Disclaimer: see pervious chapters
"See you guys after the break," Gohan said with a wave. "I plan to do some chores or else my mom will take away my eating privileges."
"Can't live without food," Videl commented as she shut her locker. "I'm going on a business trip with my father for spring break. More boring speeches and new stories of how he beat Cell."
"I'll be home with my kid brother," Erasea said with disgust. "He can be a major pain sometimes."
"I'll be checking out the ladies and hopes of one being with the Sharpener," Sharpener said flexing his muscles. "I'll just get the girl in the sac and I can show her true love."
"I thought you did that last year and still came out empty handed," Erasea said.
"And a few slaps on the face," Videl added.
"It's going to be different this time," Sharpener cried. "I won't just grab a girl by the arm and pull her into my love."
"You pulled her away from her boyfriend Sharpener," Gohan said with a laugh. "You remember how that turned out."
"You didn't know me brains!"
"But I do know what happened to you last year on spring break. You still have to stay at least five hundred feet away from that girl and you still have three hours of service that you have to finish."
Sharpener huffed as he walked away from the group. They started laughing at him and he wasn't going to take it. This year would be different for him. He'll get a girlfriend and not mess with any girl hanging out with a group of guys. It's not just the blonde girls that are real stupid. Look at Sharpener.
Sharpener headed outside and noticed a figure near a tree. It was waving a finger telling Sharpener to come closer. Being the idiot that Sharpener was, he went over to the short stranger.
"May I ask you a question," the stranger asked. "About one of your follow peers."
"Videl is mine man," Sharpener cried pointing at himself. "You can have any other girl in this school besides Videl."
"I don't mean the women. I am curious about a certain student with strange powers."
"Gohan? What do you need to know about him?"
"Everything," the voice said in a harsh whisper.
"Dude," Sharpener said backing away. "I don't like the way you sound. I have to go home now."
Sharpener began to walk off but the short stranger pushed him up against the wall and had a very long and sharp knife at hand. A hood covered over the stranger's face. He was small but quite powerful to even pin Sharpener up against the wall.
"You will tell me or else your life will end pal," the stranger hissed. "Now tell me all you know about this.Gohan."
"Big pointy object," Sharpener said with a shaky lip.
"Tell me!"
The knife came close to Sharpener's neck.
"He has powers," Sharpener cried. "He can turn his hair from black to gold. He can form some powers and shoot it like a bomb and fly. He defeated Cell in the Cell Games."
"I thought Hercule defeated Cell seven years ago."
"He stole the credit for the win."
"Tell me more." Sharpener spoke nothing. The blade touched his neck. "Tell me now!"
"He's not human," Sharpener shouted. "He's half human and half saiyan and that's all I know! Please don't kill me!"
"Half saiyan," the stranger said as he pondered. He dropped Sharpener and smirked. "You have helped me young man. You're reward will be your life. Now leave before I change my mind."
"Don't have to tell me twice."
Sharpener quickly pushed himself off the ground and ran for dear life. The stranger smirked as he walked deep into the woods.
"I think I found my perfect subject. This half-breed will be the perfect for my testing and useful with his powers. Being half saiyan and human is a breed of it's own. Such powers this Gohan can hold. The power of a saiyan and the race of a human.I wonder what kind of testing I should do on him? I wonder what the saiyan blood can block that the human blood can't? Maybe the saiyan blood can block all the effects and protect the body from harm. Maybe the human blood can absorb the effects and use it to power up the saiyan blood. Such experiments I can do to my subject. Father, I think we found the perfect experiment."
****
"I'm home," Gohan cried as he entered his house.
"Hey honey," Chi-Chi said. "Guess what you're doing on your first day of spring break?"
"Homework."
"You have homework?"
"A project for science. It will take a whole week to do and it will take all day to complete it. I have to take many trips to the library to find the research I need."
"What kind of research do you have to do?"
"Research," Gohan said blinking. He looked at his book and back at his mother. "I have to figure out what scientists test on mice and animals and on humans also. He wants to know the side effects on each one and what happens when it mixes with the wrong subject. For example the cure for the flu. What effect does it have on mice and why does it help humans? Why can't it help other animal? Why does it work on humans and not on other mammals like our relative the chimpanzees?"
