Of Moons and Tales

Chapter 10

Gohan took a moment to still his breath as he stood by the tree. The grass below his feet looked plush and green as always, the tree leaves above him swaying back and forth with the incoming breeze. That beauty was lost on him, however, as he stood in front of a place that should be welcoming but wasn't. He knew that this was a bad idea. It settled in his stomach like a dead weight, making him want to run back to safety. After everything he had ever faced in his life this was still the most deadly, the scariest, and the most harrowing experience he'd ever gone through. Considering that he'd lived through a planet dying via explosion that was saying something.

Before he could talk himself out of it, the half saiyan moved forward and peaked his head in through the door.

"Mom?" He called out.

When he didn't receive a response, he carefully entered the house. A quick glance showed that Chichi wasn't in the kitchen, or the dining room. While this wasn't strange, per say, it still put Gohan on edge. Normally if she went to town, she left a note. There was no note to be found. With a sigh, he walked towards her bedroom door and gently knocked.

"Mom?" He said in a quieter voice, "Are you sleeping?"

He heard some shuffling from inside of the room. The sound of the door handle moving as she twisted it. When Chichi opened the door, Gohan felt like the worst sort of person imaginable. Her eyes, reddened by tears and stress, looked so tired and there was a pale palore to her skin. It even looked as though she had slept in her clothes; that had probably come from the fact that he'd just woken her up from a nap. He couldn't help but be concerned over why she needed a nap in the middle of the day to begin with. It wasn't like she was old...right? How old was his mother anyways? She certainly looked a lot older now than she had when he left her.

"Gohan?" Chichi asked as though she didn't believe what she was seeing.

"Yeah mom, it's me." Gohan smiled.

"I thought you'd left," she said in a quiet, relieved voice.

The unspoken words of 'Just like your father' hung in the air. They pulled at Gohan in a way that made him feel sick and angry all at once. His father had left them, noble intentions aside he had just decided to not come back. Now he was back, sorta, and he still hadn't come to see the wife he'd left behind to be a single mother to his children. What was he doing instead? Visiting friends as though he hadn't a care in the world. Yes, the smiles were endearing and he was glad that Goten got to see his father, but seeing his mom as she was only made him realize how deficient his father was at the whole domestic sphere side of life.

"No, no nothing like that," Gohan said with an easy half smile. "I just...you were kind of being mean to Goten you know? And I thought you needed some time and…"

He didn't finish that sentence before he felt his mother hugging him tightly around the middle. He pat her head uncomfortably before relaxing.

"I'm just glad you're back Gohan," she said as she pulled away from him, desperately trying to fix her hair back into place. "Where's Goten?"

"He's still at Bulma's, playing with Trunks." Gohan smiled, "She asked if he could stay a few more days. He can keep Trunks entertained while she works on her new project."

"A new project?" Chichi asked in a murmur as she dried her eyes.

"Yeah, she's working on an energy dampener. That way people won't be able to find us so easily," Gohan rattled off, oblivious to his mother's lack of interest.

"Well, I suppose since she asked." Chichi frowned, "As opposed to him just running off."

Gohan visually paused as he watched her wonder off to the kitchen, as though habit had kicked back in. Was she really going to focus on where Goten was? The fact that Bulma was replicating alien technology had to rank higher on an interest list than that! Goten was kind of always around. Sure he was his brother and he loved him but...alien technology.

"What brings you back then?" Chichi asked, as she fussed around the kitchen. "Since living with Bulma and her barbarian was so much better that you stayed a full week!"

Okay. Breathe. In out, his mom was just having a bad time. She didn't mean to call Trunks and Vegeta barbarians. It was just her trying to get back to normal. He could handle that. A lot better now that he wasn't worrying about hurting Goten's feelings or watching the kid run off to cry.

"I missed you?" he offered up.

Chichi stared at her son with a look that pierced into his very soul. Gohan stood, frozen, shouldering trembling.

"It's nice to hear that I'm appreciated." Chichi smiled.

"Aw mom, you're always appreciated," Gohan said as he finally unfroze and moved over to linger in the kitchen with you. "You're my mom."

"I know," Chichi sighed, "but some days it doesn't feel like it…"

"I'm sorry," Gohan sighed. "I know Goten's a handful, and with me being in school… he's probably too much to handle."

"Don't say that! Your education is important!" Chichi snarled, "I can handle Goten just fine… but boys will be boys."

Gohan looked at his mother, really looked at her. The exhausted air around her confirmed that he was about to do the right thing… maybe.

