His Special Gift

Part Nine: Dark Visions of the Future

Goku and Arliss sat at a long kitchen table eating lunch. Most of the food was being eaten by Goku since no one in Other World had a stomach like him. Arliss was a new comer to the Grand Kai's planet. At first, he was nervous to be dead. He was only twenty-five and he never knew being dead would be like this. He didn't know there were other worlds.

Goku welcomed the new guy and asked for a fight. The young warrior accepted and proved to be a challenge for Goku. Goku still won, but he had to go up to an Ascended Super Saiyan to win.

"Wow, Goku. I have to admit. I have never seen anyone eat as much as you," Arliss said.

"I'm a Saiyan and Saiyans have big appetites," Goku said and his eyes lit up at the bowl of pasta placed before him and eagerly began eating. "Wo, wow wid ou wie?" Goku asked with a mouthful of food.

Arliss blinked. "Excuse me?"

Goku swallowed a mouthful of pasta. "How did you die?"

"There was a meteorite approaching the planet. I was the strongest person on the planet but not even I thought I could deflect it from the planet without dying. I knew I wasn't going to come back, but I still feel bad for Myria. I told her I was going to come back and I didn't."

Goku stopped eating and looked at Arliss sadly. He understood what Arliss was going through. He felt the same thing when he left Chi-Chi that morning to face Cell. "Myria's your wife?" Goku guessed.

Arliss looked at Goku regretfully. "No, my girlfriend. She was a nice woman, strong too, to put up with the battles I fought and almost killing myself because of them but I had to do it. I used my fighting and role as protector of the planet as an excuse not to marry. I wanted her to break up with me so she can find a normal guy and have a normal life. Myria saw right through it and wouldn't have it. She was determined to be with me.

"I wanted to marry her after that, but I never got the chance because of the meteorite. There were a lot of things I wanted to do--marry, have kids, grow old with my Myria. I just hope Myria can move on. The night before I died, she told me that she couldn't be with anyone else but me. I tried to tell her that should anything happen to me the day I was going to deflect the meteorite or years from now that I wanted her to find someone else. That was the best I got out of telling her I wouldn't be coming back." Arliss pushed away his tray of food, not really hungry. "Pathetic, huh? I can save a world, but I can't tell the love of my life that I wouldn't be coming back."

"No, I know exactly how you feel," Goku said with a frown. "I couldn't tell my wife I wasn't coming back. I knew there was a big chance I would die, but I couldn't tell Chi-Chi. I didn't want her to feel sad or worry in the last days we had together. I wanted her to be happy."

"Your wife?" Arliss guessed.

Goku smiled with pride. "Yep."

"What's she like?"

"She was a good woman. She taught me a lot about life, love and family. She was the best cook ever," Goku said with pride. "She was tough, too. She could fight but she was never as strong as me or my friends so I never let her fight in the any battle. That and I couldn't stand it if she did."

"Got any kids?"

Goku smiled widens. "Yep. Two boys--one I never got to see," he saw the confused look on Arliss face. "I left him with Chi-Chi before I died."

"Oh," Arliss said understanding. "Well, at least you did marry and left heirs. Your Chi-Chi won't be alone." He stretched his arms and stood up. "All this food and talking are making me sleepy. It was nice fighting and talking with you, Goku. I'll see you around. I'm going to take a nap. Maybe we'll swap stories about our loved ones. There are other things to do here besides fighting." He waved. "See ya, Goku."

"Yeah, bye," Goku waved back. He looked at the table of food with a frown. Half of it was covered in food he was going to eat. Now, he didn't feel like eating. Goku stood and prepared to walk out himself.

"Son Goku, you're full?" a cook asked. He had prepared to food for him and figured Goku would eat it all as usual.

Goku turned back, forcing a smile. "No thanks. I'm not hungry. Thanks for the meal," he said and left.

The cook fainted. That was the first time Goku said he wasn't hungry.

Goku walked out of the Grand Kai's home and took off into the pink sky, flying. He wasn't sure where he was going to land. All he wanted to do right now was fly and think.

