Shattering of a Soul
•••
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, not at all. I wish I did, but apparently I don't even own the clothes off of my own back until I'm 18. Even if I bought them myself. Parents.
CHAPTER ONE:
He hadn't spoken in a while. It was strange, honestly. His son had come back from training with Piccolo alive and happy, and so had Goku. Goku had noticed Gohan's silence in the hospital after the battle with Vegeta and Nappa, but it was overlooked with the five year old telling his mother, in a firm, quiet voice, "I'm going." Everyone overlooked Gohan's silence because of that. Gohan had left the room despite Chi-Chi's threats, and had gone and sat on the balcony for the rest of the day. They had all assumed that Gohan was just grieving. Then on Namek. Krillin and Bulma both agreed that Gohan only spoke when there was no other option for him. When Goku found out about Frieza, and rushed to save his friends and son, he found Gohan with a broken neck. Even when Gohan was awakened, he did not respond much to Goku. Goku brushed it off as shock. The Goku was told that Gohan was silent while he was on Yardrat, and silent when Frieza reappeared. He was silent when Trunks came and silent when he learned of the androids.
Now, Goku was back home. Their three year period of training had just started, and everyone had started training. Piccolo, Goku, and Gohan started training, until one day, Gohan was forced to stay home for his studies, and Piccolo pulled Goku aside for a conversation. Piccolo had noticed a change in Gohan – Gohan no longer spoke. Goku tried in vain for the rest of the day to get his son to say something, but Gohan always managed to dodge having to use his voice. It was the day after that, a Thursday to be exact. One week ago, Goku, Piccolo, and Gohan had started their training. And today, on this stupid Thursday, Goku had called on the whole gang. He and Piccolo sat everyone down (Chi-Chi, Tien, Chaitzou, Yamcha, Bulma, Vegeta, Krillin, Puar, Master Roshi, Oolong, and the Ox King.) at Master Roshi's house, and were having a very serious conversation about Gohan's mental health.
"So, everyone." Goku waited for everyone to sit down before speaking. "This is about Gohan."
"What's wrong with Kakkabrat?" Vegeta snapped. He had taken to calling Gohan that after Namek.
"Shut up." Piccolo had his 'Mama-Piccolo' face on and was clearly not to be messed with right now. "When was the last time anyone here heard Gohan speak? When was it?" Piccolo watched as everyone thought about this. "Vegeta, the last time you heard Gohan speak was when he told you off during your battle, when you were here to destroy the planet. Bulma, Krillin, Master Roshi, Puar, Oolong, and Chi-Chi, the last time you heard him speak was when he told Chi-Chi that he would be going to Namek and that was that." Piccolo's voice was clipped, barely containing his rage. "The last time I heard Gohan speak was during my training with him, when he called me his 'Big Green Uncle' before bed. And even then, I barely caught it. The last time Goku heard him speak? When he yelled at Vegeta. Don't any of you see that it has been years since we've heard a clear sentence from him? Years. We need to find out what's going on with Gohan, and fast."
"Oh man…" Krillin scratched the back of his head ruefully, looking around at the others. All were stunned, shocked, or thinking about the last time they heard Gohan's voice. "Gohan always seemed so happy… I wonder why… and how that changed." Krillin frowned, thinking. "Maybe all the pressure from fighting got to him? We HAVE asked a lot of him, considering his age you guys. Maybe that's it?"
"I don't think so." Goku countered. "Gohan always seems to light up when we tell him it's time to train. He likes to train and fight. After a spar, he'll look a little desperate, as if he's going to say something to us, but he doesn't. It's something else. Something else is hurting my son, and I'm determined to find out what it is!"
"Perhaps your harpy of a wife is to blame." Vegeta shrugged. "Your son has an infinite amount of patience compared to me. I would have killed her before now." Vegeta cursed out loud, holding the back of his head as a ticked off Bulma stood behind him, a frying pan in her hand. She gave him another snack for good measure, causing the Saiyan Prince to sit back down and shut up.
"I think I would know if I was hurting my own son." Chi-Chi scowled at Vegeta, rage fuming across her features. "Besides, you're one to talk. Sleeping with Bulma and then having a child. You're not going to take care of it once it's born! You're going to hurt it! I bet that as soon as it learns to walk, you're going to start training it. I have never hurt Gohan, thank you very much! He's MY child, and I know what's best for him. Shouldn't I?!" Chi-Chi screeched. Everyone looked taken aback at Chi-Chi's aggressiveness, but they all dismissed it as her simply worrying for her child. She sat down on the couch with a huff, glaring away from Vegeta.