"How much do you have to do," Chi-Chi asked.
"Ten of each," Gohan said with a "sigh." He looked up at his mother. "It counts as three tests grades for each class. The classes are humans, mice, and an animal of my choosing. It will take all week to complete and I need those three tests grades to pass science. I never want to be a failure to you Mom. I need to pass so I can be a scholar, so I can make you proud Mommy!"
Chi-Chi's eyes were full of water and a few tears escaped her eyes.
"Oh Gohan," she said drying her eyes with a napkin. "I'm so happy that you want to make your mother proud. I'm so glad that you are dedicated to your school work and working on your dream as a scholar." She sniffed. "But that doesn't mean you can lie to your mother in hopes to escape the spring cleaning. You have just doubled your chores for next week young man."
Gohan's mouth dropped.
"How did you know," Gohan asked as his face showed his shock. "What did you do, call my school and ask my teachers what kind of work I have?"
"I knew you were trying to get out of cleaning," Chi-Chi said with a winning smirk. "You also have dish duty for the next three weeks, mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges, babysitting your brother for a day, cleaning your room using no powers to help, picking up the branches that have fallen on the ground, raking the leaves that you didn't rake the fall of last year. Do I have to go on?"
"No," Gohan said looking at the ground. "I understand."
"Good. You wouldn't have to do all that if you didn't lie to me. I would have taken out the babysitting of Goten but you just had to add that science project."
Chi-Chi smiled and patted Gohan on the shoulder. Gohan slouched his shoulders and slowly walked towards his bedroom. Goku and Goten watched as Gohan walked in his room and cried.
"That's harsh," Goku said feeling rather bad for Gohan. "He almost got away with it if he just didn't say Mommy."
"That's how you know that Gohan's lying," Goten said with a frown. "And he has to baby-sit me too. He's a boring babysitter too."
"Let's just hope you two keep the house in tact this time."
****
"You just had to see Goten's dad, didn't you?"
"You wanted to see his brats!"
"I didn't mention chores."
"I didn't say chores. I said Kakkorot's mate was a-"
"Do you guys always have to fight every time we do spring cleaning," Gohan asked raking some leaves in a pile.
"It's his fault," Trunks said putting the leaves in a trashcan. "If he didn't make fun of Goten's mom then maybe we wouldn't have to do double chores."
"That was mean Vegeta," Goku said dragging an empty trashcan from the woods. "And I got blamed for it."
"Mom's still mad," Goten said coming out of the house. "She said we better have this done in five minutes or else she won't give us a break."
"We've been working for two hours straight and it's hot out," Trunks cried knocking down the trashcan filled with leaves. "Let's go Goten. We can bust out of here."
"Bulma will be pretty mad and my mom will be furious," Gohan said re-raking the leaves that fell out of the trashcan. "I wouldn't leave if I were you."
"We're kids Gohan. We need a break once and a while."
"I didn't get many breaks when I was your age."
"And look how you turned out, a human nerd! Let's go Goten. The last thing I want to be is a Gohan!"
Trunks walked off and Goten quickly followed. Gohan shook his head as he made a pile and put it in the trashcan. It was soon full and Goku went to go grab it. Gohan pulled the trashcan away and walked in the woods.
"I'll get it this time," Gohan said as he slowly disappeared into the woods. "You can rake the leaves. When I return, Mom and Bulma will know about the two that took off."
"You're not the tattle tailing type Gohan," Goku said grabbing the rake. "Are you trying to get your little brother in trouble?"
"I'm not going to be suffering alone."
"Good boy," Vegeta said clapping his hands. "It's about time those two learned a lesson. I will get them back for putting itching powder in my saiyan armor."
"I learned from the best Vegeta," Gohan cried.
"It's about time I get some respect."
"I was talking about my mother."
"Humph!"
"You have to admit Vegeta, Gohan's growing up after the fight with Buu," Goku said raking leaves into a pile. "He's stronger, smarter, and he's getting back at Goten and Trunks."
"He's still not stronger than me," Vegeta said picking up a stick. "Why do I get stuck with the stick duty? I would rather be dragging the dead leaves in the back of the woods."
