A New Beginning

Part Nine

"Don't worry, Gohan. Mommy's going to be okay."

Goku held Gohan in his arms, comforting the little boy as he was worried about his mother. "Mommy," Gohan whimpered.

Goku was quick to bring Chi-Chi inside Ox King's castle where doctors in the village were able to treat her. He felt so guilty what had happened and blamed himself over and over. This incident reminded Goku of the time when he released Gohan's stroller and Gohan flew through a tree when he was only five months old. After that incident, Chi-Chi warned Goku there would be more trouble if he wasn't more careful and now her words were true as Chi-Chi was being treated for injuries he felt he caused. What made the situation even worst was Gohan seeing the injuries in Chi-Chi's back. He didn't understand everything, but he knew his mother was hurt. Goku hoped he didn't traumatize Gohan.

A doctor stepped out of the room Chi-Chi was in and Goku stood up to meet the doctor's gaze. "How's Chi-Chi?"

"We were able to remove the wood wedged in Chi-Chi's back, stop the bleeding and close the wound. She also has a small concussion. She's sleeping but you can go see here."

"Will she be all right?" Ox King asked.

The doctor smiled. "Of course. I predict with rest and proper healing, Chi-Chi will be just fine."

"You and Gohan go in now, Goku," Ox King offered. "I'll see Chi-Chi after you."

Goku thanked Ox King and went inside. He sat in the chair by her bed. Chi-Chi had a bandaged wrapped around her head for the concussion, but other than that, Chi-Chi looked as if she was sleeping.

"Momma," Gohan called for his mother. "Momma, wake up," Gohan begged.

Chi-Chi heard Gohan's voice and slowly awakened a few minutes later. Her vision was a bit blurry but as it cleared, she saw Goku and Gohan looking relieved. "Hi," Chi-Chi said weakly. "Gohan, you're okay." She looked at Goku. "What happened? The last thing I remember is us going down a hill, Goku."

"We crashed in a tree, you got a concussion and a piece of the tree was wedge in your back. The doctor said you will make a full recovery, but you will need some rest until your injuries are healed. Chi-Chi, I'm so sorry," Goku apologized. "It's my fault. If I had--"

"Goku--"

But Chi-Chi was cut off with Goku's apology. "It's my fault. I should've been more careful. You could've died because of me. You said once if I wasn't careful, something bad would happen and it did. I hurt you. I feel so horrible right now."

"Goku," she never heard him sound this way before or heard the guilt in his voice. It was breaking her heart, especially the way he was looking and the heavy remorse on his face. "It was an accident."

"I know, but I still feel bad about it. I'm really, really sorry."

Chi-Chi smiled. She was so touched by his honesty and how much he really cared for her otherwise he wouldn't sound so guilty. "I know, Goku. I know."

Chi-Chi laid on her stomach as she helped Gohan put his puzzle together. It was a 12-piece puzzle of a worm and its pieces had numbers one through twelve on it. So far, Gohan had six of the pieces together.

Chi-Chi reached for the seventh piece. "Seven," Chi-Chi repeated to Gohan. "Say it."

Gohan stared at the piece and the number. He took the piece out of his mother's hand. "Seven."

"Good. Now put the piece on the puzzle board."

Gohan fiddle with the piece on the puzzle board. At first, he put the piece where the ninth piece goes but the second time he put it in the seven spot.

"Very good, Gohan."

Chi-Chi helped Gohan with the rest of the puzzle as Goku entered the bedroom with a tray of food in his hands. "I've got breakfast for you."

Chi-Chi was grateful for Goku's help for the past three weeks. He really was helping out, taking care of her and Gohan. The foods were simple with fish, wolf or dinosaur with rice, eggs, noodles and salad since that was all Goku knew how to cook, but it was great to her that he helped out. It was easy to feed Gohan since his food was in jars. Goku working around the house, reminded him on how he had to take care of Chi-Chi when she was pregnant with Gohan sometimes. In the six weeks Goku worked around the house, the thought of training never occurred to him once since he was so consumed with guilt of hurting Chi-Chi and he wanted to do his best in taking care of her. Chi-Chi rest a lot in bed and when she wasn't resting, Gohan was in the room with her learning how to read numbers, alphabets and words.

