Hello everyone! It's been a long time since I wrote a Gochi story and I've been hooked on Dragon Ball universe since the last movie. I recently found out about this Gochi event on twitter and thought I'd give it a try.
So, just to clarify, each one-shot will take place in a year. In this one, Gohan is six.
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy this one-shot and keep checking for the other six ones. Reviews are appreciated.
Also, I'm on twitter at sorato_fan, if you want to follow and/or talk to me in there!
Day 1 - Spooky/Halloween/Costumes: Spooky Houses
Goku landed on Mt. Paozu after a long day training. He noticed his house had some orange lighting, which was strange because Chi-Chi preferred more neutral tones for the walls and lights for their home. As he walked towards the door, he noticed some pumpkins placed by the outside walls.
When he opened the door, he thought he might have walked into the wrong house and took a couple of steps back. The thing was that they didn't have any neighbors nearby. The usual white light was replaced by a purple one and there were some fake bat, ghost and vampire decorations hanging from the ceiling.
"Chi-Chi?" He stepped at the hall, where there didn't seem to be anything unusual. "I'm home."
"Oh good." Her voice echoed from upstairs. "How hungry are you? I lost track of time and haven't started dinner yet."
"A little, but I suppose I can wait. Where is Gohan?"
"He's in the shower." Chi-Chi came downstairs to meet him. "He's probably finishing though, so you can do it after him. I'm going to start dinner now."
"Eh, Chi-Chi…" Goku followed her into the kitchen and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling embarrassed and nervous, but also very curious. "Why is our kitchen purple?"
"Oh." She looked at the light for a moment. "It's Halloween time."
"Halloween? Is it something you eat?"
"No." She couldn't help but giggle. "It's the time of the year when kids go from house to house asking for 'trick or treat?' and people give them a lot of candy."
"So it is something to eat."
"Not exactly. Haven't you heard about it before?"
"I don't think so. I barely watch TV and I'm always training or fighting, so…" He shrugged, making a weird face. "Is that why there are orange lights and pumpkins with scary faces outside?"
"That's right."
"But I don't remember you doing that before. Why did you do it this year?"
"Because it's Gohan's first year at school and he will become friends with kids who live in the city, so I didn't want him to feel bad because he lives far from it and doesn't celebrate it." Chi-Chi looked at her husband for a moment and noticed with puzzled expression. "You still don't understand it, do you?"
"Not really, but I'm trying to."
"You will be able to understand it better tomorrow when we go to the Halloween party Bulma is planning."
"The Halloween party Bulma is planning?"
"She decided to start throwing them this year and I have nothing to do with it." She winked at him.
"I don't get it."
"Mom, where are my pajamas? I can't find them." Gohan yelled from his bedroom upstairs.
"Try looking under your pillow or in your wardrobe. They must be at one of these places." She lowered her voice to talk to Goku. "I know it's still confusing, but you'll know what is a Halloween party in a practical way tomorrow night."
"Alright then." He gave up, shrugging. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Okay. Dinner will be ready by the time you finish."
.
"Chi-Chi, can you come here for a second?" Goku asked when he walked into their bedroom and found a bunch of weird and unusual clothes spread on their bed.
"What happened, Goku?" Chi-Chi appeared not to long after, coming from Gohan's room.
"What is this?" He pointed to the outfits.
"These are Halloween costumes. Remember when I told you yesterday that Bulma is having a Halloween party tonight? Well, it's a costume party."
"Does that mean we have to wear them?"
"That's right."
"I don't want to. Can I go with my fighting clothes instead?"
"No, Goku. On Halloween you're supposed to dress as something spooky."
"Like the things you hung up downstairs?"
"Exactly, but there are other things besides bats, ghosts and vampires."
"But, Chi-Chi, these clothes are so comfortable."
"I know, honey, but it's just for tonight. I'm sure you're gonna enjoy it."
"Are you and Gohan dressing up too?" Goku looked at his wife with one of his eyebrows raised, still confused.
"Gohan is doing it right now. I'm going to check on him within seconds." Chi-Chi walked to the bed and grabbed a long-length black dress, placing it in front of her. "And this is mine. What do you think?"
"Chi-Chi, it's black."
"Yeah, that's the color people wear for Halloween. You really don't know anything about it, do you?"
