Risk
Chapter 33
It had been eight months since Chi-chi had started dating Kirin. Something had begun to change within her and the negative emotions began to fade away. Yet, not everyone was happy and because of Kirin, Chi-chi started slacking off in her training much to Piccolo's distaste.
This wasn't voiced until the day Chi-chi returned from another counseling session with Kirin and noticed something amiss when she walked in the door. Piccolo and Vegeta were standing there in the kitchen sending their own silent complaints at the female warrior. Gohan and Goten were sitting at the table almost though they were forced to wait there until their mother came home. The younger Son child did not tend to mind this treatment since he was given a bottle to suckle on, but Gohan seemed highly uncomfortable being there.
"Um… why are you two here?" Chi-chi said uneasily when she noticed their cold glares sent in her direction.
"Is it true you're courting some weak human?" Vegeta growled the word almost though Kirin was truly diseased.
"I am, but why are you interested in my affairs?" Chi-chi asked.
"You're dishonoring your mate's death by doing something that stupid and childish…" Vegeta trailed off with a hiss.
"What? I'm sure Goku would…" Chi-chi attempted to berate to no avail.
"A true Saiya-jin only has one woman in his life and does not go against the one he's bound with."
"Piccolo, you told him didn't you?" Chi-chi eyes snapped at the Namekian warrior; clearly upset that he dragged the proud Saiya-jin Prince into this matter.
"You were the one fooling around with that guy when I said you should watch yourself," Piccolo demanded. "And he's making you pay through courting?"
"Dating," Chi-chi corrected them both. "And it's better than having to pay him thousands of dollars…"
"You know, you could have talked to one of us for help…" Piccolo countered.
"That's different! I'm sure your way of talking is mostly fighting!" Chi-chi ranted. "I rather deal with talking than fighting with you guys!"
"Is that so? Then I won't even bother rescuing you if you get in trouble woman," Vegeta scowled before walking out and slamming the door; a little harder than he intended as it shattered into splinters; the knob hitting the floor awkwardly.
"You… you ignorant…" Chi-chi started to say.
"Be grateful I trained your son because I'm sure he's the only one who's going to save you if you get yourself in too deep in this petty affair." Piccolo snorted before leaving. Gohan followed the Namekian warrior, leaving Chi-chi alone with Goten.
"Fine, you guys can treat me like I'm breaking my vows, but I can't help feeling lonely…" Chi-chi felt the tears stinging her eyes. 'They're wrong… I love Kirin…'
'I can't stand this anymore!' Kakarrot's voice yelled within Goku's mind. The Earth-raised Saiya-jin felt the anger washing over him and gritted his teeth. Ever since Kakarrot had talked to him last, Goku was not ready for the power and unnatural emotions flooding his body. In vain, he attempted to bring it under his control.
'What's wrong?' Goku tried to calm the darker persona to no avail. The power that surrounded the Saiya-jin was maddening and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep it down. The warrior had already transcended into a Super Saiya-jin 2 and felt it attempting to push beyond even that.
'All she cares about is this guy! I'm not going to let him touch her again!' Kakarrot roared.
The power was growing harder to suppress and without a second thought, Goku willed Kakarrot into existence beside him; allowing his own power to level out to where he could control it. Both of them had equal power like this and neither one could surpass the other.
Or so Goku had hoped.
"Kakarrot, stop…" Goku pleaded before the darker persona punched the Earth-raised Saiya-jin across the face; causing his head to snap backwards. The tell tale signs of a bruise began to develop before Goku lunged at his own persona with what power he could summon on his own. This was the only way to break Kakarrot out of this berserk state he went into.
After all, it seemed actions speak louder than words at that moment.
Two identical warriors fought against one another and tore the ground and various objects around them. Neither of them was daring to back down from the fight as others gathered and watched from a distance without trying to get involved in this matter. Any words that tried to reach either one were shrugged off like water as blows collided along with various energy blasts.
Kakarrot knocked the Earth-raised Saiya-jin backwards with a strong blow to the gut before flying rapidly at the thrown back opponent. Quickly, Goku regained his composure and traded blows against the darker persona; knowing if he showed weakness in this time, he could quickly take advantage of it. Throwing a blast to distract him, Kakarrot willingly blocked without knowing Goku's intent. Before he knew it, the Earth-raised warrior had thrust a fist into his counterpart's face.
