A/N: This chapter is in The Ox King's point of view.

The key for this chapter (so to avoid confusion):

Italic: Means flashback

Bold and Italic: Song lyrics

Underlined: This means a memory/flashback

On the last note: I hope you enjoy the chapter!

I have always been the kind of person who will fight for the right cause. Of course those days are over. I am not fighter I used to be. I wish I had not harmed or had killed people years ago. I guess I have Goku to thank for that one.

After that incident, I decided I would not fight. Sure I have the strength to do so, but I didn't want to hurt anyone. That I can understand very well. But also, I didn't want to encourage my daughter to hurt people and I was getting too old for fighting.

People like Master Roshi could fight on for years. You need a passion for it; you need an absolute drive. After I realised the damaged I caused, I decided, I'd only fight back unless provoked or to protect the ones I love.

Gohan's a lot more similar to me than he will realise. He's afraid to hurt, except he is like Goku in more ways than he realises. He is gentle and doesn't and will not hurt the innocent. He only fights back when provoked.

Of course now Gohan has this gloomy look in his eyes. I remain with that look, however his is haunted. When you are the son of a strong and happy man, you would reside his traits and not contradict them.

My poor grandson, he has been looking at me with haunted eyes for the past seven years. The words haven't escaped his mouth 'help me', but his eyes scream out those very words.

It was so hard to look at him when he got home that day. He just stared at me and couldn't speak. He felt a big part of himself missing; I tried to prevent this from happening, but my words didn't reach him.

And then I came to visit later on that week…

Siting along in the sunlight he stood. His eyes were darkly hidden even though it was so bright. I don't know why this scene looked so depressing. The words he sung, bought shivers to my bones; not because it sounded beautiful, but the words were of pain; his pain that he hadn't expressed to anyone. He would smile and say he was okay with it all, how long does he expect me to fall of that? Well certainly not me.

This is not how someone is supposed to grieve.

"I never wanted you to go
So much you could've taught me still
But you left me here to stand
No longer can you take my hand"

I hear his words, he unlike anyone else I know can sing. I however have never heard him sing since he was a small boy. Who knew that my grandson could sing? Probably no-one…

I understand Goku was staying away for the sake of the planet, but Gohan is just a child. He shouldn't be forced to grow even more than he has in the past year and a bit. It's only been a week and Chi-Chi still doesn't get what has happened or how Goku's actions are really affecting Gohan.

I feel the shivers increasing around my body. His words are full of such angst; I can't believe no-one has noticed. And his voice, no-one knows he can sing. Probably my grandson has never sung for anyone or probably he never knew he had a beautiful voice.

It's hard to believe, I forgot that my wife could sing so beautifully. The words she sung came to life; it's something I think that might have skipped a generation. Chi-Chi doesn't sing, she seems to refuse it. I haven't heard her sing since she was a small child and when she was adult, the closest thing was her humming.

From humming alone, you can't tell if someone can sing. And when my wife passed I remember Chi-Chi refused to sing, and that was her way of dealing with it. After the death of my wife I haven't heard her since. What Chi-Chi didn't realise is that it is a stress outlet.

"You would me hold tight
When I was full of fright
And chase the fears in my mind away
You're the only one who stayed"

Goku didn't realise the implications of staying dead. Sure, Goku is the most selfless person I know, besides his son of course, but he didn't think of what might happen he was gone. Wasn't staying to watch his son grow up enough for him? It shouldn't have mattered if the bad guys would come or not, everyone would have been able to handle it.

Family isn't the liability; it is what makes us stronger. I think somewhere along the way Goku forgot that. There may be danger, but the role he gave Gohan now in case of emergency is a whole lot more bigger than the one he gave him when he was alive.

"You love me
More than words can convey
You taught me to be brave
To believe I am capable of anything"

I remember when you were so small Gohan. You would always chase after your father. He made your worries go away and he would always be there.

You had so much courage when you came back home after being in the wilderness. You came back and you had changed so much. It wasn't your appearance, it was your heart. You weren't allowing others to help you so much.

Saying you could 'do it myself' was a shock to me and you mother. Your father on the other hand was gobsmacked. He, I remember came up to me and wondered what happened to his 'little boy'. He felt so uncomfortable around Chi-Chi to ask her.

"Gohan let's get you cleaned up." Goku suggested as he entered the door from the first day of training. Of course Gohan was covered in mud and had gone a bit too far with training considering he was moaning.

"Dad, I can do it." Gohan fussed as he moved away from his Father quickly. My grandson was becoming more independent and less reliant on others. A boy his age shouldn't be though.

"But son – you're filthy." Goku argued and tried to reason with my grandson.

"Gohan go have a shower," I made my voice known. Gohan exited the room with notable pain. I spoke and turned to Goku, "he knows how to do a lot you know. When he came back from Namek, he kept refusing help from Chi-Chi too, not just you."

"Why?" Goku asked at me with sad eyes, "He still so small."

"Remember what you have told Gohan?" I reminded Goku.

"About his size?" Goku questioned.

"Yes," I nod, "that size doesn't matter. You've told him he is capable of anything. This honestly is easier than fighting Goku, my boy."

"He is growing up way too fast." Goku cried out, "What happened to my little boy?" He murmured to himself.

"Why aren't you having this conversation with Chi-Chi?" I asked in curiosity.

