Well this is the third chapter enjoy
4.5 years later
Gohan finished washing the left over dishes and plates from this evenings dinner occasionally letting out a muted sigh. His Mentor, Piccolo watched him carefully he had been in this mood for a couple of days now.
"What up kid" his monotone voice sounding oddly loud in the silent kitchen speaking out at last.
"I don't know if I'm Doing the right thing Piccolo"
The Namak studied him carefully thinking, Gohan had decided that after all of this time he wanted to get an education, be able to support himself and that meant going to school, and had enrolled for the last year there, he looked at him carefully trying to read his body language, the boy he once was had grown into a fine young man these past few years, standing at 5ft 6in and still growing, over the years he hadn't bothered with his hair at all, now his parents were gone there was no one to disapprove of it so, now the length was just short of mid calve. at the moment it was tied back with one of his mothers old yellow ribbon but he usually let it hang free. Due to the intensive training he always pushed himself to do he was more developed then most body builders, but not overly so as he was still slim and was not weighted down with extra body weight this made him particularly fast when he wanted to be. A jet black tail was lazily draped around his waist just so it was out of the way while he was working. The first time he saw it again he was shocked it had been made so that it could never come back he had later learned that this had been the acquired side effect when he broke the barrier between Ssj 2 and 3 Piccolo jumped and was brought out of his reverie by Gohan's voice mentally berated himself for not paying attention.
"Well what do you think Piccolo?"
Apparently he had been talking while he was staring into space anyway it wa not like he hadn't heard it before but just to check he was on the same subject he answered with a "About what" just to be safe
The boy scowled "going to high school to get my Qualifications, I think in being selfish I have a child to look after and I would have to leave him with strangers if I went" he repeated slower to make sure that he caught it this time Gohan turned to face him
Piccolo snorted "Ha, Bulma is hardly a stranger you have known her since you where four years old, from what I recall we could never get rid of her"
Gohan glowered "she's a stranger to Goten
"Look kid I'm not telling you what you should do with the squirt But staying out here with no one alone never getting out is not good for you and it is also not good for you to beat yourself up because you want to do something for you and not any one else"
this hit a nerve within the young sayin blatantly ignoring the last part of what his teacher had said he managed to come out with "Hey I go out all of the time"
"I didn't mean that and you know it, go out and meet new people be a normal teenager all you ever do is train, study and look after the brat"
"I can never be normal Piccolo and for your information I love looking after that brat"
he snarled and hurled a plate at the nearest wall, inevitably the thing shattered on impact but only this little incident helping him to vent out all of the frustration he felt, Piccolo just frowned at the boy and was about to say something but Gohan started again he just let him speak, Gohan usually kept everything inside him at least now he was showing some emotion .
"Damn it Piccolo I have enough power to destroy several galaxies without a sweat, I don't have any parents I am the protector of this ungrateful planet and I became the sole carer of a new born baby when I was still a child myself and you want me to go and pretend that I am a normal teenager, oh sorry, excuse me, a normal HUMAN teenager" his voice became soft "I can never be a normal teenager, it can never happen no matter how much you might want it"
"Gohan there are other people who protect this mud ball, will you listen to me for once and stop being so damn independent. Go and get some friends, a social life let the brat see someone other than 3 people he has grown up with" the Namak had risen from his seat and was shouting at him trying to get him to listen to what he was saying, they both stopped and froze when they heard a tired little muffled voice originating from the doorway
"Why yoo shouting?"
Both of them turned, a very sleepy Goten was in the entrance with a dummy [1] in his mouth, in one hand was clutched a stuffed dinosaur christened Iccarus. In the other a small blanket which with the end he was twirling against his cheek. He radiated pure innocence.
Gohan's whole demeanour changed his body and face softened as he walked over to the child. Goten lifted his arms up to be held Gohan smiled at his younger brother as he bent down to pick him up. He held the young boy gently to his chest Goten wrapped his arms around his brothers neck and laid his head his tail unconsciously wrapped itself around his brothers wrist as he held him to him
"Its ok Goten I'm sorry if we woke you" Gohan rocked the boy gently "are you tired?" Goten nodded
"Daddy" Goten looked up
"Yes"
"Can yoo sing again I cant get sleep?"
