Merry Christhanukahkwanzawhateveryoucelebratemas.
There. That about covers it.

DISCLAIMER: I love me some saiyans in the morning! But I don't own anything, so nothing but dragonball shaped pancakes for breakfast.
BTW there is cussing in this chappy. BEWARE!

Ch. 10: Rough End to a Rough day

"So, do you think somebody's streaking?"

"Hard to say." Sharpner looked from the pile of clothes to Erasa. "It's only a shirt, some weird tank thing, and some shoes."

"Yeah, but you don't usually find clothing in the middle of the park."

"True." Sharpner scratched his head. "Maybe someone is getting frisky in the bushes."

Erasa slapped him on the arm. "Pervert."

Gohan, hiding up a tree near the blondes, turned beet red. I'm not! I swear I'm not! Nope! He held his helmet in one hand. How it managed to land in a tree was beyond him. Please, just leave! I can't deal with you guys right now! Please please pleeeeeeeease!

"C'mon. Videl said she was at the bank helping to clean up." Sharpner started walking away.

"I dunno… Shouldn't we bring these with us?" Erasa called after Sharpner. "Videl might be interested in it. After all, there was a massive crime just a little bit ago."

Sharpner continued to head towards the bank. "I'm sure the criminals having sex in the bushes would love to be interrupted." Erasa rolled her eyes and left the clothing alone.

Sharpner… I don't know whether to love you or hate you. Gohan groaned in his mind. He waited until they had left the area before dashing out to snatch up his clothes. He was making sure he had all his belongings when he noticed something missing.

Shenanigans and malarkey! Gohan looked around frantically. Where's my armband?! He looked up to see Treesa back on the swing-set they found her on earlier.

She was staring right at him.

Gohan, still blond, blue eyed, and shirtless, power emanating from him in waves, walked slowly over to her and knelt down. "Hi."

"… Hi."

"Can I have that?" He pointed to the armband.

"… Why?"

"Uh… because?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it belongs to Saiyaman." She stated matter-of-factly. Her eyes started to tear up. "Saiyaman has to come and get it himself."

Gohan blinked. She thinks I'm dead too? He grinned suddenly. "Oh. Is that all?" Gohan forced himself to power down. Why was returning to base form suddenly difficult? Nevertheless, hair returned to normal. Eyes turned back to the deep pools that could stare through a person. "There. Better now?" he asked.

Treesa looked stunned for a moment. She then smiled shyly. "Yeah."

"So... can I have that back please?"

She nodded and handed the cloth back to Gohan. He took it and pulled it up his arm. He dressed quickly, putting all but his helmet back on. Treesa just sat on her swing and watched him.

"What's your name?"

Gohan looked up from his armor. "Uh… Saiyaman."

"No, your name! Not your hero name!"

"Oh…" Well, there's no harm in telling her is there? She's what, 6 years old? "My name is Gohan."

Treesa smiled and blushed. "Hi Gohan."

"Hi Treesa." Gohan knelt down in front of her. "Could you do me a favor?" She nodded. "Promise you won't tell anyone who I am?" When she nodded again, Gohan held out his hand.

"Pinky swear?"

Treesa held out her hand. "I sol-em-nem-ly swear."

They hooked pinkies and Gohan smiled. "Thanks Treesa."

In response, Treesa leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Gohan."

Gohan smiled even more broadly, pleased down to his toes. He placed his helmet on his head and lifted off into the sky. Waving goodbye to Treesa, he flew to the opposite side of the park. While he flew, the saiyan teen mused on how he had trouble powering down. How strange… I'll have to talk to Vegeta about that. My ki is still too high for my liking, but whatever. He smiled happily. Nothing can bring down my mood right now!

Abruptly, Gohan froze midair. His face turned very pale. "Crapcicles! I forgot to talk to Bulma!" He spun on a dime, hoping against hope that Chichi hadn't called her yet.

"That guy! He's… he's such a jerk!"

"I know right?!" Erasa sat next to Videl on a park bench. "That was a total jerk move!"

"You both know he's trying to keep his identity a secret right?" Sharpner said, leaning up against a nearby tree.

"Yeah, but still!" Erasa huffed. "He could've at least waited until I got there!"

