Two weeks had passed, and Gohan grew concerned.
His father wasn't answering his phone, he wasn't at his cabin in the woods, in fact he was nowhere to be found on Earth. Vegeta made it clear to Gohan that his father needed some time to himself, to let him have this and that he'd be okay. Well, his words were 'For the love of God, he is a grown ass man and can take care of himself! He obviously needs some time alone so leave him be! And quit nagging me, boy, before I punch you so hard you'll be shitting teeth!'
Gohan let out a long, deep breath as he stared out of his office window, watching as the rain drops drizzled down the window pane in the downpour. He loved his job, but this was the last place he wanted to be today, he just couldn't focus. His mind was on his parents, his father mostly, he was so worried about him. He'd never seen his father like this before. He supposed his father had never been through something like this before.
He'd experienced his parents having numerous arguments before, he'd watched his father get kicked out of the house, he'd watched his father grovel to his mother some time later and then things would be okay again. Sometimes his father had to work a little harder at his apologies, sometimes a simple sorry and that charming smile of his didn't get him out of the dog house.
Gohan couldn't help but snort out a laugh as he thought about some of his father's feeble attempts at apologising to his mother. He really praised his mother's patience with his father, because the man was a pain in the ass! His mother may have been hotheaded, but she was a sucker for his father and even during their most difficult times, she always forgave him.
Except for now.
Gohan leant his chin in the palm of his left hand, his elbow resting on his desk as he sat deep in thought. He wondered how things were going to work out this time. How on Earth was his father going to fix this? When was his mother going to be able to let his father in again? If at all? She was a closed book right now, even to Gohan. He'd tried talking to her a few days ago at the house, co
axing her to open up to him. But, she refused, telling him it's not for him to worry about, he's their son and she doesn't want him to be a part of this.
But, as he tried to tell her, he was a part of this! They were a family, and families stick together! He wanted to be there for them! He wanted to help! But, his stubborn mother wasn't having any of it. She assured him she was okay and things would figure themselves out. He could only nod and smile lightly, knowing deep down that his little mother wasn't okay.
He knew. He knew because he'd been there before. He was the one who watched as his mother crumbled after his father's sacrifice against Cell. He was the one who comforted her during her sleepless nights, he was the one who comforted her when she just couldn't hold back the tears anymore. He was there when she found out she was pregnant with Goten and she completely broke down into a mess that Gohan would never be able to forget.
He knew that look in her eyes. She couldn't hide that from him...
2 weeks ago ...
"Have you spoken to dad?" Gohan questioned his mother.
"No, he hasn't been here to see your brother, he hasn't texted or phoned, so I have no reason to speak to him" his mother bluntly responded, her back to him as she cleaned around the kitchen sink. Gohan was silent for a moment as he contemplated his next move. His father was obviously a sore subject right now, but she needed to know how this was all affecting his father.
"He's not doing so good, mom" Gohan decided to tell her.
"I'm sure he's doing just fine" she shortly replied.
"No, he's not. He's a mess, mom"
"Your father is more than capable of taking care of himself. He'll ... figure it out"
"It's not somethin' he can just figure out, mom. He's never been in this situation before and has no idea how to deal with it". His mother remained silent as she run the water from the kitchen tap and rinsed the sink over.
"What's dad always said? He can never beat you, you're too strong. You're the one and only opponent that can stop him in his tracks" Gohan told her.
"I'm not his opponent, Gohan, i'm his wife" his mother sternly reminded him, "And clearly I can't stop him from doing anything. He does what he wants when he wants".
Gohan could feel his mother's Ki spiking. And it wouldn't be such a bad thing for her to just let it out a bit.
"That's not completely true, c'mon, he works on the farm for you. You know he never wanted to get a job, but he did it for you. He wouldn't do that for anyone else"
"He'd do it for Whis!" Chichi huffed, throwing the soapy rag in the sink, "He does all sorts of chores for some free training! He'd do anything if it meant he could get stronger. That's all he cares about!"
"Mom, I know you're angry. I know you're hurtin'. But, this is dad! I know he's done a lot of stupid stuff, but he loves you! I know he does! I know you still love him, too, you don't just stop lovin' someone like that!"
"Gohan, I'm not having this conversation with you" Chichi firmly told her son.
"I'm angry at him, too, mom, but you can't deny what i'm sayin'. He's a mess without you. He knows he's done wrong and he wants to work things out with you!"
"Gohan-"
"-You can't keep pushin' him away, mom, 'cause at some point you'll push him too far! I understand if you need some time to think about things, but at some point you're gonna have to deal with this! You can't drag it out too long and expect dad to just keep holdin' on!" Gohan told her seriously.
"Gohan, just stop! This is between me and your father! This isn't for you to get involved in!"
"But, I am involved, mom! You're my parents! And I care about you! We're still a family! I'm here for you both and If I can help at all, I will" Gohan took a breath as his mother leant against the kitchen sink, "I'm worried about you, too, mom" he told her gently.
"I'm doing just fine, Gohan. And I appreciate that you care about us, honey, I really do" Chichi assured him, her tone a little softer this time, "but me and your father need to figure this out on our own. When I'm ready to speak to him about all this, I will."
Gohan shook his head.
"Dad" he whispered.
The man was his most favourite guy in the whole entire world. No man could top his father, never in a million years. He loved him to death, he respected him, looked up to him, hung on his every word, lit up to his every smile.
He was his super hero.
But, he was angry at him.
After everything, the man still hadn't learnt from his mistakes. He prided himself in making promises that he could keep. And he did. If Son Goku made a promise, he kept it. But, his hunger for battle occasionally shook all rationale thought from his head, and instead he succumbed to his addiction and carelessly put his life on the line to sate his thrill. Promises could be forgotten in that moment, his craving for violence came first, his need to challenge himself came first.
His father didn't do it intentionally. Gohan knew that. He was simply carefree.
But, it had gotten worse, Gohan could see that for himself. His father's reckless attitude had become more apparent the older he got, the stronger he got. It was never enough for him, he consistently wanted to better himself and achieve new heights, breaking his own limits. Being half Saiyan, Gohan knew how that felt, he knew the feeling of power and breaking through that wall. It was an incredible feeling, and it did spark a fire deep inside of you, pushing you to want more.
The difference between him and his father, though, was Gohan didn't need it.
Gohan stopped leaning on the desk and slouched back in his chair, swinging gently side to side in it as he continued to watch the rain trickle down the window. As his jaded eyes continued their gaze, he really hoped his parents would work things out. He refused to believe this was the end. It just couldn't be.
They were Goku and Chichi, after all.
Yellow clouds floated in the never ending pink sky. There were no blue skies here. No breeze. No sounds of the bird chirping.
This was far from home.
King Kai's little planet kept spinning, but Goku felt like he was at a stand still.
He found himself staring off into the distance. His mind just needed that space, that moment. But he couldn't erase the overwhelming thoughts he had in his mind.
He frowned.
He was angry. Angry at himself, angry at the world because it was still moving on whilst his was falling apart.
The guilt, the shame, the disappointment in himself weighed heavily on his shoulders, heavier than any of the weighted suits Whis made him wear.
He closed his weary eyes.
He could hear her voice inside his head, her laughter, infectious, so loud above all the noise.
His brain must have been so sick and tired of thinking about her. Her words, every conversation, going round and around inside his head. He couldn't get her out of his mind and it was driving him crazy!
He couldn't get her out of his mind because she was supposed to be there.
His Chichi.
She was like oxygen to his lungs, he needed to breathe her in.
She took all of his defenses. He could do nothing but lay down his armor and surrender.
His Chichi.
Her kisses were all consuming, but soft and heavenly, like tasting, seeing and feeling every colour of the rainbow. God, she was beautiful, and he wanted to scoop every bit of her up and lock it away, never to let it go.
His Chichi.
He'd been around the whole damn Universe and could never find something more real than his little woman in the mountains.
He missed her.
He missed her so damn much it was fucking destroying him.
It came in waves, large and powerful, and right now it was drowning him.
He loved her.
He loved her so hard and so deeply, that painful true love. That 'can't sleep, can't breathe, can't eat' kinda love.
His Chichi.
She was like catching a smile in a bottle.
From the safety of the house, King Kai, Gregory and Bubbles sat in silence with hot tea observing as a troubled Goku sat in the garden with his thoughts. King Kai was lost for words after Goku flipped out on him earlier. He wasn't the Goku King Kai had come to know. It was as if he was an intruder, someone must have trespassed on his planet in the dead of night and swapped him with someone else. That was the only way he could describe it.
