Life With You

Part 13: Gohan

There was a slight chill in the morning when Goku opened his eyes. The morning sun shined brightly over Mount Paozu but Goku knew something was wrong as he sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Why was he sleeping outside? Why wasn't he in bed with Grandpa? He stood up noticing he was naked. Where did his clothes go?

There were a few fallen trees around him. Goku crinkled his nose confused. Did a storm come by last night? He couldn't remember hearing one. The skies were clear when he came outside to pee. He only stepped out of his home but looking around, he realized he was in the wild animal territory; miles from his home. Why was he way out here?

Shrugging, he walked. Once he got home, he'll ask Grandpa what happened. Goku noticed dead animals: mountain lions, wolves and bears lifeless on the ground. What happened to them? Some looked crushed, as if they were trampled on.

Why did---- whoa!!

Goku lost his footing and fell into a hole. It wasn't a normal hole. This hole wasn't even a foot deep. Goku climbed out. Almost immediately, he realized it wasn't a hole he fell in. It was a footprint.

Goku stared at the footprint. He's seen it a few times before. Slowly, his mind recognized it. Panic set in. The fallen trees. The dead animals.

The Full Moon Monster attacked last night.

Grandpa!

Goku ran! He had to get home! He had to find Grandpa! Last time the Full Moon Monster attacked, Grandpa's arm was broken. Goku remembered caring for him, hunting food for them, chopping up firewood while Grandpa recovered. He promised Grandpa he will be awake the next time the monster attacked. He failed Grandpa by sleeping through it again.

Goku was almost out of breath when he finally arrived home. What he saw horrified him. Giant footprints were everywhere. His home was damaged. The roof had collapsed and laid on the side of his home, the front door barely hung on its hinge. Goku ran inside. "Grandpa?!"

The chest laid on the floor. The table and stools were flipped over. The futon was empty and the blankets were on the floor.

"Grandpa?!" Goku ran outside. Where was he? Why wasn't he answering? "Grandpa!!"

Goku's eyes snapped open. He panicked for a moment before realizing he was home in bed. Light from the window told him it was morning. He touched his face. He was sweating. No. He was crying. Exhaling, he sat up and buried his face in his hands.

Grandpa. He hadn't a nightmare of that morning in years. Why was he having one now? He looked to his right. ChiChi slept. With her pregnancy advancing, she slept more now, too. Usually, ChiChi stayed in bed another hour. It meant breakfast was an hour later but at least he was finally getting full. Sometime over the pregnancy ChiChi learned to make enough food that had her and him full.

Goku put a hand on ChiChi's stomach. His son's Ki was low, meaning he was sleeping, too. ChiChi had trouble sleeping sometimes. It would take her almost an hour before she found a comfortable position to sleep in. One night Goku complained why it was taking ChiChi so long to find a comfortable spot. He was answered with a pillow slapping his face and ChiChi yelling about the pregnancy. Since then, Goku learned to be quiet and wait for ChiChi to find a comfy position.

Sleep was out of the question now. When he closed his eyes, he thought of Grandpa and that terrible morning. He needed something to relax. He didn't want to wake ChiChi. She needed her rest so he decided to take care of it himself.