Goku opened his eyes. He stared at the scenery before him. The cell door… it took him a moment to realise he was still lying on the floor. The coldness of the carpetless surface had been gripping at his skin all night and he felt a sharp chill run through his core. Wincing a little he sat up and turned his head to look over at the bed. Kakarotto was still lying there; his eyes were open. Staring at Goku. He gave an evil smirk.
"Today's the day." He purred.
"You really meant that…" Goku rose to his feet.
"Of course." Kakarotto watched as Goku approached him. "Why would I lie to you, Brother?"
"I'm not your brother!" Goku snarled. "Stop calling me that!"
"Right…" Kakarotto sat up on the bed. He looked at Goku calmly. "I guess in a way I did birth you… maybe I should call you 'Son'."
"You don't have a son…" Goku's stare became angry. He stood firmly in front of Kakarotto, glaring at him. Kakarotto smirked back.
"I have one."
"Goten isn't yours." Goku growled. "He's mine – just like Gohan. They're both my boys!"
"Do you remember the night Goten was conceived?" Kakarotto watched contently as Goku's face melted. Goku frowned, hesitant.
"What does that matter?" he argued. Kakarotto just smirked.
"You don't remember because you weren't there. How many other nights don't you remember?"
"I can't remember every night in my life!" Goku protested. "That doesn't mean anything!"
"Trust me on this." Kakarotto pushed him out of the way as he got off the bed. "Goten is my kid. Me and Chichi –"
"Don't!" Goku screamed. "Don't say another word!"
"She always preferred me sleeping with her." Kakarotto taunted. "Not that we ever did much sleeping. She was always so starved with you –"
"I said –"
"What the hell are you going to do about it?" Kakarotto turned to face Goku, his fist inches away from Goku's throat.
Kakarotto stood silently for a moment, watching Goku. He eyed him up and down, standing boldly in front of the man. He stared in disgust at Goku's orange gi, the clothing he despised. He hated Goku for making him wear it all these years. He lowered his hand, turning his back to him.
"It's time to go." He said.
"Go where…?" Goku stared at Kakarotto, his body tensing.
"Your place, of course." Kakarotto replied. "I'm a man of my word, you know that. I told Bulma I'd kill Gohan first."
Goku froze. His heart filled with dread. His whole body turned cold, paralysed. Engulfed in fear.
"Please…" he choked. "Don't hurt Gohan."
"It won't hurt." Kakarotto looked at the ceiling, weighing up the strength of it. "He'll hardly notice it. I can be fast, you know."
"Please!" Goku grabbed his arm. "I'll do anything! Just don't kill my son!"
"There's nothing I want you to do." Kakarotto shrugged him off. "Thanks for the offer, though." He looked at Goku. "Are you coming with me? If you do you have to be quiet."
"Kakarotto –"
"I'm fucking warning you, Goku." Kakarotto glared at him. "Are you going to piss me off?" Goku stopped for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Kakarotto could knock him right back into the darkness if he wanted to. He was going to go after Gohan either way, at least if Goku behaved himself Kakarotto would let him tag along. It was the only chance he'd have to save Gohan…
"… No." Goku submitted to him. "I'll… I'll be quiet, I swear. I won't say a word."
"… Good." Kakarotto seemed to believe him. He probably thought his power had grown so much Goku wouldn't dare try to stop him. After all he would be an idiot if he did… the difference in strength between them was laughable. Kakarotto raised an eyebrow at Goku. "Well." he said with a smirk. "Let's go." In one swift movement he blasted a hole in the ceiling and flew out into the night sky. Goku followed.
Kakarotto flew at an alarming rate; Goku was struggling to keep up with him. Was this what Krillin and Yamcha had felt like trying to fly with him? The strength Kakarotto possessed, the speed of his movements… they were all things Goku used to claim. It had never really been him. It had always been Kakarotto… but Goku had never noticed. His strength over Kakarotto had been that great that he'd been able to use all of Kakarotto's power as his own, he'd never once struggled behind or felt any sort of weakness… while Kakarotto had lived in the darkness, letting Goku take all the glory for the strength he possessed, the battles he won… it was no wonder he'd taken control now. He must be sick of the darkness – Goku certainly would be. These last few days had been hell enough, he couldn't even imagine the years of torment Kakarotto had gone through. This was Goku's fault… everything that had happened… he and Kakarotto used to be friends, they used to share everything. Kakarotto had always been happy enough to let Goku live his life as long as Goku let him out to battle every so often; things were fine that way… then Goku started a family. He wanted more and more control, he wanted to push Kakarotto out into the darkness forever because he was too ashamed to let his wife or his children see him for what he really was. He'd hidden Kakarotto away like a dirty secret, only letting him out in the most challenging battles where he'd neededhim to win. It wasn't fair… none of it was fair… but he didn't know what else to do. Hiding Kakarotto was the only way he could see himself continuing to live in the life he'd chosen… the life he wanted… and look what had happened now. Kakarotto was cold, bitter, angry… and desperate for revenge.
