Life With You
Part Thirty-One: Sacrifice
Though Goku wore a cheerful demeanor on the outside, inside he felt as Piccolo, Dende, Krillin, Trunks and Gohan looked: apprehensive. As he was when facing the Artificial Humans, Vegeta left, preferring to arrive separately.
Krillin explained their reason for the glum faces. With Dende reviving Shenron instead of creating a new dragon, people who have died already can't come back. That included their group except Gohan and Trunks. Goku already suspected this but brushed it off as it wasn't a big deal.
Keep being positive. They can't see you worry. Then they'll worry and will lose confidence in fighting. Especially Gohan.
"Come on. Let's get going or we won't make it by noon."
"Son," Piccolo addressed Goku as they walked to the temple's edge, "why are you late?"
"Hmm?"
"You were to be here at eleven. It's almost half past. What took you so long?"
"Oh." Goku hoped no one noticed his tardiness. "Me and ChiChi were talking."
"That's all?" Piccolo was very suspicious. "You weren't doing that mating thing, were you?"
Gohan stopped walking which led Trunks to bump into him while Krillin threw his hands up. "Ugh! Piccolo! Why would they do that now? They had plenty of time for that!"
"You weren't living with them for three years!"
Four pair of eyes turned on Goku. They waited for his answer.
"It wasn't like that. Come on. Let's go or we'll be late."
Everyone leapt off Kami's Temple and flew at an easy pace. With their speed, they expected to arrive five minutes before noon. Gohan flew besides his father while everyone else stayed behind. "How's Mom?"
"Good. She can't wait for us to come home."
"I can't wait to go home, too. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
"I told you to not worry. Everything will be fine." If only Goku believed what he said. Everything was riding on Gohan. Gohan didn't have the battle knowledge as he but Gohan was a quick study.
Gohan's far stronger than I was as a kid. It's not like I wanted Gohan to do this. I wanted to beat Cell but Gohan's our only option.
"Sit down, ChiChi. You're gonna put a hole in the floor."
ChiChi wouldn't stop pacing. She couldn't shake the bad feeling swelling in her heart.
"I can't do it alone anymore and that bothers me more than you will ever know!"
"You really think I would have Gohan fight if I didn't need him? Don't you think I want to send him away like I did on Namek? Cell is too strong for me. I need Gohan."
What did Goku mean by that? Why can't he do it anymore? Goku isn't old. He had a year in that room. Why can Gohan do it and he can't? Why didn't he go back in that room?
"ChiChi!" her father called again.
ChiChi glanced at the clock. It was past noon. "Has it started?"
"Not yet. Goku was going first but Mr. Satan will."
"That fool." ChiChi rolled her eyes as she returned to the room. "We're gonna see an execution live." Mr. Satan set up fifteen tiles to crush with his hand. When only 14 were crushed, ChiChi squeezed the bridge of her nose. "Only 14? I can crack thirty easily."
Gyu-Mao adjusted his glasses. "Is he… sweating? After only breaking fourteen tiles?"
Not only was Mr. Satan sweating but he danced around the ring throwing multiple kicks and punches at Cell. "I can't believe any sane person on this planet is taking this fool seriously, Dad. He's moving so slow I can see his moves."
"He's out!" It was stunning but not for the reasons Gyu-Mao and ChiChi thought. "I can't believe he's still alive."
"Goku's next." ChiChi waved her hand as if she could literally push Mr. Satan off the television screen. "Stupid cameraman. I don't want to see that fool. Go back to Goku!" Begrudgingly, ChiChi listened as the reporter got Mr. Satan's commentary on the fight and his thoughts of Goku fighting Cell.
"I can tell by looking at his build and stance that he's an amateur. He wouldn't last two seconds against me. I'll give him five against Cell."
"What did that jackass say about my husband?! Amateur?!" Gyu-Mao pulled ChiChi away from the television. "He better hope we never cross paths!"
ChiChi and Gyu-Mao's eyes were glued to the TV as Goku and Cell fought. "Goku looks great. Why did he tell you he needs Gohan? He almost knocked Cell out of the ring."
"This is a warmup," ChiChi dismissed her father's praise. As Goku's wife, ChiChi knew better. "We can see their moves." Eventually, Goku and Cell increased their pace where in spots Gyu-Mao and ChiChi couldn't see them. "Okay. He's putting more effort into it but it still seems like he's playing with Cell."
His daughter looked so serious at the television. It reminded Gyu-Mao of his training her. ChiChi was always focused. She wanted to be as strong as possible. She thought the wife of Goku needed that. "Your study of martial arts have gotten better."
"I am Goku's wife, Dad. You think I'm just in the house cooking and cleaning all day. Oh!" The battle reached a new level. Gold aura surrounded Goku. From the intensity in his eyes, ChiChi knew the fight shifted. "Warm up's over."
The camera moved in different directions but all ChiChi and her father saw were the sky, dust from the arena, a glimpse of Goku and Cell, the sky, dust from the arena, the other warriors on the sidelines and Goku and Cell again.
ChiChi gasped, cringed and screamed at each blow Goku took from Cell. There was a pause in the fight as Goku and Cell talked before he screamed for everyone to get away. "No! Gohan!" she screamed at the bright light. Something was hurtling towards the cameraman where her son wasn't far off.
Screams and expletives could be heard from the cameraman and others as loud explosions and smoke blinded everyone. "I can't see!" ChiChi frantically waved at the screen. "Stupid smoke! Get away! I can't see Goku and Gohan!"
ChiChi felt she aged ten years before the smoke dispersed. The arena was gone but only two things were important to her. "Stupid cameraman! Show me my son!" Oddly, it felt the cameraman heard her as it turned sideways to show Gohan standing besides Krillin. "Now show me my husband!"
"ChiChi," Gyu-Mao pulled her back. She blocked his view. "The cameraman won't—" Goku's face appeared. "Never mind."
"Ohh," ChiChi put a hand over her chest. "I'm not sure how much more of this I can take."
It was all pieces of the sky, dust and glimpses of Goku and Cell until the cameraman found Goku. He zoomed in as Goku prepared a Kamehameha Wave. Even Gyu-Mao, who wasn't as well versed in his skills, knew what Goku was doing was dangerous.
"Is he gonna launch a Kamehameha wave from that high? That's not safe for everyone below."
ChiChi smacked her father's chest. "Don't say that! Gohan's down there!" But even ChiChi was very worried. Goku's Kamehameha Wave looked intense. "He's putting everything he has in this."
"How do you know?"
"Look at his face." ChiChi touched Goku's face on screen. "He's so intense. He's putting everything in it. I hope it's enough."
Goku teleported from the sky to behind Cell. ChiChi and Gyu-Mao shielded their eyes at the blinding light created by Goku's Kamehameha Wave. Eyes closed and ears were covered at the booming noise. Opening one eye at a time, ChiChi and Gyu-Mao saw Cell's lower body on the ground. "He did it!" ChiChi cheered.
"Wait." Gyu-Mao kept his eyes on the screen. "Something's happening."
ChiChi's premature joy was deflated at Cell regenerating his body. "No! Goku had him! That Kamehameha Wave had everything!" The fight between Goku and Cell resumed. What glimpses the cameraman revealed of Goku's face worried ChiChi. The way Goku move; the attacks he used on Cell all created a sinking feeling. "He really can't do it. Goku won't win this one."
"Don't give up on Goku, ChiChi." Gyu-Mao still had faith though it was faltering.
"He's out of breath, Dad. Cell isn't. Goku's desperate. I've never seen him like this before. I've….never seen him lose. I…. never thought it was possible." Tears glistened her shiny dark eyes. "Oh, Dad…..He can't win."
The cameraman zoomed on Goku. He huffed and puffed. He looked worn out and defeated… until he smirked. His body straightened; the gold aura faded but his smile was never so bright.
"I give up," Goku announced. "You've shown me how strong you are. I'm no fool."
"He can't give up!" Gyu-Mao picked up the TV and shook it. "Come on, Goku! Keep fighting! It's not over! You can do it!"
ChiChi gaped at her father stunned. "Wow, Dad. I thought I would do that first."
"Can I designate the person who'll go next?"
ChiChi hadn't fainted…. yet but she was lightheaded. No, Goku. Don't send Gohan to fight that monster. Don't do it. Please don't do it.
Gyu-Mao lowered the TV. ChiChi told him what Goku wanted to do but he still doubted that decision. His son-in-law wouldn't be so foolish to send his own son against this monster. "Goku took a lot out of Cell. Maybe his plan is to send Vegeta or Piccolo next to continue wearing Cell down and when they tire, Gohan will be sent in for the final blow."
"You're up, Gohan!"
"What?!" Gyu-Mao whirled back to the TV while ChiChi buried her face in her hands crying.
Goku, how could you? Our baby isn't ready.
It's over. I can't do anymore.
Goku huffed and puffed. His drained body ached. It frustrated him immensely this is how it will end for him. He hated giving up with every fiber in his body.
"You lost a lot of strength. Have one of those senzu, Son Goku," Cell mocked him. "It'll make a more entertaining battle."
Bastard is mocking me. If only I could wipe that smug smirk off his face. Gohan, I hope you watched enough because Pops can't do it anymore.
"….. Does your pride prevent you from taking the senzu? Come on! I want to have more fun!"
Cell's laugh. It reminded Goku of Vegeta and Freeza laughing prematurely thinking victory was in their grasps. Enjoy this victory, Cell, because your next match will be your end.
Goku sent Cell a cocky smirk of his own and lowered his Ki. The gold aura around him faded. "I lose. I give up. You've shown me how strong you are. I'm no fool." He'll mentally freeze frame the shock on Cell's face now and the final one when Gohan destroys him. Goku wasn't a vengeful person but he will definitely enjoy seeing that.
"Can I designate the person who'll go next?" After a few back and forth with Cell on the next fighter, Goku looked at his friends. Their faces said, 'Not me. Not me. Not me.' "You're up, Gohan!"
Goku got the reaction he expected. Piccolo screamed at him Gohan wasn't ready and what he was thinking. Even Krillin chimed in his doubts. His friends meant well but they didn't know Gohan like Goku knew his son.
Goku brushed off their concerns as he knelt before Gohan, "What do you say, Gohan? Was our battle to tough for you?"
"Well, no, but neither of you were fighting for real, right?"
Just like in the Room of Spirit and Time. Gohan couldn't see what was so obvious. "I don't know about you but I was doing my best. So, to you it looked like I wasn't really trying." Piccolo asked Gohan if that was true. At Gohan's subdued nod, Goku inwardly pumped his fist. Heh, I know my son quite well, Piccolo.
Goku wasn't a fool. He knew how wild this idea was. Everything was riding on Gohan's anger. It wasn't something Gohan could do at will. He needed visualization. In the Room of Spirit and Time, Gohan couldn't think of Cell hurting him to summon his anger because he's never seen him. He needed inspiration so Goku suggested Freeza in hopes that experience on Namek will trigger his anger. Goku was casual about it to Gohan but it was troubling Gohan couldn't visualize on his own. He needed past experiences to summon his rage.
