With slender fingers firmly bracing his chin and covering his mouth, his elbow propped on the sill, Piccolo stared out the open window. The wooden pew he sat on seemed to grow harder and more uncomfortable the longer he sat but he was willing to tolerate it a bit longer as he watched the clouds catching the first rays of sun that had yet to reach over the rooftops. He knew he would be shooed away soon anyhow so the stained glass windows could be cleaned before anyone came for daily guidance from the guardian Kami.
"You're doing it again." A kind voice spoke as the being possessing it, an elder namekian, approached behind Piccolo. "You don't need to keep worrying. You are more or less my nephew; giving you a room to stay here is the very least I can do."
"I was actually thinking about something else." Piccolo sighed as he dropped his hand from his face and turned to the elder.
"Oh?" Kami took a seat next to Piccolo on the pew.
"A recent customer has been visiting frequently looking a lot like the kid and …. although I understand the conditions that make it impossible for it to be him I-..." Piccolo sighed as he closed up, realizing what he was about to say.
Kami nodded as he listened. "Wishing for an old friend to return is normal Piccolo."
Piccolo didn't respond as he stood and left the room. Kami sighed with a small grin. He almost opened up to me. He's made a lot of progress these last few years.
Gohan tapped his fingers on the kitchen table, an empty breakfast plate before him. The clock chimed 9 o'clock causing Gohan to sigh. "Are you sure he's coming back?"
Chichi frowned at the clock. "It usually never takes him this long to come back with extra bacon. He hates missing a meal."
I'm sorry dad. Gohan pressed his hands on the table and rose from his seat. "Would you tell him I couldn't wait any longer? I really need to take care of something."
"Of course." Chichi responded as Gohan quickly stepped out of the room. "I hope everything's alright. He seems really bothered this morning. Really, where is Goku?!"
Gohan swiftly grabbed his coat and left the house. Just before he left the front court of the large house he ran into an old friend.
"Hey Gohan!" Krillin in a white pinstriped suit waved eagerly to him.
"Good morning, I didn't expect to see you." Gohan forced himself to calm and greet Krillin. It was the least he could do knowing he had to have come a long way to visit. He stayed with his master to care for the old man and continued to learn, from what Gohan remembered, the art of corsetry.
"Your father invited me to see the new house and I was due to pick up a few things from the city." Krillin grinned. "Goku inside?"
"Actually I don't know where he is. Mother and I haven't seen him all morning." Gohan explained with apologetic eyes.
"Knowing him, he probably became too excited with something and ran off." Krillin chuckled. "Can you do me a favor and walk me around to the shops? It's been a while so I probably forgot where everything is and cities tend to change every year or two."
Gohan took a breath. He couldn't turn down a friend like Krillin. It probably wouldn't take too long and he could still make it to the coffee house before it closed. He gave a soft smile. "Of course. It would be nice to catch up with a friend instead of all the new people I've had to meet lately."
"I can only imagine the stress you're under now." Krillin spoke with sympathy as the two made their way towards the bustle of the city.
Gohan helped find the shops Krillin needed. Many seemed very normal and supplied for basic needs with food and other home necessities. Others… were clearly requested by Master Roshi. Gohan was most out of place in these shops and was eager to finish with them quickly.
Krillin graciously paid for lunch and offered a welcome ear to vent about the move and changes Gohan was forced to undertake now. Gohan would pause whenever he thought to mention his dreams … or well, memories. Krillin was here for a nice friendly visit, but he was also a close family friend and took part in those old memories. Maybe it wasn't too much to ask about.
He had mulled over it silently during the shopping and just when he was starting to think it would be fine to bring up, Krillin caught his attention.
"Wow the streets are becoming real empty around this time of day. I guess the shops are closing for the night." Krillin gestured to many storekeepers locking doors and turning signs.
"What time is it?" Gohan asked as he glanced to a nearby post clock. 5:56 pm. He hadn't even noticed the sun starting to set. He didn't know when the coffee house closed but he prayed Piccolo would still be there. "I'm sorry Krillin! I have to go! There's something I need to do!"
"What? Wait! Gohan!" Krillin shouted after Gohan as he leapt down the street and around the corner, leaving Krillin with all the bags of shopping. "Oh crap. Damn it Goku, where are you?"
Piccolo wiped the last mug clean and packed it away with the others in the cupboard. He sighed and glanced around the empty room. He didn't show up today. I can't expect him to appear everyday but I thought he would at least come searching for the book he forgot yesterday. He softly thumbed over the book he kept behind the counter for when the owner came to claim it.
He paused when he heard the small bell of the door jingle. He cast his eyes just over his shoulder to catch glimpse of the figure entering his shop. Most people didn't bother coming in so late when they would prefer to find dinner at home or even drowning themselves with alcohol into the night. Piccolo was surprised by who the man was but easily masked his shock as he turned to face the man, crossing his arms over his chest. "Goku."
