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Gohan’s first funeral was during the kept years before the androids but after Namek.
The three years between that time span living with dad and mom, keeping themselves as a small happy family is and will be one of the cherished memories she will ever hold. Even Chichi, infected by Goku’s radiant positive energy slowly warmed up to Piccolo, who sneakily showed up and took a spot deep in root among the forestry. Her days were filled with comfortably studying in her room, cooking with mom in the kitchen, helping dad around the house, and training with Piccolo and dad. Even with dread slowly starting to set in from thinking about the soon-to-come androids, a part of her dark mind telling that these times will soon be gone, being with dad, who looked at her like she was the most precious thing in his world was enough. The occasional head pats and compliments from Mister Piccolo looking at her proud ,soon becoming bashful when he noticed dad was near.
But happy memories weren’t the only things that littered around that time span. As much as she is a saiyan like her dad (or Mister Vegeta back at capsule corps…), Gohan is still part human. Her mom is still a princess in the Ox Kingdom, even with forgoing her right to ascend to the throne. She is still part of the Ox royal family, and there for her dad and Gohan. (And soon Goten too.)
The Ox royal family is big, mostly because of all of grandpa Ox’s cousins and their children. Mom was an only child, and her absence left a huge hole in the hierarchy, or so what her mom mentioned off hand.
This is not the first time she saw them altogether. It's not the first time. Way back before Gohan ever knew her dad was an alien from space faraway. Back when Piccolo was still bad, according to dad. Mom and dad brought her to the Ox castle for a family reunion, meeting the many elders and cousins.
And now she is back in the castle wearing white and holding a white bouquet of white chrysanthemums. Her dad holds her hand tightly as mom cries over a red coffin.
Her great-grand aunt, grandpa Ox’s elderly aunt. Gohan has barely met the Huoshan elder, but she knows from the elder’s lingering scent, her favorite perfume when she was alive- sweet like plums but spicy hints of cinnamon at the end. This is the same elder who backed up mom’s marriage with dad after the 23rd world martial arts tournament. The same elder who regularly sent gifts and care packages, where Gohan was gifted the embroidery set to learn if she ever wanted to be a proper lady and join the royal court. The same elder who officiated the marriage between grandpa ox and grandma, and later helped raise her mom after grandma’s passing.
The funeral was a regal affair. The large ballroom turned into mourners and families wishing their beloved elder safe passage into the afterlife. A bright red room filled with golden decoration, a large jade dragon statue at the ceiling looming over them, and familiar important people all in white just like them. All gathered here to mourn together.
(Yet, Gohan can still feel the disapproving eyes of her relatives. Waiting to jump and rip. Status and titles seem to hold power here. Sharp horns and teeth waiting for a chance to maul her dad, seen as the biggest weakness for the once crown princess.)
Leaving the funeral late in the evening when the sky had just started bleeding red, Goku carried Chichi who had passed out from crying and socializing with her extended family. Father and daughter walked together on the old path near Mount Paozu in silence.
“Gohan,” Her dad broke the silence with a soft voice. “I’m lucky that your mother married me. If it wasn’t her, I wouldn’t know what I would be doing now.” A small light snort echoed from him. Her dad is trying to keep it light, joking, but his words have depth that Gohan isn’t quite sure to know.
“Training?” Gohan can only ask curiously.
“Probably. But Mount Paozu would be much lonelier than now.” He says with a sad smile. It is much later when she learns from Bulma off-hand, her dad had lived alone in the mountain after grandpa Gohan passed because of- Oh him.
“Don’t tell mom. But I love her so much.” Goku smiles sheepishly.
“I think she feels the same very much, dad.” Gohan giggles back.
Gohan sneakily watches as Goku tucks Chichi in their room. Watching as Goku caresses Chichi’s hair before kissing it. He gets up, turns the lights off, and closes the door, smiling as he caught Gohan trying to sneak back to her own room.
“Gohan! What are you doing up this late?”
“I- uhh- water?”
“Oh. Okay then. Let’s get water.”
Her dad picks her up with ease, still small and shorter than the other kids at great-grand aunt’s funeral. Goku carefully folds the baggy frills of her night dress before taking her to the kitchen.
“Dad.”
“Yeah, Gohan?”
“When will I get as tall as you?” She asks him, voice small. Her dad thinks as he taps his chin.
“Far in the future. Why? Do you not like your dad picking you up like this?” He teases.
“N-no! It’s just, well, the other kids seen earlier today were similar to my age but taller…”
“Awe, Gohan. But your mom and I like how small you are. You’d have a better chance sneaking into our room early in the morning if you’re smaller.” And he then gives her head a small pat before handing her a glass of water.
And two cookies and a glass of milk. His own snack as well. They eat quietly, then after he ushers her to brush her teeth before bed.
…
Gohan curls up against her mom early in the morning.
Old habits live long. Before the androids, before Namek, and before the Saiyans, stretching far back as she can remember. Even when Gohan was sleeping in the wilderness for a full year, training with Piccolo, she still craved her parent’s warm fluffy bed. Sometimes when home sickness was clawing at her mind desperately, she would find herself slipping next into aunt Bulma’s bed. The blue scientist would laugh and mention she really is her dad’s child before snuggling next to her. (Gohan wants to see mom. She wants her dad.)
Slipping out of her parent’s bed, she checks the time, opens the curtains, then gently wakes her sleeping mom.
After today, she has officially attended two funerals in total. (Does a wake count as a funeral? A wake with no-body to gather around?)
In contrast to her last funeral, her mom had prepared dark clothes for them. Wear white to represent death, now wear black to show respect to loved ones. The subtle symbolisms in everyday life fascinates her, colours that represent certain meanings or emotions, but now is not the time to ask.
“Mom, c’mon. It’s already 7 am.” Gohan shakes her mom up more. The wake is at noon.