Goku expected his battle with Cell to be enough visualization for Gohan to get angry but there was that shred of doubt Gohan will need firsthand experience from Cell. Can't worry about that now. Gohan has to do it. His son looked worried but Goku wore his upbeat smile as he kindly told Gohan. "Do it, Gohan. Bring peace to the world. You want to grow up and be a scientist don't you?"
"All… all right…." Oh, boy. He was nervous. "I'll give it a try."
What Goku will do next will get him killed by his friends and ChiChi but it had to be done. Gohan's body language did not give Goku confidence Gohan will put his all in beating Cell. Sorry, Gohan, but this is the only way for you to understand the power you have in you.
Goku asked Krillin for a senzu bean. Krillin gave it to him, figuring he will take it but Goku tossed it to Cell instead. Piccolo and Krillin looked like they wanted to kick his ass. They didn't comprehend Gohan needed to fight Cell at full power to bring out his rage. If he fought Cell less than that, Gohan wouldn't feel that desperation to tap into his inner strength. He already doubted himself. So, Goku went with a simpler though controversial explanation. "Cell's exhausted. It wouldn't be a fair fight."
Fair fight was a weak excuse. He fought Nappa when he wasn't at full power. Same with Recoome but Goku needed to say something to distract the others from the real issue.
Ignoring the critics of his friends, Goku kept his eyes on Gohan. Giving Cell the senzu bean sparked a response from his son. He straightened up; stood more confident; sounded more confident as he released his rage. While Goku was impressed with the blast of energy exploding from Gohan, everyone around him were shocked. They had no idea the power Gohan had in him and this was only the beginning.
You're getting there, Gohan. You need to raise that rage a little higher but you're on the right track. ChiChi, are you seeing how powerful are son is? Do you now see what I mean?
"He's holding up well, ChiChi. Maybe Goku knew what he was talking about."
"How can you say that when you can't see anything?" The camera angles were a disaster again. Cell and Gohan moved too fast.
Gohan and Cell came into view when Cell got the upper hand, grabbed Gohan by the top of his gi and headbutted the child. A punch across his face followed with a toss and a strong blast of Cell's Ki that sent Gohan hurtling several feet into the mountainous terrain. His body didn't stop moving until he reached the mountain's center.
"I guess I overdid it," Cell chuckled on camera. "How immature of me."
"ChiChi!" Gyu-Mao caught his daughter's fainting body. "Be strong!" He lightly tapped his daughter awake. "Come on, ChiChi. Wake up."
"Gohan," ChiChi murmured. "Gohan."
"He's fine." Gyu-Mao forced ChiChi to look at the TV. "Gohan's fine."
On television, Gohan walked from the rubble unphased. As the camera zoomed in on Gohan's face, ChiChi noticed a difference in her son. "Gohan's eyes. I've never seen him look like this before."
What happened to you in that room, Gohan?
On the battlefield, Goku burst with pride of Gohan calmly approaching Cell. The slam into the mountain didn't hurt him at all. Goku hit Gohan harder than that when they trained together. He saw it in Gohan's body language and eyes. Gohan finally understood what he tried to tell him.
"I'm… beginning to understand… why Dad said only I can defeat you."
That's it, Gohan. Show no fear. Believe in yourself.
"Ever since I was little… when I get mad I lose control and go berserk. I think… that's what Dad's counting on."
Gah! Gohan don't tell him that. You're gonna provoke him to get that anger out of you before you're ready to unleash your power.
Cell's attacks were relentless now. Cell wanted to see Gohan angry. Gohan responded but Cell was faster and exude more strength than Gohan was ready to retaliate with. This is what Goku didn't want.
When we trained, Gohan picked up as we fought. The longer we battled, the stronger, faster and more confident Gohan got. Eventually, Gohan didn't think before he attacked me. He reacted without thinking as his hidden power fueled him.
Gohan kept himself on his toes against Cell. A kick knocked Cell on his rear end and a limber bend saved Gohan from being struck from the same deadly strike Freeza used on Dende.
Gohan's picking up things faster. That's right, Cell. Make Gohan mad! Then you'll know fear for the first time in your life.
Goku's joy at Gohan keeping up with Cell came to a halt when Cell grasped Gohan in a fierce bear hug.
Dammit!
Gohan struggled and hollered but could not break free from Cell's monstrous hold.
Come on, Gohan. Break out of it. You're stronger than him. Don't lose confidence because he got the jump on you.
Back home, ChiChi was an emotional wreck. She was on her feet throwing angry fists in the air as Gohan screamed in agonizing pain on live TV. She feared Cell will snap Gohan's spine in half. "Goku! What's the matter with you! Our son is getting killed! Help him!"
"Goku must have a plan," Gyu-Mao reasoned with ChiChi. "Have faith!"
"Having faith in Goku may get our son killed!" ChiChi tried to be patient; tried to trust him but this was too much. "I'm going to him!"
Gyu-Mao panicked seeing ChiChi walk towards the door. "ChiChi, you're not goin' there, are you?"
ChiChi slammed the door open. "Damn right I am! Nimbus!"
Gyu-Mao grabbed ChiChi and pulled her back inside. "No, ChiChi! You're gonna be a distraction!"
Nimbus parked itself outside the door. ChiChi reached for it as Gyu-Mao pulled her further in the house. "Let me go! I don't want to hurt you!"
"Then hurt me! I won't let you get killed. I'm willing to lose Goku. It'll break my heart if I lost Gohan but I can't lose you, too, ChiChi."
Her father's words ceased her struggling. "Dad….. I can't lose my family."
"You're my family, too, and I can't lose you. I don't understand Goku's actions either but you have to trust him. He died saving Gohan from his brother. He sent him away on Namek to save his life. He would not do anything to intentionally let Gohan die. Goku has a plan. See it through."
Even though her child's screams rang in her ears, her father's advising words sunk in her mind. She didn't understand Goku's reasons but she knew she had to trust her husband. No matter what Goku wouldn't let anything happen to Gohan.
While Goku had his wife's trust, the trust of his friends were dropping by each terrifying scream Gohan released. Only Piccolo had the courage to voice his frustration. "I don't care what you say! I'm going to help Gohan!"
"Wait for Gohan to get mad. Gohan's rage will unleash his true power. Then you'll see something amazing." Goku wasn't sure how many times he said that already but even he grew agitated the longer Gohan struggled. "Our only hope to beat Cell is locked inside Gohan."
If Gohan doesn't unlock it soon, he's done for. Come on, Gohan. I know you can do it. Remember our training.
Piccolo was done with Goku's excuses. "You keep talking about this rage Gohan has in him. Maybe he has that but he doesn't have your warrior's stomach! Does he even know about this plan?! Before you dumped him on Kami's Temple, did you even discuss this plan with him first?!"
The question stung at Goku for he knew he didn't. If he said no, it would cause Piccolo to get even angrier with him. He didn't mean to keep it a secret from Gohan. He wanted and tried to tell Gohan but in training, Goku saw Gohan's fatherly worship blinded him. When Gohan surpassed him, Gohan never questioned his strength; never brought up his goal for Gohan to be stronger than him because Gohan always doubted himself in comparison. Telling Gohan wouldn't convince him. Goku thought the only way Gohan would see the truth is him coming to the revelation on his own as he did when Cell threw him in the mountain. It was the same many years ago when Piccolo threw a four-year-old Gohan into the mountain to show he had power.
"…..It's not rage!" Piccolo bellowed. "He's thinking, 'Why won't my Dad help me when I am in so much pain?!'"
Gohan's not thinking that. Piccolo's blinded, too. I know I'm right about my son.
"…. however strong he might be," Piccolo raged on, "he's still a child!"
"He's still a child. He's still a child."
It was not Piccolo's voice that rang in his ear but ChiChi and her foreboding warning to him.
"Goku, you're so blind. I don't know if it's your Saiyan blood or….." she couldn't find the right words finish. "So, what if Gohan is strong enough to fight Cell. He's still a child. He's not ready for this."
It was a double whammy to his system. He didn't listen to ChiChi then. Didn't listen to Piccolo now but hearing both their words along with Gohan screams created a terrible feeling in Goku's heart.
Did I make a mistake? Did I overestimate Gohan?
The dam of confidence he had earlier cracked with watery doubt filling in.
I know he's young but he's been through so much. I thought he was ready. I was so sure…
Gohan's screams were now a horrifying chill down his spine. Flashes of Gohan's crying when Raditz captured him sparked in his mind. Was I the blind one? Did my frustration at my inability to ascend, blind me to miscalculate Gohan's readiness? Gohan!
"Krillin! Give me a senzu bean!"
Sorry, Gohan. I know you did your best. You weakened Cell enough for Daddy to finish him and if I can't…. I know I can weaken him enough for the others to step in.
Overhearing Goku will join the battle again, Cell reacted. It stole the senzu beans from Krillin. After No. 16's attempt to blow up with Cell failed, Cell released seven miniature versions of itself called Cell Juniors. The warriors were no match for them. Goku, already drained of energy, was a punching bag for them. The cameraman captured the beatdown live to viewers back home.
Instead of ChiChi screaming at Goku for not helping Gohan, ChiChi screamed at her son.
"Gohan, what are you doing?! Don't just stand there! Help your father! He's gonna get killed!"
Gyu-Mao grabbed ChiChi again before she tried to escape on Nimbus. "No, ChiChi! You are not going!"
"Let me go, Dad!" ChiChi's legs dangled off the floor. She didn't care she risked hurting her father she was going to rescue Goku. She broke from his full nelson hold and landed on the floor. Just as she started running, Gohan's yell brought her back to the TV.
Once the light and dust faded from the camera's view, Gohan filled the screen again and the look on his face had ChiChi trembling in fear. The wild intense eyes and glowing aura of his body and hair really hit home for ChiChi her son wasn't entirely human. Gohan flew to where the cameraman shot Krillin lying on the ground next to a blue miniature version of Cell.
Her hands covered her mouth witnessing Gohan chop off its head with a simple swipe of his hand. He looked unremorseful of the action he took. The remaining Cell Juniors launch a simultaneous attack. Fluidly, Gohan killed them all by kicking off heads and slicing bodies in half. He chased after the last one and ruthlessly killed it.
Shocked, ChiChi fell to her knees. Was this boy her son? She didn't recognize him at all.
My baby. What's happened to you?
"Is that really Gohan?" Gyu-Mao remarked at the change in his grandson.
"Don't get cocky, boy!" Cell warned Gohan. "You don't really think you can beat me."
"What do you think?"
Hand over mouth, ChiChi shook her head. "This isn't my sweet baby at all. Who is he?"
"Well, then, let me show you my true terrible power."
Dust and rocks floated around Cell as he screamed. The higher his Ki rose, the more electricity crackled around him and the farther his power spread from the battle site to around the planet.
ChiChi and Gyu-Mao kept their balance as the house shook but when the television screen turned blank, ChiChi panicked.
"No!" ChiChi banged the TV. It was blank. She shook the TV. Nothing. She flipped more channels. A few were focused on the Cell Game. She kept changing channels. All were blank until she came upon a cartoon channel. "What's going on? Why can't I see the fight?"
"The camera stopped working," Gyu-Mao guessed. "I think Cell reaching his full power short circuited the camera there."
