Scars – Chapter 14
Gohan was falling into a blissful little nap when an unexpected knock pulled him from his rest. He stared in confusion a the ceiling, not realizing where he was for a minute. Then he thought for a second about what had woken him, and he got out of bed, opening the door.
"Uhhh.... Huh?" Gohan said brilliantly when he saw the man standing on the other side of the door. He blinked hard at his guest and scratched his head. "Can I help you?" Gohan tried finally as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Trunks stared at Gohan in silent shock. The little boy he'd left behind was all grown up, and apparently didn't recognize him. He gestured to himself with a hand. "Gohan... its me... Trunks. Er... that is... Mirai Trunks. Did I wake you?"
Gohan swallowed and nodded, then shook his head. "Yeah... but I wasn't really asleep... uhm... you wanna come in? Wow Trunks, I haven't seen you in so long... your hair is short now!" Gohan led Trunks into his room, noting that Trunks shut the door behind him as he entered. They took up residence on Gohan's mussed bed.
Gohan sat with his back against the wall, resting a hand on his stomach as he let his eyes wander over the young man sharing the bed with him for the moment. His relaxed position was due only to his sleepiness, his eyes were alert and his mind was ready to receive Trunks' story, whatever it may be. Gohan's gaze paused on the unfriendly lines etched in his future friend's face, questions bubbling inside him.
So what brings you here Trunks? How are things in your time?" Gohan tried some basic questions, not wanting to overwhelm his old friend, who was looking at everything as though it held meaning to him. Trunks seemed to be in a contemplative or upset mood.
Trunks sat on the edge of the bed, not really feeling very comfortable here. He could feel Gohan's eyes on him, and he was too shy at the moment to face the countenance of his dead teacher. It pained him deeply to hear Gohan's voice, but Trunks forced himself to hold back the tears he could feel trying to leak from his eyes. He missed Gohan so much... and here he was, but he wasn't really the same person at all.
"I came to this time for a different reason than bringing news... I... well my mother passed away in my time... I decided to leave it and live here instead."
Gohan was silent, he hadn't expected that. He sat up from his place against the wall, putting a tentative hand on Trunks' shoulder. He wondered why Trunks had cropped all his long hair off... it looked almost military in its severity, and gave him a completely different air. Gohan waited for Trunks to explain further.
"My time is dead... there are surviving humans but they're few in number... since M-Mom's gone I thought... I thought I might find solace in this time... where you're all still alive and well. I know that it's selfish... the way I ignore my responsibility to my own time by leaving it... but I would've gone insane if I'd stayed there any longer. Uhm... what about you G-Gohan? Has a lot happened since we last saw each other? You've grown handsome... and your ki is immense... you must have fought many difficult battles since Cell."
Trunks didn't move under Gohan's hand on his shoulder. He wasn't sure whether it was there out of worry or pity or something else, but he liked the small comfort and it was not suffocating or confusing to him, so he made no move to change his position.
Gohan removed his hand and scooted so that he was sitting with his legs over the edge of the bed, feet on the floor, just like Trunks. He looked at the man quietly, then began to explain what had passed over the course of their years apart.
"Yeah Trunks.... There were a few... I did some training on the planet of the kais..." From here Gohan spent time explaining the battle between Buu and the Earth. Trunks listened attentively as he learned about Fusion, and the Z Sword, and the old Kai who helped Gohan unlock his hidden powers. He was somewhat in awe of his friend when Gohan reached the end of his tale, explaining how Buu was finally defeated.
"After that, My Dad got to stay alive... so he's here now, on Earth, living with us. I haven't been training much lately, since I'm starting university in a bit. I'm a little worried about that, but I guess it can't be much worse than high school was... right? Videl decided to go to college... oh, you haven't met Videl, she's my best friend." At this commentary, Gohan blushed a warm pink, which led Trunks to looking at him closely. "Vidi just learned the Kamehameha Wave today, I've been teaching her to control her ki since she figured out I was half saiyajin. She's a natural with it... but sometimes she gets impatient. Uhm... so you're gonna live in this time now... permanently?"
"Yes... what are you going to study in university? Master Gohan talked about that a few times when we weren't fighting the androids. He said he would have liked to study if all the schools hadn't been blown up... *frown* I miss him." Trunks looked away from Gohan at his lap, tears forming in his eyes as he helplessly tried to keep them from doing so. Gohan rubbed his back.
"The other Gohan was your master? What do you mean? Because he taught you to fight?"
Trunks looked at Gohan with great frustration, his frown tight and his brows drawn together for emphasis. Gohan could never understand.... He knew that Gohan was thick-headed... at least his teacher had been. This one would likely be the same.
"It was more than that... He... He was my friend.... He taught me to take care of myself... to fight, yes... but also a lot of other things... I can't explain... you just have to know. Think how your dad was to you when you were little, before he died the first time. Gohan was kind of like that to me. Only, I loved him different... I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have started in on you about that stuff."
Trunks tried to weasel out of Gohan's comforting touch on his back. He was nauseous inside just from talking about his dead friend so deeply.
"Don't apologize Trunks, I... I've lost people close to me too... I do know what it's like..." Gohan smoothed his hand over Trunks' back more firmly, trying to communicate his understanding so that Trunks could know that he did get the point. He wasn't expecting Trunks to slap his arm away and stand up to face him with tearstained eyes.
"You don't know what you're talking about! You know how its feels when one person dies... your family and friends are still around to mourn beside you! Try having all of them die too and then we'll talk! I shouldn't have come here... you look exactly like him... I... I have to go."
Trunks made a beeline for the window, unable to see through his blurry eyes, sobs struggling to break from his throat. He pushed a hand up against the glass only to have Gohan's gasp of shock ring clearly in his ears. He pushed the window open and jumped out into the waning afternoon, rocketing high into the cloudless sky, away from Gohan, and away from his own family. He needed to be alone...or at least away from all the people that hurt so much to talk to, like his father, and Gohan, and his mother. He didn't want to see any of them, he just wanted to stop hurting so much.
+++++++++++++
Gohan stared in shock at his bedroom window. The screen was broken for the second time that day, only this time it hadn't been his fault in the slightest, unless he traced Trunks' outburst back to himself. He had never seen a person look so vehement and so crushed at the same time, as he had when Trunks suddenly stood and yelled at him. He closed the window quietly, sighing that his mother would yell at him.
Unsure of what else to do, and forgetting his sudden crush on his best friend, Gohan picked up the phone and called Videl in hopes that she would have something good to tell him, as she always did.
*ring, ring*
"Hello?" Videl's voice came from the other end of the line.
"Vidi? Its me.... You're not going to believe what just happened."
"What? Well tell me already Gohan, you know I hate being kept waiting! Is something wrong? How come you sound so upset? Oh... you had another fight with your dad, eh? Look, I told you already-
"No, its not about that, something different happened."
"Well what is it Gohan!?"
"Mirai Trunks is here. I don't mean right beside me... I mean in our time. But he was here... in my room... and we got in a fight...or something... I don't even really know... now I don't know what to do. He flew off after yelling at me.... But... but I don't think it'd be fair to him if I told you all about it... I just had to tell you, you know, cause I tell you everything. What if he stays like he says he's going to? He could train with us and maybe he'll go to college with you or university with me.... Cool eh? But first I've got to calm him down... maybe I should go."
"Wait just a damn minute Son Gohan! You don't just call me up and babble at me for fifty seconds, then hang up!"
"But-
"No! He'll be fine... Is this the Trunks that came to battle Cell with you and everyone else?"
"Yeah...but-
"Wait a second Gohan, I'm not finished! What did you say to make him mad?"
"Nothing! It wasn't like that... he was just talking, and he said I... Videl I can't tell you about this... its private... I mean its his stuff to tell, not mine. But we didn't really fight... he just got really upset and flew off. What should I do?"
"Man Gohan sometimes I think I ought to turn you in for a newer model... relax, he'll be fine. Give him some space and some time. If he wants to come back, then its inevitable. You know nothing stops you saiyajins. The only thing you can do is wait. Why don't you go downstairs and see if your mom wants some help with something? You can't fix things with Trunks just yet. It sounds like he's got too many problems inside himself to be trying to sort them all out alone. If he comes back again, just do your best to listen to him. Hey, I know I suck at listening, but I do know that everyone needs someone to listen to them once in awhile. In some people's cases, more than just once in awhile."
"Wow Videl... thanks... you're the greatest. So did your energy recover from that blast alright?"
"Yep, I took a shower and a nap and ate some more when I got here, and now I feel great! I think I'll fly somewhere to practice later... you wanna come?"
"I don't know... its like I said before... I'm gonna try and do something with my dad... you know... give him a chance."
"Kay, I'll talk to you later Gohan. And don't worry so much...."
"Bye Videl."
Gohan heard the line click and he hung up the phone, sighing and rubbing his hands over his face. He decided to take Videl's advice and go downstairs to see what his mom was up to.
Gohan was falling into a blissful little nap when an unexpected knock pulled him from his rest. He stared in confusion a the ceiling, not realizing where he was for a minute. Then he thought for a second about what had woken him, and he got out of bed, opening the door.
"Uhhh.... Huh?" Gohan said brilliantly when he saw the man standing on the other side of the door. He blinked hard at his guest and scratched his head. "Can I help you?" Gohan tried finally as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
Trunks stared at Gohan in silent shock. The little boy he'd left behind was all grown up, and apparently didn't recognize him. He gestured to himself with a hand. "Gohan... its me... Trunks. Er... that is... Mirai Trunks. Did I wake you?"
Gohan swallowed and nodded, then shook his head. "Yeah... but I wasn't really asleep... uhm... you wanna come in? Wow Trunks, I haven't seen you in so long... your hair is short now!" Gohan led Trunks into his room, noting that Trunks shut the door behind him as he entered. They took up residence on Gohan's mussed bed.
Gohan sat with his back against the wall, resting a hand on his stomach as he let his eyes wander over the young man sharing the bed with him for the moment. His relaxed position was due only to his sleepiness, his eyes were alert and his mind was ready to receive Trunks' story, whatever it may be. Gohan's gaze paused on the unfriendly lines etched in his future friend's face, questions bubbling inside him.
So what brings you here Trunks? How are things in your time?" Gohan tried some basic questions, not wanting to overwhelm his old friend, who was looking at everything as though it held meaning to him. Trunks seemed to be in a contemplative or upset mood.
Trunks sat on the edge of the bed, not really feeling very comfortable here. He could feel Gohan's eyes on him, and he was too shy at the moment to face the countenance of his dead teacher. It pained him deeply to hear Gohan's voice, but Trunks forced himself to hold back the tears he could feel trying to leak from his eyes. He missed Gohan so much... and here he was, but he wasn't really the same person at all.
"I came to this time for a different reason than bringing news... I... well my mother passed away in my time... I decided to leave it and live here instead."
Gohan was silent, he hadn't expected that. He sat up from his place against the wall, putting a tentative hand on Trunks' shoulder. He wondered why Trunks had cropped all his long hair off... it looked almost military in its severity, and gave him a completely different air. Gohan waited for Trunks to explain further.
"My time is dead... there are surviving humans but they're few in number... since M-Mom's gone I thought... I thought I might find solace in this time... where you're all still alive and well. I know that it's selfish... the way I ignore my responsibility to my own time by leaving it... but I would've gone insane if I'd stayed there any longer. Uhm... what about you G-Gohan? Has a lot happened since we last saw each other? You've grown handsome... and your ki is immense... you must have fought many difficult battles since Cell."
Trunks didn't move under Gohan's hand on his shoulder. He wasn't sure whether it was there out of worry or pity or something else, but he liked the small comfort and it was not suffocating or confusing to him, so he made no move to change his position.
Gohan removed his hand and scooted so that he was sitting with his legs over the edge of the bed, feet on the floor, just like Trunks. He looked at the man quietly, then began to explain what had passed over the course of their years apart.
"Yeah Trunks.... There were a few... I did some training on the planet of the kais..." From here Gohan spent time explaining the battle between Buu and the Earth. Trunks listened attentively as he learned about Fusion, and the Z Sword, and the old Kai who helped Gohan unlock his hidden powers. He was somewhat in awe of his friend when Gohan reached the end of his tale, explaining how Buu was finally defeated.
"After that, My Dad got to stay alive... so he's here now, on Earth, living with us. I haven't been training much lately, since I'm starting university in a bit. I'm a little worried about that, but I guess it can't be much worse than high school was... right? Videl decided to go to college... oh, you haven't met Videl, she's my best friend." At this commentary, Gohan blushed a warm pink, which led Trunks to looking at him closely. "Vidi just learned the Kamehameha Wave today, I've been teaching her to control her ki since she figured out I was half saiyajin. She's a natural with it... but sometimes she gets impatient. Uhm... so you're gonna live in this time now... permanently?"
"Yes... what are you going to study in university? Master Gohan talked about that a few times when we weren't fighting the androids. He said he would have liked to study if all the schools hadn't been blown up... *frown* I miss him." Trunks looked away from Gohan at his lap, tears forming in his eyes as he helplessly tried to keep them from doing so. Gohan rubbed his back.
"The other Gohan was your master? What do you mean? Because he taught you to fight?"
Trunks looked at Gohan with great frustration, his frown tight and his brows drawn together for emphasis. Gohan could never understand.... He knew that Gohan was thick-headed... at least his teacher had been. This one would likely be the same.
"It was more than that... He... He was my friend.... He taught me to take care of myself... to fight, yes... but also a lot of other things... I can't explain... you just have to know. Think how your dad was to you when you were little, before he died the first time. Gohan was kind of like that to me. Only, I loved him different... I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have started in on you about that stuff."
Trunks tried to weasel out of Gohan's comforting touch on his back. He was nauseous inside just from talking about his dead friend so deeply.
"Don't apologize Trunks, I... I've lost people close to me too... I do know what it's like..." Gohan smoothed his hand over Trunks' back more firmly, trying to communicate his understanding so that Trunks could know that he did get the point. He wasn't expecting Trunks to slap his arm away and stand up to face him with tearstained eyes.
"You don't know what you're talking about! You know how its feels when one person dies... your family and friends are still around to mourn beside you! Try having all of them die too and then we'll talk! I shouldn't have come here... you look exactly like him... I... I have to go."
Trunks made a beeline for the window, unable to see through his blurry eyes, sobs struggling to break from his throat. He pushed a hand up against the glass only to have Gohan's gasp of shock ring clearly in his ears. He pushed the window open and jumped out into the waning afternoon, rocketing high into the cloudless sky, away from Gohan, and away from his own family. He needed to be alone...or at least away from all the people that hurt so much to talk to, like his father, and Gohan, and his mother. He didn't want to see any of them, he just wanted to stop hurting so much.
+++++++++++++
Gohan stared in shock at his bedroom window. The screen was broken for the second time that day, only this time it hadn't been his fault in the slightest, unless he traced Trunks' outburst back to himself. He had never seen a person look so vehement and so crushed at the same time, as he had when Trunks suddenly stood and yelled at him. He closed the window quietly, sighing that his mother would yell at him.
Unsure of what else to do, and forgetting his sudden crush on his best friend, Gohan picked up the phone and called Videl in hopes that she would have something good to tell him, as she always did.
*ring, ring*
"Hello?" Videl's voice came from the other end of the line.
"Vidi? Its me.... You're not going to believe what just happened."
"What? Well tell me already Gohan, you know I hate being kept waiting! Is something wrong? How come you sound so upset? Oh... you had another fight with your dad, eh? Look, I told you already-
"No, its not about that, something different happened."
"Well what is it Gohan!?"
"Mirai Trunks is here. I don't mean right beside me... I mean in our time. But he was here... in my room... and we got in a fight...or something... I don't even really know... now I don't know what to do. He flew off after yelling at me.... But... but I don't think it'd be fair to him if I told you all about it... I just had to tell you, you know, cause I tell you everything. What if he stays like he says he's going to? He could train with us and maybe he'll go to college with you or university with me.... Cool eh? But first I've got to calm him down... maybe I should go."
"Wait just a damn minute Son Gohan! You don't just call me up and babble at me for fifty seconds, then hang up!"
"But-
"No! He'll be fine... Is this the Trunks that came to battle Cell with you and everyone else?"
"Yeah...but-
"Wait a second Gohan, I'm not finished! What did you say to make him mad?"
"Nothing! It wasn't like that... he was just talking, and he said I... Videl I can't tell you about this... its private... I mean its his stuff to tell, not mine. But we didn't really fight... he just got really upset and flew off. What should I do?"
"Man Gohan sometimes I think I ought to turn you in for a newer model... relax, he'll be fine. Give him some space and some time. If he wants to come back, then its inevitable. You know nothing stops you saiyajins. The only thing you can do is wait. Why don't you go downstairs and see if your mom wants some help with something? You can't fix things with Trunks just yet. It sounds like he's got too many problems inside himself to be trying to sort them all out alone. If he comes back again, just do your best to listen to him. Hey, I know I suck at listening, but I do know that everyone needs someone to listen to them once in awhile. In some people's cases, more than just once in awhile."
"Wow Videl... thanks... you're the greatest. So did your energy recover from that blast alright?"
"Yep, I took a shower and a nap and ate some more when I got here, and now I feel great! I think I'll fly somewhere to practice later... you wanna come?"
"I don't know... its like I said before... I'm gonna try and do something with my dad... you know... give him a chance."
"Kay, I'll talk to you later Gohan. And don't worry so much...."
"Bye Videl."
Gohan heard the line click and he hung up the phone, sighing and rubbing his hands over his face. He decided to take Videl's advice and go downstairs to see what his mom was up to.