Dragonball: Rewritten

Chapter 46: Buu Saga

The week flew by faster than Goku expected. He anticipated people calling him once the news came out that Vegeta was coming back. It still blindsided him just how many people would reach out to him. The usual suspects reached out first via videophone: Krillin and 18, Yamcha and Tien, Nappa and Piccolo. Then came the ones he didn't think he'd hear from but was happy they called: Launch and Suno, Upa and his father, Korin and Yajirobe. The surprises came in the form of the people that knew Vegeta. His old boss when he was a bounty hunter. Business owners, like farmers and merchants, that Vegeta used to frequent and buy from at market. Even local villagers from nearby towns that Vegeta once helped in very Vegeta-like ways: namely, from not being killed by other human beings, or by wild animals. The latter shocked and pleased Goku the most, because it fed into what he assumed Vegeta did on days where he came back late from work and didn't want to elaborate what happened. It was all so very Vegeta.

He prepped for Vegeta's return the only way he knew how—by fighting, a lot. He sparred with Raditz, Gohan and Goten so much over the last few days, getting himself back into fighting shape. After Vegeta's death, he didn't keep up with his training as much as he had previously. Compared to Gohan, who not only studied but maintained his power through most of high school, Goku full on stopped in the beginning. If it wasn't for Goten, he was sure he wouldn't have tried again.

Once his youngest was old enough to throw a punch and make a ki blast, he demanded Goku spar with him, period. He still remembered four year old Goten marching right up to him that day. A small version of himself, in Super Saiyan of all things, declaring that his utata and tuakana—older brother in Sadalan—were strong but knew Goku was stronger than everyone. He couldn't try to tell Goten otherwise, that Gohan was probably stronger than himself at this point. Raditz was probably even stronger than himself too. It had been five years since Vegeta's passing and Goku was at his lowest point mentally, emotionally and physically.

But Goten had his spirit. When he told Goten no, he physically had to take a step back with how hard Goten snapped at him. He stood there in awe, watching Goten yell at him in a way that reminded Goku of himself. In particular, the moment when he was younger and life was so much simpler and easier. Back on the Lookout, he snapped at Vegeta just like Goten was to himself now. How he couldn't wish for immortality because he couldn't handle Vegeta dying so many times just to get stronger. Goten looked so desperate and heartbroken, almost on the verge of tears as he let out how much he needed Goku, his papa, to fight with him. To teach him. When he heard how much Goten hated how sad his daddy looked all the time, Goku knew he couldn't say no ever again. He promised Goten he'd spar with him. He wouldn't give up.

So it didn't surprise Goku at all that between Gohan and Goten, he wouldn't be able to have a moment's rest. By the end of the week, he was proven right. Every morning, Goten woke him up, knocking on his door to drag him to breakfast with his brother, ChiChi and his sons. They would then spar for hours while Gohan went to school, only stopping to have lunch. By mid-afternoon, Gohan would return, immediately dropping his bags and flaring up into Super Saiyan, jumping right into whatever melee was happening in that exact second. He could never leave after dinner either. His sons always demanded he do extra training. Raditz, being the perfect older brother he was, found ways to goad and tease Goku into wanting to fight him. ChiChi always sealed the deal with a promise of his favorite desserts.

It was the most fun he had in so long. The most he felt like himself in years. But he didn't like how he was away from Trunks the whole week. Even though Bulma reassured him it was fine. Even though Trunks himself every evening over videophone told him it was fine, he didn't want to fly over or be Instant Transmitted over, he wanted to train in the Gravity Chamber alone anyway. Goku still didn't like it. Even though he never met his father, Trunks acted too much like Vegeta sometimes. Namek, hiding how he actually felt until Goku dug it out of him.