Break Me Down

Back at Goku's house things seemed to be normal again, for the time being. Everyone knew that there was likely very little time for them, but no one was talking about it. It was starting to annoy Gohan. First his father said he probably couldn't defeat Cell, then he'd been told not to train for the next few days and just try to relax. Relax... how could he.

"Honestly Gohan, can't you change your hair back to normal for now?" his mother fussed over him running her fingers through his golden hair, "You look like a deliquent, and change out of those silly clothes."

"Hmmm", was the only response Chichi received as Gohan continued to stare at his books as if he was reading it. He wasn't. He didn't want to study. He also didn't want to change out of those "silly" clothes that Piccolo had created for him. It was his way of showing some respect to his former trainer. He knew Piccolo wasn't quite himself lately either, but he wouldn't say why. Sometimes it really sucked being a kid. He was aware of all that was going on around him, sometimes even more so than the adults were, and yet no one would explain anything to him.

"Knock, knock!" he heard a familiar voice call from outside the window and perked up in his chair. "Anyone there?"

His mother lifted one of her brows seeing this, "You stay put, Gohan. You're far behind. A whole year behind after you were in that chamber!"

Gohan slumped back in his chair as Chichi rose from the table and opened the door. Gohan watched as Rori walked in followed by Yamcha. His mother greeted them, inviting them to come sit at the kitchen bar with her because Gohan needed his concentration over at the table. They agreed and followed Chichi to the other side of the room.

His eyes met his Rori's. She gave him a sympathetic smile, but he quickly averted his gaze back down to his books as if he hadn't noticed. He knew it was cold, but he was still mad at her. Maybe she didn't even know, but he was. Partly because he was protective of Piccolo, and Piccolo hadn't been the same since she'd left, but also because she had left and hadn't even said goodbye to him.

During his training he hadn't just been with Piccolo, but his aunt had been there too. During that time he'd like to have thought that they'd become close, maybe not as close as him and Piccolo, but close nonetheless. Then one day she just wasn't there anymore, Piccolo was in a bad mood ever since, and neither her nor Piccolo had said a word about why. The thing that hurt the most was the thought that his relationship with her was compliant on Piccolo being there, even though they were related not the other way around.

"Oh Goku's out catching dinner. Why don't you guys stay, we never have guests. Yamcha can you go find Goku and tell him he'd better catch double if his sister's here." Chichi smiled as she stood on the other side of the counter chopping vegetables, Gohan listening all the while to their conversation.

"No problem!" He paused and looked at Rori as if debating something before he just nodded to her awkwardly and headed out the door.

Rori now sat on a stool across from Chichi who had stopped chopping her carrots and just stared at the female saiyan.

"Is there something on my face?" Rori asked, blinking in compensation for Chichi who hadn't blinked in over a minute.

"No, no" she shook her head as a knowing smirk spread across her lips and she went back to chopping her vegetables, "it's just nice to see you wearing something normal for a change."

Rori looked down at her clothes. She'd stopped on the way there changing out of her training gear and into something more casual. It was true that when she was with Piccolo, she rarely wore anything other than her training clothes. What would be the point?

"I guess I have changed style a bit since the last visit..." she agreed shrugging her shoulders.

Chichi went to the fridge pulling out two glasses putting one in front of Rori and filling it with wine before she did her own. It wasn't often there were girls around her house and she was always happy when there was. While she hasn't seen this girl in two years, she'd definitely heard some things.

"So where have you been? Bulma tells me you'e been living with Yamcha, huh?" Chichi didn't waste anytime, the boys could be back any minute and she wanted to know what was going on.

"Oh well, yes initially, until I found my own place."

"Hmmm" Chichi responded sipping at her wine.

Rori just smiled, she could see how her brother was sometimes afraid of this woman. She knew she could knock Chichi out in a second if need be, but at the same time, just sitting across the table from her, she wasn't so sure that would go over too well. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence she caved to desperation, "It's not what you're thinking Chichi."

"Really?" she asked leaning in over the bar table a bit and lowering her voice, "It's ok Rori. We're practically sisters. And honestly, I think it's great."

Rori blinked again in confusion, "You think what is great?"

"Well.. you and Yamcha of course. He was really beat up over Bulma. Even when they were together, she was so independant. It was like she didn't really need him. But you're not from this planet, and Piccolo wasn't doing you any favors. He wasn't helping you integrate into this world. It's actually kind of beautiful, you needed Yamcha... he needed someone to need him...You compliment."

She didn't know what to say. Chichi wasn't completely wrong with her assuptions. Even though there had never been anything romantic on her part for Yamcha, they did seem to need each other. Before she could respond though they both heard the front door slam and Gohan was gone.

"Gohan where are you-"Chichi began to call after him, before Rori cut her off.

"I'll go get him."

Rori wandered outside, following the source of Gohan's energy. Eventually she found him, sitting on a log brooding with his chin in hands. She walked over cautiously, watching him as he actively ignored her. Now that she got a chance to really look at him she realized how much he'd grown. It seemed like only yesterday he was a crying toddler that could barely fend for himself and now he was probably even stronger than her. He was practically a teenager and she remembered how her teenage years had been a nightmare, even aboard Lord Freeza's ship. Ugh, just Freeza, he's no lord to you anymore, she reminded herself.