"You're saying we can't watch the fight anymore?" ChiChi shook the TV again. "It can't stop here. I have to see what's happening to Gohan. He looked so different and what about Goku? He looked pretty beaten."
Gyu-Mao embraced his daughter. "Right now we can only wait and pray." He patted ChiChi's back as she sobbed. "I know. I know. I hate waiting, too."
That's my boy. Cell Juniors did a number on Goku. His body was broken to the point he couldn't get up after that beating but his heart soared with pride at Gohan's explosion. I knew it. Serves you right, Cell. It's over for you now.
This is what Goku wanted everyone to see. This was the Gohan he saw in the Room of Spirit and Time. The power. The confidence. As Cell decided to take the fight seriously and summoned his full power, Trunks arrived with a senzu bean for Goku.
"Gohan's incredible."
"Yeah," Goku agreed as he and Trunks jumped to escape the unstable ground. Cell summoning his full power shook the planet. "This is Cell's full power."
Krillin joined them. "Gohan's not scared at all. This is insane for both of them to have this power, especially Gohan. He's just a child. What the hell kind of training did you two do?"
Goku noticed a slight trepidation in Krillin's voice. Perhaps it was scary to see this power coming from Gohan but Goku was proud; even felt a little vindicated for all the yelling from his friends earlier. When the fight resumed, Gohan was ready for Cell's every strike. Cell paid for a missed swing with a punch to its guts. Gohan caught its fist and rattled Cell's body with a punch and kick from him. The blows left Cell staggering in horror. No doubt he wondered how a child could bring such pain to his body.
That's it, Cell. Taste fear. Pay for all the lives you killed and the people you've frightened. It must hurt your ego to be defeated by a mere child. My son.
Goku took immense pleasure seeing Gohan outfight Cell but as the battle continued, trepidation rose in him. Watching Gohan fight Cell left him feeling déjà vu over his battle with Freeza. When he became a Super Saiyan, he was filled with rage but also drunk on power. He felt invincible. He was so confident, he taunted Freeza and let him reach 100%.
Oh, no. I didn't think…
Looking back on his fight with Freeza, Goku realized he was drunk on his own power. It blinded him to making mistakes. Because he didn't stop Freeza earlier, Freeza attacked Namek. That costly mistake not only destroyed a planet but separated Goku from his family for another year. Goku accustomed this ego trip to being a full Saiyan. Vegeta was definitely drunk on it but he always had that ego whereas he kept his cool. Trunks never had an ego when in his normal or Super Saiyan state. There was some cockiness but not the power trip he or Vegeta had. Goku suspected the human blood flowing in Trunks tempered the Saiyan ego. Gohan never displayed anything remotely close to a power trip. He was always humbled with his strength. Even when they trained and Gohan surpassed him, Gohan never had a power trip. Goku suspected it was the human blood that saved him from that experience.
Now Goku saw he was wrong. He was very, very wrong.
If Gohan keeps toying with Cell, it could do something drastic like Freeza did with me. Cell has Freeza DNA. If Cell gets desperate like Freeza, it can destroy this planet like Freeza destroyed Namek.
Goku's worry proved true when Cell jumped in the air and summoned a Kamehameha wave at full power. It was the same attack he did on Cell before he was forced to give up. If Gohan miscalculated, it was over for all of them.
Gohan repelled Cell with a Kamehameha Wave of his own. The force of both caused the ground to shake like a 12.0 Richter scale earthquake. Goku and everyone else shielded themselves from the blowback of both attacks.
When the quakes stop and smoked cleared, what was left of Cell was stunning. One leg and half legs and arm were blown off. Half of his bug ears were gone. Cell trembled in horror and fear of the attack and the warriors on the ground were stunned beyond belief.
"That shrimp fired an even bigger Kamehameha Wave," Vegeta couldn't believe a child, a child of his rival's had so much power. How did he do it? How did Kakarrot DO it?!
While Vegeta was overwhelmed at Gohan's power, Goku worried history will repeat itself. With a broken body, Cell will pull a desperate move to win. It might try to kill itself and take the entire planet with it. "Gohan, what are you doing?! Finish it! FINISH OFF CELL!"
Gohan always obeyed him. From calmly speaking to his child during peaceful times and in intense situations where he yelled at Gohan, Gohan always listened.
Except now.
"Already?" Gohan scoffed. Stop now? He was getting started. "Heh. Sorry, Dad. It deserves to suffer more."
"What…." No. No, Gohan. He defied me. Gohan's getting drunk on his own power. "What did you say?"
"What's come over him?" Piccolo questioned. Even he was baffled at the cockiness of the child he trained as a scared little boy.
"Gohan….." This was Goku's worst nightmare. It wasn't suppose to be like this. I didn't think his Saiyan blood would overwhelm him this way. I thought his human blood would calm the Saiyan lust for fighting. As Cell regenerated itself, Goku tried again. Gohan must be made to understand. "Gohan! You're the only one who can finish it! Do it now! Don't let it get desperate! We don't know what it will do!"
Again, Gohan smirked. Images of Namek flashed before Goku's eyes. He saw Freeza firing a destructive blow to Namek; quakes and natural disasters occurring as he and Freeza fought to Namek's final moments. The visual in his mind changed to Cell firing a destructive blow to Earth; quakes and natural disasters destroying everyone on this planet.
I didn't prepare him enough but I didn't think he would do this. Gohan never acted….. Goku stared at his lost son. For the first time in his life, Goku did not see the boy he knew. If he finishes Cell, what if he's still drunk on power. I can't stop him.
Goku shook his head, clearing himself of the negative thought. No. He will not lose his son this way.
Meanwhile, Cell roared with rage. It maximized its size and resumed its fight with Gohan. Its strength was greater than before but Cell's speed was lost and it made it an easy target for Gohan who mercilessly pummeled it. Blow after blow Gohan attacked until Cell crumpled to one knee. It heaved and clutched its chest as its body and face expanded. Everyone looked on unsure what Cell's next move will be.
What no one expected was Cell vomiting 18. The pretty blond female Artificial Human laid in a sloppy gross pool of goo. Without her, Cell reverted to his weaker and imperfect form. He was still strong but he was beatable not only by Gohan but Goku and even Vegeta.
This is your chance, Gohan. Kill him now! Don't make the same mistake I did.
Instead of hearing his father's mental plea, Gohan looked on unimpressed. "Figures." Cell was so much weaker now to the child. It was no fun taunting one so weak and pathetic. "I guess that's it for you then."
Gohan prepared himself for the final blow but Cell surprised all by changing his form again. He grew in size, swelling like a giant balloon.
"What…." Goku could hear a nervous Yamcha say, "what's it doing?"
Goku knew. This is what he feared; what he didn't want the battle to come to. Cell's desperation move. "Oh, no!"
Reaching the limits of his balloon size, Cell laughed triumphantly. "I'm going to self-destruct in sixty seconds. I'll die… but so will you! The whole earth will go with me!"
Dammit! Goku knew it! He knew Cell would pull something dirty.
"I advise you not to attack," Cell warned Gohan. "I'll explode the instant I'm hit. You'll be just as dead—only sooner!" Cell cackled again taking immense pleasure at his victory. The child warrior could not stop him now!
If Gohan hits Cell, it's all over for us. Goku lowered his head as his fists clenched. I failed him. I failed ChiChi. We're all gonna die. Unless…..
Goku faced death before. Five years ago, when he laid on the cool grass that fall afternoon, Goku didn't have moments of his life flashing before his eyes. He saw his crying best friend hold his hand. Goku hated the feeling of dying but he wasn't worried. He was going to be wished back.
Now facing death again, knowing he can't come back, moments did flash in his mind.
"How many kids do you want, ChiChi?"
"Congratulations, Goku. You're a Daddy now."
"He has my tail, ChiChi. Has my stomach, too!"
"Look at him, Goku. Gohan's walking!"
"Da….dy. Dad…dy. Daddy!"
"That's right, Gohan. I'm your Pops!"
"He's skittish but he has a lot of power in him. I know it, ChiChi."
"He's too young to fight! His mind would be better served getting an education!"
"You have to promise me to make Gohan as strong as you can while you're at it."
"So, after we defeat Cell and the Artificial Humans, you wanna go back to school?"
"I don't want you or Gohan to die. If I lost you two again, I'll be… I can't go through that again, Goku."
"I don't want to die but I will to keep you safe."
"Twenty more seconds," Cell chortled.
Not enough time to think of another way. It was a weird feeling knowing he will die. No burden. No grief. Goku's spirit felt light as he knew this was the right thing to do. With a smile and feeling at peace of his decision, Goku gave one last look to his friends. "I've been thinking and I can't come up with any other way to save the Earth." There wasn't time for a lengthy goodbye to tell everyone how much they meant to him. So, Goku placed two fingers on his forehead, smiled and simply said, "Bye, guys."
Goku vanished and appeared before Gohan. His son was bent over, slamming his fists in the ground at his frustration. Goku felt no anger towards Gohan; only sadness he didn't do more to prepare his son.
Guess this is how I will atone for my error. Sorry, Gohan. It's my fault. Not yours.
Probably ten seconds now and not enough time for a lengthy goodbye. Placing a hand on Cell's fat belly, Goku smiled at Gohan. "You did well, Gohan. I'm proud of you."
Facing death, Goku was pleased to know the last time he sees his son, wouldn't be of the aggressive, cocky person who fought Cell. He saw his wide-eyed innocent boy. The child that followed him wherever he went and clutched to him whenever they were with strangers.
"Da-Dad?"
Knowing this was goodbye, Goku thought of ChiChi. There was so much Goku wanted Gohan to tell ChiChi but not enough time to pass the message. He had to leave to save them. "Tell Mom I'm sorry."
Five seconds left, Goku disappeared and reappeared on King Kai's planet. He could only get one message out to a stunned King Kai, Bubbles and Gregory before they all blew up. "Sorry, King Kai. This was the only place I could go."
"What the fu—" was all King Kai could manage before Cell's body expelled in a giant, massive explosion.
Death was instant. Goku's body incinerated immediately. There was no chance for King Kai, Bubbles and Gregory to escape as their bodies and the tiny planet were swallowed up in Cell's massive destruction.
Gohan's body shook in stunned silence. One second his father stood before him with Cell. 'I'm proud of you' he heard his father say. 'Tell Mom I'm sorry.' Gohan was in a world of disbelief and confusion. What was his father saying? Before he could ask for a deeper explanation, his father and Cell disappeared.
Seconds passed as it slowly dawned on Gohan what happened. Piccolo not detecting Goku confirmed it. His father was gone. He died saving him. Gohan slammed his fists down again. "DAD!" Tears poured from his eyes. "No! No! NO!" He cried over and over.
Dad's gone. Daddy's gone. He died because I didn't listen to him! He warned me to kill Cell and I wouldn't do it! I lost my Daddy.
Mom. It's all my fault Dad died because of me.
As Gohan drowned himself in his tears, he felt a hand on his back and Krillin gently talking to him. Krillin told him he did his best and his father was proud of him but Gohan couldn't accept Krillin's comforting words. Nothing could console him. No matter what was said by anyone, Gohan would never forgive himself for it.
With Krillin's help, Gohan stood. His heavy mind still thought of his father as Krillin left his side to pick up 18. He heard Vegeta barked, "What the fuck are you doing with that machine? Destroy it if it's still functional."
