A/N: Lexi: Gomen! I didn't mean to take such a long sabbatical, but with my aunt's death, so much traveling, finals, and so on, I just didn't have any time! But enough with the excuses: I want to thank you for being understanding and patient, so I made Kat add two extra pages onto this chapter for you. ^___^ Special thanks to springwarrior who sent me an uberly cute Sprite comic about Gohan in DAtS– it really cheered me up. ~_~
So without further ado –
~Chapter ONE, Book Two~
Old Habits Die Hard
Grinning fiercely, 9 year old Son Gohan punched and kicked at the air with a will. Too bad there's no room for the GR – that would be way more productive, but still… Martial artists in every other part of the galaxy train without GRs, and they get super strong, too: I'm just spoiled. Punch, kick, kick, punch, punch. Piccolo-sensei always wears weights around because they, unlike a gravity machine, can be used even when you're not training. Kick, duck, punch, punch. I'll have to ask the others if there are any weights lying around that I could use. Duck, jab, kick, kick. I know dad used to put weights in the top of his gi, and I remember his wristbands being extremely heavy too – I might even have a set that already has weights! Punch, punch, kick, duck, jab.
He took a deep breath as he smoothly ended the kata. Slightly out of breath, he bent down to stretch out again before starting another. A few days ago, after his "break down" with Sassy, Hali had approached him and cordially invited him to stay on with the Faceless Ones. He had been slightly shocked, mostly because she had asked him at a rather odd time – he was coming out of the bathroom, and she was waiting in the hall – but at the same time, he wasn't too surprised. Kitten had been dropping a few hints, and the way Sassy had acted that night…
Gohan was a smart kid, and psychological analysis of the way people act was a developing talent.
It had only taken the boy a few moments to recover himself enough to bow and accept the honor that she was giving him, because to him, it was indeed an honor. He could tell that she was happy – other people might be stumped by the fact that she hadn't even changed expression in the slightest, but he had seen the tiny glimmer in her eyes. She had nodded indifferently, then told him that she would wait to Tattoo him until he was ready to take on a Name.
Of course, I still don't know what in Kai's name she's referring to, though. I mean, I already have a name – Son Gohan! I have the oddest feeling that she wasn't referring to that, though. No one will explain it to me, except assuring me that "I'll know" when it's time! How I'll know is behind me, when I don't even know what "the Name" is… Gohan shook his head and sighed. If he didn't figure it out, then Dae would undoubtedly plant the idea into his mind, and that would be the source of this mystical revelation.
But that had been almost a week ago, and after a few days of feeling rather guilty about "abandoning mother," he'd started to adapt. He'd thought he was used to them and the way that they lived, but suddenly he was aware of the things that happened while he wasn't around. For one, he learned the reason why he sometimes wouldn't see certain members of the group for days on end – group missions weren't the only missions that the Faceless Ones did. Most of their missions were actually more covert one or two person assassinations – no need for them all to go. He had been rather put off when Kitten first informed him of this, wondering why they hadn't bothered to inform him before. "Because we didn't think it mattered," was the nonchalant reply. Yeah, only, it really does matter – We're talking the deaths of sentient beings here! I'm still not sure I'll be able to carry through with this. It was bad enough to kill people I know nothing about – an assassination mission requires knowing a person and their habits pretty thoroughly. Can I kill someone I might genuinely like, just because a half brother is jealous enough to hire off-planet killers in order to gain a crown? I suppose we'll find out…
Gohan's face tightened, and he shook himself angrily. He did not want to start thinking along those lines right now. He was supposed to be training, not thinking about killing people – leave that to the professionals. Only now, I'm a professional too, aren't I? But no, he wasn't really. Ryl had told him he was actually more of an "apprentice." In Ryl's enlightened opinion, no one could truly be a Faceless One unless he had the tattoo to prove it. That, apparently, was an ordeal all its own…
And besides, as Ryl had laughingly pointed out, as a child, Gohan could use some more training.
Which was the reason he was here now, training with all his might. He'd been down here for nearly an hour, practicing and warming up until one of the others came down to help him. Normally Ryl and/or Sassy would train him. They were both strong enough to match him, and their techniques were close to flawless. Mostly they trained through sparring, with Gohan learning from experience. Today, however, the Twins were on an assignment – Gohan had been too afraid to ask for details – so someone else would be down, though Gohan wasn't sure who it would be.
