And just to let you know Gohan is 11, almost 12.
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'Hello? Piccolo?' Goku asked a little sorrowfully. 'Goku? What do you want?' 'I just talked to Gohan. I know he's sick. But he asked me to do him a favor. Goten is too little to understand that Gohan's not going to come back. And Chi-Chi just lost me and now Gohan… So wish me back, please. Have Dende contact the Nameks.' 'Sure, Goku.' 'Thanks.'
Piccolo quickly contacted Dende and asked him to contact the Nameks. 'Great Elder? Can you hear me? It's Dende.' 'Why…Dende! How are you?' 'Good. But I have to ask you something. Can you summon the Dragon? We need you to wish the great Son Goku back.' '…Yes.' 'Thank you.'
Minutes later, Goku appeared in front of the Son House. Chi-Chi and Goten came running out. "Goku! You're back!" Goku hugged Chi-Chi, "Yes. For good, too." Goten was peering at Goku nervously. "Are you Goten?" Goten nodded. "I'm Goku, your dad."
Goten ran up to Goku and put his arms around him. They hugged. "Goten, how's Gohan?" Goten's bottom lip started trembling. "He's in his room sleeping because he can't breathe very well."
Goku turned to Chi-Chi, "I'm going to see Gohan." "He's resting in his room." Goku nodded solemnly. Before he got through the doorway, Vegeta neutrally told him without care, "Kakarott, that brat of yours may just have a chance. That woman of mine has been working on a cure." Said Vegeta. Goku smiled weakly, "I hope so."
The rest of the Z fighters walked into the hallway connecting to Gohan's room and stayed there. They decided Gohan needed some time alone with Goku. Goku walked up to the door to Gohan's room. When he opened the door, he was surprised at how pale and fragile Gohan looked.
"Gohan?" he said softly, wondering if he son was even awake. The young boy stirred a little in his bed, "Daddy?" "Gohan, I'm back." "Hey, dad." Gohan coughed violently as he got those words out. Goku walked over to Gohan and stroked his hair. Goku decided to sit on Gohan's bed and lean against the wall. Goku picked up a storybook that Goten had been trying to read to Gohan earlier.
Goten hopped onto the bed with Goku and Gohan and snuggled next to Gohan. Gohan slowly wrapped his arm around Goten. Goten fell asleep immediately. Goku read through the whole story. He checked on them often, while reading the story to see how they were doing. Gohan seemed to have fallen asleep.
After he finished the story, Goku placed the book on Gohan's desk and decided sleep. He started snoring soon after. Gohan's hand gripped Goku's as they slept. Two hours later Gohan woke up from his sleep and started coughing violently. He quickly sat up in his bed, trying to bring up the fluid. He couldn't stop. Goku rubbed his back, just as Chi-Chi instructed him to do earlier.
He finally stopped, laid back and fell into a deep troubled sleep. Looking at his sons, Goku felt sad knowing that Gohan was going to die soon, and so young. Truth be told, Piccolo was more of a father to Gohan than he was. He was dead for a whole year and than came back and fought. After that, Krillin, Bulma, and Gohan went to Namek.
When Goku finally caught up with them, he fought the whole time. Then they spent 3 years training for the Androids. When they finally came, Goku had gotten sick and then he and Gohan trained for a whole year. A whole year. Then they had 6 days of rest and 3 days of training.
Flashback
"Come on Gohan! We only have 3 months left!" Goku hollered, a little angrily, across the field at Gohan. Gohan was on his hands and knees, panting heavily. They had been training for 15 hours without any breaks. He was exhausted. Goku hadn't let him take a break at all the past few days. At this rate, Gohan would die of energy loss before the Androids came. And that wasn't a joke.
"Goku! That's enough for him!" Piccolo yelled heatedly at Goku. 'Doesn't he know Gohan doesn't have as much stamina as he does?!' "No! We have to keep training!" Goku responded crossly. Gohan meanwhile started to get up to his feet. Goku grinned, somewhat like Vegeta, "Now power back up so we can continue our training!"
Gohan tried to, but he only got a little power, before falling onto his stomach, unconscious. "Gohan!" Piccolo sprinted over to his pupil and picked him up gently. He glared at Goku, before leaving for the Son House. Goku just stood there, trying to contemplate what had happened.
End flashback
Looking back at that day so long ago, Goku felt sick and ashamed at his attitude. Gohan had been forced to grow up so fast. He had matured into an adult by the age of 8. And Goku didn't help by forcing him to train constantly. Gohan had seen so many deaths and battles in his life. And he had brushed death too many times. And he was only 11.
Flashback
Goku walked over to his son; he was just lying there. "Gohan! Eat it! It's a Senzu!" Goku got no response. Goku then realized Gohan had broken his neck. Probably from the big guy. Goku knew he had to heal Gohan fast. Gently, he dropped the Senzu in Gohan's mouth. Gohan tried to swallow and succeeded.
End Flashback
That was the closest Gohan had gotten to death. Goku cringed. He was 6 at the time. Nobody at that age should be forced to fight and nearly die. Goku rubbed his son's head gently and telepathically apologized for him never being there. 'It's okay Dad. The Earth wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.' Goku smiled at his son and continued rubbing his head.
Gohan started to gag and cough while Goku rubbed his back again, but it was clear. It was time for him to go. All the Z fighters gathered in the room to be with the ill demi-saiyan as Chi-Chi ran downstairs to answer the phone, which was ringing violently. "Hello?" asked Chi-Chi. "Hi Chi-Chi, this is Bulma. I found a cure for the disease!"
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Read on! All reviews, etc. will be mentioned in Chapter 5.
