Chapter 24
Well, I'm not going to apologise for my lateness of updates anymore, because it is just something I can't help. Real life situations plague almost any author, I believe, and even if they don't, they do plague me! However, remember that I will always try to post an update as soon as I possibly can!
A note for this chapter: I used the Japanese spelling. So names like 'Ginyu Force' will be seen as 'Ginyu Tokusentai', and 'Recoome' will be seen as 'Rikum'. Just thought I should let you know! ^-^
Thank you for the reviews, minna-san, and I now present to you the next installment of The Unexpected! Oh yeah, I don't own DBZ, okay? If I did, let's just say that there would be a whole lot more of some 'Chaozu Torture'! *Grins evilly*
Vegita continued to carry Gohan's limp body that was resting upon his shoulder, his golden aura of flames encompassing them both. He was flying as fast as he possibly could, digging into the deepest pits of his Super Saiya-jin power, also trying to give some of his own ki to his silent passenger. He knew he had to get the critically injured demi Saiya-jin back to the Palace as quickly as he could - the demi Saiya-jin was barely clinging to life. He needed to be healed.
The way Bodu had broke Gohan's neck had reminded the Saiya-jin Prince of the battle they had tried to fight against the Ginyu Tokusentai. Despite their stupidity and ignorance, the Ginyu Tokusentai had been a very powerful team, and had reduced Kakarotto's gaki, the weak Chikyuusei-jin, Kuririn; and even he - the Prince of all Saiya-jin - to wounded, vulnerable prey. Gohan had suffered the worst, his neck having been broken by the redheaded Rikum.
They all would have surely perished if it hadn't been for Kakarotto, who had appeared out of almost nowhere and given them each a senzu.
Kakarotto
Oh how Vegita had loathed that Third Class Saiya-jin for coming again and saving him - and the others - from death. He believed that a true warrior - especially a Saiya-jin Prince - should accept his fate if he had been reduced to the brink of death.
He had once considered it very dishonorable for someone to save anyone else when they were breathing their last breath; and now here he was, saving Kakarotto's hybrid son! He could almost laugh at the irony of it all though when he thought deeply about it, it wasn't really something unexpected that had happened.
If it had been a few years ago, and he had been in the same situation - having to choose between saving a half-breed or leaving them for Death - he would've spat upon Gohan's mangled body and left without a care. He couldn't have done that now, however.
The Saiya-jin could not ignore or disapprove of the courage Gohan had shown. It had been clear that the boy had fought right to the end - never once even considering the idea of defeat. In his eyes, it was a quality that an honorable Saiya-jin should have.
Vegita also considered it to be repaying a favor from long ago; he was repaying Gohan for taking the killing blow that the creature Cell had intended for him.
Gohan didn't have to save him. The arrogant Prince had done many terrible things to him - things that would cause another to have let him die and deem it to have been their revenge, rather than save him.
Nevertheless, Gohan had ignored the past events and saved him just the same, an incredible wound to his arm being the cost.
Vegita smirked as he gave an extra burst of speed. I have repaid the favour, Gohan.
Goten sat on the steps to the Room of Spirit and Time, staring at the porcelain-white tiles beneath him.
He had chosen to sit there quietly after trying to explain to Piccolo about the 'other Gohan', distancing himself from everyone else, and choosing to do so until his Niichan came back.
When his Kaasan had come up to him offering food, he had declined - although he was hungry - and he had ignored anyone who sat down next to him or tried to speak with him. He had not even spoken to Trunks, who had only recently become his best friend.
He probably would have remained there for an eternity, if it hadn't been for Piccolo's voice suddenly shouting his brother's name. He lifted his head; the urgency that he had heard in Piccolo's voice frightened him.
Afraid that something had happened to Gohan, he rose and ran over to Piccolo as fast as his small legs could carry him, tugging at the Nameksei-jin's cape. "Pic'lo-san? What happened to Niichan?"
Piccolo disregarded the young demi Saiya-jin's question, seeming as if he hadn't heard.
After a tense silence that seemed to last an hour - though it was only a few minutes - Goten noticed that Piccolo had relaxed a bit.
He asked again, though this time in a louder and more urgent tone, "What happened to Niichan?"