Piccolo looked over at the door as Gohan entered the house. Gohan had been searching for them for a couple hours now, and Piccolo could tell. Piccolo spied on Gohan's thoughts, finding that the boy was confused about why everyone was here and why they were looking at him so seriously. Piccolo felt it as Gohan's blood ran cold, as the boy went into full out panic mode. Piccolo was roughly shut out of Gohan's mind. Piccolo opened his eyes and stared at Gohan. The boy's face was impassive, not giving anything away. What was he so afraid of? Piccolo followed Gohan's gaze as the boy looked around the room, trying to look innocent and simply curious.
"Gohan, tell all these morons here that everything is fine." Chi-Chi snapped. She had her arms crossed and was staring Gohan down. The boy seemed to shrink under her piercing gaze. Piccolo's eyes narrowed as he tried to puzzle out the pieces of the clues Gohan and Chi-Chi were giving to him. "NOW, Gohan." Chi-Chi stood up, towering over her seven year old son. Gohan was in the outfit his mother favoured – a black coat, black boots, jeans, and a white polo shirt. He had refused to cut his hair, though, and it was halfway down his back, spiked everywhere. Chi-Chi glowered at her son and pulled on his hair, hard. Gohan's mouth moved in a silent yelp, not making any noise.
"We're cutting this." she snapped, giving another hard tug on it. "Your father may be able to get away with it, Gohan, but it is not acceptable for a scholar such as yourself." Chi-Chi continued pulling on Gohan's hair, pulling him towards the door. She opened the door and was about to leave, but the tall green Namekian was determined to stand right in her way. "Move." Chi-Chi snarled. Piccolo crossed his arms, staring Chi-Chi down.
"I'm not moving until you explain what you've been doing to your son." Piccolo snapped. Vegeta stood up, face filled with a murderous rage. Vegeta had been abused by his own father, abandoned by his mother. He, until the naïve Goku, understood exactly what was going on. The two acted as a wall between Chi-Chi and the door.
"I said, MOVE." Chi-Chi tried to slap Piccolo across the face, but he didn't even flinch. Piccolo strode forwards and slapped Chi-Chi right back. She went flying, releasing her grip on her son. Gohan collapsed to the floor, shaking. Piccolo picked Gohan up, cradling his student. His left arm was underneath Gohan's knees and his right was balancing Gohan's back. Vegeta stood in front of Piccolo defensively, prepared to defend the Namek and his charge with tooth and nail.
"Piccolo!" Goku stood up. He glared across the room, running to his wife. "What was that for?! I mean, she wasn't hurting Gohan!"
"Then you're blind, Kakarot. It's clear to me now. Your wife had been abusing your son." Vegeta snapped. "She has been hitting, slapping, whipping, and abusing your son. He trusted her, he loved her. She used both against him, making him feel worthless and like he deserved exactly what he got. I know because I've been there before. Don't ask me why the harpy bitch is harming her son, there's never a reason that's an actual reason." Vegeta watched as Goku's mouth opened at Vegeta's words, looking down at Chi-Chi. His hands, which had once been patting the dust off of his wife, were shaking.
"You little brat." Chi-Chi stood up, seeing Gohan sit up and rub his eyes. She glared at him across the room. Gohan shrunk back, holding onto Piccolo's gi for dear life. Gohan buried his face in Piccolo's chest, desperately trying to block his mother out. "I told you not to tell anyone because this would happen." Chi-Chi snarled. "They're going to turn their back on you, Gohan. I was protecting you. They would throw you into battle without a second thought about it. You will die if you go with them. And what the hell was up with you and your no-speaking stunt? Trying to get attention?" Chi-Chi tried to walk over to her son. "It isn't working. You're a stupid, half alien brat who doesn't know how to-" Chi-Chi's words were cut off as Vegeta slammed his fist into her cheek. She went flying through Master Roshi's house, skipping on the sand and resting on the beach.
"I'm taking Gohan. I will warn you only once, Goku – if you wife shows up on the Lookout…" Piccolo glared daggers at Goku. "I'm going to kill her." Piccolo turned and left, Gohan shaking in his arms. Gohan was clutching onto Piccolo's gi, shaking from head to toe. Piccolo's cape flared out, hiding the two from view as he stormed out of the house. Vegeta followed after a moment, staring everyone dead in the eye. Piccolo waited for Vegeta to catch up. The two aliens had a mutual agreement to protect the child – Piccolo because he loved Gohan, and Vegeta wanted to protect Gohan because Vegeta went through the same thing. And even Vegeta knew that helping Gohan fight his demons might help him fight his own.
Piccolo took to the sky, blasting off and leaving a white aura behind him. He was nothing more than a white streak across the sky now. Vegeta followed, in the same aura state. Vegeta caught up to Piccolo, and the two really put the pedal on the medal, shooting off for the Lookout. They both believed that Kami and Mr. Popo would be able to help.
Krillin shook his head in disbelief. "Wow… I… didn't see this coming." he said, watching Piccolo and Vegeta fly away with Gohan. "Not at all..."