"Sure little one" the elder of the two half sayin's began to hum, it was a haunting and soothing melody It was strange to hear his voice was reaching to different harmony's all at once it was hard to believe it was only one person that the sounds were coming from. The amazing song only lasted a couple of minutes until Gohan was sure that his brother was asleep he made his way to the master bedroom which he and his brother shared as Goten did not like to sleep alone he laid him in the double bed and covered him with a light blanket as it was hot night that night. He stopped for a moment just watching his brother sleep before bending down and kissing his forehead he was not surprised to see piccolo standing in the doorway when he turned to leave.
"So what's it to be?"
"I've got an invitation to the reunion the day after tomorrow if Goten likes it there I will go I will not leave him with any any he does not like, will you be there?"
"sure kid I'm going now I'll see you there"
"Ok Sensei, oh and piccolo" he paused as he looked at his long time friend "I'm sorry"
The Namak just grunted and left being honest with himself that was all he was expecting to get from the stony man, Gohan sunk to his knees as he looked at his brother
"what do I do 'ten?" Not really talking to anyone but himself. if I go down that road that's it, there is no turning back every thing will be different I haven't been back there not since mom died, oh I don't know Goten maybe it would have been better if I had just taken up Bulma's offer and brought you to live over there with them I can't give you everything you deserve I need help" the boy huffed "I wish dad was here or even mom but that's just wishful dreaming now"
He got back up remembering what a mess he had made in the kitchen from that plate quickly going to clear it up not wanting Goten to cut himself in the morning before returning to his bed. As soon as he laid down Goten curled up to him immediately wrapping himself around him and his warmth he chuckled as soon as he heard a low rumbling and felt a vibration on his chest Goten was purring again Gohan placed an arm around his brother and was gently lulled into an uneasy sleep.
Out side the window piccolo watched hearing all that was said unnoticed by the two hybrids inside. He remembered a promise he had made to the boys' mother she had swallowed her dislike and pride and asked him to protect her sons, the thought that her son was stronger that him didn't cross her mind but a promise was a promise and he would not break her confidence in him. he shook his head and flew off to the lookout where he had been staying mulling thing over
"Oh Gohan, you will make it you are strong you would have broken already if you weren't you would have broken long by now, well, I'll just have to see how the reunion goes that ought to be interesting"
[1] For all you Americans out there, a dummy is a pacifier
*Right the next chapter will be more light hearted and will focus more on the relationship between Gohan and Goten and of course the reunion. It will also be longer.
Dee *
4.5 years later
Gohan finished washing the left over dishes and plates from this evenings dinner occasionally letting out a muted sigh. His Mentor, Piccolo watched him carefully he had been in this mood for a couple of days now.
"What up kid" his monotone voice sounding oddly loud in the silent kitchen speaking out at last.
"I don't know if I'm Doing the right thing Piccolo"
The Namak studied him carefully thinking, Gohan had decided that after all of this time he wanted to get an education, be able to support himself and that meant going to school, and had enrolled for the last year there, he looked at him carefully trying to read his body language, the boy he once was had grown into a fine young man these past few years, standing at 5ft 6in and still growing, over the years he hadn't bothered with his hair at all, now his parents were gone there was no one to disapprove of it so, now the length was just short of mid calve. at the moment it was tied back with one of his mothers old yellow ribbon but he usually let it hang free. Due to the intensive training he always pushed himself to do he was more developed then most body builders, but not overly so as he was still slim and was not weighted down with extra body weight this made him particularly fast when he wanted to be. A jet black tail was lazily draped around his waist just so it was out of the way while he was working. The first time he saw it again he was shocked it had been made so that it could never come back he had later learned that this had been the acquired side effect when he broke the barrier between Ssj 2 and 3 Piccolo jumped and was brought out of his reverie by Gohan's voice mentally berated himself for not paying attention.
"Well what do you think Piccolo?"
Apparently he had been talking while he was staring into space anyway it wa not like he hadn't heard it before but just to check he was on the same subject he answered with a "About what" just to be safe
The boy scowled "going to high school to get my Qualifications, I think in being selfish I have a child to look after and I would have to leave him with strangers if I went" he repeated slower to make sure that he caught it this time Gohan turned to face him
Piccolo snorted "Ha, Bulma is hardly a stranger you have known her since you where four years old, from what I recall we could never get rid of her"
Gohan glowered "she's a stranger to Goten
"Look kid I'm not telling you what you should do with the squirt But staying out here with no one alone never getting out is not good for you and it is also not good for you to beat yourself up because you want to do something for you and not any one else"
this hit a nerve within the young sayin blatantly ignoring the last part of what his teacher had said he managed to come out with "Hey I go out all of the time"
"I didn't mean that and you know it, go out and meet new people be a normal teenager all you ever do is train, study and look after the brat"
"I can never be normal Piccolo and for your information I love looking after that brat"
he snarled and hurled a plate at the nearest wall, inevitably the thing shattered on impact but only this little incident helping him to vent out all of the frustration he felt, Piccolo just frowned at the boy and was about to say something but Gohan started again he just let him speak, Gohan usually kept everything inside him at least now he was showing some emotion .
