Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. If I did, Dragon Ball GT would've turned out completely different. DBZ and all names, characters, and like thereof, is the property of Akira Toriyama.
Author's Notes: Italics are used for Gohan's human side as well as the thoughts of others.
Bold Italics are used for Gohan's Saiyan Instincts
Several characters in this chapter may appear EXTREMELY OOC
-AHC-
Chapter 4: An Unexpected Statement
Gohan made it home in fifteen seconds. He had tears in his eyes from his words with Hercule, but that was only a part of what had been troubling him. He had nearly lost control. Hercule's ignorance almost drove Gohan over the edge. Gohan had been ready to punch Mr. Satan's head clean off his shoulders, much like he had done with the Cell Juniors when he had reached Super Saiyan 2 for the first time. The only thing that had stopped him was the thought of Goku. What would his father say if he had seen the way Gohan had acted?
"You must be so ashamed of me, Otou-san." He murmured as he stormed into the house. He placed the storage capsule containing the groceries on the table, and proceeded directly to his room. Chichi, who had been sitting in the living room with a sleeping Goten when her eldest son walked by, saw the pain in her son's eyes, immediately shut off the TV and followed him.
"Gohan?" She asked. "Gohan, what's wrong?"
"I don't want to talk about it." He mumbled, trying to blink back the tears stinging his eyes.
"C'mon son," she said softly. "You can't keep things bottled up-"
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" He screamed.
Chichi was taken aback. Gohan had never raised his voice to her before, and hurt, sadness, and anger flashed in her eyes for a brief moment, but then it dawned on her that whatever was troubling her son enough to change his behavior THAT much must be serious.
"Well, when you want to, I'll be here for you" she said quietly, placing her right hand on his shoulder.
His mother's reaction shocked him. He was sure he would get that third meeting he was dreading earlier. Her unexpected quietness made him want to cry more, but he resisted. He hugged her tightly.
"Thanks." he choked out, and then closed the door to the room. He flopped down on his bed, and stared at the ceiling. The memories of what happened moments ago kept replaying in his mind. The rage he kept bottled up within had erupted to the surface when Hercule interrupted the casual conversation between himself and the girl…that oaf's daughter…
-AHC-
As Gohan pondered, the phone rang. Chichi absentmindedly answered.
"Hello, Son Residence"
"Hi Chichi?"
"Yeah"
"It's Krillin."
Krillin was Goku's, and eventually Gohan's best friend. He had trained with Goku when they were children, and he and Gohan became close during their adventure on Namek nearly eight years ago.
"Oh. Hey Krillin. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Look, is everything alright? I sensed a serious spike in Gohan's power, but it was only for a minute."
'That must have something to do with Gohan's mood.' "I'm not sure. I sent Gohan to get some groceries for me, and when he came back, he was in a really bad mood."
Krillin sighed. "What could've happened?"
"I don't know. Maybe you can talk to him, and find out what's going on with him."
"Good idea. Put him on, please."
"Just a moment."
Chichi approached Gohan's closed door, and gently knocked. "Gohan? Telephone for you. It's Krillin."
'Great. Now the concern begins.' "Alright," he called. He opened the door slightly and grabbed the cordless phone from his mother's outstretched hand.
"Hey Krillin." Gohan said, trying to mask the pain in his voice.
"Gohan, what's wrong?" Krillin demanded.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Gohan figured he could get Krillin off his back if he played dumb.
"Don't give me that, Gohan. All of us could sense the power you were giving off. What happened?"
"I was training," he lied. "I got these sweet weights from Piccolo that increases the weight depending on how much ki the wearer gives off!" He added excitedly.
"Well, your mother said you were upset when you got in. What was that about?"
"I was. Too much weight, too fast. I was mad at myself because I couldn't handle it."
Krillin could tell Gohan was lying, but realized that pushing the issue wouldn't give him the answers he wanted. He forced a laugh. "You Saiyans and your training. Well, if that was all, I'll let you go then. Later bro."
"Later. Tell Eighteen I said hello."
"WHAT! Eighteen? How did you-"
"Bye!" Gohan hung up the phone before Krillin could finish. Teasing Krillin made him feel a bit better, but he still felt terrible about what could've happened back in the city. He was startled by a knocking on his window. He looked over, and Piccolo was standing there, looking slightly annoyed. Gohan opened the window and slid out.
"It's about time, Gohan." Piccolo said gruffly. Gohan flashed him the 'Son Grin'
"Sorry Piccolo. I was on the phone with Krillin. What's up?"
