Goten and Chichi stood in the hall watching Gohan's door. Steady steps hummed behind it.
"He's been pacing in there for over an hour." Chichi whispered.
"I wonder what he's thinking so hard about." Goten said. "I hope he doesn't get a headache."
"I've been a bit worried about him lately." Chichi sighed. "His work rate hasn't really picked up since Kami's visit almost a month ago."
"Maybe it's just a really bad leg cramp." Goten suggested.
"I can't wait anymore." Chichi approached the door and knocked. "Gohan dear, would you like something to drink? Water or tea?"
The door opened to reveal Gohan, hair rustled slightly and visibly struggling to maintain a calm demeanor. "Can I… ask you something?"
"Of course. Is something wrong?" Chichi reeled back a bit surprised to see her son so distressed.
"How does one tell… when normal feelings for a friend turn into something else?" Gohan closed his eyes as he quelled his humiliation of the question.
"Oh I see. Are you asking how to tell when you're in love?" Chichi asked with a soft smile. Gohan timidly nodded a 'yes'.
"This is out of my field. I'll go play in the garden while you handle this mom." Goten casually stretched his arms behind his head and walked off as cool as he could.
"In my experience most people have different signs to when they have more romantic feelings to someone." Chichi started as she led Gohan to sit on the bed. "I think the most obvious sign is craving to be around them all the time. You might not even know why you want to. Something about them just charms you."
"Is it easy to tell?" Gohan asked.
"No, for most people it isn't so easy at first. There's usually a lot of confusion and embarrassment." Chichi answered. "Where did this come from anyway?"
"I went to have coffee with a couple friends and they said something about Videl which brought up something else. They kept pointing out how I was acting different from how friends normally interact." Gohan explained. "The more I think about it, the more I'm worried about them being right."
"Why? I understand being confused and embarrassed but you should also be excited." Chichi said.
"I…" Gohan stilled. "I'm worried that if I do have a more romantic affection, it won't be welcome or it would drive us apart. I enjoy how things are right now and I don't want to lose that because I don't know how I really feel anymore. What if I'm just unusual and it isn't romantic? Am I sending confusing signals and making things uncomfortable between us? Have I been doing it this whole time?"
"I think you're going to have to spend more time, just the two of you." Chichi suggested. "When things become more clear, talk to this person. Be up front and honest with them."
"Ok." Gohan sighed, his shoulders sinking. If it is… romantic. Upfront might be really hard. "Thank you."
"I'm happy to help anytime Gohan." Chichi smiled kindly as she stood and stepped from the room. "And when you're ready, let me know who it is."
"I will…" Gohan answered weakly. Of course she wants to know who… why did everything have to become more complicated?
Chichi smiled more eagerly once she got further down the hall. Out of his earshot and almost unable to contain the giddy giggle in her chest, she muttered to herself. "No wonder his work is delayed. He's focused on love. I didn't think he would be looking at possible suitors so soon. I expected him to hold off until at least after he took over the bank. Oh I have to go write to Bulma."
Gohan laid on his bed as the day began it's transition into the next. His mind lost in over analyzing the moments between him and Piccolo over the last few weeks.
'Thinking about each other day and night.' Yeah, that one I can't deny, but there was a lot to think about with my lost memories. I can't confirm that it's because I like him. It has been a while though, maybe I should have been done focusing on it so much by now...
'Being able to make the other smile in a way no one else can.' I don't think he smiles in any particular way with me and it's not impossible to make him smile so I can't be the only one he smiles around.
'moments where the heart pauses or beats out of rhythm.' Gohan sat up and held his hand over his chest. He could almost feel a small stutter at that moment. Isn't that just a sign of sudden stress or fast change in emotion? Although I guess feeling in love would be a sudden change and stress in emotion.
'the most obvious sign is craving to be around them all the time.' I'm guilty of that one too. Gohan buried his face into his hands. Always prioritizing reliving memories than doing work, practically stalking him in his own shop during and after hours, I even like hugging him when I know he doesn't prefer close contact.
Gohan froze as he felt his heart quicken at the thought of Piccolo's warmth and scent in their last embrace. Oh gods save me.
