5

AN: Okay, a few have stated that Gohan is a bit off for his character and that, believe it or not, is actually the way he's going to be portrayed for a bit (a few chapters) – he's going through a lot of stuff right now and it'll all be worked over in the next few chapters, though not worked out entirely.

Be Warned: There will heavy anger/angst issues later on this chapter – these are a building tool to what is going to come, so take them as they are meant, please, and don't flame.

Also, this story will be worked on in my spare time, when RL and my other stories (which I am going to try and finish first) give me the chance. Now, on with the carnage… I mean fic.

(Son House – night)

Gohan stared at the ceiling of his room as the ticks of his Saiyan-proof alarm clock (a gift from Bulma on his last birthday) filled his ears – his training session with Vegeta had been enough to take the edge off of the feeling he'd been experiencing as of late, one that Vegeta told him he would continue to feel for a few more months, but Gohan knew that, sooner or later, he was going to snap. Kami, he hated Saiyan puberty – it really chapped his tail that, as a half-breed, it affected him earlier than it would a full-blooded Saiyan, but more so it brought out some of the Saiyan's less… likable attributes.

He closed his eyes and snorted at the term – according to Vegeta he was going to be more aggressive and possessive (especially when it came to food) during this point in his life, that his mood swings would be greater and that it would be harder to resist the urge to go into battle madness; the up side, though, was that the latent genes in his DNA were now starting to activate and he would become something akin to a three-quarters Saiyan, at least in physiology. He'd be physically tougher, more resistant to poisons and toxins, and his power base would only be marginally better, but as a drawback his mental functions would alter slightly and he would start to think differently – like a warrior, a Saiyan Elite; he'd walk into a room and, instantly, search out the strongest, most capable fighter, every means of egress, and the cannon fodder of that he could sacrifice, should it become necessary.

It is never necessary to sacrifice a person, son. Ah, yes, the general cause of his frustrations and anger.

'Sometimes it is, father.'

A true warrior would find a way to protect everyone.

'No, a naïve one would do that – a true warrior knows that nobody can save everybody.' Every night Goku talked to him, as if it would help him get over the anger he felt towards his father, and every night Gohan found a reason to resent the bastard more and more – sure, he'd screwed up and let his ego get the best of him against Cell, and his father had paid the price for that. He'd gotten over that a while back, but what still irked him more than anything was the fact that his father truly believed that, without him being there, that the Earth was safe.

It is safer without me being there, son, and you know that. Do you really think that I wanted to stay away from your mother and you?

Gohan could hear the hurt tone in his voice, but ignored it, 'Well, it's not like you ever were hear all that long anyway. Always off on one training journey or another.'

He could hear the wince in his father's mental voice, That's not fair, Gohan, because you know I was getting stronger to protect you and your mother.

'And you've forgotten a precept of being a warrior – no matter how strong you get, there is always somebody stronger just over the next hill, or on the next planet, or off in the depths of space. It's a self-perpetuating cycle that further distances yourself from the ones you love, all on the off chance that, at the end, you'll be the strongest of everyone.'

And then I can protect you two!

Gohan snorted, 'And by that point, mom and I will be dead and some young buck will come along to take your place, just like you took the place of the last person who was titled 'the strongest'. Face it, FATHER, you're up there for your own selfish reasons and, so far, you're the only one who doesn't realize it..' With that, Gohan severed his mental connections to the Warrior's Heaven and rolled over – he had school the next morning.

(In Warrior's Heaven)

Goku frowned slightly as he pulled his hand away from King Kai's back, "Why is Gohan so angry at me? Everything I've ever done was for him."

"Which has only resulted in you missing more than half of his life, Goku," the cat-fish-faced Kai said with an aged voice. "You've missed a lot in his life, and for a long time he wanted nothing more than to be just like you, but now that he's growing up, he's realizing that he's going to be living in your shadow for a long, long time, unless he breaks out of it."

Goku sighed, "Why can't he realize that it's not a decision I made lightly, King Kai? Doesn't he know that I'd rather be down there with him, training with him and holding his mother while she's cooking instead of being up there?"

King Kai looked at his last student and sighed, "Goku, there is more to life than fighting and eating. Let me ask you a question – have you ever wondered why it was that Gohan's always been so powerful?"

Goku smiled, "Because he's my son, and I'm strong."

King Kai nodded, "True, some of that strength came from you and from Chi-Chi, but not all of it; in fact, very little of it came from you and your wife." The older godling smiled slightly, "You see, Gohan's power comes from his own mind and how he understands the world – sure, being half-Saiyan means that he'll be able to control a lot more of this power than a full Saiyan or pure Human would, as he gets the best of both worlds, but a lot of it comes from the depths of his emotions and how he controls them, Goku. Add to that, that right now he's going through an advanced form of Saiyan puberty, and you have a very angry, very confused young man who is about to be faced with a rather tempting chance to hurt someone."

