Be nice this is my first fanfic. Please r & r. Just so you know. I might change the title. Don't ask why I called it Shadow in the Light because I don't know it just sounded good 'kay. If anyone wants to give me a reason it would be much appreciated.

Disclaimer: Me no own DBZ or nuffin' but me likes Gohan lots.

My favourite fics are those that deal with Gohan in the years between cell and Buu so if your fic is about that do tell.

Shadow in the Light

Chapter One

All of a sudden his sparring partner vanished from in front of him. Gohan searched the countryside with his eyes and tried to hone his senses. He was too slow.

"Crash", the backhanded swipe took him full across cheek sending him thundering to the ground below.

Eyes glazed, Gohan sat up and snorted on the dust raised when he'd formed the crater. There was a creak and a clatter as another tree was brought to the ground. With a sigh the young demi-saiyan flopped back down onto his back. He wasn't given long to rest.

There was the soft pad of feet and there was Piccolo standing over him, arms crossed. It was clear that he didn't approve.

"You going to lie there all day, kid?" Piccolo growled through the corner of his mouth.

Gohan fixed his eyes on the sky above and sighed again, the sound clearly audible to the Namek's ears.

It was three months since the Cell Games and Gohan still wasn't over his despondency. Who would be? His father was dead and he was living with the prospect of a brother who would never meet his dad. To be honest Chi Ch's mood swings weren't helping.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Piccolo's deep rumble interrupted Gohan's thoughts. Only he could detect the concern in his mentor's voice.

"Yes Piccolo. I'm fine. Thanks for asking", Gohan replied as he got to his feet slapping the dust out of his gi.

"I don't get you kid. For the first time I really don't. Your mother actually lets you come out and train, yet it you don't even try to defend yourself."

"I know Piccolo. It's just I've a lot on my mind at the moment with Mum and the baby. I don't know. It's weird. I feel like I've lost all my instincts. I just can't stop thinking..." he trailed off.

"Hmph", Piccolo grunted. He didn't need to ask what Gohan was thinking about. That much was clear. Cell was still ever present in everyone's minds. Luckily Piccolo had the sense not to bring it up. The memory after all weighed heavier on Gohan than anyone else. They had all lost a friend but Gohan had lost much more. His father, his innocence. Yes even that spark that made the boy who he was seemed to have gone out.

Piccolo sat down near his charge and, closing his eyes, meditated whilst Gohan tried to gather his thoughts. He felt comfortable around Piccolo. The Namek never asked questions and more importantly he didn't shoot him the looks of pity that had started to follow him everywhere. His family and friends didn't think he noticed but he did. And in a way the fact that they were sorry to his back seemed to hurt even more.

The light was beginning to fade and neither of the pair had moved. All of a sudden Piccolo's ears twitched.

"Your mother's calling", he remarked without even opening his eyes.

"So your big ears are good for something hey Piccolo. Huh. Well I'd better go see what she wants", Gohan's stomach squealed loudly as he stood to leave, "but I think I already know", he commented sheepishly a hand behind his head, cheeks shining pink.

"See you around, kid", a rare smile playing across Piccolo's features. But the brief moment of feeling was a façade to cover Piccolo's true concern. The boy had enough to worry about. Piccolo was glad he'd refused the invitation to go to the gathering.

"Yeah I guess."

Gohan lifted from the ground. As soon as he left, the glade where the two had been sparring became utterly silent. And Piccolo still hadn't opened his eyes.

Touching down in the front yard, Gohan jogged towards the little dome shaped house his father had built.

"Mum, I'm home", he called pushing open the front door and walking into the hall. Funny, his Mum never usually left the door unlocked.

He walked towards the kitchen

"Mum?" there was no one there. Nor were there any of the cooking smells that normally permeated the Son household at this time.

"In here honey!" he heard his Mum call from the living room. If anything she sounded slightly strained.

"Mum? Are you ok? Piccolo heard you call and..." but as soon as he walked into the sitting room he was pulled up short. Everyone, that is the whole Z-senshi, was gathered in there, except Piccolo that is, making the room seem remarkably smaller. They all turned to stare and Gohan caught Krillin's nervous smile. The demi-saiyan turned to leave.

"Gohan, sweetie. Please sit down"

The young hybrid was too well brought up to deny his mother. He edged hesitantly into the room and sank into the only empty seat trying to shrink as far down as he could, not wanting to meet their eyes.

