Dragon Ball © Toriyama Akira, Shuheisha, Inc.


Chapter 12: Earth's Greatest Defender


A week after the incident, Gohan made great progress with his condition. He wasted no time and back into training his juniors. Trunks practiced his aim while Tenten deflected them with her barriers. As she deflected the energy balls, she started to see Goten's shadow before her. She couldn't move when she saw him getting closer along with the energy ball. She heard his voice, calling her name again, again, and again. However, she couldn't move her body, until she was hit by the energy ball and trashed to the boulder behind her.

"Tenten!" Both Gohan and Trunks approached her.

"I'm so sorry, Tenten! I—"

"No, don't apologise, Trunks! This is a training session, so it's her own fault if she's losing concentration," Gohan said before turning his attention back to her. "Snap out of it, Tenten! Are you going to keep doing this when you're facing the android?!"

Tenten bit her lips and looked away. "It's just… I… I saw Goten and—"

"Don't ever bring Goten in this! He's no longer here, Tenten!"Gohan looked very angry at the mention of Goten. "You've got to accept that fact!"

Tenten clenched her fists and said, "You don't have to say it like that!" through her gritted teeth."He wasn't here because of me! You don't know how that feels, right?"

"And the world isn't going to pity you because of that! The world isn't going to be saved if you keep mourning over Goten! Let him rest and move on with your practice!"

It was the first time Trunks ever watched the siblings argued. He never thought he'd see Gohan so angry himself, though he understood why Gohan was really mad. It was indeed very dangerous for her to battle with that kind of mental state. Tenten ended up turning her heels and flew, hiding near the second rock mountain in their training ground.

"Sorry you have to see that, Trunks," Gohan said with an apologetic smile.

"That's okay… but, was that constantly happening? About her focus, I meant," Trunks said.

Gohan nodded. "That's why I never allow her to face the androids ever since Goten's incident. We can't lose focus during battles after all." He sighed. "Let's just continue with your practice."

"Are you going to leave her like that?" Trunks glanced at the mountain for the third time.

"What can harm her in this world besides the android? If something happened, she can do—" suddenly the mountain she went into destroyed into crumbles, "—that," Gohan finished his sentence with a smile. "You should learn to be angry like her."

But no matter how he reminisced the things the androids had done to their world, along with the fact that the androids had killed the warriors in the past, Trunks still couldn't trigger his true anger. He almost did it many times, but he just got near and never succeeded. Panting, he let himself fall to the ground, looking at his side to see Tenten staring at him with chin rested on her palm.

"Hey, there."

"You're looking like trying to pushing in a toilet instead of angry."

Trunks couldn't hold back his laughter. "That didn't look cool at all."

"Indeed." She chuckled. "But you look cool when you're trying hard to do your best."

Trunks could feel the hot sensation spreading from the center of his nose, so he looked away to make sure she didn't see it. "So… are you still mad?" he finally asked to break the silence between them.

"No…" She hunched over to draw her knees closer to her chest. "I know that what he said is true but… I don't like it when he said that Goten is no longer here… His body might not be here but I want to believe that his soul is with me. I want to at least believe that…"

"Tenten…" He approached her and sat by her side. "I believe that he's still alive too, in your heart, also in mine, in your brother's, and in everyone he saved before…"

She finally shed her tears at his words. With trembling lips, she buried her face on her palms as she poured her emotion out. Trunks hovered his arm around her shoulder, shaking at the uncertainty of whether or not he could touch her like that, until it finally landed on her shoulder, making her tilted her head towards him.

"Ah, this… Uh, I…" At that moment, he couldn't find even a word to explain his action.

"It's time for lunch!"His heart almost jumped out of his mouth when he heard Gohan said it in a singsong tone. Gohan was grinning from ear to ear, noticing where Trunks placed his hand, which Trunks immediately retracted.

"Onii-san…"

"Still angry with me?" Gohan asked. She shook her head in response."That's good then. I'm really hungry right now so let's go!" Gohan motioned them to follow him.

"I'm…" Gohan stopped to see her bowing down to him. "I'm really sorry for my words, Onii-san… I… will be more focused on my training so, please take care of me…" Tenten was a bit tensed when Gohan said nothing, then startled when he suddenly pulled her to his side, patting her back.

"I want to say sorry about my words too, Tenten. Because…" He smiled at her. "I know that he's here with us… He might always have…" There was a deep sadness in his voice when he said it. Tenten waited for him to continue but he didn't.

She didn't know what he meant at that moment, but she sensed the chilling sensation that was close to a bad premonition. However, she shook the thought away and proceeded to prepare their lunch.

When Tenten shared the sandwich, she passed a green box to Trunks. "This is yours, Trunks. I made this one especially for you."

