In some cases the cure for the disease is so simple, it's hard.

:-:-:-:

"...Where am I?"

"In the infirmary. We had to move you here from your room because you were convulsing. We delivered your medicine to you too late."

(Pause)

"Do you want us to leave?"

"Yes, please."

"All right, then. Good day, Goten-san."

"Oh, hi, Goten! Didn't see you there, hiding in the shadows like that."

"You do remember me!"

"Of course. That is, when I'm not insane."

"Don't say that. You're not insane, whenever."

"Fine, insane mode. Ya happy now?"

"Very."

"Good. I'm sorry for distressing you like that. It's just that my mind just flips and totally just reverts back to child mode and..."

"You don't have to explain it to me. Your doctor did that."

"She didn't explain it enough, in my opinion."

"Heh."

"Yeah. So, got any girlfriends? Had any girlfriends?"

:-:-:-:

"Hi, Gohan! How are you today?"

Oh, a visitor! There hasn't been one for a whole day! This is very nice!

"Ahh, I see you're finally back to insane mode. Do I get a hug today?"

A hug? What for? You're not sad today. You still want one? Fine.

"Thank you!"

You're welcome. Thanks for the smile.

"How are you liking it in this infirmary?"

It sucks. There's nothing to do. Therefore, I'm trying to chat up the tubes sliding out of my arms. They're very interesting to talk to, when they talk.

"Boring, huh?"

You bet. Sheesh... What's this? A visitor?

"Ahh, another mind blank! Guess I'll just have to introduce myself all over again..."

Who are you?

"I'm Goten. Goten, Gohan, Goten."

Why are you saying my name like that? Goten, Gohan, Goten?

"...Oh, boy. This isn't going anywhere."

Don't go away. You're fun to be around.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Good. I need the company.

"Gohan? Why don't you come out? I know you can."

I am Gohan! I'm right here!

"Say, Gohan, do you want to get out of here?"

Yes! Can you get me past Candre? That demon door won't let me by.

"It looks like you're interested. Why don't I open the door for you? I can claim that you surprised me."

I can go along with that.

"Here we go..."

Yay! I'm free!

"Good luck, bro. I hope I see you in the outside world someday..."

In your face, Candre!

"No. I know I will."

Gotta be fast if I don't want them to catch me!

"Huh! What was that?"

"I don't know. Do you know what that was, Nurse?"

"N-no…"

"Oh, no!" (Chorus)

"We've got to chase after him!"

"Nurse Regali, gather up a search team as quickly as possible. Also, find out from Goten-san how the heck 89 could get by him!"

"Aye, aye, Head Doctor!"

"I'm right on your heels, Doctor Uni!"

:-:-:-:

Whoa.

To think that the outside would be so crisp and clear…. I can feel my head clearing, the child in me retreating, the child that I had never gotten the chance to be….

I'm returning to myself.

But the bad memories are being held at bay….

Could it be that I only needed to get out in the fresh air to get rid of all these cobwebs in my head? That to get over my problems, I needed to get outside? So that I could rationalize reasonably well and figure out in only five minutes that Videl and Pan died in what was merely an accident, and had nothing to do with me? For that's true. It was just an accident.

I hear shouts behind me and look back. I see two people in lab coats, one a woman with cropped blue hair and stern green eyes, the other a big, sturdy man with kind black eyes and ear-length black hair.

Them.

They are racing towards me, no doubt intending to catch me and take me back inside. Well, too bad. I'm not going back into that fusty old place. Not when it'll only slow down my recovery….

Tossing them a bright Son Grin over my shoulder, I rise up on my toes and start padding away. Distantly, I remember that I shouldn't go too fast, as I am in the presence of unsuspecting humans, but it is only a distant part.

I pick up my pace and lose myself in the rush of speed, the play of almost-atrophied muscles, and the delight it all brings. Finally, I'm home.

:-:-:-:

A/n: You like? We've got one more chapter to go… Three pages! (:0)) Review, please!

Thank you so much, SSJMajinVegetaSaiyanPrince, The Death Grip, Shadow Dreamer 27, mainesthai (HI!), The General of Darkness, MarshmellowDragon, Salazarfalcon, Lucy Wood, and DBZ Chick1! (Bows)

Updated 09.12.05