"Gohan won't mind switching."
"Maybe if I hold a ki blast to his face then maybe he could drag the leaves and the sticks to the woods."
"I don't know Vegeta. Last time I asked him to do that he said he would do it for twenty zenny."
"Did you use the ki blast?"
"No."
"Then there's your problem."
Goku stuck out his tongue and continued to rake.
"Shouldn't Gohan be back by now," Goku asked as he leaned the rake on the tree. "It doesn't take that long to drag them back."
"Maybe he ran off like the other two," Vegeta said throwing a stick in another trashcan.
"He would have returned it before he left. Do you think something happened to him?"
"Birds will fly all over the place and you would get a bad feeling about it."
"I do have a bad feeling Vegeta."
"Then maybe it's a warning."
/"A warning saiyan."/
Goku froze and quickly ran in the woods. Vegeta soon followed behind Goku and started yelling at him for leaving him without warning. Goku ignored the yelling and found the pile of leaves that they made from the start.
"For crying out loud," Vegeta shouted. "Give a warning or something. You can't just take off and leave me to do the chores!"
"Sorry Vegeta," Goku apologized. "But look."
Goku pointed to the trashcan still filled with leaves. Vegeta saw it and shrugged his shoulders.
"He dropped it and ran so what?"
"Gohan always finishes the job when he starts it," Goku said. "We have to find him."
"I'm telling you Kakkorot, your brat ran off like the other two."
"Well I'm going to look around and try to find him. You go get Goten and Trunks and get them safely inside."
"Do you know something I don't?"
"Yes now find them!"
Goku took off in a direction and Vegeta stood there. He flew his hands up in the air and pulled down two saiyans on a branch. The two squirmed in his grasp and tried to get loose.
"Let go," Trunks said. "How did you know we were up here?"
"I can smell you," Vegeta said dropping the two on the ground. "And the fact that both of you can't keep your mouths shut. Do you know where your brother went brat?"
"How are we supposed to know," Trunks cried trying to get out of Vegeta's grasp. "We didn't see him."
"So why were you two up there?"
"We saw something strange," Goten said rubbing his read. "It was some sort of shadow. I think Gohan saw it to and followed it. I saw him drop the leaves and follow a shadow."
"You saw something," Trunks said. "That's a first."
"Well you didn't see anything."
"You were blocking my way!"
"Nu-huh!"
"Yeah-huh!"
"Nu-huh!"
"Yeah-huh!"
"Both of you knock it off," Vegeta shouted. "Get back to the house and tell your mothers that Gohan flew off and your father is getting him back to do the chores! I went with him and when we come back with the brat I will make your two lives a living hell!"
The two nodded and quickly ran off. Vegeta took off in Goku's direction mumbling to himself.
****
Goku had to stop and take a few deep breaths. He was deep in the woods and the search for Gohan was getting hard. There was no trace of his ki or even a thing of clothing left behind. Goku was worried.
Taking a few steps further into the woods, Goku could only think that maybe Gohan went to see a few friends or just took off so he didn't have to do the needed chores. Gohan would at least tell his father about his departure. Chi-Chi would figure it out later but Goku would never tell on Gohan.
"Gohan," Goku shouted through the woods. "Enough of this game Gohan! I know you hate doing chores but it's only for a week! Your mother will kill me Gohan!"
The awkward silence filled the forest and Goku continued his search. He did hear a few twigs snap behind him so he took a look. He saw a figure and dove straight for it.
"Gohan," Goku cried happily as he grabbed Gohan in a hug. "You sure did scare me there son. Please don't do anything like that ever again! You shrunk Gohan."
"That's because I'm not Gohan and would you please let go of me!"
Goku looked down in his arms and found the one and only Prince Vegeta. He moved his arms out of Vegeta's way and placed one hand behind his back and laughed.
"Sorry about that Vegeta," Goku apologized. "I thought you were Gohan."
"Do I look like a dork to you," Vegeta cried wiping the Goku off of him. "First cheek to cheek and now hug to hug. I'm getting too soft on this planet. So I'm guessing you haven't found the brat yet?"
"I'm still searching."