Piccolo flipped through the pages of the small book in his hands, reading under the bright moon light. He had already read it twice in the time since Gohan had forgotten it once again in his shop.
The Maiden and the Monster… I knew he was emotional but I didn't know he read romance. Piccolo chuckled to himself. If he is a romantic at heart, whomever he falls for will be lucky. He's just as intelligent and kind as ever.
Piccolo frowned slightly as his chest coiled in a strange sensation. Of course when he does marry… he'll spend all his time with them. By then I'm sure he'll also be in full control of his grandfather's bank and work whenever he's not home. I know he'll always try to visit and I'll appreciate every one of them.
One of Kami's sayings crept into his head. 'The best life isn't one with a full pocket but with a full heart.'
My heart already feels more than full since he's been back and… since learning what I've done, still doesn't hate me.
Why does it feel like I'm trying to convince myself that everything's fine when I know it is?
The memory of earlier in the shop played again in his head. He could hear everything clearly from the back room and mostly hid there to calm his rising nerves and heartbeat. Care for me sure, but romantic affection? He easily builds emotional attachment and considers me a friend. That's already well beyond what anyone has ever felt towards me.
He returned his attention to the book, glancing over a paragraph where the saiyan had declared his heartfelt joy and peace that the girl had willingly chosen to sit beside him as they watched the birds in the garden. That that was all he wanted, though Piccolo knew the character wished for his love for her to be returned. That's all you should want, peaceful friendship. Why does everyone enjoy taking things to the extreme despite how unrealistic it is?
Piccolo sighed and closed the book.
Gohan awoke the next morning to knocking on his door. He slowly sat up and stretched. "Hello? I'm awake."
Goku opened the door and stepped in, his usual cheery smile in place. "Good morning."
"Good morning dad. Did you need something?" Gohan asked.
Goku nodded slowly as he stepped closer, shutting the door behind him. His bright smile quickly fading to a more focused and calm expression. "I received a note recently from Piccolo, saying that you two had talked about what happened."
Gohan stilled slightly. "Yes we did. Videl made a good point that any pent up guilt or concern could only be alleviated by talking it out. I had intended to come back and talk to you as well but I didn't want to bring it up with Goten here. In front of him may have been too much."
"I understand. For now, your mother and Goten have gone out shopping. So you and I can talk all we want." Goku explained. He sat on the edge of the bed. "If you're up for that of course."
"I think we should yes." Gohan took a deep breath and prepared himself.
"Now I don't know what details you went over with Piccolo. So let me know what you're missing." Goku said.
"At first he still wanted me to hear it all from you so I just told him to explain his actions in it. He told me about the year I trained with him and the fight against the two men who were going to destroy earth. He said he kidnapped me after fighting one of their comrades. That I had unnaturally strong abilities and energy."
"It's true you were very strong as a kid. Just like me." Goku let out a short laugh. "Was that all he said?"
"Other than screaming at me for forgiving him yes." Gohan wore a weak smile.
"I should probably start with the first guy we fought, before Piccolo took you." Goku said. He rubbed the back of his neck with a steady breath. "He was saiyan… and my brother. He came to recruit me into his group."
Gohan was stunned to learn he had an uncle who wanted to end his home planet. "What did they want with you?"
"The truth about saiyans is that we weren't exactly a friendly race. This group, the known last of our race, were conquering planets and wiping out the weak ones." Goku answered.
Gohan's eyes widened. "Why?"
"They worked for an alien overlord who made money conquering and owning many planets throughout space. So my brother came to enlist me and use my strength to suppress innocent lives. Of course I turned him down but he took you as a hostage." Goku frowned.
"I was... kidnapped twice?" Gohan said.
"In my opinion Piccolo didn't kidnap you." Goku said. "You see, after we fought him, I told Piccolo to train you. Technically I gave him permission to take you and train as he saw fit to prepare for the other two saiyans. I'm not sure why he said that he kidnapped you; but that was my hand in using you to fight as a child."
"Why didn't you train me yourself?" Gohan asked.