Think about Chi-Chi. Those last five days together alone in their home were the closest they've been in a long time. Oddly enough, he never expected them to spend the final days together alone. His plan was to spend the last nine days before the Cell Games with Chi-Chi and Gohan but after going on a picnic and learning of the World's Army attacking Cell and dying, Goku took it upon himself to get a new guardian for the Earth and with a new guardian brought new dragon balls that granted two wishes so everyone who died with Cell would be revived.

After bringing Dende back to Earth, Goku picked up Gohan and Krillin from Master Roshi's house to the Lookout to meet Dende. Before heading out to gather the dragon balls, Goku told Gohan to stay at the Lookout until the Cell Games. Gohan was surprised with his father's suggestion, but his father just smiled and told him to have a good time.

With it only being Goku and Chi-Chi in the house, it was like they were newly weds again.

"Whoo-hoo! Cannonball!" Goku yelled as he dived off the waterfall into the water.

Chi-Chi laughed at Goku and moved back further from the grass so the water wouldn't splash on her. It was three days before the Cell Games and the strongest man on Earth was spending his day with his wife.

"You're silly, Goku!" Chi-Chi laughed at her husband.

Goku rose from the water dripping wet in his black trunks, smiling that goofy, cheerful smile of his. "Hey, Chi-Chi, come in the water! It's great!"

Chi-Chi shook her head. "No!"

"Why not?" Goku asked in his cheerful tone.

"Because I don't want to. I don't even have a swimsuit on!" she said pointing at the peach sundress she was wearing. "We only came here so you could get a fish for dinner!"

"So? Take off your clothes. There's no one around."

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes. Only Goku would suggest she take her clothes off out in the woods as if it wasn't a big thing. "No!"

"Chi-Chi," Goku said slowly giving her a playful, yet wicked look. "If you don't come, I'll come get you."

Chi-Chi caught the look and began walking back. "Uh-oh," when Goku got the look, the best thing to do was run!

Chi-Chi screamed and laughed. She could already feel Goku on her tail. "No, Goku! Don't--aah!" she screamed as she was picked up and tossed over Goku's shoulder. They were heading back to the water. He maneuvered her so that he was holding her in his arms. Chi-Chi looked down to see that they were standing in the middle of the river.

"Goku, don't you dare! Don't you--" she was cut off by her screaming and laughing as Goku dipped his head closer to the water.

"I told you to take your clothes off."

"Goku, if you know what's good for you, you wouldn't dare drop me," Chi-Chi threatened as best she could.

"What are you going to do if I do?" Goku asked teasingly.

Chi-Chi thought for a moment. "Hmm, not cook for you."

"Okay. I can cook myself fish," Goku said and dropped Chi-Chi in the water. Goku laughed as Chi-Chi rose out of the water, dripping wet, head to toe, angry and a fish flopping on her head. Goku was laughing but Chi-Chi wasn't. She grabbed the flopping fish on her head and began slapping Goku with it.

Goku fought Chi-Chi off by tickling her. Chi-Chi's anger melted to laughter and pleas for Goku to stop tickling her. "Stop, Goku!" She turned around and started tickling him.

Goku started laughing loudly. "Stop, Chi-Chi, stop!"

"Say you give in then."

Goku shook his head. "No, I won't!" he said laughing and succeeded in grabbing Chi-Chi's hands. "Ha! Gotcha!"

Chi-Chi smirked. He always seems to win. "Goku, sometimes you're too much." Being so close, she looked at him. Really looked at him. She'd seen him so many times but still she was amazed at how muscularly sculpted his body was. It was enough to make her breath catch and her heart pound. Feeling a blush on her cheek, she looked up to see Goku was giving her the same look. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he wanted to do.

"That was nice," Chi-Chi said lazily. She was resting against Goku's muscled body. He had his arms wrapped around her. Their clothes were scattered about the room. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Catching fish for dinner wasn't supposed to turn out into Goku rushing his wife back to the house. The two were so excited they couldn't make it to the bedroom and settled for the long, purple living room sofa.

It wasn't often they made love in the day. They usually saved that for night. In fact, the last time they engaged in such activity during the day, was before Gohan was born.

"Nice?"

Chi-Chi laughed at Goku. "What do you expect me to say, it was amazing?" she teased.

Goku grinned wickedly. "You know it was."

