A/N:
Cesna: Awwww, don't stop reading guys! I can't change what I've done, and if you're a fellow author then you understand why I had to do this. If you're worried I'm just going to leave off here, then there's nothing to worry about, because there are going to be a ton of sequels, that might make up for the sadness that this story leaves off in. ^-^' The next chapter is the last chapter, and then I'll have a final author's note to let you know what's up in my world of writing, and what's coming up. Chao!
**********
It was hard, Goten had to admit.
No one should ever have to go through this. He was dressed in a black tux, the color of mourning, while the sky was clouded over. Standing in his front yard, he had told his distressed mother and father that he would catch up. Poor Gochi only knew Gohan was gone, and was continually crying.
He should really go to his brother's funeral, but he felt like... That would be admitting he was really gone. For good. It's so funny how they usually had the Dragon Balls fix all their problems. No pain was real in the past. A smile broke through his damp face, his tears all used up over an hour ago. So this was what it was like for someone to really die. He drew his gaze above, and closed his eyes, welcoming the light rain that started with open arms.
*************
They had a closed funeral, set up deep in the mountains, and only invited close family friends.
They didn't even hire a priest to talk over Gohan. The guy wouldn't have known anything about the demi-saiyan they all loved more than life itself, and it wouldn't be appropriate. Even Tien arrived, sitting near the back, head bowed in solemn silence.
Most of the others who arrived were more loud about their mourning, Gochi crying the loudest, not still quite grasping that Gohan was never to return, but him not being there that second was bad enough, and on top of that all the adults were sad. No one had the heart to quiet her.
Chi-Chi was weeping silently, clutching tightly at her only daughter running a hand through her hair, not wanting to ever let go, and it seemed Gochi didn't have a problem with that. The grief on her face was eternal, a mother who lost her first child...
Krillin and his family were sitting close to the incomplete Son family, Marron oblivious to what was going on, 18's face softened with the solemnity in the air, and Krillin, head raised, eyes closed and tears flowing freely down his face. There was no disgrace over crying, he decided, and even if he didn't want to, he wouldn't be able to stop the tears. The child who became like one of his own, he remembered fighting along Gohan's side since he was five. It simply wasn't fair, and he reached over and grabbed Marron's hand tight, scared she might suddenly be taken from him too. It wouldn't be soon that he would take her for granted.
Trunks, Vegeta and Bra were sitting behind them, all three quite with the exception of Bra's occasional sniffing. Vegeta was staring a hole into the back of Krillin's head, the stoic expression on his face not revealing any of his feelings. Trunks' face was clear of tears, it was as if he was lost in a world all of his own, void of all sadness...
Yamcha was there as well, along with Muten Roshi, Puar, Chaotzu, and a few others. The mighty Ox King was by his daughter, in a state of disbelief over the sudden death of his oldest grandson.
Bulma, however, decided to talk over the child first, being the most articulate and eloquent of the group. Her face was aged with grief, eyes glassy from nearly non-stop crying, and hair done in a messy bun. Make-up was non-existent on her face as she stood in front of the group, the clear casket behind. She had gone over easily fifty times what she was going to say there, standing in front of all of her grieving friends, but all of the practiced words left her, and her heart began to speak unfiltered...
"...Son Gohan..." Bulma whispered, and even though the silence that filled the place, this choked breath was heard. Chi-Chi stifled her crying. "...He was a great man. At the mere age of five, he began to fight for this world we stand on now. The only reason any of us are here now is because of his fighting spirit." Normally, Bulma would rather be the one wanting to cry right now, but she couldn't. It was not her turn, for now. "I've known him since he was four, and his father around the same age. I never thought, or despaired, that I would speak at his funeral... It isn't fair that someone so pure hearted, so loved and appreciated, so loving and giving, should die so horribly..."
Chi-Chi cried out, shuddering in her sobs. This only made little Gochi cry harder.
"...and leave us all here, to finish the lives that he never even got to start. Gohan... It will not be soon that he will be forgotten in our hearts! ..." She smiled as a tear slid down her cheek. "While he's not here physically... I feel that he is smiling down on us, from where he is now, free of the pain that bound his last few days on this Earth. Never forget. Pain is only natural when having lost someone... Someone like him. Gohan was a truly a special person. Never forget... No matter how much pain it may cause."
Bulma stepped down from her place shakily, and finally, the strength she was able to call on for the others broke, and she fell to her knees. "GOHAN!!!" She cried skyward. "WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FORGET!!!" And now, her sobbing choked her, and Vegeta stood up quickly and came to her side, wordlessly comforting her. Audible crying loosely broke out again, and continued for several moments. Vegeta was able to console Bulma back into her seat, and she cried into his shoulder. No one dared to comment on it then or later, but some could have sworn they saw a single prickle of a tear in Vegeta's eye that day.
"Listen."
Once again, silence swept through the place, and where Bulma stood only ten minutes ago, now stood a young man. A small version of Gohan, dressed for mourning. His younger brother, Goten.
