TIME FRAME: JUST BEFORE THE ANDROIDS ARRIVE; GOHAN IS TEN YEARS OLD

"Daddy…Mom…Daddy…Mom…"

It was not an unpleasant chanting but it was quite early to be hearing it, especially so close to her ear. ChiChi blinked, her vision clearing on the image of her son, frantically clamoring for her or Goku's attention. He smiled at her in greeting, still dressed in his nightclothes, but with all the enthusiasm of a five year old. ChiChi simply blinked in confusion a moment, rubbed her eyes and reached over, turning her clock so she could see the face. "Gohan, it's five AM."

The small preteen, still grinning, shook her shoulder then darted over her, seeming to forget he was no longer as light as he once was and shook his father. Planting on the man's back like an odd little monkey, he pushed his weight into his father's shoulders. "Daddy! Up. Wake up."

Goku rolled over, causing his son to jump off and to the ground, rubbing at his eyes, yawning. "What Gohan?"

"Get up, we hafta get ready!" The boy declared, sounding a bit frustrated.

"Get…ready?"

Gohan darted to the wall, turning on the light. Both his parents responded to this with a groan. Goku threw his arm over his face. ChiChi buried her face and moaned "Gohan, go back to bed. It's too early."

"Nu uh." He protested, with a firm shake of his head. "Don'cha remember?"

ChiChi rubbed her eyes and sat up as her son leapt onto his father's stomach and pried his arm off his face "C'mon, don't you remember Daddy?"

Goku sat up, along with his wife. Gohan jumped off the bed again and opened the window, pointing. "The cherry blossoms are blooming. Remember, they're doing the cultural festival today this year!"

Goku laid the covers aside and swung his feet down off the bed, scratching the side of his face. He'd forgotten that. The cultural festival changed year by year and this year they'd decided to have it around the same time as the cherry blossoms began to bloom. He'd promised Gohan and ChiChi he'd take them. It wasn't too far away if they flew but ChiChi wanted to go as a regular family and make use of Goku's new driver's license so it'd be a decent two hour trip. Hence, Gohan's waking them up so early.

"Alright, little man. I'm up, I'm up." Goku caved, stretching.

"Yaah!" Gohan leapt down and out of the room, rushing to the indoor wash room. ChiChi opened one eye at her husband before she sat up herself, stretching.

"You going to grab breakfast on the way out?" she asked. Goku smiled

"I don't see what harm some fast food'll do him today."

Normally, ChiChi would argue about how bad that was for her son but she'd be preaching to the choir. She knew Goku enough to know that as much as he was physically active, he was very much aware of how important nutrition was. That was one thing she and he could usually agree on without much issue.

And like her husband, she saw no harm in it, especially since getting ready would take some time. It was unusual that they took out their kimonos but on cultural festivals and holidays, they made a point of it, even Goku who normally was never without his orange gi. He got up to go join his son in the bathroom. ChiChi smirked and went to go through her closet. After they came out, she'd wash herself off. Besides, if she knew Gohan, he'd still need a little help with his kimono. It wasn't something he wore a lot.

She smiled, opened the closet to the right side and started to thumb through her selection of designs.


Gohan paused, considering his choices. Kimonos were expensive, even the yukata. Still, he had many. Grandpa had given him some and Mother had made him several others. Still, he wasn't sure which one to wear. He couldn't use a regular kimono, they were too heavy for the lukewarm weather. That narrowed it down to his yukata.

"Hey!"

Gohan yelped as ice cold water spilled down his head. He turned, glaring at his father who was laughing, holding the handheld showerhead. He snarled and swung at his father playfully. Goku dodged him and sprayed him with the water again. Gohan yelped and charged him, calling "Cheater, cheater!"

Goku just laughed again, using the brief break to rinse the soap out of his own hair. He caught Gohan's punch with his other hand and flipped the boy over his arm, spraying at his bare sides with the cold water. At a close range like that, it tickled and burned slightly. Gohan sprung from his father's grip and positioned his feet, moving his arms upward to a standard guard.

