Familial ties aren't necessarily the best ones, but neither are no ties.

:-:-:-:

"They're here."

"Gohan's family?"

"Yes. An intern's checking them in."

"All right. Let's get him ready."

:-:-:-:

They are here. What are they here for? Their prescriptions (ugh!)? But they can't! I won't take it! I won't! I refuse!

"Patient 89, you have visitors."

Visitors? Is this some cheap trick to get me to take that prescription? I won't take it! I'm not falling for it!

"They're your family, 89."

Family? Do I have a family? Don't come near me! I'm not accepting your medicine!

"Ouch, that must have hurt."

"Not really... I just didn't expect him to do that."

"Should we give him the medicine before they arrive? It wouldn't do for him to lash out at them like he did with you just now."

"No. I don't think that's a good idea."

"Are you sure, Doctor?"

"Yes, Head Doctor. Is that a problem?"

You bet it's a problem. I'm not buying that trashy ploy. Just leave already! I don't want your company!

"No. I just want to make sure that you're confident about this."

"I'll be fine, Head Doctor."

"All right. Ai-kun, let them in!"

Ahh... who are these people? Who are they, and why are they staring at me like that? Why did they freeze, and why is that woman rushing towards me now with tears in her eyes?

"Gohan!"

No! No, don't come near me! Orion, Camas, help me! Keep her away!

"Don't!"

Ugh... she stopped her. Why did she do that?

"Don't what?"

"Don't come near him. He's—"

"Look, hussy, I'll do whatever I like with my son! You have no control over what I do—"

"Chichi, calm down. Get away from her... Goten, help me."

I watch apprehensively from on top of Hondura as the two men restrain the woman, though she is still rattling away at her.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Son, but your son is in the insanity ward for a reason. I cannot let you near him or him near you. Or the rest of you, as well."

"But you can?"

"To be precise, your son smacked me away when I tried to approach him this morning. So no, I cannot either."

"Serves you right."

"Chichi!"

The rest of the conversation fades as the younger man comes towards me. His eyes are wide and inquisitive, the sparkle in them too bright for imagining. His air is hesitant, as is his voice, which I have not heard before.

"Gohan?"

Ah! NO! Get away from me! I—I can't do this!

"Excuse me! Please stay away from him."

No... Don't go... But don't come nearer!

"What's wrong with him? Why are those chains on him?"

"Mr. Son—"

"Please, call me Goten. My dad's Mr. Son."

"Goten...-san, your brother has a history of refusing his medicine, which are memory restorers so that he can remember things. You see, Patient 89—"

"His name's Gohan, you slattern!"

"Mom, stop interrupting her so I can listen! She's explaining something!"

"It's all right, Mister...Goten-san. I understand her reactions. Your brother has blocked his memories out. We are giving him medicine to try and chip away at that block so that he will remember—"

"Blocked his memories? Why?"

"That is what we are trying to find out, Goten-san. We don't know why he's blocking them. We're hoping that once he remembers them that he will talk to us about it, and then we can help him."

"And is it working?"

At this silence, I peek out from the ball I have curled into. What will she say? Why didn't she just tell me about this? I...

Whoa! Where did these people come from? Francis, Orion, Camas, Gavilo, help me! Get them out of here! This is my space!

"What's happening to him?"

"Oh, dear, he's going through a 'mind blank'. This is where his mind just completely flips and forgets everything that just happened. We have to get out of here."

"But—!"

"Don't question me, just do it! All of you!"

Yeah, get out! This is MY space! You aren't allowed in here!

"Ahh, Gohan! He's trying to break free of his chains!"

"Goten-san! You must not go near him! He'll—"

"Gohan!"

The one called Goten-san heads towards me again. I see red and tear through my manacles, releasing Hondura's hold on me. Finally, I am winning this battle against Bradius.

Bradius!

"What's wrong with him?"

"Goten-san, we have to get out of here immediately! Get over here, now!"

"Goten, do what she says! She knows better than we do what Gohan is capable of doing in this state! Please, come on!"

Bradius, I have won this battle! You can't stop me now! I'm free!

"Close the door, before he gets out! Quickly! Close it!"

Just as I am about to escape at long last, another enemy pops up to obstruct me. This obstruction is in the form of a lean solid arched figure, with a small window in the top and no handle. I snarl at the door, frustrated by the hindrance, but know that I will not be able to get through it. I tried once before, when my manacles did not lock me down.

Speaking of my manacles, I've just decided to call them Kiito and Mara. The door, my new enemy, has just suddenly announced herself quite smugly as Candre. I glare at it again, then turn away and walk despondently back to Hondura. I have no qualms about sitting on her now…

I wonder why I'm not tied down now? What could it have been? Oh well, it's just easier for me. Now I can get to work convincing Bradius to join me against Candre, and work more on Lady Yukimo.

:-:-:-:

A/n: Four pages! Muahaha! Now five. And no, I'm not writing this fic by the page numbers, but that's just the way it turns out… (Although if there were more pages than the pattern calls for, I'd certainly shrink it down to size. :P)

Thanks to Salazarfalcon, Shadow Dreamer 27, MarshmellowDragon, Lucy Wood, and SSJMajinVegetaSaiyanPrince for reviewing the last chapter! (Bows)

Updated 09.02.05 ((Gawks) It's already September?)