They stopped outside Goku's house. Goku's stomach turned as he looked at the place. The last time he'd seen this door, walked on the ground in front of it was after Chichi had died. When he was being taken away for a crime he didn't commit. Bulma and Vegeta were there, refusing to look at him. Bulma was in tears; Trunks waiting in the car because his parents didn't want him anywhere near the house. Near Goku's crime scene. Gohan and Goten had come home only to be greeted by Bulma. She'd told Goten to go and play with Trunks, explained to Gohan what had happened… did Goten even know what had gone on here? Did he even know why his mother was dead? Why his father wasn't around anymore?
"Hey…" Goku looked up to see Kakarotto staring at him. "You got cold feet?" he asked.
"No…" Goku mumbled. Kakarotto rolled his eyes.
"I thought you would. It's alright. It's a sick man that can kill his own son. You wait here; I'll only be a minute."
"Kakarotto…" Goku begged. "Please don't do this."
"Aw…" Kakarotto smirked. "I'd hate to be you right now. You can't do a thing to save him, can you?" he approached Goku, squaring up to him strongly, their faces only inches apart. "Well how the fuck do you think I felt when I watched you kill my brother, hm?"
"Kakarotto…"
"And how do you think I felt when I had to miss the first seven years of my son's life because you weren't man enough to stay here and deal with the crap you got yourself into?"
"I didn't –"
"Yeah, I know." Kakarotto spat. "'It wasn't my fault', 'I did it for the good of everyone' – that's all I ever hear from you!" he snarled. "Maybe if you took some fucking responsibility for your own actions I wouldn't even be around at all!"
"… What…?" Goku stared at him, confused. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"Just wait here, I'll be out before you can say Planet Fucking Vegeta!" Kakarotto shot Goku an angry glare before entering the house.
The house was dark. Gohan and Goten were already in bed. Kakarotto smirked, that would make things easier… although it would have been fun to mess with Gohan a little first. He made his way down the corridor, stopping in front of the living room door. It was open. He moved a step into the room and turned his head; he could just about see the spot where Chichi had died. Where he'd killed her. He stood motionless for a moment, staring at the empty sofa. He could still see her eyes as she winced in pain, he could still hear the desperate pleas that escaped her lips… and he could still feel her lifeless body as it fell limp beneath him. Chichi…
"Sorry, Girl." He mumbled. "It was necessary. No hard feelings, right?" he smirked a little before making his way towards Gohan's bedroom.
He entered the room quietly, suppressing his ki so Gohan wouldn't wake up. He looked over to see the young man fast asleep in his bed, oblivious to what was about to happen. He slowly approached the bed and looked down at the sleeping teenager. He thought back to the boy's youth. First a helpless baby, then a frightened toddler, into a strong young boy… now he was a young man that had far exceeded his father's expectations. Gohan had done well for himself, Kakarotto had to admit… but he was still Goku's child. He hadto be destroyed! Kakarotto raised his hand slowly, forming a ki ball over Gohan's head. Quick and painless, just as promised. Gohan would be dead before he even had a chance to feel anything.
He was about to fire the ball when a strong hand gripped his arm, pulling back his power. He turned his head and glared angrily at the man he saw.
"I thought we had a deal." Kakarotto growled.
"Sorry, I lied." Goku stared deeply at him, determination in his eyes. "I'm not going to let you kill my son."
"You don't have much of a choice." Kakarotto dispersed the ball into nothing as he turned to Goku, pulling his arm away. "How the hell do you expect to save him?"
"Daddy?" they both stopped dead. Kakarotto looked towards the open doorway to see Goten standing there in his pyjamas, a confused look on his face. He seemed nervous.
"Goten…" Kakarotto choked. Shit! This is the worst thing that could have happened!
"Don't hurt him!" Goku ordered.
"Of course I'm not going to hurt him dipshit, he's my son!" Kakarotto snarled.
"Dad, who are you talking to…?" Goten looked into the room only to see the two figures of Kakarotto and the sleeping Gohan.
"Uh…" Kakarotto glanced at Goku and turned back to Goten. "Nobody, just talking to myself." He approached the boy and knelt down to his level. "How are you doing, Kid?" he felt a little uneasy. This was the first time he'd ever spoken to Goten outside of a battle. He ruffled the boy's hair. "Good to see you."
"Stay away from him." Goku growled sternly.
"Goku, I'm warning you…" Kakarotto mumbled. He suddenly looked up, startled as Goten moved away from his touch. "What's wrong?"
