CHAPTER 14– Back from the Living
"Goku..." Behind him, the bearer of bad news hovered on her ball. Surprised, Goku jerked around to find Baba. She confirmed what he was dreading. "Your times up Goku."
"Now?!"
"That little stunt you just pulled drained the last grains of sand in you hour glass."
"Alright. Piccolo just pick up were I left off, ok? I know these two boys aren't graceful but they learn fast and I believe in them."
"But Goku!"
"I'm putting all must trust in you with this one, Piccolo. You've earned it."
A humbled Piccolo nodded. "Thank you."
Goku turned to the two boys again. "Trunks and Goten? I know you will show the same respect and dedication that you've shown me. He's the one in charge now."
His family and friends gathered outside the Lookout's courtyard to see Goku off. His wife, Chichi was the last one to come, running into the dead Saiyan's arms crying.
Chichi pulled herself away but held onto one of Goku's hand. She stared at it, afraid to let go. "But Goku, how can you say good-bye now that Gohan has left me too."
"ChiChi, you'll be alright. You still have Goten to look after you."
"And what if Majin Buu takes him away from me like Gohan."
"That won't happen. Once he masters Fusion, Goten can't possibly lose a fight…I'll tell Gohan how much you really miss him when I see him there."
Videl, Gohan's girlfriend stepped forward. "You won't. I know, Gohan is still alive, I'm sure of it."
"Huh?" The Saiyan turned to look at the earthling. "But how?"
"I don't know I just feel him beating in my heart."
"Your devotion to him is really great."
Blushing, Videl bowed her head. "Thank you, sir."
"Hey! No more goodbyes. Your time is up." Baba turned away and began to ascend towards the Heavens. Goku ready to follow, stopped when he heard his youngest son from behind.
Reaching up to his father, "But...I…"
"Huh? (turning back) What is it Goten?"
The boy stood there nervously twiddling his thumbs. He bit his lip to try to keep himself from crying. His mother leaned down to look at her son. Then she answered for him. "Oh, I know. You want one more hug from your father, don't you, Goten?"
"Ahh, of course!" Goku kneeled down to the boy and picked him up and raised him above his head. "Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of son. It's ok." He tenderly pulled the shaking child to him. Wrapping his arm around Goten, he gently stroked his head with his other. "Goten? Are you going to take care of Mom for me?" Goten nodded his head against his father's chest still trying to hide his tears.
Floating over his shoulder Baba warned, "Goku, you can't put it off any longer."
"Gotcha." Putting Goten down again, Goku knelt in front of him and placed his hand on his son's head. "I'm proud of you son." Then Goku floated backwards towards the sky. Waving, he smiled and called to his family and friends, "So long everybody."
Tearfully, everyone returned the sentiment. They waved back, each saying their own goodbyes, as they watched Goku and Baba disappear into the Heavens.
Their trip back to the Afterworld was quiet. Baba thought there was much to tell the Saiyan but decided to leave him to his endearing thoughts of his family and friends. After all, he may never see them again.
Flying over yellow clouds in the Afterworld, Goku followed behind Baba who was heading for King Yama's Place.
"Wow! Look at that line. There must be millions of them. Eek! That's a whole lot of dead folks, Baba." As far as Goku could see there were fluffy white spirits lined up on Snake Way. Suddenly, Baba stopped moving and Goku not looking, rammed his head into her crystal ball. "Ahhhh. What's that thing made of? I almost bit my tongue off." Rubbing his head, "Why you'd put the brakes on like that? What's up?"
Baba was looking down at the countless souls. "I'm having second thoughts, that's all."
"Uh?"
"Well, look. I don't want to be a worry wart, but I don't feel comfortable leaving Trunks and Goten to fight Buu alone."
"Oh, so that's what's bugging you is it? Well, if the two boys learn the Fusion technique, there won't be anything to worry about."
"Are you kidding?! Do you really think those little tikes can beat a powerful monster like Majin Buu?"
"Umhm."
"I see…hmmm. Alright then. Let's go." Baba sped on her way, racing to their destination.
Stopping above the palace, Goku landed lightly onto the roof top. He looked down at the front entranced with mischief written all over his face.