Goku beamed, falling into the same position. He didn't say anything but moved his fingers slightly, in a downward motion, silently telling his son to bring it on. Gohan needed no other motivation and with a laugh, he charged his father, swinging his fists. Goku dodged a great many of them but several of them connected and several of them he caught. It was a sight that ChiChi would have been horrified to see-her husband and son, stark naked and sparring, but given she was occupied, the father-son pair decided to make the most of it.

Dodging his father's next attack, Gohan's feet landed on the wet floor, slipping out from under him a moment. He hit the ground, was reminded quite sharply that he had no padding on his backside but was immediately back up and charging his father again. Goku would get in a hit or two, Gohan would get in a hit or two and then the father Saiyan would spray his son with the showerhead, which despite his best efforts, Gohan was unable to gain ownership of. Goku did this, back and forth for quite some time. After about thirty minutes though, he pulled Gohan close, hosing him down again.

Walking out, he tossed a towel to his son, before wrapping one around himself. "Go get dressed Gohan. We don't wanna be late right?"

Gohan beamed and ran out and into his bedroom. He surmised that Daddy had stopped before Mother heard all the commotion. In hindsight, the slippery bathroom floor was not the best place to be sparring anyway! Though, it was a great practice!

Gohan opened some of his drawers, looking through the three yukata that he had. He debated them a little longer before pulling out one of his favorites. Mother had made this one though he suspected that she'd made it with some influence from his father. Being a child's kimono, it was much brighter and more designed than his father's but for the moment, he liked it that way. Red base with green Chinese style dragons stitched all over it. He didn't want to know how long it had taken Mother to make it.

All the same, it was hard as ever to put on.

That was the result of not wearing them much. It wasn't too complicated but Gohan still found it difficult to do himself. It wasn't so much the tying as it was remembering how everything went, given that it wasn't a common dress he wore. According to Goku, he'd worn one as a baby and one when he was three but he didn't remember any of that. After a moment, the boy wrapped the left side around his body, overlapped it with the right and tied the green obi around his waist. He frowned, realizing that, like always, he'd forgotten to put on his socks and sandals first. He was trying to figure out how to do this when Goku walked in.

Gohan looked up, beaming. Daddy always looked awesome in a kimono. It was one of the rare times that ChiChi could get her husband out of that gi. Dark navy blue base with silver kanji of their family name. Goku eyed his son a moment then burst out laughing. Gohan scowled "it's not funny, Dad!"

"Well, I didn't know my son was dead." The father exclaimed in-between guffaws.

"Huh?" Gohan looked down at himself.

Goku walked over, untied the boy's obi and unwrapped the yukata. Eyeing his son, he smirked, repeating an old rhyme his grandfather had told him so many years ago. "Right touches skin," as he spoke, he wrapped the right side of the kimono around his son's body. "Left tucks it in." He wrapped the left side over the right and then tied the boy's obi again. Gohan blinked then laughed out loud.

"Guess I was dead, huh?" he remarked and sat on his bed as Goku helped him pull on his socks. It was easier than getting undressed to put them on first. He held his sandals to put on outside.

Goku laughed "A regular walkin' corpse, son."

Gohan blushed slightly but knew his father was joking. It seemed he always got that confused. The left side was only wrapped first when dressing the dead. He didn't know why he had such a hard time remembering that.

"You two coming?"

Gohan looked up, beamed "You look pretty Mom!"

ChiChi smiled at her son, adjusting her own yukata. Given the summer weather, she had opted for the cherry blossom design over an ivory base, one she didn't use a lot. She smiled at her son and husband and gestured them onward "Well, you're the one who wanted to go so bad Gohan. So let's go…"


"Daddy, can I do the goldfish scooping? Can I?"

Goku laughed. "Hold on, Gohan, we just got here."

The boy turned around, waiting as his parents made their way through the selection of booths. There were all kinds of offerings, mainly demonstrations of dress, art, and yes, of course, food. The smell was intoxicating and although he'd just eaten breakfast, Gohan had to admit many of the treats were calling to him. Seeing children walking by with handfuls of poxy sticks were not helping.

"Please, Daddy?"

ChiChi chuckled, despite herself and remarked to Goku, "Well, let him get it out of his system."

"Alright, goldfish scooping it is then!"

