Disclaimer: Do not owm.
What's worse than spending time with your family that you ran away from years ago?
Turtle neck sweaters.
They are itchy, worse than being covered in bug bites. The light fabrics felt like they were crawling on Gohan's body, and it felt like thousands of little critters all over his chest and arms. Goku wore one as well, and he couldn't stop itching his back. Whoever created such an item should burl in HFIL. Goten was the lucky one. He wore a cute, emerald green vest and white shirt. Gohan and Goku were the ones who were suffering.
"Is everyone ready," Chi-Chi asked as she finished putting in her earrings Goku and Goten got her. She wore a red, sleeves dress and a black cover up. She buttoned up her winter coat, and put on her fuzzy black boots.
"I'm ready," Goten said slipping into his dress shoes. Gohan was too busy scratching his arms, and Goku was using the door frame to scratch his back.
"What are you two doing," Chi-Chi exclaimed.
"They're itchy," both whined. Gohan rolled his eyes and shook his head. He was acting too much like Goku it was scaring him.
"They make you look handsome, and Boss didn't bring any nice shirts. You two look cute with your matching sweaters!"
Cute wasn't the word. Ever since this morning Gohan and Goku have been doing things was too identical. They both grabbed the same piece of bacon, they both attacked the butter, and even had a stare down of who goes to the bathroom first. It was an endless game of rock, scissor, and paper before Chi-Chi reminded Goku that Boss was a guest. Now they were wearing matching sweaters, same red color, and black slacks. The only difference was Gohan wore black boots while Goku has dressy shoes. At least their shoe size was different.
"Do we have to wear these," Goku whined. "I can't stop itching!"
"Then wear a t-shirt underneath like Boss."
"It's eating through the shirt! I can feel it crawling down my butt," Gohan exclaimed. Goten laughed as Gohan dug his nails into his backside. Chi-Chi playfully hit Gohan on the shoulder.
"You two are fine. We better leave now or we'll be late."
Nimbus was waiting outside for Gohan to hop on. Soon the family, and Boss, were up in the air. Goku held Chi-Chi bridal style as they flew through the sky, and Goten flew next to Gohan on Nimbus. Things were going well. The cold wind wasn't bothering anyone, they were laughing, and it wasn't until Gohan looked down that he knew where he was.
Not thinking, which is normal for Gohan, he jumped off of Nimbus. Goku gasped, and quickly placed Chi-Chi on Nimbus.
Gohan was casually falling down, arms out, and getting closer to the ground. He suddenly stopped falling, and looked up to see Goku holding him underneath his arms.
"I know these sweaters are uncomfortable, but jumping off Nimbus won't make the sweater better," Goku said. "You can't fly. How did you think you would land?"
"Fear," Gohan answered. "It worked before!"
"We can try it when we're not up so high. Why did you jump?"
Gohan pointed to the ground.
"I want to visit Mu-Ma and TJ. They would kill me if I flew over them and didn't say hi."
Goku looked down at the ground. Even though it was dark out Goku could see the cemetery below. Goten and Nimbus flew next to Goku and Gohan.
"Aw, I wanted to see Boss go splat," Goten said with a frown.
"Wouldn't that be the coolest," Gohan exclaimed, a huge smile on his face. Chi-Chi put her hand on her forehead and shook her head.
Once they safely landed, Gohan looked around.
"I usually enter through the gate," he looked around "but it's too dark to find it."
"No problem," Goku said as he transformed into a super saiyan.
"Is Goku always the life of the party," Gohan asked Chi-Chi. "He seems to be the light of your life. Hey I see the gate!"
Goten laughed as he followed Gohan. Chi-Chi quickly grabbed his sleeve and stopped him.
"If he wants us to follow he'll let us know," Chi-Chi said. She watched as Gohan stood in front of a grave, and stole the flowers on it. He went to another grave and stole a flower in a pot. "I can't believe he did that."
Goku laughed on the sidelines.
Gohan reached the two graves. One was a dirt mound that barely had any grass on it. The other had snow that never melted, and dead grass poking through the ground. He squatted on the ground, and placed the pot on TJ's grave.
"For the pot head," Gohan said. He then put the bouquet of flowers on Mu-Ma's grave. He looked at them both, and proceeded to sit on the ground. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit up three. He poked a hole by each name plate, and stuck a lit cigarette in them. "Merry Christmas and what not. It wouldn't be Christmas without someone stealing a gift."
Gohan chuckled to himself as he flicked off some ash. He looked at the empty block next to Mu-Ma's grave.
"Dr. Barns said I don't have much time left. There's a procedure that they can do, but it's too expensive. I can never afford it, and even if I could I don't know how my lungs would survive afterwards. They're broken beyond repair, but Dr. Barns said that my body could repair any damages. It's in my blood, you know? Speaking of blood, I'm spending the holidays with my real folks, Goku and Chi-Chi."
Gohan heard something, and so did Goku.
"Is it just me, or does it sound like someone laughing," Goku asked.
"I don't hear anything," Chi-Chi answered.
Gohan inhaled his cigarette.
"Laugh all you want, I will be seeing you soon," Gohan continued. His brother could be a real turn sometimes. "I would introduce you, but you've already met. Except you TJ, I'm not bringing them over here to introduce your butt."
A breeze crept through Gohan's turtle neck, and down his back.
"That's what you get for laughing." Gohan put out his cigarette on the ground. He blew out the remaining smoke. He stood up, and put his hands in his jacket pocket. "You know, holidays would be a lot easier if you two didn't die so close to them. It's really hard to look forward to a holiday when everyone you loved died. Thanksgiving sucked this year, and Mu-Ma and I were just getting into the Christmas spirit. The nearest holiday I'll be dying near is my birthday. Way to keep up with the family tradition huh?"
Gohan could feel his eyes start to water.
"I'm scared. I don't want to die. I have so many people here I are for, and even though I know I would see you guys in the afterlife…" Gohan used his sleeve to wipe his face, "but I care about them too much. Toki, the band, and Videl. It's been a long time since I fell in love, and I don't want to break her heart the way you guys did to mine. So why…why was I so selfish?"
