My DBZ Adventure—Part 11
A/N: Reviews are always welcome. I don't know how long you guys'll have to wait for the next part because I'm having a crisis right now. My boyfriend just broke up with me Monday (11th) and now I don't have a creative bone in my body. It would be nine months today and I am very depressed and confused. Maybe good reviews from my loving fans (?) will help cheer me up and get my mind off him for a while. Anyhoo, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I'm not special enough to own anything from DBZ so they don't belong to me.
When we reached the Son house Gohan was hesitant to go inside. With a little coaxing from me he stepped in reluctantly, still unsure of the welcome he would receive.
"You'll never know unless you go in and talk to her," I pointed out. He agreed and followed me into the living room where Chichi sat with Kat and Goku.
When we came in Chichi stood up and started to approach Gohan, but she stopped, not sure he wanted her near him.
I knew Gohan was trying to hide behind me so I stepped to the side. Realizing that Gohan and Chichi needed to talk alone, Goku and Kat got up and walked outside with me.
"It's Piccolo, isn't it?" Goku asked. Kat and I nodded. "This talk is long overdue."
"Gohan, come sit. Please?" Chichi asked, sitting on the couch. Gohan walked over and sat next to her. "Your friends talked to me after you left."
"What'd they say?" he asked.
"Jessie told me what Piccolo meant to you and that he's a really big part of your life. I hadn't listened to your story because I had already made up my mind that he was a bad person. But I don't want to fight with you anymore. It hurts me as much as it hurts you. And I want you to know why I don't like Piccolo, so I'm going to tell you. Then I want you to tell me why he means so much to you."
"Okay."
Chichi began to tell Gohan what she told Kat and me. "Do you remember when you were little—what you wanted to be? You wanted to be a scholar. A scholar, not a fighter. He turned you into the opposite of what we both wanted you to be. He robbed you of your innocence. I don't think I'll ever forgive him for that."
"But, Mom, Piccolo is just about the greatest thing that ever happened to me! He's always been there, he's taught me so many things. Mom, I know you don't want me to get hurt, but you have to let me grow up."
"That's just it, Gohan. He took your childhood away from you. You grew up faster than any child should have to."
"I would have had to do that sooner or later. Dad's always going and risking his life to save people and sometimes he doesn't come back. Piccolo's training helped me understand that. I would have been asking questions all the time that you wouldn't have been able to answer. He gave me more understanding about so many things that you and all the books in the world wouldn't have been able to teach me. And in all likely-hood, Mom, if it weren't for Piccolo I'd probably be dead—would have been dead a long time ago."
"What?"
"If Piccolo hadn't taught me to harness and control my power and to survive, I'd be dead now. Think of all the things that have happened to me in my life." Chichi thought. "A lot of things have happened. The Saiyans, Garlic Jr., Freeza, the Androids, Cell...they all would have killed me if Piccolo hadn't taught me everything he did. But he didn't save only me, Mom, the world as well. Cell would have killed everyone on this planet and many more if I hadn't stopped him. Dad couldn't do it, you know that. I realize now that I was the only one strong enough to stop him. And who taught me? Who taught me just about everything I know?"
Chichi sighed. "Piccolo."
"Right. So, in a sense, he's the one to blame for saving everyone. If it hadn't been for his teachings we'd probably be dead."
"So he saved us. I'll give him that. But that still doesn't make up for taking my boy away and killing my husband."
Gohan stopped for a moment. He never thought about it that way. "I understand, Mom. But you have to understand that he would never let anything happen to me." She looked unconvinced. "Mom, I never told you this, but it's time you knew. Piccolo died for me." Now she looked confused. "On Namek while we were fighting Freeza (how do u spell that?). Piccolo took a hit that was meant for me, right in the chest." Gohan's eyes misted thinking about it. "He died for me, Mom. Doesn't that mean anything? If he didn't do that I would have died on Namek. He cares about me. He doesn't like to be obvious about his emotions so it's not always very noticeable, but he does care about me. That's all that should really matter. Do you understand?" he asked finally.
"Yes...I think I do. But...just don't expect me to warm up to him right away."
"I don't. I just don't want you to hate him when he one of the most important people in my life."
"Maybe...maybe sometime you could formally introduce us?"
Gohan smiled. "I'd like that. Thanks, Mom." Gohan moved closer to his mother and embraced her.
