Life of Gohan
By Silvertress
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z. I've been looking for the rights to it on e-bay and can't find them.
Author's Note: Sorry it's taken so long to update. Life seems to catch up with a person. Anyway review special is postponed until further notice. But when I put it up there will be another Dreams Of Saiyaman for Gohan-chan. Anyway if at any parts this story seems to get way too confusing please e-mail me about where the confusion is so I can see if it needs fixing. I don't really have anything else to say. Read, Review and above all Enjoy.
On with the Show;
~~
"Father?" Trunks asked in a gasp of air. To his dismay the word came out garbled and barley recognizable. As Trunks spoke up the judging eyes moved up to meet his own. This was something the demi-Saiyajin had always wanted to do. Look into his true birth Fathers face. He knew that all his fantasies of them bonding doing normal father and son things were out of the question. In a time when most of the world had been destroyed by killer androids a fishing trip with your Father is highly unlikely. Add in the fact that he's dead and is Vegita the Prince of all Saiyajins and it's definitely impossible. Trunks decided to himself long ago just to exchange words and look into the man's eyes and see approval and pride would be enough.
As he stared in those onyx orbs he didn't see anything just a cold stare. This is Vegita you're talking about. You know that you were hoping for too much. Just be glad you got to see him. Even if it's after he's dead and your Mother the only lifeline of your life is going to join him, and you'll never see either of them again. God dam nit she's going to be gone. My mother is finally going to be gone. The final of the original Z senshi is gone. My mother is going to be gone. I'm going to be an orphan. She's going to be with Father but I'm never going to she her again. Can I really deal with that? Trunks' sapphire eyes were now starring at the floor the eye contact with his Father long forgotten. Truly realizing you'll never see your Mother again even in death is much more important then eye contact with someone you've truly never met who's not even showing you emotion.
"Boy what are you doing?" Vegita said in his normal harsh tone. The man looked on as his son collapsed on his mother's chest and closed his eyes as a few drops damped her sheets.
"Vegita leave him alone. After this point he's never going to see her again. At times even a Saiya-jin needs to cry. This is one of them." Gohan said sharply. The demi-Saiya-jin had all but disappeared during the father son starring contest but he felt it was time to intervene. Vegita turned away with a grunt. With a sigh Gohan just stood still now was the time to let his pupil get over all of this. When he got to the other timeline there would be no time for this. From what he had gathered the boy would be crucial to a battle of some sort that had been developing for years in that timeline.
"Trunks?" Bulma said quietly. At the sound of her voice Trunks rose quickly whipping away tears but he's cheeks were still pink and swollen. Vegita turned around his face made of stone and showing no emotion what so ever not even a scowl. But his eyes seemed to melt a little showing sorrow from seeing his "mate" in pain.
"Mom?" Trunks said in a voice just as quiet.
"I know this is hard. But that's just the card you've been dealt in this life. I know it's unfair...." Midsentence the woman started to cough from deep in her throat, her white face somehow becoming paler. Trunks supporting her as she was thrown through the fit tried to stop her as she started to continue once the fit was over. She shook her head and went on. "Now I can tell is no time for a long speech. I can barely breath or make words fit together. Don't even think of feeling sorry for me or having regrets. You saved a whole world from three damned monsters and another timeline. You've got more power than some people could ever dream of possessing and people that care for you in two different worlds. I will be fine too." She went on as Trunks gave her a questioning look. "I see Vegita there behind you waiting for me. I'll be in capable hands. You start to focus on living the correct way. You finally get to live in a world I could never provide for you. One that is complete and has plenty of allies just in case a threat comes. Don't even think of contradicting anything I've said I don't have the strength to argue." She concluded as she saw Trunks brows furrowed as he was about to reply. His face relaxed and he looked from her to Vegita.
Vegita the man he had wanted to be like. Gohan had truly been his father figure. Vegita had been his hero or a mythical figure in a story that makes a child run around pretending to be like. He was now looking past Trunks to Bulma. He's eyes were no longer frozen they almost seemed to be on fire. With what Trunks wasn't certain. He had never been truly good at judging people's emotions by looking at them the way Gohan could. Was it compassion, passion, remorse, love, sympathy, guilt maybe all of those emotions. The major thing was he saw emotion. Yes his Mother would be in good hands. Even if they didn't care for him. It had been silent for several moments. But not uncomfortable. Everyone was thrown from it when Bulma's heart meter indicated with erratic beeps that her heart beat was slowing.
Trunks quickly looked back to her Mother. She shook her head and pulled the various wires out of her body.
"I love you son." She said quickly.
"I love you too." Trunks replied getting up and turning away as her body started to shut down. He couldn't watch this. He had seen many live their last moments in front of the androids but he couldn't see her die. Vegita's stare became cold probably to mask his true emotions and Gohan was gone from sight. For several seconds that felt like eternity Trunks stood with his back facing his Mother. His nails dug into his palm as he clenched his fist. His breath was caught in his throat. Usually when death was near him he could go and punch away the cause but not now. He already thought his heart was broken but he was wrong.
