*Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story.

Warning: Violence, self harm, angst and character death.*

Gohan breathed harshly as he followed his friends and family out of the helicopter. Gohan felt tears build up in his eyes as he was completely ignored, but refused to let them fall. He shoved his emotions away, not wanting to lose them in the crowd.

They stood off to a more secluded spot, waiting for Goku to show up.

"Man, it's crowded," Krillin stated.

"Hey, Goten?" Trunks called, catching the boys attention.

"Yeah?"

"Do you really believe that story your mother told you?" Trunks asked.

"I don't know," Goten said, looking around.

Trunks glanced around, too, frowning after a few moments.

"Hey, where's our big brother?" Trunks asked, unknowingly catching the other's attention.

"Maybe he stayed at home? Or he's exploring?" Goten suggested.

Trunks opened his mouth to protest, but got cut off by a weird whooshing sound.

There stood none other than Goku.

"Hey guys!" He greeted happily.

"Goku!" Krillin called, trying to keep in his tears.

It was silent for a moment.

"So are you guys going to just keep standing there?" Goku asked and was immediately tackled by a large hug from a number of people.

"Oh, Goku, I missed you!" Chi-Chi called, noticing how Goten was hiding behind her.

"I missed you, Chi-Chi," Goku answered and looked her over, noticing the small boy behind her legs.

He pushed passed his friends, going over to the little boy.

"Hi there, what's your name?" Goku asked as he kneeled before the boy.

"I'm Goten," the boy answered.

They stared at each other briefly before Goten ran from behind his mother's legs.

"Daddy!" Goten yelled, hugging his father tightly. Goku laughed whole heartedly, not noticing that someone was missing.

Gohan was so angry, he felt as though he could murder someone. He stared intensely at the scene before him, how his father was playing with his brother. He remembered that his father never played with him like that, he was forced to grow up to quickly.

Once Goku finished playing with Goten, he placed the boy down on the ground and ruffled his hair. Goku looked at all the smiling faces around him. Well except Piccolo and Vegeta. He found it strange that Vegeta was glaring at him more intensely than normal. Once he looked over all his friends and family he noticed that someone was missing. He was to shocked by the fact that android Eighteen was a part of Z warriors to mention it at that exact moment. After he congratulated his best friend on his relationship with the android, he finally made a move to bring it up.

He was cut off by Baba clearing her throat.

"Just remember Goku, twenty four hours, that's all I can do," she stated.

"Thank you, Baba," Goku said, fully expecting her to leave, but watched as she stared at a spot by a tree.

"Poor boy," she muttered, before turning and leaving.

Goku went to bring up the question, but was cut off again.

"We should go to the check in station before they close," Piccolo said.

Everyone turned to leave, but Goku glanced around confused.

"Wait guys!" He called.

They all turned around, giving him curious glances.

"Guys, where's Gohan?" He asked.

Tension instantly filled the air.

"Goku, Gohan is- well he-I-" Krillin started, but got cut off by Vegeta.

"Your son is dead, Kakarot," Vegeta stated bluntly.

Goku felt his breath leave him far to quickly for his liking. Gohan was dead? When? How?

Goku suddenly started laughing hysterically.

Gohan stared at the man and couldn't help but face palm.

"Hahahaha, I'm sorry, Vegeta, but I think I heard you wrong! Did you just say Gohan's dead?!" Goku laughed, convinced that they were pulling a joke on him. He stopped laughing, however, at the grim looks on his friends' faces.

"B-but how? When? Why? I didn't see him in other world," Goku said, his heart clenching at the thought of not seeing his son again

"It probably has something to do with the way he died," Bulma said softly.

"W-what happened?" Goku asked.

"Gohan committed suicide, Kakarot," Vegeta explained.

Goku felt his world start to spin quickly as the words rang through his head. Suicide? But Gohan was so happy! Suicide and Gohan shouldn't even be in the same sentence.

"Why?" Goku whispered, feeling tears well up in his eyes, but tried to hold them back, he had to be strong. How long has it been?

"Because you left and didn't want to come back," Piccolo said.

Goku felt those words stab him through the chest, finally letting his tears fall.

"He was denied his father's love, not to mention that his pathetic excuse for a mother was to busy preparing for another baby to realize what her son was going through! He felt alone! Because in a sense he was. He didn't even get to meet Goten! And you know what, Kakarot? It's all your fault," Vegeta said, venom dripping from every word he spoke.

Vegeta had been bottling up his own emotions, not wanting to admit that he did miss the demi saiyan, even just a little. Vegeta felt some of the weight lift from his shoulders now that someone else had some of the blame pinned on them.

"We can talk this through later, Gohan wouldn't want us to be upset," Piccolo said.

