Inali

Chapter 21

A few years later.

The rhythm of the heartbeats was calm, in tune with the water. The life that pulsated around him, placid. The flow of energy that flowed.

He couldn't breathe, practicing meditation through the stages of breathing, he was beyond this.

Him sitting on the bottom of the lake in contact with the elements that slept there, trying to fully come into contact with the spirit of the water. Finding answers.

He had been trying this new technique for a while, the classic one was no longer enough for him. There was an itch under his skin, silent and irritating in the veins that were itching to come out. Get a vent. He was happy with the absence of wars but daily life as Prince Consort or husband, as bad as it was to say it... was too tight for him. However, he had done everything he knew was socially correct towards his family: he had promised it to Chichi.

He then tried to focus on what was right, even if it wasn't the place that called his blood.

His tail began to dance as he felt Gohan's ki approaching. He was a little worried and even though he was aware of his son's intelligence he still saw him as a cub despite the years that passed.

Slowly coming out of the water he found his twelve-year-old son sitting on the grass near his clothes, with a book on his crossed legs. The dark and sharp eyes like Chichi's, bright and innocent full of hope that he wanted to protect, always looked at him with the same surprise and affection that were so dear to him.

He was so lucky, he had to deserve that love. It was fair to everyone. His tail responded to his son's in a gentle wag, "Hey, cub, how long was I gone?"

Gohan's cheeks dusted themselves red as they had every time for a year now due to the nickname. "Almost an hour this time, dad..."

Goku looked at the surface of the water wanting to dive again but smiled at his son. "Next time I'll exceed that hour, what do you think? Hehe!"

Gohan didn't rejoice, instead he took on that thoughtful expression that reminded Goku so much of his mother. "I think it might be dangerous... I know you're Saiyan, but you need oxygen, otherwise you might be breathing in space."

Space brought back too many memories, those of death and battle were the most fun. Goku chuckled, stroking his hair. "So how about we train together?"

"Mm... I have to study."

Goku, having finished dressing in his loose red tunic and wide white trousers, bent over the open book. "What are you reading?"

The half-saiyan smiled with his adorable little fangs; he now had his attention. "It's a gift from Uncle Turles!"

Goku nodded, Turles came to visit them every now and then, too few times for Goku's liking. He suspected that the renegade Saiyan was always getting into trouble... he knew that he still couldn't return to Vegetasei despite what he knew from Bulma and Chichi. Old habits died hard and apparently reinstating Turles meant opening files that called into question many aspects of Saiyan culture and quite... barbaric rituals. To avoid what looked like a civil war, Turles himself had said that he had no interest.

Turles was a good friend. He liked to think that the pirate also considered him one... he wasn't very good at interpersonal relationships. But he always tried to show the other that he was there for him even if Turles never showed that he needed a place to belong.

He didn't want to go back to Vegetasei so as not to start a war... that was enough for Goku to keep him close to his heart.

Gohan was still talking and sadly Goku was lost, he was trying to keep up but Gohan was just too much for him if it wasn't martial arts and the little guy didn't seem very interested in any training.