Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyans Return ❯ Z-Warriors decide... ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ.

Notes: Ages of the characters (especially the younger generation)…This is 20 years after Forbidden Encounter.

Vegeta: 59

Bulma: 58

Goku: 54 or so… official timeline says Goku starts out five years younger than V

Jenna: 41

Gohan: 36

Videl: 36

Trunks: 26

Goten: 25

Kai/Mai: 19 (They are fraternal twins and he is 6 hours older.)

Bra: 17

Pan: 17

Kayin: 5

Saiyans Return

Chapter 5

For a moment after Vegeta left, no one said anything. Gohan blinked as the full weight of what Vegeta meant started to sink in and he looked down in shame. Goku tussled Kayin's hair gently as he watched the little boy sleeping on his mother's lap, then he glanced around the room, and growled audibly as he got up. He glared at Gohan coldly. "For once I think it's Vegeta that has things backwards." Then he glanced at Bulma. "I'm going with you. And if he's taking his family, I won't leave without mine either."

"Yeah, Dad! What Vegeta told us sounds cool to me." Goten looked at his father, then grinned at Trunks. "I've always wanted to see what's out there. I think we should go for it! Maybe we'll find some hot space babes or something."

Kai and Trunks snickered and Bra and Mai rolled their eyes. Pan growled, glaring at the three boys. "There's people enslaving and killing each other for fun out there and all you guys can think of is watching girls?"

"Aw, come on Pan." Kai gave her a charming grin and laughed. "Of course we wanna help fight the baddies, but can't we have some fun while we're at it?"

Krillin broke his silence for the first time since he had arrived with a sigh. "Well, you guys. I guess Goku's right, Vegeta has proven he's one of us, but I've been retired for years. I don't even fight in the Budoukai's anymore! Besides, I have a family of my own to think of. Going out there sounds a little too dangerous to me."

Goku patted his old friend's shoulder and smiled. "You could do it Krillin, but on the other hand, maybe somebody should stay here and keep an eye on the earth. This is our home, after all. If we all go, who would be here to keep it safe?"

"Well, I have to admit, he's not Mr. Congeniality, but Vegeta has surprised me sticking with us every time we needed him, I guess we do owe him this much but I'm kind of with Krillin. I'm getting too old for this. Besides, you Saiyans are all way stronger than we are. Even Bra and Kayin are close, and they haven't even started training." Tien sighed, Choatzu nodded sadly. "Yeah, he's not very nice to us, but I guess we never really gave him a chance, I wish we could go, but we'd probably just be in the way…"

"We all know that he's been one of us for a long time, that isn't the point." Piccolo snorted. "Because, he wasn't really talking to us anyway. He was really only talking to those who have Saiyan blood. Just the fact that he invited us here to let us know what was happening meant he accepts us. The night he went level three I was sure that it was the end of everything, but I knew he had completely changed, when he didn't finish you, Goku. If he says his friend is in trouble out there, I believe him. We all owe him a lot, including you, Gohan."

"Look, I didn't mean to be such a jerk… I just meant that I don't understand why it always has to be up to us to save the damn universe. I'm tired of fighting all the time and always training and having to look over our shoulder to see where the next big threat is coming from. I'm finally happy with my life here on earth, I like my job… I just really don't want to go this time." Gohan said shrugging his shoulders.

"But daddy!" Pan pleaded, her dark eyes misting with tears. "I want to go, but I don't want to go without you!"

"Pan, honey," Gohan said gently. "You ought to be in a hospital. I don't think we can let you go traipsing all over the universe in that kind of shape anyway."

"Daddy, I have to find him! Caulen's out there somewhere, and he needs our help. I have to go!" Pan cried. "You just don't understand! You've never even tried to understand about how I feel about this! I told you about these dreams two years ago! You just kept saying it's your imagination… Well it isn't! I feel it every time he gets hurt and the way that I sense him only keeps getting stronger. I can't just keep hoping it will go away!"

"Pan…I guess if you really want to go, I won't try to stop you, I know you're a smart girl, and I trust you. I don't want to see you leave home like this, but if you really think you have to do this… then I guess I've been out there myself. And I just want you to know that I love you, and your mom and I will be here waiting for you when you decide to come home."

"Gohan that's crazy!!!" Videl growled at her husband. "We can't just let her go alone! She wants all three of us to go."

"Saiyans were sent out at birth to clear entire planets, and since she's 17 now, I think Pan's had enough training to be able to take care of herself out there, and besides, she won't be alone. She'll have the most powerful warrior in the universe to look out for her, and all of her other friends. As she said, I don't even fight any more; I have other things to do here."

