Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ.
What If It Hadn't Happened?
Chapter 7
"GOTEN!" "TRUNKS!" The 2 demi-Saiyans were nearly choked to death by
their mothers as the group appeared in the living room of CC.
"You had me worried, Gohan," Videl said, walking up to him.
"I promised I'd be alright, didn't I?" Gohan pointed out.
"Yeah, but I was still worried," Videl replied.
"I'm glad I've got someone like you to watch out for me," Gohan said with a smile,
grasping her small hand lightly in his. Videl just smiled back, unable to think of anything
to say.
"Okay, everybody, party in an hour!" Bulma announced, once she let her son go free.
"I still don't see why we're having a party just for baka Kakarott and his half-breed
spawn," Guess Who? Said.
"Vegeta, we only have a bit of time left with Goku, and Gohan is the only person in our
little group to win the tournament for years, since Goku. This is what we normal, does
something besides train all day people call a special occasion," Bulma explained.
"Go ahead and have your party, but we still have to keep Buu and that wizard in mind,"
Shin said.
"Um, guys, what's a wizard?" Goten asked. Insert cricket noise here.
"Goten, did you know you're really dumb?" Trunks said quietly.
"Well, Goten, a wizard is...actually, I don't know myself. What is a wizard?" Goku said.
"A wizard is a guy who can use magic to do a lot of things, some good and some bad,"
Bulma explained, just as much to Goku as Goten, who both gave long, "Ohhhhhh!!!"s.
~1/2 hour later~
"Mom, all my gis are dirty!" Gohan shouted form his room.
"Wear one of your father's," Chi-Chi shouted back. Gohan walked to his parents' room, opening the closet filled with Goku's clothes. He swallowed back a sob, seeing the many orange jumpsuits. He picked out one, returning to his room to change out of his ragged Saiyaman suit. Fully dressed, he walked out to the kitchen.
Chi-Chi's eyes filled with tears and she said, "Oh, honey, you look so handsome! You look so much like your father!" She dragged Goku away from the refrigerator he had missed so dearly and added, "Goku, look at your son!"
"Wow, you look great, Gohan! And it fits perfect, too. This brings back old memories. You haven't worn my colors since before the Cell Games," the older Son man said.
Gohan blushed from all the praise and muttered a small "Thanks."
They found Goten and ITd back to CC, surprised to find Baba there.
"Baba, what are you doing here? My time's not up yet," Goku said.
"Yeah, Baba. He should be here 'til tomorrow," Krillin added.
"He should have until tomorrow, yes, but SS3 drained a lot of Goku's energy. He only has 2 hours left in this world," Baba informed them.
"What?!? Two hours?" Goku along with many others gasped out.
"But I don't want you to leave, Dad. I like you!" Goten said, eyes filling with tears. Goku smiled and picked up his little clone.
He turned to Baba and said, "There's gotta be some way to get more time."
"I'm sorry, Goku. Two hours is all you get," Baba said. Without another word, she faded away, returning to Otherworld.
"If I had known it would drain my energy, I would have stayed at level 2," Goku muttered.
"Dad, it wasn't your fault. Besides, you would've had to go back anyway, but now, it's just a bit sooner," Gohan said.
"Yeah, you're right, Gohan. I just wish there was a way for me to stay longer. Not only so I want to spend time with you guys, but with the whole Buu thing, I need to be here," Goku said, patting Goten's head as he put the chibi back on the ground. Gohan spotted Videl across the room and walked over to her.
"Hey," she said with a small smile.
"Hey," he replied. He leaned against the wall and said, "I fell really bad. When it all comes down to it, Dad's death is my fault."
"Why's that?" Videl asked.
"If I hadn't been so dumb at the Cell Games, he wouldn't of had to..." Gohan trailed of, his voice caught by the lump in his throat.
"Had to what?" Videl pried cautiously, not wanting to upset him.
Gohan launched into his long speech, fighting the urge to cry at some points. "At the Games, my dad knew he wasn't strong enough, and he thought that I was. I fought, losing at first, but then, he attacked all of my friends, and killed one. That's when I snapped. I was mad, real mad. I turned into what we call an ascended Super Saiyan, or level 2. I was stronger than Cell. In fact, my power dwarfed his. I messed around for a while, because I wanted to make him suffer for everything he'd done. Dad and Piccolo both told me to finish him off, but I ignored them, and went on having 'fun.' Cell took advantage of my pride and cocky attitude, and he began to self-destruct, planning to take the Earth and all of its inhabitants with him. Dad used his instant transmission to take Cell to a different planet, where he died. Cell came back, though. He had gotten stronger, too. I finally finished him off, but, even in death, Dad still had to help me."
