As Gohan's tear-stained cheeks soften he looks down, staring at the precious life form cradled in his barely-working arms. What he sees upsets him more than he already is. The sight of his sweet little Goten soaked in red, lifeless.
His brother was splotched in red with a few pale exceptions. None-the-less, his brother's stuck-in-time eyes pierced his broken soul. He stared at his once happy brother's face, reminded of the pain of loss and suffering that he has endured for much too long. He sighed, it was time to give himself a rest.
He was already broken as it is. He didn't deserve to live on. He didn't care if it was the cowards way out. It was the only salvation this world had left to offer. His brother and father were dead, what more did he want to see wither away? His soul shouldn't be stuck here! Like a bird in a gilded cage, trapped.
Gohan grimaced as he realized the only way out.
Suicide.
Gohan swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat. Suicide? Was that really the only way? A slow, sad death, to a warrior of great capabilities? He would not succumb.
The sentence played in his mind once more. I will not succumb.
Gohan quickened his pace as motivation filled his core. I will not succumb!
"I WILL NOT SUCCUMB!" he yells to the gradually darkening light of daylight.
Tell me, oh tell me, the way it works
Gohan's heart quickened it's beating as he stared at his favourite place to train. They're favourite place to train. A single tear made it's way down Gohan's dusty face as he remembered all the beautiful memories he and Goten shared.
Who is that inside of me?
The words of promise and bliss he gave to his younger brother made his lips curl into a heart-wrenching smile.
Here in this broken-down, broken-down world,
Regret seeped into his soul as he realized he could've said so much more. Taught to much more. Cared so much more. His face turned into a frown as he started openly crying.
You laugh, without seeing a thing
All of those times Goten reassured him everything would be alright when his mother would hurt him either physically or mentally. It hurt his soul and made it burn. His eyes widened as he saw they're families old fishing lake.
I'm just so damaged, I hold my breath
Someday! He promised someday he would go fishing with Goten! But, like his father, he didn't and that only leaves him with more sorrow and regret. His dirty and dusty face is now completely overtaken by salty tears that mark his loneliness.
Not even the truth, no not even the truth
A smile tugs and threatens to form as he sees the place where he and Piccolo would once train. The time they prepared for the Saiyans made him stronger and made his will and purpose appear. His mentor and best friend. Would he be proud now?
Can be unravelled now
"Of course not." he scoffs aloud, picturing his mentor's disappointed face in his mind. "My father's and brother's death is all my fault."
Freeze
Gohan head turns to Goten as he faintly smiles. "It's okay if you don't forgive me."
Breakable, unbreakable; shakable, unshakable
"But to be honest that's okay." he states aloud as he stops near the lake and carefully places his brother's corpse on the ground.
When I found you, it shook me
He slowly walks to the edge of one of the area's cliffs. He sighs at the wondrous sight. A beautifully illuminated sky with dazzling stars. It reminds him of the olden days. The peaceful days.
In this twisted world, I'm gradually growing transparent and vanishing
His feet are barely on the edge now, only held up by heels. He flies off to his houses room to retrieve the Dragonballs.
Don't look for me; don't look at me
As his fingers start to caress the magical orbs he smiles. Now he would be getting what he deserved and what others didn't.
I don't wish to hurt you in a world
Death.
Of someone else's imagining
His heart hurt as he saw his brother one last time before activating his salvation. As the skies turned dark he smiled as he saw the magnificent dragon appear.
Remember who I am
"ASK ME YOUR WISH." the voice of the breath-taking dragon boomed, demanding an answer from whoever awakened him.
My full, vivid self
"I-I wish for my life to be given in exchange for my other family life to be restored!" he declared sealing his broken fate.
Entangled in the loneliness that fans out endlessly,
"VERY WELL. YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED." Shenron announced preparing for the next wish.
Stung by the memory of smiling so innocently
"That is all S-Shenron." he managed with a hoarse voice that ached due to a upcoming heart attack.
I can't move, I can't move, I can't move, I can't move,
As the magical dragon disappeared he smiled as he lied down uncomfortably.
I can't move, I can't move!
His smile widened as he heard Goten cry in surprise and despair.
Unravelling the world
He thought he heard Goku's voice.
I've completely changed; I couldn't change back
But perhaps it was only an echo.
The two entwine; the couple perishes
Gohan's vision fades to black as Goten realized something.
Breakable, unbreakable; shakeable, unshakeable
His caring and compassionate brother is dead.
I won't defile you
As the youngest Son rushes to his oldest brother's corpse he sobs, not knowing what to do. What to do with Gohan. What to do with himself. What to do with Goku.
In this shook-up, twisted world, I'm gradually growing transparent and vanishing
As his knees give way, and he lands beside his brother's untouched corpse he hears his father yell his name. But he only ignores it.
Don't look for me; don't look at me
Goten's world silences as all awareness dies. All the need to know dies. All of the world dies.
Before the future comes completely undone,
His vision fades as he is overcome by the sickness and shock. Not to mention the aching despair that resonates deeply within his heart.
Caught in a pit of solitude somebody set for me,
As he looses consciousness he stares at his most precious thing in his entire life and afterlife.
Think back on who I am
"Gohan…" he whispers, finally breaking the silence.
My full, vivid self
Goku rushes as quick as he can to his youngest and eldest son. The pain he feels within his heart is like a scar ripping through his flesh.
Don't forget me, don't forget me,
His heart beat is like a never-ending cheer. As his knees buckle down and touch the cold, soft dirt he cries. With all the emptiness and loneliness he cries.
Don't forget me, don't forget me
He suffers the same fate as his younger self and faints, overwhelmed by all the emotions and happenings.
The change over me has me paralyzed
"Goku." Krillin whispers as he feels his best friend's Ki on earth. The other Z fighters do the same.
In an immutable object paradise
All of the Z fighters/relevant characters hear a sorry from Gohan.
Remember who I am
But perhaps it was only an echo.
Tell me, tell me,
Is there someone inside of me?
THE END OF THE BEGINNING. THE SONG USED AS this WAS TOKYO GHOUL ROOT A UNRAVEL (ACOUSTIC).