Reading of dispair

Chapter eighteen: Knight of swords

Disclaimer: I do not own DB, DBZ, or DBGT.

One week later

It was a bright sunny day at the Son house and not a single thing went wrong that day. The day was absolutly perfect. Chichi decided to have a cook out at the house for a little get together. Jasmine brought her grill and deep fryer over and got to work cookng all the food. She had to get there three hours earily to help Chichi cook all that food. It wasn't too superizing that Jasmine had to keep swatting or chasing the two saiyans away from the food she had already sitting out. She had everything wrapped and covered in tubba ware and on that heating table she also brought to keep the food from getting cold. Gohan was sitting at the kitchen table with Goku. They watched Chichi and Jasmine cook the best dishes and all their favoriates. Jasmine had even cook some food from here home country and a few others.

Jasmine was in a very giddy mood this morning for she had found the answer to all the questions in life she was seeking. She was a foster child in the US, but she found out what really happened to her real parents. Her parents Docovitch and Rauja were captured by the Mistresshood and hed as prisoners for their power. That had happened when she was born. The Mistresshood knew the secret of Jasmine's birth for she held a power that could defeat them and put an end to their evil empire. She was a rencarnated goddess. The Lycian goddess of war and distruction Lingera. She was dumped in the US as a means of disposal. But one week later she was called in to action yet again to end the war permanately for the Lycainese Empire found the Mistresshood's main base on planet Quake.

She defated the Mistresshood like the legend said she would and freed the prisoners. That was when she met her mother and father. Her father Docovitch Redback was a proud Russain lycian that served in the Red army, and her mother was a lycian sorceress from India. She was hindu and a pasifist. Jasmine found out her real name was Ishtar which to the lycians means heavenly warrior. She had informed everyone about them and invited them to the get togther. Gohan and Goku sat at the table catching up on the events of the last four years. Goku had recovered from his suicide attempt a week ago. However he was in a wheel chair temperarily because of all the nerological damage the drugs he used caused.

But all in all Gohan and Goku had made amends and decided to start over fresh. Goku got help and saw Rose Jets with Gohan on a weekly basis and going to physical therapy to regain the strengh in his body and help his nervous system recover. He did get one hell of a tougne lashing from Chichi and Jasmine for even attempting suicide and using Jasmine's Cardioflaxine to do it. But Everything simmered down and everyone was picking up the pieces. Gohan took care of him like he promised. He declined any help offered to do so.

Due to all the damage in Goku's nervous system he couldn't do much so Gohan had to help him. Gohan bathed him, fed him, dressed him, and sometimes helped him use the bathroom. Goku felt guilty as usual but Gohan squashed that guilt and told him he was keeping that promise. However Goku promised to take care of Gohan when he recovered. He learned how Gohan took his meds and saw all thie shit he dealt with for the past four years fighting cancer. Goku was proud his son was keeping himself together so well and they spent a lot of time together. Gohan took him everywhere even to the grave yard to visit Sky. He also told him of all the good times he and Sky had together.

He had to admit it was good having his father home again even if they did have their little fall out when he came back. Gohan would cry over her sometimes but Goku held him the best he could. But coming back to reality Gohan realized life was just too short and he was glad things took a turn for the better. He watched his mother and Jasmine cook and laugh about the good times as he released a content sigh. Everyone looked at them and simled, happy to finaly have the loving atmosphere return to the home. Gohan looked over at them with a questionable look.

"What?" Gohan asked.

"I'm just glad to see you happy again." Chichi stated with Jasmine agreeing.

"Yeah, well life's too short." Gohan replied softly smiling.

"That it is my friend, that it truely is." Jasmine agreed.

Gohan let a few tears of happiness fall from his eyes as he smiled at them, his family. He hurried and wiped them away feeling embarrassed about his moment of weekness.

"It's alright to shead some tears Gohan. It cleanses the soul." Jasmine replied as she walked over there to hug him.

"I know but I thought I'd cry myself dry already." Gohan replied.

"No one ever cries themselves dry anymore. I learned that four years ago." Jasmine whispered gently.

"The guest are here Jasmine let's get this food ready." Chichi noted.

"Alright, Why don't you go and have some alone time with Goku?" Jasmine asked Gohan.

"That's great. C'mon dad." Gohan said feeling his happiness come back to him.

"That sounds so good." Goku interjected.

Gohan rose from his chair and walked over to Goku. He grabbed the handles to the wheel chair and wheeled him outside. Once they came to the lake Gohan found a good spot to put the breaks on Goku's chair and sit down on the ground next to him. They gazed out into the distance and enjoyed the day.

"Dad? Would you ever feel whole again if mom died?"

"No, I wouldn't. You're thinking of Sky again aren't you?"

"Yes, I think about her a lot. And here's the thing, I felt like I had a connection with her. It wasn't about sex or dates. It was about, the love that we shared. A connection so strong that we would be sick if we weren't together in a while. A connection greater than just simply saying I love you. What I don't understand is, how can anyone in the whole world or the WHOLE universe for that matter give up such a beautiful thing I will never know. I don't think I'll love again." Gohan explained emotionally.

"Well, I think that way about your mother Gohan. And the truth is, I don't know how I lived without her for four years. I felt so ignorant for even trying to sever something like that. And well, I paid for it big time. I was so caught up in this planet that I didn't even take the time to enjoy what life is really about and I'm sorry for that. But you taught me how to love unconditionally and I juust wanted to say I'm very proud of you for that." Goku stated.

Gohan looked up at his father dumbstruck and finaly smiled the largest smile he had in a long long time. He got up and threw his arms around him.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" He cried, his head burried into his shoulder.

"For what?" Goku asked confused.

"My whole life I've been waiting for you to be proud of me for something else other than fighting. I didn't think you cared about the rest of who I was. But, but you showed me that you really did! Thank you daddy!" Gohan cried.

Goku smiled and felt his heart warm as he reached over and pulled Gohan onto his lap. He held him as much as he could for as long as he could.

"I love you Gohan. Don't ever doubt that for a second. And as for the romance part in your life, just give it time. You'll heal eventually."

And so they sat by the lake just enjoying each other's company for life was too short to run or feel horrible all the time. For Son Gohan knew that life was indeed far too short for the tarot card reading in life known as the Reading of dispair.

THE END

Well there you have it fokes! It has come to an end.

The knight of swords means end of a problem.

Thank you to all my readers and reviewers and you have given me so much inspiration throughout this piece and I just wanted to say you've given me the courage to write this.

A special thanks to Rayvenwolf for editing and to schubskie.

God bless!