Note: After some thought, I decided this chapter would tell what happens during the seven years between the defeat of Cell and entering High School. FYI, the title is from part V of T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" 'Between the motion And the act Falls the Shadow.'
Disclaimer: Me own something?? HA! I don't even own the clothes on my back! My parents do until I'm 18 years old I hear…..
Due to my very unpolished writing skills, there will undoubtedly be some OOC moments in this story, and all I can say is I'm sorry!! Also, I will try to work on details, but no promises.
'He's not coming back. I lost him, Father why?' Gohan sobbed as he raced through the air. Goku had not wanted to come back… why? To protect the world from himself was the excuse. Every villain had been after him, every last one. To protect the world he would leave it. 'WHY?? Please dad why?' Piccolo has offered to take him home, but Gohan refused. He would tell his mother himself. If it was up to him to protect the world now, he could face Chi Chi himself. But, how to convince her to allow him to continue training? That would be tricky. His dad left the safety of the world in his hands, and studying would not help Earth when the next villain arrived. He thought, and thought on the subject, when it suddenly hit him, the perfect reason, the one she could NEVER say no to. 'It will work, it has to work! Next time I won't let them down. Next time I WILL be ready.'
Chi Chi stared out the window, "Oh where is Goku and Gohan? They should have been here hours ago! And I must be ready for their arrival! Gohan is the world's hero!" She beamed with pride as she remembered what she saw on TV, her son killing the evil monster, and saving the world, but no one would ever know. The news crew never got the kids name. The press was cheering for his new alias. "The Saiyan Warrior" was the world's hero, and nobody knew who he was. There was some speculation, but nobody could figure it out. 'And nobody ever will.'
"Mom? Mom where are you?"
"GOHAN!! SWEETY! Where have you been? Oh I'm so happy for you! Where's your father? I have to congratulate him too! Uh, son what's wrong?"
Gohan had slumped into a corner and had broken down into tears. "Dads…not coming home Ma… I'm sorry; it's all my fault. If only I had stopped Cell when I had the chance, he would be here, but I didn't."
Her face fell, but she held back her tears. She would be strong for her son. She would comfort him, and then and only then would she allow herself to cry. "Its not your fault. Everyone dies eventually, be strong. We will get through this together. All, uh 3 of us."
With his eyes still wet, but face contorted with confusion Gohan stared at his mother. "Three? What does that mean?"
Smiling down on her son with sad eyes she stated, "Well, I was saving this for when Goku got home, but I guess that's not going to happen, so here goes." She took a deep breath, "I'm going to have a baby. You're going to have a little brother or sister soon."
"Oh mom! I'm so sorry! So sorry…." And with that they both broke down into tears in each other's arms.
~THREE MONTHS LATER~
Gohan creped down the stairs. It was now or never. For three months he hadn't trained at all. Study, study, study! That's all she ever allowed him to do, and he was sick of it. It was time to put operation "Study Time Is Over" into action. He spotted her in the kitchen. "Mom?"
"Gohan! What are you doing downstairs? You're supposed to be studying!"
'Ugg THAT word again.' "I know Mom, but I was thinking. All I ever do is study! When Dad died the fate of the world was left in my hands! How do you expect me to protect the planet when I almost never get to leave my room? I'm the world's hero; I'm The Saiyan Warrior for crying out loud! It's killing me!"
"YOUNG MAN! I AM YOUR MOTHER AND I KNOW WHATS BEST FOR YOU! Besides that, someone else can take care of the world. Your not…."
"Who mom? The only other person that can do that is Vegeta. Mom listen to me, VEGETA! It takes almost all of his willpower to not kill every human that comes within 5 feet of the Capsule Corp! I'm the ONLY one." [1]
"But… you might die! I couldn't live with myself if I lose you too! I need you here to help me! Your brother is due in five months!"[2]
"Mom, I'm not going to die, and if I do, I WILL come back, Dragonballs or no Dragonballs."
And with that, it was settled. She caved at the thought of placing the world's fate in Vegeta's hands. Every other day he could train. The others would be spent studying, the best of both worlds. Chi Chi got what she wanted, and so did Gohan. He didn't waste any time in getting to the Capsule Corp. in Saiyan City. 'I can't believe they named the city that. "Saiyan City" I'd be proud if it didn't sound so ridiculous.' [3] He didn't waste any time starting his training in Bulma's Gravity Chamber with the only other saiyan on the planet that was capable of training with him, seeing how Trunks was just starting to crawl around. 'Next time, I will be ready, and I won't let anyone down!'
~FIVE MONTHS LATER~
"Come on Vegeta! You can do better than that! Is the almighty prince tired?"
"Grrr… I'll teach you to mock the Prince of All Saiyans you third class baka!" And with that Vegeta flashed up to Gohan and blew him through the wall of the chamber. "Is the world's savior finished already…"
"VEGETA!!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! YOU BROKE THE GRAVETY CHAMBER AGAIN! THAT'S IT, I'M NOT GOING TO FIX IT FOR YOU AGAIN!!"
"Ah shit, the woman is at it again." And he stormed out into the house. Gohan pulled himself out of the rubble and followed him inside to find Vegeta glaring at him from the corner, and Bulma screaming into the phone.
"WHAT??!! Now?? Are you sure?? Where are you?? Of course I'll tell him!" She slammed down the phone and turned to face Gohan, "Gohan!! It's happening! He's here, I mean, its time, I mean…"
"The woman means that your loud-mouthed baka of a "mother" is in labor."
"WHAT!! Where is she??"
"VEGETA! She's at Saiyan General Hospital, kind of ironic when you think about the fact that he's going to be a half saiyan and…"
"Ya, really funny Bulma. And thanks!" With that, he powered down to normal [4] and was out the door faster than the human eye could follow as Bulma also ran out towards her car
"Great. Another spawn of Kakarott's is brought into the world. That's the last thing I need." Vegeta mumbled. He walked out the door to find some secluded spot to train in while Bulma fixed the chamber, just as soon as she got back from the birth of another half-human brat.
There you have it, the beginning of the seven uncovered years of Gohan's life. The next chapter will continue along this line with the third getting to where the show picks up again. At Orange Star High. Until then, seeya.
[1] This is NOT Vegeta bashing. In this story Gohan just used Chi Chi's dislike of him to prove his point.
[2] Chi Chi has checked the sex of the baby, but has yet to name him.
[3] In the show its Satan City, so in this fic, they would call it Saiyan City, sounds similar too, lol.
[4] He trains in ss2 with Vegeta in order to progress as much as possible.