"It's over." Vegita said in a low voice. At that Trunks let out a gasp of relief or despair; who knows? Trunks tried to compose himself as he almost felt a not form in the beginning of his neck. Now isn't the time. With a will power that had helped him survive his dangerous childhood he fought back the tears and all the feelings that go along with mourning and looked his Father straight in the face.
"She's at the gates of Other World now." He continued. "Before I go join her. I have something else to say." Trunks looked up at him. His Father was looking at him with the same kind of fire in his eyes; just exchange the passion and love for a wife with fraternal love. "I do regret not being there to see you grow or protect you. You did do an adequate job protecting your Mother for me. I would be glad to declare you my son any day even if it wasn't I that raised you. I am truly proud of you Trunks." Leaving an open mouthed teen Vegita gave one last smirk and disappeared.
He said he was proud of me.... His gaze wasn't even cold. He does acknowledge me. Those thoughts accompanied feelings of acceptance Trunks had never felt. There is a whole different set of emotion from being accepted everyday by your peers and parents but for those that never experience it many times it is indescribable.
"Whoa I didn't know Vegita had that in him. He truly does care for you he barely every express that kind of emotion. Sometimes I wonder how he, and you both would've changed if he had been the one to survive and I was the one that died. He probably would've made you stronger. My training methods when compared to his are easier. I had to push you hard. Hard enough to get as strong as you could but still leave room for a small strand of a childhood. That's all the past now." Gohan said once again appearing.
"You're solid again." Trunks stammered as he saw Gohan appear once again.
"Observant as ever I see. I'm solid for a day so that I can help you adjust. I went to the gate to make sure your Mother got there on time and Vegita is with her now. Are you ok?" He said looking to his pupil. "You've been through a lot today."
"I'm dealing. I just want to keep busy . She's in a better place anyway." Trunks said his eyes glassy.
"It's natural. Death isn't hard on the one that leaves it's hard on the ones that stayed behind."
"I've been trying to deal with it ever since the other Gohan left and that has helped. It hit me hard at first but I'll deal." Gohan still looking at him knew that he was fighting back tears as his eyes glistened more and more.
"Always like your Father. As he would say you are a true Saiya-jin." Trunks just starred. "Come one Trunks I got two arms right now and I shouldn't so grotesquely but we got clean up." Trunks just nodded.
~~
The salt air was thick in the air and almost felt heavy in the warm afternoon. There was still some spray in the air from the waves crashing against the rocks. With a slight yell Trunks let out a gold ki blast that went in the ground. The sheets of dirt flew into the air from the force of the blast. It wasn't strong enough to vaporize the particles only move them. Both Gohan and Trunks leaped out of the way as it seemed to rain soil for a few moment.
"You always have to put on a show don't you?" Gohan asked as the dust settled. Trunks gave a small smirk and picked up a long canvas sack carefully. That he had placed gently near a lone tombstone on the cliff so his hands would be free. Gohan walked up and put his palms to the surface of the cloth. Slowly his eyes closed and his eyebrows came almost together as a pale white light was coming from his outstretched hands. The light slowly spread covering the whole canvas, the light was accompanied by almost a high pitched hum as it intensified and then slowly dimmed the light shadowed it.
"Will that really preserve her?" Trunks asked with no real tone to his voice, his sapphire eyes unfocused just looking out towards the horizon.
"Yeah. That should do it. I've learned a few new tricks in the past few years. Some more helpful then others." Gohan said taking a step back.
Trunks went slowly to the hole he had created. It was about 6ft long by 2ft and 6 ft deep. It was located about 10 meters from the edge of the cliff, which made it only a few steps away from another lone grave. With tears appearing in his eyes somehow Trunks lowered the canvas gently into the hole. Moving backwards a few feet his knees seemed to buckle and he was on his knees. Gohan started to come forward to try and consol him but was halted.
"Fill it up." Trunks said in a low voice. "Do it now. Please..." Gohan gave a sigh and looked to the dirt covered ground. The rock and grass that had been full of color just looked brown.
Spreading his feet a shoulder length apart he relaxed his arms and let his hands form into fists. Closing his eyes he let his ki rise just enough so the wind would pick up. With an exhale he let his ki go outward the energy like wind picked up the loose soil and took it back up into the air. Now just seemed to be a brown cloud. Gohan then directed his energy into the hole as it reached the hole he terminated the energy and the soil dropped, leaving the hole filled. Sighing he opened his eyes and went over to Trunks.
"I truly can't take this anymore. I know before I said I was ok that I was dealing. God damn me I was wrong. I can't take this. She is gone. Why does this always have to happen." Trunks said in an unsteady voice.
