I had to reload this because Fanfiction.net messes the first one up, the next chapter will be out by tomorrow.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or
any of its characters, and I'm not worth suing unless you desperately need a
few pennies.
A/N: Okay I wrote this spur of the moment and I really had no idea where it was going, I haven't seen all of the Cell saga yet so a few details might be off. I got this weird urge to write a fic dealing mainly with Gohan and this is what I came up with. Please review and tell me what you think. J
Gohan watched the sun set. His feet hung down as he rested in the branches of a large oak tree. The sun painted the field red, and the breeze rustled the grass, making it seem as though a sea of blood surrounded Gohan. Yet the young boy took no notice of any of these things, his thoughts were turned inwards. He didn't see the sun sink below the horizon or the first star that appeared in the sky. He didn't notice the fox that slunk under the tree in search of prey. Instead he was thinking, deep thoughts that a boy his age shouldn't even know about.
To look in his eyes was to see years of horrors all contained in one innocent boy. Gohan sighed and swung his feet as they dangled over the branch, he was thinking of his most recent battle. Cell. One word to sum up so many things. Gohan was lost in a sea of confusion and guilt. The guilt was the worst, how could he live knowing that if he had only fought harder at the start his father might still be alive.
Instead he had been too afraid, afraid of his power, afraid of Cell. Afraid that he would disappoint his father. A choked laugh that would have almost been considered a sob escaped his throat at that thought.
His father was gone now and he wasn't coming back, and it was all his fault. His thoughts were cut off by loud female voice, bringing him back to the real world. He realized with shock that it was now dark and was getting a little chilly. He saw some bats darting through the air, hunting down the insects of the night.
The voice called again, this time with a hint of worry in the tone, and Gohan quickly responded.
"I'm coming Mom," he yelled, and jumped from the branches, something no normal boy could have done without breaking a leg, but then Gohan wasn't a normal boy.
He ran through the well-worn trail until he reached a clearing. A house sat in the middle, its windows shone brightly and Gohan could see his mother as she moved around the kitchen.
Without Goku around, Chichi had become more withdrawn and the only time she seemed at all like her normal self was when Gohan was around, but even then she would have moments when she would mention something that brought memories rushing back and would find herself fighting back tears. Gohan had heard her crying late at night and at those times the guilt was so overpowering, he wondered how he could go on.
He walked in the door, making sure to take off his boots on the mat so he wouldn't track dirt through the house. After a quick stop in the washroom to wash up he headed for the kitchen. The delicious smell of food simulated his senses and he found himself hurrying to reach the kitchen.
He slipped into his chair just as Chichi placed the last plate of food on the table. She smiled happily down at her beloved son but Gohan could see the sadness lurking behind her eyes.
"Here you go Gohan. Eat up, you hear me," she said. Gohan nodded and began to wolf down the food while Chichi looked on.
Once Gohan had eaten his fill he leaned back, however he noticed that there was still plenty of food on the table.
"Mom?" he said, Chichi followed his glance at the table when she realized what she had done. Without even realizing, she had made enough food to feed both Gohan and Goku. Her eyes began to water.
"Gohan, its bedtime. Go brush your teeth." Gohan sat unmoving for a second before climbing out of his chair and heading to the bathroom, trying vainly to ignore the sound of sobbing coming from the kitchen since he knew his mother didn't want him to see her cry.
He slipped into the bathroom, closed the door and turned the tap on. Thankfully the sound of rushing water drowned out the sobs. Gohan grabbed his toothbrush and looked up to find him facing himself in the mirror. For a moment he looked into the eyes of a boy who wasn't a boy, his black wild hair spiking everywhere and his dark eyes holding knowledge even a grown man shouldn't have. He grasped a towel and tossed it over the mirror before turning back to brushing his teeth.
After changing into his pyjamas, a pair of dark blue baggy pants and a equally dark blue shirt with a picture of the four star dragonball on it, he climbed into bed. His mother walked in and once more he tried to ignore the puffy eyes and tear streaks. She tucked him in, and gently kissed his forehead.
"Sweet dreams, my little boy." Gohan watched his mother leave before he closed his eyes, knowing that sweet dreams were one thing he wasn't likely to have.
