Chapter 8: The Birthday of a Lifetime

"So it was you, wasn't it Cell Jr.," Gohan said, "the enormous power, the watcher in the night, the murderer of all those innocent people."

"Hehehe, you flatter me Gohan. Yes, it was I the whole time," Cell Jr. said.

"Just one question, that night, while you were in the trees watching me, why were you bleeding?"

The Cell Jr. looked down, grimly.

"Sometimes… father is very strict"-

"Alright… enough small talk, where's Cell?" Gohan said.

The Cell Jr.'s face changed to an evil, twisted grin, "Right there," Cell Jr. said, pointing behind Gohan.

"What?" Gohan turned around but saw nothing except the night sky. He turned back again to face Cell Jr. but he was gone.

Gohan's eyes widened slightly because, in his place, was Cell.

Cell had an "innocent/confused" look on (can you imagine that?), which slowly became a smile, "Hello Gohan," Cell said in an icy voice, "It's been a while hasn't it?"

"Alright Cell, I'm here. Why don't we just finish this battle now and get it over with?!" Gohan shouted.

"No… now's not a good time at all," Cell said. His voice was strangely quieter than usual, and the evil grin continued to stay on his face.

"Alright, if not now then when?!" Gohan asked.

"Three days. The place where the Cell Games took place. If you do not come by 12 a.m. on the fourth day, I shall be forced to find you myself, destroying everything and anything in my way," Cell said, his grin getting bigger as he said the last part.

"… alright. Three days at the old cell Games arena. I'll be there," Gohan said, powering down to his original state.

"Hahaha, good. And, if I'm not mistaken, three days from now is your birthday isn't it, Gohan?" Cell said with a smirk.

Gohan's eyes widened a little. It was his birthday.

Great, he thought, now I gotta go fight Cell on my birthday. This'll be a birthday I'm sure not to forget.

"Hahaha, well Gohan, you don't have to worry about a present, I've got one waiting for you," Cell added with a sinister grin.

Gohan's eyes widened, "What?"

"I'll see you in three days Gohan! Hahahahahahahaa!" Cell then used Instant Transmission and left the area.

Gohan remained where he was, still in shock from what he heard.

"A… present? … what kind of present does he have in mind? … do I even want to know?" Gohan asked himself. He shuddered and then looked up to the sky, "Father… why can't you be here with me? Why can't you be here to help me?"

Gohan tore his eyes away from the dark sky and flew home.

~Elsewhere~

A figure lands in an area of dust, sand, and soil. Huge marks are implanted deep within the ground, showing signs of a serious battle. A little person appeared in front of the being who had just arrived.

"Ahh… my dear child..." the bigger one said (Cell).

"Yes… who is the plan going?" the smaller one asked (Cell Jr.)

"Hahaha… the plan is going very well… hahaha… imagine how Gohan will react when he realizes that he must go through hell once more! Bwahahahahaha!"

~Turtle House~

"What the heck just happened?" Krillin asked.

"I'm not sure… that huge power appeared and then a power even bigger than that one came," Piccolo said.

"Do you think we're stupid, Namek?! We all know that!" Vegeta shouted.

-_- "… the question is, what happened?" Piccolo said, trying to ignore Vegeta's statement.

"… Gohan," Mirai Trunks said quietly. He suddenly ran towards the ocean, "I have to know what's wrong!" He jumped into the air.

"Trunks! Where are you going?!" Krillin shouted.

As Trunks flew away, he shouted, "To see what's wrong with Gohan!"

"Hmm… why does Trunks care so much for Kakarot's brat?" Vegeta questioned.

"In his timeline, he and Gohan were the only survivors after we all tried to destroy the androids. Gohan was his mentor, without him, Trunks wouldn't have been able to do half of the things he can now," Piccolo explained.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Vegeta asked, "I seriously doubt that an organism carrying my DNA will ever need the help of someone from Kakarot's bloodline."

"Well… if Gohan didn't block that attack from Cell at the Cell Games, you'd be dead," Krillin muttered.

"What was that?!"

"… never mind that. I should be going now," Piccolo said.

"Huh? But, it's still early! Oh I get it, Gohan leaves, so you leave right Piccolo?" Krillin said.

"-_- It's nothing like that, it's just that I'm going to visit Gohan in the morning, before Chichi has a chance to find out I was there at all," Piccolo said, and he took off.

Krillin yawned and said, "Well, I'm goin to bed," as he walked back to the Turtle House.

Vegeta followed, "Woman! Are we about ready to leave yet?!" He shouted as he stormed back inside.

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Ok, pretty short chappie. Sorry! ^^; But I can assure you, the following chapters, no matter the length, will have lots of action in them!