“Daddy! Daddy, lookie what I can do!” Higashi, god of the East, looked up just in time to see his 4-year-old son jump from a tree limb not very high above him. “Whee!” Kid Kai yelled as he plummeted to the ground below. Laughing, Higashi caught his son and tossed him gently in the air a few times. “My, my Kid! You’re getting bigger every day that passes!” He put the boy back down on the ground. Kid Kai was only four, but he had always been an exact copy of his father’s likeness; purple skin, white hair, the black eyes. Only the ears and nose did not belong to Higashi. Even at such a young age, Kid was already at half Higashi’s size, but that wasn’t saying much considering the god’s height. “Yep yep!” Kid agreed. “And tomorrow, I be...I be...” Kid looked down at his fingers as he tried to remember his age. Higashi smiled warmly. “5, Kid Kai, you’ll be 5 years old.” Kid looked back up. “Oh, yeah! I knew that. Dad, can you give me a ride?” “Aren’t you getting a bit big for piggy-back rides?” “No.” Higashi sighed. Like it or not, Kid Kai was spoiled rotten. “Alright, climb on.” Kid cheered with joy and hopped on his father’s back. “Ready, Kid?” “Ready!”
Higashi flew back over to the Eastern palace. From the air, he could see Kibito and Gato in the gardens arranging flowers. “What do you say we go see Uncle Kibby and Aunt Gato, neh?” “Hai!” Kid said. The eastern god landed on the ground just behind the two servants. Gato was the first to notice them. “Oh, master Higashi, master Kid, you’re back.” Kibito turned around, hands covered in bandages. “Whatcha do to your hands, Kibby?” Kid asked innocently, though even he knew Kibito didn’t like to be called that. Gato giggled and pointed a thumb at the nearby vase of roses. “Kibito found out that roses have thorns.” Kibito frowned. “You said that you couldn’t stand thorns, so I did the roses for you.” Higashi and Kid watched in silence as the two servants began to bicker. Kid became bored and walked off to find something more entertaining. Higashi sighed and put a hand up, signaling for silence. “Oh, stop you two. I think we really need to be concentrating on Kid Kai’s 5th birthday tomorrow!” Gato looked down at Higashi in surprise. “His 5th birthday already?” She shook her head and whistled. “My, that squirt grows up fast.” Higashi nodded. “A bit too fast for me.” The trio stood quietly, listening to birds sing far off in the distance. Kibito finally broke the spell with, “Are you going to tell him this year? About his mother?” Higashi’s head snapped around and stared at the tall man for the longest time. Kibito wondered if he had offended him. The god finally turned his whole body around. “I’m not sure. Maybe next year...” “But that is what you have said for 3 whole years, Master!” Gato said. She said this every year, only changing the number of years. “Sooner or later, Kid is going to find out and be mad at you for not telling him before.” “I know. I’m just afraid that he’ll miss her as much as I do...”
Higashi left the palace in search of himself. He stopped atop of the tallest hill known on Kaioshin-Kai. He sat down and plucked a blade of grass. It was here he had made love with Nishi, married her, and watched her perish. Not just her, but the other Kaioshins as well, the only family he had known. He was alone, utterly and completely alone. The wind blew softly, rustling his white hair slightly. Higashi took a deep breath, almost smelling Nishi’s perfume once again. “Mind if I join you, Master?” Higashi looked up to see Gato. “I do not mind, not at all. Sit down.” The changeling sat with the god in silence, watching the many moons of Kaioshin-kai rise one by one. Higashi said quietly, “Gato, may ask you a question? About Kid?” “Shoot.” “Does Kid remember his mother? Does he ever talk about her?” Gato took her time answering. “I don’t believe so, Master. But...” “But what?” Gato looked at him with a look of pity. “Once, when you and Kibito were dealing with a problem on another planet, he had a nightmare. About...you know.” Higashi was stunned. “Buu?” “Yes. He came in my room crying, so I comforted him with singing. At one point, I sang that song his mother sang to him. What was it again?” Higashi had not forgotten the way his wife would softly sing to Kid when he was upset or hungry. “Beautiful Dreamer.” “That’s the one. Well, when I finished, Kid was looking at me. I asked him what the matter was. He said, ‘That’s the song I heard in my dream.’ Then he fell asleep in my arms.” The deity could only stare. Kid did, if not fully, remember his mother.
