Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Early Morning of a Life Together ❯ Ring Shopping ( Chapter 20 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z. Akira Toriyama does.

 

 

Speeding along with his little brother, Gohan felt a surge of hope burst through him. Spending time in the simplicity of Goten's youth had a very positive effect. They were immediately transported back to a much simpler period, just as the transition to Great Saiyaman had occurred. Goten and Goten had stopped by the Son Home to see if anyone was there. While Gohan waited outside Goten flew in and grabbed him a change of clothes. The only thing clean unfortunately was Gohan's special set of gi given to him by the Kais.

 

"Is this all you could find, Goten?" Gohan asked, droplets of water sliding down his skin as he stood in the bathing barrel.

 

"Yeah Big Brother. Sorry! Mom didn't do the wash!"

 

"Well thanks anyway. I want to make sure I at least smell nice when I go see Videl. You know how girls like a freshly dressed guy."

 

"Yeah. There's this stuff mom got dad. Man perfume... I think maybe Big Sissy might like you if you used it!"

 

"You think? That's dad's Cologne," said Gohan, glancing ad the glass bottle Goten laid on the top of the neatly folded pile of clothes.

 

"Is that what they call perfume for boys? Weird," Goten laughed, grabbing up the soap and tossing it to Gohan.

 

"So I didn't sense anyone's ki around here. Did Mom or Dad leave a note?"

 

"Mommy left a note here... with the clothes... but your hand's all wet," Goten brandished an envelope in them.

 

"Well can you hand me that towel, and then put the note there? I promise I'll be done soon, and then we can go get Videl that present," Gohan nodded, then plunged under to wet his hair.

 

"Okay Big Brother. What should I do, cause I'm gonna get bored," Goten blinked. He set the neatly folded pile on a stool near the bathing barrel then kicked at the grass a bit.

 

"Go pick your Big Sister some nice flowers? Since that was your suggestion?" Gohan said.

 

"Aww nuts," Goten mumbled.

 

"And maybe find her some of those special stones you like so much and put in your pet turtle's aquarium?" Gohan suggested.

 

Goten brightened up at this, then flew off in a puff of wind. It felt good to rub homemade shampoo through his hair and bathe away the awkwardness of the earlier part of the day. Goten's ki sparked brightly nearby, indicating he was fast at work. He was anxious to read his mother's note, laying next to the flat bottle filled with green liquid. Another dunk underwater sent a raft of suds in all directions separating from his slicked down hair. Then he bobbed up once more and seized the towel hanging over the side of the ladder used to climb in and out of the barrel. It was much larger then the one he recalled using as a kid, but then again it had to be for a larger family.

 

A sluice of water inundated the grass as Gohan climbed out of his bath, and then wrapped the towel around his waist. Drying his hands with another, he then grabbed the envelope and ripped it open. The smells of his mother's own perfume lightly drifted into his nose, and he scanned the paper anxiously for what she had written.

 

"Gohan, if you get home before I do, I just want you to know I don't blame you for getting angry. I only want what's best for my little boy. I always did. But the thought of you not being able to be happy because of a mistake I made or a failure as a mother is more than I can bear.

 

Right now I'm going to talk to Videl. Perhaps she can learn how important and special it is to be married. There are so many similarities between us that it's uncanny. She is the perfect woman for you, and I know if I just stand by and do nothing I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

 

I know you want me to stand back and let you grow up Gohan. But a mother never stops being a mother. You're still my son, and I only want what is best. I might have made a lot of mistakes over the years, but please understand it was out of love. I never wanted you to go without a good education because I know that Pa's money isn't enough to insure you'll be taken care of. Only hard work can truly give you what is yours because you're so smart. I know I haven't taken kindly to your fighting with the power inside.

 

The truth is Gohan, that the thought of your father being anything but human was more than I could bear. I was so afraid that I was losing you both that day you became... Super Saiyans. I never meant to hurt your feelings when I called you both monsters. You just looked nothing like the husband and son I tried so hard to keep safe. It... hurt me, but I never stopped to think how much my words may have hurt you, my precious son.

 

Words can hurt far more then punches or physical injuries. I have said many things in my life without thinking after the fact what they meant. I know I've said dozens of things I shouldn't. And I've demanded standards of behavior from you and your father that might seem insane to other people. What I really want to say Gohan, is that I thought if I did the right thing, sent you to the right school, or tried to keep you from fighting I'd keep you safe.

 

Yet I can't keep you safe Gohan. I can't protect you from my mistakes. In so doing I might have done more damage then good. But now I can try and understand that you're a man now. But please don't shut me and your father out when we only want to help. A family doesn't stop being a family when the children reach adulthood. I can't help but worry for you, and if I can help make it right I will still try to, even if it seems that I should leave well enough alone. I can't help loving you, my precious little boy, my first born. You're everything to me, Gohan, yet I need to let go, and it is so hard.

 

I hope that I can talk to Videl, and that when you next see us, she'll understand. Whether you decide to marry now or ten years from now, it's your choice. I shouldn't have pushed so hard. Yet when two people choose each other as man and wife, sometimes it isn't the ceremony or the ring. Your father and I almost didn't have a wedding. I still remember Papa saving that wedding dress. The one that I hope Videl will wear when you're married.

 

Please don't stop trying Gohan. You can do whatever you put your heart to. And I'm proud of you Gohan, very proud. I couldn't ask for a better son then you.

 

Love, your mother Chichi.

