Author: FireCracker KLee624820@aol.com
        Pairing Goku/Vegeta/Radditz/Nappa

        A/U -Goku learns what it really means to be Saiyan.

        Monkey Moon Part 9

        ****

        Goku watched his friend disappear over the horizon.

        You mean well, Piccolo. I just wish you weren't so judgemental.

        The tall saiyan plopped into soft grass, enjoying warm sunshine on his face.

        Sleepy...

        He quietly drifted off moments later.

        ****

        Vegeta and the others had stripped down to briefs under darkening skies. The ouji
        issued commands.

        "Nappa, Raditz... mark the trail."

        "But we're in South America. Kakarot's thousands of miles away!" Nappa protested.

        "Silence! He'll fly here soon enough."

        Raditz uncurled his tail. "How far out?"

        "Make it three miles around the keep."

        The saiyans smiled grimly, bounding away into trackless jungle. Vegeta glanced up at
        the early evening sunset.

        "Soon, Kakarot..."

        ****

        Raditz strutted through the underbrush, lacing scent everywhere with his tail. A fine
        mist of musk trailed behind him, permeating dense jungle growth. Nappa moved
        counterclockwise, using the same maneuver. The saiyans scored tree trunks with
        sharp nails, gouging large chunks of bark to emphasize the trail.

        Raditz could only smile as he breathed in wild air. A treat for you, brother...an
        experience you'll never forget. Break the mask and come to me!

        Nappa held similar thoughts as he tracked a few miles away. I've not forgotten our
        time together, Kakarot...perhaps I'll sway you from the prince, eh?

        Vegeta stretched and flexed among the treetops, honing his hunger. Mine is first
        choice at jungle run, and all had best remember it.

        Early evening skies darkened to dusk.

        ****

        Piccolo had returned to the Son house and was talking to Chi Chi.

        "I don't know what to think, Piccolo. You say he was in the woods?"

        The namek nodded, uncertain how to answer that. "Yes. He was doing base
        exercises."

        "Why that pause? Is there something else I should know?"

        Another hesitation. "It was nothing...he was there with some of your neighbors."

        Chi Chi frowned. "Neighbors? Out in the deep forest?!"

        Piccolo glanced out the kitchen window. "Yes. That isn't important, Chi
        Chi...something else is. Does Goku seem different to you?"

        "Yes. It's because of his tail!"

        "Are you certain that's the only reason?"

        Chi Chi flopped in a chair. "What else? After he awakened earlier we discovered it had
        grown back. Raditz explained the true function of saiyan tails. Frankly, it has me
        worried."

        "You're right to be concerned. I'm still not convinced the saiyans have shown their
        true motive."

        "But nothing's happened...there's been no invasion or attack!"

        Piccolo was grim. "Perhaps it's more of a hostile takeover."

        "You think they have designs on Goku?" Chi Chi was worried.

        "I'm certain of it. They've gone to great lengths to appear harmless. Totally out of
        character for saiyans, don't you think?"

        Dark eyes clouded in confusion. "Now that you mention it Raditz was unusually
        nice...for a saiyan, anyway. We talked about Goku, mostly."

        "Did he try to get information?"

        "Not specifically. If anything, I had questions for him ."

        Piccolo folded his arms. "Hmm...Chi Chi, I'm going to contact the others and have
        them stay on standby alert."

        "Whatever for?"

        "As long as Vegeta occupies earth, no one is safe. He's proven repeatedly he can't be
        trusted."

        Chi Chi looked out the kitchen window at darkening skies. "Maybe you're
        right...there's something here that isn't adding up."

        ****

        Goku flew home at breakneck speed. Some warning instinct told him tonight wasn't a
        good time to be outside. Or so he thought.

        I need to apologize to Chi Chi...my words were too harsh, and she really didn't
        deserve that.

        Accelerating west, he neared his destination.

        ****

        Chi Chi sighed, sitting on the front step and staring up at cascading blue skies melting
        to deepest purple.

        What am I going to do? I've always known Goku was alien, but he never acted that
        way.

        A small bluish white dot blazed across the sky, moving nearer. Chi Chi leaped to her
        feet in recognition.

        "Goku!!"

        The 'dot' grew in size and landed a few feet away. "Chi Chi, we need to talk."

        She didn't move. "I know. I've been thinking since our last conversation."

        He approached her slowly. "I was wrong before, the way I spoke to you. I'm sorry..."

        "Maybe I'm sorry, too. Some of the things you said were right...I often treated you
        poorly-"

        He hugged her. "Don't worry about it..."

        "No. I used to yell as a child for attention. Once I found it worked, I just kept doing it
        out of reflex."

        "I said the first thing on my mind. Maybe I should have tempered my words more."

        She smiled sadly. "It's a miracle you never yelled back."

        "About earlier, when we were in bed...I didn't mean to force things..."

        Chi Chi sat on the front step again. "What was that about, Goku? Were you trying to
        prove you were a real saiyan?"

        He sat next to her. "No. But since my tail came back, urges I could once control try
        to overtake me."

        "Maybe you need to talk to someone."

        "I have...Raditz explained a great deal."

        "We covered a few topics also, like the biting thing..."

        Goku glanced down. "I hope you didn't get too personal!"

        "Of course not! He wanted to, though..."

        "Say what?"

        "Saiyans must be hopeless perverts. He wanted to know everything about our life
        together."

        Goku laughed. "Unbelievable. I guess I should have expected it."

        Chi Chi sniffed. "Well I didn't...and I certainly wasn't going into details!"

        "What else did you talk about?"

        "Just...saiyans in general and their behavior."

        "Did it help you understand any better?"

        A pause. "I'm not sure...Raditz explained the effects, but not the cause."

