Disclaimer: Did you know that DB was released in Japan the year I was born here in Australia? Well, now you know.

AN: Haha…I never realised how fun reviews with reader predictions could be! You're always a little blind when it comes to your own work so there are sometimes options out there you never would've thought of in a million years. Many thanks to the reviewers!!!

Chapter 3

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Gohan opened his eyes and looked around. There was mist all around him. He looked down and saw through the fog that he was standing on some sort of path.

He blinked in confusion for a moment, before uttering a small, "Oh right," and heading towards the faint light in the distance.

He stepped up onto the porch. "Evening Gohan." Bert greeted from under his cap, though he gave every outward appearance of being asleep.  

"Hi Bert. Um, is Kat here yet?" He asked as politely as he could.

"Nope. Still doing her homework." Bert's gruff voice replied, and Gohan had the distinct impression that he was smiling.

"Oh okay. Thankyou." Gohan gave him a small bow, unsure whether or not the old man could see him but thinking it best to do so anyway.

He walked up to the door, carefully turned the handle, and peeked in. Tonight the inside looked just like the inside of a country western style pub. Making his way to the exit on the other side of the main room Gohan sighed and wondered what he was going to do until Kat turned up.

He wandered around a little, looking for the change room, and found it without too much trouble. He came out again dressed in a checked flannel shirt, cream coloured pants, and sturdy leather boots.

He turned towards the main room again, but halfway up the hallway he changed his mind. He opened the nearest door, and stepped out onto a roofed porch of some kind.

It was made of rough weathered wood, and looked out onto a vast dusty plain, the horizon of which was lost in a dirty red haze. He walked over to the railing and peered up at the sky. It too was lost in the shimmering haze.

He shielded his eyes against the glare of the setting sun, a bright golden red smudge on his right. 

A small cough drew his attention to a person sitting in a corner. Blinking his eyes to help them adjust to the glare he was soon able to see a man, sitting draped over the railing, with his back leaning against a wooden pillar.

"G'day kid." His coarse voice seemed almost tired as he greeted Gohan with a tip of his broad brimmed hat.

"Oh hello." Gohan said, hurriedly bowing. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you. I'll leave now."

"S'alright kid. Plenty room enough for two." The man replied, gazing out across the plain.

"Oh. Okay then." Gohan answered uncertainly. Neither spoke for a while. Finding the silence uncomfortable Gohan gave a nervous cough.

The man turned his gaze to examine the uneasy boy. Gohan tried to avoid meeting his eyes, looking around the veranda.

"What's the matter boy? Not afraid of an old man are you?" The man spoke.

"Uh, no, I just…" Gohan didn't know what to say that wouldn't sound rude.

"Good." The man replied, with a sharp nod of approval. "You can't show THEM fear. If THEY think you're afraid then the battle's already lost."

"Um, okay." Gohan answered, having no idea what this guy was talking about.

"But I think you know this. Yes, you have the look about you. Of one who's looked death in the eye but refused to give way under his merciless grasp." He gave Gohan an appraising look.

"You'll keep THEM in line all right. THEY'LL cheat and lie and scam at the drop of a hat. Even the Changed Ones will try to deceive you; you must expect this." He stabbed his finger in Gohan's direction to make doubly sure he'd keep in mind this information.

"But do not fall for THEIR tricks. You are Light. Show them your power. It's the only thing THEY understand." There was a sense of urgency in his tone now. The idea that somehow if he didn't get this across to Gohan then all was lost.

"You mustn't give in. Use every resource at your disposal. THEY wont stay complacent forever. The peace cannot last!" This last sentence sounded like a desperate prophecy of an unavoidable disaster. 

Somewhat alarmed by the warnings being fired at him Gohan cried,

"Who? Who are THEY?"

The man's eyes flickered to the door. "The Dark." He whispered harshly. Gohan heard the latch of the door click open. Instantly the man was calm and aloof once more, contemplating the hazy plains stretched out before them.

"Remember boy. Take heed." He murmured, just as the door opened.

"There you are!" Kat exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you. C'mon, I found this great room. You'll love it I swear." She went over to Gohan, grabbed his wrist, and dragged him from the porch, not even noticing the man in the corner.