Chi-Chi's smile subsided as she thought what day it was. With it being so peaceful, she often forgot about the Cell Games. "Three days," Chi-Chi said absently. "I wish I can see Gohan before the battle."

"You'll see him once it's over," Goku told her.

"I'd prefer to see him before it happens. Please, don't let Gohan fight."

"Chi-Chi--"


"I know Gohan's strong and all, but I don't want my baby going against that monster. I'm scared he's going to get killed."

Goku rubbed her right arm soothingly. "Now, you know that won't happen. You know I would never let our son die to Cell."

"I know…" she whispered. "I'm worried about you, too. We…you… have never faced an enemy like this before. This Cell…is so strong. I'm afraid. I know you're hiding something from me. I felt it ever since Gohan's party. Ever since you got out of the chamber, you were so happy and positive. You didn't fight at all. You went fishing with Gohan. You stayed with me at home when Gohan went to get some groceries, and at Gohan's party, we were so relaxed and happy. Everything was so perfect. That night I got a strange feeling that something bad would happen. It had always been like that. Just when I think life is prefect something happens. The first time it happened, you died. I'm getting that strange feeling again, so please tell me what you're hiding."

Goku could feel Chi-Chi shaking and knew she was crying. He placed two fingers under her chin and turned her to look at him. He saw her eyes filled with tears. In her eyes, he saw fear. He never saw it before. When he went out to fight before, he saw worry and concern for his safety and Gohan's but now, she was looking at him scared, scared that she would lose him.

His heart stopped for a moment. It was like she knew he wasn't coming back. He didn't want her to think that or to worry. He wanted her to be happy in these final days, not sad, but it didn't seem like there was anything he could but to tell her the truth.

He lowered his head and slowly pulled Chi-Chi's toward his for a gentle kiss. Through the kiss, he felt Chi-Chi's tears ceased. His hand moved to cupped one side of her face as he deepened the kiss and her free hand locked around his neck.

Slowly, Goku pulled back. A slow smile crossed Chi-Chi's face. "I love you."

Chi-Chi ran a finger through his dark locks. "I know." She turned back and rested more comfortably in his arms.

Goku ran a gentle hand over her shoulder before placing a soft kiss on it. It was time to tell her everything. "You're right. I have been keeping something from you. When we married, you told me married couples don't keep secrets from each other. I never have until now, but I thought it was best. I was trying to protect you. I wanted you to be happy in these days before the Cell Games, not worry, but I guess I was wrong.

"When Gohan and I entered the Time Chamber, I told him I was going to make him stronger than me. I felt it was time for someone else to be the hero. I almost died by that heart virus and if I had, there wouldn't have been anyone to protect the Earth. Our world would've been like the Future Trunks world.

"I didn't know Cell would be as strong as he is when Gohan and I left the chamber. I went up against Cell in his ring. I felt his power. His power is greater than my own. I know I won't win against him, but don't worry. Gohan will. Gohan power succeeds Cell. He can win. All I will do is fight Cell so Gohan will know what he is capable of--see his fighting techniques and skills. Then I will step down and let Gohan fight. The only thing that concerns me is that Gohan doesn't fight to fight. He fights to protect his family and friends. That's what drives him. I didn't fight like that until after I married you and we had Gohan. Before that, I fought for my own enjoyment, to get stronger, and I'm afraid that Gohan's power won't come out of him unless I die. I almost died with Garlic Jr. when I was almost sucked into the Dead Zone and Gohan saved me, Krillin and Piccolo with his hidden power.

"He can do this, Chi-Chi. I know he can. I will give it my all when I fight Cell. I'm not afraid of dying as long as I know you and Gohan are safe. You're all I care about. You're all that matters to me, and if something happen to either of you, I will never forgive myself. I want my last days here on Earth to be of happy memories of you and Gohan. So, please, Chi-Chi," he buried his head in her dark hair, inhaling her sweet scent, holding back his own tears, "don't be sad, don't be angry about Gohan fighting Cell. Be happy, please. I need you to be happy. I couldn't take if you're sad in these final days."

Goku laid there in silence for a minutes, his face still buried in his wife's hair. "Chi-Chi, aren't you going to say anything?" Still no answer. Goku pulled back to look at his wife. "Chi-Chi?" he leaned over to look at her. "Chi-Chi?"