"No, and I'm still confused about it." He looked at the remaining outfit on their bed. "What are we supposed to go dressed as?"
"We're going to be a vampire family." She replied proudly. "I could have chosen different costumes for the three of us, but I wanted Gohan to know Halloween can be a family celebration too."
"That makes sense." Goku slid his orange clothing off his arms and then removed his dark blue T-shirt. He pulled the remaining item off his body and grabbed the black overalls. "This is only for tonight, right?"
"Yes, only for tonight."
"Okay, I can do that."
"That cape goes over the overalls. You can decide if you want it black or red outside."
"Cool." He started putting it up and noticed she had sat on the bed and was staring at him. "Didn't you say you were going to check on Gohan?"
"I did, but it's been so entertaining over here. Besides, Gohan is old enough to change on his own."
"It's been entertaining here, huh?"
"It has." Chi-Chi couldn't help but smile looking at her husband.
"I'm glad you're having fun, but why don't we make it entertaining for the both of us at the same time?"
"Goku, Gohan is in the other room!" She blushed heavily and looked away to hide it.
"I was talking about we getting ready together."
"Oh. Yeah, we can do that."
"What did you think I meant?"
"Uh… nothing." She talked it off and stood up, walking to the door and closing it. Then she stopped beside him and started getting undressed.
"Chi-Chi?"
"What?"
"What did you think I meant?"
"Let's just get ready for the party, okay?"
.
Chi-Chi couldn't tell which one of the men of her life was the most amazed by the city being decorated for Halloween.
"Chi-Chi, can you slow down, please?" Goku pleaded beside her, though he couldn't keep his eyes from the road. "I can barely see anything like this."
"Yes, mom, please." Gohan echoed his father's thought from the backseat of the car.
"Okay, but just for a couple of minutes. I don't want to be late for Bulma's party. Besides, you'll get to see more of Halloween decoration there."
"Do people really put lights inside pumpkins?" Goku raised his eyebrow as he looked at a pumpkin flashing in orange in a front yard.
"They are candles, actually." Chi-Chi replied, looking at it as well. "It helps giving them a scarier look. That's why they have a face."
"They do look scary. I'm not sure I like it."
"You deal with even scarier evil forces. Halloween pumpkins are nothing compared to them."
"Mom is right."
"You have a point, but I still think they are scary."
"I bet I can change your mind about pumpkins."
"Oh, I'd like to see you try."
"It's on. Alright, let's get into the car and go to Capsule Corp."
.
The outside of the Briefs' residence would be almost fully dark, if it weren't for some purple lights illuminating the pathway to the door and pumpkins flashing in orange as well.
"Bulma surely knows how to be creative with these things."
"This is so cool!" Gohan squealed and ran to the door.
"Gohan, you might want to wait for us. You never know what there might be inside."
"I spent a year living on my own and trying to survive dinosaurs and dangerous situations. Halloween decorations and costumes won't scare me, mom."
"He's a brave child." Goku placed his hand on his wife's left shoulder. "Besides, he will be inside the house the whole time."
"I know, but I can't help but worry about him. He was taken away from me for a whole year after you died. I fear it can happen again."
"It won't. I'll make sure of this."
"Alright. I trust you." Chi-Chi stopped by the porch and looked at Goku. "Open it."
"What?"
"Open the door, Goku."
"But, Chi-Chi, I have no idea what's inside. Can't you do it? I promise I'll be right behind you."
"The strongest man in the world is afraid of Halloween decorations." She couldn't help but tease him and then giggled.
"Go on, make fun all you want." He said lightly. "I just didn't have contact with any of these things while growing up."
"I know, honey. I'm just messing with you." She turned to the door and grabbed its knob. "Okay, here we go."
Chi-Chi felt a cold rush down her spine when she peeked in and found the whole house completely dark. She had always been braver than her friends at school when it came to facing scary things, but this got her a bit scary. If she hadn't known Goku was right behind her, she would have jumped and screamed when he intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Bulma was fully into it. I can't see a thing."
"She should have at least put on some lights. It's pitch dark."
"Bulma?"
"We're in the kitchen, Chi-Chi."
"Let's go." She held Goku's hand tighter and used her free hand to tap around, so they wouldn't bump into anything and get hurt. Her vision was more adjusted to the darkness and she could see a little better, but that didn't stop her from stumbling upon something and almost falling down.
