Author's Note: Oooh, nearly done! Now, I'm warning everyone right now that this chapter isn't as long as previous ones because I got to the point I wanted to stop at before I reached the normal length I usually write. But it was such a good point I felt any more in this chapter would spoil it. Anyway, enjoy!
P.S.: The song included later on in the chapter is the English translation of "Still Alone" by Ayumi Hamasaki, a very pretty song and quite appropriate for the scene, I thought. I advise everyone to listen to it while reading the scene it's in.
Last time on It's a Start:
"Because," the human began, speaking up again, "Because he is Gohan."
"He—Gohan? But…" Words failed her, spilling from her mind like sand from an hourglass. "But…then, who are you?"
*****
"Tell me, Gohan," she spit out the name, "Here to pawn off a few more lies?"
He winced a bit. "No, I never lied to you."
She laughed, shocked. "Never?"
"Not about what I am. What Gohan was. Never."
*****
"I think….this is the truth you wanted?"
She nodded. "What happened? Where is Gohan, and who are you?"
*****
"What, Mom?"
Looking up, she smiled sweetly. "Honey, would you turn into a Super Saiyan for me?"
*****
"I get it…" the Saiyan began. "I get it. You're trying to trick us into rejoining. You're all trying to!"
"Absurd!" the Kai retorted. "What motivation could I possibly have in doing that?"
*****
"Then what will you do?" he snapped. Simpering human; he couldn't believe he was even considering getting back into one body with this, but it had to be done. "Give up on the only way we might be able to beat this monster? If I fight him now, and I die, then who'll protect her? You?"
The human narrowed his eyes. "Don't act like you're the only one who feels anything for her."
*****
"No more battles," the alien realized. "Cooperation."
"Deal?"
The Saiyan looked down at the hand before him, and smiled, taking it in a firm grip. "Deal."
Chapter Ten: I Know You
Before the sun could even think about rising the following morning, in the dark dewy hours preceding the dawn, both of the Gohans were up and dressed, headed out of the house, bound for some secluded training spot where they could prepare for their rejoining.
"If Gohan's going to be at peak fighting level," the Saiyan observed, "we
should try and get in as much sparring with each other as possible."
The human nodded, agreeing, "We won't get an opportunity to train like this again." He crossed his fingers, praying he wouldn't be proven wrong.
The two rose into the air, swiftly gaining altitude to search for a suitable meadow that could contain their energy.
*****
Shortly over an hour after the boys had risen, in Satan Mansion Videl awoke from a long night of tossing and turning, hardly feeling rested and nursing the need to get out of her room and do something to distract herself. Tossing aside her night clothes, she slipped into her normal training attire, consisting of a baggy t-shirt and shorts, and crept down to the training facility on the building's lowest level.
Silently, she slipped down the long dark corridors, navigating the maze of halls with ease, until she finally reached the imposing double doors guarding her father's private training area.
The room was normally locked, but she'd made sure to swipe one of the spare keys from the store room on her way down, and with a mighty shove, the doors opened before her.
Flipping a master switch on the wall to her right, the room hummed to life, revealing treadmills, stair-steppers, weight machines, punching bags, dumbbells; any exercise machine or accessory imaginable was in Hercule's possession.
Quickly snagging a sweat towel from the sauna, she hung it on a rack near one of the newer, tougher punching bags, then set to work on it first.
Punch, jab. Kick, kick. Punch, kick, jab, roundhouse! She let loose a flurry of moves upon the sandbag, all the while chanting the mantra, 'I must get stronger' in her mind.
That was the only way she could get any better at this energy business and continue training: She had to get stronger. When Gohan came back, she needed to be ready for her lessons.
Because he was coming back. One way or another, she would see him again—the real Gohan, not those fake doubles.
Fake…that was a good term. False, too. The Saiyan, wasn't that the name he'd used? Well, that one was good for lessons, but not much for just talking, or comforting her. She'd enjoyed those times under the tree when Gohan had…never mind.
And as for the human one, well, she hadn't been around that half nearly enough to know him. Maybe he was more normal but…either way, they weren't Gohan.
The Gohan she remembered was…oh, how to describe him? Smart (that was an understatement), shy (heck yeah), kinda goofy (was he ever), naïve (but that only made him cuter—)
Whoa, better stop that train of thought. She delivered a few more blows to the bag, putting a bit more force behind these. 'Yeah, fine,' she made herself admit, 'he's cute, in that innocent school boy-ish way.' But he was no innocent school boy—not with the things he could do.
Lifting cars and buses, flying, forming balls of energy from nothing and using them to blow things up—these were all characteristics endowed to comic book characters, not people like Gohan.