Even though she was injured, Chi-Chi felt she could move around but Goku wouldn't allow her. Every time Chi-Chi tried to get up to do some laundry or some cooking, Goku always put her back in bed and insisted she stayed in. He didn't want her to increase her injuries and after his pleading, Chi-Chi gave up to rest and heal as Goku wanted her. Throughout her recovery period, Goku apologized profusely but Chi-Chi told Goku she had forgiven him and once more she was touched about his feelings for her.

Like his parents, Gohan was an early riser. He rolled over to see the morning sun shining on his face through his window. The weather was in the summer season now so Chi-Chi left the window partially open at night so the warm air would escape the house and cool air enter in the night so Gohan wouldn't have trouble sleeping.

Gohan crawled out of bed and walked to his window. It looked so pretty this morning with the sun shining on different spots of the flowers and food Chi-Chi was growing in the backyard and the river that flowed near their home. The three-year-old's curiosity got the better of him as Gohan climbed on the desk in front of the window, opened it and climbed out of his room.

He walked around his house to look at the flowers and vegetables his mother was growing before venturing in the forest alone. Gohan walked in the forest a lot with his father so he didn't see anything wrong doing it by himself. He walked in the forest looking at the animals and small creatures that crossed his path. They were mostly friendly. A family of squirrels walked by as they ventured out for their breakfast. Gohan smiled and waved at them. "Bye." A bird landed on Gohan's shoulder and chirped at him before flying off.

"Bye!" Gohan waved at the bird as it flew away.

Gohan continued his walk in the forest until he saw another animal. It was black with a white streak down its back. Young Gohan wasn't aware he was coming in contact with a skunk. "Hi! I'm Gohan!" Gohan said cheerfully.

The skunk paid no attention to Gohan. Gohan walked over to pet the skunk. The skunk irritated by Gohan raised his tail and sprayed Gohan with his foul scent. Gohan screamed as he was attacked with the offending smell. He then cried and began running home.

Unaware of Gohan's problem, Goku and Chi-Chi were enjoying a peaceful morning together. Chi-Chi had woken up and before she got started on breakfast, she wanted to get some sewing done first. Goku awakened slowly. He yawned and rubbed his tired eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Good morning, dear. I'm sewing clothes my Dad left for Gohan yesterday. Since he has a tail, I have to make a hole for one. I cut the hole too big for his pants here." She paused in her sewing. "I still think it's strange that Gohan has a tail and you had one for that matter, yet no other male has one."

Goku shrugged. "I don't know. We can't help with what we're born with, can we?"

"No, I guess not," Chi-Chi said and resumed her sewing.

Goku rest his head in Chi-Chi's lap to look up at her. "Females have odd things too, you know." He touched one of her breasts and squeezed it. "This is all soft and not muscled like mine."

Chi-Chi took the needle in her hand and poke Goku with it. Goku screamed and pulled his hand away. "OW! What did you do that for, Chi-Chi? That hurt!"

Chi-Chi rolled her eyes at Goku's behavior. "It couldn't have hurt that bad, Goku. It's a needle. It's not as painful as those punches you get in your fights."

"I don't like it. It stings!" Goku argued. "I rather fight Piccolo than get stun by a needle."

"So, you rather have a hole in your chest where you are suffering excruciating pain and bleeding to death than a momentary sting from a needle."

"Yes!"

Chi-Chi shook her head. "That makes no sense," Chi-Chi said and resumed her sewing.

"Well, that's how I feel about it," Goku sulked and rest his head in her lap again.

Chi-Chi put away her needle and clothes for Gohan and ran her fingers in Goku's hair. "That's okay. No one's perfect." She smiled down at Goku. "Although you're the closest to it."

Goku smiled back and closed his eyes. He loved the way Chi-Chi ran her fingers in his hair. It was very soothing. "Your hair is so wild and defies the law of gravity like you." Her fingers sift through his hair, revealing the scalp. Chi-Chi paused in her findings when she saw a long line on his head. It resembled a scar. "Goku, where did this scar come from?"

"Oh, that? I got that as a baby when I hit my head."

"How did that happen?"

"Grandpa said he was walking me on his back when I fell off him and hit my head. He said I was out for days but then I woke up, I was perfectly fine."

"Oh, wow," Chi-Chi was amazed. "You could've been killed. You're so lucky, Goku."

