Gohan hugged him back. His father's ki, which usually radiated with warmth and compassion, now felt entirely filled to the brim with love. Love for him.
Without even waiting for a second, he instinctively responded, "You're my best friend too."
Goku smiled as he pulled his head away from Gohan. "Really? I am?"
"You're the best friend I've ever had." Gohan said.
Any normal kid would be embarrassed if their father was their best friend but Gohan didn't consider himself normal, at least not completely. Not since he was four. He actually felt some semblance of pride in how strong of a bond they shared, at least before the Cell games...
He buried the memories and focused back on the present, he refused to let this moment be ruined by his guilty conscience.
Bulma, who was still recovering from her near-death experience just minutes ago, waddled away from Krillin and over to Goku exhaustedly.
"So I take it you two will be off here shortly. Lotta' work getting those dragon balls." she said.
"They're not going anywhere!" Roshi yelled as he exited his island home. He took his time, adding dramatic effect as he used his staff to set his unimaginably slow pace.
"Not without this." He placed Bulma's backpack down in front of them. "You never told me you were leaving the dragon balls here! I had to deal with an entire battalion of Red Ribbon soldiers who claimed, not only that I had the dragon balls, but that I created the dragon radar too!"
Goku looked around the beach that was noticeably empty of any signs of battle. "Where'd they all go, master?"
"Oh, I showed them what happens when you mess with the turtle hermit! After a mean bruising, they got into their helicopters and scurried off. Quite impressive wouldn't you say Bulma?..." said Roshi as he stroked his beard, raising his brow suggestively towards the girl.
She was in no mood for any of his antics, especially after the day she's had. "Don't get any funny ideas, old man!"
Roshi nervously laughed. "R-relax, I was j-just kidding" He let her cool off before speaking again. "Now on to the matter at hand, seeing as you two do have some daylight left where will you be going?"
Krillin walked over and waited anxiously for Goku's reply.
Goku looked at Gohan and noticed his purple gi was torn quite badly near his knees and around his left shoulder, he suddenly had an epiphany: "I think Jack and I will head back to my grampa's house, at least for today."
"Really what are you guys gonna do there?" Krillin asked. He was curious about their journey, but definitely not curious enough to join in, this undersea expedition was more than enough to quench his thirst for adventure.
"I think Jack needs a change of clothes and I have one of my old gi's back at Grampa's. I'm also starving, and there are some really tasty fish near the house."
Krillin sighed. "Goku is there ever a time when you're not thinking of food"
While Goku said his goodbyes to Krillin, Gohan made the effort to step away from the group to talk to Master Roshi.
Seeing that the others couldn't hear them, Roshi spoke plainly. "See? Some adventure makes you feel better doesn't it, Gohan?"
Gohan smiled. "Yeah, it does. Thanks, Master Roshi."
"It's my pleasure, and if you ever need to find me I'll be right here. That is if you can manage to escape from Goku. Such a strange young boy, I've never seen someone who cared more about people than your father."
He patted Gohan's shoulder and walked over to Goku. "Now Goku, if we don't see each other again just remember the next world tournament is in the next three years on May seventh. If you forget just drop by and I'll remind you."
Goku giggled, "Don't worry master I'm sure we'll see each other long before then."
The turtle hermit turned to walk back into his home, he waved behind him as he spoke, "Good luck to the both of you boys! Find those dragon balls!"
Goku nodded and turned to call for the nimbus but hesitated. He remembered that Bulma had no way off the island. Before getting the chance to ask her she already prepared a response.
"Don't worry Goku, I'll swindle a boat off Master Roshi. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he was staring at my watch since I first got here. Who knows, with a little extra charm, he might even give me an airplane."
"Okay, Bulma. It was really great getting to see you. Hopefully, we see each other again soon!" He said and then called upon his trusty cloud.
The pair waved goodbye to their friends and started off on their adventure once more.
