Chapter 6

Monkey Business

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Stay calm. Don't freak out. Relax. Breathe.

Gine couldn't keep this up much longer. The breathing exercises were helping, but her anxiety gnawed at her more and more with every passing minute. Shaking, nausea, heart pounding, dizziness—she had to be on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. When on earth would Gohan get back? At this rate, it was only a matter of time before—

A thunderous roar shook the hut. Dread washed over her—that could only mean one thing.

GOHAN!

Gine jumped to her feet and started pacing. She wrapped her arms around herself as her trembling intensified. Chills ran through her. Sweat dampened her skin. Her breathing grew ragged as she stopped even trying to control it.

No, no, no, this cannot be happening! Damn it, why? Shit, shit, shit, SHIT!

She was powerless. Gohan was going to die—just like Toma, Bardock, and Raditz. There was nothing she could do.

Well, except for one thing.

No, it was too great a risk. If she lost control, Gohan would have to deal with two transformed, rampaging Saiyans. He'd be killed for sure, and she'd have no one to blame but herself. The blood of her only friend on Earth would be on her hands.

But wouldn't it still be her fault if Kakarot killed him while she did nothing? Perhaps she should go out there. So long as she didn't go berserk, she could stop her son's rampage; she was stronger than him, after all. Could she live with herself if she didn't even try to save Gohan?

But could she live with herself if she wound up killing him in the attempt?

The room was spinning; Gine collapsed onto her hands and knees. Everything seemed foggy and unreal. She was losing it.

That couldn't happen. Not now.

Stop. Breathe.

In through the nose, out through the mouth.

In.

Out.

Slow, deep breaths.

The fog lifted.

Think.

If she stayed put, Gohan's only option would be to cut off Kakarot's tail—she'd told him beforehand that that would undo the transformation. If he couldn't, he was as good as dead. On the other hand, if she went outside, she'd have to keep her rage in check so she could safely rein in Kakarot. If she failed, Gohan was done for.

Which was more likely: Gohan cutting off Kakarot's tail, or her transforming without giving in to bloodlust?

Another monstrous howl rattled her eardrums.

That settled it.

Gods help me.

Gine had described the transformation to him ages ago. Right now, he was seeing it with his own eyes.

Believing it was still another story.

Kakarot had become a giant—even Mount Paozu's dinosaurs didn't reach this size. Thick brown fur covered his whole body, and he bore a long snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. His muscular build was like that of a gorilla, though his tail meant he'd be more accurately described as a giant monkey.

Said giant monkey was now trying to flatten his Grandpa.

Each impact from one of Kakarot's enormous fists or feet shook the ground like a miniature earthquake. It took all Gohan's concentration not to lose his footing as he dodged these attacks—one wrong step and he was a goner.

Need to get behind him—cut off his tail.

Gohan would've preferred not to wound Kakarot, but his options were few. Besides, according to Gine, the tail would eventually grow back. Plan decided—now to find an opening. As Gohan evaded Kakarot's earth-shaking blows, he swept his surroundings. What could he use to his advantage? Soon enough, he saw his answer through the trees: a large rock wall.

He had an idea. It'd be a bit flashier than what he'd normally go for, but as long as it worked …

Gohan bolted toward the rock wall, the ground thundering behind him as Kakarot gave chase. He cupped his hands together, drew them to his side, and began to channel his ki.

"Ka …"

He needed more height. Gohan leapt toward the nearest tree and kicked off it, launching himself upward. The sound of shattering wood promptly followed—he'd barely gotten clear before the tree was reduced to splinters. Upon landing on a high branch, he bounded onto another. Then another. He darted from tree to tree, and the ones he'd traversed through were smashed in quick succession.

"Me …"

The trees ended up ahead, roughly a couple dozen meters from the wall.

"Ha …"

He reached the last tree and, with all his strength, launched himself. He spun around midair—Kakarot's gigantic maw opened in a roar as he reared back a fist. Gohan's feet hit the wall, and he kicked off it, narrowly avoiding the punch. Shards of rock flew everywhere while he soared over Kakarot's head.

"Me …"

The tail. He had a clear shot.

