this chapter takes place between Living with a Saiyan and Poofed.
Kami had been wondering why Rose had been most distant with him lately. Ever since he sent her on that mission to Mount Paozu, she had been less and less responsive to him. When he spoke to her telepathically, she seemed distracted or she wouldn't respond immediately. When he sent her on missions, there would be a delay before she went on her way, and when he invited her to the Lookout to spent time together in person, she usually showed up late and a little disheveled.
When he asked her about it, she denied anything was wrong, but he knew she was lying. She was hiding something, but what, he didn't know. What he did know was that he hadn't expected it to be what stood before him now: a little boy with a monkey's tail.
He had finally worn her down and gotten her to promise to explain what was going on with her the next time she visited him. When he sensed the unfamiliar ki signature entering the lookout via the warp pad, he had though she had found a human that had caught her fancy. Much to his shock, it was no human, but a pint-sized space invader holding onto the skirt of her dress because he was too short to hold her hand.
Kami stared at the Saiyan with wide eyes, and the little boy looked back up at him with large, curious ones. "Kami," Rose said, breaking the awkward silence, "This is Goku. I found him in the woods of Mount Paozu and he's been staying with me ever since." She then turned to the child. "Goku, this is Kami," she explained, "He's an old friend of mine."
The boy's eyes narrowed before he turned to her and asked, "How come he has green skin and those dealies sticking out of his head?" He used his fingers to demonstrate by holding them to his forehead. Rose chuckled as Kami's eye twitched in annoyance.
"Those are antenna, Goku," she explained, "He has them because he's not human. He's from space, like me."
The boy cocked his head to the side and glanced at Kami. "But why hasn't he got a gem, then?" he asked.
"Well, he's not a gem. He's a Namekian," she explained, "There are all sorts of different people from space."
"Ooooooh," he responded, nodding slowly before turning back to the elderly green guardian. He smiled and stepped forward, hand extended. "Nice to meet you Mr. Kami-Namekian-guy," he greeted, "I'm Goku!"
Kami hesitated before taking the child's hand. "Yes...Very good," he said awkwardly, "Welcome to the Lookout." He then gave Rose a look that said "We need to talk."
Her grin faded and she nodded. "Oh Goku," she said, getting the boy's attention, "Would you like a tour of the lookout? I'm sure Kami's attendant would love to give you one." The boy smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
"Very well," Kami said. He brought a hand to the side of his mouth before calling for his companion. "Mr. Popo!" he called, "Your assistance is required!"
"Yes Kami?" a voice called. The pitch black genie stepped through the doorway. He looked mildly surprised when he saw Goku and gave a calm yet questioning look to Kami. The Namekian responded by mouthing "Don't ask" at him. The genie nodded before smiling again. "What is it that you need, sir?" he asked.
"I need you to give Goku a tour of the Lookout while I speak to Rose," he explained, "Do not let him out of your sight."
The genie smiled and nodded before extending a hand out to the Saiyan child. "Come along now," he said, "How about I show you the courtyard first."
Goku looked from the genie to Rose who nodded at him. He then took Mr. Popo's hand before walking out the door. The two watched them leave. Once Kami was sure the boy couldn't hear them, he turned to Rose.
"If this is some kind of elaborate prank, it's not funny," he stated, "Or have you finally be driven mad from isolation?"
Rose sighed and looked away. "Kami, I know what I'm doing. This one...He's different," she said.
"And how do you know that?" he asked.
"There isn't a cruel bone in his body, even if he does enjoy fighting," she explained.
"That may change. He is only a child after all," he argued, "One day he may want to embrace his Saiyan heritage."
"I don't know how he'll do that when he doesn't even know what a Saiyan is!" she snapped.
Kami's eyes grew wide. "What do you mean he doesn't know what a Saiyan is?" he asked.
"He thinks he's a human," she explained, "An old man found him in the woods as a baby and raised him all alone. He was barely in contact with other humans so he didn't know humans weren't supposed to have tails or his exceptional strength. As far as he's concerned, he's just a physically gifted little boy with a birth defect."
"He didn't just arrive recently?" Kami said quietly, "How strange…" "But that doesn't change anything. He's still dangerous to have here," Kami responded, crossing his arms.
Rose's brows furrowed at him. "What do you mean? How could there be a problem? He's one of the sweetest, most pure hearted child I've known!" she exclaimed.
"A pure heart isn't going to stop accidents from happening. Whether he knows it or not, he's still a Saiyan," Kami responded, "And that's something we can't change, and that's a big problem."
"Why?" she questioned, "If he can learn to control his strength, there should be no issue."
Kami sighed and turned away from her. "It's not his strength I'm worried about…" he muttered. "Rose," he said, "What happened to his previous caretaker?"
"He was killed," she stated.
"And you found the boy on Mount Paozu, correct?" he said, "the same place I sensed the monster?" Rose glared at him. "I take that as a yes," Kami continued, "And if I remember correctly, that night had been a full moon, meaning the old man had been killed by-"
"It was an accident! He wouldn't consciously hurt anyone like that!" she interrupted.
"Precisely. He isn't conscious in that form. If he transforms again, there is no reasoning with him in that state!" Kami exclaimed, "a listen to me, Rose. The boy may be able to integrate, but so long as he has no control over that form, he is a danger to everyone around him." "You live barely a mile away from a small beach town! What if he went ape and trashed the place? Any way you look at it, it's a dangerous and reckless decision!" he snapped as she turned away from him.
"Oh, and splitting yourself from your evil half to let it take form on the Earth just so you could be the world guardian wasn't?!" she snapped. Both of their eyes suddenly widened and Rose clapped her hands over her mouth. A silence fell between them. Rose froze in shock as she realised how far she had overstepped her boundaries. The origins of King Piccolo was a touchy subject for the both of them. "Kami, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" she started.
"No," he said closing his eyes and turning his face downward, "You're right. That was one of the most reckless and dangerous decision I've ever made." He remembered all the destruction and anguish his other half had caused. Whole towns had burned to the ground at King Piccolo's hand and it seemed there was nothing they could do. No prison could hold him and killing him would mean killing Kami too. If they hadn't found a way to magically seal him away, he could have destroyed the whole Earth. It was his deepest shame. He would never live it down. "But that is why I'm apprehensive about this," he continued, looking up at her again, "I never want a repeat of King Piccolo again."
Rose's hands fell to her side as she looked upon him with sympathy. "Kami, You don't have to worry," she said, extending her hand to his shoulder, "It won't be like before. He's not going to end up like King Piccolo. I'll make sure of it."
"And how are you sure you can handle the task?" he asked.
"Well I've dealt with Saiyans before," she stated, "one more will be of no issue to me. And with you by my side, there isn't anything I can't handle."
Kami's mouth twitched in amusement as he scoffed. "Flattery will get you nowhere," he teased, "Still, I trust you."
"As you should," she responded with a smirk, "Now, let's go catch up with the tour…before Goku's curiosity gets the best of him and he gets into trouble." She began walking out the door into the courtyard.
"Let's hope he hasn't found the Hyperbolic Time chamber yet…" the Namekian said with a smirk as he followed after her.
Decided to do another chapter with Kami and Rose. Now with little Goku too! Yeah this chapter had a bit of angst to it. Hope you like it though.