T'was two weeks before Christmas, and all though the house
Boss was hungry, and TJ needed to catch a mouse
Mu-Ma sat on the couch, sipping her scotch on the rocks
As TJ stayed by the mouse hole, waiting to hit the mouse with his socks
The mouse escaped, and TJ jumped in the air
Mu-Ma looked at him, wondering how she raised such a wimp
"Just let the damn thing run into the mouse trap," Mu-Ma yelled. "There's a reason why we have them."
"That would be fine and dandy if your second son didn't put them in my bed," TJ yelled. Gohan was sitting next to Mu-Ma on the couch. His stomach began to growl.
"Can we make some cookies," Gohan asked. TJ walked over and sat between Gohan and Mu-Ma.
"You already ate everything in the house, so you're just gonna have to starve like the rest of us," TJ said. He folded his arms. "Besides, old lady here smells like booze. She can't drive."
"But you have a license," Gohan said. His uncontrollable hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Three pieces of hair stood up, similar to his biological father's hair style. Mu-Ma reached over and patted Gohan on the head.
"It's snowing outside, and there are crazy drivers on the road," she said. "Once the weather gets better we can bake some cookies."
"We can be baked as we bake cookies," TJ said as he pulled a joint of out his ear.
"Last time we did that we cooked the butter, and poured flour down the drain," Gohan said. Mu-Ma shot a glance over at TJ.
"When I asked you about that you said you burnt your ramen noodles," Mu-Ma said. TJ sat there, contemplating his next move. "Is that why the kitchen sink wouldn't drain?"
"We can get ingredients for cookies," Gohan offered. "A car ride, miles away from home, and we can get saran wrap in case Mu-Ma tries to hit us with her super soaker."
"But I hate driving in the snow," TJ whined. He looked over at his mother; she was waiting for an answer. "I'll get back to you after we get eggs."
"Yes!"
Gohan and TJ both got up from the couch, and headed towards the door.
"Be careful," Mu-Ma shouted as the door slammed shut.
The snow was getting worse. TJ had his wipers on high, but it still felt like he was driving through space at light speed. The roads were barely plowed, but the two were lucky not to have many other cars on the road.
"These better be some good cookies we bake when we get home," TJ said.
"I'll let you know after I eat them all," Gohan said with a smile.
"I would hit you, but I'm too busy driving in this stupid weather. If we crash I'm blaming you."
"We'll be fine as long as you don't mistaken a snow pile for a slushy machine."
"That happened once, and I could get to it because of the giant turtle."
Gohan chuckled, and made himself more comfortable in his seat. He put his feet up, and his hands behind his head.
"So are you going to pop the question to Denise," Gohan asked. Both he and TJ were not wearing seatbelts. Gohan didn't worry about it since he was not easily hurt, and TJ just didn't wear them.
"I'm thinking after the holidays. Knowing my luck she'll say yes, and if things go sour she'll say her ring was a gift," TJ said.
"You should take Whitebeard Ave. It will get us to the store quicker." TJ went up a small ramp.
"Man, this road is bad. Aw, they closed the left lane. I hate driving near the guardrail."
"Then don't drive so close to it."
"Listen hear smart ass, when you get your license you are going to have driving fears as well," TJ said. "One day I'm going to want something, and you'll going to have to drive me around. I'll make sure it's in a blizzard too Gohan."
Gohan stuck out his tongue.
"Whatever Tai."
TJ stuck his tongue out at Gohan.
What happened next was sudden. TJ was driving a curb, and a semi was coming down. Before anyone could react, the semi hit the car dead on. The back of the car went through the guardrail, and fell down a cliff. It roll over the rocks until it finally crashed on the ground below. The semi went through the guardrail as well, and demolished into pieces as it fell.
Moments later, Gohan started to regain conscious. He was thrown out of the car, and found himself alone in a snow back. Something wasn't right. His throat was burning, and he couldn't breathe. He tried to speak, and blood came pouring out of his mouth. His was in pain, and it was in his chest. Gohan stood up, trying to breathe, and he needed to find TJ.
Gohan noticed the semi not too far from him. It was completely destroyed, and he didn't know if the driver of the semi survived. Right now he needed to find TJ, but he was in bad shape. Gohan coughed some more, and air was not getting into his body. Was he going to die, like this? He swallowed some saliva, or blood, and it burned.
"T-TJ," Gohan spoke, but it only made things worse. He felt light headed, and his legs were getting cold. This wasn't normal, and whatever happened to him was happening internally. Besides some minor scratches he was okay, but whatever was inside of him was tearing his body apart.
Gohan took a few more steps before collapsing onto the ground. He lifted up his head, and screamed.
He found TJ, neck sliced open, body mangled, and shattered pieces of glass in his face and body. His head was turned the other way, But Gohan could see most of the injuries.
'Oh no,' Gohan thought, his vision fading. 'Mu-Ma…'
"I'm so sorry," Gohan's voice cracked. A single tear ran down his cheek.
Goku and Chi-Chi felt something in their chest. They looked at each other then back at Boss.
"Poor guy," Chi-Chi said, clasping a piece of her wrap. Goku held Chi-Chi closer, questioning the pain he felt in his heart.
"I'll try to visit before I croak, but it really won't matter since I'll be seeing you guys soon."
Gohan quickly wiped his face with his jacket. He took a few breaths and used his hand to fan his face. He reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a compact mirror, and looked fairly decent. The bags under his eyes weren't as pretty, but he'll be going to a place where they have beer, and that perked his spirits right up.
"Let's not burn down the cemetery like last time," Gohan said putting out the cigarettes that were in the ground. He put the butts back in the hole. "Bye."
With a final deep breath, Gohan turned around and walked back towards the family.
'Spend as much time as you can with your mom and dad.' Mu-Ma's voice said.
'I swear if I break down in front of them I will piss on your grave,' Gohan thought as he reached Chi-Chi.
"Ready to go," she asked.
"Yeah," Gohan said. Nimbus flew behind him and lifted him up from the ground.
The four-some finally reach Capsule Corps, and Goku seemed pretty happy with his present to Vegeta. This was going to be a surprise, and one Vegeta was going to like! He's been so concerned with Boss, and worried about him being alone during the holidays, and once Vegeta sees Boss at the door Vegeta will call Goku's gift the best gift of all! Goku couldn't wait to see Vegeta.