Gohan allowed himself to be pulled out the door, but his eyes stayed fixed on the man until the door closed between them.

"You alright? You look strange." Kat said, studying his face.

"What? Oh, I'm fine. It's nothing." Gohan replied, rubbing his eyes.

"That's good. I want to make the most of this night while it lasts. I swear, if I have to look at another algebra question I'll…I'll…" She let out a loud frustrated scream that echoed up and down the hallway, as well as between Gohan's ears.

"But algebra's easy." Gohan replied, wincing at the pain coming from his poor abused eardrums.

"What are you, some kind of boy genius?" Kat said, with a mixture of sarcasm and disbelief.

"No, my mum just makes me study a lot." Gohan answered humbly.

Kat laid her hand on his arm. "You have my deep and eternal sympathies." She said sincerely. "I reckon even if you hadn't saved the world they'd have to let you in here, if only to escape your evil mother."

"Hey! My mum's not evil. She just wants the best for me." Gohan protested, following Kat down the hall.

"Sure sure. That's what they all say." Kat replied condescendingly. Gohan growled slightly, getting quite ticked off at her words and her manner.

"Look, you don't even know her. If my studying makes mum happy then that's the least I can do. After all, it's my fault she doesn't have her husband any more!" He yelled angrily.

Kat spun around to face him in surprise at his outburst. But before she could say anything in reply a tall lady with midnight blue hair pulled into a tight bun appeared, dressed in an immaculate suit, and holding a notebook and pen.

"Now Gohan, I can sense some inner turmoil here. Why don't you share your feelings?" She said in what was supposed to be an encouraging tone, but it came out more like she was talking to a two year old.

The two children just blinked at her.

She looked at them and pursed her lips. "Well now, why don't we all get comfortable then hm?" She waved her hand and suddenly they were in an expensive looking office, with cushy chairs and a 'neutral colours' theme.

"What the-?" Kat said, looking around. Gohan grabbed her arm, his previous anger forgotten.

"Kat, what's going on?" He whispered, a little freaked out.

"I don't know." She whispered back.

"Children, take a seat. Relax." The lady invited, seating herself in a leather armchair.

"Uh, excuse me miss, but who exactly are you?" Gohan ventured bravely.

"Oh, how rude of me. I'm Miss Fink, but you may call me Dessie. Please, take a seat."

Gohan and Kat looked at each other, before cautiously moving to sit on a lounge. The cushions were incredibly soft, causing them to sink into them until it felt as though the cushions themselves where deliberately trying to hold them down.

"Now where were we?" Miss Fink consulted her notebook. "Ah yes, you blame yourself for your father's death Gohan? Do tell us about why you feel this?" Frowning, Gohan opened his mouth to say something that would likely get him into trouble if his mother ever knew he'd said such things, but Miss Fink interrupted him.

"Oh, and don't be afraid to cry. We're all friends here. We just want to help you." She smiled in a sickening way.

"I say we make a break for it." Kat whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

"I agree." Gohan replied in the same manner.

"Please, it's not good for you to keep your emotions bottled up like this. You must let it all out." Miss Fink tried persuasively. "It's unhealthy."

"Hey you freaky lady, he can be mentally disturbed if he wants to. You just leave him alone you hear." Kat shouted. "Run!" She urged Gohan, pulling herself out of the chair with a squelch.

While Miss Fink was still motionless in shock the two ran out the door, slamming it shut behind them. They didn't stop running until they were almost at the entrance to the main hall. There they stopped, panting for breath.

"Did we lose her?" Kat asked, leaning against the wall for support.

"I think so." Gohan replied, looking back down the corridor.

"What the hell was that anyway?" Kat demanded of no one in particular.

Gohan shrugged. "She looked like one of those psychiatrist people."

Kat made a rude noise.

"Makes sense though, I suppose." Gohan mused, still gazing down the hall. "If everyone who comes here has been through some type of ordeal there would be some who needed professional help."

"Like you?" Kat asked.

"What?! No way!" Gohan shouted. Kat laughed.

"Good. That's what I thought." She replied. After a brief silence she blurted, "How did your dad die?"