But then, hadn't it been Gohan who'd first helped her, told her he empathized? That he understood, and offered to help her? The gesture, it was so sweet…he was so sweet.
She could add that to his list: sweet. And she missed that sweetness, that gentleness, the way he always walked on eggshells around her… She found herself wishing she'd appreciated his presence more. But now…who knew when he'd come back? After she'd driven him away like that?
Abandoning the bag—now showing obvious wear and tear from the onslaught—she sat down on one of the benches lining the wall, a sliver of sunlight streaming in from a window above her.
"He risked being hurt. By you."
His words had really cut her—she'd never do anything to hurt Gohan! But the Saiyan hadn't been talking about physical pain…He's been talking about Gohan's heart.
He'd opened himself up, made himself vulnerable…Rising again, she stood before the punching bag face determined.
So many questions still without answers… "You'd better come back soon, Son Gohan."
*****
"Well?" the human panted, plopping on the ground and struggling for breath from the exertion as his Saiyan side stood over him, "Are you gonna say it, or am I?"
The alien cocked an eyebrow, barely sweating after the exercise. "…Say what?"
The human's face took on a knowing expression. "What're we going to do about Videl? We'd better figure it out now—we don't exactly have a lot of time."
"…Oh." He slid down onto the soft ground beside his double, thoughtful, before admitting, "You say it; I'll fumble it."
"Alright…" he chose his words carefully. "I guess…I like her."
The Saiyan waited a moment, staring at Gohan as if expecting more. "…Is that all?"
"Well—I…" He was a bit taken aback by the question. "I guess."
"You can't 'guess' on this, human. Think: You say you 'like' her—what do you mean?"
"Well…I like her." What more did his double want? "She's smart, funny, beautiful, strong; what's not to like?"
Turning away, the alien shook his head. "You humans…emotions are so simple for you."
"…What?"
He stood and began pacing like a caged animal. "You like her, you say. You enjoy her company, but is that…all?"
"I'm not sure wh—"
"Here." The Saiyan placed one hand over his own heart and stood firm, boring his deep black eyes into equally black ones. "In here, I feel it day after day. That tug, that pull, whenever I'm around her. It races, it skips a beat every now and then. And when she's sad, I feel it. But when she's happy…I feel like I could take on a hundred Cells!" He pulled away his hand. "That is more than 'like,' and though I know logically I shouldn't, I think…I know…I love her."
With the tirade passed, the human's eyes were released from the stare, and they dropped to the ground, ashamed. "Sometimes…sometimes I would get…jealous. When you'd go out and train with her. That first day, and every day since. I told myself I was right, that I was afraid you'd hurt her…but I was lying. It was just jealousy. I wanted her to accept me as the real Gohan…I wanted her to love me…because I loved her."
"And if…anything happened to her?" the alien began.
Gohan shrugged. "That's why we're rejoining, isn't it? To save her?"
He nodded. There was no need to mention the previous afternoon's conversation he'd had with Videl.
*****
The sun had already begun its descent into the western horizon, and the sky above was trading the pink of late afternoon for the violet of early evening. Five pairs of eyes scanned the sky around the Lookout high above the earth, their worry increasing with each passing minute.
'They will come,' Piccolo reassured himself over again in his mind, as he'd been doing for the past quarter-hour. 'I know Gohan. He knows what's needed.'
But, as it turned out, this reassurance was unnecessary, for not a few moments later, two figures, side by side, dotted the sky and alighted on the tiled marble floor of Kami's Lookout, faces determined.
The Supreme Kai stepped forward, his own face as solemn as the boys'. "Well? What is your decision?"
The Gohans took one last chance to look at each other, each pondering the life he might have led, separated from his other half. A life without internal conflict. Free and unrestrained…
The Saiyan turned his gaze now to the god. "We have decided… to rejoin."
The Kai's mouth curved upwards into an approving grin, and he nodded, but his excitement was betrayed by his eyes, which glittered joyously. "Thank you, Gohan." Turning, he beckoned his servant, "Kibito, if you please."
"Of course, master." He removed from his robes the same small box of earrings they had shown Piccolo, Dende, and Mr. Popo upon their arrival, and gently placed them in the god's waiting palm.
Cracking open the box, the Supreme Kai held up one for all to see. It wasn't fancy by any standard, merely a small golden sphere attached to a short chain which held it fast to its wearer's ear.
"These are the fusion earrings. Very simple to use, you both take one and hook them on opposite ears." At this, the Gohans each took one and fingered it, turning it over in his hand to study the object. "As soon as you do this your bodies will be drawn together in a permanent fusion."
Their attentions snapped to the god. "Permanent?"