"We're here," Goten said as he opened the door. Trunks was the first person he saw, and quickly ran over. Bulma and Vegeta walked towards the door. Chi-Chi let herself in, and Goku stood by the doorway with a smile.
"Merry Christmas Vegeta," Goku exclaimed.
"Is it time for you to go home yet," Vegeta spat. Goku laugh.
"I got the best Christmas present for you. Are you ready to see it?"
"I'm jumping up and down with joy."
"Ta-da!" Goku took a step away from the door. Vegeta looked at his gift.
"Well it's better than the sweater you gave me last year. Thanks for the fresh air. I'm going to need it since you're in this house."
Goku turned towards his 'gift' and didn't find him there. Looking around, he finally spotted Boss a distance away.
"Wait right here Vegeta," Goku said as he took a few steps away from the door. "I'll be right back."
"Can't wait," Vegeta said as he shut the door.
Goku finally caught up to Gohan.
"Hey Boss!"
"I know Seymour, but a squirrel did eat the telephone wire," Gohan said pacing in the snow. "You cannot make this stuff up. Even the neighboring town did not have phone service."
'Oh, he's on the phone,' Goku thought.
"Clearly I'm not dead if I'm talking to you on the phone. The doctor gave me six months to live. That doesn't mean I'm going to curl up and die weeks later!"
Goku's stomach dropped.
"Six months…"
"There is a slight chance I could die sooner, but I'm pretty sure Goku or somebody would let you guys know." Gohan stopped pacing. "I highly doubt they will try and hide the body Seymour. Chi-Chi has a short temper, but she's not known to murder innocent people." Gohan began pacing again. "I have a few more days with them. I will let you know when I get home, and if you need proof to see if I'm alive you can-"
Gohan looked over, and noticed Goku standing there. Goku started back, sadden by the news he overheard. Gohan turned his back towards Goku.
"I'm at Vegeta's. Listen, I have to go. I will send you pictures of my not dead body while I still have a signal. Tell Moth I said hi."
Gohan hung up his phone, and stuck it in his pocket. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He took one out, lighter in hand, and lit his addiction. He finally turned towards Goku.
"How much did you hear," Gohan asked, wondering if Goku came in the tail end of the conversation.
"Do you really have six months to live," Goku asked.
"Straight to the point." Gohan inhaled the smoke. "My lungs are pretty bad, and Dr. Barns did all he could to try and…heal me."
Gohan exhaled.
"How come you never told us," Goku asked.
"Why should I? I'm just a guest at your house because my girlfriend didn't want me to spend Christmas by myself."
"Chi-Chi and I can help! There's still a chance for you to live! What can we do so you can survive?"
Goku's voice was shaking.
"Nothing." Gohan flatly answered. "There is nothing you or Chi-Chi can do. Nobody can do anything. What I have is like a cancer…it can't be cured."
"But it's not," Goku pleaded as he walked over to Gohan. "The surgery…what if you had the money for the surgery?"
"The surgery is not that simple Goku. It has never been done before, and I have a fifteen to a twenty percent chance to live afterwards. My lungs will be taken out of me, I will have a machine pumping air into my body while Dr. Barns and his colleagues nitpick at my lungs, which will be on low oxygen to keep the organ alive. It is very complicated and risky procedure."
Goku thought back to the day where Videl was in tears, and Vegeta was mad at the world. He knew there was something going on, but Goku ignored it. He assumed Boss and Vegeta got into a fight, which could happen to anyone. Videl was extremely emotional, but her reasoning made sense. Boss just lost his mother, and it would be his first Christmas without her.
Thinking back, Goku remembered his grandfather passing away. He was young, and didn't really pay much attention when it came to the holidays. They came, they passed, and it wasn't until he married Chi-Chi that he started to celebrate them again. He often though about his grandfather, and Gohan.
Boss didn't have much time to live, and Goku wanted his last days to be good. He was Vegeta's friend, and his friend too…right?
"Are we friends Boss," Goku asked. Gohan dropped his cigarette on the ground.
"Uh…" Friends? Can Gohan call Goku a friend? They don't hang out, they don't go to bars, and Gohan just recently let Goku and Chi-Chi have his cell phone number! There's no way were they friends! "Yeah we're friends."
Dammit.
Goku smiled, and nodded his head. He looked back at Capsule Corps.
"We should head in," Goku said as he turned around. "I told Vegeta I had a present for him."
"I hope it's not a sweater," Gohan said as he walked with Goku up towards the house. "Hey, can you not tell Chi-Chi and Goten about how long I have? Only close friends know, and I don't want to upset them."
"Does that mean I'm a close friend?"
"You accidently stuck your nose in my business."
Goku smiled as he and Gohan walked back to Capsule Corps. Goku was the first to enter with Gohan in tow. A robot was by the door to gather their coats as Goku walked in the living room.
"Hey Vegeta! I got your present," Goku yelled. Vegeta appeared from the hallway. "Ta-da! I told you I brought you something!"
Vegeta looked to where Goku was pointing.
"I'm pretty sure that vase has been here for a while Kakarot," Vegeta said with a huff. Goku looked behind him, and found Boss missing once more.
"Where did he go," Goku asked.
"He?"
"You'll never guess who stayed with us this week," Goku said turning his attention back to Vegeta. "He's around here somewhere. I bet if you look for him you'll see who I'm talking about."
"I'm not searching for my gift. I'll take the fresh air you gave me earlier," Vegeta said as he turned around. Goku frowned.
"Hey, where did that robot go with my coat? I need a bottle opener, and the women in there are talking about mammograms, and I am not staying in that kitchen."
Gohan came out of the kitchen, and noticed the robot gone. Vegeta turned around at the sound of his voice, and saw Gohan looking at the mantle in the living room. With a shrug, Gohan put the bottle up against the mantle, and palmed the edge of the bottle cap. The cap fell on the ground.
"Never mind," Gohan said picking it up and putting the cap in his pocket. He looked over and saw Vegeta. "Hey Veggie-chan! I totally did not use that mantle to open my beer."
