The Day Dreams Died
Disclaimers: I do not own Dbz cause then if I did then the world would not be safe…
Author's Note: Holy cow! I haven't written here in ages!!! Well, technically I am supposed to be finishing my update in WBLW. But Writer's Block is pulling me down. My muses are running rampant because I'm too busy with the preparation of coming school to scold them. I only have Kenshin and he is only good at sword fights. (Kenshin: Sad but true.) So bear with me people. This might take awhile to get over.
~*~Chapter 9~*~
Krillen withered. He felt the surge rupture through his short stubby body like a blow to the skull. His senses were flaring. Almost as if under the spell of powerful alcohol fumes. The shadows of the clashing ki ran over his clenched eyes like a silent black and white movie. Smells of sweat and blood rushed up his unprotected nostrils. Foreign emotions overran his heart, blinding his own inferior ones. He could feel… everything.
Tears bled down his discolored cheeks at the pain. The pain of others; those that suffered. Then suddenly it all released; fading like a passing cloud. His body fell numb and limp to the cold ground. Gasping and dripping with cold perspiration, the monk curled himself into a tight ball and shook.
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'So ye know now.'
Krillen rubbed his arms to remove some of the touch. The venom continued to curl into his veins with their inexorable after-effects. His eyes watering and mouth cracking with dry wrinkles, Krillen gazed up at the Namekian. Eyes possessed his blank face. They were without hate or love but instead having fear given from a tormented animal, or beaten child.
The large Namekian drew himself deeper in the containments of his rooted throne. His wrinkled face still pointed skyward. Each wrinkle seemed to waver slightly as he boldly attempted to articulate his will,
'You know… You now know Gohan. As you requested.'
"It… It was incredible," Krillen croaked through his arid throat, "Who can hold that much inside- Who can? How can he live such a lie?"
'Children learn to be wise in time.'
"He was beaten!" Krillen protested, "I felt him beaten. How can he… How can he think Frezia cares?!"
The great man seemed to sag in the mouth as he frowned. His eyes were calculating and distant; as if he were seeing into the mind that seemed so perplexing to the two of them.
'Children also… cling to their teachers.'
Krillen paused with his mouth half open. He had planned to rant some more of Gohan's idiotic trust in the alien when the Namekian said that. All his thoughts ruptured into the logical thought the Namekian put across… Yes; children do cling to their teachers. He bowed his gaze shamefully. Subdued and misguided, Gohan was following the person that caught him when he fell, applauded when he spoke, christened him when he murdered. The bald monk shivered. One last question hovered up through his incomprehension.
"Why?" He sputtered, "Why would Frezia do that to him? Why not kill him?"
'Gohan is special. Why kill someone useful?'
"It's better then being a mindless slave that doesn't even realize that he's being maltreated!" Krillen sobbed, "Why doesn't the boy understand?"
'Has he ever been given anything else then this slavery?'
Krillen considered this. Gohan knew no better. But yet, somehow he did. His conscience did not kill his Father's best friend; it held firm. Gohan had said he had no idea why he was letting the bald companion go. Did he still remember Goku's morals? His mother's teachings? Could they still reach him?
"How do we save him?" Krillen asked miserably.
'Have faith.'
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Vegeta fell back, breathing in the heavy rise of dust about them. His mind was ringing with warnings and orders.
He couldn't think straight with all of this dust in the way. And not just that of the dying planet, but the dust in his mind as well.
He was trying to figure out that boy. His ill morals switching at random. His intentions cluttered and confusing. This child with no real extraordinary talent when they found him, that was befuddling even the Prince now. This boy laying several feet away, sheltered in the tall grasses that cloaked his being. Not only was this child proved remarkably loyal and prized by Frezia but he was also son to the rebel Earthling; the scum that Frezia had been trying to remove for quite some time now.
Ironic.
Vegeta's mouth curved into a smirk.
This child, who should have been fighting to protect his father from the grip of Frezia, was tormenter's own right hand. But even with that much pressure and dedication; the child, he still refused to destroy the man he was ordered to kill. Were morals finally sinking in? Vegeta was sure he had seen the boy slaughter countless aside Frezia before. Innocents, much of them. Had he been too drunk off the glory of his master to comprehend the blood staining his hands? Was he now suddenly free from his suspicious amounts of emotional drugs to realize what pain he had caused?
