Gochiloverforlife

I should have stopped him then.

Two Weeks Ago

“What the hell did he do that for?!”

Goku heard Raditz’s outrage as he entered his home. Raditz and Chi-Chi sat on the sofa watching a movie. Goku recognized it was a disaster film. Chi-Chi thought movies with adventure and high stakes would interest him. She introduced many to Goku but he slept through them.

Raditz was engaged with the movie. Goku didn’t like that or how close Raditz sat next to Chi-Chi.

“Raditz, you’re being silly. You know why he did that.”

“I’m being silly?” Raditz pointed at the TV. “He died for those people. If they listened to him from the start, those other two people wouldn’t have died. Now look at that whiny ass cop. He’s finally doing something now the Reverend died.”

“That’s why the Reverend had to die. His death is getting the others to work together.”

Raditz grabbed the last sandwich off the lunch tray. “The Reverend was so close to surviving. If he could’ve stayed alive for two more minutes….” A powerful musical theme boomed at the closing movie credits. “If the Reverend had upper body strength, he wouldn’t have died.” Chi-Chi giggled. “You know I’m right. He could’ve swung and not fall in that pit of fire.”

Chi-Chi moved the empty dishes scattered over the coffee table to the serving tray. “Maybe, but he was exhausted leading that group. I wished he lived but he did the right thing in the end.”

Raditz snorted. “How right is it that he died? He was a fool dying for those people.”

Chi-Chi picked up the tray and carried it into the kitchen. Raditz followed her. “I hope you don’t mean anyone who sacrifices their life for others is a fool. Goku did that twice.” She passed Goku. “Hi, Honey.”

“Hey, Kakarot,” Raditz brushed past Goku to continue the conversation. “Kakarot died with me to save Gohan. He died against Cell to save you and Gohan. You’re his family.”

Chi-Chi settled the dishes into the sink and turned on the water. “Goku gave his life for everyone to stop Cell.”

Raditz brushed off that thought with a shake of his head. “No. He did it for you and Gohan. The rest of the world was lumped in because they share the planet with you.”

Chi-Chi didn’t push back on Raditz’s words. “Maybe we were extra incentive but Goku cares. Even Vegeta learned to do that against Boo. Wouldn’t you sacrifice yourself to save others?”

Goku stared, waiting for Raditz’s response. Raditz looked away from the judging eyes. “It’s not a fair question,” Raditz argued. “I grew up differently than Kakarot.”

“So did Vegeta but he sacrificed himself to save the world.”

“I bet he dragged his ass doing that,” Raditz muttered. “There’s nothing wrong with self-preservation, but if I had to go out, I guess I’d do it for my kin. My brother. My nephews. You.”

Chi-Chi turned away from the sink. “You’d sacrifice yourself for me?” Chi-Chi’s shock gave way to a pretty smile. “Aww, you’re so sweet.”

Raditz wasn’t immune to compliments from women. He loved them and would reciprocate Chi-Chi’s kind words with a flirty retort if not for the promise of death gaze from Chi-Chi’s irritable and irrational husband.

Chi-Chi didn’t see Goku’s glare. Raditz did and brushed off Chi-Chi’s happiness. “Don’t take it so seriously. You’re family. Kakarot would kick my ass if I didn’t save you.”

Chi-Chi gently patted Raditz’s arm with a soapy wet hand. “I think of you as family, too, Raditz.”

Whether it was Chi-Chi’s words or her touch, Raditz’s demeanor changed. He was a brash and tough warrior but a feminine compliment left him flustered. “You do? “Does this mean you don’t think I’m a freeloader anymore?”

“You’re still that.” Chi-Chi went back to washing dishes. “But you’re also family. Right, Goku?”

Goku answered by walking away. Chi-Chi being kind and thinking of Raditz as family didn’t mean anything but to Goku, it was everything.

Goku noticed they were getting close. He always came home to find them together; watching TV; chatting while they play a board game. Once, he came home to Chi-Chi cooking and Raditz doing pushups on the kitchen floor. That was their thing and Chi-Chi thoughtlessly did it with Raditz.

Since then, Goku wondered what else he and Chi-Chi did that Chi-Chi was now doing with Raditz. Everything was tame but when his brother’s face pressed against Chi-Chi’s breasts, it triggered a rage that pushed Goku over the edge.  

He can’t have Chi-Chi!

Raditz zigzagged in the sky but Goku followed him like a heat-seeking missile. He caught him and wrapped his arm around Raditz’s thick neck. “I ain’t done with you! Chi-Chi is my wife!”

Raditz slammed his elbow into Goku’s chest. It didn’t break Goku’s hold. Raditz thumped his elbow against Goku’s chest again. It didn’t loosen. Raditz’s hands illuminated. He reached back and pressed the palm of his hands against Goku’s face. Screaming, Goku released Raditz and covered his hands over his burning eyes.

Raditz took advantage of the moment to punch Goku’s chest and stomach repeatedly. He wanted to wound him but Goku’s body was so damn tough. “I don’t want her! I’ll beat that into you if I must!”

Temporary blindness didn’t stop Goku. Under Raditz’s barrage of punches, Goku calculated the strength and direction they came from. When he was ready to retaliate, he grabbed Raditz’s wrists, squeezed hard and slammed his head against Raditz’s forehead.

“Ah!” Raditz grunted at Goku’s headbutt. “Damn! What the fuck is your head made of?!” Blood was on Goku’s face. Raditz thought Goku cracked his head but a line of blood running down his left eye revealed he was bleeding.

“Oh, shit!” Raditz cursed when Goku dove them to the ground fast. He pulled but couldn’t break from Goku. This is gonna hurt. Raditz closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact. Rrrgh!! Pain was instant when his body collided with the ground. Grass, dirt and rocks filled his mouth and covered his body.  

The impact freed Raditz from Goku’s steely hold. His pants and shirt were ripped. His hair and body were caked with dirt. He thought a couple of his ribs were cracked. “Dammit!” Head ringing and vision doubled, Raditz scrambled to his feet. He saw two brothers with blotches of dirt on their face and their shirts ripped from their stomachs. Raditz hoped the one he tackled was the real one. “You ass!” He slammed Goku into the ground. Maybe he deserved to get his ass kicked for having his face in Chi-Chi’s breasts but did his brother have to dirty his hair? “You got my hair dirty!”

Chi-Chi introduced him to hair products and techniques that softened and made his hair feel sleek, smooth and free of tangles. He wasn’t vain but his hair was a conversation starter with women on and off Earth. When he went shopping with Chi-Chi, he noticed the stares. Before his life on Earth, he washed his hair with water and that was enough for the ladies. The wash day routine and daily care Chi-Chi taught him kept his hair moisturized, soft and bouncier. He found the time he took to care for his hair meditative and he loved the end result where it made him and his hair look even better. Now his stupid brother sullied it. “It’s gonna take hours to get all this dirt out!”

“Good!” Goku caught Raditz’s left wrist, punched his chin and pinned Raditz underneath him. “That means you won’t spend time with Chi-Chi!”

Raditz choked when Goku locked him in a headlock. His arms flailed while he fought against Goku. “Unless I ask her to help me wash it!” Raditz howled when Goku sunk his teeth into his arm. “Stop biting me!”

“Stop trying to take Chi-Chi from me!”

Grass and dirt exploded around the brothers who tussled, kicked, choked and cursed at each other. Gohan intervened at last and pushed the brothers apart. “That’s enough, Father. Uncle.” Raditz lunged to get one more punch in but Gohan’s back slap knocked him down. “Enough!”

Gohan noticed Goku’s eyes were closed. Gohan grabbed an arm and pulled Goku to his feet. “Father, are you all right?”

Goku opened an eye and closed it. This blindness was comparable to Tien’s Solar Flare. “I’m fine, Gohan.”

“Father?” Gohan sounded worried. “I’m over here.” His voice came from the right while Goku looked left. He felt Gohan’s hands on his face. “Mother should look at you.”

“Why are you fighting Uncle Raditz, Daddy?” Goten asked. “He’s nice now.”

Goten. His youngest had a weird admiration for Raditz. How can he be concerned for Raditz when I’m temporarily blind?  

“Goku!” Chi-Chi plowed into Goku so hard he nearly lost his balance. Her soft fingers caressed his face. “Are you hurt? Why are your eyes closed?”

“Raditz hurt my eyes,” Goku pouted fully aware Chi-Chi always got angry if anyone hurt him.

 It worked. Goku grinned when he heard Chi-Chi hit Raditz and yell, “Why did you hurt my Goku?!” But his smile dropped when Chi-Chi slapped him across his chest. “Why did you have to fight your brother, Goku?!”

“But, Chi-Chi,” Goku whined. She should be on his side.

“You meatheads beat up each other, put a hole in the yard and nearly destroyed our home!!”

“Yeah, but, Chi-Chi…..”  He felt his hand tightly grabbed and his body jerked as Chi-Chi pulled him to their home. She muttered about musclehead Saiyans destroying her home and traumatizing their children.

Chi-Chi’s muttering stopped when they entered their bathroom. She forced Goku to sit on the tub. He heard Chi-Chi rifling through the medicine cabinet. Goku could feel her anger but heard concern when she asked, “Can you open your eyes?”

Goku gingerly opened his eyes. He squinted at the soft bathroom lights. “Bright light is fading but it burns when I open my eyes.” He saw Chi-Chi’s blurry silhouette. “My eyes are getting better.

“Keep your eyes closed.” Chi-Chi rubbed cool aloe vera on his eyelids. “Are you hurting anywhere else?” Goku shook his head. “Try opening your eyes when the burning stops.”

Chi-Chi’s kindness and putting him first were welcoming after what Goku felt coming from his wife lately. “You’re being nice to me.”

Chi-Chi wiped dirt and Raditz’s blood off his face. “What does that mean?”

“You haven’t been nice to me lately. You’ve been nice to Raditz.”

Chi-Chi rinsed the towel and resumed cleaning his face. “This jealousy isn’t funny anymore. What do you think is happening with me and Raditz?”

“Stuff that shouldn’t happen. You’re doing married stuff with him like washing his hair.”

Goku heard Chi-Chi mutter, ‘I don’t believe this’. “I wanted to pay a professional but you interrupted our shopping trip and it was only one time. Raditz washes his hair now.”

Once was too much for Goku. He remembered what he saw. “You like touching Raditz’s hair.”

“His long hair is fascinating. When it’s cleaned properly, it’s soft and silky….” She stopped when Goku began trembling. She witnessed what that rage did to Raditz’s wall. She didn’t want their bathroom to be the next casualty. “Stop that.” Chi-Chi clamped her hands on Goku’s face. “Calm,” she spoke gently. “Calm,” she repeated. Goku’s trembling ceased. Despite the pain, Goku opened his eyes, shocking Chi-Chi with the hurt he held in them. Was this from the burns he received from Raditz or the emotional pain he felt thinking she desired Raditz? “It doesn’t mean I’m attracted to him, Goku.”