Gohan ran ahead of his parents, though not enough to get out of their eyesight, though that was more because of the restrictions of the kimono than anything. While it was a favorite of children, goldfish scooping was something the adults liked to do too. The booth was pretty popular, with a crowds of parents and children already. Gohan ran up, with nary a delay, and immediately gazed down at the pool full of yellow and orange fish. "How much to play?" he asked the three women running the booth.

The elder one, smiled at him. "Five zeenie for three scoops."

Gohan turned, eyes shining "Daddy, can I please?"

Rummaging through his kimono top, Goku handed his son a bill. "Go on."

Gohan snatched the bill like it would catch fire and handed it to the woman running the booth. She took it, with a small bow and smile of thanks before handing Gohan three poi. The boy studied them, as he knew very well how weak the paper was and that the task of scooping a goldfish up was no small task.

Taking the small bowl he was handed, the boy sat on his knees, pushing his kimono sleeves up a little bit. He fixated his eyes into the small man-made pond. He slipped the first poi in slowly. The water pressure put a little bit of weight on the weak paper so Gohan moved it slowly. He had his eyes fixated onto a small white and yellow fish. It stood out from the rest.

Slowly..slowly…

"Aw!" he groaned as his paper gave way, leaving the poi useless. He frowned and put it to the side before heading in with his second poi. There were several other fish that darted past and clung to the walls, which would have made for a easier catch but Gohan wanted one in particular; thus, he was unwilling to relent.

The second one gave away.

Frowning, Gohan set the empty frame down and took up his last one. He moved that was as slow as he could. He saw it started ot give away so he held it still for a moment before pursuing his fish again. This time, he got the edge of its fin before it wriggled out his path, popping the remaining paper away in the process.

Gohan sat back, stared at his empty net and tossed it down "Darn it."

Goku helped his son stand up and smiled "You did a good job though, little man."

Gohan, not about to be a sore loser, nodded.

ChiChi was waiting for them and commented that she'd very much like to see some of the traditional dances. Goku, always agreeable Goku, followed her, Gohan following. The dances were done at specific times of day so they were lucky enough to catch one of the Ryukyu dances. Gohan had never been overly interested in it but Mother loved that kind of stuff. Gohan had to admit that the kimonos were rather detailed and elaborate, as well as the props and fans they would carry.

However, their motions were slow and while obviously expressive, he found himself bored stiff.

Mother, however, was drinking it up. She would comment every so often about how the person's choice of footstep was a demonstration of sadness or happiness.

To Gohan, it was pretty and definitely a display of skill and balance but he saw little significance beyond that.

After about an hour, Gohan glanced around, trying to find something to arouse his interest. His wandering mind caught a small booth off to side, doing origami. He was good at that! Slipping from his father's side, he slipped out of the crowd slowly and quietly, so not to disturb the audience or the performers and rushed to the small booth. The fee was small, only two zennie, which he had himself. He'd brought some of his own allowance so he handed two to the gentleman running to booth and then sat, captivated.


Stretching, Goku glanced around to grab his son's hand as ChiChi looked for their next stop. When he found his boy no longer by his side, his heart tripled in speed. His previous battles were surely a measure of strength and determination but to Goku, he was forever a child and forever HIS child. He knew full well he was capable of taking care of himself but in a big crowd like this, odd fears sprung up in his heart. When ChiChi took note of his agitated state, she was quick to mirror his panic.

For once, he and his wife were pondering the same thing. That was the fact that their little boy had been kidnapped from their very arms.

One might find this an odd fear for two fighters well known for overcoming odds. Truth be told, there was little enemy Goku couldn't handle and little enemy that would dare to look ChiChi in the face and not wince. Not many alive that could escape a skirmish with their child unscathed. One might think someone kidnapping their son would be the least of their worries but that fear was particularly strong within this family.

Gohan had been taken at four years of age.

Gone a year, and no doubt better for it, the fear and worry from such an event ran deep.

ChiChi muscled her way through the crowd of people, Goku just behind her. Goku was trying to scan the landscape for his son but ChiChi had no intention of letting his whereabouts remain unknown for any longer than necessary. Though she hounded her young son for good manners and to carry himself as an intelligent and proper member of society, when she was panicked, her hick nature emerged, through and through.

