Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z, or any of the characters mentioned hereafter. Nor do I own the song my title is derived from, Art Of Life by X Japan.
Summary: A father's love, A mother's hate, These two will clash, For it is fate.
For DevilKing: The whole mitosis thing is just a sorta random thing I threw in. It's just there in case I decide to use it within the story, otherwise it's meaningless. I also had a biology course in school when I started the story.
'thoughts'
"Speech"
Chapter 3: Metaphase
Chapter Start
Wind whipped at the baggy clothes of one Son Gohan, trying with all its might to strip them from him, though the effort was in vain.
One of his two companions rolled in his path so that he could look at Gohan.
"Geez bro. Your mother looked like she was ready to kill someone back there. What's up with her?"
"I don't know Krillin. She's just been getting like that lately."
"Maybe it's just that time of the month."
The first two people just stared at the intruder wondering what in the world would make him say that, about the youngests mother no less.
"What?"
"Dude, Yamcha. That was so uncalled for, I mean I was thinking it, but sayin' it? Come on, we're around Gohan."
A knowing smile made itself apparent on Gohan's face, before turning into a large grin.
Krillin, being the more observant of Gohan's two companions, noticed this first.
"And what are you smiling at my young friend?"
"Nothing," the smile didn't lose any of its mirth, "absolutely nothing."
"Is that so? Well you better tell me what this nothing is before I beat it out of you."
"Hah! I'd like to see you try."
The statement exuded confidence, with just reason, the boy was the strongest in the universe at that moment.
But even knowing that did not deter Krillin's actions, with a slight change in the flow of his Ki, Krillin was above Gohan, and with another shift, threw his whole weight and power at Gohan's back, trying with all his might to drive the boy down into the ground.
And yet Gohan's flight path remained unchanged by the relatively large amount of power being thrown at him.
"Yamcha, I could use some help with this."
There was an amused look on Yamcha's face as he added his strength to the assault.
Though the power of the two was great, they could not overcome the sheer might of the child less than half their age.
Deciding that he could not get the answers he sought in this manner Krillin backed off and prepared for another approach.
A familiar disk of light appeared between his outstretched hands, moment later he had released it, aiming perfectly at Gohan's waist.
Gohan neatly shifted to the side and took a swat at the disk with the back of his hand, causing it to fly off course and into the forest of trees they were over.
"Hah, surely you can do better than that!"
He knew full well that the disk was still down there waiting to get him in the back.
And when it came he was ready, moving his shoulder slightly he let it pass him, but it did not get far before Gohan knife-handed it through the center, making it shatter into a million pieces that shimmered for a moment before drifting off in the wind. An extremely pained yell came from Krillin.
"Gohan! That hurt!"
"Well you shouldn't have to concentrate so hard on controlling it, you know that it hurts when that concentration is broken like that."
Grumbling was his only response from the short man, while Yamcha was chuckling at his friends misfortune.
"So what was this nothing anyways?"
"You guys don't give up do you?" a large smile once again crossed Gohan's face, "I was just thinkin' that I know more about the whole female topic than you guys do."
"Oh, well of course you do Mister Boy Genius, but you only know girls by the book! After some real experience you'll be wanting to rip that stupid book up, pour gallons and gallons of gas on it and burn the stupid thing till kingdom come!"
During his little rant Krillin had acted out his words, so when his arms stopped flailing in ripping and pouring motions his face was beat red with anger, and his power level was pushing his limits.
Yamcha just laughed harder, "Speaking from experience I take it. Well if you two are done with the chit-chat we should get going. The parade was supposed to have started already. I'd hate to miss the beginning of it."
"'Hurry up' he says. 'We're gunna be late' he says. 'We'd best get a good spot near the end.' WE still have a frickin' hour!"
Krillin had once again resorted to yelling, berating Yamcha for making them take a place where they had so long to wait.
