Dragon Ball Z Fanfic: His Heart, My Weakness

Ch 4: Another Chance

"Waaahhh!" A young half-saiyan cried his eyes out. The poor boy was lost and he wanted his father. "D-D-Daddy!!" Gohan was oblivious to the transparent hand that was softly petting his head. "Shh, it's alright Gohan. I'm sure your daddy is turning the entire forest upside down to find you," Roki said. His voice was trembling with the amount of effort he had to use to speak. The energy Goku had given him all those years ago was had already ran out. It was amazing that the guardian was able to survive off the borrowed eneregy for so long. He now used energy from the sun and other living things. It was something he picked up on about two years ago.

'Well he is destined to be the strongest person in the universe. It's only logical that his Chi is more potent than the average person,' Roki thought. Roki was pulled out of his thoughts when a small hand grabbed ahold of his transparent one.

"W-Who are you?" Young Gohan wiped his puffy eyes with his free hand. Roki stood speechless for a good minute until he yanked his hand away from the child and began to rapidly pace. 'How can he see me? No one but Goku could ever see me! This dosen't make any sense!' Roki snuck a glance at the confused child. 'But I guess Gohan got Goku's odd knack for bending the rules.'

Roki turned to face the child who was watching him have a mini outburst. Roki blushed. Having no one to talk to can really mess with someones sanity. "Ahem. H-Hello Gohan. Y-you've grown alot haven't you?" Roki kneeled before the child and gave him a gentle smile. Gohan peered at him from under his bangs and fiddled with his thumbs. Roki understood his mistake. Despite having no contact with his charge, Roki still stuck by the man's side and has wittnessed every up and down the saiyan has gone through.

He was there when Gohan was born and even had a small part in naming the child but that was a story for another time. Roki smiled. He had the perfect story to share with him.

Roki sat besides the child and showed no disappointment when the half-saiyan scooted away. "My name is Roki, and I'm like you." Roki turned to the side to show Gohan the brown tail that swayed side by side. Gohan's eyes lit up in surprise and his small hands reached out to touch it. Roki encouraged his touch and swished it from side to side so that Gohan had to lightly struggle to touch it.

Roki withheld a cry of pain when the child managed to grab it. He never got over the whole tail thing, unlike his charge who had trained to avoid that weakness. Roki continued his story to distract himself from the pain.

"A-Anyways, I met your daddy when we were little. He and I became good friends but when we grew up, he forgot about me," Roki said with a sad smile. Little Gohan had risen his hand to ask a question. "Yes, what is it Gohan?"

"If daddy forgot about you, how come you were there when I was born?" Roki smiled fondly at the memory. "Well, I am something known as a Guardian, and it was my job to make sure your daddy made the right choices. When your daddy didn't need me anymore he started to forget about me, but you're daddy was really strong so he fought to keep his memories." Gohan beamed at the praise for his dad.

Roki got a far off look in his black eyes. Since he and Goku were no longer connected, his eyes no longer mimicked the mans emotions and instead remained a dull black. "Y-Your daddy didn't have enough power though because he had given me some of his power to keep me from disappearing the day before."

Gohan raised his hand again.

"Why would you disappear?" Roki seemed hesitant to answer because the child was prone to crying for the smallest things. "When someone dosen't need a Guardian anymore, the guardian fades away," Roki said. Gohan already began to tear up. "B-But some Guardians are really special because they're good at their job. I normally wouldn't disappear but when someone gives their guardian a body, the process takes a bit slower and hurts sometimes."

Gohan already began to sniffle. "D-Don't worry! Your daddy already forgot most of his memories of me so I'll disappear soon!" Roki winced when Gohan began to full out bawl. "G-Gohan, please don't cry! I love your daddy, very much so I'll do my best to stay," Roki said in an attempt to calm the child down. Gohan stopped crying and grinned. "Ohhh, you love my daddy? Be careful, my mommy will get mad if she finds out," the child warned.

Roki nervously laughed "Y-yeah, I know." Gohan giggled and Roki smiled. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" Roki was surprised that Gohan would offer to help him. "W-Well I'm bound to disappear soon b-but if I find another charge, that should help alot."

Gohan seemed excited at having the chance to help his dad's friend. "Alright then, how do we find a charge?" Roki chose his words carefully. "A guardian can only have one charge at a time so to get another one is against the rules. Plus, I have to be able to communicate with someone to initiate the bonding process. Only Goku could see me but..." Roki turned to Gohan. The boy was visibly bubbling with his hand in the air. Roki didn't need to call on him for him to ask his question.

"Can I be your charge?"

Roki thought about Gohan being his charge. 'I'd feel like it could be considered betrayal since Goku had insisted that I belonged to him, and wouldn't I be technically using Gohan just to make sure Goku gets a future he deserves?' Roki watched how Gohan cheered about getting a guardian. 'Well it's not like I'm only concernd with Goku. Gohan is a piece of him so it's logical that I'd care about him too,' Roki reasoned.

Roki nodded and placed a hand on Gohan's shoulder to get him to stay still. "If I become your Guardian, you won't be able to make desicions on your own anymore. I'll be the little voice in the back of your head telling you the difference between right and wrong. Are you sure you want that?" Roki had to be sure that the child wanted this. Gohan pouted. "You're making it seem ike if you don't want to be my guardian," Gohan teased. Roki sighed. "Alright then." Roki stood before Gohan and used up the last of his energy to initate the bonding.

"I bound myself to you in ways that time itself cannot understand. I now exist only to nourish and guide YOU through your darkest moments and shall be your crutch should you ever fall and cannot get back up. I am your Guardian and it is an honor to guide you Son Gohan."

Roki held his hand out for the half-saiyan to take. Gohan made no hesitation to shake his hand. When Gohan took ahold of the others hand, the guardians form began to crack before it shattered.

Gohan marvled over the change and said the first thing that came to his mind. "Rokiten," he whispered. He kept the guardians old name and merely added another piece. The newly named saiyan smiled. "I am Rokiten. Pleased to meet you." Gohan suddenly grinned and launched himself at his guardian. Rokiten easily caught him and swung him around in happiness. It worked!

"Gohan! Gohan where are you!" Rokiten stilled and immediatley placed Gohan back on his feet. His former charge came down on Nimbus and sighed in relief whe he saw his son. "There you are, don't scare me like that kiddo!" Gohan ran to his dad and leaped into his arms. "Hey Daddy, guess what? I have a guardian like you use to. Oh, but you forgot about him huh? Don't worry, Rokiten said he won't disappear until your happy. Isn't that great?"

Goku seemed confused. "A guardian? What's that?" Rokiten went over to the two. "He won't remember if you tell him Gohan. Just let it take its normal course," Rokiten whispered. Gohan nodded. "Nevermind, let's go home!" Gohan sat in his father's lap. "Make sure you keep up Rokiten, Nimbus is very fast!" Rokiten smiled. "I'll try."