Dark-Sephy- Yeah, the whole translation thing has always bothered me too. I've done a few stories that was solely based on the language barrier, so I guess it makes me think of it. Besides, it can prove amusing later. And yes, Goku has a whole bunch of surprises waiting for him. And the more I plan ahead for the fic, the darker I see it getting. Not sure how much of a happy ending this is going to have. Thank you so much for your reviews. It inspires me.
Justin- Well, hope you made it through the other chapters so you can read this one too. Thanks for the review.
I know Goku isn't much of a favorite among the DBZ fans, and he's actually one of my least favorite. I actually started this fic to focus more on Raditz but that seems to be changing. Raditz will be brought back more into focus later. Okay, enough of my rambling. Enjoy the next chapter!
Disclaimer- Yadda yadda, I don't own DBZ or any of it's characters. Though I wished I owned Vegita...he's the smex!
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Saiya-jin Ways
Chapter 5- Collision of Morals
Goku sat silently for a long time, his brother's words creating swirling images in his head. He felt confused, sad, upset and several other emotions all at the same time. But then one image loomed above the rest, this person had no face nor any definite shape, but he had a name. Furiza. What kind of monster was this man?
Raditz remained unmoving, waiting for the younger Saiya-jin to absorb and process the information. Perhaps now Kakorrot would understand, perhaps it would make all of this easier. After ten minutes of quiet, the mane-haired warrior began to get a little worried. "Kakorrot?"
Goku's head jerked up, looking surprised. "Huh? Oh, sorry." He smiled weakly before standing. "I…uh…I'm kind of tired. I think I'm going to head to bed." He said in a hazy manner while heading out the mess hall door. Raditz's dark eyes lingered on the door that slid shut after his brother's retreat. Perhaps he had underestimated the effect of his tale.
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The Earth-raised Saiya-jin felt bad for lying to his brother, but he needed to lie down and be alone. He had a lot to consider and even more to work through.
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"I can't do it. You know that, right?"
Raditz turned from the punching device he had been exercising on to regard his brother with a quirked brow. He typically didn't train with his scouter on, but with his non-Saiya-jin-Go speaking companion on board, he figured it easiest just to keep it on. "Can't do what?"
Goku's expression was uncharacteristically serious and a little sullen. "I can't do what you do. 'Clear' planets, as you put it."
The taller man turned to face his brother, his dark eyes narrowing and his mouth curving into a frown. "You don't have a choice, brother. A Saiya-jin who isn't capable of killing is no good to Furiza…and he won't have a Saiya-jin out from under his control." Raditz said with finality in his tone.
The younger fighter's features saddened further as he shook his head slowly. "I can't. I can't take an innocent persons life."
Raditz could feel his heart constrict. His brother was weaker than he thought, but it just meant that he had to be stronger. The maned-Saiya-jin growled. "It's not that you can't. It's that you won't." He closed the gap between himself and the younger man. "But you'll just have to get over that." Goku shook his head again, opening his mouth to respond, but Raditz cut him short by grabbing him by the front of his shirt and slamming him into the nearest wall. "If you don't do your job, you'll be killed." The martial arts champion gave his brother a defeated look, communicating that he'd rather die than kill. The taller brother's anger raised higher, his knuckles turning white as his grip tightened. Suddenly, he released the weaker Saiya-jin and took a step back. "You're pathetic. What's more important, Kakorrot? Your morals or your promise to your mate?" He asked with a disgusted expression on his face.
Goku blanched. "Wh-what?"
Raditz scoffed. "I heard you, Kakorrot. You promised that woman that you would be back. Tell me, how do you expect to return if you're dead?" He folded his powerful arms across his chest.
The earthling's eyes fell to the floor. His brother was right. Returning to Earth, to Bulma, was the most important thing to him. Bulma would understand his choice to die instead of committing such sins, but he would never get the chance to explain. She would never know. She would be left at home, alone, wondering for the rest of her life when he was going to come back. Goku Son never broke a promise. A hand rested on the fighter's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The younger brother looked up to his only sibling.
