Chapter Five: Letting Off Steam
The room had changed. No longer was the scene inside a cell. Now it was a temple of some kind. Like a training temple.
"You can't blame him, Goten," The violet haired girl cried. "He is your brother. He loves you very much!"
"How do you know that!" The boy who appeared to be Goten screamed at the young girl in front of him.
Gohan felt his heart pound as he stared at his brother who had grown so much. He was now at a tender age of seven. His hair was now longer and fuller then his childish years turning into a identical copy of his father. He no longer had an innocent look about him. His eyes had darkened and his face had changed. His childhood was stolen and now he no longer acted as a frightened little boy… Gohan was in complete shock as the vision continued.
"How do you know he even cares about me anymore?" Goten screamed, "He's gone. And he didn't even search for me. It's been four years!"
"He loves you dearly, Goten," The girl whispered. "Deep inside your heart you feel it. Why do you deny your own heart?"
"CAUSE IT LIES TO ME!" Goten shouted. "It has told me nothing but lies all my life! It's just a weak part of me that I have to put up with."
"How can you say these things?" The girl moaned shaking her head and covering her ears, "What happened to the sweet Goten I used to know so well."
"Well, get used to it," Goten snapped. "That Goten died when Gohan failed to protect him. I will never allow myself to be hurt like that again."
That was enough. The young girl burst into tears and had to run out of the room. Goten tried to stop her but thought better of it. He sat down on the matted floor and went back to meditating.
Gohan jerked out of bed as his alarm clock let out a loud beeping noises. Covered in cold sweat, Gohan rubbed his eyes and turned off the alarm. He climbed out from the covers and slipped into his fighter's gi. It was so much more comfortable then the school clothing he had to wear all the time. It was a normal gi identical to the one of his father's. He rather enjoyed wearing his father's colors. It made him feel more secure.
It had been several days since the pizza incident, and Gohan had been too busy to put it to any thought. He had the last couple of days off for the incoming tournament since Goku insisted that he would stay home from school and train with him. Surprisingly, Chichi did not protest. She seemed much more quiet since Goten disappeared.
Now that things had calmed down a bit, Gohan couldn't help but wonder if the person he saw standing there was someone who would prove a threat later on. Strange as it seemed, the image of the man was wiped from his mind after the blast. This proved to be irritating since now they had no idea who to be looking out for.
The child in that dream seemed really worried about Goten. And though it seemed highly impossible, Gohan felt as though he had seen her somewhere before. Gohan's eyes trailed over to a picture on his bedside table. It was a small photo of Gohan's mother and him with Goten in his arms. Goten had to have been a mere week old yet he looked so strong for a newborn child. This brought tears to Gohan's eyes as he stared at the picture…
How could Goten have been killed when he was such an able child?
Gohan suddenly blinked in shock. The girl. He had seen her before… A long time before. Right after Goten was gone…
Gohan didn't bother telling his parents where he was going. He hoped they would understand. He yanked opened his window and shot out into the morning sky heading towards the nearest ice capped mountain side. Goten's grave site.
Gohan knelt by his brother's empty gave hugging the tombstone to his chest. Tears swept freely down his flushed cheeks as he found his only brother slipping out from under his finger tips. It had been only two months since he disappeared and now. He was proclaimed dead by everyone. It was high time Gohan said goodbye too. But how could he say goodbye to someone he felt he still had to save.
"No. Goten… Don't leave me," Gohan sobbed.
He fell to the ground embracing the soil to him. He could only cry weakly now drained of all his strength. His heart had shattered a thousand times over as his little brother's face swam over his mind.
"You loved him, didn't you?"
Gohan jumped up suddenly staring into the empty emotionless eyes of a violet haired girl. Her eyes were a blue and as cold as midnight. Gohan felt the tears form in his eyes again as he tried to remain strong in the face of a possible enemy.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who understands how you feel…"
"You do?" Gohan whispered dropping his guard. "How?"
"I have lost my family as well." The girl sighed, "But I did not cry over it."
"Why is that?" Gohan asked in confusion. "Did you not love them?"
"I loved my family immensely," The girl continued. "I was just not allowed to show emotion. You are lucky you have the privilege. I came here to learn what you gave your brother that I cannot. I am afraid they will do the same to your brother that they did to me, if I do not hurry. He should be allowed to cry."