The next day, Kid walked through the palace, looking for something to do. He munched at a cookie Gato had snuck from the cookie jar for him. Even at five, he had done all there was to do on the planet, except leave it and come back. The young Kai sighed when he reached the steps to the upper floors. No one had really thought someone his size would ever be here, obviously. Grunting with effort, Kid began to crawl up the steps. “These lots easier going down!” He remarked once he got to the top and looked down. He walked down the hall towards his room. Suddenly, he noticed a second flight of stairs he had seen in the past, but he was forbidden to go up them. “They just stairs.” Kid said to himself. “I’m not hurtin’ anybody.” He climbed these stairs much easier, for the steps were much smaller. However, he soon found out that the staircase was much longer than the main one, winding round and round. “I...must...be...space...by now.” Kid panted. Just then, he saw a huge wooden door, twice as high as Kibito and four times as wide, so you can imagine how little Kid felt at that moment. It had no keyhole or doorknob, but there were two huge silver doorknockers tied together with chains “Wow...” Kid gasped in excitement. He noticed through the cracks and hinges a great light shining through, as bright as a sun. Using all of his strength, Kid pushed his body up against the door, cracking it open slightly. At first, the light blinded the boy, but when his eyes adjusted, he was astounded. There was a great tree, the biggest Kid had ever seen, shining with light. It was even bigger than the door. Leading to it was a small bridge with no rails. Kid looked down and saw that there was no floor holding the bridge or the enourmous tree; just thin air. “Mitsurooo...” Kid Kai looked up. A woman’s voice had said a word, though he was the only living being in the room save the tree. The word...it sounded familiar. “Hello?” He yelled, listening to his voice bounce off the walls causing an echo. “Mitsurooo...” Again, the voice of a woman. It sounded like it came from the tree. Kid picked himself up off the ground. Maybe the tree was talking? Only one way to know. He began to run towards the humongous tree, paying no heed to the water dripping from the tree’s limbs onto the bridge. Suddenly, just as he was getting close, Kid lost his footing and fell off the bridge. He screamed in fear as he fell into the never-ending darkness.
“Gato! Stay out of that cake! You’ll get some in just a moment!” The cake was a three layer with a vanilla filling inside and out, Kid’s favorite. It also happened to be Gato’s favorite. Gato licked the rest of the vanilla cream on the end of her tail, all the while scowling at Kibito. “Is it my fault I have a tail as long as you? It got caught in the cake, that’s all! It has a mind of its own, I’d swear it.” Higashi shook his head and finished wrapping his present to Kid. Gato was giving the child a pair of Potara, Kibito a session of healing lessons. Higashi had refused to tell them what his gift was to his son. “It’s more fun as a surprise.” He had said to the dumbfounded servants. They had been working for almost an hour on Kid’s birthday bash. Higashi was almost upset Kid had to stay on the planet, for the boy had no friends other than him, his bodyguards, and the animals also residing on the planet. Higashi had put up with the two bickering since they had put up the banner. Kibito said it was too high, Gato too low. They made Kid look quiet when they got at it. “Kibito, why don’t you get Kid Kai, and Gato and I will finish up here.” Kibito nodded, sent one final glare to a certain changeling, and then flew back to the palace to retrieve the child. It was a few hours later. Higashi had finally convinced Gato to stay out of the food, all the banners were up, and presents were wrapped. All that was needed was the birthday boy. Gato looked up at the sky. “Well, well, there’s Kibby Sourpuss now..but where’s Master Kid?” Higashi turned around just as Kibito landed on the ground, his face of mask of confusion and sadness. As Gato had said, no Kid. “Kibito, where is Kid Kai?” Kibito looked down at his master. “I...” Higashi’s voice became hard. “Kibito, where is my son?” “I could not find him sir. He is no where on the planet.”
Silence was the only sound surrounding the bottom of the crater that Kid had fallen into. It was not bottomless, as Kid had thought, though it was astonishingly deep. The bottom was a pool, black as night. A single cherry blossom tree stood on a small island of sand. But now it was not alone. Kid had landed on the small spot of land, killed on impact. Purple blood flowed freely from his tiny broken body. A single drop of his pure blood dripped into the water. “Mitsuro...” Suddenly, everything around the small corpse began to glow with an eerie light. All the light came together in a small sphere. The ball of ki circled the young boy’s body, and then absorbed itself into the child. A tidal wave of water shot straight up, covering the island, yet not touching it all. Not a single drop touched the ground. When the waters had resided, Kid’s body had disappeared. Instead, in his place stood a young man about Higashi’s height. He looked very much like Kid, but older and longer hair. From his shoulders, pure white wings unfolded. His clothes were very much like a Kaioshin’s, but slightly different. In his hand, he clutched a staff as long as he with a ring on top, four smaller rings attached. The boy slowly opened his eyes, black eyes full of pain and sorrow. On the water, a smaller reflection looked around in confusion; Kid Kai. Mitsuro, the Keeper of Time, had been reborn.
