Chapter 8
OMG, thank you to everyone who reviewed! *Hugs reviewers* I know you all hate cliffhangers, but I think that it just makes the story a bit more exhilarating if you end each chappie with a cliffhanger! Also, I'm really sorry that I took so long to update again. I'm trying my best to update as soon as possible, but besides school, it's pretty hard when your mother keeps on wanting to use the Internet! I'm a bit over excited at the moment, yippee!
Gohan: *Turns away from Pearlz* I don't know her.
NANI?! Oh Gohan, what did I do?! *Tears start to form*
Gohan: Uh oh No, you didn't do anything Pearlz, it's just that.
WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! *Tears falling like a waterfall*
Gohan: OK, this could take a while. Err, please review, because lots of reviews make Pearlz happy!
Huh?! Reviews! Yay, reviews!
Gohan: OK. Anyway, just as Pearlz usually says except that she's gone crazy, she doesn't own DBZ and is not making any money from writing this fic. She does own Bodu, however, and any new characters, places, etc. And unfortunately, she owns me.
Nani? WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! *More tears*
Gohan: *Sweatdrop*
Ever since Goten's eyes had last glimpsed Gohan, he had been savouring a bad feeling. He did not know what this feeling was, as he had never experienced it before. It was like a butterfly taking to the air for the first time, a whole new adventure But this was no adventure. This feeling was bad, as bad and terrible as the raging fires that destroyed the most beautiful of forests.
He was edgy, his eyes were more focused than ever and could see the tiniest crack on the grey tiles. His hearing was currently so sharp that he jumped at the slightest rustle from clothing, or the lightest wind.
ChiChi looked down at her youngest son in concern as he jerked for almost the tenth time. It reminded her of how Goku had seemed just a few minutes before he and Gohan had left for the Cell Games. He had been very edgy, as he stood outside by the glistening stream alone, gazing up into the clear sky. As soon as she had called out to him though, and asked what was wrong, his tenseness had disappeared all of a sudden like a bolt of lightning.
The wind had blown his hair, and he had smiled at ChiChi and replied happily, "Nothing, ChiChi! Just waiting for when it will be time."
She had left it at that, deciding not to question Goku any further. Ever since he had died though, she had been curious about how he had been acting. And now, as she held Goten-chan's hand, she could only feel deep worry as the same thing seemed to befalling him.
In as soft a voice as she could manage, the Kaasan asked her son, "What is wrong, Goten-chan? Why do you seem so nervous? You are out of harm's way."
Goten wanted to shout at his Kaasan, saying, "What you think is wrong?! No one believe me or Gohan! And now, he hurt!" But he kept it bottled up inside him, deciding that such an outburst would only distress his Kaasan further.
A single, glistening tear fell along Goten's cheek, as he thought about what he would do if Gohan did die. He would feel hopeless, as hopeless as a young nestling that had fallen out of its nest. It would be the worst possible thing that could happen.
Suddenly, he froze as he heard someone's footsteps edging closer and closer to his Niichan. He ignored his Kaasan who was pulling on his hand, not aware of anything else in the entire world except for the footsteps. He tensed as he heard the faint whisper of clothes, sounding like it was been lifted up into the air. Daring to look back, the young half Saiya-jin looked over his shoulder, ignoring his Kaasan's pleas to not look back.
What he saw caused his whole body to lose its feeling, as his hand slipped away from the comfort of his Kaasan. He could not even hear her voice any more, not even the slightest whisper. All he could distinguish was Vegeta holding up his Niichan, about to kill him.
Vegeta was smirking, like he was enjoying every second of it, relishing in his own pride.
He he's going to kill Gohan!
Goten ran forwards towards his Niichan, despite the cries and shouts of everyone else. He was running so fast that it felt like he was flying, with the wind whispering in his ears. He did not notice the silver ki that had enveloped him, its power surging through every single vein in his body.
Shimmering tears began to flow down his face as he screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Before he could think about his actions, he leaped high into the air until he was moving forwards between the bodies of Vegeta and Gohan.
Time seemed to freeze as all of Goten's surroundings turned pitch black, the only things coming into his vision were the two glowing bodies of his Niichan and Vegeta. Closing his eyes shut, expecting a vicious attack, he could not control his momentum as he continued further.
His unfortunate wishes were granted, as he suddenly felt an agonising blow to his neck. Instantly, his eyesight flashed a bright white, before shadowing into darkness.
ChiChi stood still, her feet fixed to the ground. She watched in terror as she saw Goten land harshly on his back, his whole body twitching from shock. She began to tremble as she saw his young face. Still visible tears were flowing down his cheeks, beginning to evaporate into the sky. His neck was at an unusual angle, so that his head was not facing the sky, but turned towards his Kaasan.
What scared ChiChi the most, was his eyes. His usually happy, bright eyes that had been once filled with a midnight black, were now as white as the feathers of a swan. Seeing this caused her to tremble more, as the pain in her heart was pleated. She cried out, tears beginning to flow down her peach face.
Without even feeling her legs beneath her, she ran to her son, calling out his name. But he did not respond, as silent as a stone.
"Goten-chan! Please, wake up!" ChiChi cried. She did not take notice when Dende appeared beside her, still calling out her son's name.
Dende looked at Goten's body in concern, not knowing if he would still be able to save him. Determinedly though, he placed his hands on Goten's chest, and closed his eyes.
Everyone else looked on in disbelief, as they couldn't bare to see Goten so fatally injured.
Vegeta could not believe what he had done, and dropped Gohan subconsciously. Even though he had usually felt nothing but remorse for Kakarotto's sons, he was awed by the fact that Goten who was so young, had risked his life to save his Niichan. And now, it seemed as if the young demi Saiya-jin's life had already been taken away.