"Chi-Chi, what happened?" Goku was quick to grab her arms and keep her up.
"I stumbled on something. Probably a decoration."
"Are you okay?"
"I think so." She stood up and smiled at him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"What did I stumble upon?" Chi-Chi looked down at her right and saw it was a skeleton.
"Let's go." Goku stepped ahead and led her to the kitchen.
"What happened to you?" Goku asked Krillin with his eyebrows raised in confusion when he saw his friend all covered in bandages. "Did you get beaten up?"
"No, I'm supposed to be a mummy."
"Chi-Chi, you didn't say anything about mummies being part of Halloween."
"Wait a moment, you didn't know about Halloween?"
"Not really."
"Goku, where did you live all this time?" Bulma walked back in just when the conversation was going on.
"I just never cared about other things besides fighting."
"Well, tonight is your lucky night then. I'm gonna teach you all about Halloween."
"Alright, I suppose."
"Mom, my teeth are all red! Look!" Gohan came running and grinned at Chi-Chi.
"That's very cool, sweetheart." She bent down and ruffled the top of his black hair. "I just hope it won't stain your teeth."
"Don't worry, Chi-Chi. It's gooseberry with strawberry jelly. His normal teeth will be fine."
"Thanks, that makes me more relieved."
"So who's ready for some trick or treat?" Bulma asked excitedly with a bowl full of candies in her hands.
.
The streets in the city were full of children with tons of bags filled with candies. They were in small groups with some adults looking after them. Each one of the guests at the Capsule Corp was holding a bowl with treats for the kids.
"Trick or treat?" A group of children approached them and opened their bags.
"Your costumes are so cute!" Bulma put some candy on them and almost everyone else did the same.
Though the ones around him were giving treats for the children, Goku didn't move at all.
"You have a funny hair." The child in front of him said innocently and both Chi-Chi and Gohan started laughing.
"You deserve a little more candy because of that." The woman gave him some of the sweet in her bowl.
"You're very cool, lady."
"Aww thank you! Have a few more."
"Mom, can we go around asking for trick and treat now?"
"Of course, sweetie." Chi-Chi grabbed his little hand and they started going down the pathway at Capsule Corp, along with Goku.
"Gohan, wait a moment!" Bulma came running towards them and handed him a bag full of candy. "This is for you. We all got together and filled this bag."
"Say thank you, Bulma."
"Thank you, Bulma." He pressed his palms together and bowed down respectfully after giving the heavy bag to his father.
"You're welcome." She ruffled his hair slightly. "You're such a nice kid."
"He really is." Chi-Chi said proudly. "Are you ready, Gohan?"
"Yes!" He said excitedly.
"We'll be right back, Bulma."
"Alright."
Gohan watched the groups of children laugh and be all happy about their candies that he suddenly felt sad for being on his own.
"What happened, son?" Goku looked down at him.
"Nothing."
"You want to be around other kids, don't you?"
He silently nodded, still looking down.
"Then go."
"But I don't know them." He looked at Chi-Chi confused. "What if they don't like me?"
"How can someone not like you?" She knelt down in front of him. "You're a lovely child. I'm sure they will love you."
"Okay!"
"So go, or there won't be any candies left for you."
"I'm going."
Chi-Chi stood up again and watched her son join a small group of kids with a proud smile and happy tears in her eyes.
"Halloween isn't that scary anymore, is it?"
"It isn't, when we're out here. But the decorations still make me nervous."
"You're so unpredictable."
"Why?" Goku asked her confused.
"Because you face worse things when you're fighting to protect the Earth, and can't even handle some fake scary things."
"Well…" He shrugged. "Gohan seems to be having fun, so maybe it isn't so bad. But I'd appreciate it more if I got to go trick or treating too. Can adults do it too?"
"No, that's only for children."
"That's not cool!" He pouted.
"Don't worry, darling. I'm sure Gohan will share some of his candies with you."
"A bag?" He asked, full of hope.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he did." She turned to him. "But there's a Halloween surprise for you waiting in our house."
"What is it?"
"If I say, it won't be a surprise anymore. You'll find out when he go back."
"Gohan!" Goku turned around and cupped his mouth, so his voice would be louder. "We need to go home."
