Won the Battle, Losing the War

Disclaimers: I do not own Dragon Ball Z or any of the characters. If I did Great Sayaman wouldn't exist. Yes. ~bows to her applauses~

Author's Note: Well, this chapter will be half and half. I am sure all of you will enjoy the bouts of humor and treasure some of darkness though considering it doesn't harm Gohan or his friends. This is mainly a Goten chapter so just read and enjoy!

Gohan let out a bitter sigh and rested his haunches in one of the comfy leather seats. He had been ripped to pieces from all the questions from everyone's curious mind had created. They all wanted to know what had happened to him and even he didn't know. The only person who hadn't asked had been his father who seemed pretty content with the fact that it was proven.

                "I guess I did reach a new level." Gohan whispered staring hard down at his opened palms, "But I don't feel any different."

Suddenly another hand slipped into his. Gohan looked up startled to see Videl had taken a seat next to him,

                "Kind of weird, huh?" She smiled lightly as Gohan quickly released her hand.

He was blushing so much he could only nod in response though not really knowing what she was talking about. She smiled and waved some dark bangs out of her eyes. She leaned against the arm rest, her face inches from his,

                "It shouldn't feel any different." Videl smirked, "It's you. That power has always been within you so I don't think you would be able to tell."

                "You think so?" Gohan muttered tearing his gaze from her bright blue eyes, "I'm just worried. If I don't remember anything how can I summon it?"

                "Well…" Videl grinned, "How does a bird fly?"

                "It learns." Gohan mumbled.

                "And so will you." Videl said sympathetically.

She placed her hand on Gohan's shoulder and turned him to look her in the eyes again,

                "So stop worrying about it. Whose to say you'll ever need to use it."

                "Yeah, you're right." Gohan smiled his self confidence boosting, "Thanks Videl."

                "No problem." Videl smiled leaning back into her seat, "Just helping out a friend."

There was a sudden outburst of laughter from behind them. When Gohan and Videl both turned they came face to face with Chibi Trunks whose features had gone crimson from lack of air.

                "Gohan and Videl sitting in a tree!" Chibi Trunks proclaimed waving a picture back and forth, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

                "What?" Gohan muttered grabbing the snapshot from the hyper boy.

Sure enough there was a picture of when they had kissed earlier on this journey. Gohan burned a bright red and refused to let Videl see.

"When did you take this?!" Gohan demanded.

"Ha. Like I would be that nosey as to spy on you all the time," Trunks snapped slightly insulted as he plopped back on the chair, "I'm not that interesting in annoying you, Gohan."

"Then who?" Gohan cried held it close to his chest to keep the curious Videl from looking over his shoulder.

"Like I would tell if I knew?" Chibi Trunks snorted, "But it's a funny picture."

He sat up suddenly and snatched it from Gohan,

"Idea! How about I show Videl's dad?"

"You wouldn't dare!" Gohan and Videl snapped in unison.

"Try me!" Trunks smirked sticking out his tongue.

Gohan lunged at Trunks only for Trunks to flip over him and to the sliding doors to the rooms. Gohan quickly got up and rushed behind him. The door slid open just as the herd approached causing them to run into the person there. Goku was nearly thrown off his feet at the impact.

"What's the hurry guys?" Goku asked startled.

Gohan snatched the picture from stunned Trunks and quickly ripped it to shreds. Trunks looked mildly disappointed as Gohan replied,

"No hurry. Just hanging out."

"Good. Cause I need you, Gohan. For some last minute training." Goku muttered suddenly frowning.

"Really?" Gohan asked thrilled for something to keep his mind off of the coming battle, "Okay."

Goten let out an irritable sigh as he sketched out the finer points of his mother's face in the dirt. Over the last three weeks, Goten discovered he could draw fairly well for a seven year old.

His attempt at discouraging all food brought to him failed after the first three days. A sayian hunger was not one to mess with and Goten now knew the more gruesome parts of his heritage. Hallucinations, suicidal attempts, and repetitive vomiting was only the minor affects of starvation for a Sayian. Frezia wasn't kidding when he mocked Goten's effort at beating them that way.  And now Goten had some scars to prove it.

