Gohan spent three days secluded to his room, trying hard to ignore his quickened heart at every slight thought of his dear friend. His focus on his studies had been so forced to avoid his steadily growing condition, that his head began to pound aggressively; he could almost swear he had bruises on his brain.

He scratched off another wrong answer when he heard a voice in his head.

"Hey kid." Piccolo's voice echoed through the equations Gohan had been thinking of. "I have today free if you still wanted to, as you put 'spoil me'."

Gohan instantly felt both nervous and calm to hear him again. He considered for a quick moment to turn it down but even he knew he couldn't deny him. "I'd love to honestly. I need a break from these papers."

"I'll meet you at the shop then." Piccolo said and then pulled away from the connection.

Let's see how this goes...

Gohan stretched before making his way through the halls on brisk almost balletic steps. He paused at the front door as Chichi approached him.

"Going out today?" She asked.

"I need some fresh air. I've been struggling just a bit on the current notes and I thought… I could take your advice to spend more time and see how everything develops. I won't know for sure what it is if I don't try." Gohan replied with a shy smile.

Chichi grinned. "Have fun then."

"I will." Gohan nodded and left.

He made a swift run through town. Though it gave him less time to hide the blooming redness in his cheeks, he hated the idea of making Piccolo wait. As soon as he made the turn down the street the shop nestled on, he spotted his companion. He stilled against he coarse brick wall and straightened his vest and hair.

When he turned back on the street, Piccolo had his eyes right on him with a smirk. Gohan gave a shy wave as he stepped close. "You weren't here long were you?"

"I was not, so there was no need to run." Piccolo chuckled. "I could feel your energy spike the whole way through town."

Right, ki sense. Gohan's face tensed as he fought off the shame of being caught. "It felt nice to get out. I run sometimes when I'm excited."

"Excited to hang out with me?" Piccolo asked, one brow raised to his teasing question.

"Who wouldn't be? You're a real fun guy." Gohan teased in turn.

"Oh yeah sure. I'm a real joy." Piccolo replied, his grin twisting slightly with sarcasm. "So what did you want to do?"

Gohan paused, having forgotten to plan anything, when a thought occurred to him. "Oh no, we're going to do something you want."

"Alright." Piccolo crossed his arms. "I want to do something you like."

"You're not going to debate your way out of this. The point is to do something that YOU enjoy." Gohan crossed his arms as well to hold stern. "I don't care what it is."

"Are you sure?" Piccolo asked.

"Yes." Gohan answered.

Piccolo opened the church door and led Gohan inside. "Follow me to the back."

The...the back? What's in the back? Gohan thought to himself. He glanced in awe at the simple yet beautiful building around them. His father had told him the stories about Kami recently. With many abilities, knowledge, and the highest title one could have on earth, the man was the most humble and kind.

Gohan continued after Piccolo, having to nearly jog to keep pace with Piccolo's long legs. Soon they stepped into a small garden. Gohan had to double check they were still inside under a ceiling as they stood surrounded by lush plants. His eyes widened at the view of gorgeous color and vibrant green leaves. "Oh wow!"

"Do you know anything about plants?" Piccolo asked as he stepped to a small work table.

"I know some things but not much on caring for them." Gohan answered as he pulled his attention from an odd succulent and accepted an apron.

"Mr. Popo takes care of every plant in this building. It's quite a large and varied collection of his, he has a plant from just about everywhere on earth." Piccolo said. "Sometimes one will have an issue or two or when it comes to re-pot them all, I come to help."

"Is that what we're doing today?" Gohan's eyes lit up paired with a wide grin. He could almost feel himself lift off the ground from curious excitement.

"If you don't mind the work." Piccolo smirked.

"I'd love to. It sounds like so much fun." Gohan chuckled.

Piccolo led Gohan through the room, pulling aside the ones that needed work and began teaching him how to change the soil. Gohan watched eagerly as Piccolo carefully freed the delicate roots with his nails. With the larger plants, Gohan would lift and hold the plant above its old pot while Piccolo worked on the bottom. Some needed to be split and others needed an inspection for invasive bugs or disease.

