I'd be lying if I said I didn't remember how I died.
Unfortunately, I do.
And worse, I have a sinking feeling it was one of the dumbest ways possible. I already had a terminal illness, less than a year to live, not even enough time to finish school. I could've just rested, coasted through what time I had left. Maybe try a bucket list. Maybe try as much food as I could
But no. I had to go and speed run my death.
Brilliant.
---
I opened my eyes.
Everything was blurry. Worse than usual. My head felt heavy, my body weak.
So I closed them again.
Somewhere nearby, I heard a baby crying.
Weird. But I was too tired to care. Probably a dream. I drifted off.
...
The crying was louder when I woke up next.
Still weird. Still ignored it. I blinked, squinting up at shadowy shapes moving above me.
I was supposed to be home alone. My parents were off god-knows-where on their usual "work trip" So unless they came home. very unlikely considering how they never really cared for me much. There could only be 1 logical assumption.
Was someone breaking into my house?
That should've been concerning. But then again... mmmm sleep.
.
.
.
The next time I woke, I could see better. I heard voices now, clearer this time. Shapes became people. The crying had stopped, thank God. It was starting to get on my nerves.
I yawned.
That doesn't sound right.
And reached out to vigorously rub my ey-... why were my hands tiny?
I stared at them. Tried to move them again. They obeyed, but sluggishly. Like I was controlling one of those claw machine arms.
And then I noticed I couldn't move anything else. Not my body. Not my neck.
Memories flashed back. My body. My death.
There's no way.
I refuse to believe it. It's just a dream...
"Aw, look! She's staring at her little hands. Isn't that the cutest!"
"Haha, of course it is!"
no but, seriously... What kind of dream is this?
Why was I hearing Goku's voice? Is this some sort of internal desire of mine? why?
Ugh. Hopefully I'll just-
Sleep dragged me away again.
.
.
.
---
It took a week before I stopped gaslighting myself. To actually think of the absurdity of this situation
A full week of waking up to Goku's laughter, Chi-Chi's cooing, and that damn feeling of helplessness.
I had died. and was reborn... or would reincarnation be more accurate. Whatever. doesnt matter.
My name was Gohei...
I had a twin brother named Gohan.
And my parents were Goku and Chichi.
Can I... just abandon ship? Please? I do not like where my future is heading.
It was extremely hard to get used to this, or get used to the fact that 2 fictional characters were my parents... and were making baby noises at me.
Chi-Chi was more caring than the show made her out to be, maybe because I was still a baby. She was gentle, loving, and actually attentive. Goku was… Goku. Kind, goofy, sometimes gone, but always smiling when he was here.
My mood was definitely not the greatest during this, considering that I was being treated like the infant I physically was, even though I was, in fact, a high school student.
I wanted to scream and shout, but I only cried, and even then, I couldn't blame them. I could appreciate their effort in taking care of me and showering me with love.
Still, every time I looked at their faces, I was annoyed. angered at the cards I was dealt with.
because I knew I was going to be kidnapped in 4 years' time. twice. And I knew I was going to be on a survival arc with Piccolo, who thinks "training" means dropping a toddler into Australia and seeing what happens. Then maybe beating them up, after surviving. or throwing them at a mountain.
hah... well atleast I can rest for now. Maybe I could try meditation to get a head start in ki control. Or atleast just sense ki in the first place.
--- (4 weeks after, Gohan and Gohei's birth.)
It had been exactly a month since Gohan and Gohei were born, and the Son family was mostly living happily.
However, there was some tension, mostly because Goku was not used to living with a family, or being a father. The last time he lived with someone was over a decade ago, and he was completely unprepared for parenthood.
As a result, Chichi had to handle most of the responsibilities.
Like right now.
"Where's Goku!?" Chichi called out in annoyance. Once again, Goku had disappeared from the house without telling her, even though he had promised to take care of the kids while she cooked.
She gave a resigned smile. That kind of behaviour was typical of him, infuriating but also part of why she loved him. She looked down at the babies, her expression softening as she took in their tiny faces.