“Kid Kai! Kid Kai, where are you?” Higashi, Kibito, and Gato had turned the palace upside down looking for the boy and had come up with nothing. For the first time since Buu’s attack, Higashi was afraid for his son. Kibito’s voice boomed from up the stairs. “Higashi! Gato! Up here!” The god and servant ran up the stairs to where Kibito kneeled by a second flight of steps. “What is it, Kibito?” Kibito held up a chocolate-chip cookie. Gato gasped. “I gave him that this morning!” Higashi looked up the dark hallway leading up. He himself had never gone up, only Dai Kaioshins were allowed there. “Do you think he is up there Master?” Kibito asked. “I do not know, Kibito. The only way to know is to go there ourselves.” “Are you sure, sir? Even you are not allowed up there, much less Gato and me!” “I do not care, my son is up there and he could be hurt! Let’s go.” The trio walked up the stairs nervously, half expecting something to leap out and kill them all. They climbed for almost half an hour until Gato said she could see a door. They ran the rest of the way up and stopped in front of an enourmous door. “That...is one big door!” Gato said. Suddenly, Kibito pointed to the chamber inside and yelled, “There! I can see him!” The others all strained their eyes and, sure enough, there was Kid Kai. He was nestled snugly among the roots of the huge tree. “Kid!” All three rushed forward to see if the child was all right, but Higashi got there first. Gently shaking his son’s shoulders, he repeated the boy’s name over and over, desperately hoping he had not lost him too. Kid’s eyes fluttered open and looked up at the three worried faces above him. “Dad?” All three sighed with relief. Higashi, though, quickly became angry at his son. “Kid, what are you doing here?! You could have fallen or locked in! We wouldn’t have been able to find you! What were you thinking?!” Kibito and Gato backed up a bit, expecting for Kid to retaliate, but he only looked up at his father with hurt eyes. “I’m...I’m sorry dad.” Higashi’s heart instantly melted. “It’s okay Kid Kai. You’re okay, that’s all he matters now.” It was now he took the time to look up at the amazing tree before them. Could it be... “Hey, dad, what’s this tree doing here?” It was as if Kid had read Higashi’s thoughts. “Well, I’m not sure, but I believe it’s the Purity Tree.” Gato and Kibito looked at each other, equally confused. “The what?” Higashi stood and put his hand on Kid’s head. “The Purity Tree. It has been here since before Kais left records of themselves. It became sick once, so a past Kaioshin must have put it in here, though the records say it died.” Kibito said quietly, “It’s beautiful...” They stood for a moment, just taking in the full beauty of the huge being. It took Kid to break the spell. “Dad, can I have my cake now?” Higashi chuckled. “Yes, let’s eat!”
After Gato and Kid had finished the rest of the cake, it was time for the presents. Gato gave her’s first. “Here ya go, bud!” Kid tore open the tiny box and held up the small pair of earrings. They were Potara, colored red and shiny. “Ooh, thanks a lot, Gato!” Gato chuckled and helped him put the on. “My, my! You are so handsome!” Kid smiled and struck a pose. Kibito actually laughed and said, “Well, my gift to you, young master, is I offer to teach you on healing. What do you say to that?” Kid turned to the tall man and his eyes glowed. “Really?” Kibito smiled. “Really.” Higashi could only laugh. He was glad for days like this. “Well, I guess it’s my turn.” He pulled out a box wrapped in pink paper with a blue bow. “Open it, Kid. But be careful.” Kid gently began to take off the wrapping until all of it was off. It was as an old, wooden music box, with a fancy ‘N’ carved on the top. Kibito and Gato were stunned. The box had belonged to Kid Kai’s mother, Nishi Kaioshin. “What is it, Dad?” Higashi stood up and picked his son up. He turned to the servants and nodded. Getting the picture, they both bowed and flew off. “Dad?” The deity did not answer his son. Instead, he walked silently to the tallest hill on Kaioshin-kai.
“This was your mother’s, Kid.” Father and son sat under the tree atop the hill. Kid sat on Higashi’s lap. Higashi gently opened the box, and the song Beautiful Dreamer began to softly play. Kid’s eyes widened. “You probably remember it. Your mother sang it to you every night.” He reached inside the box and pulled out a black and white picture of himself standing next to a taller woman, who was holding a tiny infant. “This was taken the day after you were born.” Kid pointed at the picture and looked up at his dad. “Is that my mom?” Higashi nodded slightly. He put the picture back and took out a small earring. It, like Kid’s, was red. “This was one of your mother’s Potara. I found it after...” The god said no more as his son looked over old pictures and several small personal items. Kid held them close to him, as they were living, breathing creatures. When the song stopped, Kid gently placed the things back inside the box and shut it, sitting silently. He then asked, “What was she like?” Higashi let his memories flow from him like a river. The day they met, swimming with her in the nearby lake, becoming gods, her death. When told of what had happened to Nishi, Kid grew quiet again. The two did not speak for a long time. Higashi said no more, but his mind whirled with memories of his love. Her laughter, how it could call light to darkness. Her ebony eyes, as dark as a starless space. Her hands touching his, telling him she was forever his. Higashi’s lips trembled and he found himself unable to hold back tears of pain and loss. “Daddy?” Higashi looked down, not bothering to hide his grief. “I miss her too.” Kid too began to cry and he hugged his father tight. The god held his son close, glad he had more of Nishi than old photographs and jewelry. Maybe Nishi is not gone after all.
~ *sobbing* I...love...this...FIC! *sniffs* Damn, I’m a sucker for sappy crap! Siona, saying farewell! *starts crying anew* Chibi Siona: Good grief. *pulls out umbrella*
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