One moment, as Gohan handled a few on his own, he caught himself glancing at Piccolo sifting large piles of fresh soil. Piccolo's shirt collar had wrinkled a lot during the heavy work and lowered enough for Gohan to see his neck leading to his collar bone and- STOP! STOP! STOP!

Gohan stared hard at the plant in his hands as he tried to roll his shoulders up to disguise his burning face. Even over the screaming inside his head he could hear his pounding heart. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! I am NOT doing this right now!

"Gohan." Piccolo spoke from over Gohan's shoulder.

"Ah- yes?!" Gohan felt his skin tingle as he struggled to maintain composure. He turned to his mentor above him.

"I didn't frighten you did I?" Piccolo teased.

"No, I got lost in thought sorry." Gohan forced a small laugh.

"Gardening can do that to you but try to remember to focus. You don't want to push the dirt in too hard." Piccolo commented. "Let's take a break for now."

"Alright." Gohan nods with a sigh. Maybe he didn't notice.

Piccolo gestured to a glass door and Gohan obeyed the unspoken order. He went through and was welcomed into a different garden. A small forest of large ferns and trees, properly outside and basking in the setting golden sunlight. Gohan sat on a bench as he marveled the plants arranged in such a fashion it was the closest he believed mortals would get to recreating the perfect Eden. The large garden at home could never compare to this.

"Enjoying yourself?" Piccolo asked as he stepped out and joined Gohan. He held out a plate of fruit. "I know it's not a saiyan portion but..."

"It's fine, thank you." Gohan smiled and accepted the offering.

"Was today up to your standards?" Piccolo asked as he sat on the bench beside Gohan.

"Any time spent with you meets my standards." Gohan replied a bit sharper than he intended. "Besides that cocoa was too delicious… I had to make it up to you somehow."

"You really didn't have to." Piccolo spoke softly.

Gohan munched on a grape thoughtfully. "Why did you make it anyway?"

"You didn't seem to be enjoying the coffee." Piccolo explained.

Gohan frowned, his voice a whisper. "You do so much for me… and don't want anything back."

Piccolo paused, then turned away and closed his eyes. "That's what friends do isn't it? Give without reward."

"It's one thing to not expect anything in turn, but you don't even seem to accept that you could get something back." Gohan felt his throat tighten slightly. "I've been noticing these small things you do. Only agreeing to something if I want it first, saying what you want doesn't matter, considering yourself a bad character."

"Yes." Piccolo nodded easily. These were obvious truths to him and he kept his eyes closed. "You should decide what is ok and what isn't. How long you feel is appropriate to have me around and when I need to leave."

"We agreed we were even… although that also feels conditional only to how I feel." Gohan's brows scrunched, a wave of anger flashing over his gut.

"It is. I will hold to that promise as long as you will allow me." Piccolo answered. "I wronged you in a way that I can't erase or repay."

"Which reminds me." Gohan tried not to break the plate in his tightening grip. "When my father gives you permission to take me and train, I don't believe it should be considered a kidnapping!"

"Of course that's what Goku said." Piccolo growled, now turning his eyes to Gohan. "He was on the literal edge of life and death, I don't hold much to what he said then. He wasn't able to think about consequences in that moment and it wouldn't have mattered either way. I took you! Put you through hell and still brought you to what was basically a slaughter!"

"This isn't even what I was trying to say." Gohan took a long strained breath. "Initially my point was about how you're catering completely to me and not even asking for something for yourself. As if you don't deserve anything."

"That is because I don't." Piccolo said under a softer growl, his fangs and teeth still clenched.

Gohan felt his eyes sting, his heart clenched in his chest. "Why? Aside from what you did to me, which you promised not to feel guilty for, why do you still think you don't deserve to want things?"

"I've already answered this." Piccolo huffed as he stood and crossed his arms. He kept his back to Gohan as he stared at the plants.

"Because you're a bad character? Some sort of villain? I know some people think you're stern and unfriendly but I have not met a single person who thinks you're evil enough to be denied happiness like this. So why do you?" Gohan asked.