"I guess so."

"And you're also ticklish!" Chi-Chi said and tickled Goku.

Goku jumped and moved away but Chi-Chi was quickly after him on the bed as she landed on his back and tickled him. "Ah! Stop, Chi-Chi! Stop!"

"Say, Uncle!" Chi-Chi said as she tickled around Goku's waist.

"No! I can't!" Goku screamed between laughs.

"Say it!"

"I won't!" Goku said and continued to struggle with Chi-Chi and her tickles until he was able to flip himself over and tackled Chi-Chi to the bed. He smirked down at Chi-Chi. "My turn." He tortured Chi-Chi with his hands, making her laugh, scream and squirm under him.

"Ah! Stop, Goku! Stop it!" Chi-Chi tried to get away from Goku's fingers but it was useless.

"Say, Uncle."

"No way!" Chi-Chi shrieked in laughter. "I'm always the one to give in! It's your turn!" She reached to grab Goku's hand but he caught hers and tickled her some more as punishment.

Goku stopped tickling Chi-Chi, giving her a chance to relax. "Okay. I won't force you to say Uncle." Chi-Chi didn't say anything. "But I will kiss you."

Chi-Chi didn't have anything against that. They were locked in intimate kisses for a while before Goku planted light kisses on Chi-Chi's neck until he suckled on a sensitive spot. She sighed and instinctively tilted her head to allow him access. With the way Goku was suckling her neck, Chi-Chi hoped Goku wouldn't give her a hicky. Goku had given her a hicky a few months ago and it was so noticeable that even Gohan saw it and asked what it was. Chi-Chi turned her child away from the topic saying the mark was nothing while glaring at Goku disapprovingly.

As Goku suckled Chi-Chi's neck, he took in her natural scent. Chi-Chi's scent always made Goku comfortable. She smelled sweet and gentle. It was relaxing to him. She also smelled…foul?

Goku pulled back and looked at Chi-Chi puzzled. "Hmm?"

"What's the matter?" Chi-Chi asked.

"I think you smell stinky."

"What?!" Chi-Chi said insulted. "I do not smell stinky!"

Goku sniffed her again. "You're right. It's not you." Goku sat up on the bed and smelt himself. "No, it's not me." He sniffed the air. When the foul stench began to fill the air and Goku noticed it, Goku covered his nose. "Ugh! Something stinks! I've got a strong sense of smell and this is irritating me!"

Chi-Chi sat up and sniffed around. At first she didn't smell it, but then it hit her. "Oh!" Chi-Chi covered her nose. "It's awful! What is that?!"

There was a knock on their bedroom door and Gohan's crying was heard from the other side. "Daddy! Momma!"

"Gohan?" Goku and Chi-Chi said together. Goku stepped out of bed and went to open the door. Gohan, reeking of skunk spray, ran in crying and clutched onto his father's leg.

"Daddy!"

"Oh! Gohan! Yuck!" Goku said covering his nose. "What did you get into?"

"It smells like skunk. He must've gotten sprayed!" Chi-Chi said with her nose covered. "Get him out, Goku. Take him out of the house. The smell is killing me!"

"My nose is like a dog's. What do you think it's doing to me?!" Goku asked back.

"Just get him out of our house! I don't want the whole place to be smelling of skunk!" Chi-Chi yelled.

"Okay, okay!" Goku said a bit lightheaded. The horrible smell was really getting to him. "Let's go, Gohan. We have to leave now."

Goku quickly rushed Gohan out of the house but the smell still lingered there. Gohan smelled awful and he was crying endlessly! Goku wanted to get away from the smell but he couldn't leave his son. "Come on, Gohan. We're gonna have to take a bath in the lake far from here. Chi-Chi'll kill us if we take one near here."

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Gohan apologized.

Goku patted his son head, giving his son an assuring smile. "It's okay, Gohan. It's not your fault. You didn't know. Why don't you tell me what happened?"

Gohan sniffed. "Okay. I got up and I went outside. I saw an animal. It was black and white. I went to pet it and it sprayed me with something from his tail. I didn't like it so I ran away back home."

"Gohan, you were sprayed by a skunk. It's smell is really bad. You have to stay away from animals like that."

"O-okay," Gohan said quietly.

