Okay, here's my next chapter. YAY!
I like this story much more than my other one. It actually moves along at a good pace, and I don't have any author notes in the middle of the story.
Disclaimer: If I write the word Disclaimer, doesn't that kind of tip you off? Do I really have to say anything?
Chappie 2 (YAY!)
"Okay, what's wrong, and why are you bleeding?" asked Gohan, a little suspiciously.
"Well, I can tell you the full story later, right now you need to help me. Please hide me! There are some guys following me. You have to help me! Don't let them get me!"
"Okay, okay. Don't worry, I wouldn't let anybody hurt someone innocent."
Quickly, he scanned the area for ki signatures that shouldn't be there. Three people were heading towards the house, and were nearly there. He looked outside, and caught the sounds of twigs breaking from about 10 yards away.
"Get behind me, now. They're almost here."
Before the words completely escaped Gohan's lips, the girl had dived behind him. He looked around, and grabbed an extra piece of timber that he had been going to use as firewood. He was planning to use it as a weapon because he couldn't show his inhuman strength as well as the ki ball. After all, these were grown men, and he was just 11 years old. He could think of an explanation later for the ki ball.
A few seconds later, the first man came barreling through the window. Gohan whacked the piece of wood on the man's head before he had even touched the ground, cracking the piece of wood and the man's head. When the next man came through, he was a little more cautious. Gohan threw the remaining parts of the wood at him, but the heavily muscled man dodged. When the man went to punch him, though, he jumped out of the way, and pulled his arm, using the man's momentum to throw him against the metal headboard of his bed, knocking him unconscious.
The girl let out a long breath. "That was amazing! I never thought anyone could take out those two so easily. You could-"
"Wait. Don't celebrate yet. There's one more."
"How do you know that? I don't hear anything."
Just then, a crash came from the front of the house, and the girl jumped.
"What was that?"
"The other guy," Gohan replied simply, and with that walked away, toward the source of the noise.
After a few seconds, the girl came running up to him. "But, if this is the last goon, he's the worst of the lot! None of the others had ever been able to get even a scratch on him! He's too fast!"
"Don't worry."
The walked into the hallway that led to the door, and Gohan was surprised to find a gaunt, snakelike man standing next to the door, which he had managed to rip off of it's hinges. As soon as the man saw them, he froze. After a second, the man whipped out towards Gohan, and there was a flash of silver. Gohan dodged at the last second, but the man managed to clip his pants with the small dagger in his hand, creating a small gash in the cloth.
There was no doubt that this was the best fighter of the three. It was as if the man was undulating right towards his target, rather than just swing randomly in his general direction. He flowed from move to move with the sure steps of a master, and wielded the small dagger as if it was an extension of his body. He was going to be a lot more trouble than the other two if Gohan wanted to keep his powers a secret. If he had to, he would use more skill than a boy his age should have, but only if it was there was no other choice.
The man stopped for a second, and then said in an oily voice that made Gohan's skin crawl, "I only want the girl. If you let me have her, I won't hurt you. In fact, if you help, I'll give you a reward."
Gohan feigned a thoughtful look. "Well, exactly what can you give me as a reward?"
The girl's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth, but Gohan sent her a withering glance.
The snakelike man grinned, showing a mouth devoid of most of its teeth. "I can get you anything. Money, power, love…"
Gohan's eyes narrowed. He spat, "Can you get my mother and father back from the dead?"
The man blinked in surprise, and Gohan used the man's momentary distraction to dart forward and grab the dagger out from the man's hand, and spin the gaunt man around, holding the dagger to his throat.
"What are you going to do now?" asked Gohan.
The man struggled for a second, surprising Gohan with the amount of strength that this skinny man had, but gave up.
"Just don't kill me. I'll go away, and I won't bother you or the girl ever again."
"You think I trust you enough to just let you go?"
The man spat on Gohan shoes. "Fine. Kill me. Be proud you were able to kill me."
Gohan glared at the man. "I take no pride or joy in killing. The only redeeming factor of fighting is when you are doing it to protect another." With that, Gohan took the blade away from the man's throat, and hit him over the head with it. The man slumped down, and Gohan let him fall to the ground.
The girl's eyes were tearing. "Thank you. I never thought anyone would help me."
"It was nothing," said Gohan grimly. "I was just doing the duty of all people. Protecting the innocent and those weaker than themselves."