“You laugh with him. You pick apples with him and you watch movies with him. You’re too nice to him.”

Chi-Chi would laugh at Goku’s pouting. He looked so cute when he did it but this wasn’t the time for laughs. “I’m being nice to him because we agreed to give Raditz a chance. Raditz met me when I was picking apples. You don’t like watching movies. Raditz does and it helps me to get to know him. If you try with Raditz, you’ll like him, too. He’s your---”

“He’s not my brother!!” Goku pushed Chi-Chi away. His suppressed anger finally boiled over. “A brother doesn’t hurt his brother! A brother doesn’t kidnap his nephew! A brother doesn’t make his brother die with him to save his family!”

“Goku…..”

“You’ve been too nice to him! You spend too much time with him! You let him say dirty things to you! It ain’t right!”  

He was so angry he was shaking but it felt good to get that out. Now that Chi-Chi knew how he felt, Goku expected Chi-Chi to apologize and ask for forgiveness. Instead, she said, “Raditz flirts but he’s kidding.”

He expressed his feelings and Chi-Chi dismissed it. She’d never done that before. Does she like him more than me? “You like it! You’re supposed to only like when I say dirty things to you!”

“I do, but Raditz doesn’t intentionally say it when you’re around.”

She did it again. She dismissed his concerns and made excuses for Raditz. “He shouldn’t say it at all! You’re my wife!” Why is she defending him? Why isn’t she on my side? There was only one reason for Chi-Chi to defend Raditz and it sickened Goku. “You like Raditz.”

Chi-Chi’s face was too blurry for Goku to read, but it hurt when Chi-Chi said, “I do like him, but,” she stressed, “not in the way you’re thinking, Goku. I’ve gotten to know him.”

‘I do like him.’ It repeated in Goku’s mind over and over. She likes him. How could she like him?

“You weren’t nice to Piccolo when he came to live with us. It took you months before you accepted him.”

An aggravated sigh came from Chi-Chi. It was as if she knew this was going to come up. “The last time I saw Piccolo he put a hole in your chest, Goku. He threatened to kill you the next time he met you. He did and he took our son for a year! When I got my family back, my son admires his kidnapper. My husband invites his killer to live with us. What was I suppose to feel?!”

Oh, that makes her angry?! She had some nerve. “Piccolo changed.”

“You and Gohan saw that. I didn’t. It took time which is all I’m asking of you with your brother. Raditz admitted he was wrong for what he did. Piccolo justified what he did to you and Gohan. It took him nearly a year before he owned up to the pain he inflicted! Maybe a month is too soon for you to give Raditz a chance, but why won’t you tell me what’s holding you back?”

Oof. When Chi-Chi fought back, she had facts. Piccolo was stubborn then and if he were remorseful sooner, it wouldn’t have taken as long as it did for Piccolo and Chi-Chi to become friends. But Goku didn’t want to give Chi-Chi her win. He was angry. He never cared to win a fight against Chi-Chi but this time, he pushed back. “I shouldn’t have to talk. You should be on my side!”

“There are no sides. We agreed to take in Raditz. I’m doing my part but you’re being a hypocrite. You accepted Piccolo but not--”

“It’s not the same!”

“WHY NOT?!” Chi-Chi pushed for the truth. “Both hurt you! One caused your death and the other killed you and took our son!”

She spoke as if both were the same when they weren’t. “Piccolo died for Gohan and helped us on Namek! Raditz hasn’t done anything to prove he's changed! He’s pretending so he can trick us!”

“Trick us?” This was a new accusation and it brought Chi-Chi closer to the truth of Goku’s problem with Raditz. “Goku, you, Gohan and Goten are stronger than him. Tricking us will get him killed. He can’t do anything to hurt you, Goku.”

Oh, he can, but Chi-Chi didn’t see it. “He can hurt you, Chi-Chi.”

The anger was gone from Goku. He spoke in fear that resonated with Chi-Chi. “Is that what you’re worried about?” The understanding in her voice timed perfectly with the clarity in Goku’s eyes. The blurriness around Chi-Chi faded. Goku saw her clearly and the dawning realization on her face on what his troubles were. “Honey….” Chi-Chi gently cradled his face in her hands. “Raditz won’t hurt me, Goku. He knows you’ll kill him and the dragon balls……”

“It doesn’t matter we have the dragon balls. Him hurting you is too much.”

“Oh…. Goku.” Chi-Chi wanted to cry. His concern was so sweet. “Goten’s always nearby…..”

Goku wrapped his hand around Chi-Chi’s fingers. He pressed his lips against her palm. “That didn’t save you from Majin Boo.”

Oh. It was that serious with him. Goku wrapped his arms around Chi-Chi and pressed his face against her stomach. He needed to hold her. He needed to feel her warm body and hear the strong beat of her heart. He needed her presence to calm the thoughts whirling in his mind. “You don’t know what Raditz did, Chi-Chi.”

Goku told her when he was in the hospital but his vagueness left Chi-Chi wondering what Goku kept from her. “Tell me.”

“He beat me, Chi-Chi.”

Chi-Chi knew Goku didn’t like how the fight ended but she didn’t see it as a loss. “He didn’t win.”

Goku raised his head to her. His gaze haunted Chi-Chi. “I lost. He took me down with one punch. Gohan cried and screamed for me to save him. I saved the world, Chi-Chi, but when my son needed me to save him, I couldn’t help him. I had to rely on Piccolo.” It was the first time Chi-Chi heard Goku speak Piccolo’s name so terribly. “I always fought alone. I never needed anyone to help me, and when I did, it was to save Gohan. I should’ve been enough, Chi-Chi. I fought the Red Ribbon Army. I fought King Piccolo. I was the strongest person on Earth but my brother took me down with one punch.”

Goku didn’t brag about Saiyan pride but he did have it. Raditz hurt his pride and humbled him in the worst way.

“When I got the upper hand on Raditz, he begged me to spare him. He said he would leave and not come back. Piccolo told me not to believe him but I did. Giving Raditz a second chance, cost my life. It took Gohan away from us and it caused you to lose us for a year. When I see Raditz, it always reminds me of my biggest mistake.”

“And when you see me with Raditz…..” Chi-Chi shamefully bowed her head. Goku’s behavior made sense. “You never told me it hurt you this badly.”

“Raditz was gone. I didn’t think I’d see him again but he’s alive now and……”

“And everything’s coming back.” Chi-Chi hugged Goku. He held her tightly desperate for her comfort and security. “Thank you for telling me, Goku.” Now she knew what bothered her husband, Chi-Chi knew how to deal with it and heal the deep wound between the brothers.

****

In the half bathroom, Raditz cleaned his wounds. The bleeding stopped but the aches from Goku’s punches will be felt for days. He wished there was a rejuvenation tank he could soak in. “Damn, Kakarot,” he winced at the pain coming from his ribs. “I won’t sleep right for a week.”

He examined his face in the mirror. The cuts will heal in a day. He parted the hair on top of his head. There was so much dirt buried between the strands. “It’s gonna take two shampoo bottles to get all this dirt out. I have to deep condition for an hour.”

While he contemplated how long he will have to clean his hair, Raditz heard the intense verbal spars between Chi-Chi and Goku coming above. Raditz didn’t think Goku had it in him to raise his voice to Chi-Chi. Sometimes his brother sulked but was obedient around his wife. Raditz liked the pushback. It showed his brother couldn’t be walked over but Raditz detested he was the cause of the shouting match.

Raditz stepped out of the bathroom. “If Kakarot wants to yell at anyone, it should be me.”

Gohan and Goten stood at the bottom of the stairs. The boys were silent as they heard their parents fight. Goten was very worried and leaned against Gohan for comfort.

“I’m going up there,” Raditz decided.

Gohan blocked Raditz. “Don’t.”

Things must be bad if Gohan is speaking to me. “They’re fighting about me, Gohan. I should speak.”

“If you want to help, stay out of it. It’s the least you can do after all the trouble you’ve caused.”

This child. Raditz admired Gohan’s toughness. He wasn’t a crybaby anymore. It would be respectful if Gohan didn’t dismiss him. “Are you always going to see me as the villain, Gohan? I’m trying with you and Kakarot, but you won’t give me a chance.”

“Why should we?” Gohan pushed back. “You inflicted the most pain on us. Why expect Father and I to forget it?”

“You shouldn’t forget but you don’t have to walk around giving me the silent treatment. Use it to be stronger. That’s what I did with the pain inflicted on me.”

“It didn’t make you strong, Uncle. It made you a weak bully. It made you think your violence was justified because you thought everyone should suffer like you.”

Gohan’s eloquence was as sharp and inflicting as a punch. Chi-Chi’s right about this one. There’s a quiet power about him that makes him deadlier than Kakarot. “You have a way with words but you don’t always apply it properly. You forgive Piccolo but not me.”

Disgusting. How low would his uncle sink? Mother, what did you tell him? “What do you know about Piccolo?”

More than he liked but what Chi-Chi told him, helped Raditz understand his brother and nephew. “He almost killed Kakarot in front of your mother. It frightened her to the point that it halted any chance of Kakarot training you. It left you vulnerable to Piccolo’s teachings where he kidnapped you and abandoned you for six months. You were so desperate for any companionship you accepted his daily beatings as long as it meant you weren’t alone. His training was so calculating that instead of despising him, you clung to him as a surrogate parent and turned against your mother when you reunited with her.”

Whoa. Gohan didn’t expect Raditz to know that much. “I wouldn’t put it like that.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.” His nephew had a spine but cowered under proper pushback. “You and Kakarot admire the abusive kidnapper without any thought of what it did to your mother.”

The sharp dressing down by his uncle struck at the wedge of guilt Gohan felt for his mother but it also angered him. It was evident his uncle used a vulnerable time in his mother’s life to bond with her and influence her he is a changed man. “You think spending a few weeks with Mother gives you better insight into us? You kidnapped me and would’ve done worse if Father and Piccolo didn’t stop you.” Mother, how could you share so much with him? He’s manipulating you into thinking he’s changed. “You wanted to take me off Earth. The horrors I would’ve endured would’ve been ten times worse than what I dealt with Piccolo!”

Raditz couldn’t disagree. Gohan was right. It would’ve been horrific for him. “You’re right, but what Piccolo achieved with you would’ve been achieved with me. Billions of miles away from your parents, from everyone you know, I would’ve been the only person you could trust despite the harsh treatment I would’ve given you. You wouldn’t hate me forever and the affection would go both ways. You are my nephew. We would’ve gotten as close as you and Piccolo.”