Gohan turned to look at her. She blushed. "Sorry. Morbid curiosity. Bad habit."

"No, it's okay." Gohan sighed. "The android I told you about, Cell, he killed him."

"Oh. Bummer." Kat answered.

Gohan gave a sardonic laugh. "I guess you could say that."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Perceiving that Gohan wasn't about to break it Kat asked almost apologetically, "So, how is that your fault, that this Cell guy killed your dad?"

Gohan frowned at the memories this conversation was incurring. "I had a chance to kill Cell, I was much more powerful than him, but I got arrogant and decided to toy with him for a while. Then Cell started to self-destruct, so dad teleported him off the planet…and got caught in the blast." He could feel tears forming in his eyes despite the emotion dampening effect of that dimension, and angrily swiped them away.

"Doesn't that make it an accident then?" Kat asked casually, pretending not to notice his tears.

"No. I could've-"

"Did you know that was going to happen before it happened?" Kat interrupted.

"No…" Gohan answered reluctantly.

"Then it was an accident. The way I see it we get blamed for stuff we do enough as it is. Why add extra stuff that could be blamed on bad fate instead?"

Gohan maintained a rebellious silence.

"Believe what you want. Me, I'd rather live life as each day comes. The past is been and gone and done. Nothing you can do so why worry?" She pushed off from the wall and looked at him, daring him to contradict her.

"Some people are just like that I suppose." He acknowledged.

Kat gave a small smile. "Core, I need a drink. Lets go see if that bar-lady's here tonight."

"Heh. Okay." Gohan replied, happy to drop the subject. 

Destiny watched their retreating backs with a smile, pulling her long hair out of that annoying bun.

"That should do the trick for a while." She said to herself in satisfaction, before shifting out of the Nightlife dimension.

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Gohan opened his eyes and looked around. There was mist all around him. He looked down and saw through the fog that he was standing on some sort of path.

Scratching his head he looked up and his eyes picked out a faint glow coming from somewhere in front of him. He gave a little laugh.

"You'd think I'd be able to remember after a month of this place." He smiled to himself and started walking to the entrance to the Nightlife club.

"Evening Gohan." Bert said as he stepped up onto the porch. "Miss Kat's just ordering herself a drink."

"Thanks Bert." Gohan replied, and stepped through the door. Tonight's theme was that of an ordinary pub, Gohan noted with some relief. Some of the past themes he'd seen had been a little bizarre, not to mention painful to his heightened senses.

He quickly located Kat and slid into the bar stool next to her. She was sitting with her back to the bar, elbows behind her on the bench top, and an amused smirk on her face.

"Get a load of that guy." She said by way of greeting. "He reckons he's something special, that's for sure."

Gohan swivelled around and his eyes near popped right out of his head.

"Hercule?!" He yelled in shock.

It was indeed the Afroed One. Hercule was in his element, surrounded by a group of people, a girl on each side, he was recounting his latest stunning and glorious victory. That is, his single-handed defeat of the monster Cell.

"How…but…what…HUH?" Gohan spluttered. This was the absolute last place he would ever expect to see a fraud like Hercule Satan.

"You know that gorilla?" Kat asked in surprise. 

"Know him…" Gohan repeated dumbly, before gathering his shock-scattered wits and giving conversation another try. "Yeah, he comes from my world. He claimed he defeated Cell, and since he was a famous marital artist and no one knew except the people there what really happened in the Cell Games everyone believed him."

"That loud mouth butt-ugly moron!" Kat fumed. She ranted about his facial features, heritage, and general disposition for a few minutes before hopping down off of her stool.

"C'mon Gohan. Let's set that buffoon straight." And she stormed over to where Hercule and his audience sat.

"Kat wait!" Gohan cried, quickly following her.

"Hey! Buffhead!" Kat yelled, getting everyone's attention. Hercule gave her an incredulous 'who me?' look.

"Yeah you. I want a word with you." Kat said loudly. "You lying cheating sonnofa b****."

There were mutters and 'Ooooos' from the crowd.

"Now wait just a moment…" Hercule stammered in shocked outrage, as he rose slightly at this provocation.

