THE TWISTED MIND II
AN:Heres the next chapter. It took a little logner to get here than I anticipated, mainly because I got addicted to Mass Effect 2 and spent about a week doing nothing but playing it before I started this chapter. But anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
The Word Spreads
Goku let out a sigh of relief as he sensed Goten powering down. For a moment he had been convinced that the two brothers would be drawn into a fight. He was reminded of other matters when he felt a tugging on his pant leg.
He looked down at his granddaughter. "Come on grandpa, I wanna go see Bulla."
Goku chuckled as he ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, we'll go right now." Pan made a sound of delight, and the two lifted into the air.
"Grandpa?" Pan asked after they had been flying for awhile.
"What?" Goku asked.
"Who was that man earlier?" Pan eyed Goku curiously.
Goku frowned as he turned so that he was flying with his back to the ground. "He's an old friend." Goku said slowly, tyring to figure out how he should explain things.
"If he's a friend, why did he go away?" Pan inquired.
Goku gave it a moments thought. "He just has things he needs to do is all."
"He seemed nice." Pan decided after a few moments of silence. Goku grinned, and the two flew on.
–
Some people tended to pace when they felt stressed. Others would grumble about whatever had them on edge. Vegeta on the other hand preffered to seal himself inside the gravity room and crank it up to 600 gs. From there he liked putting himself through the most brutal exercises he could as he relentlessely tested himself for any weaknesses, and stomped them out wherever he found them by tailoring a new set of exercises for the sole purpose of eliminating said weaknesses.
It was this endless drive towards self-improvement that had left him in bed incapable of movement more than once in the past. It had sometimes left him so battered and exhausted that his wife had been honestly concerned for his life. It was also this endless push for self-improvement that had shaped Vegeta into one of the most pwoerful wariors that the universe had ever seen. In the entire course of intergalactic history less than a dozen individuals had been stronger than he was right now. Foes who had bested him in the past such as Cell would be childs play now. He'd even be willing to bet he could take Majin Buu in a fight if he so chose. But this wasn't enough for him. Not today at any rate. Today he was pushing himself harder than he had done in years. He kept pushing himself past the point where every muscle screamed for rest. He was driven by a memory, the memory of his last true fight. He had fought Gohan in and around this very building, and their battle had eventually expanded to consume the city. Vegeta also remembered that despite his best efforts he had barely been able to scratch his opponenet. He remembered that Gohan hadn't even taken the fight seriosuly, toying with Vegeta with no fear of losing, not even bothering to use his full strength.
For Vegeta nothing could have been more insulting. For months afterward he had trained much harder than normal, but it had soon become clear to him that Gohan was gone, and not likely to return. Vegeta had been wrong of course. Gohan had returned, and while he hadn't made any aggressive movements thus far, Vegeta felt driven to push himself. If and when Gohan did turn on them again, Vegeta would be ready.
–
Bulma shared a frown with Trunks as the two watched Vegeta train through the security cameras inside the gravity room. Bulma had insisted on installing them shortly after the Cell Games to insure Vegeta didn't kill himself training. They had also served as a useful method for making sure Vegeta wasn't to rough with Trunks when he was a child.
She was here now, finger hovering above the comm button because Vegeta had been training all day. This was not unusual in and of itself. What was unusual was that he had refused to let Trunks join him, indicating that he was planning to train much harder than usual, and because he had skipped his lunch break, and now dinner. For a saiyan the chances of that happening was the same as finding a needle in a haystack the size of Hercule Satan's ego.
It was odd for Trunks as well, who had regularly trained with his father since Gohan's betrayal. He didn't train as hard or as often as Vegeta, but he trained often and hard enough to insure a steady increase in his abilities. As far as Bulma could tell Vegeta enjoyed training with Trunks. He seemed to take pride in the fact that Trunks was putting real effort into becoming a better warrior.
