Chapter 11
Well, I'm really sorry that I took so long to update. If you read my profile, you would have known why. But for the readers who didn't know, my computer crashed and I couldn't do anything for about five days! It also caused me to get writer's block, that evil baka!
But now, everything's back to normal and my computer is working fine.
Unfortunately, because of the writer's block, I don't think that I wrote this chapter very well. Hmm I dunno. I'm not a very good judge of my own stories.
Also, thanks for the reviews! Yay! 50 Reviews! Without any reviews, I wouldn't be able to post my stories up on the net!
As I always say, I don't own DBZ and I'm not making any money from writing this fic. I do own Bodu, however, and any new characters, places, etc.
I also dedicate this chapter to Samara-chan, whom I had quite an entertaining chat with on MSN. Samara, this is for you!
Gohan sighed as he began to stir, many loud noises attacking his sensitive ears. He did not want to awaken, but the noise that surrounded him was too great, so he surrendered and began to open his eyes.
At first, he could not make out what the sounds were, nor could he see anything around him except for the bright color of red. Red?!
He sat up swiftly; ignoring the dizziness that began to invade his head; rubbing his eyes furiously so that he could clear his vision, wondering how the inside of the cave had become red. And how come Goten isn't awake? Usually he cannot sleep when there is so much noise; and wakes me up so that I can help him go back to sleep.
A sense of trepidation began to engulf him as he reluctantly pulled his hands away from his face, thinking that he would not like what he would see. Peering between his fingers, he gasped at the gruesome sight that lay before him.
The demi Saiya-jin was sitting on what appeared to be the domed top of the same cave that he had been formerly sleeping in with his Totochan. That was the only thing that seemed familiar to him, as everything else had been changed dramatically, and unfortunately, it had changed for the worse. He was surrounded by an ocean of red, ceaselessly rising by the second. Tall trees were scattered around the ocean, rising up out of it like clawed hands trying to grab onto something. Their bark was a deep black, as black as the demi Saiya-jin's own jet black hair. Stained, red leaves grew on their branches, dripping a bright red liquid into the ocean. The loud noises that had invaded his mind earlier had vanished, so that nothing could be heard except for the drops of liquid from the trees' leaves falling into the ocean.
Unable to move at all, the boy stared at the forms that were floating around in the ocean, his eyes turning a glassy grey. Bodies. Bodies of humans, and animals alike. Even fish were drifting lifelessly upon the ocean's surface, adding more horror to the already terrible scene.
Gohan began to tremble as he saw bodies, hanging in the branches of the trees, caught like flies ensnared in a spider's web. He gazed back down at the red water that was edging in closer to his body, and shuddering, scooped some of it up in his hand. It was warm, and sticky. His trembling aggravated, as he shook the liquid off of his hand.
"B It's blood! The blood of every living creature on Chikyuu!" He cried softly. He felt that if he spoke softly, that what was currently happening would go away. That Chikyuu-sei would return to normal, and would be blessed with lush, green forests and endless sapphire oceans once again.
He then realized that the sounds he had heard were the sounds of people screaming; people who had survived long enough to still be living, seeking help from an unknown angel, waiting for him to come down on his snowy white wings to save them. But their prayers for help had gone unanswered, and unable to live any longer, they had receded into the blood's dark depths. Or had remained lifeless on the surface. I have to try to save someone! I will not let Chikyuu become a planet of death!
The half Saiya-jin leaped into the air, just a moment before the small dome that he had been sitting upon disappeared under the sea of blood. He floated in the thin air that had been polluted by the odour of blood, the smell very pungent. It was enough to make him sick. But there was no time for that now, he had to see if there was still anyone that was living. He closed his obsidian eyes, searching for a ki. He didn't care whose ki it was. He just wanted to find someone living.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open as he sensed a very faint ki. It was weak, and ever seemed like it was becoming even weaker. With a burst of silver ki, Gohan chased after it, searching for that one ki. As he began to draw in closer, the ki became familiar. He had sensed it before. No, he had known the person behind it. As his mind told him that he was very close, he stopped and gazed down into the ocean. There was his Kaasan, unconscious, floating on the surface. Her head was bobbing slightly, and she slowly seemed to be sinking. Her body was retreating into the blood.