        "What's that supposed to mean?"

        "He said that your tail's like an extra sensory organ that influences you..."

        "It's true...I can't tell you how different it makes me feel."

        A slim hand pulled the furry appendage free of his waist. "So much change from a tail?
        It still seems hard to believe."

        "This is going to sound bizarre? But had I kept it, I doubt we'd be married now."

        Dark eyes narrowed. "Explain, please? I don't see a direct connection."

        Goku folded his arms around his knees. "My original mission was to raze this planet
        as a small child. When I first arrived, Grandpa Gohan often told me I had a horrible
        temper. He nearly abandoned me to the woods."

        Chi Chi blinked. "I knew some of this, but not all."

        "Hai, and it's a good thing he decided to raise me, or you wouldn't have a planet to
        live on. When I suffered a small head injury it seemed to have 'screened off' the
        strongest of my saiyan instincts. I was able to adapt, though I still loved to fight. I
        think training and running kept me sane."

        Chi Chi chuckled. "Hai, father thought you were a wild bumpkin. Even at the
        tournaments they used to call you 'dumb country.' But I thought you were sweet."

        Goku flushed slightly at the memory. "Well...I suppose I seemed that way. My
        lifestyle wasn't exactly sophisticated. When we got married I was completely clueless
        about the ritual."

        Chi Chi blushed a bit. "Well, I did trick you. But I always hoped you felt the same
        way...after all, no one forced you."

        "I do care about you."

        A stab of anger cut through her haze. "You said that already."

        "Don't take it the wrong way, Chi Chi..."

        "Don't patronize me! I could have any man I want!"

        Dark eyes were hard on her. "I suggest you reconsider that."

        She poked his chest with a finger. "Why, mister? Afraid of competition?"

        He grabbed her. "I told you once, I'm not like before. And there'll be no competition."

        "Do you love me?"

        "For the millionth time, yes! What do you want, a public announcement?!"

        "That won't be necessary" her voice was ice. "Actions speak louder than words,
        Goku."

        He gritted his teeth. "What is it you think I haven't done or said?"

        "You claim to speak your mind now, and so will I. I truly believe you love our son
        more than you do me!"

        He was floored, staring at her in silence.

        "Don't waste time denying it...I already know. There are numerous incidents I could
        bring up that would prove my point."

        "You're wrong!"

        "And you're a liar. Do you think it spares my feelings knowing this? Whether it's
        Gohan's education or safety, my concerns always take a backseat. What husband
        leaves his wife at the drop of a hat with no acceptance of responsibility? You do it all
        the time."

        He balled a fist in frustration. "Dammit, the situation involving threats to earth-"

        "I've heard that song and dance before, too. You enjoy leaving me, leaving
        responsibility behind for adventure and fighting. I hoped you would settle down after
        we got married and Gohan was born, but it only got worse."

        "I see...so you were expecting me to just change?"

        "I expected you to compromise and meet me halfway, like all sane couples do!"

        He exploded. "Where do I go when there's no threat to earth? What do I do?! I stay
        here, that's what."

        "Oh, yes. 'Here' is running naked in the woods, wrestling with bears, or catching a
        fish. We hardly spend any time together!"

        "Our interests seem different...and growing by the second" Goku growled.

        "Don't make those noises at me, mister! I don't care if you have found your lost
        self...my son won't be raised by an animal!"

        Glaring, he fought an urge to strike her. "I'm going inside" he stood abruptly. Chi Chi
        leaped up as well.

        "Wait. This conversation isn't over!"

        "It is as far as I'm concerned."

        She looked him over a moment. "Is there any hope for us?"

        A sigh. "I don't know. Maybe we both just need some sleep."

        "I'm sorry about the animal comment."

        "We're apologizing too much. I'm going inside" he strode past her through the front
        door. Chi Chi watched him go.

        "Now what??"

        "Nothing" Goku glared at her once inside.

        "Is that all you can say?"

        "For now!!"

        "What the hell's wrong with you? Don't you care about our marriage at all?!"

        Goku grabbed her. "Stop telling me what I feel" he snarled. "I'm fed up with you
        yelling at me-"

        Chi Chi cringed, alarmed at his tone. Goku stopped abruptly, dark eyes flashing a
        weird gleam.

        "Hn..."

        She watched him carefully. "What is-"

        He purred softly, a sloopy grin sliding over his face. "Chi Chi...you're gorgeous."

        Chi Chi gawked, blinking. "I...ah...huh??"

        Goku swept her up, raining kisses over her eyes and face. She managed to wiggle
        clear.

        "Are you insane?!" she panted, staring at his wagging tail.

        "No" he murmured in her ear. "I just realized...the more we argued the more turned
        on I got."

        "You don't mean?"

        "Mmm. Let's do it..."

        "Fool!! Our marriage is crumbling, and all you can think about is sex?!"

        He dragged her across the living room. "That's all I can think about right now,
        anyway. The rest can wait!"

        She pushed free again. "This never happened before-"

        Strong arms clutched her once more. "Hai, all the time. But I never mentioned it."

        "So why now??" she tried to squeeze out from his embrace.

        Goku held tight. "Before I was worried what you might think. Now I don't care."

        "Lunatic!"

        He licked his lips hotly, leering at her. Chi Chi flushed bright scarlet.

        "Didn't you ever wonder why we always made love after an argument?"

        Her lips moved soundlessly.

        "Okay, that's enough talking" he tossed her over a shoulder and stalked upstairs.
        Compact fists pounded his back.

        "Put me down, you big lummox! Gohan's in his room!!"

        "He's old enough to know what's going on."

        A stream of curses trailed behind their bedroom door as it slammed shut.

        ****