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 32: The Message
Gohan:
It was so... strange.
It'd been almost two weeks, two weeks since he'd slain the monster he'd feared for much of his life. In a way, it'd been finally slaying the monster he was in the past. Facing Broly hadn't just meant facing down a monster, but facing down his own demons. It wasn't just the physical toll it'd taken on his body, a toll which disappeared in an instant with the application of a Senzu Bean, it was the toll of the battle on his mind as well. Knowing that he'd been unable to defend the people he cared about, or even those he didn't, was something never far from his mind. This only reinforced the idea he could ever avenge people, not save them.
It wasn't enough, and it left him with a void in his stomach.
Sitting down, looking out across the massive lake he'd discovered in the mountains around his father's home, Gohan felt himself breath out, trying to relax. This was time he wanted alone to himself. The gentle sound of the waves sliding along the sandy ground, was enough to at least try and let him relax. There'd been so much different since the fight, especially since he'd come home. In truth, he thought coming back would be... worse then it actually was.
Waking up every morning to a huge meal, and warm smiles, was almost terrifying at first. Every day he'd been there so far, he felt like he needed to defend himself. But as those days passed, he felt himself slowly feeling that less and less. Years ago, when he first came home, after all those years in space, he'd felt the same thing happening. Before, there was a resentment towards it, as if it was stripping away what he really was, and replacing it with the soft, fragile life these people seemed to have. Now? Now it was all different. He could never be as 'soft', as his family was, that much was true, but he could feel at least somewhat at peace with himself.
The only thing that was strange in all of this was the lack of the Namekian. After the battle with Broly, he'd been more distant, and he'd not come to the Son residence once. The close family friend, his father's best friend... perhaps his best friend, as strange as that seemed, had his own demons to confront. No one else was there for their confrontation at the World Martial Arts Tournament. The Namekian had never disappointed them, except for one day, weeks ago. The one time he slipped, everyone paid for it.
He knew that the Namek and his father had spoken once since the battle, and it was right afterwards. The exchange was muted.
"So Piccolo, you stopped Babidi and Dabura?"
"..."
When he'd flown off, it'd not been a great surprise to the younger Saiyan.
Still, it'd surprised him how much he missed the Namek.
It was almost as much as he missed Pan. The little girl he'd met at the tournament. It was impossible to admit to himself that he really missed her, there was always an excuse looming in the shadows when he thought about her, or her well being. The thing keeping him from looking, most of all,
Laying back a moment later, Gohan looked up at the clouds and just sighed. Closing his eyes a second later, he just wanted to let the gentle sound of the trees and waves wash over him. Supposedly this helped his father when he was 'stressed' out. He was glad at least that he had the chance to just have some peace away from a home with a brooding Goten, a doting mother, and his father. Goku had been trying to interact with him, while pretending like he wasn't interested. It was so insanely awkward at some points he didn't know how to respond.
"So Gohan, wanna go through the rivers and catch some fish? I know this really good spot where we can find some giant ones, I always take Goten out that way... But if you don't want to come, that's alright! Because I don't want you to think that I really want you to go or anything, I just was saying if you wanted to go."
"Uhm, sure?"
"Alright! C'mon! It's this way!... *cough* not that it's a big deal or anything."
Despite the memories coming back from only a few days before, Gohan couldn't help but smile as he felt the warm sun beaming down on him. This was a brief escape for him. He was a grown man, and he had his own life... But for now this was a refuge for him. They were giving him a chance to sort out a few things for himself, and in a way, he was letting them have something he knew they'd waited for, for two decades. They'd been waiting to finally really have their son back.
"Gohan! I need someone to give me a ride to the local store, and you're father is busy. So it's up to you, now come on... And did you start reading that book I got you?"
"You mean the one about all biology? You're crazy if you think I'm studying human science textbooks in my spare ti-"
The look she gave him in response, said it all.
"... I'm going to read some of it, to humour you."
So far, he'd not read any of it, but he gave her the illusion that he might. Science and literature, especially of the Earth variety, didn't interest him immensely. He'd always had a clever understand of mathematics, which helped his understand of logistics when he'd been in the Planet Trade's leadership structure and operations. So much of his life had been filled with warfare, battle, and pain, he'd never let himself develop much of a love for anything outside of it. After all, Turles had taught him survival always came first, and he'd taught him to survive. He'd spent so long just trying to do that, that outside of his friends and family, his life was empty.
There wasn't just violence and survival for once, with everything finally at peace, he needed to find something. The real question was what? Did he try to find some kind of human job? That idea seemed laughable. Then the alternative was what? Get a 'hobby'? The concept of that alone irritated his entire being. That was literally doing something because you had too much time on your hands. It seemed almost deranged.
Even being lost in his own thoughts, Gohan could still sense his surroundings. There was a power approaching in the distance. It could have been going to the Son residence, but he could tell based off trajectory, that it was heading straight for him. An annoyed brow began to form across his forehead as he slowly opened his eyes, before sitting up from where he was. That was Future Trunks, perhaps the most annoying man on the planet. He'd not exactly forgotten their mutual animosity.