 Goten smiled at the finished picture of his mother smiling back at him. Perfect. Just like his mother was. Goten looked over to dirt where he had drawn the rest of his family. Trunks, Dad, Videl, Mr. Vegeta, Bulma, Mr. Piccolo…and Gohan. Goten gazed at Gohan's picture longingly as chills rushed down his spine. He had drawn Gohan's picture first so he wouldn't forget his brother's face. He erased it countless times making sure it was perfect. Perhaps that's why all his others were so realistic. Goten's fists shook as he stared at his brother's face,

                "You have to hurry, Gohan." Goten whispered, "Before I forget your face."

Dirt suddenly showered over Goten, and Goten covered his eyes. He looked down just to see the destroyed picture of his brother smudged in the newly turned dirt.

                "No!" Goten cried in angst glaring up at who dared to do such a thing.

It was Frezia. But he hadn't done it on purpose like Goten originally thought. He was in a hurry and was now talking to Cell who had been currently watching over Goten. Goten leaned closer trying to hear the conversation.

                "Seems like Haji is worried over Gohan's increase of power." Frezia said in a rushed whisper, "He has called us all together to 'take action'."

                "So soon?" Cell growled, "Surely you can't think he would kill Goten now?"

                "Apparently he wants to wait no more."

                "Is he insane?" Cell hissed, "If he kills Goten now, Gohan won't have any reason to come here. His plan would be virtually ruined."

                "Ruined?" Frezia chuckled, "No. You and I both know Gohan's family. Death only makes them more determined."

                "Yes. I know Gohan's anger as well." Cell cringed as if trying to block out the memory of his death, "His power will increase in ten folds if Goten is killed. He will be unstoppable."

                "That is what the master wants."

                "He wants death then." Cell spat, "But I will not take place in his little game. I surely do not want to lose my life again when I can do some much more reasonable things with it."

                "Coward." Frezia cried, "You are afraid of a child?"

                "I should have been." Cell growled, "If I had been, I would have the universe in my grasp."

Goten struggled against the two villains as they tried to take him to Haji. He even turned super sayian but they easily ignored his power up and each grabbed a wrist. Thrashing between the two, Goten found his endeavor futile.

'So that's just it?' Goten thought bitterly to himself, 'Game over? I am just going to die? Gohan was too late?'

Tears filled his eyes at the vision of blood seeping out of his corpse with Gohan weeping over him. But then again, would Gohan even know of his fate? Would they lie and make it seem that he was still alive? Would Gohan defeat them and find there was no little brother to save? That would be like these scoundrels, wouldn't it?

Goten lowered his head as thoughts of the afterlife began to bleed into his youthful mind. A child as young as him shouldn't be thinking of death, yet he had to. Cause it was so real that he could taste it's breath on his pallid lips as they dragged him through the halls of the dungeon.

                'I have a question for the world.' Goten thought darkly, 'Why is that me and Gohan are always fated to be apart?'

He bit his tongue so hard that he could taste the tart flavor of his blood. He cringed at it, and started screaming at the tops of his lungs hoping that perhaps there was someone out there who could hear him and take pity. Frezia quickly silenced the boy by smacking him sharply across the face. Goten tried to block out the piecing pain the slap brought. Besides he had more important things to think about… Like if Trunks was true to his word about delivering that letter…

Everyone was in room when Cell and Frezia dragged Goten in. The boy was out of breath and spitting blood from the severe beating Frezia had issued the child who refused to shut up. They kept him firmly between the two of them making sure he couldn't make a run for it.

Goten looked up seeing Haji in the form of Chibi Trunks staring unmercifully at him. Their faces were inches apart and Goten was too tired to pull away.

"What did you do to him?" Haji said amused in his stolen voice.

"You don't deserve that body." Goten hissed in his raspy voice spitting his blood tinted saliva into Haji's face.

Haji's wiped away the vulgar spit calmly and punched Goten painfully in the gut almost bursting his hand through the child's backside.

                "Never mind. I don't blame you." Haji grinned wiping of his fist on his fighting gi as Goten bent over and vomited up blood and more saliva.

                "Sir." Cell spoke, "Are you sure this is wise? Gohan will be mad?"

                "Oh really?" Haji smirked, "Good. Just as I like them."

                "His power is amazing! You don't know what you are asking for!" Cell hissed, "I already made that mistake!"

                "Exactly. You made it a mistake." Haji said darkly.