Or was it more? Did he know this was his father, even if his mind had not comprehended it? Bonded by blood, even if not by memories?
Either or, the child was very unsayian-like acting this way. He was raised by the best to be cold, heartless, and bloodthirsty. If it be any other Sayian before his father, Goku would have been dead in an instant. Probably would have been just as eager with an order to devour him, like the creatures that devour their own parents.
But Gohan bowed down. He played the fool. Just like his father even at a million miles apart, he was an idiot.
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Gohan twitched under the power of a itching sneeze. His body was pounding with a throbbing ache, surging through each vein and muscle. The indents from not yet forgotten punches and kicks stabbed his lungs that pumped their oxygen feverishly. He struggled to take in air. It was so gritty and unfavorable, the body wanted to shut the mouth. Give up. But the energy to move a jaw down into a fixed position was too much to spare. Concentrate on healing, on breathing, on living. Heart still pumping. Blood still flowing. Heal. Heal.
Gohan flexed his hand slightly, shifting the dirt beneath his fingers. They were quivering and turning blue. He needed to get blood flowing there. Oxygen. He needed to breathe deeper. Work body! Work!
Blood slipped soullessly from the pale chapped lips. Down it seeped to the uncaring planet; the harsh tumbling earth that lifted it's lips to the liquid. Die. Die. It whispered softly to the winds as they whipped the body with cold. The blood continued to circulate; trying to pump the oxygen through the dying heart, the tired limps, and unconscious mind.
The limpid body convulsed with the undying impulse to survive. And then, slowly the body relaxed. The chapped and blue lips drew closer with just enough space for oxygen to slip through. His eyelids fluttered. His fingers twitched. His body tirelessly worked as he dreamed. Get well. Alive. Stay alive.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hi," A soft and smooth voice lifted, "My name's Krillen."
Krillen? The little boy's lips pursed in careful thought. He had heard that name somewhere before…
"You remember Krillen, Gohan?" Another much deeper voice laughed, "He's my best friend from Muten-Roshi training."
"The turtle guy?"
Laughter. A sweet and filling sound… Another sound? The soft tumbling of water clashing with a surface… something. Something like a beach, perhaps. A beach? Where had that name come from? He was sure he had never gone to a 'beach' before.
"He's so cute, Goku-san. Looks just like you…"
"Smarter, perchance?"
"Ow, Krillen. That was cruel."
Goku-san? Who was that?
"Otousan? I'm hungry-"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Tswah!" Jeice shouted as he lunged a rather deadly punch for Vegeta's skull.
Vegeta leaned to the left just as the punch leveled. There he was faced with a roundhouse kick directed by Berter. This was a bit harder to avoid. He ducked and the blow careened over his head; ruffling his hair.
He knew he couldn't keep up such a pace. While Jeice was easy to predict with his jerky and instinctive movements, Berter was crafty and aiming for where Vegeta fell. And then there was always Raikom, who came at the least predicable moments. His blows were near fatal and made one jumpy and too wary after defending themselves.
Vegeta was becoming fatigued and battle worn already. His offence was sluggish. His defense was inadequate and ill-fated. Exhaustion was working it's way into his unwieldy body. It had been only a few minutes and already he was suffering from nasty bruises, cuts, and burns.
"Damn you, Kakarot." Vegeta hissed angrily.
He twisted his body back from a hastily aimed ki blast from Jeice. But lucklessly, Berter was there to greet him. His blue callous fist bit hard into the Sayian's back, warping the organs and bones inside. Spit splattered from the man's mouth as he buckled with the pain. It hung distastefully in the air with his waspish gasp. I can't lose…
A thigh collided with Vegeta's jaw jerking the man's head to the side with a excruciating crack. His head, still connected, swerved to see hard fists pound into his gut. Blood carried from his entrails to his mouth where they protruded their ugly heads. It ran down his chin in forked streams as he nose-dived into the land.
The earth rumbled with the collision and then fell silent from vacant life. A broken man lay motionless in a great crater. His eyes still wide… His mouth still open.
"Is he dead?" Jeice asked inquisitively.
"Iunno," replied Raikom inanely.
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"Oh no." Krillen muttered in horror, "They got Vegeta too."
