“I am King Yemma. I can do anything I want.” King Yemma boasted. “But,” he warned, “it is only temporary. Bardock, Gine and Raditz haven’t done enough to maintain their bodies. Well,” he snorted. “Raditz never did anything to keep his body. Bardock stood up against Freeza and Gine was a kind person but keeping the body is a special privilege. You are one of the rare cases.”
“I understand. How much time do I have?”
“You have a day.”
Goku followed King Yemma’s guide with heavy anticipation. When he was summoned to King Yemma’s palace, Goku had an idea why but he wasn’t sure if his request would be honored. Goku wasn’t sure how long he’s been in the afterlife but after meeting with his Grandpa Gohan, Goku wondered about his biological family and if there was a chance he could meet them.
Now that he was moments away, Goku was in the rare moments of his life, nervous.
****
The room Bardock and Gine waited in was a magical one. Outside the room, was the hallway of King Yemma’s palace. Inside the room replicated Bardock and Gine’s home on Vegetasai. Their spirits were brought here as white puffs of smoke before they were revived in the bodies they had when living. A guide explained Bardock and Gine’s purpose for being here and how long they will have with their adult sons.
Bardock and Gine embraced each other; grateful for this opportunity. “I never thought we’d be together like this again,” Gine happily cried. “And we will get to see our sons again! Oh, Bardock I’m so happy.”
Bardock wasn’t emotional like Gine. He was pleased but saw things rationally. “You must remember, Gine, our sons are very different.” The guide told Bardock and Gine a brief story of Raditz and Kakarrot. They were polar opposites. Bardock wasn’t surprised about Raditz. He was glad Raditz survived the massacre but he knew Raditz had a harsh life that turned him to a cruel person so ruthless he kidnapped his own nephew and brought about their second’s child death. The first time. Both he and Gine were stunned their youngest child died twice and the sacrifice he made the second time.
Kakarrot or Son Goku as he goes by was completely different from any Saiyan they knew. Their low power level child grew up to be a hero on Earth. He saved it many times, married, became a father and became the legendary Super Saiyan who defeated Freeza, the monster who murdered their race.
“I don’t care about that,” Gine told him as she wiped away her tears. “I just want to see them, hug them and enjoy the time we have together.”
The door behind them opened. A blue skinned guide walked in with a white puff of smoke. Bardock and Gine watched as the puff of smoke turned into a tall male with long, wild black hair. The guide spoke to the confused, quick tempered male, explaining his purpose here and how long he has. The male wasn’t in the mood to listen and tried to escape. He would’ve if the guide didn’t turn him into a puff of smoke.
“You can change him back,” Bardock told the guide. “We’ll handle him.”
The guide did as Bardock suggested and left the room before the dazed tall male had a chance to escape again.
Raditz had his back to his parents. He knew why he was here and hated it. He rejected the idea of being around his family. Why should he meet them? He didn’t care about them! It boiled Raditz his own brother was behind this union. It was his brother’s fault he was dead in the first place! The only comfort he got is despite knowing his brother was revived the first time he died, he was dead a second time and could not return to the living. Raditz only wished it was by his hands.
Bardock and Gine quietly watched their son. He definitely had a bad temper and would respond violently to them. Bardock contemplated on how best to deal with Raditz when Gine left his side and embraced Raditz. “Oh, Raditz!” Gine cried. Her arms wrapped tightly around her son. “You’ve grown so much!”
Memories of his Raditz’s youth were blurry but he knew this voice, felt these pair of slim arms around him before. It’s been years but deep inside him, he felt this feeling before. It always came from her and it was always comforting. He tried to shield it but the strong feeling of this woman embracing and crying could only come from his mother. He had very few memories of his parents since he was taken. Was this really happening?
A dark feeling in him told him to push this woman away. The voice told him she never cared for him and he shouldn’t care for her but as the petite, crying woman continued to hold him, he thought perhaps this voice was wrong.
“Mom?” He looked over at the man standing behind her. “Dad?”