"Not what I'm angry about Erasa." Videl gnawed her thumbnail. "I know next to nothing about the Gold Fighter. And what do I do when he shows up? I end up gawking like a little schoolgirl!" She slammed her fist into her palm. "I should've taken him into custody!"

"I would've loved to take him into my custody." Erasa sighed dreamily.

Sharpner grimaced. "That's not right Erasa."

"Whatever Sharpie. I know it was what Videl was thinking." Erasa elbowed her friend, eliciting a blush from the girl. "Right?"

"No! I wasn't thinking anything about how he looked!" Videl's face grew redder. "I mean… I was just…" Shut up Videl! Spill the beans to the worlds biggest gossip why don't you!

"Oh you poor girl." Erasa threw an arm around Videl, hugging her close. "You got it so bad, you can't even come up with a decent excuse."

"Can it Erasa!" Videl got up from the bench angrily. Not so much at Erasa, but at herself for not being able to deny anything. "I needed to question the guy! Not fantasize about him!" She said, folding her arms angrily across her chest. "He knows something about Saiyaman."

"Saiyaman? How do you figure?" Erasa asked.

Videl began pacing. "How could he have known that Saiyaman was still alive unless he was there to see him? How could he have known Saiyaman was here unless the two know each other?"

"A coincidence?"

"Yeah no." Videl frowned at the blond girl. "They showed up at the same time and have never been seen together at a crime scene. But if one doesn't show, the other does!"

"So they know each other. Big deal." Sharpner said. "Doesn't change the fact that you don't know crap about either of them."

"Gee, thanks captain obvious." Videl's sarcasm left the boy wincing slightly. "Anyway that Gold Fighter guy really bugs me. He came to the heist today all high and mighty… and what then? He leaves before I could question him!"

Erasa looked on curiously as Videl steamed. A sudden look of mischievousness crossed her face. "Videl, you're just pissed because you didn't get to make out with the Gold Fighter today. I know you wanted to."

Videl turned very red. "LIKE HELL I DID!" Erasa isn't totally wrong… some part of her mind supplied. However, Videl shut that part down faster than she could throw a punch. She resumed her angry pacing, back on the topic at hand. "They are connected, I just know it! And it's not just the Gold Fighter. Saiyaman himself is hiding something!"

"Hiding something?" Sharpner queried. "Are you kidding me? He's trying to keep his identity a secret. You've known that and have been dogging him since day one." He smiled, "That's the only thing those two have in common. You know… besides the flying and 'super strength' that everyone's on about."

Erasa tilted her head, thinking. "Could they be the same guy?" She voiced aloud.

"Maybe, but they're completely different." Videl shook her head. "Saiyaman is just… a guy with some strange abilities. He's a total goofball." Well, maybe not a total goofball. The events in the park circled in her mind. "He's got this whole superhero thing running for him. The Gold Fighter, however, has some serious power and just shows up without any introduction. He's a complete mystery."

Sharpner grinned. "You mean he's a total badass!"

Erasa looked to her blond friend. "I thought you said you hated him?"

"I said I could take him, not that I hated him. Besides, he seemed like an okay guy to me."

"Oh no!" Erasa put a hand over her heart dramatically. "Sharpner has become a… a…"

"A what?" Videl asked impatiently.

"A…. FANBOY!"

The raven haired girl shook her head. "Get real."

"Oh. He's a total G.F. fanboy."

Sharpner scowled. "I'm no fanboy! I just respect the guy alright?"

"Don't deny it so hard Sharpner! I know that you are having sweaty man-dreams about the Gold Fighter." Erasa shook her head. "I just thought you'd still be a Mr. Satan fan though."

Videl made a face. "Gross."

"NONONONONO." Sharpner flailed his arms in the air. "I AM NOT A FANBOY! Especially not a hentai one! That is the grossest thing you've ever said Erasa!"

"Oh Kami it's true isn't it?!" Erasa's smile grew. "Well, of course it is! Who wouldn't want a piece of that roast beefcake?"

"NO! NO IT'S NOT!" Sharpner hollered. His face the epitome of outrage. The stare he sent at her could've killed a small puppy with its intensity. Watching Erasa grin, he came to the realization that she was messing with him. The blond let out a sigh and slumped back against a tree. "I didn't come here to get ragged on by you guys. I just wanted to talk to Gohan."