The punch came too fast for Raditz to defend himself. Knocked off his feet, he crashed through the door and bounced off the ground twice before landing in the hole he created with Goku.  His body pulsed in pain and combined with the blows he received from his brother, knew he would be in recovery well into the next week.

It’s official. The ribs are broken.

It took several moments before Raditz could move but when he got on his feet, Raditz felt pride at the punch he received but also damn lucky. He went light on me.

Gohan flew out of the house and from the look on his face, Raditz knew his nephew wanted another round with him. Raditz thought fast to save himself. “Did I touch a nerve? People tend to hit me to deny it to themselves I am right.” Gohan landed far enough to assure Raditz he wouldn’t be hit. That was close. “I need to control my mouth but it pisses me off you won’t try with me while you forgive Piccolo.”

Gohan wasn’t going to hit Raditz but if he didn’t stop comparing himself to Piccolo…..“You’re nothing like Piccolo and you’re insane to think I should forget what you’ve done after a month of acting nice?”

“I’m not acting, Gohan. I’m—”

“Do you think if you got close to my mother and brother I would believe you are not the monster who broke up my family for a year?”

“I was a heartless bastard,” Raditz freely admitted. “It took years to see what my arrival did. I hurt Kakarot. I hurt his wife. I hurt you. Chi-Chi knows what I’ve done but she’s giving me a chance. You gave it to Piccolo. Why not me?”

Such entitlement! Stop mentioning Piccolo! “Because I know what you do with second chances.”

Gohan was knocked out then. Raditz knew of two ways Gohan knew what he did. It wasn’t Kakarot. “Piccolo told you.”

“That’s right.”

Probably did it to make himself look better to Gohan.

“Uncle Raditz, why did you kidnap Big Brother?”

Shit.

Flustered, Gohan turned around to Goten. He was so caught up arguing with Raditz, he forgot Goten was in the room and heard everything, which meant he knew everything about Raditz and Piccolo. They all knew one day Goten would learn but Gohan thought that day wouldn’t happen until several years from now when he’s out of the house.

Mother’s going to kill me.

Raditz felt different. He thought it was good Goten knew. He wasn’t coddled by the harsh realities of life. Goten shouldn’t be either and though this may take away some of the child’s admiration and kindness towards him, Raditz dealt with it head-on. He squatted to Goten’s height. The child stared with a stern but questioning gaze.  

“I……” Aw damn. How could he explain he was a jackass when this child’s innocent gaze made him feel like a piece of shit? “I kidnapped Gohan to get Kakarot to do bad things.”

“What kind of bad things?”

Raditz lowered his gaze from Goten’s innocent eyes. Why did he have to look at him like that? “Bad things that hurt people.”

“And if Father didn’t comply, Uncle Raditz planned to have me do the bad things.”

Raditz didn’t have to look at Gohan to know he took some joy in ruining his image to Goten. “That wasn’t nice, Uncle.”

“I know, but I’m not the bad man anymore.” Raditz said it many times but with his youngest nephew’s disappointment and fighting in front of Chi-Chi, Raditz thought he blew his chance to convince anyone he’s changed.

“You better not be. If you try hurting Momma like you hurt Daddy and Big Brother, I’ll hurt you!”

Goten was a child with the strength to humiliate him but Raditz couldn’t hide his smile over his nephew’s little pout and tiny clenched hands. He looks like my brother but he is cute when he’s angry.

“I’m serious!” Goten mistook Raditz’s smile as a joke against him. To show he was serious, Goten turned into a Super Saiyan.

It was painful for Raditz to not fall over in laughter at his angry nephew. This wasn’t a laughing moment but there was something adorable at his young nephew ready to fight him. “You care about your Mother a lot.”

“Yup.”

Raditz respected that and saw a way to amend Goten’s loss of respect for him. “If I hurt her, do everything you can to make me regret it. Don’t hesitate because I’m your Uncle. Kill me if you must.”

The severity of his words shocked Goten to return to his base form. He could hurt his Uncle but he didn’t think he could kill him. “Are you that bad, Uncle?”

“Not anymore but if I were to be that bad again, to save your Mother, you must kill me. Understand?”

“I…. “ he hesitated but remembering why this was said, Goten nodded. “I understand.”

“Good boy.” Raditz stood and gently ruffled Goten’s head. Gohan looked slightly disappointed Goten hadn’t turned from him. Raditz almost made a smartass comment that would’ve gotten him punched but Goku and Chi-Chi came outside and were inspecting the damages to their home.

I really fucked up. The severity of the situation sank in. He was a guest hoping to build a relationship with his brother and his family but growing tensions exploded into the near destruction of his brother’s home. Goku and Chi-Chi walked away to them. Raditz prepared to take the blame and accept whatever punishment meant for him.

“What happened to the door?” Chi-Chi asked.

“It was my fault. I’ll fix it.”

“I hit him.” Gohan wouldn’t let Raditz take the blame alone.

“Because of me.” This was his fault. His mouth triggered his brother to fight him and caused a divide between him and his wife. “I’ll fix the door and my room. I’ll do better to watch my mouth.”

“You’ve been doing that ever since you got here and it’s caused trouble with Goku and Gohan. This can’t keep happening, Raditz.”

Raditz worried Chi-Chi had reached her breaking point. He wondered if he lost an ally and his time with his family was coming to an end. Will they send me back?

“Raditz, Goku and I agreed to take you in but our home is getting destroyed.” She spoke as if she was done with the Raditz experiment. “Goku and I talked about this. There’s one way I think will resolve the tension.”

“By sending me back?” Raditz hoped this wouldn’t be the resolution but maybe it was foolish thinking he and his brother could patch things up. Maybe I should’ve visited once a week instead of moving in.

“No.” Chi-Chi’s rejection gave Raditz hope he wouldn’t be kicked out. “The Son Family doesn’t give up on family but things will be different. You and Goku will fix the damage done to our home, and when that is done, Raditz, you will help Goku on the farm.”

He wasn’t being kicked out but Raditz wasn’t sure if this was a good idea. “What do you mean?”

“You will help Goku prep the land, plant the seeds and sell crops at the market. Whatever Goku wants you to do to help our farm, you will do it.”

Goku stood behind Chi-Chi wearing a wicked smirk that said, ‘Payback time.’ “He tells me what to do and I have to do it?” How much more humiliation must he suffer! Oh, no, no, no! “But I’m still adjusting,” Raditz tried to get out of it. “I need more time here…. with you and Goten.”

“You’ve spent enough time with us.” Raditz’s charm wasn’t getting him out of this. “It’s time for you and Goku to spend time together. You will work together on the farm and sell our crops because I know you don’t want me to stop cooking food for you.”

Her cooking was her leverage. Raditz laughed. This is where Chi-Chi was wrong. She’s a good cook but he’s not dependent on her. “I lived in that facility for years. I can cook for myself.”

The upper hand Raditz thought he had faded Chi-Chi’s smirk. It was as if she knew he would say that. “I know, but Goku loves my cooking and he knows if he wants to eat any of my cooking, you will help on the farm. You will do a good job and you will sell our crops. You will work together.”

Behind that pretty smile and scary sweet tone was a threat Raditz fall in line or else. He could stand his ground to this petite woman. He wouldn’t fight her physically. That’s too easy and beneath him but he could verbally spar with her but even there, Raditz didn’t see a path of victory. This woman had the power to control his brother and his sons who all had the power to kick his ass. Anything she said, they’ll do. Goten’s protest of bathtime and bedtime died with a single look from her. Even his brother bent the knee to that deadly expression if defied.

He could resist. He could protest. He was a Saiyan. Fighting was in his blood.

But even fighters knew when to yield to a fight they couldn’t win.

“Yeah,” Raditz resigned himself to his troubling fate. His brother was addicted to his wife’s cooking. Raditz was convinced his brother would kill if he was banished from his wife’s cooking forever. It would sting at his pride following his Little Brother’s orders but Raditz didn’t want to deal with the consequences of his brother spurned from his wife’s cooking.

“Congratulations, Uncle!” Goten thought this was a great idea. “You’re not a freeloader anymore! You have a job working for Daddy!”

“Yeah,” Raditz forced a smile. He wasn’t getting kicked out but this was a high price to pay to keep the peace. “How…. nice.”

Fuck my life.  

****

Gyumao was called in to help with the repairs to the house. He brought the supplies, and with Goku very familiar with fixing damages done to the house, left him in charge. As the brothers worked, Gyumao watched from the patio where he and Chi-Chi had lunch. Gyumao knew trouble would spark with Raditz but kept his concerns to himself. He wasn’t surprised by the troubles between Goku and Raditz. He was amused by the rivalry and how his daughter overlooked Goku’s jealousy.

“They rolled on the ground like children?” Gyumao sliced into his hot muffin. “I wished I saw that.”

“Dad, it’s not funny.”

“But it is and it’s funnier, you didn’t see this happening. Chi-Chi, you should’ve known Goku would get jealous over Raditz.”

“Why?”

“He’s a man.”

Chi-Chi rolled her pretty dark eyes. That wasn’t an acceptable excuse. “My Goku doesn’t get jealous. Jealousy is a sign of insecurity. Goku isn’t insecure about anything.”

Gyumao rubbed jam on his muffin. “All men get insecure. Even the strongest ones. Even naïve men like Goku.”

Goku was many things but never jealous. “It doesn’t make sense, Dad. Men made passes at me in front of Goku and he never reacted. He let me take care of it. Why does Raditz rattle him?”

“A man never likes another man getting close to his woman.”

It was bad Goku thought she and Raditz got close but it was weird to hear her father say it, too. “Raditz never got close. We talked and I made him feel welcomed.”

“And in return, Raditz helped you around the house. He’s hunted food for the family and he keeps you company while Goku works. Goku feels challenged.” Gyumao recognized the problem but his daughter needed help understanding. “Goku will always wonder if someone will be stronger than him. He knows how to deal with that threat but he doesn’t know how to deal with competition for you.”

“Raditz isn’t competition.”

“Goku thinks so.” Either his daughter was blind, stubborn or both. Gyumao didn’t know. “Raditz helps around the house. How often does Goku do that?”

“Never unless I’m sick. Some mornings he does get my tea ready but I’m not ordering him to help me.” Chi-Chi felt it was her job as wife to take care of the house but she did wish Goku helped out sometimes. She tried years ago but accepted Goku didn’t do that. “Goku doesn’t like housework.”

“But he sees Raditz doing housework and it makes you happy.”