"You were right before. You will be able to deal with this. Time is the only ally you will have in getting over her. It's perfectly natural to feel the way you are." Gohan's gentle voice replied as he knelt next to his pupil his hand gently gripping Trunks' shoulder.
"Natural? Natural you say. That I feel like my heart is in half or that my chest is going to be ripped apart. Or this knot or hole in my throat. How I can't stop crying. She wants me to be strong and not cry over her and I'm going against that." Trunks said his voice rising.
"Yes it's natural. It shows you cared for the person. Those feelings in the long run help you to truly move on. You can't have a Saiya-jin discipline when it comes to death. Just let it all out then let it go. Of course it won't be that quick. Just wait a while. The feelings will fade. Just make sure the memories of her don't fade as the feelings go." Gohan continued as he tried to comfort the now crying demi-Saiya-jin.
Who knows how much longer later; At times like this time can go faster then you can blink or so slow you think that you watch has stopped. Trunks had let his eyes empty and his tears dry. His eyes were slowly turning back to white, and his cheeks we drying leaving them pink. He had used his ki to carve a stone out of a hill near by and make it into the shape of a tombstone and was now carrying it towards the fresh grave.
"Do you know what you're going to write?" Gohan asked. Trunks nodded.
Extending a finger, it lit a blue color and a beam slowly came out slowly he started to gracefully write out a few words. The ki made the rock almost smolder where the writing was. Then Trunks let the stone cool and used his other hand to blast the stone with a golden ki blast. Using the finger once more he wrote the last of the inscription. Quickly he picked it up and walked around the grave and drove the stone into the ground and the top of the grave.
Slowly he stepped back so he was next to Gohan who look at it with approval as he nodded and read the words.
Bulma Briefs
Wife, Mother, Daughter, Friend, Mentor
Above all a Life Line
The one silver lining
That made everything worth while
Trunks sent a low energy blast that made the grave glow a blue and made the words change.
The fight was won in her name
the hope she was drove others
She was the world's strongest
Not in strength
But heart
One day may
The whole world echo thanks
She was faith its self
Trunks mouthed something Gohan couldn't make out and turned around. Gohan followed the boy looking once more over his shoulder. Suddenly Trunks stopped walking as a small figure stood in front of him.
"Pan?" He said abruptly. Pan? Gohan thought to himself. Can it be?
"Trunks what are you doing here?" The girl asked.
"First tell me why you are here. Does your Mother know that you're here?" Trunks asked his tone almost normal but his voice was lower than usual.
"No she doesn't know. She...." The girl looked away clutching some wildflowers she had in her hands with a death grip one of the petals slowly went to the ground. "I'm visiting..."
"I understand..." Trunks said. The girl was looking all around and her eyes caught the sight of the new grave.
"That new grave...." The girl was now looking straight into the boy's eyes. "That means...Auntie Bulma.... I'm so sorry Trunks?" She said trying to fight back tears. One went down her cheek but she quickly gained her composure.
"It's ok Pan." Gohan said abruptly. You shouldn't have done that. Stupid.
"Who are you?" The girl asked looking past Trunks to Gohan. The girl looked into his duplicate gaze her nose wrinkled in confusion. Her shoulder length brown hair blew slowly in the wind as she let out a gasp. "It's you!!!" She stammered. Gohan was speechless.
"Pan you're right. This is Gohan your Father." Trunks said gently. The girl just stood there for a few moments; as if she was deciding what to do.
Gohan fell back as he felt a force around his waist. After his impact with the ground he looked up to see the small girl on top of him. She looked at him with a smile.
"Daddy." She giggled noticing he was on the ground her face slowly turned red. "I'm sorry." She exclaimed scrambling up to her feet.
"That's fine." Gohan said as he slowly got up.
"Why are you here?' The girl asked her head now cocked with her arms akimbo.
"He's here to help me. I'm going to be going on a very long trip." Trunks added softly.
"Where are you going?" The girl asked.
"I'm going to a very far away place and I'm not coming back. Supposedly I'm needed there." Trunks continued
"You're needed... Then you have to go. But what if you're needed to fight here?" The girl asked.
"It's your job to protect the Earth. Your Mom trained you and you have enough power. It's your job now." Gohan said softly.
"I'm not ready." She said almost panicked her gaze swinging between the two hybrids.
"Pan you are ready. It's unfair that it's up to you. But you'll deal with it and do your best. That's all that can be done." Trunks said.
"Why can't Daddy stay and do it?" She asked. "Or why can't he just stay?"
"Pan..." Gohan went towards the small girl and wrapped his arms around her. "I have watched you for your whole life. You came out better then I could ever dream. I regret many things in my life. Not being there for you is one of the worst things. I can't I died and my time is over in this world I truly no longer belong. Just keep the fact that I'm looking over you with you. That's all I can do." Gohan said.
