Here it is! The next chapter, as promised! Thank you to everyone who favorited, followed and reviewed this story, it really means a lot to me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

Chapter Three: The Funeral

"I like this picture the most," Gohan said, pointing to a photo of his mother, Chi Chi. In the picture, she was wearing a long blue robe that had a pink sash tied around the waist. She was smiling so wide that her eyes looked closed. Gohan did not know when the photo was taken, but his mom looked young in the picture, so he assumed it was taken before he was born. He chose it because she looked genuinely happy and carefree. It was not often that Gohan saw his mother like that; it seemed like she was always worried about something, -or someone. Gohan knew he and his father had always added excess stress to Chi Chi. He looked at the photo again, I wonder if she is relaxed right now.

"I thought so too," Bulma said, and smiled. She put a hand on Gohan's shoulder before walking out of the room. There was so much to prepare, she wanted this funeral to be perfect; Chi Chi deserved that much.

"Bulma," Gohan called before she left the room.

"Yes," she turned around to look at the kid.

"Thank you. For everything," he said genuinely. Gohan really appreciated all that Bulma had done for him.

"Sure thing, kiddo. Besides, there's no need to thank me. We're practically family; we need to look out for each other." She winked at the teen then left the room.

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He felt numb. He knew he should have been crying, and kami knows he wanted to, but for some odd reason, he could not cry. He was looking straight at his mother's dead body, and he knew how heartless he looked; knew that everyone was watching him intently, but he could not do it. And that hurt more than crying ever could of.

Minutes turned to hours as he sat next to the now closed casket. Eventually, Krillin came up behind the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. At first, he flinched the moment his hand touched his flesh, but once he realized Krillin posed no threat, he accepted the warm gesture.

"How are you holding up, kiddo," Krillin asked, trying to look the half saiyan in the eye. Gohan averted his gaze.

"Fine, I guess," Gohan answered. He was lying and he knew that Krillin could see right through him. Heck, it didn't take a genius to tell when Gohan was not telling the truth, lying never suited the boy.

"No, Gohan. How are you really doing?" The man was truly concerned for the well being of the son of his best friend. Everyone at the funeral was put off by his silence and his distance. It seemed that Gohan was coping by pushing everyone away, and that terrified them. The usually open and expressive boy who wore his heart on his sleeve was being uncharacteristically guarded, and everyone noticed it.

"What do you want me to say, Krillin?" he asked desperately. "Both my parents just died." Gohan was unsure of what all these people wanted from him. Did they want him to break down? To cry? To grieve openly? He wanted to too. He wanted to feel, he felt wrong; evil almost. Here he was, at his own mother's funeral, and everyone else seemed more distraught than he. But the few people who really knew the boy- as in they knew him as Gohan and not just Goku's son, they knew that wasn't true. They could tell from the way Gohan distanced himself. From the walls he was trying to put up. From the pathetic attempt at being cold hearted. That attitude suited him just as much as lying did.

"Gohan, I just want to let you know that it's okay to cry. It's your Mom's funeral, we won't judge you; we won't blame you. Just let it out. We're here for you." Krillin said comfortingly.

Gohan wanted to believe him desperately, he wanted to take up the former monk's suggestion, but he couldn't. Am I really that cold hearted? That evil? Gohan wondered where all his emotions had gone. Everything he had once known was gone. And that left him feeling lonely. It left him feeling abandoned. But worst of all, it left him feeling empty. "Thanks, Krillin." Gohan said and got up to get some fresh air. It was getting too crowded at the funeral in his opinion.

Krillin watched as the boy left, and a figure emerged from the shadows. "See what I mean?" asked Piccolo.

"I know, I've never seen him like that." Krillin said absently, still mulling over his recent conversation with the thirteen year old half saiyan. "He seems so out of it. So detached."

"He pretends to be okay, but the kid doesn't realize we can all see right through him." Piccolo said, gazing at the door Gohan just left out of.

"Should I go follow him?" Krillin asked, worried about the half saiyan.

"No, just let him be alone for a bit."

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Gohan's feet dangled from the roof of the building. He just wanted to be alone. To sort things on his own. To think. But Gohan didn't know what there was to sort out. What he needed to figure out was a mystery to him; he needed to solve a problem but he did not know what the problem was. He looked up at the sky.

"Mom, Dad," he said, gazing at the stars. "I hope you guys are alright. I miss you guys, a lot. I really do, but, Mom, I know you would be here if you could be." It was then that Gohan realized something. His mother had no choice in her death. She could not be resurrected by Shenron, even if she wanted to be. Goku on the other hand... Gohan clenched his fists in anger.

"And Dad, please, if you are listening, can you give me a clue. A hint as to why you don't want to be here. Did I-" Gohan choked for a moment. "Was it me? Did I let you down? Dad, please don't punish Goten for my mistake." Gohan waited for a response, and slowly the seconds turned into minutes as he waited and waited. "Dad?"

Nothing. But Gohan could not be surprised. It was not the first time Gohan reached out to his father, and despite his anger he knew it would not be the last. He buried his face in his hands and let out a deep sigh. He doesn't care, he never did.

"Gohan," called out a familiar voice. He jumped off of the roof in an instant, and landed right in front of an unsuspecting Bulma, who screamed out loud.

