A cool wind blew through the lively forest; scattering little drops of dew into the air. Anyone would have thought that the Son family was well and living happily just by looking at the green, lush forest. But that was not to be. Something ill and foul was infested inside. And the outcome wouldn't be pretty or forgiving.

^____________________________________________________________________________^ 

Gohan sat on the grass, panting and sweating from his aching chest and head. Every breath he took was painful and shallow. Something rattled from every breath he drew in and let out. His chest felt like it was caving in and then exploding.  He knew he was running a high fever, probably in around 102 degrees, but he didn't feel like it was something to worry about.

He was so involved in the pain he was feeling and trying to ease it, he didn't sense Piccolo landing behind him on the grass. "Kid, are you okay?" Gohan turned around more than a little shocked, which only made his breathing harder, faster, and more painful. Piccolo's expression was concerned. He knew Gohan had never been sick or at least this sick where he missed his training session.

 "Yeah." His response was winded and strained. He tried to hide the immense pain that racked his body currently. Piccolo snorted, a little irritated at Gohan's stubbornness that he inherited from his father. "No, kid you're not. So stop trying to hide it.  Your energy is abnormal, and I've been spying on you. You've been sick lately; always running to the bathroom and taking breaks between chores. You haven't been feeling well." Gohan just shrugged slightly and stood up on shaky legs, looking at Piccolo. "I'm just a little under the weather Piccolo. Just a cold or something. I'll be fine."

He flew up into the blue sky toward, only to fall down, when he was few feet in the air. Piccolo caught him before he hit the ground. "Gohan, stop fooling around. You're not just a little under the weather. You're sick and you know it. So stop acting like it's nothing." "Thanks for pointing the obvious, Piccolo. If you want to worry, fine. Now put me down." Gohan said sarcastically.

"No. I'm taking you up to Dende's. We need to find out what's wrong with you. It may be nothing, but I'd rather be safe than sorry." Piccolo replied icily, but Gohan knew that he was worried. Suddenly, before Gohan could apologize for his words, the young Demi Saiyan tensed up in pain and cried out. Gohan's ebony eyes slipped back into his head as he fell limp from pain. "Gohan? Gohan! Kid!" But Gohan was out cold. Piccolo quickly shot up to the sky and blasted off toward the Lookout.

Every minute during the 5-minute flight, Piccolo would glance down at Gohan, who was taking short breaths and shaking slightly. His pale face was even paler than normal and it was scrunched up in obvious and intense pain. That wasn't the worst part either, even though it pained Piccolo to see his friend like this. Gohan's breathing sounding like fluid had built up in his lungs and windpipe. Piccolo frowned before biting his lip in worry. 'Kid, please be alright.' Upon landing on the tile floor of the Lookout, he immediately laid Gohan on his back.

"Dende! Get over here!" Piccolo hollered out at the little Namek. Dende came running as fast as his little legs could carry his body. "Piccolo, what's wrong with Gohan?" Dende said nervously as he stared at Gohan's still body, barely breathing. "That's for me to know and you to find out." Piccolo didn't mean to sound so gruff, but he was deeply apprehensive about Gohan's health. Dende checked Gohan's vital signs and his respiratory. After a 15-minute evaluation, Dende sighed sadly.

"I'm sorry Piccolo. I can't do anything. He's really sick. His fever is 103 and rising. He's in a lot of pain. The infection and bacteria must be too strong for him to fight. I don't understand how or why he caught this, but it seems too strong for him to fend off. He's dying." Dende started crying softly after speaking. Piccolo was shocked to hear that his best friend was dying; too shocked to comfort Dende.

Gohan had always come through; he made it through every battle and now he was dying because of a stupid infection. Gohan started to stir after a few minutes of quietness. "What happened?" he said weakly as he sat up slowly. "Gohan, you're sick. Really sick. There's nothing we can do. You're dying." Dende explained miserably. "What!?"

Gohan's eyes dulled as he took in the news; he looked down, emotions running through his racing mind. Piccolo and Dende looked sadly at the young Saiyan warrior. Gohan glanced at Piccolo, noticing that his eyes were sad. Gohan brought his eyes back down, not wanting to see the sadness and grief flooding Piccolo's eyes. "Kid, I think you better go home now." "Yeah, sure." Piccolo gently picked up Gohan and moved him to his back; Gohan held on, as he couldn't fly, and they started to zoom off.

'I don't want to be treated differently because of this. I just want to live.' Gohan thought, forgetting that Piccolo had a mind link with him. "What?" Piccolo glanced up at Gohan. "Oh, sorry." Piccolo didn't give up easily, though. "What did you mean by that?"

Gohan let out a deep breath, fluid rattling slightly, before answering. "Well, Piccolo, I don't want anybody to be sorry for me. I don't people to treat me differently at all." Piccolo showed little shock and surprise but he sure felt it. "I guess you have a point."