Until it moved.

A hefty thwack sent Gohan hurtling toward the ground. He bounced off it several times, then slammed into a boulder; the air was knocked out of his lungs. He fell to his knees and clutched his chest, unable to breathe.

Oh, this is bad.

Gohan hadn't predicted Kakarot's tail being a means of attack. That oversight would cost him—right now he couldn't stand, let alone run. As air finally rushed back into his lungs, the ground shook with increasing intensity. Gohan's gaze turned toward the source: Kakarot stomping toward him, his blood-red eyes filled with wrath.

Well, at least I can say I've lived a full life.

Kakarot roared as he raised a fist, and Gohan closed his eyes.

"KAKAROT!"

A deafening wham. An ear-piercing shriek. Gohan's eyes shot open, and he was left dumbfounded: a second giant monkey was shoving Kakarot into the rock wall. The attacker screeched at him as they held him in place.

Gine?

Kakarot snarled at his mother. He launched a headbutt at her, and she howled in pain and stumbled backward, releasing him. With a bellow, he threw a punch. Gine blocked with her forearm just in time, and a loud boom echoed through the air. Kakarot hurled another punch, followed by another. And another. Gine held her ground while blocking her son's thunderous blows.

Though the two were identical in appearance, their manners of fighting were as night and day. Kakarot's ferocity was striking, but his attacks were clumsy. Gine, though? No noticeable aggression, every block precisely timed, adept footwork—she had perfect control of body and mind.

Seems her training is paying off.

Kakarot roared again as he raised both arms overhead, preparing to slam down onto Gine. This left him wide open. Gine thrust her palm into his shoulder. He staggered backward and toppled onto his side with a booming thud. Growling angrily, he began to lift himself back up, but Gine lunged and seized his tail. A pained wail pierced the air.

Kakarot became still, as if frozen in place. The fight was over.

Right in the weak spot. Well done, Gine.

This was the perfect opportunity to rip off Kakarot's tail. Gine, however, made no move to do so. Instead, she made several grunts at her son, who slowly turned toward her. Though still brimming with anger, his eyes now held something else. Curiosity? He leaned forward and sniffed.

The rage in his eyes disappeared. He made a sound completely different from his earlier angry roars. His teeth were bared, but Gohan knew it wasn't a show of aggression.

It was a smile.

Gine released his tail. Now free, Kakarot immediately wrapped his arms around his mother. As she returned the hug and started petting his head, he made a low rumbling noise. It almost sounded like purring.

Gohan laughed in disbelief. Of all the ways such an ordeal could've ended, he never would've expected this. Without question, it was one of the most bizarrely charming things he'd ever witnessed.

Gohan winced as he rose to his feet—he'd have a nasty bruise later, that was for sure. Regardless, he'd be alright. Slowly and cautiously, he walked over to the two giants. Gine's gaze turned toward him, and her expression shifted. Her beastly features were hard to read, but she didn't seem angry. If anything, she looked sheepish.

"I suppose you'll both be sleeping outside tonight?" Gohan asked. Gine spared a glance at Kakarot, then nodded. "In that case, I'll lay out some clothes nearby for you to wear tomorrow; I doubt you want to walk back inside naked." He waved as he turned to leave. "See you both in the morning."

Gine grunted again, which brought his focus back to her. She appeared to be struggling to say something. Eventually, the words came out: "TH-THANK … Y-YOU."

Gohan gave her a warm grin. "No, thank you." He walked away as mother and son held each other close. Still in mild disbelief, he shook his head and chuckled.

What a night.

It was midmorning, and Gohan was almost done making breakfast. The pork buns were in a steamer on the stove, and three bowls of rice porridge were on the table, along with a couple hot cups of tea for him and Gine. Hopefully, she and Kakarot would return before it all got cold.

As he lifted the lid off the steamer, a creaking noise came from behind. He turned around to see Gine's head poking through the front door, a shy look on her face. "Um … hey."

"Good morning, Gine," Gohan said cheerfully. "Your timing is perfect; I was just finishing up breakfast."

