Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ New Dawn ❯ CH 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7

Kethry was sitting on a log watching the flames dance under the kettle when a man just dropped from the sky and landed in front of her. She let out a startled yelp, falling over backwards. Her gaze fell on his feet and traveled up and up. Man, this guy wastall! He leaned over her with a genuinely open and friendly expression. His was another face from the photos on the cabin wall. He had wild, black hair that seemed to have its own ideas about gravity. Soft, open blue eyes blinked at her and twinkled with merriment. He was dressed in the loudest orange gi Kethry had ever seen, the color bordering on eye-blinding. The fact that he offset it with a blue undershirt and wristbands proved he either didn't care about proper wardrobe matching or was colorblind. The smile on his face edged toward goofy but did not quite make it there; but it certainly was infectious.

"Hey, there!" Even his voice was friendly. "I'm Goku. Sorry if I startled you." He offered her his hand. Taking it, she found herself pulled to her feet with ease. Just looking at his open and friendly face made her smile back and she found she liked him already.

She smiled in return. "I'm Kethry. No need to say sorry. I am alright."

Goku's next words were cut off by Vegeta's deep voice. The prince stood leaning against the side of the cabin with arms crossed. "Well, well, well. Kakarott. To what do I owe this visit?"

Goku's face lit up even brighter, though Kethry would have sworn such a thing was imposable until she had seen it for herself.

"Vegeta! My old friend!" The taller man quickly strode over and wrapped a companionable arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "How nice to see you!" His perkiness almost made Kethry feel nauseous.

Vegeta gave him a blistering look. "What do you want?" That look that would have sent a pack of wolves running for cover, but left Goku totally nonplussed.

"I received an odd call from Trunks. He told me the strangest story."

Vegeta jerked himself free of the taller man's grip and turned to glare harder at him. "I don't need you poking around in my business." Kethry could almost see his temper flaring around him like a flame, yet Goku seemed not to notice in the slightest. She watched, fascinated at the interplay between them.

Goku continued to grin. "Now that I am here, I think understand why the boy's so upset." He stepped a bit closer to face Kethry, before hooking a thumb back at Vegeta. "What is a pretty lady like you doing out here with old sour puss like him?"

"KAKAROTT" Vegeta roared, fairly quivering with rage. Goku only chuckled at his reaction.

"Oh, don't get your tail in a knot, Vegeta. I won't pry." He waved away Vegeta's anger like a fly. Then, he turned and stuck his noise over the bubbling pot hanging beside the kettle. "Lunch! Great! I am starved!" Kethry couldn't hold it back any longer and she doubled with laughter. He was like a big kid. Looking up slightly, he shot her another huge silly grin and winked at her. Winked!

Vegeta growled deeply but his anger faded. "Fine! Fill that bottomless pit you call a stomach. Just make sure that you leave some for others to eat." He turned on his heel and stalked off.

Kethry got herself under control, wiping tears from her eyes. Goku turned a suddenly serious face to her; the change it made on his face was startling. He looked lot like Vegeta with that look. "Do you have any idea what you are getting into?"

She chuckled a little self-mockingly. "Well, he is proud, hot-tempered, from outer space, and fifty years older than me. Beyond that, I am shooting in the dark here."

Kethry watched the change come over his face again as he chuckled then became almost grave. "Listen to what I say now. Vegeta is very used to getting what he wants." She nodded in agreement.

"I can tell." Goku shook his head at her.

"No, I don't think you understand at all. Once he gets an idea in his head, he will go to any lengths to see it completed." He glanced at her and could clearly see by the blank look she was giving him that she didn't get it. "He has it in his power to blow up planets, not that he would anymore, but he can and has in the past."

Kethry wasn't sure how to feel about this latest bit of information about Vegeta. "Are you saying that, if I don't like his suggestions, I should make a run for it?"

Goku frowned hard; the scowling look did him no justice at all. "I am saying that, unless you plan to ride the wave, you better leave without even looking at the swell. I saw the look in his eyes and I can tell that my old friend is planning something." He held up a hand to stop Kethry from telling him that she already knew. "Don't you dare tell me otherwise; just make up your mind now before it is too late. Once he sets his mind on his goal, leaving will not be a choice you will have left."

Kethry let this information soak in, then stood up. Vegeta was coming towards them looking much calmer. "Thank you for the talk, Goku. I promise you that I will go think long and hard about this now." She left before Vegeta could get within range to call her back.