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, what do you know? I'm back! I hope you enjoy the continuation! ^^

Gohan glared spitefully up at Haji who stood on top of the hill above them. Haji frowned with his stolen face and faded into nothing. Haji was gone. Gohan let out a small sigh of relief almost too glad that Haji hadn't decided to pick his fight yet. A sudden pang of grief struck his heart as he glanced at the remains of his father's rival. They were too late.

Gohan bit his lip and watched helplessly as Mirai Trunks walked over to stand before his father's carcass. Mirai Trunk's face was wiped of all emotion except confusion as he stared down at his father's body.

"She was right." Mirai Trunks whispered in disbelief.

Gohan found for once his mouth could not produce the right words. It hit him coldly in the heart at the realization that Mirai Trunks wasn't just pointlessly blubbering to himself. She was right. The fortune teller, Seiko, was no less true then 'Fortune Teller Babba'.

Gohan glanced sharply over at Videl and the other Trunks sitting off to the side. Videl was still agape with shock clinging numbly to the unconscious boy. She had fallen to her knees near them, her eyes glued on the unpleasant sight.

[Would she suffer the same fate?]

Gohan shook away the horrible dreams and images that had still left their imprints in his memory. He didn't want to believe that fate could be so cruel. They would find a way to bring everyone back. They had to. The dragon balls wouldn't be a problem once they got back to earth. But first they had to get to earth.

[Baka. Why didn't we use the Dragon balls instead of rushing off after Goten? We were too hasty. All we would have had to do was wait a year…] Gohan frowned at the thought, {That would have been abandoning Goten. Who knows what they could have done to him in the year we would have to wait.}

A groan interrupted Gohan's thoughts. He spun about, his eyes meeting with Videl's frightened ones. Trunks was waking up. He was started to squirm lightly in her arms as his eyelids tried to pry ajar.

"No." Gohan hissed, his heart pounding, "Not now."

Gohan glimpsed over at the awful view of Trunks' Otousan laying limp in his bloody pit. No way could a eight year see something so horrific. It was bad enough when Gohan had to see death when he was five but Trunks… Gohan really didn't want him to see.

                "Videl." Gohan snapped in a demanding voice, "Go on ahead with Trunks. Mirai Trunks and I will catch up. Don't wait for us. Run until we are out of your sights."

Videl nodded in comprehension before climbing to her feet. Gohan made sure Videl was a few feet off before he turned to the disturbed young lilac haired man beside him.

                "Trunks." Gohan said evenly gripping Trunk's shoulder, "We have to go now."

Trunks didn't acknowledge Gohan's hand resting gently there. He merely whimpered and collapsed to his knees. Gohan blinked as Trunks began sobbing uncontrollably while hugging the comatose blood covered hand to his cheek. Gohan bit down hard on his lip and tried pulling the man away from his father. Trunks wouldn't let go and just managed to drag the body slightly with him. Gohan frowned and placed his hand tenderly over that of the son and his father's,

"Let him go, Trunks."

"No." Trunks snapped nearly biting Gohan.

Gohan drew back in shock, gripping his hand that was nearly mauled. Gohan scowled and grabbed beneath Mirai Trunk's armpits yanking him harshly away from the carcass. Trunks flayed, not much unlike a disobedient toddler in a Super Market, as Gohan dragged him across the ground. Trunks thrashed violently in Gohan's arms shrieking to be released. Gohan did not listen and continued to drag the full grown man across the dirt.

 Trunks let out a piteous screech letting his free fist to smash into Gohan's face. Gohan cried out in pain refusing to release Trunks. Gohan's aurora grew as he flashed into the form of his heritage just so he could hold onto the stubborn man. His nose was dripping blood, partially crushed by Trunk's assault.

Gohan knew that he couldn't fly but they could hover over the earth's surface slightly he was sure. Gohan kicked off the ground getting very little altitude and zoomed backward through the air.

 Blood trailed behind them as Gohan flew as fast as he could across the earth. Dirt and small rocks bit at them as they flew backwards so close to the ground. Gohan heard Videl scream and halted in mid air almost directly in front of her and Chibi Trunks. Mirai Trunks was still struggling madly in his arms, unbeknownst to all that was around him.

"What's going on?" Gohan heard little Trunks cry out.

Gohan was about to respond when the child's adult form sunk his teeth hard into his hand. Gohan cringed unable to wrench free from Trunks' teeth.

                "My Kami! Stop it, Trunks!" Videl screamed in horror as blood slipped down Gohan's throbbing hands.

Gohan couldn't tell what damage Trunks was causing, but by the pain Gohan figured it had to be deep. Trunks was digging his dagger like teeth harder into his skin. Gohan was becoming scared that Trunks might rip his whole hand apart. Gohan made a hasty choice knowing that his hand might be gone if he didn't attempt it. Gohan let Mirai Trunks go…

               Gohan withdrew, grabbing his hand in agony. It was covered so thickly in blood that Gohan couldn't tell if he even hand a left hand anymore. Gritting his teeth, Gohan pulled off another piece of his sleeve and wrapped it about his wound. He watched Trunks head back to the site knowing he would have to try again. He gave Videl and Chibi Trunks a sharp warning to stay where they were before heading off again. He left a trail of gold behind him as he rushed after Trunks again.

                Chibi Trunks glanced at Videl before grabbing her wrist. Videl didn't even protest as they rushed after the two sayians. Curiosity got the better of them…

Gohan appeared suddenly in front of Trunks, several hundred feet away from the destination Trunks was trying to reach. Growling in impatience, Mirai Trunks tried to go around him. Gohan stopped the man's every attempt quite easily, drawing irritation into what was left of Trunk's eager heart.