They traveled north at a steady but slow and relaxed pace. Dusk came and went, leaving the two beneath the night's sky that was illuminated by the bright stars of distant galaxies. Beneath their cloud, the sea was calm and created a silence that radiated far and wide. The gentle hum of the nimbus was their only source of sound, it acted as a lullaby, attempting to coax the boys into rest. Neither Gohan nor Goku gave in to its soothing sound though, and they kept up conversation to entertain themselves, that was until the radar pinged.
Goku took the device out from the backpack and activated it. Two of the dragon balls seemed to have been gathered up in the west and a third was stationary just a few miles north of the others. Gohan knew that could only mean one thing. "Goku those dragon balls must be the ones the Red Ribbon Army has! And that third one is close by, don't you think we should hurry?"
Goku seemed at ease and gently placed the radar back in the bag. "Nah it's okay, they don't have a dragon radar anywhere near as good as Bulma's. We can stop at Grampa's, get you a new gi, relax for a day or two and then get goin'. Sound good?"
"Y-yeah..." Gohan said. He wasn't thrilled about not heading straight for the dragon ball, but Goku was right, his gi had really taken a beating and he needed a new one.
It was just as the sun rose above the horizon when they came upon Mount Pouzu. The forests erupted with the sounds of birds and insects as all the creatures excitedly awoke.
Ecstatic to finally be back home, Goku jumped off the cloud as soon as they were above his little hut. Landing by the front door he was pleased to see that no ivy or moss had grown over any of the brick, and the house looked more or less in pristine condition. Gohan peered into the hut and was surprised, it was incredibly clean. Cleanliness had never been his father's forte but perhaps he kept it this way to honor his grandfather. He waited patiently as Goku sifted through a small dresser and took out a blue gi with red wristbands and a white sash belt.
"Grampa made this one extra special for me. He said that it's made from super strong cloth and that he'd never seen any gi made of it rip. I was a little younger when he made it for me, but he made it bigger so I would grow into it." He handed the neat pile of clothes over to Gohan. "Here Jack, it's yours."
"Goku I don't think-" he stuttered before being interrupted.
"Don't feel bad, I want you to have it. I kinda like Master Roshi's orange gis more anyway."
Gohan reluctantly took the clothing and slipped into the outfit, it was by far the most comfortable and best-fitting gi he'd ever had. He even liked the red wristbands, they seemed distinctively unique and complimented the blue nicely.
"Yeah! You look just like me when I first met Bulma!" Goku stated proudly before exiting the hut.
Gohan smiled, he was happy to hear that. He'd always loved it when someone said he looked like his father because his father was strong and it made him feel strong too. He followed Goku and the two exited the home being careful to leave everything as neat as possible.
Goku took a moment and circled the house's perimeter looking for any minute changes in the environment but found none. It was identical to the way it was before, like he'd never left.
The two spent the rest of the day fishing and hiking through the woods. Goku couldn't help tell hundreds of stories about his trips with his grandfather in the surrounding lands but Gohan still listened to each story closely. He hadn't heard any of them since he was just a little kid and was happy to have his memories refreshed.
The next morning arrived quickly and the two were off once again on the nimbus cloud, speeding west towards the dragon ball that, luckily, still remained out of Red Ribbon hands. The journey was hardly a few hours and before noon the two were just minutes away from the dragon balls location.
Korin Tower appeared before them and so did the cries of someone in desperate need of help. The two spotted a Red Ribbon jet circling the tower. They saw its pilot was holding onto a small native boy and was screaming unintelligibly into the forest below.
"Goku he's gonna drop him!" Gohan struggled to keep on the cloud. He wanted desperately to fly over and rescue the child himself but he couldn't not without exposing himself.
"No he's not!" Goku said and closed the distance from the plane. The cheetah pilot screamed like a little girl when he saw him, he had heard the countless stories of the two unstoppable boys dismantling the Red Ribbon Army piece by piece. He quickly took out his pistol and fired at the two. Gohan blocked a few of the bullets before hopping onto the plane. He picked up and threw the child over to Goku. The cheetah was now unloading magazine after magazine into Gohan, yet his efforts proved fruitless. Gohan opened up the cockpit and pulled the pilot's ejection lever sending him flying upwards into the air. Gohan then jumped back onto the nimbus and the three landed at the base of the tower. The child wailed and ran over to his father and hugged his leg.
