-I have no idea just how Buu manages to regenerate himself, so I made something up. Buu's body chemistry will be a little different from what it was in the original series for the purpose of moving this story along.


-I'd like to apologize beforehand for any inconsistences with the formatting of this chapter. It's a bit of a long irritating story. You see, recently my mother decided to buy a new computer for the living room recently, and decided to switch the internet exclusively to her computer. So now, whenever I want to update, I have to transfer my files onto this computer to post them. While that might not sound like too difficult, I didn't think it would be at first either, I was shocked to discover all the problems this stupid piece of crap was going to present me. For one, the stupid CD drives are written on different programs for whatever reason, so all my CD saved files are useless with this computer, not that it matters since this new computer doesn't have a normal Word Processor, so it won't recognize saved Word files anyhow. On top of that, the new processing system doesn't allow the option to save files as HTML, which the first 25 chapters were posted in, so I was forced to transfer the files as a txt. document, which of course scrambles all the paragraph formatting, and for whatever insane reason undid almost half of my punctuation. I've gone over this chapter three more times, and I believe I've managed to correct most of the spacing and punctuation problems that this new system has presented. If you happen to see any paragraphs spaced where they shouldn't be, or any missing periods or question marks, that's the reason for it and I apologize for it. I tried my best to fix the formatting jumble, but I doubt I was able to fix everything. Until I can afford to split the internet back onto my computer, or until we enroll this computer into rehab to get it off whatever illegal narcotics it's on than I'm afraid this is going to be a persistent problem for me whenever I update. If you'll excuse, I'm going to crawl into the corner and cry now... Hope you enjoy the conclusion!



-Smooster: Actually, there's a simple enough answer for that. The spaceship wasn't actually in space, it was hoovering in the Earth's atmosphere. The little bubble-elevator thingy was basically for convenience and show. Pirates just love to show off.






Chapter 26



Gohan's expression had changed little throughout the brief thirty-second stare-down he had with Buu after the world screeched to a sudden halt. It took that long merely for what happened to completely process in Gohan's head. Videl was dead The fat son of a bitch staring back at him was the one who killed her. That constituted basically everything running through his head at the moment. That's all he needed to know.


Buu was a tad curious as to the reasoning for Gohan's reaction. This was all in good fun after all, so why did he seem so upset? Buu cared for all of about ten seconds before his thoughts shifted onto exactly how he was going to dispose of his current plaything once it out lived it's entertainment value. He was still curious as to why the boy was shaking, pretty much assuming that the young Sayian was terrified after seeing what Buu did to his other toy. "Why you shaking? You that scared of Buu?"

If Buu knew how to use the other half of his brain he would've been able to analyze that it wasn't fear in Gohan's eyes, but something else entirely. All of Gohan's faculties finally appeared to fall back into working order at that moment, while he felt something in him stir. "Afraid of you? You're the one who should be afraid!" Gohan's voice echoed as his power surged, releasing an explosion of energy. Buu's flab waved in the wind, as he struggled to maintain his position without being blown away. Vegeta shielded his eyes from the piercing light, dropping to a knee as he too struggled to maintain his footing. As the power surge faded, Vegeta stood up and gaped up at Gohan.

"Son of a Namek, I think it might've worked..."


"Uh-oh..." Buu stammered with confused eyes as he stared over at Gohan. The boy didn't look much different except for the fact that he now resembled a starving wolf ready to rip apart a dying caribou.


"Buu, You're dead!" Gohan growled, before laying into Buu. The monster wasn't simply allowing Gohan to hit him this time, he wouldn't of had time to move if he had wanted to. Gohan continued to pasteurize the creature with his fists until reducing him into what looked like a clod of pink mashed potatoes. Gohan pulled his arm back, putting a little extra on his next blow as he sent Buu's mangled mass flying. Gohan sped after him, eventually overtaking the flying glob of tenderized fat, and gave him another shot to the back, jerking his head to the side to prevent the keeling flab of pink goo from slapping him in the face as the ball of Buu folded over. Gohan hovered just above Buu, and nailed him over the top of the head sending him speeding towards the ground. The energized Half-Sayian wasted no time charging up, with full intentions of finishing the monster off. "Kamehameha!"

The wave of energy enveloped Buu before either hit the ground, and exploded on contact. When the smoke cleared, all that was left of the bloated fiend was a gassy cloud of pink puss floating just a few feet above the ground. Vegeta stared at the scene in awe at how aggressively and precise Gohan went about his work. Maybe his eyes were deceiving him, but for a moment he thought he saw an actual glimpse of a Sayian warrior in someone who was normally a painfully human teenaged boy. "It can't be over already can it? I don't like the feel of this."


Gohan didn't either at first. He floated down towards the swirling cloud of pus to make sure the monster was really defeated. Feeling no signs of energy from the beast, Gohan assumed the battle was over with. He snorted, and turned his head away from what was left of Buu. "Humph! Guess you got what you deserved Huh?"


Gohan's ears perked up as he heard something rustling just below him. His eyes widened when he realized it was Buu's remains. They began to wiggle around, obviously doing more than simply being blown by the wind, and eventually the pink fat particles began to merge back together. Gohan gaped, as within a few seconds Buu had molded himself into a thick straight line, and nearly screamed when Buu's snickering head popped out of the top and stuck his tongue out at him.


"Why you!..." Gohan reared his fist back, but before he could throw a punch, Buu slung two lassoes' of flab that wrapped themselves around Gohan's body. One rope wrapped firmly around his waist, and the other was constricting the use of one of his arms as it trapped his fist near the base of his chin.


"Damn it, let me go!" Gohan demanded, but Buu only tightened his grip. Gohan attempted to use his free hand to punch himself free, but it was to no avail. He might've been doomed to strangulation if it hadn't been for the familiar grunt he heard at his back, and all of the sudden Buu released his hold on him, seemingly being ripped right off of him. As it turned out Buu had been, for once Gohan turned around saw that Vegeta had socked Buu in the face knocking him right off of Gohan. The young Demi-Sayian took a second to catch his breath, and quickly moved to help Vegeta as they both united to pound on Buu before he had the chance to form back into his full shape. Once he was yet again reduced to an overgrown wad of chewed bubble-gum, the Sayians drifted back a few feet, and started to blast the monster fully intending to send him to oblivion. Once again, Buu was completely mangled, twisted, and bludgeon in every way imaginable. They both waited a few seconds, and once again grimaced in frustration when Buu began to pull himself back together.


"Damn it! Would that thing just die already?!" Vegeta bellowed, as he rushed in to disrupt Buu's regeneration process.


"How do you kill something that can reform no matter how much you pound on him?... There has to be some reason behind it " Gohan sighed, as he looked over and noticed Vegeta had gotten himself tangled up in Buu similar to how Gohan had been tied up earlier. That was a riddle he needed to solve, and soon.


********


From high above the Earth, four pairs of eyes peered down upon the planet anxiously. The two elder statesmen's still present on the lookout were a bit more worried than the two younger more impatient children sitting near the edge of the lookout. Three large power sources had already disappeared over the course of the past hour, which could only mean one of two things. They were either dead, are so badly injured that their life force was too weak to be sensed. Either way, the results boded ill for the fate of the Earth.


"This is really bad Dende. I can't sense Ryo, Videl, or the Supreme Kai anymore... What the hell is going on down there?! If something happens to Vegeta and Gohan then the entire planet is as good as toast! What are we going to do?!"


"The only thing we can do Krillen..." Dende sighed. "If worse comes to worst, we'll just have to pick up were the other's left off."


Krillen's face bulged in horror. You all know the look. "Wha, wha, wha, what?! You've gotta be kidding?! Us fight Buu?! If the others couldn't stop that thing, than what chance in hell would we have?!"


"None whatsoever, but what choice do we have? If we're the Earth's last line of defense then... What else would you have us do? Hide up here while Buu reduces the planet to rubble?"


"Sounds pretty sensible to me."


"This isn't about what's sensible or not!" Dende argued. "Look, I'm not a fighter by any means of the word, but I'm willing to try at least. If we all have to go, we might as well go down fighting. That's your home down there incase you've forgotten, so the least you can do!"


"Alright, alright, I get the picture! No need for the guilt trip, " Krillen chuckled slightly. "I guess it's just the morbid fear of being dismembered and mutilated that kind works over you self-confidence ya know... You know, you'd think you'd get used to dying after the fist couple of times, but oddly enough it doesn't get any easier."


Dende smirked in amusement. "I know what you mean Krillen, I've been there too you know."

Goten and Trunks overheard bits and pieces of their elder's conversation, in particular the more important topics of conversation. Goten looked worriedly at his friend. "Did you hear that Trunks? What do you think Krillen and Dende meant when they said they couldn't sense Videl and Ryo anymore?"


"I'm not sure, but I don't think it's anything good..." Trunks looked out over the lookout, dangling his legs over the ledge.


"I wish they'd let us help them!" Goten whined. "They probably could use some help by now if they haven't been able to beat Buu yet."


"Tell me about it..." Trunks grumbled, as he flipped his head upward. His eyes abruptly widened, as if the answer to all his problems was written in the sky above. "Then again, who says we can't help out?"


"Everybody duh! Like Krillen, and your dad, and Gohan..."


"It was a rhetorical question dummy!... Whatever that means. Think about it Goten. Is there really any reason for us to listen?" Trunks looked back at Dende and Krillen prompting Goten to do the same. "Those two aren't paying all that much attention to us right now... Besides, if the situation down there has gotten as bad as it sounds, then they probably need our help, so nobody really should mind all that much if we disobey. I'm sure we'll get off easy after we help save the world and all."



"But do you think they'll let us leave if we ask?" Goten asked, referring to Krillen and Dende.


Trunks smiled mischievously. "Who said anything about asking?"


"Huh?"

"Really Dende, I think you've got a serious death wish developing there..." Krillen stopped in mid-sentence as he felt Trunks and Goten power up, and once he turned around saw Goten and Trunks flee from the lookout. "Speaking of death wishes, what are you kids doing?! Get back here!"


Dende panicked as well. "Quick, we've got to go after them! If something happens to them, and Buu doesn't kill us first than Gohan and Vegeta will!"


********


Growing up, Videl never really had and sort of picture of what death would feel like. She felt she was better off not thinking about stuff like that, but like most people, from time to time she would give the subject a second thought. Was it total oblivion? Once your body goes, does the rest of you fade away along with it into the background of time, destined to be forgotten and never to rise again? Or perhaps maybe everyone did have an immortal soul that leaves the body once their time on this plain was through, set to float off to a better place, or quite possibly a not so good place. Videl didn't really have any set beliefs in one form or the other, but left herself open and prepared for either possibility. She was, however, definitely not expecting this. That she'd be standing in the middle of some grassy field with some short blue-skinned guy that looked resembled a giant fish and told really bad jokes, and odder yet her boyfriends dead father who'd been that way for the better part of seven years. Needless to say, most of Goku's explanation as to what was going on went straight over her head.


"Well, this isn't exactly what I expected..." Ryo commented, as he played with his halo. "I sure don't feel dead... Gees, how does that thing hang up there like that? I can't even budge it!"


"Trust me guys. You're both dead as doornails!" Goku confirmed for them, sounding oddly cheerful for the situation. "Hey, how else could you be up here talking to me?"


"Look, I'm not arguing the point that I'm dead," Videl said, as she felt up her arm. "It's just that, when I died I always expected to be a little more transparent if you know what I mean."


"Well no..." Goku murmured, before his slow wit finally picked up on what she was getting at. "Oh, I get it now! Sometimes I tend to forget that it isn't normal for someone to keep their body after they die. Myself for example, got to keep my body because of all my past good deeds I guess you can say."


"But, why do we still have our bodies then?"


"Why, that's a simple question once you think about it my dear," a squeaky voice said, drawing the attention of the two youths. A short pudgy man, who Goku had introduced to them earlier as King Kai, walked up next to him. "All those years of service you put into defending your home town, and all before you were even legal. I understand how that might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but we notice those sort of things up here. Not to mention that you died in defense of your home planet. I can't promise that all that qualifies for permanent residence here, but in the least it qualifies you for a guided tour."


"Kind of seems like a big tease if you ask me," Videl muffed, crossing her arms against her chest.


The Kai laughed, and coughed into his hand. "In a way maybe, but I had other reasons for bringing you two here."


"Oh, and what might those be?" Videl asked skeptically.


"Yes, of course, but I think I'll allow Goku to field that question," the Kai quickly stepped out of the picture leaving Goku high and dry.


"What, why me?!" Goku complained at first, but once he thought about it couldn't find any reason not to. "I guess I can handle that. I don't see what the big deal is though. You see guys, we need to form a bit of a contingency plan based completely on the assumption that Gohan and Vegeta are going to defeat Buu. Just to be prepared when it does happen, we would be better off if we had the dragon balls ready to go incase something unfortunate happens down on Earth. We were kind wondering if you guys would mind gathering them up for us."


Ryo and Videl both looked at the other considering what Goku had just asked them, then looked back at Goku before Ryo sputtered out. "Well Goku, the truth is that we'd love to help out under normal circumstances, but I'm sure you've noticed that we're not quite in a position to fulfill that request at the moment."


"Oh, just come out and say it already! We're dead! We might have our bodies, but we just can't waltz back over to Earth like we're crossing the street or something!" Videl took a break from her little rant, and asked inquisitively. "Can we?"