"Yes, and—" his voice became serious again. "Gohan, I cannot stress enough the importance of your mutual agreement to this task. You are two halves of a whole; you are meant to be together, but any doubts…any qualms from either party in this fusion will result in the destruction of the new body. Not even the strongest being in the mortal universe can withstand it."
"…Destruction?" They slowly turned to look at one another, each praying that the other wasn't harboring any secret hesitations toward the fusion.
Here Piccolo interjected a question. "Even if this fusion is successful, sir, what's to stop Babidi and the South Kai from just separating them again?"
"What indeed…" He became thoughtful, then answered, "I'll
place a protection on him to block any spells from the Kai—I'd have done that
before had I seen that the Kai would try this. As for Babidi…I leave him to Gohan."
"Let's just hope he's as capable of defeating Buu as you say," came the ever-pessimistic reply.
The Supreme Kai nodded and turned to the Gohans. "Boys?" Taking a deep breath, the Saiyan attached the earring to his left ear, and after receiving a reassuring glance, the human hooked his on his right.
Immediately a brilliant surge of light and energy enveloped the Lookout, and a gust of wind blew through, knocking over all present. Piccolo shielded his eyes with one arm and supported himself with the other, shooting the Kai a questioning glance.
Mere moments later, though, the smoke and debris cleared, and where two halves had once stood, there was now one being, bedecked in a combination of the Saiyan's black fighting gi and the human's own fighting ensemble.
"…Gohan?" Piccolo hazarded, and the figure's black eyes slowly opened, narrow slits at first, inspecting his new body as if seeing it for the first time. He ran his gaze over his legs, chest and arms, and down his back, noting the still-present tail. He eventually lifted his eyes to the Namek in response, face blank at first, then broke into a grin.
"I'm back!"
*****
After undergoing extensive poking and prodding of his new—or was that old?—body, as well as enduring the Kai's spell, Gohan vehemently assured all, "Trust me, I'm me again!"
"Indeed," the god agreed after giving the boy a once over. "The fusion seems to have gone off perfectly." Peering into the boy's eyes, he queried, "Well? How do you feel now? Any more powerful?"
His expression was doubtful. "Not…not really right now, to tell the truth. I guess I don't realize it yet, though. I've been apart for so long, I don't even remember what my old body felt like."
"We can only hope that's the reason…shall we?"
The new Gohan now turned from the god, looking back at the horizon on which the sun had just set. "Sir," he called out.
"Yes?"
"Before I go with you, there's something I have to take care of."
"…wha—Gohan!" But he had already taken to the air, fading quickly from view and leaving everyone to watch helplessly. "I suppose we can only wait until he returns." 'If he returns…' he thought grimly, and resigned himself to the temple.
*****
All day the gym doors had been shut. Training classes had been cancelled, and all visitors and tours for the day turned away. It wasn't until after dark that an exhausted Videl dragged her tired and broken body up the long staircase to her room. Standing at the door, hardly caring where she landed, she threw her body into the room, luckily landing on one of the chaise-lounges. She stretched out on it, seeking the most comfortable position—not an easy task—and within moments her breathing had become deep and even.
And it was in this position that Gohan found her. Alighting with cat-like grace and stealth, he slipped into the room via the balcony window he'd come in by before.
[Where are you walking,
what are you staring at now?
Are you still chasing that dream
You once told me about?]
Dark shadows played across the floor and furniture, and a waxing moon flooded much of the room in its pale glow, lighting his way. He approached her, making less sound than the gentle wind which was blowing through the trees outside the room.
[I loved your face that
seemed to tell the future.]
His eyes slid over to a sleeping form curled upon a chair, and, silent as a ghost, he sidled up to it. Lifting a hand, which trembled in spite of his willing it to be still, he hesitantly brushed back from her face one of the strands of black hair that had loosened itself from her ponytail during the day.
This simple gesture, however, was enough to cause Videl to stir from her state. Her eyelids flickered open, still tiny slits, and gazed at the floor in her immediate line of sight for a moment, before realizing someone was standing over her and sliding up to view the face.
Her eyes grew wide, though, as soon as she took in who the intruder was, and she choked out in a half-whisper, smiling, "Gohan?"
His only response was a small smile and a slow nod, confirming her hope.
She pushed herself up into a sitting position. "You're back?"
He gave a noncommittal shrug. "Back to whatever I was before."
Now it was she who nodded. "Good…" There was a pause, and then, "I'm…I'm glad. That you're you again."
'You're not the only one,' he thought to himself. "You're not…mad at me?"
"Mad?" she questioned. "Why?"
