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Chapter 18
Unfolding Emotion

Two days have passed and Kakarot and Chichi are on the road again. Since then, Kakarot and Chichi's skill with Flight and Ki suppression have increased. Chichi can now fly but not at a very high speed. Kakarot has gotten a good grasp on Ki suppression and is now getting used to Ki detection. He couldn't feel very far but if someone of noteworthy abilities got within his vicinity, he could clearly feel them. He wasn't however at a stage where he could rely on it in a fight, he was too used to relying on his other senses.

Chichi said, "We're getting pretty close to West City, we only have about two days left by foot." Kakarot however, felt uneasy about that. It had almost been a week since he arrived on this planet, if his hypothesized time limit is accurate then he only has a little more than a handful of days left before whoever Freeza sent arrived. Kakarot was confident he could buy maybe one or two more days if he focuses on Ki suppression but he isn't confident he can outlast them. Worse yet is if they find some sort of evidence Raditz failed, they might stick around to do his job for him. Kakarot felt uneasy about this possible outcome but now his reasoning was drifting from Raditz to an uncomfortable second reason. He couldn't bring himself to consider what that second option was.

Kakarot's thoughts are interrupted when he and Chichi begin to pass through a darkened field. It looked as if a wildfire had overtaken it but not much time passed before they began to come across old, destroyed housing. Kakarot had a horrible feeling he knew exactly where they found themselves. Their questions were answered when they found a massive stone with a large number of names on it. Kakarot's face hardened as Chichi's expression dropped into a frown. Kakarot hadn't quite learned the written language yet however, in this case he didn't need to.

Chichi read what the stone said aloud, "In loving memory of the victims of the June Farmtown incident." It was a memorial stone to the town that Raditz mentioned destroying. To Kakarot, looking at the aftermath to one of his brothers first attacks on the earth was a dreadful sight. Kakarot had already accepted that their jobs were that of pirates and murderers but he tried not to let it bother him, since all he could do at the time was follow Freeza's orders. It was incredibly hard distancing himself from the act since he was a visitor in this situation and not a conqueror, not to mention his reaction to hearing Raditz talk about it was "relief". Relief that nothing had gone wrong with his mission but from this perspective that was clearly the wrong reaction.

Kakarot realized something right then, "Am I… still a conqueror?" He realized that regardless of the fact he was here to rescue his brother, wouldn't that be the same thing as doing the job himself? He would just be enabling Raditz to kill more people, create more ruined towns like this one. The fact he is really considering this line of thought troubles Kakarot greatly. Kakarot goes against his better judgment and asks what happened here. Chichi reveals information Kakarot wasn't aware she had, "A… few months ago Yamcha, Bulma's boyfriend, arrived at my house and told me about how South City was attacked and destroyed… I guess it didn't stop there."

Kakarot and Chichi sat on a bench which was close to the memorial. Kakarot stared off into space while Chichi just looked at the ground. She continued, "He told me not to worry about the culprit, he said he and the other Turtle School students took care of him. It didn't make me feel any better though." Kakarot's blood went cold upon hearing that whoever did this was "Taken care of". He knew there wasn't a chance in hell that this wasn't in reference to Raditz. He was the culprit after all, Kakarot heard it from the man himself. He destroyed a farm village and a large city. It didn't take much brainpower to realize which areas Raditz attacked with what Kakarot knew now.

Chichi finished what she had to say, "I-..If I hadn't isolated myself, then I could have helped with beating him sooner. Maybe this village could have been spared." "I doubt it." Kakarot's sudden denial caught Chichi off guard but she took it in a pessimistic sense. "Y-…You're right, I'm much too weak to make a difference, especially as I was back then." Kakarot shook his head and then glanced at her, as their eyes met Kakarot explained himself, "This is an individual who could destroy a city alone, if yer' friends couldn't stop em' from destroying these two areas, then I don't think your presence would'a changed much." Thankfully Chichi saw the logic in what he said and smiled, thanking him.

