"Alrighty! Much better!"

Goku beat on his chest once or twice then gave the cat master a hand bow. "Thanks a whole bunch, Master Korin! Just what I needed!"

The small cat gave him a cynical look. "Odd even for you to get all torn up wearing nice clothes."

Goku looked down at the suit that ChiChi had been insistent on and yep, it was near in shambles. "Eh...it's a complicated thing, Master Korin. You still have those clothes I left up here a few months back?"

Korin tottled to the corner and came back with some of his tan farming clothes. "You're lucky I didn't throw them out the window after you."

Goku just laughed as he took hold of them and stripped off his torn outfit. Korin didn't make much of a reaction but then, he'd grown used to this. "Aw, you even washed 'em for me!"

"DID NOT!" Came the sharp denial. "They were just stinking up the place."

"You're a softie..."

The cat stormed off with a low grunt but didn't go far. Instead, he sat next to Gohan who had been nursing the cup of tea Korin had given him as if it would shatter in his hands. He'd disintegrated the towels he'd used to clean up, promising to return with "better ones" before the week was out.

Setting Goku with a knowing look, Korin asked. "So, is this 'complicated' stuff have anything to do with your son?" He changed his vision to Gohan. "The poison in your ki is suffocating."

Biting his lip, Gohan lowered his cup, went into a humble bow. "Forgive me-"

Korin shook his paw back and forth. "It's an observation, Kid. Not an attack."

Goku approached and sat, wrapping his arm around Gohan. "One reason I came here instead of to Dende, Master Korin. You taught me a lot. Kami talked about ki and all that stuff but patience, self awareness...I got a lot of that from you and Master Roshi."

Korin snorted. "Glad you got something from us."

But Goku didn't laugh. "My son's got some ideas in his head about himself that aren't good. But he wants help getting them out."

Korin took this to heart. "And a therapist isn't exactly an option for you guys."

Goku sighed. "I've been getting tips from this one lady and I think they do help but there's only so much she can without really delving into his past and..."

Korin nodded "And they probably would think he'd lost his mind." He looked the boy over. "Don't know if they'd completely understand even without all that craziness. He's got Saiyan blood too. Makes it different than just plain ol' human."

Paddling over again, Korin took hold of the boy's hands. "I'll see what I can offer—long as you can be truthful with me."

Gohan nodded. "Yes Sir, I promise."

Korin looked the boy in the face, eyes focused. It was true, he had learned the nuances of the mind over the years. It was one way he figured out that it was the journey that was important more so than the destination. It had been Goku's climbing and descending Korin's tower that honed his speed and reflexes, not the Holy Water.

Gohan was a different animal but motivation was always the first thing to address. "Do you want my help, Gohan?"

The boy looked a but surprised at first then slowly nodded. "I was...I thought for the longest time I didn't need any help. Wanted to believe that, anyway. But after today...normal people don't do what I did."

"Normal is a foolish concept." Korin advised. "Changes all the time and you'll get a different answer depending on who you ask. What do YOU want?"

Silence reigned a long moment. Gohan had made a promise; he was loathe to break it no matter how much it felt wrong. Considering his response, he answered, "To feel like...well to not be afraid of being forgotten or less than my brother. I want to be able to feel proud and happy and not so...not happy with myself." It felt like that was a bunch of scattered words but it sad the closest he could verbalize. "I'm sorry. It's hard to... put into words."

Korin just nodded. "Mind and spirit are rarely easy to understand. Took your father three years to master what Kami had to teach him."

Goku rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah. It was kinda hard to wrap my head around. You're way ahead of where I was, Son."

Korin tapped the ground with his stick a moment. "I may have a means to let us get to the crux of this. But I need your word, Gohan."

"My word?"

"Yes. Your word. There's a method of prodding the ki, of getting down to its core. I rarely use it because it's a risky venture but given hoe much distress you're in, it might be worth the risk." He waited for the boy to nod understanding "But it's really important that you let your mind be open. If you start putting up barriers, you can get lost in there and not even I'll be able to get you out. You understand?"

Gohan found these situations were always precarious especially when he didn't know for sure what Korin was referring to. Yet he'd also learned that for all their idiosyncrasies, his father's old masters were to be respected and trusted. "I will do what I can, Master Korin. I think...I sometimes bring up these barriers without meaning to."

Korin nodded "If you recognize them, you can also pull them down again. It's gonna mean being completely honest with yourself. Can you do that?"

Gohan considered. It was so hard to be sure what was truth sometimes. But he did know he didn't want to hurt his father again, he genuinely wanted to feel good again and he wanted their family to be able to celebrate, in earnest and truly mean all of it. With a glance at his father, drawing reassurance from his smile, Gohan nodded. "Yes Sir."