Her gaze settled on Gohei. Chichi had noticed very early on that Gohei hardly cried, much less than Gohan. If she did cry, it was usually just for food or a diaper change.
She was such a smart little girl. She even watched Chichi closely whenever she entered the room. What a sweet baby, she thought, gently stroking Gohei's hair.
"I'm home!" Goku's joyful voice broke the quiet, piercing through the tender moment between mother and daughter.
Chichi immediately snapped to attention. "Where have you been all this time!?" she demanded.
Goku, caught off guard, took a step back and raised one hand in a placating gesture. In his other hand, he held a massive fish.
"Well, you see... I went to look for firewood in the forest, and then I decided to catch this big fish for us to eat." He said while presenting the fish like a sacrifice.
Chichi sighed in frustration and shook her head. Goku scratched the back of his neck and gave a nervous smile.
"You have no choice, Goku. Later I'll cook that fish." She looked down at the twins. "They're pretty quiet, don't you think?"
Goku relaxed, glad Chichi was no longer angry with him. He fixed his eyes on the young girl and smiled brightly. "When they're older, I'd love to train them myself."
Chichi frowned and stared at him. "That won't be necessary. With you around, the Earth is already well protected." She raised a finger. "Gohan and Gohei will become well-known researchers and scholars. That is what I want for them."
"But Chichi..." Goku grumbled, clearly unimpressed. "What if they don't want that? Why don't we let them decide for themselves?"
Goku thought it would be best to leave the choice up to the kids. He secretly hoped they would want to train with him, but he would never force it on them. That wasn't right.
Chichi studied him for a moment, then saw the sincere look on his face. She gave a small nod in defeat.
"Okay, let the twins decide for themselves." She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "Now, where's that big fish you caught?"
"Well, I left it out. I'm sure you'll make a delicious meal," Goku said with a smile, then headed out. "Lunch is waiting!"
Chichi smiled and followed her husband as they cleared the room, leaving the sleeping twins alone as she prepared their food.
---
A year has passed,
I was still a baby and was still weak and helpless. But, through rigorous training, I could be called a genius by my mom... it feels weird saying that...
Anyway, my daily routine consisted of
Step one - learn to roll over.
Step two - hold myself up.
Step three - crawl.
Step four - walk.
And now I can run away from my problems.
Chi-Chi was absolutely thrilled to have such a "gifted" daughter. Goku, meanwhile, kept suggesting he take me outside, maybe train me.
Chi-Chi shot that idea down faster than Goku could finish the sentence. saying I was too young.
As for Gohan, my twin brother, he was acting like your average one-year-old... well, maybe not by human standards. Maybe below average Saiyan standards, by which I mean chaotic, weirdly strong, and crawling everywhere and anywhere he could. He looked so goofy it almost made me forget the doom countdown ticking in the back of my head.
He had something I didn't: raw, untapped rage that would one day explode into terrifying power. I didn't have that. No inner beast, no world-ending tantrum mode. Just almost seventeen years of boring human experience and an overdeveloped sense of cynicism and wit.
At least I was smart enough not to speak fluently yet. I could've. Probably. But I had no interest in being a toddler forced to write essays or read ancient scrolls because my mom thought I was a prodigy.
No, thank you. I like my naps and peace.
Ki Progress Report:
Status - Eh.
I'd been trying to meditate and feel out my ki ever since I was a few weeks old. Focusing on my breathing, visualising energy flow, doing everything I could to find that mythical "spark."
And after a year of quiet work... my results were...
less than ideal...
I could sense my own ki... Barely.
And I could sense Goku's... but only if he was literally holding me.
...Yeah, not the best progress.
It was disappointing. Meditation was slow, boring, and right now, felt like trying to light a match underwater. But I wasn't giving up. I still had three years left before the real plot kicked off. Plenty of time, hopefully.
Still... I really wanted to fly.
Like, really badly...
Exploding things also sounds cool too...
