CHAPTER 6:

"Juu-ichi [eleven], Juu-ni [twelve], Juu-san [thirteen]..."

The soft sounds of Trunks counting, mixed with the lazy haze of late afternoon, made Goku's eyes seem heavy and sleepy. He tried to concentrate on preparing his lesson notes for tomorrow, but that wasn't going so well. He knew he was in some sort of trouble after that performance with Vegeta. Many of the servants seemed to fear him now or rather kept their distance, not really sure as what to make of this new development. Aoki had been the only one who seemed not to really care and Trunks...well he could care less if Goku had sprouted an extra head. He knew Aoki had not spilled on the actual events that took place to Vegeta, but that hadn't stopped Aoki's curiosity and he knew that the questions would come sooner or later. ~ Hopefully, I will be gone by then. ~

The sounds of banging furniture interrupted the quiet peace, as caterers, movers and all what nots prepared the house for this evening's festivities. Goku had been amazed at Launch's efficiency at handling such things. She had been popping in and out the house for the past week, organizing and seeing that things were in the right order. Trunks hadn't seemed fazed, confiding in Goku that this wasn't the first time Launch had organized such humongous events.

The door to the room suddenly burst open as the wild blonde stuck herself in.

"Oh, boys!! Do you think you could end this lesson quickly and try and get dressed. The guests are already coming. Hurry, hurry!" and not waiting for a reply, she disappeared.

Trunks groaned and began complaining, "We don't really have to stop, do we, Goku-san?"

"I guess we have to Trunks. You heard the lady."

"Man...she is so weird. I hope she isn't going to be my new mother."

Goku tried to control his shaking hands at the sentence. He knew that Vegeta had been having plans on settling down with a woman soon and his chest hurt at that thought.

~ What do you want, Kakarrotto? ~

~ Master? ~ Goku mused, startled at hearing his sensei's thoughts.

~ Hai, Kakarrotto. What is it that you desire? ~

~ I..I ..am not sure. ~

~ Follow what your heart desires, Kakarotto, and it will lead you to peace. ~

~ But what does that mean, master? ~ he frowned in confusion.

"Goku-san? Are you alright?" came the worried voice of Trunks.

Goku turned around and smiled softly at his young student, and then stooping to his level, he took off his glasses and stared deeply into his eyes.

"Do you believe in magic, Trunks?" he asked softly.

"H...hai..."

"I want to show you something Trunks. Do you promise to keep it a secret?"

"Hai!! I am good at keeping secrets!!"

"I want to show you my true form, Trunks. The way I really am. Are you ready?"

Trunks nodded in excitement. He knew that there had always been something special about his sensei and now he was finally having a chance to see it. His eyes widened in amazement as he watched Goku seem to burst into flames. He stared open-mouthed at the final result. The golden spikes and the teal colored eyes, still shone with warmth and love for him.

"G...G...oku san?"

"Hai, Trunks...only my real name is Kakarrotto."

"Sugoi! You are ...are...GOLD!!"

Goku silenced the boy's excited yelp and said to him, "Now remember. You promised to keep it a secret."

Trunks nodded and made a zipping motion across his mouth. Goku sighed in relief and changed back into his darker form, slipping on the glasses.

"Well, Trunks-kun...let's go get ready for this shin-ding, whaddaya say?"

"Okay!"

************************

Launch draped herself over Vegeta's arm as she worked the crowd for all it was worth. The who's who of Japanese society was there. All or most of the high socialites and some movie stars, producers or directors from within the country and even from Hollywood. Every one wanted a piece of the great entrepreneur, Vegeta. Launch was well aware of how envious her position was and she made sure everyone knew it. She was dressed in a silk, red Oscar de la Renta gown that bared her creamy shoulders and proudly displayed the half a million dollar pearl necklace Vegeta had gotten for her. She stuck with the important...REALLY important crowds and made sure she was noticed. Who knows, a movie role could be in store for her soon.

Vegeta felt his jaw aching with all the smiling he had had to do. Snatching another glass of champagne from a passing tray and downing it in a gulp, he tried very hard to concentrate on the boring conversation in front of him. He was really beginning to get tired of Launch's numerous parties and he really couldn't understand the point of having them. She had called him on his flight and had begged and pleaded with him to let her have the party, and against his wishes, she had still gone ahead. He had barely had the time to say hello to Trunks or even drop his luggage, when she had begun yakking away at all the people that were bound to show up. Many of the guests he had never seen before in his life. Others, he just didn't want to know about. Like say, Yamcha, who at the current moment was flirting away with Launch. ~ Good riddance ~ he thought smugly.

Just then, rich laughter floated across the crowded room, laughter that he would have recognized just about anywhere. Laughter that seemed to only be shared with his son and maybe his friends. Vegeta felt his pulse rate speed up as he scanned the room. He didn't want to admit to himself that he had missed the baka. He had learnt of the plane crash and had silently wondered if Goku had had anything to do with him missing it in the first place.

He finally spied the wild hair that seemed to stick out in every damn direction. Unaware that he had slowly been walking towards Goku, he froze as realized that wasn't alone. He watched as a dark-haired young woman latched on his arm whispered something in Goku's ear, and the way his face changed hues as he smiled in response. Jealousy rose quickly through Vegeta as he watched the display.

~ What the hell does she think she is doing? He belongs to me. I own him!!~

~Own him? Since when, Vegeta?  Just because you pay the guy doesn't mean that you own him, does it?~

~ But...but...but...he kissed me?~

~ SO?~

~ So that means that he likes me in that way, doesn't it? Doesn't it? ~ Vegeta thought frantically, as his second voice of rational thinking went mute.

