Chapter Twenty Two: Finishing The Job

Gohan flexed his newly attached left arm, glad to finally have it back. King Yama did wonders if persuaded enough. Thanks to him, Gohan found he could things more then just one at a time. He rather that King Yama not heal the scar even if the man could. Scars were tricky things that even through intense healing; it would not total eliminate its presence. Gohan figured as much. Scars hold meanings. His held a lot of painful memories but it reminded him mostly of his pupil, Trunks. He didn't want to forget the boy ever. It was hard to remember without the person in front of you. The scar helped him remember that Trunks was still down there… Or at least he used to be.

Gohan had to admit he didn't believe them at first when they said Trunks and Pan had passed from the earth. It wasn't until he felt their ki that he knew. He had to resist the urge to rush over and greet them. Goku reassured his son that they would make their way up Snake Way on their own, just as he had. Besides, Gohan's duties were here. With this outlandish child…

Gohan frowned down at the resting form of the boy on the bed. His chest was rising and falling to a slow pattern that dreamers took. The boy looked extremely unhealthy. His skin was growing deathly pale and he was terribly thin. Whenever the child woke, Gohan quickly tried to force water and food down the boy's throat. The child never protested nor questioned the man. He often stared doubtfully at him as if trying to figure out something about him. Often Gohan felt his cheeks burning from such a stare. His eyes bore down upon Gohan almost exactly like Gohan's mother's did.

Queer. So many feelings arouse about the boy's ki. Especially when the boy slept. One that Gohan recognized the most often was loneliness and a severe pang of guilt. Gohan didn't want to ask anything of the ailing child, but his curiosity was near its bursting point. No one told Gohan anything about the boy. Not even his own father.

Who is he? Where did he come from? Why is he sick? Why is he here?

Everyone just seemed to brush Gohan off like he was still a little boy. Gohan figured that they still thought of him as one. It angered him that the androids thought of him as a man, and yet, his own family thought of him as a little kid. Thankfully, Piccolo seemed to realize that Gohan was no longer knee height. But he still seemed extremely distant ever since the boy first arrived.

Gohan might have gone insane if it weren't for Krillen's compassion. Krillen was as much in the dark as Gohan was but at least he understood that Gohan was frustrated. Gohan was grateful for the bald man's friendly chats.

They all took their turns watching the child under Goku's command. Gohan found he often volunteered himself more then the rest of the team. He felt as though if he spent enough time with the boy, he might remember why his face was so familiar. So far he had no success.

"Who are you…?" Gohan muttered in spite of himself

Gohan bit down hard on his tongue as the boy fidgeted ever so slightly. Fortunately, the boy remained in his deep slumber. Gohan let out a sigh and tended to the wash cloth he had been working with a few minutes before. He dipped the cloth into the steaming water, ignoring the intense heat biting out at his flesh. He squeezed it out simply, and place it upon the boy's clammy forehead.

"C-cell," The boy uttered in a hoarse whisper.

Gohan blinked in confusion. He glanced over at the sleeping child as he started again,

"C-ce-cell," He sputtered. "N-no."

"Cell?" Gohan repeated curiously as he leaned over the child. "Who's Cell? Is that a name?"

"R-run…" The boy gasped, coughing in pain. "Please r-run! He'll kill y-you all…"

"Piccolo…" Gohan muttered uncertainly as the boy began to convulse, "Uh… Piccolo. Come here, will you?"

Gohan leapt back from the bed as the child began to scream at full volume. The boy's whole body was shaking uncontrollably. He flailed out every which way, his muscles tense and rippling with each tremor.

"PICCOLO!" Gohan shrieked over the child's agonized shouts.

The Namekian rushed into the room, nearly taking the door down in his haste. Goku was right at Piccolo's side looking extremely grave. They brushed past Gohan, quickly coming to the aid of the struggling boy.

"Don't touch him." Piccolo snapped as Goku attempted to pin down the boy's arms. "We have to wait for his fit to pass. Holding him down will probably harm him more. Just make sure he doesn't fall off the bed."

