Bodyguard
Chapter 7: Regrets
Gohan had woken up late that morning considering they didn't get back to sleep until 4 or 5 am. Of course Sharpener and Gohan had made sure not to sleep anywhere near each other again. Gohan was still up a lot earlier than the rest though and was looking around for something to eat.
'Damn I'm starving' Gohan thought pacing around the kitchen looking in the fridge, then the freezer, then back in the fridge. Gohan was routing threw the cupboard when Videl came in.
"Who's making all the noise out here!" Videl said tiredly as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"I'm just looking for something for breakfast" Gohan said not bothering to look up over the counter.
"At 6 o'clock in the morning on a Saturday" Videl ask a little annoyed. Sighing a little she walked over to a far cupboard and pulled out a large box of cereal.
'Always the last cupboard I check!' thought Gohan as Videl pulled out two bowls and poured cereal in to each. Gohan seeing this and feeling kind of stupid went to the fridge and got out the milk.
"Thanks Videl!" Gohan said picking up both bowls and walking out of the kitchen leaving a dumb founded Videl holding her spoon. Shaking her head she went and grabbed another bowl for herself.
After pouring herself a new bowl she left to join Gohan in the reckroom. When she got there Gohan had already finished both bowls and was sitting on the couch channel surfing. Videl flopped down beside Gohan on the couch and ate her breakfast. Each stole glances at each other for the next few minutes, it was funny, they had never stopped talking all week and now there was an uncomfortable silence between them. They had talked a lot since Gohan came to the house but there was always a comfortable distance between employer and employee until this weekend of course.
"So what's on the agenda for today?" Gohan ask finally breaking the silence. Videl had been getting annoyed with his mindless channel flipping and was surprised by the question.
"Oh..um..oh..ya we were going to go to the mall this afternoon, then catch this new action movie I've been dying to see, don't worry you'll like it...then..." Videl hesitated looking around cautiously. And after the coast was clear she pulled Gohan into the far corner of the room. "Ok promise you won't tell anyone". Gohan shocked by her sudden burst of energy was a little worried now.
"Why..what are you up to?" Gohan asked eyeing her suspiciously
"Just promise!" Videl said poking Gohan in the chest.
"Fine.. I promise I won't tell a soul" Gohan said raising his right arm in a mocking term.
"All right..well Serina is going home to visit her sister in West City at 6 and won't be back until Sunday night so were throwing a little.. party" Videl said hesitating on the last word.
"Are you joking!" Gohan asked nearly yelling. Videl franticly shushed him taking another look around. "If your parents ever found out your dad will murder you".
"That's why he won't find out!" Videl said very angrily. "Don't worry it's only going to be a couple of people, nothing too rowdy, Ok!" Videl assured him." So are you in!"
"ah..ya I guess, but I better not get fired for this!" Gohan stated realising it was actually a very good possible. He didn't know what Mrs Satan would think
"Great!" Videl cheered." Now get ready we'll probably leave for the mall in a couple of hours". Videl quickly ran off somewhere leaving Gohan to scratch his head and worry about the rest of his weekend off. He had feeling it was going to be a long day.
About 4 hours later everyone was up and ready to go to the mall, Gohan had always hated the mall ever since he was young. He and his father would be dragged there by his mother were they would have to try on clothes for hours. Always looking around for a better deal. Both he and his father would always try to sneak out, and they would always get caught. Thankfully Videl or Lisa didn't seem to be that type and Erasa was too nice to force him to do anything like try on cloths. They got there in about an hour and began to follow Erasa as she jumped from store to store. Despite Videl constant complaints, it wasn't that bad and he actually got to go to some stores that actually interested him, he got some new normal teenager clothes and a few toys for Goten Trunks, and Marron.
It seemed ironic that he had bought a toy for Marron because as they were coming out of another store he heard a familiar voice.
"GOHAN!" a little blond girl cheered as she ran threw a crowd of people towards Gohan. Seeing that it was Marron, Gohan scooped her up and put her on his shoulder.