"Calm down!" Goku roared; his temper flaring. "Fighting against me is not going to save her!"
"I could say the same about you," Kakarrot sneered; turning his cold gaze back at the soft-hearted warrior. "You say you care about her as much as I do, but I don't see you proving it."
"How can we when we're dead?" Goku pointed up at the halo that floated over his head as well as Kakarrot's head.
"If we were not dead, that would not be a problem..." Kakarrot sneered. "...if we weren't dead..."
The raging aura around Kakarrot only increased and Goku knew it wasn't enough to bring his persona to lower his guard. Shifting into a fighting stance, he was about to continue the needless fight when a figure appeared between the two of them; catching their fists. Resting between both warriors was a cloaked warrior that easily stripped them of their offensive tactics and could very well drill them both in the ground if they were separated for a long period of time.
"What the...?" Goku was surprised.
"Why the fuck do you interfere?" Kakarrot growled angrily; wanting to take his anger out on the one that intervened.
"Because I can easily provide you with what you want: life," the mysterious warrior spoke in a calm voice.
"How would that help? We might as well not exist!" Kakarrot hissed.
"The one named Kirin that your mate's involved with is a personal matter that should have been taken care of a long time ago; however, circumstances had made it impossible to do."
"What are you saying? That he's a demon?" Goku questioned.
"In his own right, he's similar to Babadi..."
"Babadi...?" Goku and Kakarrot both said at the same time while their auras died away. The figure nodded to confirm this.
"Another threat currently on Earth that could take advantage of you two continue to fight against one another." He released their fists. "So, do I capture your interest now?"
"If you gave us life, would we be able to separate like this when needed?" Kakarrot questioned.
"Unfortunately, only this realm's strong enough to project both of your personalities evenly without much physical effort..." Tapping the halo, Goku saw it shatter; life flooding back into his body. Kakarrot vanished; leaving Goku standing there before the figure.
"Hurry, time is running out. If Kirin is not stopped, he could not only steal your wife, but draw upon the evil resting in her heart and enslave her mind."
'That'll be the day,' Kakarrot's voice echoed warningly.
"Thank you…" Goku started to say. "…um… who are you?"
"I shall tell you the next time we meet," the figure spoke cryptically; the halo now hovering over his head.
"Did you just give your life to bring me back?" Goku questioned.
"I did, but that's not important. Now go." Without delaying any further, Goku vanished.
"Why did you give your life to him? You're a Kaioshin!" King Kai ranted.
"To take care of the problem that you failed to finish," the Kaioshin spoke calmly. "Had I not, then Earth would be one of the many targets for not only Kirin, but Majin Buu…"
"…they assume I'm being used…" Chi-chi ranted to Kirin.
"That's not true. They're just jealous of what we have." Kirin reassured as he leaned down to Chi-chi's level. "I can easily make you forget they said that…"
"For awhile," Chi-chi smiled softly before their lips met. Kirin's fingertips brushed through her hair before they glowed with a creepy, reddish light.
'I can make you forget forever…' Kirin mentally thought as Chi-chi's eyes began to gaze over. 'Now that I have your heart within my grasp, I can…'
"Chi-chi!" Goku's voice suddenly broke the very silence. Kirin pulled away as Chi-chi's void eyes looked up at her husband. "What have you done to her?"
"I'm manipulating her heart Saiya-jin…" Kirin spoke the last word in a hiss before his skin started to darken. Clothes tore due to the muscles bulging and a very thick tail sprouted from his pants that resembled Frieza's; however, it had various barbs near the tip. "Had you been a little later, maybe you could have seen her as a succubus…"
'Fuck this shit!' Kakarrot took control and roared. The power rose around his frame once again and transformed the warrior quickly into a Super Saiya-jin 2.
"I see you have a transformation as well. Let's see if it's enough to save your beloved and break the spell I had placed on her." Kirin pulled away from the female and beckoned Kakarrot to come at him.
"It will be when I'm finished with you!" Kakarrot growled before lunging at Kirin. The demon easily caught the Saiya-jin's fist and smirked before throwing him through a wall.
"Stay here my prize. After he's gone, I shall ensure that you are mine for eternity…" Kirin vowed before following where Kakarrot had been thrown into.
'…this isn't working…'
'Do YOU have any better ideas?'