"Maybe I want to go, or is that just one more thing that doesn't matter to you anymore?" Videl snapped. "Gohan please, we can't just stand by and do nothing!"

"I'm done saving the universe. I'm tired of pretending that if we can't do it that it can't be done. Besides, Vegeta is the strongest, and he knows a lot more about what's out there than anyone else. They're going to be fine, honey. I honestly don't think they have anything to worry about Videl, but if you really want to, maybe it might be a good idea if you went with them."

"Damn it Gohan she's your daughter! How can you let her face this alone?" Goku cried, barring Gohan's exit from the room.

"Parenting advice from you? Yeah, dad I'm sure you could write a book on the subject, couldn't you?" Gohan paused next to his father for a moment, laughing. Then he stopped abruptly, with a cold glare. "Look, I'm done kidding around. And I'm damn sure finished playing super hero. Maybe one of these days some of you will grow up too… but I've known you all long enough to know exactly how likely that is, so ok, whatever."

"Gohan, wait!" Goten cried, but it was too late, his big brother was already gone, leaving everyone else to look after him in shock and disbelief.

"Well… That was way out of line." Bulma grumbled, then she turned to the others and saw Kayin asleep on the couch, in Jenna's lap, and she smiled. "I guess you're all welcome to stay with us, until we get this sorted out, you too, Videl."

"Thanks Bulma, but I have to try to get that stubborn butthead I married to see reason. Maybe I'll have better luck when it's just the two of us." Videl said with an evil chuckle, heading for the door.

Bulma laughed and nodded. "Well, good luck, sweetie, I think you're going to need it."

"I'm going to find Vegeta." Goku sighed. "I know Gohan and I haven't gotten along for a long time now, but that isn't any reason for him to take it out on everyone else, but especially Vegeta. I can't believe he would act that way."

"It's not your fault, Goku. I'm sure Gohan wasn't ready to hear that there is so much going on again." Piccolo sighed. "I'll try to talk to him too, but we know how stubborn he is. I just don't think he's going to go with you guys, and that's a shame, because he'll be missing an opportunity to find out more about who he is than he ever will on earth, even with you and Vegeta around to look at."

"Thanks, Piccolo. He really looks up to you… I was hoping he would come with us too. I know what happened was never his fault, I just wish he could understand how much I still love him."

"He knows, grandpa." Pan whispered, hugging him tightly. "He's just being a jerk."

"Pan, you go get some rest." Goku told her gently and glanced at his mate. "Do you need some help getting him to bed, Jenna?"

"No. Kayin and I are fine. You go find Vegeta; I think we're ready for some more sleep." Jenna yawned as she followed Bulma down the hall.

"That reminds me… Bra? Trunks?" Bulma called, "Don't stay up all night, you guys."

"We won't mom!" Bra called back. "Do we really get to go out there? This just seems so weird!"

"Sudden maybe," Trunks laughed, "but weird no. I remember mom always telling me all about Namek. I think she always wanted to see more of what was out there, and as for dad? Well, he grew up out there. He said it tonight, that he has always known he still has enemies out there, I think that's why he never gave up training, even though he's the strongest."

"I can't ever remember a time where your dad wasn't the strongest Trunks." Mai giggled, leaning back against the arm of chair, letting her glossy black curls spill over until they reached the floor. "But on the other hand, my dad hasn't given up trying to catch up to your dad either."

"That's ok Mai. He never will either. Saiyans love to fight, although these days it's just sparring." Pan sighed.

"Thank Kami for that, I'm not sure this poor planet could survive another all out brawl between our dads!" Goten laughed.

"Yeah," Trunks shook his head sadly. "I'll never forget that night as long as I live. Mom and dad thought I was asleep, so they never came in and told me that they were going, or where. But I knew, I could feel Gohan's energy, and I knew something was wrong… especially when Goku's Ki spiked, and then since that night nothing has ever been the same. Goten and I spent weeks trying to figure out a way to fix everything, but nothing we came up with seemed good enough."

"It wasn't your fault Trunks." Kai shrugged. "Gohan's ok, but he sure needs to lighten up."

"That's what I mean, Kai." Trunks sighed. "I wish you could meet the Gohan that Goten and I remember. He was so different then… you really would have liked him. It's just sad that everything had to get so messed up. Not that we'd ever wanna get rid of you guys… but it's hard to believe this is the same Gohan that stood up to Radditz, Napa and my dad and Frieza and the Androids and Cell…"

"Yeah," Pan whimpered, "He wouldn't even train me or spar with me anymore when I asked him last time I was home!"

