Chapter 27
Konnichiwa! Finally, another installment of TUX for my adoring fans! Um *cough, cough*
Well, I thought I should answer some of your questions. However, I won't give anything too important away! Now, let's see
Okay! Topic 1: Gohan will not die in this story. It may have happened in my other fic, Thoughts, but it won't happen with this one! But that doesn't mean that everything will be easy for him Sometimes I feel so guilty!
Hmm Topic 2: I love cliffhangers! If that means that I'll burn in Hell, (I'm not using the stupid Funi term!) then who cares?!
Topic 3: Esteebee, you are VERY observant! I never even really meant for Gohan's dream to be connected to Cehang-sei! Now that I think about it however I dunno! I'll either leave it to your conception, or may add in something about it in the future.
Topic 4: Anyone can be put onto the mailing list by yours truly! (LOL, that sounds so formal!)
Final topic: I always try my best with updates!
OK, that's everything! Arigatou gozaimashita for all of the reviews!
Oh yeah. I don't own DBZ, nor do I own the little verse at the end of the story. That verse is from the song 'Every Heart' by BoA, and is owned by her!
Gohan began to slowly walk towards the verge of the Palace; not a sound could be detected by his acute hearing except for the swish, swish, swish of his slightly tattered gi, and the tap, tap, tap of his shoes as he took one tentative step after another.
Everyone had already been in a state of disarray when Gohan had made his assumedly brave declaration, though at the mention of Bodu - the creature who had turned all of their lives upside-down - they had lost the grasp of their voices. The gathering was speechless.
As Gohan reached the edge of the Palace's marble tiled floors - which separated momentary safety from certain danger and death - Vegita muttered, "I can sense his ki now. The Cehang-jin seems furious, considering that he is burning up most of his ki just to get here."
With Vegita-san's last comment echoing against the walls of his already troubled mind, Gohan peered down through his sable bangs into the wide expanse below that was his home, Chikyuu-sei. He could distinguish glittering sapphire oceans, tangled emerald green forests and bare, dry, desolate deserts, but not a trace of Bodu. He was close; however, not close enough for Gohan's sharp Saiya-jin eyes to perceive.
He sighed heavily as he allowed his shoulders to slump in frustration, beginning to wonder about what he was to do with the stubborn Cehang-jin.
It was useful knowledge that he had gained from Piccolo-san and Vegita-san, but it wasn't enough. Without any idea of Bodu's possible weaknesses, and with no possible way of fluctuating his ki so that his strength was even close to half of its full potential - Bodu would just steal his valuable ki - he was at a major disadvantage.
Evasion of having to fight Bodu at the Palace was also one of his main priorities, as he didn't want to include any of his family or friends in such a massacre. If they were present during such a battle, the Cehang-jin would surely bring death and despair upon them.
Growling softly and deeply within his throat, Gohan began to reminisce the opening act that had begun the play of their horrible predicament. He remembered how his instincts - clearly Saiya-jin, not human - had been warning him of that inoffensive-appearing farm boy. The forewarnings had caused adrenaline to pump through his veins, strongly, so that he could hear the beating of his heart ringing in his ears. They had ordered him to kill the boy who had stood before him.
However, he had been senseless and had hesitated; he had not taken heed of all of the alarms that his mind, body and spirit had been issuing to him. He had not been able to bring himself to listen to his brutal self-conscious, as he had not been able to see the harm that such a weak Chikyuusei-jin - yes, he had referred to the boy as an 'earthling' when he had been trying to isolate his entangled emotions - could cause.
Little had he known that the boy had really been and was the last surviving Cehang-jin, Bodu, and that he would control the fates of his loved ones.
Bodu
* * * * *
Goten, who had wandered off to play with Trunks when his Niichan had begun speaking to Piccolo - using many words that his young mind did not yet understand - was distracted from their game of 'tag'. He silently gazed at Gohan, who was now standing in almost the same position where he had stood only moments ago while awaiting his elder brother's return.
An overwhelming feeling of deprival had cloaked the young boy with its dismal curtains. He didn't know why, but Goten was feeling as if his brother had abandoned him once more; but that couldn't be so, because Gohan was still standing before his very eyes.
The curtains were drawn back and revealed light as Trunks suddenly tagged him, laughing with amusement at his accomplishment. Slyly beginning to slink away like a fox, he beckoned for Goten to chase him.
Forgetting the terrible feeling that he had been experiencing, Goten began to run after Trunks, eager to catch his playmate.
Nevertheless, after only a few tiny steps, the obscure curtains shrouded around him once more, and a strong grip tightened its hold on his heart; it tightened its clasp until he gasped for air and began to suffocate. Looking back at his Niichan, a frown developed on the youth's delicate face. He was assured that if he took one more step farther away from his brother, Gohan would depart once again; however, this time, he would never return.
Desperately longing for such an incident to not occur, Goten began to walk toward Gohan instead, disregarding Trunks for the time being. The grasp that clutched his heart in its razor-sharp claws and potent hold loosened with his every step, granting mercy and releasing its seize of him when he was a mere breath away from his brother.
He hesitated as he listened to Gohan's uneven breathing - his developing juvenile hearing was already beginning to surpass the normal range of a human's - and was afraid that his elder brother would disappear just because of his very presence.
