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Chapter 7
As one, Gohan and Piccolo turned and faced one another. They had at least two and a half hours before their solitude would be interrupted, which should be just enough time for a quick spar. Shedding his cape and turban Piccolo powered up to his maximum. Since defeating Cell, Gohan's power had increased dramatically. Piccolo had been training Gohan in his base form lately. By increasing his strength at his base, it made each level more powerful. He could now not only control his seemingly endless supply of energy at will, but had found a level beyond SS2. Unfortunately, the amount of power released at that level was not only draining, but also caused earthquakes for miles around. Gohan had been trying to alter how he reached that point in order to take advantage of the power without all the drawbacks. He was getting closer.
As the two titans of power clashed, the echoes of their battle boomed across the barren landscape. Quickly splitting into tri form, Piccolo surrounded Gohan, trying to find an opening. He had to admit, the kid had definitely improved. Where he used to be a completely opportunistic fighter, he now utilized strategy. He considered his opponent, instead of merely waiting for an opening. It was a vast improvement. Piccolo's momentary lapse in attention gave Gohan just enough time to wipe out Piccolo's extra forms with a quick masenko blast. After being slammed back into a single being, Piccolo went back on the attack. They were so wrapped up in their fight; they forgot why they were even in the desert and soon had a captive audience.
"Videl, do you see what I see?" Sharpener was rapidly blinking staring at the two fighters in the sky.
"I see it, but how? They are moving so fast I cannot really follow their movements." Videl answered weakly.
"Now that's the kind of fighting you used to see at the tournaments!" Erasa's father, Mr. Rubber proclaimed. The group just looked at him, dazed from the display. "What, haven't you ever heard of Krillin, Chiaotzu, Tien, Yamcha the Bandit, Master Roshi? They were the great fighters back in the day. That boy said his father was Son Goku. He was the greatest. The fights they would have back then, the tournament ring would be in shambles. In fact the entire ring was destroyed in the fight between Piccolo Junior and Son Goku."
"It's all just tricks!" shouted Hercule nervously. "They are just using lights and mirrors and stuff. Just like that trickster Cell!" For once, no one quite believed him.
"Oi Gohan! Are you coming down?" Gohan looked down, his concentration broken for a split second. Piccolo moved in and using both fists sent Gohan careening to the ground. The impact caused a crater to form underneath him. Glaring up at Piccolo, he sent the thought 'Gee, thanks!' up to his smirking friend. It was not often that Piccolo got to do that anymore and it pleased him to no end to have the opportunity arise. 'Don't mention it kid, but it looks like playtime is over.' With that, Piccolo descended and stood by the crater waiting for Gohan to get up.
"Gohan!" Looking over, it seemed like the entire class was screaming at him. Hadn't they seen a spar before? "What?" he asked, lightly leaping out of his rocky hollow to stand by his sensei. No one seemed to have an answer for him. Instead, they were looking at the state of disrepair both men were in. Their gis were in tatters and both were covered in cuts, burns, and abrasions. But neither one seemed to be affected by their injuries.
"Mr. Son! What happened here?" Mr. Hyack demanded.
Shaking his head at the group's apparent lack of wits, he decided to take it slow. "A spar, we were passing the time."
"That was a spar!" That one came from Videl, she saw spars everyday at her father's dojo, but no one looked like that afterwards. She was looking at Gohan as though he had grown an extra head.
"Yes," he answered carefully, "a spar. Don't you practice that way?" The now excessively familiar look of shock covered her face. Shaking his head at them again, he turned back to his teacher. "I take it you all are going to set up camp?" He received a nod, "Okay then, we're just going to go and get cleaned up then. Be back soon." Giving Piccolo an exasperated look, the two took to the sky and headed for a nearby stream to bathe.
'Piccolo?'
'What kid?'
'Did I remember to thank you for coming with me? I am not sure my sanity would survive if I had to deal with them alone.' He conveyed his feeling of frustration to Piccolo as he continued, 'For once Vegeta is right though, baka humans!'
Chuckling to himself, Piccolo examined his friend. He had feared for Gohan's sanity when Goku first died. Not only was he just a child when it happened, but he had blamed himself as well. In his drive to prevent anyone else from ever having to suffer from what Gohan perceived as his own shortcomings, he trained himself mercilessly. He hardly slept, ate infrequently, and drove himself into the ground. That was when Piccolo had stepped in, he was going to lose the only person he ever had ever cared about, but no one else seemed to see how much Gohan was suffering. He insisted and actually had to force Gohan to stop training for a moment. When he stopped moving, Gohan finally broke down.