He took a breath, and finished, "The last thing he said to me when he was alive was: 'You put up a good fight, Gohan. I'm proud of you.' But there was nothing to be proud of. I let Cell win, and Dad had to risk his life to cover up my mistakes! It's happened more than once in my life, too. And I've let so many people die that could've been spared."
He looked back up at Videl, a single tear rolling down his cheek.
"Gohan...I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Videl said.
"You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, it feels good to talk to someone about it after all these years," Gohan replied.
"I'm glad I could help," Videl said. Gohan gave her the smile he reserved for Videl and Videl only, giving her a one-armed hug. Seemingly out of nowhere, Bulma produced a big CD player and volunteers for DJ, Trunks and Goten.
"Okay, everybody. Let the 'festivities' begin!" she announced. The music started, and Gohan perked up a bit.
"Hey, the past is the past, right? For the present, may I have the honor of dancing with the beautiful girl in front of me?" he asked, bowing low.
Videl laughed and answered with, "Of course, kind sir."
Grinning like idiots, they joined Goku and Chi-Chi, Krillin and 18, and even Bulma and Vegeta on the makeshift dance floor, really the cleared-out dining room.
A bit later, the songs slowed down to the beat of a slow-dance. Gohan gently held Videl's hips, while Videl looped her arms around Gohan's neck. Foreheads resting against each other's, they swayed to the music, oblivious to the world around them.
Gohan, with a huge smile pasted on his face, said, "You're a great dancer."
"Thanks," Videl replied, "So are you, which surprises me. I didn't think bookworm, mountain boy would even bother to learn."
"I just learned recently, actually. Between 5 1/2 and Cell, all I thought about was how I would manage to live another day. There was never time to think about stuff like girls or dancing," Gohan explained sadly. Videl saw the anger, depression, and an array of other emotions hidden in his eyes, and now she knew why.
"Gohan, you had to grow up so fast," she said, tightening her arms a bit around Gohan's neck.
"I know. I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to Goten. He was barely done sucking his thumb by the age I had been kidnapped," Gohan observed.
"You got kidnapped?" Videl asked.
Putting his hand behind his head, Gohan gave a small laugh and nodded.
Two hours came and went, and Baba retuned to retrieve Goku.
"Okay, Goku. You get five minutes. Say your good-byes," she said.
"NO!!! I don't want Daddy to go!" Goten said, latching onto his father's leg.
"I'm sorry, Goten, but I have to go," Goku said quietly.
"But why?" Goten asked, choking back a sob.
Gohan tensed up, flashing back to that moment seven years ago. "Hey, it wasn't your fault," Videl whispered, seeing his blank face.
The good-byes continued, Chi-Chi breaking down when she hugged her husband. He even gave Videl a hug, though he only met her that day.
"Take care of my son, okay?" he said quietly, letting her go. Videl nodded wordlessly, a small smile on her face. Goku turned to his older son, who happened to be the last person he had to say good-bye to.
"Well, Gohan, looks like everyone's gonna rely on you, now. You can beat this Buu, guy, even without my help. I have faith in you," he said, patting Gohan's shoulder.
"Dad, I can't do it alone. I need you," Gohan said quietly.
"Gohan, you were the one that weakened Radditz enough for Piccolo and me to finish him off. You helped me against Frieza when there was no hope left. You beat Cell single-handedly, and I really mean single-handedly. You've got what it takes, son. The strength, the courage, the smarts. You just have to use it," Goku argued. Gohan swallowed and nodded, hugging his father hard.
"It's time to go, Goku," Baba declared, clearing her throat loudly.
"Right. I hope I see you guys soon!" Goku said, walking over to the witch.
"Where you're going, I think I can stand to wait," Krillin said. With a final wave from Goku, he and Baba disappeared.
Done!!! Goku's gone, so if Buu's released, and Gohan gets bat, the Z fighters are basically screwed.
Next Time On WIIHH?:
"Gohan, I hate you!!"
