Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyan Foster Father ❯ Smoothing things over ( Chapter 18 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 8

The very next day, Son Goku had gone to offer an apology to Bulma and Bejita, then volunteered his services to fill in the hole. Grudgingly Bejita accepted his offer, and the crater was soon smoothed over. Gohan made the arrangements for green turf to cover the bare earth. Soon it was difficult to tell that a battle had even taken place.

After he'd finished, Goku sat there in resentment, gritting his teeth. "Why doesn't she just mind her own damn business?" he snapped.

"Dad, relax she's just one of Atomique-sama's friends. She's probably just plain bitchy training with Bejita all the time… right?" his son asked.

"You call that a friend?" asked Son Goku. "She was playing for keeps."

"But Atomique won, right? And you and Bejita would have stopped it before it got out of hand… maybe she's gotten it out of her system. I heard that Dragon Womyn has taken off on a trip somewhere," said Gohan cheerfully.

"There's something really getting to both of them to blow up like that. I figured it would come to a head, but I had hoped it would just be what you described, two opponents sharing their powers in a sparring match. But that wasn't a sparring match. They were out for blood…" said Goku with a sigh.

"We're kinda worried about you too, Dad. Bejita said that you seemed downright proud of her for kicking his student's butt. I know you guys are rivals, but putting someone you care about in danger like that… I mean it's good that she learns to fight, but that only made Bejita just want to stand back and watch! HE would have stopped it the moment she backed down, but you both just let it escalate!" Gohan insisted.

"She needs to learn to defend herself, and she has the desire to learn! Does it matter if she won or lost? She stood up to someone who was bothering her, didn't she? She's my responsibility, not theirs," Goku growled ferally, showing an expression that belonged more on the Saiyan no Ouji's face than his.

"What's going on Dad… I know you're upset, but you're really freaking me out…" Gohan said.

Goku said abruptly, "Its natural to be angry, isn't it when someone's hurting someone you care about? Like whenever you saw Goten, or Videl in trouble? Or are people surprised I'm actually showing anger for a change? She had every right to fight and spar against her if she had a reason to… and Jeannie needed to be shown that she can't keep letting Bejita's training go to her head."

"Whatever you want to feel is appropriate, Dad… just don't shut us out… if something else is going on… we should know about…"

"What else would be?" asked Goku quickly.

"Well, you mentioned that you were gonna invite that woman and her kids to stay with us… and then they are… and the next thing I know you're going all protective… even more so then usual… I mean around Bejita is one thing, but teaching her to fight so she can pound one of her bitchy friends instead of talking it out is just stupid!"

"That's why she has to be up to their level," Son Goku said quietly. "If she is to face the challenge, she has to be ready to defend herself, if she refuses our protection…"

"Dad… she's a stubborn woman all right… like Videl, and she did handle herself in that fight… but you should have stopped it! Why are you so worried that she's 'refusing' to let any of us defend her against one of her own friends? You don't think Dragon Womyn would serious hurt her do you? If you really did, you would have stopped her, right?"

"I wanted her to respect and trust me,' said Son Goku. "If she wanted or needed my help, she'd ask for it. Forcing it on her isn't right… when she has the skills to fight her own battles."

"Okay… but it's confusing the heck out of me!"

"Dragon Womyn's words are meant to hurt. She deliberately provoked a fight, but she wasn't expecting Atomique to defend herself. Looks like she's learning more than just martial arts from Bejita… she's picked up his sour attitude as well. And she's turned Atomique-san into her number one reason to exist… sound familiar?" asked Son Goku.

"No way, Dad… I refuse to accept that her own friend's turned her into her worst rival!" he shook his head.

"Jealousy makes women and men do crazy things…" he said in a low voice. "Bejita had his reasons to hate me… although they make no sense to me, nor did I ask for his hatred… the fact I exist is enough for him to be permanently ticked off…"

"You're his number one mad on… I already know that, Dad," Gohan nodded.

Goku rubbed the back of his scalp, fingering the mark that changed his destiny from that of a planetary pirate, to that of a warrior of peace. "He's improved a lot since those first days when all he wanted to do was kick my butt. Having a family's mellowed him in a good way. But he still clings to that whole thing about beating me… I guess he thinks it keeps him going or something… as long as he has me to compete with… he has a reason to exist. But he's just fooling himself because he's a dad and husband…"

Impatiently Gohan sighed, rolling his eyes. He asked, "Where are you going with this Dad?"

"Jeannie was once lovers with Tryn-sama's husband… before they were married," Goku explained.

"WHAT?" Gohan gasped, picking his jaw up off the floor.

