Summary: A sweet poem showing the deep friendship between Piccolo and Gohan. Piccolo pov.

BENEATH THE CHERRY BLOSSOM TREES

by animegrrrl

Snapping out of my solitude

Your child's voice cried out my name gladly.

The carefully built walls of defense

That keep unwanted emotions in check

Fell out of harmony.

I took my annoyance out on you.

Hurt and dejected, you turned to fly away when I

Let curiousity get the better of me.

Turned out that tyrant of a mother of his

Actually let him roam free for a day.

Hope rekindled in your eyes.

Would I like to spar with him today?

No, this day is made for meditation.

You said you would leave me alone now.

Damn you, you always did get to me.

I said that you could stay as long as you were quiet.

Silent as a mouse, you happily clung to my neck.

I pushed you off in embarrassment.

Unfazed, you asked why I was here in this forest of cherry trees.

I looked down at you.

Don't you know, boy?

This is the most beautiful day of the year.

You nodded solemny and carefully modeled my pose

Like I was the wise, all-knowing guru of knowledge.

I chuckled at your foolishness.

The next year you come uninvited, but not unwelcome.

Your innocent eyes marveled at the sights

And wondered how it could possibly be

More beautiful than you remembered.

Branded in my colors, you sought out my company

But there was no fighting.

Not on this day of gentle sun and windblown blossoms.

Our bond was precious.

Time marched on

And my pupil has grown like a weed.

You are a few minutes late today,

I reassure myself by believing that you will come.

I am not disappointed.

You hailed me with detached affection

And said that you couldn't stay

Because you had a date with that woman Videl.

Eight years have passed.

The son of my heart

Has turned into an adult

With a child and a life of his own.

But now, standing before me...

You proudly display in your arms

The creation of new life

Waiting for my approval.

It was perhaps

Your way of apologizing.

 I'm happy for you, Gohan.

Truly happy.

Your answering smile

Shattered me into

A million pieces.

You are now an old man

Who comes to sit beneath the tree

One day out of the year.

Not even your beloved wife or daughter

Knows about our secret.

This sacred place is ours alone.

You read or write

And sometimes reminensce

About the days when we would sit

Staring at the clouds in the sky.

It has been so many years

Since you've been coming.

You scarcely remember

The reason why

Or how the tradition started in the first place.

All you know

Is the deep peace that seeps through your bones

As you drift off into slumber.

Long ago did I die

Battling some terrible monster.

You picked yourself up and moved on with your life.

But I am glad, Gohan, my student and my friend

That you take at least one day out of the year to think of me.

Sweet child, you dream of me now

Of the rare time when it rained

And threatened our special day.

Refusing to go someplace else,

You stubbornly stood your ground

Until I swept you up

Settling us onto the boughs.

Finding refuge underneath the cherry blossoms

I sheltered you beneath my cape.

I ran my hand through your hair

And whispered that into your ear

Which made you smile.

Gohan,

I forever promise

That on this day

I'll meet you always

Beneath the cherry blossom trees.

Author's Note: I wrote this poem backwards. Please tell me I'm not the only person who does that or else I'll feel backwards!