Giving a sigh of what seemed to be relief, Piccolo replied softly, "He is fine Vegita is with him, and bringing him back to us."
Goten's frown brightened into an excited grin, and he cried out loud, "Niichan's coming back!"
Everyone was surprised by his sudden outburst - as he had been subdued and withdrawn only moments earlier - though their shock was soon switched to joy.
Kuririn stepped forward hesitantly and asked, " Do you mean the real Gohan? Is what Goten said somehow true, Piccolo?"
Piccolo nodded solemnly and replied, "The things he spoke of were indeed true. However, I think we should all wait until Gohan and Vegita arrive; they may be able to explain more about it."
* * *
Goten waited eagerly for Gohan's return, sitting beside Piccolo's unmoving form near the edge of the lookout, unheeded by his Kaasan's worried scolds. He was gazing down upon the land below, not seeming to have any fear of the distance between him and it. He was deathly quiet - even his own breath could not be heard, as if he were holding it in anticipation. It was a new side to him that not many had known before; usually he was seen as an impatient and hyperactive young demi Saiya-jin.
Seeing a faint star sparkle golden and beaming in the distance, he called out loudly, "Niichan!"
Expecting Gohan to appear beside Vegita and land before him, he was taken aback as he glimpsed the Saiya-jin Prince carrying his brother, who was as limp and still as a rag doll.
When Vegita landed softly a few metres away from Goten, and placed Gohan onto the ground, he ran up to them, wondering if it was only an illusion - a mirage - that he had witnessed.
As he reached his Niichan, his eyebrows furrowed in worry as he noticed the peculiar angle of Gohan's neck, and the paleness of his skin. Goten had never seen any signs of illness or death before, so he did not know the meaning of those symptoms. However, he could somehow sense that something was very wrong.
"Niichan?"
Gohan remained dormant, his shadowy locks masking most of his pale face.
The chibi Saiya-jin shook his brother's body, repeating over and over again, "Niichan? Niichan?!"
Gohan still gave no answer.
Tears began to spill down Goten's cheeks, and his body shook heavily as sobs overtook him. Niichan! What wrong Niichan?
At that moment, darkness seemed to engulf the two brothers, as panic set in. Any indication of another living being was cloaked in shadow, Goten and Gohan being the only two entities who still existed. Goten could see nothing other than his beloved Niichan, the softest sound could not be registered by his acute hearing, and even the aroma of life could not be smelt.
Ages seemed to pass as Goten stood by Gohan, though he did not notice. Eventually, he had grown so used to the eerie silence that he started when a muffled voice sounded to him. At first It was distant, like the distance from one end of a desert to another; then It gradually came closer, until he was sure It was right beside him. All the words that were uttered were still distorted and unclear, though he found that he didn't really want to hear them. He just wanted to be beside his Niichan
Finally, the words became distinguishable. "Goten? Goten?"
Goten found himself involuntarily nodding his head in response to It. It continued.
"Goten? Gohan will be fine. Please let me heal him!"
Dumbfounded, Goten was suddenly brought out of the void of darkness and back into the existence of reality. He looked to his side and saw a miniature Piccolo-san standing beside him, looking into his eyes worriedly. Unsure of the miniature Piccolo-san at first, he hesitated for a moment. However, the miniature Piccolo-san's voice sounded true. He slowly backed away a few, small steps, but would not go any further than that.
Great astonishment and fear seized him as he watched a silver glow emit from the miniature Piccolo-san's hands and spread through his brother's body. The glow illuminated Gohan with a bright light, before slowly dimming.
As the glowing vanished, the young demi Saiya-jin gasped as Gohan all of a sudden sat up.
Gohan quickly looked all around him, believing that he was still involved in the fight with Bodu. When he saw the smiling faces of Goten and Dende though, he loosened his tensed muscles - which he only now realized were no longer burning or aching with pain.
As his gaze rested upon his Totochan again, he smiled and said, "Goten! It's okay; I'm back!"
Goten's bottom lip quivered as more tears glittered down his cheeks, and he swiftly tackled his Niichan with a strong hug. "Gohan!"
This time however, his tears were of happiness and not of grief.
To be continued
Awwww! Another sweet reunion! ^_^
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