Having just crammed the last of Gero's most important research into his satchel, Gohan took a deep breath and hunched over his great grandfather's old wooden dresser. Even though he was waiting for Master Roshi and Korin to finish laying out the dragon balls, it was almost impossible to grasp that he was actually going back to the present.
Exhaling, he pushed off the dresser and tightened the leather strap around his chest, securing his satchel to his side.
"You... ready?" he heard as Goku slowly stood up from his mat on the floor.
Turning to him, Gohan immediately knew that tone. Its presentation was clear in every possible way: the nervous inflection, the clasped hands, the fluctuating ki signature. His father was anxious, just as much as he was.
Walking over, Gohan hugged him as soon as he came within arms reach. He knew this was difficult for him, it always was, but that didn't mean he couldn't try to comfort him.
"I'll be fine, Dad." he assured.
With a hand around him, Goku nodded in return. "Right..."
Unconvinced with such a timid response, Gohan stepped away to observe him. He could tell that Goku was trying to appear strong; stoic in the face of what was undoubtedly one of the hardest things he would ever have to go through.
"I know it's scary, Dad. I'm scared too." he said, stepping closer and taking ahold of his hand. "But... I think everything will be okay. I'll be okay."
Tightly grasping his son's hand, Goku looked into his eyes. He knew it was wrong, but he hoped he'd notice something. Maybe a twinge of guilt or insincerity in his voice? An overlooked expression or averted glance? Anything for an excuse to delay the inevitable for just a little longer.
But when he saw nothing, and his selfish hopes dissolved, he felt relief. The last thing he wanted to do was get in his way.
"I know you will, Gohan." he said tearfully, guiding him toward the door. "I always knew you would be."
Walking outside, the night had grown cold and silent. Just like the night before, frosty mist had flowed over the mountaintops and settled in the forests and valleys below, nudging the wildlife into the safety of their dens. But unlike the night prior, this mist was light, fluffy, and even easy to waft away when necessary, which made it less of an annoyance.
And as the two waded through the head-high clouds of mist, and out into the clearing that surrounded Grandpa Gohan's hut, they saw the forms of the two masters, along with the glow of the dragon balls near their feet.
"Ah, I see you boys have decided to join us." Roshi said as the orbs' pulsating glow illuminated the fog. "That's good because I believe we're about ready."
"You aren't seriously going to summon Shenron now are you?!" Korin angrily protested. "I can hardly see my feet in this fog! And you're crazy if you think I'm saying goodbye without even bein' able to see the kid."
Although it was difficult to pinpoint exactly where Korin had yelled at him from, Roshi did his best to pick out the little round shadow in the mist, if only to make it easier to retaliate.
"Oh, would you relax you little furball! Do you really think I'd let him leave without a proper sendoff? As soon as we summon the dragon, he'll clear all this. He loves his entrances even more than me."
"Master Roshi, are you sure that's what'll happen?" Goku asked nervously. "I'm with Korin on this one. I'm not saying goodbye unless I can see Gohan."
"Look, I don't blame you both for being concerned, but there is no need to worry. Every time we summon the dragon, what happens? He darkens the sky, he flies out, and he makes a grand show of it all. He'll do the same now."
The old man's confident words ushered in a silence that neither Korin nor Goku felt fit enough to challenge.
"Now..." Roshi grumbled, placing his staff on the ground before planting his feet. "Let's bring him out."
Breathing slowly in through his nostrils and out through his mouth, Master Roshi placed his hands together near his chest. Slowing his heart rate, he calmed his mind as he prepared to summon the dragon.
"Great and powerful Shenron..." he said, gradually moving his arms outward.
"COME FORTH TO GRANT OUR WISH!" he shouted, throwing his hands upward in a quick striking motion.
Suddenly, the mist immediately emptied from the clearing, gathering densely in the tree line. From the center of the clearing, the small glowing orbs suddenly burned with a firey light that only seemed to grow brighter as they lifted themselves from the earth.
Then, with a bright flash and the crack of lightning, the long winding body of Shenron erupted from the orbs, filling the sky with his reflective green scales.
Letting out a long strained growl, the dragon brought his head low to the ground to better view the four tiny beings who called upon him.
I KNOW WHY YOU HAVE SUMMONED ME.
The powerful booming voice of the dragon blew far past the group and reverberated through the forest. He turned his head to the side, revealing the entirety of one of his large glowing red eyes. Another low growl followed.
Stepping ahead of the rest of the group, Gohan neared Shenron, stopping only a few feet away from his large viper-like mouth.
SPEAK.