That was the first day the two started what was now their normal meditation together. By letting down all of the barriers, having someone complete accept him, and being able to feel it through his entire being, Gohan had started to heal. He still had moments, when it all got to be too much; when the stress of being the father figure to his brother, the perfect student for his mother, and the ever-vigilant warrior for the Earth would fray the edges of his control. It looked like they were heading for one of those times; acerbated by the additional stress of the last few weeks.
They had finished washing away the blood and sweat from their spar; Piccolo had zapped a new gi for each of them. 'Kid, you need a full meditation tonight.' Gohan looked over at his oldest friend; he knew what Piccolo meant by that. Piccolo just stared back, a brow ridge raised in challenge. Gohan sighed; Piccolo could always see when he was ready snap, usually days before it happened. His daily meditation helped, but it was when he worked in tandem with Piccolo, opening everything that he was, that soothed his soul. He loved it, but always felt like he was taking advantage somehow.
'I heard that!' Gohan flushed guiltily. He had not meant for that to leak to Piccolo. Sighing at his younger companion, Piccolo sent the feelings he received from those sessions across their bond, Gohan's eyes widening as he felt them, they mirrored his own. It was rare for Piccolo to share like that, he had always viewed emotional displays as a weakness. The fact he was willing to share with him showed just was how much Gohan had changed him. Having someone that he shared such a deep connection to was something the Namek treasured. Of course that did not mean anyone else needed to know, but Gohan did.
Nodding to his sensei, Gohan took a cleansing breath. They still had to check in with the rest of the group, he needed to hunt something down for dinner, and they needed to make their own camp. Gohan was personally voting just to ignore the group, but he also knew what would happen if his mother found out. Realizing how close he was to simply flying away rather than dealing with his responsibilities startled him. As usual, Piccolo had been right on target in assessing his mental state.
'I heard that too kid!' Piccolo allowed himself a rare shared grin as they moved to rejoin the group.
'Please tell me I am not seeing what I think I am!' Gohan could not believe the idiocy of the group. They had set up camp in the middle of a game trail. From their vantage point, he could see fresh T-Rex tracks, as well as the tracks from several different herbivores. 'If they stay there, they will literally get eaten alive.'
'Well, you said it earlier kid, baka humans.' Grimacing at the task ahead, they landed and started searching out the teacher.
"Mr. Hyack!" Gohan had found him congratulating the Buffoon on selecting such a wonderful spot.
"Ah, Mr. Son, glad to see you are okay, had me worried for a moment. What do you think? Your kits have been working perfectly so far." The man seemed so pleased with himself it was frightening.
"You need to have everyone pack up now. Then the entire group needs to move over at least half a mile to the west." Gohan felt rather proud of himself, he had managed not growl at the man.
"Look here little man, I am the champion of the world and I personally picked the best location for everyone. Now I realize that you think people need to listen to you because you use all of those fake tricks, but I know better, haha!" The loud grating voice of Hercule attracted several of the adults.
"What's going on Mr. Hyack?" Sharpener's father, Mr. Pencil asked, "Is there a problem with the campsite?"
"Yes," Gohan stated.
"No there isn't!" shouted Hercule.
"Son, care to explain?" Mr. Hyack was getting nervous. He remembered watching those old tournaments, and regardless of Mr. Satan's insistence at it all being tricks and mirrors, he had no intention of upsetting someone that demonstrated that kind of power. As well as the fact, that Gohan was incredibly intelligent.
"You bakas set up in the middle of a game trail. There are fresh T-Rex tracks not a hundred yards away. Do you realize what that will mean when the sun goes down? You are all going to be either trampled or eaten!" By now, Gohan was shouting at them. "If you do not wish to feed your students to the dinosaurs you will move the group now! Take everyone one half mile to the west, there is a safe enclosure and it is close to a fresh water source."
Half way through Gohan's shouted explanation most of the students had already packed their shelters back into their capsules and were ready to move. By the end of it, the parents had theirs ready to go as well. The one thing they had definitely learned about Son Gohan since he started school, he never gave a wrong answer. The teachers had tried, repeatedly, to find one thing he did not know in the subject material, had not happened yet. This young man was also so experienced in survival that even CC was utilizing his knowledge. If he said it was dangerous, no one was willing to bet their lives against him. Muttering, Hercule was drug away by Videl to pack up.
"We're ready Gohan!" Videl shouted, "Lead the way!"
"Do you want to lead, or watch the back for stragglers?" Gohan asked Piccolo.