"One of the brats said that they saw Gohan drop the budget and go into these woods. He probably didn't go far since you ran and I had to catch up. Goten also said that they saw a shadow and Gohan went to follow it."
"They saw a shadow," Goku questioned as a struck of fear plastered on his face.
"He probably followed one of his animal friends," Vegeta said with a huff. "I hate nature. Speaking of nature, where the hell are we?"
"The shadow," Goku mumbled to himself. "The warning. It was talking about one that I hurt."
"What in Kami's name are you talking about?"
"A few nights ago I saw a shadow in the woods," Goku explained. "I followed it and found it somewhere in the woods. He asked who I hurt and gave a warning. I know I hurt my family and friends when I left but I don't know what he meant by the warning. Gohan saw him last night and I told him it was just the books he was reading."
"He reads too much," Vegeta commented. "So what you are trying to say is that there's this shadow in the woods, gave you a warning, and Gohan went to find it."
"That's exactly what I'm trying to say."
"My guess, at least my idea, is that this shadow that gave you a warning about someone you hurt was a warning about Gohan. The warning he gave you was about that brat and he probably made Gohan follow him so he could capture him and lead you into a trap. Once he has Gohan, he will torture him in many ways until you come around and rescue him. Once you succeed in that, with my help, Gohan will be scarred for life and getting him back to his senses will take longer than expected. That's just my guess."
"What's the point in that happening," Goku said with a bit of laughter in his voice. "Maybe Gohan got captured but with his strength and powers he would be the one making the enemy crying home to his mother. What gave you that idea Vegeta?"
"Your brat," Vegeta said. "He was telling me about this book he was reading and how the person likes to torture people and animals. I know, maybe that person kidnapped Gohan and using him as an experiment in his testing!"
Goku laughed.
"Oh please Vegeta. That book is science fiction. It's not real. I can't believe that you and Gohan believe in that stupid book. Gohan I can understand, but you? That's like saying that I only eat three meals a day!"
Goku continued to laugh and Vegeta got a bit frustrated. He turned to leave but saw a strange shadow lurking in the woods. He tugged on Goku's shirt and he too noticed the strange shadow. Goku recognized it and gasped.
"So we meet again," the shadow hissed. "We keep meeting in such a strange place. I like the woods. So quiet and lots of animals running around looking for food."
"It's you," Goku cried as he pointed at the shadow. "Who are you?"
"I hate questions," the shadow said. "Shouldn't you be asking important questions instead of my name? How about where your son is, eh? I'm sure that's more important than my name."
"Where is my son?"
"I gave you a warning saiyan and I only give one warning to one person. I gave you you're warning and you went to ignore it."
"Do you know where his son is or not," Vegeta cried making a fist. "If he's hurt then I will be the one to blame! I do not want to be blamed for a person I have no feelings for!"
"I took away someone's feelings before," the shadow said. "Quite a good story to say. You should read it."
"I just want to know where my son is," Goku said. "If you don't tell me then things will have to get violent!"
"I made a butterfly go violent. You should read it one day."
"Why are you talking about reading when all I want to know is where my son is?"
"Here." The shadow threw Gohan's book to Goku. "You should read all about it. You might learn something. I even autographed in the front for you."
"This is Gohan's book," Goku said.
"I even left his bookmark at his place. I bid farewell my dear saiyans."
"Where's Gohan," Goku shouted.
"My experiments should not be around their own kind," the shadow said as he lifted up his hood. "It distracts them from my testing."
The hooded shadow looked really ugly. He was short and had pale, green skin. His yellow eyes glowed in the darkness and his pointy ears were angled. He had a toothless grin and had no nose what so ever.
"Gross," Vegeta said as he inched back. "You look like something in a horror movie."
"I got so bored on my testing that the only way to keep active was to test my self," the strange, ugly troll, said. "And you can refer to me as Dr. Igiegakie. Well, lots of testing to do on my subject. Do care to come by and watch your son suffer!"
Dr. Igiegakie disappeared deep in the woods.
"Look at it this way," Vegeta said with his arms folded. "The worse thing that can happen to Gohan is that he looks like that freak. There's no way that I'm standing next to him in a crowd."