"Well, not normally, but in this case I don't think we have any other choice," the short Kai said before barking out. "Hey Baba! We're ready!"


"Baba?..." Videl murmured, before her eyes bugled out when she saw the gnomish looking woman float onto the scene on top of a crystal ball.


"Yeah, I'm here, I'm here, don't get your bloomers in a wad," Baba huffed, as she came to a stop next to Goku..


"Bloomers in a... What are you talking about Baba?! For your information, I don't even wear underwear!" The Kai sweat dropped after everyone present cringed, and stared at him oddly. "What I mean is that I don't have the need to I mean What the heck am I doing?! I'm a Kai, I don't have to explain myself to any of you!"



Ignoring King Kai's rant, Baba glanced over at Videl who she'd noticed had been staring at her rather peculiarly. "Is something the matter girl?"


"What?! Oh nothing..." Videl blushed, and looked up at Ryo. Ryo just shrugged his shoulders and commented.


"Ah, I've seen weirder. So, what exactly do you want us to do?"


"You two don't have to do anything yourselves other than stand around and look pretty," Baba began to explain. "I'm going to temporally transport the two of you back to Earth, just long enough to begin your search for those Dragon Balls."



"I see... So how long exactly do we have?" Ryo asked.


"About an hour give or take," Baba replied calmly. Ryo and Videl didn't respond as collectively, as their faces faulted at the mention of the miniscule window of time they'd just been given.


"An hour?!" Ryo yelped. "We'll be lucky to find one in that amount of time! How the hell do you expect us to find all seven?!"


"That's your problem, you figure it out!" Baba's head enlarged as she shrieked out her reply, knocking the two youngsters back. "Be grateful you have that much time to work with?! What do you want from me anyway?! This is a gift you're supposed to build up over time, and you kids haven't even been dead an hour yet! I'm not running a rent-a-life service here you know?! Once your dead, you're supposed to stay dead! And hour is all can I offer, so take it or leave it!"


"Whoa, ease up there Baba!" Goku stepped in between Baba and the two teenagers, and smiled at them sheepishly. "Listen guys, I know that's not an awful lot of time, but we don't actually expect you to find all the Dragon Balls in an hour. An hour should be plenty of time to get in touch with Krillen and the others though, so than they can finish up where you two started. You guys just basically need to do what you have to do with what little time you have to do it... If that makes any sense anyway."


"We've tried to get through to them telepathically, but it's been no use," the Kai added. "I'm not sure if it's due to the evil aurora Buu's giving off or what, but something's blocking me from being able to contact them. Otherwise, more than likely we wouldn't be asking the two of you to do this. Don't get me wrong now, this isn't a completely safe process. If Buu happens to blow up the planet or something while you two are still in the living world, well let's just say if your body is destroyed outside of this plain than you won't have to worry about starching your back or wiping your nose anymore. So with that said, are you two still willing?"


Ryo looked thoughtful before creaking his head towards Videl. "I dunno I guess we've earned this, we've been dead a good forty minutes already."


Videl snorted. "Long enough for me."


"Great! Thanks a lot guys, this is going to be a big help," Goku said, as he started to rub the back of his neck. "I'd go myself, but I just got back from Earth and all, and another trip this soon would kind of be pushing it. Piccolo's already on Namek rounding up the Namekian dragon balls, and if we can gather up the Earth's Dragon balls before Buu tares the planet apart then we'll be all set!"


"Hey, I was wondering where Piccolo had gotten off to," Ryo commented, and then looked around the immediate area expecting to sense someone else there. "The Supreme Kai isn't here too is he?" Goku looked confused. "The Supreme Kai? No he's not here as far as we know My only guess is that he's still alive on Earth somewhere."


"Can you even kill a Kai?" Videl wondered aloud. Her head jerked around as she heard someone grunt, and saw a rather peeved looking King Kai pointing to the Halo above his head. Videl blushed, and faced her head back towards the front. "Oh right Sorry..."


"Yes, old fish face is a little sensitive about being the only Kai to ever actually be seen dead," Baba commented, as she smirked at the old Kai fiendishly. "Like there's any difference anyway. I don't know what he keeps whining about, at least he got a nice shiny ring over his head out of the deal."


"Hey, watch it you old witch! It's a matter of pride! You can't imagine what it's like having to deal with the snickering and all the snide comments by the other Kai's... You haven't heard some of the things they've said behind my back All the parties they've thrown for living Kai's only, just to make fun of me! It's enough to drive a person to suicide, but I can't even do that because I'm already dead!" Little water droplets began to spout from the Kai's head as it bobbed and weaved throughout his rant.


Ryo kept one eye on the Kai while he snuck up to Baba and asked. "Can we go now?"


"Sure kid. Personally, I prefer to be long gone before he gets into his West Kai and the rotting fish story."


"And if you thinks all that's bad, it's nothing compared to what West Kai..."


Baba grimaced, and quickly gathered Videl and Ryo positioning one to each side of her. "Get moving kids, we're leaving right now!"


********


Smoke, Ki, and pink flesh spewed everywhere as Buu was struck with another volley of energy blasts. As if the entire scenario was already predetermined, Gohan and Vegeta stood still and waited as Buu's deformed and mutilated body began to pull itself back together.


"This is getting old," Gohan snorted, panting disgustedly.


"You're telling me... Huh?" Vegeta's head jerked to the side, as something caught his attention diverting his focus from Buu. "What the hell?!"


Before Gohan could ask Vegeta what the problem was, he sensed it as his attention was too diverted in that direction. "Is that Goten and Trunks?! Why do they feel so close by?!"


"Why do you think Baka?! They must've obviously abandon the lookout!" Unfortunately for the Sayians, Buu too sensed several new energies headed his way. For whatever reason these new contestants seemed to interest Buu more than the two toys he was currently playing with. He was a little tired of having his molecules ripped to shreds after-all. Not wanting his other playmates to intervene, or otherwise slip away from him, Buu decided to make sure they stayed put. A small strap of flab began to peel off of his back, unseen to that point by Gohan or Vegeta. They wondered what the beast was up too as he smiled coyly and then reached his arm behind his back. His arm suddenly flew forward wiping out a pink ring of flesh towards the pair of Sayians. They quickly dispersed in an attempt to avoid the projectile, only for it to suddenly expand and ensnare the two of them. They began to fight it off relentlessly, expecting to be swallowed whole, but rather than being engulfed the morphing strip of flesh wrapped around them like a rope, quickly tightening around them. Their backs slammed against one another's, as the lasso tightened around them completely bounding the two warriors together.


"What the hell is this?!" Vegeta snarled, as he tried to break his way free.


"We're trapped!"


"You two stay there, Buu be right back! If you good, but might wait to eat you up!" Buu giggled before leaving the bound Sayians alone

.

"Shit, he must be going after the kids!" Gohan whaled, as he tried to break his bonds. "We've got to get free!"


"How the hell did we let ourselves fall into this anyway?! Damn, what is this crap made of, cement?!"



"Hey Trunks, do you really know where those guys are at?" Goten asked skeptically.


"Of course I know Goten! Are you telling me that you can't feel where those three huge powers are coming from?! How dense are you anyway? Not only that, but they're like the only other three people on Earth right now besides us, Krillen, and Dende. It's not that hard to figure out who all that energy belongs too either way. Don't worry, just follow me and we'll find them eventually."


"If you say so..." Goten said softly, and looked forward for a brief moment before turning back to Trunks. "Umm... Do we really want to find Buu?"


Trunks was about to lash out with another snide remark before he thought about the question for a second, and blushed. "Umm... Now that you mention it, I'm not really sure."


Too bad for the boys that they wouldn't be granted enough time to finally wise up and change their minds. They both screeched to a mid-air stop, as a large crack of wind and burst of energy nearly blew them backwards. Once the wind eased up, and their eyes got a chance to focus they found themselves faced with the sight of the grotesque blob known mercifully as Majin Buu rather other more appropriate less flattering names. Both boys gaped nervously, as Goten managed to murmur out. "It's Buu!"


"But, what's he doing here?!" Trunks overcame his initial shock, and stared demandingly at the monster. "What happened to my dad and Gohan?!"


Buu said nothing, only smiling mockingly at the boys. Having enough of this after only a few mere seconds, Trunks balled up his fist and relented. "So, you're just going to float there and look stupid huh?! Well, I'm not going to put up with this! This guy doesn't look so tough! Come on Goten, let's flatten the fat freak!"


"Yeah!" Goten agreed, feeling that oh so ignorant rush of youthful adrenalin. The pair attacked Buu aggressively, and appeared to be doing quite well as their little hands and feet disfigured the monster. Ignorant enough to believe they held the upper hand, the boys held up on their assault unable to resist the temptation of rubbing it in Buu's face.


"Ha, is that all you got fat-boy?! And to think the others were worried about us getting hurt! How did you manage to kill all the others anyway! Did you sit on their heads or something?!" With Trunks busy flapping his gums, Buu had plenty of time to take in a deep breath, and suddenly pop himself back into shape causing the boys to shriek with a mix of surprise and disgust.


"Buu no sit on head, but maybe boy have good idea! Maybe try on you! As for other guys, well Buu do this!"


Buu raised his arm, and with a chopping motion slapped Trunks right out of the sky. Goten watched in horror as his friend crashed into the ground, and quickly looked back over at Buu and put his arms up as Buu moved to attack him. "Hey wait, time out!"


As it went without saying, time was not granted as Buu gave the other mini Super Sayian a whack of his own. Goten plummeted to the ground, crashing next to Trunks. Woozy, both boys struggled to their feet, and grimaced when they saw Buu floating down towards them.

"Argh! Where the hell are they?!" Vegeta growled. He and Gohan had managed to break free of Buu's bonds relatively quick, but now the trick was finding the boys before he did.


"They've got to be around here somewhere... I just hope we find them before Buu does Darn it, it looks like I spoke too soon!" Gohan growled, as Buu and the kids came into his line of sight. "We better hurry!"

"You know Buu, I was just joking around with all the fat cracks you know," Trunks started to beg off from his knees. Goten had just managed to get that far, as he rubbed his head Buu snickered softly, before spiking his energy, effectively scaring the crud out of the two youngsters. Moving as if to attack, the boys braced themselves when a small blur whipped in front of him.


"Back off Buu!" Buu grunted curiously at the little man who'd thrown himself in front of the children. He wasn't much taller than the boys himself, and the second Buu glanced an eye down at him he started to shake as if scared out of his wits.

.

"Krillen... " Goten winced. "What are you doing?!"


"I have no idea," Krillen whimpered. "Just stay behind me okay, and at the first chance you get run for it!"


"But..."


"No buts, just do it okay!"


Persisting with an increasingly alarming trend that day, the boys chose not to listen. Whether they were intentionally being defiant, or perhaps just frozen in place, neither boy moved an inch from behind Krillen's back. Krillen didn't have a whole lot of time to insist however, as Buu was staring at him in a rather unsettling way. "Now Buu, I'm sure there's a civilized way we can go about this! I mean without resorting to violence or killing everyone in sight you know?..."


"Hum, hum." Buu snickered, by then having inched so close to Krillen that his nose was practically resting in Buu's navel. Krillen closed his eyes, and awaited oblivion. A third tour of other world would have to wait however. Buu's attention was diverted elsewhere namely to Gohan when he locked his arms around Buu's neck and started to lift him up into the air.


Vegeta landed in front of Krillen and the boys, turning his head partial around as he said to them. "Get the boys out of here Krillen! And I don't mean five minutes from now, I mean right now!"


"You don't have to tell me twice!" Krillen yelped, and grabbed a boy underneath each arm. They complained briefly at first, but already having one taste of Buu, they didn't protest all that diligently, though they did manage to goad Krillen into letting them fly off on their without being carried. With a burst of energy Krillen and the boy's were off, leaving Vegeta smirking slightly as they left. "Guess the little man has some balls after all." Vegeta's eyes then focused squarely on Buu, a plan formulating in his head. There looked to be only way to put a stop to this floating gastropod. He smirked at the thought of reducing Buu to a permanent vat of silly-putty.

"What's the big idea running out on me like that Buu?!" Gohan snickered callously , as he tried to pull Buu's head off. "I wasn't done with you yet!"

"Buu no done either," he giggled before grabbing hold of Gohan's arm, and giving him one mighty toss towards the ground. Shrieking in surprise, Gohan attempted to stop himself only to be surprised when he felt a strong pair of arms catch him on the way down. Vegeta immediately grunted thereafter and quickly disposed of the load he was holding.


"Vegeta! Are Krillen and the boys safe?"

"They're fine!" In no mood for small talk, Vegeta glared at Gohan and said. "You might as well join them if you know what's good for you."


"Oh no, we're not having this argument again!" Gohan replied. "I'm not going to let you fight him alone!"


"Look, I know what I'm doing boy, so just do what I say!" Vegeta's voice calmed as he continued. "Don't worry, I have a plan. I have reason to believe there might only be one way to destroy this monster, but I have to go about it alone. Just trust me alright, I've had over 20 years more experience at fighting than you boy. You go find those accursed Dragon Balls and leave this to me go it?!"


Gohan wasted precious seconds thinking things through, but ultimately came to the right decision. To say he trusted Vegeta totally would be overdoing it, but he did believe Vegeta knew what he was doing. So reluctantly, he gave in for the time being. "Alright then, but what are you planning on doing?"


