Risk
Chapter 26
"You idiot!" Vegeta ranted, having to be restrained by Trunks and Goten the moment he learned about the news of Cell's plans. "You should have just fought him instead of giving him more time to absorb more humans! I swear you're such an idiot at times!"
"It wasn't my idea! It was Kakarrot's!" Goku attempted to defend himself to no avail. The Saiya-jin Prince did not seem to buy Goku's excuse and was about to pummel whoever was in possession of the body at the moment.
"Then let him talk!" Vegeta snapped in an irritated voice at the naïve Saiya-jin warrior. Goku sighed and for a moment gave a silent apology to everyone before allowing Kakarrot to have control; knowing that this would not bode very well for anyone.
"You wanted to speak to me my prince?" Kakarrot asked. No sooner did he speak, Vegeta powered up and broke the hold that Goten and Trunks had and punched Kakarrot across the face. The Saiya-jin went flying through several pillars of the lookout as they collapsed to the ground. Seconds after the last bit of rubble settled, Kakarrot sat up rubbing his already bruising cheek from the punch. "I suppose I deserved that after letting Cell has his way…"
"You're a disgrace Kakarrot. You let him take not only your pride, but your damn tail. I cannot even begin to imagine what he gained from absorbing it." Vegeta snorted. "You better train hard while you're in there because I want our battle after you're done."
"If that is my prince's wish, then I will do what is asked," Kakarrot mockingly smirked before looking over at Chi-chi. She was glaring at him angrily in a silent tone. Deciding now wouldn't be a good time to listen to her banter, he gave Goku back control. The Earth-raised Saiya-jin seemed to feel a slight bit of guilt and said nothing to his wife about what had just happened.
"If you're ready Goku, the Room of Spirit and Time is prepared for you and Chi-chi," Mr. Popo announced. Goku rose to his feet and started towards the place he would spend for the next year with his wife. He mentally prayed that she wouldn't be cross at Kakarrot during the whole time they were training together.
"See you in a year mom!" Gohan waved. Chi-chi hugged Gohan before following her husband into the Room of Spirit and Time.
No sooner did the door click closed behind them; Chi-chi began to worry about her husband's predicament. Goku immediately walked passed the living area and beds towards the curtains where nothingness was. A gasp left Chi-chi's throat and for a brief moment, she wondered what she had let her husband talk her into.
Goku turned and looked at her in worry. He knew he was putting a great deal of pressure on his wife and knew that if she wasn't prepared, Cell could easily take advantage of her greatest fears. He knew Gohan would be in better hands when it came time for him to train with Goten. His wife however would be harder to train with her fears and worries about him plaguing her mind.
"Before we start," Goku spoke for the first time between them since he regained control from Kakarrot, "I'll have to explain the dangers of training in here before we begin…"
Chi-chi listened while Goku explained everything about the gravity room half-heartedly. She thought back to Kakarrot's confidence on his face and prayed that Goku wouldn't let him out while they were training. She was already worried about the promise that Goku would have to keep and prayed that no one would truly be foolish to go before her husband had a chance.
"…are you listening Chi-chi?" Goku questioned.
"Y-yes!" Chi-chi blurted out. "So we're going to be here for a year?"
"That's right. We better get started right away and not waste anymore time." Goku walked out deeper into the room. Chi-chi followed; however, she felt the gravity seem to press down on her slightly.
"So, what now?" Chi-chi asked before she saw those foreign eyes again. Her first instinct was to yell at him for letting Kakarrot have control; however, she knew he had his reasons.
"First off, I want you to forget that I'm your husband, even for a little while…" Kakarrot muttered. "And second, I want you to think back to that nightmare you had."
Chi-chi paled. She rather not even think about the nightmare that dealt with her husband planning to kill her. She took a step backward while Kakarrot advanced towards her. It was almost though she was reliving the nightmare while she was awake and was worried that the void room would not dare bring her down. A misstep and Chi-chi found herself on the ground. Kakarrot closed in and Chi-chi screamed before she threw out her hands and fired a blast at the Saiya-jin. It connected and threw Kakarrot back on the ground.
"Oh gods… what have I done?" Chi-chi cried out before crawling towards Kakarrot; half-worried that she had hurt him in the process. Kakarrot was knocked out from the sudden blow and Chi-chi sighed in discomfort dragging him back in near the living area they passed awhile ago.