"What the hell are you doing here," Vegeta asked, surprised to see Gohan in his house.
"Surprise," Goku said. "Merry Christmas! Boss is your Christmas present!"
"I would rather have a sweater than him."
"I have to agree with him there," Gohan said taking a sip of his beer.
"Seymour sent me out to search for you because he thought you were dead," Vegeta yelled, stomping his way over to Gohan. "You mean to tell me you've been staying with this clown the whole entire time?!"
Gohan looked at Goku, then back at Vegeta.
"He's not that great of a lover, not like you," Gohan said, pouting. Vegeta clenched his fist, and formed a ki ball in the clenched hand.
"You have no idea the time I wasted looking for your pathetic ass, and the constant complaining of your friends!"
Vegeta threw the ki ball, and Gohan was quick to his feet, and jumped off the couch. The ki hit the couch, and exploded.
"I see you're a little mad," Gohan said putting his arm up in defense. "There is no reception out there, and a squirrel chewed through the-"
"I don't want excuses!" Vegeta threw another ki ball, and Gohan ducked. The blast hit the wall, creating a hole that lead through the kitchen. "You could have told me you were with Kakarot and his stupid family, so then I could kill you and not think you were dead!"
"But I am not dead." Gohan dodged another ki ball. "Goku wanted me to keep it a secret! What was I supposed to do?"
"Not keep a secret!"
Gohan jumped out of the way of another ki ball.
"Seymour knew where I was!"
The other couch was hit by a ki ball.
"He said you weren't home, and didn't have an idea of where you were!"
Gohan continued to dodge as Vegeta kept throwing ki balls.
"He knew I was with Goku!"
"He didn't tell me that!"
Vegeta threw a ki ball, and instead of dodging it Gohan decided to hit it back towards Vegeta. Vegeta didn't expect that, and got hit in the face with his own ki ball. Everyone that was in the kitchen, Krillin, 18, Chi-Chi, Goten, Trunks, Master Roshi and Oolong, all watched it go down. Bulma, who was setting the table, noticed her living room in shambles. No one noticed how mad Bulma was, but they noticed the fear that was on Gohan's face.
"I didn't spill by beer," Gohan said, casually making his way towards the door. "So, uh, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, I'll see you next year."
Gohan ran towards the door, and handed Goku his beer before he left. Vegeta was quickly behind him, as a super saiyan, chasing Gohan down in the front yard. There was yelling back and forth between the two, damaging property in the process, as the others watched. Gohan flew in the air dodging a Gallick Gun.
Krillin and Goku watched as Gohan dodged most of the attacks.
"I'm surprised Boss can run from Vegeta like that," Krillin said. "He's a normal human like me. How can he keep up with Vegeta as a super saiyan?"
Goku chuckled.
"Fear," Goku answered. Gohan use of defense was to throw snowballs at Vegeta. The ki balls stopped, and an epic snowball fight between Gohan and Vegeta pursued.
(Thirty minutes later…)
Bulma looked at her destroyed living room, the hole in the wall, and the damage in her front yard. With Vegeta as her husband she was used to the destruction, and made robots that could easily fix the holes. She also had extra furniture since she lost so many couches prior. The front yard was being fix as well, the robots quick to trim the trees, and add dirt patches to the holes.
The robots worked quickly, and Bulma sighed as she saw Boss and Vegeta sitting on the couch, chatting. Not too long ago Vegeta was trying to kill Boss, and here they were, talking and laughing. Krillin and 18 were with them as well, sharing holiday stories from years past. Krillin was telling the story about Marron when she was just a baby, and cried for hours on Christmas day. No toy, no music, no one could keep her quick. 18 came up with the idea to lock Krillin and Marron in the basement. The crying was quieter, and Krillin could not leave until he was able to stop Marron from crying.
Krillin spent that Christmas alone in the basement with his crying child, while 18 enjoyed the company of her friends.
Boss mentioned that he would rather be locked in a basement than outside in a tent. Even though Boss missed his brother dearly, he was happy to spend Christmas Eve in a house, where there's heat, and a bathroom.
"She didn't want us sneaking in to look at our presents," Boss said. "Mu-Ma stuck us outside, and booby trapped the house! TJ used to fart a lot in the tent, and would yell at me when I let the cold air in."
"Marron had a stinky diaper, and 18 wouldn't toss down a clean diaper," Krillin said. "I didn't have a window to open either."
"You were fine," 18 said, sipping her glass of wine. "Besides, we ran out of diapers. It was better if you two stayed in the basement."
"I almost died!"
"We could always wish you back with the dragonballs."
"I think Shenron is tired of wishing baldy back," Vegeta said. Everyone laughed on the couch; Bulma even let out a smile.
Bulma looked at her husband. For the past few days he's been…moody, to say the least. Always making a phone call, throwing his cell phone at the wall, and leaving the house with no explanation. Vegeta never said anything, and even if Bulma would ask he would snap at her. He was calmer now, and looked a little relieved.
Boss brought that out of people. He could make a room light up, and brought out the best in people. Vegeta has gotten softer, but he started to get soft after his fight with Majin Buu. When Vegeta and Boss would hang out they usually end up bickering at each other, like a married couple. Still, when Vegeta came home he was happy, and showed some affection towards the family.
Bulma has been to the bar a few times, watching Boss perform on stage with his band. She would glance over at Vegeta, and see him smile as he tapped his fingers on his leg with a beer in his other hand. They had some sort of relationship that she could never understand. This stranger appeared out of nowhere, and Bulma had to do some research on Boss.
His record started at the age of eleven at the Pure Hearts Orphanage. His family is unknown, and he appeared at the front door one day. From the notes, he smelled like "old gym socks stuffed in older gym socks with a stink bomb that exploded inside the older gym sock." The picture showed a young Boss, eyebrows in a mess, hair looking like it was butchered by a chainsaw, and his face in a middle of a sneeze.
It was not the best photo of a young Boss.
Marie McGee adopted Boss in September. A picture showed her, TJ, and Boss with a buzz cut in his file. Marie had a nice smile on her face, TJ was in a middle of an eye roll, and Boss just finished a sneeze in the picture.