"Gohan is only dead to you if think this is the end!" Goten cried out, almost angrily. He glanced back at the clear casket, at the lifeless face of his older brother, cold and unliving. "He is still alive..." Goten looked back, the tears he thought were used up were coming back, but did not deter his speech. "...when I remember how we played when I was younger. When I think about the many things he taught me. He taught me that not even the sky is the limit, but the ground is just fine. He taught me that the smallest things in life are what make the big things so worthwhile. He taught me worry is a waste of time, and that holding onto anger is even worse. Just because there are no more memories to be made here, just remember we will some day die as well. And he'll be there..." Goten smiled and closed his eyes. "...just waiting, with that smile of his, and say 'Well... Little bro, it took you long enough'..." The young brother of Gohan turned and walked up beside Gohan's casket, placing a hand on it. "I want to apologize, Gohan, for all of the things that I should have said before you died. For being a jerk, for being a crappy younger brother, and letting you hold too much responsibility for me... I promise to live in your footsteps, and be the best big brother I can, though I'll never be as good as it as you..."
A hand gripped Goten's shoulder, and he looked up into the face of his best friend, Trunks, who had finally snapped and allowed the crying to start. Goten started to hold back tears, but found he coulnd't, and the two hugged, in the way only a best friend can comfort.
It was then, and only then, did Goku smile from where he sat. He probably had the only dry face in the crowd, and he was certainly the only one smiling. 'Gohan, look at all these people that love you.' He thought. 'And I don't mean 'loved', as in it was something in the past... You are still in our hearts, mine most of all. My son, my first son...' Goku's eyes settled on the gray clouds just above the horizon. 'I look forward to the day I can join you, and say life here was worth it...'
Goku could have sworn he heard a distinct reply, in the back of his mind...
"I'll be waiting."
***********
Large blue eyes. Long black hair. Tears falling. Slowly, the young girl walked away from the back of the funeral, head hung low, remorse pouring out from her every movement.
"...I never.... Got to tell him..."
***********
Gohan: ....So I'm REALLY REALLY dead.
Cesna: Yup.
Gohan: I mean, I'm not going to magically pop out of the casket, going 'JUST KIDDING!!!!'
Cesna: Nope.
Gohan: I think that would be pretty funny.
Cesna: Yup.
Gohan: ... But you're not going to do it.
Cesna: Nope.
Gohan: You like doing this to me, don't you?
Cesna: Yup.
Gohan: ...Is this the end? Finally?
Cesna: Nope.
Gohan: ?! There's MORE?!
Cesna: Do you think that was a good closing chapter?!?! Of course not! Don't worry, the next chapter will have plenty of closure. Just keep your pants on.
Gohan: ...*throws a tissy fit*
Cesna: Awwww, don't stop reading guys! I can't change what I've done, and if you're a fellow author then you understand why I had to do this. If you're worried I'm just going to leave off here, then there's nothing to worry about, because there are going to be a ton of sequels, that might make up for the sadness that this story leaves off in. ^-^' The next chapter is the last chapter, and then I'll have a final author's note to let you know what's up in my world of writing, and what's coming up. Chao!
**********
It was hard, Goten had to admit.
No one should ever have to go through this. He was dressed in a black tux, the color of mourning, while the sky was clouded over. Standing in his front yard, he had told his distressed mother and father that he would catch up. Poor Gochi only knew Gohan was gone, and was continually crying.
He should really go to his brother's funeral, but he felt like... That would be admitting he was really gone. For good. It's so funny how they usually had the Dragon Balls fix all their problems. No pain was real in the past. A smile broke through his damp face, his tears all used up over an hour ago. So this was what it was like for someone to really die. He drew his gaze above, and closed his eyes, welcoming the light rain that started with open arms.
*************
They had a closed funeral, set up deep in the mountains, and only invited close family friends.
They didn't even hire a priest to talk over Gohan. The guy wouldn't have known anything about the demi-saiyan they all loved more than life itself, and it wouldn't be appropriate. Even Tien arrived, sitting near the back, head bowed in solemn silence.
Most of the others who arrived were more loud about their mourning, Gochi crying the loudest, not still quite grasping that Gohan was never to return, but him not being there that second was bad enough, and on top of that all the adults were sad. No one had the heart to quiet her.
Chi-Chi was weeping silently, clutching tightly at her only daughter running a hand through her hair, not wanting to ever let go, and it seemed Gochi didn't have a problem with that. The grief on her face was eternal, a mother who lost her first child...
Krillin and his family were sitting close to the incomplete Son family, Marron oblivious to what was going on, 18's face softened with the solemnity in the air, and Krillin, head raised, eyes closed and tears flowing freely down his face. There was no disgrace over crying, he decided, and even if he didn't want to, he wouldn't be able to stop the tears. The child who became like one of his own, he remembered fighting along Gohan's side since he was five. It simply wasn't fair, and he reached over and grabbed Marron's hand tight, scared she might suddenly be taken from him too. It wouldn't be soon that he would take her for granted.
Trunks, Vegeta and Bra were sitting behind them, all three quite with the exception of Bra's occasional sniffing. Vegeta was staring a hole into the back of Krillin's head, the stoic expression on his face not revealing any of his feelings. Trunks' face was clear of tears, it was as if he was lost in a world all of his own, void of all sadness...
