Haru: Chapter Two. Enjoy.

From the Journal of Son Gohan, Excerpt 23

The wake was today. Since we had no remains to bury, there isn't going to be a funeral. The wake was our last goodbye. Bulma provided the place for the wake. There was food, but no one could stomach it. Anyone who tried to eat immediately ran into the bathroom and threw it all up. Everyone but Vegeta, who wasn't as phased by my father's death, and 18 and Piccolo, who don't eat. Sadness can do that to you, make your stomach so tense that you just can't keep anything down.

No one gave a speech about my father, no one knew what to say, and those who did didn't have the heart to go up there. What could we say? 'He saved all of our lives, over and over again. He freed galaxies from the evil reign of the overlord Frieza. In the future, the world crumbled because he died. But when it came time for him to be a hero for his family, to be there for them, he could care less, that he didn't want to?' That wasn't exactly the portrayal of my father that I desired, but that's what everyone was thinking, I knew it. So we all just sort of walked around in tears, until we crossed paths with someone. Then we embraced that person and cried harder. It wasn't very pleasant, but that's the death of a hero for you.

We all said our goodbyes in private, we figured that would be the best way. Everyone had their own memories of and with father, and they should get to 'talk' with him in private. Since we had no body, we put a picture of father as a centerpiece for some very lovely flowers, including forget-me-nots and poppies. Above was a stone figure of a mourning dove.

We all said our prayers for him in silence. We knew he wouldn't be dropped into HFIL but it's the thought that counts, even if we aren't talking about Valentine's day. Then the wake was over.

Bulma said that me and mom shouldn't have to go through this alone, especially with mom being pregnant and all, and that we could live with her as long as we needed to. Mom firmly refused, but in the end Bulma got her to agree to at least stay the night. So I hurried back to Mt. Paozu (A/N if that isn't spelled right, please let me know in your review.) with Vegeta, who had somehow been forced by Bulma to go with me and help me carry the things. She said that no matter how strong a boy is he shouldn't have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. When she said 'carry the weight of the world on his shoulders' she her voice got really low and sad sounding, like she felt sorry for some reason. Vegeta yelled at her that it wasn't the world I was going to be carrying, it was just pajamas and toothbrushes. Then Bulma yelled that she didn't give a damn if it was a penny I was bringing, that Vegeta was going to carry it because that's what grown men are supposed to do.

So Vegeta tagged along, looking as angry as heck. When we landed at the house, he stood outside. Apparently he wasn't going to listen to Bulma, but I really didn't care. I got my mom's toothbrush, her pajamas, my toothbrush, my pajamas, my mom's heating pad for her bad back, and a change of clothes for the both of us.

When I got outside I was ready to take to the air, but Vegeta put his hand in my way. He promptly snatched the bag of stuff from my hand and took off. I followed suit, and all the way behind him I could hear him mutter "stupid onna making me carry another person's stuff, do I look like a fucking bellhop?" I didn't comment. I knew better.

When we arrived at Capsule Corp., Vegeta tossed the bag to me so suddenly and with such force I nearly fell over. I walked inside alone, kicking my shoes off in the doorway. Bulma was there to open the door for me, chibi Trunks in her arms. She gave the stuff to one of her robots and told it where to place what. She sat me down at the table and told me mom was already asleep, but I was more than welcome to stay downstairs. She told me my room would be the second on the right on the 3rd floor. She shuffled over to the oven and turned on the stove. She asked me if I would like anything to eat. I was hesitant, not wanting to impede upon Bulma's comfort, but a long growl from my stomach came as a reply. Bulma didn't look over at me, just nodded and, setting Trunks on the floor, began to chop chicken and put it in a skillet. I had spent the whole day throwing up my innards, but I decided I had the speed to make it to the bathroom if my stomach decided to be disagreeable.

Chibi Trunks tugged at my leg, and I picked him up and sat him in his high chair. He was going to be a 8 months old soon, and he was nearing the time when saiyans began to eat solid food. I could see he already had enough teeth.

Pleasant smells filled the kitchen, and Bulma dumped what had to be a barrel full of cooked rice into a giant bowl. She had one of the robots carry it over and lay it in front of me. Then another robot came over and dropped a slightly smaller dish full of chicken, shellfish, carrots, peas, and tomatoes in a yellow-brown, like caramel, sauce.

She gave Trunks an average adult male sized serving of rice and the nameless-meat-and- vegetable dish, which he smothered all over his little face. I asked her what it was called and she said it was Niku-ninjin.(A/N It means meat-carrots, I couldn't think of another name!) She set my bowl and utensils before me. I stood up and bowed with respect and gratefulness, she nodded and smiled at me, and then went over to the sink to put the dishes in the dishwasher. I assumed she and mom had eaten already. I scooped myself a helping of rice, and was just about to scoop some of the Niku-ninjin when Vegeta came from nowhere and snatched it from me. I wasn't about to object, and I had no right to, this wasn't my house, but Bulma said "Oh, no you don't!", and handed it right back to me. Vegeta didn't get so much as a drop of sauce to his plate, much less to his mouth.

She pointed a manicured finger up the stairs and told Vegeta he wouldn't get a grain of rice until he got in the shower. She said he looked and smelled like dog shit and didn't even have the decency to wear something nice to Goku's wake, his final one. Then Vegeta screamed he could do what he wants, he's the saiyan prince, and that if he wanted to eat, no ningen wench was going to stop him.

I played with Trunks, not making a motion for the food, making small ki balls explode into little bits of harmless light, he giggled and clapped his hands. I felt really awkward in the situation, and I didn't want Trunks to start crying. The fight came to a close when Bulma shouted that she'd put him out, and then he wouldn't have any food at all, followed by Vegeta's sharp reply that he didn't give a rat's ass, that he'd just go around killing people and taking what he wanted. Then Bulma gave the final blow. She retorted that if he went around killing people that I would kill him. Not her, not Yamcha or Tien, not Piccolo.... me. Me, a boy that wasn't even fourteen yet, and happened to be Kakarot's son. Vegeta just got this dark look on his face and stomped upstairs.

Bulma let out an exhausted sigh and shook her head. She saw me playing with Trunks with an uncomfortable look on my face and came over to me. "Go ahead, Gohan, eat. Don't mind him, he's a real jerk at times." She gave me a bright- but fake- smile. I helped myself to humble portions, just enough to keep me from dying with hunger. I made my ascent to bed. Bulma asked me if I wanted to stay and watch tv or something, but I said that I was tired. She nodded, and whispered "yeah, it was a rough day, wasn't it?". I agreed and she let me on my way. I headed to my room, and there were my pajamas, neatly folded with my toothbrush on top. I headed for the bathroom, took a shower and brushed my teeth. I came into my room, all clad in my dark green pajamas. I could hear the gentle snoring of my mom across the hall, the sweet notes of Trunks's lullaby, and all was quiet with the night.

I'm really tired now, and I best get to bed. Mom'll want me up early tomorrow, she'll probably want to eat breakfast at our house.

Gohan

Haru: The next chapter contains a little sexual content, but it is FAR from lemon, hell its not even lime. I'll be trying to update everyday or two days, so if you like it, please review! A little encouragement can go very far!