Disclaimer: I own nothing! Nothing, I say!!!!! oh, except for my Trunks
pillow! *hugs said pillow possessively* But that's it! Nothing else!
Got it?!
A/N: I was feeling rather dramatic and angsty one night . . . and I also happened to realize what a tragic character Gohan was (I analyze DBZ characters for fun. . . don't ask). And, well . . . this is the result!
*- thoughts
"Alone . . . "
The whispered word drifted into the night sky and faded into its darkness. Son Gohan stood outside his dome-shaped home and stared into the endless inky blackness that stretched out for eternity. A cold wind blew and rustled his coal-black hair, but the demi-saiyan seemed not to notice. It had been 11 years since he had defeated Cell with the help of his father, and earlier this week he had gone to his first day of high school. Real high school. Free of home schooling at last . . . he was finally getting a chance to meet people his own age. For once, he was getting a chance at a normal life.
* Then why do I feel so incomplete? * he wondered. * I don't have the same love of fighting that dad did, but this 'normal' life is driving me insane! *
He looked down at his wrist and observed the strange-looking watch he had on.
* Saiyaman . . . *
He sighed.
* Just another pathetic attempt to try and be like my dad . . . What was I thinking?! Satan City doesn't need a new superhero . . . they've already got Videl. They're happy with her . . . All I'm doing is trying to make a place for myself. *
He undid the clasp and slid it off his wrist, and held it dangling in front of his face.
* After everything I've been through, if I thought that a silly costume could help me find a place in this world, I guess I'm not as smart as mom thought. *
Suddenly he couldn't stand the sight of the watch. He pulled his arm back and flung it forward, hurling it as far away from his as possible.
* Why me?! Why do I have to be the one with the hidden identity? Why do I always have to have two lives? Why . . . *
He mentally berated himself.
* There's no point in asking why . . .Things are what they are, and I just have to live with it.*
He was surprised to feel wetness on his face, and he quickly wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his shirt.
* Crying…at my age?! I'm pathetic. I bet dad never stood out here like a loon and contemplated everything wrong with his life. He just took everything in and managed to do it with a smile . . . *
Against Gohan's will, the tears started coming faster.
* Oh, god . . . I miss him so much! Just . . . having him here made me feel safe . . . that everything was going to be ok because he would take care of everything. I guess that's what heroes do . . . and that's what he was. A hero. Our hero. *
He choked back a sob as he lowered his face into his hands, shoulders shaking from his silent tears.
* But I was stupid and didn't finish off Cell when I had the chance…and dad had to clean up my mess. Because of me, he's dead. Now he's gone, and I have to be the hero. Yea, some hero I am . . . just some cheap imitation with a helmet and lame poses. *
The teen slowly sank to his knees, his grief taking its toll on his body.
* And Goten . . . how can I look at him every day and not realize how much he looks like dad? How does mom expect me to take care of him when he only reminds me of how dad's death was my fault? He's like a walking guilt trip . . . a reminder that it's my fault that he has to grow up without a father. *
Taking several deep breaths, he managed to shakily stand back up and look blindly into the vastness of the heavens.
"I HATE YOU!" he screamed in a mindless rage. "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME? WHY?!"
Subconsciously he began powering up to super saiyan level, as his hair flickered gold and eyes flashed aquamarine. He screamed as flames of light engulfed him, causing the ground to shake and split. The door to their home slammed open, and a scared-looking Chi-chi came running out.
"Gohan! What's wrong?! What's happening?!"
But her questions were lost in the anguished howls of her eldest son. Goten ran up behind her and clung on to her apron, becoming frightened at what was happening to his big brother. Chi-chi knew that Gohan was beyond reasoning with, and she could only think of one person that would be able to get through to him in this state. She looked down at the frightened child clinging on to her and kneeled down to look him in the eyes.
"Goten, honey, I know you're scared, but I need you to go get Piccolo. You know where he is . . . by the waterfall. Go right now…and hurry!"
He nodded and tried his best to look brave, as he called the flying nimbus. She watched him zoom off on the yellow cloud and prayed that he and the Namekian would return quickly.