Goku smirked like he would in the midst of combat. "Hello Piccolo. We need to talk."
Piccolo nodded. "Alright let's talk."
Gohan tried to restrain his running to more normal speeds but his urgency to talk to Piccolo thrummed through his blood. His saiyan abilities screaming in his head that he could easily have already been there if he only allowed himself to use them. He could feel the minutes passing as the door to the shop finally entered his view.
His heart stopped when he saw the sign on the door. CLOSED. Damn! I'm too late. I was hoping to talk today. Gohan forced a laughing sigh as he tried to calm himself knowing there was a tomorrow.
The door then opened, Piccolo stepping out only to pause when he spotted Gohan. "So you did show up today."
"I'm so sorry. I know it's very late and you probably just closed and want to go home but-… Were you expecting me?" Gohan halted his thoughts when he processed what was said.
"Come on in. You forgot your book when you left yesterday." Piccolo stepped aside and held the door open. Gohan flushed slightly, he had indeed lost all memory of the book once his friends had found him the day before and particularly once he had heard Piccolo's name. He nodded and stepped inside the dimly lit shop.
He watched Piccolo close the door and walk behind the counter. With the excitement to get there as fast as he could, everything started to feel exceptionally slow. The calm demeanor of the namekian, the silent room around them. Gohan felt ridiculous as his heart still pounded in his chest. He accepted the book handed to him. "Thank you. I uh… actually came here to talk to you."
"I know." Piccolo crossed his arms.
"You do?" Gohan looked up surprised.
Gohan watched as Piccolo's eyes, traditionally unwilling to reveal any emotion, now glazed over in a soft sadness. "I should have recognized you sooner but you were just a kid when I last saw you."
"You know who I am? You didn't say anything after all this time I kept coming here." Gohan felt a little cheated and a fool for not speaking up and asking sooner.
"I wasn't sure before." Piccolo sighed. "And I wasn't allowed to see you."
"What do you mean? Why not?" Gohan inquired.
"It was for your own good." Piccolo answered. "I promise I'll explain everything, but tell me what you remember first."
Gohan took a moment to think. Wanting to know this new mystery but either by instinct or reflex trusted to do as Piccolo said. "I remember there was a huge fight. People dying… my father's friends. Then..."
Gohan held his breath. His eyes flicked away from Piccolo and then back again as they began to sting. "I was supposed to die next but you… you died for me. Which doesn't make sense as you stand before me but… it was too real to deny."
Piccolo swiftly stepped around the counter and placed his hand on Gohan's head. He could see him shake slightly to the memory. "It's alright kid."
Gohan felt tears searing down his cheeks. He wiped them away as fast as he could but couldn't keep up as more streamed down. I didn't know how much I missed being called kid.
Piccolo chuckled. "You might look like a man but you still cry like a child."
Gohan leaned his head ever so slightly into Piccolo's hand. He started recalling moments like this when he was much smaller. "You were my best friend. I should have remembered you. I understand not remembering the….uh, death what with trauma and being a child but why everything else too?"
"Because every time you saw me after you would only remember the fight. It would drive you mad." Piccolo explained, pulling his hand back to himself.
Gohan's brow creased. "If that event was real… how are you here? All fine, normal, and working a coffee house?"
"Namekians traditionally have an elder who can create something called dragon balls. They summon dragons who grant wishes. The guardian Kami created a set here for earth and your father and Krillin wished me back to life." Piccolo re-crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. "That's the short of it anyway."
"Was my memory of you…. And the fight, erased using the dragon balls?" Gohan asked.
"No. Kami has more magic than just for the dragon and locked your memories away." Piccolo replied. "Your mother demanded for something to be done and we all agreed that it was the best way for you to return to a normal life."
Gohan took a deep breath. "Alright so my memories cleaned away so I, a child at the time, would be free of the trauma. As a side effect I wasn't allowed to remember you or see you or I was triggered. It was fine if I knew everyone else…. But I suppose I didn't know them so well at the time of the fight and their death didn't have such an impact on me as yours did. I understand the why and I guess I would agree to save a child from remembering such a thing. But I remember you now, and I'm sure the fight will fade over time and everything will be fine. Thank you for explaining everything to me and of course for uh… saving my life." He beamed with a slightly nervous but bright smile. He felt better knowing the cause of his repetitive nightmare and that he no longer needed to worry about it. It was in the past and the man who died for him was living just fine.
"Gohan." Piccolo tensed up. His fingers digging into his arms, creasing the purple sleeves. "That's not everything."
AN: I don't actually know when post clocks were invented but I've set this more or less in a mushed approximation of the late 1700's so, clocks were a thing then it's close enough lol
Thank you for the kind reviews I hope to keep this consistent and enjoyable enough to not waste your time ^.^