Hello again world! It has been a very busy couple months with lots of heavy lifting and legal stuff to take care of during the move, took longer than I thought. Now that it's all done with, I can finally continue where we left off! Thank you for being patient with me. This chapter may not be a super big update but at least it will help me get back into the flow of the story. Also in regards to the title, I realized it's been three whole years since I started this fic and I'm still going at it, even though we're still in the Saiyan saga. But hey, here's to three years and every single one of you that stuck with this story!
Based on MasakoX's What If series "What if Gine went with Goku to Earth?", but a retcon with some changes of my own on how I think the story would have went down had Goku's mother escaped planet Vegeta with him.
DISCLAIMER: The following is a fan-based work of fiction. Dragonball Minus, Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball Super, and Dragonball GT are all owned by FUNimation, Toei Animation, and Akira Toriyama.
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CHAPTER 40: BIRTHDAY WISHES
The outdoor picnic table in front of the Son household was crowded. Along with those in the training group, the rest of the gang had been invited by Chi-Chi to attend Little Gohan's birthday party. Bulma had touched down minutes earlier after flying in from West City, and was bickering with Yamcha while Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu stayed well clear of the couple's latest spat. Puar, Oolong, and Turtle were eyeing the spread of food and the cake that Chi-Chi had made while Master Roshi was catching whatever glimpse he could of Launch as she prepped the table. Even Ox-King had made it too, having brought a large pile of presents for his favorite grandson. It very well was a party, but the actual birthday boy himself was absent.
"GOHAN! I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN!" Chi-Chi shouted in the direction of the forest. Everyone winced at the volume of her voice.
She huffed impatiently, her hands on her hips. "Where could he be?! I told him to be back in time after his assignment!"
"He'll be back, don't stress yourself sweetie." Ox-King assured.
"What if he wandered off too far?!" She protested, starting to pace around.
"The boy is very smart for his age, my dear." Said Grandpa Gohan. "I'm sure he knows how to find his way home."
That did little to assure Chi-Chi, and her worry grew with every passing moment. What if Gohan got lost? What if he's hurt and couldn't get back? Or worse!...
Her maternal instincts were quickly devolving into panic as her thoughts spiraled. It was more than her patience could stand, she was about to head out into the woods herself to find her son...
From the edge of the trees, the small figure of Little Gohan emerged with Raditz following right behind him.
"Hey mom!" Little Gohan ran up to her quickly, out of breath but with an excited smile.
"Where have you been?!" Chi-Chi almost shrieked. "I was worried sick!"
Little Gohan shrank back. "Oh, uh, sorry mom. I was just... I was doing my nature walk for my homework. That's all."
"Then what took you so long?! You wandered off too far?" She chided.
"Um..." Gohan looked down at his feet, unable to look his mother in the eye. He had to think of an excuse quick.
"Uh, I was just, uh, uh, I did my walk and.. and ran into Uncle Raditz and... uh, uh, uh..."
His mother stood there expectantly awaiting an explanation. He tried to think of something, anything, but his mind was going blank. How could he lie to his mother? It had seemed like a doable idea but now he was mentally panicking.
"Um, um, uhhh..."
Just as he was about to blurt out the truth, Raditz came up behind him and spoke.
"Your son here was just showing me some interesting plants that, uh, he found and... thought would help with his assignment. Yeah! That's it! And we just lost track of time is all. Isn't that right, Gohan?" He asked his nephew with a discreet little wink.
For a moment, Little Gohan just stood there looking at his uncle in amazement. How can he so brazenly lie to his mother like that for him? He made it look so easy!
Little Gohan recovered his wits when he realized that he had to play along with Raditz's lie. "Uhh, yeah! That's it! I, uh, found some lilacs... erm, Syringa Vulgaris I mean, and-and, he showed me some..." He said nervously as he tried to think of something to go with the lie. Something to do with flowers... something with lilacs... rare lilacs? He thought.
"Amurensis lilacs!" He exclaimed after a moment in order to fake remembering. "Yeah! That's it. A rare form of lilac. Yeah, t-that's what he found and wanted to show me. I, uh, thought it would be good for my homework." Little Gohan finished, his heart racing after what he had just done.
Chi-Chi raised an eyebrow, then looked to Raditz suspiciously. Since when did her Saiyan brother-in-law care so much about her son's homework? And she never in a million years would've guessed that he would know anything about botany or biology, to her he always seemed like some mindless brute that would make Kakarot look civilized in comparison. He was a powerful warrior, but in the back of her mind she didn't trust him completely, and figured he would more likely be a bad influence on her son than anything else...
But, then again, based on what Launch had divulged during their lady talk earlier in the day about her outing with him, Chi-Chi wouldn't also have guessed that Raditz could be such a kind and soft-hearted person underneath that hardened exterior. So... who knows? It's believable he could be surprising in some respects, maybe he does know a thing or two about plants...
She looked between her son and his uncle for a few tense seconds, then just sighed. "Well at least you made it home in time, Gohan."
Both uncle and nephew, still stone-faced, let out a breath they didn't know they were holding in.
Chi-Chi added, "And I'm glad you still finished your assignment. Just please come home on time in the future, okay? I wouldn't want your uncle distracting you too much."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Chi-Chi." Raditz said with a sly smile.
As they all headed towards the party he looked over his shoulder down at his nephew with a knowing smirk. They had pulled off their little fib. Gohan himself was just relieved that he didn't have to lie to his mother on his own. If Uncle Raditz hadn't bailed him out he'd be in real deep trouble by now.