"Why did Mom die…?" Goten looked at him, his eyes glistening. He sniffed, becoming tearful. "Trunks said you killed her."
"Oh…" Kakarotto lowered his eyes. "Well… it's not what you think, Son. Your dad was in danger; I never would've been able to defeat Goku if I hadn't."
"But…" Goten looked at him, confused. "You're Goku."
"I guess Trunks didn't tell you everything…" Kakarotto said. "Listen – now's really not the time to talk. I'll explain everything some other time, okay? Why don't you just go back to sleep, I got a few things to take care of."
"No!" Goku screamed. "Goten, don't –" Kakarotto threw a sharp beam of energy at him, hurling the man against the wall and knocking him unconscious. Goten's eyes widened as he witnessed Kakarotto launch an imaginary attack into the empty space behind him. He shivered a little, frightened by what he was seeing. Trunks said Goku had gone mad… was he right?
Kakarotto looked back at Goten, noticing the fear that swept across the boy's face. He smiled a little.
"Don't look so scared. I'm your dad, I'm not gonna hurt you." He soothed. "I promise."
"What about Gohan…?" Goten shifted a little, subconsciously assuming a semi-fighting stance. Kakarotto smirked proudly. The kid knew how to react to bad ki alright!
"Listen… you're a good boy, right? So you know to do whatever your father says." Kakarotto replied. "I told you to go to bed."
"Why did you kill her?" Goten frowned, growing angry. This wasn't his father! He could sense it; this was not the man he had lived with! "Where's Goku?" he demanded. "I want my dad!"
"I am your dad!" Kakarotto barked. "Kid, you've been raised on a lie! Goku isn't your father, I am!" he grabbed the boy's shoulders, squeezing them in an attempt to make him listen. "Goten… I know this sounds crazy to you – nobody's told you anything, have they?" Goten just watched him in silence, clueless as to what he was talking about. Kakarotto sighed. "I can't talk now, but I swear I'll tell you everything later, just…" he looked at the boy softly as a strong wave of guilt flooded through his soul and into his veins. It frightened him how little this child knew about his own parent. "… I'm sorry, Goten." He mumbled. "I was away for too long. I swear…" he looked into Goten's eyes, his heart growing heavy. "I never knew my father, Son. Nobody's ever told you, but your grandfather died trying to save our planet…" he smiled a little. "I wish I could come up with just a noble a reason for never being in your life… but the truth is I was weak. Goku kept me away from you, and I wasn't strong enough to fight back."
"Goku's my father…" Goten mumbled, his body trembling. He glared at Kakarotto. "I don't know who you are but you aren't my dad!" he pushed Kakarotto's hands off him, taking a step back. He stood in his fighting stance, staring angrily at Kakarotto. "This is my mom's house! You have to get out now!"
"Huh…" Kakarotto looked at Goten, both irritated and impressed by the boy's aggression. He watched his movements, reading the boy's ki. "You miss your mom?" he asked him calmly. Goten hesitated to answer. His eyes remained fixed on Kakarotto as he stood boldly in front of him. Slowly he started to nod his head. He swallowed, fighting back the tears that were forming in his ducts.
"Get out." Goten mumbled, his voice breaking. "Get out of my house!"
Kakarotto's ears pricked up as he head movement coming from the bed. Shit! Goten had woken up Gohan. If he didn't want a long and painful battle with the two of them he had to kill Gohan now or get the hell out of here. He took another look at the child in front of him. His fists were clenched, his body trembling slightly, his eyes wet… he was trying hard to hold his ground but he couldn't fight the agony that screamed inside him. As far as he was concerned he was an orphan… and now he was about to lose his brother too. Kakarotto paused for a moment. He watched the boy, deciding on what action to take now. Finally, he sighed.
"Okay Kid, you win." He replied. He stood up. "I'll give you a little time… but then you have to start taking orders from me, alright?" he narrowed his eyes at Goten. "And no matter how bad you think it is you have to do everything I say or I'll break your legs."
"Who… who are you?" Goten choked. Kakarotto sighed.
"I told you… I'm your father. I'm not lying, Son. I'll explain more next time I see you."
"Goten?" Gohan's voice came from the bed. "Is that you, Buddy?"
"See you later, Kid." Kakarotto winked at Goten and transmitted himself out of the house before Gohan could even catch a glance at him.
From a few meters above the house Kakarotto looked down at it, wondering what Goten was telling his brother. It didn't matter. Nothing Gohan could do would stop him carrying out his plans, and soon enough Gohan would be in the ground along with the rest of Goku's friends. Maybe he could even push Goten to do it.
"Hm…" Kakarotto mumbled to himself. That was an idea… anyway. Back to business. "Your turn, Vegeta." He smirked as he flew off towards Capsule Corps.