                "Please listen to reason, sir." Cell cried.

                "Maybe he has a point to his blabber, sire." King Cold snapped.

                "Oh really." Haji mocked, "Do point it out to me."

                "Killing Goten will dig your hole with Gohan deeper!" Cell shrieked.

                "Who said I was killing Goten?" Haji smirked cocking his eyebrow.

Goten looked up suddenly startled. They weren't going to kill him?

                "But you said-" Frezia began.

                "Oh. I am going to kill someone. But not Goten…" Haji grinned his eyes glinting murderously.

Before the villains could sort out the meaning of his words, Haji had fulfilled his statement. Goten screamed in terror with the rest of the creatures as he watched Frezia go first. The white alien's claws ripped at Goten's arm as he got swallowed up in the blast. Goten pulled away just in time nursing his bleeding arm glaring at the ashy remains of the once bold ruler of the universe. King Cold was next not even getting a chance to recover his son's demise. Cell stood rigid as Haji smirked at him,

                "Goodbye Cell. It's been great working with you." Haji hissed in the purloined voice of Goten's elder brother.

                "You ba-"

               Before he could finish his curse to the monster, he was gone scattering the ground with his purple blood. Goten was shaking violently with fear as he looked over at Haji. The monster was licking his lips in satisfaction. As if reading his thoughts, Haji spoke,

                "Don't worry, kid. I never had any intention of destroying you, yet." Haji smirked, "I need Gohan's anger as much as the next person. Besides, I am saving that battle for later."

                "You're sick." Goten sputtered, "You treat those in alliance to you no better then those who you are against. Only the most dark hearted creatures do that…. and the stupidest. Now you have no one to protect you against my brother!"

The horrible event suddenly turned blissful in Goten's mind as he figured how the tides had turned. One against one was much better odds. Including if he went against Gohan.

                "You're as good as dead now. You might as well write up your tombstone if there is even enough of you left to bury once he is done." Goten cheered

                "You truly don't get it, do you?" Haji smiled shaking his head in pity for the naive child.

Goten's spirit faded slightly at those words of confidents issuing from the mouth of the monster.

                "Get what?"

                "Poor little Goten." Haji smiled, "Filled with false loyalty in your brother when is he who will end up destroying you."

                "What are you talking about?" Goten hissed angrily.

                "I want Gohan to defeat me." Haji grinned as his face slipped into the most sinister smirk, "The more brutally the better. I want Gohan to be so full of desire for my death that he can just fight the urge to make me suffer. In fact, I want him to make me suffer for all my wrongs. I want him to be the 'hero'. I want the 'hero' to slaughter me like the pig I am."

                'Man, he is insane.' Goten thought to himself.

                "Has my sister, Hajime, not spoke of any nonsense to the boy?" Haji hissed, "She must have tried by now. Cause she knows what will happen if Gohan wins."

                "What?" Goten asked in spite of his loathing to this creature.

                "If Gohan destroys me I get control over his body." Haji smiled, "Same as I got control of Haji. I am a disease that spreads this way. If Gohan kills me, as awfully as he desires, the more powerful I am. Not only will I have his power but also his loathing hatred for me. I will be the strongest person in the universe. And then no one can stop me. The one hero… now the villain…"

                "What?!" Goten cried in torment, "You're lying."

                "Why would I deal with death in such of way if I wasn't truthful?" Haji laughed, "And the best part of it is, little Gohan won't even join you and others in the afterlife. He will forever be fused in my mind where I can butcher him apart with images of my… his doing until his very existence fades into mine."

                "No!" Goten screamed horror of his brother's ambush striking him, "You can't be serious."

Tears slipped down Goten's cheeks as he hugged his trembling form. His heart shattered at the thought of his brother's fate crusted into his mind. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't let that happen.

                "No way. I won't let you do that to Gohan." Goten hissed through gritted teeth.

                "And what is a petite boy like you going to do about it?" Haji teased.

Goten balled his fists together as he glared through his tear filled eyes at the monster who threatened his brother in such a way.

                "You don't understand!" Goten screamed his voice echoing off the walls as blue lighting absorbed into his little form, "You can't."

                "Come on boy. Come get me!"

                "I'm not a boy." Goten hissed, "Not anymore."