"I just thought…since I lied…you said—"
She waved it off. "Forget it—that's in the past. Can't change it." He smiled at this. "But I…I want to know about the future…" Here, the smile faded from his lips as the memory of why he'd come resurfaced. "Gohan…when wi—"
"Wait," he interrupted, gently though. He had to stop her; he knew if she continued that it would only become harder for him to speak. "Wait…"
Confused, she pressed, "What? What is it?" His eyes slid away, the way they had done before when he had to tell her something he didn't want to, when he knew it would hurt her. She stood up and queried, "Gohan—what?" Her voice hardened a bit, urging him on.
"I didn't…" He faltered for words, "I didn't come just to let you see that I'm me again…"
Surprisingly, he didn't keep his eyes averted, but rather shifted them back, face more serious than she'd seen it yet. Not angry, but…more solemn, sad…pained.
"Videl…I have to leave."
[For you to protect that dream,
I couldn't be with you.]
The words passed through her mind more swiftly than water down a fall, so swiftly that she wasn't able to fully understand. "W-what?"
"I have to leave, to fight this…thing."
Then he, Gohan, never one to unduly alarm anyone he cared for, spoke the words Videl had hoped she'd never have to hear.
"And…I might not come back."
She felt her eyes shut tight, lids pulled down by the weight of his statement. It was by sheer force of will that she remained standing, and for a moment that stretched for hours, neither one spoke.
[When you stood here
and watched the scenery,
how much anxiety and confusion
did you battle with?]
But building up inside of her were intense feelings, yearning to be let out, freed from the bonds of her will, and for once, she let them loose. "How…dare you…"
Gohan's eyes grew wide. Her voice—just a minute ago she been so happy, and now…no one could miss the pain and fury intermingled in that one utterance.
"How could you even think of coming back now and doing this?" The pain and sadness took over, and her voice cracked. But no: now was not the time for tears. "After I waited this long, put up with your lies, your stupid doubles, worried about you…you're just gonna come back and say 'hi' only to tell me you're leaving again, probably to die?!" Her breathing now came in fast, gasping breaths.
His eyes sunk to the floor, blurring in and out of focus. There was so much he wanted to explain: how he had to do this, for everyone, for the universe…for her, how he had never meant to hurt her, how…how…He could explain one thing…He jerked his head back up, determined.
"Videl…That's not it."
What? More? Could she take more? Could her soul bear it?
"I came here to say I was going, because… I couldn't just leave without saying it…" But now that he was here, the words he'd prepared fled his mind. He called upon the two halves inside of him to give him peace. "I didn't want to die. I don't want to die…not without saying…I love you."
[I've learned a lot
from being alone.]
Frozen. Paralyzed. Her body refused to move. No force in heaven or on earth could make her form a response to his confession. The only evidence she'd even registered the words was her heart skipping a beat, her breath caught in her throat.
She could only watch through the windows that were her eyes, as Gohan, though speaking of love, still bore an expression of immense sorrow—why? He looked so sad…but she couldn't comfort him.
[As long as you didn't let go of my hand,
I felt like I could do anything.]
She saw him lean forward, felt the ever so gentle brush of his lips against her cheek—it felt like goodbye. And there she stood, helpless, watching his form slip away, out the window, into the black of night.
And now, only now was she released from the spell which had held her fast where she stood, kept her from even saying goodbye…The words trapped in her throat came forth now in a choking whisper, "G—Gohan…"
He was leaving her—maybe forever. Her feet felt like cement blocks, but they moved now! She dragged them, fighting the whole way to the window, feeling them lighten with each successive step, until she was free. Sprinting to the balcony she let his name spring forth unhindered from her lips. "Gohan!"
[When we walked along the same path
I believed without a single doubt.]
But he was gone already, far into the night, beyond where her words could reach him. He loved her, but he still left. To fight—she had done nothing to stop him.
[But even so, why…?
But even so, why…?
But I…]
Turning, she let herself slide down to the floor, back braced by the railing. He couldn't see her now, so she pulled her legs up to her chin, as she'd done when a child, and let the tears she'd held back flow freely, rivers of regret coursing down her cheeks.
[I remember your promise.
I remember every day.]
And through all the pain, through the sadness, she remembered why. One thought surfaced, above all others: "I…love him…"
—END CHAPTER TEN—
Post-Chapter Notes: Well? I figured it was about time for them to realize it but that doesn't mean I'm gonna let them act on it yet! Yes, I know, I'm evil, but what can I say? I'm an angst-a-holic! Yeah, once again, I'm sorry the chapter was so short, but at least you didn't have to wait as long for it! As always, reviews are not only welcomed, they're encouraged! And if you'd like to be on e-mail notice about this story's updates, or any of my other ones, e-mail me at orofangwen@fr.st and I'll get right on it. Thanks!