"What do you mean?" Gohan exclaimed, "You know where my brother is? Can you take me to him? How is he? Where is he?"
"The truth is Gohan," The girl whispered. "He is sick. And he will soon die if I do not know… How did you make your brother so happy?"
Gohan said in confusion, "Please can't I see him?"
In the next instant the girl was in front of him. She touched his forehead and Gohan felt himself slipping away. He fell on the snow next to his brother's grave, quite alone.
"This girl might be the connection to my dreams. And the connection to finding Goten," Gohan hissed as he flew. "That is if I didn't dream all that up too."
Gohan landed on a small cliff side that held a small stone carved into a cross with a garden of roses about it. Gohan sighed staring at it. Chichi had planted the flowers and Goku had carved the stone. Gohan did something that neither parents knew about. Gohan had buried the four star dragon ball beneath the head stone just last year. Bulma had helped him in doing so by giving him the dragon radar. It took him three years to locate it between school but he finally found it and Trunks and Gohan buried it together.
"You loved him, didn't you?"
Gohan spun around to face the same eyes he had seen those several years ago. Her hair was tied up in a firm French braid and her clothes were that of a normal teenager. Gohan found her very attractive but shook the emotions away.
"Who are you?"
"Somehow I sensed that you would be here."
"I did the same for you."
"It's been quite sometime hasn't it, Gohan?"
"Where is my brother?" Gohan asked sternly, "What happened to him? Why was he taken from me? Who are you? And how do you know about Goten?"
"My name is Tsuki," The girl stated. "I am an Android. I am the first creations of the Dimensions of Truth. I was made into an android to obtain everlasting life. My parents suggested it giving their own lives up to make it true."
Gohan eyed her uncertainly not sure if he should give her any pity. He had been lied to before and the story seemed rather unbelievable.
"What about Goten?"
Tsuki's face contorted with sadness. She fought her feelings and forced her face to remain neutral. Gohan suddenly felt a surge of compassion towards Tsuki. She was telling the truth. Gohan could feel it deep his heart now.
"He died. Several years ago. I was unable to save him from the darkness that had consumed his heart and it destroyed him."
Gohan couldn't believe it but yet somehow it made sense. Gohan closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. No tears came to him since his ears were so accustomed to those words.
"My heart bleeds for you and your brother," Tsuki whispered softly. "I wish I could do something to ease your heart."
"Tell me he didn't die alone," Gohan said slowly. "Tell me that much."
"I was with him always."
"Thank you," Gohan whispered his heart breaking. "Thank you, Tsuki."
When he opened his eyes, she was gone once again. This time, Gohan did not try to find her. He stood on the cliff staring absentmindedly off into the morning sky. Gohan stood letting the wind run its delicate fingers through his hair. He lost track of time as he stood. His heart was off somewhere else as he stood trying to image his brother's last moments. It was horrible yet satisfying to know that Goten had died. If he was truly gone then he didn't have to suffer and that was what Gohan had hoped over all.
"No matter how long you stare at the sky it still remains blue," A voice muttered behind him.
Gohan spun around to see Trunks standing there looking at him compassionately.
"Yeah, I know," Gohan said softly.
"You gonna train for the tournament?" Trunks smiled. "It's tomorrow."
"I don't need to."
"Well, if I am gonna be in the tournament you will need to," Trunks huffed. "I kick your butt, Gohan."
Gohan let out a hearty laugh, "You wish, Trunks."
"Care to prove it, defeater of Cell?"
"I'll take that bet, future prince of Sayians.
Trunks and Gohan landed outside the mountains in an open valley free of trees and things that would just get in their way. Trunks eyed Gohan, thirsty for a great battle to eager to wait till tomorrow. That was one of Trunks flaws. He was way to impatient which caused him to attack impulsively. This could end the battle at the start.
Trunks slid his feet slightly apart lifting his arms lightly in his fighters stance. Gohan watched for Trunks to think things through before he took got into his own fighter's stance.
Gohan slipped his right foot behind himself to turn himself sideways still facing Trunks. He arched his arms and hands in the causal way he was taught by his father to relax into defense. Trunks' left eye twitched ever so slightly indicating his attack that Gohan could already foresee.