Probably not Kitten or Dae – I'm stronger than both of them put together, or so they're always telling me. They do have some really fascinating techniques, though, so maybe they'll come down and teach me those! Yeah, cause the Chief has too much to do; she doesn't have the time to spare for training me.
The notion of being trained by Xe never even crossed his mind, partly because the wraith-like being tended to hold himself aloof and apart. Besides - Xe was always watching him when they were in the same room, and Gohan had the distinct feeling that the Faelk-jin didn't like him very much.
It can be understood, then, why Gohan was more than a bit surprised when Xe glided through the door and gave the current occupant a brief nod of acknowledgement. Gohan quickly covered his shock as he watched Xe remove the billowing black cloak he always wore, revealing a simple gi underneath. Even after almost two months on the same ship, this was the first time Gohan had ever seen Xe remove his outer layer of clothing.
I wonder if this means that he's removing his outer shells on an inside level too… I have to admit that I'm really curious about him, and now might be my big chance! Not likely, but possible…
Without bothering to so much as stretch out, Xe fell into a relaxed stance. Ingrained reflex allowed Gohan to do the same, despite his anxiety. Xe upraised him silently for a moment before, quick as lightening, smacking Gohan upside the head. Gohan blinked and stared up from where he now sat on the floor. No one had ever been able to do that to him, other than his mother! Not even daddy and Piccolo!
"How did y-"
"You have gaping holes in your defense. Fix them. No self-respecting warrior would allow himself to be associated with a child who cannot even muster a decent defense."
Gohan's eyes narrowed and he jumped to his feet, intent on proving the taciturn male wrong. Twice more he was knocked down with ease, though Xe was silent again. Gohan growled and got to his feet yet again, angry at the way he was being treated. He didn't like feeling stupid, yet that was how he felt at the moment. Just attack… whispered his Saiya-jin side, and for a minute he actually considered it. But that would be dumb. Xe is trying to help me perfect my stance, and my frustration is making me sloppy. This is how Piccolo-sensei taught, too – it means a lot more if you discover it by yourself. That way it's truly your own, and that much stronger for being that.
With a deep breath, Gohan got a handle on his emotions. Carefully he corrected his stance, paying attention to the minute details. This time when Xe shot out a leg, Gohan blocked without shaking. He grinned in pride, but he remained in the stance – if Xe followed Piccolo's training system, he would relentlessly follow through. But Xe apparently had other ideas. The Faelk-jin pulled back and nodded indifferently.
"Drop to the ground and do 100 push ups, then get back in your stance."
Mildly surprised, Gohan obeyed on reflex. This makes sense, though – it'll drill the stance into my head by making me completely drop it, then reclaim it.
Up again in 30 seconds, Gohan meticulously resumed his stance. This time he wobbled as Xe struck at a hole, but he didn't fall. He made a few tiny adjustments, and blocked both of Xe's attempts at getting through. Once again he was ordered to do 100 pushups before resuming his stance. This time he could feel it click, and he grinned as he was able to deflect all of Xe's attacks. Gohan almost dropped the defense to do more push-ups, but remembered Piccolo's training at the last minute – and a good thing, too. He blocked Xe's attacks with minimal effort, then attacked in return. The spar was very brief, and Gohan had the feeling that the older man was simply taking his measure.
"Good. 300 pushups, then back to your stance." Again Gohan felt the stance click when he stood up, and again he was able to block the calculated jabs. This pattern of pushups and short spars continued for almost an hour before Xe gave Gohan a short nod.
"You'll do. Now watch me carefully, this is very precise. On the second time through, I want you to join in."
Gohan watched intensely as Xe began a slow, complicated kata. Watching carefully, Gohan noted the way each new move affected Xe's balance, and how each time the Faelk-jin would shift his weight a fraction in order to keep steady. Wow, these moves are really excellent, and the shift of balance makes them flawless. I've never seen someone who could execute these – especially in slow motion – without loosing effectiveness through being off balance. He's really good. Better than dad even!
The second time they did it through together, and Gohan marveled at the intricacies of the pattern, and how simple finding your balance was if you practiced it this way. So simple, yet no one on Chikuu could do this sort of thing… The slow, fluid motions felt almost second nature, and they felt so good, so natural, that despite the difficulties of suck a complicated piece, he found himself doing it nearly as well as his current sensei.
Going through the third time, he did it alone, savoring the movements. Xe stood back and watched, correcting him in the annoyingly mild, slightly derisive tone that Gohan was coming to associate with the Faelk-jin.