"Hey there Marron, what are you doing here?" Gohan asked looking around for Krillen's Ki but not finding it. Eventually finding a lack of ki from a person in the crowed he walked towards it, Knowing it could be only be one person. If you had told him 7 years ago that Android 18 would not only be married to his father's best friend Krillen but they would have a child together he would have thought you were crazy. But there she was in a crowded mall with her daughter shopping like all the mother in here. To an outsider she seemed cold and heartless but after spending enough time around her he found her to be a pretty good person and an excellent mother.
"Hi Gohan, me and mommy are here shopping for daddy" Maron said happily. "It's his Birthday!". By this time Erasa was finally breaking out of her shopping mind frame and came over to see what was going on.
"Gohan who that?" Erasa asked pointing to Marron."Hey there!" her voice change to a perky high pitch.
"This is my friend's daughter Marron, Marron this is my friend Erasa" Gohan said introducing the two.
"Hello there, well aren't you the cutest little thing" Erasa said pinching the little girl's cheek. Marron giggled a little and the two blonds warmed up to each other right away.
"18 over here!". Gohan called getting her attention seeing that she seemed quit worried at the moment. While worried for her at least most would probably say her face hadn't changed from her usual cold look.
"Marron! don't run off like that, you could get hurt" 18 said coming over and picking her off Gohan shoulder. Marron pouted a little bit but brightened up as Gohan reached into his bag and pulled out a stuffed animal he had gotten for her earlier.
"Ops I almost forgot !" Gohan said handing her a cute pink teddy bear.
"Thanks Gohan!" Marron said strangling the poor stuffed animal. Gohan just smiled at the scene and even 18 grinned a little. Android 18 never really cared for anyone but Krillen and she was normally cold and distance toward others even among the Z fighters but she had grown fond of the Son boy. Gohan had spent a lot of time on Roshi's Island playing with Marron and baby siting. Marrion was special to Gohan, he had spent a lot of time with her as she grew up helping out 18 and Krillen whenever he could. Although it was Marron who helped Gohan more.
FLASHBACK
Gohan was 13 Years old, it had been two years that day since his fight with Cell. Gohan had gotten back into his old routine of training and school work, trying to keep busy. He had tried very hard to put on a brave face, and live his life but every so often Gohan would grow distant. Stupid little thing would remind him of his father and of that day. Goten was a handful and with his mother always making him study it helped take his mind off of it. Not this day though, he finally couldn't take it anymore and snuck out to find himself on the steps of Capsule Corp. Gohan was angry and there was nothing better to let out a little frustration then a good fight.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT BOY!" Vegeta yelled before the door could fully open. Vegeta stood there in the door way staring down the young Sayain. He could tell what the boy wanted, the boys eyes burned with aggression. Like any Sayian even a half one, his dark black eyes shone with anger.
"Lets Spare!" Gohan said plainly and simply with little emotion.
"All right Follow me!" Vegeta said turning to walk back into Capsule Corp.
"NO!" Gohan said halting the Sayian prince in his place." A real spar, Super Sayians..No walls no rules!" Gohan said coldly. Vegeta face lit up with an evil smirk. Vegeta gestured for Gohan to take the lead and so Gohan did. He took off into the air and flew at top speed, turning super Sayian. Vegeta followed close on the boys heals going Super Sayian. Vegeta wasn't stupid though, he had realised that for the time being Gohan was far superior to him and he wouldn't stand a chance but what Sayian could turn down a fight.
Gohan seeing an open desert plan far away from people fazzed out and landed on a shattered cliff side. Vegeta did the same, landing on a pillar in amongst dozens of large craters .Gohan had not noticed yet but Vegeta had.
'Why does the boy want to fight here?' Vegeta thought ' This is were the Cells games took place, dose he even realize it?'. Vegeta could have contemplated the sociological reason for Gohan to come back here but seeing Gohan drop into his fighting stance Vegeta knew there was little time and dismissed it. " WELL BRAT, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR" Vegeta yelled getting impatient with the boy.
