Hello Everyone! Thanks for checking out my new story, I really appreciate it!This time around I've gotten the hang of things, so I wanted to let you know that my chapters won't be added as fast as Kakarot: The Second Prince.I'm really going to do this with as much quality as I possibly can, so don't worry if it takes me a bit to update.As always comments or questions are very much appreciated, so go ahead and drop a review!Enjoy!

A Walk in the Rain

Chapter 1

The last rays of daylight were hidden behind the looming storm clouds. The sky was painted grey and the clouds were colorless, grey with rain and lightning. A strong storm was blowing in, bringing anticipation to the wary citizens of Amenbo Island. While parents were shielding their children from the ominous winds or the elderly were lighting their fireplaces for the cold and wet night, one man continued his walk down the road. As he walked in the street he gave a shiver now and then as the wind nipped at his face. Where was going? He himself didn't know the answer; he was simply taking a walk in the rain and reminiscing about the past. His name is Son Goku.

The saiyan was wearing a black and grey hoodie, underneath it was his old weighted training gear. His umbrella was as blue as the age old Gi under his sweatshirt, and his hair was unaffected by increasing drops of rain. As Goku looked around him he noticed the finely kept grass of the many yards that lined the sidewalk. He was walking in a subdivision, his subdivision. After the incident with Cell and the effect it had afterwards, the saiyan decided to move into a cozy house at the end of a cul-de-sac (Paid for by the Brief's) where he could settle down and adapt to normal life. Without Gohan or Chi Chi he found himself struggling to train, and after a while he stopped completely. His purpose in life was unknown.

Goku continued on down the street, beautiful houses lined each side giving it a homely feel. The residents of Amenbo Island did a remarkable job of recovering after the android incident. The atmosphere invoked memories that resided not in the saiyans head, but in his soul. His pace slowed down and his eyes wandered downward as he watched his feet take step after step; the continuous motion reminding him of his life for the last several years. Could he have done something differently? Should he have done something differently?

Then

"Daddy…" The eleven year old boy painfully spoke, pushing his broken ribs deeper into his lungs. His father had put so much faith in him…

"Goku you have to put an end to this!" Piccolo cried, looking the shocked saiyan in the eyes. He found no response.

"You're not going to stop him!? He's only eleven Goku! He's your son!"

Goku, for the first time, was frozen in fear; his body and mind unable to move. His friends around him were shouting and his son was crying out, but nothing seemed to move him. Where did he go wrong? He knew the power was in Gohan, but why wasn't it coming out?

"I don't know what power you saw in him Goku, but he's not releasing it! Your son is not a fighter! Gohan is not a killer!" Tears filled the eyes of the boy's original teacher. Piccolo had grown very fond of Gohan, he was like a son. He couldn't just watch anymore.

"Damn it Goku! You may be ok with your son's death, but I'm not!" The namekian grunted as he charged off to the fight.

Cell was holding Gohan up by the throat, delivering torturous blows to his stomach. The boy tried not to give in, but death began to seem like a relief. His ribs were puncturing his lungs and his body was crippled, but it was nothing compared to the emotional pain he suffered from. His father had trusted him to beat this monster and he let him down. Once again he was unable to save his family or friends.

The rest of the Z fighters followed Piccolo's lead, each one unable to bear the sight or sound of Gohan's torture. Even Vegeta, after a moment of hesitation, jumped in to help. Noticing the oncoming group, Cell dropped Gohan and turned to face them with an evil grin.

"Well well! Coming to save the day are you?" the monster mocked.

Each of the fighters landed in front of him, forming a line. First was Piccolo, and then to his left was Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, Trunks and Vegeta; each one willing to risk their lives to save the boy and the world.

"What's this? Six to one? That's unfair. This is a tournament, not a battle royal remember?"

Piccolo grunted and spat on the ground, disgusted at the never ending mocking. It was time to end this.

"Piccolo…." Gohan softly said as he reached for his friend. Cell smirked and lifted his leg to crush the arm of the boy. With a loud cry and scream Gohan's arm was broken between the hard ground and a metal foot.

"You bastard!" Piccolo screamed as he charged forward. Tears rolled off his cheek and dissipated in the wind as he closed in on the evil being that stood before him. There was no way he would let this suffering go on any longer. Cell stood motionless, dodging the namekian's attack at the last minute. As he whipped around, the bio-android grabbed both Piccolos' arms and dug his knee into his back. Piccolo was unable to move.

"Gah! Y-you monster!" The green ally mumbled as he tried to free himself from the painful lock. His arms were bound and a knee deep in his back prevented much movement.

"Monster? Is that what you think I am? Ha! No, what you see before you is perfection!"

Cell pushed his knee even deeper, resulting in a loud crack. Piccolo gave one huge gasp as he was released and flung next to his student. For a moment, their eyes meet.

"Piccolo…" Gohan tried to speak, but he was too weary.

"G-Gohan…" Piccolo managed to get out before his irises faded away. There was no way he would have survived a severed spine.