Trunks checked the content and surprised to see the sandwich fillings. "How do you know I like Yakiniku?"

Tenten chuckled. "Do you remember when we visited the summer festival? The bento stall only had one pack of Yakiniku left and Goten wanted it so badly, you gave it to him?"

Trunks tried to recall the event and nodded when he finally remembered it.

"I know that you wanted it so badly from your expression, but you still decided to give it to Goten." Tenten handed him bottled mineral water and mouthed a silent "thank you" to him.

After getting hugged by her that night, his hope for her returning his feeling was increasing, especially when she knew his favourite food. Trunks bit his sandwich with a smile, smiling even wider when the spice, seasoning, and the meat tenderness were so perfect.

"How is it?" she asked.

He gave her his approval nod. "From the best chef's kitchen."Tenten giggled at this and wiped the sauce from the corner of his lips.

The lunch went peacefully. Trunks took a sip of honey lemonade Tenten made for him. "Uh… Gohan-san. I wonder why can't I become a Super Saiyan…"

Gohan smiled at him. "Just a little further, Trunks. It was awfully hard for me, too." he briefly gazed at the sky before continued, "Becoming a Super Saiyan is a matter of anger. I thought about how Piccolo-san and Krillin-san, and everyone else was killed by the Androids. And as I dwelt on that, it finally happened, and I became a Super Saiyan. You've got Vegeta-san's blood flood flowing through you. You'll be a Super Saiyan before long, that's for sure!"

"I see. I've been trying to anger myself and I still can't make it…" Trunks said.

Trunks' eyes fell on Gohan's Gi, recalling something his mother had told him about and said, "You know what Kaa-san said, Gohan-san? It startles her every time she sees you in that Gi because you look so much like your Father."

Gohan sniggered, "I made it hoping that it would make me as strong as Otou-san was before he died. But I guess it's not just the clothes." They were laughing at this, but that was until Tenten noticed a small blue gladiolus flower-shaped embroidery near his left chest—probably was there because of the hole in his Gi. Tenten scrutinised it and clearly remembered that she wasn't the one who did it.

"Onii-san, who did this?" she said as she pointed at the embroidery. Gohan's expression froze and for the first time in a decade, she saw him blushing a bit, then covered half of his face with his right palm. "Onii-san?" Tenten pressed her tone.

Gohan cleared his throat, then composed himself as he admitted it. "My special someone, Tenten." This made Tenten squealed while Trunks almost dropped his sandwich.

"Who is it, Onii-san?! Why you never bring her home?!" Tenten gripped his shirt and lightly shook him.

"I am planning to, okay! After things getting quieter and probably after we bring down the android, I am planning to introduce her to you." Gohan stared at the embroidery again and widely smiled. "And I'm pretty sure that you will like her, Tenten."

Tenten giggled. "If you like her then I believe in your judgment, Onii-san. I will always will!"

Trunks smiled as he watched the exchange between the siblings. He always looked up to Gohan and considered him the brother he never had, the father he never met. He always thought Tenten was much luckier than he did, but that didn't last long.

A pillar of flash – followed by a giant explosion devoured the city to their northeast, the Metroplex City. The three demi-Saiyan immediately rose to their feet. Gohan gritting his teeth, immediately turned himself into Super Saiyan form.

"Trunks, Tenten, you stay here, you hear me?"

Tenten's eyes widened at her brother's statement. "NO! You're not in any shape for this! You just got wounded last week, there's no way you can take them!"

"Gohan-san, if you're going then I'm going too! I'm a lot stronger than before!" said Trunks.

"Both of you! Don't take the Androids' power so lightly!" Gohan scolded him.

Tenten held Gohan's right arm. "I should say the same thing to you, Onii-san! I won't let you go unless you take me!"

"Me too! I want to fight alongside with you, Gohan-san!"

Gohan stared at their persistence for a moment, then sighed as he said, "I guess I have no choice then." Trunks was believing that Gohan decided to take him along. However, Gohan delivered a sharp blow to the base of his neck with the side of his palm, instantly knocking him out.

"Trunks!" Tenten scooted to caught him before he landed on the ground and slowly laid him down. "O-onii-san… Why are you doing this?!"

Gohan knelt before her to stared at her right into her eyes. He tucked her hair behind her ears, then caressed her cheek. Tenten couldn't distinguish the feeling she had when she stared right into his eyes, but it made her shed her tears. With his right arm, he pulled her close to him.

"Tenten, you and Trunks are our last hope. If both of you were to die, there won't be any warriors left to defend the Earth. A few years from now, both of you will have the ability to defeat the androids."