Days passed since that incident. Chi-chi and Goku didn't bring it up as he pressed his wife harder to keep up. On this particular day, the temperature dropped suddenly and ice began to develop on the floors. The very incident reminded Chi-chi about the time she was in the ice storm against Kenshu's warnings back on Yardrat in order to help Goku gain control of both Super Saiya-jin and dealing with what used to be Kakarrot's rare appearances.
The only time they took any breaks were during their time to eat, bathe and sleep. Other than that, the two sparred quietly against one another with the exception of their battle cries ringing in the void around them. By the fourth day, Chi-chi couldn't stand the silence anymore and held her hands up, signaling them to stop during their training in the icy conditions.
"Goku, look, I'm frustrated about all of this stuff Kakarrot's been putting us through lately," Chi-chi vented. "I want to talk to him."
"Are you sure you…" Goku trailed off when he noticed the irritation in his wife's eyes. How could he say no when she could easily prolong the silence between them? In a heartbeat, Goku had allowed Kakarrot to have the control he needed to speak to Chi-chi.
"Go on," Kakarrot spoke in a calm voice.
"First off, what gave you the idea to ask for time to get stronger?" Chi-chi questioned.
"There's a reason: so I won't have to worry about you when we're fighting Cell."
"What do you think would happen if I came along?"
"I'm not sure, but he could easily hold you hostage or worse, use one of our sons…"
"Kakarrot, you're using 18 as a token to prove that you won't back out on your deal. What if you end up being Cell's second fighter? Or his third?"
"Chi-chi, it won't happen. There's not an idiot out there that would even have the guts to go after Cell."
"What if you're wrong? If he ends up absorbing 18, then we're definitely going to have something to worry about."
"And if it happens, we'll find a way to take him down and resurrect her and everyone else Cell's killed." Chi-chi bit her lip; however, she knew Kakarrot was rather convincing; especially when it comes to matters like this. "Is that all you're worried about?"
"There's one more thing," Chi-chi looked Kakarrot dead in the eye; a look that he meant she was serious. "I want you to promise me that after this is over, after Cell's been defeated, you'll be there for me…"
"I…" Kakarrot seemed to hesitate. He knew it was almost like the promise they both made to her years ago. "I can't Chi-chi…"
"What? Why?" Chi-chi noticed Goku regained control and was sitting there with a confused look on his face. "Why can't you keep that promise?"
"I… I don't know… It's like before…" Goku admitted. Chi-chi threw herself at her husband and cried in his chest; praying that somehow, someway, Kakarrot and Goku would be able to keep that promise to her.
Months pass…
Kakarrot and Chi-chi trained hard in the Room of Spirit and Time. Kakarrot had transformed into a Super Saiya-jin in order to help her improve her fighting skills. It was during this time that they became closer and more intimate at times during their daily spars. From smiles to body language, Kakarrot found himself giving affection to his wife. It was after their daily spars that they would bathe together and go to bed together.
One day during their training, Chi-chi and Kakarrot were both resting for a few minutes when Kakarrot suddenly kissed her. A moan escaped Chi-chi's parted lips and Kakarrot straddled her waist. He would have continued showering her with affection had she not pushed him away.
"What is it?" Kakarrot asked.
"I can't get pregnant again," Chi-chi muttered. "You remember what happened last time."
"Right… I understand… it's just… I want to shower you with so much love it's hard to express it any other way…" Kakarrot closed his eyes.
"Even so, we still have to get ready to face Cell. We still have five months before our year's up, so let's try to make the best of it."
"Agreed." Kakarrot stood up and held out a hand to help his wife up. "Better get back to work."
Outside of the Room of Spirit and Time, Gohan and Goten sparred against one another while Trunks talked with Bulma about the time machine they had discovered. They realized that like Goten and himself, Cell was from an alternate future and had used the time machine similar to their own to return to the past.
"If anything, we could stop 18 with a remote like Dr. Gero used…" Bulma smiled.
"Even if we do use it, Cell would probably absorb her anyway," Piccolo commented. "It's better if she were still with us than turned off."
"Besides, Krillin's been hurt due to Cell," Tien added.
"W-what happened to Krillin?" Bulma asked.
"Cell absorbed about 10 percent of his cells and he's more than likely paralyzed for the rest of his life."
