A/N: This is my first story (well technically it's not my first story but you get the picture) that I'm uploading here. I'm very nervous but I want to accept the risk and actually try with this. This concept has been in my mind for years now and I'm finally getting around to actually doing something about it. I'm not all that good at writing but I really want to try and improve, and hopefully, I can with this story. So I hope you enjoy it.

Also, the characters may be a tad OOC from their actual counterparts.

Words: 1,973

- My Guardian Angel -

Chapter 1: Am I A Failure? A Longing to Guard

"How many since has it been since his enrollment?"

"An estimation of around sixty mortals have died due to him…that's the highest for any angel here at the Academy…"

Those words echoed through Goku's mind as he laid on a cloud, his arms drape behind his head. He sighed with a hint of stress. The past few days had been quite unpleasant for him. "Why…" Goku uttered with a feint-like whisper, "why am I so horrible at saving mortals?" He shifted over to his left side, staring at the ocean below him. He started to recall the events that took place a few days prior.

"That's the fifth mission you've failed boy! How many mortals perished because of your screw up?" Goku stared at the floor, not wanting to see the face of wrath. The Chief of the West Coast, Chief Vegeta, was seething with anger. "Answer me!"

"F-Fifteen sir…" Fifteen, fifteen mortals were killed because of Goku's blunder.

"Do you realize if you keep failing assignments and not being able to rescue lives, you'll never amount to anything as an angel?"

"I do sir, but –"

"Obviously you don't! If you did, then all those mortals would be alive right now!" Chief Vegeta let out a low groan. "Leave my office, but understand this, I will be having a word with your father, and you will be put on a temporary suspension from this Academy…"

The memory faded into the depths of Goku's mind as he let out another sigh. He began to sit up, looking forward at the evening sky. "Chief Vegeta said that if I keep failing, I won't amount to anything. So, if I keep failing them…I won't get to be a mortal's guardian."

"Not only that, but you'll probably never be looked upon as a worthy angel in our society if you keep screwing up" a scruffy voice added to Goku's open monologue. Goku turned his head to see Raditz, his older brother, standing behind him. Raditz was a foot and a half taller than Goku himself, with long, spiky raven hair that almost touched the ground. Raditz wore a crimson gi, made from silk, tied together with a black sash around his waist. His clothing showed off his muscles, but most importantly, his majestic wings. They were whiter than that of any cloud in the sky, and he was lucky too, blessed with four rows of feathers.

"Why are you here Raditz?" Goku spat. He'd rather be alone, with no interruption, just him and his thoughts.

"I came here for you; it's time to go home." Raditz turned, about to take off into the air, when he noticed Goku not getting up. He turned his head "now Kakarot."

"Yes Raditz" Goku sulked. Kakarot, that name, he despised being called that. He preferred to be called Goku. He knew Raditz just enjoyed seeing Goku being pushed to his limits.

Goku rose, stretching his arms then spreading out his wings to give them a good stretching too. Raditz took off into the sky, Goku following behind him. As they flew home in complete silence, Goku contemplated what he wanted to ask Raditz. He'd been wondering if he was considered a failure. Maybe the suspension was reflecting that he wasn't good enough. He hated the thought of being ostracized by the other angels, but if you're not successful in anything, how will you amount to anything? "Raditz" Goku broke the silence between them, "am I a failure?"

"Yes," Raditz answered without hesitation or remorse. Goku stopped midflight. Wait, he was a failure? That wasn't the answer he was expecting or wanting.

"What?" Goku uttered questionably. Raditz looked back at Goku, seeing he was confused. "Why would you agree that I'm a failure?"

"I'm not going to sugar coat it like mother would or not say anything to you as father would." Raditz stared straight into Goku's eyes. "You. Are. A. Failure" He paused in between words to make sure Goku would receive the message loud and clear.

"I don't understand," Goku said, audibly becoming frustrated.

"How can you 'not understand'" Raditz began to scoff. "Where do I begin, you've been failing class homework, exams, and assignments. Kakarot, over the course of the three years you've been at the Academy, you've let sixty mortals parish! You have the worst track record that any angel is currently going to at the Academy and who have already graduated!" Goku flew a few paces back. He turned his back, taking a minute to let what Raditz said sink in. All of what he said was true of him, but he still didn't want to believe it. "With all of that, you'll never be as good as father or me."

"You've always been perfect at doing those assignments though. Other angels tell me there, you, Vegeta, and that bald one, Nappa, do your assignments flawlessly" Goku rebuttal.

"I have not always been perfect, and I'm not perfect at all my assignments. I had to work hard to where I'm at now. I had to pay attention in class, pass exams, and train, all of which you don't do."

"I train!"

