Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or have any rights to it.

Gohan screamed at the top of his lungs. The storm raging around him seemed to reflect his inner turmoil. The rain drenched his long, waist-length hair. Eventually, his hair began to defy gravity as it turned gold. His golden aura was like a raging flame. He was frustrated and lost; he hated them all; all his family and THEIR friends had done was ruin his childhood. Now, as an 18-yer old, he was finally fed up with them.

Flashback:

"Gohan is so strong Chichi! He should be a fighter," said Goku. He didn't like arguing with his wife, but he felt that Gohan had far too much talent to be wasted on studying.

"NO!" Chichi's temper rose even higher. "Gohan's not going to be a good for nothing like his father!"

Goku seemed hurt by this, but his temper flared back up. "You know what? I think marrying you was a mistake! Bulma was never this mean to me!"

"Where did Bulma come from?" asked Chichi with a mix of suspicion and anger. "I never knew you were a cheater like Yamcha!"

"I'm not, but I'm starting to think I should get a divorce!"

"Oh really? Did you forget about who cooks your meal?"

"No!, but I was able to live for 18 years without you and-" At that moment, Goku and Chichi heard someone whimpering. They turned and saw Goten watching them from the stairs. Suddenly, they both felt guilty about what they were saying.

However, as they went to comfort the young boy, they failed to notice their first-born son leaving through the windows. Gohan was fed up with his family, and his friends. None of them understood him. He wanted out.

End

Gohan's rage built up and the ground around him began shaking. However, he heard the sound of a breaking twig behind him, and powered down immediately. Turning around, he scanned the forest for any sign of movement. "Come out! I know you're there!"

Eighteen smiled as she approached the distressed hybrid. "You were able to detect me without sensing my presence. Impressive."

"What do you want and how did you find me?"

"I saw the light from my house."

"You have a house around here?"

She nodded affirmatively. "I thought you weren't able to go super saiyan."

"I kept it a secret from my father. If that stupid monkey knew how strong I really was, both he and my idiot brother wouldn't give me any moment of peace." He raised an eyebrow as she laughed. "What?"

"You're a saiyan too? Doesn't that make you a monkey?"

Gohan clenched hi fists, but he wasn't angry with her. She had asked a valid question. "I am not a saiyan or a human. I…I don't know what I am. All I know is that I'm not one of them. I don't live for fighting like those muscle heads."

Eighteen smiled, but then took notice of the effect the rain had on her hair. "We should find some shelter. Come on, you can stay at my place. I take it you're not interested in returning home."

"You don't have-" Gohan was cut off as Eighteen grabbed his hand and took off towards her house. I guess she doesn't take no for an answer.

Gohan noted that her house was in the woods. It wasn't too far off from civilization, since there was a city within a ten-minute walk, but it had a secluded feeling about it. He also noted that the house wasn't exactly small. It was nowhere near as big as Capsule Corp., but it was much bigger than either his parent's house or Kame House.

It was a boxy, split-level house, made of wood and granite. In fact, it looked like something only a well-off person could afford, making Gohan somewhat suspicious of the female cyborg.

As if sensing the obvious question, Eighteen turned around to face him with an innocent smile. "Property tax is low around here. You don't need to make an awful lot to afford a house like this, especially one that's located this far out of town."

Gohan shrugged. "At least you're being productive."

"Thanks," replied Eighteen as she opened the door and led Gohan inside. Closing the door behind him, she was about to remove her sleeveless jeans jacket, when she felt both of Gohan's hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing?"

"Thanking you for bringing me here." Gohan smiled as he channeled his energy, the heat he generated engulfed them both, and quickly dried their clothes and hair. "There. Now we don't have to worry about getting the floor wet."

"That's a pretty handy trick you've got there," said Eighteen. "I take that you developed that behind your fathers back as well?"

Gohan nodded with a smirk. "Unlike my father, I like trying to find more practical uses for ki."

"Would like to hot cocoa?"

"Sure."

A few minutes later they were sitting on the couch sipping their hot chocolate. After getting comfortable, Gohan had basically poured his heart out to Eighteen, telling her how frustrated and angry he was at his father and mother. He didn't really have a high opinion of his father's friend either; they thought he was a member of their circle, but in reality, he wanted nothing to do with them. Eighteen had removed her jeans jacket, and her outfit consisted of her blue jeans and blank tank top. Gohan had removed his black jacket, leaving him in a pair of black jeans and a black, sleeveless shirt. Eighteen noted the earrings and Shenron tattoo on his shoulder.

"Looks like you've been rebellious."

"You could say that," replied Gohan as he set his cocoa on the coffee table. Looking around the house, he got a sense of modernism from it. "This is a nice place."

"Yeah," replied Eighteen in a less than enthusiastic tone. "But it can get lonely…living here all by myself."

He turned to her with a concerned expression. "Don't you have friends of your own or a boyfriend?"

"I do, but after my brother died; there wasn't anyone who'd understand the full truth about me. Besides, my friends are just casual and working friends. As for a boyfriend…well I haven't found that someone yet."

"I'm sure a woman as pretty as you won't have any problem charming the guys."

Eighteen blushed at that comment, and flashed him a flirtatious grin. "It's not as easy as you think. Most guys think I'm out of their league, and those that have the guts to approach me are either full of themselves or…just not my type."

Gohan shifted so he was sitting towards her. His eyebrows were raised with a curious expression. "So what kind of guys is your type?" However, the moment he said that, he felt like an idiot.

However, Eighteen's grin broadened as she also faced him. She quickly scooted closer so they were only a few inches apart. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Gohan's heart began thumping, as the distance between them grew smaller and smaller. He was lost in her beautiful blue eyes. They were like an open door that had been closed for many years. She needed this and so did he. They were both lost souls, in need of comfort.

Gohan stirred as the sun shone through the bedroom window. He wanted to stay in bed longer, but knew that his parents were expecting him home. Not that he cared about them, but he'd rather not have his father use instant transmission and appear in the room. He looked to the spot next to him on the bed and saw that it was vacant.

"Good morning sleepy head," said Eighteen as she walked out of the master bathroom, in nothing but a towel. "I guess you'll be leaving without breakfast."

"Yeah," replied Gohan. "How'd you guess?"

"I don't know; just a feeling."

Gohan smiled and nodded before getting out of bed and pulling his clothes on. He was soon fully dressed and as he exited through the front door, he turned around and waved at Eighteen. "Thank you so much Eighteen. I needed that."

"You'll come back…right? You're always welcome here."

"You know I would," replied Gohan before taking off. He had a spring in his step as he leapt into the air. It was a far cry from his mood the night before. Maybe I'll come back…No…I will come back. In fact…I might even stay.

This idea just came to me independently, but I might include something like this in my future story, 'Cosmic Collision.' Or I could just make this an independent story.