Bardock confirmed with a slight smile of his own. “Can’t you give your mother a proper hug?”
That gruff voice was definitely the sound of his father. He was a man who commanded respect and did not want to be crossed. Slowly, Raditz’s arms circled around Gine. Before he could firmly hug his mother, the door opened again. A puff of white smoke nor King Yemma’s guide walked in but a man who looked like Bardock.
A sharp take of breath escaped Gine’s lips as she slowly pulled from Raditz to see the man entering the room.
Bardock and Gine stared while Raditz was the only one who could speak.
“Kakarrot,” Raditz acknowledged his younger brother with vile disgust.
“Hey, Raditz.” Though he wasn’t fond of him, Goku remained upbeat in meeting his older brother.
“Don’t be like that,” Gine scolded the cold greeting between brothers. “We’re all family. You should hug each other.” Raditz and Goku looked at Gine as if she was crazy.
“Hug him?!” Raditz and Goku simultaneously said while pointing at each other.
“He’s a disgrace!” Raditz spat. “He rejected our Saiyan culture, his Saiyan name and lived the good life on Earth. He even mated and had a half breed with those weak people.”
Bardock promptly smacked Raditz on the back of his head. “Shut up with that crap!!” Bardock’s voice was so loud and his slap so fast and tough, it startled Goku.
Raditz rubbed the back of his head. He was dead but could feel a bump forming. “What the fuck, Dad?”
Bardock slapped Raditz across his face. “Don’t curse in front of your mother!”
“Why not? You did!” Who did his father think he is? “I’m an adult and I’ve been cursing, killing and fucking for a damn long time. I’ll do whatever the hell I want.” Looking at Goku disgusted, he scoffed, “Guess you hate I’m not perfect like Kakarrot, right? Oh, my mistake.” He drawled the adopted the name of his brother. “Son Goku.”
Gine intervened before Bardock could. “That’s enough, Raditz.” She enclosed one of his hands in hers. “I know things have been rough for you. I know you have a lot of hate and you’re taking things out on your brother because he didn’t have it rough like you, but it’s because of him we have this moment to be together.” Gine caressed his face tenderly. “I get to see my sons again.” She embraced him. “I get to hold them. We only have one day. Let’s make the best of it, okay?”
The sweet eyes of his mother. Raditz opened his mouth to reject her idea but when he saw the stern face of his father mouthing words of threat to him, Raditz only gently stepped away from Gine. He crossed his arms over his chest and turned away. “Fine.”
Gine was pleased. This was progress but they had many things to discuss. “I heard what you did to my grandson, Raditz. That wasn’t nice and it wasn’t kind of you to beat up your brother.”
“He didn’t beat me up,” Goku wanted to clarify. “He got a lucky punch in.”
Raditz threw his head back laughing. “Because your lazy ass took it easy on that backwater planet. Heh,” he smirked. “It was so funny seeing your pathetic ass immobilize on the beach by one punch by me. You were clutching your stomach unable to do anything while I held your crybaby brat. Is he still sucking on Mommy’s tit?” From Goku’s glare and tightness of his lips, Raditz knew he was getting under his brother’s skin. Good. He deserved it after causing his death. “I bet it still bothers you I kicked you ass.”
“Raditz,” Gine pleaded with him. “Don’t fight with your brother.”
“You know,” Goku smirked aware of his brother’s mind game. “You caught me off guard. The last five years before we met I did take it easy. I settled down with a wife and child. If I did nothing but trained I would’ve been ready for you but my life would’ve been empty if I sacrificed having a family.”
“About that,” Gine interrupted. “Raditz, apologize to Kakarrot. You were wrong to kidnap his son and use him as ransom.”
Raditz scoffed. He would do no such thing! “I would apologize to Kakarrot but I don’t see him. I see a fraud named Son Goku.”