“But Raditz isn’t helping out to win me. I think he wants to show he’s changed and even if he is helping to impress me, it’s insulting Goku thinks I can be won over by that.” It was more than insulting. It made Chi-Chi angry. “We’ve been together for years and we’ve been through so much. How can Goku think I can be won by Raditz folding clothes, cleaning dishes and cooking meals?”

“You installed the floor upside down!” Goku’s yell jolted Chi-Chi and Gyumao from their talk. They looked over where the brothers worked to see Goku waving his arms animated and yelling at Raditz. “You have to flip the board on the right side.”

“Dammit, Kakarot! You told me this was the right side!”

“It looks similar in the light but it’s not the same! Why can’t you tell the difference?!”

Raditz shoved Goku. “Why can’t you instruct right?!”

Goku put his hand on Raditz and pushed him. “Don’t shove me!”

Raditz shoved Goku again. “Don’t yell at me for something that’s your fault!”

Another fight was on the verge of breaking out. Gyumao quickly gave Chi-Chi sound advice. “No one can come between you and Goku, Chi-Chi, but sometimes a wife needs to reassure her husband he is all she wants. Men are simple. We eat, work and protect, and if something disrupts that, it can create problems that affect everything. You’re being a good hostess making Raditz feel welcome but are you transferring time you usually give to Goku to Raditz?”

“Dammit, Kakarot!” Raditz and Goku tumbled from the open wall and fell on the grass choking, kicking and cursing each other.

“I’ll deal with them,” Gyumao offered to be the mediator. “You think about what I said.”

As Gyumao went over to break up Goku and Raditz’s childish fighting, Chi-Chi thought over what her father said. She spent a lot of time with Raditz but rationalized she was being a good hostess and a good person getting to know him. It would be rude to not speak to a guest she invited into her home. In Chi-Chi’s mind, spending time with Raditz was the logical thing to do.

Have I been giving Raditz too much attention and ignoring Goku?

Chi-Chi initially thought no but now she reflected on how Raditz affected their routine. She had to cook more but her cleaning didn’t increase. It lessened. Sometimes Raditz swept and mopped the floors. He’d clean the breakfast or dinner dishes. Once a week, he’d cook a meal and clean all the dishes. This gave Chi-Chi more time for herself and her family.

“But I’d talk about Raditz.”

Chi-Chi remembered one night Raditz volunteered to wash the dinner dishes and spend the night in his room to give the family of four a night together. Gohan hid in his room but Chi-Chi played a card game with Goku and Goten. By bedtime, Chi-Chi wasn’t tired. After putting Goten to bed, Chi-Chi prepared an evening bath for her and Goku.

“Oh, no,” Chi-Chi realized her blunder. “I spent the night talking about Raditz then, too.”

It was so innocent she thought. During their bath, Chi-Chi talked about how nice it was Raditz gave them a night alone. She talked of how Raditz helping around the house gave her more time. Before, Chi-Chi’d asked Goku about his day or shared hers. Their conversations were always about them and their family. It never involved Raditz.

I gave Raditz attention to make him feel welcome. That facility was isolating. Raditz needed to experience warmth from family. Chi-Chi knew she was right. The warmth from her and Goten allowed Raditz to open up. It helped Chi-Chi understand Raditz. Their friendly bond had a hand in Raditz wanting to do kind things for the family which Chi-Chi shared with Goku. I did the right thing. But it came at a price. It made Goku feel neglected.

****

It took three days before repairs were completed in the Son Family home. Goku and Raditz argued with a few of their verbal spars turning physical where they rolled on the ground until Gyumao broke up their fighting. He lectured Goku and Raditz as if they were children and made both apologize to Chi-Chi.  

Raditz didn’t mind the old man’s interruptions. It reminded Raditz of how Nappa broke up fights between him and Vegeta as children. Vegeta was always favored but Nappa addressed both of their behaviors and gave equal punishment. Gyumao didn’t give punishment but he brought up how this affected Chi-Chi which made Raditz and Goku feel bad for their fighting.

Raditz hoped the old man would stay around and monitor him and Goku when they began work on the farm. With his presence, Raditz thought Gyumao would keep Goku in line but Gyumao returned to his kingdom. He did extend an invitation for Chi-Chi to bring Raditz around his kingdom. Raditz wished it was today for it would mean he would not join Goku on the farm.

Farmwork wasn’t beneath him. He did far more humiliating things but the idea he will follow his little brother’s orders was nauseating. It interrupted his sleep that after waking up for the third time that night, Raditz left his room and went to the kitchen for something to help him deal with the upcoming hectic day.

Alcohol wasn’t an option. There were two bottles of wine locked away but Chi-Chi forbade drinking except for special occasions. One bottle wouldn’t be enough for him anyway. He needed an entire case before he could feel a buzz.

Juice didn’t do anything either so he settled for tea. Raditz filled water in Chi-Chi’s tea kettle and placed it on the stove. While the water boiled, he looked through Chi-Chi’s tea collection. He was trying to decide which flavor he wanted when Chi-Chi entered the kitchen. “Raditz?” She spotted him rifling through her tea. “Why are you awake?”

“Why are you?”

Chi-Chi went to the cabinet for her tea cups and teapot. “Someone has to make breakfast, and since it’s your first day working with Goku, I thought I’d make a special one for you two. Oh….” Suddenly, Chi-Chi suspected why Raditz was up early. “Are you worried about working with Goku?”

Raditz liked Chi-Chi picked up things quickly. “I can’t stop thinking of how much hell Kakarot will put me through today.”

Chi-Chi placed the cups and pot on the table. “It won’t be bad if you don’t trigger him.”

Raditz selected loose-leaf lemon and ginger tea and added it to the pot while Chi-Chi rummaged for snacks. “My breathing triggers Kakarot. If I pick a plant the wrong way or don’t plant the right seed, my face will kiss the ground. You saw how pissy he got when we fixed the house. It will be ten times worse on the farm.”

The kettle hissed loudly. Raditz grabbed the kettle and poured hot water into the teapot. While the tea steeped, Chi-Chi placed a plate of light sandwiches and a medium-sized container of blueberries and blackberries on the table. “This isn’t easy for Goku, Raditz.”

Of course she’ll defend him. Raditz couldn’t be mad. Chi-Chi was his brother’s wife but they had a good thing, too. She saw past his sins and were building a good friendship until his fight with Goku fractured that. Chi-Chi has been distant since and Raditz missed having an ally. “I’ve tried, but everything I say or do pisses him off.” Raditz grabbed a handful of berries. “Maybe I was wrong wanting a relationship with my brother.”

“Raditz, you’ve had years to deal with this. Goku hasn’t.”

Raditz reached for a sandwich. “Finding me alive is a shock but he’s not trying.”

Chi-Chi poured tea into their cups. Since Goku wouldn’t convey his feelings to Raditz, Chi-Chi knew she had to be the peacemaker between the two. “It’s more than that, Raditz. You affected Goku in a way no one has. You humbled him.”

“Humble?” Raditz swallowed while grabbing another sandwich. “I’m the humbled one. My baby brother and his kids can kick my ass.”

Chi-Chi added honey to Raditz’s tea. “Goku excelled on Earth. Even as a child, he was exceptionally strong.”

“He’s a Saiyan.”

“Goku didn’t know that,” Chi-Chi reminded Raditz as she poured her tea. “He defeated opponents quickly. Goku rarely lost, but when he did, it wasn’t easy. His opponents couldn’t call it a victory.”

“Good.” Raditz was proud to know this. “Kakarot represented Saiyans proudly without knowing his heritage.”

Chi-Chi gently blew air on her hot tea. “Do you remember how you defeated Goku on the beach?”

“I punched him.”  

Chi-Chi nearly winced at how emotionless Raditz spoke of it. To him, it wasn’t a big deal but Chi-Chi knew how that simple act shattered her family. It changed the trajectory of everything.

“No one took Goku down with one punch. You did that and took his son.” Raditz stopped eating. He stared at her, wondering why she would bring that up but something in Chi-Chi’s tone told him she wasn’t bringing it up to admonish him but to explain something he never knew. “Gohan’s everything to Goku. In our first five years, Gohan and I were more important to Goku than fighting. That part of Goku died when he met you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When Goku and I married, he took a break from fighting. He still trained but Gohan and I were his priority. Fighting was second. That changed when he met you. Goku never got over how quickly you took him down. Goku never wanted to be that vulnerable again.” Chi-Chi stared into her tea as if the gold liquid gave her a visual of Goku’s past decisions. “Getting stronger became Goku’s priority. Gohan and I were second. I don’t think Goku realized what it did to our family until the week before the Cell Game.”

“I see.” In Raditz’s eyes, he temporarily put down an opponent who later caused his demise. He never knew there were lingering effects of their encounter. “But Kakarot’s stronger now. I have to catch up to him.”

Chi-Chi sipped her tea. “Goku knows he can defeat you but seeing you takes him to that one time he couldn’t. He never dealt with it because you died and now you’re alive, everything is coming back to him. He struggles to give you a chance because he remembers what it cost him when he released your tail.”

“And you say Kakarot doesn’t want to be that vulnerable again.” Raditz drank his tea thinking that wasn’t possible. Kakarot’s so much stronger. He’ll never be that vulnerable. His kids can kick my ass. What could I possibly do to make him feel…

It hit him like a bolt of lightning.

Her.

The missing piece fell into place as Raditz watched Chi-Chi drink her tea. “He’s worried I’ll get you.” It all made sense now! The stares. The hits. The fight! “And with how you and I have been getting along….” It clicked for Raditz. “Fuck.”

Finally. Chi-Chi was beginning to think Raditz was sometimes as slow as Goku. “There’s a lot Goku is dealing with now.”

“And Kakarot doesn’t believe me when I tell him I don’t want you because I lied the last time.” Just thinking of how he begged his brother to release his tail knowing he was going to betray him, sickened Raditz. I really was a son of a dick then. I really fucked things up.

It was good to hear the guilt in Raditz’s voice. She knew he was sorry. Goku needed to see it. “I believe you are sorry for what you did. You’ve had years to come to terms with it. Goku hasn’t. You have to be patient with him and try harder.”

Raditz nodded. He understood the healing began with him. “I’ll try even if it means I have to deal with Kakarot’s cheap shots.”

“Piccolo had to deal with mine for six months.”

Raditz knew the story of Chi-Chi hitting Piccolo for every day he left Gohan alone in the wilderness. It was amusing picturing this petite woman hitting that tall, green warrior who didn’t dare strike back, but knowing Goku may inflict the same punishment for him made Raditz worry he may suffer permanent brain damage.

It’s the risk I’ll have to take to make things right with Kakarot.