Videl's ears perked up. "Gohan? Why would you come here to talk to Gohan?"

"Well, Erasa told me that you invited him out here. I figured I'd try to patch things up with him."

"What did you do?"

Sharpner looked sheepishly to the ground. Erasa spoke up for him. "He pranked him and got a full view of his deliciously hot bod which he refuses to tell me about!"

Videl stared at Erasa. "You still believe that?"

Erasa pouted. "Of course I do!" She glanced at Sharpner. "Tell her Sharpie!"

"Oh no. I've made enough mistakes already today. Damn, I honestly just wanted to talk to the guy." Sharpner's sheepish look intensified. "I've been a real jerk."

"Don't get too down on yourself about it." Erasa comforted him. "I'm sure that Gohan just had to get home. He's got that long trip to school and back after all. Besides, I think he's not the type of guy to hold a grudge over it. Just talk to him at school tomorrow."

"Yeah well, talking to him woulda helped."

"Yeah… HEY!" Erasa leapt to her feet. "That's it!"

Videl rubbed her temples tiredly. That girl can switch topics like a pro. Erasa's voice after all that action at the bank was taking a toll on her headache. "What's it, Erasa?"

"I've been thinking how you were planning to get to the Gold Fighter."

Oh great. Videl sighed and turned to face her friend. Here it comes.

"I mean," Erasa continued, "it's so obvious that you like him. If you want to have a thousand babies with him, you need to talk to the guy!"

"I do not like him like that! And besides, how do you think I'm supposed to do that? I've been searching for this guy ever since he showed up! Like Sharpner said, I know next to nothing about him."

"Well, you said how you think Saiyaman knew him. Ask Saiyaman to arrange a meeting."

Videl's eyebrows knitted together in thought. "Huh. That's… not a bad idea." It's… plausible. Saiyaman might actually get me an interview with the guy.

"Of course it is!"

Videl smiled. "You're smarter than you seem Erasa."

Erasa shrugged. "I've been getting that a lot lately." She grinned. "Come on, let's grab a snack. It's starting to get late and I have to get home at some point today."

Bulma sat at the kitchen table, looking over some documents she'd neglected for… other activities. The blue haired genius blushed slightly at the thought. Being married to a saiyan was interesting to say the least. Who woulda thought that Vegeta could be such a passionate guy? Then again, he does put a lot of passion into the stuff he does. Even if it's only training. Bulma looked across the table at the little lavender head bent over a new game. Wish he'd devote more time to family though.

Her son, Trunks, was sitting at the table with her, playing on his handheld game console. Vegeta had been against him getting one, but what's the harm in a little game? Not everyone can train 24-7 like he could. Bulma smiled over her papers at her son. I'm not married to the most romantic guy in the world, but Trunks has to be one of the best perks to having him around. She returned her attention to the papers, determined to get some work done.

"Hey Bulma. Hey Trunks."

Bulma looked up from the documents in surprise. Gohan stood there in her kitchen, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Gohan!" Trunks grinned. "You're back!"

"Back?" Bulma looked at Gohan questioningly. "It's good to see you, but you were here earlier?"

"Uh… yeah." Gohan scratched the back of his neck. "You were… indisposed at the time."

"Yeah. You guys were 'training'." Trunks added, to Gohan's embarrassment.

"Oh!" Bulma covered her blush. Well, it's not like we were being discreet about it. "I'm sorry Gohan!"

A red faced Gohan waved away her apology. "It's cool. Just… don't talk about it again."

"Sorry." Bulma stood from her seat at the table. "What can I do for you Gohan?"

"I was wondering if I could spend the night."

"Well sure Gohan." Bulma tilted her head questioningly. "Does your mother know?"

Gohan looked at the floor. "No, not really."

"Hmm…" Bulma cocked her head to the side. This was uncharacteristic of Gohan. Normally he was such a momma's boy. "Well, you're going to have to call her before you stay over. I don't want Chichi hollering at me because you didn't ask for permission first."

The teen's shoulders slumped. "Is… is it okay if you talk to her?"