"But—but she's a person," Krillin explained to Vegeta.
Before Vegeta could bicker on why Krillin should destroy 18, an intense Ki was felt behind Gohan. Clouds of dust hid the individual who attacked without provocation. A deadly beam pierced through the cloud of smoke and struck Trunks' center. It killed him instantly.
When the smoke cleared, Cell stood in its perfect form. It gloated how the regenerative cluster in its head caused it to survive. With Saiyan DNA pumping in it, Cell could return to its perfect form. Absorbing Goku's remains allowed Cell to achieve Goku's teleportation trick and finish this fight.
Gohan's clenched his fists as he faced off with his father's murderer. No more mistakes. No more missed opportunities. Gohan vowed to kill Cell this time. He will not make the same mistake twice.
Unfortunately, Gohan did not count on Vegeta. He did not notice Vegeta's grief at Trunks' death. He reacted too late to stop Vegeta who exploded in a burst of anger.
"You bastard!" Vegeta didn't hold anything back as he unleashed all his arsenal of attacks on Cell. Waves of dust and dirt spewed everywhere. Yamcha shielded Trunks' dead body and Krillin protected 18. Vegeta's attack had no affect on Cell. One swipe of his arm and Vegeta crashed against the ground hard.
Defenseless, Vegeta couldn't stop Cell from firing one final attack on him. Gohan interceded to save Vegeta but at a heavy price. Taking the brunt of Cell's blast left Gohan with a broken arm and half of his power depleted. With no senzu beans, Gohan was on his own.
Vegeta's vision doubled momentarily. He saw Gohan standing not far from him. His body was broken but he was going to face off against Cell in a final stand. The Saiyan Prince couldn't believe it. All that training he did. Two days in that room and he couldn't exceed his rival and his son. Two days in that room and he couldn't avenge the death of his son. His life was saved by the son of his hated rival. Vegeta accepted Gohan will be their only hope but it pissed him off his actions may actually bring death on them all.
"I… I can't believe I was only a liability." Kakarrot's gone. My son is gone. The Saiyan race will be wiped out by a genetic freak with part of my DNA. It's my fault in more ways than one. Our only hope and I fucked things up. "Gohan….I'm sorry."
As Cell fired up one more Kamehameha Wave that will be the end of Earth, his affects traveled across the planet. Earthquakes, tsunamis and tidal waves were felt all over the world. On Master Roshi's island, Master Roshi protected his island from tidal waves with his Kamehameha Waves while Bulma huddled in a closet holding her baby close to her.
At Goku and ChiChi's shaking house, picture frames fell off the wall, dishes fell from the cabinets. Gyu-Mao shielded ChiChi with his body as a bookcase toppled. ChiChi clasped her hands together in prayer.
If this is the end, Goku, please be with Gohan. I will join you soon.
At the battle, Vegeta noticed a change in Gohan. He was speaking but not to him. It appeared Gohan was talking to his father.
Is Kakarrot reaching Gohan from the afterlife? Heh. That bastard never knew how to stay dead.
Gohan took his hand off his injured arm. Ki formed in his hand. Even in the face of death, the child was going down fighting. No fear. No tears in his eyes. Like a Saiyan.
Like his father. He showed no fear when he died.
Even with half his power, the Ki Gohan formed in his hand was incredible and when it collided with Cell's Kamehameha Wave, it was enormous! Mr. Satan and his crew were blown away. Piccolo ordered everyone back to escape getting caught in its crossfires.
Near ground zero, Vegeta's injured body blew back several feet. Grasping his hurt arm, Vegeta pulled himself up. Huffing and puffing with strong winds whipping his hair, Vegeta watched the amazing power between Gohan and Cell. Even with his depleted power, this child was doing everything he can to save everyone.
It fueled Vegeta. If this child of his once hated enemy was their only chance to survive, then he wasn't letting him do it alone.
I don't care if it's me and Kakarrot's son. This fucker will not eliminate the Saiyan race. NOT TODAY!
Vegeta jumped in the air. The billowing winds created by Cell and Gohan's Kamehameha Waves guided him high in the sky until he hovered over Cell. It was too distracted by Gohan to feel him. Vegeta summoned all he had left in him to the point he reverted to his base form. He only had one shot at this.
One shot. One chance. Vegeta aimed his power at Cell for a direct hit on its head. It didn't blow Cell's head off but Cell faltered enough for Gohan to get the upper hand and overwhelm it with his Kamehameha Wave. Besides Gohan, Vegeta had the best view to see Cell be obliterated. He even heard the pitiful creation final words.
'I am invincible.'
Narcissistic to the end.
With Cell's final gasp, the waves energy dispersed and the quakes stopped. The air was calm as the blue skies and sun shined brightly over everyone. Somehow they made it. Gohan, the victor, collapsed out of exhaustion and relief. It was over.
Yamcha could be heard cheering. Krillin fell in line and Tien released his own cheer. It was infectious to Vegeta who had a smile of his own. The three crowded Gohan congratulating him. Yamcha picked up Gohan. With Krillin holding 18 and Tien with Trunks slung over his back, the three flew towards Kami's Temple.
Vegeta noticed Piccolo looking at him. He already knew what Piccolo was going to say before he said it.
"I'll lend you a hand, Vegeta."
"Mind you own damn business," Vegeta cursed. "Just go."
Instead of a scowl, Piccolo smiled and left. Three years ago, they would've been at each other's throats screaming. Three years ago they were! Goku had to intervene then but perhaps this experience with the Artificial Humans, Cell and Goku's death told them it was time for them to bury the hatchet.
Kakarrot.
With the battle over, everything that happened began to sunk in.
I can't believe he's gone. I was utterly beaten by that father and son. Vegeta clenched his fists. Curse you, Kakarrot. How dare you die like that?! Disgusted with himself and this place, Vegeta flew away.
"Bye, guys."
Damn you, Kakarrot. I'll never fight again.
Vegeta took his time returning to Capsule Corporation. He could've gone to Kami's Temple and see Trunks revive but Trunks will return here. Besides, he spent enough days up there and wanted to be as far from it as possible. As much as he bragged to Goku he could handle it, Vegeta hated that room, too. It was boring as hell!
Dr. Briefs was in the yard with his robots when Vegeta landed. They were accessing the damage the earthquakes brought on his home. Dr. Briefs approached Vegeta with a pleased smile. "Welcome back! We heard the news. Cell has been defeated. Mr. Satan is taking credit for it but we all know you, Goku and everyone else stopped him."
Mr. Satan? That jackass is taking credit for what Kakarrot and Gohan did? Vegeta had half a mind to do something. It wasn't him but dammit a Saiyan killed Cell. It should be known all over a Saiyan did it but it wasn't him the credit was taken from. Fuck it. Vegeta was burnt out mentally and physically. He didn't want to do anything but go to his room.
"Come with me," Dr. Briefs offered. Vegeta remained rooted to the ground. Dr. Briefs waved for Vegeta to follow. "Come on."
Huffing, Vegeta followed Dr. Briefs to the kitchen. "Have a seat," Dr. Briefs encouraged Vegeta. He sat at the kitchen bar. "Been a long two weeks for both of us. I didn't fight but I contribute with the remote and removing the bomb in 16. Plus, I worried about my family. We came awfully close to biting it."
Dr. Briefs placed two stemless wineglasses and a bottle of whiskey on the counter. He poured half a glass for himself and Vegeta. Just as he pulled the bottle away from Vegeta's glass, Vegeta kept Dr. Brief's hand over it until the glass was an inch from spilling over.
Dr. Briefs' chuckled as he capped the bottle. He was going to raise his glass and give a speech but Vegeta was too busy guzzling the drink down. Finished with the first glass, Vegeta grabbed the whiskey bottle and poured himself another drink. The old scientist laughed. "I can't blame you." Dr. Briefs pulled out a capsule from his pocket. He popped the capsule. A puff of smokes and several seconds later, food covered the entire kitchen bar. "I figured you'd be hungry, too, so I had the cooks prepare this. Eat up."
Dr. Briefs did this sometimes. He'd invite Vegeta for a drink, food and chat. Dr. Briefs would do all the talking while Vegeta drank and ate as payment for keeping the man company.
"Now that this business with the Artificial Humans and Cell is finally over, what's next?" Vegeta hungrily stuffed rice and meat in his mouth. "You had a mission to stop this threat and I catered to you. I built that gravity room. I arranged for you to live in our vacation home away from Bulma and your son. Bulma was furious with me but I thought it was what you needed to focus on these Artificial Humans."
Vegeta pushed aside the empty bowl of rice and reached for the noodles. "You want something."
Dr. Briefs wasn't scared of Vegeta's gruff attitude. "You have been here for four years. You and my daughter have a child together. I've given you everything you requested. It's not much if I ask you what your plans are."
Vegeta conceded Dr. Briefs made a fair point. "And what are you expecting of me?"
"I want you and my daughter to figure out what you're gonna do with each other. It's not just you two anymore. There's a child involved." Dr. Briefs finished his drink. "And without these monsters to worry about, you have time to make a decision."
"And if my decision is not what you want?"
Dr. Briefs lit up a cigarette. He inhaled and blew off a puff of smoke. "Whatever your choice, you're free to come to me for updates in the gravity room, for access to our vacation home. I won't stop you from anything if you part ways from my daughter and grandson. I won't live with any regrets in life because I've taken advantage of everything that has been offered to me. Will you?"
Dr. Briefs left Vegeta on that cryptic note. Just as he stepped out of the kitchen, Bulma entered. "He's in here, Trunks."
Vegeta kept eating but from the corner of his eye, looked Trunks over. From the smile on his face, Vegeta knew Trunks heard what he did for him. Ugh. He wanted to talk about it. Instead of giving Trunks that opportunity, he yelled, "Next time learn to damn duck!"
"Vegeta!" Bulma scolded him. Vegeta resumed eating. Bulma sighed. This man was hopeless. "Sorry, Trunks."
"It's okay." Trunks smiled. "I should've ducked. Anyway, I'm kind of dirty and hungry so I will take a shower before coming back to eat."
Alone, Bulma sat on the stool besides Vegeta. "You didn't have to respond like that, Vegeta." She adjusted baby Trunks in her lap. "At least not today. Trunks told me what happened on Kami's Temple. There was a chance to wish Goku back by going to the New Namek and use those dragon balls but Goku refused that idea and…." Bulma sighed. "I think it's my fault."
Puzzled, Vegeta looked at her with a mouthful of food. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I told Goku bad guys seem to follow him. Goku remembered that and thought if he stay dead, no more bad guys will attack Earth. We can all live in peace."
"He's a dumbass listening to you," Vegeta resumed eating, "but why the fuck did you tell him that?"
"Probably because it needed to be told the moment I said it. All the things I've said to him and he listens to that."
Vegeta noticed Bulma's sullen face. Baby Trunks just babbled unaware of the stress of his parents. "It's bothering you that much?"