Goku looked at King Kai oddly, "Who?"

"Hercule Satan – tomorrow, he's going to the school to confront Gohan on his daughter's own pig-headedness … and I dare say that Gohan's going to tell Hercule something that he's not going to like."

Goku looked down at the Earth in worry – he knew his son's temper and, given the way he had heard Hercule Satan speak of himself and the others, he knew that Gohan's fuse was already lit and burning dangerously quick.

(Orange Star Junior High – next day)

Erasa rubbed her legs a little as she noticed the school was abuzz with excitement, "I wonder what's going on?"

Sharpner looked at her, "Didn't you hear? Hercule's going to be here today to 'talk' with Gohan about what he did to Videl."

Erasa growled a little, "Gohan didn't do anything to her! He and Mr. Chestnut told us to stay away and she didn't." Honestly, WHY she was friends with such a hard-headed, strong-willed and one-minded person, Erasa wouldn't know, but as that was a recent development…

"Hey guys." She turned and saw Gohan walked towards her, a slight smile on his lips even as she felt her pulse begin to pick up just a bit. Dressed in a pair of loose pants and a matching tan t-shirt, he looked… content, "What's up?"

Sharpner smiled somewhat evilly, "Hercule is SO going to kick your ass today, Gohan."

Gohan, for his part, only looked slightly amused, "Really?"

She sighed, "Gohan, why don't you respect the man who supposedly saved us all from Cell?"

Gohan looked at her and, for a moment, she could swear his eyes were a jade color, "Because I know better, he's a braggart and, as much as I hate to admit it, he's insulting my father – I won't stand for that last one, as it insults me as well."

Erasa opened her mouth to ask about his father, but Mr. Chestnut's voice stopped her, "Gohan, bro, we need to talk." Internally Erasa growled – soon, very soon, she and Gohan were going to have a talk about things without being interrupted.

As Krillen drug him away, Gohan felt a chill go up his spine at the look that Erasa was shooting at Krillen, "What's up, Krillen?"

As soon as they were out of the main stream of students, the Turtle Master looked at him, "Okay, you've heard about Hercule showing up here today, right?" Gohan nodded and Krillen went on, "Look, we both know what he's going to do – as the Turtle Master, I have the right and privilege to accept any challenges he would make, and that's what I'm going to do, Gohan."

Gohan shook his head, "Krillen, you can't-"

Krillen's features took an unusually sharp look to them, "Yes, I can, Gohan, and I will. Like it or not, you can kill him with a single shot and we both know that – what good will that do you?"

Gohan took a breath and let it out slowly – Krillen was right, he COULD kill Hercule with a single punch, or a kick, or a ki blast, and where would that get him? "I don't like it, Krillen."

The ex-monk nodded, "I know, bro, but if it's going to happen, it's going to happen at the WMAT. Now, get to class – you mother would kill me if I made you late."

Gohan smirked at the shorter man, "No she wouldn't – she'd make you eat Bulma's cooking." As Krillen turned green at the prospect of that, Gohan walked off, idly whistling a tune under his breath.

(Later – Study Hall)

Gohan had been neck-deep in his studies all day, not ignoring Erasa at all but making sure he paid attention, but now he had no excuse, "Yes, Erasa?"

The blonde girl in front of him practically had a battle aura around her, "If I ask you a question, do you promise to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you Kami?"

Smirking, Gohan put his hand on her science book and held up his other, his four fingers split into a 'V', "I swear so."

The aura seemed to pulse just a bit as she growled at him and jerked his arm down, "Alright, just what happened yesterday? You and Mr. Chestnut were doing things that weren't possible."

"According to whom," he asked blandly. This didn't do anything good for her temper, so he went on, "Who says that what we did wasn't possible?"

She controlled her temper a bit, "You hurt Videl."

He shook his head, "No, Videl hurt Videl – we warned you all to stay back, but she ignored us, so she got hurt. It's sad, but it happens."

It appeared that this satisfied her for a second as she went on to another question, "What happened to your father? He died at the Cell games."

"You just answered your own question." Gohan felt his humor die quickly as he spoke – he did not want to get into it now.

Erasa, though, wasn't finished, "Look, I don't think Hercule did what he said he did either, but if you don't tell me what's going on, I won't stop pestering you. Trust me, I'm good at annoying people – ask my aunt if you ever meet her."

He arched his eyebrow at her and frowned even as he felt a familiar presence touch his mind, 'What is it, Piccolo?'