"It's not that difficult, once you get use to it." His hand dropped before he walked past his ototo toward the door. "And I'll help you." -But I can't be there for you, little brother. Not like I wanted.- His obsidian eyes saddened as he exited the training room, leaving his only family behind to struggle with the fear of what comes next.
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-One week later-
"Why do I have to learn this again?" Goku whined, laying his head down on the table.
Raditz sighed exasperatingly, bringing his hand to massage his temple in an attempt to quell the headache that was forming. "Because, Kakorrot, it's our language. You, being Saiya-jin, should know it."
"Yeah, but won't they know already that I forgot everything? Besides, isn't that what scouters are for?" He raised his head, looking pleadingly at his brother.
"That doesn't matter. It's true that hardly anyone you come across won't have a scouter—"
"See?" Exclaimed the younger Saiya-jin, excited that he just proved his point.
Raditz gave the less experienced fighter an annoyed look. "Except, for Vegita-sama. You'll be seeing a hell of a lot of him and he –only- wears his scouter before, on, or just after a mission. He finds them irritating and hates depending on the technology. And he will –not- tolerate you speaking Ningen-Go."
Goku sighed in defeat, sinking down to rest his chin on the table. "How am I suppose to learn an entire language in three weeks?"
"You don't have to, Kakorrot. You'll still be wearing your scouter, you just need to be able to speak in Saiya-jin-Go. So you're just wasting time. Now again." The maned-warrior reached up and tapped a button on his scouter. "Yes."
"Hai."
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Goku slumped onto his bunk, not caring that he was filthy with sweat and blood. Every muscle in his body ached with exertion and his lungs burned with his heavy breaths. Over the last few weeks, the earth-raised fighter had been through the most intensive training he could have even imagined. These Saiya-jins didn't mess around when it came to power. He had yet to leave one of his sessions without being drenched in sweat, covered in bruises, spattered with blood and singed with ki burns. Ignoring the protest of his muscles, Goku sat up enough to pull the armor from his torso, making his breathing easier. The Saiya-jin garment was followed by weighted gloves, boots and his scouter. The Earthling never wanted to get up again. But he knew he would have to, early the next morning just like he has been doing since his third day on this ship. The youngest of Bardock's sons closed his eyes.
"Hai…Iie…Arigato…Domo arigato…Domo arigato gozaimasu…Gomen nasai…" The Saiya-jin softly went through his Saiya-jin-Go vocabulary list in an odd accent unlike his brother's. The words and phrases he most likely would need. Raditz said he would not be wearing his scouter the next day and that he needed to get use tospeaking in his native tongue. Half way through his list, the young man dozed off into a deep sleep.
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The larger Saiya-jin nudged the smaller one with his boot. "Oi, Kakorrot. Get up. Ohayo, ototo." Raditz continued as his brother roused, groaning. He understood the younger man's pain; every Saiya-jin did, for every Saiya-jin went through this very grueling training for weeks at a time. Kakorrot had a lot to catch up to power level wise, but his talent was nothing to scoff at. He was progressing well.
Goku forced his eyes open, squinting up at the figure looming over him. "Huh?" He blinked a couple of times to clear his dark eyes. "Oh—Oh—Ohayo…oniisan" The dark-haired man managed past a yawn. After he got up and dressed, the two headed into the kitchen to follow their usual routine. Get up, eat breakfast, Saiya-jin-Go lessons and then training the rest of the day with small breaks for food. Proceeding the language lessons, however, was not the training room. Raditz stood from the table and Goku made to follow him.
"Get a shower, and make sure you soak your soar muscles. I don't need you cramping when you bow to the Prince. Go over the notes I gave you and rest. We'll be arriving in the early hours of morning." With that the long-haired warrior exited the mess hall and retreated to the bridge. Goku slumped back down into his seat. Anxiety and dread gripped him. "Tomorrow…"
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So what will happen once they reach Furiza's ship? When will Goku go on his first mission and can he do it? I know he seems a bit out of character, even considering taking an innocent person's life, but look at his options. I don't really feel he ever truly loved Chi Chi in the series, but in this fic he really loves Bulma. He's being selfish, though he hasn't figured it out yet. He'll realize it soon, and it will have it's affects on him.
Next chapter soon. But not until Chapter 10 of Fascination. I'm going back and forth.