Goku gave Gohan a thorough bath but it didn't do any good. Gohan still smell horrible while Goku smelled some since Gohan was clinging to him and he had to give him a bath. When they arrived home, Goku noticed all the windows were opened and Gohan wouldn't be welcomed inside.

"Stay right here, Gohan," Goku told Gohan before stepping inside the house. "Chi-Chi! We're back!"

Chi-Chi came down the steps spraying air freshener around the house. She had been doing that ever since Goku and Gohan left. "I have to air out the whole house. It may be hours before the smell is out. Where's Gohan?"

"He's outside and he still smells."

Chi-Chi saw Gohan sitting on the ground still in his stinky pajamas. "You put him back in those stinky clothes?!"

"What was I to do?" Goku asked. "Let Gohan walk back naked?"

Chi-Chi crossed her arms. "Since when you cared about walking about naked?" Chi-Chi then sprayed Goku with the air freshener. "You smell, too. Where did you and Gohan go? I didn't see you when I came down here after you left our room."

"We went to a lake far from here to clean up."

"That won't do. You will need to bath yourself in tomato sauce to get the smell out."

Goku looked over at the table where all the tomato cans were. "I wondered why you had those cans out. Tomato sauce gets rid of skunk smells? And here I thought it was only used for eating."

"Get the barrel outside heated up with water and I'll put the rest of the tomato sauce in," Chi-Chi instructed.

"Okay." Goku started to go outside but stopped. "Gohan said he left the house and walked around. He tried to pet a skunk but got sprayed with it."

"We need to teach him not to go out by himself. It's dangerous for a three-year-old to wander in the woods alone."

"I agree, but I think a better idea would be if I took him camping, Chi-Chi. That way, I can teach Gohan what he should and shouldn't do in the woods."

Chi-Chi appeared hesitant to the idea. "I don't know. He's too young for that."

"Chi-Chi, I grew up in these woods by myself for years and survive. With a few lessons, Gohan can too. Besides, it can be educational," Goku said knowing that would get Chi-Chi.

"Educational?" Chi-Chi inquired thoughtfully.

Goku smiled. He knew he got Chi-Chi's attention. Now to reel her in with gentle persuasion. "Gohan can learn so much with hands on experience than reading in the books you got for him."

"When you put it that way, it can be a good idea. All right. You can take him camping."

Goku smiled with approval of himself. Just as Chi-Chi can be persuasive sometimes, he was learning from his wife that he could be persuasive, too. He grinned to himself as he realized how much he was learning from his marriage to Chi-Chi and how it was really proving useful.

"What do you have in here, Chi-Chi?" Goku asked as he put the sack Chi-Chi had given him for his camping trip with Gohan on the table. He opened it pulled out two sleeping bags. Next, he pulled out food. Goku looked at Chi-Chi warily. "Food?"

"You're going to need something to eat."

"We're going camping, Chi-Chi. We're going to hunt for our food. Remember the camping we did before Gohan was born?"

"Yes," Chi-Chi said hesitantly, knowing he was right.

"We got our food outside. We only brought sleeping bags and that was upon your assistance. I would've been fine sleeping on the ground." Goku looked in the bag some more and pulled out the books Chi-Chi had packed. He looked at Chi-Chi for an explanation.

"He may get bored," Chi-Chi said.

"Not with me," Goku said setting the book on the table and digging some more in the bag. He pulled out the bug spray but left in the extra clothes. He repacked the sleeping bags. "This is all Gohan and I will need." He put the pack over his shoulders. "We'll be back in a couple of days, Chi-Chi."

Chi-Chi knelt to Gohan's level and hugged him. "Have fun with Daddy, be careful and do what your Daddy says. He'll be teaching you something very important. I'll see you in two days."

"Goodbye, Momma." Gohan hugged his mother back.

Chi-Chi stood and gave Goku a hug. "I'll see you in two days and be careful."

"I will," Goku said and gave Chi-Chi a quick kiss goodbye.

Chi-Chi watched Goku and Gohan leave and wonder what mini adventures they will encounter.

Gohan skipped along happily with his father as they walked into the woods. As they ventured further in the woods he have never been in before, Gohan latch onto one of his father's hand and squeezed it tightly, showing how scared he was.