Bulma couldn't really tell what was happening inside the gravity room. Vegeta was moving to fast for the eye to see, and any ki blasts he fired were movng so fast that they appeared as little more than a flicker followed by an explosion. The floor was shaking underfoot, and a couple of cracks had already formed on the exterior walls. The interior walls were in no better shape, being covered in scorch marks and dents.
"I don't think I've ever seen dad push himself like his before." Trunks muttered. His eyes would flicker back and forth ocassionaly, as if he were catching brief glimpses of Vegeta, but never for more than a second.
With a sigh Bulma depressed the comm button and said "Vegeta?"
A moment went without response before Vegeta seemed to flicker into existence hovering in the middle of the room. He was completely soaked with sweat. "What is it woman?" Vegeta's voice came through the speakers in its typicly grumpy fashion.
"Whats going on Vegeta?" Bulma demanded.
"Nothings going on." Vegeta's replied.
"Vegeta you've missed lunch and dinner and you won't let Trunks train with you. Thats completely abnormal, so whats going on?" Bulma said in an exasperated tone.
Vegeta visibly grumbled to himself, though Bulma couldn't make it out.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you." Bulma said, leaning closer to the camera.
"I'll explain later!" Vegeta growled. He started to turn away from the camera, then looked as if a thought had struck him. "Trunks, get in here, I could use a sparring partner."
"Be right there." Trunks responded and turned for the door while the camera cut.
"Somethings really bugging him." Bulma muttered.
Trunks glanced over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll see if I can't get it out of him while were training."
"Just don't be to obvious about it. You know how your father is." Bulma told him.
"Course I do." trunks said, then dissapeared into the gravity room.
–
Vegeta watched as Trunks walked into the gravity room. Vegeta was immensely pleased with his sons abilities. In a few years he suspected Trunks might even catch up to him. Trunks quickly preformed some stretches before sinking into a fighting stance.
"You ready for this?" He asked with a grin.
"I should be asking you the same thing." Vegeta retorted. Then without further ado, they charged.
–
Bulma couldn't help a smile as Goku and Pan flew into sight. Pan was a nice girl to have around, and she got along very well with Bulla, who was waiting with Bulma for her friends arrival.
"There they are mommy." Bulla declared, pointing towards the pair.
"You're right, they are." Bulma agreed.
Pan made it to the balcony first, with Goku landing a second later withs his usual goofy grin. "Hey Bulma! Its been awhile."
"I keep telling you to visit more often." Bulma reminded him.
Goku chuckled a bit as he scratched the back of his head.
"Grandpa Goku, can I go play with Bulla?" Pan asked in a pleading tone.
"Go ahead, if its alright with Bulma of course." Goku replied.
"Its fine by me." Bulma assured them. Pan let out a cheerful cry and ran off with Bulla. "I remember being that young." Bulma said wistfully.
"I never really noticed a difference." Goku shrugged, then added "Except for having kids."
Bulma let out a small chuckle. "Oh well, I suppose getting older has some advantadges of its own."
Goku nodded his agreement, then glanced after the kids to make sure they were out of earshot before saying "Look, theres a reason Pan's staying here for awhile."
Bulma's smile faded. "Not just a social visit huh? I guess things are never so simple." Then after a moments thought she asked "Is this whatever has Vegeta worked up?"
Goku frowned as he said "Maybe, he might know already."
"So what is it?" Bulma asked.
"Gohan is back." Goku said. Upon seeing Bulma's look of alarm he was quick to add "It looks like Kibito Kai was succesful in redeeming him. He hasn't made any aggressive movements so far. Videl just wants Pan to be safe while she's thinking things through."
Bulma walked over to a chair and sat down. "Wow. You're sure he's not dangerous?"
"I think he's harmless. But Videl wants to be careful." Goku replied.
"Does Chi-chi know?" Bulma asked.
Goku shook his head. "I'm gonna tell her when I get home."
Bulma nodded. "I hope it goes well."
"Yeah, me too."