How Much I Care

Gokou once again was annoyed at Bulma's actions but as he stood directly outside of what he was sure was his little cottage, for a split second he thought they'd let him go home.

Wrong.

He could sense it, this was not his home. It seemed… melancholy, too quiet in an uncomfortable way.

Running water was the first thing he heard. He heard running water. He slowly approached the cottage and walked in. The house was freezing. He coughed and hugged himself as he looked for someone inside. A man in his gi stared out the window. Yet another youthful memory?

The man could have been made out of stone. Gokou moved on. He moved towards the bedrooms. Each of the three stood in perfect order and looked as if they had never been touched. Cold.

Finally, he walked back down the thin corridor and entered the kitchen. The sound of the running water became clearer as he approached.

An old woman stood by the sink filled with warm water and soap. Dirty dishes were on the counter but she hadn't picked them up. Her washcloth was discarded on the floor.

Her bun was more or less what gave off her age. It was tight and yet messy at the same time. Gokou stared at her. He refused to believe this… poor wreck was his Chi-Chan.

But as she turned around (had he made a noise?) the features belonged to his wife. Pale skin, a worried face through gentle wrinkles, dark, concerned eyes. She gave a little sigh, or yelp, and flinched. She'd been crying.

Gokou made to move towards her, but the man from before literally walked through him, embracing her. Gokou crossed his arms over his chest, not liking this turn of events. Was all this to show him that Chichi'd… been having an affair?

No… never…

"Mother, I told you I would wash the dishes. And do the chores around here… You're far too emotional right now, please go lay down or take a bath."

"I'm not a China-Doll, Gohan, I can get along just fine."

She made to grab a dish but missed and dropped the plate on the floor. She jumped up and flinched upon the impact's noise. Gohan held her so that she would not bend down to pick up the dish.

Gokou couldn't understand why she was breathing so hard.

"Mother, Mother, calm down… it's alright… it's alright…"

She buried her head in his chest and he just held her until her sobs were audible.

"I miss him, Gohan… It's hard to believe he's been gone…"

Gohan nodded and escorted her to another room.

"Who's been gone?"

Gokou'd been so caught up in the moment of confusion that he didn't remember that no one could hear or see him.

"I've been waiting."

This time, it was Vegeta.

"Not you…"

"Believe me, I'd rather be doing other things."

Gokou blinked but Vegeta sighed and moved on.

"So you still don't know where you are?"

"Not really…"

Annoyed, Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest.

"Let me give you a… hint."

Gokou flinched as Vegeta smirked.

"This is a place where they would welcome you or even me with tears."

"The future? Mirai World? Mirai Trunks' world, is that where this is?"

"Very good. I'm supposed to tell you that this is how your death affected your wife. She's a wreck, if you're too thick to notice that too. Oh, by the way, this is the anniversary or your death."

He smirked as Gokou yelped a bit.

"Congratulations."

Gokou pretty much ran out of the room. Vegeta shrugged and walked through the wall. Gokou flinched.

"Mother, tonight I'm going to…"

But Chichi cut him off and hugged a picture frame closer.

"You can't."

"I have to, Mother. People are dying. Our future can still be saved…"

She sighed and put it down. Gokou hesitantly walked up to it to look at it. It was of the small family, but he knew why it was so important. Gohan was still a young boy and he was present.

"You're so much like him I can't even stand it."

Chichi said nothing else as Gohan hugged her and walked out of the house.

"What… what went so wrong here?"

Vegeta yawned and shrugged off Gokou's reaction with yet another fact Gokou didn't want to know.

"Gohan will die on this day a few years later."

-8/10 edit