"Mind if I sit?" she asked. When she realized the only answer she was going to get was from the chirping crickets, she took a seat of her own accord, crossing her legs before she followed suit, chin in hands and audibly sighed.

They stayed like this several minutes, just watching the forest, before she acquiesced to the silence and reached a hand out running it through his golden locks like his mother had done sooner. To her surprise he didn't pull away, but just sighed to this. She watched as her fingers played with his hair over what appeared to be Piccolo's style gear. He really did look up to the Namekian. She couldn't blame him for acting this way. He wasn't going to talk until he was ready. So she contented to just continue running her fingers through her nephew's hair and wait until he was ready.

Gohan looked to the ground as he couldn't hold the comment in any longer, "My mom's wrong. You shouldn't be with Yamcha... You shouldn't have left... Why did you leave? Mr. Piccolo is just... you didn't even say goodbye..."

Rori's eyes widenned. This whole time she'd been trying get over Piccolo, she hadn't even thought about how Gohan might feel. Her and Piccolo had been around and together for him since he was so young. She'd just always assumed that he was closer to Piccolo, that her leaving wouldn't affect him.

"I didn't want to... It's complicated Gohan, I-"

"It's fine. I know you you're not going to tell me. No one tells me anything because they think I'm too young. Piccolo wouldn't explain it to me. My dad won't tell me why we're not training. Just because I'm a kid... I'm not stupid, I can put it together, if we're not training there's nothing more we can do... Cell's going to win."

"Gohan... You're father did not tell you to stop fighting because he thinks we can't win. You know him better than that. He will do everything possible to make sure Cell doesn't win. We all will." she sighed getting off the log and kneeling before him so she could look into his eyes.

"You're right though. You're growing up. And if you want to know what's going on then you deserve answers. I can't tell you what your dads thinking and I can't tell you what Piccolo's thinking either, but I can tell you my side."

Gohan stared at her as if he couldn't believe someone was actually going to let him in on something. He never understood how he was old enough to fight like an adult, but no one would talk to him like one. Piccolo was the closest person to ever do that, until Rori left. Then all of a sudden the secrets wall went up, "Really?"

"Of course." she said before standing up, "walk with me?"

Gohan stood up and followed her as they walked along the creek path. "Gohan, do you remember your first fight? When the saiyans came. When you couldn't attack Nappa. Why didn't you do it?"

Gohan though back cringing a bit at how cowardly he'd been. He'd always felt bad about that, he wished he'd known why he didn't attack, "I don't know really... It was my first fight... I was scared I guess."

Rori nodded, "The first time for anything is scary. We don't always react the way we should... and how do you feel about that now? Do you still think about it?"

Gohan blinked, he wasn't sure where she was going with this, it seemed a bit off subject, "Well... I do think about it sometimes... I think about what I should have done... I don't really like to think about it though..."

Rori turned to him walking backwards now, "Well Piccolo was my first real relationship. Things were good when things were easy between us. When things get hard that's when it becomes difficult to make the right decision, to not let fear get ahold of you. I think about how Piccolo told me we were over and I wish I had done something different. I wish that I had found a way to make things better, but I was scared and so I ran."

Gohan stopped walking, "Piccolo broke up with you?"

She nodded, shrugging her shoulders, it still hurt to think about.

Gohan thought for a moment. It didn't make any sense. Piccolo was miserable without her, "why?"

She sighed, "I honestly don't know... he wouldn't say. I wish I had stuck around and tried to find out."

"But he still loves you" Gohan said trying to understand why Piccolo would break up with her.

"I know... yet, he won't stop pushing me away." she sighed looking at him, he was so young. For him love was just love and that was that, but he had asked her for answers, "Sometimes love isn't enough. This is something I'm hoping you won't have to learn for yourself as you get older. Gohan, Piccolo and your dad aren't trying to keep things from you. Growing up means making tough decisions and facing the realities of things for better or for worse. They're just trying to protect you from it a little longer."

Gohan stayed silent for a while before he tilted his head to the side, "Dont you think that's what Piccolo's doing for you?"

"What?"

"He loves you, aunt Rori. When you're not around he's not the same. He's more moody than usual. If he won't tell you why you can't be together... don't you think he's trying to protect you from something?"

"Gohan... You're mother's right. We need to get you into one of those smart kid schools" she smiled and put her arm around him as they walked back toward the house.

"Does this mean you're not going to be with Yamcha?"

"It means I need to break down that stubborn mentor of yours and find out what he's hiding from me. Even if I'm a little scared to find out."

"I'll give you some tips." Gohan laughed.

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews and the feedback. So I'll continue with the short little chapters like this for now and hopefully that will bring us to the end of the Cell Saga. Anyways, as said before, next Rori will have a confrontation with Cell, have some bonding time with the prince. Just one more teaser, when all is said and done, we haven't seen the end of 17. I know some of you have asked for him to come back. Until next time! :)