Falling into Darkness

Chp 1

Gohan's Depression

Warning: This fanfic does have angst to it, so if you're not a fan of angst, then don't view it please.

Disclaimer: This is a fic I've wanted to do for some time, but I had no idea how to make it believable until now, this is my interpretation of what would've happened over the seven year timeline we didn't see in DBZ, take it as you will.

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The skies were dark and murky, below them there was a rigid landscape, with hills showing up around them, a dirt surface covering their tops as well as the ground below. As the center of the ground appeared, there was a crater on the ground, not as gigantic as it had originally been, but the reminder of a pain that had been never-ending until this point. The wind blew slowly over the ground, and through the air, as if it had been slowed down by an invisible wall blocking it's path. In the midst of all this, a young kid landed on the ground, his hair styled normally except for at the front, where three bangs hang to the side, the hair was the color of black, he wore a blue gi, with blue gi pants, a red belt connecting the two, and two red wrist bands surrounding his wrists. His build wasn't too stocky, but was in between that of a boy's and that of a man's, his eyes were a solid black, but in them appeared an emptiness, a sign of a memory that had haunted him from the very moment it happened.

It had been one year since the cell games had ended, and Gohan once again found himself back in this peculiar place, this place that he hated the most in the world, a place he never thought he'd return to. His body was constantly dragging him back here, to this place where his father had died 1 year ago, he had died selflessly, and with a smile on his face. His decision was to remain dead, for the benefit of the earth his father had said, but Gohan had numerous questions running through his mind, questions that left a void in his heart. Did dad really not come back in order to keep the earth safe? Was daddy upset with me? Did he not come back because he wasn't proud of me? Gohan agonized himself with these questions endlessly, but he received no answer inside his heart that was beginning to fall into turmoil.

The young half saiyan warrior let out a shattered breath, as his body shook with a sob that never truly came out. He had cried all the tears his body could muster up, unable to pour out any more, or so he thought, as he found himself on his knees once again, his fists dug into the ground as he cried his heart out, the emptiness and loneliness once again creeping up on him. What seemed like an eternity had lasted only a moment, and Gohan finally pushed himself up off the ground. He looked at the sky, and decided it was probably time to turn in, for fear of his mother yelling at him for staying out past his curfew. He also had studies to keep up with, but he found it increasingly harder the more the void inside of him grew. As he flew across the barren land scape, it slowly fell into a wooded landscape, with trees littered across the ground below, only spaced out by the occasional house which came into view. Eventually finding his house from all the scattered houses below, he landed in front of it, but hesitated before opening up the door, fearing whatever wrath his mother might bring down on him.

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Elsewhere, another person was on a mountain near-by, by his size he was a lot taller than Gohan, the size of an adult. His skin was color coated green, and he had a white turban hat on, with pointy ears underneath it, his eyes were also a solid color black, and a long with similar style clothing to Gohan's, changing the color to a more purplish looking color, and both his belt color and wrist color being purple. His notable difference was that he had a white cape draped over his back, which flowed a long with the wind, and his boots were a brownish sort of color, pointed at the end, unlike Gohan's shoes. He watched the kind with a concerned look in his eye, he knew that Gohan had changed so much since his father's decision to remain dead. He did not foresee, however, that the change would be this great, Gohan died inside the day that his father died, stripped of his love of life completely from that point. The man standing on the mountain, the Namekian Piccolo let out a sigh, as he thought to himself, 'Goku.. I hope your decision was for the best.. it's left Gohan in a lot of misery.' The Namekian feared for what might happen to his friend and student if he continued to spiral towards depression like this. He had no way of knowing exactly how to help Gohan, even if he knew the boy for so long.

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Finally making a decision, Gohan opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it as softly as he could, in the kitchen was a woman standing there, she had on a pink kimono with flowers draped over it, and her hair flew nicely down the side of her face, it also colored black. She was washing dishes making a humming sound to herself, her name is Chichi. Gohan looked at his mother, and he let out a faint smile, as he said out loud to her "Hi mom!"

Chichi had turned around in a start, but calmed down when she saw it was Gohan, she took a small breath and smiled back at her oldest son, the baby boy Goten now in his cradle, fast asleep, but his look similar to Goku by his hair. Chichi respond to her son's reply, "Hi Gohan, you've been out again I see, well, I'm just about to finish cooking dinner, why don't you go to your room and wait for me to finish it?" Gohan simply nodded at his mom, and walked into his room, shutting the door behind him. Something in Chichi jolted her for a moment, she could feel that her son had become a different person, but she truly felt as if she was loosing him, she took note that the cheerful look in his face had gone as of late, and his grades in his studies had slipped. Even though she was a natural freak about Gohan doing his studies, she had decided to cut off to give him time to get over his father's death, however even the studies she wanted him to do, his grades were slacking. She knew this was unusual behavior for Gohan, not like his usual self since he always dedicated himself to his studies. She tossed these thoughts from her mind for now, focusing on getting her dinner to her son, later she would discuss the matter with Bulma.

Gohan found his thoughts racing through his head again as he sat on his bed looking on the window. He couldn't bring himself to concentrate on his studies right now, instead focusing yet again on the emptiness inside. Then a sudden emotion jolted him, an emotion he hadn't felt in what seemed like months. Anger was the word for it, but he had never felt this kind of anger before, it was a burning anger that caused him to let our a strangled breath, he knew what this anger was and where it was directed. It was directed towards himself, created by his mind because he blamed himself for his father's death. He perked up when he heard the door open and Chichi walked into the room, tray in hand with a snack and some juice on it. Gohan smiled and thanked his mother, and she carefully left the room, closing the door behind him. With his mom gone, and his dinner having finally settled, he laid down to try and get some sleep for the night, knowing full well that tomorrow was just going to be another day of his pain.