Garnering the courage to reply, Gohan stood tall with his hands held together at his waist in an attempt to appear reverent and respectful. He knew how impatient the dragon could be and just how much he hated any sort of non-essential discussion, so he wanted to make things quick.
"Shenron, Gero-" he stuttered as the dragon's head tilted closer toward him as if he was genuinely interested in what he had to say.
YES?
"Gero is gone... and so is his lab" he said, taking no pleasure in his hollow victory. "Is the future safe?"
Slinking back, Shenron let out a long breath. Steam emanated from the corners of his mouth.
YOU HAVE DONE WELL. THE PRESENT IS SAFE.
Immediately following the dragon's statement, cheers from Goku, Master Roshi, and Korin filled the air. The three rushed to Gohan and began to shower him with praise, which Gohan expected to annoy the dragon, but he seemed to tolerate it for the moment.
"Well done, my boy!" Master Roshi happily exclaimed.
Korin eagerly followed suit. "You did it, Kid!"
"Nice job, Gohan!" his father excitedly said, ruffling his hair.
As his father and his closest friends continued to commend him, Gohan could tell the dragon's patience was wearing thin. The sudden switch of his gaze was enough to signal them to stop.
"You're still waiting for my wish, aren't you Shenron?" he hesitatingly asked.
I AM AWARE OF YOUR WISH.
With a slight wave of his hand, Shenron summoned a large beam of light that gradually took the form of a tall rectangle as he brought his razor-sharp claws to his palm.
THIS IS YOUR WAY HOME.
I WILL ALLOW YOU SOME TIME TO SAY YOUR FAREWELLS.
Squinting his eyes, Gohan turned toward the bright glowing doorway and, without the need for any command, the light began to fade from the center and pool toward the edges, brightening them. Through the doorway, he could see a field covered in white, flowery snow.
"Y-you mean all I have to do is walk through it?" he asked anxiously, stepping away from the door as he felt a cool breeze flow from the other side.
YES, THAT IS ALL YOU MUST DO.
He then looked up at the mighty dragon once more. "H-how much time do I have to say goodbye?"
ENOUGH.
Overwhelmed, Gohan was speechless. He had spent so many years and fought so hard to get to that very moment, yet he was suddenly filled with fear now that it was all finally happening.
Feeling a hand resting on his shoulder, Gohan jerked to his right and saw Master Roshi standing by his side.
"Come, my boy, let's not waste time." the old man said with a smile, turning Gohan toward himself. "I'll be honest with you, I'm surprised he's being this patient with us. I expected much more growling."
"Master Roshi... I-" he paused, clearing his throat. "I think I'm nervous."
"Hehe... of course you are!" Roshi responded. "This is change, Gohan. Change is always scary."
"But... I'm not afraid of change." he said, looking toward the doorway. "I don't know why I'm afraid."
"Son, look at me" Roshi asked, removing his glasses.
Turning his head, Gohan faced Roshi's inquisitive and analytical eyes.
"What you're feeling right now, that queasy nervousness deep inside your stomach, is perfectly normal; heck, I'd even say it's a given for something like this. You're about to walk into another life, something entirely different than what you've been used to for the last seven years. And if that didn't make you nervous, well... I'd doubt you're even human."
The old man's calming, reassuring words forced a smile out of Gohan, and suddenly he felt a little better.
"You want to know how I beat the android, Master Roshi?" he asked in a hushed voice.
Taking a quick glance at his sides, ensuring that neither Korin nor Goku were too close, Roshi took a knee close to Gohan and placed his staff on the ground.
"You're not pulling my leg are you?" he asked. "I've been wondering how you did it for months. I didn't know if you even knew how you did it!"
"Well... here's the secret," Gohan whispered. "I'm not... human. Not really."
Stunned, Roshi's eyes narrowed and his face contorted as his mind worked through the insanity of that statement.
"Is that... a joke?" the old man asked. "Because if not, that explains some things."
"Dad and I... we're Saiyans, well I'm partly Saiyan, and he's from a world that's lightyears away from here. Anyway, when Saiyans fight, and when they're pushed to their limits, they can go even further. We can transform into a 'Super' Saiyan. That's how I beat the android."
"That's incredible." Roshi replied, smiling as he stroked his beard. "I always knew you two were special, but that... that is extraordinary."
Using his staff, Master Roshi, brought himself to his feet, stretching his back as he stood. He then patted Gohan on the back and beamed with happiness.
"Thank you, Gohan, for indulging in an old man's curiosity." he said sincerely, and sweetly.
Smiling back, Gohan inched forward and hugged him.
"Thank you, for everything Master Roshi." he responded.
