laughed, breaking into a grin and punching my arm lightly, "'Didn't think it was possible for you to get any taller, how's the weather up there?"
I gave him a huge smile that I hoped showed my relief and gratitude better than anything I could have said. Krillin was still my friend, and that meant more to me than I could ever express.
Marron tugged on her father's short black hair, giggling.
From a few feet behind me, Vegeta grumbled, still sprawled on the ground after being pounced on by the blonde child.
"No one's gonna help me up?" he growled.
I stared at him, and then burst out laughing. Marron had tied the prince's tail around his ankles and after his first attempt to stand; he'd apparently tripped and fell again.
I strode over to him, Krillin trailing behind, and untangled his tail from his legs, I couldn't resist pausing to stroke the fuzzy length once; the feel of the fur was so addictive. Krillin looked a bit uncomfortable, but covered it well with a friendly smile.
"So, Vegeta, attacked and tripped by a five-year-old, how'd that go for ya?" he smirked.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed as if he was searching for spite in the remark, but he found none and simply returned the smirk, clambering to his feet.
"She didn't trip me, I fell on purpose," he muttered. Krillin and I both laughed, and Marron giggled.
Then Krillin whistled low, eyebrows rising, "Wow, he didn't threaten the planet or anyone's life at all … what did you do to him, Goku?" he looked at me with mock awe.
I laid a hand on Vegeta's shoulder and steered him and my best friend to the tables piled with food.
"I had nothing to do with it, he changed on his own," I said seriously.
By the time the rest of the Z fighters showed up, along with Master Roshi, Mr. Satan and Videl, a pretty big dent had been made in the refreshments; but Bulma kept the plates full and the beverages flowing, and eventually everyone had gathered and was mingling and talking.
I bumped into Gohan, quite literally; accidentally backed into him trying to escape Roshi – who, after finding out about me and Vegeta, was demanding that I explain in gushing detail exactly what Saiyan sex was like – and the demi-Saiyan whirled around, immediately shooting me a venomous look and walking away. Videl, who had been standing next to him, cast a guilty "I'm sorry" glance in my direction and followed him.
I heaved a long-suffering sigh. Is it always going to be like this with him? I wondered what would happen when Gohan finally had to confront me– whether he would want to talk it out or fight – and whether Trunks was as angry at Vegeta as Gohan was at me.
Trunks – speaking of, - had spent almost the entire time talking to Tien, who was just nodding silently as though listening, but not responding otherwise. The half-saiyan cornered Goten eventually and seemed to share a short, brusque conversation with him before the younger demi walked away pointedly.
Vegeta spent a lot of time hanging around me, not talking to anyone or even making eye contact, until Piccolo walked over and attempted to start conversation with the prince. Vegeta smiled gratefully and let the Namek lead him away from my side. And then I was alone - not technically; I was surrounded by people, but without the prince shadowing me I felt as if I was under a particularly bright spotlight and everyone was staring at me.
Tien approached me in time, he looked guilty, or nervous, or something; and he kept stammering when he spoke.
"Hey, uh… Goku, can I show you something?"
I scrutinized him, wondering what he was up to. He seemed friendly, but not honest. I made a mental note to watch him carefully. Trunks had spent considerable time talking to him for some reason.
"Okay," I said hesitantly.
Tien showed me something from behind his back. It was a loop of metal, like a bracelet or a handcuff; dark blue and as thick around as my finger. It looked adjustable, like it could snap onto anything from a person's wrist… to their throat. I swallowed nervously, what is it for, though?
"What is it?" I asked, running a finger around the band of metal, a spark jumped along the cobalt length, tracing my finger's movement. When I removed the digit, it felt prickly, like when your foot falls asleep.
"It's a…" Tien cut himself off, and I wondered if he'd been told to keep the object's identity secret, then he took a deep breath, "…Want me to show you?"
Warning bells sounded in my head, and I was aware of several people's eyes on me; Gohan, Trunks, Piccolo, Vegeta, Bulma….
Curiosity won out.
"Sure," I said, feigning indifference when every one of my muscles was tense.
Tien said nothing, he took my hand in his and snapped the loop around my wrist. I jumped; I'd expected him to show me with his own wrist… but… I didn't have time to think further, only to gasp as I felt my ki fade.
No, fade is too gentle a word. The ki – the energy I based my life around – was ripped from me, my power level taking a nosedive so quickly that it probably wouldn't have been able to be measured by a scouter.
"What the-?" I yelped, attempting to wrench the metal ring free of my wrist. It didn't budge, and I didn't have the power to destroy it.
Tien looked ashamed, he was shivering a little.
"Sorry Goku," he said softly.
"What is it?" I demanded again, this time snarling rather than asking.
With my reflexes slowed by my low power, I didn't even have time to flinch before a boot collided with my neck, slamming me to the ground. I tasted blood in my mouth, and managed to look up enough to see Gohan towering over me with a sneer. Everyone stopped and stared in shock.
"It's a ki-cutting manacle," he growled, "It sucks out your power,"
Vegeta reacted instantaneously, lunging at Gohan. He was blocked by Trunks, who stopped his father with a hand.
"If you attack, he pays the price," he pointed a finger at me and I felt a shiver crawl down my spine.
For the first time ever, I was completely helpless. And I vowed that if I got out of this alive, I'd punish myself a thousand times for my stupidity.
Then again, that might be a pretty big if.
TBC