*****

Later that morning, Raditz left with Goku. For days, he regretted working on the farm but after his talk with Chi-Chi, Raditz saw this as a positive opportunity. This could be what was needed for him to connect with his brother. With them alone, there will be no distractions and plenty of space for them to air out aggressions.

As he flew over the farm, Raditz was impressed with how much land his brother owned. Several large fields of produce were divided into sections. It wasn’t fighting but it was admirable what his brother did with this land. Chi-Chi told him it was abandoned for years and needed a lot of work but in a few months, Goku cleared a large section of rocks and debris, removed the weeds, tilled and cultivated the soil before planting the seeds and nurturing them until they bloomed into big and delicious vegetables.

Raditz thought a proper compliment would break the ice. “Chi-Chi told me you are a good farmer. I’m not surprised. You’re a Saiyan. We’re good at anything we put our minds to.” His brother looked at him unsure if he should believe him. “Where do I start, Kakarot?” Raditz pointed at a tall vine of plum tomatoes. “Should I pick that?” Raditz floated to a massive group of cucumbers growing on ten-foot trellises. “Or these.”

Goku was wary of Raditz’s enthusiasm but remembered Chi-Chi’s encouragement he give Raditz a chance. “Chi-Chi wants me to give you a tour of the vegetables I’m growing. After the tour, you can work the empty fields for the fall crops. These,” Goku pointed at the different plots of land growing a variety of summer vegetables like squashes, bell peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers, “are the summer crops. Some are ready to be picked but we have some baby ones that’ll be ready next month. Fall will be here in a few weeks. We have to prepare the land for that.” Goku flew Raditz to a field of overgrown grass and weeds. “You’ll prepare this land for our fall and winter crops. You’ll have to remove the old vegetation, till and test the soil. I’ll show you how to make a good drainage system.”

From how Bulma spoke of his brother and his biased observations, Raditz thought his brother was on the dumb side but time, Chi-Chi and Goten showed Raditz his views were wrong. “You’re not so…..” he caught himself. This was his second and last chance to make things work with his brother. He couldn’t start off insulting him. “Have you always been a farmer when you’re not fighting?”

Goku landed in front of his tractor. He was suppose to take it to Bulma’s house. There was a strange noise coming from the tractor and a red light that appeared whenever he turned it on, but his fight with Raditz and repairing the house. Goku forgot about it. “I did some farmwork as a kid but I made a deal with Chi-Chi I will go to work after the Cell Game. It took seven years but I wanted to keep my word.” Goku turned on the tractor and that same red light came on with the ragged clogging sound. He didn’t want to leave Raditz alone but he’d have to do that while he take his tractor to Bulma.

Raditz listened to the sounds. He never worked on a tractor but on engines in space. This didn’t sound normal. “Turn that back on and pop up the hood.” Goku did so. Raditz studied the service chart on the hood’s ceiling to identify the engine, battery and other parts. “Didn’t you want to go back to training but Chi-Chi reminded you of the deal you made?”

Goku got out of the tractor and went around to the front to observe Raditz and make sure he didn’t add more damage to the tractor. It also bothered him Raditz was privy to something that was not his business. “How much talkin’ did you do with Chi-Chi?” Raditz pulled out something black and covered in dirt and grass. “Don’t break it.”

“I didn’t break anything. This is an air filter and it’s bad. It’s needs replacing.” He shook some of the dirt from the filter and placed it back in the tractor. “I think your fuel filter is clogged. That’s why your engine is coughing when it starts. How long have you had this?”

“Bulma gave this to me three months ago when I started working on the farm.”

Raditz kept his head under the hood as he continued his inspection. “That’s impossible. There’s no way a new tractor would be this worn in three months.” He leaned deeper for a closer inspection of the smaller parts. “Some of these parts don’t look new. They’re corroded.”

“It ain’t new. When Chi-Chi told Bulma about the farm, Bulma said Capsule Corp makes all kinds of vehicles. She said this model is retired and gave it to us for free. She said if the tractor ever breaks down, she’ll get us another one or fix this one.”

Raditz pulled his head from under the hood irritated. “You mean that rich bi---” he caught himself. “She gave you an old out-of-date model and not a new one.”

“Bulma said it would be expensive to use a new model because I’ll be too rough with it and always coming to her for repairs. Bulma said it’s smarter to use the old models. She has plenty.”

Raditz closed the hood and muttered, “I bet she did.”

“How do you know what’s wrong with the tractor?”

“The engines and parts are outdated to what I saw in space but the mechanics are similar.” Raditz reached inside the tractor and turned the ignition off. “I wasn’t always fighting and plundering, Kakarot. I had hobbies. I like mechanics.”

Goku didn’t know what was going on. His brother was helpful. He flattered him. He was nice to him without making any remarks to put him down or saying something about Chi-Chi that would make Goku want to break Raditz’s face. He sounded as if he cared like a real brother.

“And as for Chi-Chi, Kakarot, stop feeling threatened I talk to your wife. For years, I was locked in a box with little human contact. I move to another box where I can interact with people. You can’t be mad I’m taking advantage of that.”

A small put down but Goku didn’t feel a desire to punch Raditz. His reason did explain why he was friendly with Chi-Chi but Goku wasn’t convinced that was the only reason. “Is that all?”

“Chi-Chi and Goten have been welcoming. It’s nice to feel wanted and not looked at as a monster or something to be studied.”

Fair answer. Maybe I was wrong about Raditz. “Chi-Chi does have a way of making you feel you belong. When Piccolo lived with us, Chi-Chi made him feel part of the family.”

“After she hit him for every day he left Gohan alone.” He liked her but even Raditz thought Chi-Chi’s changing moods were exhausting. 

“Yeah,” Goku laughed. “She told you about that.”

This was the first genuine laugh between them. The ice wall was melting. “I understand why you’re protective of her, Kakarot. She’s a good mate. She’s loyal. She cares for your kids. She’s a good cook, too, with a nice shape and,” he made a lewd gesture with his hands, “a nicer set of tits.”

And just like that, Goku wanted to crack Raditz’s face. Grabbing the front of his shirt, Goku slammed Raditz against the tractor. Raditz felt the metal of the hood bend under his back. Ignoring the pain, Raditz saw Goku’s hair briefly flash blonde with green murderous eyes promising a violent death if Raditz wasn’t careful with his next words. “It was a compliment, Kakarot!!”

“I don’t want you complimenting Chi-Chi!”

“Why?” Either he will die or save himself on what he says next. “Don’t you think she has a nice set of tits?”

“I….” Goku hesitated. Was this a trick question? He didn’t want to lie like he did with the Old Kai but Goku didn’t want Raditz to know the truth either. “Yea, but only I can say that. Chi-Chi’s my wife.”

“Being your wife doesn’t mean she won’t be admired by others. I know I’m not the only man who’s noticed her.”

“No,” but Goku never had to worry about them. “But only I can admire her.”

“I get it.” Raditz remembered his talk with Chi-Chi. He had to be careful about how he approached this. “Kakarot, your wife is pretty and she has admirable physical qualities but I don’t want her. She’s yours. I respect that.”

He doesn’t act like it. There was also Vegeta’s warning about Raditz. “Vegeta said you touch women that weren’t yours.”

He could die in the next minute but what Goku said triggered a raucous laugh from Raditz. “And you believe him?” Vegeta! No wonder! Raditz didn’t calculate him playing with Goku’s mind. “He’s still up to his old mind games.”

Goku’s eyes returned to black. He took his hands off Raditz. “Mind games?”

He piqued his brother’s curiosity and more importantly, he wasn’t going to be killed. “Prince Vegeta doesn’t talk about his life before Earth, does he, Kakarot?”

“No.”

Yup. It was as Raditz suspected. “Does he have everyone thinking he was this big badass in space who only answered to Freeza? Is he always loud and brash that everyone cowers to him?”

“I don’t but others do.” Raditz’s smile intrigued Goku to know. What did he know? “What?”

“No wonder Prince Vegeta settled here. No wonder he mated with her.”

“You mean Bulma?” Raditz’s smile grew and that made Goku even more curious. “What? Tell me.”

One of the things Raditz noticed about Goku was his ability to flip from serious ass kicker to naïve child with a snap. His personality could flip just as quickly as Chi-Chi’s. They really are made for each other. “Prince Vegeta’s strong but his title garnered him access and privileges I wasn’t allowed because I’m the child of a Third Class Warrior. There were days where Prince Vegeta never let me forget that but that title didn’t always work for him.”

“Where didn’t it work?”

His brother looked so eager to know as if wanting to use it. Raditz hoped he did. The meddling Prince needed some payback for the problems he caused them. “Women. When Nappa thought we were old enough, he took us to a pleasure planet. Titles mean nothing there but your looks and willingness to have fun go a long way.”

Goku was lost on the terminology but the hints were enough for him to figure it out. “Fun like what me and Chi-Chi do?”

“Yea,” Raditz confirmed but there was something else his brother missed. “Kakarot, I’m taller than him, have better hair and a better-looking body. Who do you think women went for when they saw us?”

Goku pictured Raditz and Vegeta around a group of women. Before Chi-Chi, he couldn’t decipher what makes one attractive but living with Chi-Chi and hearing her constant praises of him, he had a good idea of who got more women. “You?”

“Nappa got more ass but he was older with more experienced. Sometimes, he took two or three women in a room, but with my looks, no woman was forced to be with me.”

“And Vegeta?”

“I’m sure he got some ass. Nappa made sure we all did when we turned sixteen. How much more?” Raditz shrugged unsure and he wasn’t keeping count. “He never got as much as me and Nappa but he often used his title as an excuse. ‘I’m a prince. I don’t lay with just anyone. A woman must have certain qualifications to enjoy the pleasure of my company.’ Raditz thought of who Vegeta committed himself to and shuddered. “I guess he found it.”

This eased Goku’s concerns about Chi-Chi around Raditz. “So, you don’t want Chi-Chi.”

“No, but you would know this if you weren’t threatened because I help her around the house and watch movies with her.” Raditz was careful but his brother’s attitude pissed him off. “Be pissed at me for what happened years ago but not for what’s going on with your wife when I didn’t do anything.”

Raditz expected a punch for that one but his brother was quiet as if he knew Raditz spoke the truth. His brother took the scolding like a Saiyan. It made it easier for Raditz to say, “I thought your attachment to your wife was only physical, but when you fought me, I saw our father in you. It reminded of the time some fool wanted our mother.”

Aside from his looks, it was the first time Goku heard a complimentary comparison of his father. With what little he knew, Goku didn’t have a positive image of Saiyans, but Raditz’s compliment left him curious. “What happened?”

“Hello, Bega. Bardock isn’t here.”

