Chapter Nine; Distractions

A lone figure flew high in the sky over in Other World. The wind ruffled his mohawk as he flew at a casual pace. The Supreme Kai was making rounds and monitoring the progress of all the training warriors. His mouth was a grim, thin line as he assessed everyone. A disappointment was what the scene was. Time was running out, and it didn't seem like they were making enough progress. Why were they even bothering to prepare for the impending escape of Neeros? It seemed like a lost cause when he weighed it all together in his head. These sinister thoughts continued in his head as he flew on.

"What is that?" He peered ahead and saw a disturbance in the sky. Curiosity got the best of him and all discouraging thoughts were momentarily pushed aside. He drew closer and a look of dread and realization grew on his face. Before him were a few cracks that seemed to be forming in the very space of the air. They seemed like they were painted in the sky itself, but as he reached out towards it his hand was repelled, showing that it was very close indeed. He assessed the crack barely the size of his head then cursed. "We cannot let this come to fruition. He WILL be stopped." With a quick turnaround, Shin quickly flew back to the others. The training of all those preparing would be redoubled.

A month had passed and Gohan had continued his school/training routine. The inclusion of Videl in his time had been quite an adjustment, but somehow he found the time to continue training her and to be her boyfriend. There was no hiding their relationship from their friends and Erasa and Sharpner were in on their little secret almost immediately. Chichi remained unaware that Gohan and Videl were together, but she had her suspicions as she watched them interact with each other. A certain Saiyan prince was also suspicious of how Gohan was spending his time, and he had no intention of being polite about it either.

"What's eating you Vegeta?" A scanty nightgown clad Bulma watched her husband lay deep in thought on his side of the bed. He had gone to bed irritable, and any attempts to communicate with him had been shut down. She had decided to let him sleep on it and he had apparently not gotten any better. He seemed to be lost in thought, but he suddenly looked at her to acknowledge the question.

"I don't understand what the pathetic excuse for a Saiyan is doing to waste his time. All of these years, he hasn't been one to be a slouch. As soon as we all had our meeting at the lookout to find out what is going on, he had doubled his efforts to get stronger. Now over the past month his ki fluctuations have relaxed tremendously. He isn't pushing himself nearly as much as he has been. I want to find out what is going on."

"Oh Vegeta. Just because he's half-Saiyan doesn't mean he has to live up to your every expectation of how he should perform. He's still incredibly powerful and so are you. Maybe he needed to take a break before he pushed himself to the next level again? I'm sure you guys can handle whatever is coming when the time comes"

"This is not the time to be complacent. A human doesn't need to rest for a month, let alone a Saiyan. Doesn't he realize what is at stake?" Bulma looked at her mate in contemplation. Vegeta had certainly changed over the past few years. He was still gruff and put on these arrogant charades, but he had developed a soft spot. He really did care about what happened to his family, friends, and home. It had become his new drive to become stronger. Besting Goku was just a plus to add to his ambition. She drew closer and placed a reassuring kiss on his cheek.

"Everything will work out Vegeta. If you really are that concerned about it, then just talk to him." The Saiyan prince grunted before getting out of bed. He grabbed some training spandex and donned it before heading out.

"I'll do more than talk to the brat. Call him up after school." He departed for the gravity room, leaving Bulma to shake her head in exasperation before getting up as well.

"Would you two love birds quit whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears and come over here?" Sharpner waved at Gohan and Videl as he called them. They had lagged behind the blonde couple and were talking. Videl's arm had linked with Gohan's arm as they slowly followed behind. Over the past month, the two had grown very close. The training sessions between then served to not only improve Videl's skills, but to provide opportunities to spend time together as well.

"Leave them alone Sharpie!" Erasa huffed at her insensitive boyfriend. "It's very sweet."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. The sweetness can wait until the hunger is taken care of." Erasa rolled her eyes before following Sharpner to a table. Gohan and Videl soon caught up and joined them.

"How about we start interrupting you and Erasa, huh Sharpner?" Gohan smirked at Sharpner and watched him sputter while he was in the middle of sipping his beverage.

"Lay off brains. That's different." He crossed his arms and turned his nose up in joke indignation

"Yeah, that would be a nice blow to his inflated ego. Don't do it though. I savor the rare moments when my man is sweet to me." Erasa gave her boyfriend a sly smile as she received the response she was looking for.

