Life With You

Part 19: Alone: Goku

It was endless. Same yellow clouds. Same lilac skies. Same winding gray snakeskin path. There was no clock. No sundial. Nothing. He hadn't a clue how many hours, days, weeks or maybe months have passed already. He burnt off too much energy flying when he started off, too. Now he was stuck running the rest of the way and it seemed he was running forever.

A lot of time passed and Goku still hadn't wrapped his head completely around the current events. He discovered he had a brother, learned he wasn't born on Earth, had his son was kidnapped and died all on the same day.

All grown up. I'd still know you anywhere, Kakarrot. You look just like Father.

You are no Earthling. You are a Saiyan warrior: a member of the most powerful race in the universe.

I am Raditz, your older brother.

Goku stopped running. His hands gripped his knees as he leaned forward breathing hard. Raditz's words rang in his head again. He collapsed on the snake path and stared at the clear sky. He should be running but his mind couldn't stop swirling with what he learned. He's an alien. He had a brother. His brother kidnapped his son. His brother defeated him with one kick.

"One more step and I'll kill you!!!"

It's been years since he took a life. Living with Kami, he was taught to not rush to kill. He was taught to value life but those teachings didn't matter now. He didn't care if this person in front of him is his brother. He wasn't a brother he wanted. He threatened to take his son from him.

Goku felt a high amount of Ki from Raditz but Goku didn't let that intimidate him. He was strong, too. He was the strongest man on Earth. Raditz wouldn't be an opponent he will take down easily but Goku was confident he will defeat Raditz. His son's life depended on it.

Raditz moved faster than Goku blinked. One second Raditz was a foot or two in front of him and the next Goku felt the sharpest kick in his life delivered to his stomach. His body soared off the ground and landed with a huge thud on the beach.

One kick and he was left motionless, struggling to rise as his own brother kidnapped his son.

"How could I be so weak against him?"

This has never happened to him before. He lost battles (very few) but he never felt this bitterness before. Seeing Gohan dangled by Raditz; hearing his son crying and calling for his help while he could do nothing left such a horrible feeling in Goku he vowed never to feel it again. He never felt so helpless, so frustrated with himself in all his life. His four year old son who always looked at him with joy and love; whom he would do anything for, needed him and he couldn't do anything about it. He had to rely on Piccolo to defeat Raditz. He wasn't enough to stop his own brother. His sympathy to Raditz's pleas cost him his life.

"He kidnapped my son and I showed sympathy to him. What was I thinking?" The sturdy path didn't wobble under his strong punch. "Dammit! How was I so weak against him?" He punched Snake Way's trail again. "Dammit! How did he take me down with one kick?!"

Five years ago he was crowned 'Strongest Under the Heavens.' Goku didn't feel worthy of that. What happened? Fighting and getting stronger was all Goku did in his life. It's all he wanted or so he thought until he married ChiChi and had Gohan. Even while he spent time with his wife and son, worked occasionally, Goku continued his training. He exercised every day. He even went on solo training missions where he could really focus. None of that was enough to stop Raditz.

"I did this," he blamed himself. "I got comfortable and arrogant." Even with the solo training, Goku didn't train as aggressively as he used to. Piccolo was still out there vowing to kill him but since he defeated Piccolo already, Goku was confident he could do it again and easily. That's how all his fights were. If he struggled or loss the first fight against an opponent, during the rematch Goku defeated them easily. It happened with General Tao and Tien. Why shouldn't it happen again against Piccolo?