"Yeah, I could smell it from out in the woods." She gave a cautious smile. "Pork buns?"

"You guessed correctly. I also made rice porridge, and your tea is sweetened with honey just the way you like it."

Gine opened the door fully. Kakarot was in her arms, and they were both wearing the clothes he'd laid out the night before. "So … you're not at all upset about last night?"

"Should I be?"

"You nearly died."

"Yet here I am, still alive. For that, I have you to thank."

"But my son's the reason you were in danger in the first place. Plus, I didn't listen to you when you told me to stay inside."

"What happened with Kakarot last night wasn't your fault. If anything, I'm to blame for not putting locks on the doors. And yes, you went out there when I told you not to, but doing so saved my life. You went with your instincts, and they paid off." Gohan shot her a grin. "Now stop fretting and enjoy some breakfast. It'd be a shame if it got cold after all the effort I spent making it."

Gine's lips curled up ever so slightly. "Okay, if you insist."

As she came to the table, Gohan moved the steamer from the stove to the counter. He grabbed tongs and started placing the buns on a large plate. "How are you feeling?"

Gine set Kakarot in his chair before straightening her spine. "Well, sleeping on the ground wasn't exactly kind to my back, so there's that." She reached up to massage her temples. "Also, my head's killing me. Going all giant monkey always gave me the worst headaches."

Gohan brought the plate of pork buns to the table. "Well, let's hope that doesn't ruin your appetite."

"Heh. Fat chance." She sat down and grabbed a pair of buns, giving one to Kakarot. As the three of them began to eat, Gine's eyes became downcast. "Y'know … when I was transforming, there was a moment when I thought … it felt like I was about to lose control. Once I looked at the moon, my mind went almost totally blank. I mean, that did stop the panic attack I was having beforehand, which was good, but then I was left with all this … rage. I nearly lost myself in it."

"You didn't, though—you kept control and reined Kakarot in. At the end of the day, that's all that matters." Gohan ate a spoonful of porridge.

"I know, but being that close to the edge was scary. I just keep thinking that if I wasn't able to—"

"There's no point worrying about what might have happened."

She finished her pork bun and drummed her fingers against the table. "Sorry, it's just … I feel awful about all this. You were in a lot of danger last night, and you wouldn't have been if me and Kakarot didn't live here."

Gohan swallowed another spoonful of porridge. "Gine, I've known about this transformation of yours ever since you moved in. It's not like I didn't know the risk."

"But it's not fair that you have to take that risk. You shouldn't have to be in harm's way every time there's a full moon in the sky—not for me. Maybe … maybe it'd be better if …" She groaned and leaned her face against her palm.

"Are you considering moving out?"

"I've given it some thought. I could find some spot on the other side of the mountain and build a little house like this one. It'd just be me and Kakarot, living off the land. I can hunt, and I know what plants are good to eat around here, so it wouldn't be too hard."

"Is that what you really want?"

Gine sighed. "Please understand, Gohan: it's not that I don't like living here. I do; I love it. You're a fantastic friend. You've shown me way more kindness than I deserve, and I'll always be grateful for that. I just … damn it, I can't let myself be a burden on you. I just can't."

Something was telling in her tone of voice: she'd had this weighing on her mind long before last night. "This is about more than just the transformation, isn't it?"

A pained look crossed her face before her eyes darted away. Just as he thought: she felt guilty over all the effort he'd gone to for her and Kakarot. Gohan regretted none of it, of course. After what they'd been through, a stable home was something they desperately needed. How could he have called himself moral if he'd cast them away? It seemed, though, that Gine didn't think she was giving him enough in return.

That couldn't have been further from the truth.

"Gine," Gohan said, "you're far from a burden. In fact, I can honestly say my life would be lesser without you and Kakarot in it."

Gine met his eyes with a look of timid hope. "Y-you mean that?" she asked.

"Let me tell you something: when you first arrived on Earth, I'd been living alone in this hut for a long time. Mind you, I didn't choose that because I disliked people or anything of that sort; I simply preferred the seclusion of the wilderness to anything else. A simple, quiet way to spend my twilight years. But, truth be told, all that time alone made me forget how much joy there was in being around others. Sure, I'd see and talk to people whenever I went to town for supplies, but those moments were fleeting. Before we met, it'd been ages since I was in the company of someone I could truly call a friend."

