His father. His absence. How he missed him. How he was worry about him.
The little boy starred at the clear sky thoughtfully, a shadow of sadness in his dark eyes. He still didn't understand why his father had refused to come back on Earth, some months ago. Didn't he want to see his friends? His wife?! Chichi had told her son that Goku, being the careless warrior he was, had departed for Namek without a word for her. She was terribly worry herself and growing more irritable each day.
Gohan let his mind wander, feeling animals' low kis as they were moving in the woods around the house. It was a beautiful day of June... "Maybe dad would take me fishing if he was there... He promised..." An heavy sigh escaped from his lips. He hoped his father was doing fine, that he would come back soon...
At that moment, he felt a greater ki. Even if it wasn't that high, it couldn't be an animal. It wasn't evil either... In fact, it was even familiar... Excitation rose within him as he jumped on his feet, focusing on that ki. It was one or two minutes away by flying, even less if at full speed... For half a second, he wondered why it wasn't moving. But he didn't care, he jumped out by the opened window, joy lightening his now sparkling eyes as he flew toward that ki. He was back!
- Tousan!
Even before his feet touched the grass, deception filled Gohan, hitting him faster than Freeza could ever have had.
The same pitch-black messy hair, but not the same hairstyle. Somehow, the young boy knew that his father's hair would never change.
It wasn't him.
The stranger starred at him in silence. His slight surprise vanished after a few seconds only, then a soft smile appeared on his lips as he scanned the little boy with his gentle eyes.
- I thought you'd be taller, he said.
Gohan shivered at the sound of his voice. Something sadly bitter, broken, in it... He wanted to ask him who he was, why he seemed to know him, why his ki resembled Goku's so much... But he was frozen by this unexpected encounter, hypnotized by that face, that voice... So familiar, yet unknown...
- Do you believe in your father? suddenly asked the stranger, a shadow falling before his dark eyes. Will he always be there in time?
Strange, disturbing questions. Gohan swallowed slowly before answering.
- Of course! he said, and his voice surprised him by its clarity.
- And if he couldn't do it... Someone else would?
- Yes... Piccolo-san... Or Krilin... Or someone else...
A twisted fear rose within the small boy. He couldn't see the point of those questions, but they scared him suddenly. Even though that man wasn't threatening him at all... There was something dark in him, but Gohan didn't feel any danger, only a vague yet growing worry.
The man nodded slowly. Suddenly, his sad smile, dark eyes, haunted spirit reminded someone else than Goku. As his look gazed away, past a now silent Gohan, there was something of... Of Chichi... In the way he smiled gently despite the misfortune emanating from him, so identical to her smile lately...
- And you? You'd come and save the day?
Still looking over the boy, the man blinked slowly, chasing a trembling gleam from his gloomy eyes.
- Of course, whispered Gohan, suddenly realizing how something was wringing his heart painfully.
The man smiled, starring at him again.
- So there's always someone to save those who need it, huh?
- Yes...
Slowly, the man approached and gently, sadly, ran his long fingers in Gohan's rebellious hair.
- Even now, you're so... he started in a whisper, not ending his sentence out loud.
Gohan realized he still didn't know who he was, and was about to ask when the man stepped back, a true smile on his lips.
- Don't worry, he'll be back soon.
He was talking about Goku, of course. Gohan smiled warmly. He wouldn't be able to say why, but he had no doubt about the man's words.
- Thank you, Gohan.
The man's smile softened and suddenly, he reminded the boy of Piccolo. Those sad, painful yet so gentle eyes...
The saiyan hybrid opened his mouth to ask the man his name, but then... Then...
Then he blinked a couple of times, looked around. "What was I doing..." He looked down at his notebook and nodded to himself. "Oh yeah, algebra..." Sighing, he took back his pen and read the next question, wondering how long his now forgotten daydream had last.
Chapter One
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