Gohan scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah! Maybe we can gather the dragon balls and wish him back!" Goku said, excitement clear in his voice.

The others smiled at him, it was true, they had completely forgotten about the dragon balls. Together they walked over to the check in station, talking and laughing as if nothing was wrong. Gohan was very angry. How could they just brush off this entire thing like it wasn't a big deal?

Once they were signed in, the fighters were about to separate from the rest, but was wished luck first. Soon they were testing their punches to match the great hero Hercule.

If Gohan felt he wanted to murder someone before, it was quite overwhelming now. He needed to fight, he wanted a good fight, like with Cell.

"I don't understand, where is he?" Trunks asked, catching Goku's attention.

"He should have been here by now," Goten answered.

The two boys were frantically looking around, searching for someone.

"Hey boys, what are you doing?" Goku asked curiously.

"We're looking for our big brother," Trunks stated, still looking around.

Gohan felt some relief wash over him. So, they haven't forgotten about him after all?

"Big brother?" Goku asked.

"Yeah! He's been watching over us since we were kids! He's really cool, he always plays with us and reads to us, too!" Trunks answered excitedly.

"Really?! That's amazing!" Goku said, laughing while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, but mom told us that he isn't real," Goten said, suddenly very sad.

"Why would Chi-Chi do that?" Goku asked while frowning.

"It's probably because she freaked out that one night," Trunks answered.

"What happened?" Goku asked, eyes curious.

"Well, big brother was upset and flew away, so we followed him to make sure he's okay," Goten started.

"Yeah and then he landed by this abandoned place and Goten asked him what it was and brother said that the Cell Games were held there and that he also died there," Trunks continued.

"And then he said that he hated his dad and that it was his fault that brother died and then he started screaming and," Goten said.

"Then he turned into a super saiyan!" They both yelled together in unison.

Goku frowned, quite surprised at the kids' story.

"A super saiyan, huh?" Goku asked.

"Yeah, he's really sad most of the time, but he tries to hide it, I noticed though," Trunks boosted.

"No, you did not!" Goten argued.

"I did, too!" Trunks said back.

Goten huffed, folding his arms and puffed his cheeks, looking away from Trunks. Goten's eyes widened.

"Hey! Big brother! Over here!" He yelled, waving his arm wildly.

Gohan was slightly shocked that Goten saw him again, he seriously thought that no one would ever see him again. Slowly, he started smiling and walked over towards the group.

"Hey!" Trunks laughed, happy that their brother was there.

"Look, big brother! This is my dad!" Goten giggled, pointing at Goku before he started tugging on his father's pant leg.

Gohan glared slightly at Goku, who was glancing around, trying find him.

"I know," Gohan said through gritted teeth, though the little boys didn't notice.

"Hey dad, do you see him?" Goten asked.

"No," Goku said, blinking.

"Hey, brother, touch him!" Trunks said.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," Gohan said, not wanting to touch the man.

"Nah, it'll be fine!" Trunks said, grabbing Gohan's hand, he forcefully dragged the boy over to Goku.

The others stood, quite shocked that Trunks wasn't falling over, he was leaning forward quite a bit while he was dragging his imaginary friend.

Goku blinked a couple of times, staring at Trunks who was standing in front of him, still holding onto his big brother, a big smile on his face. Goku smiled and held out his right hand.

"Hi, I'm Goku," he said, not expecting anything to happen.

Goku felt an ice cold hand grip his, but he couldn't see who it was.

"I know who you are," a voice said.

Goku yelped in surprise, not expecting any of this at all.

The others looked on in suprise, this was new.

Goku got a serious expression on his face, still feeling the hand in his.

"So, you know who I am? How do you know me?" Goku asked.

"Let's just say, I'm an old friend," the voice answered. Goku frowned, that voice sounded so familiar.

"An old friend? Do I have to consider you an enemy?" Goku asked.

"Don't hurt the boys," the voice said, taking on a dangerous tone.

Goku was about to answer when he felt a Ki rise drastically. He felt his entire body shake from the power, a power that felt so familiar.

"What is that enormous power!" Goku heard Piccolo yell. So they could feel it to?

"Or you will regret it," the voice seethed, clearly angry.

Goku felt the hand leave his and the powerful Ki disappeared completely.

Goku was quite shocked, not having expected any of this to happen.

He looked at the boys, who were looking quite sheepish, grinning and rubbing the backs of their necks.

"Hehe, he's a bit overprotective," Trunks explained.

Goku wanted to ask something, but got cut off by the announcer who said that the child devision was to fight soon.

Goku felt confused, who was that? Why did that voice sound so familiar? Even that power felt familiar, but who?