As Krillin's body faded away, Gohan's chest began to heave rapidly, trying desperately to hold in his sobs. Once it was completely gone, the dam broke, and the tears ran rampant.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he cried.
Vegeta huffed and stood, turning his back to everyone, his head down. "Come, Bulma," he said, jerking his head at her.
Bulma looked up at him in shock. "But, Vegeta, we can't just leave Gohan like this..."
"Yes, we can," Vegeta replied gruffly.
Gohan's huge eyes fixed on Vegeta. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he sobbed. "I didn't mean... I didn't want... I'm sorry!" His forehead touched the ground as he pulled himself into a small ball, his shoulders shaking.
Vegeta looked at him for a long, hard moment, saying nothing. Finally, he walked over to Bulma and pulled her to her feet gently, taking her in his arms and lifting off, flying home.
As soon as they were out of sight, Piccolo knelt beside Gohan and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. Gohan lifted his head to look at him, before diving into his lap, burying his face in the Namekian's chest, great, heaving sobs wracking his body. Piccolo placed one hand on top of Gohan's head and his other arm around his torso, holding him close. He looked around, not spotting Tsuki anywhere. He sighed.
"Why? Why didn't you kill me?" Gohan asked brokenly between his sobs.
Piccolo didn't answer. Didn't have an answer. Instead, he remained silently, opting to instead pull him closer. Gohan sank into him for a moment before struggling weakly out of his arms.
"No! Why didn't you kill me? I asked you to! I begged you! And now Krillin is dead, Mr. Piccolo! He's dead, and he can never come back! I KILLED HIM!" he screamed, his ki swirling around him as he cried.
"Gohan, you didn't mean it. You were forced-"
"And then when I was dying, you had the opportunity to save him! And you didn't! You chose me! I DIDN'T WANT TO BE SAVED!"
Piccolo began to get angry as well, standing. "What would you have me do, hm? You heard what Tsuki said. Earth would have died in a year if you died today. You told me to save you!" he snapped. "You chose one evil over the other, there was nothing you could do about it." He softened then. "One life for those of many."
"It's not fair!" Gohan screamed, stomping his foot, causing several cracks to form.
"I know," Piccolo said softly. "I know it's not."
"I... I just want Krillin back. A-And... and... Mr. Piccolo, I don't want to be a kid forever!"
Piccolo stepped up to him then, drawing him close again. "I know you don't. Come, it's best not to dwell. Let's go home."
Gohan simply nodded, hopping up and slinging his arms around Piccolo's neck. In truth, he was exhausted. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Amat's presence in hi had drained him in all senses of the word, and he found he just did not have the strength to fly home. Piccolo seemed to understand, putting a supporting arm behind the boy's back, before rising and taking flight for the small home.
Gohan did not speak the whole way, clinging to his mentor. Upon arrival, Piccolo took them straight into the bedroom. As he tried to set Gohan on the bed, the boy pulled him down with him. The Namekian sighed, but lay down without fuss, allowing the boy to cuddle up to his chest. He rested an arm around his small body after pulling the blankets up over the both of them. Jade snuggled against Gohan's back, and it was there the trio stayed the rest of the day and through the night.
Gohan did not awaken the next day.
Early in the morning, Piccolo extracted himself carefully from the boy, taking care not to wake him. When his normal waking time came and passed, he thought nothing of it, chalking it up to the events of the previous day. But when the sun passed its noon point, he began to worry, and tried to rouse the child.
Nothing.
The one thing that kept him grounded was the fact Gohan was breathing.
He began trying to call upon Tsuki, but he received no answer. Frustrated, he paced the house, unsure of what to do.
Finally, he sank into a chair at the table, a hand to his head.
"Jade!" he barked. The cat came scampering out of the bedroom to sit at his feet, looking at him expectantly. "Contact your mistress. P-please. Something is wrong with Gohan," he finally said. "She will not answer me."