"You don't do the Academy training Kakarot, that Martial Arts training won't do you any good on Academy assignments." Raditz let out a prolonged sigh. "Kakarot, I can't tell you what to do, you're old enough to decide what to do with your life, neither can mother or father." He flew higher up in the air, "you've got two options: start paying attention and improve or continue to be a failure, your choice. Better choose wisely." He started flying away from Goku, "see you at home." With that, Raditz faded into the clouds until he was not visible anymore.

"I know he's right" Goku molded Raditz's words in his mind for quite a while. Even though he knew Raditz was right, he still didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to accept what he or Chief Vegeta said. He hung his head low and headed home.

Entering his home, he was greeted with the sweets smells of freshly baked bread. His mother, Gine, was finishing up cooking dinner and had just pulled out some bread from the oven when Goku walked in. He didn't have much of an appetite after that discussion with Raditz. All he really wanted to do was go to bed; he was exhausted from the past few days. He would've stayed home today, being cooped up in his room if his mother hadn't kicked him out, yelling, "You've been sulking in here for three days, go outside!" Cautiously, he headed for the stairs, only to be stopped by his mother after making it up the first two steps.

"And where do you think you're going mister?" Gine questioned, pointing at him, wearing oven mitts. "Dinner is ready you know, come to the table and eat."

"I'm not very hungry mother – "

"Ha! That's a laugh, you not hungry" Gine turned her head and laughed. "That wasn't an offer, go sit at the table and eat," she sternly said. Goku sighed in defeat; there was no arguing with his mother. Reluctantly, he made his way to the table. Raditz and their father, Bardock, were already eating the wonderful food Gine had prepared. He sat down, on the other side of the table, facing his father, with Raditz on his left side. Gine placed a plate of food in front of him. Goku just blankly stared at it; he didn't have an appetite. In all honesty, he felt queasy and smelling that food wasn't helping his upset stomach. A few minutes passed, still staring at food, not taking into consideration what everyone else was saying. "Kakarot, you need to eat something," Gine said. Goku snapped back into reality to see a worried look on his mother's face. Picking up a fork and took a bite out of the food. After swallowing, he went back to staring at the food.

"I had a word with Chief Vegeta, your suspension will be lifted at the end of the month" Bardock spoke. Goku lifted his head up. "You're lucky you didn't get expelled, he was damn near close to kicking your butt out of that Academy."

"Whatever…" Goku mumbled. He didn't want to hear anything his father had to say. When Chief Vegeta told his parents about the suspension, his father didn't say anything to him. The only thing he got was an earful from his mother. "May I be excused?" Goku asked, already getting out of his chair.

"Yes – "

"No," Bardock cut off Gine before she could finish. "Sit back down Kakarot; I'm not done speaking with you."

"That's a first" Goku mumbled again. Bardock slammed his fists on the table. Goku sat back down in his chair immediately.

"Watch your tongue boy!" He shouted, while pointing his finger at Goku. "Keep that attitude up, and your face will be meeting the wall." Goku's seen his father angry before, but this was a first for him. He's never had a strong relationship with his father. He was a mother's boy. Actually, he was more a grandpa's boy. He had a better relationship with his grandpa more than his actual father. "Chief Vegeta told me that if you keep letting mortals die, you'll be kicked out of the Academy, so I would suggest you start doing better there – "

"What makes you care suddenly?" Goku questioned. It wasn't like his father to care about him, so why would he care now? "You said nothing to me when I was put on suspension, and haven't said anything up until now."

"Do you know what the records show for someone of an Elite to have a son who will most likely be kicked out of the Academy? It spreads a bad message to other Elite angels. If you don't start succeeding there, then we all be put down by others!"

"Oh! So, it was never about me then huh!" Goku started forming tears in his eyes. "You're only telling me to start doing better so you can keep a good image to the public." He wiped his tears away. "I'm so sorry that I'm such a failure to you!" He got up from the table and stormed off to his room. Bardock got up from his chair to follow, but Gine stopped him.

"Don't, you've already upset him, you'll just make it worse" Gine sighed.

"I didn't mean it like that" Bardock huffed. "That boy knows how to blow things out of proportion."

"Well, how do you expect him not too! With the way you sounded, it's no wonder he thinks it was just about your image." Gine put her hand on Bardock's shoulder. "Try to explain it to him tomorrow when he cools down okay?" Bardock nodded, and they went back to finishing supper.

Meanwhile, while his family finished dinner, Goku sulked on his bed, mulling over what his father said. He couldn't believe that he only wants him to succeed so his father can keep a good image. "I guess father doesn't care whether or not I do good for my sake, only for his sake. No wonder I'm such a failure, if I keep this up, I won't be a guardian angel." A lifelong dream he had always been wanting to have, to be a mortal's guardian. But with the way he acts and with the suspension, he may never achieve his dream. "I don't want to be a failure anymore, but how in the world do I make a comeback from everything that's happened?" He sighed dejectedly and decided to get some sleep, he'll think of something in the morning. For the first time, in a long time, Goku cried himself to sleep from all that's happened in the past few days.