But then he felt worry creep up in him again, for how were they going to come up with an excuse to train again next time? Would he have to lie again? On his own? And what if his mother found out that he was training instead of doing his homework?
"Don't stress yourself out, kiddo." Said Raditz, causing Little Gohan to snap from out of his head and look up at him.
"Huh?" He said quietly so as to not alert his mother ahead of him.
As if sensing what his nephew was thinking Raditz replied, "We'll figure it out later. Now, let's eat. Eh?"
Although the worrier within Gohan wanted to disagree and figure out the problem now, he couldn't ignore his young body's need for sustenance right then. Besides, it was his birthday! His most favorite time of the year to celebrate with treats and presents. He guessed he could afford to set those thoughts aside.
With an excited smile, Little Gohan charged to the table with the massive frosted cake on the table. "Alright!"
"A-ha! There's the man of the hour!" Bulma and the others cheered as Gohan darted toward them.
"Come on, little guy! Let's eat some cake, eh?" Said Yamcha as they all gathered around the table and Gohan gazed at the mouth-watering tower of a vanilla-frosted cake.
As Raditz lingered behind, he saw Launch in her blue haired form just as she saw him approach and her face lit up happily.
"There you are!" Launch flung herself at Raditz and wrapped her arms around him into a tight embrace. "Was worried you got lost out there too, I missed you all day." She said in such a loving voice.
Raditz welcomed her presence and touch more than anything. But from such a public display of affection, he felt his face grow hot in embarrasment from the knowing smirks that Krillin, Roshi, and Oolong were giving him.
"Well, glad to see you two hooked up! Heheh." Oolong laughed heartily.
"Good luck, Raditz! She's a firecracker, ain't that right, Tien?" Roshi poked the former Crane student, who looked just as bashful as Raditz was.
"We haven't-" Raditz was about to retort but caught himself, thinking of Launch in his arms right then. They had, in these Earthling's terms, hooked up in a way. Hadn't they?
"I-I mean..." He started say. But then, he froze.
Everyone froze, and all turned to the western sky.
"D-do you feel that?!" Krillin stuttered to no one in particular.
They all felt it. Two high power levels heading straight towards them at incredible speed. One was much stronger than the other.
"It-it can't be the Saiyans already! It's only been six months!" Yamcha wailed.
"Calm down!" Roshi declared, garnering looks of confusion from everyone. "It's not them at all. Look!" He pointed up towards the sky.
They all looked up again to see two contrails streaking overhead and arched down toward them. As they grew closer, Raditz saw who it was.
"Mother." He said to himself with a smile. He wondered how long it would be before she got back after the incident with Chi-Chi. Although he wouldn't say it aloud, he missed her immensely.
His gaze turned to the companion the accompanied Gine, and his brow furrowed in confusion. Was that a Namekian with her? It didn't look like the one he saw up on that floating temple in the sky. This one seemed younger, and much more powerful. But who was it?
Gine and the Namekian touched down in front of the gang, greeted by a collective gasp at seeing her again. A second later...
"AH! IT'S PICCOLO!" Bulma shrieked, pointing at the Namekian...
In a panic, Gine stepped in front of Kami protectively.
"WHOA, WHOA! Calm down, Bulma!" She waved frantically, trying to keep everyone from fleeing in terror or readying for a fight.
"No, this isn't Piccolo." Gine assured.
"Huh?!" Everyone starred at her uncomprehending and still afraid. For this Namekian did look very much like the Demon King they vanquished so many years ago.
Gine turned to Kami apologetically. "I'm sorry about that."
Kami just shrugged, "Don't worry, I almost expected this kind of reaction anyway."
As Gine turned back to the gang, Little Gohan came running out from the crowd towards her.
"GRANDMA!" He exclaimed in joy.
"Gohan!" Gine felt herself smile wider than she had in months as she knelt down and scooped up her grandson.
"Where have you been, grandma? I missed you!" Little Gohan laughed out.
"Oh sweetie, I missed you too." Said Gine, hugging him. "It's a long story, but I needed to take care of some things. I'm sorry I was away for so long, but now I'm back."
They parted from their embrace and Little Gohan looked at her with... understanding?
"That's okay, grandma. You did whatever you had to do. I'm just glad you are home." He said to her with a smile.
Gine felt her heart melt. She wasn't sure if he fully understood why she had to leave, but Little Gohan had surprised her before with his intelligence, so perhaps he knew why. But he was genuinely glad to see her, no matter what happened the last time she was here. So Gine hugged him again, just a little tighter this time. By the gods, she missed her favorite grandson...
After the happy moment passed, Kami coughed to get her attention. Gine turned to him, looking sheepish. "Oh. Right."
She cleared her throat then looked back to the gang. "Everyone, this is Kami."
"WHAT?!" Their jaws dropped in shock.
"As in... the Kami?! The Guardian of the Earth?!" Tien asked haltingly.
Kami nodded. "Yes. I am he."
Everyone starred at him in stunned silence.
"W-wow!" Yamcha uttered in awe. He suddenly remembered his manners and bowed. "Please, forgive us, sir. It's just... It's just you look an awful lot like the evil King Piccolo."
Kami sighed. "Your apprehension is not entirely misplaced, Yamcha. For Piccolo and I are the same being."
"Huh?!" Now everyone was more confused, and frightened again.
"What... what does that even mean?!" Krillin asked. "You are Piccolo?!"