"Come on babe! That's not fair! I'm sweet all the time!"

"Sure thing. Just eat your food." Sharpner pouted before biting into his sandwich. He shot all his smirking friends a glare while he chewed.

"Aw! Poor Sharpie! Don't pop a blood vessel now." Videl smirked as his glare only deepened. Gohan and Erasa snickered at the joke and at Sharpner's reaction.

"Yuck it up guys. Remind me why I even put myself through this again?"

"Oh come on Sharpner. It's not that bad. You know it's all in good fun."

"Yeah. Whatever." The long blonde pouted at his raven-haired friend.

Lunch concluded shortly and school didn't take long afterwards to wrap up. Perhaps the most popular group of Orange Star High walked on the green lawn of the campus. The crowds had thinned and they were talking time to do some afterschool chatting.

"So where is everyone headed? It's not the weekend for a few more days, but I was thinking we could all hang out at the ice cream shop, just for a bit?"

"I dunno Erasa. I have to check with home first." Gohan dug out a cellphone, courtesy of Bulma with which to call home with

"Well, my dad is fine with me going out as long as I'm home before dinner." Videl looked over at Gohan hopefully.

"Same here for me." Sharpner looked over at Gohan as he waited for the other line to pick up.

"Hello? Hey mom. I was wondering if...oh I'm sorry. Someone else is beeping in. It's Bulma. Just a moment mom." Gohan allowed the other call to come through, oblivious to the stares that two blondes were giving him. "Hello? Hey Bulma! What's up? Really? Do I have to come now? Okay. I'll be right over. Are you still there, mom? That was Bulma. She says I they need me to stop by for second. I'll be right home afterwards. Okay. Bye." Gohan hung up and finally saw the open-mouthed stares that Erasa and Sharpner were giving him. Suddenly he realized what had just happened. Videl was trying to stifle a laugh over Gohan's predicament.

"Dude! You know Bulma?" Sharpner was gawking at Gohan.

"Well, yes. Well, it was supposed to be a secret, but I guess that point is probably moot. My dad did a lot of traveling when he was a boy and Bulma was pretty adventurous when she was a teenager. She came across him and was first impressed by how strong he was at the time. He sort of became a bodyguard, but they became friends soon after. The Briefs have been family friends ever since."

"Wow, maybe Videl was right about you having secrets right after all. We keep finding out news things about you all the time." Erasa was standing in a daze after letting the information sink in. Gohan only chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"Well, what did they want man?" asked Sharpner.

"Her husband is my occasional training partner. She says he has something urgent to discuss with me and that it would be in my best interest to drop whatever I'm doing and come over immediately." Gohan sighed as he looked over at Videl. She looked slightly disappointed, but seemed to understand. "What can you do? I guess we'll just have to hang out some other time." He looked at Videl once more and promised with his eyes he would see her later. She simply nodded.

"Well Videl, it won't be the same without Gohan, but you could still join me and Sharpner."

"Yeah, sure." The group said their goodbyes and Sharpner went over to the street to take out his capsule car. Videl, lingered for a moment next to Gohan as Erasa and Sharpner were getting ready to get in the car. "Something is going on Gohan. I can feel it whenever I'm around you. From what I've heard about Vegeta, he isn't one for social calls, so I know something is up." Gohan gave her an all at once exasperated and affectionate look.

"There's no hiding things from you is there? Well, your persistence is partly what attracted me to you." Gohan smirked as Videl narrowed her eyes at him. It wasn't something she had done in a while.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Son Gohan."

"I know, don't worry. I've done enough hiding from you as it is. Sometime soon I promise to fill you in."

"Okay. Since you promised, I'll hold you to it!" Her expression softened at once and she gave him a longing look. She kissed him briefly on the lips. "Bye."

"See you later." As she turned, Gohan grinned like an idiot. "That should be your default 'goodbye'!" Videl turned around and smirked.

"C'mon girl! Me and Sharpie are gonna leave you!"

"I'm coming! Hold your horses!" Videl quickly ran and jumped into the waiting car. Gohan watched as his friends made his departure.

"Time to go." He ran into a deserted alley and took off towards Capsule Corp. to meet up with the gruff Saiyan prince. "I wonder what's so important?" He continued to speculate as he flew over the city. In a few minutes, he was already in sight of the large dome. He touched down a few feet from the door and rang the doorbell.

