Oh my god, you guys. TWO MONTHS. Despicable. I apologize profusely. Short song snippet is a modified version of "Come Little Children," as sung by Sarah Jessica Parker in "Hocus Pocus".
Piccolo set Tsuki down gently outside the house. Gohan landed beside them with slightly less grace. A cold breeze had picked up, and Tsuki and Gohan shivered. The boy bounded into the house, starting the fire and then going into the bathroom to wash the saltwater from his body. Piccolo held the door for Tsuki to enter and followed in after her. They stood awkwardly by the fireplace in silence, Jade curled on the couch before them, purring loudly.
"Perhaps I should have Gohan show me how to use the shower. My skin feels dry and my hair feels crusty. Is this what happens when one swims in saltwater?" Tsuki asked.
"I suppose. It doesn't affect me," Piccolo said.
"Hm. Do you suppose you could make me another gi? One to sleep in?"
"Yes. Here," he said, holding out the newly materialized gi in his hand to her.
"Thank you," she replied, taking the material. They continued to stand in silence until Gohan came scurrying out, clad in his pajamas. "Gohan, would you mind showing me how the shower works? I'd like to use it before dinner," she asked, gesturing to the bathroom.
"Sure! Come on in!" Gohan said happily, leading her into the bathroom. He pulled the shower curtain aside to show her the knobs. "Okay, so this one is hot water, and this one is cold water. You just turn them until you get to a temperature you like. And that's it!" he explained. "Dinner should be ready by the time you come out! Towels are in that cabinet!" And with that, the little Saiyan was gone.
Tsuki smiled after him for a moment before shutting the door. She sighed, taking off her clothes and looking upon herself in the mirror for the first time. Yes, she always knew what she'd looked like, but to see it, to actually see it in a perfect reflection, was a bit eye opening.
I wonder if he liked what he had seen...
Tsuki gasped then as the unbidden thought went through her head.
You are a goddess! You cannot have feelings for others! Especially not a Namekian! They do not know that type of love, and neither do you!
The fallen goddess shook her head furiously, trying to get the thoughts out of her head.
I'm only having these thoughts because I'm human now. Once I'm reinstated, they'll go away. They have to go away. I will not make the same mistake as my brother.
Irritated and confused, she turned the taps on and waited until the water was almost too hot before stepping in, and began scrubbing at her skin with the soap.
When she came out of the bathroom, she noticed Piccolo and Gohan already seated at the table. At her spot was a bowl of rice, an apple, and a glass of water. She smiled appreciatively and began to eat her meal as Gohan began to tear through his fish while Piccolo took more dignified sips of his water. After a moment of taking a few bites, Tsuki stopped eating and had to just watch Gohan devour his meal. He seemed extra ravenous this day.
"Don't look directly at it. You'll get sucked in," Piccolo muttered.
"It's... astounding, really..."
Piccolo then kicked under the table, making contact with Gohan's shin, causing the boy to jump. "Quit that. Eat slower," he snapped.
"Oh. Sorry!"
Tsuki chuckled, resuming her eating. When they had all finished, Piccolo and Tsuki listened to Gohan ramble away about meaningless things. Piccolo had to admit, he did enjoy listening to Gohan's stories. His voice was always excited and happy, and that always calmed him. If the boy was happy, then Piccolo was happy. Tsuki smiled, for she too enjoyed Gohan's voice. She glanced over to the Namekian and saw his eyes fixed on the boy, and her smile broadened. When Gohan's story was finished, Piccolo stood.
"Come on, kid. Time for bed," he said. "Go brush your teeth."
"Oh, alright..." Gohan answered, going into the bathroom.
"You've taken to this parenting position very well," Tsuki remarked.
Piccolo grunted, but said nothing, instead of walking into his shared bedroom, Jade at his heels. Tsuki chuckled, turning to go to her own room. Just as she was entering, she heard Gohan come out of the bathroom. She turned to look at him and was surprised to see him make his way over. When he got in front of her, he looked up, before flinging his arms around her waist. Momentarily shocked, Tsuki stood rigid, then softened and placed one hand on his head and another at his back.
"Goodnight, Lady," he said, pulling away.
"Goodnight, child," she replied softly, watching him go into his room and shut the door behind him.
I'm getting in too deep here.
Gohan began tossing and turning in his sleep around midnight. At first, Piccolo, deep in his monthly sleep, did not notice it. Gohan stirring was a usual nightly occurrence. Jade, however, went straight on the alert and sat up, watching her owner intently. Gohan moaned, his eyes twitching under his lids.
DNA. DNA from the Saiyans. DNA from the human. DNA from the Namekian.
...Vegeta...move... Krillin...run. Run away...
Perfection...