"To defeat my brother, I had to hold him down and give Piccolo a chance to land a very powerful attack. It went through both of us… and I died." Goku placed a hand to his midriff. "I had to wait a year, and train in other world, before I could be wished back."
Gohan froze. He search all his memories and none of them told of his father's death. His voice was soft as he spoke, feeling horrible that he never once knew or acknowledged what his father had to go through to rescue him. "I don't remember you dying."
"You were unconscious at the moment. It wasn't anything like when Piccolo died right in front of you. Also your memories around that time weren't locked away by Kami so they faded normally." Goku explained. "I don't think he ever told you I died because he knew I was going to be wished back to life. No reason to scare you with it since you were so young."
Gohan nodded as he considered the information. "Dad… the exercises we used to do together, were we training for another threat?"
"No. After what you went through, I never wanted to include you in another fight. I realized my mistake and I pray I'm never that desperate again." Goku looked away for a moment. "With a year of intense training, you had gained a lot of muscle and energy. Your memory had to be blocked a short time after the battle so you had no connection to how you changed, for that reason I gave you some exercises to help explain it, make it easier for you to process. Piccolo gave me notes on how to instruct you through meditation to balance out your mind as well."
"So it was a recovery plan." Gohan summarized.
"At first yes. When you got a little older and your mother tried educating you more, it became an excuse to spend some time with just us." Goku smirked.
Gohan smiled, glad to be able to keep those bonding moments as they were.
"Oh good, a smile." Goku grinned.
"Were you worried?" Gohan asked.
"A little." Goku admitted.
"I could never be upset with you dad. You're too good of a person." Gohan hugged Goku. "Besides I'm grateful I was able to meet Piccolo so in a way I'm thankful to you for your impulsive decision. You left me with a good and strong friend."
Goku squeezed his arms around Gohan before pulling away. "He… he wasn't always a friend."
Gohan sighed. "I had a feeling. Krillin had said that Piccolo had a rough past. That aside he isn't the friendliest to most people. I'm glad he has people he can rely on now."
"Me too." Goku smiled.
"Was there anything else you wanted me to know about that fight?" Gohan asked.
"Actually I think I've covered everything." Goku gave a small chortle. "But there is something I should probably tell you about if you feel ready."
"If you think I should know, I'll listen." Gohan said, concern lacing his voice.
"As you know my friends and I practice martial arts and have become quite strong. I fought many villains when I was young." Goku started.
"Those stories you used to tell when I was a kid? They were real people?" Gohan asked.
"Yes." Goku nodded. "Because of this though, I've become a target for certain organizations. Every time I beat them down and think it's over, they rise back up with new techniques and power. It never ends and knowing aliens could come here too I needed to do more to protect people. Bulma and I put together our own group of fighters."
"I've never heard if it. All of your old friends are part of it?" Gohan asked.
"They are, though they're not all fighters. Bulma makes sure that anything leading back to us is kept out of the public, so no one has heard of us. She covers up any combat damage as part of her father's testing." Goku explained. "I've seen what happens to Mr. Satan whenever he goes out and gets crowded by people. I'd rather avoid that."
"You at least have the help of the police right?" Gohan was sure Bulma would acquire as much legal help as she could.
"No, Bulma tried once but they never believed her. Despite the evidence they really didn't think there was a secret army or an assassin riding a post or the small emperor trying to conquer the world." Goku scratched his head. "Eventually we just gave up and worked without them."
"So you're a vigilante?" Gohan asked the disbelief heavy in his trembling voice.
"I wouldn't say that. I don't interfere in police work or jump at every criminal in the city, although if one is happening right in front of me I won't hesitate to help stop it. I mainly fight against people with extreme strength beyond what normal police can handle. Bulma has been on top of everything that could go wrong, legal or otherwise. Don't worry about it." Goku replied.
Gohan took a long strained breath and rubbed his forehead. "Please be careful."
"I'll be fine. I've been doing this for years." Goku grinned and stood from the bed. "Now would you like breakfast?"
"I would die for some egg and toast." Gohan smiled as his gut growled. "And maybe some sausage."
"Let's fill up before you die." Goku laughed.