Secrets and Revenge

The stranger looked at the home. It seemed quiet... peaceful... picturesque... quaint.. a billion words could describe this home. It was almost Hollywood-ish. Like the perfect backdrop for a scene where a man and woman stood sillouhetted against the setting sun professing their love. Laundry snapped in the breeze of the cooling evening, smoke twisted out of a small smokestack on top of the dome shaped roof, the smell of cooking food wafted from the open window; and the sound of a child\'s laughter could be heard from inside.

He silently sneered to himself as he took this all in from the field, arms folded across his chest, legs splayed a bit to hold his balance. Standing at about 7\'4, clothed in what could be considered Monks robes, he stood there taking in the scene and nearly burst out laughing. \"You have got to be \'effin kidding me. Ah well..\"

Shielding his eyes from the glaring sun, he tromped across the field at a ground eating pace, silently cursing himself for not taking the road. Oh well, no matter. He was at the door now. Raising a fist he knocked on the door, loudly. Inside he heard a plate drop and a swear word come from a woman\'s mouth. After a moment, the door creaked open and an extremely angry looking woman opened the door. Her hair done up inun, un, with two strips of hair framing her face, didn\'t make the face look any friendlier.

\"Hello? Can I help you? Just so you know you Don\'t have to bang on the door. Most of us who live here are perfectly capable of hearing!\" The door flung the rest of the way open, revealing the rest of the woman. Short.. compact but he could sense she packed power. Not to mention she was also carrying a wooden spoon that he was positive she was more than adept at whacking with.

He merely grinned harmlessly and put his hands up to show he meant no harm. \"Excuse ma\'am, I do so beg your forgiveness in scaring you. I\'m just a poor traveler who seeks shelter from the night.. and perhaps some food as well? I mean no harm...\" Again he gave his best smile.

Chichi merely looked at the man, sizing him up. \"A place to stay and food? Hmmmph. You look rather shady to me... ho I o I know your not here to steal anything? Or kill us all in our sleep?\" She waved the wooden spoon around gesticulating as she spoke. \" What\'s your name? \"

\"Ueh... Shovri ma\'am... Shovri Razael. \" He bowed to hide the snarl that seemed to have sprung up on his lips. After straightening up again, he replaced the snarl with another harmless smile. \" And I swear on my name I mean no harm to you or your family.\"

The woman eyed him closely again. Woo this bitch was a smart one. He\'d have to use some of his \'persuasive\' power to change her mind. Reaching out with his own mind, he subtly touched her mind, changing her emotions about him, changing her hostile thoughts. He smiled at her as he watched her expression change as he weaved his own mind into hers..and enjoying every second.

Speaking softly he murmured; \" As I said madam, I\'m merely here for a plac sta stay, and some food. You trust me... yes?\"

Chi chi\'s eyes glazed over a moment, then as he stepped out of her mind, she nodded almost dazedly. \"Yes, of course.. how could I turn a stranger down? Come in, meet my husband and son.. they\'ll be happy to ha gue guest.... \" trailing off she turned inside and allowed the man to follow.

Shovris eyes darted around taking in everything he could, committing it to memory as he walked into the small home, not that memorizing anything was a problem for him. Smirking faintly he followed the small woman to what appeared to be the living room. A TV chattered quietly off to one side, where it was faced by a couch... and in that couch was a man; on the floor a few feet away was a small boy curled up in a blanket reading. Both of them looked up as Chichi and Shovri entered.

\"Mom? \" The boy stood , letting the blanket fall away from him, revealing him to be wearing a shirt and shorts. He looked a bit wary at Shovri, who only merely smiled and bowed his head; thought he kept his eyes on the small boy, taking in every feature, his hair, eyes.. that fa. th. the look of pure innocence. Shovri forced himself to look away form the boy and focus on the man that now stood up.

\"It\'s okay Gohan, go back to reading.. we have a house guest is all. He\'ll be staying the night.\" Chi chi\'s voice sounded somewhat dazed and distant, but apparently that was missed on the boy and the man. The man smiled widely and moved around the couch to shake Shovri\'s hand.