Chichi knew she had to talk to Bulma about it, or Krillin. She tried to imagine the two, the blue haired, but slightly older looking Bulma, with her firm curved figure and her rather large chest, her blue eyes which blared out a radiation of pride and happiness. Then she went to imagining Krillin, the bald headed companion who was Goku's best friend, he had large brown spots on his head, and he was constantly laughing, his black eyes never looking unhappy, but always afraid or scared from time to time. She decided to talk to Bulma about it first, Bulma was usually good with these kind of things, reaching up for the phone she dialed the number to Capsule Corp, and was greeted with a message that told her to please hold while she was transferred to Bulma. It seemed like it took forever, but eventually she heard Bulma's voice on the other line, "Hello, ChiChi?"

Chichi sighed with relief, and responded to Bulma, "Yes, Bulma, I wanted to talk to you about Gohan."

Bulma blinked, she had never usually received a called from Chichi about Gohan, but she knew it was serious, "Yes, Chichi, go on, what is it?"

ChiChi fought to battle back tears in her eyes, hot stinging tears, as she replied to Bulma the best she could, "I don't know Bulma.. it seems like he's not coping so well with his father's decision.. it feels like he's getting more and more distant.."

"There, there ChiChi," Bulma tried to reassure ChiChi, "He's probably just in a state of grief right now, he'll get over it eventually."

ChiChi let out a frustrated sigh, "No Bulma, I don't think he's going to get over this so easily.. Gohan's father was his life, he hasn't even so much as looked happy ever since, and his grades are slipping further, I think he's blaming himself, but I have no idea how to help him if he doesn't open up."

The first part of ChiChi's speech caught Bulma's attention, she quirked a brow from the other line. It was not like Gohan to falter in his grades on his studies, especially since ChiChi had slacked back on them. She knew that it had to be because Gohan was unable to concentrate on them, instead giving more focus to his feelings. She of coursed wondered what these feelings were, but again tried to reassure ChiChi, "He may just be trying to sort out his feelings right now ChiChi, listen, you should get some rest for tonight, if nothing changes over the next few days let me know.."

ChiChi sighed, Bulma was probably right, Gohan probably was just having trouble sorting out his feelings, "Thanks Bulma, that's reassuring to know, I'll head off to sleep now, Good night" she clicked the phone back to it's receiver, and headed off up to her room to sleep.

Bulma meanwhile, was left in her own thoughts as she put the phone down on her receiver. She wondered how well Gohan really was coping with this. A part of her was afraid that Gohan might have such a deep void that it was forcing him to turn inward towards himself, and away from all his other friends. She couldn't bare to see the image of the kid with hatred in her eyes in her head, but she knew that that scenario was what would likely happen. She closed her eyes, and put her head down on her desk, one thought running through her mind, 'Oh kid.. I would give up my life if it meant your dad could be here for you right now.'

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Around the corner, a short, but somewhat stocky man, with his hair spiked upward, a point at the top, colored black. He constantly had a cold, hard look on his face the majority of the time, but right now his look was more of concern, if only slight. He had on a blue muscle shirt, and blue pants, white gloves covering his hands, his eyes a solid black, his arms crossed over his chest, the crux of his foot against the wall. He closed his eyes, he had slowly come to... care was the word he was looking for. He had slowly come to care over the years for Kakarot's son, even if only a minor bit. His was the Saiyan Prince Vegeta, who usually was cold to everyone, but thanks to Kakarot and Gohan''s influence, he had began to settle down slowly, but was still having a hard time getting used to his job as family. He looked out the window, wondering to himself, 'Kakarot, how well off was this decision of yours? You may have jeopardized the earth more than saved it..' Vegeta hoped his premonition was wrong, but judging by the feelings he had heard from Gohan, they were similar to his own after his father died. These feelings had led him to become power hungry, arrogant, cocky, and a ruthless murderer. He couldn't imagine Kakarot's son the same way.

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The Namekian Piccolo, who was standing on the hill earlier, had sat down to try and mediate, but was having no luck, as his thoughts kept running back to the half saiyan in his bed. He wondered how Gohan was doing, and if he was actually sleeping peacefully. A part of him wanted to believe he was, but the other part knew he wasn't. Piccolo was usually prepared to face any battle with Gohan, this battle was no exception, the only difference was, this was a battle for a soul, not a battle for a life like he had anticipated Piccolo knew Goku had escaped relatively unharmed in his death, he had a body and was able to do what he wished with it. Gohan was sentenced to a life of self-deprivation and anger, he was the hardest hit by the events that had happened. Piccolo closed his eyes, and went back to his meditation, unaware of the disaster that was taking place right before his eyes, in the mind of a little boy who only wanted to see his father.

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Author's Notes: What's this, a disaster taking place? What's going on inside of Gohan's mind that Piccolo doesn't see? How will Vegeta become involved in the situation?

Author's Preview: Hey guys! Just a glimpse at what's happening a head of time, Krillin's going to be dragged into the plot somehow. Expect an emotional event between Gohan and ChiChi to happen, and Vegeta will likely have a confrontation with the half Saiyan, that leaves him with some unpleasant feelings. Be sure to keep up-to-date.