Disclaimer: I do not own DB/Z/GT.
Chapter 7: Home
Back at Mt. Paozu, Chi-Chi stirred a pot of noodles, and the Ox King sat attentively at the dining table while Gohan recounted his day's adventures.
"See, and that's why I was a little late," said Gohan with a small, guilty smile on his face. "I'm really sorry, Mom."
The woman frowned. "You're just like your father. He tells me that he's going out to some island to meet up with old friends, and what does he do? He dies, lets my son get kidnapped, and I don't see either of you two again for a year. Y'know, sometimes 'sorry' isn't quite enough!"
As if to emphasize the point, Chi-Chi slammed a metallic pan onto the stove where its handle clashed thunderously with the neighboring pot. She turned to glower at her father and son.
"Aw, don't be like that, Chi-Chi," defended the Ox King. "Gohan is such a fine young man. He deserves a break. After all, he was only an hour late, and that's nothing close to a year. And an hour is really nothing compared to the time he spends studying."
"I know, I know…" relented the woman. Out of subconscious habit, she rubbed her swelling belly. "Still, you can't blame me for worrying."
Again, just like in the morning, a look of melancholy settled on the mother's face. Gohan shuffled uncomfortably, wondering what could possibly be wrong. The Son household had always been a lighthearted, cheery place. And yet…
Clank!
Chi-Chi jumped and stared at Gohan. "Alright mister, what'd you break this time?"
"Nothing," said the boy, waving his hands for her to see. "I wasn't touching anything; I swear."
"It's Grandpa Gohan's dragonball!" exclaimed the Ox King.
"What? Hey, you're right," murmured Chi-Chi. "The one Goku was always looking for. Gohan, did you go out and find it today?"
"No…it hasn't even been a year since our last wish. It should still be a chunk of stone."
"How strange," said the Ox King. "The doors and windows aren't even open. I don't see a hole in the roof either."
Unbelievably though, the four-star ball had appeared in the room and was now spinning in slow circles on the wooden floor.
Chi-Chi gently picked it up and rested it on a cushioned stand beneath the kitchen window. She gazed at it wondrously. Quietly then, as if not to disturb the fragile fragrance of magic wafting across the room, the woman scurried to turn off the stove to silence the boiling water.
Gohan, baffled by the appearance, stumbled back into his chair at the dining table.
Clank!
Chi-Chi spun around and stared at the four-star dragonball expectantly.
Instead, her half-saiyan son murmured, "Whoops, I broke another cup. Sorry…"
"What am I going to do with you?" asked Chi-Chi, faking disappointment. Her eyes were still glued to the ball when she whispered quietly, "We'll just have to send you out on another grocery trip to buy some more dishes, I guess."
Soundlessly, the trio then continued preparing their dinner. Chi-Chi emptied the contents of her pans and pots into bowls. Gohan handed his grandfather stacks of plates. The Ox-King set them on the table, careful to not make a clatter. All the while, they stared at the orb, waiting patiently for something miraculous to happen.
At that moment, Gohan noticed that the dragonball was beginning to emit a soft light. He slowly paced towards the orange sphere. His mother and grandfather quickly joined his side in amazement.
"No way," said Gohan. "It's not supposed to glow unless we gather all seven, right? Weird."
The Ox-King nodded. "I wonder what it all means."
Chi-Chi extended her arm forward and stroked the orb in a trance-like state. With that one touch, her mind was instantly filled with images of an elderly man wandering through a forest and rescuing an infant with a tail and alien powers. She thought of her father, of Gohan, of Master Roshi, of Bulma, Vegeta, Trunks, Piccolo, Yamcha, Puar, Oolong, Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, herself. And she thought especially of that alien infant as a man. As the Goku she knew.
For many years, the dragonballs had lain scattered across the earth, and because of them, so many different people had joined together. There was evidently more magic to the balls than the wishes that they granted.
Gohan noticed a smile suddenly light his mother's face, and he grinned as well. She looked happier than she had in months.
And that's when it happened.
The dragonball grew brighter for a second and then began flickering unsteadily. Before the light could completely fade away, Goku's face appeared upon its surface. The happy-go-lucky man flashed the onlookers his signature grin and appeared to giggle merrily while scratching the nape of his neck. Then, in a flash, the light went out and the dragonball vanished, but not before Goku could give one last wink.
"Dad," whispered Gohan. The half-saiyan peered out the window into the heavens above.
Chi-Chi sighed. "Yup, that's your father for you. Always showing up for mealtime."
The Son home was filled with noise once again. Chopsticks snapped apart, spoons clanked on the bottom of bowls, and the sound of laughter was deafening. However, from the Otherworld, it was Goku who was laughing the loudest.
For seven years, the warriors across the Earth could now enjoy a well-deserved peace.
A/N: So yay, I've finally finished! These last two chapters were a bit short, so I figured I'd update with both in one last go. Thanks to anyone who has read, and thanks a bunch to Devil Without A Cause, Mitoki-hime, RKF22, Mister Unsmiley, GohanSSJ2x, YourSweetSinner, Esplandian, and SSJ5-Gohan for the feedback. And yes, Gohan really has had a long day, hasn't he? XD