Baring his fangs at the group, Piccolo considered his options. "I'll lead. Then, when they can't keep up, they are your problem."
"You heard him people! You will follow Piccolo, you will stay together in your pairs, you will not separate or try to go your own way. If you do, you are on your own when the sun goes down. Which I might add will happen in about an hour. Now move it!" At Gohan's order, everyone began following Piccolo's brisk pace. Several teens screamed when a dinosaur roared not far away. The great savior grabbed Videl's hand and tried to stay as close to Piccolo as possible. Shaking his head at the man's cowardice, Gohan concentrating on keep everyone together.
Half a mile does not sound like much but add in rough terrain and inexperienced hikers, and you have an hour-long ordeal. It was getting dark when they finally reached the enclosed valley Gohan had chosen for them. Piccolo flew away; he needed to set up their campsite. Gohan searched out the teacher, leaving the rest of them to set their shelters up.
"Mr. Hyack, please tell me you have survival experience." Gohan had a feeling he really did not want to hear the answer. He was tired, hungry, and on edge. All he really wanted to do was go find his dinner and settle in for the night.
"Um, no…but Mr. Satan is here and he said he knows all about this stuff because he defeated Cell!"
Groaning, Gohan looked at his teacher, the man that was responsible for at least 50 people between the students and the adults "Did you send anyone earlier to hunt or fish? Did you collect firewood for cooking, light, and warmth?" Judging by the uncomfortable look on his face, he was willing to bet no. He turned back to group that had gathered around them.
"Alright folks, you are in a safe place now, but you did not plan ahead for your night." Gohan addressed the group at large. He was not going to fix this for them tonight. Tomorrow he would make sure they collect firewood and did a little hunting but for tonight, they would deal with the consequences of their inaction. "No one collected firewood, so it will be cold and very dark. No one hunted or foraged, so you will have to use some of your emergency rations rather than having a hot meal. Stay together and do not wander off. Most of the predators come out at night; if you wish to see the dawn you will stay in this valley." Gohan turned to leave.
"Wait! You aren't leaving are you?" This came from the Buffoon himself. Incredulous, Gohan looked back at him. "Well, it's just that you seem to know a bit about this whole camping thing and….." He trailed off. Videl looked slightly alarmed that Gohan was leaving but she could not understand why her father was acting so, spineless. Several of the other parents were also distressed at the possibility of Gohan abandoning them for the night. He was the only one in the group that seemed to know what he was doing.
"Really an hour ago you were calling me a fake and a trickster. Now you want me to stay?" Gohan had had enough; the Buffoon had officially pushed his last button. "I thought the man that defeated Cell wouldn't be afraid of a little dark and a couple of carnos." His voice was cold, harsh with suppressed violence. Hercule tried to assume his victory pose at the mention of Cell, but the action was destroyed by his own squeal of terror when another roar echoed into the valley. "Nothing to say Mr. Savior? What a pity." The other adults present were confused by their champion's behavior.
Piccolo's head snapped around. Gohan's power was rising rapidly, if he did not calm down soon, the world would know who at least one of the Gold Fighters was. Flying back to the main camp, he immediately understood the problem. Satan was whimpering and trying to convince Gohan to protect him from the things that go bump in the night. The last time Gohan protected the Buffoon was the day that Goku died. Satan had repaid that debt by insulting nearly everyone and everything Gohan holds dear.
Landing beside him, Piccolo grabbed his arm. 'Gohan, you can't kill him.'
'I could just maim him.'
'No, you would not be able to handle it come morning and you know it. Now, go find something to eat, I'll finish getting the humans settled.' Piccolo forcefully shoved Gohan in the direction he wanted him to go and away from the Buffoon. Turning back to his audience, he growled at them. "You heard the kid, he said go to bed and stay there until morning. We will come find you in the morning and then if you are very fortunate, the kid might even show you how to survive so you make it out of here alive."
The parents quickly grabbed their reluctant teens and tucked them in for the night. Hercule tried to run away as well, unfortunately for him, Piccolo was faster. "Not you. You will tell your offspring to go to bed; then you and me are going to have a little chat."
Hercule looked at Piccolo in abject terror and turned to Videl who was watching everything with her usual suspicion, she had never seen her father behave like this. "Y-you heard the man Sweet Pea, just head on to bed and tomorrow we'll go fishing or something." Shooing his daughter off in a falsely cheerful voice, Satan prayed he would still be alive in the morning to go fishing. Grabbing the Buffoon by the back of his shirt, Piccolo flew off to find somewhere a little more private for their conversation.