(yep, that's all you get ^^^)
What If It Hadn't Happened?
Chapter 7
"GOTEN!" "TRUNKS!" The 2 demi-Saiyans were nearly choked to death by
their mothers as the group appeared in the living room of CC.
"You had me worried, Gohan," Videl said, walking up to him.
"I promised I'd be alright, didn't I?" Gohan pointed out.
"Yeah, but I was still worried," Videl replied.
"I'm glad I've got someone like you to watch out for me," Gohan said with a smile,
grasping her small hand lightly in his. Videl just smiled back, unable to think of anything
to say.
"Okay, everybody, party in an hour!" Bulma announced, once she let her son go free.
"I still don't see why we're having a party just for baka Kakarott and his half-breed
spawn," Guess Who? Said.
"Vegeta, we only have a bit of time left with Goku, and Gohan is the only person in our
little group to win the tournament for years, since Goku. This is what we normal, does
something besides train all day people call a special occasion," Bulma explained.
"Go ahead and have your party, but we still have to keep Buu and that wizard in mind,"
Shin said.
"Um, guys, what's a wizard?" Goten asked. Insert cricket noise here.
"Goten, did you know you're really dumb?" Trunks said quietly.
"Well, Goten, a wizard is...actually, I don't know myself. What is a wizard?" Goku said.
"A wizard is a guy who can use magic to do a lot of things, some good and some bad,"
Bulma explained, just as much to Goku as Goten, who both gave long, "Ohhhhhh!!!"s.
~1/2 hour later~
"Mom, all my gis are dirty!" Gohan shouted form his room.
"Wear one of your father's," Chi-Chi shouted back. Gohan walked to his parents' room, opening the closet filled with Goku's clothes. He swallowed back a sob, seeing the many orange jumpsuits. He picked out one, returning to his room to change out of his ragged Saiyaman suit. Fully dressed, he walked out to the kitchen.
Chi-Chi's eyes filled with tears and she said, "Oh, honey, you look so handsome! You look so much like your father!" She dragged Goku away from the refrigerator he had missed so dearly and added, "Goku, look at your son!"
"Wow, you look great, Gohan! And it fits perfect, too. This brings back old memories. You haven't worn my colors since before the Cell Games," the older Son man said.
Gohan blushed from all the praise and muttered a small "Thanks."
They found Goten and ITd back to CC, surprised to find Baba there.
"Baba, what are you doing here? My time's not up yet," Goku said.
"Yeah, Baba. He should be here 'til tomorrow," Krillin added.
"He should have until tomorrow, yes, but SS3 drained a lot of Goku's energy. He only has 2 hours left in this world," Baba informed them.
"What?!? Two hours?" Goku along with many others gasped out.
"But I don't want you to leave, Dad. I like you!" Goten said, eyes filling with tears. Goku smiled and picked up his little clone.
He turned to Baba and said, "There's gotta be some way to get more time."
"I'm sorry, Goku. Two hours is all you get," Baba said. Without another word, she faded away, returning to Otherworld.
"If I had known it would drain my energy, I would have stayed at level 2," Goku muttered.
"Dad, it wasn't your fault. Besides, you would've had to go back anyway, but now, it's just a bit sooner," Gohan said.
"Yeah, you're right, Gohan. I just wish there was a way for me to stay longer. Not only so I want to spend time with you guys, but with the whole Buu thing, I need to be here," Goku said, patting Goten's head as he put the chibi back on the ground. Gohan spotted Videl across the room and walked over to her.
"Hey," she said with a small smile.
"Hey," he replied. He leaned against the wall and said, "I fell really bad. When it all comes down to it, Dad's death is my fault."
"Why's that?" Videl asked.
"If I hadn't been so dumb at the Cell Games, he wouldn't of had to..." Gohan trailed of, his voice caught by the lump in his throat.
"Had to what?" Videl pried cautiously, not wanting to upset him.
Gohan launched into his long speech, fighting the urge to cry at some points. "At the Games, my dad knew he wasn't strong enough, and he thought that I was. I fought, losing at first, but then, he attacked all of my friends, and killed one. That's when I snapped. I was mad, real mad. I turned into what we call an ascended Super Saiyan, or level 2. I was stronger than Cell. In fact, my power dwarfed his. I messed around for a while, because I wanted to make him suffer for everything he'd done. Dad and Piccolo both told me to finish him off, but I ignored them, and went on having 'fun.' Cell took advantage of my pride and cocky attitude, and he began to self-destruct, planning to take the Earth and all of its inhabitants with him. Dad used his instant transmission to take Cell to a different planet, where he died. Cell came back, though. He had gotten stronger, too. I finally finished him off, but, even in death, Dad still had to help me."