"Gohan. Go out into the hall," Goku snapped.

"No," Gohan spat stubbornly.

"Gohan!" Goku shouted angrily, "Leave!"

Gohan tried to open his mouth to argue but the boy's violent screams cut him off. Gohan's face deepened purple with rage as he stomped out. He nearly knocked over the Supreme Kai as the Kai rushed in. Gohan caught the only two words from Shin,"It's begun."

Then the door shut in his face.

Shin started wearily at Gohan's shivering form on the bed. He could see the thin wisps of smoke about the boy's throat, mouth, and nose slowly suffocating him. Shin bit his tongue knowing of only one way to end his pain.

"Who was with him?" Shin asked rashly.

"Uh… His counter part," Piccolo muttered. "The other Gohan."

"I'll need to exam him. He might be infected as well," Shin snapped placing a kind hand on the boy's damp forehead. "Hold on, Gohan."

"What should we do?" Goku asked, worry cracking his voice.

"You do nothing," Shin spat harshly. "You are from the same bloodline and could get infected yourself if you handle him."

Goku looked as if he were to protest but fell silent at the sound of Gohan's small whimpering. He stared apprehensively at his son as Shin inspected Gohan's condition. His frown was incredibly deep as he worked testing Gohan's pulse and other strange things that Goku didn't understand.

Shin placed his forefingers on Gohan's temple as closed his eyes briefly. Once he opened them again, he looked like Gohan had already died.

"Piccolo. Pick Gohan up. And come with me. There is only one hope for him now," Shin's face was quite pale. "I'd rather you didn't watch Goku."

"I will be there for him," Goku snapped sternly.

"I will protect him, Goku," Piccolo hissed roughly. "It would be better if you didn't go. You might stop the measures Supreme Kai might resort to."

"I will go," Goku protested.

Shin and Piccolo exchanged a brief glance of understanding. Piccolo turned to Goku looking incredibly grief stricken.

"No. You will not."


Gohan tossed another rock across the grass, angrily. They did it again, darn it. He must appear to be a four year old to them. It was so irritating. At least they could have to common courtesy to tell him who the kid was. A name would suffice.

He leaned against the Kai's house feeling tempted not to rip the door down.

The other Z team stood or sat about him looking just as frustrated as he felt. Yamacha was sitting on his hands. Puar was sitting in Yamcha's lap, making small growling noises of irritation. Krillen was next to Gohan trying not to scowl. Tien and Chowzu were standing beneath the shade of the fruit tree with their eyes sharply on the door. Even King Kai seemed unusually bitter as he rubbed another coat of wax on his mustang roughly.

They all jumped at the sound of the door opening. Goku came out with a slight bow to his walk. He didn't even look at the rest of them as he took his seat far away from the group. He lay with his back on the grass and staring at the unusually purple sky. No one said a word to him, startled by the indignation on Goku's face.

He glared hatefully at the sky as if it had fallen purposely and bruised his head. Or more like it had fallen purposely and killed someone… Goku didn't stir as a body parted the grasses next to him.

"He's not doing well, is he?"

"No," Goku snapped back.

Gohan was taken back by the harsh answer from his usually optimistic father. He glanced back at the pallid white door of King Kai's house and back at his father. He rose; just for Goku to grab his arm, "Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom…" Gohan lied painfully through his teeth.

"Okay," Goku asked uncaringly. "Don't take too long."

Creeping into the strangely dark house of the North Kai was almost too easy. No one protested his entering, except for Puar who almost got to tag along. Thankfully, Krillen mentioned that she was a girl and Gohan was a boy. So he entered the compound alone. He had no intention to turn down the hallway to the bathroom. Instead to moved over to the room which the boy was being held in. Gohan pressed his eye against the peep hole seeing the lower halves of Piccolo and Shin. The boy lay on the bed motionless… Gohan heart skipped a beat until he saw the small movement in the child's chest.

Gohan held his breath, remembering Piccolo's great hearing and lowered his ki. He felt like he was back with the androids. He only hoped his hiding tactics worked on his old sensei.

