Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Birth of a Prince ❯ Revenge ( Chapter 32 )

Part 32 Revenge

A month and a half passed fairly quietly. Two weeks after the birthday party the newly tailed boys had their first full moon. It went well, Vegeta had his two sons in with him all night with the curtains pulled closed, and Goku had slightly more trouble with Gohan who struggled with the suppression techniques, and Goten simply slept through it.

Two days after the full moon, Sage learned to crawl…backwards. Goku was playing with him out in the yard at CC when Sage pulled himself up to his hands and knees. Goku wasn't surprised, he had been doing it for nearly a month, but when the chibi actually started to move, Goku's shouts brought everyone running out from the main house. There was Sage, determinedly moving under his own steam…backwards. The look on his face was priceless, and he growled and snapped in frustration. He got even madder when everyone around him collapsed in laughter. Gohan took pity on him and carried him back to where he had started, and explained quietly to him as everyone else laughed in the background to start with reaching forward with one hand then follow it with a knee. Sage listened to the older boy carefully and proceeded to haltingly crawl forward. The laughter stopped as everyone watched the elated chibi revel in his new found independence. Trunks and Goten were the first to cheer the little bratling, and Bulma picked him up, not being able to stand it anymore, cooing about how proud she was of her strong little warrior. He chirped and chortled excitedly in her grasp. In the background, Goku and Vegeta exchanged proud glances, then looked away.

A day later, most of the residents of Capsule Corp had sustained chibi bites on their ankles when they didn't notice Sage crawling around and stepped on him. He developed speed and stamina with an intensity that rivaled his father's in regards to getting stronger. His crib had become all but useless and had to be taken down. He simply wouldn't stay put, and now that he had a more efficient mode of transportation it seemed nothing could stop him. He did have one weakness however. He used his tail as a counterbalance, usually waving it like a blue-black flag that gave away his position every time. In order to keep that little advantage over the chibi, no one ever mentioned Sage's tail in reference to crawling.

He wouldn't stay with anyone and play anymore; at least not for long. He wanted to explore. And if Goku was over for a spar all bets were off. No matter where he was taken in the main house, if he got two minutes head start he could be found sitting outside the gravity room door waiting for his Tou'tan and Baka.

Chichi seemed to be behaving herself as week after week passed with no real incident. Goten still tended to be frightened of her, and she certainly didn't rein in her tongue with the boy, but the scoldings seemed to be routine, and not meant to cause the child emotional harm. Gohan was suspicious of his mother still, though he couldn't say exactly why, and Goku was still sleeping in the boy's bedroom. He had given up trying to get back into his own bedroom when he realized that he didn't want to. Like Vegeta, Bulma and Gohan, Goku simply found himself waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But when it finally did, it came as a complete shock to everyone. Even Vegeta who expected the worst was taken aback at what happened.

The day of the next full moon dawned clear and slightly chilly, unusual for late summer. Goku and Vegeta had plans to spar at their usual sparring grounds; after breakfast Gohan had promised to take Goten to Capsule Corp to play with Trunks before leaving himself to spar with Piccolo. Gohan had been sparring a lot more recently, not only with Piccolo but with his father and Vegeta as well. It felt good, he admitted to himself as he dressed for the morning, dark blue gi fastened around his waist with a red belt. Similar, but not identical to the clothes that his sensei wore.

Back in bed, Goten was still snoozing, reluctant to leave his warm nest even though his brother had been up for a good ten minutes. He yawned and snuggled deeper under the covers, thinking sleepily about what he and Trunks might do today. He grunted at his brother's gentle shaking and reminder that he needed to get dressed and go down for breakfast.

"I'll come down in a minute Go-chan" he murmured.

"Ok chibi, but I'm not responsible if there's no breakfast left. Dad's already eaten and gone…heck there might not be any breakfast for me left!"

"Hai…hai…"yawned Goten. He wasn't going to fall for his brother's goading this morning. He was way too warm and comfortable. "I'll come down in a minute," he repeated.

Gohan chuckled. "Ok then…I'll see you in a few minutes," knowing full well that he'd have to come back upstairs and fetch his brother.

"Hnnn…"was all the reply he got before it eased off into a snore.

Gohan padded downstairs, thinking. Dad and Vegeta-san were already at the sparring grounds, he could feel their spiked ki's. Hn…Super Saiyjin already…Vegeta's really giving Dad a run for his money. Wonder if Sage is awake yet. Gohan grinned to himself. In order to get a decent spar these days, the two men had to rise before dawn, i.e. before Sage woke up. If his father was still in the house when he woke, all bets were off. Vegeta had about a fifty-fifty chance of leaving to spar unscathed, or unencumbered by a certain very possessive chibi.

"Morning kassan," he said cheerfully to his mother. He still refused to let his guard down around her, for that matter so did Dad. Neither of them felt comfortable leaving her alone with Goten for some reason, and they hadn't ever since they had come back from their stay at Capsule Corp. Still, Gohan had to admit that his mother hadn't actually DONE anything even remotely threatening or suspicious. But he still got that prickling of hair rising on the back of his neck every time he caught her looking at Goten. He didn't know what it was about, but he didn't like it. And then there was the fact that Dad still didn't sleep with her in their bed. That to Gohan spoke volumes. However, the waiting game was still on. He didn't know that it was about to end.

"Good morning Gohan, where is your brother?"

"Still sleeping kassan, but he said he'd be down in a few minutes."

She smiled. "Good, let me just get your breakfast. Sit down."

