Risk
Chapter 34
The earth quaked violently to the maelstrom of power that raged. Gohan and Piccolo had been training when they felt a dark chi rage over their senses. Another, almost familiar one grew within minutes and nearly made Gohan rush over to them when Piccolo commanded that they gather the others first.
"I still don't see why we should check this out," Vegeta spat. "I bet the woman got way over her head…"
"If it were Bulma, would you be attempting to find out what was wrong?" Piccolo questioned.
"You keep the woman out of this matter!" Vegeta huffed; not particularly caring if she lived or died. If anything, he rather she was spared since she was the only person who knew how to repair the gravity room. Besides that, he barely tolerated her existence.
"This chi feels like Goku's. Are you sure we should get involved?" Krillin asked Piccolo rather uneasily.
"If Kirin's the one who provoked this, then we should at least be on standby in case things get out of hand." Piccolo confirmed.
"Seems you caught your second wind," Kirin smirked; unfazed by the cold, unforgiving glare that Goku had shot at the demon. The golden tail's fur seemed to have elongated slightly and grew coarser to match the transformation as it snapped with an aggressive flare.
"I'm just getting started," Goku boasted. "So let's save the whole 'kiss and tell' thing until after this shit's been dealt with."
"I agree. A false victory kiss wouldn't be as sweet." Kirin shifted into a battle stance. Goku did not slide into one; clearly frustrated at the warrior for mocking his sense of honor by throwing salt into the wound. "My dear puppet, go wait for me at the beach we walked along. I will bring back his corpse when I am done."
"As you…" Chi-chi started to say.
"She stays." Goku snapped quickly before she could utter another word. Hell, he would not even dare let her out of his sight after what Kirin had done to her during the time he had been in the realm of dead.
"I'm the one controlling her mind, so she'll do what I request, not you." Kirin sneered at the Saiya-jin.
"If she leaves, I will refuse to fight with you." Goku demanded in a rather unsatisfied manner.
"Fine, just go over there then." Kirin pointed to the chair that survived the damage.
"…" Chi-chi walked over and sat down.
"There, now are you done pouting?" Kirin teased.
"For the moment," Goku snorted before lunging at Kirin. Fist met fist as the barbed tail aimed directly at the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's chest. Twisting gracefully away from the tail, one of the barbs suddenly shot from the foreskin and grazed the warrior's side. Wincing, Goku landed in a crouched position while muttering curses under his breath.
"I apologize, but I really ought to warn you about my barbs…" Kirin boasted. "They tend to be attracted to rage…"
"So, that's why you allow your tail to get close to me." Goku glared at the monster.
"Yes and I pray you won't feel sluggish from the blood loss after awhile…"
"You'd do anything to win…"
"Same could be said about you. Now let's continue this dance before your body is no longer able to move…"
"Fine by me!" Both demon and Saiya-jin vanished and the only signs of battle were the thundering heavens and quaking earth that they fought upon. Only brief glimpses of the two were seen; however, it seemed Kirin was getting the upper hand. The newly transformed Goku was starting to feel the toll of the transformation and cuts that had raked his body every time the tail drew close.
'This fight could have been over a long time ago!' Before Goku suddenly felt Kirin's claw dig into the flaxen hair and into his scalp. A painful yelp escaped the warrior's throat as the fingertips burned.
"I could easily taint your soul also since you carry so much malice, but then again, you might just use it to steal back your mate from under my nose…" Kirin thought out loud.
"Do it and I swear I'll ensure that this universe has one less monster to deal with!" Goku warned before a kick distracted the demon. He released Goku as the Earth-raised Saiya-jin looked up at his savor.
"Are you alright dad?" Gohan asked. He was a Super Saiya-jin 2 and stood slightly in front of his father in a protective stance.
"Yeah, thanks Gohan." Goku flashed a smirk.
"Heh, I didn't think you'd have the balls to come back Gohan," Kirin smirked.
"Who…?" Gohan was confused about what was going on and how this monster knew his name.
"Kirin… don't you dare…" Goku growled before wincing.
"Ah, it seems you're starting to grow tired of this battle."
"Dad?" Gohan noticed that Goku was holding his right arm.
"I'm fine Gohan, just protect your mother…" Goku commanded.
"But…" Gohan suddenly felt pain rake through his back as Kirin stabbed the boy before Goku's eyes.
"Sorry, but I cannot allow that," Kirin smirked.
"Dad…" Gohan fell to the ground; losing both transformation and consciousness.
"Fuck you monster!"
"I think maybe I should give you a choice on who you want to save: your wife or your son…"
"Damn it!" Goku fell to his knees.
"Come on, I'm granting you a choice. It's not like I'm putting the Earth at stake…"
"In a way…" His vision began to blur. He wanted this all to be behind him and yet, he could barely move.