They continued training like this, Gohan learning new katas, for almost four hours, but finally Xe allowed him to cool down and stretch out.
"You've improved." The pale man said, no trace of emotion on his face or in his voice.
"Arigato sensei." Replied Gohan. Inside he was glowing with pride to have won a compliment off a man who exuded the even more sinister vibes than Vegeta, but outside he remained calm and unaffected. Just like Piccolo. Just like Hali. Just like Xe. There was a moment of silence, then the wraith-like figure allowed a thin smile to spread across his face – the first sign of emotion he'd shown since they'd begun, nearly five hours ago.
"I am no scholar of you language, half-breed. I speak over 300 languages, but yours is not among them. I must ask that you translate into common for me."
Gohan stared at Xe with wide eyes. Not only was he smiling, he was really smart! Over 300 languages! Mom would adopt him on the spot, scary though he might be… finally he blurted out the first thing that came to mind: "teach me!"
Xe's face went blank, and Gohan turned red, dropping into a deep bow. "Gomen. Er, sorry. Please, Xe-san, teach me to speak these languages!"
Now Xe looked rather puzzled, though less distant. Gohan could've smacked himself for his stupidity. Damnit, damnit, damnit! Now I'll never get a chance to talk to him, and learn more about him! Stupid forthrightness inherited from my father!
Finally Xe nodded slowly, and Gohan perked up slightly. "Very well. I will teach you languages until you think you can hold no more, only to find that you can. In return, you will teach me your own language. If you prove inept, however, I will have nothing more to do with you."
Gohan rubbed the back of his head and smiled, unable to believe his luck. "Okay, that's fair – and I'm assuming you want to learn Japanese? I know 4 other Chikuu-jin languages, and rudimentary Saiya-go as well."
Xe raised a hair thin eyebrow, mildly surprised that so young a child already knew 7 languages, and was still very eager to learn more. Maybe he will prove to be an ideal student after all… I was twice his age before I'd learned that many languages. Xe watched silently as Gohan finished stretching, then put his cloak back on and slipped into the hall, heading towards the meditation chamber. He had a lot to think about, regarding a certain Saiya-jin hybrid…
All his life, Xe had been regarded with fear because of his mixed blood. When he was a child on his mother's home planet – he would never consider it his own – no one would speak with his mother, and no one would even acknowledge his existence. He had once asked his mother why he looked so different; the only trait he shared with his mother was his thick black hair. At the age of 10, he was as tall as his mother, and he loomed over the other children. He was an outcast because of his mixed blood…
I always thought that all hybrids were doomed to be like me – alone in the world, completely different than anyone around them… Never accepted by either side of the family, because of the taint of the other side. But Gohan – he's different. He told us that he lived the beginning of his life completely normally, accepted into society without a problem. He fascinates me. What would it be like to grow up with all the benefits of mixed blood, and none of the downsides?
Lexi: shows what you know Xe! None of the downsides? Oh, Gohan doesn't have it that great, you know. Hybrids often exhibit strange traits like, oh, insanity…
Kat: *slaps hand across Lexi's mouth, hisses impatiently* shut up you cow! You're giving things away!
Lexi: *wide eyed, struggling to breath* mmmhmmmmhmph!
Kat: *won't let go* Well, anyways, explanations for this chapter – it's the beginning of the new book, and Gohan's been invited into the Faceless Ones. He still needs to get his tattoo (I'll actually write out the procedure, because AAS seems so set on it ^__^n) and his Name… Which you can guess about all you want, you'll never figure it out. *evil smile* Other things in this chapter… Uh…
Oh! About Gohan knowing all those languages – remember who his mother is! And if you're curious about which 7 – he knows Common Universal, Japanese, English, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and rudimentary Saiya-jin. Rudimentary I say? Well, Vegeta took it upon himself to attempt to educate the little half-breed to be a real Saiya-jin warrior, but they never got very far before people started ejecting themselves into space. ^__^n
Other than that it's pretty self-explanatory… You'll be seeing a lot more of Xe in the next couple chapters, because he's one of my favorites next to Gohan, and I unfortunately do not have a preview for you – sorry!
Lexi: *breaks free, coughs* Ugh! Anyways, I'd also like to interject that no one got the right tune, though a few came close – it's actually to "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." *sweatdrops* No one can guess this stuff! Anyways, new contest then. *stubbornly insists on having stupid contests – did it in her own story, too* Whoever can guess why we titled the chapter "Old Habits Die Hard" gets a free cameo as Gohan's first assassination target. ^0^