Gohan grinned. "Then you and Kakarot showed up and reminded an old fool what he was missing. For that, I thank you. Not that I wouldn't have helped you regardless, but I've come to place great value on our friendship. Living with you has been a pleasure, Gine."

For several seconds, Gine was still, her eyes wide with surprise. Then a small smile crept onto her face.

That's better.

"Now," Gohan said, "if living on your own is something you're set on, I won't stop you from leaving. In fact, I'm willing to help you find a nice area for a house elsewhere around Mount Paozu. However, I want you to know that, should you want it, you'll always have a place here."

"But what about the whole 'giant monkey' thing?" Gine asked. "That'll still be a problem if I stay."

"Then we'll find ways to work around it. I'll make sure to get door locks so Kakarot doesn't sneak out again, and you can keep him under control should history repeat itself. You should be able to transform now without going on a rampage, right?"

Gine cupped her chin and pondered for a moment. "Yeah, I should. Last night was a close call, but I didn't have any real problems once I managed to focus. I think I can handle it."

"In that case, it seems we have little to worry about." He gave her a wink as he grabbed a pork bun, and her smile widened.

"Maybe I'll stick around, then." She ate a spoonful of porridge, then chuckled. "You're too good for this universe, y'know that?"

"I wouldn't go that far, but I appreciate the sentiment." He took a bite from his bun.

"Anyway, let's hope I don't have to transform again for a while." She shuddered. "I hate being a giant monkey. Everything about it just feels wrong."

"How does your transformation work, again? I recall you mentioning something about waves."

"Right. When sunlight reflects off a celestial body—like, say, a moon—it causes these things called Bruits waves as a side effect. Some kind of ultraviolet radiation, I think. If a high enough concentration of them hits our eyes, it triggers a gland in the tail to secrete a chemical, a reaction gets going, and … well, you saw what happened."

"And there are only enough of these waves to make you transform when there's a full moon out?"

"That's the threshold, yeah. It's only then that the concentration of Bruits waves in moonlight reaches seventeen-million zenos per second. Our eyes absorb anything less than that, and the transformation won't kick in."

Gohan's brow furrowed as he took another bite of his bun. If only there was a way to keep those waves out of Gine's and Kakarot's eyes. That would make things much safer during full moons.

Suddenly, insight struck. Gohan stopped chewing. A smile came to his lips.

Yes … that might actually work.

"Okay," Gine said, "I know that look. You just thought of something, didn't you?"

"I don't want to get your hopes up too much," Gohan said, "but there might be a way for you and Kakarot to safely be outside during a full moon."

Her expression was one of bewilderment. "You're joking. How?"

"You'll find out. However, it'll have to wait until I get back from my trip."

"Oh yeah, you were going to go visit your old martial arts master, right?"

"That'd be correct. It's been far too long since I've seen Roshi; I look forward to catching up. Hopefully, you won't be too bored without me here for a few weeks."

"Well, Kakarot'll still need attention, so I doubt I'll have time to be bored. I'll try to make sure the hut's still in one piece when you get back."

"I'll hold you to that."

There was a loud burp. Gine and Gohan turned to Kakarot, who held his tummy with an air of contentment. The adults' gazes shifted toward the table: not only was the boy's porridge bowl empty, but the plate that had been stacked high with pork buns now held only crumbs.

"I think he just ate most of our breakfast," Gohan said.

Gine laughed. "Oh, Kakarot," she said. "What am I gonna do with you?"

Three weeks later …

A tap on her shoulder stirred Gine awake. She breathed in sharply and cracked her eyes open, squinting at the sudden brightness. Her head was nestled in the crook of her arm, which served as her pillow against the table. As she sat upright, she winced and held her neck—it was uncomfortably stiff. A cup sat in front of her. Gine picked it up and peered inside. Empty.

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have tried to stay up so late.

"Bit of an awkward place to doze off, don't you think?"