'I'm making this up as I go along, okay? We have to make sure that he doesn't infect Chi-chi…'
"There you are. I was thinking I was being too easy on you." Kirin's tail lunged at Kakarrot as he narrowly avoided the barbs. He had no desire to find out what the hell was in those things. Quickly, Kakarrot rolled out of the way and threw a blast at Kirin in order to blind him temporarily.
"You know, it's a little cramped in here wouldn't you say?" Kakarrot taunted at the demonic creature.
"I agree. Why don't we go outside where neither of us can restrain our powers…?" Kirin smirked before thrusting a hand towards the room where they came from that had Chi-chi in it. Kakarrot's eyes widened.
'Chi-chi!' Kakarrot teleported quickly and shielded the female's body with his own before the blast tore through the very room. Pain seared through the warrior's body from the blast that crashed into his back. Suddenly, he felt Chi-chi push him away, surprising both personas at that moment.
"I don't need your help, you filthy ape…" Chi-chi's voice spat venomously. Those very words tore through the air like a knife. Kakarrot knew these words hurt Goku like it hurt him at that moment. "I hate you..."
"Kirin, you bastard…" Kakarrot growled; his power rising further. His intense rage was aimed at Kirin who threatened to take away the woman he vowed to protect.
"Yes, I am truly a bastard, but you're even more of one since you abandoned your wife and let her become putty in my hands…"
"You won't be permitted to corrupt her soul. Even if it costs my life again, I will destroy you!" Kakarrot lunged at the demon and attempted to leave a mark, a dent, a scar; anything to prove that he wasn't invincible to the protective warrior's attacks.
"Dream on," Kirin easily dodged or deflected every attack that the fierce Saiya-jin had to offer. Kneeing Kakarrot in the gut, he threw him away towards the remains of the house where it collapsed on top of him. "If that's the best that the legendary Son Goku has to offer, then I suppose I should take my prize."
Chi-chi's dulled eyes cleared slightly and sparkled with the hint of tears when she saw her husband's prone form resting amongst within the debris. At that very moment, his hair no longer holding the golden fleece of a Super Saiya-jin; rather, the dark locks he had been born with. Her eyes watered as her mind drifted back to when he died to Cell's hands, the spell upon her breaking.
'No… not again…' Chi-chi thought in fear; praying that the warrior wasn't dead. "Goku… please get up…"
"Hm? Seems you've awakened from the trance I put you in…" Kirin walked over. Chi-chi backed away. "Come here…"
"No, you stay away from me!" Chi-chi shrieked before Kirin thrust a hand to hold her in place. Struggling, she found she couldn't run away. "Goku, wake up please!"
"I'm afraid you don't understand my dear Chi-chi," Kirin smirked. "You have nearly given your mind, body and soul to me…"
"I… I never…" Chi-chi's eyes widened when Kirin's lips sealed hers and once more, her eyes dulled. His claws gently touched the top of her head where he pressed down slightly. A whimper escaped her throat at the odd sensation filling her body; a reddish glow surrounding her frame.
'That cursed ring has to go…' Kirin grabbed at the very metallic circle and crushed it; shattering the chain around the female's neck in the process.
Almost though a pin dropped on the battlefield, the debris where the Saiya-jin warrior had been thrown into exploded outwards. An empty look was within Son Goku's eyes as they fell upon his wife's and Kirin; who had stopped kissing the female and looked back at the warrior. Lightning began to crackle violently within the heavens; casting an eerie and conflicting light upon the darkened land around them.
"What? Are you jealous?" Kirin teased; touching Chi-chi's cheek affectionately. The female nuzzled it mindlessly almost though she enjoyed the very touch.
"No, I'm pissed…" Kakarrot and Goku's voices echoed oddly in an irritated and threatening growl; almost though they both had equal control at the moment. The hair had lengthened and began to spill down to the small of his back while his muscles and facial features became more pronounced. Bolts of lightning crisscrossed through the air as a primal roar escaped his throat; signaling the climax of his transformation.
A bolt struck Goku's body almost though nature itself had granted the warrior the final push needed to ascend again. The bright light temporarily blinded both Kirin and Chi-chi before it finally ebbed. When they both regained their sight, a stronger version of Goku stood with his eyes filled with an unspeakable fury.
"W-what the hell?" Kirin's jaw dropped.
"You have brought this all upon yourself." Goku warned as the golden tail, almost moving like liquid mercury, snapped violently behind him. "Prepare yourself."
To Be Continued…