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Night was its element, night was a time of fears, a time when people committed the evilest of evils and it fed on them. It strength grew, in fact in had been growing daily for a while now. After centuries of hiding in the shadows, of being a part of the dark souls, it, no, he, yes he, he had grown, had developed in a way he had never thought possible. He had waited for so long, without ever knowing what he was waiting for.
He was now no longer a part of something else, he was himself and it was a glorious feeling. He no longer needed puppets to do what he wanted. He gathered himself, forming a body to house his self.
In his thoughts he made the choice, he was male because males inspired more fear and he fed on fear, he loved it. And now he could taste it, his tongue darted out, its forked end more like a snake's then a man's. A slow smirk spread across his newly formed face. A face that was both young and old at the same time. He stretched out his long graceful fingers; his fingernails glittered in the moonlight, reflecting off the deadly sharp points as the hand was flexed.
Oh he liked this; the feel of individuality was exhilarating. He was no longer just a part of something bigger. He walked now on long legs clothed in a pair of black leather pants. A blood red t-shirt covered his chest and shadows formed around the shirt before fading to revel a black leather jacket.
The thing paused to admire his work; he reached up and ran a hand through the silky black hair, which tumbled to his shoulders. He was pleased, again that smirk spread across his face, fangs glittered and that forked tongue darted out.
He stopped, and his tongue darted out again. His brow furrowed, as he tasted something in the air. He stood on the outskirts of the city and he wanted to walk through the streets bringing hate and fear and death in his wake. But this scent, this taste drew him. It led not toward the city but the tranquil stillness of the country.
Still he hesitated, his tongue darting out again. He sighed in glee, this smell, this taste was delicious. It was so innocent, but so guilty, and fear and anger, oh yes those were there too. For a second his lip curled in a sneer as he also caught the scent of love and honour. But soon the smile was back; a challenge was what he wanted. He wanted to bring him as low as he could go before he devoured him, he wanted to make that innocent soul his. Once he had that nothing could stop him.
Something rustled through the bushes and he froze, he had to get moving. It didn't appreciate parts of it obtaining individuality. For now he was too strong to be taken back, but he needed to feed. He practically drooled as the scent came to him again. With this soul as a part of him he couldn't be stopped. And the soul was at a crucial junction, at its very weakest. It was a risk, but one he was willing to take, the benefits would be beyond his wildest dreams.
His decision made he turned and moved into the forest, the shadows rose up to cover him as he followed that delicious scent to its source.
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Gohan tossed and turned, his dreams filled with twisted images, some false and some true. Cell squeezing the life out of him. His father looking on with shame in his eyes. To many images for Gohan to process and to many he didn't want to process. But it wasn't his dreams that woke him, it was something else. He jerked awake, sweat rolling down his forehead, his clothes clammy. His hands shook as he tossed the blankets aside. Opening one of the drawers he pulled out a orange fighting gi, one that was an miniature replica of his father's.
He pulled off his pyjamas and dressed quickly in the gi. He wasn't sure what he was doing he just knew he had to get out. He had no clear destination in mind as he opened the window and flew out; he just needed to go somewhere. He soon found himself back in the same field he had been in earlier. The quiet trickling of a spring caught his attention and he wandered over to it. He looked down into the black waters, the moon shone down, glimmering on the water.
Gohan trailed his fingers through the water, disrupting the reflection of the moon. He dunked his hands in and bought water up to splash himself, the cold water made Gohan gasp. He sat back on the bank and felt the water as it slowly dripped down his neck.
It was then that he noticed the silence. In all his life, all the time he had live in the country he had never heard the forest this quiet. He stiffened as a chill ran down his neck. Something was close, his fighter's instinct was screaming it, and whatever it was wasn't friendly.
A low chuckle sounded behind him and in a split second Gohan was on his feet and facing the sound, his stance posed and ready for battle.
At first he saw nothing but shadows, but before his very eyes he saw the shadows fade to reveal a man. He was tall and had a graceful look about him, he was clothed in black leather, but it was his face that captured Gohan. His eyes were a gold colour, they shone like a cat's and his face was everything and nothing. Gohan couldn't tell if he was old or young, even as he watched the face shifted, changing in small minute details. For a second he seemed to have a large nose that bent to the side and then in the next second the nose was small and dainty like, perfectly formed down to the last detail. The final detail Gohan noticed was the hair, it was so black it probably could have been termed ebony and it seemed to absorb the very moonlight, its darkness curiously reminded Gohan of the shadows that hid in every dark corner.