"NO! Okaasan!" Gohan dived down towards his exhausted Kaasan, ready to swoop her up into his arms. Just as he was about to save her, his Kaasan sank down beneath the ruby depths. Her hand was the last thing that he saw. A moment before he was about to crash into the ocean, he withdrew, his body skimming the surface.
He soared back towards the heavens, staring down at the ripples that were forming in the space where his Kaasan had been floating. As the last, tiny ripple disappeared, he screamed, "OKAASAN!" Those ripples had been the last signs of his Kaasan's existence, and now they were gone.
Burning tears began to flow down his face, filled with anger and sorrow. Mostly filled with anger. But still with sorrow. Sorrow that his Kaasan was gone. Anger at himself for not saving her. He should have saved her! He was her son, and she was his Okaasan. What kind of a son was he? He clenched his balled fists tighter, trying not to lose control of himself.
A sudden twinge of ki flashed in his mind. It was also very faint, just as his Kaasan's had been. But it seemed that the being who possessed the ki was one of enormous power. Not as strong as he. But still strong enough to be able to take down Freeza. Piccolo!
As Gohan recognized the ki, the flame of hope that had been burning dimly inside his heart brightened. His despair over the loss of his Kaasan still remained, but it had been pushed towards the back of his mind. Giving the closest possible thing to a smile that he could muster, he followed his senses to his old Master and friend. He heightened his ki until he turned Super Saiya-jin, not wanting to make the same mistake as he had made before with his Kaasan. If he had been a Super Saiya-jin, he would have made it in time to save her
He grit his teeth in soul loathing at himself, as the golden ki that encompassed his body intensified. Then his fury disappeared. He stopped in mid-flight, staring at a tree that stood beneath him. Bodies were pierced by its branches. Branches that were like thorns. Unforgiving. But his eyes were settled on one body that was punctured by the branches. Piccolo. Purple blood was oozing from the wound in his abdomen, flowing down the branches and seeming to unite with the blood red leaves, which were now a deep, shining fuchsia.
A voice inside his head began to shout at him, its tone menacing and vicious. What are you waiting for, Son Gohan? You don't want to let Piccolo die now, do you?
He hated that voice. It was the very same voice who had whispered to him during his fight with Cell- Torture him! He does not deserve a quick, painless death! He deserves much more! He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to listen to that horrible voice.
But the voice would not go away, and continued its abuse. Well? I thought that Piccolo was your friend, and now you're going to leave him there to die? What kind of a person are you?
Even though he hated that voice, what it said was true. Why didn't he save Piccolo! He was right below him, so close that he could have tapped him with his foot. But somewhere deep in his mind, was an anxious feeling. It said that if he touched the tree, that it would be the last thing that he would do.
Who cares about your instincts! Are you not willing to sacrifice your life so that you can try to save someone else's? His time is drawing near, if you don't save him now
An eerie silence followed as the wind blew the tree's crown of branches, causing its leaves to shower the sea below it with more blood. Then, the voice continued- he will die!
Gohan hugged his knees close to his chest, trying to seek comfort. His golden aura was still fluttering about him strongly, but the flame of hope had been reduced to a tiny spark. Shut up Shut up! SHUT UP! Leave me alone! Anything that you say always leads me to more danger!
Then suddenly, Piccolo's ki vanished. The demi Saiya-jin opened his eyes and stared down at his mentor's motionless body. He wasn't even breathing. The voice had vanished, leaving him by himself. The sound of his own heart echoed through his body, as his ebony eyes quivered. He tried to contain himself, but the effort that it took was causing his whole body to tremble violently. Tears again began to seep down his face, and he couldn't hold it any longer. "NOOOOOOOOO!"