Dende's body began to glow a faint yellow as he tried to heal Goten. He murmured to himself as he tried to put more power into the healing, knowing that Goten was still alive, but only a step away from leaving.
All of a sudden, Gohan began to stir. He opened his eyes slowly, and waited for the blurring in his eyes to disappear. As soon as he could make out the shapes that sat before him, he jerked and immediately sat up. Dizziness began to invade his mind, as he had not yet recovered from the loss of ki that he had suffered because of ascending into the level beyond Super Saiya-jin. But he ignored that, his mind only focusing on one question.
What, what is wrong with Goten? Who has wounded him so seriously that he needs to be healed by Dende?
The half Saiya-jin narrowed his eyes as he came to a conclusion. I have to take Goten away with me and escape from this place. Every time they try to attack me, he will just try to defend me, and will end up being hurt, or even worse, killed.
Gohan shuddered at that horrible thought, not wanting to even imagine the outcome. I cannot let that happen! I am his Niichan, I have to protect him! Even if it is from his own family and friends.
Dende had finished healing Goten, who seemed to be back to normal.
The young Nameksei-jin smiled happily, as he knew that Goten would be all right.
ChiChi did not know this however, and cried, "Is he going to be all right, Dende-sama? Why is he still sleeping?"
Dende turned towards ChiChi and closed his eyes happily, replying, "He will be all right. It's just that, it takes longer for someone to recover from such a serious injury as Goten has suffered, and it also takes longer because he is not as strong as some other warriors."
ChiChi's face took a direct turn as she shouted angrily, "He is not going to become a warrior! Just look what happened to Gohan, because of it!"
Everyone looked towards Gohan, who had sat up and looked very confused.
"Now, he has become evil! Maybe Goku could fight without becoming evil, but not everybody is that strong! Fighting has caused my sweet, little Gohan-chan to slip away from me, and now he is just as heartless as Cell!"
Gohan's eyes widened in shock at his Kaasan's statement. Him? As heartless as Cell? How could she say such a thing? He stood up quickly, ignoring the ever improving dizziness that had threatened to cause him to lose consciousness once more, and said with severe malice in his voice, "Cell?!" He spat out the name with much more venom than he had intended, yet he did not care, "How could you possibly compare me with Cell, Okaasan? I hated Cell! Because of him, I had to fight for the sake of the Earth, even though I did not want that burden! He was the one who caused me to lose control of myself, and to turn into that horrible bakemono!"
ChiChi was dismayed, unable to raise her voice higher than a whisper, "Go Gohan."
Gohan continued, tears beginning to fall down his face as he spoke his next words, his voice wavering, "And, he caused me to lose Otousan! No, wait! HE didn't cause me to lose Otousan, he started me on that path that winds through forests of unforgiving thorns! It was my fault that Otousan died!"
Tears also began to flow down ChiChi's face, trying not to cry even though it was so hard because of Gohan's words.
Gohan looked at Goten through the corners of his eyes, and clenched his fists tightly, "Look at Goten! He was almost killed, because of me! Yet he is the only one who believes in me! Why can't any of you understand that I would never hurt you intentionally?!"
Everyone remained speechless, knowing that what Gohan would say next would hurt them terribly.
"Now, I see. Not one of you wants me! Not one of you every liked me! You just pretended, because I was Goku's son!"
Kuririn stepped forward, about to say something important. But the only word that came out of his mouth was, "Gohan"
"I will leave you now, because I can see as clear as the glass in a mirror that you hate me!" He walked over towards Goten, his Kaasan not willing to try and stop him.
Picking his Totochan up and holding him by the waist, he began to fly up into the sky.
ChiChi blinked back her tears and cried, "Gohan! Please, don't go!"
Gohan looked down at his Kaasan, his usually ebony eyes silver with tears, "Sarabada, Okaasan." He heightened his ki slightly, so that he would not disturb Goten, but so that he could fly at a medium pace. Then with a blast of silver dust, he flew away, not wanting to look back.
The boom of distant thunder, disrupted the silence of the forest. Dark, grey clouds had covered the warm sun and the sky blue of the sky, not letting even the smallest ray of light shine through. Gohan closed his eyes unwillingly, then opened them quickly, not wanting to fly into something. He had lost more ki than he had thought, and flying was beginning to show its effects on his weary body. Knowing that he would fall asleep or even slink into unconsciousness is he continued, he flew down into the shelter of the tall pines.
Looking around dazedly, he spotted a small cave covered in dense foliage. Slowly, he began to walk over towards the cave, trying to not to drag his feet along the ground. As soon as he had entered the cave, cold, icy rain began to fall in sheets, hitting the ground harshly.
The tired half Saiya-jin placed Goten on the ground, then noticing how dirty the ground was, he took off the orange shirt of his gi and placed it on the ground, laying Goten's sleeping body on top of it.
Gohan then lay down next to his Totochan, curling his body around Goten so that the younger boy would not freeze.
Sighing deeply, he tried to fall asleep, but could not because of his thoughts. Why does everyone hate me so much? I don't understand! I feel so alone. Tears began to fall down his face again, as he tried to deal with his images, his whole body shivering because of the cold. Otousan! Please, help me Then, he finally succumbed to sleep.
Aw, that's so sad! But it's also so sweet how he is trying to protect his Totochan! I think Bodu will be back in the next chapter, so don't think that he has disappeared! Also, 'bakemono' means devil, or monster, and 'Sarabada' is a more serious version of 'Sayonara'. If I spelt these wrong, please tell me! Ja ne!