Boss has that picture framed in his house.
Boss' school record was great his first year in school, but after that year his grades dropped, and he had a lot of detentions, suspensions, and vandalism added on his record. He managed to pass Middle School because he tested so well. Once Boss hit thirteen he had his own police record. Petty theft, drunk as a minor, peeing on a statue…it was a mess.
After some research Bulma learned that TJ, Boss' brother, had a much bigger record, and dropped out of high school at the tender age of 15. Bulma concluded that TJ's influence rubbed off on Boss, thus creating the 'loveable' character he was today.
The accident that killed TJ was in the newspapers. Bulma recalled reading it, feeling sorry for the family. The older teen, TJ, died instantly. The younger teen, Boss, suffered serious injuries and was in critical condition. It was years ago, and even though Bulma didn't remember the names she remembered the accident.
Boss' record got worse after the accident. Armed robbery, reckless driving tickets, caught with the intent to use drugs, caught with the intent to sell drugs, and then nothing. His last incident was seven months ago, and that was throwing a brick at a store window because they stopped selling his favorite soda.
Bulma did not like him because of his past, but he got along well with Vegeta. Chi-Chi used to hang out with Mu-Ma before she passed, and Mu-Ma had nothing but nice things to say about Boss. Chi-Chi mentioned that Mu-Ma said that Boss struggled after the accident, and he didn't have a great childhood. TJ was his older brother, his best friend, and that broke Boss. Bulma never really spoke to Mu-Ma, and she did worry when she passed away.
Boss managed to make it, and is doing better. Bulma couldn't help but wonder if it was Vegeta, maybe even Videl, that helped him through.
"You were there with me Vegeta! That dumpster we hid in probably had a dead body in there," Boss said, pointing his finger at Vegeta. Bulma turned her head to the conversation. "It felt like a hand on my butt, and there was no way I was going to open the lid for light."
"If it was a body I'm sure someone else found it," Vegeta said. "Thanks to my quick thinking we survived that whole mess."
Wait, what did Bulma just miss?
"Why were you hiding in a dumpster," Bulma asked, missing the entire conversation. Boss and Vegeta exchanged looks. Krillin coughed, and 18 went to get something to drink.
"I pooped my pants?" Gohan said, advoiding the answer. "And so did Vegeta?"
Vegeta's mouth opened a bit, and proceeded to slap his forehead.
"I guess I have to agree to that," Vegeta said, shaking his head. "We had Taco Bell…or something."
"Taco Bell gives me the fiery poops! I love their food, and they are the best when I'm constipated, but boy does it burn," Gohan said taking sip of his beer.
"A warning would be nice when you introduce me to new foods."
"I didn't think about it until afterwards when we both had to go. Oh, and thanks for locking me out of the bathroom."
"I didn't want you in there with me!"
"You mean you never pooped when Bulma was in the shower?"
"Why should I? We have a lot of bathrooms, and I don't need to poop in the same bathroom while Bulma showers," Vegeta said. How these conversations come around Bulma will never know.
"It's a bonding experience, trust me," Gohan said rolling his eyes. "Mai just walks right in no matter what you are doing, and makes conversation while you're doing your business."
"So do you."
"But I knock first!"
"No you don't."
"If I remember I'll knock."
"You never remember to knock."
"You never remember to lock the door."
"The lock has been broken since the bar has been opened."
Gohan tapped his beer on the chin.
"Was I supposed to-"
"You were supposed to do it a month ago, but then you got distracted fixing a guitar string you forgot," Vegeta said with a huff. "That was the same day Owen walked in on me, and stood there while I took a piss."
"Right…and you pissed on him too."
"Damn straight."
The two tapped their beers together, and took a sip. Bulma walked away from them as 18 returned with a glass of water.
As the night went on, and everything in the house was fixed, it was near dinner time. Chi-Chi and Bulma were setting up the table while the children played. Goku was talking with Krillin, while Piccolo, who arrived later, was up against the wall with Vegeta. Gohan was outside, catching up with text messages and missed call as he smoked his cigarette.
Soon, Gohan came back in the house and handed the robot his jacket. He walked over to Piccolo and Vegeta, and started a conversation with them. Goku couldn't help but peek over, and watched as Boss chit-chatted with the two most unfriendly-ist people around. Somehow Boss managed to befriend them, one over drinks and the other…
Piccolo didn't like the fact that Vegeta made a new friend, especially with the whole 'Majin Vegeta' incident. So he followed Boss one day. From what Piccolo told Goku, Boss wasn't a threat, and that Vegeta liked him because of the free drinks. Vegeta only got the free drinks because he threaten Boss' life, and they became friends because of it.
How Piccolo became a friend to Boss Goku didn't know. Piccolo didn't drink, he didn't like loud music, and had absolutely nothing in common with Boss. Yet there they were, talking about the weather.
"All right everyone! It's time to eat," Bulma cried as she spread out her arms over the table. The kids were the first to get into their seats. The adults followed, taking their usually seat, and Gohan stood there, not sure where to sit. Krillin, 18, and Marron sat together, and next to them was Master Roshi and Oolong. "Boss, you can sit between Goku and Vegeta."
"Okay," Gohan said with a shrug. Goku and Vegeta were already grabbing the food they wanted on their plate, so Gohan waited until all the saiyans had their plates full. The others passed the food around the table, and Gohan was happy to get some food on his plate.
"We should say grace before we eat," Chi-Chi said. Goku and Vegeta already had their mouths full of food. "Boss, you're the guest. How about you say grace?"
Goku and Vegeta swallowed their food. All eyes were on Gohan.
"Uh…I could always say what my mom used to say."
"That would be great," Bulma said, knowing that his mother was nothing like him. Gohan lowered his head folded his hands. Everyone at the table repeated the motion.
"May your bellies be full, your minds filled with glee. May the big O come, and your sacs be empty. Amen."
"Amen," cried the kids as they started to eat their food. Bulma's mouth dropped as Gohan lowered his head to start eating. Master Roshi and Oolong were laughing.
"What's the big O," Chi-Chi asked. Vegeta choked on his food.
Gohan's face turned red as he sipped his beer.