"BRING IT ON!" Gohan yelled lifting himself off the ground and fazing out. Vegeta turned around just in time to block the left kick aimed at his head, he tried to counter with his own left hook but it was smack aside and Gohan's left met the Sayians chin. Vegeta was thrown back by the hit but as he flew back his feet connected with Gohan's mid section knocking him back a few steps. Vegeta completed his flip and with a push off from the ground drove his fist in to Gohan's face sending him flying toward the cliff side. Gohan recovered and pushed off the cliff and rush at Vegeta who saw him coming and threw a punch at him but Gohan fazed out just before Vegeta's fist could hit him in the face. Gohan raised both hands over his head and they came down to club Vegeta square in the back. Gohan followed this up with a knee to the face. Vegeta mouth burst with a crimson red mist as he collided with hard rocky ground below. The prince was fare from beaten though and as Gohan attacked again Vegeta caught his kick and spun around to deliver a kick to the side of Gohans head. Gohan slid across the hard ground and into a small pile of rubble. Vegeta realised this was no spar and Gohan wasn't holding anything back.
"Dammnit Boy, what is this!" Vegeta screamed spitting blood and standing up out of his defensive position. "Your reckless, sloppy, and its pissing me off!". Gohan let out a loud in- human growl and charged at Vegeta who simply side stepped and tripped the enraged youth. " See what did I tell you!". Gohan just growled louder and charged again faster than before catching the prince of guard. Gohan fists blurred and blow after blow hit Vegeta all over his upper body and head. Vegeta was getting badly beaten and he knew this, Gohan was sloppy but the boys power was still far beyond his own. Vegeta would have to act fast to survive this enraged half breed, he power up as far as he could pushing the boy back just enough out of the smaller boys arm reach.
"FINAL FLASH!" Vegeta screamed as an enormous amount of ki formed at his finger tips, Vegeta's new attack was unfocused but made up for it in its power. Gohan had no time to react as the energy beam collided into his mid section sending him flying into the distance. Gohan recover quickly however and rolled off the enormous beam even angrier than before.
"Is that all you've got old man!" Gohan said in an evil tone that sent shivers up even the mighty Vegeta's spin. A small ball of energy formed in Gohan's palm and grew at a fast rate, far surpassing the capabilities of Vegeta's defence.
'Damnit, I can't stop it..I..I'll be killed' Vegeta thought pure horror crossing his normally cold confident face. Seeing this Gohan suddenly came to his senses as his anger faded away. Gohan stopped his attack and instead stared blankly at the ball of energy that he almost used to kill his friend. An ashamed look grew on his face as he looked to be contemplating something.
"This is all it would have taken" Gohan said almost in a whisper. Vegeta could hear it clearly though "I could have killed Cell with this energy ball" Gohan's emotionless voice made Vegeta a little nervous. "This is all it would have taken to prevent dad from dying" Gohan said before doing something that made Vegeta gasp. Gohan powered down from an ascended Sayian into a super Sayian still holding the enormous energy ball. Vegeta knew the danger in this act, and knew he had to act fast.
"Stupid Brat!, you can't control that much energy in that form!" Vegeta yelled fearing the boy would lose control of it. Gohan didn't seem to hear Vegeta though and stared at the energy which shot out sparks from lack of control. Gohan then powered down even further into his normal state, his energy ball became even more unstable and grew in size to about the size of his entire upper body. Electric like energy shot off the ball hitting Gohan in the face, it burned his face slightly and drew blood from his cheek. Gohan didn't flinch still staring into the ball of energy.
"It was all my fault" Emotionless word from what looked like an empty shell of the once happy little boy, now dark and emotionless. "I let him down, I let everyone down...Goten would have a father, mom wouldn't cry every night in her room, everyone would be happy!" Vegeta stepped closer to the boy trying to think of some way of talking the boy out of what he feared he would do.
"Don't do anything stupid now brat!" Vegeta warned but his threats were empty and he knew it. Gohan as if finally noticing Vegtea there turned to face him, a single tearing running down is reddened eyes.