Kakarot brushed it off with a question, "Hey, this friend of yours, Yamcha was it? Could ya introduce me to him?" Chichi immediately said, "Y-yeah, he's Bulma's boyfriend so you might see him when we visit Bulma. Why do you want to meet him anyway?" Kakarot immediately said while looking away from her, "I wanted to meet the people who stopped such a powerful person, they might be worth talkn' to." Chichi accepted this explanation but while his words were logical to her, Kakarot's true motives were much more malicious. "I'm glad she can't feel my Ki or see my face right now."

Kakarot wore an expression dripping with malice as one last sentence floated around in his head, "If I can't rescue my brother, then I'm going to avenge him." Half an hour later they left the destroyed Farm village and later that night they set up camp and went to bed. Chichi was still too distraught from the village to train, Kakarot chose not to press her on it this time. He figured she just needed a good night's sleep and she'd be back to her regular self again. Kakarot chose to sleep inside for once, Chichi chose her bed while he chose to crash on the living room couch.

However, Kakarot was actually waiting for Chichi to fall asleep. After he was certain she was sound asleep and unaware of him, he left for the destroyed village. He stopped by the memorial stone and gave it a meaningful stare before feeling the fabric of his Gi which Chichi had made herself, she had even made extras so he wouldn't be stuck with one set for the entire journey. "It doesn't feel that bad any more…" Kakarot had adjusted to it but wondered if it was because he was getting too familiar with this planet or if he simply needed to adjust to the fabric. Kakarot shook his head reminding himself why he was out here. He searched a little farther from the village. Just a little south of the village is where he found it, the remains of Raditz's Space Pod.

Kakarot knew that finding it with Chichi would raise questions. It was in pieces which he expected given the information he already acquired prior to his landing. The area around the pod was damaged, "Guess the fight dragged on…" Kakarot looked around the field while saying to himself, "Did they really get you brother?" Kakarot gave up on that line of thought and decided he couldn't gather any more information from the pod alone. "Greetings, young man." Kakarot spun around to the direction of the voice only to find an elderly man.

He had a thick white mustache, he was bald but he did have long white hair on the sides and back of his head. He wore an orange vest, a puffy white undershirt and black pants and shoes. Kakarot felt his Ki now but he was surprised to find he couldn't sense him until right when he wanted him to. Kakarot was surprised, while he hadn't completely mastered Ki Sensing, he was certain he should have felt him before he managed to sneak up on him. The old man wore a crooked grin making Kakarot wary of him. "Are you curious?" said the old man, Kakarot wore a tense expression as he asked, "Of what?" The old man immediately answered with, "Curious of the battle that took place here, curious of who survived perhaps?" Kakarot was caught off guard by this statement.

Kakarot asked, "You saw it? You saw the fight?" The old man nodded and added, "I saw the entire altercation, the winners, and the loser." He then said, "A number of adversaries fought a single man. Only one person came out of that scuffle unscathed." Kakarot grew interested but the next words that came out of the old man's mouth puzzled him. "If you remain on this world in the distant future then I will ask for your assistance in my "research". When that time comes I hope you will join me willingly. I can do wonders for your battle prowess." Kakarot grew irritated at the vagueness of the old man and yelled, "What the hell does that mean?"

The old man chuckled and said, "You'll find out soon enough, until we meet again." Kakarot yelled, "Quit with the riddles old man!" Kakarot was about to leap at him when a second individual, large in frame, leaped from the shadows and grabbed the old man and dashed away before Kakarot could even get a good look at him. It all happened so fast Kakarot barely had time to give chase but when he did he found the old man's Ki had disappeared. "Damn it, how the hell did a guy that large move so fast?" Kakarot couldn't even feel this second individual and before long he realized he lost track of them.

Even when Kakarot resorted to using his Scouter he had no luck tracking him. "Is this an advanced version of Ki suppression? To think they could travel such a distance while suppressing their Ki." Kakarot turned it off and pocketed it inside his shirt. Kakarot shook his head uncertain of what to believe after attaining all of that vauge information. He returned to Chichi's house and went back to sleep. In the following morning Kakarot and Chichi arrived at South City which was under reconstruction. Kakarot knew this was the city that Raditz mentioned destroying. Yet again Kakarot witnesses the destruction his brother has caused from a visitors perspective.

