Vegeta's Nephew Chapter 5

                                      Accepting
It took A LOT of convincing, as well as a few threatening stand offs, but the 13 Court Guard Squads all agreed with Vegeta. After about two days, Kosa started talking and moving around more. Something Toushiro wasn’t particularly happy about.
Toushiro: “I liked him better when he was quiet.”
Momo: “I thought you didn’t like him at all.”
Toushiro: “I don’t.”
Momo: “I don’t like it either, but I do agree with Vegeta. Just being his son doesn’t mean Kosa will be like Coge.”
Toushiro: “I know, I know. Vegeta already gave me that whole spiel. And I know I said that Vegeta looks like his father but isn’t anything like him, but...”
Momo: “But what?”
Toushiro: “He does share a few personality traits with his father. Stubbornness being one of them.”
Momo just chuckled. Toushiro glanced over at Kosa who was sitting on the sofa playing with Rangiku. She was very determined to get the saiyan boy to like her since her captain had a saiyan companion.
Toushiro: “I still say this is a bad idea.”
Momo: “Why’s that?”
Toushiro: “Sure Kosa maybe innocent, but his father isn’t and if that bastard’s still alive, he could see this as an opportunity.”
Momo: “I see what you mean, Toushiro.”
Toushiro: “But the worst part of this is that Vegeta’s making me watch the brat whenever he goes on a mission! I hate that. You wouldn’t believe at how annoying and-”
Momo: “Uh!...”
Toushiro: “-And Vegeta’s right behind me, isn’t he?...”
Momo just grinned nervously and that made Toushiro turn around in his chair. Sure enough... There was Vegeta, giving the young captain his raised eyebrow look. Toushiro just grinned back nervously. The next day, there was a lot of things Toushiro wanted to get off his chest about Kosa. But he didn’t want to entice Vegeta’s wrath, or any form of anger for that matter. So while Vegeta was off doing who knows what, Toushiro went to Capsule Corp on his own. He wanted to talk to Goku, but he had no idea at where he lived and he still sucked at sensing energy outside of the Soul Society. It was easy in the Soul Society because there were only three people that gave off that kind of energy, Val, Vegeta, and Mika. In the World of The Living, that was a whole different matter. Since he couldn’t get a hold of Goku, Toushiro went to the next best thing.
Toushiro: “Thanks for seeing me, Gin. I needed someone to talk to who wasn’t Vegeta or related to him.”
Gin sat a cup of tea down for the young captain before sitting down in the chair next to him. After Toushiro took a drink, he looked over to Gin.
Gin: “No problem, Toushiro. I wasn’t doing anything anyway. So what’s bugging you, huh?”
Toushiro just stared down at his tea cup. He hated judging Vegeta’s actions behind his back, but this was something that he couldn’t say in front of the saiyan.
Toushiro: “I think you already know, Gin.”
Bright blue eyes just stared at the young captain. He did indeed know already.
Gin: “It’s about Kosa, huh.”
Toushiro: “Yeah... I want to respect Vegeta’s decision... But... He’s Coge’s son, after all! It’s almost as if all of the Z-Fighters are blind to the truth!”
Gin: “I wouldn’t say all, Toushiro. Just to let ya know, Goku himself is a little apprehensive over the whole ‘Kosa being Coge’s son’ thing.”
Toushiro: “Then why hasn’t he talked to Vegeta?”
Gin: “I asked him that very same question and he told me-”
~Flashback~
Goku: “Although he’s Coge’s son, judging him just by his heritage alone is just as bad. I mean, look at Vegeta’s family, Gin. You’ve got Coge, Vegeta and Tarble. Compare all three brothers with one another and you’ll see that they’re all very different when it comes to their individual personalities. One’s cruel and heartless, one’s fierce yet gentle, and the other’s weak and timid.”
Gin: “Hmm... I guess so...”
Goku: “Be honest with me, Gin. Are you aware of Vegeta’s past?”
Gin: “Yes, both you and Toushiro have told me.”
Goku: “Well think of this too. Look at Vegeta’s past... He was brought up to be the next king and then he’s enslaved most of his life by Frieza! Considering everything he’s been through, Vegeta could’ve turned out to be a lot worse.”
Gin: “I see what you mean.”
Goku: “You may not know this, Gin, but I was sent here to Earth as a baby to destroy all of the earthlings and everything else on it. But I was raised by a very kind old man and look at what I turned out as. All I’m saying is that Kosa may be Coge’s son, but that doesn’t mean he will be like his father. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
~End Flashback~
Toushiro: “Yeah... That sounds like something Goku would say.”
Gin: “In all honesty, Toushiro... I have to agree with Goku on that. But I’m still keeping an eye on that kid.”
Toushiro: “Everyone is. But what bugs me even more is that Vegeta knows I don’t like the kid and yet he’s always leaving him with me when he goes off on missions and such!”
Gin: “Maybe he’s hoping that Kosa will look up to you just like you look up to him.”
Toushiro paused for a moment. He hadn’t thought of it like that.
Gin: “I know it’s hard to get past the whole ‘Coge’s son’ thing. But don’t you think its fair to at least try to accept him? If I recall... You told me that Kurotsuchi had told everyone that saiyans were very dangerous when you first saw Vegeta. But you gave it a shot and look at what happened! You got the prince of all saiyans as your best friend and second lieutenant.”