"Maybe I can make the decision easy for you and…" Kirin began towards Chi-chi; however, as Goku reached out with his remaining strength, he noticed a whitish orb behind them both.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Piccolo looked up at the orb that Vegeta had thrown moments before.
"Do you really have any other bright ideas Namek?" Vegeta spat. "If he has his tail, this will ensure that bastard's death."
"I just hope Goku knows what he's getting himself into," Krillin muttered; swallowing hard as the tense warrior's eyes gazed above their heads.
'Is that the… moon?' Kakarrot's thoughts barely filtered through the hazy mind as his heart began to race. His tail twitched and the clothing he wore began to tear where fur replaced the discarded fabric. A harsh roar escaped his mouth now elongating and filled with sharp teeth that could easily tear through flesh.
"Shit!" Kirin did not expect there to be a moon; let alone the chance of the Earth-raised Saiya-jin being able to transform into an Oozaru. The giant ape's fur was a golden color as he stomped around angrily and uncontrollably. "I will destroy you!"
Almost suicidal, Kirin lunged at the bulky creature; however, this easily caught the attention of the transformed Goku as his giant paws grabbed the demon. The ape-like creature ignored the barbs on Kirin's as he began to crush him. It was though he was almost seeking vengeance in his own way.
"Stop!" Chi-chi's voice pleaded to the ape to no avail. Kirin felt pain beyond what he imagined before he noticed his willing slave shooting blasts at the creature. Goku howled and was forced to release Kirin.
"Good job my darling…" Kirin smirked before leaning in to kiss her; however, he suddenly felt Goku grab his tail and threw him carelessly into the forest below.
"NO!" Chi-chi cried. The spell suddenly broke with Kirin being hurled away from them and Chi-chi's eyes cleared completely before she noticed the giant ape's gaze fall upon her accusingly. "W-what's going on?"
Goku, no longer knowing right from wrong, grabbed his wife and was about to crush her the same way he did Kirin. Chi-chi wriggled in harsh, unforgiving grasp as she screamed in fear.
Suddenly, the moon vanished and the transformation began to reverse itself due to the lack of the silvery orb. The hand was forced to release Chi-chi as the furry mass began to shrink and become more human; save the tail. Exhausted, Goku fell to the ground unconscious; completely in the nude.
"Goku?" Chi-chi ran towards him before she noticed Piccolo and the others gather. Tien held the injured Gohan in his arms wrapped in his shirt to stop the bleeding. The Namekian warrior removed the weighted cape and draped it over the fallen warrior.
"Go home. They'll need time to recuperate and you need time to think about your actions," Piccolo's voice sternly lashed out at the female warrior.
"What do you mean?" Chi-chi glared at the Namekian warrior. Piccolo said nothing more as the warriors flew off into the heavens. Tien followed carrying Gohan in his arms. "Hey! Come back with..." A hand struck the back of her neck and knocked her out.
"Honestly…" Vegeta picked the female up bridal style and carried her to her home.
Whiteness was the first thing Goku awoke to when his eyes opened. His body felt stiff and hard to move as he sat up from his resting place. All of his memories were blurred to the point he couldn't remember what had transpired.
'Chi-chi!' Goku thought in worry as he attempted to get out of bed. Taking one step out of bed, his whole body suddenly fell to the ground; the sheet following his movement and draped upon his prone form. Numbness seemed to gnaw at his body; almost though it was teasing him. 'Why can't I move?'
The door opened and he felt Piccolo's chi walking towards him. The Namekian warrior lifted him up and put him back into bed as the Earth-raised Saiya-jin had so many questions running through his head at that moment.
"You're lucky you weren't torn to shreds from the battle. I sent Gohan to get you a senzu," Piccolo told the confused warrior.
"Where's Chi-chi?" This was not a question Piccolo did not expect for Goku to be asking so soon.
"She's at home. Vegeta's watching her since she was placed under magical enchantments."
"…that's why she pushed me away…" Goku said almost distantly; his mind thinking back to when he shielded her before everything became a blur.
"Are you feeling alright Son?" Piccolo questioned.
"I… I want to know if she hates me…"
"If anything, I'm sure she doesn't hate you. Kirin's magic made it impossible for her to stay loyal to you."
"Then why do I feel she's better off with him?"
"She's not meant to be with him. Is Kakarrot telling you these things?"
"No. He isn't even speaking to me."
Surprise etched on the Namekian warrior's face. "How long has he been not talking to you?"
"Before all of this, he hasn't spoken to me for months…" Goku admitted. Piccolo brushed his hand through the Saiya-jin's scalp gently before the warrior flinched and grabbed the appendage harshly. A wave of anger and mistrust seemed to fill the naïve warrior.
"What the…?" The Earth-raised Saiya-jin's eyes were no longer filled with the same trusting look they held moments ago. Piccolo knew then who was in control as the hand released his wrist. "I assume you were listening Kakarrot?"