"No! You're preparing yourself to die, right?! Why are you leaving me?! Why?!" she screamed. "Please don't do this to me, Onii-san! Please take me with you! I'd die with you if I should!" she pleaded. "Don't leave me all alone… please…"

Gohan faintly smiled at her. Tenten could still remember clearly that it was the same smile Goten had before he left her forever.

"Tenten, no matter how far we're apart… Remember that we love you and will always watch over you. Don't ever give up on hope, okay?"

She gasped when Gohan knocked her unconscious with his left hand, caught her, and put her gently on the ground. He caressed her cheek with his knuckle, noticing how his hands were trembling like crazy. Gohan took a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment.

He had faced the androids numerous times, but never felt the fear he had at that moment. He wondered if that was the exact feeling one would feel when their time came.

Ever since this morning, he had a strange feeling in his chest.

He felt like he was seeing his father, mother, and Goten altogether.

They were there, waiting for him.

He had heard a myth about when one saw the predeceased loved ones, then their time was nigh.

This was probably what they meant.

He clenched his fists until they turned white to dissipate his fear and getting himself ready…

For his last battle…

"Trunks, please take care of Tenten… I'm trusting the world in your hand…" Gohan looked down and clenched his fist around the blue embroidery on his left chest. "I'm sorry… I couldn't keep our promise…" he whispered as he glanced towards the city, full of determination.

Gohan embarked to the city.

And that was the very last flight he ever took…


The first thing Tenten saw when she cracked her eyes open was Trunks' unconscious form. When the memory of her previous occurrence crossed her mind, she jerked her body and looked for any sign of her brother who was nowhere to see.

"Trunks!" She shook his body. "Trunks! Wake up, Trunks!"

His purple brows mashed into a deep frown when he regained his consciousness. He propped his body up with his arms while rubbing his neck, trying to recall what had happened.

"Tenten?"

"Trunks! My brother!"

Then it struck him like lightning. Trunks stood up straight and focused himself on finding Gohan's Ki.

"I can't feel his Ki…" Tenten sobbed. "I can't feel his Ki, Trunks! I can't feel his Ki!" she screamed while holding herself with both of her arms, trembling. "Onii-san… Onii-san! Onii-san!"

Trunks grabbed her open arms. "Tenten, look at me! Look at my eyes!" She obeyed him, looking back at him, tears had cascaded from both of her eyes, mouth slightly agape. "I want you to calm down. We will have to look for your brother together. Don't assume anything before we find him, okay? Don't lose your hope!"

She bit her bottom lip before hesitantly nodding her head at him.

But no matter how he tried to calm her down, Trunks couldn't get rid of the bad premonition he had. The inside of his stomach twisted every time he thought about Gohan, but he refused to accept it. They headed to the wrecked town – Trunks searched the west side while Tenten searched for the east side.

He made an abrupt stop when he sensed Tenten's Ki stopped moving. Thinking that she might have found him, he decided to make his way to her place. Clutching his chest, Trunks couldn't get rid of the overwhelming fear. How he hoped that Gohan might just be losing his consciousness.

But how wrong he was.

He widened his eyes when he saw Tenten from afar, standing right beside her brother's body. He couldn't stop shaking. The closer he got, the more he saw blood-covered Gohan's body. He went down and checked for his pulse, for any sign of life, waiting just in case Gohan opened his eyes and said 'I got you!', but that never happened.

Gohan had closed his eyes forever and he didn't have the gut to look at Tenten's face. But he had to.

Craning his head towards her, he saw how her face was void of any form of emotion. She was just standing there, staring blankly at her brother.

"Tenten…"

She didn't respond to him, so he rose from his position and approached her. When he placed his hand on her shoulder, her body was stumbled forward. Trunks quickly caught her and pulled her onto his chest.

She had lost her consciousness.

Lucky for him, he didn't have to hide his emotion anymore because she wasn't looking. He sobbed as he caressed her cheek with his knuckle. His body started to tremble when emotion building inside him – reaching his chest and screamed when it reached his throat.

The sequence of the horrible destruction done by the androids flashed before his eyes. Goten's death, the death of the innocents, and the warriors he never met, including his father.

The ground around him shaken, pebbles floating from the ground before being catapulted afar with immense energy. His hair was spiked up, turning into the color of the sun in its glory, eyes becoming the color of the shallow sea, welled up with tears.

It was the day when Earth lost its greatest defender…

And the birth of another…


AN: Old readers might notice the changes I've made in this part because there are a few details added and one of them is the blue embroidery in Gohan's Gi. Though his meeting with Videl in the future is non-canon, I want to make their relationship exists in the future as well. I chose the gladiolus flower because the flower represents the warrior's strength which I think is very fitting for Gohan. XD

So, did I make any of you cry in this chapter? XD Please review and tell me what do you think about this chapter!

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