"Goku is my oldest friend so I care for him. We've been through a lot and I can't believe he's not coming back. I thought he would be around until we're old and reminiscing of the adventures of our youth. I can't imagine what ChiChi must be feeling now and it's partially my fault." Vegeta didn't miss a beat eating. Oh, he ate normally but Bulma knew it bothered him, too. "I know it bothers you. You hated Goku but I know you really didn't and you hate he's gone."
"I only hate he didn't die by my hands. Now leave me alone! I've earned this meal and I won't have your endless blabbering ruining it!"
"Fine. I'm going." Bulma got off the stool, readjusted baby Trunks in her arms and stormed out. She was so angry she didn't notice Vegeta actually watching her and Trunks leave. She was so upset. Hearing what he did for Trunks was a big change. This is the same man who didn't save her and their infant child when Dr. Gero almost killed them. Bulma never expected him to go in a berserker rage over Trunks' death. She thought with that moment, he would be open to talk or at least be someone who would listen. Why do I even bother?
The only other person Bulma could talk to was ChiChi but she was in her own personal hell now.
Gohan flew around his home for the fifth time. It was almost sunset and he knew his mother worried on what's keeping him and his father. The Cell Game has been over for hours. She must know something is wrong.
Dad was upbeat about his decision and Gohan left Kami's Temple upbeat, too, but the further he got away from that place and the closer Gohan came to home, reality set in. Dad was not coming back. It wasn't something to be happy about. Mom will be devastated by Dad's loss. They will have to go the rest of their lives without him.
As much as Dad felt happy about his decision and as much as he tried to assure him, Gohan knew if he beat Cell like he should've, Dad will be with him right now. They'll be home eating Mom's delicious meals.
You can't stay out here forever, Gohan. You have to tell Mom.
Inside, ChiChi pulled dinner from the oven. It was an hour after the last quakes stopped the reporter from the Cell Game appeared on TV to announce Cell was defeated by Mr. Satan. ChiChi didn't know how that con artist pulled off that lie. It was Goku and Gohan who won. Why they let him have credit she didn't know. She'll ask Goku when he comes home.
Meanwhile, ChiChi worked on dinner. She made all their favorites. They were late coming home but ChiChi suspected Goku worried her reaction to him letting Gohan fight Cell delayed their return. The beating Gohan took and change that overcame him were troubling. She still had a sick feeling how Gohan murdered the Cell Juniors. They deserved it but ChiChi needed to see her child and know she still has her son.
"ChiChi," her father came in the kitchen. "I fixed and put back everything that was knocked down during those quakes but you need a new frame and wedding photo."
The 30 x 40 frame in the living room was the centerpiece of all the photos ChiChi hung over the years. There were photos of her and Goku, Gohan as a baby, toddler and of the three together recently. Over the years, ChiChi replaced photos but the giant centerpiece remained. It fell with a loud thud but ironically did so before the final quakes.
"Oh, dear," ChiChi stared at the damaged photo. The glass cut across Goku's face. "I'll order another photo and get another frame." ChiChi touched the broken frame's edges. "Mr. Olitz made this frame for us. I know his arthritis flares up sometimes but I hope he can make another one."
The door slowly opened. ChiChi turned to see Gohan walk in. "Gohan!" ChiChi raced to her son and embraced him. She hugged him tight and smothered him with kisses on his face. "Oh, I was so worried about you!" She examined his face and body. "Let me see you. Are you hurt? Are you-"
"I'm fine, Mom." Gohan hugged his mother again. Gohan wasn't as affectionate with the hugs in the last three years but after today he needed to have his mother hold him.
After a few moments, Gohan felt his mother pull back. She was on her feet and looking out the door. "Where's your father? Is he hiding from me? Goku? Goku?" Slowly, ChiChi stepped back in. Her stomach twisted. "Gohan….where is your father?"
"He's gone, Mom. Dad died."
Gohan saw his mother cover a hand over her mouth. She shook her head in denial. "No. That can't be true. He was alive on TV!"
Gyu-Mao solemnly asked his grandson. "What happened, Gohan?"
There wasn't an easy way to say it but Gohan tried his best. "I was fighting Cell. I was doing good. I had the upper hand but Cell got desperate. It knew I would beat it so Cell decided to blow itself up. It became a living bomb and said it will blow up the Earth in sixty seconds."
Gohan saw tears stream down his mother's face. She knew. "Dad took Cell away so they blew up together."
ChiChi collapsed to her knees. "He blew up?" she whispered. "He blew up with that monster? He was alone with it? His body….." she silently wept as the visual in her mind was too much for her. "My poor Goku."
As ChiChi wept, Gyu-Mao felt something amiss. Something about Gohan's bowed head told him that wasn't the full story. "Is that all? Did something else happen?"
There was one crucial thing but Gohan couldn't share that. "Yeah. Cell came back. Cell regenerated again but I defeated him. We went to Kami's Temple to revive everyone killed by Cell but since Dad already died, he couldn't come back."
"What do you mean he couldn't come back?" ChiChi momentarily stopped crying. "The dragon balls….
"Dende revived the dragon balls created by Kami. He didn't create new ones. We knew if anyone already revived once died fighting Cell couldn't come back."
"What about the Namek dragon balls?" Gyu-Mao asked desperately. "You brought back Goku's friend with that."
"Dad talked to us from the other side. He said he will stay dead because Bulma told him he attracts bad guys. He thought we will have a better shot at peace if he stays dead."
"No!" ChiChi refused that answer. "I don't care about peace. I want my Goku. Get everyone. We'll find that place the Nameks live on and bring Goku back."
"I think it's best Goku stays dead, ChiChi." Gyu-Mao was deeply saddened with Goku's decision. They won't get a chance to patch their relationship but he understood and respected Goku's choice. That young man really did grow up. "He was sent here as a baby to kill us. Goku's done the opposite but a lot of trouble has come his way: his brother, Freeza, those Artificial Humans and Cell. If being away from us is Goku's best way of protecting us and letting us live a happy and peaceful life, then I respect it."
ChiChi shook her head as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. "I can't accept that. I can't, Dad."
"You have to ChiChi," Gyu-Mao advised gently. "But I'll be here and so will Gohan."
Her tears blinded her. Goku was gone and he wasn't coming back. Their kiss this morning was the final one. Their lovemaking last night was the final one. Everything that happened in the last five days was the final one. She'll never have…
"No!" ChiChi fell forward. "No, no, no!" Her fists pounded on the wooden floor. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. We were gonna have our family back and do things together again. More family picnics; more festivals at Dad's castle! Goku and I were gonna see Gohan finish school, marry and have grandbabies for us to play with! Goku and I were suppose to have another baby!" The sobs were so heavy Gohan barely heard ChiChi whisper, "And now we can't. I can't get pregnant again."
Gohan's hands slipped from ChiChi's back. A baby? Mom and Dad were thinking of having another baby? It's my fault Mom and Dad won't have another baby. I killed our family.
Far above, Goku saw everything. He witnessed ChiChi's collapsed on the floor; heard her heavy sobs and cries. He knew ChiChi wouldn't be happy about the news; knew Gohan and ChiChi will suffer his absence more than anyone else but he wasn't expecting this.
He had to do something about that.
"King Kai, I need to talk to them."
"And what do you expect to say to them?" King Kai asked. "You think that speech you gave to everyone on Kami's Temple will work on your wife? Do you really want to see your wife's reaction when you tell her you know staying dead will hit her and Gohan the hardest?"
True. That would cause ChiChi to break down even more. "I won't say that, but, King Kai, I have to talk to them."
"No…." King Kai spoke firmly on this. "I won't allow it." To show he meant it, he said, "Like your wife, I know you, too. Plead all you want. Pout all you want. Turn into a Super Saiyan but it won't affect me. I won't allow you to talk to your wife and son again."
That felt like a threat and Goku didn't like that. "What?"
"Goku, you're dead now. You can't contact the living anymore."
"You let me talk to Gohan."
"The world was at stake! I broke the rules then but I can't anymore."
"But King Kai," Goku pleaded, "ChiChi is a mess. I know if I can talk to her….."
"The one thing your wife wants is for you to come back and you won't. You're staying away to protect her and your son."
That was true but this isn't how Goku wanted things to happen. "I know, but I need to talk to them."
There he goes with the pleading. King Kai wasn't heartless but he knew he couldn't let Goku have his way this time. "Goku, if I do that, you and I both know it won't be a one-time thing. You'll keep asking to see your family. It wouldn't be fair to the people who are dead and can't communicate with their family and it wouldn't be fair to your wife and son. How can they properly mourn and move on if they're allowed to talk to you?"
"This way they won't have to mourn," Goku offered a resolution. "I'll be right there when they need me."
"What kind of life would that be for them? Your family will be talking to a spirt. They can't touch you. They can't see you. You'll open painful emotional wounds every time you talk. Can you really do that to Gohan? To ChiChi." King Kai noticed a change in Goku. There was something in his eyes and the way his shoulder dropped. "I didn't ask but what about you, Goku? Did you think when you died, you'd be able to talk to your family?" Oh no. Did he really? "You didn't talk to them when you died the last time."
"I was coming back. This… this is permanent."
King Kai observed the slow realization dawning on Goku and the price of his sacrifice. It was heartbreaking to see. Goku only allowed King Kai a glimpse of this heartbreak before he put on a big smile and said, "Oh, well! Guess I'll wait until they die before I see them again."
"Time passes differently here," King Kai tried to offer good news. "It's faster. A lifetime will pass before you know it."
"It's fine, King Kai. I can wait," Goku brushed off King Kai's concerns. Turning away from King Kai, Bubbles and Gregory, Goku looked ahead to the long winding path of Snake way. It was a long way to the check in station and Goku's new home. "I can wait," he repeated. For the first time in nearly ten years, tears rolled down his face. "I can wait."
The news of Goku's death weighed heavily on Gyu-Mao's village. Many villagers wept for the king, his daughter and her family. They wept for the man they welcomed ten years ago and treated like a son. Those who thought unkindly of Goku for his absences in recent years expressed remorse over their behavior and sadness on what was lost.
Mr. Olitz and Mr. Lupp toasted a drink to Son Goku. Aki was comforted by his wife and family. Besides Gyu-Mao, no one took Goku's death harder than Aki.
Kaifun received the news of Goku's death over the phone. The stunning news left him speechless. He couldn't believe Son Goku, the man who won the heart of the princess he wanted to marry, a man he hated, sacrificed his life to save everyone.
I can't believe he did that.
He stepped outside as he needed a moment. His grandmother, Mrs. Niver, sat on the front porch. She rocked back and forth in her rocking chair. She was older and moved slower but her mind and mouth were still sharp.
"Why are looking like you came from a funeral?" the old woman barked. "Cell is dead. We're alive."
Alive because of someone's sacrifice. "That was Aki on the phone. Goku fought Cell today….."
"I know that." She was old. Not senile. "I saw him with that bad bleached blonde dye job on him and Gohan's head." The old woman bristled disgusted. "ChiChi has lost complete control of her household letting that goofball of a husband and her son walk around like that. If she was a smart woman-"
"Grandma!" Kaifun didn't mean to raise his voice but this was not the time for her cantankerous behavior. "Goku's dead. He sacrificed himself for us."
Mrs. Niver froze in mid rock. "Oh? So, Son Goku sacrificed himself to save us all from that Cell monster?"
