Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.

The Long Road

Chapter 11: Two Sides

The land below him seemed to be an even faster blur than before. Had he really improved this much? Flying through the air at this speed before only seemed possible as a Super Saiyan. Now it was possible without even transforming. Part of Gohan wondered idly what it would be like travelling at full speed in his transformed state, but that could wait. The main reason to delay of course was the fact he didn't want Vegeta detecting how strong he'd become so far.

It was awkward still, the thought of going in there with Kakarot. His anxiety was being built off his own bias about the older Saiyan, and of course because he didn't really want to get to know him any further than he already did. Kakarot was an extremely kind man, who would do anything to protect his friends and the Earth. So willing to do this, he'd kill his own son were he a threat. The last part was the only part of this equation so far Gohan was willing to admit was a Saiyan trait. Beyond some of Kakarot's more repulsive traits however, there was the fact that Kakarot wanted to get to know him.

Why should he feel ashamed of that?

Because I'm everything he hates.

Gohan sneered as the traitorous thought leaped forward from the back of his mind. He had no time for such deliberate and pointed self pity. He was Gohan, a Commander in the Planet Trade until not long ago, and there was nothing to be ashamed of in terms of his conduct. So what if these Earthlings, or that bastard Vegeta disapproved? He survived. That was the number one rule he'd lived by since the moment Raditz split his face open. It was the strategy that kept him alive after every maiming injury, after each near fatal blow. It didn't matter how many others had to die, or even if he had to sacrifice his pride. Just as he'd sacrificed his pride, begging for his life while fighting Kakarot for the first time.

The only one who had scratched the surface was Chi-Chi, the mother he never had. It was ridiculous that he was so willing to go out of his way to appease her notion of what he was. But worst of all, he didn't just want to appease it, he didn't want to disappoint her. It was embarrassing and pathetic each time she'd swallow her own dignity and try to ignore what he'd done before. The truth was she cared about him because he was her son, and she wanted so much after over a decade for him to be there she'd forgive him for destroying more lives than she'd ever know. He'd killed Planet Trade soldiers, he'd killed innocent people, he'd killed the heroes of the Galaxy, and all for his own survival or personal gain, but she didn't care so long as he was there.

Finally, Gohan halted above the forest, looking down at the very humble home below.

He didn't want to be forgiven by Chi-Chi, or Kakarot. He didn't even want to be forgiven by his victims. He wanted to avoid the consequences of the actions all together. The truth was he didn't want to be forced to feel shame for the actions he'd rightly done, and he didn't want to burn in Hell for them either. In surviving all these years, in thriving all these years, his lofty goal of survival had cost him much more in the long run, but it was too late to stop digging the hole now. Even if he stopped digging, there was no avoiding his own fate after he died.

It was the brutal truth he hated to stare at. In surviving as he had, he'd created a much worse fate for himself once he died. All those speed bumps on his road to prosperity and survival would judge him, or be used to judge him.

One hand moved up to his head, his eyes wincing at the thought of it, almost giving him a sharp pain in the head.

This was just another reason why he hated being around Kakarot, and was scared to be around Chi-Chi. They reminded him of what he'd done to himself. It scared him, it made him even more afraid of dying than he was normally. Each planet's legends spoke of an unbearable place where one would be tortured. There were too many to count, and he knew the grain of truth was there, it was improbably to the contrary. Which meant he'd sealed his fate. He may live another hundred years or more, but that wouldn't matter in the slightest. Most would in a fear, rush to right the wrongs they'd performed. How could you right the wrongs he'd been responsible for?

Worse, they weren't wrong. The only reason why he was even alive to think about this was because he'd done as he was told. He did his job, professionally. When he was young he remembered he had to swallow his innocence. He remembered the tears he shed the first time he'd slaughtered people. But it was him or them. Kakarot and Chi-Chi said they understood, or at the very least didn't care, after Vegeta began to unveil who he was to them. How couldn't they? Every time he heard them make apologies for him it drove him crazy, especially when Chi-Chi did it.

When he saw his younger brother Goten, he saw what they expected their son to be. Even the other day his mother had bought into the idea that he was seeing a female from this planet. There were now two problems with that: firstly he didn't want to reproduce anytime soon, secondly he didn't want to be shackled to some weakling from this planet.

That's it. I'm tired of this self inflicted shit. Stop thinking about it, now.

The order came to his brain harshly. He'd go down there and tell Kakarot how it was, and tomorrow they'd do their training, just as he'd done with the Namek. After that he'd defeat Vegeta. Then what? What was his plan after that? Go back to his old life? What was the point in that now either? He was strong enough to survive no matter what, and any relative wealth he'd once possessed seemed... pointless.