Though it was through his imagination Kakarot saw the remains of the Prune Armory in place of this city and it brought into perspective what he and his kind do to other worlds on a regular basis. Chichi didn't have any words for the scene, she already spent a lot of that energy at the destroyed farming village. They simply walked past it unwilling to bring up a conversation about it. At that exact same time, Chiaotzu was flying around the city. He was focusing on his Ki sensing, hoping he feels the invader before he gets too close. It has been nearly a week since the invader arrived and Chiaotzu was beginning to wonder if he was really here to invade.

He questioned what invader would wait a week before attacking. That's when his senses picked up on a familiar Ki, "Wait… is that…" He closed in on it and smiled upon seeing Chichi, "It is her." He wondered if he should say hi, their last meeting was a long time ago. The meeting in question didn't end very smoothly due to the Piccolo situation but Chiaotzu figured there shouldn't be any harm in greeting her. Chiaotzu flew in from behind and was about to holler at Chichi when he noticed the individual next to her. He immediately asked himself, "Is she traveling with someone, maybe she got a boyfriend." Chiaotzu was joking but upon getting close enough to get a good look at his back he froze.

His eyes dropped to the man's waist and realized what he was looking at. "A-a… Tail?" mumbled Chiaotzu, realizing exactly what this meant, Chiatozu created some distance while suppressing his Ki. Even pretending to be a belt didn't hide the appendage from being spotted by someone who knew what it looked like. Kakarot however noticed the Ki and peered behind him without Chichi noticing. Kakarot thought to himself, "Damn, one of them found me. Luckily he didn't attack but that must mean he's looking out for Chichi." Kakarot felt a smile creep on his face but he soon hid it, returning his gaze forward.

Chiaotzu however questioned, "Why's she with him? H-he must be using her as a hostage. Oh what do I do, what do I do!?" Chiatozu realized that starting a fight now could put Chichi in danger. Their plan didn't count on the invader getting to Chichi first. Chiaotzu decided he needed to get assistance, "West City is close by, I'll get Yamcha and we'll figure out what to do next." Chiatozu was making a gamble but figured if Chichi was his hostage and cities or towns hadn't been attacked yet then he might not go on the attack unless he's directly confronted. In other words South City should be safe without him there. Kakarot however noticed the fleeing Ki as Chiaotzu flew toward West City at full speed.

Kakarot mentally cursed, "Damn, he's getting help. If they confront me now then Chichi…" Kakarot stopped himself, realizing his objective was beginning to drift again. Kakarot shook his head and began to consider what he should do but then an idea came to him. Chichi was confused by his odd reaction but was then distracted by a question, "How far is West City from here?" asked Kakarot, Chichi answered immediately though she was a little surprised by the sudden question, "A day away on foot." Kakarot then asked, "In what direction?"

Chichi pointed in the direction Chiaotzu was going. Kakarot smiled realizing this plan could work, he said, "How about we try and fly the rest of the way?" Chichi stammered as she said, "B-b-but I'm not that confident yet, what if I fall?" Kakarot immediately said back, "I'll be yer' trainin' wheels. If you fall I'll catch ya. Ya need to test yer' limits every now n' then." Chichi was nervous but steeled her resolve and said with conviction and clenched fists, "A-all right!". They both focus their Ki and launch into the air, though Kakarot directs Chichi to stay somewhat close to the ground just to be safe. Kakarot manages to keep his Ki suppressed enough to not grow too big. It shouldn't be as noticeable compared to if he used his full power, besides he didn't want to leave Chichi in the dust.

Chiaotzu however notices Kakarot's Ki but realizes it's not as big as it used to be, "D-did he learn Ki suppression?" He feared Kakarot was closing in on him but he soon realized he was simply going in the same direction which was almost as worrying. Kakarot feels confident that at this pace he'll beat Chiaotzu to West City but he suddenly realizes that Chichi is struggling. Suddenly she loses control of herself and begins to plummet.