"Outta my way! Move it!"

It was a rare person who remained in the way of a woman that spoke as she had. They dodged and moved, much like a savanna emptied to make way for a ruthless lion. ChiChi's eyes were fixated, searching. Finally, she let out a sigh of deep relief and with Goku on her heels, she stormed over to one of the booths not too far off, she grasped a familiar young shoulder.


"Son Gohan!"

Gohan yelped in surprise and turned around, stopping his current project. "Oh, hi Mom."

"Don't you "hi" me, Mister!" She scolded him, harshly and rather loudly at that, making his face turn dark red as several curious eyes looked him over. "What were you thinkin'? Running off like that!?"

"I didn't think I was running off…" He began but she wasn't done.

"Were we with you?" She spat.

"Uh no…but-" He tried again, attempted to remind her that he wasn't a weak little boy anymore but she wasn't hearing it.

"We had no clue where you went Gohan!"

The boy's face burned red again. "Mother, do you hafta yell like that, in front of all these people?"

"Then maybe you'll listen, Gohan!" She did lower her voice a little though but he had scared her to death!

Gohan, looked her face over then spied his salvation. "Daddy!"

Gohan stopped in his sudden desire to rush over to his father though. While Mother's eyes had looked angry and furious, Goku's eyes gazed at him so wide that Gohan thought his father might cry. That was not a look he saw on his father often. The older Saiyan walked over, fell to his knees and embraced his son tightly before pulling away.

"Gohan, you scared me."

"I…scared you? That's what Mother said." The preteen was truly baffled and it showed in his face.

"We didn't know where you were Gohan!" Goku didn't yell but there was a definite harshness to his tone. "We thought something happened to you."

"I was just right here, Daddy—"

ChiChi broke in. "But we didn't know that Gohan. For all we knew, you could have been snatched away from us again!" Here, her harsh tone had cooled considerably and she sounded suspiciously close to tears.

Gohan cocked his head at both his parents. Those thoughts had never occurred to him. Didn't his parents trust him?

"I can take care of myself.." He began.

"It isn't you I don't trust, Gohan." ChiChi remarked. "It's everyone else."

"You're a very strong little boy, Gohan." Goku that time. "But you're not invincible."

Gohan eyed his father. He didn't understand their concern, at least not why they were as scared as they seemed to be but he understood he'd upset them. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

At those simple words, Goku grinned. Those simple words wiped away all wrong doing it seemed. "You just need to tell us where you're going…"

"Goku, in a big crowd like this?" ChiChi inquired, worried. The mother in her, no doubt.

"Ah, Gohan can handle himself, long as I know where to find him." He remarked simply.

Gohan nodded to his father "I'll tell you now, Daddy. I didn't mean to-"

"I know, Gohan." Goku stood and Gohan followed. "it's over and done."

Gohan turned to his mother, his still frantic mother and made a peace offering. "Mom, here, for you."

She met her little boy's eyes and he held out a small hair pin for her. He'd attached an origami flower to it. She chuckled, despite her still racing heart and pinned it up in her hair. "Suck up."

"Is it working?" he asked and ran to his father's side.


"You spoil him you know." ChiChi commented as they sat down underneath a cherry tree later that day, each munching on their own handful of foods. Goku had made him get a rice bowl and a steamed bun but the rest of the food was pure junk. Still, as much as she teased Goku on it, she was guilty of it herself. How could they not when their child was usually so well behaved?

Goku just laughed, taking the time to enjoy resting. He laid against the tree trunk and Gohan sprawled out next to him, chewing on the snow cone his father had bought for him. It managed to stain his entire face a rainbow of colors but he was enjoying it and eating so Goku opted not to say much on it. The day was wearing on and the time for the late day dances and ceremonies were starting to build up. ChiChi had been determined to have Gohan sit through one dance and he had agreed.

After his heart stopping incident earlier, he felt he owed it to her.

She, in turn, had promised that it wouldn't be as long as the earlier ceremony.

Gohan had his doubts but for now, he was content to stick by his father's side. Goku caught his son's look and ruffled his hair. Looking at ChiChi, he remarked. "ChiChi, but you already said you wanted to do the Tea Ceremony later, right?"