"Oh dear…" Bulma felt the tears stinging in her eyes.
"Hey guys!" Yamcha called out. He was carrying Krillin in his arms and the monk seemed deeply depressed.
"Krillin," Tien noted the sad look on his face. "Are you alright?"
"I'm better than I was, but what's the point of living when I can't… move…" Krillin sighed sadly while looking around. "I rather be dead than have to live like this for the rest of my life…"
"You shouldn't say that!" Yamcha smiled. "You forget that we can use the dragon balls!"
"The dragon balls are gone, Yamcha," Piccolo reminded the ex-bandit.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Yamcha frowned; the reality sinking in.
"Hang on, don't give up hope yet," Goten smiled. "I think I know a way we can get the dragon ball active again."
"What are you suggesting?" Piccolo asked.
"Maybe my father can go to Namek and get a new guardian!" Goten boasted.
"You're right, hecould do that!" Piccolo gasped at the realization.
"We'll have to wait until Goku and Chi-chi get out though," Tien added. "So don't worry Krillin, soon, you'll be walking again."
"Gee, I can't wait." Krillin thought with his heart filling with hope.
Chi-chi was lying there quietly; not wishing to wake yet before rolling over and feeling no signs of Goku lying in bed with her. Alarmed, she rose to her feet in such a clatter and with worry and ran out into the void. There, she saw her husband powering up in the void and attacking the ice that threatened to swallow him whole. The golden aura danced over his skin; reflecting majestically against the pillars of ice that cracked and broke at each punch and kick he delivered.
Blissfully unaware of his wife's awakening, Goku continued his training against the very room that wanted to destroy him. Yet, he was faring well and seemed to mock the ice that did nothing but groan in annoyance at his power. Very soon, the ice faded; quickly melting and leaving the floors bare once again. Goku, landing on his feet, sighed in relief before losing the transformation.
A power he failed to notice grazed his senses and he noticed Chi-chi walk out with a towel to give to her husband. He graciously accepted the towel and dabbed of the sweat that gave his skin a brilliant sheen. After catching his breath, he looked at Chi-chi who was looking worriedly at him.
"I'm fine, I thought maybe since you weren't feeling well lately, I could train alone…" Goku admitted.
"It's not that, I'm worried…" Chi-chi admitted. "Ever since you and Kakarrot refused to honor my promise…"
"I wish I can. Something seems to weigh down on me each time you make me try to keep these promises to you. I don't know why."
"Perhaps it can't be helped. You're always reckless when it comes to fighting…"
"Also, I've been thinking of remaining a Super Saiya-jin for a long period of time until it becomes natural to me."
"You know I don't like it when you're a Super Saiya-jin…" Chi-chi rolled her eyes.
"It'll preserve a large quantity of energy until it seems natural to me. Besides, it'll only be until we defeat Cell."
"Fine, but after that, I don't want you transforming unless it's needed."
"If that's what you want…" Goku transformed before his wife and smiled. "You want to join me today?"
"Might as well," Chi-chi slid into a fighting stance.
After their training had finished for the day, Goku laid there next to his sleeping wife in his transformed state. He was unable to sleep and thought about what his counterpart and their wife spoke of. Gently climbing out of bed, he went into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror before realizing that Kakarrot was in the reflection. Was this mirror reflecting his desire to speak to Kakarrot or was it his imagination?
"You wanted to speak to me?" Kakarrot asked his nicer counterpart in an annoyed way; his harsh eyes gazing at Goku in a questioning way.
"I'm worried about what might happen during the battle with Cell," Goku admitted.
"Oh? Why are you so worried? We're going to kick Cell's ass and protect our family. We have done it before have we not?"
"Yes, but what if we aren't successful? What if something happens that keeps me from being there at her side at that crucial moment?"
"You're letting yourself overanalyze the situation and not seeing it from the way I see it. If Cell does anything to her, I swear it will be like going at Frieza all over again."
"At least you're confident in all of this. I really don't feel any different after spending much time here in the Room of Spirit and Time with her."
"You're the one who goaded her into coming in here, so if we're not any stronger when it comes time to leave, I blame you for it." Kakarrot vanished from the reflection and left Goku with more questions than answers.
"Someone's going to wonder if I'm sane or not talking to myself in the mirror…" Goku muttered before leaving the bathroom and rejoining his wife in bed.
To Be Continued…