"You'll see soon enough," Vegeta smirked. "Just get as far away as you can as fast as you can. You'll know when it's finished though."


Gohan paused another moment before nodding his head towards Vegeta, and obeying his wish. He only prayed Vegeta wasn't planning on doing anything to drastic. Little did Gohan know that Vegeta couldn't get any more drastic than what he was planning. Haven growing tired of the idle chitchat, Buu grumpily shouted out. "You done talking yet! Buu want play some more!"


"Oh, you want to play do you?" Vegeta cackled manically, as his energy began to swell. "Well, I've got a new game to introduce you too?! It's called how many pieces will Buu be in after Vegeta blows him into the next dimension!"


"Huh? That sound stupid," Buu mumbled, before realizing what the ruthless Super Sayian was implying. "Oh, no think Buu gona like this game..."


----------


"Where the hell are they?!" Ryo screeched as he and Videl tore through the lookout looking for any sign of Dende or the others.


"I can't find anybody!" Videl announced as she burst through the door of one the rooms, and spilled into the hallway. Ryo put his hands on his head and started to grumble in frustration. "This is just great! We have one hour to remind somebody to find the Dragon Balls in case Buu blows up the planet, and nobody's anywhere to be found! Even Mr. Popo's gone! Where the hell did they go?! They were supposed to stay up here!"


"Can't you sense where they went?"


"Yeah, but who knows how long it'll take us to find them. We've only got like forty more minutes!"


"Then we better hurry up," Videl smiled confidently. "Don't stress over it so much Ryo. Calm down before you pop a blood vessel or something. The one on your forehead looks like its gona blow at any second."


"Yeah, like it makes any difference, I'm already dead!" Ryo grumbled as he and Videl took off from the lookout.


********


Gohan had elected to trust Vegeta's judgment when the Sayian Prince told Gohan to leave the area. He felt inclined to trust the elder Sayians opinion. Gohan might've defeated Cell, but he was still a preschooler experience wise compared to Vegeta. Still, something about this entire situation didn't sit right with him. He didn't doubt Vegeta knew what he was doing, but there was always a chance that Vegeta's plan might not work. If he left Vegeta alone by himself, and his plan failed, then Vegeta would be a sitting duck one on one with Majin Buu. Well, maybe not a sitting duck, but the odds certainly wouldn't be in the prince's favor. Faced with this new revelation, Gohan decided to go halfway. In other words, distance himself just as Vegeta had asked, but kept close enough to the battle sight so that he could quickly get back if he felt something was amidst. He wouldn't get the chance to put that plan into motion however, for as soon as he decided on his course of action, he found out just what Vegeta's plan had been. He felt it, heard it, and eventually saw the aftermath of the huge explosion originating from somewhere in the distance. Gohan only needed one guess as to where. Gohan shielded his eyes from the blinding light, as he was blown back a few feet by the intense power surge. Once the energy waves had swept passed him a few moments later, Gohan straightened himself out and stared off into the horizon with concern.


"What the hell was that?! I doubt anything could've survived a blast like that powerful... Vegeta, tell me you weren't responsible for that..." Fearing the worst, Gohan headed back towards the battlefield.


********


"What was that?!" Goten yelped, looking behind him after a monstrous blast lit up the sky.


"I'm not sure I even want to speculate," Krillen murmured quietly, as they continued towards the lookout.


While his companions were content to wonder, Dende already had an ominous idea as to what had happened. He checked soon after the explosion, and noticed that he could no longer sense Vegeta's presence. He kept this information from the others for the time being, not wanting to panic them, Trunks in particular. Things certainly weren't looking good. If that blast hadn't taken Buu along with Vegeta, then that meant that Gohan was the only thing left standing in the way of Buu and total annihilation of Earth along with the human race. Except of course from himself, Krillen, and the boys Like he thought before, total annihilation of Earth and the human race.


"What the heck is that?!" Krillen yelped, and screeched to a mid-air halt, prompting his three travel companions to do the same.


"What the heck is wrong with you?! What are we stopping for?" Trunks asked sounding irritated.


"Somebody's coming this way... Two somebody's actually!"


"He's right!" Dende concurred. "They're strong too..."


"But I thought everyone else on the planet was supposed to be dead!" Trunks argued.


"They are..." Dende appeared thoughtful. "Unless we missed somebody... Though I don't see how."


Using his sharp Demi-Sayian eyes, Goten peered into the distance to see if he could get a clear picture of the pair of dots approaching him. Goten smiled as two familiar faces came into view. "Hey guys! It's Ryo and Videl!"


"What, it can't be?!" Krillen babbled, before realizing that he wasn't sure if Trunks and Goten knew what had happened to them or not. "I mean, that's impossible guys... You see Ryo, and Videl have well... You know."


"You mean they're supposed to be dead right?" Trunks said bluntly.



Krillen flustered, then submitted. "Well yeah, if you want to come right out and say it like that."


"But guys, I'm telling you it's them! Look for yourselves!"


"Hey, it is them!" Trunks confirmed after taking a good look of his own. It took Krillen and Dende a littler longer to make them out, but soon enough the pair came into view, Ryo waving to them.


"What in the?! Holy crap, it is them!" The quartet raced over to their rediscovered friends, and the two groups met half way. Krillen screeched to a stop, and automatically assumed. "I can't believe it! You two are alive! I thought you guys were dead for sure!" Krillen paused as his eyes focused in on the pair of halos above their heads. "Oh, Um... Never mind then..."


Ryo smirked sheepishly, and scratched at his temple. "Yeah, we're dead, but there's no time to explain right now. We need to gather up the Dragon Balls, and get them to the lookout quick just incase Buu, Gohan, and Vegeta rip the planet to shreds in the process of trying to do the same to each other."


"Good idea, why didn't we think of that?" Krillen laughed, and looked down at Trunks. "You think you can dig up a radar back at your house Trunks?"


"Yeah, if any of 'em are still in one piece."


"Well, we better start looking, because we've got no idea how much, or possibly how little time we have," Dende said.


"Well, we've only got another half an hour before we get kicked out of here, so you guys are going to be on your own."


"Understood. So, what are we waiting around for? Let's get to Capsule Corp!" Krillen yelped, before starting off towards Central City, the rest of group quickly following his lead. Soon after taking off, Goten took a close look at Ryo and Videl.


"Hey, you guys got a ring over your head like my dad does!"


Ryo looked at the boy and blushed, grinning slightly. "My, you're an observant one aren't you? I tend to forget it's up there sometimes."


"Those look cool, can I get one too?"


"Ah, hah, ha..." Ryo stammered, unsure of how to answer at first. "Sure thing kid, but hopefully it'll take you about eighty to ninety years to earn one."


Goten appeared confused at first, but his trademark playful smile followed soon after. "Okay. He, he..."


********


Gohan wasn't sure what to expect once he arrived at the battle scene. He certainly wasn't expecting what he found, or more to the point, the lack there of. Namely bits and chunks of Buu scattered all over the landscape, and absolutely no sign of Vegeta whatsoever including the slightest hint of his energy. It didn't take a genius, which Gohan practically was, to deduce what had happened. Vegeta must've known that the only way to destroy Buu was to release an attack strong enough that the only result would be to destroy both of them.

"Vegeta... You know there was time when I couldn't imagine you doing anything like this. It's still kind of hard to believe even now to tell you the truth." Gohan reached down and picked up a glob of Buu into his hand. "But then again, you yourself probably never imagined giving your life for a planet you once tried to destroy... At the very least things can start getting back to normal."


Finding just that one piece of flab too disgusting to look at, Gohan closed his hand around it and squeezed. Gohan's eyes widened a bit when he heard what sounded kind of like a scream. He opened his hand, and to his surprise the contents shriveled into dust. "Interesting... I wondered what happened there. I don't know, maybe that's what happens when Buu goes so long without regenerating himself."


Gohan looked around at the rest of the clumps of Buu matter, wondering if he'd see the same process inflicted the rest of him. If the rest of his body was doomed to dissolve along with the clump that had dissolved in his hand, then it was definitely taking its sweet time. Finally, several of the little globs began to stir, shaking slightly. Gohan expected them to shrivel up and disappear, but instead, much to his shock, they began to move. After trembling for a second or so, they quickly began to scamper towards each other merging together into a bigger wad upon contact. Caught off guard at first, it finally occurred to Gohan to zap the little pink puss-wads before they could grow any larger. He would've done just that if he hadn't been faced with further distraction when he noticed that Buu was beginning to reform all around him, as several of the smaller clumps began to merge into larger clumps. Finally, seeing enough of this, Gohan blasted one of the larger clumps sending pink material splattering everywhere. This only succeeded in impeding the process, however, as the matter Gohan splattered quickly reformed after being separated. Gohan made several more times attempts, but received the same result every time. Eventually, Gohan had to give up, as all he could do was watch as he re-manifested yet again.


"No! Damn it, no! This is impossible! How is he?..." Gohan rambled on, as Buu neared finishing his reconstruction. Only, the Buu Gohan was expecting to see failed to appear. This was a totally new Buu standing before him. Much thinner, and much more solid than before, and seemingly much more in control of emotions as he rotated his neck around seemingly testing his joints, bones, and muscles. Assuming Buu had bones, joints, a muscles that was... Gohan didn't give a rat's ass, and less than a damn for that matter about how Buu looked or what he was made of. All he cared about was knowing that all of his friends were dead, and this son of a bitch had the nerve to still be alive.


"How the hell are you still alive?! Vegeta gave everything he had, and it was all for nothing! How the hell do you keep pulling yourself together like that anyway?!"


Based on his past experiences with this beat, Gohan wasn't expecting an intelligent answer, but to his utter shock he actually got one as Buu spoke in a somewhat decipherable tone of voice. "Don't threat now Gohan Vegeta didn't die for nothing. In fact, his little stunt gave me the perfect opportunity to absorb enough energy that I could mature to this level. You see, at the very least you no longer have to deal with that childish earlier version of myself that annoyed you so much."


"What? Impossible!" Gohan murmured. No, not from the fact that Buu actually said something intelligible, but because what he had said. "You mean Vegeta's final attack actually did you more good than harm? This is insane! What kind of beast are you?!"


"Like nothing you've ever seen before, and I believe you'll vouch for that by now," Buu smirked. "You know, your friend's little kamikaze attack might've worked if it hadn't been for my ability to regenerated myself. Actually, I probably couldn't find a more perfect planet to utilize that little trick.


The make-up of this little mud-ball is almost perfect! I'm afraid that as long as we're on this planet you'll never be able to defeat me."


"We'll see about that!" Gohan bellowed, and lunged at Buu. "I'll find a way to destroy you if it's the last thing I do!"


"Trying will be, I assure you."


Gohan let loose a flurry of punches, all in which Buu easily dodged or blocked, or at least Buu made it look that way. Gohan caught Buu off guard by connecting with a jab to his face, following up quickly by striking the monster underneath the chin with a knee lift, knocking Buu's head backward. Buu quickly rebounded however, by catching him in the gut before Gohan's feet even had the chance to hit the ground, and following up with a seemingly simple shoulder tackle that sent Gohan skipping along the ground.


Buu wiped his chin, and smirked to himself. That Sayian's attack granted me enough energy to transform, but it didn't increase my power all that much... Of course the boy doesn't have to know about that little fact. It's not going to do him any good anyway, there's no way he can destroy me. I might want to be careful not to irritate him any more than I have too. His strength seems to increase the angrier he gets. Oh well, it's not like it matters. I'll destroy him eventually... This should be rather entertaining actually...


********


"What do you mean Buu's still alive?! You better not be joking around Kakarrot! I'm in no mood!" Vegeta sneered, grabbing on to the collar of Goku's gi in frustration.


"I wish I was joking Vegeta..." Goku sighed. "But Buu just reformed again shortly after your attack"


Vegeta paused momentarily as that fact sunk in, and roughly let go of Goku's gi."Of all the infernal!... What a waste! Did I at least damage the fat bastard?"


"Actually, the exact opposite so it seems..." King Kai said grimly, staring off in the opposite direction, his back turned to the Sayian warriors. "Apparently, Buu used the tremendous energy you released to advance to a stronger level. Actually, I'm not sure how much stronger he's actually gotten if at all, but he sure looks different."


"This can't be possible!" Vegeta growled, and looked down at his fists. "You mean to tell me that I actually helped that fat freak?!"


"See for yourself..." King Kai pointed down to a crystal ball at his feet. Vegeta walked over and looked into it, and what he saw was a completely new and improved Majin Buu exchanging punches with Gohan. Normally calm and collective, Vegeta's eyes bulged at the sight of Buu in one piece.


"What insanity is this?! What's the point in fighting something you can't kill or even defeat?!"


"There has to be a way Vegeta.... We've all got to think that way. Hopefully, we can figure out something that we haven't thought of yet. Unfortunately, Gohan's on his own for now."

The Kai's antenna's straightened out as a message reached through to him telepathically. "Well, it's about time! Hey, Goku! Piccolo says he's gathered all the Dragon Balls on Namek, and he's waiting at the front gate! He can't bring the Dragon Balls into this plane obviously, so I'll just have to relay the Elder Namek a message explaining just what we need him to do. Now, as soon as the kids get back we'll have you warp up us to the gate! It's been close to an hour, so they should be arriving any minute now."