"Relax Krillin," said Gohan from his position of leaning against a tree that was planted in the sidewalk, watching as a couple of bright balloons floated up into the deep blue sky, "It's not like we're in a rush to go anywhere after this, right? So just chill out, have a seat and enjoy the day"
"And watch the hot girls in tight shirts."
Gohan glanced at Yamcha, who was the one that interrupted the end of what he was saying, and watched him as his eyes darted around, scanning the ever thickening crowd and obviously on high alert, trying to act totally cool, "You're alone on that one."
Gohan went back to watching the balloons, but Yamcha had a different activity on his mind, that was directly related to the pair of girls that had entered the little body art shop across the street.
"Hey Gohan…"
"Yeah?"
"How would your mother react if you got your ears pierced?"
"She'd freak out and think I was becoming some sort of hooligan, and quite frankly I don't want to see that happen."
Yamcha's next reply came without the slightest hint of thought.
"I do, let's go."
And if he had been a tad bit stronger, he might have been able to drag both Krillin and Gohan across the street and into the shop. Like maybe a hundred thousand times stronger than he was…
Unfortunately for Yamcha, the others were not fond of the idea, and they told him how they felt in a very direct way.
With his cheek squished against the cement and his arms locked in place by Gohan's strong grip. Krillin crouched infront of him so that he could look straight into his eyes, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Now now, Yamcha, you know that's against the rules."
They could barely make out Yamcha's response with his heavy 'squished face-ese' accent, "Ah c'mon guys, it'll be fun."
A laugh escaped from Gohan's mouth at that, "Being killed by my mother is not my idea of fun. We wouldn't even stand a chance of making it out alive. Up you get Yamcha, I think its time to remove this particular temptation."
And so Gohan pulled him up, which was rather painful for Yamcha considering that Gohan still had his arms twisted so that he couldn't get away. Once on his feet he was pushed, rather forcefully, in the direction the 'big guy' was supposed to come from.
"And while we're at it why don't we see if we can find another spot, eh Krillin? One that doesn't have to wait as long."
"I couldn't agree more."
And so they were off, valiantly fighting the crowd to get a better position, one that wouldn't have Yamcha running off to chase girls… too frequently anyways.
It was about ten minutes latter when an, "Oh! Gohan dear, come sit with us!" broke through the crowds noise, which was getting louder as the time for the 'Saviour of the World' to pass by grew nearer.
Gohan winced slightly, instantly recognising the voice. He looked around and sure enough there was Mrs. Briefs, Bulmas mother, sitting with 'front row' seats. He made his way over, fully knowing what was in store for him, and also that he couldn't get away.
He took the lawn chair that was set up besides Mrs. Briefs, not surprised to see Mr. Briefs and Bulma on her other side. On the other hand, he was surprised to see Vegeta standing behind them.
"Oh I do so love parades. It's always so exciting to see all the pretty floats and listen to the wonderful marching bands. Wouldn't you agree, Gohan?"
"Of course, Mrs. Briefs," Gohan replied, being polite, no matter how much he didn't want to be here…
"Oh deary me! I almost forgot about the cookies and snacks I brought!"
…
Ok, scrap that, he definitely wanted to be here now. Mrs. Briefs was an excellent cook.
And so, with some good food and familiar faces, time passed by a little quicker for our heroes. Soon enough the sound of the first marching band came wafting through the air.
A slight gasp was heard from Mrs. Briefs as she put her hand over her open mouth. Hooking her arm with that of her husband she pulled him close and pointed down the street.
"Oh look Dear! It's starting!"
The throng of people around them was filled with a similar excitement as they yelled and cheered, awaiting the passing of the saviour of the world. Hercule Satan!
End ChapterAuthors note: Well that's another chapter. Meant to get it out yesterday but my sister was hogging the PC. Anyways, I'm not quite as happy with this one as I'd like to be, but oh well, tell me what you think.
By the way check out "In the Print", it's a forum made by CosmicTwilight. We need to get some more people in there. Just close the gaps made by the spaces to get the URL.
http:intheprint.
proboards31.
com/index.cgi