She was asleep, and apparently through all that he had said because when she woke up, she didn't say anything about Cell or Gohan fighting Cell. Goku figured it was for the best. It was best that she didn't know until later. To be honest, he was relieved that he finally got it off his chest. The guilt that he was keeping something from his wife was killing him.

He got what he wanted though. Chi-Chi was happy the rest of his time with her and he was forever grateful for that.

Goku reached the highest peak on the Grand Kai's planet. He found this spot a few years ago when he explored the planet. He came here when he wanted to meditate, have peace, to think. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes. As he thought about his last days with his wife, he was happy. They were the closest as they have been in a long time.

He opened his eyes and looked towards the pink sky. Looking up at the clouds, he could picture his happy family looking down at him. He was smiling. He missed his family and though he knew he wouldn't see them until them until they died which he didn't want to happen for a long, he knew they were happy now and more importantly, they were safe. And that was all that mattered to him.

****

"Whee! Gohan this is fun!" Goten yelled clutching onto his big brother's leg as they flew on Nimbus. They were high in the sky flying at tremendous speed, going up and down on the fluffy cloud.

"You like this, huh?" Gohan laughed. "Well, watch this! Let's go for it, Nimbus!" The eighteen-year-old ordered and Nimbus speed up and then did five loops in a row. Gohan could hear his little brother laughing and him clutching tighter to his leg so he wouldn't fall off. He then did a surprised 'l' loop in the sky.

Gohan slowed Nimbus down. "That was fun, wasn't it, Goten? Goten?" He looked down and saw Goten wasn't clutching his leg anymore. "Goten?!" He looked around the cloud and his heart raced when he couldn't find his brother.

"Gohan!" Goten yelled as he fell in the sky, a frightened look on his face.

"Goten!" Gohan screamed and maneuvered Nimbus to fly under Goten so he could catch him. "Are you okay, Goten?" Gohan asked worried.

Goten just giggled happily. "I'm fine. Can we do it again?"

Gohan looked at his little brother in amazement. He was like his father in so many ways. One moment sad and the next happy. His cheerfulness, excitement, his eating habits, his face and trademark spiky hair reminded him so much of his beloved Dad.

"I think that's enough of flying on Nimbus for today. Let's go catch a fish for dinner like we promised Mom."

"'Kay!"

They stopped by a river and stripped to their underwear and hunt for two large fishes from the Mount Paouz River. Throwing the large fishes on the ground, the two dried up and dressed.

"I'll be starting school next week, Goten, so I want you to help Mom out around the house," Gohan told his brother.

Goten threw his shirt over his head. "Okay. Mom told me you're going to an orange school."

Gohan laughed. "Actually, it's call Orange Star High School. It's in West City."

"Oh, so you'll be near Trunks' home?" Goten asked putting on his shoes.

"Yeah, but I won't have time to see him because I'll be at school all day."

"How long will you be gone?"

"I have classes at eight but I should be home in the afternoon." He saw Goten frown. "What's wrong, Goten?"

Goten twiddled his thumbs. "I'm gonna miss you not being here all day, Gohan."

Gohan rubbed Goten's head. "Hey, squirt. It'll be okay. I'll come home every afternoon. I'm just going to be gone in the mornings and the early afternoons."

Goten smiled and looked up at his brother. "Okay! Can we play like we use to?"

"I might not have time to play with you when I get home because I will have homework, but I promise you any free time I have after homework and on weekends, we'll play like we use to."

Goten smiled. "Okay!" He ran to hug his big brother. "You're the best big brother ever, Gohan!"

"And you're the best little brother ever, Goten," Gohan said returning the hug.

The next few days before Gohan started high school, the two brothers spent a lot of time together, fishing, talking, playing with some of the dinosaur families nearby and lastly camping.

One night, Goten and Gohan were lying in sleeping bags outside their tent looking up at the clear night sky with millions of sparkling stars.

"Gohan?" Goten asked.

"Yeah, Goten?"

"How many stars are there?"

Gohan laughed. "Lots of them. Like billions."

"Mom said you and Dad went camping a lot."