Korin walked down the room a bit, saying, "Try to get as calm as you can. I'll be right back." He slipped away into a dark doorway that Gohan had never paid attention to before.

Relax? Get calm? How was he supposed to do that? The thoughts had not stopped racing since he dropped out of Super Saiyan though the words of his father had dulled their influence somewhat. Now, while he was willing to take any aid he was offered, how could he he...

Strong hands on his shoulders made him lean backward, hair falling limp and he gazed up into his father's eyes. "Hey." The baritone burned warm in his ears. "It's gonna be okay."

It was so hard to believe that. With all his emotions flooding this way and that, it felt nearly impossible to stay grounded. "What if I get swept away like Korin said?" He admitted. He HAD said that he would be honest. "What if I can't maintain it and never see you or Mom again because I lost myself?"

Least then they'd not have me to deal with came the bitter thought. He wanted to choke it, force it down. His father didn't need to hear that.

But...wasn't that how all this built in the first place? Hiding? Shame?

Gohan forced his mouth to move even while his mind screamed he would just confirm what he didn't want to hear and the seed of fear made his knees shake. "Least then you wouldn't have to worry about all this. You'd have the new baby and just move on."

Gah, that felt rough to say. Yet, oddly cathartic.

His father's arms wrapped around him tightly. "No. Because we'd be looking for you until we found you. This baby will be his person just like you are. If he disappeared, you wouldn't replace him. And he isn't going to replace you. You've got your own little place in my heart. And no one but you is allowed there."

Gohan looked up at his father. "But he's going to be better than me."

Goku shook his head. "Gohan, he can't be 'better' than you because I'm not comparing you. You're you and he's him. Real simple."

Lowering his head, Gohan confessed. "It doesn't feel that way. And I don't know why."

Goku squeezed him a little tighter. "And that's why we're gonna help you. Remember what happened when you were little and you cut your knee it something? Or busted your lip in training?"

A small smile. "Yeah. You'd tell me it needed the three way cure. You'd wash it, put medicine on it and then you'd kiss it. You or Mom." It was one of Gohan's fondest memories.

Goku grinned in that way so unique to him then took one of the cloths lying near the bikes nearby, drenched it and gently wiped the sweat from his son's brow. "And that's what we'll do again. Maybe we'll hafta change the bandages a lot. But it'll heal."

Korin returned at that point, dragging a large pot behind him. It had to be at least four feet across, perhaps more. After a moment, Goku recognized it. "Hey, that looks like what I jumped into to find the Ultra Divine Water!"

"Works similar too." Korin finally stopped, panting a bit. "Gohan, let me see your hand."

The boy offered it up, albeit nervously.

"Conjure up some ki for me." He ordered. "Just a wee bit."

After a moment, Gohan obeyed. The small ball of white light shimmered, hovering under its own power. Korin pointed to the lip of the container. "Release it in here."

The small dot of ki collided with the cool water and the water boiled, turned a brilliant white and when it cleared, Gohan was staring at himself.

But a self that was bruised, bleeding, crying and coated in dirt, grime. When Gohan lifted his hands to his mouth in shock, the wrists of his reflection did the same and he could see iron shackles binding him. His eyes were clouded, white and glazed.

"M-Master Korin."

"It unveils what hides behind the mask." The Master said simply. "In order to heal it, you have to find the wound." He stepped back. "It's not the end of the healing. It's just the beginning. Can't heal until you know what's hurting. Find the bleeding wound."

Gohan looked up at his father, trembling. Fear rolled off him. Determination, yes, but fear. He reached out, clung tight to the man's hand.

Goku turned to the cat. "Can I go with him?"

The Master looked surprised a long moment then smiled. "You can. It might be better if you did. Easier to stay grounded if you have a solid rock with you."

Gohan nodded up at his father and Goku scooped his son up, pulling him tight into his chest. Gohan wrapped his arms tight around him, taking comfort in scent and feel. "You ready for this, Gohan?"

He swallowed. "I don't know but...I want to try."

Goku nuzzled him a moment, brushing their noses. "We're going together. We're gonna figure this out together. Remember in the Time Chamber? We built that power together and we're going to make your heart better together. Do you trust me?"

For perhaps the first time in a while, no doubt clouded his thoughts and Gohan nodded. "I do, Daddy."

Goku turned to Korin. "Same way as the other jars?"

"Yes—"

Goku grinned at Gohan, "Gotcha! Let's do it, Gohan."

That said, Goku tightened his grip on his son and with a yelp, leapt into the air and vanished into the wide pool of water.