Yamcha was there as well, along with Muten Roshi, Puar, Chaotzu, and a few others. The mighty Ox King was by his daughter, in a state of disbelief over the sudden death of his oldest grandson.
Bulma, however, decided to talk over the child first, being the most articulate and eloquent of the group. Her face was aged with grief, eyes glassy from nearly non-stop crying, and hair done in a messy bun. Make-up was non-existent on her face as she stood in front of the group, the clear casket behind. She had gone over easily fifty times what she was going to say there, standing in front of all of her grieving friends, but all of the practiced words left her, and her heart began to speak unfiltered...
"...Son Gohan..." Bulma whispered, and even though the silence that filled the place, this choked breath was heard. Chi-Chi stifled her crying. "...He was a great man. At the mere age of five, he began to fight for this world we stand on now. The only reason any of us are here now is because of his fighting spirit." Normally, Bulma would rather be the one wanting to cry right now, but she couldn't. It was not her turn, for now. "I've known him since he was four, and his father around the same age. I never thought, or despaired, that I would speak at his funeral... It isn't fair that someone so pure hearted, so loved and appreciated, so loving and giving, should die so horribly..."
Chi-Chi cried out, shuddering in her sobs. This only made little Gochi cry harder.
"...and leave us all here, to finish the lives that he never even got to start. Gohan... It will not be soon that he will be forgotten in our hearts! ..." She smiled as a tear slid down her cheek. "While he's not here physically... I feel that he is smiling down on us, from where he is now, free of the pain that bound his last few days on this Earth. Never forget. Pain is only natural when having lost someone... Someone like him. Gohan was a truly a special person. Never forget... No matter how much pain it may cause."
Bulma stepped down from her place shakily, and finally, the strength she was able to call on for the others broke, and she fell to her knees. "GOHAN!!!" She cried skyward. "WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FORGET!!!" And now, her sobbing choked her, and Vegeta stood up quickly and came to her side, wordlessly comforting her. Audible crying loosely broke out again, and continued for several moments. Vegeta was able to console Bulma back into her seat, and she cried into his shoulder. No one dared to comment on it then or later, but some could have sworn they saw a single prickle of a tear in Vegeta's eye that day.
"Listen."
Once again, silence swept through the place, and where Bulma stood only ten minutes ago, now stood a young man. A small version of Gohan, dressed for mourning. His younger brother, Goten.
"Gohan is only dead to you if think this is the end!" Goten cried out, almost angrily. He glanced back at the clear casket, at the lifeless face of his older brother, cold and unliving. "He is still alive..." Goten looked back, the tears he thought were used up were coming back, but did not deter his speech. "...when I remember how we played when I was younger. When I think about the many things he taught me. He taught me that not even the sky is the limit, but the ground is just fine. He taught me that the smallest things in life are what make the big things so worthwhile. He taught me worry is a waste of time, and that holding onto anger is even worse. Just because there are no more memories to be made here, just remember we will some day die as well. And he'll be there..." Goten smiled and closed his eyes. "...just waiting, with that smile of his, and say 'Well... Little bro, it took you long enough'..." The young brother of Gohan turned and walked up beside Gohan's casket, placing a hand on it. "I want to apologize, Gohan, for all of the things that I should have said before you died. For being a jerk, for being a crappy younger brother, and letting you hold too much responsibility for me... I promise to live in your footsteps, and be the best big brother I can, though I'll never be as good as it as you..."
A hand gripped Goten's shoulder, and he looked up into the face of his best friend, Trunks, who had finally snapped and allowed the crying to start. Goten started to hold back tears, but found he coulnd't, and the two hugged, in the way only a best friend can comfort.
It was then, and only then, did Goku smile from where he sat. He probably had the only dry face in the crowd, and he was certainly the only one smiling. 'Gohan, look at all these people that love you.' He thought. 'And I don't mean 'loved', as in it was something in the past... You are still in our hearts, mine most of all. My son, my first son...' Goku's eyes settled on the gray clouds just above the horizon. 'I look forward to the day I can join you, and say life here was worth it...'
Goku could have sworn he heard a distinct reply, in the back of his mind...
"I'll be waiting."
***********
Large blue eyes. Long black hair. Tears falling. Slowly, the young girl walked away from the back of the funeral, head hung low, remorse pouring out from her every movement.
"...I never.... Got to tell him..."
***********
Gohan: ....So I'm REALLY REALLY dead.
Cesna: Yup.
Gohan: I mean, I'm not going to magically pop out of the casket, going 'JUST KIDDING!!!!'
Cesna: Nope.
Gohan: I think that would be pretty funny.
Cesna: Yup.
Gohan: ... But you're not going to do it.
Cesna: Nope.
Gohan: You like doing this to me, don't you?
Cesna: Yup.
Gohan: ...Is this the end? Finally?
Cesna: Nope.
Gohan: ?! There's MORE?!
Cesna: Do you think that was a good closing chapter?!?! Of course not! Don't worry, the next chapter will have plenty of closure. Just keep your pants on.
Gohan: ...*throws a tissy fit*