"Hey Gohan, you ok buddy?" asked Krillin tentatively.

Gohan could almost smell his fear and it didn't exactly make him feel good about himself. The boy's eyes snapped up eerily, leaving the rest of him as immobile as before.

He saw them all flinch. All that is except for his mother and Vegeta though she looked away. He was surprised to see the Prince there but glad. The aggressive older saiyan could be a bit of a trial at times but he was the only one there that Gohan felt had any inkling as to how he was feeling. Why couldn't they keep their snotty noses out of his affairs?

Gohan's ki started to inflate and he could see from the raised eyebrows that the others had noticed. Bulma shielded the baby Trunks to her chest. She couldn't feel the energy emanating but she had seen the reactions of the others.

"So what's going on?" Gohan mumbled.

The others visibly relaxed. They had been expecting an explosion. Vegeta was the only one taut as a spring. He could feel the potential threat.

"That woman you call mother was worried, and Bulma told me I had to come too, brat. So stop feeling sorry for yourself. You know I have better things to do with my time than being here", he grumbled, glaring at Gohan, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.

Bulma shot him a fiery look that promised death when they were home, but Vegeta merely shrugged his shoulders.

"What's wrong woman, were the rest of you just planning to sit and stare at the boy all night?"

"Um Gohan", began Bulma, when it became clear that no one else was going to speak and that, annoyingly enough, Vegeta had a point, "Well you see... we're worried! You don't talk to us anymore. You're clearly upset. We just want to help. It's not your fault. Goku said he didn't want to come back..." she trailed off glancing from side to side hoping that someone else would pick up the pieces.

Krillin burst in, more confident due to Gohan's lack of reaction.

"That's right. We're here for you buddy. We know just how you feel!"

But Krillin's grin didn't take long to slither off his face and land in a puddle of shock on the floor.

"You know how I feel?" Gohan's voice was a dead monotone. "You know how I feel?" he exclaimed again before bursting into hysterical laughter.

Everyone stared in astonishment and surprise as Gohan writhed in his seat. Smiles started to appear encouragingly on faces though no one, apart from apparently Gohan, could see what was so funny. As soon as their hesitant grins began to appear Gohan snapped into sullen silence. The shock was as sharp as a knife in the back.

"How can you possibly know how I feel? How dare you even presume..." he spat in disgust and his mother had to visibly fight not to chastise him for it.

"God I can't even stand to be around you anymore."

He heaved himself out of the chair and headed for the door. Everyone sat frozen in their silence. Well, almost everyone.

Vegeta stepped into Gohan's path.

"Sorry brat. But we're not finished yet."

"Get out of my way Vegeta", intoned Gohan

Vegeta smirked.

"I'm warning you." Gohan's voice had developed an unnatural monotonic level.

The prince's eyebrows shot up. Was that a threat?

"You've got until three. I suggest you make a move. Fish not biting? Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you. One"

Gohan raised his hand.

"Two."

Yellow light started to gather

"Three."

Vegeta flinched.

There were gasps all around as the dust cleared to reveal a gaping hole in the living room wall and Gohan already running through it. He shot into the air as the rest of the gang followed him outside.

"Gohan", his mother cried through choked tears.

The boy turned back expressionless and took them all in at a glance.

"You say you know how I feel. WELL HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY KNOW HOW I FEEL? NONE OF YOU KNOW. NOW JUST LET ME BE."

As he turned releasing his fists, which had clenched during his outburst, Chi Chi fell sobbing to her knees, crouched over her pregnant belly. A comforting Bulma collapsed beside her.

But Gohan didn't turn back. As he flew into the night sky, clouds gathered forebodingly overhead, hiding the stars, as though in reflection of the fire bubbling within him.

Well that's the first chappie of my first fanfiction ever. I think I know what's going to happen next but as I only just came up with this idea telling myself I had to write something, any ideas would be welcome. I'm afraid that as I'm not sure about the future of the story I'm not giving any hints away (Though I'm thinking Gohan might go Super in public- it always bugged me that no one ever recognises him from the Cell games) so if you're interested you'll just have to keep reading.

Oh and by the way, I have a piece of original fiction on fictionpress called Premonition under the same pen name if anyone's is interested. I'd really liked some productive comments.

Please r & r as it'll encourage me to write more and soon plus I really would like feedback. Well toodles. Until next time

Honey Nut Loop