"Dammit Gohan! Don't scare me like that!" she yelled at the teenager.

"I'm sorry, Bulma," Gohan said sheepishly, and for the first time in a while, he actually smiled.

"That's fine, kiddo, you just scared me that's all," the blue haired scientist said, and ruffled his hair. Although Gohan usually hated when people did that to him, the motion was too kind for Gohan to be annoyed by it, so he just smiled at her sweetly.

"You called for me?"

"Ah, yes! Um… We're all making some parting words for your mom, you don't have to speak, I just thought you would want to be there, you know," Bulma wasn't sure how to continue. Thankfully, Gohan caught on and saved her from any further explanation.

"Of course," he said, and they were led to the larger room with Chi Chi's coffin.

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"I remember the first time I met her, she tried to kill me," began Yamcha, with a smile on his face. "We were both young, and both terrified of each other for various reasons, and she tried to shoot me with a laser beam. I was so scared of her. Heck, I am still scared of her." Yamcha chucked and received various giggles from the crowd as well as a "you can say that again" from Krillin.

"I knew that she would end up with someone special. She needed someone just as stubborn and determined as she was, and she found her match in Goku. Chi Chi has always been a strong willed person, but it is always her caring nature that I will never forget. No matter how tough things got, she always had faith in us Z Fighters. She was always optimistic that things would eventually turn out right. We put her through so much worry, but she always forgave us afterwards. Although she left this world and has joined Goku, she left us all a gift, a mini Goku. We miss her dearly, but we know that she is resting peacefully now, and we all know that we will someday see her again." Yamcha smiled and put a rose on her coffin, then handed the stage to Bulma.

"Chi Chi was one of my closest friends. When things got crazy and out of hand, I always knew that while everyone else was out fighting life or death battles, she would be there as moral support. We were both able to keep each other's spirits high, even when it seemed that our loved ones were doomed." Bulma wiped a tear from her eye and struggled to continue. "She left too early, there was still much more for her to do on this world, but kami decided that her time has come, and I am sure she is resting peacefully now, with Goku right by her side. We miss you Chi Chi," Bulma said, and placed a rose on the coffin. She walked to the edge of the platform and ushered Gohan over.

"Do you want to add something?"she asked him carefully. "it's okay if you would prefer not to speak."

"No it's fine, I'll just say something brief," Gohan thought he owed his mother at least that. He slowly made his way to the platform, and took a moment to gather his thoughts. His friends in the audience watched him closely, and knowing he was being observed and analyzed made Gohan even more nervous.

"My mom, was scary, stubborn, and strict, but above all that, she was loving. My mom was and still is the most caring person I have ever met. It pains me to say that I did not appreciate her as much," Gohan choked for a moment, but continued smoothly, this time directing his gaze at the floor. "I did not appreciate her as much as I should have. I did not study as much as she wanted me to, and I made her worry about me, a lot. There is still a lot that I wanted to say to her, that I wanted her to see. She will never see me graduate from high school, she will never see my wedding day, or meet her grandchildren. Most of all, she will never see her second son grow up. My mom left too early, it was not her time to go, but she had to, and I miss her dearly. If you are listening, mom, I love you. More than words could ever describe. Thank you, Mom."

Gohan grabbed a rose and placed it on the coffin as well. His gaze still on the ground. He heard sniffles from the audience and could feel the pitying gazes directed at him. He hated it. He hated the attention, and the reason for it made him feel both pathetic and weak. He was starting to break into a sweat as an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia kicked in. His breathing became hitched as his chest moved up and down rapidly and his heart rate went up. His power level increased, very slightly. So slight that it was imperceptible to most, but nothing went past the ever so watchful gaze of Piccolo, who, sensing his discomfort, walked up behind the half saiyan and led him out of the room.

"Thanks Piccolo," Gohan said once they were outside. He was still panting heavily, his hands on his knees as his eyes averted the namekian's concerned gaze. "It's nothing, I just got nervous," Gohan said before his mentor could even ask. "It's just the stress, I think it's getting to me."

And Gohan was sure that was partially right. He had been really on edge and anxious lately, but this is the first time it had any real physical consequences. He held his hand on his chest and his breathing sped up. His heart rate felt like it was getting faster and faster.

"Breathe, Gohan," Piccolo said sternly. The kid's heart was beating so quickly that Piccolo heard it. He was namekian, and his sense of hearing was very adept, but not to that extent. "Slowly." Gohan counted to three, breathe in, breathe out, he thought to himself, desperately trying to calm himself down. Eventually, his heart rate slowed down and he was able to calm himself down.

"What was that kid?" Piccolo asked worriedly.

"I, I don't know. Like I said before, I am sure it is just the stress. Don't worry, Piccolo."

The whole thing seemed to rile the boy up, but Piccolo decided not to press the issue further, mentally deciding to ask the blue haired human about it. She would know what to do.

That was it guys! I had a lot of fun writing that one and for all those dragonball fans out there, that one was for you guys! for those of you who did not watch dragonball, that scene about how Yamcha met Chi Chi is accurate, she really did try to shoot him with a laser! XD anyways please let me know what you think and as always please favorite follow and review!

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