"Whatcha gonna do? Beat me? Or are ya gunna get someone else to do it for ya and take the credit?" Kat demanded.

Hercule's jaw dropped, but he soon recovered his composure. "I don't know what you're talking about little girl." He replied in his 'crowd pleaser' voice.

"Oh I think you do. I think you know very well. But just to remind you, let me introduce you to someone. His name is Gohan, and he is the one who killed the android Cell." She grabbed Gohan by the arm and pulled him next to her.

Hercule looked fearfully at Gohan for a second, before laughing in what could almost be relief. "Ahaha. Nice joke kid. I've never seen this boy before in my life." Hercule addressed the latter statement to the crowd around them.

"I looked at bit different then." Gohan said quietly to Kat, trying to ignore all the people staring at him. Never the less, everyone heard his soft voice.

"Go on then." Kat replied. "Jog the man's memory."

Gohan considered refusing for a moment, but Kat urged him on. "Fine." He mumbled, and powered up to super saiyan with a brief flare of ki. Hercule's reaction was instantaneous.  

The muscular man fell to the ground at Gohan's feet, mortal fear etched onto his features. "Aaaaah. Please don't kill me. I'll do anything. I didn't mean it really, I was just ah ha, you know, saving you the trouble of all those media conferences and the like." He whimpered, grovelling at the boy's feet.

Gohan looked wide-eyed at Kat, wondering what to do. She looked as though she was trying not to laugh. "There you have it folks, right from the ape's mouth." She declared to the audience.

There were mutters of disapproval and twitters of anger at being scammed in reply. A man, clothed entirely in black, with dark ginger hair slicked back, called out from the middle of the group.

"Come now people, you can't tell me you actually believed him, a direct spawn of The Satan himself." The people either side of him drew to the side, allowing him clear passage to the trio in the middle.

Hercule looked up at this man's words. "Backslash you dog. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing Herman." The man, Backslash smirked, nudging the prostrated man with his boot. As he came into better light Gohan was able to vaguely recognise him. He was the man Kat had danced with on the classical themed night.

"Herman?" Kat snickered.

Hercule quickly jumped to his feet and gave a small dignified cough. "Yes well, some things just can't be helped." He muttered. "Backslash, I haven't seen you since…" He frowned, trying to remember exactly when the last time he saw this man was.

The man, Backslash, rolled his eyes. "Since your exile for being a soft hearted fool moron."

Hercule snapped his fingers. "Right. Since then." There was a pause, in which the audience realised that the interesting part was over, and left to get drinks or what-have-you, (encouraged as they were by shooing motions from Kat).

"So…" The ever-intelligent Hercule said.

"So what's this I hear about you taking advantage of poor innocent little children?" Backslash smirked. 

"Hey you snooze you lose." Hercule replied cockily. Then as if realising what he'd just said he glanced warily at Gohan and inched closer to the man Backslash.

"Let me get this straight. You've become famous as the 'World Champion' Herman, but it wasn't you who actually won those bacteria game thingies?"

Hercule gave a small cough. "Cell, it was the Cell Games."

"Whatever. And now the guy who did do all the work, a kid no less, wants what? To beat you up and take what's rightfully his?"

Everyone looked at Gohan. "Uh, actually I don't want to be famous." He replied with a small blush at all the attention.

"Why not? Oh that's right, you're a crazy person. But you're at least going to beat him up right?" Kat urged hopefully.

Backslash laughed. "Herman, your luck astounds me. You mean you were going to let him get away with this kid?"

"My family doesn't want to be in the spotlight. My father only fought in tournaments for the challenge and love of the fight. But he's gone now and I don't like the way you make his achievements sound like cheating and trickery." Gohan said in his soft yet firm voice, bunching his hands into fists. 

"Now now, I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement right?" Hercule said, waving his arms around and moving further behind Backslash. "Help me out here." He hissed at his ginger haired acquaintance.

Backslash just laughed. "But Herman, this is great entertainment. Go for it kid."

"No!" Hercule made warding motions at Gohan before turning angrily to Backslash. "Hey, you owe me. I could make you pay up now if you like." Hercule threatened.

