Recent Note: This one is getting the same revamped treatment as "Life Goes On."

Chapter 1: Peace with a Price

The sun beat gently down upon Mount Paozu creating a pleasantly warm summer afternoon. The wind whistled softly through the trees causing some leaves to fall onto the sleeping boy below. They tickled his nose causing him to sneeze and wake up. Son Gohan didn't get up right away; he lay in the grass lost in thought. He had gotten into the habit of taking long walks these days in an attempt to distract himself and often fell asleep. He turned his head to the backpack full of textbooks lying near him and then to the open book on his chest. Chi Chi was being very lenient on his studies these days but he did them anyway in another vain attempt to drown out his thoughts and feelings.

It had been a month since the Cell Game had been fought but it seemed like it had been yesterday. Gohan could remember it so clearly; the day he had lost his father forever. He had reached a new level of power, he could have killed Cell but some mad instinct made him prolong it. Cell had activated his final attack and Goku paid the ultimate price to save the world. It wasn't like he felt responsible or anything; his Sayian blood took over and Goku did an extremely noble thing. It was simply the fact that Gohan would never see his Daddy again. He had tried to carry on and for the first few days he had felt fine. But then the sadness came. It wasn't really depression just an emptiness that Gohan couldn't shake. Chi Chi had battled proper depression for a while but her friends and family had helped her pull through. For the Son household everything was exactly the same and yet entirely different.

Gohan sat up, stretched and packed the book away. He stood and began the trek back to the house. Every inch of the wooded path held memories but he tried to ignore them.

"Dad is happy" he told himself aloud "He wanted it this way for the sake of the Earth." He reached the house and entered saying "Mom I'm back."

She was in the kitchen making supper but looked up as her son entered the room; "There you are Gohan. Did you have a good walk?"

"Same as always" he answered.

She smiled and said "Go put your things away and wash up, supper will be ready in a few minutes."

Soon they were seated at the table and serving them selves another one of Chi Chi's excellent meals.

"Mom you made too much food again" Gohan observed.

"Oh my, you'd think after a month I'd stop cooking for, for…" She paused with tears on the edges of her eyes but soon composed herself and said "I'm sure we'll find room for it. Anyway did you get some studying done?"

"Yes Mom. As I was out in the forest I reviewed those chapters on natural science."

"Well done Gohan." She hesitated a minute and said "I'm surprised you're not training these days. I know the Earth is at peace but you used to love martial arts as a hobby."

"I don't have much interest these days." Chi Chi nodded and silently chewed her food. She certainly didn't encourage fighting but she hated to see her son lose interest in something he had loved. She was also slowly submitting to the fact that Sayian blood simply carried the fighter's instinct.

After supper Gohan went outside to take a bath and Chi Chi began washing the dishes. The radio was playing a song she enjoyed but she wasn't really paying attention. She was trying to think of something to help Gohan. He tried to be so tough but sometimes he succumbed to his feelings. Just the other night Chi Chi had passed Gohan's room on her way to bed and heard him crying. She simply had to do something to cheer him up. Her thoughts were interrupted by a commercial on the radio. She listened intently then dropped the plate she had been washing and rushed outside.

She found Gohan in the bath barrel scrubbing his back.

"Gohan listen, I have something to tell you."

He turned around and asked "What is it Mom?"

"I just heard it on the radio; they're having some kind of big tournament soon. Hercule Satan is a part of it and they say that aliens are entering, although I seriously doubt that."

Gohan said "So are saying you want me to enter this tournament?"

"Yes the grand prize is thousands of zenni and a tour of the world's best hot springs! Not to mention the fact that this tournament will do you a ton of good emotionally."

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Don't lie to your mother, young man! So what do you say?"

Gohan sank deeper into the boiling bathwater and thought for a moment. "You know what" he said at last "I think I will enter!"

"Excellent! I can't wait for our prizes!" Gohan smiled in amusement as she walked back inside.

Suddenly, he called her back. "What is it Gohan?"

"Mom could you make me a new gi for the tournament? One just like Dad's?"

"Of course I will! It will be our tribute to Goku."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Mother and son looked at each other and began laughing. It was the happiest either of them had felt since Goku's death.