"But... You have powers." The girl said tears forming once more.
"There's a limit. There's always a limit. I would do a lot of stuff I want to if I could. But there are boundaries I can't cross." Gohan said. "Please try to understand." He almost pleaded.
"Pan he's right." Trunks said gently.
"I'll try." The girl said sniffling. "I'll do what you guys told me. The Earth will be safe."
"Come on Pan. Let's go see Trunks off, and we'll visit Mommy." Gohan said standing up and putting the girl on his shoulders. She nodded with a slight giggle. The capriciousness of youth. Hopefully she'll grow more concentration, but won't lose that innocence. It truly is up to here. I'm no more a Father to her then Vegita is to Trunks. Well there's no room for regrets at this moment. I have to focus on now. Sadly hopes and dreams don't bring you all the way to what you want. Fate, luck, and work is also involved. But sometimes it's just impossible to get what you want. Suddenly with speed Pan was off Gohan's shoulders and on the ground. She handed Trunks half her flowers and was off to the older of the two graves. Quickly she laid them near the headstone and ran back onto her Father's shoulders.
~~
Trunks clutched the flower his eyes closed. The only sensations were the noise and smell of the sea and the warm stems against his palms. Slowly he walked and then laid the flowers to rest near his Mother. Good bye Mother. Trunks opened his eyes quickly and looked at the grave stone then turned and started to walk away. Though it caused his heart to break more he didn't look back. That's the past. You have to get back on the track. Focus on the future. Time is your own tool. Hell I am the owner of a time machine. He went over to join Gohan and Pan who were both now in the air. The future.
~~
His former home was all but empty now. All the belongings had been put into capsules including his Mother's scientific equipment and belongings. Pan clutched them all Trunks couldn't take much with him from fear of paradox. So he felt Videl and Pan could use them. All he was taking was the sword strapped to his back and his clothes. Pan now stood close to her Father. Trunks quickly hugged them both. The steam from the time machine making further contact unbearable due to the heat.
"Bye to both of you. I'll miss you so much. I do truly love you both." Trunks said softly. "I really don't know what to say. I'm not really good at goodbyes."
"Bye Trunks. I feel the same. I'll do what you told me. The Earth is in good hands." Pan said her voice cracking slightly.
"You'll be fine kid. You always have been. Remember that time is a crucial ally in any situation. But also that we all are routing for you and care for you deeply." Gohan said holding Pan close. "Now get out of here before you make me any more sappier." (Too late for that this whole chapter is really sappy.) Trunks smiled and turned around and climbed up the ship. Pan looked up with wonder as Gohan quickly typed out instructions at a control panel. The ship started to glow and the two on the ground backed away. Yelling several good byes. Trunks waved. His body felt full of energy he had butterflies in his stomach. He truly was starting a new phase in his life. Good or bad he wasn't certain. But the thing that Gohan said about time confused him. It seemed to have some particularly important meaning. That was what Trunks Briefs was thinking about as he ship disappeared and entered the essence of time its self. Time is your ally....
~~
Goku turned around as he heard foot steps behind him.
"King Kai?" Goku questioned perplexed by the look on the Kai's face.
"Goku this is urgent. It's about Gohan. I just saw Grand Kai and something is going to happen to him. It's too complicated to explain quickly I just need you to come with me to see the Grand Kai again." King Kai said.
"I know. King Kai. I feel like something is going to happen to him also. I think I confused him because I advised him to take everything in stride as a warning. I don't think he understood. He's getting to an age where he's growing up and there's some Saiya-jin rights he going to have to go through..." Goku was interrupted.
"Goku this is bigger then some Saiya-jin puberty thing. It's much more bigger. It's also very very close." King Kai said.
"Bigger? What do you mean?" Goku asked.
"Just follow me. We have to go see the Grand Kai now!! Your son is in the middle of a plot that could affect up to all four regions of the Universe." King Kai said quickly as he started almost running towards the Grand Kai's house, which was plainly visible over the horizon.
~~
Gohan was now sitting down rocking his baby brother in his arms happily. "It's so sweet. I wish the moment wouldn't end." Said Chichi. Lime looked over to her and nodded.
"It is sweet. There's nothing like a sibling's bond." She said. Too bad it won't last. She thought. There aren't going to be moments like this for a long while.
Gohan....How am I going to tell you what I know. What I have to tell you. If I don't tell you soon it'll be disastrous. Lime thought to herself.
Author's Note: Whoo that's over and done with. Sorry for another kinda transition chapter. It'll get moving again. Anyway hopefully it was worth the wait. I hope you enjoyed it. Please review. Anything is accepted. Input only makes the story stronger.
IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING IN THE REVIEW SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR OWN WORK PLEASE E-MAIL ME.....
TILL NEXT TIME.
C YA.