"Goku! I'm surprised at you. You aren't going to cut in line, are you?"
"I sure am." He looked over his should at the old woman and winked. "Don't tell."
"Ha ha ha. You crack me up. See ya later."
"Hey, thanks for the great day, Baba. It was definitely one to remember. So long!" Waving he descended to the front of the palace.
Baba turned to go and doing so noticed the damage left by Vegeta and Sen. "Hmm, I wonder what's up with those two?" She floated down to the courtyard and hopped off her ball. "Well, let's just see." Waving her hands around the ball, she began to chant, "Crystal Ball start to glow…"
Yama had Reese at the front door monitoring crowd control. He spoke into his bull horn. "Alright out there, you bodiless tramps, single file. It's not too late to be sent down below you know." He sighed as he lowered the bullhorn and spoke to himself, "Why do people lose their manners when they lose their bodies…huh? Hey! It's you!"
The Saiyan touched down in front of the line. "Yeah…nice to see you again, bye!" Goku didn't bother to stop. Waving at the Reese, he walked on.
"Wait the back of the line is the other way!," cried the frustrated subordinate.
Goku didn't stop until he was in front of King Yama's desk. "Hey, King Yama."
"Oh, it's you Goku. And what brings you here today?"
"Well, I have a favor to ask. Could you see if my son Gohan came through here?"
"What?! Do you know what you are asking of me?!" The King lifted a stack of books in front of him. The whole place shook when he put them down on the desk. "Look these are just from today! Look at the line. They're millions of them. They just keep coming."
"Yeah. Earth is under siege. It's pretty bad. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole population ended up here before long."
"WHAT!" Yama leaned forward knocking the books off the desk. They rained down on Goku who stepped aside to avoid being hit. "The whole population?! Ohhh…"
"Well, King Yama. My son Gohan can help to avoid that. But I don't even know if he's still on Earth. That's why I need your help. Do you mind seeing if he checked in yet? Please?"
"Oh all right." The OgreOrge went through his books and opened one. "Gohan…let's see here. G is for Gohan…"
Yama traced his finger up and down the pages. Goku floated up to look at the book himself. "What a mess." I don't write well when I'm under pressure. I don't see a Gohan, unless he's on the next page. No…he's not here. It's true that I've been working around the clock, but I think I would have remembered if your son checked in."
"Really?!" He's not dead? Woohoo!" Unable to contain his excitement, Goku somersaulted in mid air. Yea, yea! Not Dead! Awesome!...ha ha Woohoo" When he was through, the Saiyan landed on the King's desk.
"Oh and Goku, a hard case came through a while ago, named Dabura. I think you know this guy."
Nervously, Goku answered, "Uh, yeah?"
"I knew it. He was a handful. I can tell you that. He was supposed to go below, but he would have enjoyed that so I gave him my stamp of approval and admitted him up here."
"Ha ha ha…Nice going King!" Feeling in the way, Goku headed for the door. "Thanks King Yama…see you later!"
"Good-bye Goku."
Outside in the open, Goku could no longer hold back his joy. His strength had returned and he flew like a wild man, doing flips and turns. "Woohoo...ha ha…Alright! Yeah! I can't believe it! Gohan is still alive. This is great!"
Goku ran his hands through the yellow clouds as he sped past. After some distance he finally reached a part of Snake Way that was unoccupied. Gliding along its path he slid up and down like a roller coaster ride laughing along the way.
Jumping up, Goku stopped and floated upwards with his arms and legs crossed. "Videl was right. He's alive. Smart girl. Wait…" Rubbing his chin, "If he's alive, why haven't I been able to sense his energy anywhere? Hmm…let's see." Goku straightened himself out and focused to search for Gohan's ki. Sensing his son, he turned himself in that direction. "Ohhh…Whoa, that's Gohan alright. There's no mistake about that. But it feels like he's up here somewhere, not on Earth. Hmm, wow, that's weird. Supreme Kia must be behind this. No doubt!" Putting two fingers to his forehead, "Instant Transmission! You gotta love it!" and instantly, the warrior disappeared.
