Somewhere I belong

A/U Song-fic! Don't you love these? Whelp, GOB once again (for all you guys who think this is my first GOB: "Just another love-spell" is my first. It starts off as Shonen-ai though.), inspired by the new Linkin Park CD Meteora and Mirai Cc Hinoko's King of Bandits. Dark, maybe a bit angsty and very sad. Maybe tissue alert, but I'm not good at those, so let's see.

First chapter song: Breaking the habit – Linkin Park.

Disclaimer: My name's not Chester, Rob, Brad, Joseph, Phoenix, Mike or Akira. So I don't own any of the songs written and performed by Linkin Park, neither do I own Dragonball. Heck, if I would, Gokou would be either with a guy or with Bulma… not with Chi-chi.

Just for your understanding:

"Blah" – Talking

~* Blah *~ - Lyrics

Blah – Dream/Memory/noise

Blah! – Shouting very loudly

Chapter I – Breaking the habit

~* Memories consume, like opening the wound; I'm picking me apart again. You all assume, I'm safe here in my room; unless I try to start again. *~

"EYYYYYAAAAAAAA!!!!"

The battle scream echoed across the rough landscape, but it was broken off abruptly. A limp body flew backwards and slid across the ground. Dead.

Another body was lying on the floor, bloody, bruised and battered badly. The man lifted his head: "Kuso…" He looked straight on at his broken Scouter and the group of unknown creatures in front of him, standing tall. He reached out, trying to reach the small device, but a large foot crushed it. Shock played about his features, then he looked up: "Na… naze ni… naze ni nado ni tsukau…"

The creatures above him just laughed and a new voice came from behind them: "Anata Saiya-jin nado ni tsukau tsuyoi, ne?"

The fallen warrior looked up, clenching his teeth in pain and a fat pink being looked down at him, grabbed him by his collar and lifted him up: "Bokura wa nagai asobi."

"Naze ta… naze ta kore… okanai nado ni tsukau?", he questioned.

Everything blurred, so did the words of the creatures. Very few words were understood, but one word was clear: "Freezer-sama." After that, everything cleared again. A man was holding the lifeless body of the one who had spoken with the pink being. Slowly he lowered the corpse to the ground, his face an unreadable mask. With a piece of cloth he cleansed the blood off the face of the fallen, coloring the cloth crimson. His Scouter blinked and he faced the group who had killed his team: "Anata wa!"

The scene blurred yet again to change to another. A white room with several creatures running around hastily, mainly gathering around a cage. A small boy with a tail and wild black hair was trapped within, looking around frantically for a way out like a caged animal that was about to be slaughtered: "IYA! Okanau shinai!!"

But they didn't understand his language. So they just gave him a shot, ignoring his screams and pleas. They didn't know what would happen after the substance took its toll on the boy. But they couldn't care less. He was just another object to test their substances.

The boy whimpered: "Ie… Ie…", and the substance slowly started to work, he felt his insides clench and his heart burn: "FUSAGU!!!!!"

~* I don't want to be the one, the battles always choose, 'cause inside I realize, that I'm the one confused. *~

He woke up with a start and quickly scanned his surroundings. The room was dark and empty. He couldn't remember. Where was he? Slowly his brain started to work again and he sighed, relieved that he was safe. His heart was aching. He had these type of dreams quite often, but never had they been so clear. It irked him and he automatically knew something was wrong. Of course, it all had been so long ago. He was safe. But he didn't feel right, as if he didn't belong here. Truth to be told, he didn't, but he never had had a problem with it.

He cursed under his breath. Damn Senzu beans. Ever since he had eaten his first Senzu bean, he couldn't sleep one night without having to dream about this. The bean had restored his brain damage and now he was cursed to always remember his true self. The true self he had been masking since more than two years. A low growl emitted from his throat. How he hated this game, always hiding his true self and trying hard not to show it. But was it really that bad to be yourself?

He perked up as he heard the door of his room open and close. Soft steps slowly nearing, he couldn't help but tense. But he calmed down, after he saw who it was: "Ah, Popo."

The dark-skinned man with the blank expression on his face looked at him: "Popo sensed Gokou wake up. Why you wake up in middle of night?"

Gokou sighed, keeping his eyes downcast, just in case something was there. But was it really that bad to be yourself?

"I just had a bad memory, Popo."

~* I don't know what's worth fighting for or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate and say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way, I know it's not alright. So I'm breaking the habit, I'm breaking the habit – tonight.*~

Gokou lifted his head and for the first time he saw Popo visibly shocked. Heck, who wouldn't be, Gokou mused, resisting the urge to chuckle: "Popo, is Kami awake?"

Popo nervously nodded: "Yes… come…"

The teen mutely nodded and followed the chubby man out of his room, down the hall to a room where he sensed Kami's ki. Popo stepped aside and Gokou stepped in without knocking. He couldn't care less about formalities at the moment.

The tall Piccolo Daimaou opposite looked up from his place and blinked: "Gokou… your eyes…"

Annoyed sigh: "Yes I know… But that's not the problem. I… I know I promised to stay until the tournament and train, but I can't stay. It's distracting… up here I remember who I really am."

"Who you really are, Gokou? I remember that you dropped onto your head and lost your memory, but…", Kami started, but Gokou cut him off: "The first Senzu bean I took cured the damage. So I also remember where I stored another patch of energy. Please, Kami… it's a far too long story to tell."

Kami looked up into the eyes of the sixteen-year-old, which had taken the odd color of emerald green. Ice cold, emotionless and deadly emerald green eyes. Slowly the color flickered and returned to black. But it weren't the bright and innocent black eyes anymore. The black eyes seemed darker than ever, worn, fiery and tired at the same time. The eyes of a young teenager, but lifeless like those of an old warrior who had seen to many deaths.