Goku couldn't focus, his mind was clearly elsewhere. He was restless, especially at night. King Kai heard the futon creaking as Goku continuously tossed and turned. He noticed how Goku's appetite had reduced, which had King Kai questioning whether Goku was feeling unwell, because he would normally inhale his food like his life depended on it. But, what concerned him the most, was that Goku didn't laugh at any of his jokes. Sure, the buffoon didn't always understand his jokes, but he understood enough of them to laugh at them. But, there was no laughter. Not even a crease in his eyes from a hint of a smile, nothing. Instead, when King Kai tried to make him laugh, he became irritated and lost his temper with him and then stormed out of the house.
It was surreal, seeing Goku so glum and stressed. King Kai had never seen this side of him before. And Goku wouldn't talk to him about it, just said he had a lot on his mind and needed to get away. King Kai wondered what had happened on Earth to push someone as calm and collected as Goku to leave the planet.
"I gotta go" He heard Goku say from the garden. King Kai watched as Goku rose from the grass, so he shot out of the house and called Goku to stop.
"Wait! What do you mean you gotta go?!" King Kai questioned him.
"I can't be here. It's not helping me"
"It's not helping you? What do you mean?" King Kai pressed.
"I just need to get away" he repeated.
"Look, Goku, I don't know what's going on, but you can talk to me. You can't keep running away from your problems"
"Ye I can" he murmured, and with that he put two fingers to his forehead and disappeared.
Whis was slightly irritated, his down time had been rudely interrupted. He'd collected Vegeta from Earth some time ago, as requested by Bulma, with the promise of food, only to be dragged into a game of hide and seek with Goku. Goku wasn't anywhere on Earth, he wasn't on Beerus' planet, so after contacting the Lord of Worlds, that was their next stop.
"Honestly, you two call on me like I'm your servant. It's infuriating! I am an Angel, not your chauffer" Whis murmured, rather calmly, before diving into a bento box of delicious food.
"Yes, you look absolutely furious" Vegeta muttered dryly. It was at that moment they arrived at the Lord of World's planet and seeing it for the first time was kind of surreal.
"This is it?" Vegeta spoke out loud when they touched down on the neatly cut grass, "It's tiny! Hardly anything to boast about. It's not even worthy of being called a planet" Although the gravity was certainly a lot heavier here, Vegeta couldn't understand why Kakarot would want to train at such a dive.
"Well, thanks for that. Your compliment is deeply appreciated" King Kai stuck his nose up at Vegeta as he approached him from behind.
"Who the hell are you, bug man? Are you King Kai?" Vegeta demanded to know. Although Vegeta had spoken to the Lord of World's before telepathically, he'd never actually met him.
"Bug man?!" King Kai shrieked out, offended, "With that receding hairline, I'd be inclined to keep my mouth shut"
"Oh, good one, Lord of Worlds" Whis cheeped in amusement.
"You cheeky son of a-"
"-What Vegeta is trying to say, is thank you for allowing us to come to your planet. I know you were already aware of our impending arrival" Whis cut in, shoving his hand over Vegeta's loud mouth, a growl vacating Vegeta's lips.
"You are welcome here any time, Angel Whis, but I'm afraid you just missed him" King Kai told him.
"Oh?" Whis questioned, a grumble along the lines of 'for fuck sake' coming from Vegeta.
"Yep, he just left. He's gone back to Earth" King Kai shrugged, "He said that he needed to get away. Honestly, I was a bit concerned. He didn't laugh at any of my jokes. He really wasn't himself" King Kai crossed his arms over his large chest, a thoughtful look upon his face.
"I see. How long ago did he leave, exactly?" Whis wondered further, finally removing his large hand from Vegeta's mouth.
"Hmmm" King Kai scratched his chin in thought, "I'd say about 20 minutes ago".
"That fool got us on a wild goose chase!" Vegeta growled, his patience starting to wane. Why the hell had he been dragged into this shit again? Oh, yeah, because his wife was a manipulating harlot, and Kakarot was a loose fucking cannon who apparently needed babysitting!
"Well, it looks like it's back to Earth for us" Whis chirped, "Apologies for the fleeting visit, but thank you for your service" he told King Kai.
"You are most welcome" King Kai chipperly responded, "I suppose I should apologise for my comment before, about your hairline. It wasn't very hospitable of me" King Kai directed towards Vegeta, who merely cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Is that so" he muttered.
"Yes, I can see you are frustrated having to chase that idiot about the place, I imagine your patience is wearing a bit thin ... just like your hair!"
"What did you say?!" Vegeta rasped out. Whis grabbed his arm and gently knocked the ground with the bottom of his staff, signaling they were about to leave. King Kai pretended to have a pair of binoculars in his hands, and was zooming in on Vegeta.
"Your hairline is so far back, I need binoculars to see it!" he blurted out through a fit of giggles. Whis gently chuckled as Vegeta fumed.
"You miserable little insect! I'll turn this rock into a headstone, IT'S THAT FUCKING SMALL!!!" Vegeta screamed at him.
"Your hairline was playing 'sorry', pulled the wrong card and moved back 5 spaces!" The old Kai snorted out.
"I'll fucking kill-" but before he could say or do anything more, Vegeta disappeared with Whis, leaving King Kai to wipe his tears after another successful roasting.
Whis and Vegeta landed out in what felt like the middle of nowhere some time later. Vegeta scanned his surroundings, having no clue as to where they were.
"Where in the hillbilly are we?!" Vegeta snapped, "We're in the middle of the damn sticks out here!"
"Calm down, Vegeta. Really, you are in such a mood today" Whis sassed as he walked off.
"Damn straight! I'm sick and tired of chasing this moron around!"
"Goku can be a tad frustrating, but he's harmless, and clearly not in the right headspace right now" Whis pointed out. Vegeta rolled his eyes.
It wasn't long after when Vegeta and Whis stumbled upon a large tribe of people, located in the woodland, directly beneath Korin's tower, which Vegeta recognised, Goku's restless Ki leading them there. After walking into the native tribe's camp, Vegeta ignored the stares as he scanned the area for the third classed fool. He frowned hard when he finally spotted him.
"There he is" he growled through his teeth, marching off in Goku's direction. Whis giggled and followed him.
"Kakarot ... Where the hell have you been?!" Vegeta questioned him when he reached him, his one brow rising when he noticed what he was wearing. Goku was slouched back in what looked like a handmade wicker chair, his boots and Gi pants still on, with some sort of feathered tribal sash around his waist. His Gi tops were nowhere to be seen, but paint markings were scattered across his broad chest, and some on his face, a white feather with a red tip in his hair.
"Vegeta! Hey, buddy! Ya made it!" Goku beamed when he saw him.
"I wasn't invited and didn't want to be, I'm only here to find you. What the hell are you doing?!"
"Aw, I'm just chillin' with ma pal Upa here" Goku slurred out, pointing his thumb in Upa's direction, Upa grinning wildly at him, making Vegeta feel uncomfortable.
"What's an Upa?" Vegeta questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"It's good to meet you, Vegeta, sir. I've heard so much about you" Upa hopped up and took Vegeta's gloved hand, shaking it hastily.
"Alright, that's quite enough" Vegeta jeered, slapping Upa's hand away, "Kakarot, get yourself together, we're going home"
"Nope. I'm stayin' right here" Goku gave Vegeta a 'humph' and stuck up his nose and folded his arms over his bare chest stubbornly.
Vegeta could feel it ... a burning sensation building up inside of him. He could practically taste the succulent flavor of rage on his tongue.
"Kakarot, I swear to all the Gods in this forsaken Universe, if you do not get your ass up right now, I'm going to obliterate you" his voice trembled with anger.
"Don't mind him. He's in a bad mood today" Whis interrupted, placing his hands on Vegeta's tense shoulders, "Such a sour puss" he joked, pouting at the Prince of Saiyans. A vein almost burst on Vegeta's forehead.
"Tell me, Goku, what is this you have been consuming?" Whis wondered as he picked up the large beer mug from next to Goku to inspect it.
"Oh, it's beer. But it's special beer made by Upa's tribe" Goku told him cheerfully.
"Special how?" Whis queried further.
"I dunno, just makes ya feel all kinds'a funny" Goku giggled out, Upa giggling with him. Vegeta slapped his forehead at Goku's drunkenness. The clown hadn't been at this Upa's home for long, how the hell was he so drunk? He must have knocked those drinks back like it was no one's business.
"Hmm, may I?" Whis asked Goku.
"Knock ya'self out" Goku waved his hand at Whis, encouraging him to try it. Whis took a small sip of the beverage, before scrunching his nose up at it and frowning.
"Oh, my, that's rather bitter" he strained out.
"Once ya had a few, ya get use to it!" Goku assured him. Whis politely smiled and placed the beer back down next to Goku.
"I think I'll decline on this occasion. Vegeta, I believe you will no longer be requiring my services, so I'll be off" Whis spoke to Vegeta.
"What?! You can't just leave me here!" Vegeta gasped out, holding his hand against his chest, almost like Whis had wounded him.