"Cos I am try to be the strong one. I don't get it though, he was so small before and now he can hold his own most of the time." Goku sighed.

"Why do you think Chi-Chi tried to stop him fighting? She doesn't want Gohan to grow up too quickly. But no matter what we say or do, Gohan's heart does what it wants. There is no point in not letting him have his desires; he only wants to help others. It's not in any way selfish." I argue trying to keep my voice down. I don't want Gohan to hear, and I'm lucky Chi-Chi is at the store.

"What am I going to do?" Goku asked me with fear.

"Teach him what you know. Make him the best fighter you can, that way he becomes a better fighter and the doubt we all see in him will eventually go away. I know he doesn't believe in himself much, try and teach him he can rely on his abilities." I smiled with encouragement.

"Daddy!" We heard Gohan call.

"What is it?" Goku yelled across the house.

"I need your help." Gohan comes into the room.

"What is it son?" Goku bent down in front of his son.

"I can't tie my gi up." I saw tears coming out of Gohan's eyes. I can't tell if it is embarrassment or what it is, "I'm so sorry Daddy. I wanted to do it myself, but I couldn't and Mum normally helps me"

Goku wiped his sons tears away, "Its okay Gohan, you can't do everything yourself." He ties up Gohan gi.

"We all need help sometimes Gohan." I smiled, "there's no shame in it. Plus you're still really young."

"Son, I know you want help, but we don't expect anyone to do things all by themselves. Getting help from others makes us stronger." Goku ruffled my grandson's wet hair.

"You filled my heart with so much love
And now you can no longer speak to me
With words you would say to me
There is no comfort now
I'm just stuck telling myself lies
Stuck awake at night"

How could he just leave? I actually feel some resentment. The words he is saying, he shouldn't feel. Gohan shouldn't even be hurting at all; he should be rejoicing because of his accomplishments.

It really wouldn't surprise me, if Gohan didn't have the will to fight again. How can you, when you have lost that you held dear?

"Yelling at an empty space
Where words no longer reach
'Save me now' I scream
You won't hear me
I've shut myself out
No longer able to control
What I can no longer hold"

His words are so strong; I feel tears coming from my eyes. Why did my son-in-law decide to leave his only son?

I wish I could hold you now, my grandson, but you won't allow anyone to see you cry or in any pain. You only allowed Goku near you in those times of needs, why must you shut everyone else out?

Gohan, if only you could see how much we all love you. Please, come to me, your Mum or anyone. All we want to do is help! If only I could admit is vocally to him…

"Stare at me with wide eyes
I'm your 'supposed' hero
I can't be the person I once was
I can't save the planet
Or save myself
When I don't know how
Will you one day hear me out!"

Goku, your son is only eleven. How could you just leave him? I would never have left my daughter, even if it was to protect the planet. Stuff it; the rules! Break them! You're supposed to when you love somebody so much! Your son loves you unconditionally.

If I had the power as you did or even compared to your abilities, it wouldn't be my child versus the planet, I would hands down pick my child. I want to be there for them, no matter the circumstance. I need to protect them and I think you forgot that Goku, that Gohan needs protecting as he is only a child!

"You say you're proud
But have you heard me out?
I still feel so small
How can I do this by myself?"

See he is calling for you! You said you would never leave him. Something bad is going to happen when you're gone Goku and it won't be reversible. You are being dense my son, I thought you knew what there needed to be known about a family and you broke the first rule: never abandon them.

You left to fight, I know it. Gohan knows it, but he blames it on the fact, he believes he thinks he killed you. In which he did not, and you should be here convincing him otherwise and of course you are not.

"Yelling to empty winds
Falling from grace
Help me face the world ahead
I feel so scared and alone
You were once their
But now you're gone
Leaving me to grow up
Without you
If only you knew I wasn't okay"

Oh Goku, if only you knew. It will be too late. And your little boy is crying out for help; for you. Come to your senses son please…

"Maybe you would come back
One day."

"Gohan!" He sees me as I walk up to him, "are you okay?"

"No, Grandpa I am not." His cries and jumps into my arms, "I won't be me anymore."

"What you mean?" I ask.

"It's happening and I can't stop it," He buries himself tighter into my body, "I wish I could stop it."

I held him, I knew he needed it. He held in the tears for the sake of others for days. And not once in over the years I had I seen him cry, only in front of Goku, he was ever comfortable to do so.

I don't know what has made Gohan, my grandson the person he is today, but I know that it is not him. It is like it is some imposter, it's like he is missing apart of himself.

What I didn't realise was it was already too late at that period of time, when he was upset, but now… it is too late. I know in my gut, something is wrong; terribly wrong. The sad thing is no-one has really noticed.

When people perceive others in a particular way, they hold certain image. And the picture Gohan projected was painted image everyone wanted to see. They never suspected anything and most of all; I regret it with all my heart: not saying a word when I knew from the beginning something was very much wrong.

Here's this chapter (which should've been uploaded awhile ago). This song lyrics are my own that I made up for the purpose of this chapter for this story. I hoped you liked them and the chapter overall, of course. If you want to see more of my own original stuff the link to my deviantart is on my profile.

And big thanks to ahsokazami2001 for following/favouriting this story!

Thank you for viewing/reading,

Pink Sparkles :)