"That's why I'm going to go stay with Bulma and help with Trunks and Goten for a while." He started, "You deserve a break from us, you look like you need a nice long nap."

Chichi opened her mouth to retort, but Gohan stopped her.

"No mom. You need a break. I'll watch over Goten at Capsule Corp. for a while." Gohan smiled, "Don't worry about my classes either, I can easily walk to school. I'll have plenty of extra time to work on all of my projects."

"Don't you think Bulma's house might be a little...distracting?" Chichi's concern ebbed in. "I mean, with Vegeta and Trunks there what will happen to your studies Gohan?"

"No," Gohan answered, "I've been having no troubles studying. If anything, Trunks and Goten have been helping me."

Chichi made to retort again.

"Mom, I'm being serious here." Gohan admitted, his brow furrowed. "You take this time to rest and relax. Maybe go visit Grampa, I'm sure he'd love to see you. You let me worry about Goten and my school work."

Chichi tried to argue, but felt all the wind leave her sails. When Gohan got serious he looked just like his father. It was more than look, there was a certain air about them. It felt like everything would be okay and that they'd take care of everything. There was also the hint of danger that set her on edge. It reminded her that her little boy was actually growing and that he'd done a lot more than boys his age should have ever done. The amount he'd done scared her actually - to the bone. Yes he was her little boy but he was also one of the most ruthless people she'd ever met when he got angry - just like his father. She remembered hearing about the fights from the others when they visited and she remembered the nightmares he'd had for years that followed. So seeing him so serious, just like his father, with so much on his plate deflated her.

"Are you sure?" She asked as she started to get food out of the fridge and the cabinets.

"Yes mom." Gohan nodded. "You just relax. Promise?"

"I'll try," she agreed. "Now, sit down and I'll have lunch ready in a few okay? Don't forget to clean up! I don't want you to get sick from all those germs at school."

Gohan sighed as he turned towards the bathroom, "Yes mom."

Hours later at the Son house, Gohan smiled as he leaned back in his chair. Bulma's house was nice and that machine of hers was good for quick meals but it didn't touch his mothers. There was something about his mom's cooking that was addicting and so good. It was like she baked everything in the best tasting stuff ever and then made sure there was enough of it to actually fill him up.

"That was good mom," Gohan said with a smile as he pushed back the last dinner plate.

Yes...he was supposed to have just stayed for lunch but he had a hard time leaving when his mom told him how excited she was that she was cooking dinner for him again. She'd snuck that up on him before he'd even finished lunch! He was too busy basking in the afterglow of the meal that when there was a knock at the door, he actually got up to get it. Without consciously checking to see who was there first.

"V-Videl!" Gohan stammered.

"Hiya Gohan," Videl said with narrowed eyes and a wide stance.

"How did you find out where I live?" He asked as he swallowed thickly.

"Gohan! Don't stand in the doorway like that! Invite them in," Chichi called out from behind where she'd started to wash the dishes.

"Actually mom…" Gohan jittered, "I've gotta get back to Bulma's!"

"But your friend…" Chichi frowned.

"Lives in the city!" Gohan chirped as he quickly grabbed Videl by her shoulders and began steering her away from the door. "I'll just walk her home on my way! Love you!"

And with a slam, Gohan and Videl were gone.

He marched them far enough down the dirt pathway to the next town that even he started to get suspicious of what he was doing. It wasn't like they were headed back to the city as far as she was concerned. She'd left her jetcopter back at the house. Or...in her pocket. He'd never gotten used to the whole Capsule things even with being friends with Bulma. And he conveniently forgot that she suspected that he knew how to fly.

"Okay Gohan, this is far enough," Videl said as she turned to stare at him, her hands on her hips. "What was that about?"

"What was what about?" Gohan asked with an obviously fake smile.

"Everything! You. You're being strange. Why couldn't I go into your house, huh Gohan? Doesn't your mom know what you're up to in that costume of yours?"

"What costume?" He practically squeaked.

"Don't play dumb with me."

"You're not going to leave me alone, are you?" Gohan asked in a pained voice.

"Not on your life," she said tersely.

Gohan sighed, his entire posture changing in resignation. "It's not about my being Saiyaman, Videl… It's about your dad."

"My dad?" She asked in a tone of disbelief.

"She… really doesn't like him." Gohan sighed, "Let's just leave it at that, okay?"

Videl narrowed her eyes.