The man knelt down, placed the four-star ball on the ground, and comforted the boy "There, there Upa. You are safe now, thanks to these kind strangers."
Goku was overjoyed, he could hardly contain himself as he picked up the ball. "Grampa's ball! Jack, can you believe it? We finally found grampa's dragon ball!"
"I take it this 'dragon ball' was important to your grandfather?" the man asked inquisitively.
Goku stared at the ball that gleamed in the sunlight. "Yeah, he left it to me before he died."
"Considering the Red Ribbon Army attacked my son and me over it, what makes this ball so special?" the man asked.
Goku was happy to explain the legend of the dragon balls, he rarely got to tell the tale and this was the perfect chance to do so. "Well there are seven balls and when you gather all of them up, the eternal dragon Shenron comes out. I don't know how he fits in them but my friend Bulma told me it was magic, anyway, when he comes out he will grant you one wish. It can be whatever you want! My friend Oolong wished for underwear the first time we summoned the dragon." He laughed remembering how Oolong claimed they were the most comfortable pair he'd ever owned.
"Ah, I see why the army would be after the dragon balls then." the man said softly, deep in thought.
Goku placed the ball on the left side of his gi, keeping it close to his heart. He looked into the sky observing how endlessly tall this tower seemed to be. "I was wondering what is that big pole sticking out of the ground for?"
"This is The Korin Tower, it is a sacred landmark of my people and I live here in order to guard it. There is a legend that says if you climb the tower and reach the top unaided, then you will meet the noble guardian. He will offer you a cup of sacred water and once you drink from it your abilities will multiply ten times over."
Gohan nudged Goku, "What do you think Goku, think we can climb it?"
Goku gazed up at the tower once more, shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand. "Well, we'd get a lot stronger right?... Let's try it!"
Goku barely touched the tower before his stomach started rumbling and the man took notice.
"I see you are hungry. Why don't you join Upa and me for lunch? Then you and your friend can attempt the climb." He paused and saw the boy's reluctance to accept his offer. "Please I insist! It is the least I can do for you after you saved my son."
Goku and Gohan decided that rejecting his gracious offer would be beyond rude, and so, they agreed to stay for lunch. The two were then seated on wooden stumps around a moderate-sized campfire. While the man readied what was going to be venison stew, he told them his name was Bora and he was the guardian of the land just like his father and his father before him. He explained that his family had been there for generations, they have seen many attempt the climb, but none were able to come even close to the top. The challenge excited Goku, who became more eager to climb after hearing Bora's story.
As for the meal, it was fantastic. The venison's flavor was enhanced by the multitude of spices and aromatics added to the stew and each bowl was served with a honey wheat roll.
After filling their bellies, the two waited a few minutes before deciding to start their climb. They got up close to the tower and climbed up the first few feet before seeing a massive column crash into the ground.
The column was followed by a man who landed by the tips of his toes gracefully on top of it. He wore a pink outfit with long blue sleeves and carried a slightly annoyed expression. Spotting his target he smiled and looked Goku in the eyes. "Pleased to kill you!"
Bora was furious, not only had he desecrated the sacred land surrounding the tour but the column had nearly slammed into his son. "What are you doing! You nearly hit us!"
The man walked down the sloped cylinder. "Well that's kind of the idea, I am a hitman after all."
He straightened his shirt and wiped what little dust there was from the landing off of his pants. "I am mercenary Tao and do not worry, I am not here for you or your son. I am here for the spiky-haired boy. The Red Ribbon army had dispatched me to tie up some loose ends."
The native man gripped his spear tightly. "You will do no such thing. If you want the boy then you will have to go through me first!"
"Bora don't!" Goku screamed.
