Chapter Twenty: An Apology from Goku?

Gohan's heart jumped high into his throat at those seemingly innocent words. Sorely, Gohan reached up above his head as if expecting something hovering above it. Much to his relief, his hand struck nothing but air. He blinked and tried to focus his distorted vision back on the man before him, "Where's my halo?"

Gohan was surprised to see the man laugh slightly. He looked up at his own and then back down at Gohan, "This thing? You sure you want one?"

"I am dead, aren't I? Shouldn't I get one?" Gohan sputtered.

"No. You're not dead," The man smiled. "Goku brought you up to King Kai's planet with his instant transmission technique."

"Dad?" Gohan whispered softly to himself. "Dad saved me?"

Just then the door of the room they were in opened and in walked three people. One was a tall green namekian that Gohan knew all too well. His face was scrunched up into that silly scowl of his obviously annoyed by the man on the right. His dark eyes met Gohan's for a instant before turning away. His eyes seemed distant as if there was a sort of barrier between the once friends and Gohan knew only too well what it was. He wasn't really Gohan.

The man on the other side of him was laughing sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. His awkwardly shaped hair and kind eyes were the same he had seen in his last seconds. This man here was none other then Goku. There could be no mistaking him.

But the last man was short with purple skin. He wore outlandish clothing and his white hair was trimmed in a mohawk. His dark eyes shined with amusement and at the same time a deep unsettling worry. Gohan didn't have the faintest clue to who he was. He thought King Kai was blue…

"Oh. You're awake," Goku sighed in relief. "That's good."

Before Gohan could open his mouth, Goku had turned his gaze on the man who was presently ringing out a wet cloth that Gohan guessed was once on his head. Goku gave the man a encouraging nod to the door and he agreed humbly. As soon as the man was gone, Goku then rounded on Piccolo who kept his gaze firm.

"I am staying here, Goku."

If it had bothered Goku, he didn't let on. He knelt down beside Gohan's beside and smiled brightly at the wide eyed preteen, "You feeling okay?"

"Uh yeah. Just confused," Gohan muttered noting how everyone in the room had a halo except for him and the purple skinned man.

"You're not dead," Goku said suddenly. "I made sure that would not happen. Oh, man. I am so sorry, Gohan. I didn't mean to get you into this mess."

Gohan bit his lip at the mention of his name and glanced over to Piccolo to see him flinch. Well, at least now he knew his mentor knew him. Gohan looked back down at his father with a bewildered stare, "Into what?"

"Into this dimension," Goku smiled sheepishly. "I am afraid I am at fault for bringing you here."

"H-how did you-" Gohan sputtered.

"Perhaps you should explain, Goku," The purple skinned man muttered.

His voice washed over Gohan making him feel unnaturally calm. It reminded Gohan strongly of his mother's soothing voice she used whenever he was ill. How he longed for her to stroke back his bangs and hug him tightly now.

"Oh yeah," Goku muttered. "I guess it all began…"

Goku was curious and bored. And that combination was extremely dangerous for the dead sayian. Preferably to anyone near him. He was visiting the Supreme Kai at this point of time, having explored many of the grand corridors of heaven already. He had found that Shin's planet was overall the most pleasing of the afterlife's contents. Kabito was never thrilled with Goku's outings here, giving the most awful glares whenever he stopped by. It was mere chance that Goku met the supreme being and Shin, having his own curiosity, invited Goku to discover his home if he desired to do so.

Shin never regretted having Goku around, finding much amusement from the man. He was defiantly a pure hearted and naive fellow. This traits secured Shin's home from any other guests. If Goku was told to keep a promise he was certain to keep it, despite his ten second attention span.

Although Goku appeared thick headed, he was in fact very wise in his own ways. His fighting sense was beyond his time and his mind was that of a active child. Although some things like vanity and manners were hard for him to understand, Goku could comprehend some of the things that only a infant, that didn't know otherwise, knew. He was special. Shin knew this all too well.

On this day, Goku had come with a great deal of puzzlement on his face. Shin couldn't help but snicker at the vacant expression that had transpired in his confusion."What's the matter, Goku?"

Goku took a deep breath of unsettling discomfort as he uttered, "I just went to the gates of heaven today. I found my son had checked in and was now at King Kai's. He was thirty four years old, almost my age I was when I died. He was married… he had a daughter. I never knew any of this. When I died, he was eleven. Can you imagine?"

Shin was silent allowing Goku sometime to continue. He knew Goku had much more to let out since he was still clenching his fists as if fearing they might fall off, "He lost a arm against the androids. He had a scar run down his face. I couldn't even recognize him. He told me about how he was training Trunks. How he was stuck on getting that boy strong. For some reason Gohan was filled with the silly idea that Trunks could defeat them."

"You deny this?" Shin asked inquisitively.

"No." Goku muttered softly, "I know that my son would not be stuck on a dream if he didn't think it was possible. He is much to smart for that."

"Why is this troubling you?" Kabito interrupted rudely.

He didn't have much respect for privacy, but Shin didn't hold that against the man.

"Because… I never knew my son. He had a horrible life. I just wanted to know how life might have been different if the androids were destroyed. I had always hoped... that he would defeat the androids."

Shin was quiet for some time after that looking soullessly into the distance. His eyes focused back in on Goku as if coming to a conclusion.

"There is a way to see what you request," Shin muttered. "It's called the fountain of dimensions. But it is beyond all reach of mortals. Not even I can get to it."

"Sounds interesting," Goku pondered. "Where is it?"

"In the quarter light-" Shin said quickly. "But it is not for you to look at Goku-"

"Hey. If anyone can do it, I can," Goku winked. "So where is this quarter light a ma bob?"

To Be Continued…
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