"See you guys after the break," Gohan said with a wave. "I plan to do some chores or else my mom will take away my eating privileges."
"Can't live without food," Videl commented as she shut her locker. "I'm going on a business trip with my father for spring break. More boring speeches and new stories of how he beat Cell."
"I'll be home with my kid brother," Erasea said with disgust. "He can be a major pain sometimes."
"I'll be checking out the ladies and hopes of one being with the Sharpener," Sharpener said flexing his muscles. "I'll just get the girl in the sac and I can show her true love."
"I thought you did that last year and still came out empty handed," Erasea said.
"And a few slaps on the face," Videl added.
"It's going to be different this time," Sharpener cried. "I won't just grab a girl by the arm and pull her into my love."
"You pulled her away from her boyfriend Sharpener," Gohan said with a laugh. "You remember how that turned out."
"You didn't know me brains!"
"But I do know what happened to you last year on spring break. You still have to stay at least five hundred feet away from that girl and you still have three hours of service that you have to finish."
Sharpener huffed as he walked away from the group. They started laughing at him and he wasn't going to take it. This year would be different for him. He'll get a girlfriend and not mess with any girl hanging out with a group of guys. It's not just the blonde girls that are real stupid. Look at Sharpener.
Sharpener headed outside and noticed a figure near a tree. It was waving a finger telling Sharpener to come closer. Being the idiot that Sharpener was, he went over to the short stranger.
"May I ask you a question," the stranger asked. "About one of your follow peers."
"Videl is mine man," Sharpener cried pointing at himself. "You can have any other girl in this school besides Videl."
"I don't mean the women. I am curious about a certain student with strange powers."
"Gohan? What do you need to know about him?"
"Everything," the voice said in a harsh whisper.
"Dude," Sharpener said backing away. "I don't like the way you sound. I have to go home now."
Sharpener began to walk off but the short stranger pushed him up against the wall and had a very long and sharp knife at hand. A hood covered over the stranger's face. He was small but quite powerful to even pin Sharpener up against the wall.
"You will tell me or else your life will end pal," the stranger hissed. "Now tell me all you know about this.Gohan."
"Big pointy object," Sharpener said with a shaky lip.
"Tell me!"
The knife came close to Sharpener's neck.
"He has powers," Sharpener cried. "He can turn his hair from black to gold. He can form some powers and shoot it like a bomb and fly. He defeated Cell in the Cell Games."
"I thought Hercule defeated Cell seven years ago."
"He stole the credit for the win."
"Tell me more." Sharpener spoke nothing. The blade touched his neck. "Tell me now!"
"He's not human," Sharpener shouted. "He's half human and half saiyan and that's all I know! Please don't kill me!"
"Half saiyan," the stranger said as he pondered. He dropped Sharpener and smirked. "You have helped me young man. You're reward will be your life. Now leave before I change my mind."
"Don't have to tell me twice."
Sharpener quickly pushed himself off the ground and ran for dear life. The stranger smirked as he walked deep into the woods.
"I think I found my perfect subject. This half-breed will be the perfect for my testing and useful with his powers. Being half saiyan and human is a breed of it's own. Such powers this Gohan can hold. The power of a saiyan and the race of a human.I wonder what kind of testing I should do on him? I wonder what the saiyan blood can block that the human blood can't? Maybe the saiyan blood can block all the effects and protect the body from harm. Maybe the human blood can absorb the effects and use it to power up the saiyan blood. Such experiments I can do to my subject. Father, I think we found the perfect experiment."
****
"I'm home," Gohan cried as he entered his house.
"Hey honey," Chi-Chi said. "Guess what you're doing on your first day of spring break?"
"Homework."
"You have homework?"
"A project for science. It will take a whole week to do and it will take all day to complete it. I have to take many trips to the library to find the research I need."
"What kind of research do you have to do?"
"Research," Gohan said blinking. He looked at his book and back at his mother. "I have to figure out what scientists test on mice and animals and on humans also. He wants to know the side effects on each one and what happens when it mixes with the wrong subject. For example the cure for the flu. What effect does it have on mice and why does it help humans? Why can't it help other animal? Why does it work on humans and not on other mammals like our relative the chimpanzees?"