She nodded "Of course."

"Well, why don't we do what Gohan wants to do for a bit then the ceremony? It's kinda unfair to have him go to all these dances you want to go to and also go to a tea ceremony. He's a kid."

"But it's stuff he needs to learn!"

Gohan eyed her. "Mom, I don't have any plans to hire a geisha anytime soon."

"I should hope not…"

"BUT I probably will do a tea ceremony one day." Gohan sat up as he ate. "Why don't we do the tea ceremony and do what Daddy wants to do instead of the extra dance?"

ChiChi had every intention of pushing her view but Gohan was looking up at her with those wide eyes that always seemed able to melt a glacier. Truth be told, they had been doing what she'd wanted since they got there. It _would_ be more fair to see what Goku wanted to do. Taking a deep sigh of defeat, she eyed her husband

"Point taken. Goku ,where do we go next?"

Goku pondered this moment, looking over the festival booths before pointing into the center,

"Where they do the fighting."

ChiChi groaned; why did she not see that coming? Didn't he get enough of that? Still, she had turned their next entertainment over to her husband and she wasn't about to go back on her word. So, seeing Gohan lick the last of his cone empty, she stood. Goku wiped his mouth on his sleeve (much to her dismay) and hoisted Gohan onto his shoulder. "Let's go then!" As they trotted off, ChiChi reached up, handing her son a napkin and motioning to his chin. He took the silent command and cleaned up without a word.

The family of three approached the stage in the center of the booths. There wasn't much of a stage, mainly just a raised wooden platform. It seemed to be a free fighting ring. People would come up, choose their weapon and their opponent and fight. No real rules, just a friendly spar mainly. For Gohan, this was downright fascinating. Fighting, interesting enough, became a thousand times more interesting with weapons and old fashioned attire. To Gohan, seeing all these folks fight in kimonos was the definition of exciting.

Two people using katanas left the stage, leaving it clear for the next contestants.

No one stepped up so Goku grinned, set Gohan down and leapt up on stage. He turned around and called

"C'mon Chi!"

Gohan about choked. His mother? Fight?

ChiChi eyed Goku with slightly flushed cheeks. "Oh, Goku…"

"C'mon, c'mon, you said we could do what I wanted. I wanna do an old fashioned spar!" He pouted like a little child. "please?"

ChiChi pondered this a moment then turned to her son, handing him her small packages that she had picked up at various art booths. "Hold these for me, Gohan." She asked softly. Why was it that she could never stay mad nor resist her goofball of a husband? Sometimes love could make one do odd things and seeing him smile was enough to make her relent to one spar.

Gohan accepted the packages but set them on the ground as he also sat to watch. ChiChi climbed up onto stage, eyeing her husband with a slightly amused look. She fell into that old stance, grinning at him.

Goku beamed and charged her, tossing out a punch.

ChiChi dodged and swung her leg out, nailing Goku behind the knees.

He leapt up, unaffected and swung behind her, grasping her around the shoulders.

Leaping up, she pushed off her husband's thighs and slammed her feet backwards and into his chin, making him release her. Landing on her feet, she charged him again.

Gohan watched this open mouthed. Since when was his mother a fighter? He knew she used to be a martial artist but to actually see it in live action was awe-inspiring.

Goku caught ChiChi's next punch, throwing her into the air. She righted herself in the sky and as she came back down, she landed a hard kick to her husband's left cheek. He turned and she swung around so she straddled him and locked her arms in a choke hold around his neck. The sudden pressure made Goku stumble a moment before he grabbed her waist and flung her off his back.

ChiChi slid slightly but caught her traction, with a little difficulty. She was unused to fighting in a kimono, and sandals for that matter. If she hadn't become caught up in the battle, she probably would have noticed that her kimono was showing signs of the wear and tear of sparring. However, she had slipped back into her old Ox-Princess Fighter mode.

Goku caught her elbow and she swung her left leg around, slamming straight into his ankle, making his balance falter. Jerking her elbow up, she knocked it into his shoulder joint and sprung from his grip, pushing against the floor with her hands, righting herself and putting up her guard again.