So, some of those traits have rubbed off on me.

The thought was miserable, realizing that Kakarot, Piccolo, Chi-Chi, and others had rubbed off on him enough that wealth no longer held the same meaning it had to him before arriving on this planet. Scowling to himself, Gohan descended from above, landing outside of the home. After this next bout in the Time Chamber, he'd get some new clothes for himself. It was getting tiring wearing Kakarot's fighting gi's.

The fact this planet was changing him wasn't just miserable however, it was infuriating. He'd gotten along just fine until Kakarot came out of nowhere and beat him half to death. There was a part of him who wanted to spit back everything he'd taken in, every moment of this soft existence. But then there was the part of him who had to admit he loved his mom's cooking, or how it felt good sometimes to know there were people there who wanted to be around him. More than that, they wanted to accept him. The last part he could hardly believe himself.

Stepping into the house, Gohan looked about for the others, hearing familiar voices from the kitchen. Excellent, this meant he could get to his room and get changed before anyone noticed. Just shy of his room, Gohan felt a hand grasp his shoulder from behind.

Shit.

Slowly turning his head, he saw none other than the mighty Kakarot. The look on his face already told Gohan that he knew where he'd been, especially because they now literally saw eye to eye, where as 'yesterday' they did not.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

It wasn't hard to feel Gohan's energy coming home. His son's power had grown enough for Goku to know something was off. When he felt Piccolo trying to suppress his own now increased power, he doubted very much it was from one evening of training. No, there was no way Gohan could have improved that much, unless he'd been in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber already. There was no way Dende would let him in there, unless someone he knew and trusted took Gohan there.

Piccolo.

It took Goku several seconds to realize that Chi-Chi and Goten were staring at him. He'd been half eating his food when he first detected Gohan. Usually if something got him to stop eating, it was serious. Internally he almost cursed when he realized how concerned the two looked. Now it meant either telling Chi-Chi and Goten that Gohan was coming home, or letting it be a surprise. He doubted Goten was keeping his senses up to feel any energy levels around unless he needed to. It would be very true to say Goten was constantly distracted.

Smiling at his family a moment later, Goku tried not to think of what he was going to say to Gohan. All his son had done was confirm to him what he feared. Gohan didn't exactly want to be around him. Did he have to work harder? Was it because he'd nearly killed him? Everyone else in his life had always... coped... with just about anything. Tien, Yamcha, Piccolo, Vegeta, they'd all nearly killed one another several times. It was hard to make sense of Gohan being different from that. But maybe it wasn't only that, maybe it was something else.

The realization that Gohan had gone without him, not even letting them know, if anything covering up that he'd gone, hit Goku hardest. It further reminded him this wasn't the Gohan he'd wanted.

The thought finally came forward, the truth coming out. This wasn't his Gohan. This was a man from the stars who took on his son's name. They didn't get along, any connections they ever felt were quickly dashed. Part of it was their personalities, they were too different from one another to ever really get along. At best Gohan tolerated him, and he always tried to change Gohan.

Something rushed through his veins as he realized how much anger he had pent up towards his older brother, Raditz. He always wanted anyone to turn over a new leaf, to have a new chance. If Raditz ever asked him for such a thing, he knew he'd never be able to give it. The man had stolen his son, but worse, in doing so he'd taken away everything Gohan was.

"Goku, what's wrong? You've stopped eating your food," Chi-Chi finally said, getting over her shock.

Quickly Goku started to dig into the bowl again.

"Nothing Chi, I was just thinking for a minute," Goku assured, finishing his bowl. "I'll be back in a second."

The concerned glances didn't leave either of them as he just grinned at the two reassuringly, side stepping his way out of their little dining area.

It didn't take long to see Gohan approaching his room. With a quick motion, and not wanting to speak loudly enough to alert the others, Goku reached out and grasped his son's shoulder. When Gohan turned around, their eyes locked together, confirming what he'd suspected. Gohan must have gone in with Piccolo instead. The smell from his clothes, smelled roughly like a year of sweat as well.

"Gohan."

"Kakarot."

It was awkward, painfully awkward.

However, he saw Gohan's features shift slightly, reducing his typically critical gaze towards him.

"We've got some stuff to talk about tomorrow," Gohan said, brushing the hand off his shoulder. "Besides, I'll need some more training. Maybe we can do that Time Chamber thing you mentioned."