"Tell them I-I'm sorry!" Gohan said as he flicked his wrist sideways letting the energy ball fall to his feet. Vegeta had to act fast if either of them were to survive this
'Damnit I can't stop that energy ball it's too much!... WAIT!" Vegeta thought. He lunged forward stopping a good 20 feet from Gohan. He threw an energy attack that struck Gohan in his stomach throwing him away from the falling energy ball . ' I hope that's enough' Vegeta though powering up and flying as fast as he could to escape the pending explosion. With both hurdling in opposite directions the energy ball struck the ground and exploded in a furious fireball tearing at the desert floor beneath it. Vegeta flew as far away as he could until the shockwave was on his heels. He spun around digging his heels into the rocky ground and powered up a Ki Shield in front of him. It held for a moment but was over whelmed by the intensity of the explosion and Vegeta was blown away. All that was left was to hope that Gohan would survive as well.
After all the dust had settled and the roar of the explosion had stopped Vegeta punched his way out of the torn terrain. "Damn that brat, he better not be dead because I'm going to kill him!" Vegeta said staggering to his feet. Vegeta was actually somewhat hurt and was bleed from a few decent sized wounds but the Sayian prince didn't let that stop him. He sensed for Gohan and found a week ki underground not too far away. He flew over towards the source and punch threw the ground pulling the boy from the rubble by his collar. "He's alive at least " Vegeta said to himself. Gohan was unconscious so Vegeta took off toward the Lookout which wasn't too far away. He landed at the Lookout within minutes and found Denda and Piccolo already waiting for them.
"What happened!" Dende yelled running over to the boy quickly healing Gohans' injuries. Piccolo also came over but said nothing just stared at Vegeta. Vegeta smirked at the anger he saw in Piccolo's eyes knowing the Namic had no idea what had just happened.
"This is how Sayian's spar" Vegeta said coldly. "And it's none of your business Namic!" Vegeta said turning to Piccolo. Gohan suddenly sat up taking in his new surroundings Denda had not finished but stop for the moment to let Gohan get his head together.
"ah..w-w-what happened?..where am I?" Gohan said rubbing his head. Denda was about to say something when Vegeta interrupted. He walked over to Gohan roughly grabbing his arm and taking off in the sky dragging the boy with him. "VEGETA PUT ME DOWN, WERE ARE WE GOING!" Gohan yelled over the howl of wind around them. All Piccolo's and Denda could do was stare as there retreating figure vanished into the light blue sky.
"Shut up!" Vegeta said coldly. Suddenly they stopped and Gohan, still a little groggy, was dropped into icey cold water. He splashed in the water for a moment before realising his feet were touching sand. He stood up quickly giving him a serious head rush. Almost to the point where he fell back down. Dende may have saved him any serious pain but he was far from good as new.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?" Gohan yelled getting into a fighting position. Anger present in his eye for the second time that day.
"What the hell was that for?.. WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK!" Vegeta said not bothering to get into his own fighting stance. "YOU JUST TRYED TO KILL YOUR FUCKING SELF BRAT, AND ALMOST TOOK ME WITH YOU!" Vegeta spat angrily.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU CARE!" Gohan yelled trying to fight both his nassea from his injuries and tears. "IT'S MY LIFE".
"WRONG YOU HAVE SAYIAN BLOOD, YOU WILL CONTINUE OUR RACE AND FORGET ABOUT YOUR STUPID REGRETS!" Vegeta spat, trying to justify his actions other than that he fact that he might actually care about Gohan.
"STUPID?...STUPID REGERETS!, I KILLED HIM...I KILLED MY FATHER, IT WAS MY FAULT!" Gohan yelled as tears streamed down his face. "If it wasn't for my pride Goten would have a father, mom would be happy and everything would be fine but I screwed that up. He's gone!". Gohan said pouring out his soul to Vegeta. Something he never though he would ever do.
"REGRET IS A STUPID HUMAN EMOTION IT HAS NO PLACE IN A SAYIAN" Vegeta yelled " THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY DO, LIFE IS TO UNPREDICTABLE FOR REGRETS SO QUIT YOU BLASTED CRYING!".