"Like oh my, that big O," Gohan said. "Oh what a nice big present?"
"I wouldn't mind having a big O," Chi-Chi said. Krillin spit out his water. "I mean, if it's big enough."
Bulma had to leave the room.
(PG)
Gohan had wondered off to use the bathroom. He found it, no issues, but something shiny caught his attention and headed the opposite way where his friends and family were. That shiny thing was a music room, filled with instruments. Okay, the reason why he found this room was due to snooping around, and he stood there for ten minutes, trying to decided what to play with first.
There were some instruments that he didn't know how to play, the flute for example, but the piano was looking pretty good. Gohan didn't know why Bulma had a music room, since no one in her family played any instruments, but this was heaven.
And then a violin caught his eye, and his feet lead him to the instrument. He picked it up, and plucked the string. It was in tune, which surprised him, so he grabbed the bow. He played a few notes, and adjusted his chin for more comfort.
Something about the violin, the sound, the way the hair of the bow played on the strings, sounded so peaceful.
"I don't know why you always chose the guitar. I think the violin is soothing," Mu-Ma said as Gohan tuned his violin. Gohan was about thirteen.
"That's because the violin is the bass in the band," TJ said wearing a pair of sweatpants, a towel wrapped around his hair. "Your needed in the band, but no one likes you."
"Kinda like how you are in the family," Mu-Ma said, glaring at TJ.
"Gohan likes me."
"Cause he's a bass player like you."
"Hurr hurr." TJ walked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle water. "Whatever. I'm going to my room to play real music."
"Real music? It's that similar to your real girlfriend you have to blow up twice a week?" TJ shot Mu-Ma a look, rolled his eyes, and gave her the one finger salute as he walked away. Mu-Ma smiled at herself.
"I think it's tuned now," Gohan said, his voice cracking slightly.
"Put a show on for me," Mu-Ma said. "I love hearing you practice in your room. Play something a little upbeat!"
"I don't know many upbeat songs."
"Then play a sad one for me. It will remind me of TJ's future."
"I heard that," TJ yelled from his room. Gohan smiled as he got up from the couch, and stood behind the living room table. Mu-Ma smiled at him, waiting for him to perform.
Gohan started to play as he stood alone in the room. He closed his eyes, remembering the smile Mu-Ma had when he played. Even when he missed a note, or hit himself with a bow, she would say his performance was perfect. Even though the guitar was his choice in instruments, the violin brought back memories.
He enjoyed teaching Marron how to play. Her bright smile, her tiny performances in front of her parents, it reminded him of the time he had with Mu-Ma. Krillin and 18 called Marron's performances perfect, even though the young one played the wrong notes, or stopped to use the bathroom. It took a while for Marron to get used to the violin, and she still needed a lot of work, but he couldn't help but smile as she played.
As Gohan let the last cord linger, so did his vision of Mu-Ma. Even though Gohan wasn't ready to die, he knew that he would see his family again. Then again, he would never see his real family again. Gohan didn't know if she should tell his parents who he really was. Would they even believe him?
"I'm impressed."
"I didn't break it," Gohan yelled as he quickly turned around. He used the violin and bow as a shield. Bulma was leaning on the door, arms folded.
"I thought you just played the guitar. Boy was I wrong," Bulma said making her way towards Gohan. She grabbed the violin from Gohan's hands, and positioned it on her shoulder. Gohan handed her the bow. "Let's see. I'm a bit rusty, but I think I remember how to play."
Bulma played one cord, and stopped.
"I really have no clue how to play this," she said with a giggle.
"Well your better than most people I teach," Gohan said. Bulma put the violin back in its original spot. "Why do you have so many instruments when you don't even play?"
"Why do we have sixteen bathrooms when there is only five people? Because I can."
"So this is what it's like to be rich." Bulma eyed Boss carefully as we looked at the other instruments.
"It has it perks. Sometimes I have so much I have no idea what to do with it."
"Well your dad is pretty famous in the science world. The best I did in science was make a density tube. I used different colored rocks and got a D minus. Mu-Ma was impressed though." Gohan pulled out a flute from its case. "No one ever plays, but they all look clean and polished"
"We pay people to make sure they look nice," Bulma said.
"What polish do they use," Gohan asked.
Bulma's plan was to try and get Boss to admit he was friends with Vegeta just for the money. It was the only reason why Boss would be friends with Vegeta to begin with. Boss kept ignoring the fact that Bulma was rich, and he was too busy looking at the damn instruments.
"Only the best money can buy," Bulma answered.
"No rust, no chips, when I die I will haunt this room," Gohan said putting the flute back.
"It won't bother me. I'll be dead before you, and Trunks will have to deal with the echo of the music."
Gohan froze for a moment, then locked the flute in its case.
"That's true," he said as he face Bulma. He put on his best fake smile. "You have a nice house. Do you have a Segway?"
"We have a few." Was Boss' plan to steal the Segway's? "Brand new, never used!"
"If my mom were still alive she would 'borrow' one, and drive it through the hallways. She always wanted to try one."
Even though Bulma was trying to prove that Boss was here for the money, she had to remember that he was still a person.
A person who just lost his mother.
"She would get lost in a place like this," Gohan continued, still looking around in the room. "We're used to a small house, with the AC always breaking every summer. When I had my own place Mu-Ma would always come to my apartment, even if I had a lady friend over. Burst in through my door, tell me she's taking off her bra and will be chillin' with the fridge door open. She took her bra off all right, and flung it across my room."
"Mothers don't know the term privacy when it comes to their kids," Bulma said. "I do it to Trunks all the time."
"Just keep your bra on. Nothing kills the mood like your mother's bra landing in your face."
Bulma laughed. She quickly realized that she was being distracted, and decided to get down to business.
"Vegeta said that you were struggling with your music store. Not making as much money."
"No one wants to buy CD's anymore," Gohan ranted. "Everything can be downloaded nowadays. That's why we provide music classes, and sell instruments too. The store makes enough to get by some months, but other times I have to use my money to pay some bills."
"I can help if you like."
Gohan raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean help?"
Hook, line, and sinker.