As if on cue, Ryo and Videl's bodies phased into view along with Baba. Vegeta looked over at the pair and snorted. "Well, at least someone around here is punctual."


"Vegeta?" Ryo said, surprised to see him there.


"You!" At the very sight of the Sayian prince, Videl's finger pointed outward at him before she stomped towards him angrily. Vegeta crossed his arms, and rolled his eyes knowing full well what was coming. "What's the big idea?! Throwing me into the line of fire like that! I literally got my guts blown out because of you!"


"Humph, is all you human woman do is whine and complain? You're the one that told me you were willing to do anything to help Gohan, so don't blame me."


"Well, that wasn't quite what I had in mind! You could've at least warned me first! Even the Romans told the Christians what was going to happen to them months before they fed 'em to the lions!"


"Whatever " Vegeta waved his hand in the air indifferently and turned his back to her. "I already apologized, so I don't know what you're expecting from me. Hell, it almost worked "


Videl's eyes bulged as Vegeta walked away from her. "Hey you, get back here!"


Videl tried to chase after Vegeta, but Ryo managed to restrain her. "Videl, tap into a couple of brain cells here! Vegeta's not the type of guy you want to get angry with you okay?"


Videl looked up at him disgustedly. "Who cares?! What exactly is he going to do to me anyway, kill me?!"



"Hey, don't be too angry with Vegeta, Videl," Goku said as he approached her. She calmed down immediately, allowing Ryo to let go of her. "What he did might've been extreme, but he really thought the increase in power Gohan got after seeing you killed would've been enough to destroy Buu... Unfortunately it wasn't."


"Is there a certain point during this story where I'm supposed to start caring!" Videl snorted, and threw her arms across her chest. "How he did he wind up here anyway? Buu got to him?"


"Actually no..." Goku began solemnly. "You see, Vegeta gave his life trying to pull off an attack so powerful that it destroyed himself in the process. Unfortunately, that didn't work out to well either..."


Videl softened somewhat, but she didn't cease frowning. "Yeah, good for him, but I'm still mad though."


"You have every right to be!" Goku laughed, and rubbed the back of his head. "Now let's get going Piccolo's waiting for us at the gate. All we can do now is wait, and see just what Gohan can do. " Goku looked over into the Kai's crystal ball, which now showed a close up look of the angry scowl, sprawled across the face of his son.


********


Gohan fought off Buu relentlessly, but no matter what he tried or how much he pounded upon that monster it all seemed for not. Buu would either just shake it off, pull himself together whenever Gohan would manage to shed a limb here or there, and whenever Buu felt like it gave Gohan a couple of good pounding's of his own. Gohan was smart enough to realize that feeding off his anger and adrenaline was only going to get him so far, and he'd reached that destination some time ago, Gohan relaxed a bit and started to reevaluate his position. If he had any chance of surviving this battle than he needed to use the one major advantage he still held over Buu, his brain. Buu might've been able to produce a decent sentence or two since his transformation, but Gohan had his suspicions that Buu still wasn't exactly a rocket scientist.


"What's the matter boy? You seem reluctant to fight all of the sudden. Don't tell me you're giving up already."


"Trust me, I'm not about to give up," Gohan smirked. "I was just thinking why exactly I should bother wasting my energy when I know that no matter how I damage you, you can just reform. You don't seem that quick to attack me either though. What's the matter? You don't feel you're strong enough to finish me off?"


Buu let out a weak laugh before his lips curved into a frown. "Don't tempt me boy. I could crush you underneath my thumb at any time I please. Since you seem so eager, allow me to give you an example!"


Gohan braced himself as Buu charged forward. Buu smiled sadistically as his fists flied in a flurry, Gohan barely able to block them as he was knocked backward. It wasn't long before Buu broke through those defenses, connecting at first with his chest and then landing several punches to his jaw and head, the last, which sent him crashing back into one of the many bulging rock surfaces scattered around the landscape. Buu crossed his arms and smiled as Gohan pulled himself out of the rock. "You convinced yet?"


"Not at all," Gohan smirked, wiping a stream of blood from his mouth. While Gohan tried to maintain a confident demeanor, self-confidence had never been his forte. While smiling on the outside, on the inside his mind was drastically scanning for any type of answer that might solve this puzzle known as Buu. Then, by a stroke of luck a thought occurred to him. He remembered the incident earlier in the day when that lump of Buu's flesh dissolved in his hand. Then he recalled the comment Buu had made earlier about the chemical balance of Earth being perfect for his regeneration process. His eyes grew wide, as the now seemingly obvious answer slapped him across the face. "That's it!"


"What are you rambling about?" Buu cackled.


Gohan looked up towards the sky, and assessed the pros and cons of the idea formulating in his head. It was risky, and possibly suicidal, but with few options open to him, Gohan decided he had no other alternative but to try. He looked over at Buu, and smiled coyly. "You want me Buu? Then come and get me!"


"What?" Buu flinched, as Gohan blasted off admitting a large blast of energy. Some of the dust and mud he kicked up blew into Buu's face, much to his distaste. Buu swatted the dust cloud away, and laughed as he watched Gohan flee into the sky. "Now, now, running away Gohan? And you claimed you weren't afraid. Well, I hope you realize running won't do you any good." With that, Buu quickly gave chase.


Buu continued his pursuit, keeping a good pace with him, and in fact gaining ground with each passing second. Buu expected for Gohan to at one point or another to veer off course and take off in some direction or another, but to that point Gohan continued to fly straight up. This confused Buu to some degree. What in the world is that fool doing?! If he flies any higher he's going to leave this planets atmosphere! Maybe he wants to end his life himself rather than allow me to do it for him. He has to be up to something... Oh well, it should be amusing to see what.


Good, he's following me I just hope this works... I only hope I survive long enough to pull this off... Well, here goes nothing!


Buu half expected Gohan to stop at any second as the sky around them began to darken, but to his utter shock, with a burst of speed Gohan launched himself out of Earth's atmosphere and into space. "He is insane! I like that... I don't think humans or Sayians can breathe in space... I guess I might as well follow him and make sure."


Buu was correct, neither humans or Sayians could breathe in space, or at least normally they couldn't. Gohan's Super Sayian abilities were helping him to manage for the time being, he just wasn't managing very well. Well, I'm still alive, I guess that's a good sign... Though I don't know how long I can survive out here, so I better hurry up. I'm already getting dizzy...


Gohan shook his head fiercely. "Get with it Gohan! You can do this! Though it would help if I could breath!"


"What is he up too?!" Buu growled, growing frustrated. "Is he unaware that I don't have to breathe to live? There has to be some point to this madness..."


Buu got his answer mere moments later when he noticed Gohan was headed straight for the moon. Well, that answered where he was headed anyway, but it still didn't explain why. Several minutes later, Gohan finally touched down on the moon with a little bit of difficulty, but eventually thought to exert enough energy to combat the low gravity and keep his feet on the ground. Buu landed seconds later, smirking maniacally at the young Demi-Sayian who was obviously having difficulty breathing.


"There's frost on your nose boy," Buu cackled.


Gohan's face faltered slightly. He scratched the tiny chip of ice off his nose, and smiled. "Well, it is a little cold up here."


"Why in the world did you drag me out here anyway boy? If you think destroying you here would save that miserable mud-ball of a planet of yours than you're mistaking," Buu taunted.


"But that's not why we're here," Gohan jeered through ragged breaths. "You see, I found out you're secret."


"Oh have you now?" Buu snickered. "If so, then please enlighten me. I'm not sure exactly what it is myself. If you were banking on that I can't breath in space, than I regret to inform that you're wrong. I don't even require to breath to live anyhow... Unlike you unfortunately. You don't look so well Gohan, maybe you should've thought twice before you lured me out here. I can carry you back to Earth if you'd like. Of course you understand it would be in my digestive track, but at least it's not as painful as suffocating to death on the moon now is it?"


"Actually, you've interpreted my intentions all wrong," Gohan huffed.


"Then by all means correct me."


"You know what the funny thing about fire is?" Gohan asked, apparently beginning to ramble on about nothing as far as Buu was concerned. "It spreads by consuming oxygen. I've heard of people trying to put out stove fires, or other types of small fire breakouts by dumping water on it, when in actuality smothering the fire is a lot more effective method to put out the flames. That's why fire extinguishers back on Earth are made the way they are. They don't spit water, they spit a chemical agent that smothers the flames and puts out the fire."


"Fascinating..." Buu mumbled sarcastically. "And next you're going to tell me why the sky is blue, and what those shiny little lights are out in space I suppose. Tell me you didn't drag me all the way out here for a chemistry lesson, or whatever you want to call it..."


"No, I just wanted you to understand what's going on once I do this!" Ignoring the burning in his chest, Gohan lunged forward and assaulted Buu with all the ferocity he could muster. Buu didn't waste the energy it took to dodge, and allowed Gohan to lay into him leaving a dozen or so fist imprints into his stomach. Once Buu got annoyed enough with this, he jumped back and took a swing at Gohan's head. Gohan surprised Buu by hitting the ground and rolling out of the way. He quickly sprung up to one knee, and fired. "Ka-ma-he-ma-he!"


Buu tried to dodge the attack, but after being caught slightly off guard, Gohan managed to clip him with the blast practically obliterating the lower half of the right side of his body. His right leg completely severed from his body, and a huge gash was left in his right hip forcing what was left of Buu to dangle off to the left a little. Since the blast only grazed off of him, and a hell of a graze it was, it somehow didn't explode on impact and shot off into space headed for some unknown destination. Buu just smirked at Gohan, and shook his head.


"Once again, you waste your energy boy. All I have to do is regenerate my form, and I'll be good as new."


Gohan smiled defiantly. "Why don't you try it then?"


"Well if you so insist..." Buu concentrated on reshaping his body structure. First he'd reconnect the top half of his torso to his lower half, and then simply re-grow a new leg from scratch, discarding the old one. At least, that was the plan. He felt the matter at his wound begin to sizzle But it didn't reform. At least not right away. He could feel his body beginning to re-shape, but the process was moving so painstakingly slow that he could barely tell it was even working. He should have been able to reform at the snap of a finger. "What the hell is going on?! I can't regenerate! What did you do to me?!"


"You asked why I led you to the moon didn't you?" Gohan asked, as he gasped for air. "You see, just like I need oxygen to breathe, you need oxygen to regenerate your body. That's why you could do your little regeneration trick so easily back on Earth, but up here there's very little oxygen to speak of. From what I've seen, if parts of you are detached from the rest of your body for too long, and they're deprived of oxygen they disintegrate." Gohan demonstrated by stepping on a piece of severed Buu flesh. He grinded into the ground, and once he lifted his foot up it ceased to exist. "See what I mean?"


"No, this isn't possible!" Buu stammered in horror, now trying to simply reform the dents in his chest back into form. He found even this simple task too difficult to perform. "Damn you brat! You lured me right into a..."


"Trap!" Gohan finished for him, as his fist connected with Buu's face. Gohan launched a relentless assault, pounding Buu and disfiguring him in every way imaginable. Buu couldn't even defend himself. His boneless blubbery body having been twisted in so many ways that there was no possible way he could fight back. Buu, the most deadly monster ever to terrorize the universe, was at Gohan's mercy. With Buu's body a mangled mess, Gohan launched one more Kamehameha wave that completely destroyed the lower half of Buu's body taking his left arm, and part of his torso with it. What was left of Buu crashed to the ground in a heap, much in the same shape that Gohan's father Goku had left Frieza in all those years before. As Buu groaned and whimpered at his feet, Gohan powered up for one final assault to splatter what was left of Buu all over the moon surface. He pulled his arms back, but all of the sudden everything around him went black, and he fell to the ground. Gohan took about as deep a breath as he could muster, and forced himself up to his knees. His face was beginning to turn blue from the lack of oxygen, and his hair was beginning to frost among other parts of his body. He was beginning to sweat from all the energy he was exerting, and every sweat droplet that poured from his glands was freezing the second it leaked out onto the surface. Buu's broken body began to laugh and cackle, mocking him.


"Look's like all your efforts will be for not boy... You won't be able to survive out here much longer without oxygen. As long as once piece of body still exists, I can always regenerate myself eventually. It might take me decades to fully recover on this accursed rock, but I'll have the last laugh in the end you better believe me!"


"Not if I destroy you first..." Gohan chocked weakly.


"Hah! And how do you think you'll accomplish that? You'll suffocate and die, long before you can extinguish every last part of my being..."


It took his lips a while to curve, but Gohan managed a smirk. "Not necessarily... You see, I don't plan on suffocating to death..."


"Oh really? And how do you intend to survive without oxygen?"


"Who said anything about surviving..." Gohan laughed weakly. "You see Buu, Vegeta had the right idea... He just picked the wrong place to carry his plan out..."


Buu's eyes bulged in fear "No, don't be crazy boy! You'll destroy us both!"


"Exactly..." Gohan snickered. Forcing himself up to his knees, he summoned up all the power he could muster. "I'd like to say see you in hell Buu, but I don't really care if I do or not..."


"No! Please no! I wasn't really going to destroy the universe! Stop it you maniacccc!"