\"A guest huh? Where you from? How far have you traveled?? Did you see anything interesting?\" Goku shook Shovri\'s hand and beamed. \"My name is Goku, this is my son Gohan. Glad to have you with us. I heard that the weather was supposed to turn nasty.. feel free to stay until it blows over.\"

Shovri merely nodded and smiled, enduring the mans prattling. Eyes sliding to the boy, who was now pretending to read but really watching him he answered the mans questions. \"I\'m from a small fishing village about six hundred miles from here. I\'m traveling the world to gain knowledge and such..as for interesting, that would depend on what a man finds interesting, no?\"

Goku merely nodded and smiled. \"True, true.. well uh, why don\'t you have a seat and rest while my wife gets you something to eat. I bet your pretty tired, so I won\'t keep you up long.\" Goku glanced at his wife. \"Where will he sleep Chichi? I think the spare room ended up being a storage room..\"

Shovri listened inty toy to the two, slowly he opened his mind and planted a suggestion into the woman\'s. He grinned as she spoke up. \"He can sleep in Gohan\'s room. There\'s a cot he can fold out in there, I have some blankets he can use.\"

Shovri grinned and looked to see what Gohan\'s reaction was. The boy looked up from his book and blinked a few times. Shovri could read the tho thoughts. Confusion, a little startlement and a lot of curiosity warred in the boys mind. Obviously he knew this wasn\'t like his mother. Shovri spoke up. \"I couldn\'t turn the boy out of his room miss. That wouldn\'t be fair to , uh Gohan did you say his name was?\"

Chichi, waved Shovris questions away annoyingly. Snapping a bit. \"Of course not. Gohan doesn\'t mind, and is happy to share his room. After all its only for a few days. And Gohan... \" Her tone turned to crisp ice, it even made Shovri cringe a bit. \" Don\'t you bother this man, you understand me? I want you to be a good boy and stay out of Shovri\'s way. Understand me?\"

Gohan nodded and lowered his head, acting like he\'d just been busted sneaking out of house. \"Yes mother. I promise.\"

Chichi, pushed Shovri to the table where he sat. It was obvious she was used to cooking... by the looks of the food before him, he\'d have no problems being full. Smirking to himself he dug in, occasionally answering questions the two posed, or asking them questions. Not that he needed to. He could have merely delved into their minds and taken what he wanted. Which he did. Taking bits and pieces of information he felt necessary. Mostly he gathered information about Goku, and his son... Gohan particularly interested him. Goku and Chichi answered the questions easily, offering up information willingly. It silently cracked up Shovri at how easy it was to manipulate these two\'s minds.

After the meal, they talked a bit more until that is Chichi decided that Goku had asked enough questions. Sending Goku and Gohan both to bed, she led him through the house showing him the bathroom, shower, and such in case eedeeeded or wanted either one. He merely nodded and murmured words of acknowledgement. Then she led him to Gohan\'s room where obviously the boy had been told to fold out the cot, and make the bed. Now the child was laying in his own bed, pretending to be asleep. Shovri smirked to himself as Chichi bid them both good night and closed the door.

Shovri, once more opened his mind up and read the boys thoughts as he set the blankets aside and laid down on the cot. Sleepy thoughts, thoughts of what he had to do tomorrow, the chores, the hope of sneaking away from home long enough to check on his pet dragon, and to see if his friend Piccoas uas up for a spar...Random thoughts flitting through the boys head. Innocent little ten year old thoughts. Just in the few moments Shovri was in Gohan\'s mind, he knew all there was to know about the boy. Even down to his hidden power....

Interesting, Shovri thought as he watched and felt the boy slip into real sleep; very interesting. Not only did I come to find my target... I get a lovely, intelligent, beautiful, and powerful saiyajin boy as my reward.. this mission will be very sweet indeed.

Gohan tossed a bit in his sleep, unaware of the man who watched him. His eyes fluttered as he dreamt of some journey or adventure; his breath steady and even, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm; smallish fists curling and uncurling occasionally. Shovri watched well into the night.... eyes faintly glowing ...

A sweet reward indeed.....