When he moaned again, Jade scampered up to Piccolo, jumping into his lap and mewing loudly. Piccolo instantly jolted awake, fully conscious at once. He watched Gohan for a few moments, debating what to do. Gohan had had nightmares before, but this one seemed more...intense. Hesitating, he put his hand on the boy's sweaty forehead.
"Gohan. Gohan. Kid, wake up. It's just a dream," Piccolo urged, now shaking him by his shoulder. When that didn't rouse him, he began to get nervous. "Gohan, wake up!"
"RUN! RUN FROM ME!" Gohan screamed, eyes still clenched in sleep, his body twisting upon itself.
Tsuki was suddenly at his side, her hand on his shoulder. "Let me take care of this, my friend," she said, pulling Piccolo back. He did so reluctantly, and watched as Tsuki placed her hand softly on the boy's forehead. When he didn't still, she began to sing softly.
"Come little child,
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment.
Come my sweet child,
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of magic."
Soothed by her soft voice, Gohan began to still.
"Come now, sweet boy. Open your eyes," she bade quietly. Suddenly, Gohan's eyes popped open, and he sat up with a gasp. He looked around frantically before his eyes rested on Tsuki and Piccolo. He then launched himself into Piccolo, who held him close while the child began to sob into his gi. Tsuki pressed Piccolo into a sitting position on the edge of the bed and took place beside him. "Tell me, what did you dream of?"
It took a few moments for Gohan's sobs to settle enough to speak through them. "V-Vegeta and Krillin. I... I killed them, Lady! I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it! Something was making me do it, and...and... they didn't believe me. Krillin... he got so close, he tried to hug me... And I just blew out his heart! HIS HEART! And then Vegeta, he wouldn't leave. He tried to push me back, knock me out, and I... I still killed him! And then you came, Mr. Piccolo, and I begged you to kill me. To please kill me, and you wouldn't. You wouldn't do it! And I, I killed you too! I killed everyone! EVERYONE!" Gohan started sobbing again, pressing his face into Piccolo's chest, fisting his gi tightly.
"Child, it was a dream. Only a dream," Tsuki soothed, reaching over to run her fingers through his hair. "Just a dream."
"But it seemed so real!"
"That is the problem with nightmares. They seem the most real. You are okay. Vegeta and Krillin are safe. Piccolo is safe. You are safe. Come now, it is the middle of the night, and you must sleep."
Gohan shook his head fervently. "No. I'm not tired anymore. I don't want to go back to sleep."
"Come now, you must, or you will be miserable tomorrow."
"That's fine by me."
"Gohan, you're going back to bed," Piccolo said, coming into the conversation. He pried Gohan off of him and laid him back in his bed.
"Stay with me," Gohan whimpered.
"I always stay here."
"Lady Tsuki too."
"Oh, Gohan, that would be...improper," Tsuki said, glancing at Piccolo. Piccolo just shrugged. "Well, I suppose one night wouldn't hurt."
Gohan smiled and then grasped Piccolo's hand, pulling him to the head of the bed. Grunting, Piccolo sat and Gohan lay his head down on one of his calves. Tsuki then climbed in on the other side, careful not to touch Piccolo. This plan was shot down, however, when Gohan grabbed her hand and pulled her close, her head coming to rest on Piccolo's other calf. He stiffened at the contact.
"Gohan, honey, this isn't proper..." she started, but stopped as Gohan snuggled into her side. She looked up at Piccolo, who grunted, but said nothing, choosing to close his eyes instead and ignore them. She sighed and closed her eyes, smiling slightly when she heard Jade nestle herself in Piccolo's lap above their heads.
"What do I look like? A pillow?" he grumbled.
She chuckled slightly at that, and before she knew it, she drifted off into sleep.
Tsuki woke up to a stirring against her side. Gohan was moving a little in his sleep. Looking around, she noticed the room was coated in the morning's light. Piccolo was already awake, looking down at them. Gohan let out a loud snore and turned away from Tsuki. She took the opportunity to sit up and scoot to sit beside Piccolo.
"He won't awaken for another hour," Piccolo said.
"I see."
They sat in silence for a few moments before Piccolo spoke again. "I don't want to beat around the bush. Gohan's dream. Was there any significance to it?" he whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping Saiyan.
"I do not know. It may, it may not. My brother is currently at large up there, doing whatever he wants. All I can say is we must guard the child, as we have been. And let's try not to leave him alone with Vegeta or Krillin."
"That wasn't funny."
"It wasn't supposed to be." She sighed heavily. "I must know, though. If he begged you, truly begged and pleaded for you to kill him, would you?"
"No," he answered without hesitation.
"That's good to know," she whispered. "I believe there was a time when that answer would have been different."
"There probably was," he replied after a hesitation. "But no more."