Bora lunged, spear first at Tao. Before Gohan or Goku had any time to intervene, Tao had already turned the spear and plunged it deep into Bora's heart. The large native man fell onto the floor like a pile of bricks.
"Daddy!" Upa cried as he began to run towards his father.
Gohan recognized that cry, it was one of complete helplessness and desperation. His mind flashed back to the cell games, his memories flooded in with a vengeance and filled him with overwhelming guilt. Tears rolled down his cheeks, he looked in horror as Upa shook his father's limp body that oozed blood from its fatal wound. If only he knew what Tao was planning in that split second of time, he could have stopped it. If only he knew what Cell was planning in that brief moment after spitting out eighteen he could have stopped it.
Goku could see the situation was deteriorating and while still looking at Tao he yelled back at Gohan, "Jack get Upa out of here! Run into the forest now!"
Gohan was in no emotional position to argue, he scooped Upa up and ran blindly into the forest.
The assassin watched them disappear into the thicket with a grim smile spread across his face. "Well, that was eventful..." he said. "I suppose I struck a nerve with your friend. Jack was his name? Yes, I definitely struck a nerve of his. Anyway, now that we are alone I think this is the perfect time to collect my bounty. You will make me some mighty fine zeni."
Tao charged forward and with a few kicks and punches, sent Goku flying backward and into the tower. Believing that he had already finished the job, Tao began to approach the boy to collect his dragon balls. He was surprised as Goku stood back up, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ow that hurt!" Goku said irritatedly.
"W-what kind of child are you?" Tao asked, backing away from Goku. "I've crippled seven-foot-tall men with fewer attacks!"
"Oh yeah? Well, it's my turn now!" Goku said as he brought back his hands. "KA-ME-HA-ME-HA!"
The blinding blue wave encompassed the entire form of Tao, it was a direct hit; exactly what Goku needed.
As the dust from the blast cleared, he saw the rather scrawny mercenary standing with his arms crossed, covering his face. Tao's shirt was obliterated and his pants were practically ripped into shorts.
"You...You ruined my outfit! Do you know how long getting another one of these made takes?"
"Y-You're still standing?" Goku asked nervously.
The mercenary didn't bother to respond, he was far too enraged by the destruction of his robe to do so. "DODON RAY!" he shouted, launching a thin beam of red light from his fingertip.
The beam traveled nearly instantaneously, hitting Goku square in the chest and sending him flying back into the dirt.
Now that he was sure he had finished him off, Tao breathed a sigh of relief. This child, this mere boy, was clearly a prodigy, showing more promise than any other target he had been given thus far. He smirked as he approached Bulma's backpack.
Given a few more years and that kid could have actually been a threat. Good thing I was hired to deal with him now.
He looted the bag and took out the three dragon balls. Starting with one, he attempted to stuff the dragon ball into his pocket only to remember he no longer had any. He sighed, his robe being ruined was a massive inconvenience and one that needed rectifying immediately. He lifted his column up, threw it, then landed on it in mid-air. It flew extremely fast making his exit almost as brief as his introduction.
Gohan set Upa down, he fought to keep his emotions in check because he knew he needed to go back and help his father.
"Please s-stay here okay Upa? I need to go help Goku."
Upa nodded but as Gohan began walking back towards the tower, he couldn't help but follow. He crept close to the ground and attempted to be as silent as possible while he trailed loosely behind Gohan and made his way back to his home.
It didn't take long for Gohan to get back to the tower, and once he had emerged from the forest, he found Goku laying on the ground, bruised and unconscious but alive. Gohan looked at the hole on the left side of his father's gi and saw the four-star ball peeking out from it, whatever had hit him had been blocked by the ball.
Just as Gohan crouched by his side, Goku slowly opened his eyes and propped his torso up with his hands, causing the ball to fall out of his shirt.
Rolling his hand over the ball, he picked it up and placed it into the other side of his gi. "Man, that was way too close. If I didn't have grampa's ball that attack could have really hurt me"
Gohan extended his hand to help Goku up; an offer that was eagerly accepted. Goku grit his teeth as a pain in his chest became apparent, he pulled his gi back to his shoulder and saw a big blue bruise where the dodon ray had hit the dragon ball.