"Thanks Kassan," he replied as she bustled over to the counter. He didn't notice the vial she pulled out of her apron pocket, or the fine dust that she covered his scrambled eggs with. Chichi had chosen well, it was odorless, tasteless, and fine enough that the moisture from the eggs would dissolve it instantly, assuming that she didn't use too much. The amount she used should paralyze Gohan long enough for her to carry out her carefully laid plan. She would have her good boys back again, and once she did, they could work together to bring their father back as well.

She set the large plate down in front of her son and watched as he began to eat rapidly. Gohan felt the danger too late. Fear spiked in his stomach as he realized that he could no longer move his legs. He tried to speak, and the fork in his hand clattered to the table. His brain was a haze of disjointed thoughts that never made it to the surface. Unable to speak, he looked at his mother, who was smiling calmly.

"Don't worry son, it won't hurt you. It will just keep you still long enough for me to do what needs to be done." She hummed happily to herself as she went back into the kitchen and came back wielding a large carving knife. The blade flashed in the early morning sunlight.

"I'm going to get rid of that disgusting tail of yours, then your brother's and I'll have both my good boys back again," she said happily. Gohan shuddered internally at the unmistakable glint of madness in her eyes. She approached him slowly, and he panicked, gathered what remained of his control and yelled a wordless cry of shear panic. Upstairs, Goten jumped out of bed and thundered down the stairs before any thoughts could enter his recently awoken mind. Several miles away at their sparring grounds, Vegeta slammed his fist into Goku's face as the younger man just stood there, shaking his head slightly, a puzzled look on his face.

"What is it Kakkarott?"

"I don't know Vegeta, nothing I guess. I thought I heard something."

"Hn…defend yourself," and the Saiyjin prince attacked again, and this time Goku countered.

Goten slid to a stop in the kitchen, horrified at the scene laid out in front of him. Gohan was sprawled across the table his eyes wide with fright, Kassan standing over him with a huge knife, closing in on his…oh Kami no…his tail!

It was as thought all of Goten's nightmares had come to life at once. Despite his fear, he launched himself at his mother, knocking her hand away from his niichan's tail, the knife clattering across the floor.

"Kassan, you can't!" he cried. "Go-chan, are you ok?" When his brother didn't answer, he walked around so he could see his face. His brother's eyes were frightened. "Go-chan," whispered Goten. He didn't get a chance to do or say anything else. Before he knew what was happening, his mother had picked him up and flung him into the wall of the kitchen. He slid down the wall in a dazed heap to the floor. Gohan watched helplessly as his mother approached his younger brother.

"How dare you attack me you little animal," hissed Chichi "Just for that, your tail goes FIRST!" She picked him up by the hair, Goten twisting and crying in her grasp as she to hit him repeatedly in the face and on his body. She threw him down onto the kitchen table with a curt, "Stay there," as she went to retrieve her dropped knife. As she returned, Goten came to his senses and despite her order tried to scramble off the table. He nearly made it to the kitchen door before her hand closed on his tail. A piercing shriek of pure agony rent the morning air, and Goten knew no more.

Gohan however saw everything. He silently tried to encourage his brother to run after their mother had deposited him on the table. He could have wept with relief as the boy slid off the table and made for the door, limping slightly, then to his horror, SHE got him by the tail. Gohan thought it was all lost as she picked the four year old up by the dark brown limb. There was a blur of bright color and suddenly Chichi was the one embedded unconscious in the kitchen wall, and there stood their father, his face contorted in pure Saiyjin fury, cradling Goten tenderly in his arms. Gohan heard him say quietly, almost to himself, "That's it. It's over."

Goku crossed to where his eldest son lay sprawled across the table and gently turned him over.

"Gohan? Are you all right?" Gohan couldn't answer his father, though he tried. A look of concern crossed his father's face. "Kami Gohan, what did she do to you?" He didn't expect Gohan to answer though, as he picked up his older son easily, shifting Goten so as to make room, and teleported them both out of there.

Vegeta meanwhile was wondering what the hell had gotten into his sparring partner. One moment, they were fighting furiously, the next a look of horror had passed over the man's face and before Vegeta could ask, Kakkarott had used that irritating Instant Transmission technique and was gone. He didn't have to wait long however for his answer.

Kakkarott appeared back at the sparring grounds burdened with the still forms of his two offspring. Vegeta hastened over to find out what was going on. The youngest was unconscious. The elder seemed to be conscious, but…"He's been drugged Kakkarott."

"Nani? How can you tell Vegeta?" There was a look of resigned relief in the older man's face.

"His scent. He'll be all right…it should wear off completely in an hour or so. What happened Kakkarott?"

"I don't know for sure Vegeta, we'll have to wait for the boys to come around to find that out. But it looks like Chichi was trying to cut off their tails." He looked down at Goten's battered face, bruises blossoming over his fair skin. "It's over Vegeta. I'm going to divorce her. I can't subject my sons to this."

Vegeta looked at him, searching for some hint, some sign….Kakkarott's eyes were so saturated with pain it was difficult to tell…but there…his scent…Vegeta leaned in close and kissed him softly on the lips. To his delight, Kakkarott returned the gesture, equally softly. Fighting the urge to claim the man then and there, Vegeta stood back and held his arms out for one of the brats. "Give one of them to me Kakkarott, and let's get them to the med lab at Capsule Corp."

Kakkarott nodded and handed Gohan over to the smaller Saiyjin. Vegeta lifted Gohan's slender form easily and said quietly to the teen, "Don't worry, we're going to take you home." Gohan seemed to relax slightly, though his eyes still held questions. Vegeta chuckled. "All in good time boy, all in good time." Still smirking slightly, Vegeta followed Kakkarott into the air, and to Capsule Corp.

To be continued….