Gohan woke the next morning after finally achieving the first real peaceful sleep in weeks. After dressing, he started down the stairs but halted when he heard a strange voice in the lower hall.
"Your house is lovely."
"Why thank you. Please make yourself comfortable in the art room. I'll bring some water shortly and let him know you're here." Chichi's voice chirped in her guest friendly tone. Gohan snuck further down and peeked around the wall and railing. He spotted Chichi standing before Piccolo and an older Namekian in white robes. As soon as the older man turned away and began walking, Chichi turned a sour look to Piccolo. Her once soft welcome voice becoming a sharp whisper she spoke. "You're not supposed to be here. I'm sure you haven't forgotten what happened last time."
"Goku already told me it's fine this time." Piccolo crossed his arms seeming to have expected her reaction.
"He might not be forcing you to uproot your life and leave but I did not approve to have you so close to my son." Chichi firmly placed her hands on her hips.
Gohan swiftly descended the stairs. "I feel fine. Talking to him lately hasn't triggered anything."
Chichi looked up in surprise to her son sneaking up on her before responding. "You went all those years without having a nightmare until you ran into him. Sweetheart I just don't want you to have another breakdown."
"I understand but I'm doing well." Gohan smiled kindly to her and turned to his guest. "Good morning, Mr. Piccolo."
Piccolo restrained a subtle blush. "Good morning Gohan. You don't have to address me as Mr."
"But you're my superior aren't you? You were an adult when I was child as I recall, though there is little memory I do have access to." Gohan admitted.
"Age aside it's just …. unusual." Piccolo huffed. "I brought Kami today. He agreed to help unlock your memories."
"That's why he's here? I-I thought Goku asked him to- Hmmmf!." Chichi fumed slightly. She turned and hustled away with her skirts firmly grasped, muttering to herself. "It's too unladylike to be this mad. I have water to fetch."
"She said the art room?" Gohan confirmed after watching his mother leave.
Piccolo nodded and followed the kid as he was led through the large house. "How did your conversation with your father go last night?"
"I told him not to tell me." Gohan answered.
"No wonder you're in such a good mood." Piccolo growled slightly. His fingers digging into the purple sleeves he had rolled up over his arms. The straps of his suspenders seemed to cinch into his shoulders as he hunched.
"I couldn't stand to know it when I saw how it hurt him already." Gohan explained over his shoulder. "I've never seen anything get him down but the guilt over whatever happened, it just-"
"Gohan." Piccolo grabbed Gohan's arm pulling him close as they stood still in the hall. He struggled to look at Gohan but when he did his eyes were stern and yet in the right light… Gohan thought he could see pain in them. "He's not the only one who is guilty. It wasn't just his mistake. I only promised not to say it because I thought you would handle it better if it were from him, but you really need to know. The sooner you do, you will realize I'm not a good character to have in your life."
"Is there a problem guys?"
Gohan glanced back to the room they were headed and spotted Goku standing before it. He quickly turned back to Piccolo who had already straightened back up and released his arm. His expression as calm as it always was in the coffee shop.
"Everything's just fine." Piccolo replied as he stepped past Gohan and approached Goku.
Gohan watched both of them enter the room. He rubbed his arm slightly not from any pain as Piccolo's grasp was more a concerned caress. Dad wasn't the only one? If Piccolo was so concerned about being a bad character why was he here helping me? Why would he have died for me? Gohan couldn't picture Piccolo nor his father doing him any wrong.
Upon entering the art room, Gohan spotted his father sitting on a couch beside the elder man commenting on some of the paintings on the walls. Piccolo stood at the windows across the room, watching something outside.
"Ah, Gohan my dear boy. It's good to see you." The elder spoke once he spotted Gohan.
Gohan smiled softly as he approached and held out his hand to shake the elder's. "Kami, correct? I'm sorry I don't remember you."
"That means my skills haven't waned over the years." Kami chuckled. "Of course with my relation to Piccolo it was also best I stayed away from you unless there was an emergency."
Gohan nodded in understanding. "So Piccolo asked you to help me remember more?"
"Indeed he did and I am more than happy to help if that's what you would like." Kami replied. "It was for your wellbeing we had them blocked so we have to be sure that you are fine now."
"How do we discover if he's all good this time around?" Goku asked.