"There's nothing to be afraid of Gohan," Goku said gently. "I'll protect you."

That comforted Gohan as he lessened the grip on Goku's hand but still held onto it.

"Ah, this looks like a good spot," Goku said looking around at the land before him. They were surrounded by trees, some tall, pine trees but others had fruits and berries growing on them. There was a lake nearby where Goku had gathered fish in the past for his family. He sat down his bag and took Gohan's hand again. "Come on, Gohan. Let me show you around."

Gohan kept himself close to his father. He didn't want to get lost or sprayed again. "Gohan, the forests is full of life and all kinds of animals. Although your mother minds, I'm okay with you walking alone in the forest as long as you keep close to the house, but you have to be careful of all the animals here. Some are nice while others aren't like that skunk you came across the other day. You have to respect their space since this is their home you're invading."

"How do I know which are the nice animals and who aren't, Daddy?" Gohan asked.

"Most of the animals here are friendly as long as you don't invade their space or do anything bad to them. You would want to be careful of dinosaurs. Go in the opposite direction and make sure they don't see you, so they can come and get you."

Gohan nodded carefully. "The skunk made a weird noise at me, Daddy. So, that was a bad thing?"

"Yes. If an animal makes a noise that you're not comfortable with or looks unfriendly, then it's not good and you should leave," Goku advised.

"I won't go near any skunks again," Gohan said positively.

"That's good."

Gohan followed his Dad around the rest of the day as they saw many of the animals in the forest including a family of squirrels, birds, deer. Goku showed Gohan the safe foods to each such as berries, apples and shooed Gohan away from the unsafe foods. Gohan listened carefully to all the things his father was teaching him.

Gohan watched Goku take off his clothes and jumped in the water and grab a fish. Gohan watch in amazement at how strong his father was. He was thrilled at what his father could do. Gohan saw his Dad float to the surface with a huge fish in his arms. The fish moved his fins around wildly trying to break out of Goku's grasp but the task was useless.

Goku walked out of the water and saw Gohan looking at him in awe. "Wow, Daddy! You're amazing!"

Goku shrugged his shoulders at the simple task. "It's nothing. I'll teach it to you one day. Come on, Gohan. Let's make camp."

"Daddy, I need to go home."

"Why?" Goku asked.

"I have to go to the bathroom."

Goku blinked and then laughed at his son's innocence. "You have to go out here."

"Out here?" Gohan said as if that was the strangest thing he heard of. "But there's no toilet and what about toilet paper, Daddy?"

Goku laughed again. "I have much to teach you, Gohan."

Goku showed Gohan the proper place and way to relieve himself in the outdoors. It was funny to Goku how naive Gohan was and teaching Gohan these things reminded Goku of how he taught Gohan to potty train. Afterwards, Gohan followed his Dad around to get more food for their dinner. Gohan stood on the ground holding a giant leaf in his hands that Goku shaped to make it like a small sack. He watched his Dad in the trees picking berries and apples.

"Try to catch, Gohan!" Goku called out and dropped a few apples and berries. Gohan moved around to catch the apples in the giant leaf he was holding. Gohan caught a few of them but most of them fell to the ground. He quickly gathered them up and put them in the makeshift sack.

Gohan then helped his father pick small twigs and sticks and return to their campsite. Gohan watch Goku use the sticks to make a fire. Goku grabbed three larger sticks. Two sticks stood outside the fire and the third held the fish attaching to the two sticks above the fire so it would cook.

"It cooks over fire?" Gohan asked. "Momma always put food in that black thing at home."

"The stove? Well, yeah, but we're outside, Gohan. We have to cook our meat over a fire." Goku opened up the apples and berries he had wrapped in a leaf. Goku and Gohan ate it while the fish cooked and talked some more.

After they ate as the night sky filled with bright stars, Goku and Gohan got in their sleeping bags to sleep for the night. Gohan huddled close to his father in his sleeping bag. "Could you tell me a story, Daddy?"

Goku laid on his back in his sleeping bag and looked up at the stars. "I don't know any. Your mother is good at telling stories." He looked at Gohan trying to think of a story and saw the four star dragon ball on his head. "Hey, I know! I'll tell you about the dragon balls. The ball on your head has a story."

"Really?"

"There are seven of them and when you collect all of them, a dragon appears and grants you one wish."