"Yeah." Kaifun thought of last week and how cruel he and his grandmother were to him and ChiChi in front of Gohan. His stomach turned. That man saved their lives. "I can't believe he did that."
"I know." Mrs. Niver resumed swinging back and forth in her chair. "That waste of sperm finally did something useful."
The cold cruelness of his grandmother was unbelievable. He thought she would feel some remorse. He couldn't believe how heartless she was. "Grandma I…." he shook his head. What could he say to her? "I just can't with you."
Son Goku would have two memorials. The first will occur the day after his death. It included his friends, ChiChi and Gohan. Aki insisted on coming despite a second, bigger memorial will take place in King Gyu-Mao's village days from now. It wasn't a shock Vegeta wasn't coming but given he was the last full blooded Saiyan, ChiChi thought he would come to show some respect. Then again ChiChi realized being a Saiyan is why Vegeta wasn't coming. They didn't mourn the way humans did. She knew Vegeta hated her husband but he also respected him and therefore would mourn in his own way.
ChiChi exhaled as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her black dress was modest as were most of her outfits. Not even thirty and she was widowed twice by the same man.
The guests will be arriving soon. Guests ChiChi snorted. Guests that didn't care for her. They cared only for the man they were mourning.
Goku was their friend. She was someone they accepted because Goku married her. She had every right to mourn with her son and father; every right to tell them they weren't invited after how they treated her but she knew Goku's friends wanted to do this. For Goku and Gohan she knew. Not for her. Bulma called last night insisting they have the memorial today since Trunks is leaving today. ChiChi shook her head. She even had to mourn her husband's death on his friends' time.
ChiChi left her room. Her room. She whimpered realizing she had to get used to that. It was her room now. It was no longer her and Goku's room. She was no longer Goku's wife. She was his widow. She… she couldn't think about that anymore.
Bulma will arrive with catered food. Despite that, ChiChi decided to make a few things for her father and son. She wanted to make up for last night. She couldn't finish dinner. She couldn't do anything. Her father brought her to her room where she stayed the entire night. She didn't know when he left or when Gohan went to bed.
As she passed Gohan's room, she heard shuffling. ChiChi knocked on the door. "Gohan?"
"Yes, Mom?"
ChiChi opened the door. She found Gohan up and almost dressed. He had on polished shoes, dressed pants and a crisp white shirt. He fidget with his tie. Gohan has seen many things in his life a child shouldn't see but he was still a kid at the end of the day.
"Need some help?"
Gohan dropped his hands, giving up. "Grandpa showed me how but I still can't get it right."
"You're nine." ChiChi took the black tie and began tying it herself. "It's okay you don't know to tie a tie. Your…" she paused. She wanted to say it was a father's duty to teach his son how to tie a tie but caught herself. "Your father couldn't tie a tie on his own until he was over twenty years old."
Gohan giggled. "Really?"
"Yes. Your father only wore a tie a couple times as a child. When we married, your father and I went to several things together where he wore a tie. Grandpa and I took turns teaching your father until he finally learned on his own." ChiChi dropped her hands at the finished tie and admired her work. "There." ChiChi turned Gohan around to the mirror. "Like Grandpa and me, we will help you like we help your father."
The doorbell rang.
ChiChi looked at the clock on Gohan's desk. "The memorial isn't for another two hours. Who could be… oh, maybe it's Grandpa."
ChiChi opened the door expecting to see her father but saw Trunks. "Trunks." ChiChi looked past him expecting Bulma but he was alone.
"Hello." Trunks bowed. "I know I am early but I wanted to come by before the memorial starts. I want to talk to Gohan."
Gohan and Trunks stepped outside. They walked along the front yard and passed ChiChi's garden in the backyard. Gohan kept his head down while Trunks shoved his hands in his pocket. He thought over what he wanted to say when he flew here. Now the moment was here, everything in his mind was a jumbled mess. "You may not want to hear this but I know how are feeling. When my mentor died, I was in bed for days. I kept thinking what more I could've done. It took a while but I accepted this is how things had to be. It doesn't feel like that now but you'll come to see that, too."
Trunks was right. Gohan didn't want to hear this. He wasn't at the stage of acceptance yet. "I heard my Dad telling me to finish Cell but I didn't want to. I wanted to make Cell pay. I wanted to show off my powers. I never reacted that way before. I don't know why I did that."
"I think something happens when we become a Super Saiyan the first time. There's this raw power exploding in you that's unimaginable. It makes you feel invincible. Nothing and no one can stop you. I felt it, too, when I transformed the first time. I thought I could defeat 17 and 18. I was wrong."
Gohan sympathized. "As long as I can remember, Dad was always the strongest person in the world. Nothing could beat him; nothing could stop him. When I changed yesterday, I loved that feeling but it cursed me. I had the power to stop Cell and I deliberately toyed with him. I rejected my Dad's request to kill Cell and I don't understand why."
"You got a rush, Gohan. That's all it was." Trunks laugh self-deprecatingly. "Mom said I had an ego trip. 'You're just like your father,' she once told me. "When I became a Super Saiyan, the rush was unbelievable. I felt so powerful; so invincible. I thought I could defeat 17 and 18 and they kicked my ass. When my Dad left the Room of Spirit and Time his ego was out of control. He was on a high from the power he accumulated. It comes with the territory of having Saiyan blood I guess. Not even our human blood can squelch that. Maybe," Trunks thought carefully, "that's where Goku miscalculated."
Gohan raised his head. "Miscalculated?"
"Goku had a plan to stop Cell. He was confident it will work but I was there when Goku screamed for you to kill Cell. Goku was rattled. When Cell Juniors were beating us, Goku apologized. 'It wasn't suppose to be like this,' I heard him say. It's a theory, but I don't think Goku was expecting your ego trip. Maybe he thought you wouldn't have one."
It was a theory and one of many Gohan will ponder over in the upcoming months.
Bulma felt out of place. Last time she was here, Bulma picked up the dragon balls Goku collected. That was four, no five years ago. The house was different then. Bulma wondered when they updated their house. It was disturbing how little she knew of her friend's personal life. Through the memorial service, Bulma kept her distance from ChiChi but occasionally looked at her. She still felt awkward after reading that letter her future self wrote to ChiChi but the letter Trunks gave her made her feel hopeful.
"Trunks is leaving tomorrow. After all Trunks has done, he should be at Goku's memorial service. We need to have it tomorrow before he leaves." Bulma spotted Trunks standing in her doorway. She waved him in the room while she continued talking to ChiChi. "It doesn't take that much to prepare a memorial for Goku. He was a simple guy with a small circle of friends." Bulma listened as ChiChi mentioned names. "Who? I don't know who Aki is but invite him if you have to. Just have Goku's memorial tomorrow before Trunks leave." Bulma half rolled her eyes as ChiChi mentioned things that needs to be done. "I can take care of that. I'll make sure there's floral arrangement, food for everyone…. I'll even get a plot made for Goku. Just have the memorial tomorrow." Bulma waited a few moments as ChiChi mulled over her offer. Finally! ChiChi saw things her way. "Good. I'll take care of everything. What time do you want the memorial to start? 11? Sounds good. I'll be there by ten. Good night."
"I don't have to be at the memorial," Trunks spoke once Bulma hung up the phone.
"You have to be there, Trunks. It's important. You saved everyone lives by coming back and warning us."
"I couldn't save Goku's." Trunks sat beside Bulma. "I thought by giving him the medicine Goku would be alive when this was over." He sighed. "Looks like I just delayed it."
"Sometimes you can't change a person's fate. If they are meant to die at some point, they are meant to die. Goku made the choice to not come back. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Gohan, Yamcha, Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Chaozu and your Dad have a second chance because of you. Be happy about that."
His mother said the right words but it wasn't comforting. Gohan lost his father. Goku's wife lost a husband. Trunks knew the trauma and sadness Gohan and his mother were feeling now. He thought his mother would see that. His mother would, but his younger one wouldn't.
Speaking of….
"Goku said you told him he attract a lot of bad guys. Do you think if you never said that Goku would have returned to life again?"
"Wait. You're not blaming me for Goku not coming back, are you?"
"No," Trunks rushed out "but why would you say that?"
First Vegeta and now Trunks. Bulma could not deal with this again. "I said a lot of things to Goku. How was I to know he would listen to that and decide to not come back? I don't even remember saying that! This is not my fault! Goku had a choice to come back and he didn't take it! Don't blame me for this!"
Trunks wasn't but he knew his mother felt guilt for saying it. It was the only reason for her outburst. Goku was dead. Feelings were still raw for everyone. His father was flippant and even more ornery. Goku wasn't her husband but he was a dear friend to her and his mother had to deal with her own grief.
Perhaps, it wasn't the best time to bring up her words that affected Goku so much he decided to stay dead. It also made him think of his mother and the letters she wanted him to give to her younger self and ChiChi. There were questions he wanted to ask the moment he returned that concerned the women his mother wrote to but realized it would be best to wait. Once things settle for him in his time, he'll ask and get answers.
"I'm gonna get some sleep since I'm leaving in the morning." Trunks pulled a letter from his pocket. "My mother wanted you to have this."
"Your mother? Me?" Bulma pointed at herself with one hand while she took the letter in the other. "What's this about?"
Trunks was on his feet again. "I don't know but my Mom wrote this for you."
Bulma opened the letter as Trunks walked out. She knew her future self written one to ChiChi. What could her future self say to her?
Hi
I know it's weird reading a letter from your future self in another time. I've gone back and forth on if I should do this. I've wondered if I should let fate take its course but I've gone so far to change time, why stop now? I know you better than anyone. You won't listen to anyone except me so listen to this.
Grow up!
Right now, you're probably confused and offended I say this but I am the only one you will listen to. If you survive the Artificial Humans, please use this second chance to do things differently with your life. Don't live with the regrets I have. Don't be like me wishing I can go back and change things.
I know what you're thinking. What do I have to change? What should I do differently? I'm a genius. I'm beautiful. I'm rich. I'll give you two: Vegeta and ChiChi.
Vegeta is an ass. When he died, we weren't in a committed relationship. We had our fling, I got pregnant and things faltered. I wouldn't say it was over. I guess we were on a break. He didn't even hold our son. Selfish bastard. Still, I do look back on what could've been. If the Artificial Humans hadn't come, maybe Vegeta and I could've worked things out. Maybe he could've been the father Trunks fantasized about. Trunks saw Gohan as a father figure. Isn't that wild? A child looking up to another child to be a father to him. Gohan lost his own Dad at a young age but Goku's fatherly spirit and influence was alive in Gohan and it reflected on how he treated my son. We tapped into Vegeta once and got a child. Tap into Vegeta again. This time for you AND him and see what blossoms.
ChiChi is another one you should give a try at having a relationship with. I blew it being her friend. Looking back, I realize that's what ChiChi could've used. We both could've used that. We really did our best to isolate ChiChi from everyone when we should've surrounded her with support. I really screwed things up with Gohan. I wouldn't want what was done to her done to me but I was still selfish then. I'm probably still selfish in some ways but not as much as I was before. I will live with these regrets but you can make amends. Be friends with ChiChi. She will definitely resist. We haven't given a reason for her to want to be friends but please try. I think it can be special.