"If you want to stay the night, you have to ask her yourself." Did something happen Gohan? It's not like you to hesitate to call your mom.

Gohan's face paled. He walked over to the phone sitting on the counter, took a deep breath and dialed his home number. Bulma stood a little behind him. Not to eavesdrop mind, but to catch a bit of the conversation.

A high pitched voice answered the phone. A small smile lifted Gohan's face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "… Hey Goten. Yeah, sorry I didn't come home right away… I know I promised… Don't worry! I'm still going to teach you! … Really? How big? … Wow! I want to see it when I get home. … I know… I know, I'm sorry." A pause. "Tell you what squirt, I'll come straight home tomorrow and you can have me the rest of the day, alright?"

Bulma smiled. He's really got a way with kids. Gohan had been the proverbial older brother to her own son and could see how much he doted upon the little watched as Gohan's bright eyes darkened.

"Yeah, listen Goten, I need to talk to mom… Yeah… I'm sorry Goten. I know she's mad… Yeah…"

A moment of silence passed.

"…Hey mom." Gohan's smile vanished. An angry voice could be heard over the phone line. "Yeah, I know but… but you… that's…" Gohan clenched his fists. "Just listen! I was going to…. Hold on mom! I was….. But I…."

Bulma's concern grew. What a one sided conversation! Chichi really must be dishing it out today. Her eyebrows drew together. Chichi had it rough. She wouldn't know what she'd do if Vegeta died and couldn't come back. Though she doesn't have to be so hard on Gohan. Hope she's doing alright…

"Mom! Just let me…" Gohan's muscles tensed. "… No, I'm not… that's not…"

Suddenly he slammed his fist on the countertop, shattering the marbled surface. "JUST LISTEN! I wasn't running away! I just want to spend the night at Bulma's!" A pause. "No! Do NOT take this out on Vegeta! He's trying to help me!" Another pause. Bulma's heart clenched at what he said next.

"Well I'm SO SORRY that you can't have a NORMAL FAMILY!" And Gohan slammed the phone down on the receiver with such a force, that the phone exploded. Bulma shielded her face from the debris and looked back at Gohan.

Waves of power pulsed from his back. A slight breeze resulted from it. Bulma glanced to the side to see Trunks standing a little in front of her, eyes wide and clearly stunned at Gohan.

The blue haired genius regained her composure slightly. "What did she say?" Bulma walked over to look him in the eye. Her tone was sympathetic. "Gohan, what did she say to you?"

Gohan clammed up, gritting his teeth. For the second time that day, his ki spiked higher. His hair flickered golden and his eyes flashed a fathomless blue. Trunks felt his hair stand on end at the aura Gohan emitted. Yes he was young, but even he could tell that Gohan was silently screaming 'stop me'. Trunks did the only thing he could do.

"DAD!"

In an instant, Vegeta was there.

The shorter saiyan held Gohan's shoulder in an iron grip. "Calm down boy." He allowed his own ki to rise and match Gohan's energy. Bulma backed away to stand next to Trunks, intimidated by the fierce wind filling the kitchen. The energy created by the two warriors continued to rise, neither growing higher than the other. It was like an invisible battle of wills. Cutlery clattered in the drawers that held them. Dishes rattled and fell, shattering on the floor.

Gohan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hold on to his emotions. It was so hard to get control. Harder than it should've been. Deep down, he felt the unquenchable need to get someone to stop him. To test how far he could go before he had to succumb to them. Vegeta's eyes narrowed and his grip on Gohan grew harder. Slowly, painfully, the ki Gohan was emitting shrank down to a containable level.

Vegeta looked to Bulma, demanding an explanation. Bulma shook her head. "I think Chichi said something to him." She looked into Gohan's pained eyes and smiled gently. "He'll be spending the night here tonight."

The prince nodded his assent. He pushed Gohan in the direction of the gravity room. "Get to the gravity chamber, fool. I will be there shortly to test you." Gohan nodded stiffly, too focused on controlling himself to be relieved, and moved to follow Vegeta's instructions. When he was gone, Vegeta turned to Bulma. His eyes hard and serious. "You do not know how much danger you are in. Leave the premises or get killed." When Bulma shook her head, Vegeta growled. "Foolish woman! You don't know what kind of power he's capable of in this state!"