"You are Vegeta's friend, and he worries about you. He doesn't show it, but watching him worry the past few days I knew you guys were close," Bulma said. "I know it's been difficult with the passing of your mother, and I know how much funeral expenses can be. Please Boss, let us help you."
Bulma put her hand on Gohan's shoulder, and gave him the best pleading eye looks she had. Sure, she looked like she wanted to help, but deep down inside she knew the true intentions of Boss.
"I don't want no rich girl money," Gohan said, stepping back. Bulma's hand floated in the air. "As much as I need money, and I sure as hell know I do, I am not taking hand-outs. If I need money that bad I'll take a loan. I have learned to manage all by myself, and I plan to be that way until I die. Thanks for the offer, but I can take care of things by myself."
"But…" Bulma was not expecting that answer. She automatically assumed he would take the money! She would have caught him right then and there, proved to everyone that Boss was in it for the money, and she hid a recording device in her bra so everyone could hear his confession! "It was Vegeta's idea."
Bulma lied.
"Vegeta said that?"
"We were talking about you one day, and he said that if I was so worried then I should give you money."
Still a lie.
Gohan folded his arm.
"It sounds like something he would throw at you," Gohan said tapping his foot.
This was it! Just saying it was Vegeta's idea was going to make him take the money! Bulma couldn't wait until-
"If Vegeta wanted me to have some cash, then he should be paying for his drinks!" Gohan pouted, and began storming out. "Vegeta! Your rich ass is going to start paying for your own beers!"
"Wait! Wait! Wait!"
Bulma grabbed Gohan's arm and stopped him.
"You know Bulma, I haven't been friends with Vegeta for long, but I do know he doesn't talk about me," Gohan said, his back towards Bulma. "I don't know you well enough, but I wouldn't be too surprised if you looked up my history on the internet."
The hammer hit the nail on the head. Gohan continued.
"I get you're worried. I don't fit in with everybody here, but I'm not friends with these people because they have money. I like Vegeta, Goku and Chi-Chi are not that bad either. Sure my girlfriend is the daughter of Hercule, savior of the world, but I'm not with Videl because she's famous. I'm with her because I love her, and I don't want to sleep around anymore. I want to live the way I want to while I still can."
Bulma released Gohan's arm.
"Boss I'm-"
"Don't worry about it Bulma. I don't give off a great first impression anyway," Gohan said, turning around. "Trust me. Mu-Ma would have done the same thing to make sure I'm hanging out with good people. She's done it before…"
"Your father is the Son Goku?! He's a famous fighter!" Mu-Ma and TJ were sitting at the computer. Gohan has only been there for a few days. "The daughter of Ox-King?! Your family is loaded!"
"We should hold him for ransom money so I can get a car," TJ said, his mouth open.
"You can have as many cars as you like as long as I have my mansion!"
Gohan stood there, not understanding what the big deal was. His father is dead, and he didn't want to think about his mother. He felt guilty just leaving her.
"I don't know what issues you have Gohan, but are you sure you don't want to go back to your family," TJ asked.
"It's not that simple TJ," Gohan said lowering his head.
"Yeah, yeah we heard your sappy story. How about this, I go live with your mom, and you stay with my mom?"
"His mom is not going to want you. You're lucky that I wanted you," Mu-Ma said. TJ turned his head away. Mu-Ma sighed. "I went too far."
"I can't blame your son for leaving you," TJ said. Mu-Ma eyes widen. "We're even now."
Gohan felt the tension in the room. He didn't know much about the family. Marie was an old lady with a teenage son. TJ didn't go to school, and was mostly in his room. Marie did her own thing, and didn't really talk much with TJ. From the spats he overheard the two didn't get along very well.
"Is it okay if I stay," Gohan blurted out. Mu-Ma and TJ looked at him.
"You want to stay here," they both said. The two of them barely got along, and now this kid wants to stay here?!
"I don't want to go back to my family. I want to do what I want to do, and not be told what I have to do. I don't want to be a fighter like my father, I don't want to be a scholar because my mom is forcing me to. I want to be me, Gohan."
Mu-Ma got up from her computer. She walked over to Gohan and put her hand on his forehead.
"You still have a small fever," Mu-Ma said feeling her forehead as well. "I think a few more days of rest will help you clear your head a bit more."
"Let him stay." Gohan and Mu-Ma looked over at TJ. "If he wants to join this God awful family, let him."
"I can barely feed us. What makes you think I can feed this bottomless pit," Mu-Ma said pointing at Gohan.
"If you let him stay I will get a job."
"You don't even get out of bed."
"I'm serious. Seymour says he has something for me. It's not much, but I can work my way up. If that kid is willing to throw everything away to be with us, then he is an idiot. He'll blend right in."
Mu-Ma looked at TJ and Gohan.
"Please," Gohan pleaded. "I can help with the cleaning and cooking. I promise I will be well behaved."
Mu-Ma threw her arms up.
"Why not," she said rubbing the bridge of her nose. TJ smiled while Gohan laughed. "But we have to do it right. We can't just have kid randomly appear out of nowhere."
"Leave that to me," TJ said cracking his knuckles.
(pg)
Goku, Chi-Chi, Goten, and Gohan made it back to the house in one piece. Gohan took off his sweater and headed towards his bedroom, while Goku and Chi-Chi stood in the living room. Goten quickly followed Gohan in the bedroom.
"That was really cool how you dodged all of Vegeta's attacks," Goten said jumping on his bed. "I thought he was going to kill you! That would have been real cool!"
"Cool for you, but I don't want my guts splattered all over the place," Gohan said taking off his undershirt. His back was towards Goten. "Trust me, when you're friends with Vegeta you have to learn how to dodge."
"Mr. Piccolo said that my brother never learned how to dodge."
"Did Mr. Piccolo tell you that he never showed your brother how to dodge?"
"I learned how to dodge because my mom always threw stuff at me. If Gohan didn't learn from Mr. Piccolo then he had to have learn it from my mom." Goten stopped jumping on the bed. "Did your mom throw stuff at you?"
"Anything and everything," Gohan answered, putting on another shirt. "She watched Dodgeball, and had this great idea to see what I can easily dodge. Thirteen stiches later, Mu-Ma realized that you cannot dodge a knife if your back is turned. See?"