"Whoa!" Krillen yelped as an enormous energy blast was felt nearby, similar to the one Vegeta had released earlier. Oddly enough, this blast seemed to originate from somewhere overhead. Everyone on top the lookout began to search around for the origin of the blast, and in a matter of seconds determined it had come from somewhere on the moon. The huge sheet of energy erupting from the top of the giant rock was a subtle hint, illuminating the moon to unprecedented proportions for that time of day. "What the hell was that?!"


"I think we found out where Buu and Gohan had gotten off to..." Dende assumed. "But what the heck are they doing on the moon?"


"I don't known..." Krillen mumbled. "But if he is up there I hope Gohan's okay..."


Dende closed his eyes, and opened his mind. He scanned for any trace of the two fighters. He'd lost track of Gohan's energy the second he'd left Earth's atmosphere. For a while he feared Buu might've killed Gohan, but he picked up small traces of his life force every so often. It wasn't until he witnessed that explosion on the moon a few moments ago, that he realized why he'd lost track of him. Not as adept at sensing Ki as say Goku and Vegeta were, Dende had a difficult time picking people up once they left the planet. Buu's life force however, was much too evil and unsettling for Dende ever to lose track of. Until right now that was, leading Dende to one exciting conclusion. "I can't... I can't sense Buu anymore! I think... I think it's over! Gohan did it! He actually did it!"


With only a little more than a quarter of the moon visible, neither Krillen or Dende could see the full extent of the damage the blast had done and wouldn't until the next full moon. A huge crater had been indented into the top of the large floating rock, including the section near the left corner, which would forever disfigure the once circular object. What lay in that crater was nothing but rock, as all remains of the two warriors who'd ventured up there ceased to exist.


********


"Darn it! I wish I knew what was going on down there, all this waiting in the dark is killing me!" Goku ranted, as he paced.


King Kai cleared his throat, and started his retort slowly. "Well, we would be able to see what was going on, if somebody hadn't destroyed my viewing crystal!"


Goku sweat dropped, and rubbed the back of his head. "Hey, I'm sorry King Kai! I just got a little excited that's all! I would've been more careful with it, if I'd known they were so fragile."


"They're not fragile Goku!" The Kai spat, flapping his arms like a hummingbird. "There just aren't many things in the universe built to hold together when some muscle-bound Sayian slams his fist against it!"


"I said I was sorry! Gees, calm down King Kai!"


Vegeta snorted, and shook his head. "Somebody free me from this circus..."


Also wanting to divert her attention from Goku and the Kai's silly squabble, Videl looked to Ryo wanting conformation on what exactly they were going to do with the Dragon Balls, and all the wishes. "So, if we have no idea of knowing what's going on down on Earth, then how do we know when the others start using those stupid balls?"


Ryo smiled. "Easy, once our bodies fade out, and we find ourselves back on Earth."


Videl frowned, but her lips eventually curved upward into a bit of a smirk. "Well duh smart-ass, but how will the guys back on Earth know when to start using the Dragon Balls?!"


"I'm not sure. I suppose when and if Gohan finally manages to defeat Buu then they probably won't waste any time wishing things back to normal."


"You did tell Krillen and Dende how to utilize their wish didn't you?" Piccolo inquired.


"Sure did," Ryo smiled. "They'll use their one wish to bring back Vegeta seeing as he hasn't been wished back with the Earth's dragon ball's yet."


"But we haven't either," Videl reminded him.


"Well yeah, but we have to look at the big picture here Videl. Piccolo has been wished back by the Earth's Dragon, and we need to conserve wishes. The best way to do that is by using one of the wishes to wish everybody killed by Buu back to life with the same wish. We can't do that with the Earth's Dragon or Piccolo will get left out in the cold. Besides, the two of us are more likely to croak again somewhere along the road than Vegeta is. As soon as King Kai sends his telepathic signal to Elder Mori to get started, he'll use the other two wishes to restore the Earth. It's as simple as that."


"What about the souls of the people of Earth though?" Videl asked with concern. "Didn't the Supreme Kai say that the Dragon Balls didn't have the power to take the souls back from Kashunari?"


"No, the Earth's Dragon can't..." Ryo smiled and looked over at Piccolo. Piccolo smirked himself, picking up the hint that Ryo wanted him to answer.


"But the Dragon Balls on Namek can. At least that's what Elder Mori told me anyhow. I just hope he's right."


Impressed, Videl smiled smugly and said. "Well damn, you guys have sure planned everything out quite thoroughly now haven't you?"


"Hey, don't look at me," Ryo laughed. "I'm just repeating what Piccolo told me."


Piccolo sweat dropped, and cleared his throat before he spoke. "Well, if you guys thought I was collecting dust up here while waiting until everyone arrived for a big Other World reunion, then I'm afraid you were mistaking."


"I just wish that brat would hurry up, so we could get on with it already!" Vegeta snarled, masking a hint of concern in his voice. "I'd like to know sooner or later if I'm getting my life back, or if I'm going to be stuck on this accursed funny farm for the rest of eternity."


"Don't worry Vegeta, once Gohan defeats Buu you'll be the first to know," Piccolo told him, trying hard to maintain an optimistic point of view.


********


"Well, should we make the wish, or wait for Gohan for conformation that Buu's dead?" Krillen asked Dende.


"That's a good question... We might want to wait a little while longer just in case. The last thing we want to do is start wishing everyone back, only to later discover Buu's still alive ready to send everyone right back where they came from."


"Good point..." Krillen scratched under his chin inquisitively.



"Don't threat... Buu has indeed met his end."


Krillen and Dende whirled their heads around at the sound of the voice, and what they saw was a battered and bloodied Supreme Kai wobbling his way towards them. The Kai fell down to a knee, prompting Krillen and Dende to rush over to his side.

"Supreme Kai, are you all right?!" Dende asked in a panic.


"Don't worry, I'll live..." Shin laughed weakly.


"That's good to hear, but how can you be sure Buu is dead?" Krillen asked him.


"Because I sensed his demise, there's no mistaking it," Shin giggled almost gleefully. "Gohan really pulled it off... It's almost impossible for me to believe that he's actually finished... I don't think the reality of the situation has fully sunken in yet. I'm almost afraid I'll wake up and discover this was all part of some sweet impossible dream." Shin's mood suddenly darkened slightly. "However, I am afraid that Gohan paid the ultimate price for his valor."


Krillen's head bobbled in alarm. "Wha... What?! You mean Gohan's dead?!"


"I'm afraid so... His life force faded at the exact moment as Buu's did."


"Oh no..." Dende mouthed, not just thinking of Gohan, but the big picture as a whole. "This messes up everything! I'm not exactly certain, but I fairly sure Piccolo planned out the use of all the wishes on the assumption that if Gohan defeated Buu he'd live to tell about it. For all we know, this might change everything if the others happen to realize Gohan's on the other side with the rest of them."


"Yeah, you're right " Krillen agreed. "I guess it all depends on who killed who. I know this sounds strange, but if Buu killed Gohan then we have nothing to worry about. If Gohan killed Buu, but wound up destroying himself in the process then things might just get complicated."


"I guess the question is, do we make the wish that Ryo requested we make, or do we go a different road now that we know Gohan is..."


"No, I wouldn't advise it," Shin added quickly. "Make the wish as Ryo asked you too. They want you to make that particular wish for a reason. If they feel the need to change any of the other wishes, then they'll do so as they see fit. In other words, just wish Vegeta back to life and don't worry about the rest of the details."


"Sounds good to me," Krillen grinned. "Any idea that takes the pressure off my back is perfectly fine with me!"


"I can't say I agree with that Krillen, but the Supreme Kai does have a point. We should probably leave Piccolo's plan the way it is."


Krillen chuckled and rubbed his hands together. "Okay, now that, that's all settled let's get on with this thing then!"


Nodding his head in agreement, Dende walked over to the seven Dragon Balls amassed together nearby. The others gathered around as Dende began to summon the ancient dragon, the two boys crowded in the closest in anticipation of seeing the legendary dragon. As was the norm, the sky darkened and a large swell of light shot from the balls and up into the sky. Shin and the children watched in awe of the inspirational sight as the magic dragon appeared before them.


"Fascinating," the Kai marveled. "In all my years, I've never seen anything quite like this..."


"Hey, that is kind of cool," Trunks agreed.


Goten didn't seem so sure. "I don't know... I think I've seen something like this on TV once on that cartoon channel."


After completing his rather impressive entrance, the dragon settled and growled. "I am Shenron the eternal dragon of Earth. I may grant you one wish, but only one alone. Now, why have you summoned me?!"


Dende seemed a little flushed at first as he always did whenever he had to speak to one of the dragons, but quickly shook it off and said. "Um... Oh right! Shenron, I would like to call to you to bring back the life of the one known as Vegeta!"


The dragon paused a moment before saying. "So it shall be..."


----------


Back in Other World, the living impaired members of the Z-senshi were standing around patiently waiting for things to get moving. All they could really do from their position was wait. Vegeta in particular was growing annoyed, like he didn't stay that way the majority of the time anyway, when he felt a strange sensation rip through his body. It took him a moment, but he smiled once he realized just what was going on. "Well, I'll be damned I guess the brat pulled it off after all..."


Piccolo looked at him curiously. "What are you going on about Vegeta?"


"I think it's begun." All the others could see was a smirk, before Vegeta disappeared from their sights. Ryo and Videl both jumped, neither realizing just yet that his was the norm for people just recently called back from the dead.


"Vegeta?! Where did he go?" Videl asked, as she looked around for him.


"Don't worry about it," Piccolo smirked. "He's probably back on Earth by now."


Videl smiled enthusiastically. "You mean, it's over?! Gohan, he, he..."


"That means Gohan did it!" Ryo cheered, with a pump of his fists. "All right! Way to put that fat piece of crap in his place!"



"He did it, he really... " Videl stammered as if unable to believe what she herself was saying. Abruptly, Videl cheered and jumped into Ryo's arms and the two danced around and laughed in celebration. "I can't believe it! Gohan actually won!"


"Yeah, well why do you sound so surprised Videl?" Ryo laughed, as he set her down."You almost sound like you didn't expect Gohan to pull it off!"


Videl blushed slightly, and huffed. "I didn't say that! I was just worried about him you know? It's just kind of hard to believe that this is finally over. To tell you the truth I'm relieved."


"Trust me, we're all relieved kid," Piccolo smirked. "I can't say I'm all that surprised however. This isn't the first time he's saved the world you know. The boy is definitely his father's son."


Overhearing Piccolo's comment, Goku smiled proudly before turning to address King Kai. "That's my boy all right. I for one am not surprised one little bit So, did you hear all that King Kai? I guess that means you can relay your message to Elder Mori back on Namek."


"I was just about to get to that, now if you please quiet down so I can concentrate." The Kai stiffened, as he began to send a long-distance telepathic message to Namek.


----------


"What?! You mean the boy didn't..." Vegeta grumbled upon hearing the news of Gohan's demise from the Supreme Kai.


"I'm afraid so... It literally took everything Gohan had for Buu to finally face his demise..."


"I see." Was all Vegeta said. Shin assumed Vegeta's silence was his way of showing respect, since he didn't crack a joke or make a disrespectful comment like he'd been known to do in his younger days. Vegeta looked down and smiled, and patted his son on the head. Trunks hadn't left his father's side since he'd been wished back to life a few minutes before.


"So, when are Piccolo and the other's going to start using the Namekian dragon to make the other wishes?" Krillen asked Vegeta.


"How should I know? Any minute now I suppose."


Goten had been looking down at the Earth from the edge of the lookout, when he suddenly began jumping up and down and pointed towards the Earth. "Hey guys, check it out!"


Curious, the other Z-senshi currently on the lookout eventually made their way over to the spot Goten had been standing. Dende was the first to reach him. With a smile, Dende put his hand on Goten's shoulder and said. "I think I know the answer to your question Krillen."


The onlookers watched in awe, with the exception of Vegeta who looked as indifferent as always, as what appeared to be a sparkling blanket of energy spread over parts of the Earth. Though they couldn't witness it all from their vantage point, things were beginning the change down on earth. Trees that had been uprooted were suddenly put back into the place, buildings that had been torn to sunder where being reconstructed as good as the day they were ravished, and the planet in general was reclaiming the majestic beauty it once held before the Soul Pirates came and blasted the planet to hell and back. Soon after the planet was restored to it's former glory, creatures big and small began to raise from their dormant state to breath the air and romp across the Earth once more. This included the human race as their souls were brought back to Earth, after abruptly being wretched away by the hands that had so viciously removed them from their bodies.

"Ugh... What happened?" Hercule grumbled, as he sat up. He took a good look at his surroundings, trying to recall just where it was he was at. Suddenly, he remembered that giant scorpion monster that had destroyed his house, and went after his daughter. The last thing he remembered was tangling with the beast, and than being knocked to the ground and watching in horror as it lunged it's stinger towards his chest. Panicked, he jumped to his feet and started to look for his daughter, and any sings of the monster that had attacked them. To his shock he didn't find a trace of either, and when he looked over at his house it seemed to be in perfect shape. Puzzled, all Hercule could do was scratch his head.


"What in the world is going on here? Was it all a dream? But what was I doing sleeping in the front yard? I don't remember getting drunk last night... I better get inside before Videl yells at me again."

Bulma awoke in a stupor, but it didn't take long for her to remember what happened to her just minutes before. At least it seemed to her like it should've been just minutes ago, but oddly she did feel some deal of time had past since the invasion of her home. "Trunks! Trunks! Where are you?! Come out this instant young man! Oh please be okay!"


