I apologize for how late this one is, but I've had a hard time writing this one. Hopefully the next chapter will be out before too long

I don't own DBZ.

Two Halves of a Soul

Chapter 3: Unwelcome Conversations

The sun is high over head at the apex of its journey across the blue expanse of sky telling those who care to look up that it is around mid day and time for lunch. Neither Gohan nor his mother notices what time it is as they have fallen asleep while siting in the shade provided by the tree. Also, because of their mid day nap, they do not see the air-car that is coming towards their home.

When it pulls to a stop in front of the small mountain home Ox-King and Bulma step out of the vehicle. They see Ox-King's daughter and grandson asleep under the tree, the boy held tightly in his mother's arms. Ox-king approaches them while Bulma goes into the house. As he nears them he can see that both have been crying. In fact, he can see tears slowly seeping from his grandson's closed eyes as he twitches slightly, caught up in some, apparently unpleasant, dream. If either of them had been awake they would have seen that he had been crying as well. For Goku was like the son he never had, and he cared for the man deeply. Ox-King sits on the ground next to them and waits for them to awaken on their own.

After several minutes Gohan's eyes snap open. "No!" He cries out, pain and sadness clearly evident in his voice, as he bolts upright out of his mother's arms. He looks around with a dazed expression for several seconds before realizing that what he saw was a dream and not reality. Or at least not the reality as it was now, for what he saw was yet another dream of his fight with Cell.

"Gohan." The Ox-King says softly, catching the attention of his grandson.

Gohan looks over at him, noticing his presence for the first time. "Gran…Grandpa?" He says weakly, wondering if he is indeed awake or if his dreams are starting to change.

"Yes it's me…I came over as soon as I could." He says, a single tear rolls down his broad cheek as he places a large hand on the boy's shoulder.

The movement and subdued conversation awaken Chi-Chi from her sleep. "Dad? When did you get here?" She asks as she rubs her eyes.

"A few minutes ago. I called earlier but no one answered so I figured you were all at Master Roshi's. But before I could call there Bulma came by and told me what has happened. She gave me a ride here right after that. How are you holding up? Is there anyth…" But he does not get a chance to finish his question as his daughter to him and collapses into his arms. She bursts into a hysterical fit of tears as she is comforted by her father.

"It's terrible Dad…Goku's gone again…and…and…I don't know if he's coming back this time. When he died…before…I…I knew he would come back…but this time…I don't know…I don't know what I'm going to do…" Chi-Chi cries out in-between sobs.

"It'll be ok…you'll get through this…I know you will. Besides, I'm sure Goku wants us to wish him back like last time." Ox-King says, a few tears fall from his own as he comforts his distraught daughter.

Gohan watches the scene before him in silence. He is somewhat surprised at how is mother is acting, at seeing the usually strong woman completely break down. When she cried before he could understand that and expected it. But this, this was worse then he thought it would be.

Bulma hears Chi-Chi's cries through an open window and goes outside. She walks over and kneels next to Gohan and places a hand on his shoulder.

"Was she this bad last night?" Gohan asks when he sees Bulma kneeling beside him and remembers what she had said as a few tears fall from his bloodshot eyes.

"No…she was worse when I came over. I think that your being here has helped since she is no longer worrying about where you are or if you're hurt."

Krillin lands quietly on the lawn a short distance away as Gohan, Chi-Chi, Ox-King, and Bulma sit under the tree. The short man starts to greet the group but stops when he sees Chi-Chi in her father's arms, the large man trying to comfort his troubled daughter. Gohan and Bulma notice his arrival and motion for him to join them in the house so that they may talk and not disturb Chi-Chi.

The three talk for a while before over a light meal, when they finish eating Gohan is curious as to why Krillin is there. "So what brings you here? Do you need help gathering the Dragon Balls to wish my father back?" He sits at the kitchen table.

Krillin lowers his head and thinks about how to say what he needs to. Bulma notices the mans reaction to Gohan's question. "What's wrong Krillin?"

It's just that Goku…" Krillin stops as Chi-Chi and Ox-King walk into the room.

"What about my Goku?" Chi-Chi asks as she wipes the tears from her eyes.

"Goku…he…um…well…there's no easy way to say this…so… We gathered the Dragon Balls and were going to bring Goku back but he told us not to wish him back." He says, continuing to stare at the table before him while preparing himself for what is sure to follow.

"He…he…he…he…" Chi-Chi stammers before fainting. Luckily she had been standing in front of her father, and he promptly caught her.

"HE WHAT?!" Bulma yells, surprised that Goku would choose to stay in Other World.

Gohan just stares blankly at Krillin as what the man just said registers in his mind. The young boy is unable to understand why his father would not want to be brought back to life. Why his father would choose to leave his wife and son.

"He said that his presence just endangers the Earth. That every evil person who has come here was looking for him. He said that he would miss us all a lot and that he is sorry about this." Krillin says, tears fall from his eyes after having relayed the message.

Ox-King stands there in silence for several seconds, holding his daughter, as he takes in what Krillin has just said. Snapping out of his thoughts he carries Chi-Chi to her bedroom where he lies her down so that she is comfortable, then goes back to the kitchen. Upon returning to the kitchen he sits heavily in one of the chairs, it groans in protest to the large mans weight but holds.

After several minutes of silence Bulma, Krillin, and Ox-King begin to talk about the one thing that none want to discus, a memorial service for Goku. As they are talking the phone rings, Gohan gets up and answers it. After a quick glance at Gohan to see if anything is wrong they resume their discussion. And because of this they do not notice Gohan silently slip out the door and leave the house.