Kakarot grows unexpectedly worried and grabs her before slowing down and allowing her to land. Chichi apologizes, "S-sorry, I-I couldn't keep up." Kakarot simply replies with, "It's alright, we'll go slower this time." Kakarot curses inside his head, "Damn it, I've lost the lead. We'll at least make it into the city. I'll be able to hide myself with Ki suppression." Chiaotzu manages to get to West City, Yamcha immediately feels Chiaotzu's Ki and meets with him above the City. He says, "What's going on Chiaotzu?" Yamcha wasn't expecting Chiatozu to disregard the plan. Chiaotzu immediately said with haste, "I-it's Chichi, the alien is with Chichi!"

Yamcha was shocked by this new information, "W-what do you mean?" said Yamcha who was in need of some answers. Chiaotzu immediately said back, "I think he's using her as a hostage, I-I didn't know what to do." Yamcha regained his composure and said, "It's alright, go meet with Tien, I'll call Krillin. We need to talk about this before doing anything rash." Chiaotzu then added, "He's coming this way, I think he saw me. He didn't chase me down but I think he was headed for this city." Yamcha paused for a moment before speculating, "If Chichi's with him, maybe she doesn't know he's a danger. She might be…"

Suddenly it dawned on him, "She might be leading him to Bulma! Quickly, get to Tien. I'll call Krillin and bring Bulma up to speed on the situation!" Chiaotzu nods in response and leaves for Tien's location at full speed. Yamcha begins to fly toward Capsule Corp as he mentally reviews what his plan will be, "Ok, if I can bring Bulma up to speed, we might be able to get Chichi away from him without making him suspicious. The last thing I need is to fight him alone with Bulma and Chichi in the vicinity." Yamcha doubted he stood a chance in a straight fight but he had to do something in this desperate situation. Yamcha was almost to Capsule Corp when he felt Chiaotzu's Ki suddenly drop. Yamcha felt a different Ki where Chiaotzu was, "Damn it, was he wrong!?"

Yamcha darted in Chiaotzu's direction when he felt Chichi's Ki, albeit a bit weak, close by Bulma's house. "W-wait if she's there, did he separate himself from her… wait!" Yamcha recognized the Ki, his blood ran cold as he realized exactly what was going on. With Chiaotzu, he was being held by his ankle, floating in the middle of the sky, "Little fool, you shouldn't have separated yourself from the pack." The man said with a deep menacing voice. Chiatozu was barely conscious but just enough to mutter his attacker's name, "P-piccolo." The green faced man known as Piccolo gave him a sinister grin.

He then began to fly away from West City with Chiatozu in tow but not before charging up to full power. "You'll make a good lure." Said Piccolo with clear joy in his voice. Yamcha was frozen, unsure what he should do, "What's Piccolo doing attacking Chiaotzu? D-darn it, where should I go first?" If Piccolo was attacking Chiaotzu then obviously Kakarot was still with Chichi and that would mean he's closer to Bulma than Yamcha currently was. Yamcha gritted his teeth and said out loud, "Sorry Chiaotzu, I need to distract the alien. I hope Tien can reach you in time." Yamcha made a beeline for Capsule Corp, hoping he wasn't dooming Chiaotzu.

Kakarot in the meantime managed to get to West City, granted Chichi was exhausted. They landed near where Chichi said Capsule Corp should be and began to walk from there. Chich muttered through a miserable breath, "Wow, that… that really wore me out." Kakarot stopped and gave her a pat on the back saying, "That means you have room to grow." Kakarot however wasn't sure why but he only felt one large Ki, he was certain he felt two when arriving here. Regardless he allowed Chichi to catch her breath before they continued toward Capsule Corp. Chichi began to exposite information about Bulma, "Bulma's actually the daughter of Capsule Corp's CEO, he's the man who made Dino Caps."

Kakarot was surprised to find that a single human was able to make such a unique device. Even Freeza's engineers haven't made anything similar to Dino Caps.

They finally arrived at a large round building, "I-is this really your friend's house?" Chichi hums in confirmation as she added, "She lives in the Capsule Corp HQ along with her parents." Chichi then rings the doorbell after which a mechanical voice says, "Hello, who might be visiting today?" Chichi cleared her throat and said, "It's Chichi, I'm friends with Bulma." The mechanical voice immediately responded, "Ok, I will get Miss Bulma."

