(One evening, Gohan succumbs to a simple, common cold. His immense power and Saiyan-like resilience make his immune system normally impenetrable, but even the strongest warrior is susceptible to the occasional Earth virus. He lies in bed, feverish and weak, a condition that Tatsu, in his primal understanding of the world, interprets as a critical threat to his "pack leader.")
The Hunt for the Cure
Tatsu, without a word, goes into a cold, methodical Saiyan hunting mode. He uses his enhanced senses, not for prey, but for something far more complex: the specific medicinal herbs Gohan has been teaching the boys about. Tatsu has paid little attention to these lessons before, but now that the knowledge is a weapon to save his alpha, his battle meditation retrieves the scattered information with pinpoint accuracy.
Trouble in paradise: Tatsu's hunt isn't easy. He has never had to distinguish one small, leafy plant from another. His "brute force" methods fail him. He tries to rip up entire patches of greenery, hoping one of them is the right one, but this only results in a mess of useless vegetation. His frustration grows, but his purpose remains firm.
Forced precision: Remembering Gohan's patient lessons about the delicate balance of nature, Tatsu forces himself to slow down. He uses his sharp eyes, not his brute strength, to identify the subtle differences in the plants. After a long, frustrating search, he finds the correct herb, the one with the distinctive scent Gohan taught him to identify.
The mortar and pestle: Back at the house, Tatsu finds the mortar and pestle, the tools for making the medicine. His Saiyan instincts kick in, but in a new way. He doesn't smash with brute force but with controlled power, grinding the herbs into a thick, bitter paste with a deliberate, brutal efficiency.A Dose of KindnessTatsu brings the finished medicine to Gohan, who, despite his feverish state, is touched by the Saiyan's fierce dedication. Gohan accepts the bitter, green concoction without a word, a testament to his trust in his unpredictable Saiyan ward. Tatsu watches, waiting for his master to recover, his expression as intense as it was during the hunt.
The comic relief: Goku, however, is a different story. Curiosity, and perhaps a desire to please his older brother, leads him to ask for a taste. Tatsu, with a brusque, forceful gesture, gives him a single drop.
The funny face: The bitter, earthy taste hits Goku like a surprise attack. His face contorts into a hilarious, exaggerated grimace. His eyes bulge, his mouth puckers, and his nose scrunches up in disgust. He gags and splutters, but the sight of his little brother's goofy, childlike reaction is enough to cause another flicker of amusement in Tatsu.The Unspoken Thank YouLater, as Gohan begins to recover, he finds a single, perfect medicinal herb placed carefully next to his bed. Tatsu, in his own, Saiyan way, is showing that he has learned. He has learned to control his power for a purpose other than brute force, and he has learned that sometimes, the most effective tool is not the fist, but the mind. He still has a long way to go, but in his rough, wild way, Tatsu has shown his deep, unspoken affection for his human family, one bitter medicine and one funny face at a time.