~*~

Videl slowly becomes aware of the sounds around her. 'I must have fallen asleep.' She thinks as she feels the blanket draped over her. The hushed voices of her father and Olivia can be heard coming from the kitchen. Videl listens to them, but is unable to make out what they are talking about. Suddenly the phone rings and she hears her father answer it. She is unable to hear what her father is saying to the person on the phone when, without warning, he explodes in anger.

"NO! THE GODDAMN PRESS CAN'T COME TO MY WIFE'S FUNERAL! What are you thinking about?! It most certainly isn't your job! If you get any more stupid ideas like that your ass is fired!" Hercule yells before hanging up, his face turning red from anger.

"Poppa? What was that about?" Videl asks as she walks into the kitchen while rubbing her eyes.

Hercule tuns and sees his daughter standing in the doorway, his complexion turns back. "It was nothing sweetie…just my agent trying to get himself fired." He says while thinking, 'Stupid jerk…thinking that the press should be allowed at Selene's funeral…'

"Ok Poppa." Videl says after looking at him strangely for a second. She then goes to the fridge and gets an apple after washing it she sits at the table and eats it quietly.

"Why don't you go take a hot shower? You look like you could use one." Olivia says as she ruffles Videl's messy hair, a slight smile on her face.

Videl makes a disgusted face as she feels her stiff hair as she walks out of the kitchen. Just before she goes up the stairs she hears her father and Olivia talking about the funeral that is going to be held in a few days.

After getting out of the shower Videl can not help but think of the one event that she thought would never come looms all too close. Wanting someone to talk to, but not feeling like talking to her father or Olivia, Videl picks up the phone and dials the number of her new friend.

"Hello." Says a somber voice after several rings.

"Um, Gohan? This is Videl."

"Hi Videl. What's up?" Gohan says, his voice losing some other sad undertones.

"I was just wondering if you we could talk."

'Sure, I don't really want to be here right now anyway. Where do you want to meet?"

"How about in the park, where we were yesterday?"

"Ok, I'll see you there."

"Ok, bye Gohan."

"Bye Videl." And with that the two hang up.

After hanging up Videl goes back into the kitchen. "I'm going to go to the park. Ok Poppa?"

"Alright sweetie, be careful."

"I will be." She says as she walks out the door. Once outside she throws a small capsule, and in a cloud of smoke a bike materializes. Hopping onto the bike she takes off for the park.

~*~

The tournament has been over for an hour or so and a large party is now being held in the stadium. The final match between Goku and Piccon was very dramatic for do to the display of pure skill and raw power that both fighters showed. Just before the final match had ended the North Kai had sent herald to the woman he had pointed out to the Supreme Kai with a message to meet him by the entrance to the arena. As the North Kai approaches the extravagant entrance to the arena he sees the woman leaning against the wall. "You are Mrs. Selene Satan correct?" He says upon reaching her.

"Yes, and you are?" Selene says as she looks at the blue man before her.

"I am the North Kai. I oversee the part of the galaxy in which Earth resides."

"Umm…ok…" 'What's up with all these weird people? It's like I'm on a different planet or something.' "I guess that means you're in charge around here. I have a few questions. Not least of which is why am I here? And where exactly is here?" She says sternly as she crosses her arms over her chest and glares at the Kai.

"Well…um…I'm not exactly in charge of this part of Other World, and I will answer your questions later for I have much to discuss with you. If you'd please follow me, there is someone I wish for you to meet. Ah…there he is now." He says, a little nervous do to the look he is receiving from the woman.

"Hey Goku! Over here!" The Kai calls, anxious to get the woman's attention off himself. "I think you'll like Goku, you two have more in common then you might think."

"Hi King Kai I was wondering where you were. Can we go get something to eat? I'm starving to death over here." Goku says as he holds his stomach.

"Goku you're impossible…you just ate a twenty course meal less then an hour ago. Besides…you're already dead…remember?"

"Oh yea…that's right. But if I don't get something to eat I'm going to turn into a bonafide skeleton." Goku says while scratching the back of his head and grinning like an idiot.

King Kai tries to keep himself from laughing at what Goku just said, but fails and falls to the ground in a fit of laughter. "Bonafide…skeleton…that's…that's too good…I've got to…to remember that…"

"Excuse me, but does he always act like that?" She asks Goku as he stares blankly at the convulsing Kai.

"Not always, but often. Hi, I'm Goku." He says as he holds his hand out.

"I kind of guessed. I'm Selene. It's nice to meet you." She says while shaking his hand.

After several minutes King Kai composes himself and stands up. "Well since it seems you two have introduced yourselves we can get started."

Started on what King Kai? Dinner?" Goku asks.

"No Goku…we have more important things to do then fill that black hole you call a stomach. You Saiya-jins and your stomachs...I swear… Anyway, Selene, what do you know of your heritage?"

~*~

After a brisk fifteen-minute bike ride Videl arrives at the park to find Gohan already there, leaning against a tree. "Hi." Videl says as she stops next to him.

"Hi. So…um…what did you want to talk about?"

"I don't know…I guess I just don't want to be around my father and Olivia while their planing my mom's funeral."

"Oh…the same thing is happening at my home." Gohan says, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

"Why don't we go do something. We can go to the mall, there's bound to be something there we can do.

"Alright." Gohan says as Videl presses a small button on her bike causing it to return to its capsule.

I'm sorry that this chapter is shorter and basically pointless to the story. Originally I was going to have more in this chapter but I couldn't come up with any way of getting to what I wanted.

And I hope that there aren't very many errors and incongruities in this chapter since I did a lot of editing.

Please Review.

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