Goku rubbed his shoulder and laughed "Hey, you're still pretty strong, ChiChi! Have you been training?"

An old grin, the likes of which he hadn't seen in years spread over her face, "If you wanna know, you'll have to beat me." She mirrored that old tournament match that started this wonderful life for her and added "So, c'mon..."

Goku beamed and charged her again.

She leapt into the air, charging down at him with her foot again. Goku caught her foot this time and carefully and gently tossed her off the stage. She bent her knees to absorb the impact and climbed back up. "You still have it Goku."

"I should. I'm surprised at you though, Chi! I swear you've been training!"

She shrugged. "Not much, every so often though."

She turned and laughed out loud at her son's wide mouthed look. "Son Gohan, close that mouth! You are not a fish."

"Mom! Wow!"

She chuckled. "Didn't think your mom could do that, ne?"

"Well…no." He admitted with a shrug.

"Oh? Get up here then." She planted her hands on her hips.

"huh?" Gohan blinked. Was his mother seriously suggesting...

"You heard me young man, come spar with me. I know you can, you bug me enough about it." She crossed her arms "So let's go."

Gohan stared at her a moment more then climbed clumsily up onto the stage. Goku leapt down, taking Gohan's place on the sidelines and sitting there, rested his chin on his hands.

ChiChi charged her son.

Gohan went to jump but his kimono, still tight around his legs caught his knees, refusing to let him go very high. ChiChi swung a fist at him. He yelped and swiftly blocked it before swinging his own fists out.

ChiChi grasped the arm of his kimono and flipped him over her arm. Gohan's feet unused to the zori sandals slid out from under him and he rolled out of the way as his mother's foot came down at him. He kicked upward, nailing her in stomach, sending her flying. She caught her balance and leapt over him, charging him from the side.

Gohan dodged her, but his feet slid on the unfamiliar floor. He cursed his clumsiness and ChiChi's next punch caught his chin.

"C'mon Gohan! Show her what you can do!"

Daddy's cheering, as always, made him smile and focus.

"C'mon ChiChi! Show 'em what yer made of."

And of course, Daddy couldn't cheer just one.

Gohan fell to his knees, dodging ChiChi's next kick and nailed her in the knee. She went sprawling, unable to catch her balance and Gohan was up and charging her.

Attempting to anyway.

Kimono were NOT a good thing to fight in.

Nor were zori sandals!

Especially for a child not accustomed to using them anymore!

Gohan's knees caught, again and he went sprawling. ChiChi kicked him in the side as he stumbled and he fell off the slightly elevated platform.

Goku caught him in his arms, laughing.

"She's pretty good, eh, little man?"

Gohan's face went blood red. "Not fair."

ChiChi jumped down. "Oh, why?"

He pointed up at his father "Daddy, you have on hakama!"

Goku grinned; he couldn't argue that point. While he wore his blue kimono, it was more like a haori or old fashion coat. Since he was an adult, he wore hakama when they went formal. Black split pleated pants. He had debated whether to wear them or not but ultimately had decided to. It was no secret that that _had_ made the spar a bit easier. Still… "Your mom didn't." he reminded his red faced child as he stood.

Gohan pouted and ChiChi ruffled his hair, something usually only Daddy did. He threw her hand off, his way of reminding her that that was Daddy's thing. She stroked his hair out his face. "Don't pout Gohan. It's take a bit to learn to fight in a kimono."

"So, you did that on purpose cause you knew how and knew I didn't." He accused her.

"Maybe that's something _I_ can teach you." She added a shrug, smiling.

Gohan, though embarrassed, laughed finally. "No, Daddy just needs to let me wear hakama next time."

ChiChi chuckled. "You get those when you become a man, Gohan."

"I AM a man!"

She laughed "Are you?"

Gohan puffed out his chest, like a bird trying to show off. "Yep!"

Goku standing behind him, smirked "You are, ne?"

Gohan looked up at his father. "Yes, I am!" To ChiChi, he declared as they walked, "It should be Gohan-KUN, not Gohan-CHAN!" he pondered as he walked and added "Or even SON-kun!"

Goku smirked "Oh, Mister High and Mighty are you?"

