Gohan sighs in exasperation. "No, that's still not right. Try again."

Vegeta growls angrily at him and tries again, powering to his maximum, straining in vain to at least get his aura to spark gold, but to no avail. It stays a brilliant shimmering blue, showing no signs of changing.

"This is stupid, boy! This isn't working!" the Saiyan shouts as he breaks back to normal, leaning against the wall of the gravity room heavily.

We've been at this for four days now, and still no luck. Gohan has tried everything he can think of: meditation, sparring, throwing hurtful situations at the prince, and still nothing works. I can do nothing but sit in the corner of the room and watch as the kid tries his best, steadily making Vegeta more and more angry.

"I'm sorry, Vegeta, but it's not my fault! You have to need it and clearly you don't," Gohan says tiredly.

"Brat, I want this more than anything in the world! I don't care about anything else!"

"But Vegeta, wanting and needing aren't the same thing. I don't know what else to tell you! I've tried everything I can think of."

"Then think harder!"

I decide to cut in. "He's done everything he can, Vegeta. It's not his fault you aren't getting it."

The Saiyan whirls to face me, his face set in anger. He moves as if to attack me, but Gohan simply moves faster than lightning and kicks his legs out from under him, sending the prince to the ground in a heap.

"We're done here," he says firmly, opening the door. "I'm sorry Vegeta, but I can't help you anymore. I don't know when this great being is coming, but I know it's all too soon. Meditate and train, but there's nothing I can do. Find your motivation. The most we can hope for is a significant increase in power from all of you when the time comes."

I look between Gohan and Vegeta uncertainly. They both are visibly upset, both for different reasons. They stare at each other for a few long moments before Vegeta nods stiffly and turns his back to us. Gohan and I walk out and shut the door behind us, barely getting two steps away before we hear Vegeta scream in anger and something hit the door with immense force.

Gohan looks at me sadly, disappointment clear in his eyes.

"I did not want to have to fight."

"I know you don't kid, but it looks like you'll have to. Vegeta isn't even close. He won't be able to figure it out. His pride will always get in his way of his need."

Gohan nods solemnly. "I just wish I could help him…"


The day has come for Dende to finally arrive to Earth. Gohan and I are on the Lookout with Kami, standing by as we wait for the Namekian dragon, Porunga, to send Dende to us. Gohan is excited, happily chattering away, eagerly watching the sky.

Suddenly, the air shimmers before us and young Dende appears, a bewildered look upon his face…

Until he sees Gohan, that is.

"GOHAN!" he shouts happily, running forward.

"DENDE!" Gohan greets his friend, easily picking him up and swinging him around. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too! I was so sad to hear you had died… but you look great now! You're so big! I thought we used to be the same size…"

Gohan laughs, slapping Dende lightly on the back. "Aw man, we have to bring Krillin up here! Kami, sir, do you think you could bring him up here?"

Kami smiles lightly and nods his head, disappearing for a second before reappearing with Krillin latched onto his hand.

"Hey, Dende!" Krillin says happily, bringing in the kid for a hug. "Long time, no see, little man! Whatcha doing all the way over here?"

"He's taking over for Kami, imbecile," I grunt, unimpressed with his lack of remembrance.

"Oh yeah, that's right! Man, it's just been a crazy week! Yamcha and I have been training and stuff… crazy. I don't think we've trained this hard since…well, before Vegeta and that giant oaf Nappa were coming."

Gohan chuckles. "Yeah, I know what you mean! I've been trying to train Vegeta to become a Super Saiyan. Man, he's not even close!"

"Really? Man, that sucks… no help from him, then."

Gohan nods his head sadly. "Yeah…"

Kami cuts the tension. "Well, Gohan, do you mind coming with me to show Dende around the sanctuary? I sent Mr. Popo out to collect some supplies, so I could use a little help."

Gohan smiles and nod happily, grabbing Dende's hand and leading him into the structure. Krillin scratches the back of his bald head for a moment before looking over at me.

"So, Vegeta really isn't close, huh?"

"No. He doesn't understand the concept of need vs. want. Gohan tried everything he could to get him to understand, but it just didn't work."

"Man… So, do you think we're doomed?"

I think about it for a moment. "No. I think the kid will surprise us all. He's got so much power in him; I can see it every time we spar. It's like a little spark in there ready to be lit. He ignited it once, fighting Cooler. He just needs to sustain it."

"Hm. And you're fusing with Kami, right?"