"Goku, have fun! But not too much fun, I don't fancy peeling you off the floor and pumping your stomach before our next training session" Whis bounced. And with that, he disappeared.
Vegeta stood with a slumped form, staring at the space in which Whis was just stood in, before reluctantly turning around to see Goku and Upa smiling freakishly widely at him. Fuck sake, Vegeta thought as he massaged his brow from the stress.
"There! I can feel Vegeta's Ki, now, too!" Gohan exclaimed as he flew rapidly through the air.
"Oh, yeah! It is my dad!" Trunks smiled, following Gohan closely behind.
"Y'think he came to find dad, too, Gohan?" Goten asked his brother as he soared alongside Trunks.
"Most likely Bulma put him up to it" Gohan thought out loud. After finally feeling his father's Ki a couple of hours ago, Gohan was relieved he was back on Earth and made the decision to go and find him. Of course, the two half pints wanted to tag along, Piccolo being dragged in as back-up.
"I still don't see how I will be of any help" Piccolo grumbled, "Your father never listens to me".
"Aw, that's not true. Dad told me he's had some heart to hearts with you in the past. We need all the help me can get" Gohan told his friend with a smile as he turned his head to the side to face him. Piccolo rolled his eyes.
Around an hour later, the foursome arrived at Goku's location and Gohan smiled when he realised where they were. He led the others into the tribe's home, his father catching his eye as they walked past several teepees.
"What's wrong with him?" Piccolo suddenly asked Gohan. His Ki was all over the place and his eyes looked glazed over.
"Is uncle Goku drunk?" Trunks grinned.
Gohan simply groaned. This was not good.
Goku noticed them a few seconds later and he smiled his biggest smile!
"Boys! MY BOYS ARE HERE!" He practically screamed into Upa's ear, making the younger man wince.
"Hey dad-" Gohan started, before he was promptly shut down as his father physically tackled him. He held him tight and showed no sign of letting go. Gohan couldn't help but smile sadly as he hugged his father back just as tightly. He had a feeling his father really needed that hug.
"What're you guys doin' here?" He slurred out to his eldest as he pulled back, the stench of alcohol making Gohan silently gag.
"We came lookin' for you, dad. We were worried about you"
"Aw, ya don't need t'worry 'bout me. I'm fine" he told his son, slapping him on his back rather hard.
"Are you, though?" He asked his father, slightly winded, getting no response as his father pounced on Goten on the ground and smothered his one cheek with sloppy kisses.
"Dad" Goten groaned out through laughter, as he tried to push his father off him. Goku ruffled his hair quite roughly, nearly knocking Goten off his feet, before eyeing Trunks next.
"No, not me!" Trunks shouted at him, but it was too late as Goku clumsily grabbed him and gave him a little hug and a noogie before poking him under his chin, tickling him and making him giggle.
"You're weird" Trunks huffed out, pushing Goku off him after the onslaught. Goku looked up to see Piccolo and found him frowning hard at him.
"Don't even think about it" he threatened, making Goku chuckle.
"So, dad, I was thinkin' maybe you should come back home with us" Gohan told his father, catching his eye and giving him a big, warm smile.
"Hmm?" Goku answered, his glazed eyes staring curiously up at his son.
"I think we should go home, dad. You can come and stay with me and Videl. You can have a nice hot bath, some good food and just relax for a bit" Gohan added.
"Nah, I'm good here, Gohan" his father brushed off Gohan's suggestion, "I'm just fine here" he repeated. But, Gohan could see right through him and it made his own smile drop from his face in an instant.
"Dad, please come home with us" Gohan tried again, crouching down and resting on his heels to be at his father's height.
"I'm good, Gohan. Stop worryin' 'bout me. Y'got your own family to worry 'bout" he said quietly, shifting his gaze to his boots, his hands clumsily fiddling with one of the laces that had come undone.
"You're my family too, dad" he gently reminded him, reaching over to take his father's shoe lace and tie it for him.
When his father's eyes met his once more, Gohan felt unbelievably torn up inside. There was an unmistakable sadness in his father's eyes and he didn't know what to say to try and ease it. Because, what could he say? He couldn't think of a single thing to say to take that pain away.
His father was hurting, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Okay, I'm on my way" Bulma declared before hanging up her cellphone and slipping it back into her pocket.
"Who was that?" Krillin wondered, his body slouched comfortably in the deck chair in Bulma's back garden.
"Gohan. He's with the boys, they went looking for Goku and he's a drunken mess, refusing to come home".
"A drunken mess? That ain't like him" Krillin thought.
"Exactly. He's completely gone off the rails. Gohan needs back up. We need to get to Upa's" Bulma decided.
"Upa? Ain't that the kid Goku saved back when he was a kid?" Yamcha pondered, also relaxed in a deck chair.
"Yep. They are still very good friends, he sees him now and then, according to Gohan" Bulma informed them.
"So, we're going to Upa's" Yamcha stated, more than asked as he stood from the deckchair, stretching his arms above his head.
"That we are! You're coming, too, Krillin" Bulma ordered to the smaller man.
"But, 18 is expecting me home shortly, she's cooking stew tonight" Krillin whimpered out.
"You're Goku's best friend, you're coming!" She declared firmly, pulling her cellphone back out of her pocket and typing a message, "I will let her know Goku's in trouble, so she'll understand".
"What about Chichi? Should we tell her?" Yamcha asked Bulma, knowing that Chichi was there with them at Capsule Corp.
"Tell me what?" Chichi asked as she suddenly joined the small group. Crap, Yamcha thought.
"Um ... well, ya see ..." Yamcha stuttered out.
"Goten is with Trunks and Gohan, they were worried about Goku and went looking for him. Seems he's in a bit of a mess and won't come home and the boys don't want to leave him, so, we're going to go and help bring him back home" Bulma told her. Chichi scrutinised Bulma for a moment, almost as if trying to find a lie in her words or her expression.
"If Goku doesn't want to do something, he won't do it, so you're wasting your time" Chichi spoke.
"Maybe you could help convince him to come home?" Yamcha shrugged, looking at her.
"Me? I don't think so. He obviously went wherever he is for a reason. Where is he anyway?" Chichi directed to Bulma.
"At Upa's"
"Upa's? He hasn't been there for a while" she commented. She knew of Upa, and knew her husband was very much still good friends with him, but could only remember him spending time with Upa on one of the days leading up to the Cell games. He had a lot on his mind, and wanted to spend time with his old friend whilst he still could.
"Goten's there, and he won't come home without his dad. I think we need your help with that one at least" Bulma tempted her. Chichi frowned at Bulma. She knew what she was doing. She sighed and folded her arms over her chest.
"Fine, I'll come, but only to get Goten!" Chichi clarified, her voice unwavering.
"That's good enough for me!" Bulma chirped, pulling out a small remote control from her other pocket. She pressed one of the buttons and held it close to her.
"Otto, get airplane 576 ready for take off" she ordered to the device.
"Yes, Madame. Preparing Aircraft 576 as we speak" the robot voice returned.
"Alright, let's get going!" Bulma announced to the group.
Goku felt himself fall as he lost his balance and clumsily landed next to Upa who sat amongst the many floor cushions with other men from the tribe. Upa belly laughed and slapped his friend on his back in approval.
"Ha-ha! Finally letting loose I see" Upa commented through his laughter as Goku straightened himself up on the cushions.
"Heh, definitely lost somethin'" Goku slurred out in return, earning more laughter from Upa. As he tried to focus his blurry eyes, he was surprised to see Bulma and the others walking into the camp just ahead, his wife following closely behind.
Wait a minute ...
His wife?!
Oh, shit. His wife was there!
"Aw crap, my wife's here!" he whispered quite loudly to Upa.
"Your wife? The one that's possibly divorcing you? That one?"
"I only got one wife, Upa"
"Oh. Okay, shoot, what are we gonna do?"
"I dunno. I can't be drunk, she's already pissed at me, she'll kill me! Ain't ya got somethin' that we can drink to make us not be drunk?"
"Does anything like that even exist?"
"I dunno. But, it should!" He suddenly noticed Bulma was walking over to them, "Hey, how come Bulma never made somethin' like that?"
"I dunno. Shall we ask her?"
"Yeah, she's real smart an' does science stuff, she could totally make somethin' to stop makin' us feel drunk"
"What are you two talking about?" Bulma suddenly interrupted them.
Goku and Upa screamed, both of them grabbing onto one another and holding on for dear life.
"Are you ok?" Bulma eyed them both.
"Hey, Bulma. Can ya make somethin' that stops us bein' drunk?" Goku asked her hopefully.
"Yeah, like a non-alcoholic drink that doesn't make you drunk" added Upa.
"You mean like a regular drink that isn't alcohol?" Bulma questioned them dryly.