He took a breath, and finished, "The last thing he said to me when he was alive was: 'You put up a good fight, Gohan. I'm proud of you.' But there was nothing to be proud of. I let Cell win, and Dad had to risk his life to cover up my mistakes! It's happened more than once in my life, too. And I've let so many people die that could've been spared."
He looked back up at Videl, a single tear rolling down his cheek.
"Gohan...I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Videl said.
"You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, it feels good to talk to someone about it after all these years," Gohan replied.
"I'm glad I could help," Videl said. Gohan gave her the smile he reserved for Videl and Videl only, giving her a one-armed hug. Seemingly out of nowhere, Bulma produced a big CD player and volunteers for DJ, Trunks and Goten.
"Okay, everybody. Let the 'festivities' begin!" she announced. The music started, and Gohan perked up a bit.
"Hey, the past is the past, right? For the present, may I have the honor of dancing with the beautiful girl in front of me?" he asked, bowing low.
Videl laughed and answered with, "Of course, kind sir."
Grinning like idiots, they joined Goku and Chi-Chi, Krillin and 18, and even Bulma and Vegeta on the makeshift dance floor, really the cleared-out dining room.
A bit later, the songs slowed down to the beat of a slow-dance. Gohan gently held Videl's hips, while Videl looped her arms around Gohan's neck. Foreheads resting against each other's, they swayed to the music, oblivious to the world around them.
Gohan, with a huge smile pasted on his face, said, "You're a great dancer."
"Thanks," Videl replied, "So are you, which surprises me. I didn't think bookworm, mountain boy would even bother to learn."
"I just learned recently, actually. Between 5 1/2 and Cell, all I thought about was how I would manage to live another day. There was never time to think about stuff like girls or dancing," Gohan explained sadly. Videl saw the anger, depression, and an array of other emotions hidden in his eyes, and now she knew why.
"Gohan, you had to grow up so fast," she said, tightening her arms a bit around Gohan's neck.
"I know. I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to Goten. He was barely done sucking his thumb by the age I had been kidnapped," Gohan observed.
"You got kidnapped?" Videl asked.
Putting his hand behind his head, Gohan gave a small laugh and nodded.
Two hours came and went, and Baba retuned to retrieve Goku.
"Okay, Goku. You get five minutes. Say your good-byes," she said.
"NO!!! I don't want Daddy to go!" Goten said, latching onto his father's leg.
"I'm sorry, Goten, but I have to go," Goku said quietly.
"But why?" Goten asked, choking back a sob.
Gohan tensed up, flashing back to that moment seven years ago. "Hey, it wasn't your fault," Videl whispered, seeing his blank face.
The good-byes continued, Chi-Chi breaking down when she hugged her husband. He even gave Videl a hug, though he only met her that day.
"Take care of my son, okay?" he said quietly, letting her go. Videl nodded wordlessly, a small smile on her face. Goku turned to his older son, who happened to be the last person he had to say good-bye to.
"Well, Gohan, looks like everyone's gonna rely on you, now. You can beat this Buu, guy, even without my help. I have faith in you," he said, patting Gohan's shoulder.
"Dad, I can't do it alone. I need you," Gohan said quietly.
"Gohan, you were the one that weakened Radditz enough for Piccolo and me to finish him off. You helped me against Frieza when there was no hope left. You beat Cell single-handedly, and I really mean single-handedly. You've got what it takes, son. The strength, the courage, the smarts. You just have to use it," Goku argued. Gohan swallowed and nodded, hugging his father hard.
"It's time to go, Goku," Baba declared, clearing her throat loudly.
"Right. I hope I see you guys soon!" Goku said, walking over to the witch.
"Where you're going, I think I can stand to wait," Krillin said. With a final wave from Goku, he and Baba disappeared.
Done!!! Goku's gone, so if Buu's released, and Gohan gets bat, the Z fighters are basically screwed.
Next Time On WIIHH?:
"Gohan, I hate you!!"
(yep, that's all you get ^^^)