"What's a dragon?"

"It's a giant animal with wings. It's kind of like a bird but it's not one. This dragon name is Shenron and he is green and has scales. He's really huge."

"What kind of wish can you ask the dragon?"

"Anything you want. The last time the dragon was used, it was to revive my friends who died from an evil man called King Piccolo. I defeated him and his son."

"You did? Wow," Gohan said in awe. He knew his father was strong just about the amazing things he did around the house and the stories his mother would tell him. "Can I see the dragon, Daddy?"

"Sure. I'll have to collect all seven balls and you will have to give up the one on your head, but yeah, I can do that."

Gohan smiled brilliantly. "Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome, Gohan. Now go to sleep." Goku pulled the red hat from Gohan's head and playfully put it on his face.

Gohan laughed. "Goodnight, Daddy."

"Goodnight, Gohan."

Gohan awakened and yawned sleepily. It was just after dawn and Gohan noticed his father was gone. "Daddy?" he called out softly. Gohan looked around and saw his father sitting by the lake. His legs were crossed and hands in folded in prayer. Gohan walked to his father unaware he was meditating. "Daddy?" Gohan tapped his father's right arm.

Goku still kept his eyes closed. "You're up early, Gohan. Are you sure you don't want to go back to sleep?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing?" Gohan asked curious about his father's activity.

"Meditation."

"What's that?"

"Concentrating on my mind," Goku said.

"Oh. Can I do it?"

Goku thought about Chi-Chi's words of not training Gohan. He really regretted that. It wasn't fair. "Um, maybe when you're older." Goku released himself from meditation. "Come on. Let's get breakfast."

Gohan ran ahead of his father to the apple tree, but he tripped over a rock and cut his skin on the ground. Gohan sat up clutching his wounded leg, crying. Goku approached Gohan. "What's the matter, Gohan?"

"My knee hurt!" Gohan wailed.

"Come on. Let me see," Goku said and lifted Gohan's right pants leg to see an open wound. The blood wasn't spilling out which was good. "Oh, it's just a cut, Gohan. I can take care of that."

Gohan cried as Goku looked around for some herbs in this area. He remembered Chi-Chi doing this for him when was attacked by those lions when she was pregnant. He dropped a few trickles of water on the green plant and rolled it out over a stick until a brown substance formed. "There we go," Goku said gently and placed the brown substance on Gohan's wound.

Gohan let out a painful scream. "Ow! It burn!! It hurts so much!!" Gohan wailed.

"I know it stings a little, Gohan, but it has to be done," Goku added with a wink. He placed some more on Gohan's wound. "Thatta boy." Gohan wailed again, but Goku's words were encouraging. "You did it, Gohan. You'll be better in no time." Goku took the green leaf and placed it over Gohan's wound so no infections would get in.

Gohan's cries died down to soft sniffles. "You're going to be just fine."

As Gohan ate breakfast later that morning, he watched his Daddy in his exercise. He was amazed at his Dad's strength and never thought he would be like that. It hadn't occurred him. Goku paused in his training as he stared at Gohan. 'It couldn't hurt to try,' Goku thought.

"Gohan, come here." Gohan walked to his father and Goku sat down. He held a hand out to Gohan. "Punch my hand."

"I'm not strong like you, Daddy," Gohan said.

"I know. I just want to see something. Punch as hard as you can."

"Okay," Gohan said shyly. He formed a fist in his small hand and punched his father's. "Like that?"

"Good. Very good," Goku congratulated his son. 'I was expecting more. Maybe I should try it another way.' "Now, I want to see you run as fast as you can from here to that tree," Goku pointed to the tree twenty feet away.

Gohan looked at the tree. He waited for his father to give him the go ahead and he ran. When Gohan reached the tree thirty seconds later, he wasn't out of breath--a good sign for a child running as fast as he could at three. 'The speed is there, but where's his strength? He has it in him. I saw it with the tree and crib bars. Where is it?'