"Don't worry Pan..." Bra giggled quietly. "Daddy said he's gonna train me! I bet he'll let you train with me."

"What? Dad's going to train you? Does mom know?" Trunks cried, jumping up out of his chair.

"If she didn't before, she does now! Thanks, you dumb ass!" Bra growled, flinging a sofa pillow at him.

"Woah…" Goten laughed, getting between the two siblings. "So, Daddy's little princess is finally going to learn to fight, huh? I guess this means we'll have almost as many girls as we do guys to fight, then huh? Maybe we won't need Gohan after all… But Bra, you never did tell me what happened between you and Justin tonight?"

"Bra? You broke up with Justin?" Pan gasped.

"Yes! That jerk had the nerve to tell me I ought to sleep with him just because he'd taken me out to dinner and the movies a couple of times. I mean, how low class is that? And he didn't even bring me flowers or candy and he didn't even come to the door to pick me up this time!" Bra cried, punching the other sofa pillow repeatedly for emphasis.

Mai giggled. "Yeah! It is pretty hard to find a guy that knows how to treat a girl these days, isn't it? I gotta warn you, you probably won't really like your first time anyway though Bra."

"Mai!!!" Pan cried. "You mean you…"

"Whoa there Pan chill out!" Goku's daughter was laughing so hard she fell out of the chair. "I mean really, how many times have we heard Vegeta say that female Saiyans rarely settled down with their first bedmate. And anyway who says I've done it? That's just what mom and Bulma told me."

"When did you ask them about sex?" Bra wondered out loud.

"The first time I broke up with a boy that expected me to screw him just cuz he took me some stupid date." Mai sighed, looking up at the ceiling, her emerald eyes thoughtful. She glanced over at the boys and one jet-black eyebrow peaked curiously. "You guys don't do that to your girlfriends, do you?"

"They better not." Pan growled savagely.

"Of course not." Trunks snorted indignantly.

"Why would we?" Goten asked. "Sex is ok, but you have to really care about them first, or it just looses something."

"Exactly. Besides I've haven't gone out with anyone but Akane since we started college, and you know it, Mai." Kai growled at his slightly younger twin.

"Why can't I ever find any nice guys to go out with?" Bra pouted. "Kissing is fun but I just don't want to rush into anything. Mom says when you find the right guy that you just… know, and so far I haven't found anyone I like that much. Have you, Mai?"

"No." The oldest of the female demi-Saiyans admitted with a sigh. "So what are you going to tell her, Kai?"

"I don't know. I guess maybe it's a good thing that we're going, though because I didn't really want to bond with her or anything and every time we go out she wants to talk about wedding plans."

"Hey! What's wrong with weddings?" Bra grumbled. "Besides you and Akane make a great couple!"

"Well, if I don't bond with her and something happens your dad will kill me, Bra… I mean, yeah, I think I really love her, but let's face it, we know that the bond is more than that and I just don't think we're meant to be."

"My daddy is a sweet little teddy bear." Bra protested. "Besides, I think you're just scared of commitment."

"I am not!"

"Oh Bra, just because you can't find a nice guy doesn't mean you need to torture poor Kai." Pan grunted, resting her head on Bra's shoulder.

"Speaking of torture… Pan, why didn't you call me and tell me how much worse you were getting?" Bra demanded.

"I don't know. I feel like I'm trapped in a nightmare, I don't know if I'm asleep or awake anymore. It's so hard to stay awake once I'm finally sure. I thought studying abroad would help… I don't know take my mind off of things but I think it just made me lonelier. And then when I tried to tell daddy what was wrong, he told me I only had two more weeks left so I should just stay… I just didn't know what to do anymore. I missed you guys so much…"

"Well, I told you my dad would understand." Bra told her, putting an arm around her shoulder, giving her a quick hug.

"Speaking of that, I can't believe you told him!" Pan grumbled, but let Bra hold her. "You promised you wouldn't tell anyone!"

"Sorry Panny, I didn't mean to. Besides, when I asked him to train me I told him I was having the dream too, and when Goku showed up carrying you, daddy already seemed to know what was wrong."

"You aren't having these dreams, Bra." Pan grunted.

"I know but I had to tell him something, besides, I might someday." The Saiyan princess said loftily.

"If I could trade you I would, Bra." Pan sighed. "I just hope he's ok. It's so hard to have to just watch what's happening to him. I feel like I should be doing more than just watch, but after I have these dreams I feel like I just got in a sparring match with Grandpa or Vegeta! It's so hard to move I feel like I ought to be dead."

"Well don't worry. We won't let anything happen to you, Pan." Bra promised.