It's a lot to think about it but take it from someone who is older, wiser and still beautiful who wishes she got the second chance you are getting.
Master Roshi walking away left ChiChi alone. Finally! With ChiChi busily setting up things for the memorial and talking with everyone who expressed their condolences, it was hard to get a word in. Now that ChiChi appeared alone, Bulma approached.
ChiChi enjoyed this moment alone but also hated it. Everyone talked to her to express their condolences. Yamcha and Krillin told her how brave and amazing Goku fought yesterday and how she should be proud of him. Master Roshi praised Goku as a great student and said she should be proud. Of course she was proud of Goku but being proud didn't keep her warm at night. Proud didn't pull her back into bed when she got up in the mornings. Proud didn't talk to her, kiss her and made love her.
She wanted to be around people so she didn't think of her husband's death but she also wanted to be alone. She wanted to hide in her room, hold Goku's pillow to her body and cry, cry, cry.
She could hear Krillin and Yamcha talking to Gohan. Yamcha talked of going back to his baseball career and hanging up fighting for good. Krillin shared he will quit fighting, too. He didn't say anything about a job but said his fighting days were over. Cell was to be Goku's last fight, too. He was going to get a job and take care of the family again. They were going to expand their family. ChiChi fought to hold off tears seeing everyone else move on with their life while hers stopped.
They kept talking of what they will do with their life; talk of taking advantage of their second chance; how their lives can move on now it's no longer stunted by the three years of training.
They get to move on while she and Gohan have to pick up the pieces.
Did they try to stop him? Why couldn't they be stronger? Why is it my husband had to die for them? They get to live and go on with their life again while Gohan and I have to struggle. It's not a year like after Goku's fight against Freeza. This is permanent.
ChiChi felt anger and a fresh wave of tears surfacing. She wanted to be alone to mourn but she didn't want to be alone either. A body sat beside her. With the fancy perfume and dress, ChiChi knew it to be Bulma.
"Kind of surreal, isn't it?" Bulma said. "I still can't believe he's gone. Trunks told me everything. It sucks," she complained. "Goku beat that heart virus only to die nearly two weeks later. It's like fate wanted him dead and Goku couldn't escape it."
Bulma suddenly felt a chill. She turned to see ChiChi staring. She didn't feel an angry aura from the widow but her body felt cold seeing ChiChi's listless eyes, stiff body and pale skin. "Sorry. I just mean it's not fair. Goku should be here with us."
"If you don't mind, Bulma," ChiChi quietly spoke. "I'd like to be alone."
Bulma stood. "I'll just….. " Bulma stepped away feeling very embarrassed. She tried following the advice of her older self but it wasn't going how Bulma planned. No. No. Let me explain. Bulma returned. She made a mistake in her words but that didn't mean she should give up. "I know this is hard for you, ChiChi. It's hard for us, too. Goku's our friend. I've known him longer than anyone and it hurts me so much Goku is dead. We wouldn't be here if we didn't want to say goodbye and talk of the great friend we knew."
ChiChi sat unmoving for several moments. She stared ahead with only her blinking eyes showing movement from her body. Bulma started to ask ChiChi if she heard her when the widow spoke. "Must you be so selfish?" She sounded listless as she raised her head to Bulma. "Goku's your friend but he was my husband. My husband hasn't been dead for twenty-four hours. I haven't time to prepare myself for this day but I had this memorial today because you insisted I have it today because Trunks is leaving today. All I want is to mourn my husband. All I want is to think about him and what his lost is doing to me and our son. I gave you what you wanted. Can you at least let me think of how my husband's death is affecting me and not you?"
Bulma's lips parted. Words formed in her mind but they caught in her throat. She only managed, "ChiChi…." before ChiChi rose from her seat and walked away.
It's not my fault, ChiChi. I told Goku bad guys follow him but I didn't tell him to stay dead. Cell killed him. Goku killed himself not using that teleportation trick to bring himself back home. I should be mad at him!
But I can't be mad at Goku for protecting us. I know Goku's your husband, ChiChi, but he was special to me, too.
Bulma resigned herself to talking to ChiChi again at another time. She spotted Krillin laughing with Yamcha and Gohan. His laughter suddenly annoyed her. She wouldn't be stepping all over herself if Krillin used the remote she built to deactivate 18. Bulma wasn't a fighter but she did see her invention as a contribution to put an end to the threat on Earth. She couldn't believe it when Piccolo told her Krillin deliberately destroyed it. Later, Yamcha told her what Krillin said to him and Goku. He wasn't around her in the last ten days where she could talk to him about it. Now she could.
"I was thinking," Yamcha said, "we should do something. All of us. Go on a guy's trip and just relax for a few days. I think we can use a break. It would be nice to hang out without the world being in jeopardy."
Krillin opened his mouth to share his thought on the idea when Bulma stepped in their chat. She got in Krillin's face screaming, "This is your fault, Krillin!"
"My fault?" Krillin's eyes darted from Yamcha to Gohan who shrugged confused. "What are you talking about?"
"If you hadn't destroyed that remote, you've could've shut down that female Artificial Human and stop Cell from reaching his perfect form!"
That was true but Krillin was not going to take the blame for this. "I did that but you can't put all this on me. Vegeta let Cell reach his perfect form. Trunks tried to stop Vegeta but Vegeta fought him, his own son because of his stupid Saiyan ego!"
"I don't care!" Bulma screamed. "We know what type of person Vegeta is! I expect better from you, Krillin! I can't believe you let your crush on someone who's not even a full human stop you from stopping Cell!"
"What?!"
Oh, no. All eyes turned to the owner. Son Goku's wife. She heard them. It was an open secret that ChiChi didn't know how Cell reached his perfect form. While everyone knew the truth, ChiChi thought Cell overwhelmed everyone. She never knew of the follies Vegeta and Krillin made.
Until now.
Feet shuffled as bodies parted like the sea as ChiChi walked to Krillin. Krillin stammered, "Chi-ChiChi, I..."
"You all knew this?" ChiChi looked from Master Roshi, Piccolo, Yamcha, Krillin, Bulma and her son. "Even you, Gohan?"
From the corner of her eyes, ChiChi saw the expression on Dr. Briefs, Mrs. Brief, her father, Aki and Kaifun's faces. They didn't know but the guilt on the other's faces told her they did. So, she directed her attention to them. "You all knew and didn't say anything."
Their guilty faces brought ChiChi back to that day when the deception began.
"Krillin's coming back!"
ChiChi rushed downstairs to join Yamcha and Master Roshi. Whatever news Krillin had, ChiChi knew it wasn't good. The entire planet shook not long ago. Waves and waves of water flooded the island. She would've been swept away if Yamcha and Master Roshi hadn't protected this home. When she reached the steps, ChiChi saw a defeated Krillin walk in. His head hung so low.
"What happened, Krillin?" Master Roshi asked.
Krillin slumped on the sofa. He buried his face in his hands. "We tried to stop it but Cell reached perfect form."
"But I felt Vegeta and Trunks," Yamcha spoke. "They were so powerful. Why couldn't they stop Cell?"
"Strength means nothing against Cell. It's so smart, too. It has Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo and Freeza's battle prowess. You need more than muscles to beat that thing and it outwit us all!"
"But the remote," ChiChi joined the conversation. "Couldn't you use that to shut down the Artificial Humans before Cell got to them?"
Krillin raised his head to everyone. ChiChi saw tears glisten in his eyes. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I couldn't stop Cell. I couldn't….." he buried his face in his hands again. "I'm never gonna forgive myself for this. I doomed us all."
At the time, ChiChi thought Krillin did his best but was stopped by Cell. She never suspected he destroyed the remote. That's why he was on the verge of crying. It was guilt. "I thought Cell destroyed the remote or you couldn't reach them in time but you did it intentionally. My Goku might still be here."
"ChiChi, I can explain. I—" ChiChi walked past him. Everyone wondered where ChiChi was going until she opened the door.
"Get out of my house, Krillin." She didn't look at him. She just pointed out the door.
"ChiChi, it wasn't just me," Krillin tried to explain. "It was Vegeta, too. Even Goku didn't help by giving Cell a senzu-" He shut up when ChiChi angrily marched to him. She gripped him by his shirt. Krillin stammered as he felt himself raise off his feet. "ChiChi, hear me out!"
"I said 'GET OUT!'" Krillin screamed as his body was flung several feet from Goku and ChiChi's house.
Piccolo winced watching Krillin land headfirst into the grass. He got a flashback of ChiChi tossing him out of the house three years ago. Her aim's gotten better.
Yamcha checked on Krillin. He grabbed an arm and helped Krillin to his feet. "Geez, Krillin, what the hell were you thinking?"
Krillin dusted his pants. Good thing he didn't wear a suit and only jeans, casual shirt and a sweat jacket. "I was trying to explain to her."
"The woman lost her husband yesterday. She's an emotional wreck. Take the L and let her grieve. Now is not the time to explain yourself."
Krillin agreed his timing was terrible. He should've left when ChiChi told him the first time. His dignity would've been intact. Now he had to live with the knowledge ChiChi threw him out of her house in front of everyone. "I bet this never happened to Goku or Piccolo when he stayed here. It had to happen to me. It's always me that gets embarrassed."
"Well," Yamcha gave ChiChi credit, "she is very strong and she is Goku's wife."
"That's true." Krillin agreed again. "For a moment, a brief moment, I thought ChiChi's eyes turned green."
"Green?" Yamcha's eyes rolled. He saw this coming. "I told you not to drink so much last night. You're still hungover."
While Yamcha and Krillin talked, all eyes turned to ChiChi. They all waited on what she will say and do now. Will she scream at everyone else? Toss them out including Gohan?
"Thank you all for coming but I wish to be alone right now. Trunks, I wish you success and thank you for giving us the medicine."
"Mom, don't you want to come with us to see Trunks off?"
ChiChi had planned to but she felt so emotionally drained now. "That's all right. If Trunks don't mind, I'll say my goodbye here."
"It's fine," Trunks assured ChiChi. "I really should get going. I'm really worried about leaving my Mom alone for so long."
"Then you should leave." Gyu-Mao shook Trunks hand. "Thank you for all you've done. We lost Goku but my daughter, grandson and kingdom are still with me. I'm grateful to you."
Yamcha opened an airship capsule. Everyone but ChiChi, Piccolo, Gyu-Mao, Aki and Kaifun boarded it. Piccolo declined seeing Trunks off. He only returned to the lower realm for Goku's memorial.
"I should go, too," Piccolo announced once the ship left.
"Thank you for coming, Piccolo." ChiChi surprised the remaining guests by hugging the Namekian. "Come by to see us sometime. Gohan would like that."
Piccolo stepped away feeling uncomfortable. Human affection was still a strange custom to him. It was bad ChiChi embraced him in front of Goku and Gohan and there's a photo of the incriminating evidence. It was embarrassing ChiChi did it in front of her father and people from her village.
"Aki, Kaifun. Let's clean up."
"No," ChiChi stopped them. "You can go home, Dad. I can handle this by myself." She knew what her father was going to say. "I need to be alone now."
Gyu-Mao hesitated. "If you're sure….."
"I'm sure, Dad." ChiChi hugged her father. "Thank you… for everything."