Tears ran down Chichi's face. "I love you, Gohan, and I'll try my best...for you."
"I love you, too, Mom." Gohan wiped away her tears gently away. "I'll go tell them they can come in." Chichi nodded and he left.
Unbeknownst to Gohan and Chichi, Goku, Kat, and I heard the whole conversation due to an open window. By the end of their talk all three of us had tears in our eyes.
"That was so beautiful," we whimpered. We were so wrapped up in emotion we didn't hear or see Gohan approach.
"Dad?" he asked. We all screamed in surprise.
"Gohan?!" we all exclaimed. Then we blushed realizing we'd be caught.
Gohan looked at his father disapprovingly, but decided it was impossible to stay angry with him and shook his head. "Dad...I thought you knew better than to eavesdrop." Goku just gave him an innocent shrug and smile, making it impossible for Gohan to even stay displeased with him. "You can go back inside if you want," he said. Goku and Kat went inside but I decided to stay out. It took me a minute to realize Gohan stayed with me.
"Aren't you going inside?" I asked, looking at the night sky.
"No." There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "I wanted to thank you, Jessie. I don't think that I would have talked to my mom like that if you hadn't encouraged me. And the fighting would have continued. Thank you for giving us the chance to make it stop."
"I didn't do that much. Did I?" Gohan nodded. "Well, I'm glad I could be of service." Again I looked at the night sky. "It's so beautiful here. But I don't see any constellations that I know. I guess I'm really far from home."
Gohan put his hand on my shoulder. "We'll get you and your friends home, I promise. Until then you should just enjoy living here."
"I will, Gohan. I've wished for this ever since I found out about this place. I'm not in any rush to leave. I want to cherish every minute I spend here because I know someday I'll have to leave."
Just then Kat came running out of the house, a big smile on her face. "Jess, they said I could stay! You were right—they are the best!" Inside Goku and Chichi smiled.
"That's great, Kat," I said. "I told you there was nothing to worry about. Now, can we go inside?" Gohan smiled and walked with me inside, Kat following happily behind.
The Next Morning...
"Gohan, do you think that we could see our friends today?" I asked as we prepared for breakfast.
"What about training?"
"We will, I promise. But...we really need to get together. We need to talk...and maybe you could help us figure out why we're here. I don't know if we can figure it out on our own. We're not too bright."
"I don't see why not; that could be some useful information if we do figure it out. We should visit Master Roshi."
I giggled. "He's funny, I like him."
"You know him, too, huh? Just exactly how many of us do you know?"
"I know all the Z fighters."
Gohan looked thoughtful. "Z fighters?"
"That's what they call you at home. The show is called Dragon Ball Z. the one before it is Dragon Ball. DB is Goku's childhood. I haven't seen it yet but someday I will."
"Everyone knows my Dad's history?" I nodded. "Wow...I guess he's really popular in your world."
"You all are," I replied. "People all over the world know who you are and they love to watch the show. Throughout DB and DBZ Goku is the main character. But you do get your share of the spotlight."
"Why do people like it so much?"
"Because it's action-packed, I guess. And maybe some people can relate to the characters." Gohan gave me a puzzled look. "Like you having a protective mother, Piccolo not having a great deal of friends, Krillin and his height or 'impossible' love for 18. That kind of stuff."
"Why do you like it so much, Jessie?"
I was somewhat taken aback by his question. "Well...I never really thought about that. I guess because I can relate to you somewhat. We both have protective mothers and we love our friends to no end, and we'd do anything for them." I looked down. "And I envy you."
Gohan blinked at me. "What? Why?"
"Take a look at your life—your family. Look at your father."
"What about him?"
"He's everything that I ever wanted in a father. You're so close to him. You have a bond with him that nothing—not even death—can touch. And I envy that."
"But why?"
"I'm nowhere near as close to my father as you. We're not very close at all, actually and our bond isn't very strong. I see you with your father and I wish with all my heart that I could even come close to the relationship you two have. I'd be happy to have that with anybody! But I think that's one wish that even the Dragon Balls can't grant."
A/N: Just so all of you know, Jessie is supposed to be me. Or at least what I wish I was like. Everything I've revealed about her so far except for the martial arts thing is true about me. (I couldn't do a spin kick to save my life.) So keep that in mind as you read and for those of you who know who I am this will help you to shape her character in the future. Thanx for listening to me babble. Please review!!