When the lightning still hadn't stopped after several moments, Gohan's frightened eyes met Tsuki's.
"What's happening?" he asked, unsure.
"It's alright, Gohan," she soothed.
"It won't stop."
"I know. You have to understand, Gohan, you are very small. And very young. This is a lot of power that's been unleashed. It doesn't know where to fit in you."
"You need to settle down," Old Kai spoke up. "You are afraid. That only makes it worse. Relax."
"I... can't..." he said, unclenching his fists. In that simple movement, a beam of ki shot at the trio before him, Shin barely deflecting it. His fear increased and, unable to stop himself, he began powering up again. His eyes squeezed shut and his fists clenched again as he tried to grab hold of himself.
A hand upon his head jolted him back to reality, and he opened his eyes to stare into Tsuki's cool blue ones.
"Relax, child. Tell me, what else does Piccolo do for this?" she asked, her fingers running through his hair as Piccolo had always done. Gohan closed his eyes and sighed. It was silent for some moments as Tsuki continued her ministrations. Finally, the lightning began to subside, his ki stabilizing. "Can you come down a level?" she asked quietly. When he shook his head, she pressed on, "What more do you need?"
"Ki. I need ki."
"You have more than enough available, in case you haven't noticed!" Old Kai said indignantly.
Shin smacked him upside the head. "Not helping," he growled.
"How much do you need?" Tsuki asked.
"Just a little, I think," Gohan answered.
Tsuki took a hand from his head and allowed a miniscule orb of ki to form. She placed it against his forehead as she had seen Piccolo do. The boy breathed in, accepting the energy into his body, and, after a few deep breaths, was able to bring himself down to Super Saiyan II, his hair turning golden once more. He opened his eyes at last.
"Better?"
"Yes, thank you," Gohan answered.
"If that's what happens every time you ascend, I'm thinking the Namekian is probably glad to have a little break from you!" Old Kai exclaimed.
Shin chuckled. "You should've seen him when he was first taught to tap into his ki. I think poor Piccolo went through...how many capes, Gohan?"
"Three," Gohan muttered, his head down. He was dimly aware of Shin still talking, but he had completely tuned out from it.
"Gohan? Are you alright?" Tsuki asked.
Gohan shook his head, bringing himself back to reality. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just...tired."
"Understandable. Well, why don't you take the rest of the day to rest and try to keep your ki in a manageable state? We can start training tomorrow. Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No. Just exhausted."
"Alright. Let Shin know if you get hungry. I do want you to eat something tonight so that you aren't weak tomorrow. I must go see to some things. I will see you tomorrow."
And then, she was gone.
"Here Gohan, take these," Shin said, producing some biscuits from his pocket. "They don't look like much, but there's a lot of nutrients in them. They taste pretty good too."
"I'm really not hungry."
"I know. But hang onto them for when you are. Why don't you go rest under those trees in the grove by the water and I'll come check on you later?"
"Okay," Gohan mumbled. He gathered a tiny amount of surface ki and allowed it to carry him to the grove.
As he left, he heard Old Kai say, "Come on Easty, let's go play a game! You have chess or something?"
"Gah!"
Gohan settled himself beneath a small, sturdy tree with pink blossoms and leaned heavily against it, closing his eyes.
Old Kai was right, Piccolo probably was glad to have a break from him. He knew he was dangerous. He'd injured both Piccolo and Vegeta. He'd killed Krillin. He had very little control of his ki. It seemed that sometimes Piccolo controlled his ki better than even he could.
And Piccolo shouldn't have to do that. He shouldn't have to worry that his student could self-destruct. And worse, self-destruct and take others out with him.
What if... what if Piccolo realized that his life was simpler, easier, without him in it? What if he didn't want Gohan to come home?
The idea made him absolutely sick.
It hit him then that he was being selfish. Selfish. He hadn't thought of it that way before. Piccolo had wanted to be rid of him from the beginning. He had wanted Gohan to go live with Bulma after the fight with Vegeta and Nappa. But he had asked, no begged, Piccolo to let him stay. To let him live with him. He'd basically forced Piccolo into a paternal role.
