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They all started to walk towards the direction of a different restaurant they would dine at. Gine walked with Kakarot beside her and Tien not too far beside Kakarot. It then became apparent to Gine that after Tien had apologized for everything he had done, she felt like she ought to say something too. She wasn't sure by the way Tien looked at her that he thought the same thing, so she started to feel a little uncomfortable as they walked in almost complete silence.
When they arrived at the restaurant a few minutes later, Kakarot stopped as he suddenly remembered something. "Wait! I forgot my Power Pole! I left it at the stadium, I'll be right back."
Kakarot turned to go but Krillin stopped him. "Don't worry Kakarot, I'll get it." He offered.
Her son was still not convinced. "No, it's something I should look after."
"No, no. I'll get it Kakarot. It's no big deal. You fought so hard today, and you deserve to rest, have fun, and a wonderful feast!" Krillin insisted. "I didn't do anything today, so I'll get it for you, okay? I already know where it is."
Kakarot thought for a long moment, still wishing to go. But relented in the end.
"Oh alright, we'll wait until you get back, okay?!" Kakarot said.
"Sounds good! I'll be back soon!" Krillin said, smiling. He then ran off back to where they came. For some reason Gine found peculiar, Kakarot starred after him for a long while until he disappeared from view.
Gine had just got settled into her seat and they all agreed to wait for Krillin to show up to eat, as she was painfully taught by Gohan to be good manners among humans. She figured it was dumb etiquette, but could see how it could make sense to a Saiyan if one ate all the food before his or her comrade came in. Would be a very rude thing to do indeed.
Tien sat next to her at the edge of the table while Kakarot sat on her other side, looking off into the distance.
Gine fidgeted with the silverware as she glanced up at Tien every now and then, unsure how she would-
"Er, Mrs.?" Tien said to her.
Gine looked at Tien somewhat affrightedly that he addressed her.
Tien looked away briefly, as if unsure what to say. Then said, "I would like to apologize to you about all the grief I and my former master caused you over your son."
Gine was taken aback by this, thinking she should apologize to him first. But, she smiled at him though.
"It's alright." She said softly, then figured she might as well too. "If anything, I should apologize to you about cracking your rib."
Tien looked at her with gentleness and understanding. "That's alright too. If anything I deserve it for serving such a horrible person as him..." He said, almost angrily.
Gine shook her head. "No, no, no. Don't beat yourself up over it." She said, then realized it sounded like something Gohan would say to her whenever she talked of her previous life. Come to think of it, she still beat herself up over it today. And wasn't sure if she should be saying the same to Tien.
She dropped that train of thought before it spiraled into a rabbit hole, and smiled a friendly smile. "The past is the past now." Also something Gohan would say, but went with it.
Tien took in her words and smiled too. "You're right. The past is the past." Then extended his hand to her. "Thank you, er… I'm sorry, but, what is your name?"
"Gine." She said as she shook Tien's hand.
"Nice to meet you, Gine." Tien said, formal introducing himself.
"Nice to meet you too, Tien." She replied.
"Kakarot is your son, yes?" He asked.
"Indeed he is." Gine answered.
Tien chuckled, "Then I guess I see how he gets his strength. You truly are his martial arts partner?"
"Well, sort of." Gine answered, "Roshi is his formal teacher, he just learned it from me and Gohan here." She pointed toward him.
Gohan bowed towards Tien, he returned the gesture.
"I've heard of you, Master Son Gohan." Tien said.
"Oh you have?" He replied.
Tien affirmed and proceeded to tell how he heard of Gohan's exploits as a martial artist when he was younger, then turning to martial arts in general as they waited for Krillin to return.
Gine liked the chitchat, but didn't want to talk too much about how strong she was when they fought or her and Kakarot's Saiyan heritage. So she and Gohan answered as best they could without opening more questions from Tien.
A half hour had passed and Krillin still didn't return yet. They all started to wonder aloud what was taking him so long. He may have gotten lost or sidetracked, but either way, Tien said they could eat if they want and will save a dish for Krillin when he returned.
Kakarot looked disturbed, sitting by Gine and not even touching all the food that was brought out to him.
Now something was really wrong. Kakarot NEVER turned down food even when he wasn't hungry.
"Kakarot?" She asked gingerly as she put her hand on his shoulder.
He suddenly bolted up, "KRILLIN!" He screamed. Then he leapt off his chair and dashed for the door.
"Kakarot?!" Gine shouted after him. Now she was beyond worried.
She got up and chased after him. Everyone was shocked by this upset and unsure what to make of her son's sudden behavior, but they all got up as well and followed behind her.
Gine made it out onto the street, trying to catch up with Kakarot but he was far ahead of her with a head start.
Suddenly Gine heard a cry in the distance. One she had become far too familiar from her planet purging days. The cry of someone being murdered.
Gine's heart pounded, a dread sinking in when she suspected who that cry belonged too. And prayed as she ran that it wasn't true.
She rounded a corner towards the tournament grounds and then stopped.
Gine gasped and held her hands to her mou
th in shock and horror.
Kakarot knelt beside Krillin who was lying dead on the floor.
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Want to read more?
The next 10+ chapters are already available on my Patreon!
By joining, you'll get:
📖 Early access to future chapters
🗳️ Polls to shape the story
🎁 Exclusive content for Patrons
🔥 Bonus scenes & content you won't find anywhere else
👀 Don't fall behind—others are already ahead!
👉 patreon.com/FanfictionTakashi
(If link doesn't show, just search on Google: FanfictionTakashi Patreon)