The two sat in silence for another hour before Gohan stirred again, and this time, woke up. He smiled up at Piccolo and then over at Tsuki.
"You stayed," he said happily.
"I stayed."
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
Gohan sat up then, stretching. "So, Mr. Piccolo, what are we gonna do today?"
"The usual. Train."
"Should've known that."
"Yes. Yes you should have."
Slowly, day by day, the month passed without incident. Gohan and Piccolo trained every day, sometimes with Krillin, but mostly alone. Tsuki would always accompany them, watching as her prodigal child became stronger and stronger with every passing day. There were no more incidents, and everything appeared normal. With each passing night, Tsuki began to feel ever stronger as the full moon neared.
But, as was always with the case of the Z Fighters, peace never lasted long.
An hour, just one more hour and Tsuki would return to her godly form. She felt strong and energized, her ki slowly coming back to her the closer to noon.
"Why noon, Lady?" Gohan asked.
"Noon is the start of a new day in the Heavens," Tsuki explained.
"Oh, okay. That's fascinating."
A knock sounded at the door.
Piccolo stiffened at his seat. He didn't recognize the ki...
"I got it! Coming!" Gohan called.
"Gohan, don't open the door!" Piccolo called out, too late. Gohan opened the door, and as soon as he did, he was blasted back into the opposite wall. A figure walked in, confident, pompous...
"Amat," Tsuki whispered.
Piccolo made to attack him, but before he could, the god stretched his hand out and immobilized the three occupants of the house.
"Oh yes, dear sister. Tell me, how was your stay in the mortal world? Was it everything you dreamed it would be? How does it feel to be so helpless, knowing that in just this hour, you are still helpless, while I set out to destroy everything you so desperately sought to protect?"
He lifted his hand and slowly, Gohan's body began to move towards him. The boy strained against the bonds, but to no avail.
"Let me go! Let me go!" he shouted. "Mr. Piccolo!"
Piccolo wasn't having any better luck, and he snarled. "Let him go!"
"No, I do believe my boy and I have some important work to do. Stick around," he teased, laughing manically as he and Gohan disappeared.
"Gohan!" Piccolo shouted, struggling valiantly against the bonds.
"There is no use, Piccolo. It won't release until he bids it," Tsuki said.
"He has Gohan, Tsuki! HE HAS HIM!"
"And there is nothing we can do! We must wait until he either releases us, or I become a goddess once more. We are trapped until then."
"Where is he taking him?"
"I do not know. Search your ki. Do you feel them?"
Piccolo grumbled and reached out, honing in on the boy immediately. "Oh, shit."
"What?"
"Vegeta and Krillin are headed their way. And Bulma is with them."
"No. No no no. They're under Amat's influence. He's going to make Gohan kill them."
"Put me down!" Gohan said when Amat landed in the desert.
"Oh, shut up. That gets annoying after the first time, you know," Amat said dismissively. "Now, they should be here by now... ah, there they are."
"There who are?"
"Your dear friends," Amat said as Bulma, Vegeta, and Krillin landed before them. It was obvious they were under the same influence as Gohan was. Vegeta and Krillin were struggling, and Bulma looked close to tears.
"Why are they here?" Gohan demanded. "Take them home!"
"Oh, no no, dear boy. You see, you are going to kill them. Oh, don't worry, I'll give them a sporting chance to fight back."
"I would never kill my friends! Never! You might as well kill me instead!" Gohan spat.
"See, I'd like to, really, I would, but you need to do this first. And you don't have a choice. I will make you."
"You can't make m-" Gohan was cut-off by Amat's hand on his head.
"You are my son, child. I may not be able to completely take you over, but I can influence what you do enough to get what I want. There we go." Suddenly, the four were no longer bonded. "Kill them, boy. Kill them."
And, unbidden, Gohan's hand raised and ki began to glow. He began to panic, but could do nothing. "No! NO! RUN! RUN AWAY FROM ME!" he cried.
"V-Vegeta... our baby..." Bulma whimpered.
"Run, woman! Run!" Vegeta hissed, urging her to go. Bulma turned and fled. Distracted by the movement, Gohan turned in her direction and prepared to fire. At that moment, Vegeta charged him and knocked him off balance with a kick to the neck. Krillin came into the fray as well, and soon Gohan was fighting both of them. Tears streamed down his face as he cried, unable to stop his body from landing the hits and firing the blasts.
"Run, oh please, run!" he cried. "I don't want you to die! Please, make me stop! I'll do anything to make you stop! I can't do this, please!" Gohan begged of Amat, who watched with no compassion. Gohan made contact with Krillin's cheek, sending the monk spiraling away. Vegeta picked up his slack, punching Gohan in the stomach.
