The noise was getting louder, as it usually did whenever 8.30 PM rolled around. That was the time when his son and his friends would come thundering back into the big house from their activities in the sun. His peaceful quiet would then be chattered, to be replaced by booming voices, excited bellows, and the ever- so- nice rumble of feet.
It had only been three days since they had arrived to the Koda camp lodges. Him, his son and his son's best friend, Goten. Bulma had insisted that he accompany Trunks on this outing, since many of the other kid's parents were also going to be there. At first, he had rejected the whole idea. After all, he wanted nothing to do with the other ordinary parents of his son's friends. Quite simply, he wanted nothing to do with the ordinary life lead by any earthling parent. It took the sad look on his son's face, as he pleaded, coming quietly into his room for the last couple of weeks, to change his mind. He had admired the determination he had seen in his son's eyes and he finally consented to his little wish.
The camp grounds were not to his liking. The camp houses were wooden, and old. The area was much too humid and the people were much too excited for his own tastes. They were assigned a room in the main camp house. It was the biggest one, surrounded by smaller log houses. This main house had two floors. The bottom one was designed for the campers to get together and socialize in various provided activities. The second one was reserved for sleeping. Once in their room, however, the other parents left outside to their own silly things, he could find the quiet of the woods relaxing. He could drop of his usual fighter composure. He didn't mind that much then that heed allowed himself to be brought here, since now he could at last get away from the ever lasting presence of Kakaroto's friends. Goten was here, but Trunks was always with him, so he had nothing to do with the little noise box.
Now it was 8.30 PM- the time when the camp activities of the day came to an end and all the little children came back into the main house. Why did they have to be so noisy?!
His son didn't come in orderly either. He came in screaming, tossing his gear and snap bag into a corner. Goten would also come in tossing his things on the same corner. They'd both run into the kitchen talking with the other boys, were, between excited laughter and many a do they'd get some food. The appliances making sure they do as much noise as they could- the refrigerator slamming loudly each time some kid closed it, the blender screaming.
Above it all, Goten and his son competing with the other children as to who could scream the loudest. Closing his eyes, the Saiyan prince sighed. His trained mind could very well shut of all the noise, but he didn't. He wasn't the same person he used to be. He found it curious to listen to the bustle of the mundane things the earthlings bellow did, even if they were annoyingly loud. Most of the time he felt as if he had been two persons and that his other side was dead.
From down bellow, he heard his son announce that he would put on some music. He gritted his teeth as the loud rock blasted out of the speakers.
"Kuso," he muttered under his breath. Angered, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Maybe that other he was not that dead. Heed tell those kids to turn that radio down. Some of the other parents were getting ready for bed. Fitting his feet into some shoes, he got ready to descend the stairs. Trunks would have to learn to respect his elders. Kakaroto's son would have to learn how to sing, he noticed, as he heard him try to keep up with the cassette player.
The lights were dimmed in the first floor, he noticed, as he reached the bottom of the stairs. The kids were sitting about doing ordinary things as they listened to the music. Some were playing dice, others were talking over some collectable cards, some were eating heartily, others were jabbering about the days activities. Some, he saw, were finding a place to sleep or were already asleep, drooling with their mouths open.
A few parents, he could see, dressed in their casual clothes, were talking in a corner table, over a game of cards. Some looked at him as he crossed the room. One nodded at him, moving his head towards were Trunks was.
There, on a sofa, under Goten's tiny arm, his son lay asleep. He hadn't bothered to take of his shoes, his hair unruly over his eyes, Goten's body lying over his as they usually slept. Carefree, Trunks had been eating ice scream and had fallen asleep after such a hard day of fun.
Vejiita stood quietly watching his small chest heave up and down in careless slumber. Never once did his son flinch or muse. Dreaming, he only lay there, not caring of any danger. What a peaceful life his son had. Not a care, not a worry. He felt ashamed at times that his son paid little attention to training. He was his son and therefore prince of his father's mighty race yet, he found pleasure in these mundane things.
Vejiita sighed to himself. His childhood had been so different. A lot different than that of his sleeping son. He closed his eyes as memories overtook him.
He
remembered things that he thought were dead along with that other part
of himself.