Kami explained as simply as he could. "Well... not exactly. You see, Piccolo and I... were once the same person long ago. Before I became Guardian of the Earth, I had split my body and spirit into two by expelling all evil thoughts, desires, and malice to become pure in order to ascend to the Guardianship. However, the manifestation that was my dark side become what you called Piccolo."
Everyone listened without making a sound. Roshi frowned in deep thought.
"It seems to make sense. If you had to be the epitome of all that is good in the world to become the Guardian, then Piccolo would have embodied all that was evil."
Kami nodded solemnly. "Indeed, and he has been responsible for so much pain and suffering brought upon the Earth for centuries past. I cannot thank your old master, Mutaito, enough for his sacrifice in sealing him away the first time, and to all of you for sealing him away again for good."
Roshi nodded in appreciation at that. It made the old martial arts master feel at peace that his old master's sacrifice did not go unnoticed by the highest power in the world.
"But... why couldn't you help us? Or, I mean, why couldn't you seal away Piccolo yourself, sir?" Tien tried to ask respectfully.
Kami looked at them thoughtfully as he answered. "Before I... changed my mind, I was bound by the Divine Law that as a deity I was not to intervene with the affairs of mortals. But... in a way I had already done so by unleashing Piccolo. If I had not become Guardian in the first place, so many people would never had died."
He turned to place a hand on Gine's shoulder. "Gine here has convinced me that I can and should take action now and then. It was my mess to clean up, and I already owe you all for taking care of Piccolo for me. So, I am here to join you in your fight against the Saiyan invaders."
Everyone gasped.
"Really?! That's great!" Cheered Yamcha.
"Yeah! Thank you, Mr. Kami!" Krillin echoed.
"Thank you, sir. We could use all the help we could get." Tien said and bowed with Roshi.
"No." Kami shook his head with a smile. "Thank Gine. If it hadn't been for some honest introspection with her... I would still be hiding up at the Lookout. She had given me the proverbial... or, should I say, literal kick in the behind so to speak to find my courage again to fight."
Gine couldn't help but stifle a laugh at everyone gawking at that little not-so-inside joke. The idea of her even daring to lay a hand on the Guardian of the Earth in violence was so obscene and unthinkable. But what did they know? It was a long journey to change Kami's mind.
"I am indebted to fighting along side her no matter what, and I will help you however I can against these Saiyans that wish to harm this planet and its people." Kami finished. Gine then spoke to the group.
"We've been out in the wastelands for the last couple months. I have been training Kami to get him reacquainted with the martial arts while he helped me... sort out a few things I needed to deal with."
It was a long two months of meditation, Kami's patient guidance, and nearly killing him from sparring, but the unstable emotions that had nearly torn her and her family apart were gone.
Gine turned to Kami with a heartfelt smile. "I am indebted to his help. So I'm more than happy to have him here with us."
It was a lot of new information for the group to take in, but they were ecstatic at the good news that Gine wasn't the angry and emotional woman she was when she left. And with a new ally to help them, the Guardian of Earth no less, they felt more optimistic about their chances at defeating the Saiyans...
Krillin walked up to them and said, "Well that's the best news we've heard in a while. It's nice to finally meet you Mr. Kami. We appreciate your help. And we're all happy you're back too, Gine. Welcome home!"
"Yeah! We missed you, and sparring with you." Said Yamcha as he and the others came up to welcome back Gine and introduce themselves to the Guardian.
Gine gave him a big smile. "Thank you, guys. I'm very happy to be home too. Besides, I wouldn't miss my grandson's birthday for anything in the world. Right, sweetie?" She nosed Little Gohan, eliciting happy giggles from him.
Chi-Chi, however, stood back as the pleasantries were exchanged with her arms crossed. When her and Gine's eyes met, the latter's smile faded.
"So... you're back for good then?" Chi-Chi asked. The underlining ice in her tone was not lost to anyone, and the happy reunion immediately turned uncomfortable as everyone looked between the two Son matriarchs.
Gine understood. Chi-Chi was still angry for what happened, for nearly killing her and pushing Little Gohan too far. She still regretted it, but Gine wasn't backing down, and she wanted to mend things with her daughter-in-law.
"Yes I am, dear." Gine nodded sincerely. "I still regret what I did. But I hope that we can put what happened behind us."
Gine spread her arms in a peace offering. "Truce?" She asked sincerely.
Chi-Chi hesitated, as if contemplating whether or not to just shun her mother-in-law right then and there. Although she was known for having such a very short temper, Chi-Chi did not hold a grudge without good reasons. And she still has not forgiven Gine for nearly leaving her a paraplegic and for trying to take Gohan away from his studies.
But she saw Little Gohan clinging to his grandmother and the pleading look he was giving. Asking, no, begging her to make peace with Gine. Then remembered that today was his birthday...
Chi-chi suddenly felt ashamed of herself. Now was not the time for animosity and opening old wounds. That was not how she wanted to celebrate one of the most cherished days of the year...
She gave a pained but honest attempt at a reconciling smile. "Ok. Truce." She said, then went up and hugged Gine. They both felt the tension they had been holding back suddenly vanish. Let bygones be bygones, they both thought.
Everyone suddenly relaxed knowing that things were not going to turn ugly, and Little Gohan couldn't be happier that his mother and grandmother had made up.
While in the embrace, Gine caught Grandpa Gohan giving her an approving smile.
"So glad that you are back." He said telepathically, in every sense of the word. He didn't feel any of the turbulence that writhed in Gine's spirit before she left.
Gine smiled back at him. "You and me both." She replied mentally. It was good to be her old self again with family.