"Yeah!" They both exclaimed together.
"Yeah, it's a wonder why no one ever thought of that before" Bulma humoured them.
"See? What I say?" Goku slurred out to Upa. Bulma rolled her eyes.
"Goku, where the hell have you been?!" She questioned him firmly.
"What ya mean? I'm right here" she really didn't have time for his games. She gripped him by his one ear and yanked his wobbly ass up, dragging him behind her as she stormed away from Upa.
"Owwwwww, Bulma, that hurts!" Goku whined as he stumbled behind her.
"Seriously, Goku!" She scorned him, letting his ear go and turning to face him, hands on her hips, "Vegeta has been all over looking for you! You weren't anywhere on Earth, so I had to contact Whis to see where you were, he collected Vegeta and then went to King Kai's, now here! And you refused to come home with Gohan! We've all been worried about you!"
"I'm sure not all of you were" he quietly muttered under his breath.
"GOKU!" She screamed at him, making him cower and put his hands up in defence in front of him.
"What?! I dunno what ya all worried 'bout, I'm fine!" he sloppily responded, a hiccup popping out of his throat as he finished his sentence.
"You are not fine, Goku! You are very drunk!"
"Well, we have been drinking" Upa said as he suddenly appeared next to Goku, leaning on his friend's shoulder.
"Exactly" Goku added with a wink, giving her the finger guns. Bulma pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a breath.
"Well, at least we found you in one piece" she guessed, her eyes roaming up and down his body in question, "well, sort of" she chuckled out, noticing his attire.
"This is wonderful, you can all stay for the festivities!" Upa announced happily.
"Festivities?" Bulma wondered.
"I just came to collect Goten" Chichi spoke as she reached for her youngest son's hand, "but thank you for the offer".
"Aw, but mom, it's not even a school night" Goten whined.
Upa observed as Goku looked absolutely devastated by Chichi's reluctance to stay. Although Goku felt like he needed to get away from everything, it upset him that she wanted to leave so eagerly.
"Come on, Mrs Son. It would be an honour if you stayed!" Upa tried. It was at that moment his own wife joined them, with a huge smile on her face.
"Oh my goodness, you're Mrs Son? Goku's wife?" She blurted out. Chichi cocked an eyebrow before she unsurely replied.
"Um, yes, that's me"
"Oh my goodness! Goku has told me all about you! And of course, your incomparable cooking skills! He raves about it every time he's here!" She told Chichi as she stood in front of her.
Goku ducked his head, a small blush tinting his cheeks. Bulma pouted lightly at Goku's reaction, a sad smile forming on Gohan's face as he observed his dad's sheepish face. His father was forever talking about his mother, to him especially, but it was so sweet he spoke to other people about her, too.
Chichi's eyes briefly glanced over to her flustered husband, her heart beating a little faster than before at the notion that her husband so openly talked about her.
"I would be so honoured if you could teach me a thing or two! Please, I am cooking a huge feast with some of the other women tonight and your help would be wonderful!" she clasped her hands in front of her as if in prayer, begging Chichi to help her. Chichi just couldn't say no to her.
"Alright, one night won't hurt" Chichi guessed, sporting a small smile. Upa's wife squealed with joy, Goten jumping up in the air in excitement, knowing that they were staying.
"WOO!!! We are definitely in need of a celebration!" Upa shouted.
"What we celebratin'?" Goku wondered out loud.
"Family! Friends! And just being together"
"Dear God!" Vegeta muttered loudly in the back.
"We should count our lucky stars that we have all that! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have all that" Upa reminded him. Goku shook his head, a small smile spreading across his face.
"Aw, come on, ya always do this. Ya don't need to thank me every time ya see me"
"But I do! You saved my life! You helped me bring my father back to life after he was killed! I wouldn't have my wife and my own child, if it wasn't for you! I will forever be grateful and I will tell you how thankful I am, every single time I see you!" He told him firmly.
Goku gave his friend a small, warm smile.
"KARINGA TRIBE! Tonight we celebrate family and friendship!" Upa blurted out to his people, who returned his words with cheers!
"LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!" Upa declared.
The party most certainly started. Hog roasts were grilling on spitfires, drinks were flowing, and the tribe were singing and dancing and playing their drums, rattles, bells and flutes. Everyone got involved, singing, dancing, drinking and laughing, well, everyone except Vegeta and Piccolo. Although, Piccolo couldn't help but tap his foot along to the beat of the music. The antisocial duo sat beneath the trees of the camp, watching as the others joined in, making fools of themselves.
Goten and Trunks were having a whale of a time, running around with some of the other children, one of which was Upa's son, and playing tricks on some of the elders with bamboo sticks and chewed up paper which they were blowing through the bamboo, and hitting the elders in the back of their heads. They couldn't stop the laughter as they ran away from the elders when they bellowed at them to stop!
Chichi kept her promise and was helping the many women of the tribe to cook a bountiful feast, full of fresh boar meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. As she swished oil around in a large cooking pan on the fire, her eyes caught sight of her youngest son and Trunks rushing over to Goku in a fit of giggles. She watched as her drunken husband, sporting Master Roshi's sunglasses, whispered something to them, him giggling as he observed the two boys sneak over to Vegeta and using their bamboo guns on him.
A soggy ball of paper slapped him right in the forehead, triggering a huge growl to escape his throat. The two boys ran away in hysterics, the other children from the camp running with them, Vegeta's eyes zoning in on Goku as he fell back laughing amongst the cushions.
"KAKAROT!!!" Vegeta screamed his name in anger, flying to his feet from his spot beneath the trees and storming over to him.
"Oh, crap!" Goku gasped out through his laughter, scrambling to his feet and making a beeline for Bulma to protect him. He practically fell into the Blue haired woman, who could only laugh at his antics as he gripped her by her shoulders, holding her in front of him like armor.
"Goku, what are you doing?" she giggled out, nearly tipping her drink everywhere.
"Save me! The Prince of all but 2 Saiyans an' some half pints, is comin' to kill me!" he squealed out playfully.
"Oh, Kami, what have you done now?" Bulma amusedly questioned him.
"Woman, move! I'm going to smash his face in!" Vegeta snarled when he reached them. Bulma and Goku looked at one another before roaring with laughter. Vegeta frowned hard and grumbled under his breath about kicking Kakarot's ass later when his wife wasn't around. He stormed back off towards the trees, completely flustered, where Piccolo was smirking at him.
"Fuck you, Namekian! You won't be laughing when they get you next!" Vegeta snapped at him.
It was time for the Powwow dance, a traditional dance where the tribe gathered around dancing and singing to celebrate their family and to welcome their guests. Generally, this was something all tribe members partook in, but tonight the women were taking the lead. The Z warriors watched in pure wonder as the many women of the group were spinning and dancing around the main fire, and in and out of the many men, who happily laughed and joined in with them. Goku smiled as he watched Upa dance with his wife, Navya, the smaller woman twirling him around on the spot.
"Is someone feeling left out?" a sweet voice caught his attention to his right, instigating him to turn his head to look up at them. It was one of the women from the tribe, her very long, dark, wavy hair flowing down her front as she bent over slightly, her hand out in front of her for him.
"Huh?" Goku uttered.
"Take my hand and I'll show you what you're missing" her flirtatious voice coaxed him.
"Not a good idea, man" Yamcha whispered to him, sat next to him.
"Uh, no, I'm good, thanks" Goku nervously answered her.
"Goku, you have been chosen! It's very disrespectful to refuse a woman during a Powwow dance!" Upa informed him to his left. Goku nervously looked up at the woman, but before he could say anything more, she dragged him to his feet and pulled him into the ring of dancers. Goku gulped when she pulled him in close to her, her large, brown eyes shimmering against the flames of the fire beside them.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of you, Son Goku" she teased, giving him a wink and removing his glasses from his face and hooking them on her cropped bra top between her breasts. Goku blushed at her behaviour, but had no time to think as she spun him around amongst the other dancers.
Chichi had caught sight of the disgusting display between her husband and the beautiful tribal woman and she couldn't hide her anger. She observed vigilantly as the two of them danced around together, following the sea of other dancers around the huge fire.
"I am impressed. You know how to dance" the woman complimented him as they spun to the far side of the fire.
"Um, well, I have danced before. My wife taught me" he informed her.
"I don't see your wife out here with you now" she murmured, halting the dance and tugging him towards her by his sash.
"I-uh, well, ya see ... it's kinda ... um ... complicated" Goku stuttered out, a bead of sweat forming at the side of his head.
"It doesn't need to be" she whispered, her small, soft hands gliding up his rock-hard abs and towards his large, muscular chest.
"W-what are ya doin'?" Goku stammered.
"Showing you" she responded, standing on her tiptoes, her eyes shutting and her lips closing in on his. It was at that moment Goku fully understood what was going on, so he gripped her wrists, removing them from his body and put space between them.