"Look… I'll talk, okay? Just leave my family out of this."

Her narrowed eyes turned more suspicious. She stared up at him as she lowered her hands down to her side. Although the surrounding darkness made that hard, she was still determined to make sure he knew she meant business.

"Alright, so spill. How do you fly? Where do you hide the ropes?"

"Ummm… I'll just show you." Gohan laughed nervously.

"Wha… ahh!" Videl's question morphed into a scream as she was picked up by strong arms, bridal style.

"Just… don't flail around." Gohan cautioned quickly before he began his ascent.

Videl watched in a mixture of amazement and horror as the ground began to shrink beneath them. It didn't feel exactly like she'd imagined it as a kid. It wasn't like a weightless feeling, not really. It was like something was wrapped around them, something warm, and it was a force against gravity. It was almost like swimming without the worry about drowning or actually getting wet.

"Oh my…" words failed her as she stared down at the ground. "We're in he air. Flying."

"Yeah…" Gohan said with a calmness that she found so bizarre.

"We're… we're really flying!" Videl nearly shouted in her mixed excitement and horror.

"Yeah." Gohan repeated.

"No ropes! No wires!" Videl added as she scrambled her hands around his torso and back, much to Gohan's embarrassment.

"No! I promise!" Gohan blushed. "Please stop that!"

She waved her hand over his head, stretching to try and reach. Gohan shifted her in his arms uncomfortably, and he almost lost his grip when she tried reaching down to see if there was a platform or something. She didn't even notice the slip up, apparently. He sighed in relief when she finally settled down.

"It's real," she said with her eyes slowly widening.

"Y-yeah," he said as he cleared his throat.

"Teach me," was the next statement out of her mouth.

"What?!" Gohan meeped.

"Teach me how to fly, Gohan." She elaborated, her voice stern.

"But…"

"No buts! You're going to teach me!" Videl interrupted.

"But I-"

"Or I'll tell everyone at school you're Saiyaman."

Gohan paused in his ascent. "You'd do that?"

"Oh yeah, you bet I would."

Gohan gulped.

Even though the sky was really dark at this point, the lights of Satan City lit up the surrounding area. Light pollution wasn't as bad as he'd read about it being centuries ago but it was still pretty bad. At least for him, since he'd grown up in the mountains.

He sat down on the ground and looked up at the sky. Any moment now he'd see that metal machine. Any moment now…

Gohan let out a breath as he rolled his head. It was slower than he expected. It wasn't like she had an old model or anything but the way normal people traveled was slow. At least, compared to how quickly he could go. It was probably about the speed of the Nimbus cloud which he used to get to and from school to conserve energy.

Ah! There she was.

Gohan waved to the sky with a smile on his face. Videl touched the jetcopter down on the ground, the engine slowly dying down. When she hopped out, her double ponytails flying behind her head with the motion, she had a sour look on her face.

"How did you get here so quickly?" She questioned him.

"I..flew," he said slowly.

"Well, duh, but you got here before I did!"

"... I can fly faster than a jetcopter." Gohan stated as if it were purely fact.

It was. It was just a fact that shocked Videl and made her want to call him a liar. Yet she couldn't. She had just seen it happen with her own eyes, in a way. Swallowing thickly, Videl made a promise to herself. She would learn to fly. There was no way that she couldn't now that she knew it was real. If Gohan could do it, then she could too!

"So," Videl spoke up as they lingered on the edge of the city, putting her jetcopter back into its capsule, "when do we start?"

"Ummm…" Gohan mumbled. "What about after dinner tomorrow?"

"Won't a full stomach make me heavier?" Videl argued.

"No." Gohan answered innocently.

Now, he was back to being subjected to her 'I don't believe you' stare. He backed away with his hands in the air, an innocent smile on his face.

"Really! Trying this on a full stomach might make it easier! You'll have plenty of energy."

"And cramps," Videl argued. "Did you forget about that? I thought you were suppose to be a genius nerd or something."

Gohan scratched his nose. "Uh…Okay. So after, after dinner then?"

"Fine!" Videl yelled, "I'll come to Capsule Corp. tomorrow around 6:30. That work?"

"Yeah, yeah," He mumbled to himself.

...it was going to have to be fine. Getting Vegeta to start to eat dinner early was going to be tricky. He could probably get the boys to eat early and play a game or something. Maybe. Hopefully. Then he remembered his father.

Oh shit.

There wasn't a thing he could do to hide his father's eating habits… He brought his food with him everywhere…