"No, but I'm not a little kid." Gohan protested. He hadn't meant to come off sounding pompous but he _wasn't_ a little kid anymore either. Hakama, while a small thing, were nonetheless a symbol of maturity and it was something he longed for. To be an adult and be seen by others as capable of handling himself. Even with the others, despite how strong he was, he was still a child in their eyes. He wanted to be an equal.

"So, you're a man, now, eh?"

Gohan nodded to his father. "I _am_!"

Goku stretched, "Well, I guess you can buy your own dinner then eh?"

'Huh?"

"Well, if you're a man, then that means I pass my role down to you, doesn't it? So, Chi, next time you need something, make sure you tell the man of the house."

Chichi chuckled "Oh, I will. Think you can make sure we get some groceries next week Gohan? Oh and the electricity bill is coming up too. I could also—"

"I don't have that kinda money!"

"Oh, why not?" Goku asked, teasing gently but to make a point. "It's the man's job to provide."

"but I don't got a job!"

"Well, might wanna work on that then, eh?"

Gohan pouted, frowned, folded his arms. Goku reached out, ruffled his hair. "Daddy, you don't have a job either."

Goku smirked "No but I bring in food from the forest and handle the handiwork in the house. You can do that, right?"

A deeper scowl.

"Don't pout, Gohan-KUN." He said, stressing the older suffix.

Gohan winced; that didn't sound as good as it had a little bit ago. Still, he refused to give in. "I'm not pouting."

"Alright then, I guess we should head for the tea ceremony then."

Gohan looked up and Goku stretched. "Well, your mother wanted to go and if you're a man then I think you should go too, don't you think?"

Gohan pondered this. A tea ceremony was no minor thing. Before now, he had been deemed too young. They had warned him that the ceremony was too long and he would get very bored. They had said that most adults had difficulty with it. Still, Gohan was a determined one and if someone said that children couldn't handle it then what better way to show he wasn't a child?

"Yeah, let's go."


Boring…

That was being generous!

Why did there have to be a million different positions to do to just boil water for tea? Why did there have to be a specific way to sit and why was it in such an uncomfortable position? Gohan's feet felt like they were being stabbed by dozens of pins and needles and besides that, they felt numb. He was certain they were going to fall off.

Turning his eyes slightly, he almost groaned, exasperated.

Neither his father nor his mother had such a look on their faces. Rather, they looked like statues, so calm and stoic. Eyes closed, absorbing the smells of the room. Gohan took a breath but tried to mimic his father's expression and his mother's posture. The hostess returned after what seemed like forever and poured the tea before presenting the bowl to his father.

Goku bowed, turned the bowl several times before taking a sip. Wiping the rim when he finished, he turned it back to its original position then passed it to him.

Gohan's breath caught in his throat.

What was he supposed to do?

He'd read on these and heard about them but to never do it was another matter all together. Father had turned it, for some reason, but how long was he supposed to do that for? And what was he supposed to say, if anything? Everything was so quiet. He didn't know if he was even sitting right, let alone accepting the bowl right.

His palms grew sweaty and feeling desperate, his pride caved. Being an adult, acting like an adult, this was no fun! Least not yet! It was rather frightening actually.

Shifting his panicked eyes to meet his father's, he whispered.

"Well…' he stressed. "Maybe I can stay a kid a little bit longer."

Goku smirked in response and placed his own hands over his son's. "You don't drink from the front," he advised. "You turn it so that you drink from the back. You also admire the bowl. It's probably an old heirloom, Gohan. When you drink, close your eyes, take in the tea that way. The smell, the feel, all of that. That's the experience of a tea ceremony."

Gohan, relieved at the advice, did as told before wiping off the rim and turning it back around and passing it to his mother. She took it gratefully and repeated the same motions before returning it to the hostess. The hostess stood and bowed deeply. Goku rose, then ChiChi. Gohan followed their movements. They bowed deeply, thanking their hostess before taking leave towards the door.

Gohan limped out behind his parents.

Goku chuckled "What's wrong, little man?"

Gohan grinned, actually relieved to hear that old nickname.

"I can't feel my feet! Ow!"

ChiChi laughed. "Well, what did you think, Gohan?"