And the worst of it all? Piccolo was in danger. Had been in danger the moment he had taken Gohan. Amat was trying to kill him, and Piccolo put himself in harm's way time and again to protect his student. And he had never once complained about it, at least not in front of him.
Gohan felt tears burning behind his eyes, but refused to let them well up and fall. If, when returned home, Piccolo didn't want him, he wouldn't deny him that. He owed him that much and more. But where would he stay? Shin was afraid of him; he wouldn't want him living here. Tsuki was so busy all the time... she wouldn't even have time for him. He didn't even know if he could live in her realm.
Maybe the extra room at Bulma's? No, Vegeta hated him. No way he would allow someone he considered dangerous to live in the same house as his lover and child.
Maybe Kame House. He vaguely remembered where it was. Master Roshi and Oolong had long since passed. The house would be empty. He and Jade could live there.
Alone.
Where he would not be able to hurt anyone ever again.
Provided he lived through this.
He wasn't sure how long he was seated under that tree. Time did indeed flow differently here. It felt like an eternity.
Eternity.
That's how long he would be alive, provided Amat didn't kill him. Alone. While the thought had always terrified him, he had been depending upon the fact that Piccolo would at least be with him to prepare him for a couple hundred years or so. A couple hundred years in the scheme of eternity was nothing, but it had brought him a small measure of comfort...
A tiny, nearly insignificant flash of light followed by a howl of pain pulled him from his self-pity.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Old Kai's indignant voice practically shrieked. "You burned my tunic!"
"Don't touch me!" Shin shot back.
"You cheated!"
"I did no such thing! It's not my fault your old, decrepit mind can't remember where your pieces are on the board!"
Despite his sorrow, Gohan couldn't help but laugh. The exchange sounded very much like something Vegeta and Krillin would have had. And while that thought somewhat saddened him, it also made him think back on those happy, simpler times with fondness.
He must have laughed louder than he thought, because both Kais were headed toward him. Shin looked rather smug, and Old Kai greatly annoyed.
"May we sit with you?" Shin asked.
"Sure," Gohan replied.
"Did you eat yet?" Shin asked as he settled himself beside Gohan.
"No."
"It's been several hours. I think you should. You'll feel better," Old Kai said.
"I feel fine," Gohan muttered.
"You look exhausted," Shin pointed out. "Please, try to eat."
"You're a Saiyan! You should be excited by the prospect of food!" Old Kai exclaimed.
"Haven't been very hungry here. Tsuki said that might happen."
"Yes, but you've barely eaten in your time here, and now, with this huge influx, you really should," Shin pressed.
Gohan sighed. "Alright," he grumbled, taking the biscuits from his pocket. He nibbled on one, pleasantly surprised by the gingery taste. He did feel better. "So... what happened?" he asked, gesturing to the dark singe on Old Kai's tunic.
Old Kai shot a dark look at Shin. "Easty here decided to cheat and switched our pieces around on the chess board! I had my eyes closed for two seconds..."
"Uh, no. Your eyes were closed for at least three minutes. You were snoring. It's not my fault you forgot where your pieces were when I finally woke you!"
Old Kai ignored him. "And then, he had the audacity to use ki on me when I confronted him!"
"You chucked the whole board at me. And then shoved me. You deserved it," Shin said surprisingly evenly. He turned his attention to Gohan. "You know, it's funny you picked this tree to sit under. This is the very tree West used to sit under."
"Oh, my ring! If you can, I think my ring is still hidden! I buried it under the tree in the grove..."
Gohan's eyes widened and he jumped to his feet. "The ring! Her ring!" he exclaimed.
Shin got to his feet as well. "What? Who's ring?"
"West! I think it's her wedding ring or something! From Amat!" Gohan explained excitedly. "She said it was under the tree in the grove! She wanted me to get it. To give to Amat."
Old Kai stood as well. "Why would you do that? He's trying to kill you, or so I thought."
"I don't know. Maybe she thinks it will change him, or something. I doubt it, but I told her I would try," Gohan said. He looked at the base of the tree. "I don't even know where to begin digging..."
Old Kai made a loud ahem. "You know, I do happen to have access to magic. I can find it, no problem. If Easty apologizes."
"For the love of... I'm sorry for throwing ki at you. Now will you just find West's ring?" Shin asked, exasperated.