"I don't care. I'm not leaving you two alone together. There've been too many explosions at this house as it is!"

Vegeta facepalmed. "Have you no sense?!"

"I'll be fine." Bulma scoffed. "Besides, what could he really do with you around to keep him in check?"

Vegeta smirked. "I know you are pandering to my ego," he replied smoothly, "but you are correct in your assumption. I shall do my best to contain him. If the earth gets destroyed in the process then all the better."

"Thanks so much, prince-of-all-jerks."

"It is my pleasure, queen-of-all-idiots."

"You prick!"

"Wench."

"Uh… Dad?" Trunks interrupted. "The house is shaking again."

And it really was. "We're losing time." He turned to his wife. "If you are so insistent on staying, get more of those sedatives you enhanced. We may need them." Vegeta looked to Trunks. "Get your mother out if it becomes too much." Trunks nodded at his father, watching as he moved to the gravity room.

The boy looked to his mother. "Mom, what's going on with Gohan?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Bulma picked up the phone and dialed the number for the son residence. Chichi, you have some explaining to do!

Gohan stood in the center of the gravity room. His body tense. His knuckles white as he clenched his fists. His mother's words rang in his head. Normal family… Why can't I have a normal family… Normal… He looked up as Vegeta entered. The teen watched as the flame haired man walked to the console and cranked up the gravity. Immediately Gohan felt the pull of a new weight on his body. Unconsciously his ki rose to compensate. Vegeta glanced over to him before cranking the gravity higher.

Gohan watched as Vegeta turned from the console to move slowly to stand in front of him. In the base form, the gravity was almost too much to handle. Gohan felt his blood begin to broil, staring down another saiyan in a heavy environment.

Vegeta stared at him. "What did that harpy of a mother say?" His deep voice ground out.

Gohan's eyes flashed. "Don't talk about her that way!" His energy escalated. He forced his ki back down painfully, before speaking again. "She… wants a normal family."

"Normal?" Vegeta raised an eyebrow.

The teen nodded. "And I'm not normal." The wind in the room picked up again. "She… mom just…"

"The woman doesn't understand." Gohan stared at Vegeta as he spoke. "You will never be normal, compared to the people on this weakling planet."

"I know! But she just… AUGH!" Gohan let out a yell of frustration, allowing himself to go super. With the escalation of power came a sense of relief. However, the feeling was lost as he stopped his energy climb.

Vegeta powered up as well, golden light filling the room. "You are going through a rite of passage into manhood. You are becoming an adult! Do not let your harpy mother's expectations define you. You will never get through this if you do."

You… you BASTARD! "Don't…" Gohan shouted, throwing himself at Vegeta in a rage, "Call. Her. Names!"

Prepared for the onslaught, Vegeta parried and sent Gohan into the wall. He smirked cockily as Gohan pulled himself to his feet. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Prèpavte tse!" Gohan roared, rushing towards the prince.
(Prepare yourself!)

Vegeta's eyes widened. "Cote jstè rîtkal?!" He demanded, dodging to the left and simultaneously throwing a punch.
(What did you say?!)

Gohan flew back from the punch, but recovered midair. His eyes were narrowed as he spoke. "I said…" His hand moved up to his head. "What… what did I say?"

"You spoke in the language of our homeland! How could you not know!?"

"I… I wasn't…" Gohan raised his hands in a placating gesture. He really hadn't been thinking. The question had confused him to the point of momentarily losing his anger. His ki however, continued rising.

"HLUPAK!" Vegeta came at him furiously. "Nenechajte znesvätit mojím jazytkom tro tak!"
(FOOL! Do not desecrate my language thus!)

"I… I didn't…" Gohan blocked the punches thrown at him. As they came faster, his heart began pounding harder. Adrenaline filled him. His thoughts were thrown to the wind once more and words sprung unbidden to his lips.

"Aj znesvätit nic. Ty portupe sah!"
(I desecrate nothing. You dishonor yourself!)

Vegeta lost his temper. "Sten nehodný tejto sifly! Nevzdelant slaboch!"
(You are unworthy of this power! Ignorant weakling!)