"How much do you have to do," Chi-Chi asked.
"Ten of each," Gohan said with a "sigh." He looked up at his mother. "It counts as three tests grades for each class. The classes are humans, mice, and an animal of my choosing. It will take all week to complete and I need those three tests grades to pass science. I never want to be a failure to you Mom. I need to pass so I can be a scholar, so I can make you proud Mommy!"
Chi-Chi's eyes were full of water and a few tears escaped her eyes.
"Oh Gohan," she said drying her eyes with a napkin. "I'm so happy that you want to make your mother proud. I'm so glad that you are dedicated to your school work and working on your dream as a scholar." She sniffed. "But that doesn't mean you can lie to your mother in hopes to escape the spring cleaning. You have just doubled your chores for next week young man."
Gohan's mouth dropped.
"How did you know," Gohan asked as his face showed his shock. "What did you do, call my school and ask my teachers what kind of work I have?"
"I knew you were trying to get out of cleaning," Chi-Chi said with a winning smirk. "You also have dish duty for the next three weeks, mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges, babysitting your brother for a day, cleaning your room using no powers to help, picking up the branches that have fallen on the ground, raking the leaves that you didn't rake the fall of last year. Do I have to go on?"
"No," Gohan said looking at the ground. "I understand."
"Good. You wouldn't have to do all that if you didn't lie to me. I would have taken out the babysitting of Goten but you just had to add that science project."
Chi-Chi smiled and patted Gohan on the shoulder. Gohan slouched his shoulders and slowly walked towards his bedroom. Goku and Goten watched as Gohan walked in his room and cried.
"That's harsh," Goku said feeling rather bad for Gohan. "He almost got away with it if he just didn't say Mommy."
"That's how you know that Gohan's lying," Goten said with a frown. "And he has to baby-sit me too. He's a boring babysitter too."
"Let's just hope you two keep the house in tact this time."
****
"You just had to see Goten's dad, didn't you?"
"You wanted to see his brats!"
"I didn't mention chores."
"I didn't say chores. I said Kakkorot's mate was a-"
"Do you guys always have to fight every time we do spring cleaning," Gohan asked raking some leaves in a pile.
"It's his fault," Trunks said putting the leaves in a trashcan. "If he didn't make fun of Goten's mom then maybe we wouldn't have to do double chores."
"That was mean Vegeta," Goku said dragging an empty trashcan from the woods. "And I got blamed for it."
"Mom's still mad," Goten said coming out of the house. "She said we better have this done in five minutes or else she won't give us a break."
"We've been working for two hours straight and it's hot out," Trunks cried knocking down the trashcan filled with leaves. "Let's go Goten. We can bust out of here."
"Bulma will be pretty mad and my mom will be furious," Gohan said re-raking the leaves that fell out of the trashcan. "I wouldn't leave if I were you."
"We're kids Gohan. We need a break once and a while."
"I didn't get many breaks when I was your age."
"And look how you turned out, a human nerd! Let's go Goten. The last thing I want to be is a Gohan!"
Trunks walked off and Goten quickly followed. Gohan shook his head as he made a pile and put it in the trashcan. It was soon full and Goku went to go grab it. Gohan pulled the trashcan away and walked in the woods.
"I'll get it this time," Gohan said as he slowly disappeared into the woods. "You can rake the leaves. When I return, Mom and Bulma will know about the two that took off."
"You're not the tattle tailing type Gohan," Goku said grabbing the rake. "Are you trying to get your little brother in trouble?"
"I'm not going to be suffering alone."
"Good boy," Vegeta said clapping his hands. "It's about time those two learned a lesson. I will get them back for putting itching powder in my saiyan armor."
"I learned from the best Vegeta," Gohan cried.
"It's about time I get some respect."
"I was talking about my mother."
"Humph!"
"You have to admit Vegeta, Gohan's growing up after the fight with Buu," Goku said raking leaves into a pile. "He's stronger, smarter, and he's getting back at Goten and Trunks."
"He's still not stronger than me," Vegeta said picking up a stick. "Why do I get stuck with the stick duty? I would rather be dragging the dead leaves in the back of the woods."