'Agree to tell her, but on your terms.'

He nodded subconsciously, "Alright, but talk on my terms, where I choose."

Erasa brightened a lot, "Deal." She stuck out her hand and he shook it, feeling her firm grip, "Alright, now what are you going to do if-"

Her question was cut off by the door being kicked in and the afro-haired idiot himself storming in, "Where is Son Gohan? Where is he so I can rip his head off for hurting my Sugar Pea?"

Gohan rolled his eyes as Piccolo turned from grading his papers and glaring at the man, "If you don't be quiet I'll send you to HFIL."

Sighing, Gohan stood up, "I'm here – let's take this to the gym." With a jaunty salute to Erasa, he walked down to the floor level and past the now-gawking 'Savior of Humanity' towards the gym.

Erasa, for her money, actually waited until Hercule started to walk after Gohan before she bolted out of her chair after them, soon being joined by the rest of the class.

(Gym – several minutes later)

With a rather large crowd of on-lookers, Gohan watched as Hercule primped and flexed for the kids, several of them 'ooooh'-ing and 'aaaah'-ing, but for the most part none of them really paid attention, "So, what do you want? If its tips on hair care, here's a tip – the afro went out a decade or two ago."

The dark-haired wrestler-turned-fighter growled at him, "I want you, no, I DEMAND you apologize for hurting my little girl."

Feeling his irritation grow a bit, Gohan repressed the urge to rip the man's afro off of his head, "Why should I do that? Mr. Chestnut and I both told the other students to not get close and your daughter ignored it – clear-cut case of what happens when you don't follow directions."

Hercule growled at him, this time stomping forwards a bit, "Listen to me, you little punk, if you don't apologize to her now, I'm going to rip you apart and send you back to your mother in a BOX!"

Several of the students made noises as if to show they were afraid of this, while many of the students looked at him with interest, but Gohan could see both Krillen and Vegeta doing their best to not break out in laughter, "Like you could."

Hercule pushed out his chest and hit it several times, "I defeated Cell!"

Gohan gave the man a nasty smile that made several of the students step back a little, "Well pin a rose on your nose. Is that supposed to impress me? It's only your word, as there is no actual footage of what happened there. For all we know, someone else beat him and you're just taking the credit."

A fine sheen of sweat broke out on Hercule's forehead, but he stood defiantly, "What would your father say if he were here? What kind of a heathen did he raise that wouldn't apologize to a girl he'd hit?"

The large room went silent, save for a muttered, "ohshit," from both Vegeta and Krillen. Gohan, for his part, did very well in not blasting the loud-mouthed braggart on the spot, or so he thought, "I knew my father for under half of my life, Hercule, so don't think for a second that I care what he'd think. He as always off on some training journey to make himself stronger, off on this, that or the other, and now that he's dead I could give a rat's ass what he thinks." He then started to walk forwards, "What I can tell you, though, is that my mother taught me to do what was right, and I know that I'm in the right for not apologizing because your daughter couldn't follow directions." He smirked a little as his anger began to boil more, "But that makes me wonder, what kind of a father are you that your daughter can't listen and follow simple instructions?"

Hercule went a rather interesting shade of purple, "DON'T YOU DARE QUESTION MY RAISING MY DAUGHTER!" He took a few deep breaths, but it appeared that Hercule got himself under control enough to say, "If you won't apologize voluntarily, I'll be one out of you."

Gohan shrugged, "Sure, however you want it – here or at the WMAT, I'll beat you."

Hercule stopped, "What?"

"I said, 'here or at the WMAT, I'll beat you'."

Hercule smirked at him, "What makes you think you could beat me at the WMAT, boy?"

Gohan smirked right back at him, "Because I'm entering it and taking the title from you."

Hercule laughed as several of the students gasped, "You can't! You're too young."

Gohan smirked at him and quoted, "Rule 148, Part B – 'If at any point in time a Champion cannot defend his or her title, due to injury or death, the eldest child may step in his or her stead.' The title still bears my father's name, Hercule, and that rule states that I'm going to be there to win it for myself." With that and a pat to the man's cheek, Gohan walked towards the exit, the crowd of student parting around him like the proverbial 'Red Sea' from some old religion his mother had made him read about. Yes, this was going to be fun.

From her position, Erasa could see the almost evil grin on Gohan's face and knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was not going to be fun.

"He's crazy." "He's brave." "He's insane." "He's cute." The whispers started around her as she started after Gohan, but one whisper reached her ears before she got to the doors, and it was Hercule's.

"I'm dead."

AN: Alright, here's another little bit, though a touch longer than the last one. Next part – Gohan and Erasa have a talk and a few things are resolved (but a few more start). Reviews, please.