"Wow! No! I can't do that!" he yelped out, his eyes wide in fear.
"Why not?" she questioned him, a look of confusion on her face.
"'Cause i'm married!" he reminded her.
"So? Isn't your wife divorcing you?" she questioned him. The question had Goku frozen on the spot. How did she know about that? Upa was the only one he confided in about that, the rest of the tribe had no idea.
"Who told ya that?" he asked her seriously. The woman shrugged.
"I might have overheard it when Upa was talking to my sister". This had Goku puzzled.
"Whos' ya sister?" he watched as she pointed over to Upa, dancing with his wife, "Wait, Navya's ya sister?! Upa's wife?!"
"The name's Ananya, pleasure to meet you, Son Goku" she smiled at him, her seductive eyes making him feel very uneasy. He really didn't want anything to do with this. He had enough shit going on.
"Y'know what, I'm gonna go" he told her, letting go of her wrists, unhooking his glasses from her bra and turning to walk away.
"But, Goku-"
"-Enjoy ya night, Anya" she heard him say as he walked off.
"It's Ananya" she grumbled, a frown on her face as she watched the handsome man get away.
Goku puffed out his cheeks, letting out a huge relieved breath as he nervously put Roshi's sunglasses back on. He stumbled slightly as he reached one of the tables, where he grabbed a large bottle of beer, gulping down a fair bit of the contents straight from the bottle, instead of pouring it into a glass.
He turned to face the rest of the dancers, his eyes then frantically darting around looking for someone in particular. That's when his eyes landed on Yamcha and he gave him the 'I told ya so' look, and pointed to an opening in the bushes just up from him.
Shit.
His wife must had seen it all.
His glossy eyes caught sight of her in the distance, after sifting through the trees, her small frame almost hunched over the picnic table that was perched amongst the many trees of the rural village. His body swayed ... his legs all but stumbling as he made his way over to her, his vision slightly blurred, and wearing Master Roshi's glasses didn't help that.
She heard him coming before she even saw him, his intoxicated state impossible to ignore. She stood up instantly, her focus on him as he unsteadily maneuvered his way over to her, a half empty bottle of alcohol in his right hand. Her husband rarely consumed alcohol, but when he did, he drank like it was a competition. Tonight was no different, except for that fact that Goku was fighting his own demons right now.
"What do you want, Goku?" She sighed.
"It's not what ya think" he assured her, putting his left hand up in front of him in defense.
"And what do I think?" she questioned him bluntly.
"I was only dancin' with her 'cause it's a tribe thing. That's it! Upa dragged me in an' I just did it 'cause he was, too"
"You can dance with whoever you want, I don't care" her words were like venom. He was definitely sure she did care.
"If ya don't care, why did ya storm off over here by yourself?"
"What has it got to do with you?! Why is it any of your business what I do?!" she bit at him.
"Chichi, I know you're mad at me, but please ... stop ..." he started to plead ... extending his left hand out to her. She swatted his hand away coldly and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Don't" she whispered dangerously.
"Chichi ... I can't do this anymore. This is stupid!" he huffed, flailing his arms around dramatically, liquor tipping from the opened bottle.
"This is stupid?! How I feel is stupid?!" she questioned him, her voice rising and her frown deepening.
"Aw, c'mon, I didn't mean it like that, I just meant all of this is stupid! You're my wife ... I love you. You love me, an' don't say ya don't 'cause that's bullshit!" he slurred out.
"You have no idea how I feel, Goku! Not that it matters to you anyway! You do as you please, without a single thought about me". Goku slapped his face sloppily in complete frustration.
"FUCK!" He exclaimed melodramatically, "Chichi, I said I'm sorry!" Chichi ignored his clearly foul, drunken language and tried to compose herself.
"You're sorry?! You think just saying you're sorry is okay?! You think that will fix everything?!"
"No ... maybe ... I dunno. But I do know that I'm sorry for hurtin' ya ... an' lettin' ya down" He gently confessed, his body fidgeting and his fingers fumbling with the near empty bottle of liquor in his right hand.
"Sorry means nothing to me! I'm forever hearing that word come out of your mouth! I kicked you out of the house and you have done nothing to try and fix this!"
"How am I spose to try when ya won't even talk to me?! I've tried talkin' to ya, an' ya just shoot me down every time, like, what the hell am I spose to do?!" He argued back.
"You tried talking to me a few times and then that was it! You went off to your little cabin in the woods and clearly you've been having a good life since then!" Chichi accused him, folding her arms over her chest.
"A good life?!" his mouth gaped open in shock, "A good life?!" he repeated, his voice becoming high pitched and loud.
"That's right! Meeting up with your friends when you want to, you meet up with the boys, spar with Vegeta, and run off with Whis and King Kai! And now you're here partying with your tribe friends! Clearly that's all that you want!"
"Are you fuckin' serious right now?! That's all I want?! I want YOU!!" He roared, arms swinging around in front of him, his angry expression more pronounced.
"You had me! You had EVERYTHING!" she threw back at him.
"Don't ya think I know that?! I know what I had! An' I want it back, Chichi! I will do anythin' to have it all back!" He bellowed, his body staggering closer to her.
"Bullshit!" she called him out, her hands balling into fists at her side, "You've had every opportunity under the sun to make things right between us, and you have done nothing!"
"Aw, c'mon, babe! It's not like you've made this easy for me!"
Chichi nearly choked on her own spit.
"I'm supposed to make this easy for you?! You're the one who messed this up! Not me! Why should I make things easy for you?! Why should I accommodate your needs?!"
"I dunno, honey, but maybe cut me some slack! Give me somethin' to work with!" He suggested.
Oh, Chichi saw red.
"Okay, Goku, you want to go there?! Then let's go there! Why haven't you been fighting?! Where's that burning passion? Where's that vigour?!-"
"-Vigor? I don't even know what that me-"
"-If this was a battle to save the Earth you would be giving it your heart and soul! You'd fight with everything you had! But, where's that fight for me?"
"Chichi! I'm stood here tellin' ya I'm sorry an' that I wanna fix this! Im tryin'!"
"No you're not!"
"What d'ya want me to do?! This ain't a fight to save the Universe! I can't just fight you or somethin'! Just tell me! What have I gotta do to prove to ya that I'm sorry an' I love you?! What have I gotta do to fix this?!"
"It's not as easy as that! This is about your carelessness! Your lack of thought when you put your life on the line! Your selfish, reckless attitude every time a fight comes your way!"
"What, so, ya want me to stop fightin', is that it?! Is that what ya want from me?!"
"No, Goku! I want you to understand that you are in the wrong! That you can't act like that! I want you to understand that I'm angry and allow me to be angry! I want you to understand that I'm hurt, mentally and emotionally hurt! And I need to heal from that! You can't just go and fix that by telling me you're sorry! It's taken years and years of your selfishness and your absences to put me here! You can't just fix it!"
"Okay ... so, what do I do if I can't just fix it?!"
"I don't know, Goku! I can't forgive you for what you did! I don't know how to forgive you! You just don't understand!"
"I understand that-"
"-No you don't understand! You're not me! You're not the one who feels this way! Goku, I don't feel important to you anymore, I don't feel like I'm a priority and I don't know how to deal with that!"
"But you are important, Chichi!"
"It doesn't feel like that, Goku! After what you've done, I feel like you just don't care anymore!"
"No, babe, that's not true! I know I'm a fuckin' idiot, but I do care 'bout you! I've always cared 'bout you!" he told her gently, stepping a foot closer to her.
"How can you expect me to believe that after you lied to me?! How can you expect me to feel important and wanted when you betray me like that?!"
"Chichi-" Goku tried.
"-So, as far as I'm concerned, you don't want me! So, why don't you just run on back to that tribal girl, 'cause I'm pretty sure she would be more than happy to have you with the way she was touching you and looking at you!" she spat, turning on her heels to storm away from him, but he grabbed her roughly by her left arm and yanked her back round to face him.
"NO!" He shouted, "You don't get to walk away from me! I'm tryin' right now to talk to ya an' you're the one walkin' out!"
"Let go of me! Or I'll-"
"-You'll what?! What will you do?!" he darkly questioned her. If she wasn't so angry right now, she would find it hard to take him seriously with his haggard voice and those stupid sunglasses on his face. Instead, she used his vulnerable state to her advantage, knowing his guard was completely down, and she yanked her arm free of his grasp and then swung her right hand around and slapped him hard across the face.
And It wasn't your average slap. It was a slap from one of the most powerful women on the planet. It echoed throughout the trees and damn ... it stung. Goku lurked over her, and unveiled his eyes, pushing the sunglasses up on top of his head. His eyes held an array of emotions, it was almost chaotic. She was waiting for a response from him, but she got nothing. She was tied between feeling disappointed that he had nothing to say, but also feeling like nothing had changed, because as usual, he did nothing.
