Shining Friendship
Finally I got my computer fixed! Yaay! Ahem…on to the fic.
It was rather quiet up in Dende's lookout. Goten hadn't come out from the room he was in, and Gohan hadn't spoken a single word. Mr. Popo had offered some lunch, but Gohan shook his head instead and sat down on the ground to continue looking at his hand.
"Gohan, please tell me what's wrong," Mr. Popo persisted, but Gohan wouldn't answer.
Instead, without looking back at Mr. Popo, he asked, "Where is Dende?"
"He is in his chambers," Mr. Popo replied. "I believe he is concentrating on what is happening down on earth."
"So he knows," Gohan muttered. "He knows what happened."
"Son Gohan," Mr. Popo kneeled down next to Gohan. "Please, do tell me what has happened between you and Goten. I want to know if I can help."
For a while, all Mr. Popo received for an answer was silence. But then, Gohan turned to face him and Mr. Popo could see the tears in his eyes. "It's my fault…" he said. "I… I told them to go alone…!" Gohan continued to sob, as Mr. Popo listened to him talk. "And… and… I slapped him! For no reason at all! It's my fault… it's all my fault in the first place…"
"Please do not say that, Gohan," Mr. Popo reassured him. "I'm sure whatever happened isn't your fault."
"Yes it is!" Gohan stood up, still crying. "It's always me who causes problems in the first place! If it weren't for me, Trunks would still be alive and Goten wouldn't be so upset! It was my idea to let them go alone, and again, it was a mistake! It's not fair!! Every time I do things, they seem to be the right thing to do until I realize it wasn't right when it's too late. Because of me, Trunks is dead!" Gohan yelled. "Face it, Mr. Popo! You know I'm telling the truth! You know I'm always the one to mess things up! A long time ago, Dad died because of me! Android 16 died because of me! And now, I've killed Trunks!!" Gohan couldn't go any further as he broke down completely.
Mr. Popo looked shocked. Not because Trunks was dead, or because Goten wasn't doing so well, but because of the way Gohan thought about himself. "I hate myself…" he heard Gohan mutter.
"Gohan, don't say that," Mr. Popo said. "It's not your fault. Nothing is ever your fault. Even if you didn't let the boys go alone, something else could have happened. Things happen, anything can happen, and it's not our fault that we cannot see the future to know whether what we do is right or wrong. Everybody makes mistakes. Look on the bright side. Your father had died, but he came back, didn't he?" Gohan didn't answer. "I think that you should stop thinking of the wrong things you do, but on the good things as well. You did kill Cell and if it weren't for you, Piccolo would still be your father's enemy. I think that you're focusing on the wrong things you do. Why not try thinking of the good things you have done?"
Gohan wiped his tears away and looked at Mr. Popo. Soon, his lips parted into a smile and he bent down to hug Mr. Popo. "Thank you, Mr. Popo. You're the best."
"It was nothing, Gohan. Anyone could have figured it out," said Mr. Popo.
Gohan was about to answer back, but stopped when he heard a door open. He was expecting for it to be Goten, but instead saw Dende walking up to them. "Hello, Gohan. I see you and your brother didn't have a very pleasant fight."
"No, not really," Gohan replied.
"It's been bad down on earth, hasn't it?" Dende said.
"Yes, it has," Gohan looked down to earth. "Everything is messed up. For starters, Babidi's brother showed up and now Buu is back to his evil self. Even worse, Trunks is dead."
"I see," Dende sighed.
Meanwhile, Goten heard the trio talk outside. He could hear their voices from the other side of the door and he leaned closer to hear well. So Gohan wasn't lying. I guess Trunks IS dead, he thought. Trunks…I'm sorry for being so rude to you, I swear that if you ever come back, I'll make it up to you, even if you still hate me so. Goten wiped some wet marks from his cheeks, and began to slip on his shoes.
Gohan, Dende, and Mr. Popo turned to see a door open and out came Goten, still looking quite upset. Gohan tried not to make eye contact with Goten. Maybe his brother was still mad at him for slapping him across the face, so he didn't want to make Goten feel uncomfortable by staring at him. "I'm very sorry about what happened to your friend, Son Goten," Dende said as soon as Goten walked to them. "You must feel terrible about your friend."
"Just think how Vegeta must feel to know that his own son is dead," Mr. Popo added. "It must be horrible."
"It IS horrible," Dende corrected him. "Maybe even beyond that."
"Dende," Gohan started, "How is my father and Vegeta doing on earth?"
"Vegeta is fine," Dende replied, "but your father seems to be having a hard time with Buu."
"I should go and help him," Gohan suggested. "Before it's too late."
"No, no. It's already too late! Ha, ha!"
Everyone gasped when they saw Buu appear out of nowhere. "What happened to Goku?!" Dende demanded. Mr. Popo was shaking so bad, that he actually fell to his knees. Goten pulled himself closer to his brother, Gohan, and Gohan was surprised to know that even after hurting him, his little brother had already forgiven him so soon.
"Goku is dead!" Buu exclaimed.
"No, he's not!" Gohan cried. "You're lying! My father can't be defeated so easily!"
Goten, on the other hand, didn't know whether to believe Buu or not. His friend was already dead, so how could he believe that his father wasn't dead?
"I'll take you on!" Gohan volunteered as he stepped forward and Buu looked impressed at his courage. "I'll prove to you that my father isn't dead!" Gohan turned to Dende and Mr. Popo. "Guys, I need you to watch over Goten for now, okay?"
Dende nodded. "Don't die. Buu could be telling the truth," he said.
Gohan nodded but before he could go, he felt a strong grip on his hand. It was Goten. "Goten, what's wrong?"
"Promise me," Goten said. "Promise me that you won't die. I'm not sure whether to believe if Dad's dead or not, but if he is…" tears started to form on Goten's eyes. "If he is… don't leave me."
Gohan nodded. "I won't. I promise." And with that, he left down to the earth with Buu following him.
* * * *
Vegeta watched Bebidi fall to the ground and not make a move at all. After feeling satisfied, he went outside to check on Goku. But there was no sign of Goku anywhere. "Kakkarot!! Where the hell are you?!"
As if on cue, he heard a moan coming from some crushed trees. "Is that you, Kakkarot?" Vegeta flew to where he heard the moan and soon found Goku's body laying on the ground. He kneeled down next to Goku and smirked. "You just won't die, huh?"
Goku's eyelids opened slowly and he chuckled. "Nope," he said. "Got some broken bones, but I'm still alive."
TO BE CONTINUED
Now that my computer's back up, I can now update longer chapters. And readers don't worry. Trunks will be coming back soon (dang it! I spoiled the surprise!). Now, readers, I have a mission for all of you and I'm pretty sure you know this mission very well…click on 'Review!' Bye!