The god looked away: "You will have to convince me, Gokou. Show me how skilled you truly are."

"Thank you.", the teen turned around and stepped out of the room, closely followed by Kami himself. Popo joined them and the trio walked out of the palace to the open area of the lookout.

~* Clutching my cure, I tightly lock the door, I try to catch my breath again. I hurt much more, than anytime before; I had no options left again. *~

He dropped his mask and spoke the way his true self would speak, tired, stern: "I've been Son-Gokou for long enough. It's hard to be the opposite of who you really are and it's annoying. I've been putting up a show for long enough, so long until it became a habit being a naïve yet powerful warrior. So tonight, I'm going to break the habit. Just… don't be too shocked."

Kami nodded silently, shocked already. Gokou noticed, but brushed it off and closed his eyes. He reached inside himself and found it. The creature his enemies had created so long ago. Somehow he felt relieved to feel it, it had been long since he had let it all out and he had missed it. Maybe it was his cursed heritage. Or maybe just his cursed life.

~* I don't want to be the one, the battles always choose, 'cause inside I realize, that I'm the one confused. *~

"Aah… yes! YES!!"

Muten Roshi wriggled in his seat, grinning like an idiot while staring at the TV screen. We all can guess what he is watching at this hour. But suddenly the picture flickered and Muten Roshi blinked: "What the…?"

The ground rumbled and he gasped. Krillin came falling down the steps, most probably thrown off balance by the rumble: "OW! What the hell is going on?"

Tenshinhan and Chao-zu came down too. Chao-zu looked even paler than usual: "Something bad is happening!"

"Oh no, not again…", Krillin grumbled: "I died once to many times already."

"You only died once, Krillin.", Tenshinhan noted.

Krillin shot up: "YEAH, BUT THAT'S ONE TIME TOO MUCH!!"

Muten Roshi frowned deeply, which the trio noticed: "What?"

"Chao-zu is right… there's something bad. Its aura isn't standing against us, but… it's still… dark. Powerful and dark. I've never felt a power like that before. It seems almost inhuman and technical… and… it feels a bit like Gokou…", Muten Roshi suddenly noticed, his mouth agape.

~*I don't know what's worth fighting for or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate and say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way, I'll never be alright. So I'm breaking the habit, I'm breaking the habit – tonight.*~

Gokou felt relieved. Finally he could let out his suppressed power. Kami was sitting on the floor, thrown back from the power surge and the energy radiating from his student. A student who was stronger than his master. A mere human, looking more imposing than god himself. Popo noticed that Gokou's eyes had sprung to life. The worn and tired look was gone, replaced by a dark fire, ready to reel higher when battle ensues.

The powerful teen sighed and his features relaxed, his power returned back to its normal state. Kami picked himself up from the floor and brushed himself off: "You… are very powerful, I never would have guessed that you held so much power hidden. I'm sure you will beat Piccolo's son with it and save the world."

"I don't intend to fight to save the world.", Gokou said and the god opened his mouth to protest, but he chimed in before the pointy-eared elder could utter a word: "I fight, because it's in my blood. I don't need to tell you reasons why I fight, I just do. Just for the sake of fighting and feeling the adrenaline-rush. I don't know what else I would do other than fight. I guess I would just rot away, tortured by my own memories."

"Gokou…", Kami started.

Gokou interrupted again: "I'm not really Gokou anymore, but if you wish to call me that, go ahead, I don't mind. But Gokou won't fight anymore. I will."

~* I'll paint it on the walls, 'cause I'm the one at fault. I'll never fight again and this is how it ends. *~

The next morning Muten Roshi received a call: "Hello?"

A deep and tired baritone answered: "Muten Roshi?"

"Yes, that's me. Who are you?"

A chuckle: "Of course, you don't recognize my voice. I completely forgot. It's me, Gokou."

"Wha… WHAT?!!"

"Don't scream like that!"

"So… sorry… but… is it really you, Gokou? From where are you calling?"

"No, to be true I'm Santa and wanted to ask you what you wanted for Christmas… Of course it's me! I'm calling from a payphone in the southern Capital and this damn thing is robbing me of every cent! I only called to tell you that I'm coming back, because I finished my training under Kami faster than expected. So I should be arriving tomorrow, okay? See ya!"

Click. Beep, beep.

Muten Roshi put down the phone, quite shocked. Then he turned to the kitchen, where everybody was staring at him. Krillin spoke up first: "Is it really Gokou?"

"I don't know… his voice changed quite a lot. Doesn't sound like the little Gokou I used to know at least. But I'm positive. He's coming back. Tomorrow."

Krillin had to try hard not to jump to the ceiling: "THAT'S GREAT!!"

The blue-haired Lunch smiled: "We should call the others at Capsule Corp and tell them to come over tomorrow. I'm sure they want to see him too."

Muten Roshi grinned and picked up the phone. That means he would see Bulma again and her nice, luscious breasts. (DD/N: At first I put there: You know what, but then I thought it sounded a bit lame, so I just put there what it really is…)

~*I don't know what's worth fighting for or why I have to scream, but now I have some clarity to show you what I mean. I don't know how I got this way, I'll never be alright, so I'm breaking the habit, I'm breaking the habit, I'm breaking the habit – tonight. *~

~~*~~

Finally! My first chapters always suck, so please don't kick my ass for it. I always call my first chaps warm-ups, because they don't get to the point and aren't written that good. Still, review me and you'll get a second chap ASAP.

Love ya,

Buh-huy,

Melli.