"Well now that everyone is here, let's have some cake, shall we?" Roshi offered, defusing the tension.
"Yeah, let's do this!" Krillin followed up.
Gine chuckled as she and Chi-Chi parted. "Sounds good to me."
And so they did. They all gathered around the table together with Little Gohan's pile of presents and a massive birthday cake in the middle.
"You know, I have seen you Earthlings celebrate birthdays in every shape or form, but it's quite a unique experience to actually be in one." Kami quipped.
"Well, I think you are really going to love seeing things up close and personal here on the ground." Said Gine as she propped up Little Gohan onto the table. The birthday boy gazed at the glorified sweets he was rarely allowed to eat.
Raditz stood across from them with Launch beside him, and Gine saw the most astounding sight of her eldest son smiling! Not out of pride or malignant glee, but genuinely happy. She wondered, how someone who had until recently been filled with nothing but humorlessness, bitterness, and nihilism, could look so radiantly content. It made him look so wonderful! Then Gine looked down to see his hand intertwined with Launch's, who looked as if she was the luckiest girl on Earth.
Gine looked her eldest in eye as he caught her starring at him, and she raised a knowing eyebrow. "Are you and Launch..." She asked mentally.
Hearing her question, Raditz looked at Launch beside her and his hand in hers. "Umm..." He stuttered, even telepathically. His cheeks flushed red and he had the inkling to jump away from the embarrassing moment, but he didn't pull away from Launch.
Gine smiled to herself. A lot must have happened during her absence.
"You two make a cute couple." She poked aloud.
"Aww, thank you, Gine!" Launch blushed as she clutched a mortified Raditz's arm.
"Agh! MOTHER! I-! We're- I mean-" Raditz stumbled to catch his tongue, his face turning even more red. Yamcha, Krillin, and some of the others snickered while Launch just clutched to Raditz's arm and giggled knowingly at Gine.
She was more than happy to see something beautiful unfolding with her eldest, and even more delighted to see the always-so-serious Raditz look so bashful. It made Gine want to burst out laughing and in tears of joy. Her little Raditz, in love! Oh, what a happy moment this was. Her train of thoughts already speeding through the fantastic prospects of her son not only securing a mate in Launch of all people, perhaps even marrying her, and even... she dared imagine... him becoming a father!
Gine shook her head. As much as she relishes in the idea of having more grandchildren, she didn't want to get too ahead of herself.
"Heheheh. Don't worry, sweetie. You can tell me the full story later." Gine chuckled.
Although still teaming with humiliation at being found out about him and Launch, Raditz was at least relieved that his mother had dropped the subject for now.
Gine still smiled as she turned her attention to the candles for Little Gohan's cake being lit. There were happy times ahead... if they could survive the Saiyans first that is. But she pushed those negative thoughts aside for now. Now, it was time to be in the present for her grandson's birthday.
"Okay, Gohan! Make a wish!" Chi-Chi cheered as she lit the last candle.
Little Gohan stared into the burning candles, deep in thought and ready to blow them out.
But then, his eyes turned sad, and his gaze drifted down as if he lost all interest in the giant cake and this whole celebration made for him.
Chi-Chi noticed and immediately became concerned. "What's wrong sweetie?" She asked soothingly.
Little Gohan seemed he was about to cry. "Well... I only wish that... that daddy was here too. I miss him."
Everyone's face fell, all realizing that of everyone in their band of friends, Kakarot was the only person not present.
It was hard to believe that he had been off to Otherworld for only six months, but it felt like forever now that they had mentioned his absence. Not only that, but he was the center of the gang. He singlehandedly brought them all together, most even were once enemies but now best friends, and they all stayed together through thick and thin. All because of one little Saiyan boy.
Gine felt her heart sink too. Although her training out in the wastelands helped her to calm her raging emotions and doubts, she couldn't help but replay the last time she and her youngest son had spoken together before he left. How she bitterly told him to leave, and didn't bother to say that she loved him more than anything in the cosmos as any mother who loved her children should. To say she regretted saying what she said to him, and wishing she could make things right with him, was an understatement.
Unbeknownst to anyone, it suddenly became quiet. Quiet enough to hear to their own thoughts. And then...
"Wish granted! Heheh."
"What the?!" Everyone jumped at the voice they all just heard, looking around for where it came from.
"Hey everybody! It's me!" The jovial voice spoke again. But it didn't come from anywhere, not from anywhere around them physically at least. It was a voice inside all of their heads.
Little Gohan eyes widened in disbelief when he recognized that voice. He knew it by heart. Could it be?
"D-DADDY?!" He cried out.
The disembodied voice in everyone's head answered back. "Hey Gohan! How ya doin'? It's been awhile!"
The boy's face lit up in joy. "IT IS DADDY!"
"Kakarot?!" Everyone exclaimed at once.
Gine looked up to the sky with a smile. It was unmistakably him.
"Yep! It's me! Hope you're all doing well since I've been gone!"
"Kakarot? Where are you?!" Chi-Chi asked shrilly to the sky.
"Hey Chi-Chi! I'm here in Otherworld with King Kai, my teacher! Say 'hi' King Kai!"
"Hi King Kai!" Another voice spoke, this one much more gruff yet had a bubbly air to it. "Heheh. That was too easy."
"Oh, wow! You're... in Heaven?" Little Gohan asked with wonder. "What's it like up there, daddy?"
"Well, I'm on King Kai's planet. It's very tiny, like, it could fit in our yard kind of tiny. But it's gravity is ten times stronger than Earth. It's a great place to train and get stronger! And King Kai makes some delicious food up here too!"