Gyu-Mao scooped ChiChi in his massive arms. "There's nothing I won't do for you, ChiChi. You know that."
"I know, Dad. Thanks."
ChiChi waved as her father drove off. Aki and Kaifun who remained. "I'm fine, you two. Go home."
"If you want us to go, we will go," Aki said, "But are you sure there's nothing we can do? Is the truck okay? Is there anything around the house that needs fixing?"
There was one thing. She wasn't going to deal with it now but since they were offering…. "Goku's wasn't a mechanic. He knew how to drive but he didn't understand anything under the hood and the truck hasn't been inspected in a while."
"Say no more." Aki eagerly jogged to the truck.
This left Kaifun alone with ChiChi.
"Thank you for coming but you don't have to stay, Kaifun."
"Actually, I do," Kaifun chuckled shyly. "I rode with Aki."
"I see." ChiChi looked from Aki to Kaifun. This was awkward. She expected Aki to come but not Kaifun. He begged Aki to bring him and Aki grieving for Goku, too, allowed it. "You can help Aki so you'll leave sooner."
"I would," Kaifun laughed again, "But Aki likes to work on cars alone. I can help you insider," Kaifun offered. "I can clean up. There's a lot to do." ChiChi remained root to the ground unmoving. Kaifun could tell ChiChi didn't like this idea. "Please? I know I'm not your favorite person but I want to do something."
He looked remorseful. ChiChi suspected it had something to do with how he and his grandmother reacted when they last saw each other. She still hadn't forgiven the cantankerous woman for slapping her husband.
"And I really want to talk to you," Kaifun spoke again gently. "There's something I want to say and I really don't want Aki to hear. Could we go inside?" He insisted. "Please?"
ChiChi remembered her promise to Goku. He didn't want her to be alone with Kaifun. She kept that promise to Goku all his life. Aki was outside but it would still be bending her promise to Goku if she let Kaifun talk to her. Still, Goku was dead now. Should she still be held to that promise?
"All right." ChiChi gave in. She'll hear what Kaifun has to say. Kaifun was married with a child now. He had no interest in her. Goku asked her for that promise when Kaifun was single and still interested in her. He wasn't now.
ChiChi placed the remaining food in glass containers while Kaifun washed the empty plates and platters. "I want to apologize, ChiChi. Last time we saw each other Grandma said some cruel things to you and Goku. I wasn't kind to you either." He thought of his grandmother's cruel words. "I haven't been supportive of your marriage to Goku, ChiChi, but I am sorry for your loss. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have held my little boy this morning."
"Thank you." ChiChi expected Kaifun to make a snide remark about Goku being dead. It was appreciative he was being kind to her. It was unfortunate it took Goku's death for it to happen.
"His sacrifice won't be forgotten." Kaifun scrubbed a platter clean. "I… well the village knows Goku and your son beat Cell. I hate he's not getting the credit he deserves and that ass Mr. Satan is. A name was never more fitting for a person."
"Maybe it's better this way." ChiChi placed a cover over the glass dish. "If the world knew it was Goku, I wouldn't get a moment's peace with the media. I want to mourn without cameras and nosy reporters."
Kaifun understood. It was madness with the media in the last ten days. "Yeah, but at least you would've benefited financially. I heard this morning Mr. Satan signed an endorsement deal for health products, a book and movie deal of his life story. That con artist is gonna make millions off Goku and Gohan's hard work."
She wished Kaifun hadn't said that. She didn't want to think of the finances now and how much that con artist was benefiting from it.
"So…. uh…." Kaifun tried changing the subject. "Who was that guy everyone went to say goodbye to? What medicine did he bring Goku?"
"It's not important." Kaifun was kind now but he wasn't someone she trusted with Trunks' background. "He's a nice young man who came to the memorial."
There was more to it but Kaifun accepted he wasn't going to be privy to that. Aki definitely knew and wasn't speaking on it either. "Like I said, I've come to express my apologies. If you need anything; anything to fix; if you want me to take Gohan off your hands for an afternoon or if you want to talk…. No matter what. Don't hesitate to contact me."
Kaifun took ChiChi's silence of his offer as a sign she didn't want to talk or she was considering it. Kaifun really hoped it was the latter. Until then, he will be a friend.
"You hated Goku and in his death, you're offering to help. They are Goku's friends and in his death, didn't offer me anything. They just want me to do things for them."
"Things?"
"It wasn't my intention to have Goku's memorial so soon but they wanted it today." ChiChi sniffed. Oh, boy. The tears were coming. "I can never get what I want. I wanted a husband and a family. I wanted Goku and I to get our lives back after all this fighting. He's dead and they get to resume their lives while my son and I have to pick up the pieces."
ChiChi gripped a large glass container filled with food. She opened the refrigerator intending to place the container inside but ChiChi slammed it on the floor instead. The glass dish shattered and food splattered on the floor.
"It's not fair!" ChiChi wailed. "I want my husband! I want to hold him! I want to kiss him! I want to say goodbye to him! I don't even have a body to bury him! I'm robbed of being with Goku in his final moments again!" ChiChi collapsed on her knees. A dam of tears burst from her as she broke down. "I can't…..I can't do this. I can't do this alone. I need Goku. I need him."
It was horrifying sad to see the princess of Fire Mountain break down. ChiChi was always so strong and fearless but now she was a broken woman unsure how to move on with her life.
Unable to bear it anymore, Kaifun knelt beside ChiChi and pulled her in his arms. He held her as ChiChi sobbed heavily.
"It's okay, Princess. Just let it go. Cry on me. I have you."
ChiChi didn't hear Kaifun's words. She could only register she was breaking down in heavy sobs and couldn't stop.
The front door opened as Aki stepped in. "Everything looks good, ChiChi. Just need an oil change. Maybe the brakes need a tune…." He stopped seeing Kaifun holding a sobbing ChiChi. "What's going on?"
Kaifun didn't pull away from ChiChi as he turned his head up at Aki. "ChiChi is just upset. That's all."
ChiChi pulled herself out of Kaifun's embrace. "Sorry. I need to be alone." She stood while wiping her tears. "If you could excuse me."
"Sure." Aki watched ChiChi rush upstairs. He waited for the bedroom door to close before he yanked Kaifun to his feet and slammed his body against the wall. "You bastard! I thought you were being sincere when you wanted to come. I don't know what kind of game you are playing but I'll be damned if I Iet you play it with ChiChi. Goku's not here but don't think I won't kick your ass if try anything with his wife!"
"You do know I have a wife and child."
"Which obviously means nothing."
Insulted, Kaifun shoved Aki from him. "It's means a lot. If you came in a minute earlier, you would see ChiChi broke down crying. I gave her a hug because she needed one. She did lose her husband." Aki didn't believe him. "Look, I know you're suspicious of me. You're right to be after everything I've done but I have moved on and I'm not immune to Goku's death. My son wouldn't be here if it weren't for Goku's sacrifice."
Aki scrutinized him with sharp eyes. "I would believe you were genuine about moving on if you
mentioned your wife. I'm watching you. One wrong move and I won't hesitate to kick your ass."
Everyone was gone when Gohan returned home. The house was clean and orderly. The floral arrangements were spread out around the living room and kitchen. Gohan could feel his mother's Ki in her bedroom. There was one more memorial to attend at his grandfather's kingdom. It was going to be a grand send off from what Gohan understood. Luckily, he and his mother had a few days to prepare for that. After what happened at today's memorial, Gohan wanted a mental break from it all to.
He entered the polished kitchen and opened the refrigerator. What was left of the food from the memorial was stacked in here. With his half Saiyan stomach, it would be gone now but Gohan didn't feel like eating a lot. He didn't see his mother eat at the memorial. Did she eat after? She probably didn't. She didn't eat yesterday after he returned. She stayed in her room all night.
"Sometimes Mommies need to be taken care of, too."
Three-year-old Gohan happily kicked his legs in his chair watching Daddy make a mess in the kitchen. Mommy was really sick. Daddy said Mommy got the flu and had to stay in bed. Gohan wanted to hug her but Mommy told him he had to stay away. She didn't want him to get sick.
Gohan didn't understand. Daddy was allowed to hug Mommy and he didn't get sick. Why couldn't he? He couldn't hug Mommy but he wanted to help Mommy get well and that meant helping Daddy make food for Mommy.
"What else does the recipe say?"
"One cup of finely chopped onions. One cup of chopped carrots. One cup of chopped celery."
"Finely chopped? What does that mean, Gohan?"
Gohan shrugged unsure himself. "I just know how to read the words, Daddy."
"Oh. Hmm." Goku shrugged. "We'll figure it out." Goku chopped the vegetables. He wasn't sure what 'finely' meant so he chopped them in small pieces like ChiChi always did.
"Daddy," Gohan asked, "how long will Mommy be sick? I miss her cooking."
Goku laughed. "Are you saying you don't like Daddy's cooking?"
Gohan looked around the messy kitchen. He didn't want to say yes though that was the answer. Daddy's cooking wasn't Mommy's cooking. Mommy's cooking tasted so much better. Mommy was neater in the kitchen, too. Daddy left the kitchen the mess and that got Mommy mad, too.
"As long as Mommy's sick, I have to cook so that's why we have to make this food really yummy to help Mommy get better again." Goku placed the vegetables in the large cooking pot. "Daddy misses Mommy's cooking, too. Pay attention and watch your Pops, Gohan," Goku winked at his son. "You might have to do this for Mommy one day, too."
Gohan carefully balanced the tray of food as he knocked on the door of his parent's bedroom. "Mom? Are you awake?"
Silence. "I'm coming in," he warned as he turned the knob.
Gohan expected to find his mother in bed. He found her on the floor wrapped in a blanket with her back to the bed staring at a framed photo of his father. "Mom, I brought food."
"I'm not hungry," her muffled voice was heard against the blanket.
"Yes, you are." Gohan laid the tray down in front of her. "You haven't eaten since maybe breakfast yesterday. I brought enough food so we can eat together."
ChiChi eyed the food and Gohan. Her son was so kind taking care of her. It should be the other way around but she didn't have the energy to do anything but think of her husband. "I'm sorry, Gohan. Mom's not feeling her best right now."
"I know. I'm not either." He opened the blanket. His mother clutched Dad's pillow tightly to her body. Her eyes were puffy and red. Gohan gently pried Goku's pillow from ChiChi and put it aside. He pulled his mother to sit up. "But we can take care of each other together."
ChiChi glumly looked at the food Gohan placed before her. Leftovers from the memorial. It made her think of her breakdown and the realization Kaifun held her. That made her feel ill. "If you don't want this, Mom, I can bring you something else."
"No," ChiChi dismissed Gohan worries. "It's all right. This is enough. Tomorrow, I'll cook a decent meal for us. Mom just needs some time to get herself together."
"I know but I'm here, Mom. We'll get through this together."
"Hmph," ChiChi smiled. "When did you get some so smart and so strong to take care of your Mom?"
"From Dad," Gohan grinned. "I am his son."
"Yeah," ChiChi genuinely smiled and ruffled his hair. "You certainly are."
It was a warm meal between mother and son as both contemplated how they will put the pieces of their broken family together and move on.
Part 32: A New Life