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"Goku..." Behind him, the bearer of bad news hovered on her ball. Surprised, Goku jerked around to find Baba. She confirmed what he was dreading. "Your times up Goku."
"Now?!"
"That little stunt you just pulled drained the last grains of sand in you hour glass."
"Alright. Piccolo just pick up were I left off, ok? I know these two boys aren't graceful but they learn fast and I believe in them."
"But Goku!"
"I'm putting all must trust in you with this one, Piccolo. You've earned it."
A humbled Piccolo nodded. "Thank you."
Goku turned to the two boys again. "Trunks and Goten? I know you will show the same respect and dedication that you've shown me. He's the one in charge now."
His family and friends gathered outside the Lookout's courtyard to see Goku off. His wife, Chichi was the last one to come, running into the dead Saiyan's arms crying.
Chichi pulled herself away but held onto one of Goku's hand. She stared at it, afraid to let go. "But Goku, how can you say good-bye now that Gohan has left me too."
"ChiChi, you'll be alright. You still have Goten to look after you."
"And what if Majin Buu takes him away from me like Gohan."
"That won't happen. Once he masters Fusion, Goten can't possibly lose a fight…I'll tell Gohan how much you really miss him when I see him there."
Videl, Gohan's girlfriend stepped forward. "You won't. I know, Gohan is still alive, I'm sure of it."
"Huh?" The Saiyan turned to look at the earthling. "But how?"
"I don't know I just feel him beating in my heart."
"Your devotion to him is really great."
Blushing, Videl bowed her head. "Thank you, sir."
"Hey! No more goodbyes. Your time is up." Baba turned away and began to ascend towards the Heavens. Goku ready to follow, stopped when he heard his youngest son from behind.
Reaching up to his father, "But...I…"
"Huh? (turning back) What is it Goten?"
The boy stood there nervously twiddling his thumbs. He bit his lip to try to keep himself from crying. His mother leaned down to look at her son. Then she answered for him. "Oh, I know. You want one more hug from your father, don't you, Goten?"
"Ahh, of course!" Goku kneeled down to the boy and picked him up and raised him above his head. "Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of son. It's ok." He tenderly pulled the shaking child to him. Wrapping his arm around Goten, he gently stroked his head with his other. "Goten? Are you going to take care of Mom for me?" Goten nodded his head against his father's chest still trying to hide his tears.
Floating over his shoulder Baba warned, "Goku, you can't put it off any longer."
"Gotcha." Putting Goten down again, Goku knelt in front of him and placed his hand on his son's head. "I'm proud of you son." Then Goku floated backwards towards the sky. Waving, he smiled and called to his family and friends, "So long everybody."
Tearfully, everyone returned the sentiment. They waved back, each saying their own goodbyes, as they watched Goku and Baba disappear into the Heavens.
Their trip back to the Afterworld was quiet. Baba thought there was much to tell the Saiyan but decided to leave him to his endearing thoughts of his family and friends. After all, he may never see them again.
Flying over yellow clouds in the Afterworld, Goku followed behind Baba who was heading for King Yama's Place.
"Wow! Look at that line. There must be millions of them. Eek! That's a whole lot of dead folks, Baba." As far as Goku could see there were fluffy white spirits lined up on Snake Way. Suddenly, Baba stopped moving and Goku not looking, rammed his head into her crystal ball. "Ahhhh. What's that thing made of? I almost bit my tongue off." Rubbing his head, "Why you'd put the brakes on like that? What's up?"
Baba was looking down at the countless souls. "I'm having second thoughts, that's all."
"Uh?"
"Well, look. I don't want to be a worry wart, but I don't feel comfortable leaving Trunks and Goten to fight Buu alone."
"Oh, so that's what's bugging you is it? Well, if the two boys learn the Fusion technique, there won't be anything to worry about."
"Are you kidding?! Do you really think those little tikes can beat a powerful monster like Majin Buu?"
"Umhm."
"I see…hmmm. Alright then. Let's go." Baba sped on her way, racing to their destination.
Stopping above the palace, Goku landed lightly onto the roof top. He looked down at the front entranced with mischief written all over his face.