                "Get out of my way, Gohan. You don't understand."

                "Oh, I understand just perfectly, Trunks." Gohan retorted callously, "Want to cradle yourself in your daddy's dead arms? Vegeta never did that for you when he was alive, what makes you think he would like to see you do that now?"

                "He's not dead!" Trunks screamed vehemently as the golden power rushed through his veins.

His hair flashed upwards into a crop of gold and his eyes darkened in to a uncanny color of turquoise. He glowered furiously at the other super sayian before him ready to kill him if he had to. The other sayian's eyes softened as he muttered,

                "I know it's hard, Trunks… But if it's any consolation, I know how you feel."

                "No! No, you don't! How could you possible know how I feel?! I've lost so much more then you have! You don't understand!"

Gohan's eyes narrowed dangerously as a strange chill filled the air. Before Mirai Trunks could take another shuttering breath, Gohan had him by the throat. Mirai Trunks gagged feebly as Gohan flung Trunks heartlessly into the nearby stone face. He held Trunks there gripping tightly upon Mirai Trunk's neck. Gohan heard the nearby shouts of Videl and Chibi Trunks but he ignored them. His blood was boiling and his body was sparking with the unkind sparks of blue electricity as he held fast to his sudden foe.  

                Mirai Trunks' shadowed countenance lined with tears as a huge malice filled smile shown upon the once blameless face. Gohan's features remained tense and emotionless as the sound of the hum of their auroras swam about them.

                "Go on and kill me, Gohan-san. It's what you want to do, right? I'll even make it easy for you…" Trunks grinned as he powered down, "There. Now, kill me. Give me what I deserve."

Trunk's lilac hair brushed across his bruised and sweaty face as Gohan's eyes glared at him. Gohan frowned, looking away as his good hand was still placed over Trunks' throat.

                [No. This is wrong.] A voice was crying in the back of his mind, [Stop it, Gohan. You can't do this to Trunks!]

                "At least my father died protecting me." Mirai Trunks shrugged, "Yours… He probably choked himself to death on a chicken bone."

                "SHUT UP!" Gohan screeched drawing back a enclosed fist.

He punched as hard as he could into Trunk's face. He could feel blood oozing down his hands… Gohan fell back crying in shock…

                Trunks felt the punch make contact with his face and a white flash fizzed into his mind. The images flashed by like a long since faded dream. Gohan's angered face flashed in a older and happier one with a scar hooked down from his brow to the other side of his cheek. Trunks blinked in confusion reliving a long forgotten memory…

               

"So angry, Trunks." Gohan chuckled, "One must wonder if you're ever happy."

                "But all those people…" Trunks cried as the tears continued to pour down, "You saw them just like I did. It… It was awful."

                "Hai." Gohan frowned, bending down to eyelevel with his little apprentice.

Trunks flinched slightly at the weight of Gohan's hands on each of his shoulders. He kept his gaze downward hoping not to have to look into Gohan's eyes.

                "I saw those people just like you, Trunks. But… about how long have you been mourning, Trunks."

                "I guess about a hour now." Trunks sniffed wiping the tears on be back of his hand.

                "Do you think any of those tears helped those people?"

                "Uh…"

                "I have discovered that no matter how long you cry that it doesn't help at all. Those people will not come back… It just makes you rather tired, huh Trunks?" Gohan smiled tapping Trunks on the nose.

Trunks looked up and smiled a weak smile. He gripped tightly to the log he was sitting on with his small eight year old fingers. He felt so weak and defenseless in the horrible world…

                "It's okay to feel the hurt. But put it to better use, Trunks." Gohan smiled, "Like becoming Super Sayian."

                "You think I can?" Trunks smiled in excitement.

                "I know you can." Gohan replied…

Trunks reached up weakly, rubbing his cheek. He was surprised to find that his face had not caved in from such a vicious punch. He was on the ground now and Gohan was standing over him with a look of guilt upon his face.

                "I'm sorry." Gohan muttered darkly, "Are you okay?"

Mirai Trunks frown as he saw what a state Gohan was in. Blood was dripping from his hurt hand and nose… and tears were spilling rapidly from his eyes. There was another… stranger wound cut into Gohan's shoulder that Trunks' didn't remember inflicting…It was bleeding the most heavily.

"Am I okay?" Mirai Trunks repeated dully, "Are you okay, Gohan? You look horrible."

Gohan let off a small smile as he wiped the blood from his nose and onto his sleeve,

                "It's nothing." Gohan shrugged, "You didn't break anything."

                "I'm really sorry, Gohan." Trunks whispered, "I… I don't know what got over me…"

Gohan cut him off with a small brandish of his good hand,

                "It's nothing." He repeated, "Let's keep going. I am pretty sure that we can get to Goten before nightfall, if we hurry."

Mirai Trunks glanced over to Videl and his other self that were looking greatly grim as he drew himself up. Gohan started walking off as Mirai Trunks fell into pace with his younger self and Videl. The question gripped his heart coldly as he finally uttered it,

"What happened to Gohan's shoulder? I didn't think I did that."

"You didn't." Chibi Trunks hissed darkly, "You were out for that period of time."

"Then who did it?"

"Gohan did." Videl whispered, "He did to himself after he punched you…out of his own guilt."

To Be Continued…

Please R + R!

Ummm… It's gonna keep going downhill. Sorry folks!