“You can call me Kakarrot,” Goku tried to be civil. “When Raditz told me my Saiyan name and what Saiyans do, I rejected it. He’s a cold blooded killer. If he represented the Saiyan race, then I wanted no part of it.” Goku saw disappointment on Gine’s face. It was the harsh truth Goku felt but he’s changed his opinion. “But I’ve come to understand the history of my people. I don’t mind being called Kakarrot. Vegeta did it all the time but since he’s the only Saiyan, no one else calls me that.”
Well, that wasn’t true. Laughing, Goku rubbed the back of his neck. “Sometimes ChiChi does when we’re intimate but that’s completely different.”
Raditz rolled his eyes, Gine giggled and Bardock looked at his youngest son unsure how to take his bluntness. “You’re…. uh…. a rather open person, Kakarrot.”
“I like it.” Gine approved. “That means Kakarrot won’t keep secrets from us. Now, Raditz, I want you to hug your brother and apologize for fighting him on Earth.”
Raditz opened his mouth to protest but the threatening ire of Bardock again forced Raditz to not say what he wanted to say. “Fine.”
Goku stared as if he didn’t want Raditz to hug him. He didn’t move as Raditz approached, put his arms around him and felt his big brother pat his back. “Sorry for fighting you….. brother.”
Okay. This was weird for Goku. He never hugged someone he also wanted to punch. Slowly, he patted Raditz’s back. “Thanks.”
Thanks? That’s all he gets? This traitor wasn’t going to apologize to him. Raditz looked at his parents. Gine smiled proud of them while Bardock looked on approvingly. They weren’t going to make their traitorous brat of a son apologize for causing his death?
Fine. If that’s how it is….
Raditz stepped back and lightly jabbed Goku’s left shoulder in a friendly gesture. “Sorry my one punch had you crying on the beach like a pussy while I kidnapped your son.”
Gine’s mouth fell open while Bardock slapped his forehead.
Goku chuckled as he lightly punched Raditz’s shoulder. “Sorry I didn’t cower to your threat to kill a hundred people but fought to get my son back from you.”
Raditz punch his shoulder again. “Sorry I still kicked you and your green friend’s ass when you tried to get your son back.”
“Raditz. Kakarrot,” Gine pleaded.
Ignoring his mother, Goku grinned while punching Raditz’s shoulder again. “Sorry my four-year-old son knocked you down. It had to hurt your pride you knocked your baby brother down with one punch but his four-year-old son knocked you down with one blow.”
“Boys!” Gine called for their attention.
Raditz glowered as a white aura glowed around him. He still couldn’t believe a child got the upper hand on him like that. Damn kid. He punched Goku’s right shoulder. “Sorry the only way you had to defeat me is by sacrificing your dumb ass.” Raditz punched Goku’s left shoulder adding, “Sorry I didn’t survive long enough to meet your woman, show her she bedded the wrong brother and put a half breed in her.”
“Raditz!” Gine gasped.
The first punch shook the entire room. Goku moved faster than Bardock or Gine could see. One second their sons were facing off lightly jabbing each other and the next, one punch from Goku sent Raditz crashing into a wall.
Raditz wiped his lips. His blood pumped at the thought of fighting his brother again. “So, baby brother got stronger over the years.”
“I’m a lot stronger,” Goku warned him. “You have no idea how much.”
“Heh.” Stronger and cocky. His brother definitely changed since their last match. “I’m eager to see how much.” Raditz rushed to strike Goku. Inches from hitting his brother, Raditz extended fist came to a halt when a hand grabbed his wrist.
“That’s enough.” Bardock squeezed Raditz’s fist so hard bones cracked. To Goku, he said, “You got your punch in, Kakarrot, so stand down.” Goku lowered his arms. Bardock grabbed both his son’s shoulders. “You two got your words and punches in. Now here’s mine.” Bardock slammed Goku and Raditz into each other head first and hard!
Both son’s groaned in pain at the collision.
“Ow!” Goku howled as he rubbed his forehead.
“What was that for?” Raditz yelled back.
“You both made your mother cry with you bickering!” Bardock gestured to Gine who stood far from them with tears in her eyes. “Now apologize to her!”