Shortly after the conversation ended, Gohan and Piccolo arrived at his house; Piccolo walked in with Gohan on his back. Chi-Chi turned from the sink and spotted them. "GOHAN!" shrieked Chi-Chi. She fainted onto the hard wood floor. Piccolo walked into Gohan's large room and laid him on his bed.

"Thanks, Piccolo." Already Gohan's soft voice was hoarse and ghostly. Piccolo nodded and turned to leave, as he was upset, when Gohan made a small pained noise. Piccolo spun around to see Gohan tensed up and eyes tightly closed as pain ripped through his small and frail body. Then he relaxed. "Gohan?"

 Gohan had passed out from the intense pain from the disease. Piccolo clenched his fists and flew out the open window in Gohan's room with no destination in mind. Gohan woke up a few hours later in his twin bed, with a cold rag on his forehead and a pounding headache. He knew he was really sick and was going to die soon. It didn't bother him because he could see his dad again. But what about Goten; Goten was too little to understand that Gohan was dying. And he worshiped Gohan. Goten would be crushed when Gohan died. Maybe Goku could help him?

3 Days later

Everybody knew that Gohan was dying, and he was slowing fading away. They had come by after learning the news from Piccolo. Try as they might, Gohan refused to let them feel sorry for him. He couldn't spar, and he sometimes had a glazed look in his eyes like he was somewhere else. He was sleeping a lot more than normal and he didn't eat as much as he usually did.

Piccolo felt hopeless. Chi-Chi had just lost her husband and now was going to lose her oldest son. Piccolo felt a little sympathy and pity at the widow. But the only person that didn't know about Gohan's severe illness was Goku. He hadn't contacted them at all since the Cell Games and by the looks of it; it meant he had been training. Piccolo knew how hard it would be for Goku when he found out. And that could be when Gohan finally passed over. Piccolo knew that Gohan's time was coming soon; it was only a matter of time.

 One warm day Gohan was laying outside in the sunshine, trying to enjoy his last few days on Earth. Goten was lying next to him, a little sad. Nobody told him that Gohan was going to die; all they said was that he would be really sick for a while. The sun-warmed grass beneath them kept them comfortable or as comfortable as possible for Gohan. "Go'an? Why bon't po'ple be fad?" Goten asked sadly. Gohan sighed before answering. "Well, Goten, I want to live like nothing is happening. I just want to live without people being scared." Goten nodded. "Oh. Okay." Goten yawned and curled up next to Gohan. Goten fell sound asleep. So did Gohan. Chi-Chi walked outside to see what they were doing. A tear trickled down her cheek as she saw her two sons sleep for what might be the last time.

The Otherworld

Goku was busy training with Pikon, exchanging hard punches and fast kicks. King Kai was bored of watching them spar and decided to take a look at Goku's family, wondering how they were handling things. He peered into the crystal pond. What he saw next was bad. Gohan was in his bed, sitting up, gasping for air through his fluid filled lungs. Goten was watching tearfully as Gohan clenched his sheets in pain. Sweat dripped slowly off his forehead from his constant fever and effort. King Kai gulped.

"Goku! Get over here!" shrieked King Kai after a few moments. Goku walked over, confusion taking over his features. "What's wrong King Kai?" asked Goku. "Take a look at your family." King Kai replied, pointing his finger at the crystal pond. Gohan was still struggling to breathe. Goten was rubbing his back as instructed to do so by Chi-Chi if Gohan needed it. "King Kai, what's wrong with Gohan?" Goku asked apprehensively. King Kai sighed sadly, "Goku, he's really sick. In fact, he's dying. So he'll be up here soon."

It took a few moments for it to sink in. "But how did he get so sick? He's never gotten sick before." King Kai thought for a moment. "I think… he caught something that Saiyans are prone to catching. He probably caught it on Namek, but it never showed up. It probably lay dormant. Goku, would you like to speak with him before he goes? That might help him before his death. He only has a few days left." Goku nodded and swallowed before answering, "Sure, King Kai. One question-who's the little boy?" "He's your new son." King Kai said. "What?! So I have another son? Cool!" King Kai nodded, "Now place a hand on my shoulder." 

'Gohan?' Goku's rich voice rang through the room. 'Daddy?' Gohan's voice was weak and quiet, unlike the energy usually heard. Goku laughed, a little, 'Yep. It's me. King Kai told me everything. I just wanted to talk with you before you…die.' 'Oh. But Daddy, you need to come here. Goten, he's your new son.' 'King Kai just explained that to me.' 'He's way too little to know what's going on. When I die, he's going to take it very hard. And Mom misses you. You died a few months ago and now she's going to lose me too. You really need to come back.'

Goku was speechless. 'Gohan…I will come back.' 'Thanks, Daddy. I-.' Before Gohan could continue, a fit of coughing and gagging seized him. 'Gohan?!' Gohan coughed once more before passing out. Goku backed away from King Kai and leaned against the tree. He slid down in shock and did something he never did before. He cried.

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How's that?! A little short, yes, but it's better. Check out all of my stories; they're reposted, and updated! L8r. Oh, check out Ch.5 for comments.