She went to walk away again, putting several feet between them before he reacted.
"Chichi, please ... please don't leave" he croaked out. The pain in his voice made her stop in her tracks, and she was conflicted by how it made her feel.
"I need to go, Goku" she lowly responded.
"I don't want you to go" he hoarsely confessed to her, walking towards her, closing the gap between them, reaching for her hand again.
"Goku, please-" she tried to tell him, but he took her hand and pulled her close to him. So close that she could feel his breath on her skin.
"-I miss you" he spewed out, "you're right here ... an' I miss you!" She couldn't stop her eyes from meeting his glassy ones. And they were so hard to look at. Her mind soared with the things she could say, things she should say, but as he clumsily pressed his lips onto hers, she found herself frozen on the spot, and she couldn't push him away.
She could hear her heart pounding in her chest as his mouth completely consumed her, his free hand coming up to cup her face eagerly as his mouth moved sensually with hers. Her hands moved to rest on his bare chest, and she felt herself completely lose control as she melted against him. He slanted his mouth over hers and plunged his tongue into the hot depths of her mouth, the taste of alcohol unbearably strong as he swirled his tongue around hers.
She could barely stop the moan escaping her gaped mouth as the kiss intensified and his left hand gripped her by her hair at the back of her head. The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stood up, her small hands practically clinging to his clammy bosom as he continued to ravage her.
She wasn't sure what did it ... but, something snapped her back to reality and she suddenly peeled her lips from his, leaving only inches between them, his staggered breath fanning her face, his eyelids heavy as he peered down at her in question.
"I can't do this, Goku" she whispered, gently pushing on his chest to make space between them.
"Ya don't want this?" he whispered back, lurching forward and pressing himself against her, preventing her from making any distance between them. She swallowed hard, his passion-filled expression all too familiar and so potently alluring. But she had to say it.
"I don't" she breathed. Her eyes darted back and forth his, watching intently as his expression completely changed. He took a shaky step back from her a few moments later, his gaze never leaving hers. She watched as he clicked his tongue, one of his knowing ticks that communicated to her that he was pissed off.
"Why don't ya just say it" he spat.
"Say what?"
"Just say it!" He raised his voice in annoyance.
"Say what, Goku?!"
"That ya don't love me! Just say it already! Put me outa my misery!"
"Goku-"
"-Chichi, please, I can't deal with this!"
"You can't deal with this? What about me?"
"You're the one who told me to leave! You're the one that wants this to be over!"
"I never wanted any of this!"
"It don't matter all the things we been through! Don't matter that I spent my entire life with you! Don't matter that I fuckin' died for you! That I'd still die for you!"
"How dare you-"
"-I BUILT A HOME WITH YOU! Don't that mean anythin' to you?!" He shouted at her croakily, the pain behind his words so openly obvious in his voice.
Chichi had no words as she stared back at him.
"We have a home, Chichi!" he whimpered out like a lost child, "our home, me an' you, we made that! An' our family; the boys, we MADE THAT!!"
Chichi felt her eyes welling up as he poured his heart out to her. In a way in which he'd never done before.
"I had no idea what this was, what this could be. I had no idea I could ever feel like this for someone, that I'd wanna protect someone, love someone. An' I feel like... the worst, most shittiest person in the entire Universe for lettin' ya down. I feel so sad, Chichi, I don't even recognise myself"
A lone tear slowly slid down her pale cheek, his glistening eyes watching as it did.
"I miss you ... every single day. I miss your smell. I miss just feelin' ya close to me. I miss hearin' ya singin' to a song when you're cookin'. I miss tellin' ya 'bout my day! I miss tellin' ya how good we did at the market sellin' our vegetables! I miss play fightin' with ya! I miss havin' ya on my back when I do push ups! I miss seein' ya smile! I miss hearin' ya laugh! I miss ya shoutin' at me for bein' a FUCKIN' IDIOT!" His voice rose with every disclosure, his raspy voice cracking the louder he got.
They both stood there in silence for a moment, their eyes locked in an intense gaze.
"Should I not'ave come back?" He suddenly asked her in a saddened voice.
"What?" She quietly questioned him. Surely he didn't mean what she thought he did?
"I shoulda stayed dead, right? 'Cause then I wouldn'a put ya through all this"
"Goku" Chichi was horrified by his words.
"I know I ain't good enough for ya, Chichi. I never was. When I came back to life after Buu, ya didn' hav'ta forgive me. Ya didn' hav'ta take me back, but ya did. An' I was so happy ya gave me another chance! But, here I am, just messin' it all up again!" He voiced his frustration, throwing his hands up, spilling some more of his drink.
"I'm a big mess, Chichi. An' I know that's probably the last thing ya want. But, this big mess loves ya with everythin' I have". He quietly told her, his eyes dropping to the leaves scattered on the ground around his boots, his head shaking back and forth lightly as he stood there angry at himself.
"I don't understand how ya feel. But, I wanna ... I wanna be there, I wanna help ya heal. I wanna do somethin', anythin', so ya know I'm here"
"But, that's just it, Goku. Right now, I think I just need to be on my own so I can figure this out" she quietly responded.
"Ya wanna be on your own?"
"I need this time, Goku"
His gorped face suddenly hardened and with his free hand he lightly tapped the sunglasses on top of his head, allowing them to drop back down onto the bridge of his nose.
"Fine" he uttered, raising the half empty bottle into the air as if to toast to her, "I won't bother ya 'bout it anymore" he slurred out before bringing the bottle to his mouth and downing the remainder of it's contents. She observed helplessly as he emptied the bottle completely, flinching as he flung it aggressively to the ground when finished, the bottle smashing into pieces. He then stumbled back the way in which he came, his arms hanging dejectedly at his sides.
She just stood there and stared at his shrunken stumbling form as he continued to walk away from her.
She was lost. So lost.
The festivities had come to an end and Goku, Bulma, Yamcha and Krillin were laying amongst a pile of throws and cushions, drunk and tired. Bulma was leaning up against Goku as they reminisced about old times and spending time at Roshi's, whilst Yamcha and Krillin had their arms behind their heads, lying comfortably on the soft furnishing.
"D'you remember that time when Roshi was fast asleep on his lounger on the beach and Yamcha drew a picture of a giant penis on his back in sunscreen" Bulma giggled out.
"Aw, ye!" Yamcha sloppily exclaimed, "And he didn't notice until days later after meeting up with one of his regular girls, and she pointed it out to him!" Yamcha cackled.
"Aw, man, he was so pissed with us!" Krillin chortled.
"Just a big white dick on his sunburnt back!" Yamcha spoke and the group of friends howled with laughter.
"Hey, where is Master Roshi?" Goku suddenly wondered, propping Roshi's sunglasses up on top of his head.
"He died ages ago" Krillin pointed his thumb behind him, and Goku's eyes followed to a pile of cushions on the ground where a comatosed Roshi lay sprawled out amongst them. Goku chuckled at the sight, Krillin joining in. Some things never changed.
Gohan sauntered over to them at that moment, shaking his head amusedly at the state of them all.
"I'll get Master Roshi to his tent" Gohan offered to the group, his eyes shifting to land on his father, who he noticed was still drinking alcohol. Gohan reached for the jug of water on the table and poured some of it into a cup, swapping it with the drink his father had in his hand. Goku looked up at his son in question when Gohan swapped the drinks over.
"Please just drink this now, dad" Gohan told him, a serious look in his eyes. Goku sighed and nodded to his son.
"Thank you, dad. G'night guys" Gohan bid them all goodnight and made his way over to Master Roshi. Goku tipped the water back and forth in the cup in his palm, his half-lidded eyes watching his son as he scooped up a passed out Master Roshi. That's when Chichi sauntered over to their eldest son, and Goku couldn't help but stare at her longingly, her long, dark hair loose and sprawled out over her shoulders and down her back.
She caught his gaze after saying goodnight to their eldest son, both of them just looking at one another silently. Chichi was the one to break the gaze as she nervously combed some of her hair behind her ear and walked off towards the tent she shared with Goten.
"I hate seeing ya so bummed, pal" Krillin quietly admitted.
Goku stared at the water in his hands without saying a word.
"It's gonna be okay, Goku" Bulma assured him, lightly rubbing his arm. Goku's eyes remained fixed on his water, but he gave her a little nod.
It wasn't long after when everyone decided to call it a night and go to their tents. Bulma and Krillin made sure Goku got to his own tent okay, due to his intoxicated state, helping him to remove his boots, laughing at him as he practically hung in their arms like a dead weight, giggling like a drunken fool as they tucked him into bed.
Once he was safely tucked in, Bulma smiled sweetly down at him, his eyes closed, a cute little smile on his face, before ruffling his messy locks affectionately.