"Vegeta, dearie." Launch announced suddenly as she grabbed Vegeta around the waist. "My uncle Roshii has an announcement to make to the crowd. Let's go hear it."

Dragging Vegeta by the arm, she pulled him through the throng of people as they made their way to where a gathered crowd stood. Vegeta watched as Roshii, the old geezer who claimed to be Launch's uncle, climbed up to the top of the grand staircase and began speaking in his loud booming voice (which made Vegeta want to stuff his ears with loads of cotton balls).

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen from all walks of life!! I am proud to announce tonight a very, very special event. As you all know, you were called here for a sort of welcome party for our wonderful friend, Vegeta." At this, the crowd began to clap and cheer in Vegeta's direction. Raising his hand for silence, Roshii continued, " Well...it seems like we have another surprise in store for us this evening. Finally, after many years of speculation, it seems like Vegeta has finally popped the question to his future bride. Ladies and gentlemen!! Please!! A toast to the newly engaged couple....VEGETA AND LAUNCH!!"

Vegeta felt his whole body drain of color at the announcement. He felt numb as he barely registered the kiss that Launch gave him on his lips or the slaps and cheers from the crowd. He was mortified. How could this be happening? It suddenly seemed as if his life was spiraling out of control and he hated when he couldn't do anything to stop it. Automatically, he began searching the room for Goku. ~Why?~ He felt as if he needed to explain to him that this wasn't real. That it wasn't true. Feeling himself panic slightly at not seeing him, he finally saw the telltale hair as it walked quickly out of the room. Detaching himself quickly from Launch, he struggled through the congratulatory crowd, trying to reach Goku as fast as he could.

**********************

Goku walked out blindly from the room, not really caring where he was headed. He didn't understand the reason why he had felt the need to walk away. He just had to. The room had been getting too claustrophobic for him. He needed fresh air. He just needed ....

~ What do I desire, sensei? A man I could never have. ~

It only seemed fitting. Vegeta would marry a beautiful, popular woman like Launch, and they would live happily ever after. Sucking in a breath, he clutched his stomach and sank down to his knees. He had never felt this much pain before. ~Why? Oh, Kami, why??~ He believed in Fate and Destiny and he probably felt that Fate had dealt him a cruel blow. Destined to come here and to fall in love with a man who could care less about him as a person? The only thing Vegeta saw in him was a means to an end. Teach Trunks, make him a better person and then Sayonara, Goku!

He lay against the grass, not caring if his suit was ruined or not. ~ Hn, a four thousand yen suit. Oh, well...as they say, the clothes do not make a man.~ He had walked all the way to the other end of the large estate and raising his head, he could make out the stables in the distance. Bouncing up and dusting himself, he began walking towards them, deciding that anything was better than moping around. Approaching the stables, he noticed two stable hands looking rather worried, as they were bent over a lying horse.

"Ya, genki?" [Hi! How are you?] Goku asked cheerfully.

The two men looked up startled, and then the older of the two spoke up,

"Okurete, onegai, ukagaitai koto ga arimasu?" [Excuse me, please. There is something I want to ask of you.]

"Hai.." Goku replied warily, already figuring out that the horse needed some help.

"Please, sir... Our mare is in foal and is having difficulty in bringing it out. I was wondering if you could help us?"

Goku, who had had first time experience with foaling (the shrine kept several horses), nodded and took off his jacket quickly. Rolling up his sleeves, he began giving the men orders and directions on what to do. The men silently did as they were told, not bothering to ask how the man knew what he was doing. Goku walked quietly around the agitated horse, talking soothingly to it.

"Whoa there, big girl!" he said, as the horse tried to kick him off with her feet.

Quickly grabbing her hind legs he began rubbing her stomach in smooth motions, giving the horse as much comfort as possible.

"Now, sweetheart...you are going to push for me really slowly...okay?" Goku spoke softly to the now quiet steed.

The men watched in fascination as Goku began gently removing the foal from the mother's womb. He carefully cut away the attachments and then gently  lifting the newborn, he placed it in the waiting men's arms.

"Make sure she is very well cleaned, and the mother also." he advised to the stunned spectators. Washing and then wiping his hands on a clean piece of cloth, he watched the men mutter amongst themselves as they went about doing the clean up. Smiling at the puzzled looks of gratitude on their faces, he turned around to head out, only to come in contact with eyes of quiet amusement staring back at him.

****************

Vegeta had watched the whole thing. His amazement growing with each passing second as he watched the sensei deliver the filly with the expertise of a professional. His gentle nature and soothing sounds had done the trick for the wild horse and as far as he could see, mother and baby would live.

He had searched the entire estate for Goku and had come close to quitting when some intuition told him to check the stables. Needless to say, the sight that had unraveled before him was a far cry from the surrealism of the party a few miles away. In this stable, it seemed like a whole other world with only the quiet neighs of the animals to disturb the tranquility of the night.

"Who knew we had a veterinarian in our midst?" he said lazily, with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

Goku could only stare at the man who had been invading his thoughts for the past few hours, at least before the horse incident, slowly drowning hopelessly within the obsidian depths. He trembled slightly as he tried to hold back the turmoil that was raging silently in his thudding heart.

Everything around them seemed to melt away, as the two men gazed at each other. Vegeta couldn't trust himself to breathe, even if he wanted to. He needed this man, and by Kami he was going to have him, whether he liked it or not. He nodded absentmindedly as the two stable hands said their goodnights, leaving Goku and Vegeta alone amongst the silent animals.