"Jeannie is supposedly lovers with Star child’s son. You see they don't age… like you and me. Go figure it's weird and strange… but for some reason, her lover Elliot died. So she got lonely, and since at the time Star Child had no mate, he got together with her. But that made his best friend angry, and they fought bitterly. He used his special powers to make her forget. But for some reason, she's remembering… and that's not a good thing…"

"Kuso… so every time she sees Atomique-sama she becomes insanely jealous, because she married the man that Jeannie once loved. And because those twins are a permanent reminder… how majorly messed up!" Gohan snorted in disgust.

Goku nodded with his stern stare straight-ahead at West Central city. He grunted in affirmation, then said, "Women are strange… but what matters the most here is that Jeannie's turned her into a reason to train hard. Making her a target for hatred is all that's keeping her going, just like Bejita did with me all those years."

Starting, Gohan suddenly remembered, "Wait a minute! Jeannie said she had a mate… Elliot… but he's dead?"

Still looking at a point beyond the grass on the lawn, his father confirmed this fact; "Elliot somehow got brought back. I though it'd logically be Dragon balls, but they don't have them in her dimension. Must be some other way. But anyway, her world's pretty much a write off… conquered by those Destroyers…"

"She mentioned that a scientist named Space Ace activated a dimensional transport and scattered them across space time… I guess that's why he isn't here with her?" asked Gohan, sitting down next to his father on the front steps of Capsule.

Son Goku nodded, "Yep, I think that's it. And now this whole thing is getting ugly. You saw yourself how she wouldn't stop till Bejita told her to back down! Sooner or later she's gonna try picking another fight, and I want her to be ready. It's honor, and until she can fight for herself, Jeannie ain't gonna leave her alone…."

"Dad, do you realize that she used all the techniques that Bejita taught her! You saw it was a stalemate because she used what you taught her… that last push alone was eerily familiar… just like when you and Bejita first fought! Doesn't that creep you out?"

"Exactly. But they have their own powers on top of it. Just like not all of us do Kamehameha or other stuff, they have unique attacks that have to be worked into the mix. It's still Kame-sennen, with my own little tricks here and there, mixed with her alchemy. She's got good powers of observation, she just needs to build up strength and speed…"

"That's why you've been training her, along with the boys, Dad, huh?" he rolled his eyes.

Goku bit his lip, "She wants to defend herself, and she has every right to. And you saw for yourself the result!"

"Yeah, she DID pretty good," Gohan nodded. "I gotta admit Dad, you've still got a good touch when it comes to training…"

A smile cracked the serious expression on his father's face. He chuckled as he said, "She's getting pretty good. You should have seen the look of shock on Bejita's face… it was side splitting…"

"Dad, this is crazy! She's not one of us! She's not a fighter… she's a scientist…" Gohan protested. He shoved his glasses higher on his nose, glaring at his father with frustration.

Son Goku shook his head in the negative. He cracked that infuriating smile of his that Son Gohan remembered so well. "I don't think so. She's a fighter because what mother wouldn't fight so hard for her children? She learned to use her powers offensively and defensively. I think she can get to like it…"

"Are you sure that's the only reason, Dad?" asked Gohan, glancing directly into his dad's eyes.

"Are you okay with it, Gohan?" asked Goku, avoiding his question.

"As long as she's okay… and I know that she's gonna have the capsule place. But you can't replace her husband, Dad. Even if you swore… it's not fair to you or her… I don’t' want you getting hurt…" Gohan warned him.

"I made a promise, son," said Son Goku seriously. "To take care of her and her sons. Nothing more, nothing less. Your namesake if he was still here would insist on letting them stay…"

Climbing to his feet, Gohan sighed resignedly, "Yes I guess you're right… but I was just thinking… I’m gonna be going away to college… and I think it's best if I go to Satan City. Are you sure you can handle things yourself…"

"Chichi taught me how to cook and clean," said Son Goku. "I don't see why I'd have a problem. And I can show her if she needs to learn…"

"But she's a scientist dad… an alchemist. What if she wants to work? Taking care of a house while you go train isn't what she does! She told me she wanted to find a job at the university I was applying to!" he snapped.

"We'll know when I ask her," Goku said. "Paul told me all about her. In the other world while we were training. If she wants to, she can leave at any time. But I won't leave her alone when I made a promise…"

"Of course not. If you did, you wouldn't be the dad I know and love," Son Gohan nodded. "Just let me know if you need anything when I'm at school…"

"Just when you and Videl are gonna get married maybe?" Son Goku winked.

"Dad, enough!" he groaned. "We're just… going steady!"