"Which you gobble up mind you! You know how hard it is to feed someone still alive in Otherworld? Forgetting that he has the appetite of a Saiyan?! I swear!" King Kai grumbled.
"Yeah, that's Kakarot for ya." Bulma joked.
"Say, Kakarot, if you're in Heaven, do you see any dead people up there too?" Krillin asked.
"Hey, Krillin! Well, not exactly. I only saw the souls of dead people at the check-in station. The orange clouds out here in the purple sky are where they reside. Don't fall into them though, you could actually end up in Hell." Kakarot's voice answered.
Everyone was amazed, and somewhat taken aback by the surreal experience of someone describing a place outside of reality that was essentially the afterlife. If that was Heaven, it didn't sound so bad. Though some couldn't help but wonder if that's the case for Heaven, what did Hell look like?
"How is your training coming along, Kakarot?" Asked Kami.
"Kami!? Whoa! You're there too?" Kakarot exclaimed.
"That's right. Not only that, but I've taken up training again!" He said proudly.
"No way!" Said Kakarot in disbelief. "How'd that happen?!"
Kami grinned. "I used the dragon balls to wish for my youth again."
"Whoa. And you're fighting now?"
Kami nodded. "That is correct."
"That's great! Sounds like your wish worked!" Kakarot cheered. "Glad to hear you changed your mind!"
"Just don't let King Yemma find out!" King Kai added.
Kami, the ever composed and wise deity, grinned sheepishly. "Oh, well, I'll cross that bridge if I get to it. But, in all seriousness, Kakarot, it's all thanks to your mother here. She gave me the courage to do what has to be done to protect the Earth."
Gine smiled at Kami's words.
"Oh cool, she's there?" Kakarot said. "How've you been... mom?"
Gine felt the slightest of hesitations in his voice, and she thought of the last time they saw each other. There were so many things she wanted to say, not the least of which was to apologize for giving her son a cold send off.
Everyone looked to her expectantly. They knew as much as she did about everything the had transpired when Kakarot left.
Instead, Gine smiled sincerely. "I'm doing fine, son. In fact, much better than ever before. And I want you to know that... that I miss you very much." She said, feeling her eyes watering in tears.
It was all that needed to be said. And when Kakarot answered back, she could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I'm very glad to hear that, mom. And I miss all of you too. All of you."
Gine felt her chest go warm. She knew that Kakarot knew, and had already forgiven her. He was proud of her that she had found her way again.
"Well, anyway, I've been here for the last six months doing some pretty intensive training. King Kai has shown me a lot of really incredible techniques that might come in handy for our battle against the Saiyans!"
"And learnin' pretty quickly, I might add." King Kai said with a hint of pride. "Kakarot here has already picked up everything I taught him and has been mastering it so far. You guys are lucky to have a guy like me to show him how to fight."
"That's great news, man!" Said Yamcha. "We've been doing pretty good down here too! Your mom and Raditz have been training all of us up here and we've all gotten pretty strong since you last saw us!"
"That's great! I'm so happy for all of you guys! Especially for you, Raditz! I bet you've gotten much stronger since I last saw you!"
"Oh, um, well, er... thank you, brother." Raditz said sheepishly. "I mean, eh, not as much as I had hoped, but... I'm getting there."
"Well that's good! I believe in you, bro, so don't give up!" Kakarot encouraged.
Raditz knew he wasn't as near as strong as his mother and brother were, and was on some level frustrated with his progress despite how far he had come. But strangely, to hear those words was quite uplifting. He still had his doubts, but he was happy that his brother, who went from being the weakest Saiyan to being on-par with someone like Prince Vegeta, believed in him.
"When are you coming back, Kakarot?" Chi-Chi asked. "You have any idea how much you missed!? I've even taken up training again!"
"Really?!" Asked Kakarot in astonishment.
"Yeah! She's gotten along stronger too!" Said Tien.
There was a pause before Kakarot spoke again. "Chi-Chi, you don't know how happy it makes me to hear you taking up fighting again."
Chi-Chi held a hand to her chest. At hearing his words of endearment and how proud her efforts made him, she thought her heart was going to burst. "Oh sweetheart... I wish you could be here to see how far I've come!"
"Me too, honey. But don't worry, I'll be back soon enough and we'll get to spar like we used to." Said Kakarot, sounding excited.
Chi-Chi sighed longingly. "Oh, Kakarot... I love you so much! I can't wait for you to come home."
"I love you so much too, Chi-Chi. I can't tell you how much I missed you... and I can't wait to come home to you either." Kakarot said with an almost husky undertone.
"Okay, I'm taking your hand off my shoulder! This ain't that kind of call, ya know!" King Kai said in mock disgust. "Besides, gotta get back to it, Kakarot."
"Sorry, guys. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to cut this call short." Kakarot said sadly. "I just wanted to reach out to you all to let you know how I'm doing, and to wish you a Happy Birthday, my son."
Little Gohan felt warmth in his heart. Even when he was not in their physical universe, his father would literally move the heavens to reach out to him. It strengthened his unshakable faith that his dad was the greatest.
"Thank you so much, daddy!" Little Gohan said, his eyes turning misty. "I miss you so much! When are you coming home?"
"Soon, Gohan. Don't worry. I'm halfway through my training." His father reassured. "You'll all hear from me around the time the Saiyans arrive. When they do, I be back in time to fight them!"