“I know. I saw him leave. He’ll be gone for three months this time.” Raditz stood in the entryway of the hall watching Bega. He always got a weird vibe from Bega. His mother didn’t like him but his father did. It confused Raditz. “I came to see you, Gine.”

His smile was creepy and Raditz didn’t like the way Bega stepped forward forcing his mother to stand back and allow Bega in.

“Raditz is here. He’s sleeping. You should leave so you don’t wake him.”

Raditz knew that wasn’t true. They were playing when the door chimed. Bega’s visits weren’t random. He was severely injured on a mission. The healing tanks brought were destroyed. Bega recovered but was never well enough to go on missions. He resigned to work in the meat factories with Gine.

“Raditz is asleep? Then we must be careful to not wake the child.”

Raditz noticed Bega standing very close to his mother. When she stepped back, Bega stepped forward. “Why are you here, Bega?”

“Gine, you can’t keep resisting. It’s unhealthy. What I am offering is good for both of us.”

“I told you no. Bardock is my mate. He’s your friend. How can you be a horrible friend to him?”

“I’m a damn good friend offering to fill in when Bardock doesn’t want to be available. Many warriors love the adventure of fighting on different planets. They forget they have to keep fires going at home.” Bega grabbed Gine who pushed against him. “I am offering a service that is beneficial for both of us.”

Gine freed herself from Bega. “I don’t want your service. Leave!”

Bega didn’t listen. “You’re different from other Saiyans, Gine. You have a softness about you that I find very attractive. It’s why I’ve been patient with you, but it seems you enjoy force like other women.”

Raditz’s eyes grew when he saw Bega grab his mother and yank her to him so their bodies touched. She wrestled against him but her resistance caused Bega to laugh and hold her tighter.

“Bega!” Gine screamed when her back slapped the wall. “Let me go!”

Bega grabbed Gine’s wrists and pressed his hips against her stomach. He pinned her against the wall. “I knew under that soft exterior was a woman with fire.” Gine turned away from him as he talked against her ear. “Is this how you hooked Bardock? Do you drive him wild between the sheets? I can’t wait to see what kind of hellcat you really are.”

“Raditz!” Gine made a desperate panic cry.

Raditz saw Bega rubbing against his Momma. He didn’t understand what he was seeing but he knew this wasn’t right. “Raditz won’t know as long as you cooperate but fight me!” he challenged her. “It makes me want you even more!”

It didn’t matter to Raditz if he was a child and Bega was tall and big like his father. He was gonna fight him and help his mother. Raditz left his hiding spot to intervene when the front door slammed open so hard it fell off its hinges. Bardock stood in the doorway and he was mad.  

“Bardock,” Bega released Gine.  

In a blink of an eye, Bardock stood over Bega. “You son of a dick!” Raditz ran back to his hiding spot. His father was mad. Really mad. “I’ve heard about you sneaking around some of the women. I didn’t think you’d be so damn stupid to touch my wife!”

Bega stammered an explanation. “You’ve been on more missions than you’ve been home, Bardock. Not once have I heard you complain about being away. I didn’t think you’d mind if I kept Gine company.”

Raditz’s mouth fell open as Bardock flung Bega across the room. He crashed through a window. Bardock jumped out of the window. His mother went out the door after them. Not wanting to miss it, Raditz ran to the broken window. He cheered watching his father violently beat down Bega. He smashed Bega’s face repeatedly. He broke limbs. He ignored Bega’s pleas to stop. When mercy was finally given, Bega’s bloodied and swollen body laid in a pool of his blood.

Raditz didn’t have a lot of memories of his parents but that moment always stood out. “Elites didn’t associate with the lower class but our father stood out that even Nappa and Mush knew what he did to Bega.” Raditz was normally guarded when it came to his parents. He preferred to forget them to bury his feelings associated with them but today it felt good to think and even talk about them. “Sometimes I wonder if our father’s growing reputation had a hand in me being selected to travel with Prince Vegeta. The classes were separated but there was an exception in them taking me.”

“It saved your life and mine.” Goku leaned against the tractor next to Raditz. He appeared reflective as he soaked in the story Raditz told him of their parents. They seem loving towards each other which was the opposite of what Goku thought of them. “I thought they abandoned me. Dealing with you, Vegeta and Nappa, I thought all Saiyans were cold and evil and they didn’t care about anyone. Not even their kids.”

“You can thank Freeza and his bastard father for that. They reshaped the narrative of the Saiyans.”

Vegeta never spoke of Saiyans except saying they should carry the pride of being one. Raditz wasn’t so guarded and the story he shared of their parents sparked the tiny curiosity he did have to learn of the race he came from. “Saiyans weren’t always killers?”

“I grew up thinking Saiyans had a strong alliance with the Frost Demon race. I thought we were allies who plundered and committed genocide to aid the growth of our biggest ally, Freeza. One drunken night, Nappa shared Saiyans didn’t always serve under the Frost Demons. We were their competition and our growing strength threatened them. They feared us. To halt our growth, the Frost Demons formed an alliance with Saiyans while secretly dividing us. They shared technology that elevated Saiyans from the primitive life we were living. Classes were formed which divided Saiyans even more. Instead of all of us being the same, now there were Elite Saiyans who lived in posh cities; ate an abundance of food; was educated and looked down on the lower classes still living in caves and homes made of mud and dung. Lower classes only consumed hunted meat and dry wheat. We were not deserving to eat sweets and colorful vegetated food. That was only for the Elite Saiyans.”

Maturing help Raditz understand why his father was proud he will serve with Prince Vegeta. It gave him a way of life his parents weren’t benefited to have. It also helped Raditz see his mother was happy for him but she hated the price he paid for joining the Elite Saiyans.

“It was under King Vegeta’s reign, he felt the time was near for Saiyans to break away from the Frost Demons. He thought Prince Vegeta would be the one to overthrow them and rule the universe but King Cold retired and passed his empire to Freeza who destroyed everything.”

Goku knew the rest. While dying on Namek, Vegeta told him the truth of what happened to their people. Raditz’s information shed light on who Saiyans were and what he thought was a false narrative created by the monster who destroyed their people and changed the trajectory of their lives.

I guess it had to happen. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t have Chi-Chi, Gohan or Goten. I wouldn’t have known Grandpa.

This reveal left Goku wondering what life he could’ve had on Planet Vegeta and what it would’ve been to have known his parents.

“Did you ever wonder about our parents, Kakarot?”

How did he know I was thinkin’ of them? Goku hesitated to answer but he remembered Chi-Chi’s gentle urgings. Also, their talk now was relaxing. “I never thought about them until I had Gohan. I thought they abandoned me.”

“No.” Even if he didn’t know their parents, Raditz knew they wouldn’t abandon their child. “I was serving with Prince Vegeta when our mother contacted me. Freeza wanted all the Saiyans to return. My group was tired from our battles and wanted more time to rest. Our father knew Freeza was up to some sneaky shit. He sent you to Earth and left to confront Freeza. He was gonna get you when it was over but…..” Raditz let the rest hang.

“So, Saiyans weren’t always heartless killers.” This new perspective did change some of Goku’s feelings towards Saiyan but it didn’t erase all. Raditz said it himself. Vegeta was expected to overthrow Freeza and rule the universe. Vegeta’s rule wouldn’t have been benevolent. Saiyans still would’ve killed. He would’ve been a killer. “Guess it’s good I’m a Saiyan raised on Earth.”

Raditz wasn’t shocked Goku found a way to separate himself from Saiyans. I guess that’s the curse of growing up on a soft planet. “You accept the fighting nature of a Saiyan but not the rest.”

“Why would I want to accept the rest when all I knew about Saiyans were you, Nappa and Vegeta? Our parents had some good in them but it doesn’t erase what they were a part of.”

Raditz’s patience wore thin with his brother’s constant self-righteousness. It was complicated but a Saiyan life could never be a bed of roses. “Saiyans are blunt and tough but our planet and culture weren’t for the weak. You had to be strong to survive. It’s why we are so damn prideful, Kakarot. We came from so little and achieved so much. Our culture taught us life isn’t fair or easy and to survive, sometimes you had to get dirty. You don’t have to approve it of it, Kakarot, but don’t look down or be ashamed of it.”

“I ain’t ashamed of it.” Goku wasn’t dismissive of Saiyans struggles but he wasn’t going to romanticize it. “I have what I have because of it but I won’t ignore the bad things Saiyans did because some were good. Saiyans had families and culture they were pride of but so did the people on the planets they killed.”

Raditz turned away. His patience was gone. Self-righteous dick!

Poofy hair poopyhead!

Silence followed as the brothers took a moment to not argue back. Both could feel the rising aggression from each other. One wrong word and they’ll be rolling in the dirt. It was a shame because things were going well.

Maybe I’m being too hard. Vegeta did a lot of bad things and we’re friends. Goku looked over at Raditz. He walked around the lot of red bell peppers. But sometimes he says things and I wanna hit him.

It startled Goku he felt this way. He always got under Vegeta’s skin. He got under everyone’s skin. It was fun and Goku thought he was immune to it. Others tried and Goku felt nothing but with Raditz, there was something about him that made Goku want to fight him.  

I promised Chi-Chi I will try. Chi-Chi told Goku he should know where he came from and he’s wasting his chance. Goku always brushed off the idea but learning more of his people and more of his parents, urged Goku to want to learn more.  

“The yard of our home was small, Kakarot.”

“Hmm?” Goku turned to Raditz confused.

Raditz walked through the lot growing red, yellow, orange and green bell peppers. “The home where we were born. Our yard was small. The ground was tough. I don’t think you couldn’t grow anything.” He touched a yellow bell pepper. “I was six when I had my first vegetable. We were on a pleasure planet. Nappa and the other Saiyans were being entertained while Prince Vegeta and I waited for them in a kitchen. We were given meat, bread and thick, crunchy vegetables and soft fruit. Prince Vegeta was used to it but it made me understand why our father thought traveling with Prince Vegeta was a good thing.”

Remembering what Raditz told him about the food offered to Saiyans of different classes, Goku asked, “What did our parents eat?”

“Meat mostly. We had bread and powders made of a weird mush. The lower class Saiyans got mush while the upper class ate real food with their meat. Mother was a wiz with food. Any animal you give her and she knew how to cut, fry, grill and cook it. We had a varken,” Raditz expanded his hands to emphasize the size of the animal. “On Earth, it’s similar to a pig. Mother could make all kinds of meat from that varken. When she mixed it with the bread and mush, it was the best meal.”

Raditz’s face lit up. He looked so happy describing their mother’s cooking. What Raditz described, Goku felt kindred to days he took Chi-Chi camping when they were newlyweds and when Gohan was a toddler. Anything he hunted, Chi-Chi turned it into a gourmet meal no matter where they were.

