Dragon Ball SS: Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

Afternoon was fading into evening as Goku and Gohan landed at the front door of the Son household. Goku reached for the door, but Gohan reached out and stopped him.

 

“Dad,” he began, “I know you're going to need to talk to Mom about this...but I'd rather tell her about my situation myself.” He hesitated. “I haven't figured out exactly what I'm going to say yet, but...I want to be the one who breaks it to her.”

 

Goku nodded. “I understand,” he said. “Just let me know when you're ready, and I'll make sure you have a chance to talk to her.”

 

The two of them went inside. Goten was seated at the table, and Chichi was standing at the stove cooking.

 

“Oh, hi, Dad! Hi, Gohan!” Goten said. “You got here just in time for dinner!”

 

“Gohan! It's good to see you!” Chichi said. “You and Goku go on and wash up, I'll put out another plate for you.” She smiled at him and turned back to her cooking.

 

Gohan nodded and slipped out of the room. Goten tilted his head and watched him leave, then turned back to Goku. “Dad? Is everything all right?” he asked.

 

“Gohan's just had a long day,” he said. “I'm sure he'll feel more talkative after he's had dinner.”

 

Chichi turned away from the food preparation once again and brought another clean plate and utensils over to the table. She added them to the table setting and looked up at Goku. “Goku-sa,” she began.

 

Suddenly, the front door slammed open; Goten, Goku and Chichi spun toward the sound to find Piccolo framed in the doorway. His clothes were decidedly battered and he bared his fangs as he glared around the room.

 

“Where is he?” Piccolo roared. “Hand that miserable brat over!”

 

Chichi shrank back behind Goku. “Wha...what are you saying?” she demanded. “Piccolo?”

 

Goku put his hand out to shield Chichi and stepped forward. “I'll handle this, Chichi,” he said. He motioned to Goten, who was half-standing from his chair, to also back down. “Piccolo, we're taking this outside,” he said.

 

“Don't try to play your good-guy bullshit with me!” Piccolo snapped. “And if you know what's good for you, you won't get in my way. Where is Gohan?”

 

“I'm right here, Piccolo,” Gohan said. He stepped into the room and walked halfway to where Piccolo was standing. “And I don't want my family involved in this,” he finished. He walked up to face the Namekian. “We'll take this outside, like Dad suggested.”

 

“Die outside, then!” Piccolo replied. He grabbed Gohan by the front of the shirt and dragged him out into the twilight.

 

“Gohan!” Chichi shrieked. She started forward, but Goku held her back.

 

“Chichi, stay here,” he said quickly. “Goten, stay here with your mother and make sure she stays safe.”

 

“Dad?” Goten asked. “What's going on? Why is Piccolo-”

 

Goku was already headed toward the door and waved Goten's question aside. “I'll explain later,” he said. “Stay here and out of the way.”

 

Outside, the situation Goku feared happening had come to pass. Piccolo was enraged and pummeling Gohan mercilessly; Gohan had instinctively put up his arms to block the assault, but he was not making any effort to counter the blows or to toss Piccolo away from him.

 

“Piccolo, stop!” Goku called. He quickly approached the two and put his hand on Piccolo's shoulder. “Can't you see that he doesn't want to fight you?”

 

Piccolo responded with a sudden punch to Goku's face. “And Itold you to stay out of this!” he snarled. “Whether he fights back or not is irrelevant to me.”

 

Goku's anger flared and his energy surged upward until a burst of golden aura and suddenly blond hair announced that he had become a Super Saiyan. He reached between the two struggling before him and pushed Gohan a safe distance away; then he turned to Piccolo and narrowed his eyes. “If you want to kill my son, you have to go through me to do it,” he said. The words were nearly without emotion, but the expression on his face was deadly.

 

Piccolo scowled and bared his teeth at Goku. “You've no knowledge of what your son has done, have you?” he asked. “Or else you've also lost your mind. Perhaps you Saiyans are finally showing your true colors after all.”

 

“Piccolo, how can you say that?” Gohan cried. “Please, just hear us out. If I had intended to hurt you, why would I have panicked and fled like I did? I already feel horrible about it – and I'll understand if you still hate me even after you know why it happened. But please – allow me the chance to explain.”

 

“You had an opportunity to explain when you pinned me to the ground, and instead you chose to knock me unconscious!” Piccolo shot back.

 

Gohan bit his lip and sat down on the lawn. “I...I know...” he said. “And I know that it was sudden, and I don't remember everything I did, but I know that I didn't give you any warning. Please try to understand, Piccolo – I lost control of myself. When I regained my senses, it was over. Vegeta explained why it happened, but I still don't understand fully myself how...”

 

Piccolo cut him off. “I was right, then,” he said. “It is because you're part Saiyan. I should have known better than to think Saiyans could truly change their nature.”

 

“No, it's not like that at all!” Gohan said. “It started because I'm part Saiyan,” he admitted. “But I lost my head. I don't know why no one else has, but believe me, I am truly trying to find out. And...” He paused and choked up for a moment before he was able to continue. “I know I should have stayed and made sure you were all right; I was just so scared and confused...and I knew that you were going to wake up angry and that I wouldn't have the answers you wanted.”

 

Goku started to cut in, but Gohan raised his hand up to stop him.

 

“Also...I didn't want to risk hurting you again.” Gohan bunched his knees up against his chest and rested his forehead on them. “I never would have thought I was capable of something like that. It's something I never, ever would have wanted to do to anyone...but especially not to someone I care about.”

 

Piccolo moved suddenly and hoisted Gohan off the ground by his shirt. “Then why did you?” he demanded. He shook Gohan roughly. “You're a scholar, so don't even try to tell me you haven't thought about it!”

 

Goku grabbed Piccolo's arm, but Gohan shook his head and waved him away. Tears were welling in his eyes and he tried to look away, but Piccolo tightened his grip and forced Gohan to look at him.

 

“I have,” Gohan said. “I have been thinking about it, ever since Dad and I talked to Vegeta.” He paused and tried to look away again; as he did so, he noticed Chichi clinging to the frame of the open door, with Goten hovering protectively near her. Both were watching the confrontation with a mixture of confusion and apprehension.

 

“And?”

 

Gohan's tears spilled over and ran down his face, but he made no effort to wipe them away or struggle out of Piccolo's grip. “Because I love you, Piccolo-san.”

 

Goku saw both Gohan and Chichi fall at the same time, but being nearly as stunned, didn't move in time to catch either of them before they hit the ground.