When he did not react, Goten's eyebrows creased with confusion. He had anticipated that Gohan would surely have sensed his essence, as he would normally have known where his Totochan was from a mile away. The youngest demi Saiya-jin had already learned through experience that it was impossible to try to hide from or sneak past his brother, since he was always caught whenever he tried.
Not able to withstand his Niichan's muteness any longer, he gently tugged at Gohan's gi pants.
Gohan flinched and looked down through the corners of his eyes as he suddenly felt a force pulling at his pants; he relaxed, though, as he realized who it was. It's only Goten. How was he able to sneak up on me so silently, and without my notice? It is true that he has gained the common Saiya-jin traits that allow us to move around without a whisper, but I should have at least sensed his approach. I'm allowing myself to become too enveloped in my own thoughts!
Peering down at his little brother again, Gohan could tell that Goten was trying to say something. He persisted in making eye contact with his brother, before breaking away and becoming fixated on the ground; then, he would look back up at his brother again. It reminded the elder brother of a feather that was caught in a strong breeze of wind; it would float gently one way, before suddenly jerking and sailing in the opposite direction.
After a few moments of this, Goten finally summoned enough courage to ask, "You leave again, Niichan?"
Losing his breath for a moment, Gohan then looked away, as he didn't have the heart to look his Totochan in the eye after such a question. It was the same question that he had been mulling over for the past few minutes, unable to come to a conclusion.
Not able to help himself, he cursed Bodu harshly. Kutabare, Bodu! Why, after so many centuries, do you still retain the fruitless desire to thwart the last Saiya-jin?! Does the Cehang-jin not realize that the Saiya-jin is a dying race also?! Vegita-san is the last remaining pure-blooded Saiya-jin, since Otousan died
It did not matter. Gohan knew - to the core of his being - that Bodu would not stop until he had justified the extinction of his ancestors. He felt it noble that one should avenge the death of their people; but to hold on to the want for vengeance for so long There was no longer any real point to his ambitions. Yet still, it did not matter.
With a sad sigh, Gohan said with his usual hushed tone, "Minna-san! I will have to intercept Bodu, and try to lead him as far away from here as I possibly can. Hopefully I might be able to discover a hidden weakness I don't want any of you to follow me. I have to go Alone"
In spite of his subdued voice, the silence had been so thick that everyone had heard his words.
Piccolo's eyes narrowed with concern, and he shouted, "What are you going to do?!"
Gohan did not reply.
"At the very least, please allow me to support your plan - whatever it may be."
Still not breathing a word, Gohan shook his head.
Kuririn then exclaimed, "Please, Gohan! You can't! We won't let you-"
"IIE!"
Spinning around to face everyone, Gohan clenched his fist. His eyes were squinted shut as he tried to suppress his anger.
In a tone that was barely louder than a whisper, but now with noticeable ferocity, he said, "I must go alone! I won't let any of you run into such a battle in which your lives would surely be smitten!" His voice wavered as said that last sentence, each word conveying meaning and connecting to the consistent subject of mutilation and death that seemed to be the main element of his life. He could feel tears developing within his eyes, causing a stinging sensation that he could not ignore.
The twelve year-old half-blood began to wish that he didn't have to be the one to carry the burden of such an ominous task. He wished that he could just run away from it all, and leave his worries trailing in the dust behind him-
No! I'm not running away I'm not going to leave Okaasan, or my friends, or Goten!! It would be selfish of me to rely on an imaginary angel's help, who is supposed to appear and cause everything that is wrong to vanish! I must be strong and go through with it alone Just like Piccolo-san and Otousan would.
Finalizing his decision to leave, Gohan turned to Goten to say goodbye. However, he felt that if he said that, it would be as if he were already admitting his defeat. That he would have no chance. That he would die. He didn't want to let Goten hear such a thing.
He could feel his heart wrenching as he calmly repeated to the worried group, "I don't want any of you to follow me."
Taking one last glimpse of his Totochan, Gohan noticed that Goten was trembling, and that fresh tears were beginning to form in his obsidian eyes. Goten seemed to be trying his best to hold his tears back, but slight trickles still managed to flow down his cheeks.
What he did next startled his Oniichan; he smiled. Not with his mouth, but with his eyes. It was impossible for his sharp intelect to disregard.
Gohan smiled back reassuringly, and finally rose into the air. That smile had shown him that his little brother had faith in him - that he still believed that Gohan had a chance. As he began to arc downwards, he was oblivious to every sound around him - most of those sounds being shouts and pleads for him not to go - as for the first time in many years, he experienced the true joys of being able to soar like a bird. Goten's faith had given him wings.
Every heart gains happiness when it flies
To be continued
I decided to be a bit considerate for once (that's a first!) and didn't end this chappie with too much of a cliffie.... Chappie, cliffie LOL!
I don't know how one of BoA's songs managed to sneak its way into my story, but the idea of using it popped into my head as I was coming up to the last few paragraphs. Hmm maybe I might be able to do a song fic one day! That'd be cool! Well, you can review now if you wish. You can say you loved it, or say you hated it. You can say it's fine, or that I need improvement. You can even write the word 'blah,' if Fanfiction.net allows it! ^-^
And one more thing. If you want to be informed when I update, please tell me in a review and state the e-mail address you would like me to send the update to. Ja ne!