"G'night , Son-Kun" she quietly spoke.
"Night pal" Krillin added in. But, Goku was already flat out.
When Goku opened his bleary eyes the next morning, he found himself staring up at the inside of a tent. He had to try and remember where he was for a moment as the entire tent spun around him. He forced himself to sit up, his lips dry, his throat crispy and hoarse, his head pounding.
He clumsily clambered out of his tent to meet the burning, bright light of the early morning sun, making him wince and clench his eyes shut for a few seconds. Ugh, man, did he feel rough. After braving the elements for a few moments, he took a short walk to the nearby lake, where he dived in after stripping off completely naked.
Aah ... it was just what he needed. He spent some time floating around, relaxing in the cool waters, hoping the lake would absorb some of his nasty hangover. He listened to the gentle flow of the rippling waters, the sweet chirping of the birds and the gentle whisper of the wind. It was the perfect way to try and calm his mind.
Some time later, he climbed out of the lake and stood at the waters edge, minding his business and stretching his arms above his head.
"Dear God! At least wrap a towel around your waist!" Vegeta screeched at him, startling him.
"What?! No one was around!" Vegeta swiftly turned his back to him so he couldn't see the naked fool any longer.
"Just put something on!" Goku rolled his eyes and grabbed his pants, hastily yanking them up so Vegeta could turn back to face him.
"What's up anyway?" Goku questioned the smaller Saiyan as he tied the string around his waist.
"Just making sure you haven't killed yourself" Vegeta told him.
"Aw" Goku cooed, "Worried 'bout me, huh?"
"NO! Bulma wanted me to check! As if I care what you do!" Vegeta scowled, turning his back to the younger Saiyan again.
"If Bulma wanted ya to check I was still alive, ya coulda just felt for my Ki, ya woulda known from that. Didn' hav'ta come lookin' for me" Goku pointed out, a smirk on his face. Vegeta growled under his breath.
"Just admit it, ya do care" Goku showed off his pearly white teeth as he smiled wide at Vegeta, and Vegeta found himself sighing, shaking his head at him, a very small smirk gracing his hardened features.
"I am getting real tired of your shit, Kakarot"
Goku agreed to return home that afternoon. It took a bit of persuasion from both of his son's as they sat together by the lake, but for them, he agreed to come home.
Goku slowly opened his front door, the wooden hatch creaking as it opened all the way in.
He lingered in the doorway. There was a heaviness in his chest, a numbness throughout his entire body, an exhaustion hitting him like nothing he'd ever felt before.
He felt completely empty.
He glanced around the small cabin, his eyes looking but not really seeing anything.
This unfamiliar feeling he felt in his chest, it was consuming him. He felt darkness.
Whatever this was, it was his own fault. He was completely inadequate and stupid. He was completely worthless.
He deserved to feel this way. His chaos, his madness, his anger, his love, his happiness, his silliness, everything that made him, him. He was responsible for all of this hurt.
He'd tried so hard to fight it every single day. And he'd wake up the next day, just to do it all over again. It's what demons were made of.
And he kept it all hidden behind that smile of his. Our demons looked so beautiful in disguise.
He managed to take a few steps forward into his rustic home, just enough to close the door behind him.
But, he felt his knees buckle beneath him, a tightening in his throat as he took a short intake of breath, a gut-wrenching sob suddenly tearing through his chest in the silent cabin, his drained body sliding down the door frame.
For the first time since it all began, Son Goku broke.
He wasn't sure how long he was sitting there for, but as Goku sat there light-headed staring into space, he faintly heard the sound of his phone ringing.
His dull eyes steadily drifted towards his chest of drawers, where he thought his phone was sitting on the top.
He stared at his chest of drawers for a few seconds, considering to just ignore the call, but something compelled him to get up and answer it, knowing that the one person who usually phoned him was his son.
He managed to drag himself up and he plodded over to the chest of drawers and took hold of the phone, noting it was indeed his eldest son calling him.
"Hey, Gohan" he cleared his throat when he realised how dry it was.
"Hey, dad, are you okay?" Gohan asked him unsurely.
"Ye" he squeaked out in a high-pitched voice, before bringing it down a few octaves "Ye, i'm good, Gohan"
Gohan wasn't so sure about that.
"Dad, I want you to come to come around for dinner tomorrow"
"For dinner?"
"Ye, me an' Videl would love to have you over" Gohan added.
"I guess I could"
"Mom and Goten are comin', Grandpa, too, but we really want you there as well!"
His father didn't respond, he knew he was mulling it over. His father never missed the opportunity for some good food, but with his mother there, he wasn't sure he was so sold on the idea.
"Dad?"
"I dunno, Gohan" Goku solemnly spoke.
"We're still a family, dad. No matter what. I want you there and Pan wants to see her Grandpa!"
Goku went silent once more. His son's words played on his mind.
We're still a family, dad.
No matter what.
Goku started to chew the skin on his bottom lip, his fingers from his one hand picking at the skin around his fingernails on his other hand.
"Please, dad. I really want you to come"
He could imagine his sons pleading eyes boring into his soul. Just like his damn mother.
He couldn't say no.
"Okay, kiddo, I'll be there" Goku agreed.
The day of the family dinner had arrived and after a slight anxiety attack before leaving, Goku made it to his son's house on time. And it went surprisingly well, although Gohan could feel a slight bit of tension in the air, with his parents barely seeing eye to eye, it didn't escalate any further than that.
After having the best home cooked meal in a while, Goku smiled and patted his stomach contently. He watched from across the table as his granddaughter messily devoured her strawberry ice cream, evidence of her enjoyment all over her face and high chair. He chuckled lightly at the carnage, the sight reminding him of when Gohan was just a baby.
Now look at him, Goku thought, eyeing his eldest son, a look of pride on his face.
Videl and Chichi cleared the table of the mountain of plates before heating up the teapot for some tea. After gentle chatter between them about Pan, Videl invited them all to move to the living area where Gohan set out mugs and snacks to go with their hot tea. When Goku stood up from the kitchen table, Gohan was shocked to see the change in his father. His waist appeared smaller, he'd definitely lost some weight, he had to pull up his jeans a bit when he stood.
Gohan hadn't noticed before with his dad mostly sporting his baggy training Gi, but with his fitted jeans and black T, it was very noticeable. His father was clearly not eating properly. Gohan caught Videl's eyes and he knew she saw what he did. They were both concerned.
Goku lay on the floor after drinking his tea, letting his little granddaughter crawl all over him and building blocks with her, Goten joining in and building his little niece a tower. Goku watched with a proud smile as Pan pulled herself up to stand using his shirt. What he wasn't expecting was for her to grab his face and start sucking on his right cheek.
"Pan, whatcha doin'?" Goku laughed out as his granddaughter slobbered over his cheek.
"Oh, that's how she gives kisses. It's pretty messy" Gohan told his father with a small chuckle. Goku continued to laugh, Pan pulling away a few seconds later looking rather proud of herself.
"Aw, was ya givin' grandpa kisses?" He cooed, grabbing her and lifting her up above him, her little laugh making him beam, "Grandpa can give good kisses too, are ya ready?" Goku didn't give Pan much choice as he peppered her face with little kisses, making her squeal with excitement. The moment between them was more than adorable, and Chichi couldn't help but let a small, warm smile grace her features as she watched them.
"Dad gives real slobbery kisses, doesn't he Pan" Goten giggled out next to his father.
"I'm Grandpa to her, not dad, an' whaddya mean I give slobbery kisses?" he gasped at his son playfully, making Goten chortle. Goku then winked up at Pan and sat her down next to him.
"I think Uncle Goten needs some really, really slobbery kisses from Grandpa, what ya reckon, Pan?" Goku teased her, poking her nose and making her cheer for more. Goten was about to make a run for it when his father grabbed him by his ankles, knocking him to the floor and dragging him back towards him. Goten couldn't stop the laughter that spilled from his lips as his father attacked his face with kisses, tickling him and blowing raspberries on his exposed stomach.
"DADDY!" Goten squealed as Goku continued his onslaught, tears escaping the corners of Goten's eyes as he cackled with laughter.
After a small, playful fight broke out between Goku and Goten on the living room floor, Gohan updated his father on an upcoming project with work.
Chichi quietly observed how Goku paid their eldest son attention as he spoke about his project. Goku may not understand everything Gohan told him, but he listened. He always listened. He was good at that.
Goku moved to the couch, with Pan on his lap, bouncing her on his knee as she giggled and cheered. Videl declared she needed a diaper change, but Chichi offered to do it. Chichi ambled over to her husband, who carefully handed her their granddaughter, neither one of them making eye contact or speaking a word, before she left the room with the gurgling baby.
