Other World

DISCLAIMER: I don't own DBZ.

CHAPTER 1: The Death

Three weeks after Goku's death...

Gohan sat at his desk in his room, a book laid out before him and pencils and papers strewn about everywhere. He was trying with all his effort to focus on the print before him detailing Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and how it related to the superstring theory but he just couldn't bring himself to muster enthusiasm for it. Gohan had his elbow perched on the desktop, supporting his face, his eyes half closed, deep in thought.

It was all my fault, he thought. I don't care how much Daddy says it wasn't me; if I hadn't toyed with Cell, he'd still be alive.

Technically speaking, that wasn't really true — once the Z Warriors had gathered the Dragon Balls on Kami's Lookout, they had theorized on using the Dragon Balls to teleport themselves to New Namek and revive Goku there, since the Namekian Dragon could restore those who had died once before, but the pure-hearted Saiyan contacted all of them from the Other World, insisting that he should remain dead so their longtime enemies couldn't hunt him down, but it didn't ease the pain in Gohan's heart.

Oh, Daddy... he thought sadly, feeling the beginnings of tears welling up in his ears. I'm so, so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?

With that, Gohan laid his head down on the desktop and finally gave in to his torn and wildly fluctuating emotions, sobbing like a little baby as he let his agony and grief take hold of him and run its course. For how long Gohan remained like this, he couldn't say, but he was aware of eventually calming down, and finally, lifting his head up. Sniffling, he wiped his nose and looked back down at his textbook.

It was smeared wet by tears and snot, and Gohan sighed, knowing instantly that his mother wasn't going to be happy about this, but he doubted she'd notice; Chi-Chi was still dealing with the effects from Goku's decision as well, and even now, even through the walls of the house, he could hear her crying. She would often cry whenever she thought Gohan wasn't around, but he could still hear her, and Gohan knew any efforts to try and talk to her about it would be shot down.

Gohan was seriously contemplating just going down to talk to his mother about sharing her problems with him when suddenly, without warning, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and he tipped backward in his chair, which crashed into the ground with a thud.

"Aaaaahhhhh!" he cried.

It was horrible. He tried to move, but it felt like there was a thousand pounds on his torso. He couldn't lift himself!

"Gohan!" he heard his mom from outside the door. "Gohan, what's wrong?"

She rushed inside, kneeling quickly by Gohan's side as he clutched at his heart.

"Aaaahhhhh!" he cried out as another sharp jolt shot through his chest.

"Gohan, my baby, speak to me!" Chi-Chi demanded, laying her hands down on Gohan's shoulders and shaking them.

Blearily, Gohan opened his eyes. He could barely focus them on her.

"Get... Bulma..." Gohan gasped. "Need... Trunks's medicine..."

"Oh no!" Chi-Chi wailed. "You have Goku's heart virus!"

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhh!" Gohan screamed as the pain intensified.

By the end of the day, all the other Z Warriors knew. However, to their horror, the medicine Trunks had brought back with him from the future to cure Goku's heart virus was gone and with no way to get in contact with the future Saiyan, there was absolutely nothing that they could do. Of course, Chi-Chi refused to give up without fighting. She called as many doctors as she could, but they all said the same thing: There was nothing that could be done. After shouting herself hoarse, she finally came to accept the truth.

That final day, the entire gang had assembled to see Gohan off.

"I can't believe this!" Yamcha raged. "Gohan saved us all from Cell, and this is his reward? It's so unfair!"

"I know, Yamcha," Tien comforted his friend. "It stinks."

Piccolo said nothing, but deep inside, his heart was tearing itself to pieces. How could this be? Gohan, the boy he had trained so long ago, the spoiled crybaby who grew into such a fine youth, the boy he had vowed to watch over and protect, how could he be dying? Yamcha was right, the green-skinned man thought. It was totally unfair. Was this how fate rewarded its heroes? First Goku, and now Gohan.

For reasons that were unknown to anyone else, even Vegeta was there, taking time off from his busy training schedule to attend what was basically the death of Gohan. No one there knew why, and no one there was brave enough to ask him, but Piccolo suspected that, for as much as Vegeta might feign nonchalance, he was there in an unofficial capacity as the Prince of his race to see off the last of his kind besides himself and Trunks.

"It's almost time now," Piccolo spoke, his dull baritone piercing the dull silence that had momentarily descended on all of them. He turned his head towards Gohan's room. "Gohan's life force is getting weaker and weaker. It won't be long."

In the midst of their sorrow, none of them had even noticed a life force drawing closer and closer, none but Vegeta, who glanced over as the door suddenly burst open, and a lavender-haired young man flew over the threshold. All eyes turned to face the newcomer. Still panting in exhaustion, Trunks nonetheless wasted no time in saying what he wanted.

"I just heard from my grandmother," he said. "I came here as soon as I could. How's Gohan?"

Vegeta scoffed and looked away.

"Dying," Piccolo commented neutrally. "It'll be any moment now."

"What are you saying, Piccolo?" Yamcha demanded optimistically. "Trunks is here! All we need is his medicine from the future!" Eagerly, he glanced back at him. "Trunks, can you get it? We really need it!"

"Save your breath, wolf-boy," Vegeta snarled. "In the time it would take you to get in your time capsule, return to the future, and return with that heart medication, Kakarot's son will already be dead. You may as well stay."

"Are you sure, Vegeta?" Bulma asked, holding baby Trunks in her arms. "Wouldn't it be better to try?"

"No, Vegeta's right," Tien said, looking sick. "There's just not enough time. It would be a wasted effort."

"Damn it!" Trunks yelled, slamming his fist into the wall and causing an indent. "If I'd only come back sooner... this wouldn't be happening! Now I have to stand by and watch him die all over again! It's just so stupid!"

And with that, Trunks slid down the wall, tears falling down his cheeks. Bulma moved to comfort him as Piccolo resumed his vigil, his eyes fixed on the door to Gohan's room. It wouldn't be longer now.

Inside the room, Gohan lay on the bed. Chi-Chi knelt beside it, her hand clasping her baby boy's. With the assistance of morphine, Gohan was coherent enough to speak, but from the fading expression on his face, it was quite clear her son was nearly gone. Tears cut long swaths down Chi-Chi's beautiful face, but despite her sorrow, Gohan couldn't help but smile.

"It's... okay, Mom," he insisted. "I'm off to see Daddy now..."

Chi-Chi nodded, tightening her hold on Gohan's hand.

"I know. Please tell him I love him and I'll be waiting for the day when I see you both again," she asked him.

"I will..." Gohan said distantly, and with that, his head fell back against the pillow. His whole body slumped, and Gohan, the son of Goku, savior of the entire world, lay there on the bed, now dead.

Yeah, I know I should be focusing on A New Beginning and Altered Fates, and trust me, I haven't forgotten them, but I figured I'd try my hand at uploading a new fic from an old premise. Tell me how you like!