"Goku! I'm surprised at you. You aren't going to cut in line, are you?"
"I sure am." He looked over his should at the old woman and winked. "Don't tell."
"Ha ha ha. You crack me up. See ya later."
"Hey, thanks for the great day, Baba. It was definitely one to remember. So long!" Waving he descended to the front of the palace.
Baba turned to go and doing so noticed the damage left by Vegeta and Sen. "Hmm, I wonder what's up with those two?" She floated down to the courtyard and hopped off her ball. "Well, let's just see." Waving her hands around the ball, she began to chant, "Crystal Ball start to glow…"
Yama had Reese at the front door monitoring crowd control. He spoke into his bull horn. "Alright out there, you bodiless tramps, single file. It's not too late to be sent down below you know." He sighed as he lowered the bullhorn and spoke to himself, "Why do people lose their manners when they lose their bodies…huh? Hey! It's you!"
The Saiyan touched down in front of the line. "Yeah…nice to see you again, bye!" Goku didn't bother to stop. Waving at the Reese, he walked on.
"Wait the back of the line is the other way!," cried the frustrated subordinate.
Goku didn't stop until he was in front of King Yama's desk. "Hey, King Yama."
"Oh, it's you Goku. And what brings you here today?"
"Well, I have a favor to ask. Could you see if my son Gohan came through here?"
"What?! Do you know what you are asking of me?!" The King lifted a stack of books in front of him. The whole place shook when he put them down on the desk. "Look these are just from today! Look at the line. They're millions of them. They just keep coming."
"Yeah. Earth is under siege. It's pretty bad. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole population ended up here before long."
"WHAT!" Yama leaned forward knocking the books off the desk. They rained down on Goku who stepped aside to avoid being hit. "The whole population?! Ohhh…"
"Well, King Yama. My son Gohan can help to avoid that. But I don't even know if he's still on Earth. That's why I need your help. Do you mind seeing if he checked in yet? Please?"
"Oh all right." The OgreOrge went through his books and opened one. "Gohan…let's see here. G is for Gohan…"
Yama traced his finger up and down the pages. Goku floated up to look at the book himself. "What a mess." I don't write well when I'm under pressure. I don't see a Gohan, unless he's on the next page. No…he's not here. It's true that I've been working around the clock, but I think I would have remembered if your son checked in."
"Really?!" He's not dead? Woohoo!" Unable to contain his excitement, Goku somersaulted in mid air. Yea, yea! Not Dead! Awesome!...ha ha Woohoo" When he was through, the Saiyan landed on the King's desk.
"Oh and Goku, a hard case came through a while ago, named Dabura. I think you know this guy."
Nervously, Goku answered, "Uh, yeah?"
"I knew it. He was a handful. I can tell you that. He was supposed to go below, but he would have enjoyed that so I gave him my stamp of approval and admitted him up here."
"Ha ha ha…Nice going King!" Feeling in the way, Goku headed for the door. "Thanks King Yama…see you later!"
"Good-bye Goku."
Outside in the open, Goku could no longer hold back his joy. His strength had returned and he flew like a wild man, doing flips and turns. "Woohoo...ha ha…Alright! Yeah! I can't believe it! Gohan is still alive. This is great!"
Goku ran his hands through the yellow clouds as he sped past. After some distance he finally reached a part of Snake Way that was unoccupied. Gliding along its path he slid up and down like a roller coaster ride laughing along the way.
Jumping up, Goku stopped and floated upwards with his arms and legs crossed. "Videl was right. He's alive. Smart girl. Wait…" Rubbing his chin, "If he's alive, why haven't I been able to sense his energy anywhere? Hmm…let's see." Goku straightened himself out and focused to search for Gohan's ki. Sensing his son, he turned himself in that direction. "Ohhh…Whoa, that's Gohan alright. There's no mistake about that. But it feels like he's up here somewhere, not on Earth. Hmm, wow, that's weird. Supreme Kia must be behind this. No doubt!" Putting two fingers to his forehead, "Instant Transmission! You gotta love it!" and instantly, the warrior disappeared.
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