"May I help you?" A childish voice answered via an intercom by the door.

"Hey Trunks! I'm here to meet your dad!" Gohan could already tell it was the mischievous half-Saiyan trying to pull a prank.

"I'm sorry sir. I'll need a name and verification please. Afterword...OWW!"

"Trunks! How many times have I told you to quit pranking people with the intercom? Go to your room! You won't play any video games or watch TV for the rest of the day!"

"But mom!"

"No 'buts'! Now go do it now!"

"Fine!"

"And cut the attitude or I'll have your father train with you all afternoon for a month and you'll only get one plate at dinner!"

"Yes mom!" The last response came out as a squeak. Gohan couldn't help chuckling at the exchange. His voice seemed to remind Bulma that they still had a guest.

"Oh! Come in Gohan! I'm sorry about that boy of mine. Vegeta has been expecting you." The door opened to allow Gohan access to the building. He walked in to find Bulma already coming down the hallway. "Hey Gohan. I'd stop for small talk, but Vegeta really wants to see you. Meet him in the gravity room."

"It must be really important. I'll head that way then." With a wave, Gohan headed for the aforementioned training room. On the way, he noted the unusual silence. It was unusual not to hear the sound of explosions and crashes from the occasional ki oriented training. He knew Vegeta must have been waiting patiently for him. The thought of it made Gohan uneasy and set him on edge. Finally, he approached the metal door of the gravity room.

"It took you long enough, brat." A voice blared for the small intercom on by the door. "Don't just stand there then. Come inside." Gohan eagerly complied and entered the training room. He took off his nicer shirt, leaving on a sleeveless undershirt before venturing in.

"So what's this all about Vegeta?" The older man looked at him solemnly for a moment before speaking.

"I want to know what you've been up to lately."

"That's all? I'm going to school and training like always." Vegeta's solemn expression evaporated as his eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"Like hell. That's all you've been doing?" Gohan looked exasperatedly at Vegeta.

"Okay, I've also been training one of my classmates on the side. She's shown a lot of promise and already knows how to fly."

"Training eh? Are you sure that's all your doing? I'm pretty sure that mark on your face didn't come from Bulma, otherwise I think we would have even more to talk about." Gohan began to feel irritation towards the Saiyan prince.

"I don't see how this is any of your business." He wiped the lip mark from his face as he glared at Vegeta.

"Oh, but it is. You've been slacking off, and it's all of our necks that are on the chopping block. Do you realize what's at stake boy? You can suck face with that girl and whisper sweet nothings in each other's ear as much as you like, but when we die from your negligence I hope you've had your fill. As much as it pains me to admit this, what's coming is something that I can't face alone. It looks like I'll have to though." The glare Vegeta sent Gohan was as equally out of anger and a challenge.

"You think I don't realize that!? I haven't just been slacking off." Gohan crouched into a fighting stance and began to gather his ki. An aura surrounded him as he powered up. "I thought you had something urgent to talk to me about. You only called me in here just to hound me about my training. That really pisses me off."

"Then prove me wrong boy." Vegeta lowered into a stance of his own. He beckoned for Gohan to make the first move, which he was all too eager to do.

"Gladly." He charged towards Vegeta at a medium pace. The Saiyan prince smirked in arrogance at the seemingly unaggressive attack.

"All too predictable boy!" He prepared for the frontal attack that was sure to follow and was about to unleash the appropriate counter for such a charge. Right as Vegeta's fist was about to sneak through a hole in Gohan's defenses and score the anticipated blow, it went through an after image. He didn't even have time to register confusion as he was struck from behind just as soon as he hit the fading image of Gohan. Not one to give up the initiative, Gohan followed up with a crushing sidekick to Vegeta's back. The blow sent him flying into wall of the gravity room.

"What was that about being predictable?" Gohan stood not in a defiant and arrogant stance, but confidently. Vegeta picked himself up then brushed off his training spandex. He let out a chuckle.

"Not bad kid. Really. It's not bad, but nothing to write home about." He stopped to crack his neck then charged this time. Gohan prepared himself to block the attack but it never came. Vegeta vanished from sight and a small explosion knocked Gohan onto his back.