"Gohan…" Piccolo sighed, his shoulders sinking. "You were always so good… and caring. You wouldn't understand."

Piccolo quickly escaped into the church before Gohan could say anything in turn. Gohan looked at the fruit, a pained frustration filling him. He forced himself to finish eating them as his brain swirled in his thoughts. He hated the feeling of foreign undeveloped emotions mixing with upset and anger, churning into a thick curdled mess.

He wanted to support and listen to Piccolo but part of him also wanted to just hit him for thinking so low of himself. He knew Piccolo would never have stood for it if Gohan put himself on that level.

Gohan walked back through the church, setting the plate on a table in the garden room, and was about to leave when a hand gently tugged his shoulder.

"Gohan dear boy, I didn't know you would be visiting today. Leaving already?" Kami asked with a kind smile.

"Uh- yes. I came to help Piccolo with some plants and… Sorry, how have you been?" Gohan straightened up and performed the manners he had well practiced, hiding his internal turbulence.

"You can tell me if there's something weighing on you." Kami chuckled softly. "As guardian it is my job to help after all."

Gohan paled slightly then simpered. He had forgotten Piccolo wasn't the only one who could read him. "You can't be expected to personally help everyone on earth. You've already done so much for me."

"That's true, but you are like family. The son of a close friend and for all that you've done for Piccolo, you're important here. You've earned a little special attention." Kami said.

"I'm honored you think so but I didn't do anything to earn that." Gohan looked to the floor a moment.

"I think you have too much of your father's modesty, or perhaps you truly don't see what you've accomplished." Kami suggested. "Have you had any trouble with your memories?"

"I've been handling them very well I think. No trauma or blacking out." Gohan smiled. "It's all actually been very nice. I'm grateful to have them again."

"Has your opinion of Piccolo changed?" Kami asked.

"Of course not. If anything it's probably strengthened." Gohan admitted, running a hand through his hair and swallowing a bubble of emotion he hadn't fully sussed out yet. "He's still my closest friend and I know he always will be…"

Gohan felt something in him hurt at a feared thought before he continued. "If he'll allow it of course."

"You think he wouldn't?" Kami inquired, his cheery mood turning to worry.

"He keeps saying I should stay away from him. He thinks he doesn't deserve any forgiveness or my company. I don't think he gives himself anything." Gohan sighed.

"Mmm." Kami hummed to himself. "I was a bit worried you would see this too, but it may also be a good thing."

"A good thing?" Gohan asked.

"What I mean is you seeing this side of him. It shows how close you two are." Kami explained. "I had a slight hope that his care and trust in you would perhaps cure him. Let him relax and allow himself peace. I'm afraid he's been fighting himself for too many years. He was only happy when around you and I want that for him again."

Gohan's eyes widened. "Only around me?"

"I don't think you realize how thick his walls are to the rest of us. I can only see through some of them because of my role on the earth. You're the closest to his real self as anyone has ever gotten." Kami said. "When you befriended him, you unlocked a part of his heart many doubted he had. There was a time it was hardened and unfeeling. You changed him and gave me hope, that is why you are important. No one could open themselves to him and give him trust before you."

Gohan trembled slightly under the weight of Kami's truth. "H-he wasn't exaggerating it then… treating him like a person and friend. Literally so very different from everyone else? I was the first?"

Kami nodded solemnly. "Even I couldn't give him that."

Gohan couldn't bear to picture what kind of life Piccolo led before they met. To be that alone was unimaginable. He wanted to ask why, to demand how hard was it to just give the man a chance, but he was silenced by Kami's palpable regret. Whatever happened in the distant past was clearly still very real for Piccolo. Gohan prayed even if he couldn't fully understand, maybe he could help lessen some of the burden. Whatever way he could.

"Thank you for telling me." Gohan whispered. He bowed to the guardian and silently left.

Nella here, Hi grimfan. Sorry you think the story is shit. It's almost like I've never written with these characters before. Gee I wonder how I'll get better... probably continue this story and get that experience ^.^ Gotta make shit stories before you can make the good stuff lol bye.