Suddenly, Upa appeared from the brush and ran over to Goku. "Goku you're okay!"
Gohan was irritated, the boy had disregarded his command, but given the circumstances, he understood, probably better than anyone, that Upa needed to be here right now.
Gohan opened up the backpack to find it completely empty. "Goku, bad news, Tao took the dragon balls."
Goku patted his chest lightly as to not upset the bruising. "Yeah but he still needs Grampa's ball. I bet he's gonna be pretty mad when he finds out he'll have to come back to get it haha!"
Goku's laughter was short-lived as Upa turned away from the two and walked over to a patch of ground next to where his father's body rested. The three dug the hole together but Goku and Gohan let Upa cover up his father himself. When Upa pushed the last handful of dirt over his father, Goku could hardly watch as the little native boy struggled not to cry. It was in that moment Goku decided that he would collect the dragon balls, summon the eternal dragon, and bring Bora back to life.
"Don't be sad Upa." he said. "Remember the dragon balls grant you one wish. Jack and I will get back our dragon balls and finish collecting the rest, once we do we'll use them to bring your dad back to life!"
Upa's face lit up. "Y-you really think you can do that Goku?!"
Goku responded in a deadly serious tone. "Yes, but we'll need to climb the tower first. That guy was way too strong for me and the only way we can beat him is if we meet the guardian at the top and drink that sacred water. You up to it Jack?"
"No Goku, someone's gotta stay here to protect Upa in case that Tao guy comes back before you do."
Goku nodded. "Right. Well be safe you two, I'll try and be back as soon as I can. Oh and Jack here's my power pole in case you need it."
Gohan caught the pole and watched as Goku ran up to the tower and began vigorously climbing it. Within moments he had already scaled hundreds of feet and was becoming difficult to see.
It was odd, but Gohan actually felt kind of relieved that they had to use the dragon balls to revive Upa's father. He enjoyed being with his own father again and waiting an entire year before being able to go back to the present sounded really good to him, perhaps a little too good.
Midday came and went, along with dusk and the sunset, leaving Goku climbing the tower in the darkness of night. The climb itself wasn't too difficult, he'd climbed much more dangerous cliff-faces before and the marble of the tower made it easy to grip onto. The real struggle was the battle with hunger and sleep, both of which he lacked. Still, he didn't let anything stop him; not when his friend needed him the most.
I won't give up! I will meet this guardian and get the sacred water! He repeated to himself. Upa's depending on me!
But by the time dawn came, Goku was tapped. His pace had slowed to a crawl and every movement was complete agony. He hugged the tower and decided to take a breather, how long it would last, he didn't know, but he knew he needed a break. Using one hand to block the early morning sun he looked up the tower expecting to see nothing but more marble tower, but that wasn't what he saw.
He couldn't believe his eyes, he could see the top! With newfound determination, he climbed rapidly until he reached the outward extending platform. He gripped the platform and lifted himself onto it, entering the first floor of Korins Tower.
Phew, I finally made it!
He stood on his exhausted legs and searched the room, finding only three covered pots as furnishing. He walked over to investigate the pots when a mysterious voice met him.
"Don't touch those pots Goku."
"Who said that?" Goku looked around him and saw no one. "Are you the guardian?"
The voice began again. "I am, and if you climb up the stairs through the door on your left you'll find me."
Goku did as instructed and climbed the short staircase up to the second floor. The entire platform was bare except for the metal railing that surrounded it.
"Hello? Where are you?" Goku asked while searching the empty floor.
He suddenly felt a small tap on his arm.
"I'm right here."
Goku turned to face the legendary guardian, expecting someone of great size and strength, but he was instead met by an old white cat. The feline was much larger than a normal house cat though, Goku reckoned he was roughly the size of Krillin, except, maybe with a little extra weight. He carried a wooden staff in his right hand and smiled at the boy.
"I enjoyed your climb Goku, very, very well done."