To her dismay, Trunks was nowhere to be found even after she ransacked the house looking for Trunks and Goten. She was ready to scream and pass out on the couch when she noticed something odd. She knew that those monsters that invaded her home had tore up the place pretty good in the process, yet despite all the junk she'd strewn everywhere searching for her son, her home seemed to be in perfect space. Bulma walked over to the closest window, and looked outside. It seemed peaceful enough, and on the ground she could see several people walking the streets. Though she was too high up to see it, they all were staggering around with the same groggy confused look that Bulma had worn when she first awoke from her soul extraction induced coma. Being a woman of high intelligence, and a pioneer in Dragon Ball hunting technology, it didn't take her long to hypothesis what had occurred.


"Well, whatever happened here, I guess Vegeta and the others have taken care of it," Bulma sighed, and leaned her back up against the window. "I just hope Vegeta, Trunks, and everyone are okay..."


----------


"This is... This is remarkable!" Shin marveled, as he could now feel the presence of billions of Ki's down on the small blue planet. "Everything's back to normal! It's almost as if Buu and Kashunari had never even stepped foot on the planet!"


"Yep, that's the beauty of the Dragon Balls," Krillen bragged.

"But I thought you said the Dragon Balls wouldn't have the power to get the souls away from the Soul Pirates?" Dende wondered.


"I didn't believe they could... This is definitely one on me "


"Well, the Dragon Balls on Namek are a little different than the ones of Earth," Dende told him. "They're a lot more powerful for one thing... I guess that's my fault, I'm just not strong enough to match up with the Elders on Namek just yet."


"Don't be hard on yourself now Dende," Shin smiled. "You're young yet, don't set you standards so high."


Dende spat. "Tell that to Gohan, Trunks, Goten, Ryo, and Videl. And Goku for that matter! If their skills had rose any quicker, they would've been saving the world in their diapers!"


Shin sweat dropped. "You're missing the point entirely Dende..."


"Hey guys, check out who's here!" Krillen smiled, and pointed to the west. Dende looked over, and already sensing the trio's approached, Shin just smiled. There they saw Piccolo, Ryo, and Videl flying quickly towards the lookout. Goten and Trunks began waving their arms and jumping up and down excitedly, practically acting as landing strip coordinators as they tried to wave them in. Soon, the trio did touch down, and immediately found themselves swarmed by friends. "Hey, welcome back guys!"


"Took you long enough," Vegeta snorted.


"Took you long enough," Videl spat, before reaching down and patting a cheerful Goten on his head. Vegeta's brow twitched slightly. The only other two women Vegeta had ever met that weren't totally intimidated by him in the least were Bulma and Kakarrot's wife. The Sayian Prince was beginning to see an alarming trend in the mates of his race's few surviving members.


"Supreme Kai, you're alive!" Ryo laughed, noticing the short purple guardian. "We weren't sure what had happened to you."


"I'm lucky to be alive, I'll tell you," Shin responded cheerfully. "Not that it matters all that much, seeing as I spend most of my time in Other World anyhow. Either way, thanks for worrying about me. Though I'm not sure if I made it all the way to Canada or not, Buu did drive me quite a distance."


Ryo's face faltered, and he mumbled. "No disrespect intended sir, but I really wish you'd stop with the mind reading thing..." The Supreme Kai's only response was a loud chuckle.



"It's good to see you again Piccolo," Dende greeted.


"Likewise," Piccolo smiled. "It's good to be home "



"You know guys, this reunion is great and all, but I'm anxious to get back home," Krillen announced. "I really want to see Eighteen and Marren again, just so I can be sure they're really alright... Hell, I wouldn't even mind seeing old man Roshi right about now!"


"For once I agree with you," Vegeta said. "Let's go boy. Your mother must be blowing a gasket by now."


"Sure thing dad."


"Speaking of which, I should probably go check on my father, but first things first I guess," Videl said quietly to herself, before calling out loud to everyone who was listening. "Hey, where's Gohan gotten off to anyway? I figured he'd be up here with the rest of you."


An instantaneous hush fell over the lookout, as most everyone froze where they were standing, a scene quite reminiscent to someone cursing the name of God in the middle of Sunday Mass. Confused and annoyed, Videl frowned as she wondered why nobody was offering her an answer in any shape or form. She began to scan the crowd in search of a reason, and in the process noticed several heads turn away from her and how they shied away as if afraid to give her a straight answer. Videl took a look back at Ryo and Piccolo to ask why the others were acting so weird, when she noticed they too were looking towards the ground while they fidgeted nervously. "Have I missed something? Alright, what's going on?!"


Videl glared straight at Ryo. Though she couldn't expect much from the others present that she hardly knew, Ryo was another story. Out of everybody present, she expected he at least should be willing to give her a straight answer. Understanding this, Ryo blushed slightly, and stumbled on his words as he began to speak. "Videl... After we were wished back to Earth, didn't you notice that you couldn't sense Gohan's Ki anywhere?..."


Videl's expression faltered slightly, already dreading she knew where this conversation was headed. "Yes... But I know I'm not that good at it yet, so I was hoping I was just overlooking it..." Ryo sighed, and put his hands on her shoulders to keep her from shaking

"I'm afraid you weren't overlooking anything Videl... Piccolo and I noticed he was... I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Ryo's speech began breaking finding that he just didn't have the heart to break Videl's. Her eyes vainly pleadingly with him not to say what she was so afraid and so sure Ryo was going to tell her, not even bothering to blink in the process, and Ryo began to fear he was going to break down right with her at any second if she kept looking at him that way. Still, half a minute later, and he just couldn't find the words.


Noticing that no one else seemed willing to tell the girl the truth, and never being one for sentiment himself, Vegeta spoke out without flinching. "What he's trying to tell you is that Gohan's dead Videl. He gave his life in order to destroy Majin Buu."


Videl trembled as those words pierced through her chest like a cold jagged dagger. While Ryo continued to try to hold her still, Videl looked towards the ground and said shakily. "But... We can wish him back with the Dragon Balls just like everyone else can't we?"



"Well yeah... In about six months..." Ryo murmured, tilting his head away slightly. That still didn't save him from seeing Videl's expression as she looked up at him demanding an explanation with her eyes. Ryo sighed, and spelled it out for her as best he could. "We used up all the wishes restoring the planet, and wishing everyone else back. We never really counted on both Gohan and Buu dying in the process of the fight, we figured the loser would die and the winner walks away. That just didn't happen... Look on the bright side though. Since we could only use one wish from the Earth Dragon this time around, it'll only take six months for the Dragon Balls to recharge. I know that's not very comforting, but it's better then having to wait an entire year..."


With a grunt, Videl dropped to her knees. Resting one hand on the ground, she began to giggle quietly. "Six months... You know, technically we were in that time rift thing for over a year's worth of time, and now two days after getting back I'm hearing six more months..."


Though she didn't use his name, Ryo knew she was referring to the time apart she had already endured, and would yet still, away from Gohan. "Videl, I don't know what else to say..."


"It's okay, you don't have to say anything..." Videl said shakily. "I just need some time to think, if you guys will excuse me..."

Videl got to her feet, and walked rather quickly towards Dende's house as she held her head, suffering from a sudden migraine. Nobody tried to stop or bother her in any way. Ryo watched after her until she disappeared into the house. Without taking his eyes off the door, Ryo asked the Supreme Kai painfully. "So... Gohan's really dead?"


"Yes, I'm afraid so..." Shin replied solemnly. "But why are you asking for conformation from me? I thought you said you sensed his demise after being wished back?"


"I did..." Ryo chocked, appearing flustered. "It's just that deep down, I was hoping somehow I might've been wrong... The world would be a better place if I was wrong more often. Excuse me guys, but I think I'm going to talk a walk. I'm feeling kind of lightheaded all of the sudden."



"I don't get it dad..." Trunks said, looking confused as he watched Ryo stagger away from the rest of the group. "What's up with them? They are acting funny, but I thought they'd be a little more upset."


"Just leave them be Trunks. Despite how different our peoples may be, one thing most cultures have in common is that their warriors see showing strong emotion in front of other warriors as a sign of weakness, and needless to say no warrior wants to display weakness in front of enemies or friends alike. They're dealing with this in their own way, and they want to do it away from the prying eyes of their peers. That's all there is too it really... I'm sure the Namek will wander off to mediate on the subject himself sooner or later."


"I guess I understand... You mean that philosophy even applies to wonder boy, and the loud she-brat?" Trunks asked, repeating the spiteful nicknames he'd heard his father refer to them by from time to time.


Vegeta smirked, and said. "Yes, even them. Now come boy, let's go see your mother."


"So, Buu has really been defeated? For good?" Piccolo asked Shin again. It probably wouldn't matter how many times he heard it, he'd probably wouldn't mind hearing just once more to be fully sure.


"Yes, utterly so," Shin replied gleefully. Just as Piccolo couldn't stop asking for reassurance, Shin just couldn't grow tired of spreading the news that Buu had been eradicated.


Piccolo nodded, but followed up with one more topic of interest that had been nagging at him. "And, how long do you think it will take for Kashunari to realize his cargo is gone."


Shin frowned, as if this was the first time that thought had crossed his mind in a while. "That's a good question... Probably not long I'd wager."


"And what do you think he'll do once he figures it out?"


"I'm not fully certain... I know for sure that he won't have a clue what really happened to the souls he'd stolen, but he'll still most likely come back to Earth at some point just to make sure nothing is amidst. As you could probably guess yourself, he's going to be quite surprised at what he finds."


"I was afraid you were going to say that..." Piccolo grumbled. "Buu might be out of the way, but from the sound of things the battle might not be over yet..."


"This is true..." Shin admitted, but remained optimistic. "But I wouldn't concern yourself with it much Piccolo. Compared to Majin Buu, Kashunari will seem like child's play. He's strong, but nowhere near Vegeta or Gohan's level. You also have two more important factors working in your favor. Kashunari won't be able to get the jump on you like he managed to do last time around, plus he won't have the use of much of his force of Durrgan's if he even makes it that far. I'm not saying defeating him will be easy, but unlike Buu at least he is a beatable opponent. You, Vegeta, and the others simply have to make sure you're ready when he does return."


"We will be this time, I promise you that. Still, how long do you think we have before the pirates do return?"


"It's hard to say really... Could be six months, could be six years. I doubt they'd travel all the way back to their home planet first. The one thing I can guarantee to you though is that he will be back, and in a particularly foul mood."


"I see... With any luck maybe it will be a few months before Kashunari shows his face again. Then at least we'd have Gohan back."


Shin paused as he noticed the waver in Piccolo's body language, and picked up on a little afterthought stuck in the back of Piccolo's mind. "I'm sorry about your loss Piccolo. I know Gohan was particularly close to you."


Piccolo winced slightly, for a moment forgetting that the Kai could read minds. "Umm, Yes thank you..."


Shin smirked reassuringly and continued. "Don't worry about Ryo either, he just needs some time to think and let things sink in. Like he said, he just needed to walk around a little to clear his head. You'll all be okay. If it helps, don't even think of him as dead, just act as if he was on a long six-month vacation from the living world. Not everybody has a round-trip ticket from death and back like Gohan is fortunate enough to have."


If he wasn't Piccolo, Piccolo might've laughed at that comment. "I guess you do have a point. I wish I could say that helps, but I guess what Gohan always said was right. Even when you know you can wish a departed friend back from the dead, it's still not easy losing them. Dragon Balls, or no Dragon Balls, this is going to take time to sink in for everybody..."


----------


Videl found the darkest corner she could find in the building, curled into a ball, and hid. She cried a little bit at first, but not a lot. Crying just wasn't her thing. Instead she found herself thinking a lot, mostly about Gohan, and what they'd been through over whatever the hell amount of time it had been. She spent some of the time asking herself why, and concentrating on the prospect of another six months of living apart form Gohan in separate worlds of their own. The question as to why Gohan was gone was easy to answer at least. It was because Gohan was noble, courageous person who was willing to die to protect his home and his friends, and that's exactly what he did.

"Go away Ryo..." Videl mumbled, her face resting against her arms. She'd heard footsteps approach, and just naturally assumed he'd be the only person who cared enough to bother her. If she'd bothered to pay any attention what so ever she would've noticed the shadow creeping up on her was much too small to go with Ryo's body.


"Umm... I'm not Ryo, but do you still want me to go away?"

Videl's head tiled up slightly hoping to put a face with the squeaky little voice that had spoken to her. Already certain who she was going to see, there was little surprise when she saw a somber looking Goten rubbing the back of his head. It was becoming quite obvious that this little trait was dominant among the men in this curious little family. "Goten? What are you up too little guy?"


"Umm... Nothing..." Goten murmured, appearing surprised to find Videl where he found her. He seemed to have something on his mind, yet reluctant to speak it. After a brief silence, Goten's mouth opened and he squeaked out. "You're in my spot..."


Videl stayed silent for a moment before smiling, a smile that gradually evolved into a soft fit of laughter. "Oh, am I now? Well, you can come over here and join me if you want too, there's plenty of room for two."


Goten seemed reluctantly, but after a brief pause nodded his head before taking a seat in her lap. Goten sat quietly for a while, while Videl stroked her hand through his hair comfortingly. A few moments passed, and Goten gradually got over his initial discomfort around Videl at least enough to make a rather obvious observation. "You miss Gohan too huh?"