Returning the boy's embrace, Roshi couldn't stop the escape of a few rogue tears. He quickly wiped them away before Gohan had a chance to see them, but he knew he had already sensed the switch in his emotions.
"All right..." Roshi said, gently peeling Gohan away. "I've taken up enough of your time. You've still got two others to say goodbye to."
He could see that Gohan was reluctant to move on, still hoping for a few more seconds with him; unfortunately, those few seconds were far too precious to waste. Nudging him along with his staff, Roshi continued to smile at the boy, hoping to provide him some comfort.
Reluctantly, Gohan nodded and turned away from the old man. Standing closer to the portal, Korin was eagerly waiting to usher him along.
"Look kid, I don't want to take up a lot of your time." he said. "You've got places to-"
Suddenly, Korin was encased in Gohan's arms. He could feel his shoulder dampen as the boy sat close to him and rested his head upon it.
"Hey, hey, relax, okay?" he cooed as Gohan held onto him. "You do realize I'll be there when you get back, right?"
"I know.." Gohan whispered back, lifting his face up from Korin's soft, white fur.
To Korin's surprise, the tears streaming down his face weren't accompanied by a pained, hurt-filled expression, rather, he looked happy in a way. Even though he was crying, there was a faint smile that shined through all else.
"I'm grateful... for everything you've done for me." Gohan said, returning to Korin's shoulder. "None of us would be here without you."
"C'mon, kid..." Korin replied. His voice, which was steady and calm only moments ago, was now faint and grumbly. "Y-you're gonna make me cry."
Placing his arms beneath Gohan's, his paws barely made it around his chest, but he returned that hug with as much love as he could.
He had lived a long life, watching the world's events as they unfolded from his tower. He had seen times of great celebration and great suffering, and he shared in those feelings of jubilation and despair. But no moment, in all of his hundreds of years, compared to how he felt then.
"I know things will be a little different when you get home." he said, taking hold of Gohan's hands to lift him up. "But try and come visit me sometime, will ya?"
Nodding, with a warm smile, Gohan answered. "You don't have to worry, Korin. You'll be seeing me a lot more."
Looking to his right, just before the portal, Gohan saw his father standing patiently, waiting for his turn.
Seeing the boy's gaze linger, Korin smiled. "What are you waiting for, Gohan? Go give your dad a hug."
Gohan stepped toward the doorway and its edges grew brighter as he neared it. The sheer amount of light emanating from its frame caused Goku to cast a long shadow, which hid the features of his face.
"Dad?" he asked, as he looked up at him.
Slowly, his father began to kneel, which gradually revealed his face. Gohan hadn't noticed it before, but there were clearly tears streaming down his cheeks, accompanied by a somber expression as the reality of the moment sunk in.
As Goku looked at Gohan, he was tempted to wipe away his tears, to hide them for the moment and make things easier for his son, but he couldn't. He could only hold his arms out wide, and wait for him.
Feeling his father's torn energy, Gohan wasted no time and quickly nestled against his chest, wrapping his arms around him. He knew how painful this was for the both of them, and the last thing they needed was any kind of barrier.
"You don't need to hold it in, Dad." he whispered. "You never need to be strong around me."
"I know, Gohan." he heard, as Goku held tightly onto him. "But... this - this is different. If I don't keep myself together, I won't be able to say goodbye. I won't be strong enough."
Pulling his chest back, Gohan managed a few inches worth of space between them and looked into his father's eyes. He could sense the shame that came with admitting he wasn't strong enough to be weak in that moment. But there was no need for shame.
"Daddy, there's nothing to be ashamed of." he assured. "I love you, no matter what."
"I love you too, Gohan." Goku replied, placing his son's cheek against his own. "Always."
Together, the two held and comforted each other. Both knew the bond they shared went beyond their many adventures together, and that it would endure even if the past seven years were wiped away, like shells along the shore. It was something deeper and more permanent than that. Despite any struggle or any pain, it would still remain.
Taking hold of his son's shoulders, Goku placed Gohan out in front of him and brought out his most comforting and loving smile.
"This is only goodbye for now." he said. "We'll meet again, one day, far off in the future. But until then, make as many friends as you can and have just as much fun. I'll want to hear all about it later."
Hearing those same words that came from his great-grandfather, come from Goku, caused a smile to spread across Gohan's face. To know and to feel that he loved him just as much as he loved his grandfather, and even more, meant the world to him.
"You will, Dad." he said, taking a backward step toward the portal. "You and grandpa, both."
Slowly crossing the threshold of the doorway, Gohan backed into the snowy white field while keeping his eyes solely on his father.
"Goodbye, Gohan." he heard his father say as the edges of the portal began to close.