He flew down to the sea to look at his reflection. It was haunting. Not even life like. His face was swollen and his eyes were almost as red as the sea itself. There he hovered, his toes just an inch above the murky blood. His black locks tickled against his forehead as his head was bowed. The spark of hope had burned out. His tears fell into the sea. The wind had died down, so no noise could be heard except for the drops of blood and tears. The tears seemed to reverberate as they hit the ocean's surface, causing a tormenting sound.
Gohan continued to weep, not caring about anything any more. He didn't notice as a ki that was actually burning strongly, began to close in on him. But when it was less than a metre away from him, he actually began to feel enlightened. This being was much more powerful than he. Maybe his life could be ended now.
The being looked at the boy, as if he were looking into a mirror. His eyes narrowed as he said, "You are too late, Son Gohan! If you had of woken up sooner, you might have been able to stop this tragedy!"
The half Saiya-jin's eyes popped open as he heard the voice. It seemed so familiar. It sounded like the very same voice that he hated so much, the one that always led him to disaster. But how could that be?
"You didn't even try to save Piccolo! What kind of a person are you?" The being shouted.
That got the demi Saiya-jin's attention. He raised his head slightly, just so he could see the person who spoke to him. He glared through his dark bangs at the enemy, trying to seem as threatening as possible. However, he received a great surprise when he saw the person's face.
It was him.
The person who had spoken looked exactly like him. He wore the same gi, though it didn't seem to suit him. His hair was exactly the same as Gohan's. But it didn't seem real. And his face. His face was the same, though it was hard and cruel, definitely not the same person as he. Then, how come he looked the same?
He raised his head higher and asked with a strong note of venom in his voice, "Who are you? And why have you destroyed Chikyuu-sei?" His eyes flashed with fierceness as he spoke, his fists shaking at his sides.
But the enemy did not seem fazed by his double's anger. He merely smirked and replied in the same tone, "Right now, that is of no importance to you! Because you are going to DIE!" As soon as he spoke that last word, he amazingly turned Super Saiya-jin 2 in less than the time of the blinking of an eye. He raised his elbow, and before the innocent one could see his attack, he drove his elbow into the other's stomach.
Gohan's eyes widened in pain as he doubled over, clutching his agonising stomach. The pain was so intense that he began to taste bile forming at the back of his throat. Before he could recover from the blow, he was hit powerfully on the side of the head, and was sent flying down into the sea of blood. The last sound he heard was the of the evil one's laughter at his inferiors defeat. Then, all he saw was red, and then black.
Gohan screamed and sat up. His whole body was covered in sweat, and he was at a loss of breath. Dried tears seemed to have fallen down his cheeks, but he wasn't sure. Panting heavily, he looked towards his left and saw Goten, who seemed petrified. But at the same time, a small glow of courage burned in his inquisitive eyes.
"Are you OK, Niichan? You were crying. I try to wake you, but you kept on crying," he said, his voice wavering ever so slightly. He was sitting upon his knees, and seemed exhausted.
His Niichan smiled at him gratefully and said quietly, "Nothing, Goten. It was just a bad dream. Now go to sleep. You don't want to end up sleepwalking!" He added that little joke so that his Totochan would relinquish his fears. And just as he thought it would, it worked.
"'K, Gohan! Konban wa*!" With that, Goten lay down and cuddled up to his Niichan. Within seconds, he was fast asleep, knowing that he would be protected by Gohan.
Gohan smiled again, and lay back down on the floor. His eyes narrowed as he thought about the upcoming day, and what he would have to do. I promise; I will get you! Whoever you are!
*Konban wa: means 'good night'
Well, what did you think? If you want, you can review! Ideas, criticism and advice are also welcome! I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible, but I'm not promising anything! Ja ne!