"What happened with you earlier? I sensed an extreme power coming from you."
"Oh that?" he said innocently. "I was training."
"Gohan, you know better than to lie to me. I do have the former guardian of Earth within me, as well as living on the lookout. I know you were in Satan City. I felt the first little burst of ki. I felt what happened a few minutes later. What. Happened?" Piccolo demanded.
Gohan sighed. Piccolo always could read him like a book. "I ran into Hercule." The teenager replied.
"So?"
"He insulted my dad."
"I see." He said with a sigh. "Gohan, you can't let ignorance get to you so. He doesn't know any better, so he copes with what he doesn't understand by labeling it as a trick."
"I know that Piccolo, but Hercule's not what is bothering me."
"Then what is?"
"Ever since I defeated Cell, I've…" Gohan sighed again. "I've been waging war within myself. I'm finding it harder to control my instincts…My Saiyan instincts, that is. I've been slowly neglecting my studies in favor of training more, and now these repressed instincts have created a physical manifestation…Well, he's not really physical, but I've seen him in my mind's eye. That's the reason for the first outburst. That was actually an accident. I was in a store, and I was thinking, and I kind of knocked over three aisles. I was so embarrassed."
Piccolo looked away, blushing in embarrassment for the boy. Then he got serious again. He turned back to the teenage Demi-Saiyan. "What caused the second one? Was that one an accident as well?"
Gohan winced, and sighed yet again. "Yes and no. I didn't mean to lose control like I did, but the scariest part of it was…"
"Yes?"
"Part of me liked it. That part of me was urging me to treat Hercule like a Cell Junior; to punch his head off his shoulders."
Piccolo looked at his former protégé with mild curiosity. He had had no idea that the kid was dealing with something this complex. He knew what it was like to be two different people, back when he was Kami and King Piccolo. He, being a Namekian, simply split himself apart, and then re-fused years later. But Gohan was a Saiyan, and they can't do things Namekians can. He sighed.
"I'm not sure what to tell you Gohan," his voice barely above a whisper. "But I know someone who can."
Gohan was confused by that statement, but then noticed the large ki level coming toward him. It was Vegeta. The Prince of Saiyans landed about ten feet away, and marched toward the Namekian and he Demi-Saiyan.
"Alright, boy," he began in a contemptuous voice. "Talk. What the hell was that ki spike earlier?"
Gohan looked to Piccolo, who merely nodded, and then made his exit.
Gohan told Vegeta the entire story, word for word, as he told Piccolo.
"Is that all?" He asked incredulously.
"Is that all!" Gohan echoed. "What the hell do you mean 'Is that all!' I'm going through a major crisis here, Vegeta!"
"No. You're not." Vegeta replied. "This is a natural occurrence with Saiyans. It comes with adolescence. I went through it, and I'm fairly certain Kakarot went through it as well. You just have to let it run its course."
"Maybe I'd understand more if I knew all the symptoms." Gohan said.
"Symptoms? This is a Saiyan rite of passage, not the flu. You can't take a pill and have it go away. Have some pride for your people."
"Sorry. What are all the side-effects?"
"Better. Let's see… Inhibitions are tested, you become more belligerent, training and sparring become number one priority, and you begin to live for the challenge a fight brings."
"But what if it becomes something more than that? What if I hurt someone dear to me, or if I flip out and randomly attack an unsuspecting city? I'm the strongest fighter in the universe, not like anyone could stop me should that happen."
Vegeta's left eye began to twitch when Gohan began talking about being the strongest, but he kept his cool. "I hope it never comes to that, Gohan. You're too good of a person to be a mass-murderer, like I was. I'd much rather have Trunks turn out like you than like me…" And without saying another word, he took off, to return to his family in West City.
Gohan was in shock. Not only did Vegeta call him by his name, but he also just gave him the greatest compliment anyone had ever given him.
'I'd much rather have Trunks turn out like you than like me…'
Gohan smirked. "Maybe I will train with Vegeta after all…"
-AHC-
Author's Notes: A pep talk from the Saiyan Prince! What's Next! Only time will tell what interesting twist will befall our favorite Demi-Saiyan. See ya in the next Chapter!
POLL TIME! I need help in deciding Gohan's Superhero Persona. The Choices are:
The Great Saiyaman – 0 votes
The Gold Fighter – 5 votes
Super Saiyan – 0 votes
Gohan's superhero fate rests in your hands…