Slowly the portal deformed from its long rectangular shape, condensing into a circle that continued to shrink with every second.
"Goodbye, Dad." Gohan replied, just before the circle's round white borders met. and it collapsed in on itself, disappearing entirely.
For a moment, he continued to look at where the doorway was, the memory of the forest, Master Roshi, Korin, and his father, still fresh in his mind. The adventure had finally ended, and now he was left in an empty field, in the early morning, with the winds howling above him.
SON GOHAN, YOUR WISH IS GRANTED!
Startled, Gohan swiftly turned around and looked at the enormous dragon looming overhead.
THIS HAS TAKEN CONSIDERABLE ENERGY. I WILL NOW TAKE MY LEAVE.
Quickly slithering back into the seven mystical orbs, Shenron left Gohan without another word shared between them. But as the balls rose into the sky and scattered themselves across the globe, Gohan couldn't help but take note of the dragon's incredible patience during the entire ceremony, he waited quietly for him to say his long goodbyes. Perhaps it was his way of being kind.
Looking back toward the field around him, Gohan began the trek toward home. Each cumbersome step left a deep imprint as he pushed through the knee-high snow, but he didn't notice. His mind was still so preoccupied with saying his goodbyes, that nothing else really came to his attention.
As he walked, the moon was still overhead, but it was waning, the further he got. He made his way across the frozen landscape of Mount Pouzu, passing through high hills, across long fields, and over frozen rivers. Silent as he journeyed on.
Eventually, just as the sun's light began to break through the trees, he came upon his home. It was always beautiful in that early light, and, fittingly, he could see the capsule-corp front entrance glistening like a gem, finally distracting him from his thoughts.
The snow crunched beneath his feet as he neared the front door. Carefully, and quietly, he pushed it open and stepped inside. Thankfully, everything seemed calm, so he hurried down the hall and into his room.
Gently closing the door behind him, Gohan's eyes swept across his room. It had been over seven years since he'd actually been in there, but to him, everything seemed like it was in order. His desk was a mess of papers, books, pencils, pens, and whatever else he needed during his long study sessions, and his bed was equally as messy, being the contorted heap of sheets and covers that it was.
Seeing that everything was where it was supposed to be, Gohan let out a long sigh. Slipping his satchel off of his shoulder, he slumped into his bed and pulled the covers up to his nose.
Months later, Gohan was still re-adjusting to his old life of studying and preparing for the arrival of his new baby brother, but his relationship with his Mother was entirely different from what he remembered.
She was still concerned for him and his safety, just as she always was, but she was so much more attentive than he remembered. When he finally realized this, he wondered if he was just so caught up in how he was feeling, he never noticed just how much effort she put into trying to make him happy.
And though some days she could be distant, and would try to keep to herself, he knew she was struggling. That was when he'd forgo the studying and they'd spend the day together. Sometimes it was the market on the edge of a nearby city, sometimes it was ice cream, and sometimes it was a few board games, but he was always there for her, and she was always there for him.
Then, one February afternoon, his baby brother finally came into the world. He had sat anxiously for hours in the waiting room until a nurse finally came to get him. He followed her eagerly, and when they arrived at his mother's room, the first thing he saw was the smile spread across her face as she held her newborn.
He knew she must have been exhausted, but there was no sign of it in her demeanor. Everything spoke of joy and excitement as she cradled the tiny baby boy wrapped in blankets from head to toe.
"Do you want to see him, Gohan?" she asked, beginning to peel away the small blue cap on his head.
Suddenly, the cap sprung off the newborn, revealing his long locks of black hair. Speechless, Gohan watched them unfold into his father's hairstyle.
"He's beautiful, isn't he, Gohan?" Chi-Chi said, her voice sounding as sweet as honey.
But he was in such disbelief that her words hadn't even registered yet. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, he wondered if it was even real. His newborn baby brother looked identical to his father, down to the last minute detail.
Without even noticing, his eyes filled with tears and he got as close to the infant as possible, even hunching over the side of the hospital bed to see him. Ever since he knew about the baby, he was nervous about its arrival, yet now that it was finally here all he felt was love. And for him to look exactly like his father, was this the universe rewarding him for everything he'd gone through?
"Do you want to hold him?" she asked.
Nodding, Gohan still hadn't uttered a word since he'd gotten to her room, but how could he? Nothing could have prepared him for this.
Gently, she passed the infant over to Gohan, who eagerly brought it to his chest and held his head up with his hand. It was then that he realized this was more than a gift from the universe. This was his father's last and greatest gift to him: Someone to grow up with, to teach, to mentor, to protect, and to love.
"He's... perfect." he said, his voice filled with warmth. "He's perfect."