"Unfortunately, yes. But it has to be done."

"So it won't break your bond with Gohan?"

"Not at all. It'll only make me stronger and have the knowledge of the dragon balls. That's it."

"Oh. Hm. Okay, completely off topic, but humor me, because I'm dying to know. What are you going to do when Gohan hits puberty?"

I blink. "What?"

"You know, puberty? Everyone goes through it… you know?"

"Namekians only grow stronger and bigger, and develop lower voices. What, is it different for Saiyans and humans?"

"Well…yeah… Humans at least. I assume Saiyans, I mean, they're pretty close to humans and Goku went through it, I'm sure…"

"What's the point of this?"

"I'm just curious how you'll handle it."

"Like I handle everything, I suppose. What could be so bad?"

"The fact that he's going to turn into a mini-Yamcha!"

"…weak?"

Krillin bursts out laughing, holding his stomach as he tries to breathe. "Oh my god! Ha! No, no, no! HA! That isn't… oh my god, that's hilarious! That isn't what I meant!"

Now I'm just confused. "Well, what do you mean?"

Krillin gasps a few times for air. "It means that he'll become interested in girls!"

"What's your point?"

Krillin's mouth drops open. "Girls. You know, like Yamcha? He'll like girls…"

Oh…

Oh, that's disgusting!

"Well, there's a chance he won't feel those at all or too strongly," I say convincingly.

"Oh really? How so?"

"He's connected to me. I don't have feelings like that. So there's a chance I could suppress his, even if it's marginal."

"Oh, that's pretty neat. I didn't know it worked like that," Krillin says, slightly bewildered.

"Sure. Where do you think he gets his fighting spirit from nowadays?"

"I assumed Goku."

"Well him too, I suppose. But he'll always feel the drive to fight from me."

"That is just too cool."

"It's obnoxious."

Krillin lets out a laugh. "How so?"

"You try living with a nine year old always talking in your head. Constant chatter all the time."

"Oh man, you would've hated growing up with Goku then. We were horrible. Always laughing and getting into arguments…" he sighs, closing his eyes for a minute, a sad smile on his face. "I miss those times. Friends like him are hard to come by. I don't think there'll ever be another like him."

"We have his son," I say softly.

Krillin nods. "Yeah, we do. I guess Gohan is to you as Goku is…was…to me. Except you'll never have to experience the pain of losing him, being forever bonded and all."

"I did once," I mumble, seeing the image of his broken body lying on the lookout tiles just feet from where we stand now. The pain of that loss is still fresh in my mind, even from so long ago.

I will not let him die again.

We will not die again.

"No, we won't" Gohan's voice says in my head. "And I am NOT always constantly chattering away in your head!"

"Most of the time you are," I retort.

"Hmph. Maybe. But I hear you too! You think a lot even when you don't realize it!"

"Perhaps. But at least it's not annoying."

"And I don't like seeing my dead body, thank you very much."

Oops.

"You can thank Krillin for that one."

"Maybe. But please, don't show me again."

"I didn't mean to."

"I know. Did you really cry when I died?"

Gohan digs through my memories and shows me the one of my tears hitting his small face.

"That's an invasion of privacy," I quip.

"Not really. Not anymore at least. So you did?"

"Obviously. It wouldn't be in there if it weren't true."

"Aw, Mr. Piccolo, I had no idea you cared so much," he says, a little laughter lacing his voice.

"Don't you dare start that habit again, kid. It's not 'Mr.' Piccolo. It's 'Piccolo'. End of story."

"Alright, alright. Sheesh."

"Are you almost done yet? I want to get some training in before your mother throws a fit over you being late for dinner."

"Yeah, yeah, hold on. Mr. Popo's coming back soon and I want to say hi."

I grunt and Gohan retreats from my mind a little. Krillin is staring at me with wide eyes, his head slightly cocked in confusion.

"Were you just talking to Gohan in your head?"

"Yes."

"It's so creepy when you do that. Your eyes glaze over and you go completely silent and still. For a second there, I thought you had died standing up."

I snort. "That's ridiculous."

"Well you did. Can you guys not do that while I'm around?"

"Why not?"

"Because it makes me feel left out! You could be talking about me and I wouldn't know it!"

"There isn't much to say about you except you're short, bald, and substantially weaker than us," I say, smirking.

"Yeah yeah yeah. At least I'm not a green giant with antennae," he quips back, punching my arm good-naturedly.

"Tell him he's also old!" Gohan says, jumping into the conversation.