"Gohan won't mind switching."
"Maybe if I hold a ki blast to his face then maybe he could drag the leaves and the sticks to the woods."
"I don't know Vegeta. Last time I asked him to do that he said he would do it for twenty zenny."
"Did you use the ki blast?"
"No."
"Then there's your problem."
Goku stuck out his tongue and continued to rake.
"Shouldn't Gohan be back by now," Goku asked as he leaned the rake on the tree. "It doesn't take that long to drag them back."
"Maybe he ran off like the other two," Vegeta said throwing a stick in another trashcan.
"He would have returned it before he left. Do you think something happened to him?"
"Birds will fly all over the place and you would get a bad feeling about it."
"I do have a bad feeling Vegeta."
"Then maybe it's a warning."
/"A warning saiyan."/
Goku froze and quickly ran in the woods. Vegeta soon followed behind Goku and started yelling at him for leaving him without warning. Goku ignored the yelling and found the pile of leaves that they made from the start.
"For crying out loud," Vegeta shouted. "Give a warning or something. You can't just take off and leave me to do the chores!"
"Sorry Vegeta," Goku apologized. "But look."
Goku pointed to the trashcan still filled with leaves. Vegeta saw it and shrugged his shoulders.
"He dropped it and ran so what?"
"Gohan always finishes the job when he starts it," Goku said. "We have to find him."
"I'm telling you Kakkorot, your brat ran off like the other two."
"Well I'm going to look around and try to find him. You go get Goten and Trunks and get them safely inside."
"Do you know something I don't?"
"Yes now find them!"
Goku took off in a direction and Vegeta stood there. He flew his hands up in the air and pulled down two saiyans on a branch. The two squirmed in his grasp and tried to get loose.
"Let go," Trunks said. "How did you know we were up here?"
"I can smell you," Vegeta said dropping the two on the ground. "And the fact that both of you can't keep your mouths shut. Do you know where your brother went brat?"
"How are we supposed to know," Trunks cried trying to get out of Vegeta's grasp. "We didn't see him."
"So why were you two up there?"
"We saw something strange," Goten said rubbing his read. "It was some sort of shadow. I think Gohan saw it to and followed it. I saw him drop the leaves and follow a shadow."
"You saw something," Trunks said. "That's a first."
"Well you didn't see anything."
"You were blocking my way!"
"Nu-huh!"
"Yeah-huh!"
"Nu-huh!"
"Yeah-huh!"
"Both of you knock it off," Vegeta shouted. "Get back to the house and tell your mothers that Gohan flew off and your father is getting him back to do the chores! I went with him and when we come back with the brat I will make your two lives a living hell!"
The two nodded and quickly ran off. Vegeta took off in Goku's direction mumbling to himself.
****
Goku had to stop and take a few deep breaths. He was deep in the woods and the search for Gohan was getting hard. There was no trace of his ki or even a thing of clothing left behind. Goku was worried.
Taking a few steps further into the woods, Goku could only think that maybe Gohan went to see a few friends or just took off so he didn't have to do the needed chores. Gohan would at least tell his father about his departure. Chi-Chi would figure it out later but Goku would never tell on Gohan.
"Gohan," Goku shouted through the woods. "Enough of this game Gohan! I know you hate doing chores but it's only for a week! Your mother will kill me Gohan!"
The awkward silence filled the forest and Goku continued his search. He did hear a few twigs snap behind him so he took a look. He saw a figure and dove straight for it.
"Gohan," Goku cried happily as he grabbed Gohan in a hug. "You sure did scare me there son. Please don't do anything like that ever again! You shrunk Gohan."
"That's because I'm not Gohan and would you please let go of me!"
Goku looked down in his arms and found the one and only Prince Vegeta. He moved his arms out of Vegeta's way and placed one hand behind his back and laughed.
"Sorry about that Vegeta," Goku apologized. "I thought you were Gohan."
"Do I look like a dork to you," Vegeta cried wiping the Goku off of him. "First cheek to cheek and now hug to hug. I'm getting too soft on this planet. So I'm guessing you haven't found the brat yet?"
"I'm still searching."