Gohan smiled at the memory when he was a little boy when he went camping with his father. It was a way of male bonding for them. That and training. "Yeah, we did."

"Did you two have fun?" Goten asked.

"The best."

"If he was here, do you think he would go camping with me?" Goten asked shyly.

"Of course, Goten. You know he would."

"I guess. I wish I knew him," the little boy said sadly.

Gohan felt tears in his eyes as he thought of how his father nobly died for him, his mom and everyone else. He had long since accepted that it wasn't his fault that his father died, but still thinking about his father dying, the thought that his body blew up, torn into nothingness, the possible pain he felt when he died still tore through Gohan and he couldn't fight a tear or two that shed from his eyes.

"He was a great man."

"How great?" Goten asked.

"The greatest," he rolled on his side to look at Goten, his little brother's face was innocent as ever through the flickering lights of in the warm campfire. "Did you know that Dad fought an evil being on an exploding planet?"

Goten shook his head, his eyes wide in wonder. "No."

"His name was Frieza and he was an evil tyrant."

"What's a tyrant?" Goten asked curiously.

"A tyrant is a mean person that rules over people and bullies them around," Gohan explained and Goten looked as if he understood. "Frieza hurt a lot of people and everyone fought to stop him--Vegeta, Krillin, Piccolo and me, but we couldn't stop him. Then Dad showed up. The battle was tough, so tough that Dad sent us all away from the planet Namek we were fighting on and back to Earth. He didn't want anyone else on the planet so no one else would get hurt in the fight."

"Daddy fought Frieza alone?"

"Yeah. Frieza pulled out a trick so that the planet would explode in minutes. So Dad had to fight Frieza fast. I didn't see all of it, but what I did see was amazing. He showed no fear when he fought Frieza. I was even scared that Dad would die against Frieza because he was so strong."

"Oh, no," Goten said worried.

Gohan smiled. "But Dad pulled through and defeated Frieza."

"Yay, Daddy!" Goten cheered.

"Yeah, Goten, but there was a problem."

Goten frowned. "Problem like what?"

"Dad defeated Frieza but the planet was seconds from exploding. If it did explode when Dad was on it, he would die."

"Did Daddy make it off, Gohan?" he asked scared.

Gohan nodded. "Dad made it off the planet with seconds to spare," he saw the relief on his brother's face.

"Wow. I didn't know Daddy did that. Was he really that strong?"

Gohan smile proud of his father. "Yeah, Dad was the strongest man ever and the greatest martial artist."

Goten smiled in amazement. "Wow! Momma told me about the adventures Daddy was on as a kid but I didn't know he fought on an exploding planet. What other stuff did Daddy do?"

"A lot, but I'll tell you that another time. For now, let's get some sleep, okay."

Goten snuggled back in his sleeping bag. "Okay, Gohan. Good night!"

"Goodnight, squirt." Gohan said settling back in his sleeping bag. He looked up at the night sky. He saw a falling star. He never believed in the wishing upon a star, but he decided to do it just for fun. 'I miss you, Dad and I wish you could see Goten in person instead of watching over us because I know you are. I wish we could all be together as a family.'

****

She saw destruction over the planet Earth. Buildings reduced to rubble, homes flattened or completely destroyed, mountains reduced to a crater, people laying on the streets dead, cities that held millions of people were gone in an instant. The planet was destroyed.

In the distance, she heard laughter. The laughter was of innocence and childishness. Through her ball, she was able to see the owner of the laughter--a fat, pink monster with a purple cape. This was the one that caused the destruction of Earth thus far? With him, was a small, ugly being, giving the pink monster orders.

A group of fighters decided to challenge this new enemy. She saw a teenage Gohan leading the attack in. Alongside with him was Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, little Goten and Trunks.

One by one, she saw them fight and one by one she saw them all fail. With the Earth defenders dead, the pink monster continue with its destruction until everyone was dead. Bored with destroying things on the planet, the monster decided to blow up the planet itself.

Baba gasped at the vision before her in her crystal ball. Lately, she was having odd feelings, like a premonition something bad was going to happen. Having checked her crystal ball for a peek into the future, she saw the destruction of the Earth.