"I have and if you want to know anything about why I haven't been talking to him, it's because he's been pushing me away." Kakarrot's voice spoke. "He's afraid that I may not approve of his actions."
"That's childish…" Piccolo snorted before a dark chi grazed his senses. Kakarrot growled and attempted to move. "You're still hurt, so get back in bed!"
"I know, but I don't have the luxury of waiting for Kirin to get to her and try to touch her again! He's already angered me to the point where I cannot even look at him without wanting to tear his heart out of his chest!"
"I thought you killed him!" Piccolo questioned.
"No, he's still alive and he's going to get her…" Kakarrot hissed. "I hope Gohan hurries up because the longer I sit here waiting for him to bring that bean, the more vulnerable she is at home."
Piccolo noticed how cut up the inside of Kakarrot's palms were. Was this all the damage Kirin had done while the Earth-raised Saiya-jin was transformed in an Oozaru?
…
"Why won't you let me go outside?" Chi-chi growled at the Saiya-jin Prince who guarded the exit of the house with an irritated expression.
"Because that demon's out there and I am sure he will return and finish the job," Vegeta snorted.
"If I can't go through the door…" Chi-chi's eyes suddenly lit up as she grinned. Vegeta could not stop her when her fingers connected to her forehead and she teleported before his eyes.
"Damn it woman!" Wasting no time, Vegeta barreled out of the door and into the heavens.
…
Chi-chi suppressed her chi as low as she could while looking around for Kirin. She did not believe that Kirin transformed into a demon and thought that the demon that had taken his place was not him. As she came to the clearing where the house once stood, she saw Kirin lying on the ground with his clothes torn. He looked like he had been abandoned there in his weakened state.
Forgetting last night, she ran towards him before a reddish glow suddenly halted her. The man she had been running to suddenly rose upon his feet and he transformed before her very eyes. Struggling to get away, Chi-chi found she could not as Kirin drew closer to the helpless woman.
"Now, now, you want this so bad…" Kirin teased. "So why not surrender yourself and your energy and ensure my rule over the universe?"
"Because my heart belongs to Goku!" Chi-chi yelled at Kirin.
"You still have feelings for him after what he did to you?" Kirin growled. "He nearly killed you!"
"K-killed?" Chi-chi's eyes widened.
"Yes, he was the one ensuring you died last night, but he wanted nothing more than to kill you…"
"No, he wouldn't do that…" Chi-chi doubted it, but her body ached slightly when Kirin lifted her chin up.
"Yes he would… because he hates how you have fallen for me…" Kirin smirked. Chi-chi's eyes gazed over as the aura strengthened. "He's hurt you…"
"He… he…" Chi-chi muttered.
…
"I can't wait any longer!" Kakarrot yelled. Gohan quickly ran into the room with the bag of Senzu.
"Here dad!" Gohan threw one to his father.
"About time," Kakarrot growled; feeling it take affect almost immediately. Standing up, he stretched before adorning the clothes that were left out for him to wear.
"Be careful dad…" Gohan pleaded to his father.
"Thanks, I need to insure that your mother doesn't end up getting in anymore shit than she's been in lately…" Kakarrot focused before his eyes widened. "I spoke too soon…"
The walls melted and he appeared before Kirin and Chi-chi. The demon noticed Kakarrot standing there as he instantly transcended into a Super Saiya-jin 2 with ease.
"What? No long hair this time? This is disappointing…" Kirin shrugged before releasing Chi-chi's neck almost though he had been contemplating slitting her throat.
"Long hair?" Kakarrot repeated these words. "What are you talking about?"
"The challenge you could have provided me yesterday had it not been for this…" Kirin's tail wagged behind him before slitting Chi-chi's legs. She fell immediately to her knees.
"Stop it!" Kakarrot's chi snapped. Goku hated the anger he felt, but couldn't help but feel the same irritation.
"I suppose you need anger to reach that state again… perhaps if I…" Kirin aimed his tail directly at her chest.
"Don't do it!" The duality of Goku and Kakarrot's voices were heard. Chi-chi suddenly snapped out of it and felt the barb gently scrape against her chest.
"Why? You don't love her, you nearly killed her!" Kirin smirked. "Isn't that right Chi-chi?"
"G-Goku? Kakarrot?" Chi-chi looked at them with sadness in her eyes. "I thought you…"
"I still love you! What Kirin's saying is a lie! I would never…" The words were never finished being exchanged as Kirin's tail suddenly wrapped around Chi-chi's neck.
"I suppose if she holds feelings…" Kirin began to choke the life out of the female.
"Don't kill her!" The golden aura suddenly strengthened and once again, the Saiya-jin warrior transcended before Kirin's eyes. Chi-chi, who missed the previous transformation, watched as her husband, the one who vowed to protect her, ascend before her very eyes.
The last thing she saw was him rushing towards Kirin with what she assumed were tears coming out of his eyes.
To Be Continued…