Without warning and without any thought on Gohan's part, the younger saiyan evaded the next punch, fazed behind Vegeta and dealt a swift blow to the back of his neck. Vegeta's eyes rolled back into his head as he slumped forward. He hit the floor of the gravity room like a lead sack, succumbing to the pull of gravity. His hair returned to pitch black flame as he lie there, unconscious.

Gohan, however, only grew more agitated. His hands gripped the sides of his head as if in pain. The words Vegeta said echoed in his mind.

What are you going to do about it? What can an unworthy weakling like you do about it?

What are you going to do?

What will you do?

His power rose steadily now, unchecked by the teen's conflicted and angry brain. He didn't notice the world becoming strangely defined… as if it were in stark contrast to everything around it. Gohan's canines lengthened. His senses sharpening to a knife's edge. Muscles singing with tension becoming larger and firmer as raw energy surged through them.

He was suddenly aware of Bulma and Trunks. Though they were in another room on another floor, he was sure that they were there… and they were worried.

They… they're leaving. Gohan wondered. Why would they leave? The teen didn't notice how badly the house, gravity room included was shaking. It's… it's me isn't it? I'm... I'm not… normal. Anger resurged through him as he looked at his hands. I know I'm not normal! Why can't I be accepted for that?! At least at my own home! He glanced down at Vegeta.

Vegeta glowed with energy.

Wh-what?! Gohan looked around him frantically. It's… it back! Everything in the room, though faint, glowed with power. Gohan looked back to Vegeta in amazement. He was out cold, but still his very body hummed with it. The energy flowed just beneath the surface of the Saiyan prince's skin. Gohan's eyes floated to the ceiling. I have to see more!

Lifting a hand, Gohan blasted a hole to the open air. Ki lifted him up and out of the building effortlessly. The young man took no mind of the shouts from Bulma and continued higher. He stopped high above the clouds and looked around.

Everywhere.

There was energy everywhere.

And he could see it once again. His heart rejoiced in his chest. Soon, however, it stilled in reverence of what it saw.

Gohan felt as though he was witnessing the birth of the universe. Laid out before him was life. Everywhere he looked, light and shining. Glowing with power. Raw beauty flowing from one thing to another in an endless cycle. The worries of the day left him as he watched. The buoyant power filling him with awe and wonder.

As before he glanced down at his own body.

Nothing.

The elevated ki surging around him rose higher in frustration. He hit the ascended super saiyan level. Lightning arched off his body in small surges. Not yet! I… I can't even compare to all this! I know I'm not complete. I'm still missing something, but what could it be? How do I find it? He raised his eyes to the sky above. It was evening, the sun was set slowly in the west. Stars began to twinkle at the edges of the horizon.

A thought struck him. How high can I go?

"Gohan!"

His thoughts interrupted, the teen turned his senses from the sky to a figure approaching him from afar. His keen eyes picked the being out easily. It pulsed with energy. A powerful energy. A familiar energy.

"Gohan!" Piccolo screeched to a halt mid air, a few meters away from where Gohan hung in empty space. "Gohan! You need to calm down!"

I know this person. Gohan's brow furrowed. Mr.… Mr. Piccolo? Memories assailed him. A tough glare, a stern frown, a sad smile…

Death.

Abruptly Gohan was thrust into a memory. All else was wiped from his mind. Even Piccolo's shouting was tuned out in response to the strength of it.

Gohan looked around him. A barren landscape. In front of him stood a large man, shirtless and angry. A sense of horror overcame him as he recognized the memory.

The boy Gohan stood petrified before Nappa. A beam of energy raced towards him. Move Gohan! MOVE! He screamed in his mind. YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!

He raised his arms to somehow block the attack when suddenly, a figure blocked out the light. The powerful blast tore through his body, but the figure stayed upright, shielding Gohan from the brunt of it. Wha… Who… Gohan's bewildered mind looked on in shock as the power died out and Piccolo slumped to the ground.

"No! Mr. Piccolo!" Gohan knelt by his side. "No! No… you can't die because of me!" No… it's this memory.

"R-run… Gohan." Please… just run away! Don't make me watch this again!