Back with Chiaotzu and Piccolo, Tien arrived first, sensing his friend's weakened state. "Piccolo you bastard!" barked Tien, angry over the attack on his closest friend. Tien then yells, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Piccolo says through a sinister grin, "I don't need trash like you getting in my way, so I needed a lure." Piccolo slightly lifted Chioatzu to emphasize who the lure was and then lowered him back to his previous position. Tien then yells back, "You're a fool if you think you can take the alien on by yourself!" Piccolo simply retorted with, "I have a plan for him, and I don't need you or the others interfering." Piccolo then lifted Chiaotzu up by his ankle and said, "Now let's focus on what's important, I don't need to spell it out to you, do I?"

Tien let out an angry growl and said through clenched teeth, "Fine!" Tien raised his Ki to full power and launched himself at Piccolo, who flew farther back as Tien gave chase. On Krillin's end he felt the battle start but questioned what Piccolo was doing. "Why is he causing trouble now? Darn It, I should have taken care of him sooner!" Krillin dashed in Piccolo's direction hoping to help Tien deal with him before it was too late. Yamcha decides to approach them naturally, he lands in front of the house and hollers at Chichi, "Hey, Chichi, how's it been!"

Kakarot and Chichi, who were facing each other, turned to their right to see who was speaking to them. Chichi hesitantly said with a nervous smile, "Y-yamcha, hello." Kakarot mentally noted, "So this is the "Yamcha" Chichi spoke of." Kakarot read his Ki but found himself disappointed and confused, "How did this weakling compete with Raditz? Regardless, he will tell me what I want to know." Kakarot calms himself down with a quick breath but his train of thought is interrupted when he hears the door to his left open. A girl with lavender colored hair stood on the other side of the door, she wore a blue sleeveless shirt under a white lab coat. She also wore white shorts and blue socks with white shoes. Her hair was short and kempt, she smiled brightly upon seeing Chichi, "Chichi!" Chichi returned the greeting, "Bulma!"

At this time Yamcha stopped his advance, cursing himself for being too slow. He could have told them Bulma was out and drew them somewhere else but now that Bulma is present, Yamcha has lost his advantage. Bulma then spotted Kakarot and Yamcha and adopted a more seductive tone while leaning toward Chichi, "And you even brought a guest, and he's a looker ." Chichi's cheeks burned red for a second before completely ignoring her comment and instead jumping to introducing Kakarot. "T-this is Kakarot, he's a friend I made after we bumped into each other on Mount Paozu." Kakarot jokingly said, "Right bumped into each other." Chichi shot him a frightening glare which to Kakarot's surprise actually worked.

Kakarot suddenly said again, "R-right, bumped into each other." His tone was much more serious this time around. Yamcha was dumbfounded by the display of dominance while Bulma gave Chichi a sly grin while she whispered in a joking tone, "You sure you're not married already?" Chichi huffed stubbornly as she strolled into the building ignoring Bulma's attempts at teasing. Before following behind her, Bulma turned to Yamcha and said, "You'd better get ready for our date." Yamcha nervously replied with, "R-right, honey."

Yamcha had forgotten that he hadn't had time to spend time with Bulma due to patrolling the city. Before Kakarot went inside he looked at Yamcha and said in a dry tone, "I heard you're pretty strong, we should talk later." Yamcha nodded and said, "Yeah, I think we'll have a lot to talk about." As Kakarot entered the house Yamcha thought to himself, "Looks like he's playing nice… and his sights are set on me." Yamcha then put on a serious expression and mentally said, "I don't care if I'm no match for you, I'm not going to back down."

Author Edit: I put one too many zeroes on Yamcha, no, YamCHAD shouldn't be able to trounce Vegeta but it would be fun to see.

Power Level:

Kakarot: 4,000

Chichi: 800

Yamcha: 1,500

Bulma: 5

Tien: 2,000

Chiaotzu: 1,100

Piccolo (Reborn): 2,300