The Namekian remained still as the Earthling rustled with panic. His queer emerald eyes watched the man intriguingly,
'You need to return?'
"I suppose," frowned the bald monk, "I'm not sure I'll be much help though."
Krillen began to pace, distressed by his lack of influence in these coming battles. The Namekian continued to follow his movement through his warm stare. His lined face creased with elevating lips. Leader smiled upon Monk. Monk's worries evaporated into mystification.
'But you can help.'
"How?" Krillen mused.
'With a life line. With a healer.'
"A healer?" Krillen repeated dully, "I- I don't know any healers."
'I do.'
The great Namekian nodded his massive head into the darkness. As if by cue, a young rather stubby Namekian child trotted forth. His garments were tattered robes and appeared almost too big on the boy. The child bowed his head quickly, hiding most of his young face.
"Konnichiwa." The boy sputtered, then attempted a small sarcastic comment, "Not that it means much nowadays."
Krillen would have thought the larger Namekian to be mad at such a remark, but instead he nodded humbly to the boy's observation.
'This is my son and successor. Dende.'
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"Your friend is hurt." Captian Ginyu observed, "Do you not want to help him?"
Goku tried keeping his emotional mask in place but it was hard. His mind was pressed on the fleeting ki beneath his hovering feet. Just stay alive. Stay alive.
"Come now, Goku." The purple alien croaked, "I know you want to. I can wait."
"So can he." Goku spat before he could stop himself.
His heart pounded painfully. Surely it wasn't he who said such a thing? No. He… He wanted to save Vegeta. But revenge…
"Ah. Well, now two to worry about?" Captian Ginyu continued indifferently, "Vegeta and your son."
Goku flinched.
"Oh. A soft spot, eh?" smiled the Captian, "It's not my fault, you know? I didn't force you to attack your son. You and he did that all your own."
"He… He can't be my son." Goku grumbled, "Gohan died… years ago."
"Gohan was found years ago. In a beat up Sayian space pod. At least that's how the rumors go. We all reckoned he was a survivor from Vegeta-sei's destruction. Then again, a two year old couldn't possibly live in space that long. Especially in that beaten up pod."
"Gohan died!" Goku shouted, "He can't have made it to any space port. I saw him blow up."
"Did you now?"
Goku's anger rose. He lunged snapping back the Ginyu's jaw. The battle proceed… with Ginyu's words still haunting the Earthling.
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"I'm tired of waiting." Jeice sneered powering a decent ki blast in his crimson palms, "He mocks us with his silence."
Jeice drew back, preparing to pitch the blast's deadly contents into the flesh below. None of the Ginyu's decided against it. All of them bored with wait.
Jeice swung forward just as a body hurled itself into his own. He tumbled clumsily through the humid air and allowed the orb of destruction to slip from his fingers. It plunged towards the ground and exploded with the contact of another orb. A orb of golden color.
Jeice impetuously swept the white strands of hair out of his red face that seemed unnaturally redder. The three of them stood in front of the fair skinned Earthling that glowed white with inscrutability. All three Ginyu's dropped their broad jaws in unison.
"Dead…" They sputtered, "No way."
Krillen smiled at their naivety. He secretly thanked the little half-breed that did so. He eyed Vegeta below him and glanced over to the high grasses where Gohan's body lay hidden.
"Are you a ghost?" Raikom gulped.
Krillen snapped back to attention and smiled,
"Hai."
The Ginyu's, that were huddled close, shuttered and fumbled backwards in the air. Their colorful faces were suddenly very pallid and Krillen was rolling gleefully in the fear.
"Not just that." Krillen smirked, "I'm a vengeful one."
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He's strong! Captian Ginyu realized with a bout of terror, Too strong. I… I can't beat him. I not even sure I could have beaten his son. Could he be- No. He can't be a Super Sayian. It's impossible. Even the concept of putting such a simple word of power before a race's name was inane. But putting it in front of the Sayians? Sayians were barbaric little monkeys, rampaging the galaxy with little direction or order. Like a bad plague that left as soon as it came. No way. No way could there be a plague that was worse.