Meanwhile, I'd discovered my tail was currently a double-edged blessing. On one hand, it was super useful. I could use it to grab things, and it had a better grip than my fingers. On the other hand, if it got caught on anything, it was game over. Instant paralysis. Full shutdown. It was so goddamn sensitive.
I'd need to train it. Somehow. Probably the good ol' "beat it until it toughens up" method that monks use. That was going to be... fun... ya~ay!
At least I didn't inherit Goku's hair. Thank god, if I'd been reborn with a permanent super-spiky massacre on my head, I might've actually gone feral. Or maybe I'd learn ki faster, for the sole reason of burning my hair off. Yeah, it might look cool, but I do not need a weapon on my head.
Still... I hoped Goku's desire to train me would eventually outweigh his fear of Chi-Chi. But I have a feeling that unless they make some sort of deal, or Gohan outwardly shows interest in scholarly behaviour, then... the chances were less than ideal.
.
.
.
Oh well, back to the endless depths of ki training it is.
---
Weeks turned into months, and months into years.
Before I knew it, I was nearly three years old, leaving me with just one year before my scheduled kidnapping. double booked kidnapping.
Unfortunately, I'd reached that tragic age where both Gohan and I were forced to "study."
Thankfully, Chi-Chi wasn't a tyrant about it. Her curriculum was actually solid for solo homeschooling; it was organised, manageable, and not aggressively soul-crushing.
She noticed early on that I put little to no effort into my studies. And thanks to my strategic brilliance (and absolutely not laziness), I avoided being labelled an academic genius.
And you know what's the best part?
Chi-Chi shifted her focus almost entirely to Gohan. Probably because he was so eager to learn that she didn't feel the need to force me anymore.
Which worked out great, because during "homework time," we were sent to separate rooms. And since no one checked what we were doing, only that the worksheets were completed. I was basically free to do whatever I wanted.
As a former high school student, the material was laughably easy.
And since Chi-Chi hadn't started teaching history yet, thank god, that history is so different, and so much of a mess I have nightmares thinking about it. I was in the clear.
I always turned in my work after Gohan, just slow enough to sell the act, but fast enough to meet Chi-Chi's standards. Let her think I was the slacker twin.
That way, she'd leave me alone.
And in that glorious free time?
I trained.
Over the last two years, I'd made serious progress in Ki control.
I could sense energy from a distance now. I could form ki blasts in my palm, shape them, shrink them, and reabsorb them. I could swirl energy through my limbs and adjust its density, not perfectly, but well enough to be proud of.
Sure, my reserves were... modest.
But my Ki control was something I was proud of. After all, if I couldn't fight them. Then blasting them from a distance is what I'll do.
Still, I had no clue how to actually increase my ki reserves. I think something I was doing increased it, albeit slowly. But with no books. No teachers or No training montage cheat sheet. I was stuck.
But I'd figure it out. I had to.
I sighed and dropped my pencil, stretching my arms with a dramatic groan.
"This is so boring."
In under a minute, I scribbled down the rest of my answers, slapping the finished worksheet onto the desk.
"Aaand done."
But instead of diving into more ki control like usual, today I had something different planned. Something exciting.
I sprang up from my seat and ran to the door.
Chi-Chi was washing dishes when I appeared in the doorway. She blinked in surprise, glancing at Gohan's still-closed door before turning to me with a frown.
"What are you doing here, Gohei? I told you to study." I bounced over to her with my most innocent smile.
"I'm already finished, Mom! You can check if you want." She looked stunned. Normally, I was the last one done, always dragging my feet just a little. But not anymore.
Her frown melted into a beaming smile. "Oh, what a wonderful daughter I have!"
She leaned down and kissed the top of my head. I flinched slightly, but forced a smile. Still not used to that part of having parents.
"Go on outside and play! Your father's by the lake."
"Thanks!" I chirped and skipped out before she could change her mind.
Behind me, I heard her sigh contentedly. "Ah, what well-behaved and studious kids I have."