"Piccolo!" Krillin screamed as he watched his friend die. Even though he was no match, he charged Cell anyway. The nightmarish foe smirked and swung at the new challenger, but to his surprise he only swatted air. Krillin had disappeared and reappeared behind him, delivering a blow to Cell's neck. His hand was met with a hard and unmovable substance. The attack was futile.

"Hmph. Nice try, but with an attack like I can already tell you're not even worth fighting."

Cell grabbed Krillin's arm and swung him over his head. The Earthling hit the ground with a loud thud, spraying dirt into the air. As Krillin opened his eyes from the impact he saw a large Ki blast held steadily at his face. He knew it was over.

"No, Krillin!" Yamcha shouted as he rushed over to save his friend, but he was too late. A loud bang and an explosion of energy stopped him in his tracks. Cell had blown his short bald friend to pieces.

"Krillin!" He shouted as he dropped to his knees. Why did they all have to watch their friends die? Why was no one unable to stop Cell? As he looked up with tears in his eyes he noticed Goku on his hands and knees, still in the same place. The saiyan was clearly in pain, but he was more than able to fight. Before anything could be said or done, Cell disappeared into thin air, reappearing with his hand through Yamcha's heart. The Earthling coughed up blood as his hands fell limp at his sides. The monster took yet another victim.

I-I let everyone down… Gohan thought to himself as he watched his friends perish. W-why do I have to be so useless. Why do I have to be such a disappointment?

Piccolo, Krillin, and now Yamcha were dead. The only fighters left were Tien, Trunks and Vegeta. Cell gave a big smile as he soaked in the pure psychopathic chaos. He began getting carried away.

"My! These games are turning out much better than I anticipated! Is anyone else having as much fun as I am?"

Tien, Vegeta and Trunks glanced down at the three dead bodies. No one stood a chance. If Goku couldn't beat him no one could. Even Vegeta, all though he would never admit it, saw the gap between his and Cell's power.

Goku stood to his feet and clenched his fists, blood seeping through his fingers. Tears clouded his eyes as his aura began to glow. He slowly began to walk over to Cell, a fury beyond livid was brewing behind the saiyans eyes. He had finally got ahold of himself.

"D-dad…"

Now

The rain had let up a bit but it was still coming down at a steady pace. Tears rolled down Goku's cheeks as sorrow and regret filled his heart. He knew there was nothing he could have done differently; they were all outclassed by Cell. But still… He froze up, he let his friends die. Goku glanced up to see where he had wandered, his mind still floating in the past. His footsteps came to a pause as he looked at what lay ahead. A small stone path wound ahead and curved off out of sight. The path wove between a big grass filled park that was speckled with fallen leaves of red, orange, and yellow. The wind picked up and rustled the leaves of the autumn trees while the spread out park lamps lightly lit the path that was bathed in the night. The saiyan sighed and wiped his eyes before proceeding into the park with a heavy heart.

Not long after crossing over from the subdivision street Goku saw a park bench in the distance, he figured he would stop there.

The saiyan sat down and closed his umbrella, setting it next to his side. The tree canopy that hung above his head provided shelter from the rain while allowing a small amount to fall on his head. With a heavy sigh Goku took in the scenery and began to remember his family. As he looked in front of him and saw the green grass he remembered how Gohan liked to play and chase birds. The saiyan smiled as he remembered back to when he rescued the boy from going over a waterfall when he was four and a half years old.

"Gohan…"

Goku looked up and closed his eyes, allowing the rain that escaped through the canopy to wet his face. The wind blew some more, moving around the grounded leaves; it was dark but peaceful at the same time.

"Excuse me." A voice spoke.

Goku opened his eyes and found a man in front of him. He had a small amount of grey hair on his head and a full bushy grey moustache. The man wore a plain white tee shirt and jeans. With no umbrella in sight the saiyan was surprised to see him dry.

"May I sit?" He motioned to the bench.

"Sure."

The man smiled and slowly sat down next to Goku, holding his back all the way down.

"Old age, it can get the best of you." The man chuckled. "I can remember when I was young, when I could sit down with ease." Again a deep reminiscent chuckle arouse from his voice.

"Back then I took a lot for granted. Now I wish I could just move like I use too." The saiyans new companion looked him over and nodded.

"You have more to you than meets the eye son."

Goku looked over and furled his brow. He had just met the guy.

"What do you mean?"

The older aged man gave a smile of fondness. "I mean you have a lot of baggage and regrets. You have a lot to figure out am I right?"

Goku's eyes grew with surprise. "How did you-"

"I use to see it every day when I looked in the mirror, I know that look."

The saiyan sighed and bowed his head, staring at his shoes. The man was right; he had a lot to come to terms with.

"I don't have any plans at the moment." The man said as he shifted into a more comfortable position. "I'm listening if you need to get it off your chest."

Goku looked back up and slowly nodded. He couldn't keep suppressing the pain inside; he had to come to terms one way or another.

"You wouldn't believe me…" Goku doubted, the feeling of loss brewing in his soul.

The man smiled and gave a wave of his hand.

"Try me."