"Okay, Kakarot!" Said Yamcha. "We'll be ready for you when you get here!"
"That's great! Until then, you all take care, okay?"
"We will, my son." Said Gine. "And you too!"
"I will, mom." Kakarot said with determination. "Bye!"
"BYE!" They all said, tearfully but happily.
Then just like that, the other end of the telepathic link disappeared. Kakarot was gone, for now...
The moment passed with all of them still starring up at the sky, and Chi-Chi let out a surprised cry.
"Ah! Gohan, blow out your candles before they get wax on the cake!"
"Oh, right!" Little Gohan focused on the candles and, smiled. His father reached out from another plane of existence, and he was closer to coming home than he was to when he left. In a way he had gotten what he wished for afterall.
Without hesitating this time, Gohan blew out the candles to the applause of everyone...
Soon everyone was feasting on the luxurious cake and socializing. Even Kami, who as Namekian did not require to eat, tried a taste of the human delicacy. Though he had no concept of taste, he was generous to tell Chi-Chi that the cake was delicious. Then Gohan took his time opening his presents, books of all kinds of fields he wanted to study mostly which would seem off-putting to any child, but Gohan loved them. Then it became a great get together, everyone that made the gang of heroes talking and laughing amongst themselves, the celebratory air was very lively.
Gine looked up at sky and imagined Kakarot was somewhere out there in the heavens looking down on them like a guardian angle. And somewhere up there, the prince and his right hand man were there too, rapidly approaching Earth, threatening everything she held dear...
She then looked around her family and friends assembled. Her grandson laughing as he devoured more of his birthday cake along side his mother, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The strongest beings on Earth as his friends, the Guardian of Earth experiencing the joys of the lives of mortals, and her eldest son placing an arm around Launch and drawing her closer...
Gine smiled at the ensemble of everyone here. Yes, this was what they were fighting for. And no matter what, they will be ready.
The party lasted well into the evening. Little Gohan eventually tuckered out so everyone said their goodbyes and headed home. Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Yamcha turned in afterwards and expressed their eagerness to train with Gine again tomorrow. She was too, it had been long enough and wanted to see how well they progressed.
Gine even had the pleasure of putting Little Gohan to bed and reading a story to him until he fell asleep. She lingered in his room awhile longer to be in his presence more and admire the little things she missed while away. She then kissed his forehead in goodnight.
"See you in the morning?" Chi-Chi asked as Gine was walking out of the Son house.
She smiled at her daughter-in-law. "I'd love that, Chi-Chi. I missed sparring with you and the others."
Chi-Chi chuckled. "Well you better be ready, since I learned a couple things about fighting with Raditz in order to beat you Saiyans."
"Well I'll be happy to see that." Gine said as she hugged Chi-Chi goodnight.
As Gine stepped out into the night, she could faintly see Kami hovering cross-legged in the meadow nearby. He did not ever really need sleep, instead he rested via deep meditations, but it came close enough to sleep anyway. She had offered him a place to stay in the homestead with Grandpa Gohan, but Kami politely declined, saying he didn't need shelter and preferred to be out in the elements. It made sense for a deity to be in the wilderness of the planet that he was charged with caring for. To Gine it even seemed appealing in way, to be able to sleep with the wilderness and not just surviving in it.
Raditz was still awake, Gine saw that he was sitting in the grass on the edge of camp with Launch, drinking a few alcoholic beverages that Launch that somehow precured for the adults of the party.
Gine walked up to them. "Mind if I join you, Raditz?"
He looked at her for a second, and down at Launch. She had dozed off moments earlier and was lying in the grass on her side next to him, clutching her arms around his torso in her sleep. It was moment Raditz had come to cherish, but was embarrassed to be seen like this by his own mother. Gine saw the flash of sheepishness and grinned, she found it adorable to see him so shy.
Despite being self-conscious of the position he was in, he was feeling pleasantly nonchalant from the buzz of alcohol, so Raditz just shrugged.
"Not at all, mother." He replied.
Gine sat down on the grass next to him, looking out over the starlit sky and night shrouded forests of Mount Paozu. It was remarkably beautiful tonight, and it made Gine feel just how relieved she was; to be back in the familiarity and safety of home after spending so much time out in the harsh deserts in such distress over herself. Now, she felt like she did before her eldest son arrived on Earth. Despite that still-looming threat of his Saiyan companions coming, it felt like life was good again.
"So..." Gine stated, breaking the blissful silence. She glanced over at Raditz, and nodded at Launch. "How did that happen?" She asked her son with a grin.
Raditz looked to Launch and back to her. "Oh. Uh... well, it's a long story. But... we robbed a bank and..."
Gine's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. "Raditz..." She said almost threateningly. "Did you-"
He held his arms up in defense. "Hey, hey. Calm down! We didn't kill anyone. Just... took some money is all."
Gine starred at him deadpan. While that was a relief to hear, it didn't help the fact that he was causing trouble.
"You still committed a crime, son." She admonished. "It would be harder for you to adjust to life here on Earth if you antagonize the inhabitants by breaking their laws."
"Oh, pfff." Raditz waved a hand dismissively. "What are they gonna do? Arrest me? Ha! I'd like to see them try, I'm a Saiyan! They can't stop me."
Gine opened her mouth to protest further but Raditz continued. "It wasn't all that bad. The place was being robbed already by some amateur punks that gave me a little challenge. So we didn't really rob the place. We just... took the already stolen loot. Fair game! Plus..." He held up a finger and looked her in the eye. "I gave away half of it to some downtrodden humans who needed currency more than we did."
