A flash of light, a disembodied scream, and the dust settling only to reveal a child alone and scarred; though laughter would be heard by the victors the day would never be looked upon with enthusiasm nor joy. With the hands of a boy, Earth's unknown saviour, the cell games were ended. He would return to his now fatherless home and retreat into his mind to ever more face the mistakes he had made. Those daemons would remain until the end of his life, and his scars would ever remind him of his greatest and worst battle until dreamless sleep would take him. Gohan returned home to his cozy mountain home, far from the people he had saved surrounded by nature and most importantly peace. Life went on with a more exciting twist as his mother was with child, conceived before his Father's death. The legacy of Goku would now live on through two individuals, and Gohan wanted to be sure that this new arrival made none of the same mistakes he made, this one would not tarnish the families honour. Nine months after his victory Gohan became the older brother of Goten, the first good thing that had happened to Gohan in a long time. Up until then Gohan had been attending public school in the newly named Hercule city. As awkward as it was for Gohan to have to hear of someone else taking praise for his work, he preferred that it not be he being idolized. He even went to school with the "champ's" daughter Videl and had a growing bond with her. Nine months was a long time to forge a friendship and they were best of friends by the time Gohan's brother was born.

"Do you think it'll be weird having another mouth to feed in you house?" She asked at the end of their school day.

'More like expensive' Gohan thought to himself considering how their Sayajin blood didn't flow on just three meals a day.

"I mean one day you're an only child and the next day poof you've gotta share a house, parent, and air with another kid. Don't you feel a little, I dunno, intimidated?" Videl asked, naïve to Gohan's past experiences.

"Well, Videl I never considered him taking up my air before, but I don't think there'll be too much to worry about," Gohan answered. "Besides, it'll be refreshing to raise a kid. You know teach him the do's and don'ts-"

"And watch him do the don'ts," Videl interrupted.

"-Play with him in the yard-"

"-Chase 'em outta your room-"

"-Read him a story before bed-"

"-Beat him up for getting you outta bed…"

"Thank the powers that be that you're an only child, or else we might be seeing a broken child." Gohan commented.

"Hey don't talk about my non-existent sister like that!" Videl joked punching Gohan's arm.

"You sister wouldn't make it past nursing school with you torturing it." Gohan jested while defending himself.

The two friends wrestled a while before finally Videl was atop Gohan's chest; both of them stopped laughing. They just stayed in that position starring into each other's eyes. Heat rose within Gohan and red reached Videl's cheeks all the while some unseen force drew their heads closer together until their lips touched. It lasted a moment but felt like an eternity. For that brief moment all troubles went away, Videl's disputes with her Father were now in the past, and Gohan's scars seemed lifted briefly as if unreal. Then a car horn was heard signalling Videl's ride was somewhere nearby, the two broke away suddenly and stood up quickly, both with a mild blush upon their cheeks.

"So umm … that'd be my ride…" Videl spoke awkwardly

"Yah …you'd better catch it," Gohan agreed with just as much discomfort.

Videl turned around to go and was about to sprint halfway between a jog and a run when Gohan called out to her, "and say hi to you nonexistent sister for me!"

Videl turned around all embarrassment lost and smiled widely answering, "She's still pretty ticked about you calling her broken so I wouldn't hold my breath for a response."

Both smiled widely and went their separate ways. Gohan's flight was delayed slightly by sudden summersaults and back flips in mid air, but when he finally did get home as the sun was setting he felt as if nothing could take this feeling away. Until another feeling filled him; instinct. Why were the door ajar and the lights out, along with the nature around the house so quiet? Something was wrong; he entered his home calling his mother. Dead silence was his only answer, any minute now he knew his loving mother would come out with frying pan in hand going into a speech of how she was worried sick or how he should have phoned, but nothing came. The silence was so think he could feel the shadows and see the cold around him. Funny, mother usually lights the fireplace just before dusk. Just as his frustration was about to peak at how much none of this made any sense the silence was shattered by a quiet sound. It was gentle singing, a lullaby his father used to sing him when he was a child. His father! Could he really be home, Gohan listened for the tune as it did come in a man's voice.

There was a boy in a land of strangers

Every step he took, took him closer to danger

Every day he grew

The world grew smaller

Fights are fought and battles still rage…

But, as long as you are here

Hope still remains.

Yes those were the exact words, only Dad knew of them. But, upon closer inspection of the voice Gohan heard an eerie tone. This voice was laced with malice not comfort and if his father was the source of the singing, why was Goten suddenly crying?

Gohan rushed into the room, the sight that greeted him greatly simplified his problems. No longer did the questions who, what or why fill his mind. The only question that came painfully and shockingly was how!

"Gohan how rude," the shadowed figure said shrilly "you should knock before entering a room, your father would be most disappointed with you…!"