"What?" Gohan shook off the haze, as he was dizzy from the unexpected blow. Vegeta stood coolly to the side with his hand still smoking. He had launched a ki blast and disappeared at the same time.

"Like I said. It's not bad, but it is quite unoriginal. Are we ready to fight or are you going to unleash all your tricks at once at me? If I may offer some advice, it's not wise to pull something out of the bag right away. Ideally, you would use your tricks to gain a tactical advantage when you fear you are losing ground. It's common sense really." Gohan brushed himself off and dropped into a fighting stance once again.

"Very well. I'll show you what I've been up to then." He prepared to power up even more.

"You still don't get it boy, do you?" Vegeta prepared his own ki as well. A golden aura enveloped them both as they transformed into Super Saiyans. Their golden locks became spikier and electricity sparked around them as they both ascended to the second level of Super Saiyan. Soon they both stopped powering up when they reached what seemed to be their maximum. They both stood for a few moments before both nodding at each other. They both charged faster than the eye could see at each other. The blows rocked the whole of the Capsule Corp. complex.

Meanwhile, Videl and the blonde couple were seated near a window at a local ice cream shop. Videl was looking out the window with a distant look on her face. Her ice cream was starting to melt.

"What's up, Videl? Your ice cream is melting." This shook Videl from her musing and she turned to acknowledge her friends.

"Oh yeah. Thanks." She ate the ice cream that was starting to run down her cone.

"What's up Videl? You don't seem all here at the moment." The long blonde looked at her out of both concern and curiosity. Erasa gave her boyfriend a smirk.

"C'mon Sharpie! It's because Gohan isn't here with us. She probably misses him."

"No. That's not it." Videl was beyond blushing at petty assumptions such as this by now.

"Sure, Videl. Just act all stoic as usual. Who would have thought you would be one of those girls that look like a lost puppy without her boyfriend. After everything you've said about them to!"

"That's really not it. It's just that Gohan and me have to talk about something. It's on my mind and I hope he doesn't wait too long before he explains something."

"Oh come on girl! You know that Gohan wouldn't hide things like that. He's let you in now that you and him are dating right? He just hid stuff in the beginning because he didn't know us that well. I mean he does have a lot going for him. I can't blame him for not telling just anyone about what going on in his life." Videl let the words sink in.

"You're right Erasa. Gohan trusts me now and wouldn't be secretive now. It just seemed important so I was concerned. I don't have anything to worry about." Videl brushed it off and tried to enjoy the afternoon with her friends. "But I do have reason to be concerned. What on earth is Vegeta meeting Gohan for? Their power levels are through the roof right now. I hope nothing is wrong."

Vegeta and Gohan broke apart after an intense series of attacks were traded. A few bruised were present on their faces and arms and Gohan was sporting a trickle of blood from his lip.

"It looks like I've proved my point." Vegeta powered down as he spoke.

"What are you talking about Vegeta? You've yet to gain any advantage over me and I could do this all night."

"I could say the same and that's precisely my point. We're dead even right now. Of course you are much more powerful than you were seven years ago. You could probably handle Cell in your basic Super Saiyan form, but where is that gap between us that there used to be? I've caught up. You are no longer the strongest fighter on this planet."

"So? You always strive to achieve greater power than my father. As his son it should bring you pride that you're on equal footing with me now."

"You may be his son but you are not him. Kakarrot would never have allowed me to be less than a step behind him. You're just riding on your father's name and even though it's brought you far you'll soon be left behind. I'm pretty sure that Kakarrot is leaving us in the dust up in Other World. Does that stop me from trying? No. Because I am the prince of all Saiyans and I will not allow myself to be outdone. I may not be ahead of him now, but what's to stop it from happening one day if I try hard enough? Your father once told me that he was taught that with hard work, even the lowest born can outdo the elite. I laughed at him at the time but it's true. He did surpass me in strength and put me to shame. But if it's true for him then it's also true for me. He had pride in himself and what he could be capable of. He pushed towards it and achieved what he was striving for. It's what Saiyans used to believe in before Frieza enslaved us and brought about a pride in our own superiority. It was pride in ourselves and in what we could become. With this pride I am striving for the possibility that I could one day reclaim my crown as the most powerful of all Saiyans. With this strength that I attain from my drive, I will defend everything important to me. Can you look me in the eye and tell me you have this same pride?" Gohan contemplated the words that Vegeta had spoken. He knew he was right but wouldn't relent.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"You don't get it boy? You've lost the pride in yourself and the blood of your people. You train just to train without a real purpose. As such, you've given in to distractions and have further lost your drive. Why do you train?"

