AUTHOR'S NOTE - This is the next chapter up. It is a bit shorter than I expected, but I will put what I was going to put at the end in the next one.These first two have been a LOT more angsty than I expected, I just couldn't stop spouting off that crap. I have a fairly certain idea with where this is going, but if you think it seems like it is taking a direction that would not be for the best don't hesitate to tell me, I might take heed of any advice.
To papas 269, - Gohan will NOT be gothic or anything like that, sorry if it disappoints anyone butI'm not like that myself so I can't relate. Don't expect him to go about in slayer hoodies and listening to death metal. It is Gohan's attitude and outlook on life that will become clear, he will be a bit like Vegeta, but still pure hearted if that makes sense at all.
The next few months passed by fairly eneventfully. Gohan gradually fell into his depressed antisocial nature, neglecting contact with the outside world as much as his mother would allow him. His mother's strict study regime that she had implemented soon after the twins' return was in fact only deepening his hatred for the social niceties. If this was what it took for a person to get by in life in the civilised world, he didn't want any part of it. He granted his mother's wishes to study however, as had his sister. He had after all killed her husband. He had soon realised what the changes his mind had gone through did to his psyche. He would be happy if he never saw a city again in his life, full of all those ignorant, foolish people with their stupid little minds. In the past he would of had time for anyone, time to listen to whatever they had to say, no matter how stupid or idiotic they were. Now, however, he couldn't stand being around groups of people at all.
A few weeks after his mother had learned of her pregnancy, he had been sent to a Capsule Corporation by his mother to pick up all of the things she needed for the duration of the pregnancy. He had reluctantly gone, and flown straight into the grounds. While there, he avoided Vegeta, still not decided if he was a good choice for a sparring partner. However, while waiting for Bulma to collect all of his mother's list, he wandered into a lab where two male employees were discussing the events of the Cell Games. They seemed sure of Mr. Satan's greatness, and even had the cheek to insult the other fighters who had been present, as if they knew exactly what had happened, and wondering who they had been. Vegeta had been on camera for minutes during the transmission and he wasn't a person who went easily unnoticed, and he wasn't one to hide from humans in his own house. It surprised Gohan how they could be so ignorant, all they had to do was put two and two together and ask Vegeta. But then again, they probably would have met their untimely ends at his hands. Instead of putting them straight, Gohan just decided to knock their heads together, literally. They didn't wake up for weeks. Bulma wasn't too happy with him, but seemed to understand when he calmly explained the situation. This was when Gohan realised the city probably wasn't a good place for him to go.
Even in the country, in his quiet, peaceful home he could find no peace. Even during his small number of visits to the Lookout he found his anger and annoyance at all small matters creeping up on him. Piccolo had kept his distance, allowing Gohan to come to him when he needed to. Their meetings had been silent, Gohan just needing someone to sit with him on occasion. Piccolo had been one of the people Gohan had been able to stand, along with Mika, his mother, Dende and Bulma. How they could stand him he didn't quite know. His mother and Mika he could understand, they were his family, and he had befriended Dende long before his father had. Piccolo too, had been closer with Gohan than anyone was with anyone else, Gohan had been his first friend. Bulma however, was harder for Gohan to comprehend. She had known Goku for longer than anyone, and was possibly his best friend, maybe even more so than Krillin. He had steered clear of the others in fear of losing his temper or saying something he would regret and in fear of what they might think of him after what he had done. So, he tried as best he could to keep his mind off matters and threw himself into studying.
Most of the group had seen Gohan's obvious metamorphosis from his previous self, rightly attributing it to a world that had wronged him, stolen his childhood and innocence and ultimately broken him. They had also quickly realised how utterly futile it would be to try to help him, to change him into what he had once been, but he had grown too much in his eleven years, more than any other boy should.
Fairly soon, the time of Chichi and Goku's child's birth had arrived. Chichi had moved into Capsule Corporation with the twins in her last week of pregnancy, neither leaving her side, both eating, drinking and sleeping with her, not allowing her to come to harm. The baby was born in a routine procedure. It was a boy, that Chichi had named Goten, in keeping with the family tradition that now stood for the Son males. Soon afterwards, Goten was sleeping peacefully in Chichi's arms.
"Why don't you two go for a walk?" Chichi suggested to her children. Tiredness evident in her voice. "You need some fresh air."
"I'd rather not, you shouldn't be on your own. And besides, I might end up doing something I shouldn't." Gohan replied. He was currently in a relatively good mood, being in the presence of only his family, but he still wasn't smiling, something that he couldn't remember doing in over nine months.
"Mika can keep you out of trouble, I'm sure."
"Come on Gohan, mom's the strongest woman in the world, she'll be fine." Mika joined the conversation. Chichi gave a pleading look to her son.
"Ok, I suppose you could do with some time on your own with Goten." He sighed in defeat and started trudging towards the door, Mika trailing him. They soon arrived at the exit out into the city. Gohan cringed at the sight of the people milling about in front of him. A scowl soon overcame his previously neutral face. Mika looked over to him.
"Come on, I'll keep an eye on you." She grabbed hold of him by the arm and powered up a little, just in case anything kicked off, and began dragging him to the pavement.
Gohan tried to block out the sounds and images of the outside world and focus only on his twin. He sat down on the wall outside of Capsule Corporation, not wanting to venture further. Mika soon sat next to him. He sighed and looked dejectedly down at the ground. "Did you see Goten's face? Just like dad."
"I know its hard, with all the reminders, but you have to move on from it."
"How can I? Goten is a constant reminder of what I did, he has to grow up not knowing his father, knowing his brother is a failure."
"Stop talking like this!" She shot up and glared at him. "How many times do we have to go over this. None of it is your fault, nobody blames you, I don't, mom doesn't and especially not dad. Ok."
"Whatever." He obviously didn't agree with her sentiments.