"Damn it Piccolo I have enough power to destroy several galaxies without a sweat, I don't have any parents I am the protector of this ungrateful planet and I became the sole carer of a new born baby when I was still a child myself and you want me to go and pretend that I am a normal teenager, oh sorry, excuse me, a normal HUMAN teenager" his voice became soft "I can never be a normal teenager, it can never happen no matter how much you might want it"
"Gohan there are other people who protect this mud ball, will you listen to me for once and stop being so damn independent. Go and get some friends, a social life let the brat see someone other than 3 people he has grown up with" the Namak had risen from his seat and was shouting at him trying to get him to listen to what he was saying, they both stopped and froze when they heard a tired little muffled voice originating from the doorway
"Why yoo shouting?"
Both of them turned, a very sleepy Goten was in the entrance with a dummy [1] in his mouth, in one hand was clutched a stuffed dinosaur christened Iccarus. In the other a small blanket which with the end he was twirling against his cheek. He radiated pure innocence.
Gohan's whole demeanour changed his body and face softened as he walked over to the child. Goten lifted his arms up to be held Gohan smiled at his younger brother as he bent down to pick him up. He held the young boy gently to his chest Goten wrapped his arms around his brothers neck and laid his head his tail unconsciously wrapped itself around his brothers wrist as he held him to him
"Its ok Goten I'm sorry if we woke you" Gohan rocked the boy gently "are you tired?" Goten nodded
"Daddy" Goten looked up
"Yes"
"Can yoo sing again I cant get sleep?"
"Sure little one" the elder of the two half sayin's began to hum, it was a haunting and soothing melody It was strange to hear his voice was reaching to different harmony's all at once it was hard to believe it was only one person that the sounds were coming from. The amazing song only lasted a couple of minutes until Gohan was sure that his brother was asleep he made his way to the master bedroom which he and his brother shared as Goten did not like to sleep alone he laid him in the double bed and covered him with a light blanket as it was hot night that night. He stopped for a moment just watching his brother sleep before bending down and kissing his forehead he was not surprised to see piccolo standing in the doorway when he turned to leave.
"So what's it to be?"
"I've got an invitation to the reunion the day after tomorrow if Goten likes it there I will go I will not leave him with any any he does not like, will you be there?"
"sure kid I'm going now I'll see you there"
"Ok Sensei, oh and piccolo" he paused as he looked at his long time friend "I'm sorry"
The Namak just grunted and left being honest with himself that was all he was expecting to get from the stony man, Gohan sunk to his knees as he looked at his brother
"what do I do 'ten?" Not really talking to anyone but himself. if I go down that road that's it, there is no turning back every thing will be different I haven't been back there not since mom died, oh I don't know Goten maybe it would have been better if I had just taken up Bulma's offer and brought you to live over there with them I can't give you everything you deserve I need help" the boy huffed "I wish dad was here or even mom but that's just wishful dreaming now"
He got back up remembering what a mess he had made in the kitchen from that plate quickly going to clear it up not wanting Goten to cut himself in the morning before returning to his bed. As soon as he laid down Goten curled up to him immediately wrapping himself around him and his warmth he chuckled as soon as he heard a low rumbling and felt a vibration on his chest Goten was purring again Gohan placed an arm around his brother and was gently lulled into an uneasy sleep.
Out side the window piccolo watched hearing all that was said unnoticed by the two hybrids inside. He remembered a promise he had made to the boys' mother she had swallowed her dislike and pride and asked him to protect her sons, the thought that her son was stronger that him didn't cross her mind but a promise was a promise and he would not break her confidence in him. he shook his head and flew off to the lookout where he had been staying mulling thing over
"Oh Gohan, you will make it you are strong you would have broken already if you weren't you would have broken long by now, well, I'll just have to see how the reunion goes that ought to be interesting"
[1] For all you Americans out there, a dummy is a pacifier
*Right the next chapter will be more light hearted and will focus more on the relationship between Gohan and Goten and of course the reunion. It will also be longer.
Dee *