"Gohan says you're old, too," I say before I can stop myself, sounding extremely childish.

Krillin smacks a hand over his face. "See! This is what I'm talking about! This is no fair! It's always two against one, even when only one of you is actually in front of me!"

Gohan, Dende, and Kami emerge from the sanctuary, finally. Dende is smiling and seemingly content, nodding to everything Kami is saying to him. Gohan bounds back to us, leaving them be. Krillin immediately kicks at him, but Gohan just dodges it, grinning sheepishly.

Mr. Popo finally arrives, landing on the Lookout with his stupid flying carpet. He steps down and nods courteously at the three of us before bypassing us straight for Dende and Kami. It is plain to see he is taking an instant liking to the young one, his smile bright and some of the sadness gone from his eyes. Losing Kami is going to hurt him, but with Dende around, it seems the pain won't be as intense.

Gohan and I turn to head back home to train and suddenly there is a disturbance in someone's ki. It raises to a peak and then bottoms out so it's almost gone, in just an instant.

Vegeta.


Krillin, Gohan, and I fly for Capsule Corp. as quickly as we can. The gravity room door is left open, something Vegeta would never do. Krillin enters the house without pretense, Gohan at his heels.

"Bulma! Vegeta! Where are you?" Gohan calls, his voice echoing throughout the house.

Bulma strides across the upper hallway and looks relieved when she sees us. "Oh thank goodness. He's okay, guys. Just beaten up pretty badly," she says, waving us up.

We enter the bedroom where Vegeta is lying unconscious on the large bed. There are several bandages covering his body. Trunks is sitting on the bed with him, taking advantage of the situation. He's curled up against his father's side, gurgling happily that he isn't being pushed away.

"What happened?" Gohan asks, reaching out to poke a bandage on Vegeta's chest.

"He pushed himself too hard, I suppose. When I heard the explosion, I ran out there and just found him passed out. He'll be okay after a day or two on bed rest. Just don't give him a senzu bean, okay? This is the only thing I can think of that will make him rest at least for a little while. It's actually probably a good thing this happened," she adds sadly, looking down at the Saiyan. He looks peaceful for once, his angry scowl erased in sleep.

Krillin nods in acceptance. Gohan continues to gaze at Vegeta pensively, his face scrunched in thought, and I can hear his worries of doubt.

"I think we should give him a senzu bean," he says finally. "He'll just want to train when he wakes up, with or without one. He could hurt himself again if he tries to train while he's still weak."

"Kid, you underestimate my abilities to make the bone head listen to me. Trust me, he won't be going anywhere until I say so."

"How?"

"Food usually works best. That, and the gravity room is disabled for now."

Krillin laughs heartily. "Oh Bulma, what would we do without you?"

"You'd all be dead by now, I'm sure. My beauty and brains has saved your guys' butts more times than I can count."

Gohan and Krillin glance at each other before bursting into laughter, slinging arms around each other's shoulders in an attempt to hold themselves up. Little Trunks sits up and immediately joins in, clapping his hands together.

"Oh! You guys shut up! Get out of here! And don't come crying to me when you need my dragon radar!" she snaps, swiping at Krillin.

"Okay, okay! We're sorry, right Gohan? We'll probably need that radar if this guy is as strong as Kami says he is. Who knows how many people will d—" he stops short when he feels how stiff Gohan has become against him. The kid's eyes are huge, his muscles tense, his breathing all but stopped.

"It's going to be okay, kid. Breathe."

"He's right…so many people are going to die…"

"Don't think about it. We have the dragon balls if they do. It's going to be okay. Relax."

Gohan finally relaxes and looks at Krillin, offering a weak smile. "Sorry, I got lost in thought. Well, Piccolo and I better head home before my mom starts to worry. Tell Vegeta to feel better, Bulma. We'll see you guys later!"

They nod and we begin to go down the steps, headed for the door. Behind us, I hear the two of them continue to whisper worriedly over Gohan's reaction. If he, the strongest being on this planet, is frightened, what hope do we have?

This pensive conversation draws to a close as Krillin asks, "You got any beer around here?"

Humans.


Okay, so guys, I kinda lost track of time and making things fit into this story and such. I estimated that around this time in the anime Gohan was about nine, so that's how old I made him. I know the timeline I've used (i.e. chunks of months) doesn't give much indication of how much time has passed, so I had to choose an age and stick with it. I hope that's okay with everyone and makes sense!