Gohan had enough, he lunged at Vegeta but became disoriented from his injuries and could only manage to stumble into Vegeta and land a few weak poundings on his chest armour. He was still crying and began to pull away ashamed when he felt Vegeta's hand on the back of his head. Vegeta roughly slammed Gohan's head into his shoulder baring Gohan's head. Gohan unable to free himself could only cry. Vegeta simple looked away with an emotionless face. To anyone watching it appeared as if Gohan was simply in a weird head lock. This was the closest thing to sympathy that Vegeta could ever showm but it helped
'What's going on here, it must be a Sayian thing' thought a nearby woman watching them. They stayed like that for about 5 minutes until Gohan's crying had subsided. The new women watch closely but choose to remain silent.
"Are you done boy!" Vegeta said cruelly. Then his hand gripped hard on Gohan hair and he threw Gohan down away from him. To Gohan's surprise his back hit sand and he slide a few feet on the beach. "DON'T CRY TO ME ABOUT YOU REGRETS, WHY DON'T YOU TELL HER YOUR REGRETS!" Vegeta said pointing over Gohan's shoulder. Gohan spun around to find a women behind him.
"ANROID 18!" Gohan almost yelled surprised to see her here, he hadn't seen her in more than a year. She had a shocked look on her face, so he knew she had been there for awhile. Probably came out to see what all the yelling was about as it was a very small island. Gohan notice she was cradling a baby who he assumed was hers thought he didn't really understand how.
"Tell her you regret not killing Cell before she was spat out of him" Vegeta continued. " Tell her you regret saving her life, or regret her daughter ever being born" Vegeta said coldly but in a calmer manner this time. Gohan was at a loss for word he just stared at Android 18 and then back at Vegeta. "If you had killed Cell when Kakarrot had told you too, do think either of them would be standing there?, TELL THEM ...WELL! GO ON BRAT!"
"I-um-I-I don't know what I" Gohan struggled trying to say something.
"NEXT TIME YOU PLAN ON KILLING YOURSELF, TRY THINKING ABOUT IT FIRST! AND LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!" Vegeta yelled powering up and taking off leaving Gohan on the beach still struggling with words. A gasp was heard from Android 18, she hadn't been there long enough to know what Gohan had tried to do and was shock to say the least. 18 always seemed emotionless but she felt pain for the child now. She had been a ruthless killer not 2 years ago and never felt sympathy for anyone, but now she was a mother with a family and her heart ached for Gohan. There was an awkward silence as both parties took in the reality Vegeta had smacked them in the face with. The Sayian prince was cold and ruthless with his delivery but he was right and both knew it.
"Would you like to come inside?" Android 18 struggled to socialize with the boy. She tried to plaster a smile on her face but it came out kind of distorted and awkward. Gohan rubbed the tears from his eyes and couldn't help but smile too, her genuine attempt to make him feel better.
"Sure, thank you very much" Gohan said getting up and brushing himself off. The conversation seemed weird as both acted as the event that took place a few minute ago never happened. He guessed both of them made an unspoken packed to forget what had just accrued.
"No" Android 18 said looking down at her daughter a more natural smile crossing her face this time.
"Thank you... Gohan!".
END FLASHBACK
Marron birth had saved his life and to his surprise so did Vegeta, he no longer regretted his action and knew it was for the best. Both his father and Vegeta said it best. "Life was too unpredictable to have regrets" and how could he regrets the life of this beautiful little girl. Vegeta had been the one to show him the way, he owed him one and Gohan had made a vow to pay him back one day.
"Umm...Gohan could you take me to the playzone well mommy finishes shopping?" Marrion asked looking up at him with her innocent big blue eyes .Gohan just smile and looked to 18 who simply nodded.
"All right let's go!" Gohan said putting Marron back on his shoulder and going to the Playzone after he linked up with Videl and the rest of his new friends. All the girls quickly took a liking to Marrron and they spent the rest of the day playing with her. After awhile 18 picked up Marron and they said there goodbye's before Gohan's group went to catch there movie and head back to Videl's for their party.
That's it for this one, stay tuned for the next one and the big party please r&r