The cat mewed, and Piccolo wondered if she even understood what he had asked of her. Perhaps her abilities were only attuned to Tsuki.
But then, as if by some miracle, the space before him shimmered with ethereal light, and Tsuki appeared. She sank into the chair across from him without a word. Upon looking at her closely, he noticed her skin was paler, if at all possible. There were dark rings under her eyes. Her breathing was short, and her hands shook.
"What's wrong?" Piccolo asked before he could stop himself.
She looked up at him with dull eyes, though she smiled weakly. "I am very weak, Piccolo. Very weak indeed. Giving Gohan life... it drained life from me. A lot of my life, actually. I can barely see into the realms, can barely hear those who call to me. In short, I'm dying, my friend."
"What?"
"Do not worry. It will not yet be for some time. My life may be draining, but it is draining slowly. As I fade, Gohan's duties will start becoming more and more important. But we will cross that bridge when we get there."
"But... Gohan will not take over for you, will he? He will not become a god, right?"
"That's correct. I have yet to choose my replacement. I trust he or she will make him or herself known when the time is right."
"Choose? You mean, someone won't just inherit it?"
"No. I have no children, Piccolo. And I never will. There are no gods or goddesses left besides me and my brother. And illicit children, as you know, are forbidden. So, when the time comes, I'll have to choose."
"If your brother dies... if someone were to kill him somehow... would his powers go to Gohan?"
"No. He is an illicit child. It would be impossible."
"Good. I don't want the kid to have to deal with that."
"Nor do I. Now, what have you called me here for, my friend?"
"Something is wrong with Gohan, I think."
"Take me to him," Tsuki said. She tried getting out of her chair, but could not. Piccolo hesitantly went to her, grasping her hands and pulling her up to him. She leaned on his chest a moment before pulling away. Making sure she was steady on her feet, Piccolo walked slowly into the bedroom where Gohan lay, still sleeping. Tsuki sat on the bed beside him and placed her hand on his forehead.
The goddess looked up at him. "This is normal for what has occurred. His body is trying to adjust to its immortality. He will awake tomorrow, do not fear. But Piccolo, he will be very depressed when he does. You must be prepared. Get him out of bed, make him eat, make him drink. I know it sounds silly, having to make a Saiyan eat, but trust me."
"I understand."
"Good. I must leave now. Being out of the heavens drains me heavily, and I must limit my time here," she said. "Goodbye for now, Piccolo." And with that, she faded away.
"Goodbye, goddess," he said to thin air.
Morning came the following day and as the sun rose to its mid-morning point, Piccolo shook Gohan's shoulder.
"Don't wanna," Gohan mumbled, burying his face into his pillow.
"Gohan, you have to get up," Piccolo said.
"No I don't."
"Yes, you do. Come, let's get you breakfast. You must be hungry."
"Not at all."
"Gohan, you have to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not. Now go away," Gohan said angrily.
Piccolo sat on the edge of the bed heavily, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. At first, Gohan tried to shrug him off, but he held firm, not budging. Finally, Gohan's body withered beneath him, and the boy began to cry.
"Gohan. Gohan, come on. You're going to make yourself sick," Piccolo said softly. But nothing would quell the boy's sadness, and he just curled in on himself.
Unsure of what to do, Piccolo let him be.
Three days.
Three days, and Gohan had not left his bed. He would not eat, he would not drink. Piccolo knew he had to follow Tsuki's orders, but the boy was beginning to become violent when pushed to do something, and Piccolo had already been knocked into a wall by a wave of energy sent by Gohan unwittingly.
Unsure now of what to do, and aware he was losing the boy more and more every day, Piccolo decided on a last-ditch attempt. In the middle of the day, he gathered Gohan up in his arms. It was a fight, but one Gohan gave up quickly. Piccolo cradled him to his chest and took to the sky, in the direction of Capsule Corp. Gohan huffed in anger, crossing his arms over his chest as he allowed Piccolo to carry him.
"Why are we going to Bulma's?" he asked.