It was reluctant, but it was... sincere? Having originally come looking to confront Gohan, Goku felt himself in shock at the remark. Was it because Piccolo couldn't be in the chamber any longer? Or was it because he actually wanted him to go with him in there for the full day? Not wanting to be left with the question hanging in his mind, Goku felt himself seriously look back at Gohan.

"Change of heart? I know you've already been in there for one day Gohan. You're taller and stronger," Goku pointed out.

Looking away a few seconds later, Gohan just closed his fist in frustration.

"I need to get stronger still, and because I had some time to think about it. You are still much stronger than me Kakarot, so clearly you must have some wisdom to pass on."

Well, that was about as polite as Gohan really got with him typically. Goku didn't entirely know what to take from the comment. Still, he gave his own typical smile in response. At least he could look forward to some serious training if nothing else.

The look Gohan gave him in response was hardly encouraging. With his flinch of near disgust, Gohan turned towards his room.

"Tomorrow, Kakarot."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Six Years Earlier

"So," Turles remarked, looking amused as he crossed his arms, looking down at Gohan. "Managed to get yourself nearly killed again, did you?"

Planet Brane had hardly been a very pleasant world. The 10 year old Gohan was wheezing as he hobbled forward, trying to get to his pod. Blood drew down the side of his lip as his left hand was left over a gaping wound in his left side. It'd been an energy wave from one of the planet's stronger defenders which caught him there, the blast had burrowed into his flesh before it went off. It was everything he had not to die on his feet at that very time. Of course, Turles was just walking next to him, but it wasn't his job to drag him into the pod exactly.

If he couldn't make it on his own, he didn't deserve to make it at all.

That was a lesson he learned when he was younger. Don't rely on anyone. But a cold sweat now covered his body, the chilled air was all around him, and blood loss was taking its toll on Gohan. Short of his pod by a wide distance, the Saiyan youth fell to one knee, before feeling his body collapse against the hardened dirt below him. He could feel himself trembling from the pain.

Too weak to press forward, quietly Gohan expected to die where he was.

A hand came down, grasping him by the back of his armour, dragging him forward, before pulling him half into the air, letting his legs drag behind. Barely turning his head, Gohan saw Turles looking ahead, his right arm dragging him.

"Brat, if you die on the job its not going to speak well of my leading abilities, now is it?" Turles told him bluntly, still not looking at him. Within a few more paces, he'd been tossed in the pod.

"Next time, try and keep the blood loss to a minimum, I don't want to have to drag your sorry corpse around again, understand?" Turles further remarked, before hitting the button to close the pod.

The words were severe, but the tone was not.

Inside the pod, Gohan felt the life support equipment come down around him, locking in place. Quietly, he promised himself he'd not need Turles to bail him out again. It was shameful that his mentor had needed to pull him from death yet again. Still, there was one comfort, and that was Turles had been there at all to do it.

As soon as the respirator locked around Gohan, forcing him to sleep.

Gohan woke up.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Eyes flashed open as Gohan sat up in bed. It felt good to be out of the chamber, even if it was only for an evening. The air wasn't heavy and warm like in the chamber. But still, his time in there with Piccolo had him dwelling on the past too much. Dwelling on a dead comrade from years ago. The fact that Kakarot looked exactly like Turles almost to a T was so hard to cope with as well. Now it made much more sense when people often thought Turles was his father. That'd been awkward enough when it was made very clear to him by Turles that he was certain not his father.

Regardless however, regardless of old wounds being reopened, today was the day he went into the chamber with Kakarot. It was infuriating that he was still so nervous about it. This wouldn't change him, and he wouldn't somehow be infected by Kakarot.

Leaving his room within a few moments, he found for the first time, an incredibly critical looking Chi-Chi staring at him. Her eyes were slanted aggressively and her arms were crossed. If Gohan hadn't known better, he'd have sworn she was mad at him. Blinking at the look she was giving him, Gohan felt utterly confused.

"So, you went out to see a girl?" Chi-Chi asked, but clearly already knew the answer.

"Well-"

"You lied to me," the words cut Gohan off almost instantly. "I don't expect you to be perfect Gohan, but I expect you to be honest with me. No exceptions."

Blinking, Gohan began to try and process the information being brought in front of him. She was mad about him lying about the girlfriend? Well, she clearly put it together that he wasn't seeing one of the local wildlife. It was something he had to say to make ensure his plans to train in the chamber. What was the big issue?