Gohan eyed her. "That was so boring!"

Goku lifted Gohan into his arms. "Maybe but it is something important. I'm proud of you, little man! You did really well!"

At the praise, Gohan beamed. "Really? That was really hard."

ChiChi chuckled. "You held out very well though Gohan." She praised "I was a lot older than you before I could finally sit through one."

Satisfied with that, Gohan nodded. "_NOW_ can we have some fun?"

Goku chuckled. "A little bit. How about you pick the last thing?"

Gohan looked skyward. He hadn't even noticed the sun had gone down. He frowned; way too soon for this to be over! His sharp ears caught a thudding in the distance. "Can we go listen to the drums?"

Goku smiled and hoisted Gohan onto his shoulders. "Sure, kiddo."

The drums were something everyone could appreciate. If anything, the whole Son family could appreciate music and the familiar rhythm as well as the impressive movements were something to be admired. Gohan stared, taking in every stroke, every pound. He had the best view, perched on his tall father's shoulders and it was an awesome sight! Lots of heart in that practice! The drumming was always pretty long though. By the time they had gotten to the last drum, he had to admit he was hungry and tired.

However, as they walked out, he stopped his father.

"Daddy!"

"Hmm?" The Saiyan father glanced down at his offspring.

Gohan leaned over, stood on his tiptoes, looking his father in the eyes. "Can I try the goldfish scooping one more time, please?"

Goku thought a moment then smirked. "ONE more time."

Kneeling down, he gave the boy another bill and then gave ChiChi another wad to go and grab them some dinner. He waited for his son. The boy would sit, hunched over the pool, staring for a long while. Goku saw two broken poi go on the ground and then Gohan was sitting there for another long span time. ChiChi returned, food in hand and he was still there.

Goku waited.

"DADDY!" Finally, came that shout.

"What, Gohan?" he called as he and ChiChi walked over, nearly bowled over by an enthusiastic child.

Gohan held up a bowl in triumph. "I got it!"

Looking down, Goku smirked as, sure enough, there was a single fish circling the dish and embraced his son. "You did, huh?"

"Uh huh!" Gohan handed the bowl to woman running it and she poured the fish and some water into a bag for him. "It was the fish I wanted this morning!"

"that same fish?" Goku asked.

Gohan nodded. "yeah! It tried to get away but I caught it!"

Gohan took his prize from the woman and grinned at his father. Goku hugged him tightly.

"I'm proud of you Gohan."

ChiChi added "That takes a lot of skill and patience. Good job!"

Beaming with pride, Gohan held the bag tightly as he walked with his mother and father out from the booths. Goku took a seat underneath a cherry tree and ChiChi followed, spreading out their dinner. Gohan downed it like mad, grinning. With the quiet though, he found himself reflecting, on earlier. Man, he had been a little brat! As he swallowed, he spoke up

"Daddy? Mom?"

They looked up, pausing in their eating.

"Sorry I got kinda…snooty earlier." That was the best way to describe it.

Goku rubbed his son's hair. "You're a kid, Gohan. I expect it."

ChiChi smiled. "But we appreciate the apology Gohan. _THAT_ is the sign of a man; maturity is in you, not your clothes, okay?" Her maternal smile warmed his heart.

Gohan nodded, grateful that there was no underlying anger. He didn't remember much else. He stood and walked with his father to the car, helping his mother load their packages into the trunk. He remembered climbing into the backseat and just watching the landscape swirl by. He remembered thanking his parents…

ChiChi looked into the backseat and smiled widely. When Goku came to a stopping place, she elbowed him and he looked back.

Gohan had turned onto his side, laid down, and slept, his fish still clutched tightly in hand. Goku smirked, took off his kimono top and draped it over his son before turning lights towards home. A day full of events like this had a strong toll on a child. Goku went slow over bumps, not wanting to wake his son.

He needn't had bothered.

When Mount Paouz finally came into view, ChiChi went inside to get Gohan's bed ready. Goku opened the back door and wrapping the edge of the kimono top around the boy like a blanket, Goku lifted the child, slowly, into his large arms, cradling him tightly. Gohan stirred slightly, pushing into his father's warmth.

"Sleep, little man."