Piccolo never glanced his way. His concentration seemed incredibly split from the boy and the Supreme Kai giving him instructions. But Gohan figured it wouldn't last. He unconsciously shifted his feet against the carpet to hear their low whispers better. Gohan was only too aware of how much noise he had made. It wasn't a lot… but Piccolo's gaze snapped in his direction.

He felt sweat dripping down his forehead as Piccolo motioned to the door with a slight nod of his head. Gohan cursed his father inwardly for never teaching him the instant transmission technique. The door opened and Piccolo let out a disappointed sigh,

"It's just Gohan."

"Heh," Gohan sweat dropped.

"Well, if he was so eager to spy then he gets to help," Shin snapped slightly agitated by the scare. "Won't you, Gohan?"

"Eh- I guess-"

"But Supreme Kai…" Piccolo began. "The same blood-"

"I remember," Shin spat. "Gohan will just have to share his supply of energy with me. Yes... This will work out better. Same energy will give it a much better effect."

"What do you mean?" Gohan asked in confusion.

Before he knew it Shin had shoved a weird rectanglar object into his mouth. He cringed at its bitter taste. It was like eating soap. He spit it out into his palm and cried,

"This is soap!"

"You were infected. Best way is to wash to fumes out of you. Soap has enough flavoring to wipe out the effect," Shin muttered knowledgably.

"Soap?" Piccolo grinned as Gohan began gagging and trying to scrap the pieces off his tongue. "You are going to feed him soap?"

"No. I am afraid that is way out the question now. Breathing the fumes is one thing. Being strangled by them is another entirely," Shin muttered drawing up energy into his palms. "I wish it was that easy."

"Ah! My eyes and nose burn now," Gohan cried still whimpering.

"Hush up," Shin snapped. "And come over here."

Gohan rose weakly to his feet still rubbing his burning throat. He drew to Shin's side as the Kai ordered Piccolo the lift the boy into his arms.

Piccolo did as he was told; holding the limp boy out before the purple Kai.

"Gohan. Channel your energy into me," Shin ordered.

"But-"

"Do it, Gohan," Piccolo snapped. "Your life depends on it."

Gohan blinked at the strange statement but it was enough to get his hands on the Kai's shoulders. Energy flowed from his body and slowly into the Kai's. He was feeling slightly drowsy; having no idea what the Kai would need with this much energy.

"Hold him tight, Piccolo," Shin murmured darkly, "I can't promise this won't hurt him."

He clutched the strangely electrical ki blasts in both hands and placed them above Gohan's chest. His eyes watered slightly as he prepared to release them…

"I'm sorry, Gohan." He whispered. "But I have no choice."

Goku jumped upwards at the sound of the bloodcurdling screams. They cut through the air only for a couple of seconds then fell silent. Several painful minutes ticked by and no one made a move. Suddenly another loud voice stabbed the air. This wasn't scream. The voice was angry. The door flung opened with Gohan stomping out. His face was red and ran with tears. He bit down on his lips hard seeming too exasperated for words.

"What's up, Gohan?" Krillen asked nervously.

Gohan's scowl went even deeper but he still said nothing. Finally Shin came through the broken door followed by Piccolo.

"Murderer!" Gohan shrieked suddenly trying to lunge upon the Supreme Kai.

"What are you talking about?" North Kai shouted holding Gohan back barely. "What's going on?"

"Look at the boy! Look at what's above his head!" Gohan snapped, pointing wildly at the boy Piccolo held. "Look! Look!"

All eyes fell upon Piccolo and then upon the sleeping boy. A golden halo shinned just inches above the boy's head as if laughing at them all. No one spoke for several minutes.

Gohan's voice cut though the silence once again.

"A halo! A halo!" Gohan shrieked, mad with rage. "You used my own energy to kill him! To kill myself! Saving him, ha! He was putting us all on so he could finish the job."

"I can explain myself," Shin cried hastily.

"You better," Goku hissed darkly.

To Be Continued…
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