She looked at him in amazement. "Really?"
Raditz nodded proudly. "Yep. You shoulda seen the looks on their faces. I bet they are feasting hearty again right about now."
Gine was almost floored.
Her Raditz actually helping someone in need? It was... it was unreal! She thought that only Kakarot and herself were the exceptions of their Saiyan heritage of being nothing but heartless brutes that cared only of strength, survival, and dominance. Bardock certainly didn't have a kind bone in his body and it seemed only natural to assume that their firstborn would be more like him and any other Saiyan. But... to hear this act of kindness from Raditz... perhaps he wasn't entirely all like his father afterall. That perhaps... her soft-hearted nature as Bardock would've bemoaned might have been passed on to both of her children...
"What?" Said Raditz, snapping Gine out of her train of thought. She had just been starring at him.
"Raditz..." Gine said with a swell of emotion. "I'm so proud of you."
Raditz's expression softened. "Really?"
Gine nodded with a loving smile. "I am. What you did was one of the most generous things someone could do for other people aside from fighting or dying for them. You showed compassion to those weaker than you. You..." She tried to find the words to express what her son had accomplished. "...you are more of a good person than you think you are."
That struck something deep within Raditz. He sat there for a few moments taking in what his mother just said... and what Launch told him earlier that morning after their escapade. The long talk about if he was coward or not for not standing against those who pushed him around, and all he pushed around because of his failings...
"You're a sweeter guy than you think you are, Raditz. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!" He remembered Launch saying to him. Perhaps... that was true afterall.
A genuine smile of happiness spread across Raditz's face at that realization. He couldn't have heard more words that brought him peace than anything in the universe.
"Thanks, mother." He said softly, looking to Gine with a smile that she will cherish forever. Nothing made Gine feel more happy than seeing her eldest son find happiness after a lifetime of hate, bloodshed, and unthinkable suffering.
Mother and son sat there in silence, basking in the moment of understanding and love. Raditz let his gaze wonder down to Launch sleeping peacefully by his side and cozying up to him. This docile yet unpredictable woman had more of an affect on him than he realized, and wanted nothing more to be with her. Have her in his life. Have her.
"It was the most fun I've ever had in a very long time, too." Raditz said wistfully, recalling the rest of the tale of their adventure to his mother. "Robbin' joints, starting bar fights with lowlifes, great drinking, talking..." He checked off every memory he had from the previous evening until a point, but Gine could guess the rest.
"Especially with... someone who just gets you. Ya' know?" He said distantly.
Gine's smile waned slightly. Raditz's question making her feel... reflective somewhat.
She never had that real deep connection with anyone she loved, especially Bardock. Though she had long made peace with that and had two wonderful children from it, a part of her mourns that she never had a mate that understood her or connected with her on an emotional level. With Bardock, it was a relationship born out of proximity and a mutual understanding of their desires to be better than what they were. It drew her to him by how determined he was to rise above his station and how he saw that in her too, but what really mattered to her were the reasons for why she wanted to be better, not just to get stronger but to not have to kill. Bardock never accepted that, he saw it only as a weakness like everyone else did. And it was why he never loved her back. So she never bothered to try finding that connection with him, and accepted the reality that she would never find a mate to make her feel complete. Not that anyone could replace Bardock anyway. She could live with that. Still, whenever she saw glimpses of that kind of connections by seeing Kakarot and Chi-Chi together, and the love they share in each other, that... stung a little.
But at least Raditz, as surprising as it was, had managed to find that kind of soulmate within Launch. For someone who suffered as a weakling like she did, he deserved to have that. And for that, she couldn't be any happier.
"She seems happy with you." Gine answered instead as she looked over to Launch.
Raditz let his hand stroke Launch's hair as she slept. "So am I." He quipped with a merry tone.
Gine's smile returned to it's full radiance. Although he has yet to confirm it himself, Gine had a gut feeling that her eldest son's future was looking much brighter...
After they beat the Prince first.
That thought brought her to change the subject to something more serious.
"So... ready to get back into training?" Gine asked.
Raditz had to steal his eyes away from Launch and answered, "Yeah. I've been eager to spar with someone stronger again."
He looked toward the capsule homes where Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Yamcha slept. In a hushed tone he said, "To be honest, the others were starting to get boring."
Gine chuckled. "I imagine. I've been itching to add some more challenge too. We'll do single matches then full battle royals tomorrow, okay?"
"Sounds good." Raditz thought for a moment as if remembering something.." Oh! And uh... I will be training with Gohan too."
Gine was taken aback. "Wait. Gohan? Really?!"
"Yeah." Replied Raditz. "The boy actually does want to train."
"How'd that happen?" Gine asked with real interest.
"We talked. The boy wants to be able to protect what he cares about, but he feels uneasy about the use of violence." He said as if it was only some minor inconvenience Little Gohan could overcome if he wanted.
Raditz continued. "However, I think I convinced him to reconsider and fight alongside us."
Gine was now disturbed by something, and had to ask. "Does... Chi-Chi know?"
Raditz suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Uhhhh..." He looked away when he answered meekly, "No."
Gine at first didn't understand his hesitation. Then she was alarmed. "You mean... you're training him in secret?!"
"Shh." Raditz hissed, conscientious of the fact that the Son house was just across the grounds from them.
In a lowered voice, Gine asked. "You lied to Chi-Chi?"
Raditz shrugged sheepishly. "Well... yeah, but, it was Gohan's idea."
Gine raised an eyebrow. "Really? He suggested to lie to his mother?"