"Gohan, please . . . hold on a little longer," she silently begged her halfling child. "We'll get everything to be ok again . . . just, please . . . hold on."
A/N: I was feeling rather dramatic and angsty one night . . . and I also happened to realize what a tragic character Gohan was (I analyze DBZ characters for fun. . . don't ask). And, well . . . this is the result!
*- thoughts
"Alone . . . "
The whispered word drifted into the night sky and faded into its darkness. Son Gohan stood outside his dome-shaped home and stared into the endless inky blackness that stretched out for eternity. A cold wind blew and rustled his coal-black hair, but the demi-saiyan seemed not to notice. It had been 11 years since he had defeated Cell with the help of his father, and earlier this week he had gone to his first day of high school. Real high school. Free of home schooling at last . . . he was finally getting a chance to meet people his own age. For once, he was getting a chance at a normal life.
* Then why do I feel so incomplete? * he wondered. * I don't have the same love of fighting that dad did, but this 'normal' life is driving me insane! *
He looked down at his wrist and observed the strange-looking watch he had on.
* Saiyaman . . . *
He sighed.
* Just another pathetic attempt to try and be like my dad . . . What was I thinking?! Satan City doesn't need a new superhero . . . they've already got Videl. They're happy with her . . . All I'm doing is trying to make a place for myself. *
He undid the clasp and slid it off his wrist, and held it dangling in front of his face.
* After everything I've been through, if I thought that a silly costume could help me find a place in this world, I guess I'm not as smart as mom thought. *
Suddenly he couldn't stand the sight of the watch. He pulled his arm back and flung it forward, hurling it as far away from his as possible.
* Why me?! Why do I have to be the one with the hidden identity? Why do I always have to have two lives? Why . . . *
He mentally berated himself.
* There's no point in asking why . . .Things are what they are, and I just have to live with it.*
He was surprised to feel wetness on his face, and he quickly wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his shirt.
* Crying…at my age?! I'm pathetic. I bet dad never stood out here like a loon and contemplated everything wrong with his life. He just took everything in and managed to do it with a smile . . . *
Against Gohan's will, the tears started coming faster.
* Oh, god . . . I miss him so much! Just . . . having him here made me feel safe . . . that everything was going to be ok because he would take care of everything. I guess that's what heroes do . . . and that's what he was. A hero. Our hero. *
He choked back a sob as he lowered his face into his hands, shoulders shaking from his silent tears.
* But I was stupid and didn't finish off Cell when I had the chance…and dad had to clean up my mess. Because of me, he's dead. Now he's gone, and I have to be the hero. Yea, some hero I am . . . just some cheap imitation with a helmet and lame poses. *
The teen slowly sank to his knees, his grief taking its toll on his body.
* And Goten . . . how can I look at him every day and not realize how much he looks like dad? How does mom expect me to take care of him when he only reminds me of how dad's death was my fault? He's like a walking guilt trip . . . a reminder that it's my fault that he has to grow up without a father. *
Taking several deep breaths, he managed to shakily stand back up and look blindly into the vastness of the heavens.
"I HATE YOU!" he screamed in a mindless rage. "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ME? WHY?!"
Subconsciously he began powering up to super saiyan level, as his hair flickered gold and eyes flashed aquamarine. He screamed as flames of light engulfed him, causing the ground to shake and split. The door to their home slammed open, and a scared-looking Chi-chi came running out.
"Gohan! What's wrong?! What's happening?!"
But her questions were lost in the anguished howls of her eldest son. Goten ran up behind her and clung on to her apron, becoming frightened at what was happening to his big brother. Chi-chi knew that Gohan was beyond reasoning with, and she could only think of one person that would be able to get through to him in this state. She looked down at the frightened child clinging on to her and kneeled down to look him in the eyes.
"Goten, honey, I know you're scared, but I need you to go get Piccolo. You know where he is . . . by the waterfall. Go right now…and hurry!"
He nodded and tried his best to look brave, as he called the flying nimbus. She watched him zoom off on the yellow cloud and prayed that he and the Namekian would return quickly.
"Gohan, please . . . hold on a little longer," she silently begged her halfling child. "We'll get everything to be ok again . . . just, please . . . hold on."