"I don't see the problem, it was a lie built of necessity to conceal my actions," Gohan said simply. "It didn't hurt any-"

The livid anger Chi-Chi now showed became apparent, her eyes forming into deadly daggers as her lip curled into an angry snarl. Clearly, he'd made a poor choice of words. She was clearly hurt, and angry. There was no equivalent for Gohan to empathize with her feelings however. There was never an understanding that lying was bad. You lied all the time to advance your position in The Planet Trade. You lied to your superiors even to make yourself look better. He'd been lied to dozens of times by underlings trying to gain his favour, and when he caught them there was some remedial punishment, unless it was a very significant lie.

This had hardly been a significant lie.

Gohan's thoughts were cut short however, even appraising the situation, when his mother laid into him.

"Didn't hurt anyone? Do you think of anyone but yourself? You can't just tell people what they want to hear Gohan! If you were going off with that green monster, then you should have just said so! It's so childish to make up an excuse like that and have it turn out to be nothing but a lie! I've been nothing but forward and honest, and I expect the same from you Gohan. We've done everything we can to be accepting, but I won't have you lie to me, ever," the animated woman snapped. "I thought you respected me more than that! I can't believe you!"

It didn't take much to get Gohan's adrenaline going. No one spoke to him like this. His own features hardened and he felt his own temper rising. Without even realizing it his energy began to rise.

"I don't answer to you," Gohan said bluntly. "I'll tell anyone what they want to hear. All you've heard from me is what you want to hear, no matter what I say. So I decided to spare that idiot Kakarot's feelings for one day by lying, and suddenly I'm the terrible villain? Well fine, the next time I'll not be so kind, I'll tell the incompetent fool what I really think. It's not like he'll be able to process the-"

He'd become hyper sensitive to the motion around him. In his anger he'd spoke too brashly, too openly, escalating the situation with heated words. Chi-Chi's arm moved up to strike him and he immediately took it as a threat. Grabbing her hand ruthlessly and squeezing, the powerful human woman immediately fell to her knees, her face twisting from anger to pain. Her entire body trembled as he gripped the hand. Clear thought had abandoned him as he resentfully looked down for several moments.

This was a scene he'd played through a thousand times in his life. It was so easy to repeat it again. People lashing out at him for his actions. The only response he ever gave, save for to a superior, was aggression. The tactic worked to brow beat subordinates into submission, to to eliminate problems, enemy warriors or traitors. But Chi-Chi wasn't an enemy, or a traitor. She was his mother. And the whimpered sound of pain she gave as her finger bones pushed painfully together, nearly pushing them to the limit of breaking, barely gave Gohan enough pause to stop.

Gohan's own lungs were breathing heavily after having caught the hand. She'd tried to slap him. The sad truth is it would have been futile even if he hadn't stopped it. She was utterly incapable of hurting him after all. Still, he felt his gaze burning a hole through her as he barely felt himself controlled enough to not go even further.

"L-let go," she finally lamented.

Before he could let go on his own, he felt someone grab his wrist.

Turning his head sharply, he saw Kakarot staring at him. He did not look pleased.

"Let her go, now."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

A/N:

I was going to continue this chapter further, but I decided that this is a great point to finish off. The rest of the content is now the beginning of Chapter 12. Don't hurt me! It just felt better paced this way XD

However, I would like to say that The Long Road is now my chief writing project over the next two weeks. I want to get 4 large, fully fleshed out chapters done in this time. I've already been caught up on The Catalyst for a while.

The next chapter is all about Gohan and Goku, and I aim for it to be as great as I can possibly write it.

But there is a drawback, as some of you have noted in some reviews and private messages recently.

As you guys can guess, for the time being The Long Road is going to get an update once every two weeks, instead of once every week. This is part of me making my writing more manageable, and making sure I can continue to deliver the content you guys want. I hope everyone understands and continues to enjoy the story regardless.

Reviewers:

xxxpossessedforlifexxx: Thanks for the review, I answered your question in the A/N.

Tytyty: I am very happy to hear that :)

Hey: Heres the update! Lol

Full Power: As always, thank you FP. :)

Eveline: I am glad you are so moved by Gohan's pain, lol

Sirius Potter: Excellent review. Lol

En Satsu Koku Ryuu Ha: I wanted it to be a story that was very different. All these stories always portray Gohan as a reluctant soul within the Planet Trade. I didn't want to do that, I wanted him to be a ruthless monster, moulded by his upbringing into a beast. But his introduction to that life has left a chink in his armour, allowing him to grow as a person. At the end of the day though, Gohan will always have a ruthless edge about him. How can he unlearn that, when it was something learned in his formative years, and kept him alive for so long?

What Do I Put Here: I'll spoil it for everyone because a few people have asked, yea, Videl is pregnant.

Aw: Because all things must end.

Low on inspiration: Given this chapter, it could be a disaster XD

Ky111: As always, thank you Ky.