Chapter 22
A few days has passed and Gohan was acting like that haunting night, didn't occur, he was back to his cheery self, aside from a few key differences, the kid was a lot more gluey, like he was constantly breathing down Piccolo's neck
He picked out that the kid can be clingy because of his sheltered upbringing, but not to this degree, all of a sudden, the doubts that etch themselves snugly on Piccolo's mind was wickedly washed away by ocean waves of new found discoveries
It was a brick to the face, a sarcastic slap, the half-Saiyan's devotion towards him was not only unassailable, but it was venomous and lethal
Isn't this something he should celebrate for? Gohan his friend, his reasons to write positive things about the world, his light, was oathing himself to stay with him with a level of permanence and death despite all of his transgressions and personal sins that directly affected the half-Saiyan
Some part of him did indeed, commemorate and even loved it, but it was being painfully scratched away with regret
He knew something about this ain't right, it ain't natural, did he do this to his most beloved boon companion?
The Namekian was watching, Gohan pick berries, with great remorse behind his usual façade
Isn't this great Piccolo jr the demon incarnate? You finally have someone, an avid follower who gave you his complete surrender and adherence and all you had to do was
Fundamentally break him
"Mr. Piccolo " the little boy tugged on his gi while the other hand held a container filled with berries, the grip was noticeably stronger and less patient
A wave can be felt leaving the boy, air pushing outward
"What's wrong?" he asked with perturbation, the energy that coated him pushing with greater force
Gohan was testy these days, body quick to respond with territorial possessiveness, whenever he so much sense a shift in Piccolo's energy, to him it felt intolerable, panic-inducing an itch that will fight tooth and nail to not settle
Piccolo felt disgusting, repulse at what he did, he shouldn't have cared, he didn't do anything different he just took the necessary course of action to live
He looked at his precious friend, feeling sick, remorse overriding his sound judgement and survival instinct
Maybe it's not too late, maybe Gohan can still turn back from a cruel life infused to the brim with unlawful harshness and scrimmage, Piccolo was already in and on that path, that much he knew
The two was on a fleeting raft and by taking all into accounts, only one of them can be saved , if Ma junior kept on trying to keep himself afloat, his friend will surely risk everything, including drowning alongside him just to help the Namekian
After all the selfish and horrendous things he did to survive, this was the one thing he could no longer stomach, dragging the kid to walk on such a dark road just so he can stay in his friend's life
The taller of the two kneeled to meet the boy's eye level, the kid stared back worry across his face
Piccolo firmly squeezed the young one's shoulders
" I'm sorry, Gohan, I'm sorry I didn't realize how much of a grave mistake this was and how badly it affected you, I'm sorry for being a terrible friend, I'm sorry for bringing you into my unforgiving world "
The mentor hugged his student pouring all the emotions, shame and self-condemnation his hardened face and voice couldn't express
" Go home"
The Namekian was highly conscious, that if the boy leave now, all of the time and hard work that year would completely go down the drain, and he will have effectively written himself a death wish, he was aware this upcoming Saiyan battle is not something he'll live through without help and he was certain he had no life line, no one to try and find a way to wish him back to life
Since the world hate him so much, why fight it?, why live, he already technically ended Goku anyway, he was done, his mission accomplished
He didn't care anymore, he didn't want things to end like this yet he was thankful maybe his time with the kid was the closest to peace and love he is ever gonna be graced upon
He had to come terms to it, accept it otherwise, he would risk snuffing out the light he had come to hold dear, he pinned his hope on Goku, surely that buffoon can win this, he always had a knack in solving all the deadly situation life throws at him
And if Goku and his friends aren't enough, Piccolo was now willing to compensate with his life for Gohan's absence in the battle
The Namekian's embraced the half Saiyan, tighter
" I understand if you can't forgive me, but please go, it's not too late, you have your whole life ahead of you, a life far from here, a life away from all this violence "
Gohan didn't had the chance the protest and question, before he could reply, enormous power levels quickly crept itself on the two, speeding to reach them, then another and then three
No, no no no, the Saiyan's weren't scheduled to arrive this early
" Leave!" the mentor commanded his student loud and harshly, authoritativeness plastered all over
The kid was too distracted due to the new energies approaching to move
Piccolo prioritize shoving the kid behind his back to shield him as two figures one big, muscled and bald and the other small with flame shaped hair landed close by
Soon after, Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan and chaotzu appeared at the scene