"Don't let her slip away… that's all I'm saying," said Son Goku, squeezing his shoulder. "She's a good woman… and you need someone to take care of you… and I'm kinda looking forward to training some grand kids…"

"You're hopeless, Dad," Gohan winced, standing right before his father. Sometimes it was like arguing with a brick wall.

"Maybe so, but that doesn't stop me from trying my very best… to win," he shrugged.

"Just what are you trying to win though? This isn't a budokai…"

"It is in a way. Something's not quite right here in all this… and I'm not talkin' about Jeannie. Lately when she's been dreamin' about her husband Paul, she's had these fears that he's turned his back on her. Last night… she told me that she saw Jeannie and Paul together… and they laughed at her…"

Lifting his glasses to his forehead, Gohan asked, "Dad… are you serious?"

"I am. I'm not making this up. Something's going terribly wrong. The Star Child I knew wanted me to care for her if he couldn't make it back… I was thinking of using the Dragon Balls to wish him back to life… but I can't because he's been dead for more than a year…"

"The Namekian ones…" nodded Gohan.

"Yeah… but should I?" Son Goku asked.

"You should ask her what she wants. Regardless of what Jeannie thinks… and you can't take the place of him…" said Gohan. He whipped off his glasses, polishing them on his shirttail.

"I'm not tryin' to, Gohan," he insisted.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself, Dad?" he asked.

"Huh?" he asked.

"I'm not a baka, and neither are you. You care about her more than just as someone you'd wanna protect. I mean teaching her to fight like that… you're spending a huge amount of time with her… like I did with Videl. Are you in love with her?" he asked with a small smile.

Goku leapt nearly a foot in the air off the steps. Whirling on his son he yelped, "In love, are you crazy?"

Struggling not to laugh with his father's demeanor, he asked, "Are you, or aren't you? Be honest with me dad… we could always talk before…"

"I don't know," Son Goku shrugged. "In all honesty. I've only ever been with one woman… at least in the way that you and Videl are… I mean I had urges like any kid, but I had no idea when I met your mother that I'd end up being with her…"

"But did you ever really love her?" asked Gohan.

"Of course I did… didn't I?" Son Goku wondered, glancing up at the sky as if the answer was written in the puffy white clouds. Unfortunately for him it wasn't.

"The two of you married because you made a promise years ago. You didn't know what marriage was… and years later you fought and won her… like a prize," Gohan said quietly.

"I had a choice still…" Son Goku shrugged. "And I chose to marry her."

"But you never dated anyone else…" protested Gohan.

"I had feelings for other girls, yes… but Chichi was the one I married when I was only a little older then you are now…"

"So basically your experience with girls is about the same as mine. And you don't have a whole lot to compare it with…" Gohan said with a look of triumph, replacing his glasses on his face once again.

Son Goku was speechless for a moment, then regained his wits to formulate an answer, "What I feel isn't the same as for Chichi if that's what you mean. And I mean the Chichi that I fell in love with and married, not the one who left me for someone else…" he trailed off. "I like her as a very good friend, that I want to protect and care for… that I don't want to see hurt…"

"That's how I feel about Videl…" nodded Gohan.

"But I also care about Buruma and other women that way…" added his father, resting his hand on his hip while scratching his head.

"But you invited her to live with us. Most people who do that end up being lovers, Dad… except you're not that kind of man, are you?" Gohan teased. "I mean there ARE three bedrooms… and it's not like you're sleeping with her…"

"Um… what exactly do you mean?" he blushed.

"Dad?" Gohan asked, leaning right in his face. "C'mon now… I know you aren't that naïve cause you taught ME about the birds and the bees! Don't play stupid with me!!! I know you too well!"

"Sleep with as in sleep in the same bed… or sleep with as in having sex?" Son Goku asked quietly, still blushing profusely.

"I mean having sex…" he answered, in a low voice. "Jeez Dad… this whole playing dumb thing may work on Bejita, but you know that I know you're smart in your own way!"

"I'm sleeping in the same bed next to her, but not having sex with her," he answered. "There… you happy? I just didn't want to worry you because I know that you're still annoyed at the whole thing with your mother… and I don't want Goten getting the wrong idea… that I’m trying to replace her…"

"Kame… now THAT's really clear… if it wasn't you I'd think you were totally fibbing," Gohan shook his head. "I don't know if I should be relieved or disappointed…"

"She loves her husband, not me in that way," Son Goku said quickly. "I'm taking care of her like I promised him…"

"Dad, he's DEAD," groaned Gohan, slapping his forehead.

"So was I, but I came back," Son Goku shrugged.