Gohan continued to talk to his father, but he couldn't avert his eyes from his father's blatant anxiety. His father wouldn't stop fidgeting. He noticed how his father bounced his leg repeatedly, even though Pan was no longer sat on him, it was a nervous tick he had himself, which he clearly inherited from his father. He took note of his father's hands as he fiddled with them, his nails were bitten down so low there was dried blood and he kept glancing up towards the doorway in which his mother had just vacated through with Pan.
His father was a restless person anyway, but for him to be this unsettled was disturbing and it really upset him to see his father this way.
It started to get late some time later, Pan was tucked up in bed, so they all decided to call it a night. Chichi and Goten gave their thanks to Gohan and Videl, Goku joining them at the door. Chichi then called for Nimbus.
Gohan and Videl watched as Goten gave Goku a big hug, which lingered on until Goku reluctantly ended it. Goten then hopped onto Nimbus with his mother, before they both took off into the darkening sky.
"Well, thanks for the food guys" Goku expressed his gratitude to them.
"You can come over anytime ya like dad, you're always welcome" Gohan reminded him gently.
"Pan loved seeing you today" Videl added with a warm smile. Goku returned it.
"Ye, was good to see her. She's growin' so fast"
"Like a weed" Gohan chuckled out.
"You're doin' great with her. You should be proud" Goku told them both.
"Learnt from the best" Gohan gently replied. Goku gave his son a warm smile.
"Well, I best get goin'. Thanks again, guys" Goku spoke before taking off into the evening sky. As Gohan watched his father fade into the dimming sky, his smile abruptly dropped from his face, sadness taking over him. He felt Videl move next to him, her arm linking with his as she comforted him.
No words were said. But, what could Videl possibly say to ease his worries.
It was late the next evening, the clock ticking away on the wall, the hands signalling it was midnight.
Chichi sat alone in the silence of her dark, cold kitchen. Goten was in bed and the house was clean and tidy. She needed to sit in peace for a moment, she needed to find clarity and understanding amidst the chaos of her life.
Goku.
Her husband.
Her enigma.
It was like she had a thousand piece puzzle laid out on the table, and there was only one more piece to click into place to complete it. But, she hesitated, the piece in her hand as it hovered over that empty space, where that piece was waiting to be connected, where that piece was meant to be connected.
That piece was Goku, and she found herself unsure and nervous, holding back on finally completing her puzzle.
Her thoughts led her back to their early days, of when they first got engaged. With all the suitors her father had set up for her, none could compare. Not even in the slightest.
She wanted to be seen.
And he saw her.
She wasn't just some prize to be won as the princess to a rich kingdom. She also wasn't seen as an inferior woman, or as an outcast because she wasn't a stereotypical woman who did as she was told when spoken to by a man, who dressed like a princess, who acted like a princess. She was fierce, she was adventurous, she loved to fight, just like he did.
He saw her as a person. Not some woman. Not some Princess. She was a person. Her own person. Pure and kind spirited.
She wanted to be accepted.
And he accepted her. Flaws and all.
Because she wasn't perfect, and she knew that. But, he never complained. If anything, her challenging nature and her fiery personality got his heart racing in the best possible way.
She wasn't an easy person to deal with or live with, she knew she could be uptight, overbearing and somewhat controlling, but he never once wanted her to change.
Her mind trailed off to that night at Upa's, and that argument, that moment where he let it all out to her.
He normally wasn't the best with his words. Normally he struggled to explain how he was feeling. He also got embarrassed when he opened up. He was so strong, mentally and physically and didn't want anyone to see him any differently. He couldn't have anyone see him broken, because he was the one who was meant to fix everything.
Being open lead to vulnerability and being misunderstood. And he was already a whole lot of that. So, he buried it instead. It was easier. It protected him.
But, the way he opened up to her. The way he so easily and so passionately used his words. It had her doing a 180.
She needed someone to make her feel nourished, to make her feel challenged, and dizzy her in the best way possible.
She romanticised her whole life, dreaming of her soul mate, her husband, her best friend. Him. She didn't stop thinking of him, she never gave up on him.
He was the person she felt safe to ugly cry in front of. The person she felt safe to fall asleep next to. The person she felt safe to be her full and messy self around.
He was the person that never missed the hurt behind her eyes when she hid it behind a smile. The person who knew her darkest thoughts and feelings, but loved her with every fibre of their being. The person who she thought would run away, but instead he came closer.
Her kind, gentle, goofy-hearted man.
They had been through so much together.
She let a lone tear cascade down her cold, pale face as she stared into the nothingness of her kitchen.
After all this time, was she expecting too much of him? Was she disappointed over something that was just him? Something that had always been him? After 20 years of marriage, did she really expect him to be any different? Did she want him to be?
She fell in love with the person he was and her love for him was never going to change. Never.
Maybe she was the one who needed to fix this. She needed to be able to forgive him. She needed to be able to trust him again.
But, the question was, how?
She closed her tired, red eyes as she sat there at the kitchen table.
Chichi ... what are you doing? She asked herself.
The next afternoon came and Chichi was about to leave the kitchen after cleaning it up, when there was a gentle knock at the door. Baffled, Chichi made her way to the front door and a surprised breath left her lungs when she saw Goku standing there.
"Goten's not here" she informed him instantly, thinking he was there to see his son.
"I'm not here for Goten. I need to talk to ya"
"Goku-"
"-Lemme just say what I need to say an' then I'll go, I promise" he put his hands up in front of him to reassure her.
"Please" he added, sensing the conflict in his wife's Ki. Chichi stared at him for a moment before nodding lightly. She backed away a few steps, allowing him into the kitchen, so he walked in towards her, closing the door behind him.
"Firstly, I'm sorry for how I acted at Upa's place. I ... drank a bit too much an' ... well, I guess I just let my mouth run" he admitted, scratching the back of his head nervously.
Chichi didn't respond, her eyes darting away from his briefly.
"Look, I can tell you I'm sorry a hundred times, but that ain't what ya wanna hear" he told her. Her eyes shifted to meet his again as he continued.
"I need you, Chichi. I've always needed you" he started.
"You don't need me" she bit back. Goku didn't answer, but his expression was one of confusion as he waited for her to explain herself.
"You've been managing just fine on your own. You've caught wild animals and harvested fresh vegetables from the farm and cooked your own meals with them. You've washed your own clothes, cleaned your own home. You've done everything just fine by yourself".
"Ye, I have. But I don't need ya to do those things for me, Chichi. I never needed ya for that" he took a moment to gently reach for her hands, the lack of resistance from her making his heart swell, allowing him to interlock his fingers with hers.
"I like ya doin' those things for me, especially cookin' my food. Y'know I think you're the best at it. But that's not why I need ya" he softly told her as he edged that little bit closer to her.
She gazed up at him, waiting to hear whatever it was he was going to say to her, her sparkling eyes darting back and forth his as he tried to think of the words to say to her.
"You're home, Chichi. You're my home. Not the walls, the roof, the windows an' doors, that's what a home needs, but you're what a home is. You're my comfort, my safety an' my peace. I could be at King Kai's trainin' or fightin' an enemy off planet somewhere, but when I'm done, I always wanna come straight home to you. You're … you're like my shelter from all the crazy things that happen to me. That's how ya make me feel when I come home to ya. I can just relax an' be me an' not worry 'bout the World anymore".
He let go of her one hand and cupped her cheek in his clammy palm, his thumb softly brushing across her skin.
"I look at you, Chichi, an' I'm home" he whispered to her, his gentle eyes searching hers.
"I miss my home" he breathed against her skin as he pulled her closer to him, his soft lips pressing against her forehead.
"Please don't give up on me. Not yet" he whispered to her. He closed his eyes, taking in her sweet, potent scent. He missed her smell, so much. Her smell always calmed him and reminded him that this was where he belonged.
Chichi shut her eyes tight, forcing herself to hold back her tears as she felt his warm breath against her skin, his coarse, strong hands caressing her, his Earthy smell filling her nostrils.
He gently pulled back from her, their eyes instantly meeting, the intensity of their gaze making the whole World go silent just for a moment.
"I'm gonna go now" he told her, dropping his one hand from her cheek to take her hand once more. He gently squeezed both of her small hands, his thumbs softly brushing over hers. He then stepped backwards, away from her, her arms stretching out as if to hold on to the very last moment, before their fingers disconnected.
He made his way towards the front door, opening it before turning back to face her one last time.
"Y'know where I am if ya wanna talk" he told her, before giving her a small smile and vacating the house, carefully closing the door behind him.
Chichi stood silently in the middle of the kitchen. Her eyes on the closed door that he had just walked through, her heart beating so fast in her chest, his words soaring through her mind, her head spinning like a carrousel.
Don't give up on me. Not yet.
It had never been easy. It was never going to be easy.
He had never given up on her ... no matter what.
So, how could she give up on him now?