Suuuuuure. Let's go with that. and not the fact I'd rather do anything else.
.
.
.
The air outside was fresh and clean, a welcome relief from the stuffy atmosphere of the study room.
I jogged toward the lake. It didn't take long to spot the familiar clearing, the glistening water aaaaand Goku wasn't here. great...
He must've wandered off… or into the lake, considering his personality.
"Whatever, I can train in the meantime," I muttered, settling down on the soft, clean grass. Crossing my legs, I shifted until I found a comfortable position and closed my eyes, attempting to meditate.
I didn't know the exact techniques martial artists used when meditating, but I remembered the basics of ki. It was all about calming the mind, steadying your emotions, and creating a stillness within. Meditation wasn't about clearing your thoughts completely, but rather focusing them on one single purpose. In this case, sensing and circulating my ki.
That was about all I had to work with. But if I ever found myself in a fight, I at least understood a few core concepts. stay calm, make deliberate fast movements, don't waste energy… aaaand something else I was probably forgetting.
Hopefully, Goku would teach me what I was missing.
As I focused inward, I could feel my ki starting to stir unevenly at first, before gradually evening out. All I had to do now was circulate it. Slowly. Gently. Get used to how it felt as it moved through my body, like a second bloodstream humming beneath the surface...
I don't like that imagery. I quickly shook my head and continued to focus.
It actually felt kind of nice. The breeze brushed against my skin, cool and soft. It was way better than sitting indoors, suffocating under the weight of textbooks and dust.
Splish!
A cold splash hit my cheek. My eyes flew open, body jerking upright like a startled cat. I turned sharply, already half-ready to fight whoever dared to disturb me.
Only to see Goku mid-leap, rising from the lake with a grin and a massive fish slung over his shoulder.
He landed smoothly on the grass, dripping wet and beaming like this was just another Tuesday. "Gohei! I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you'd still be studying!" he was still the same joyful, optimistic goku alright.
"Yep i would be, but I finished early so i could see you dad!" Then I looked at the massive fish "Whoa... that's a big fish." And this wasn't a lie, i was indeed in awe at the massive fish, it was way bigger than me. Again, what was up with this planet's ecosystem?
"It is!" Goku said proudly, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Now we gotta take it to Chichi so she can cook us an amazing meal!" Of course he did. Food was involved. He'd probably take food over his life... actually, im pretty sure he almost did in a filler. Then again, the only filler I truly cared to remember was the driving test.
As I stared off, lost in thought and nostalgia, Goku was already walking off with a carefree whistle, the massive fish slung over his shoulder like it weighed nothing. That's when I remembered why I even came here in the first place.
"Dad! Wait!" I called out, jogging after him. He stopped and turned with his usual sunny smile. "I want you to train me!" I said, planting my feet firmly. "I want to be a fighter, just like you!" I tried to give as much as serious an expression as my child-like face could.
Goku blinked.
Then his expression shifted, his grin growing wider and wider by the second, until it nearly split his face in two. He looked like a kid who'd just been told he could eat cake for breakfast. Or... a hundred cakes in Goku's case.
But then he caught himself. The grin dimmed slightly, and he scratched the back of his head as if remembering something, restraining himself.
"Really?" he asked, more serious now. "You sure about that, Gohei? Training's not all fun, y'know. It gets real tough. You could get hurt. It's not just playing around."
"I know! But it won't happen, I won't get scared, no matter how tough, I want to learn! unless you don't want to..." my secret technique, being disappointed.
Then Goku's expression changed like a flip in the switch, "Of course, Gohei! I'd love to train you! But first, let's go home and eat!"
Was he hoping I'd say yes? That's probably likely, considering how much he wanted Gohan to be a fighter. Well doesn't matter. Everything is going great.
A/N i hope you enjoyed. Please comment if I made any mistakes of mischaracterisations.
if not, comment anyway. i love comments, as then I'll know People like my writing.
anyway, for those that like raditz. keep reading. As I've always thought he was thrown away to quickly.
see ya!