Trunks charged flashing out at the last second to get behind him. Gohan saw this approach and almost lazily caught Trunks' leg as it aimed for the back of his neck as a knock out punch. Trunks' cerulean eyes widened with immense shock as Gohan flung him around and tossed in up into the air. Trunks spun for a few seconds giving Gohan enough time to drift upwards towards him. Trunks caught himself upside down in the air. With this advantage, Gohan sent out a punch at Trunks' head that Trunks ducked underneath. He pulled himself back upwards and hurled a round house kick to Gohan's side. Gohan caught it with his hand latching about his ankle leaving Trunks helpless. Gohan then hurled his fist into Trunks' stomach sending Trunks flying backwards several feet.
Trunks caught himself in the air as his eyes narrowed in frustration. Gohan smirked over at him in a imitating way. He beckoned Trunks over with his one index finger making Trunks go red. Trunks screamed out a battle cry and sent one punch strait at Gohan's jaw. Gohan ignored it kicking Trunks sharply in the gut again. While Trunks grunted out in pain for that split second, Gohan balled his fists together and then uppercut them into Trunks' right cheek knocking him to the ground.
Before Trunks could hit the ground, Gohan caught Trunks by his foot and sent his flying upwards again. Trunks blinked in shock and the scowled. Gohan didn't want Trunks to get hurt. Man, he was way to nice. Trunks paused in the air as Gohan glared up at him. Trunks once again wasn't paying attention. Gohan placed the sides of his hands together and in a flash had aimed and fired several ki blasts up at Trunks. Trunks yelled in shock and fumbled backwards away from the blast as they reached up to catch him. Once flew past his ear and then second skimmed his side. The third was aimed true. Trunks caught the blasts in his bare hands ignoring the burning pain that rippled up his arm and shot the blast back down at Gohan with his own ki. Gohan smirked and caught the blast in one hand simply. The blast hovered a few feet above his palm daunting Trunks' nerve once again. Trunks gritted his teeth.
Gohan raised his fists up to his chest and brought them down quickly his black hair jetting upwards into a pure golden color and his amber eyes fading into a beautiful cerulean color that was unnaturally blue even for a Sayian. But not for a Super Sayian. The aurora about him hissed in a dull way threatening Trunks in a mocking way. Trunks scowled and let out small ump as his power quickly matched Gohan's with quite some ease. The two golden warriors stood still eying each other's every move leaving the world around them holding its breath.
Gohan shot up at Trunks with his fist out reaching for flesh. It smashed into Trunks' jaw sending him hurling backwards. Gohan smiled and bent back his knee to kick Trunks into the dirt but for once, Trunks got the upper hand on Gohan. At the last second, Trunks spun about and slammed his own fist into Gohan's face sending Gohan falling backwards too. Gohan rubbed his jaw impressed. Even Vegeta had failed to hurt him that badly. Nonetheless, Gohan was very impressed by Trunks skill. He had been training Trunks well, hadn't he?
The battle continued with each of them giving it as much as they could. Gohan was holding back of course. He had never used his true potential with anyone since Cell. Trunks knew he didn't stand a chance but he hoped he could somehow compare… if he tried hard enough. Trunks came down at Gohan with his two fist clenched above his head. Gohan ducked it and grabbed Trunks' unprotected feet. He lifted Trunks high above his head and slammed the boy into the dirt hard, sending himself upwards a bit. Gohan kicked downwards at Trunks' head for Trunks to push himself upwards by his left hand. Trunks pushed himself up to his feet just as Gohan sent his other foot at Trunk's head. Trunks ducked it just barely as Gohan's foot skimmed the top of his head.
Trunks pulled himself down and gripping the earth tightly he kicked backwards missing Gohan's face by inches. Trunks caught himself in a squat just as Gohan fired another ki blast at him. Trunks ducked it and shot five of his own back at Gohan. Gohan somehow managed to dodge them all with out even really moving his body that much. Gohan formed to ki blast and melted them together into his palms. He smirked awfully sending them careening at Trunks. Trunks couldn't avoid them even if he tired. Trunks was sent hurling on his back skidding painfully across the dirt ripping up the back side of his shirt.