It was true. Kurotsuchi had told all of them that saiyans were extremely dangerous when Vegeta first came to the Soul Society. But while even knowing that, Toushiro gave it a shot to get close to the saiyan and it payed off with Vegeta becoming his best friend and the 13 Court Guard Squads making friends with the Z-Fighters which has already payed off greatly. So it was fair to at least TRY to accept Kosa. And if it didn’t work... Well they tried. It was all that can be asked.
Toushiro: “I guess it is fair.”
Gin only nodded and they both finished their tea before Toushiro headed back home. When he got back, he sucked it up and tried to accept Kosa’s presence. The next few days were hard. It was a friday morning when Toushiro’s tolerance finally ended. The young captain was filling out a lot of documents and files when Vegeta walked in with Kosa right behind him.
Toushiro: “Good timing, Vegeta. I’ve got a mission for you.”
Vegeta: “I just woke up and already I have a mission.”
Toushiro: “That’s life as a lieutenant.”
Vegeta: “Speaking of lieutenant, where’s our friendly all night party lover?”
Toushiro: “You probably just answered your own question with that one.”
Vegeta: “Yeah no kidding. Probably in bed with a hangover the size of Fort Knox. So am I on my own or helping some poor soul.”
Toushiro: “You are going to help with the field training of some academy students today.”
Vegeta: “... ... Who’s the instructor?”
Toushiro: “I’ll give you a hint. Red hair with tattoos.”
Vegeta: “Renji, huh? ... ... This is gonna be an all day mission.”
Toushiro: “At least you’ll be entertained.”
Vegeta: “That’s the only bright side of working with Renji. Everything else is just painful.”
Toushiro huffed a laugh before he looked at Kosa. He knew what was coming next.
Vegeta: “Kosa. You stay here. This is gonna get a little too colorful for you.”
Kosa: “Ok, uncle.”
Vegeta left, leaving Toushiro alone with Kosa and wouldn’t be back till dark. Although his second lieutenant had accepted the little saiyan boy next to him, Toushiro still did not care for Kosa at all. Sure Toushiro was trying to tolerate Kosa. But it hasn’t gone all that well. The boy looked so much like his father that it was really hard to get passed. Only moments after his uncle had left, Kosa looked up at the young captain and was met with a nasty look. But Kosa didn’t know why he was getting this look. He was too young to understand. Toushiro just went back to his work filling out the paperwork. At the corner of his eye, he could see Kosa staring at him.
Kosa: “So you are a captain, huh?”
Toushiro: “Yes... Yes I am.”
Kosa: “And my uncle’s your lieutenant?”
Toushiro: “Second lieutenant.”
Toushiro was starting to get agitated.
Kosa: “Why isn’t he a captain?”
Toushiro: “Because he chooses to stay as a lieutenant.”
Kosa: “Were you a lieutenant once?”
Suddenly, Toushiro slammed his hands on his desk while standing up! He had had it with this kid! When the child prodigy glared at him, Kosa quickly apologized for whatever he did wrong.
Kosa: “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!”
Instead of saying anything, Toushiro grabbed the boy’s arm and dragged him over to the door. After he opened the door, the Squad 10 captain shoved the saiyan boy outside onto the walkway!
Toushiro: “You stay out here and away from me!! Got it!?”
Kosa only nodded his head while standing there, completely unaware at what was going on. Toushiro then slammed the door shut right in front of Kosa! He didn’t even look back as he returned to his work!
Toushiro: “Best case scenario is he’ll leave here in a few minutes.”
Hours went by and night had descended upon the Soul Society. Vegeta was already back in Toushiro’s room and fast asleep. It was 11 at night when the young captain finished all of the paperwork. He was tired and ready for bed. As he was turning off the lights, he thought about whether he should drop off the paperwork now or in the morning. He decided to do it in the morning and left his office, stepping into the quiet night. But as he was closing the door, he noticed something next to the door at the corner of his eye. He looked over and to his complete surprise and shock...
Toushiro: “What the?!”
There was Kosa! Laying asleep on the walkway, right where Toushiro had left him this morning. Toushiro couldn’t believe his eyes! The saiyan boy had stayed out here alone all day and had even fallen asleep here too!
Toushiro: *He’s been out here this whole time?!*
Toushiro just continued to stare at the sleeping form in front of him. As he did, he thought back to how he had behaved earlier towards this kid. Guilt filled his heart and with a heavy sigh, he walked over to the boy and gently picked him up. He nestled Kosa in his arms and carried him back to his quarters. When he arrived at his bedroom and walked in, Toushiro found Vegeta fast asleep already. The young captain laid the little saiyan next to his uncle and put a blanket over him. He himself then got ready for bed and laid down next to Vegeta’s other side. He closed his eyes soon after. A minute later however, he was slightly woken up by the sounds of someone waking up. Toushiro opened one eye and saw Kosa climbing over his hard sleeping uncle. Toushiro was speechless when he watched the 6 year old boy crawl over to him and nuzzle himself against the young captain. Even after what he had done, Kosa still trusted him. That was the night that Toushiro finally accepted Kosa. Vegeta opened just one eye to watch as Toushiro calmly went back to sleep with his nephew nuzzled against him. He smiled softly before going back to sleep. Things finally seemed to be settling down.