"Pretty much." Said Raditz.
Gine looked back to the Son house, the lights were dark so Chi-Chi must've gone to bed. "Huh. Didn't know he had it in him to tell a lie." She said aloud.
"Well, eh, I helped a little." Raditz said with a touch of bragging.
Gine then turned to him, looking serious. "Raditz. You shouldn't encourage him like that."
"Now, mother!" Raditz said defensively. "He wants to help. What was I supposed to do? Say no? I thought you wanted to train him before."
"Yes, but... before..." Gine said, but didn't finish her sentence. Before I pushed him too far and almost killed his mother. Was what she meant to say.
"Well... we can now!" Raditz said as if it weren't a problem. "Just, we need to exercise some discretion is all."
Gine looked back to the Son house uncertainly.
"Mother... he wants to fight." Raditz sounded almost like pleading. "It's his Saiyan birthright to do that. And you saw the power that was dormant within him. I saw it too during that whole incident with Chi-Chi. If he could fight half as good as us, he'd be a great warrior. No disrespect to her, but... Chi-Chi's trapped that poor boy in academic nonsense and wasting away his potential! I don't know what Kakarot sees in her."
Gine quietly thought to herself: sometimes I don't either. She was surprised to mentally hear herself say that, and some paranoid part of her thanked the gods that Kakarot wasn't able to hear that if he was able to speak to them through their minds from another dimension.
"But this isn't about that. Gohan is only five years old. I know that we started off younger but... he should know a life without pain and suffering. He shouldn't have to fight for his life like you or I did..." Gine's voice trailed off, almost wanting to weep at the idea of her sweet little grandson having to be forced into the life of a Saiyan warrior. No one should ever have to go through that.
Raditz seemed sympathetic. "Mother... I get it. Believe me, I do. He told me himself that he doesn't want to hurt or kill. But, I have explained to him that sometimes we have to do what we have to do to protect what we care about..."
He stole a glance at Launch as he said this. Despite all of his old instincts screaming at him to run like he used to, he was not the same Raditz that arrived here. He found himself unwilling to just flee Earth and leave her to be slaughtered at the hands of Vegeta or Nappa. The thought of that happening made his blood boil. Here, where he could have a second chance at life and live free from Frieza with no more fear or bloodshed, he would do everything in his power to help protect this planet if it meant protecting Launch. He just had to convince his mother to let Little Gohan help in order to accomplish that goal.
Raditz then continued. "It's a waste to see him not help us out, and he said so himself that he wants to be useful. Should we at least let him partake on his own volition? The kid is very brilliant, and I trust his judgement for a kid his age. If he wants to fight, let him."
Gine didn't take her eyes off of Chi-Chi's capsule house as Raditz spoke. Truth be told she was all for training Gohan, but doing so will do more than just put her grandson in harms way.
"The last time I tried to train Gohan, it nearly tore our family apart. If Chi-Chi finds out that we are training her son behind her back, after she had just forgiven me... she will never speak to me again..." She didn't want to think what this could do to the family. Perhaps drive a wedge that will never be repaired for as long as they lived, and kami-forbid if Little Gohan got hurt...
"Mother... that would be the least of our problems." Raditz said seriously. "If Vegeta and Nappa aren't stopped because we didn't have an extra hand like Gohan, then it'll end all the same with all of us dead. But if he makes the difference between victory or defeat, I think Chi-Chi would thank us for it."
Gine felt her shoulders sag. Raditz was right. But, either way she knew that even if this was the right thing to do, it will still hurt them all for it. But at least they will have a chance to live and work it out. It was better than dying.
"Fine. But be careful okay?" Gine ordered with a sigh.
Raditz nodded. "I will."
"So, how will we go about the secrecy? Am i going to have to lie to Chi-Chi?" Gine asked in resignation.
"Let me worry about Chi-Chi, okay? The kid and I will work something out to make sure he keeps this under wraps." Raditz reassured.
"You are gonna lie for him?"
"Hey, I'm the sneakiest Saiyan there ever was remember?" Raditz joked lightly. "I can cover for us."
Gine looked away. "Alright. I'll help with the training."
"Sounds like a plan." Raditz said with determination.
"Yeah... a plan." Gine repeated, sounding detached.
Looking past the Son house, she saw again the shadow-draped form of Kami meditating in the night. Gine knew from all her years of training with him that even in his deepest meditative states, Kami could still hear everything, and most likely heard what she and Raditz were saying. It wouldn't be his business to tell Chi-Chi if he knew what they were conspiring about, right? She supposed that he had to cover for Baba's predictions, so he'd have no problem covering for them. Right?
Gine sighed heavily. The blissful feeling of being back now gone with another personal crisis looming.
She wasn't sure how this whole covert plan would work, and there were so many variables that she didn't like. No training, they may lose. If they train and save the world, they very well may have irreparably fractured the family, even if she was the mother of her son's children. But it's already been set in motion and there's no undoing it. Damned if we do, damned if we don't...
She looked at the Son house and through the window where Little Gohan was sleeping. Whatever they did, whatever the consequences, she had to remember that it is out of the love she had for Gohan, for Kakarot, for her friends, for Earth...
"The things we do for family." She muttered quietly to herself.
A/N: There ya go! Hopefully it provided some good content to get back into the story. And, though I won't spoil anything, the next chapter actually will be the time skip where Vegeta and Nappa finally arrive to Earth. But there will be one more development that will happen in concurrence with that event and it will have consequences for our characters ;)
Til then!