Gohan ran after him preparing a finishing move but Trunks tucked into a roll and flipped back onto his knees. He scowled at Gohan as blue lighting forked about him making his golden hair more solid and jagged and his muscles bulge. Trunks let out a scream of anguish as the skies darkened and the earth beneath him trembled. Gohan placed his hands on his hips and smirked. He wiped the blood casually off his lips from Trunk's last hit and shook his head. Trunks was now getting desperate.
Trunks lunged out at Gohan suddenly disappearing from Gohan's view. Gohan blinked as Trunks appeared behind him with a kick aimed for his head. At the last second, Gohan disappeared leaving Trunks foot to hit thin air. Trunks panicked and looked upwards as Gohan came down with his fist aiming for his face again. Trunks let out a small cry and caught Gohan's fist to be pressed hard into the ground. This caused the earth to crack and cave in. Gohan smirked and with his free fist he let loose a deadly punch that sent Trunks flying through the air. Trunks hurled back a few feet and caught himself on a rock. He bent his knees and rocketed himself back into Gohan. Gohan caught Trunks' arms and sent him swinging sideways through the air once more. Gohan zoomed after him and sent a kick to Trunks' neck. Trunks held up his arm defensively catching the blow. He sent a punch back at Gohan that Gohan ducked as well. Gohan followed Trunks example as before and gripped the soil beneath him as he fell downwards and sent his two feet up at Trunks. This too did not make contact. Gohan tucked into a roll and kicked hard off the ground just as Trunks' ki blast scorched the ground he had graced only seconds before.
"Stay still, darn it!" Trunks yelled in his frustration.
"Yeah right," Gohan laughed, "And you wonder why I refuse?"
Trunks let out another scream of anger and launched himself up into the air at Gohan again. Gohan shook his head and moved just in time. Trunks expected this and shot a ki blast behind him that struck its target. Gohan flew down a bit rubbing his arm to which was slightly burned by the blast. Gohan scowled and fired his own ki blasts up at Trunks. With Trunks' excellent maneuvering skills, he was able to dodge every blast that was shot at him. Trunks then spun back around and caught the last blast with some difficulty. He gripped in both his hands and flung it back down at Gohan who moved just in time to avoid it.
Trunks moved his hands in several rapid movements across his chest and then pressed his two wrist together before his face. He quickly brought his hands out in front of him the fingers spread apart and his thumbs and index fingers touching.
Gohan knew this attack very well. Gohan clasped the heels of his palms together and tucking his hands behind himself chanting those all too familiar words.
Trunks wrapped one arm behind himself as the other took aim. His prepared hand shot forward releasing the powerful beam down at Gohan. But Gohan was prepared with his own attack too.
Gohan made sure he didn't put too much power into it but it was too late to stop now. He released the kamehameha right into Trunks' beam that had made it within inches of Gohan. The beams collided into the air trembling under to forces that held them. Gohan's eyes narrowed his concentration as Trunks broke out into sweat.
The blasts burned the skies with their power catching the attention of both Goku and in another place, Vegeta. The two father's shared a smile as the sensed their sons in a heated spare. Like father like son.
Gohan pushed some more force behind his blast causing Trunks to abandon his difficult position. He jumped to the side as the beams hurled upwards into space exploding in the upper atmosphere like a firework. Trunks squinted back to the ground to find Gohan was gone…
Trunks scanned the landscape in confusion. He even called out to Gohan worrying for his best friend. Suddenly Trunks felt someone catch him under the arm pits. Trunks burst out into laughter as Gohan began a tickle attack.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Trunks cried out kicking and flaring every which way as Gohan continued to tickle him. "You can't tickle me, Gohan!"
Gohan laughed along still continuing to tickle his buddy. They spent the rest of the day together just goofing around as the best buddies usually did.
To Be Continued…
Please R + R!
This was the hardest chapter I have ever tried to write. But I think that one chapter in Japanese was hard… no …this was harder. I had to watch all these dragon ball z fighting music videos to get ideas for this fight. Argh. And it's not gonna get any easier with the tournament coming up. Sigh. Well I hope you are all content with this chapter. It was really hard to do and took me a total of five hours to complete. That's really long not including the breaks… owie, my poor shoulder. I'm thirsty now…
And another thing. The fanfiction getting taken away is officially a crazy rumor. Don't worry. It states in the law that they can't take our fanfiction away unless we get money for it. And we don't so no worries. As my sister's class of 2007 states "It's all good."