Before Haji could react Goten had planted his fist right into Haji's jaw. He fell backwards in shock just as Goten prepared another onslaught,

                "Gohan won't fight you cause I'm going to kill you first!"

                " If you think I would take such a weak form voluntarily, you're wrong." Haji smiled as he wiped away the blood from his cheek.

                "Why you!" Goten screamed hurling his fist. But it just hit air, solid air… Goten panicked as he felt the air about him. He was in a sealed cage of some kind that Haji much have created with his energy. Goten summed up all his energy into his hands and he chanted his father's attack. He released it just for it to be frozen against the invisible shield.

                "Oh please. Be a man and accept defeat." Haji laughed blasting Goten back with his energy.

Goten was hurled into the opposite side of the shield pushing the air from his lungs. He lay there unmoving in defeat.

                "Why?" Goten hissed bitterly, "Why Gohan?"

                "Because he's a good brother, isn't he?" Haji smiled, "He would be terribly angry if something happen to you, wouldn't he? That's his weakness. That's his downfall. You can freely curse his memory on it after your gone if you wish. Cause you surely won't ever be seeing him again. But I'll tell him you said hi."

 Goten didn't speak. His loss of vocal communication shown that he was engulfed in his fear of the future. Haji ignored the silence and continued his plans. He smiled as he transformed into a rather beautiful dark haired woman that Goten had only been thinking of minutes before this mess,

                "I already have my eyes on the prize."

                'Darn it.' Goten thought sadly, his emotions drained, 'He wants mom first…'

                Gohan suddenly felt a jolt of panic shoot painfully through his body. As if he had been struck by lightening… Goku's hand came out from Gohan's left and hit Gohan upside the head. Gohan fell over from the force of the thrust rubbing his head.

                "Ah!" Goku cried, "You can't stop like that Gohan!"

                "Ow! My head! Geez Dad. Not so hard…" Gohan moaned, "Didn't you feel it?"

                "Feel what?" Goku asked bewildered.

A sudden scream erupted from the next room. Goku and Gohan peered out the doorway and down the hall to see Chichi kicking Videl out of the room.

                "You can sleep out here tonight then!" Chichi yelled from somewhere inside.

                "When I said I was fed up with your voice I meant that I wanted you out!" Videl screamed marching back in the room causing something to break inside.

                "I hope Bulma didn't pay to much for that." Gohan blushed.

                "Wow." Goku smiled, "You predicted their fight. You're getting good at this, Gohan. You'll be married with Videl in no time."

Gohan face faulted at such a blunt statement overcome with embarrassment.

                "What is it with everyone today?" Gohan cried, "Videl and I barely know each other."

                "Sure." Goku laughed, "That's why she is on this journey with us? And to top that off you kissed her."

                "What? You saw that?!" Gohan cried in abashment.

                "Course. Everyone did. Vegeta took a picture of it I think with Chichi's camera." Goku pondered, "Come to think of it where did that photo go…"

                "Darn him." Gohan grumbled through gritted teeth, "I'll get him back somehow."

                "Hey. Earth to Gohan." Goku spoke rapping lightly on Gohan's head, "Could we get back to work. We only have three days before we arrive at Haji's planet."

                "Oh sorry." Gohan blushed.

The two both stood on opposite sides of each other making sure their feet were exactly evenly spaced apart. Goku just started the chant when Gohan interrupted again,

                "Dad. What is the point of this anyway?"

Goku fell over and rubbed his head where he hit the carpet,

                "Man. I was in such a hurry to teach you the fusion I must have forgot to tell you about it." Goku blushed, "Alright. Uh.. It's sort of like a 30 minute transformation where two people become one."

                "Oh. I understand." Gohan nodded.

                "Now you see why everything must be equal or the fusion would go wrong." Goku stated urgently, "We can't afford errors against Cell."

                "Yeah. Okay. Let's perfect this thing, dad!" Gohan cheered.

They began again their chants echoing down the halls. There, Vegeta sat, listening to their voices bounce about him. He closed his eyes and smiled,

                "Fusion ha? What is Kakarot planning to do now?"

                'If I can just get Gohan to do this fusion with me in the fight then I can release his hidden power. I hope the other part of myself agrees to do so when we're fused.'

To Be Continued…

Please R + R!

Doesn't look go for the Z sensei. Nope, nope, nope.