Gohan then, unbidden, crashed his elbow into Vegeta's head, knocking him out.
"VEGETA!" Krillin shouted, rebounding and making for Gohan.
"Krillin, don't! Please, don't!" Gohan cried. His hand came up, alit with ki. "Don't!" And with that, he let the blast fly, and it found its home in Krillin's chest. "KRILLIN! NO!"
Sobbing now, Gohan turned to the still unconscious Vegeta and prepared another blast to finish the Saiyan off. "Please...no..."
Suddenly, Gohan was knocked to the ground, a heavy weight on his chest. He pushed the offender off, and scrambled to his feet, only to come face to face with Piccolo.
"KILL ME! Mr. Piccolo, please kill me! Before I kill you!"
Suddenly, Tsuki appeared, and Amat's smugness changed.
"Wish granted," he said, and laughed cruelly as he disappeared.
Gohan's hand then changed position, aiming itself at his chest. It began to alight...
"Gohan, no..."
And fired.
"GOHAN!"
The boy fell to the ground.
Piccolo and Tsuki skidded to the ground next to his unconscious body. Behind them, Vegeta sat up woozily. He looked around and when his eyes landed on Krillin's form, he pushed himself up and ran to him. Bulma came out from her hiding place and ran to the group.
"Are they still alive?" she whispered in despair.
"They will not make it," Tsuki said softly.
Vegeta kneeled beside Krillin and pulled his head onto his knees. Krillin smiled weakly up at him. "Hey, I never thought this would have happened, what with how we met and all, but, I'm really glad we became friends. You're a good guy."
"Will a senzu bean not fix this?" Vegeta called to Tsuki in exasperation.
"No. Gohan is the offspring of a god. There is no healing a wound created by a god."
"So they're just going to die?" Bulma cried. "There's nothing you can do? What about the dragon balls on Namek?"
"They were destroyed when Namek was destroyed and Guru died before he could make more. There are no dragon balls."
Piccolo stood from Gohan, suddenly beside himself. He let out a roar of frustration and despair, falling to his knees. His shoulders heaved a few times, his chest tight. There was no bringing the boy back this time. A few tears began to run down his cheeks.
"Oh, Piccolo," Bulma whispered. She bent down and wrapped her arms around her shoulders and cried against his back, her tears staining his gi. Surprisingly, he did not push her away, or even shift.
"I... I can heal him," Tsuki said suddenly.
"What?"
Piccolo scrambled to his feet and collapsed next to the boy.
"Piccolo, if I heal the boy, there are repercussions... Ones you must think strongly about," Tsuki said, resting a pale hand on Gohan's sweaty forehead.
"What do you mean?"
"If I heal him, I essentially am giving him part of my spirit. He will never be able to age. He will remain this nine year old boy forever. He will have to watch his friends age and die, and their children, and their children, while he never ages himself. He will never know the joys of having a family of his own. He is doomed to walk this planet as its guardian until she finally dies herself, or another being comes along and destroys him. Or until he can find a being as powerful, pure, and innocent as he is, willing to take the job. Only then, may he pass on into the Heavens of the Gods."
Piccolo furrowed his brow and looked hard at his dying pupil. "I...I don't know what he'd want," he said softly. "There's no other way?"
"No."
"How am I supposed to know what he'd want? This is a decision way beyond what a child his age should have to face!" he practically shouted in frustration, pounding the earth with his fist, creating a small crater.
"Look into his heart, Piccolo, and you'll find the answer. Should Gohan die now, Earth will die in just under a year because of what is to come. Should I heal him, Earth stands a fighting chance. Go ahead, place your hand over mine, and he will give you the answer. It's there, I can hear it, but I cannot tell you what it is."
Hesitantly, Piccolo reached out and placed his hand over the moon's. In a wave, everything transferred to him, making him dizzy. But there, deep in the influx, was the message.
Earth cannot die.
"Heal him," Piccolo said finally.
"Alright," she whispered. She placed her hands over his heart and a white light covered them both. Slowly, the wound on Gohan's chest disappeared and his eyes fluttered open. He bolted upright, and without a word, ran to where Krillin and Vegeta were. He dropped to his knees beside Vegeta.
"Krillin?" he whimpered.
"Hey there, kid," Krillin said weakly, though he smiled. "Glad to see you're okay."
"I don't want to be okay. I want you to be okay!" Gohan sobbed. Behind him, Piccolo and Bulma approached, Bulma kneeling beside him.
"Hey Bulma. I'll...I'll tell the fellas and Chi-Chi hello for you."
"Oh, Krillin..." Bulma cried. "I love you."
"I love you guys too. See... you...around."
And he was gone.
Okay, so, I know, I know. How DARE I? I promise, there is a point to this, and this won't be the very last time we see Krillin.