“But he—” Goku started.
Bardock got in Goku’s face. “You make your mother cry again and I’ll kick your ass!” He grabbed Goku by the cuffs of his shirts and yanked him forward. “Understand?”
Wide eyed and stunned, Goku nodded. Did he look like that when he’s pissed? No wonder Gohan was scared of him on Namek.
“Told you he curses.” Raditz was pleased at least one of his parents had the sense to admonish his brother.
Bardock turned to Raditz and waved a threatening finger at him. “You shut your fucking mouth or you’re next.”
Turning his attention back to Goku, he said, “Never make your mother cry.” To Bardock’s surprise, Goku smiled. “Why are you smiling?”
“It’s uh…..” Goku rubbed the back of his neck awkward. “I said something similar to my son once. Gohan raised his voice at ChiChi and when we were alone, I told him he should never raise his voice at her again.” Goku smiled at his father. “I guess I got that from you.”
Bardock’s lips turned up in a smile. “Perhaps. It’s not the only thing you got from me.” He rubbed Goku’s head affectionately. “You look just like me, too. You were a puny little thing as a baby. Look at you now. You became the legendary Super Saiyan and defeated Freeza. You make your father proud.”
Raditz’s mouth fell open. One moment his father was rightfully scolding his baby brother and now he’s praising him?!
Unable to resist, Goku hugged his father. The affection caught Bardock by surprised. He returned with a hug and affectionate pat on his son’s back. He looked over at Gine. She was crying again but her tears were happy. “All right. That’s enough of that. Go say hello to your mother.”
Goku stepped away from his father and looked at the woman that is his mother. Seeing her cry earlier reminded Goku of the times he made ChiChi cry. He hated that, too. He wanted to have a reunion with the family he didn’t know and thanks to him and his brother it was turning into a disaster.
Goku bowed before his mother hoping she understood how sorry he is. “Hi, Mom. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Kakarrot!” Gine squealed as she pulled Goku in a tight embrace. “I forgive you! Thank you so much for this!! We wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you! I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. Oh, my poor baby. I love you so much.”
Goku returned his mother’s bear hug. ChiChi smothered Gohan with hugs and apologized over and over when he was separated from them. Now he knew what it felt like. “It’s okay, Mom. It’s not your fault. I turned out fine.”
“I see.” Gine played with the spikes of his hair. “You turned out just as handsome as your father. Tell me about your wife and son. I want to know everything. Don’t leave out one single detail.”
Bardock joined the conversation. “I just want to hear how you defeated Freeza and how you became a Super Saiyan.”
Off to the side, Raditz watched Goku be the center of attention as he talked about his family and his adventures, pausing every few moments to answer his parents’ eager questions. While his parents laughed at a story Goku shared, Goku noticed Raditz glaring at him. He stuck his tongue out at Raditz without their parents noticing.
Raditz clenched his fists. Damn him. He gets away with everything!
As Goku spun another tale, Bardock noticed Raditz sitting in a corner sulking. Bardock waved him over. Raditz shook his head. Bardock waved him over again. Again Raditz shook his head. Sending a death glare to Raditz, Bardock pointed at Raditz, the seat beside him and formed a fist warning of what he will do if Raditz didn’t move.
Slumped shoulders, Raditz got up, pouted and stumped as he took a seat besides Bardock. Raditz crossed his arms and looked away. His Dad forced him to sit here. It didn’t mean he had to listen to his spoiled brother bragged about beating Freeza.
That was his feeling until he heard Goku’s tale of defeating Freeza. He had to admit there was a sense of pride it was blood from his family that defeated the tyrant. For a little brother, Raditz figured, Kakarrot or Son Goku was okay. Still spoiled. No one could change Raditz’s mind on that.
For Bardock and Gine, it was a happy moment. Seeing Raditz and Kakarrot interact by fighting, scowling or just having an awkward conversation as they used the limited time to get to know one another, they welcomed it. It was a happy, bittersweet and a glimpse of what could’ve been.
