This chapter is after the seven-year skip. No Buu. No Saiyaman.
Saiyaman: In the name of justice, this is unacceptable-
GOHAN!
Saiyaman: ...Nevermind...Demanding writers...
Disclaimer: All I own is plot.
"Gohan...Gohan!"
The boy snapped to attention, realizing that he'd fallen asleep in class again. His training with Vegeta had gone long into the previous night. He could use all the sleep he could get.
"You look horrible," Erasa said with a frown.
"I'm fine. Class over?"
"Yeah."
He smiled as he stood to leave, but faltered at the concentrated look from Videl.
"Is something wrong?"
"You seem like you haven't slept in days."
Gohan shook his head and grabbed his bags. Videl was too perceptive - and too nosy.
"So, you're coming next week, right?"
"I don't know..."
"Please, Gohan? It's the last party of the year! Time to make memories before college!"
Erasa was relentless. Of course, she knew when to attack him. After school, when all he wanted to do was go home and lie down.
"I'll think about it."
"...Videl's coming."
"..."
At school, Gohan was fabricated. Everything was hidden. Every sentence calculated. But when he arrived home, he could shed at least one of his masks just as easily as his school clothes. The eyes were sharper and the steps were soundless. A ghost who meant something.
The door to the GR moved aside for him. Pneumatic hiss.
He met Vegeta's eyes. Black on black.
"Father," he said.
Gohan stumbled into his room. Amidst the ragged breathing and uneven footsteps, he somehow managed to remove his bloody shirt and collapse on the bed.
Damn him, he thought.
His training with Vegeta had gone fine until Mirai decided to join. That was always where it went wrong for him. Mirai.
The lavender prince had entered with that same arrogance. That same "Bow down to me." That same "I need no excuse."
Gohan almost hated him. Almost.
Of course, his adoptive older brother had taken the GR session too far. Vegeta hadn't bothered to intervene until Gohan could hardly stand.
My life is so messed up.
"So, are you coming or what?"
"Like I said yesterday, I'll think about it."
"Big brother..."
Gohan's eyes shifted to the pillar of light spilling from the open door. Two small pairs of eyes met his. Onyx and sky (They were just too expressive for "black and blue.") trailed over the bruised teenager bleeding through his sheets. They didn't blink. They found him like this half the time anyway.
"Hey, guys." No pain would stop the smile he created for his younger brothers.
Goten scampered over first, as he always did. Trunks remained at the door a bit longer, trying to look unconcerned.
"Coming?"
"Maybe."
"So, how was school?"
"Fine."
"Did you and Mirai get along alright yesterday?"
"Sure, we had a blast. I don't know why you worry so much, Bulma."
"Were you training? I know you had to use the regen tank-"
"Yeah, well, I guess we all got a little carried away-"
"So, why didn't Vegeta or Mirai have to use it?"
"..."
His silence spoke volumes, and her gaze spoke fear.
"Big brother, you're home!"
"Yeah!"
As Gohan worked on balancing Trunks and Goten, who had both excitedly latched onto him, Bulma worked on adjusting her expression. Her home had an unspoken rule that the children were not to be exposed to any unnecessary drama.
That rule wasn't in effect when Gohan was a child.
Trunks and Goten dragged their brother outside to play.
Gohan followed with his half-fake smile.
Bulma watched.
Then Bulma cried.
"Come on, Gohan. The party's tomorrow!" Erasa whined.
Gohan stopped eating and glanced at his friends across the lunch table. Erasa was once again pleading with him to attend her "end-of-high-school" party. Videl and Sharpener paid him no mind; they were too busy arguing over their favorite martial arts styles and whether Sharpener would be prom king and Videl ate Sharpener's fries and so on. He almost smiled. Sometimes he just couldn't figure out how he'd managed to make friends - yet here they were.
They were happy. They were human. They were normal...And he just couldn't understand how three beings so humane and unsullied and normal had grown so close to something so confused and deceptive and alien.
...And Videl...The girl was a puzzle that he longed to solve.
Since the beginning of the year, they'd played their own game - trying to figure each other out. Always thinking too far ahead, always a couple steps behind.
Never in his life had Gohan - confuseddeceptivealien - thought he'd meet a kindred spirit.
Never had he thought first love would perplex him so much.
'...Videl's coming.'
He met Erasa's eyes. "Sure, see you there."
The bell rang.
Reviews will get chapter three out faster!
And doesn't everyone like fast...?
...
So, REVIEW, ningens, before my Masenko obliterates you.
Saiyaman: Trust me, she's worse than Cell sometimes.
Cell: Do. Not. Compare me to her.