"Still, if you're worried about cheating, you ARE divorced from mom, right? And if he's dead… and he said take care of her… didn't he possibly mean… in every way?" asked Gohan.

"Even THAT way?" Son Goku queried, widening his eyes.

"Dad, you're a man like I am. And you're gonna be lonely. Don't tell me that you don't want to… you know… like I want to around Videl…" said Gohan with a slight look of innuendo.

"Well the only reason you haven't is because you're afraid her father's going to make a public spectacle outta you, right?" Goku teased him. "Why else do you think I let you an' her stay in Grandpa Gohan's place? It's not just to study is it?"

"Dad this isn't about ME, its about you! Don't change the subject!" Gohan yelped, hiding his face in his hands.

"Well if YOU don't want to do something else either then study, then why should I? I mean what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Someone who really needs to take care of something before it gets out of hand…" Gohan groaned.

"And I am taking care of things. So what is your problem? You think it's the same situation with you and someone who's never been married? I'm sure the Star Child didn't mean that last thing you said!" said Goku.

"Of course that's what he means, you clown!" Bejita snorted. Both men whirled around to see the Saiyan no Ouji standing on the steps of Capsule, glaring at them both with his usual disdain.
***
"Uh, Bejita… what are YOU doing here?" Gohan gasped. "We were having a private conversation!"

"Unlike you, I still have my full Saiyan senses!" Bejita snorted. "Kakkarot, you're a complete and utter imbecile!"

"Why? Saiyans mate for life isn't that what you've always told me?" Son Goku challenged him, with thinly veiled disgust."

"Bejita, get lost! This is NONE of your business!" Gohan shouted. "With all due RESPECT your Majesty… this isn't public knowledge!"

"Gohan, lemmie talk to him alone… I'll catch up with you later… please?" Son Goku said.

"Okay, but I don't care for any of this… Bejita… you've got no…" Gohan fumed.

"He's the Saiyan Prince, and knows more about this than either of us," Goku shrugged, holding out his hands.

Bejita smirked, leveling his onyx gaze at Gohan with a superior gleam present, "You have your lucid moments of sense Kakkarot. Bugger off, brat… this is man's talk…"

"I know when I'm not wanted…" Gohan shrugged, and marched off, to find Videl.

"So Bejita, what's up? You got something to say to me?" Son Goku asked, watching as the Prince of Saiyans walked down the stairs to stand opposite him.

"Yes, you fool, as always I have to hammer the facts of Saiyan biology into your thick skull… though why I bother…" Bejita snorted.

"Because no matter how much you deny it, the fact I'm a Saiyan too is too much of a temptation for you to try and prove you're right," Son Goku quipped.

"How true. Kakkarot, you've grown up as a ningen. And your mate has left you. This woman's mate is dead… the answer seems simple enough even for YOU…"

"As I said before, you said Saiyans mate for life… and if I'm to act like a real Saiyan, like you…" Son Goku rolled his eyes.

"You're acting like a lovesick fool Kakkarot. Don't think I don't notice how you fawn over that female…"

"Bejita… mind your own business…"

"Fine, see if I care! It was a waste of time talking to you as usual! Go ahead and play house with that female… most people think you're screwing her anyway!" Bejita said.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Kakkarot… something wrong?" Bejita asked, folding his arms across his chest and giving him a hard stare.

"That's none of their damn business…" Son Goku growled, voice dropping to a low rasp. "If anyone cares to take it up with me, I'll give them reason to look the other way…"

"I rest my case. If you want to be squeamish and honorable, do so. But sooner or later you'll find it impossible to resist the urge to take a mate, and one way or another you'll have her, or another female. It's in your nature, no matter how much you deny it, like your love of fighting…"
Bejita cackled triumphantly.

"What are you saying?" asked Son Goku.

"You'll end up screwing her if you're not careful. You can't have it both ways, Kakkarot. Either you'll drive yourself mad because you are missing that loud mouthed harpy of yours, or you'll drag this woman into your bed. You cannot deny your urge for sex. It's a drive that we all share!"

"What would you have me do? I can't throw her out! She needs me!"

"She needs a male that isn't pining over his lost mate. Don't you have the balls to stand up and demand that woman return home? Didn't she put you to this test in the first place to see if you'd be man enough to fight for her?"

"Bejita, you're wrong!" Goku growled.

"You don't realize that Saiyans can mate again if their mates leave or are killed. Which leads me to ask this? Did you ever mark Chichi?" he asked.