"Yeah, I guess you can say that " Videl chocked.


"I cried too when Krillen first told me..." Goten said, having noticed Videl's face was rather moist earlier. Videl's eyes went wide, surprised that Goten was observant enough to notice, especially knowing that Goten wasn't exactly in the running for the future scholars of Japan program.

"Yeah, I guess I did cry a little... There's nothing wrong with crying sometimes when it's over something worth the effort. Just as long as you don't become like one of those people who cries over breaking a nail or getting mud all over a new pair of shoes. Those kind of girls make me sick! They almost make me ashamed to be a woman... Almost mind you." Videl smiled, as she heard Goten chuckle briefly. "I know you're a boy, but you get the picture. This is different though. We're both going to be lonely, but look on the bright side Goten... It's only for six months... It's not like he's gone forever. He'll be back with us before you know it."


"That's easy for you to say!" Goten pouted. "You're an adult, so six months isn't a lot of time for you, but for a little kid like me six months is like a billion years!"


"You know you do have a point there," Videl snickered. "I think that might apply to girlfriends too..."


"But how do we know he'll come back? Gohan told me once that dad could've come back if he'd wanted too, but he decided not too... What've Gohan decides he doesn't want to come back either? Then I might never see him again, and it'll be just me and mom. Then what if something happens to mom? What'll I do then? I won't have anybody..."


"I think you're worrying over nothing little guy. Your father decided to stay in Other World because he thought the Earth would be safer if he wasn't in it. I don't believe Gohan has any such convictions, he's got too much to live for... At least he better not decide to stick around, otherwise he's gona have a lot of explaining to do while I'm kicking his butt once I get back over there! If I'm not too old and decrepit to do anything by then." Videl continued to stroke Goten's head, as she got another chuckle out of him. "And in the worst case scenario, if something does happen to your mom, then I doubt you'd have any shortage of friends willing to take you in. There's always your friend Trunks and his mom, Krillen, and I'm sure even Piccolo would find something to do with you if you didn't have any other options. And if worse comes to worst, I guess I could always take care of ya..."


Gohan tilted his head up so that he was looking straight up into Videl's face. "You really mean that?"


"Sure do kid " Videl's head tilted upward as she frowned slightly. "Dad always wanted a boy anyhow..."


Goten's lips curved upwards mischievously. "You know, you remind me of my mom."

"Oh, and why is that?" Videl smiled curiously.


"Because you're usually cranky, loud, and you yell a lot."


Videl knew she should probably be offended, but she couldn't help but smile. "Oh really?! And here I am trying to be nice to you! You better watch it little boy, or I might just be cranky and loud next time you try to talk to me."


"If you say so," Goten snickered, and lowered his head. "Are you in love with my brother Videl?"


Videl blushed, but unlike a few months ago, even maybe weeks before, Videl didn't hesitate for long with her answer. "Yes, I guess I am Goten... That's kind of what makes it so hard for me, just like it's hard for you because Gohan was your brother."


Goten appeared content with the answer he received, and followed up with another question that sent Videl reeling. "Are you pregnant?"


Videl jumped, nearly bouncing Goten out of her lap. "What, no?! What would ever give you that idea?!"


"I don't know, just asking. Mom keeps talking about Grand Kids all the time now since Gohan met you, and I was just wondering."


"I should've guessed," Videl sighed, her face beat-red. "Your mom tends to stretch reality out a little farther than what it actually should be if you know what I mean."


"Yeah, my mom's goofy," Goten giggled. "Do you throw things when you get mad?"


"Sometimes, if I'm really mad... Why?"


"My mom does that too," the boy joked.


"That's enough Goten."


********


Six months came and went in the blink of an eye, or more accurately put a single push of the spacebar. Even for the people closest to Gohan who feared the long weeks ahead, they were taken by surprise at how quickly the months went by. That didn't make the situation any easier for most, but for a couple of people in particular the numerous days and nights of waiting for this day to come about, had given way to the anxious anticipation over the next few minutes before the dragon was summoned so the wish could be made.


"Just calm down Videl, what are you so anxious for anyway?" Ryo asked her, getting on to her for her constant fidgeting over the past hour or so. She'd gotten so bad at one point that Ryo had to pull her aside, and talked her into taking a walk around the block with him to give her something to focus her attention on.


"I'm not nervous!" Videl spat in annoyance. "I'm just getting a little impatient. Where the hell is Krillen with that last Dragon Ball! I knew we should've went after them ourselves! We would've been done hours ago!"

"Yeah right, and let you tare up half the planet looking for them?" Ryo laughed. "No offense Videl, but you're not exactly a paragon of patience ya know? That's why we decided to leave you behind, while Krillen and Piccolo searched for the Dragon Balls. They were worried you'd get anxious, and accidentally blow something up in the process, the Dragon Balls included. If even one of them was destroyed then well, I don't think I'd have to explain to you the ramifications of that."


"I'm not that bad!" Videl retorted. "I'm not some hothead who blows stuff every time I get annoyed! Well, there was a couple instances, but it doesn't happen often!"


"It happened last Thursday!"


"He flipped me off! He shouldn't have been driving on the sidewalk anyway!"


"Those are both very good points, but that still wasn't any reason to blow up his car!"


"Ah, the way he was driving he would've wrecked it eventually anyway..." Videl sighed, and quickly changed the subject. "I just hate marching around like a zombie, not knowing what's going on! If I was with them I'd at least be partly in control of my own destiny! I'd know what progress we were making, and in the least have a general idea as to how much time I'd have to wait! Not knowing anything just drives me crazy!"


"Calm down Videl, take a deep breath," Ryo said, putting his hand on Videl's back as if trying to help her breathe. "I know this is a horribly overused cliche, but you've waited this long so it's not going to kill you to wait a few more minutes."


"I know! That doesn't mean I have to like it!" Videl sighed, and looked down at the ground sadly. "Do you think he misses me?"


Ryo's eyebrow twitched. That was definitely the stupidest question she'd asked him that day. Still, Ryo smiled, and humored her. "Yes Videl, I'm sure that's a pretty safe assumption. I'm sure Goku's ready to kick him out of Other World himself, Gohan's probably pined and groaned over you so much over the past six months. Now, I know you're not naive enough to believe Gohan isn't going to feel the same way about you coming out of Other Word as he did going in, so what's really bothering you hey girl?"


Videl grumbled, before beginning her rant. "I'm just worried about something going wrong that's all... It's almost like fate's doing whatever it possibly can to keep us apart you know? First I spent Kami knows how long in that time chamber thing you drug me too, and than the next thing I knew Gohan's dead for the next six months, and we only had about a 48 hour break in-between. Who knows what might come up! What if Krillen and Piccolo can't find the last Dragon Ball? What if some freak-show from Pluto or whatever, dedicated to making my life miserable, pops up during the summoning or something?! What if..."


"Videl! Cut it out, you're being paranoid!" Ryo chuckled.



"Yeah, so sue me! I think I have the right to be after all the weird crap we've been through the past six months... I won't be able to relax until Gohan's standing right in front of me where I can see him, and know he's really there, so I can put my arms around him before the damn alarm goes off and I wake up!"


"You do have a point I guess... You're going to have some interesting stories to tell Gohan about what you've been up too while he's been gone."


"I think there's a couple I'd like to leave out..." Videl said, her face beginning to flush slightly. "You know, you've gotten me into a lot more trouble than you're worth! I can say this for sure though, my life hasn't been boring ever since I met you and Gohan And things just seem to get stranger and stranger... While some of the chaos went with you, it has been a bit lonely around here since you moved back to Manco though..."


"What are you talking about?! Manco's only a fifteen minute flight from Satan City, and since I moved back home you've seen me almost as much as you did when I lived here!"


"Yeah, but it's not the same... I miss seeing you around school, ya know? With Gohan gone too, the only person I really have to talk too is Erasa, and twenty minutes of that a day is about all I can stand!"


Ryo's mouth opened to speak, but quickly closed back up as the sky suddenly darkened above him. Both he and Videl froze, and they looked at each other. Knowing full well what this meant, they quickly took off to the spot Yamcha and the others had been guarding the other six Dragon Balls. "What's the big deal, they couldn't wait for us?!" Videl grumbled, as they neared their destination.


"Well, you're not the only one without any patience around here you know! Chi-Chi probably threatened to strangle somebody if they didn't wish her baby back right away, or Vegeta probably complained about getting home in time for dinner!"



By the time they got back, the wish had already been made. Videl froze in her tracks once she saw him, crouched down on one knee hugging his mother with one arm, and holding a jubilant Goten, who was practically strangling his older brother, in the other. Ryo noticed Videl freeze up once she saw him, so he grabbed her by the arm and tried to urge her on. "Come on Videl, this is what you've been waiting for, don't get cold feet now."


"Wait a second," Videl said suddenly, and pulled her arm back. Ryo looked back at her curiously, so she just smiled and whispered something into his ear.

"Gah! Let me go Goten!" Gohan laughed, as he eased his brother off his neck and set him down on the ground. "I just got back from the dead you know, you don't want to send me straight back there do ya?!"


"He's just a little excited baby that's all," Chi-Chi said before grabbing him by the shoulders, and shaking him none so gently. "Now be honest with me Gohan, are you all right?! They didn't hurt you or anything on the other end did they?! If they did then Kami help me I'll!..."


"Mom, mom! It's okay!" Gohan sweat dropped. "It actually wasn't so bad on the other side, and it was fun getting to spend a few months with dad... All I really could do was train, and actually picked up a few interesting tricks here and there. Nothing bad, really mom believe me..."


"Well if you say so..." Chi-chi said, before her expression grew serious. "Now, don't think being dead for six months is going to get you out of your schoolwork mister! You've got months of make-up sitting on your desk when you get home!"


"Mom! Can we please not talk about this here?!... Wait a second, how did you explain that to the school board anyhow?"


Sensing Chi-Chi was ready to tare into her son in full view of all his comrades and peers, Piccolo cleared his throat and decided to, most likely unwisely, step in. "Um, excuse me Chi-Chi, but the boy was just wished back from the grave, so this probably isn't the best time to be bringing up homework..."


"You stay out of this! I know what's best for my son, and nothing's more important than his education, so but out okay?!"


Piccolo staggered back. "Umm... Yes Ma'am."


Thankful for getting his mother's attention diverted from him, Gohan shied away a bit. He scanned the crowd and noticed a couple of people in particular who were dubious by their absence. He felt their energy somewhere nearby, there was just no sign of their faces at the moment. One in particular, Gohan was most anxious to see again. He smiled as he did notice one person present he hadn't expected to see. "Hey Vegeta! I'm surprised to see you here."


"Well, don't get all gushy on me, this wasn't my idea. They insisted I come!" Vegeta snorted, referring to his wife and son.


Bulma rolled her eyes and translated for her husband. "What he means is, welcome back Gohan. Yeah, like we could really make you do anything you didn't want to." Bulma looked at Vegeta who just grunted, and turned his head away.


"Well, that's pretty much what wives do best now isn't it?" Krillen joked, which earned him a slap on the back of his head from Eighteen. "Ouch! I was just kidding?! You better be careful with Videl Gohan, or before you know it, this might be what you have to put up with for the rest of your life!"


Eighteen's mouth curled threateningly. "Do you want to sleep outside with the turtle again?"


"No hun..."


Gohan smiled, and looked forward with anxious eyes. "Speaking of Videl where in the world is..."


Gohan's self asked question was interrupted when a male voice caught his ear. "Hey Gohan! You look pretty good for someone who just crawled out of their grave! You know technically, this makes you a zombie."


"Ryo, there you are!" Gohan smiled as he turned towards the sound of the voice. "I was wondering where you had gotten off to... I Umma..."


Gohan's tongue failed him as a smaller more slender image emerged from behind Ryo's back. With her back turned towards Gohan at first, she slowly turned around reveling a shy smile and a crimson mess of a face. Gohan froze and began to fluster himself, the two of them staring at each other stupidly for a moment. Eventually, the pair began to walk towards the other slowly, before Videl finally decided to hell with it and ran the rest of the way, jumping into his arms as she reached him. They embraced each other warmly for a moment before Gohan pushed her back just enough to meet his lips to hers. She was a bit surprised at first that he'd kiss her in public with all his family and friends looking on, but didn't complain as she happily returned the gentle sign of affection. They ignored all the whooping and hollering going on around them which included Yamcha, Ryo and Krillen cracking jokes about oxygen and vacuum cleaners, Goten and Trunks making gagging noises, Vegeta asking Bulma it they could go home now, and the silent contemplation of a bewildered Piccolo who wondered why two human beings putting their lips together could cause such a fuss. He'd never understand humans.


"Well hello..." Videl grinned, after his lips parted for hers. "I take it you missed me?"


"You have no idea..." Gohan said, staring straight into her eyes. Just when they looked ready to give the other's a sequel, the tender little scene was interrupted by a loud scratchy voice overhead. Everyone looked up to see a rather irritated looking dragon still hovering overheard. How anybody could've possibly forgotten about the giant magical dragon hanging over your head is beyond comprehension, but somehow this particular group managed to do it.


"Excuse me, though this little scene is rather touching, I'm beginning to grow impatient! Make your second wish now!"