Goku drew back as the Captain paused his assault. He would attack if he felt the need. But Goku would not kill again today. He would not kill again, ever. Goku glared contemptuously at the violet fleshed warrior. His bare arms were flexed and ready. He waited; waited patiently for the onslaught to come again.
He can't be a Super Sayian. Super Sayians are supposed to be ruthless and unmerciful. The Captain coached himself, This Earthling's flaw is his heart. His caring. He's a fool with a warrior's thirst and hunger. He could never be such a godly being. Never!
"Ha. Ha. Ha." Captian Ginyu laughed in relief, "You almost got me."
Goku cocked a eyebrow in amusement,
"Nani?"
"Super Sayian. Pah." The Captian continued, "Impractical and unfeasible. You got me going there. I almost believe your scam."
Goku remained silent, watching Ginyu with quiet wondering. The alien was looking slightly insane as he blubbered his cleverness of discovering a trap never placed.
"You see, Goku," blabbed Ginyu, "A Super Sayian is a fable told to keep their children in check and proud. And although I do admit you have some quite remarkable skills, you pale in comparison to the legend. Emerging from the seas of woe and hate to avenge those lost. First, you've lost no one, yet. And second, there are no seas on Namek. It's one great land mass with occasional lakes and ponds. It's unfulfilled."
Goku still remained motionless and wary. He eyed the Ginyu suspiciously. Surely this little speech was leading to something.
They stared vigilantly at each other as the wind drifted past them. Their eyes twitched with the ruffle of garments or hair. Ginyu licked the purple blood off his lips apathetically as he glared at his opponent. Goku took no offense.
Suddenly, the Ginyu moved. He plunged his own nailed fingers into his chest and ripped out a hunk of himself. The flesh hung bloodily from his clenched fist as he grinned manically,
"You see? To be great, sacrifices must be made."
Goku backed up, bewildered and dismayed at the Ginyu's suicide. He said nothing; only gawked in his lack of understanding.
"Now… it's time for a change of things." Ginyu grinned, "CHANGE!!!"
Out of his opened mouth spurted a white spirit that shot strait out at Goku. Like a beam that Raikom shot from his mouth. But it was different. It's uniqueness intrigued Goku to the point that he wanted to see what it did. But someone had different plans.
Several carefully aimed blasts slammed into Goku's left side. The man tilted sideways and the whiteness shot past him. It continued to shoot until the power behind it's launch faded and it fizzled out. The great oaf of a Captian wavered in the air with wide shell-shocked eyes then his whole body tumbled and crashed with a deafening thud into the distant ground.
Heads from the remaining Ginyu's turned. Their eyes widened at the site of their master's dead carcass. If possible, they widened even more at the sight of Goku hovering rather pointlessly in the air not so far away.
Goku's eyes were plastered on the body with the image of Ginyu's last attack still burned into his mind. It was inconceivable to him, that now the great Captian Ginyu lay on his back with those vacant glassed eyes. He blinked and turned to look at the other Ginyu's. Krillen stood beside them wearing the same dumbstruck expression. Goku suppressed the urge to hug his best friend and cheer. Strangely, he wasn't surprised to see him there. Someone had to have knocked him out of the way… But it didn't seem right. Krillen was on his right side… how could he fire and hit Goku's left? Someone else?
Vegeta was laying senseless with a strange Namekian child beside him. The child was looking up with the same dazed appearance. Who then? Who?
Goku whirled about and looked around. Nothing but sky and the distant stretch of land. Then heavy panting caught his ears. He slowly removed his gaze from the heavens and down to the earth below.
There, on a small rocky formation sticking precariously out of the planet's side, stood a person. His hands were pointed at Goku. His arms were strait and outstretched supporting the hands. His ebony bangs stuck to his sweaty forehead almost shielding his eyes. His beautiful eyes. His mother's eyes. Gohan looked up at his father, and smiled weakly.
To Be Continued…
Please R + R!
A/N: Okay. I missed the episodes where they met Dende and Nail and everyone. So I am making it up. I don't think I will put Nail in here. He just doesn't fit. So if you notice his absence, that's why.
I want to give special thanks to one of my beta's. She helped me lots with this chapter. ^^ I hope she enjoys it.
*THANKS ASTROZAZEL! THANKS SO MUCH!!!*
Everyone thank Astrozazel. She's the reason you got an update this month. Tee hee! ^^