"There must be someway to prevent it. It's going to happen this year. Gohan and the others won't have enough time to train." She tapped her fingers on the table. "It's all going to start on the day of the World Martial Arts Tournament. In the fight between Gohan and Vegeta, they will fight at their maximum levels. They get attacked by two goons who take their powers and run away. With that power, Majin Buu is released from his ball and he wreaks havoc on the planet, kills everyone and blows it up. There has to be someway to stop him."

"Baba, what's wrong?" her pink floating assistant asked.

Baba looked at her faithful assistant. "I saw the Earth's destruction and it's going to happen very soon."

"Can't you warn Gohan and the others?"

Baba shook her head. "Not enough time."

"Why not Goku?"

"Goku's dead. He can't come back to Earth." Suddenly an idea sprang to mind. "Unless…I've got it. Time for me to make a trip to the Other World. I need to have a talk with King Yemma." Baba hopped on her ball and sped off to the Other World.

****

"You want me to allow Goku to come back for a day?" King Yemma asked.

"Why not?" Baba asked. "Goku deserves it. He's saved the Earth so many times and is a very good person, so why can't he get this little treat? You know he has more than enough credit on him to come back for more than one trip."

King Yemma looked at Goku's very long list of good deeds. He turned a page, then another, and then another. "Yeah, you're right about that."

Baba continued. "Besides, he misses his family. Every time I come to visit the Grand Kai's planet to get a fighter, he always asks me to see his family through my crystal ball. He has a little boy, whom he never met who looks and acts like him and I know Goku wants to meet him. Come on, be a good guy and let him come back to Earth for a day."

King Yemma thought for a moment and smiled. "Sure, why not? If he wants to come back today, all right."

"Actually, I was thinking the day of the World Championships on Earth that's a month from now?"

King Yemma raised an eyebrow. "Why? Wouldn't he want to come back now?"

Baba kept herself from rolling her eyes. King Yemma would have to make things difficult. "Well, yes, but see his son, Gohan is fighting in the tournament and you know how much Goku loves to fight. I'm sure he would want to have a good fight on his one day back and also spend time with his family."

King Yemma was looking doubtful at Baba's words so she continued.

"Also, when I last checked on Goku six months ago, he had fought all the strongest warriors. There's no one to challenge him now. I think the day of the World Championships would be a good idea."

King Yemma took Baba's words into consideration. He smiled. "Okay. I'll give Goku the pass to return to Earth in a month's time. You should go to the Grand Kai's planet and give Goku the good news."

Baba smiled. "Thanks, Yemma." Baba left the check-in realm and caught a plane to the Grand Kai's planet. The fortuneteller could never figure how the Grand Kai's planet would have such a small clunker plane to have newly dead fighters and other guest ride on.

"With Goku on Earth for a day, Earth has a better chance for survival. If anyone could save the planet, it's him. I only hope he can stop what I saw from happening."

To Be Concluded

Part Ten: Goku's Coming Back

Rini: I kind of feel bad for Yamcha and Goten's so adorable. He always have fun. Trunks doesn't know any better. He's a kid and he's Vegeta's son after all.

Tails: Upa grown up now as are the rest of them. I didn't even think about that. Goten blew me away. I didn't know who he was until the narrator said it and I felt so sorry for him never meeting his Daddy.

Digi Fan: Yeah, I know CC and Gohan told him stories about him. He's so cute.

GOGI: Thanks!

GD: I guess you like the Goten and Gohan scene on Nimbus. Poor baby fell off. That was mean of me. LOL!

Lady Athena: I agree. I think she changed a lot. She wasn't as stern anymore and didn't even argue about Goten fighting against Buu. In the old days, CC would've gone berserk if it was Gohan. She learned a lot through Goku's death and the need for her son to fight because only he and his father could do it. I didn't mind studying. I liked it. I guess I would've been a good daughter for Chi-Chi, huh? Hee. Hee. Nope. Your rants never wear me out because I'm thinking the same way about Chi-Chi.

Gogirl: Goten is so adorable. I wouldn't mind having a little brother or son like him. Chi-Chi never scared me. She always made me laugh when she got mad. Good luck on your writings.

Moon Girl: Chi-Chi had to have been in her thirties when she trained Goten and being a martial artist so she can kick butt and will stay fit for a long time.