"One of the brats said that they saw Gohan drop the budget and go into these woods. He probably didn't go far since you ran and I had to catch up. Goten also said that they saw a shadow and Gohan went to follow it."
"They saw a shadow," Goku questioned as a struck of fear plastered on his face.
"He probably followed one of his animal friends," Vegeta said with a huff. "I hate nature. Speaking of nature, where the hell are we?"
"The shadow," Goku mumbled to himself. "The warning. It was talking about one that I hurt."
"What in Kami's name are you talking about?"
"A few nights ago I saw a shadow in the woods," Goku explained. "I followed it and found it somewhere in the woods. He asked who I hurt and gave a warning. I know I hurt my family and friends when I left but I don't know what he meant by the warning. Gohan saw him last night and I told him it was just the books he was reading."
"He reads too much," Vegeta commented. "So what you are trying to say is that there's this shadow in the woods, gave you a warning, and Gohan went to find it."
"That's exactly what I'm trying to say."
"My guess, at least my idea, is that this shadow that gave you a warning about someone you hurt was a warning about Gohan. The warning he gave you was about that brat and he probably made Gohan follow him so he could capture him and lead you into a trap. Once he has Gohan, he will torture him in many ways until you come around and rescue him. Once you succeed in that, with my help, Gohan will be scarred for life and getting him back to his senses will take longer than expected. That's just my guess."
"What's the point in that happening," Goku said with a bit of laughter in his voice. "Maybe Gohan got captured but with his strength and powers he would be the one making the enemy crying home to his mother. What gave you that idea Vegeta?"
"Your brat," Vegeta said. "He was telling me about this book he was reading and how the person likes to torture people and animals. I know, maybe that person kidnapped Gohan and using him as an experiment in his testing!"
Goku laughed.
"Oh please Vegeta. That book is science fiction. It's not real. I can't believe that you and Gohan believe in that stupid book. Gohan I can understand, but you? That's like saying that I only eat three meals a day!"
Goku continued to laugh and Vegeta got a bit frustrated. He turned to leave but saw a strange shadow lurking in the woods. He tugged on Goku's shirt and he too noticed the strange shadow. Goku recognized it and gasped.
"So we meet again," the shadow hissed. "We keep meeting in such a strange place. I like the woods. So quiet and lots of animals running around looking for food."
"It's you," Goku cried as he pointed at the shadow. "Who are you?"
"I hate questions," the shadow said. "Shouldn't you be asking important questions instead of my name? How about where your son is, eh? I'm sure that's more important than my name."
"Where is my son?"
"I gave you a warning saiyan and I only give one warning to one person. I gave you you're warning and you went to ignore it."
"Do you know where his son is or not," Vegeta cried making a fist. "If he's hurt then I will be the one to blame! I do not want to be blamed for a person I have no feelings for!"
"I took away someone's feelings before," the shadow said. "Quite a good story to say. You should read it."
"I just want to know where my son is," Goku said. "If you don't tell me then things will have to get violent!"
"I made a butterfly go violent. You should read it one day."
"Why are you talking about reading when all I want to know is where my son is?"
"Here." The shadow threw Gohan's book to Goku. "You should read all about it. You might learn something. I even autographed in the front for you."
"This is Gohan's book," Goku said.
"I even left his bookmark at his place. I bid farewell my dear saiyans."
"Where's Gohan," Goku shouted.
"My experiments should not be around their own kind," the shadow said as he lifted up his hood. "It distracts them from my testing."
The hooded shadow looked really ugly. He was short and had pale, green skin. His yellow eyes glowed in the darkness and his pointy ears were angled. He had a toothless grin and had no nose what so ever.
"Gross," Vegeta said as he inched back. "You look like something in a horror movie."
"I got so bored on my testing that the only way to keep active was to test my self," the strange, ugly troll, said. "And you can refer to me as Dr. Igiegakie. Well, lots of testing to do on my subject. Do care to come by and watch your son suffer!"
Dr. Igiegakie disappeared deep in the woods.
"Look at it this way," Vegeta said with his arms folded. "The worse thing that can happen to Gohan is that he looks like that freak. There's no way that I'm standing next to him in a crowd."