"N-no Piccolo! I won't leave you! Dad will be here soon! Please! Please don't die!" Please no… Piccolo…

"Imagine me… saving some brat like you…" If only I was stronger…

"Mr. Piccolo… please hold on!" If only you didn't have to protect me…

"Gohan… you're the only person… I've ever known that didn't… treat me like a monster…" Piccolo… I…

"Mr. Piccolo… please…" Please… don't die… please…

"Tr-truth be told… this last year wasn't so bad..." Tears appeared in his eyes.

"Piccolo… no…" Don't leave me…

Piccolo smiled. "Th-thank you… Gohan…." His eyes closed and his head slumped over to the side listlessly.

Gohan stared at him. "No… NO!" He pushed himself to his feet and let out a cry pulled from the depths of his soul.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Piccolo watched Gohan freeze. A look came into his eyes. One filled with pain and sorrow. Piccolo could make out words, faint, but clear.

"No… please… don't die… please…" Piccolo was surprised to see tears build at the corners of his eyes. "Don't leave…"

"Mr. Piccolo..."

Piccolo's eyes widened. What?!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Power exploded from the figure in front of him, pouring out just like his tears. The cry tearing from Gohan's throat pierced straight to Piccolo's heart. The ki he felt tore his turban from his head and sent him spinning back through the air.

"I'm not dead!" He shouted at the teen.

Gohan didn't hear a word. His heart wrenching cry turned into an animalistic roar. The already long canines in his mouth became fangs. Eyes once again took on a reddish tint. The arching electricity grew in frequency. Hair grew longer and more radiant.

"Piccolo!" The namekian spun to see Vegeta fly up beside him, ki blazing.

"Vegeta, what happened to Gohan?!" Piccolo demanded.

Gohan suddenly stopped screaming. His eyes latched onto Vegeta. "You!" His voice cut through the air like a razor blade.

Vegeta flinched. He was woefully unprepared for Gohan's sudden fury. There was no stopping the young man from punching the ever loving snot out of the saiyan prince. Vegeta was knocked back down to earth, Gohan hot on his tail. Luckily, Vegeta had enough sense to dodge the next attack. The massive right straight send the roof of capsule corp. crumbling to the ground.

"You hurt my dad you bastard!" Gohan's ki was visible now to the untrained eye. A flame like aura wreathed his body as he sped after Vegeta.

The shorter saiyan turned and threw ki blasts at Gohan. Angrily, Gohan batted them aside. Unfortunately, they hit the surrounding Capsule Corp buildings.

Piccolo swore. "Shit!" The kid's going to hurt someone if he keeps this up! He'll never be able to live with himself once this is over. The green warrior watched Vegeta struggle against Gohan. Gohan obviously had the upper hand. In the fading light of day, Vegeta threw out a feeble solar flare. Piccolo used the opportunity to fight through the power unleashed from Gohan and rush toward him. "Calm DOWN kid!" He wrapped Gohan in a firm grip. "I'm not dead."

The boy squirmed. Powerful arms nearly breaking Piccolo's own. Gohan cursed in a foreign tongue, but Piccolo held on tighter. Electricity arched from Gohan onto Piccolo, burning him. Had Piccolo not fused with Kami in order to stop cell, hanging onto Gohan would be next to impossible at this point. He could feel the muscles in his body ripping as he tried desperately to restrain Gohan. Eventually the teenager stilled, but was tense as the taller warrior embraced him. "Calm down." Piccolo sent waves of calm into the furious young man. He spoke into his mind. Gohan. Calm yourself.

"P-Piccolo?" His voice was disbelieving. Vegeta, ignored for the moment, dived into the wreckage of one of the buildings. Presumably to fetch sedatives.

The namekian wrapped his ki around Gohan. It's me kid.

But… you died. I… couldn't save you.

Piccolo understood. He was caught in a memory. That was then. I gave myself for you because you changed my life. I wanted you to live. That also would explain why he was suddenly fixated on Vegeta. He was the cause of a lot of pain in young Gohan's life.

Gohan trembled. How could I ever be good enough… when I can't save those close to me?

You did save me kid. You were the one to bring me out of a dark place. Get a hold of yourself. Remember who you are.