Gine looked to the side. Upon seeing the source of the voice, she beamed.

"Gohan!" she exclaimed. "You're back!" She wrapped him in a hug.

"Good to see you too," Gohan said. "May I ask why you opted to fall asleep here when we have two beds in this house?"

She let go of him and rubbed her neck, slightly embarrassed. "Ah, I was just out here in case you came home late. I wanted to give you a warm welcome when you walked in, but, uh … I guess I nodded off."

Gine had done this for the past few nights. Unsure what time Gohan would arrive home, she'd drink tea to stay up awhile after putting Kakarot to bed. She figured the old-timer deserved better than being greeted by sleeping housemates. So much for that, though.

"I appreciate the thought," Gohan said, "but you should probably avoid forcing yourself to stay up next time. Sleeping in that position can't be very comfortable; I wouldn't want you to end up like that again."

"Yeah, you're right," Gine said. "I just … well, missed you, is all."

An understatement—Gohan's absence had gnawed at her much more than she'd expected. While he'd made supply runs to town before, they only ever took a few days. Three weeks was the longest he'd ever been gone. Gine had still had Kakarot for company, of course, but it nevertheless felt like something important in her life was misplaced. The way Gohan would greet her in the morning, how he encouraged her during martial arts practice, their friendly dinner conversations—she missed it all terribly.

To think that, a few weeks ago, she'd considered leaving for Gohan's sake. Now she genuinely couldn't imagine her life without him.

"Aw, I'm touched," Gohan said. "For what it's worth, I'm glad to be back in your company as well."

"So, you enjoy your trip?"

"Very much so." Gohan removed his large backpack and set it against the wall. "It was a pleasure to see Roshi again. It'd been so long since we last spoke that there was plenty for us to catch up on."

Gine felt a slight twinge of nervousness. "Hey, speaking of that, did you … uh, mention me and Kakarot at all?" It was daunting to consider being discovered by more Earthlings—they couldn't all be as understanding as Gohan toward aliens.

"I told him about you, yes. Don't worry, I assure you he knows how to be discreet." Gine breathed a sigh of relief. "On a related note"—he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small box—"I persuaded him to let you have these."

Her curiosity was piqued. What could Gohan's master have given her? She took the box and opened it; inside were several objects made of red plastic and dark glass. "And these are …?"

"Sunglasses. They're meant to protect your eyes from the sun's rays. Roshi owns a number of pairs and was willing to part with a few."

Gine took a pair from the box and peered through the lenses. "Oh, so they make everything look darker."

"Not just that; they also stop ultraviolet rays from getting in your eyes. Prevents damage to your eyesight."

"Hmm … sounds nifty, but I've never really needed eye protection. Not sure what use I'd—"

Realization struck like a lightning bolt. She whipped her head toward Gohan, who wore a knowing grin.

"You think these'll block Bruits waves?" Gine asked.

"Well," Gohan said, "there's only one way to find out."

One week later …

Gine couldn't sit still. She wrung her hands together while she sat on the bed, one leg bouncing up and down. Her breathing exercises eased her nerves somewhat, but she wouldn't have described herself as "relaxed." In the end, all those mental preparations hadn't amounted to much.

Hold it together. This'll work.

As much as the idea unnerved her, looking at the full moon with those sunglasses on was the only way to test Gohan's theory. If he was right, she wouldn't transform, and their lives would become much easier. If he was wrong, she'd spend the night as a giant monkey. Again. Not a prospect she looked forward to.

That she was wearing her Saiyan armor only made her more uncomfortable. She'd hoped to never wear it again—it brought back too many bad memories. The material, however, was designed to expand alongside a Saiyan when they transformed. If this test failed, Gine didn't want more of her clothes shredded like her nightgown from last time, and she definitely didn't want to strip naked. So, just this once, she'd bear having her armor back on. Hopefully afterward, she could put it away for good.

There was a knock on the bedroom door. Gine took a deep breath and stood.

Moment of truth.

She went to the door and opened it, revealing Gohan with sunglasses in hand. "Ready?" he asked.