 

Gohan exhaled, folding the note up and setting it down once more. Quickly he toweled off then reached for the clean garments. He was just tucking the shirt into the pants when he sensed Goten in the vicinity. Turning he saw a handful of flowers clutched in two dirt smirched hands, on a pair of short legs.

 

"Hey Goten, you've got a beautiful bouquet!" he commented, wrapping the sash around his waist.

 

"Oh yea, Sissy's gonna love this!" Goten crowed, brandishing his treasure that hid his face. HE swung it to the side so his arms wrapped around the bundle.

 

"Great. I'm ready to go when you are. But let's get some string to tie around them and some of that nice foil from the kitchen..." said Gohan.

 

"I know where Mommy keeps the ribbons!" Goten chirped, carrying the bouquet into the house. Gohan tucked the letter into his pocket, then followed his brother inside.

***

Two orange and blue clad boys soared towards Satan City a quarter hour later. Goten still clung to his flowers, while Gohan carried a small pouch gripped close to his chest. Flying downtown they both landed outside the nearest jewelry store.

 

"Wait here, Goten," Gohan said, feeling a bit self-conscious walking around in his gi. He then ducked beside a building, and grabbed his wristwatch. He didn't know why he hadn't thought of donning the Great Saiyaman costume before. Most people wouldn't blink twice at him in that rather then the training clothes.

 

"Hey you said I could help you pick one! No fair!" Goten whined, rushing over to him.

 

"I did say that, didn't I?" Gohan chuckled, adjusting his sunglasses.

 

"Why are you Saiyaman, Big Brother?"

 

"It's part of my plan," Gohan whispered.

 

Shrugging, Goten carried the flowers into the store, wandering after his big brother. A bell clanged as he pushed the door open, and the clerks rapidly tossed their heads in his direction. "It's the Great Saiyaman!" smiled the red headed lady behind the counter.

 

"Yes, it is I! I was wondering if I could look at your engagement rings please?" Gohan said in his deepened Saiyaman voice.

 

"Oh are you going to propose to Saiyawoman finally?" teased the clerk, taking the key from around her neck as she leaned over. Great Saiyaman strode over towards the middle jewelry case, followed by Goten, who appeared as a walking bouquet.

 

"How are you gonna pay for it?" Goten whispered.

 

"Shh Goten, be careful, you'll blow my cover," Gohan whispered down, leaning over to hide his lips with a gloved hand.

 

Simultaneously to him straightening up, the jewelry clerk bobbed up from behind her counter. She set three boxes on the transparent glass counter near Gohan's hand that rested by them. "Here you are. We promised two years ago because your friend Mr. Buu saved our store from the robbers that we'd give him anything he wanted. And he came back here earlier today and said that you'd be stopping by. So don't worry about the price."

 

"But I would like to pay, it's the right thing to do," Gohan began.

 

"No, it's on us. Thank that heroic Mr. Buu," giggled the clerk.

 

"Okay Goten," Gohan sighed, realizing his protests were in vain. "Which ring is the prettiest for Great Saiyawoman."

 

"Umm, I can't see," Goten pouted. He suddenly levitated up so he hovered at the level of the counter.

 

"My what lovely flowers. And who are you, young man?"

 

"He's my sidekick in training," Gohan winked at his brother. Goten giggled and then set the flowers down on the counter so he could more clearly look at the beautiful rings.

 

"That one's a lot like the one Daddy... my daddy's giving my mommy. So you can't pick it. Mommy would be upset if she saw Saiyawoman with the same one. Girls always get upset when something's the same as another girls," Goten chattered.

 

"He's so smart for a young man. I bet he'll be a real charmer with the ladies, won't you, my little man" the clerk giggled.

 

"Aww shucks," Goten blushed as she ruffled his hair.

 

"Well that one with the ruby is out. What else do you have?" Goten asked as she removed the box containing a square cut ruby bordered with diamonds.

 

"Here's a marquis cut solitaire. And there's an aquamarine with two side diamonds."

 

"That one with the green rocks is pretty!" Goten pointed to the one to the left. A swirl of gold enclosed three flat emeralds, flanked by three diamonds beneath.

 

"But that's not an engagement ring, Goten."

 

"I don't care, it's pretty and it has diamonds. And she likes green," Goten argued. "I think that's the pretty one!"

 

"I quite like the solitaire," said the clerk. "But your 'sidekick' does have nice taste in rings for such a young man."

 

"Okay," Gohan shrugged helplessly as he felt sweat blistering his temples. How could he admit to people that his little brother helped pick a ring for his girlfriend? However jewelry selection was not his strong suit. Sighing he pointed to the ring.

 

"Yay!" Goten clapped. "She'll be so happy!"

 

"I guess that's the one I want. Can I have it gift wrapped?"

 

"Of course. Are you going to propose today, Saiyaman?" asked the clerk cheerfully. She wrote up a receipt for the ring, and then closed the tiny black velvet box. Turning around she pulled open a drawer and selected a silver gift tote. Then she wrapped the ring in silver tissue paper while both waited.

 

"Ooh sparkly," Goten giggled, when she handed the small gift tote to Gohan.

 

"Thank you miss. She'll be very happy," Gohan laughed deeply.

 

"Good luck, Saiyaman!" Miss Carrot waved. He bowed his head and then strode out the door, red cape swirling behind him. Goten grabbed the flowers and waved goodbye to the clerk before whizzing out after his brother.