Gohan lifted up his shirt, and showed a scar on left hip.
"Cool," Goten exclaimed. "My mom usually throws pots and pans at my dad and I. The bumps swell down after you put some ice on them,"
Goten patted his head, indicating where he normally got hit. Gohan recalled being hit by the frying pan. Goku could easily dodge Chi-Chi's close attacks, but unable to sense a pot being thrown at you was a better course of attack.
"Did your mom ever throw knives," Gohan asked.
"One day she was real mad at daddy, so she grabbed the sharp knives out of the draw and threw them at him," Goten said. He decided to get changed as well.
"Recently?"
Goten thought for a moment.
"I think it was a few weeks ago. Daddy learned his lesson real quick!"
Gohan wondered his Mu-Ma shared some of her…traits on disciplining men. He wouldn't be too surprised. She shared her traits to Seymour's wife, and ever since then Seymour has been working a lot more at the bar.
"I don't know about you kid, but I am exhausted," Gohan said as he stretched. "Being chased by Vegeta is exhausting."
"Sometimes Vegeta chases me and Trunks," Goten said, fully dressed in his pajamas. "We're quicker than Vegeta case Vegeta is old."
"Don't tell Vegeta that."
)PG(
Lying wide awake, staring up at the ceiling, Goku found sleep not easy to achieve. He looked over at Chi-Chi. She was sleeping peacefully, tired after a long day. Usually Goku was tired as well, but for some strange reason he was wide awake.
Carefully getting out of bed, Goku headed down the stairs. He noticed the kitchen light on, and knew that Boss was up as well.
Boss was wearing his headphones, music blasting loudly, as he sat at the kitchen table. His fingers were dancing on the keyboard as he concentrated on the screen. He didn't have as many papers as the night before, but there was a small pile beside his laptop. Goku noticed a bottle next to Boss, one Goku never had in the house, with a smaller glass beside it. The black label read "Jack Daniels", a gift from Vegeta.
The glass was halfway full, with three ice cubes floating in the brown drink. Boss looked at the notes by his laptop, not realizing that Goku was standing right there, and found the paper he was looking for. He placed it on the other side, and began typing as he read the paper.
Goku, being nosey, noticed that the papers had math equations, and pictures of spheres and cylinders. Since Boss was distracted, Goku picked up one of the pieces of paper, and realized that it was math notes. Goku looked at the screen, and noticed Boss was writing a paper. He couldn't understand it, however, but was really impressed.
Boss noticed something from the corner of his eyes, and turned his head slowly.
"You really have to stop looking over peoples shoulders," he said. Goku looked at Boss and laughed.
"What are you doing," Goku asked, completely ignoring the fact that he was in the way.
"Homework." Goku pulled back from the laptop. Gohan paused his music, and took off his headphones. "Since I never graduated high school, I promised myself that I would get a GED. Mu-Ma would have wanted that, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to have something in my name."
"And drinking helps?" Gohan looked at his drink.
"Helps me sleep," he answered. "Do you want a glass?"
"Sure." Gohan looked at Goku.
"Wait what?"
"Just because you don't see me drink doesn't mean I do," Goku said sitting down next to Gohan. Gohan got up, and went into the kitchen for a glass.
"You don't seem like a drinker," Gohan said grabbing some ice.
"I'm not usually, but you said it helps you sleep, so why not try some."
"My father never drank before," Gohan said sitting down. Goku was taken back. Boss never said anything before about his real parents. "My mom, well…apparently she did."
Gohan chuckled to himself as he eyed the cabinet filled with wine. As a kid he never knew why it was locked, but then again he never cared.
"Do you think about your parents during the holidays," Goku asked. Gohan filled Goku's glass half full. Goku really didn't drink that much, maybe a fourth of what Boss poured, and he never drank this 'Jack Daniels' before. It was always light beer, and it was rare to have a bottle or two. "I only ask because I often think about my son more."
"I guess," Gohan answered as he picked up his glass. "Cheers."
Goku picked up his glass, and the two glasses clanked. Goku took a sip of his, and his eyes started to water.
"Is it supposed to feel like your throat's dry," Goku asked, coughing twice.
"Cheap whiskey burns a lot worse than Jack Daniels. A little burn, but not bad."
"If you say so." Goku took another sip.
It still burned.
"Whiskey is an acquired taste. You either like it or don't, and if you drink enough of it you learn to tolerate it."
"Did it come naturally to you?"
"I think I forced myself to like it," Gohan said. He twirled the glass in his hands. "When TJ died I grabbed anything I could, and shoved it in a bag. It was cheap whiskey, but it got me drunk so I didn't care."
Goku learned that after a few drinks it helps people…open up more. Vegeta was very open about his feelings after a few drinks. He was also very open about the bedroom, and so was Bulma after she had a few.
"Maybe if I knew about this stuff earlier it might have helped me get over Gohan," Goku said. Gohan looked at Goku.
"What do you mean get over him?"
"He's not coming back home. I knew after the fight with Buu he was done with me, but I've just been in denial. I don't know what I did to make him mad, but if it was bad enough for him not to defend the planet then I messed up bad somewhere."
Gohan took a sip of his drink.
"Everyone has their reasons Goku."
"I know." Goku sighed. "I just want to know why, and if there's a way to fix it."
Gohan looked at his drink.
"Maybe," he said quietly, but loud enough for Goku to hear.
"Is there anything you want to do before you die," Goku asked.
Goten froze by the bedroom door. He was up to get a glass of water.
"I haven't thought about it," Gohan answered scratching his arm. "I think I'm still in denial about the whole thing. Dr. Barns said six months, and it hasn't really hit me yet. It hit everyone else pretty hard, and I just sat there."
Goten took a few steps back.
"Maybe because I knew it was coming," Gohan continued. "There are still a few things that I need to do before I go, but I have time."
Goku barely nodded.
"If there's anything you need, you can let Chi-Chi and I know," Goku said, distracted.
"Yeah…thanks."
The two men sat in silence as they drank their glasses. Goten's lower lip began to tremble, and quietly made it back to his bed. He put his head in his pillows, and quietly cried to himself.
END CHAPTER!