"Like what you see?" The voice had a mocking quality to it, and hint of something else underneath it. Now that he looked closer he observed that no matter what face it wore the perversion underneath was always evident, it was like looking in the water and seeing a whole different world underneath.
"Who are you?" Gohan demanded, his fists clenched as he powered up. The man simply stood there, he seemed to be considering his response.
"Who am I? That's a difficult question to answer. I'm many things. But I suppose if you need a name you can call me Haden. It's a good a name as any." Haden ran his eyes over Gohan, something darted out of his mouth but it was to dark for Gohan to see what it was. A blissful sigh came from Haden. "Oh my yes, you're even tastier in person."
Gohan took a step back, unsure of how to reply to this comment. He could sense no ki from the man, but there was something unusual about him. "What do you want?"
The golden, or yellow eyes sharpen in interest. "I'm here to help," Haden said, a gentle smile curving his lips. For some reason these smile was the worst of all the expression he had seen. And he had to roughly stop himself from fleeing in terror.
With a blur of blackness, Gohan found himself looking directly into Haden's eyes. Haden was now standing no more then an arms length away from Gohan. "I'm a part of you, why wouldn't I want to help you? I've come to bring you peace, won't you accepted it?"
Gohan stared hypnotized at Haden eyes; Haden's voice lulled him until he was swaying slightly. Haden had to stifle the urge to smirk, he had the boy now and it had been so easy. "Take your feelings of guilt, anger and sadness. Now use them to smother all those other feelings of love, and honour."
Gohan stopped swaying, he stood still, his whole body tense. Haden felt the first tinkling of panic. "Come on, do as I say and you'll be free. No more worries, no more horrible memories, no more shame."
Yet Gohan still didn't move. Haden hissed quietly and clenched his fist, his sharp fingernails digging into his skin, bringing a pleasant tingle as dark blood slowly dripped from his hand.
"Boy, why aren't you listening?" Haden growled. Gohan eyes still held a dazed look but with a suddenness that shocked Haden enough that he stepped back, Gohan eyes snapped back into focus. With a roar Gohan powered up, all the way into Super Saiyan.
Haden smirked as he stepped back. "So you want to do this the hard way, no problem."
Gohan narrowed his eyes; his mind still rang from the daze Haden had put him under. He didn't understand what Haden had wanted to happen by getting him to smother his kinder emotions, but his very core had rebelled at the thought.
His golden aura flared around him, as he shot towards Haden, only to find himself punching nothing but shadows. That low chuckle sounded from behind him and he spun around to find Haden leaning against a tree looking like he had never moved at all.
"Oh you're fast boy." Gohan tensed expecting Haden to attack, but instead all he did was say, "But you weren't fast enough to save your father." Gohan's green eyes widened in shock and he took a step back. For a second his golden aura faded, before he shook off the shock and powered up again. But he didn't know how to fight this guy, how could he fight somebody when he couldn't even get close.
Haden had seen the shock and surprise on Gohan's face. His tongue flicked out and he could taste the rioting emotions running through the boy. He knew what the boy's weakness was; the memory of it hovered over him like a cloud. By concentrated he could read all the guilts that were foremost in Gohan's mind. Sure the boy was fighting it, but without help he was lost, and Haden knew there was no one nearby to help. The boy could only think in the physical sense; this wasn't going to be a battle of skill, this was going to be a battle of souls.
Gohan lunged forward again, but once more Haden simply faded away. Gohan spun around searching for the man, but he was nowhere to be seen. Gohan stayed tense as he reached out with all his senses. The sharp tipped hands that grabbed his head, was the last thing he expected. He had a moment to wonder how Haden had got behind him before he was plunged into blackness.
Well that's it for chapter one! I think I'm going to finish it off in the next chapter. Gohan will have to come to term with his emotions. And Haden… well, you'll have to read to find out what's going to happen. And, as always please review! And I'm sorry for the lame title; I'm no good at naming stories.