"That hardly seemed sincere..."
"If you don't do it soon, I'll add to the singe!" Gohan finally snapped, annoyed. Both Kais looked at him with some trepidation at his outburst.
"Well... fine," Old Kai relented. He closed his eyes for a few moments, screwing his nose up in concentration. He took a few steps to the left, then one to the right, before tapping at the ground with his toes. "Here, it's right here. About six inches down."
"Thank you," Gohan said, dropping to his knees in the appointed spot. He looked at his hand, and ever so carefully, summoned a minute amount of ki. Carefully, he held it over the ground, allowing it to begin to burrow in, carefully keeping it controlled.
There.
A small glint shown through the dirt, reflecting the shine of the ki. Gohan quickly extinguished the ki, grabbing the ring, freeing it from the dirt.
It was a very pretty ring, Gohan decided. The band was woven silver, and in the very center there was a tiny golden gem, reminiscent of the sun's brilliance.
"Amat's promise ring to her. She loved that ring so much..." Shin reminisced.
"Here, keep it safe," Old Kai said, conjuring a silver chain and handing it to Gohan. The boy took it, sliding the ring on it and carefully clasping the chain around his neck. The ring settled right in the center of his chest. He tucked it into his gi to keep it close.
"He's going to be trying to kill me."
"Trust your strength, and do not be afraid of yourself..."
Gohan looked up with determination on his face, his hair beginning to turn raven.
"I'm ready to start training."
Piccolo and Vegeta broke apart after an intense sparring session. After they'd had their outburst, the two had come to an understanding, and became civil towards one another. Oh, the sarcasm and jibes were still there, but their sparring was more controlled. More constructive than destructive.
Vegeta sat heavily on the floor, stretch his legs out. Piccolo opted to do the same, mirroring the Saiyan. Funny, he had seen Gohan, Vegeta, and Krillin do this all the time, yet he had never tried it himself. His limbs were different. He could hyperextend them if needed, so stretching was rarely a concern. But, it did feel good, he decided.
Vegeta leaned back on his hands. "So, tomorrow marks a week. The kid comes home tomorrow, yeah?"
"Yes."
"Good. You never were exactly a ray of sunshine before, but you've been downright depressing to be around since he's been gone. It's annoying. You're not as on your game sparring. The kid being home had better make you get back to normal. You spar better when you're an asshole."
Piccolo grunted. He may not be staying home...
"Think he learned anything of actual value?" Vegeta mused. "He's been gone a week... he better have."
"He's with a kai and a goddess. Of course he learned something. He'll probably be a whole new person when he comes ho-back. When he comes back."
He refused himself to say home. Gohan wasn't coming home. His home was likely with the kai and goddess now.
I'll be alone again.
"Excellent!" East exclaimed as the raging winds died down around them.
Gohan stood before the kais and Tsuki, fully powered up. It had taken a while, but now... now he was fully in control. Shin no longer appeared to be afraid of him, and Tsuki appeared to be proud.
"Well, I'd say your training is done here," she said. "Do you want to go home, Gohan?"
Home.
Piccolo wouldn't want him anymore. Not after seeing this version of him.
"Yes," he said meekly.
"I thought you'd be jumping at the chance to get back to Piccolo," Shin mused.
"I'm just... exhausted," Gohan lied.
Tsuki looked t him appraisingly. "Well, come then. Let's get you back to Piccolo. Come child, take my hand."
Gohan gingerly took the proffered hand in his. He waved half-heartedly at the kais, and then, just like that, he was outside his home.
A crashing sound came from within, and suddenly the door slammed open. Piccolo nearly stumbled out as Jade dashed between his legs, making a beeline for Gohan. The cat jumped into his waiting arms, and Gohan held her close. He looked up at his mentor with big eyes, waiting for him to say something.
"Hello, Gohan," Piccolo said, his voice formal, hardly welcoming.
He doesn't want me here.
"Hello, Mr. Piccolo," Gohan replied stiffly.
He doesn't want to stay here.
I'm so sorry this took so damn long. I work two jobs and have barn stuff to attend to as well. Time is limited. However, my district is on Spring Break, and the next chapter is already in the works!