Backslash frowned. "Oh all right. Listen kid, who's looking after your family now that your pop's gone? You have an older sibling or something?"

"No, there's just me and my mother." Gohan replied slightly suspiciously, wondering where this was going.

"Your mum work? Any income at all?" Backslash asked in surprise. Gohan shook his head.

"And he eats heaps." Kat added with a knowing smile, following the reasoning.

"Well it seems you two could help each other out then." Backslash said triumphantly to Gohan and Hercule. "He has the image, you have the strength. He can give you a percentage of the winnings and you wont beat him up. Good idea?"

Gohan looked slightly stunned by this outcome and glanced helplessly at Kat. She grinned and nodded. "Now the question is what percentage and how is he to receive his money?" She asked for him.

Kat, Backslash, and Hercule haggled over the percentage for a while and finally settled on fifty-eight percent of all Hercule's world champ associated yearly income to be payed into a private bank account each year on Gohan's birthday.

"But how will Gohan know he isn't being cheated?" Kat pointed out.

"Well I could come once a year to supervise Hercule's additions." Backslash offered casually.

Kat frowned. "I don't think so. You're his friend. Gohan could do that himself I think."

Backslash blinked in surprise. "Well if you think that's best…" He let his voice trail off doubtfully

"I do." Kat replied. "And don't try to fool him. He's real smart."

"Kat!" Gohan protested with red cheeks.

"Well how about if Herman does cheat then Gohan gets to beat him up." Backslash smirked, and Kat grinned in agreement. Both seem to like the idea of a beat and humiliated Hercule.

Gohan just shook his head, amused by the whole thing. He wondered what his mother would think of this and then realised the loophole.

"But no-one would believe me if I told them how I came into so much money. And Hercule could just say this never happened because there's no proof. We're all in our beds sound asleep."

Hercule gave a small cough. "Asleep, yeah, right."

Backslash smirked. "Herman's in the flesh. He had to muscle his way in here."

"How?" Kat asked confused. "And why do you call him Herman and Gohan calls him Hercule?"

"Don't you know?" Backslash laughed. "Herman Satan, seventh son of The Satan aka The Devil, supreme overlord of hell and all it's workers and occupants. But he's the white sheep."

"Oh shut up." Hercule muttered angrily.

"He got himself exiled to a small insignificant little planet by big daddy for being righteous and what else was it?"

"I tried save a girl from her punishment." Hercule growled irritably. "It was the final straw. I shouldn't even have been born in the first place. Seven is a blessed number; I'm a living oxymoron." 

"Yeah, without the oxy." Kat snickered.

"You girl, are going to either find yourself very successful or in very deep trouble one day." Hercule proclaimed darkly.

Kat stuck her tongue out and asked, "Does anyone on Earth know your real name?"

"Heaven no!" Hercule said distastefully. "My birth certificate says Hercule and you'd better call me that and nothing else you hear me?" He said forcefully, pointing a finger at her.

Kat just rubbed her hands together. "Hear that Gohan. Blackmail material." 

"Just who is this girl anyway?" Hercule asked Backslash, jabbing his thumb in Kat's direction. Backslash shrugged.

"Do you come here often then Backslash?" Kat asked.

"Well yeah. Drinks are free, can't very well beat that. Course the entertainment's been a bit poor lately. It's probably all you kids' fault now that I think about it. Why don't you take tomorrow night off so's they can bring back those cute strippers or something?"

"But we like it here." Kat said, a glint in her eye. "How about we wont come tomorrow and you can make sure Hercule actually makes good his promise and completes his end of the deal. Then you can slip the bank details to Gohan and remind him about this if he doesn't remember during his day-life."

"Day-life?" Hercule asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nightlife, daylife, it's logical." Kat shrugged.

"Maybe, but that's a pretty big favour to ask for just one night of entertainment. Make it once a week." Backslash smirked.

"No way!" Kat replied, outraged.

Gohan rolled his eyes as they started to negotiate fervently. What was it with these people and deals? His family didn't really need the money he'd be getting from Hercule anyway. He himself caught a large portion of their meals and his grandpa usually helped out financially too. But Kat did seem to be having fun. Oh well. Maybe he'd just save it for when he was older or something.

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