"You won't eat on your own, so I need to do something."
"I'm not hungry," Gohan grumbled.
"So I've heard," Piccolo snapped in reply.
"Hmph."
"Hmph," Piccolo repeated, landing outside Capsule Corp. He knocked on the door and surprisingly, Vegeta answered. His face darkened as he caught sight of Gohan and he crossed his arms over his chest.
"What's wrong with him?" he snapped.
"Vegeta!" Bulma said, coming behind him. Her hand rested on his shoulder and she whispered in his ear. It was too quiet for Gohan to hear, but Piccolo heard her perfectly clear. "It was not his fault what happened to Krillin. Don't make him feel bad." Then, in a more normal tone: "Can you go check on Trunks, please?"
"Feh," Vegeta harrumphed, leaving them.
"Now, how can I help you?" she asked.
"Gohan... needs some help," Piccolo started.
"Okay, I'll do whatever I can. Gohan, what's wrong, honey?" she asked, looking at him. He gave her a noncommittal shrug, not speaking. "Here, Piccolo, why don't you set him on the couch for a minute and we'll talk in the kitchen."
Piccolo followed her inside, settling Gohan carefully on the couch before going into the kitchen. Bulma leaned against the counter, looking at Piccolo intently.
"So, what's wrong?"
"He's been really depressed. I can't get him out of bed, he won't eat, won't drink... he hasn't done anything in three days."
"Three days?" Bulma asked, shocked. "It's a miracle he's even conscious! Piccolo, this is really serious..."
"I'm aware."
"Why didn't you come sooner?"
"I didn't think being around Vegeta would be a good idea."
"Perhaps not, but... it's malnutrition, Piccolo! This isn't good."
"I've tried to get him to eat."
"I suppose I cannot fault you. You don't know how malnutrition works. Well, I suggest you stay here a couple days while I run an IV to him. We'll infuse some antidepressants in there as well, see if we can't improve his mood."
Piccolo grunted. "How long?"
"Until he gets his strength back to eat on his own. And when I'm convinced he'll actually eat on his own. Then, we can switch him onto pills if he still needs some mood stabilizers. And Piccolo, I'm warning you, he probably will. At least for a little while."
"I understand."
"Okay, good. Well, let's get him upstairs. Same room you two were in when he had the heart virus."
Piccolo nodded and the two returned to Gohan. Piccolo scooped him up again, and the three headed up the steps. Piccolo situated him on the bed while Bulma went to enlist Vegeta's help in gathering the IV supplies.
"Mr. Piccolo, I don't want to be here," Gohan said stubbornly.
"I know you don't. But you need to be," Piccolo replied.
"How long am I gonna be here?"
"Until Bulma says you're ready."
"Can Jade come?"
"Yes. I'll get her after we have you situated."
"Thank you, Mr. Piccolo."
"You're welcome, kid."
Bulma and Vegeta came in then, each carrying a component of the IV unit. Vegeta dropped his as soon as he could and made a hasty exit, not once glancing at the boy on the bed. Bulma sighed, putting the unit together, priming the tubing and adjusting the bags.
Gohan eyes the bag suspiciously. "What's in that?" he asked warily.
"Hm? Oh, some electrolytes, protein... stuff your body needs to function," Bulma explained, cleaning a spot on Gohan's elbow. She inserted the needle, pulling it out and leaving the tubing in. The bag started a slow drip, beginning to nourish Gohan drop by drop.
"How long do I need this?"
"That depends entirely on you, little man. Two days at least, and then we'll reevaluate, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks, Bulma."
"You're welcome, kiddo. I'll be right next door with Trunks if you need me. Just holler."
"Okay." Bulma left then, and Gohan turned his attention to Piccolo. "Can you go get Jade now, Mr. Piccolo?"
"Yes. I'll be right back."
"Okay, thanks."
Piccolo began to take his leave, and noticed fresh tears beginning to form in the corners of Gohan's eyes. He forced himself away, leaving the boy in his silence.