“There weren’t many days like that,” Raditz carried on soberly. “Most days our father was gone and it was me and Mother until you came and then I was gone.”

Mom was alone like Chi-Chi. “Were our parents happy?”

“I think so. I don’t think Mother liked our father was away a lot but it was our way of life. She was happy you didn’t measure like me. She thought that meant you wouldn’t get sent into space.” Raditz chuckled at the irony. “Strange how things turned out.”

“Yeah,” Goku quietly agreed. Almost as strange as Goku seeing he and his brother had things in common and he should try having a relationship with him. “If you want to share stories about Saiyans and growing up, you can. I’d like to know.”

It touched Raditz to hear that. He didn’t hear judgment in his voice. It sounded as if he wanted to know. “You can share stories, too, Kakarot. Chi-Chi told me some but I’d like to hear it from you. Maybe we can share stories while we hunt for dinner or watch a movie. There’s a boxing movie Chi-Chi talks about she thinks we’d like.”

Chi-Chi mentioned the boxing movie to him. Goku wasn’t interested but thought this time he should. “Sure. We can do that. Let’s get to work.” Goku shifted the topic to why they were here. “Goten’s gonna bring lunch and he’ll report to Chi-Chi how much work we are doin.’”

Raditz followed Goku to the overgrown field he will clean. “He is a little snitch. He told me Chi-Chi thought I was a freeloader. That’s why I started helping out around the house. He thought if I helped out it would make Chi-Chi happy, and if she’s happy, you and Gohan would tolerate me.”

“Wait.” Goku stopped walking. “You mean that’s why you started helping Chi-Chi around the house? You weren’t trying to impress her to…. you know.”

“Kakarot, even if I wanted Chi-Chi, do you think I would be dumb enough to challenge you for her when you can reach Super Saiyan Three and I’m not whiffing at Super Saiyan?”

Raditz had a point but Goku also knew Saiyans didn’t always think logically. “I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say.”

“Why not, Kakarot?”

“Vegeta challenged Majin Boo and Cell and it never went well for him.”

The two stared at each other for several moments before loud, boisterous laughter broke out between the brothers. “He hasn’t changed. Prince Vegeta was picked on many times by Recoome and Burter from the Ginyu Force but the worse was Zarbon. He always got triggered to fight and always landed on his ass. Nappa tried to tell him he’s being duped into fighting. He knew but didn’t care. ‘A Saiyan must have their pride. Without it, he’s nothing.’”

“That’s a grim way to look at things.”

Raditz agreed but Vegeta had a point. “We’ve had so much stripped from us, Kakarot. Our planet. Our people. All we had left was our pride and Prince Vegeta clung to that as his anchor. I’m not surprised he’s still brash and rude and walks around with a stick up his ass. It’s his defense.”

Is that why Vegeta had a meltdown during our first fight? He was so angry I caused him pain and he went on and on about me being a lower class Saiyan. It was an insult to everything he was taught.

Raditz didn’t know what Goku was thinking but he sympathized. He had many moments like that in the facility. “I can tell you a few stories,” Raditz offered. “While you show me how to properly clear the land.”

It was an invitation to talk and understand their worlds and Goku was open to listening. He dug into his back pocket and tossed Raditz a pair of thick working gloves. He secured his spare over his hands and helped Raditz clear the land.

*****

Chi-Chi walked through her pantry, marking off what she had and writing down what she needed to get at the market. Raditz added more to the food bill but Raditz’s willingness to help around the house, keep his room clean and hunt for food, eased some of her work. He was good company for her and Goten, too. Chi-Chi liked him and thought if Goku and Gohan tried to accept Raditz the entire family could get along.

Since the fight, life has been awkward. Everyone ate together but tension lingered. Goten kept a friendly banter with Raditz but Goku and Gohan kept their distance. Chi-Chi worried Goku may never want to resolve things but knew if any sibling relationship could exist, Goku had to make the effort without her pushing him.

This morning Goku and Raditz left to work on the farm. Chi-Chi imagined several scenarios of Goku and Raditz working together but ultimately spiraling in a fight where all the crops were destroyed. At noon, Chi-Chi sent Goten to the farm to deliver Goku and Raditz’s lunches and give her a detailed report.

Goten reported no one was dead, and Goku and Raditz were working on the farm. A little skirmish broke out between the brothers when Goku ate a bento box of rice balls from Raditz’s lunch. Goku did this with Vegeta and a fight broke out. Chi-Chi saw this as a good thing.

If Goku is taking Raditz’s lunch, that means he’s starting to like him. Chi-Chi had her suspicions Goku’s feelings were softening when the two repaired the damages caused during their fight. The fights that broke out were similar to the little squabbles between Gohan and Goten. Goku was so much stronger than Raditz. If he wanted to severely damage him, he could but the worst Raditz suffered were a couple of broken ribs.

That means Goku might be coming around. That left Gohan. He came to the table to eat but ignored Raditz. Chi-Chi tried talking to Gohan but he always made an excuse. ‘I have homework. I’m going to be late for school.’ Chi-Chi knew Gohan was talking to someone about it. Maybe Videl. Gohan insisted they were friends but her calls have increased since Raditz moved in.

“I’m home, Mother.”

Chi-Chi noticed the time on the wall clock. “You’re early.” Gohan usually came home an hour later. She expected Goku and Raditz to be home now but they were oddly running late. “Didn’t you play hero with Videl?”

“No, I saw someone after school.” Gohan sounded nervous. He glanced at the window and back to Chi-Chi. “Mother….”

“Momma,” Goten looked out the window. “Piccolo is here.”

“Piccolo.” I thought Videl was his confidant. Chi-Chi was amazed Gohan kept quiet for as long as he did. She expected to see Piccolo within the first week of Raditz’s arrival but Gohan kept the issue in the family until the fight provoked Gohan to go to Piccolo.

Piccolo stood in the yard, arms crossed, gazing at her. Chi-Chi brushed off Piccolo’s sour demeanor as she warmly greeted him. “Hello, Piccolo.”

“Gohan told me Raditz is alive. Why wasn’t I told about this?”

The anger she expected but his entitlement at thinking he should be notified of a family matter was a turnoff. “Bulma is the one who kept this a secret. Goku and I learned about this over a month ago. We decided to handle this like we handle all family matters. Privately.”

The subtle rejection wasn’t lost on Piccolo. “You mean you decided. Son wouldn’t do this. What the hell were you thinking letting Raditz live here?! Son and Gohan can handle themselves but you are endangering yourself and Goten!”

Piccolo raised his voice to Chi-Chi many years ago. He hadn’t learned the lesson of making that mistake. Chi-Chi didn’t tolerate anyone raising their voice at her unless they were her family. “I do not need to consult you on who I choose to invite in my home and it wasn’t my decision alone. Goku and I agreed to let Raditz live with us.”

“It was your decision and Son went along with it because he doesn’t have the guts to stand up to your stupid decisions!”

“My decisions aren’t stupid!”

“You can’t think having Raditz live here is smart!”

“It’s called giving a family member a second chance!” 

“You would give him a second chance after what he did?”

“Goku gave you a second chance before you deserved it!”

Piccolo felt slapped. They’ve been allies for years. Chi-Chi forgave him for what he did to Gohan but forgiveness didn’t mean she forgot. She still held that dirty card to use when she wanted to go low. “I gave my life for Gohan.”

“It’s the least you could do after you abandoned and beat him for a year.” Chi-Chi knew her words hurt Piccolo but she was hurt Piccolo criticized her and judged her as a mother. “You don’t have to like my decision. My father doesn’t but he trusts me and knows I would never put my children in harm’s way! This is a family matter and it doesn’t include you!”

“Mother,” Gohan stepped in. Both spoke out of anger but this was too much. “Piccolo only---”

Chi-Chi put up her hand silencing Gohan. “I know what Piccolo means and he’s wrong.” Chi-Chi tolerated Gohan’s frustration over the situation but she would not allow Piccolo to judge her. “He can hate we have Raditz living here but how dare he accuses me and Goku of putting our sons in danger.”

“I’m not accusing Son. I’m accusing you.” Piccolo wasn’t a fool. The person responsible for this stood before him and if her husband or her father wouldn’t set her straight, he was going to. Even if it meant going as low as her. “What kind of wife and mother are you to allow this threat into your home?! You’re not thinking just as you didn’t think when you slapped Majin Boo!”

Boom!

The ground shook at the sudden quake rocking the Son Family home. A gust of air blast behind Piccolo. His cape flared up and covered his head. Chi-Chi stumbled and stayed upright by holding onto the wall of her home. Gohan stood his ground while he searched out the Ki that caused the sudden disruption.

Oh, boy.

Piccolo flipped his cape back and turned to see Raditz and Goku standing behind him. Both carried a large Mount Paozu fish over their shoulders. After sizing up Piccolo, Raditz tossed his fish to Goku. Piccolo was immediately on guard. There was a strange camaraderie between the brothers Gohan didn’t mention. Raditz was angry. Goku wasn’t but his look told him he didn’t approve of his yelling at Chi-Chi.

You know I’m right, Son.  

“Piccolo,” Raditz sneered as he sized up Piccolo. “You still look weak.”

“Weak?” Years ago, Piccolo trembled in fear of Raditz but now he stood tall, confident and eager to inflict the damage he thought Raditz should’ve gotten. “I won’t need Son to hold you when I kill you this time.”

Raditz didn’t need his scouter to know Piccolo was stronger than him. He picked up from Goten how to read Ki. He hadn’t mastered it but even the aura he felt from Piccolo was powerful. It didn’t scare him. “I’m not stronger than Kakarot or my nephews but I got enough in me to kick your cowardly ass!”

“Coward?!” Piccolo almost laughed at the irony. “You took Gohan as a hostage!”

“I was a bastard then.” Raditz admitted his sin. “But you find out I’m alive and you pick a fight with Chi-Chi instead of confronting me. That’s cowardly.” Oooo Piccolo didn’t like that. His anger excited Raditz. “After all these years, I still make you shit your pants.”

A snowy aura of white energy emerged from Piccolo. Insults never rolled off Piccolo as easily as Goku, especially when it came from someone who caused him to tremble in fear. “If you want a rematch, I’m right here!”

The men in her family may want to see the outcome of this match, but Chi-Chi didn’t. Her home was recently repaired and she didn’t want it destroyed again. Chi-Chi stepped between the men. “There will be no fighting.”

Pride demanded he fight but Raditz understood why Chi-Chi didn’t want it to happen near her home. “We can take it to another place but there will be a fight.”