To Be Continued

AN: Yes, I know Gohan didn't receive his real training until he met Piccolo, but Goku mentions in the manga that whenever he tried to teach Gohan something, ChiChi would have a fit, but he knew Gohan had the strength in him. So, I figured Goku tried to find out where Gohan's strength came from but he never knew it came from his emotions because when he saw Gohan break out of Raditz's ship, Goku was as surprised as everyone else by his power, but Piccolo learned before Goku that Gohan's strength came from his emotions. I guess that's because Piccolo was his first teacher and Piccolo was harder on Gohan more than Goku would've been if he taught him first. I also focused more on Gohan camping with his Dad more for what happens in DBZ. When Gohan was in the wilderness for six months, he learned to survive by memories of his father when they went camping. In DBZ, Gohan has memories of watching his father fish and Goku treating Gohan's cuts. There were probably more memories but FUNI cut a lot of the Saiyan Saga out.

Lady Athena: Babies tend to start speaking at six months and only then they could say 'mama' or 'dada'. In DBZ in the beginning, Goku mentions that Gohan has the potential so I assumed he witness Gohan's strength at some point when Gohan was young. It's annoying to me when I hear people hate Gohan because they say he's a crybaby or can't step up to the plate like that annoying, idiotic spoil brat who's name I won't mention and I'm glad she doesn't review anymore but you know who I'm talking about. I think it would've been a bit dull and too predictably if Gohan was just like Goku instead of like ChiChi. If Gohan was just like his Dad, then we wouldn't have seen him grow as a character from a sheltered child to a confident, brave warrior. Piccolo might've not died but then we would miss how much Piccolo changed when he gave his life for Gohan. We also wouldn't see how brave Gohan was on Namek and fighting against Frieza's men and Frieza himself. Aside from Piccolo and finally Vegeta in the Buu Saga, Gohan is the most developed character in DBZ to me. I knew people would be upset so that's why I wrote ChiChi's Journey. When I saw the previews for the final show, I knew Goku was leaving and for the first time, I got mad at him, but then the next day, I understood and I forgave him, but I figure not many would understand so I wrote it. I'm glad I was able to make some people understand why Goku left. Toriyama was just exhausted when he was finishing DBZ and there were things going on in his personal life. He has mention that he rushed the ending and it seems that way when you look at it. I think he doesn't do mangas anymore.

FUNI butchered DBZ a lot mainly because they were trying to focus the show to children too young to be watching a show like that. I have DVDs from the Saiyan saga and on the back it mentions for children 3 and up. Three is WAY too young for a kid to watch DBZ. The reason Toonami was able to get away with more things was because DBZ was on cable. DBZ started on regular TV on Saturday mornings before it got transferred to Toonami. This was when the big anime invasion began on CN since Sailor Moon was so popular and was the number one show on cable at 4pm during the summer of '98. It's best to catch DBZ on the sub. I was most shocked from an episode in DB when Goku was in the city and this thief from the RR Army was trying to get Goku's dragon balls. She pretended to be a psychic and told Goku that he has two, round balls. Goku says he does. The thief asks to see it. So Goku drops his pants. My mouth dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe they got away with that on TV. On TV, Goku had on some boxers with two dragonballs drawn where his, well, you know is at but in the uncut version Goku is not wearing underwear.

Bulma: Could you please be a little more elaborate and tell me what you like? I really like it when my reviewers tell me specific parts of the story they like.

Tears of Sorrow: I love cliffhangers! I had to throw in something interesting. Thanks. With you saying that about Goku slowly falling in love with ChiChi, it means I did my job and wrote my story right.

Marshmallow: Oh, you know I wasn't going to kill ChiChi but make her invaluable to Goku and how much he cares for her, but it was fun to end it in a cliffhanger. I wasn't going to spend much time on it anyway because I wanted to focus of the father/son bond Goku and Gohan have.

Jessica C: It was kind of Goku's fault. I try to respond to the ones that has reasonable questions and thoughts.

Carrie: I think ChiChi not wanting to train Gohan has a lot to do with Goku's life as a fighter and how dangerous it is, especially with his fight with Piccolo and she didn't want that life for her son.

Noname: School starts at 8:50 and ends at noon? You got a half day or something?

Gogirl: Of course I'm evil! LOL! I must have some fun! I love the part with Marge and Homer were screaming, "Don't turn on the lights! Don't turn on the lights!" I watch Smallville. I'm glad Chloe's dead but I don't like how they are turning Jor-El into a villain.

Moon Girl: Oh, be honest. You know you missed my cliffhangers. They are so much fun!! LOL!