I… I don't know… I have to find out if I'm strong enough. Who I am… Why I have this power…

I get it kid. He felt himself torn away by the sheer outpouring of energy. It was just too much to handle anymore. He released Gohan and allowed himself to get pushed away. Just be sure to come back when you're done. I'm not going to stop you.

Gohan smiled suddenly. Tears still fresh on his cheeks, he looked strangely radiant. Thanks Piccolo. His mental voice was calm. His eyes were no longer red. The dark eyed teen looked up and shot into the heavens, startling Piccolo. A golden light trail following him.

Piccolo stared after him in wonder. "Holy…" He'd never seen Gohan go that fast. He'd never seen anyone go that fast.

"Namekian!" An angry shout called up from below. Piccolo grunted down at Vegeta as he emerged from the hole in the roof of a Capsule Corp. building. "What the hell happened?!"

"Gohan was too much for you. I was able to break through his rage and restore his sanity if only slightly. He is much more conscious of himself than last time."

Vegeta scowled. "He has not fully succumbed to the urge. The further he goes, the worse it becomes." He massaged his temples. "Please tell me you didn't let him get away."

Piccolo smirked. "Yerp."

"AAAAUGH" Vegeta shot up after Gohan. "YOU FOOL!"

Piccolo darted after him. "What do you mean? I saw no reason to restrain him further."

"He's going to seek out a challenge!" Vegeta spat at the green alien. "How high are you able to fly? I know I can't breathe in space!"

Piccolo's jaw went slack in realization. "Oh... shi-"

Gohan flew higher and higher. The atmosphere thinned around him, but he didn't notice. The sky grew darker, until he was surrounded by the night. The clouds were illuminated by the glow of his ki until the teen got higher than the clouds.

And then he saw it.

The power he saw on earth was potent, but it didn't compare to the universe.

He'd seen it once before, but even now he was astounded. Everything exploded with energy. The stars… the multitude of universes all shining with life. If anything, he could compare it to the painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Starry night, he recalled vaguely.

And the moon.

Kami it was huge. Gohan stared at it in all its glory as it rose over the horizon. It was magnificent. So far away, but so big it was like he could reach out and take it in his hand. The soft glow bathed his body in light, changing his golden glow into a soft white shimmer. Peace cascaded over his consciousness.

Gohan, mind clear, felt his blood pound through his body. A primal part of his spirit responded to the sight of the moon. It was strangely elating. His breathing grew harsher and power rippled through his body. It too was responding to the unadulterated view of the moon. Staring at it, Gohan came to a sudden realization.

This is part of who I am. He looked down at the earth. He was pretty far away from it. The pull of gravity was close to nothing out there. Gohan admired the vibrant color and life seen even in the darkness of night. This too, is who I am. I am of the moon and of the earth. I am human and saiyan. They are inseparable in me.

Mom… I know she loves me, but why can't she understand that I am different? I will never be a normal person. I am my mother's son, but I am also my father's son. These two things must be reconciled. I can't be defined by one or the other anymore. I am my own person. A combination of two worlds and a separate lifetime of experiences. Who dares say I should be anything other than what I am?

His head began to feel strange. The power was beginning to overwhelm him, as was the lack of oxygen. The super saiyan glow faded back to normal. No… Gohan protested mentally. I'm… not done yet! There's still more I… need to know. I haven't… reached it yet. I … still need… to find my… limit. He floated motionless for a moment, before falling back towards the earth. As he lost consciousness, Gohan looked into the universe and saw once again how powerful it was compared to himself.

If I have been given this power… if I have any power at all… what will I do with it?

Gohan surrendered to the darkness and fell headlong to earth in a deep sleep.

OH CHILD.

There it is. I hated this chapter so much. I wrote it by the seat of my pants and regretted the first draft. That's why it took me so long to get it out. Heck, I might add more to this before I post it. That last bit there seems a bit scatterbrained, BUT it is WAY better than it was before.
-flails about- ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGES.
BTW: I wanted put that line about roast beefcake in here for a while! I'm gonna put it in again later! haHA! Mmmmm delicious saiyan beefcake.

Oh and happy holidays. Nerrrrrr…

Srsly tho. :D Thanks for the awesome reviews! Send some more my way!