“Idiot!” Chi-Chi cursed Raditz. It wasn’t only her home she wanted to save. “You Saiyans and your stupid pride. You don’t care if it gets you killed.”

Raditz knew he risked undoing all the goodwill he built with his brother today but he had to do this. “I did say if I had to go out defending anyone it’ll be my kin. That includes you.”

Chi-Chi’s eyes grew. “I don’t….” she stammered. He’s defending me?

“Piccolo can hate me. I deserve it but he’s taking it out on you. I don’t like it and,” he smiled at Goku. “I know Kakarot doesn’t either but to keep the peace, it’s better I’m still the bad guy.”

Piccolo turned to Goku feeling setup. “Son?” When Gohan talked to him, he felt this was Chi-Chi’s idea and Goku went along with it but Goku’s demeanor since he arrived told a different tale. “You’re not for this, are you?”

“Piccolo.” Had this been a week ago, Goku would be on Piccolo’s side but since working with Raditz to repair his home and spending the day with him on the farm, Goku’s feelings were changing. “Don’t be mad at Chi-Chi. Raditz is different. You don’t have to trust Raditz but he’s not the same person we met.”

“I’m mad because someone has to be.” Piccolo didn’t like this tag team game Goku and Raditz were playing. “Why would you have Raditz live here? Don’t you care what this is doing to Gohan?”

“I do care, Piccolo.” But Goku was so consumed by how it bothered him, he didn’t think of Gohan. Piccolo’s presence forced him to acknowledge this mistake. “I appreciate your concern, but this is somethin’ me, Chi-Chi, Gohan and Raditz have to work through.”

Rejection. From both of them. Piccolo looked at Gohan. He was confused, too. “Son, you need to think this through.”

“I’ll visit tomorrow,” Goku offered a peace bargaining, “but I think you should leave.”

There were times when Piccolo didn’t understand Goku’s plans. How Goku handled Cell came to mind but at least he knew why Goku acted the way he did. This time he didn’t but it was years of friendship that told Piccolo to trust Goku. “Tomorrow, Son.”

****

Piccolo’s visit wasn’t discussed after he left but it hung in the air. Goku and Raditz distracted themselves by cleaning the fish they caught and grilling them outside. Goten helped them. While Chi-Chi prepared the rest of dinner, she watched them from the kitchen window. They were talking and laughing a few times. Raditz wasn’t on edge and Goku looked relaxed. She’ll find out later what happened on the farm but the ice between them had finally broken.

Gohan didn’t want to talk after Piccolo left. He went to his room saying he had homework. He came out for dinner but didn’t partake in any of the family conversations. Chi-Chi watched him and she noticed the concerning glances Gohan gave Goku and Raditz. They sat next to each other during dinner. That never happened before. They ate voraciously while Raditz shared having a familiar meal in space. Raditz complimented Chi-Chi’s cooking and Goku wasn’t angry.

After dinner, Raditz and Goten played a board game. Gohan cleared the table and Goku invited Gohan outside to talk. They stayed outside until Chi-Chi called them in for the night.

After saying good night to their sons, Goku and Chi-Chi went to their room. Chi-Chi brushed her hair and turned down the bed while Goku took his shower. When he emerged, he wore a towel around his waist while rubbing one on his hair. He passed Chi-Chi without speaking and went to the window. The towel rolled off his head as he stared at the tree he and Gohan talked under that evening.

Chi-Chi went to Goku and wrapped her arms around him. She rested her face against his muscled back. “How was your talk with Gohan?”

“You were right. I should’ve tried with Raditz before the fight. I should’ve talked to Gohan. If I had, he wouldn’t have gone to Piccolo.”

Chi-Chi squeezed him gently. They were talking for two hours. Gohan had a lot to get off his chest. “Gohan’s close to Piccolo.”

“I know, but he always came to me first if he was bothered with anything.”

“Why didn’t he this time?”

Goku shifted out of Chi-Chi’s arms to sit on the windowsill. The guilt on Goku’s face nearly broke Chi-Chi. “He knew I wasn’t happy about this arrangement and thought he would be a burden if he came to me.”

Her son’s pain cut her heart. She knew he was bothered but thought if she gave him space, he’d come around. “I’ve tried talking to him a couple of times but he didn’t want to talk to me. I think he’s mad at me.”

“He is,” Goku quickly confirmed, “but I talked to him about that, Chi-Chi. Gohan will try with Raditz. He’s starting to see Raditz is different.”

“Oh? Why?”

A smile tugged the corner of his lips. “Raditz defended you to Piccolo. He thinks Raditz isn’t completely bad if he did that.”

“Really? I thought Gohan was secretly cheering Piccolo on.”

Goku made a face that led Chi-Chi to think she’s right but he explained. “He thought Piccolo would reason with you but when he started yelling and accusing you of putting him and Goten in danger, he didn’t agree with that.”

“He’s not the only one.” Chi-Chi playfully tugged one of his wet, black bangs. “You and your brother can work together.”

Goku didn’t trust Raditz but he did appreciate Raditz coming to Chi-Chi’s defense. They were flying home when Goku felt Piccolo’s Ki heading to the house. They stood above the clouds listening to the conversation. Raditz thought Piccolo came to fight him but when he began yelling at Chi-Chi he offered to intervene.

He’s yelling because of me, Kakarot. Let me handle it. If it gets to be too much, then you can step in.

Goku let Raditz take the lead until he did have to step in.

“Piccolo shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

The passing hours cooled Chi-Chi where she rationalized Piccolo’s reaction. “He reacted to Gohan’s emotions. He’s not happy with this situation.”

Goku blamed himself. “It’s my fault.”

“No.” Chi-Chi tenderly wrapped her arms around Goku. She gently tilted his head to rest against her chest. “We made mistakes dealing with Raditz but we’re figuring it out. I don’t know what happened on the farm but you two are better now than this morning. That’s progress.”

“Yeah.” Goku thought of their talk this morning. “I still don’t trust him but I’m starting to like him a little.”

“Really?” Chi-Chi was happy to hear it. “What did you talk about?”

“A little of a lot of things. He said I’m little like my Pops because I beat up a guy who wanted my Mom.”

“Ah, I see. Saiyan men love to fight for their women.” With the house repaired and Goku and Raditz getting along, Chi-Chi could look back on the fight and not be angry. “I was mad you and Raditz destroyed our house but seeing you fight for me was…. exciting.”

“It was?”

“Mm-hmm.” Chi-Chi’s fingers glided over the muscles on Goku’s shoulders. “If I wasn’t so angry with you destroying our home, I would’ve jumped you as soon as we got to our room.”

“Really?” Goku pushed himself off the windowsill. Holding her hand, he walked her to the bed. His mind was on fulfilling what should’ve happened after that fight.

Chi-Chi allowed Goku to walk her to their bed. She was fully aware of his intentions. “When it’s not to save the world, you know what your fighting does to me.”

“That’s there when I’m saving the world, too.”

So true. “Maybe a little.”

With progression happening between Goku and Raditz and possibly Gohan and Raditz, Chi-Chi wanted to assure Goku that things were good with them. They haven’t been intimate due to the growing tensions between Goku and Raditz spilling onto them.

But before giving in to their physical desires they both wanted, Chi-Chi wanted things clear between her and Goku. “I am sorry you felt neglected when I spent time with Raditz. I wanted him to feel welcomed.”

“I know.” Goku felt embarrassed over how he acted. Chi-Chi was being Chi-Chi. Oh, she can be a firecracker. Her temper could scare him and intimidate anyone who got on her bad side but Chi-Chi was also very sweet and caring. He didn’t like to see that happening with Raditz because of his unresolved feelings. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I should’ve told you---”

“Shh. Shh.” Chi-Chi put two fingers on Goku’s lips. Sometimes they didn’t need to talk. A smile. A look in their eyes was enough to convey what other couples needed a long talk for. “You’re the only man I want, Goku. You’re the only man who excites me.”

“No.”

“No?” Chi-Chi frowned. “Don’t you believe me?”

Oh, he believed her but he wanted Chi-Chi to say something else. “Tell me how I get you excited.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she caught the wicked intention in his eyes. “Oh, Goku,” she groaned and laughed at the same time. “No.”

Goku grinned. She knew what he wanted her to say. “Say the word I wanna hear.”

“Goku,” Chi-Chi blushed. “I can’t.”

Oh, yes she can. He was going to make her say it. “I won’t believe you unless I hear it.”

Oh, this man. His mood was definitely better if he felt this playful. “It makes me feel dirty. Ah!” Holding Chi-Chi, Goku threw them on the bed. He rolled and pinned Chi-Chi against the mattress and between his hips. Somehow along the way, the towel around Goku’s waist disappeared and the hard flesh of her husband pressed against her.

“Don’t ya like being dirty with me, Chi-Chi?” There was an evil glint in his teal irises as he rose slightly over her and gently pushed up her sleeping gown.

When his voice got that low, when his irises changed and when she felt his body lie on hers, she liked many things about Goku. “You cheat---,” a moan broke from her lips as Goku pushed down hard against her and spread her legs. He started rocking slowly against her, teasing her as he grew and encouraging her to rock back as her slickness began preparation for him.  

“Say it.” His flashing blonde hair warned her

“It makes me wet.” She hated saying that word but she loved how it excited Goku and how he made her feel. “It makes me hot. It makes me…” She opened her mouth to accept his kiss. His lips felt warm. Really warm. She opened her eyes to see Goku glowing. As he laid against her, his heat transferred to her thin sleeping gown which evaporated under his burning touch. It was a fun trick and she liked it the first time but this was her ninth gown to suffer this fate. She would get mad. She should get mad but with things strained between them for a while, it was the last thing Chi-Chi cared about. She and Goku were making up. This was worth a hundred sleeping gowns. When Goku parted from her, the glow faded while the heat between them slowly intensified. “I can only get this way for you, Goku. No one else.”

“You better,” he playfully threatened as he kissed her again. One hand gently manacled her wrists against the soft pillows while the other moved between her legs. She was already damp but not ready enough for him. To speed things up, his hand illuminated with a soft glow of heat stimulating Chi-Chi’s most sensitive areas.

Chi-Chi cried out and her hips jumped at that sudden warm invasion. Oooh, that was good. She almost came then. “Be careful, Goku,” she warned between heavy breaths. “We don’t wanna get too loud. We don’t want the boys or Raditz hearing us.”

“No,” he smiled at her while his glowing hands rubbed her thighs, “we don’t want that.”

Oh, boy. That smile. That look. This was exactly what he wanted. “I’m serious, Goku.” She tried hard to focus but his hands felt so good. She wanted them higher and she wanted something else of Goku’s to glow in her. “We can’t get carried away.” She moaned feeling his lips on her neck. He was getting warm again.