"You mean as in biting her on the neck, like you did Buruma," said Son Goku. "I mean I bit her… but she never bit me back…"

Bejita snorted in Saiyan tongue, then continued, "Little wonder you're such a fool. You're struggling with a half bond… not a true one. And an uncompleted bond leads to madness…"

"Excuse me, Bejita, you forget that I have two children? Doesn't that bond me to Chichi forever…" said Son Goku angrily.

"If that's the case then fight for her. Make her mark you and form the bond completely! If you're so fucking lonely, go get that mate of yours, and make her come home! Spoil her rotten, just don't be stupid and take another female unless you're willing to fuck her and disregard your former mate! Make up your damn mind!"

Son Goku turned his back to the Saiyan no Ouji, and shoved his hands into the pockets of his training outfit. He walked slowly away, and then levitated into the air to fly home.

"Whatever you say, Bejita…" Son Goku answered. "I gotta go. Bye for now…"

Bejita watched him streak off at a great speed towards West Province 439. Still he smirked knowingly, having smelled the telltale male pheromones in full blistering bloom. In that short period of time, Kakkarot looked more like his brother Radditz then a mere ningen. Sooner or later, Kakkarot would admit that he'd been right, and then he'd enjoy shoving it in the third class's face.

Which was why he wasn't surprised when he sensed the brother in question behind him. Not looking he asked, "What do you want, Radditzu?"

"Sire, I apologize for my brother's stupidity?"

"Enough," said Bejita. "How much did you hear?"

"All of it, begging your pardon. And if I might be so bold, I might have a solution?"

"OH?" asked Bejita.

"Let me speak to him. I have gained his trust. Perhaps I can convince him to abandon this fool quest of courting that female without intent to mate her…" said Radditzu. "He doesn't have the guts to decide one way or another…"

"That is what I fear. She dumped the responsibility of raising them on your brother, the male. Which is unforgivable in Saiyan culture. That alone is grounds for dissolving a mating bond, or death," Bejita grumbled.

"Indeed. He's dishonoring his heritage. I might be able to reason with him, since he's attempting to forge a brotherly bond between us. Already he's invited me to stay with him when I wish it…"

"You're permitted to go stay with Kakkarot. Do what you can to make sure that he doesn't continue this folly," said Bejita. "Take any measures necessary. I won't have this third class making a mockery of his Saiyan blood."

"Any measures?" asked Radditzu, raising a brow.

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Bejita snorted. "Do try and keep up with me! What I’m trying to say you bakayarou, is that more than one sort of bond among Saiyans. The physical connection between mates by children, the commitment by blood, and the rare soul bonding. It's almost impossible for a Saiyan to share all three with his chosen mate. But not unrealistic. If you can get that female away from him, perhaps he can be convinced to complete the mating bond with that loudmouth woman of his."

"Sire, may I ask you a question?"

"Now what?" asked Bejita irritably.

"You and your woman, Buruma share all three, don't you?" Radditzu asked wryly.

Bejita held up a gloved hand, examining its seams. He smirked, "Yes. Unlike your younger brother, who shares a one sided incomplete physical bond by blood, and a complete one by children. That only counts as one and a half to my three…"

"Triple bonds are more stable then aromatics?" Radditzu asked, glancing at Bejita.

"Excuse me? What in hell did you just say?"

"I had observed last night, Atomique was talking about chemical bonding, and what you just said reminded me of that… I mean there are triple bonds… and then there's what's called an aromatic bond… when two elements in a chemical share not six but two and a half electrons…"

"Enough about the stupid chemical bonds, you third class fool! Don't make me think that stupidity runs in your family genetically Radditzu!" Bejita yelled.

"Sire… do you mean…"

"One of these days I'm going to open that head of yours… don't make me regret giving you leave to visit your brother…"

"I thought we were talking about relationships, not my head, sire. What do you suggest?" he mumbled.

"What I MEAN is that you haven't chosen a mate for yourself in my service, am I correct?" Bejita grumbled, trying to be patient with his soldier.

"No sire, forgive me. I don’t know from personal experience about Saiyan bonds… due to my lack of a mate…”

"True. I assume that things in your universe were much the same as here?"

"Begging your pardon, sire, but she's human, not Saiyan. And she follows customs that dictate that only after you've mourned your husband do you even think of being with someone else. She says that they share a soul bond. I have no business interfering with that…" said Radditzu sternly.

"So what?" Bejita grunted. "Why should you give a care what this society says when you're Saiyan? I'm your Prince and don't you forget that!"

"My apologies sire…"

"Just go now and do what you have to! You're dismissed!" Bejita snorted. Bowing to him, Radditzu rose into the air. In the light of the setting sun he streaked off towards the mountain home of his brother.

***