"To defend my friends and home from any threats! I don't see how that's so hard to see!" Vegeta stared hard at Gohan, making him back slightly from the resolve and determination that emanated from the prideful Saiyan prince.

"If this is true. Then live like it. Reclaim your pride and resolve, or you will be helpless to defend what is distracting you. You may take your leave. Don't show me your face again until you have done what I have asked of you. Take it as a command from your Prince." Vegeta strode out of the room and grabbed a towel. He was headed for the shower.

"He's right." Gohan powered down and looked at his hands. "What have I been doing? He exited the room and grabbed his shirt.

"Hey Gohan! Did Vegeta get what he wanted from you?" The blue haired genius walked up after he had dressed.

"Yes Bulma. I think he did." Bulma looked at him cryptically at the inconclusive answer.

"You think? Well whatever. Would you like to stop for a drink or a snack before heading home? I could have a robot bring you something."

"That's okay Bulma. I should really head home. Thanks though."

"Okay kiddo. Well, I'll be seeing you around then. Don't be a stranger!"

"Yeah! I'll be back soon!" Gohan smiled to be accommodating but it was soon replaced by a frown as he flew towards home. "I need to step it up. Vegeta's right. What if I can't stop whatever threat comes our way? I can't rely on everyone else forever. I thought I had trained well, but I guess not well enough."

Meanwhile, Shin sat lost in thought. Not even the explosions and yells around him could jar him from his daydreaming.

"This goes against everything we have been taught! Power is for the service of others, not for the gratification of ourselves!"

"Who gives you the right to tell me what power is and is not for? You claim this petty ideal is the purpose of power, but don't tell me that your aspirations as Supreme Kai wasn't to shape this land into the land that you've always dreamed of. You call it a land of freedom and of equal rights to all people, but don't tell me that your resolve wasn't self-serving."

"You know that's not true. I aspired to a noble cause and it required many sacrifices over the years. I knew that I couldn't always be there for you, but I made my choices for your own good. I knew that the sacrifice would be worth the gain someday."

"You can keep your damnable lies to yourself. You abandoned me and left me to be the long arm of the law. You promised me that we were partners in a cause greater than ourselves, but you spurned me and only wanted me when you wanted someone dead. It's too late for amends brother. I will show you that though I was always the lowest and the least privileged in the family, I will rise above you to become a god. My power has become the greatest in any dimension and I can bend the walls of all existence to my will."

"How can you say this? I loved you! My obligations kept me from always taking care of you. You were abused by my lower authorities and to my everlasting shame, they have done damage that I can't undo."

"Let you and them all be damned! I will butcher all of you as examples of your inferiority. All existence will exalt me as the supreme ruler of everything.

"You speak blasphemy! I've come here to save you but you condemn yourself with your words. It is beyond my power to redeem you."

"Fine then. Let me be damned. Let you be damned. Let the whole hellhole of a universe be damned. Finally, when there is nothing left to damn, we will all come together to find a futile means of redemption. We will spend eternity trying to rid everything of the filth that has tainted everything to the core. You can do this. But I will wipe everything out of existence. I will then build a new world exactly as it should have been and I will be a god whom none can question."

"You can bend the dimensions at your will but you cannot bring something out of nothing. What you kill you cannot recreate."

"Is that so? Well, a perfect nonexistence to rule over is better than a whole universe of imperfection to fix."

"No! Stop my brother! The ramifications are far greater than you can comprehend!

"No! Stop!" Shin was suddenly jarred from his thoughts by a nearby exlosion. A tall pink kai turned and looked at him in concern.

"Are you alright my lord?"

"Yes Kibito. I was just thinking. I got caught up in it."

"Very well sir." He turned to continue observing the training. Shin rubbed his temple and walked to a more private location.

"I am sorry my brother. I was not and I'm still not strong enough to save you from yourself." He was left in his repentant musing and no one disturbed him for the remainder of it.

Authors Note: Sorry for the wait. I'm just really busy and writer's block comes a lot for me lately. Thanks to the few who read this and any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated.