Hey ff.net otakus! I actually got the idea for this story from The Death of Dragonball Z by Usarea. Please don't kill me! ::cowers:: I'm even promoting you, see? Well, as you can see, I took her idea and ran with it. Well, I guess it's not that original an idea, but you get the picture. I actually scripted a lot of this out in my head (I tend to think a lot right before I go to sleep ^_^;), but I found writing it out to be a whole different thing in itself. I'm not quite sure when or how it's gonna end, as I have a tendency to hold on to my story/fantasies too long, but I think embedded deep within the thing is a pretty good message. I'll try to remember to decide what and what not to include.
I'm posting this while my other story is in progress because, well I've been wanting to write at least one of my story/fantasies out for posterity. (Yes I have plenty ^_^;) It also involves only Dragon Ball Z, which is my fav anime so I know a lot more about it than any other.
Well, thanks for reading all of this and I hope you enjoy my story. Please tell me if I should continue writing this out or just stick to working on The Untitled Anime Saga. Oh, the song lyrics are from Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park, and I don't own DBZ. ^_^
Edit: It's taken me a while to decide what to add, but I think this is now a finished product. Sorry for all the updates. ^_^;
*~*~*
I wanna heal
I wanna feel
What I thought was never real…
It must begin…
Promise
Chapter 1
If you looked closely, a small form could be seen padding slowly down the stairs. You needed to look closely because the previously mentioned form was currently trying not to be seen. As I reached the bottom, I held back my long black hair—not a trace must be seen—and peeked around the corner. My green eyes softened when they detected no one. Slowly, soundlessly, a door was opened, and I descended another flight of stairs to the basement.
Pew! As always, it smelled like sweat and beer. I moved Dad's workout mat from in front of the television—after memorizing its position on the floor—and turned it on.
"NEXT ON-" Holy crap! I quickly mashed the controller. Had they heard? I shuddered, thinking of what my father would do if he caught me.
*~*
"Gis-honey, you're home! Where have you been?! I thought school let out at three!" Serene got up from the couch long enough to chastise the me.
"Where the hell have you been?" My father roared, jerking up from his recliner.
"I had to take a test; you said you would pick me up, Serene." I couldn't stand my heavy backpack anymore; I let it drop to the floor with a thud.
Dad became even more angry, "I thought I told you not to put that down here!"
"Calm down, honey," his platinum-blonde wife scolded. "Gis, baby, you never told me about a test…"
The moment played itself vividly in my head, and I let out an indignant sigh. "Yes I did, right before you dropped me off."
The woman frowned, crossing her arms, "No, you did not. You know I had a hair appointment today, and I couldn't have come."
My jaw dropped in shock. "You never told me-"
"Don't argue with your mother!"
I couldn't stand it any longer. I had just walked home two miles in the rain with a 100-pound backpack, all because Serene had a hair appointment? "She's not my mom," I yelled, "and she never will be!"
Serene stood shocked in front of the television. Good. That floozy deserved it!
All that could be heard was the happy chatter of Oprah.
My father rose angrily from his chair. "Damnit, Gizela, that's it! I already had a headache…You're grounded for the next two weeks! No phone, no TV, no computer, NO tests! Apologize to your mother, or you don't wanna know what I'll do!"
Oh crap…how could I let myself do that? This always happened…I knew what he'd do, and desperately sought to avoid it. "I…I'm sorry," I forced out, staring at the floor.
"Sorry what?" The blonde demanded haughtily.
I closed my eyes tightly. Please don't make me do it….
"Say it, damnit, or I'll get the belt!"
"Sorry……Mom."
*~*
Thunder rumbled outside. I finally exhaled. Thank goodness for lightning. I knew what would happen if I was caught, but I didn't care. It was only one show anyway. The one that happened to be my favorite, the only solace in this twisted household.
And that show was: Dragon Ball Z!
I had seen every episode and movie, well, the ones that were aired on TV anyway. Dad never got me any for myself, thinking it was stupid for a high-schooler to watch cartoons. I had even seen all of Dragon Ball and DBGT, though it'd be impossible to sneak down this weekend to watch it because Dad always had parties in the basement whenever I was grounded.
The Z-Gang were my heroes, really. I'd blush whenever I thought about it, but it was true. I longed to get away from my life, but it was impossible. I can't drive (My father always "forgot" to take me out practicing.), I have no money, I'm not even out of high school yet…
But my thought was interrupted as "Rock the Dragon" began to play. This was one of my favorite episodes, the really early ones before they changed all the voices. Gohan had just been kidnapped by Raddiz, and was trying to run away. Poor little guy…I knew how it felt, being harassed by your own family. In DBZ it was so easy to get away…just travel around the country a couple days and you could find a small little town that had never heard of television. Everyone was so nice too. Man how I wish I could just get away like that…journey to the world of my heroes and forget all about my crappy life…Gohan looked so sad and scared hiding there under that cart…I wish I could just scoop him up and take him away….
Light! Piercing light! My eyes squeezed shut, I doubled over…….The pain!…..My whole body was buzzing, like I had touched 50 million light switches after scuffing my socks over 50 million carpets….
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH….!"
*~*
…
…
…..
……..
………grass……
………
……thick, waxy grass………
…Mmmmm…
…Why do I feel grass?
Slowly I opened my eyes…wow, it was bright! I squinted as I slowly got up. Yeah, I guess that was grass underneath me…a whole field of it…A tiny, scared whimper sounded off to my right, and I turned to see—a cart?
I froze. Huddling underneath that cart was a small boy with long black hair, looking very sad and scared.