"I can look into his mind and see what's stable and what isn't. He looks very fine right now so I have very high hopes." Kami explained as he stood. "Please sit Gohan."
Gohan sat in a chair across the couch. Kami walked around behind him and placed his hands to the sides of Gohan's head. Gohan felt an odd sensation as if he had stood up too fast but it was light and manageable. He didn't know what Kami could see or what memories he was peering at. It wasn't long before Kami had removed his hands and Gohan was aware of everyone staring at him, even his mother had joined them in the room.
"How was it?" Gohan asked as he turned to Kami.
"Everything is just fine. I don't sense you will become unstable if we open everything up." Kami explained.
"Oh thank goodness." Chichi sighed and pat her heart in attempts to calm it.
"Are you sure you want all of them? Some are very faded and I can't guarantee you will remember them afterwards." Kami asked.
"Wait." Piccolo spoke up from his corner. "Goku hasn't explained everything, certain things will have to stay blocked."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"Very well." Kami sighed. "This will take a moment Gohan and it might feel a little strange."
"Alright." Gohan closed his eyes as Kami placed his hands once again to Gohan's head. The faintness he felt before became a stronger dizziness. He was glad he hadn't eaten yet or he might have lost some of it to the rug. He surely would have been in trouble with his mother then.
After a moment he started hearing whispers. Flashes of moments he had known and yet struggled to recognize at the same time. Piccolo was in many of them. The sweet smell of the forest in a fresh rain. The course dirt beneath his nails as he climbed a cliff. The crisp apple he ate in the dark night, the juice running dry on his chin. Despite what his brain locked onto in each new scene, he could sense Piccolo there with him. When he felt he could return his attention on the current world again he opened is eyes. He focused on slowing his rampant heart beat and labored breaths as he felt everyone watching him.
Gohan forced a smile to calm everyone. "It's alright."
"Sweetheart you were out for half an hour, I wouldn't consider that alright." Chichi spoke as worry laced her voice. She was sitting beside Goku with Kami on the other side.
"I was?" Gohan looked to everyone, even Piccolo who upon meeting eyes quickly turned to the windows again.
"You will need time to readjust to all the old memories. Your mind has spent years unable to access them and now that you can you might be a bit overwhelmed at times." Kami explained. "I strongly suggest taking things easy for a while as you process them."
Gohan nodded but then glanced to his mother who sighed. "Don't worry Gohan, I'll manage everything. We can work based on how you're feeling and I'll arrange more lessons here at home."
"Thank you." Gohan smiled. "And thank you Kami sir."
"I'm more than happy to help." Kami chuckled.
"We should probably head back to the church before Mr. Popo worries." Piccolo finally stepped away from the windows.
"You may be right." Kami agreed as he stood. "With the danger of Gohan's health aside, I hope to see you all more often."
"Of course." Goku happily grinned. "I'd love nothing more than to get the old crew back together for a gathering."
"I'll see you to the door." Chichi chirped as she rose and led Piccolo and Kami out of the room.
Gohan couldn't stop himself from standing when Piccolo paused at the door of the room. "Take care kid."
"You too." Gohan replied softly. He then watched Piccolo disappear into the hall.
"Ready for some breakfast? We did just leap into this real early in the day." Goku inquired eagerly.
"Right." Gohan chuckled.
Chichi held the door open as Kami exited, the both muttering polite goodbyes. As Piccolo made his way out she spoke up. "Now that everything seems to be going so well, I'm sure he'll visit you as often as he can."
"And?" Piccolo patiently waited for her.
"If anything goes wrong or this becomes too much..." Chichi started, her eyes becoming stern.
"I'll leave and you can make him forget me again." Piccolo promised. "His health is more important than either of our happiness."
Chichi took a deep breath. "Thank you."
Piccolo then left with Kami.
"You can't keep sacrificing yourself. It's not good for you." Kami said.
"I have to do everything for him, you know that." Piccolo huffed as he began walking faster.
Kami sighed. "I saw into some of his memories, his old thoughts. He's always held a deep affection for you and if you keep pulling yourself out of his life, you're going to hurt him as much you do yourself."
"Like I have said, health is more important." Piccolo answered, his teeth clenched.
Kami's eyes winced in his sadness. I thought you were doing better, my nephew. You deserve more than you allow for yourself. He silently followed Piccolo through the streets.