The girl gave him a frosty glare for calling her weak, but it quickly melted. She threw her arms around his shoulders, and cried against him.
After a few minutes, she drew away, and wiped off her tears.
"Are you okay now?" asked Gohan. She nodded. "Well, then I would like a few questions answered. One, who were those people, and why did they want you? Two, how did you find my house? And three, what's your name? I don't want to just call you girl."
She smiled a little. "Those were some men who were hired by an enemy of my father. My father is a lawyer, and put this man's brother in jail for life. He had killed my mother. They were going to either use me as a hostage to get his brother out, or kill me." The last she said with a frown.
"I'm sorry. What about my other questions?" Gohan said in a sad voice.
"Well, I was just running. I didn't know where I was going. I guess I was just lucky I ended up here. Finally, my name's Arikay."
Gohan smiled. "Well Arikay, I'm glad I could have been of service, but if you-"
"Wait a second," Arikay interrupted. "I have a couple questions of my own. Where are your parents? Why do you live out here? How were you able to beat the last guy so easily?"
"My dad is dead, and my mom hates me. I ran away," said Gohan, his face and voice suddenly devoid of all emotion, flat as the floor beneath their feet.
"What makes you think your mom hates you?"
"It's my fault my dad died. I might as well have killed him myself."
"Why do you think your mom believes that?"
"Because," said Gohan testily, "I heard her say that it was my fault." His tone brooked no argument. Arikay looked away.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It is my fault that he died. I had the chance to save him, and I screwed it up. I live out here because, like I said, I ran away. I built this house myself. I beat the last guy, and the other guys easily because I was lucky, and I have a little martial arts training. Look, I'm going to tend your cuts, and then I'm going to bring you back to your dad's, okay?"
"No! If you can runaway and live by yourself, I can too. I hate my dad. He doesn't care about me. All he cares about is work. He goes off on business trips all the time without telling me, and doesn't leave any money or anything. I always have to go to my neighbor's house, but they don't let me sleep there. I can't change the temperature of my house, so when my dad's gone, I either freeze or burn. Please let me stay here. Besides you might like the company." She ended with a pleading look.
Gohan, crossing his arms, muttered under his breath, "I doubt it."
"What was that?"
"I said that I'm used to living on my own. I was left in the wilderness alone for six months, and I got used to it. I won't get lonely, especially with all the animals."
She glared at him. "You didn't say that much. Besides, if you won't do it for yourself, do it for me. I can't fend for myself, and we both need a little human contact."
Gohan sighed and let his arms fall to his sides. "Whatever. Let's just get those cuts cleaned okay?" She smiled and nodded.
Gohan considered giving her a sensu bean for a second, but decided against it. Her wounds weren't grave, and he needed to save them for later if something were to happen.
She followed him into a small room. He went to a small desk that he had made, and pulled out a small first aid kit he had found in the capsule with the money from Bulma. Thanks Dende. ' No problem.'Gohan jumped. You can here me? 'Yes, I linked our minds. I know you ran away, but don't worry; your secrets are safe with me.' Gohan sighed. Then he had a slightly unnerving thought. Wait, you said you connected our minds. Does that mean you can read my mind? Dende chuckled. 'No. I only hear you when you direct a thought at me. Well, I have to go now, but if you need anything, don't be afraid to pray. I'll almost definitely give you whatever it is that your praying for.' With that, Dende left Gohan's head.
"What was that?"
Gohan looked up. Arikay was staring at him as if he were insane.
"Oh, uh, nothing. Hold out your arm."
Arikay obeyed, and Gohan put a little peroxide on. Arikay didn't flinch, but stayed still. After he had properly cleaned the cut, he wrapped a bandage tightly around it.
"Could you have tied it any tighter?" said Arikay, favoring Gohan with a scornful look.
"Sorry Arikay. It has to be tight. These are kind of deep, and I had to stop the bleeding."
"It's okay. Just call me Katy."
Gohan smiled up at her. "Okay Katy."
Well, there's the next chapter for you! I'll probably have one or two more chapters of them being this age, and then skip ahead. I'm going to have them go to high school. Videl will be there, and the rest of the gang, but Gohan won't fall for Videl. This is going to be a Gohan Arikay fic. Also, I created Arikay by myself, and I take full credit.