"No," she said, "but let's get this over with." Gine took the glasses and slid them on—the tinted lenses made everything appear darker. She shot Gohan a half-smile. "How do I look?"

"I don't think you want to ask an old man for fashion advice." Gine snickered. Humor was good—it helped ease the tension. "For what it's worth, though, I think they suit you."

"Well, time to see if they work."

Her heart sped up as she approached the door. Hand shaking, she grabbed and twisted the knob. Deep breath. She closed her eyes, opened the door, and stepped outside. A cool breeze blew on her face.

Please let this work.

Her eyes opened. Despite the sunglasses' dark lenses, the surrounding woods were clearly visible, illuminated from above. A knot formed in her stomach. She looked up.

There was the full moon.

Gine held herself as shivers coursed through her. She took slow, deep breaths. While she wanted to look away, her gaze stayed fixed on the moon—it was the only way to know for sure.

Time passed. How much, Gine couldn't tell—she was focused solely on keeping calm in case the transformation triggered. Slowly, though, her sense of dread dissipated. Nothing was happening. Her muscles weren't frozen, and her heart wasn't beating that hard. She stopped trembling. Her mental defenses lowered. Her attention to her surroundings faded. She simply took in the sight of the moon.

A strong emotion took hold. It wasn't anger.

"Is everything alright?" Gohan asked. "Do you feel any different?"

"I'm fine," Gine said. "I … I've never been able to look at a full moon like this before—not without transforming. They always used to make me so afraid, but … looking at this one now …"

"Yes?"

"It's … beautiful."

Gohan walked up and stood next to her. "Quite the splendor, isn't it?"

This was … wonderful. She'd never been able to appreciate such natural beauty, but now she could without worrying about her transformation. This wasn't just a convenience—this was a gift.

She needed to share it.

Gine twirled around and rushed through the front door. She raced into her bedroom toward Kakarot's crib; he was sound asleep. She gently poked him, causing him to stir.

"Kakarot," she whispered excitedly. "Sweetie, wake up; I wanna show you something." His eyes opened, and he smiled and cooed at her. Gine lifted him from the crib, then went back to the main room.

Gohan walked up and held out another pair of sunglasses. "Already ahead of you," he said.

"Thanks."

She took the glasses and put them on Kakarot—on his small face, they looked comically oversized. Gine didn't even try to suppress her giggles, which caused Kakarot to laugh in return.

Oh, how quickly had her worry turned to euphoria.

"C'mon, sweetie," she said. "You've gotta see this." She walked outside with Kakarot in her arms. Immediately, his head tilted toward the sky. "It's okay for us to look at the full moon now; we don't have to turn into big monkeys. Isn't it pretty?" His grin broadened. She couldn't see his eyes, but they had to be filled with wonder.

"For the record," Gohan said as he walked up beside her, "I'm glad I was able to be a part of this."

"Thank you. Just … thank you for everything."

He rested a hand on her arm. "Anytime."

They stayed outside awhile longer, taking in the full moon in all its glory. There was no dread—no worry that someone might get hurt.

Only a sense of peace.

Author's Note (October 6, 2019): Please let me know if there are any issues with the way I wrote Gine having a panic attack; I don't have experience dealing with that sort of thing. The closest I have to firsthand knowledge is knowing someone in my personal life that deals with anxiety (and sometimes panic attacks), and I've tried to supplement that with research. If anyone reading this has firsthand experience with this, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I'm aware that it's never been specified where Bruits/Blutz waves fall on the electromagnetic spectrum. I made the assumption that they're UV waves in order for MasakoX's sunglasses idea to work, as those are the kinds of waves sunglasses are typically made to block. Is it an assumption made out of convenience? Yes, but in that case, you could just say I'm "pulling a Toriyama."



Overdue thanks are in order for TheIronGoddess for her feedback on Chapter 4, which led me to make a slight alteration to the part of Gine and Gohan's conversation where they discuss fighting stances. I'd also like to thank revan86 for reading an earlier draft of this chapter and providing feedback. You might be bummed that there was a particular scene in said draft I made the hard decision to cut, but hopefully the introspection it provided can be put in the next chapter where I think it might fit a little better.

Please review.