"Hey, that's right! I completely forget we still had a second wish coming!" Krillen yelped, and quickly began thinking of a way to utilize the second wish.


"Has anyone even given any thought to how to use the second wish?" Yamcha asked, and received no immediate answers. Except for one that was...

"I've got a pretty good idea what we can use it for," Ryo announced as he walked into the center of the group directly underneath the dragon, and looked down at his watch. "The thing is, it won't do us any good to make the wish for another ninety seconds or so... So, Shenron, would you mind waiting another minute or so to grant our wish?"


The Dragon growled, then mumbled. "Fine... But not a second more!"


"Hold on a second Ryo... What exactly are you suggesting we use the second wish for?" Gohan asked him.


"I'm glad you asked that Gohan... Remember back to your fight with Buu. Do you remember launching a Kamehameha wave that was off target, and drifted off into space?"


"Well, yeah... But what does that have to do with anything?"


"Watch and learn my friend." Ryo pulled out a set of sunglasses, and put them on. This confused the rest of the group, seeing as how it was nine o'clock and pitch black outside. He then pointed up to a particular section of sky. "I had a vision about this a few weeks back. Now everyone look up there, and counting five, four, three, two, one."


Everyone had their eyes fixed on the sky above wondering if Ryo had lost his mind, when suddenly the night was illuminated by a huge explosion as it ripped through the night sky hundreds of thousands of miles away. The Z-crew were forced to shield their eyes from the blinding light that briefly lit up the night sky, all except for Ryo who was wearing his trusty set of shades. It was over mere seconds later, leaving most of the group wondering what on Earth was going on.


"What the hell was that?!" Videl shouted. "Did a star super nova or something?"


"Not exactly..." Ryo began to explain. "You see, that energy blast Gohan shot off into space, has been hurdling through the cosmos like a comet for the last six months. Let's just say it kind of sort of just smacked right into Mars."


Gohan sweat dropped. "Uh... Oops..."


Vegeta smirked, and grunted. "And that blast took six months to get there? Now I know you're getting soft brat."


"Way to go Gohan," Krillen snickered. "You just reduced the number of planets in this solar system to eight. I find that kind of ironic seeing as how destroying planets is what we were supposed to stop Buu from doing!"


"Well, look on the bright side Gohan," Videl teased. "At least you destroyed a planet that wasn't inhabited by life... Unless you count that microorganism crap all those biologists have been spouting about."


"Come on guys, it's not like I did it on purpose or anything! My aim was just a little off..." Gohan mumbled, before turning towards the eternal dragon. "Umm... Excuse me Shenron, but if you don't mind could you please restore the planet I just accidentally destroyed? I don't really want to be responsible for knocking the balance of the cosmos out of whack or anything."


The Dragon fell silent for a moment, before his voice boomed. "So be it... Your wish has been fulfilled."


Without so much as saying good-bye, Shenron's physical form dispersed leaving those who summoned him to watch in awe as several round orbs quickly dispersed, flying off to all corners of the world. Shortly after the dragon balls dispersed, the Z-crew did the same parting ways until only Videl, Bulma, and Gohan's family remained. The only reason Bulma was even still present was because she was supposed to be giving Chi-Chi and her boys a ride home, but from the looks of things it seemed as if those plans were changing slightly at least.

"Gohan, are you coming or what?!" His mother called, as Bulma and Goten boarded the airbus behind her. "Everyone's ready to go!"


"You guys go on ahead mom! I'll catch up with you later!"


Chi-Chi glared at him disapprovingly at first, but after thinking on the matter a moment or so decided it probably wouldn't hurt to let him stay out for a while. It had been six months after all, and she could understand that Gohan would be anxious to spend some time with his little girl friend. "Oh, alright, but don't stay out too late! And you two behave yourselves you got me?!"


"Well will mom," Gohan half sighed, as he turned his attention to Videl. He was a little relived once he saw the Airbus take off and leave the area without his mother popping her head out the window yelling she'd changed her mind, or other various and embarrassing things not to do while he was alone with Videl.


Videl smirked, and took Gohan's hand as they began their walk with now preplanned destination or route in mind. "Remember, you're the one who promised to be good, I didn't."


"Oh, is that so? And what exactly is that devious little mind of yours conceiving anyhow?"


"That's for me to know, and you to worry about until it happens," Videl smirked, as she put her free hand behind her head. "So, what was it like being dead anyway? I wasn't really over there long enough to get any kind of feel for it."


"Ah, it wasn't so bad," Gohan replied. "The only thing we really had to do in other world was train and eat It could tend to get a little repetitive at times, but at least I got to spend time with my dad He taught me a few interesting new tricks to boot So, how have you been holding up these past six months?"


"I've managed I can say one thing for sure though, since you've been gone my life definitely hasn't been dull."


"Oh I see... So, all this time I've been in other world, you've been off having fun haven't you?"


"I didn't say I was having fun," Videl corrected him. "I'm just saying that my life hasn't been boring Maybe I'll tell you about it later."


"Why don't you tell me right now, we've got time," Gohan countered.


"But I don't feel like talking about the past right now Gohan hun.." Videl came to a stop, and poked the button of his nose with the tip of her finger. "All I'm worried about is right now."


Gohan stood still as Videl's face came closer to his, just a mere inch or so apart. Interpreting this as an invitation, Gohan leaned forward to cover the inch or so gap still between in hopes of capturing her lips, when Videl's head pulled back sharply. All he got to kiss was the palm of her hand, and watched as each of her fingers folded across her palm until only one was protruding outward, waving in front of his face taunting him. "Whoa, ease up there lover boy. You've gotta earn that right first."


Slightly flustered, Gohan smirked and complained. "Why, you little tease. What do you mean by me having to earn it? What exactly do you expect me to do?"


"Why that's simple my dear Gohan," Videl said, and gave him a wink. "All you've gotta do is catch me..."


"Catch you?" Gohan chuckled, his hands on his hips. Amused, he watched as Videl turned her back to him and began walking away slowly. Gohan took one step forward before Videl chuckled and went into an all out sprint. Gohan started off after her, but Videl hadn't taken more than ten steps before launching herself in the air and taking off.


"Hey! So, that's the way you want to play it huh?!" Gohan snickered, before taking off after her. "You know there's no way you can out-run me don't you Videl?!"


"I know," Videl laughed. Though she knew even if she flew at top speed she'd never be able to out run Gohan, but in the least she expected him to humor her a little and drag the chase on for a while. That was far from what happened however. It hadn't been five seconds when she felt a gush of wind wash over her, right before Gohan appeared in front of her seemingly materializing out of thin air. With no time to stop, Videl crashed right into Gohan who immediately ensnared her in his arms as she shrieked in surprise. Videl tried to frown playfully, but it came out more of a smirk than an grimace. "Hey, no fair! That's cheating!"


"I know." A smug grin crossed his lips, before he pressed them into Videl's. She complained about as much as a Lion does about the lack of roughage at a Zebra buffet, and let herself melt into Gohan's arms. She did, however, force herself to stay aware just enough to notice that Gohan's grip on her had slipped substantially. It took her about twenty seconds before she could finally bring herself to break the kiss, as she pushed him away, and quickly weaseled her way out of his arms before flying away giggling. "Hey!"


"Oh, what's the matter Gohan? You miss me already?" Videl teased before sticking her tongue out at him, and flying away. Gohan didn't give chase right away, and this time around he would actually play her little game. This left him scratching his head for sure. When he first met her well over a year ago, he never in a million years would've pictured her acting like this, not even several months after they became friends. He was probably one of the few people to ever get the chance to see her like this, and he was proud to be one of the few that ever would. Little did Gohan know that he himself, and the way that he was, was a big reason that she could show the different sides of her personality such as this. She could do things and act certain ways around him that she couldn't with anybody else, and quite honestly she might never have if she hadn't of met him. That was one of the reasons she felt so close to him, and one of the things that would continue to pull them closer for years to come. In a way, the same could be said for Gohan as well


"I always will whenever I'm not holding you..." Gohan said softly to himself, Videl well out of earshot. He'd have to remember to use that particular line on her later. For no reason in particular, Gohan looked off into space as if acknowledging the presence of some unseen eyes watching him, reading his every move. He gave a little wave in the general direction in a bid of farewell, before taking off after Videl. "Sorry guys, but it has been six months ya know, and we could use a little privacy. You understand. Well, see you next time!"

End.



Yeah, yeah, maybe six months was a bit of a stretch to make it to Mars, but I couldn't resist. I'd like to personally thank everybody who's taken the time to read and review this story over the past year, especially my regular reviewers. I thought about dropping some names, but I knew if I did that I'm sure I'd forget someone so... Ah, you guys know who you are anyway. You guys literally kept this story going. I might've quit months ago if this story wasn't getting so much attention. You know I write this junk for fun, but I go through the painstaking process of editing, posting, and downloading all this crap for you guys.

I do eventually want to develop some sort of sequel dealing with the Kashunari angle, but to avoid teasing anyone I'm not going to make any promises. I just don't have any good ideas to sustain a decent story right now, and part of that is because honestly I'm just not really interested enough to force anything for the time being. Hopefully, that'll change once I come up with a decent plot, but right now I've got a couple other projects I really want to focus my attention on. I originally thought about tying my next story in with this to continue the story on forward, but after thinking about it I realized the stories simply differed too much and I'm not even sure if the majority of the story will be DBZ centered. Then again, I still might do that anyway, I'm not really sure yet. Well, I guess I can run my ideas by you, so you folks can decide if you're interested.


I know for a fact that my next work is going to be a bit of what I guess you might call an alternate reality fic, based in a mid-evil time setting. I've read a couple stories like this scattered around the other anime forums, and I've been wanting to do one of my one for a long time now. Curiously, I don't believe I've seen any DBZ fics of this nature. It won't merely contain DBZ elements, but elements from several other anime legends as well. Don't let that scare you away already! I promise it's not going to be like the ordinary corny cross-over story you normally encounter in the fanfiction kingdom, where the characters from show A and show B bump into each other crossing the street for no apparent reason whatsoever, with no real plot in sight. Not that they're all bad, I know there's a few decent one's out there, but I believe I've actually found a decent way for all the various characters to met and interact without further warring out the usual overused plot-lines. As far as I know, nothing quite exactly like this has been done before, and in my everlasting quest to try something different decided to run with this. The best part about it from a readers standpoint, in my humble opinion anyway, is that you don't really have to be a fan or even know jack about a particular anime or two to understand what's going on, seeing as things will be set in an alternate universe setting where most everything and everyone will have to be reintroduced anyway.

Okay, time to get to the point. Basically I'm still trying to decide between two different ways to attack this. One of course would be the DBZ version I guess you could call it, which would sort of continue shortly after where S.D.D.C.T. left off. Basically, the Z-crew are having at little get together in the woods in back of the Son home, when Kashunari and company return to Earth and crash the party. Somewhere during the ensuing battle Kashunari's forces manage to steal away nearly 99% of his original strength, leaving Gohan basically as strong as his father was at the beginning of the original Dragon Ball series. Meanwhile, in a universe completely separate for that of Earth's, a vicious war is being wagged between a once mighty kingdom and a vicious horde of demon's dedicated to conquering their planet, and enslaving what's left of their race. With some knowledge of inter-dimensional travel the young Princess of the endangered remembers hearing stories of a mythical hero in the Earth universe who is said to have defeated two horrific monsters that were supposedly capable of destroying the entire universe. Using the power of a magic crystal handed down in her family for generations, the princess attempts to summon this hero into her dimension in hopes that he could help defeat these beasts that threaten her kingdom. Normally, Gohan would've been happy to help, but of course the princess is completely unaware that Gohan's suffered a recent setback Basically from there, Gohan goes on a quest to find a way to get his strength back, and at least try to help the endangered kingdom out along the way. Oddly enough, he runs in to a few rather familiar faces with very familiar names on his travels, and some interesting new ones.


Well, that's the idea I've been kicking around the past two weeks or so, but I'm not sure if it's the best way to go. For one, dimension hopping in fan fiction has always been a pet peeve of mind, so I'm not wild about the idea of including it in one of my own stories. Plus, besides Gohan being the main character, I don't believe the story would be DBZ centered enough to classify DBZ as the story genre. With this in mind, I might go with my original plan and center the story completely in the alternate universe setting, and come up with something different for the continuation of 'Dreams'. With that in mind, I'd be forced to classify the fic in another more appropriate genre, but the DBZ characters will still play a major role in the plot. (Guess which two in particular) I'm not sure exactly which way I'm going to go yet... I'll probably start off writing the beginning both ways, and see which looks better as it goes. Hell, if you have an opinion, feel free to tell me about it. You're opinions do something to me. You might just manage to sway me. Either way, I think you guys will like it if you give it a shot, especially if you liked Some Dreams Do Come True. The story flow will basically be the same, and I'm taking steps to improve my mood setting and description along with ironing out those few little grammar kinks I still leave here and there. I know it's never going to be perfect, but try to take it easy on me. This story was well over 500 pages long, and I edited every last word of it myself. It is not a fun task, trust me. Besides, I have an excuse. I'm from Tennessee, English is a second language down here. I should begin posting sometime next month if I ever decide exactly what I want to do. If your interested at all, just check my profile every once in a while. It'll pop up eventually.

Until then, so long for now everybody. Thanks for reading!

Boombubble!