Next to Gohan and Trunks, my fav character is the famous green one we must all bow down before

Next to Gohan and Trunks, my fav character is the famous green one we must all bow down before! -)( He's so great ^_____^ Wise, strong, hot nameksei-jinneshnesh… juuust kidding. (I think.) But.. but… just r&r, and I'll luf ya forever! ;) Luv, ~Vivi-sama

Chapter five

Ripping up the ground, the wind cut through the earth like a steel blade as dirt pelted through the air. The force erupted from a green figure standing in the mist of all the chaos, swirling around him in a fierce hurricane. Screaming, the nameksei-jin directed the force in front of him at the large mountain. Another scream, and the mountain ripped itself from the ground and rose into the air slowly, rocks falling off the bottom and instaneously pushed away from the vacuum created.

Eyes closed, sweat beaded down the figure's face as he breathed in slow, deep gasps. Steadily, the mountain continued to rise upwards, until it's peak pushed away the clouds above and dispersed it into puffs of vapor.

"Piccolo-san..." Gohan whispered in awe. The wind pulled his orange gi away from his body as he stood silently behind the green form.

Out of nowhere, the cloaked figure opened his eyes in an abrupt stare, palms wide open. Thundering towards the ground, the mountain fell out of it's place in the sky. Impacting into the very depths of Chikyuu, it shook it's foundations in a rough tremble. The figure relaxed his tense stance, and floated to the ground, his white cloak trailing above him like a servant to a king. Landing with a soft tap, his body stood as still as a rock, and his cape fragilly hovering on the edge of the strong breeze. "What's wrong, kid?"

Gohan's eyes opened in surprise. "You knew I was here?"

Piccolo turned to face the young saiya-jin. "I felt you coming a long distance away." His eyes burned into Gohan's, but there was a touch of gentleness melted into them. "You don't mask your ki too well when you're worried, Gohan."

"Ano..." Gohan blushed in his haste, then gave a small laugh. "Demo...ah, you know me too well, Piccolo-san. I just came to talk -"

"-About all your losses?" Piccolo placed a hand on Gohan's shoulder, a small smile creeping over his face. Softly, he said, "You're strong, kid. Don't worry about it." He watched Gohan's eyes dart uneasily to the ground, and crossed his arms. "Guess I'm in for a long talk, ne?" he said, his eyes smiling kindly.

"H-hai, Piccolo-san." Gohan gave a sheepish smile, then sat down on the rock behind him, resting his face in his hands. "Videl..." He blinked furiously, burying his face even deeper into the palms of his hand. He sat silently for a few minutes, and Piccolo patiently waited for him to speak.

"I...I know I need to be strong..." Gohan gulped. "Mostly for Pan, but...I can't. I know she feels lost, but I think I'm even worse off." He sighed, tilting his head upwards at the scattering clouds, as if he were looking for something...searching for something. "I know Vegeta-san would kill himself before he admit to weakness, but I just can't...can't be strong."

"It's not a weakness, Gohan."

"Nani?" Gohan eyed his mentor, a puzzled look creeping across his face. "What do you mean?"

Piccolo turned sideways, watching the landscape sink into the horizon. "Only times like these can make you get stronger. Either you wither away in your loss, or accept it and move on. And Gohan, there's never been a time where you haven't moved on." He gave the younger boy a solemn nod, and looked on.

"Are...are you sure, Piccolo-san?" Gohan asked. "What if just kills me inside until...until I can't escape it anymore?"

"Then fight it. You know you have to." Piccolo turned back towards Gohan, then past him into the distance, almost with a look of regret. "Besides, the satsujinsha is still out there, and that's something else you have to fight."

Gohan clenched his fists with anger. "This killer - this satsujinsha - I have to seek vengeance for Videl-san and Kaasan!"

"I'm glad." Unmoving, Piccolo kept a firm gaze forward. "I think this satusujinsha, whoever it may be, is someone that only you can fight, Gohan. You're the only one he's really after; you're the only one he wants."

"How do you know that, Piccolo-san?" Gohan's adult face suddenly transformed back to his young, unknowing one - his vulnerable one, full of fear, but with innocence as well. "What's gonna happen to me?" he whispered with a fear no one should ever experience.

"No one controls your destiny more than you, Gohan. You must learn to not only face it, but to change it," Piccolo said wisely. "Fate may be carved in stone, but sometimes it's etched in sand. This time, it's etched in sand."

Gohan nodded, and finally smiled, his body relaxing. "Arigatou, Piccolo-san. You've helped me a lot."

"Anytime, kid. Anytime."

"Then I'll see you soon, Piccolo-san?" asked Gohan hopefully.

"What do you expect me to do, run away every time I sense you coming?" said Piccolo, and Gohan laughed.

"Iie, I guess you're stuck listening to me then. Sayonara, Piccolo-san!" Gohan stood up, getting ready to leave.

"And Gohan?"

"Nani?"

"I just wanted you to know," Piccolo began quietly, "that I know exactly who the satsujinsha is."

Startled, Gohan almost fell over at the abrupt statement. "Ba - wa - doitsu?! WHO?!"

Piccolo turned his back to the shocked saiya-jin. "I don't want to cause any disturbance for anyone, Gohan."

"But Piccolo-san! If I know who it is, I can get vengeance for Videl-chan and Kaasan! Please, tell me who it is!"

"You'll figure that out soon enough." Piccolo kept his firm stance, never moving an inch. "Besides, if everyone else knew, they'd have their own ways to deal with this satsujinsha. I think it's best that we figure things out for ourselves."

"But Piccolo -"

"I just told you, it's better this way."

"H...hai, I understand..." Gohan breathed deeply, trying to calm the tense reaction from Piccolo's words. "I...I think so, anyway."

"Good." With a small smile, Piccolo rose into mid-air, leaving his cloak dangling beneath him. "If you want to spar or just talk - you know where to find me, kid." Another burst of ki, and he flew out towards the desert lands.

"Hai, Piccolo-san," said Gohan. He watched the figure quickly disappear, until not even a speck of his mentor could be seen. "So Piccolo-san knows who this killer is." He clenched his fists, building up a sweat from the rage that not bubbled up inside him. He felt a deep growl rumbling, the blood of a true saiya-jin rushing through his veins like a wild cheetah. "Satsujinsha!"

His cry echoed throughout the plain, animals perking their ears up at the angry sound, and one green figure stopped flying and turned. "Gohan..."

"I know you're out there somewhere, satsujinsha," Gohan said with clenched teeth, eyes twisted in an evil glare with the satsujinsha's sure fate. "My Videl, my kaasan...where you are, whoever you are...you will pay...and I will make sure of it."