Just who I need to shit in the middle of my day.
Slowly standing up, Gohan could then see the future warrior flying in from above a small mountain. The white-energy clad man then came in low over the lake, parting the waters below him from the force his aura was exerting. When he landed in front of him, Gohan almost wanted to yawn at him, given how little he valued his arrival. Instead, the son of Goku settled for crossing his arms.
If this twerp wanted to fight, then-
"Gohan," Trunks said, nodding his head after a moment.
Even as he did that, it was stiff. There was tension in all of Trunks' muscles, and even in his own. It was all restrained, all pent up, and it was easy enough to see. Gohan felt his own facial features slowly shift into that of a emotionless corpse, as to not give anything away.
"What?" Gohan responded, giving a short answer as he looked over the man who'd wanted to kill him not too long ago.
If you really want to do this, Trunks, then get it over with.
It was when Gohan saw Trunks' form slowly back down, that he narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what was happening.
"I'm leaving this timeline today, and returning to my own," Trunks remarked, the last of the tension slipping out of his frame. "I wanted to come speak to you before I left."
"About what?" was the short response. "You're not getting to the point."
A small smile crossed Trunks' lips before he nodded.
"I wanted to tell you that I was wrong about you," he admitted. "The first time I saw you, I judged you. I thought you were the same man who killed my friend in front of me, and slaughtered millions of innocent people. I made you into that monster because I always wanted to stop him before he hurt anyone."
Quietly, Gohan listened, knowing not to interrupt. Without even thinking, his arms slowly uncrossed, before finding themselves at his side as he took in what the other Saiyan was saying. It was the last thing he ever expected to hear from Vegeta's kid, especially the future one.
"I think it's more fitting for me to say you proved me wrong. You aren't perfect, nobody is, but you showed me just what kind of warrior you were. You showed everyone what kind of warrior you were. I thought before I left, I wanted to let you know that you've earned my respect."
Well, what was there to say to that? You're an arrogant brat? Sadly, even if they hadn't gotten along, he could see how much of his own pride Trunks must have swallowed to have come to him like that. It was odd, but he felt his own heart pumping more quickly when the other Saiyan spoke, and not because of the anticipation of battle. He was nervous? This wasn't something he was used to, and it was a different kind of humility then he'd seen before. Many people had apologized to him before, and quite frankly not many of them survived the encounter, but this one was different. It was a sincere apology from a man he'd once been the enemy of.
Just how the Hell did you respond to that?
"I thought you were an arrogant brat," Gohan admitted. "And a real piece of shit, for sticking yourself in other people's business. You still are," Gohan added with a smirk, though it wasn't filled with malice.
Slowly, the smile broke away however.
"The only thing I can tell you is, I'm not that different from whoever you met in your time. I know what was going through his head, and I know why he did everything you hate him for. He didn't have an opportunity to be anything else then what he was."
The waves gently breaking against the shore seemed to be the loudest sound in the world at his last remarks.
"What'd you do with the body?" Gohan then asked after a moment.
"... I buried him in a pit," Trunks admitted a moment later.
"I know Kakarot, Goku, my dad, is dead in your time. You wanna make up being a prick to me? Find that body and bury it next to my parents. He'd be furious to know you did, but I think its what they'd want."
The idea that his double, his counterpart, was buried in a ditch somewhere, wasn't what distressed him even. There must have never been any closure for Goku, or Chi-Chi. They spent the rest of their lives wondering what'd happened to him. In a way, it was probably a good thing that they never knew, especially given the circumstances.
Quietly, Trunks nodded in response.
"I'll do what I can-... But your mom is still alive. I know my mom still goes out and sees her from time to time," Trunks said after a moment, before he seemed to smile.
It immediately made Gohan uncomfortable. For some reason, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like what the other Saiyan had to say.
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Vegeta: Capsule Corporation
Death had a way of putting life into perspective. It'd given him a vision into his place in the universe, after Frieza killed him. Now death had reminded him of another lesson, the importance of his family. His eldest son, his future son, had died in battle like a true Saiyan Warrior. He'd fell from battle, fighting against a monster who would have killed everyone he cared about. The fact his son, the one from this timeline, did everything to save him showed him what Trunks was really made of.
Often he worried his boy was soft, and spoiled rotten by his mother. He'd never been more proud of his son when he learned he'd fought against helpless odds for everything he cared about, not just in the first battle, but even in the second engagement, at Satan City. It wasn't something Trunks had wanted to speak about to his mother, and he'd not made a single remark to him either. The only thing he could determine from what the boy had told Bulma, was that the he'd had been saved by Son Gohan, Kakarot's fuck-up.
It meant that again, not only he, but even Kakarot had been outdone by the man Vegeta regarded as a traitorous rat. The very idea a Saiyan became a Board Member in the organization had been... disgusting, and still was. It was hardly the dream of every Saiyan to become an executive, or officer, within the organization during their time there either. To become so high ranking in the official structure of the corporation meant a kind of disregard for the men that served under you, that it was impossible not to be soaked in the blood of your own soldiers. Even when Vegeta had killed Nappa, or when he'd not cared about Raditz's fate, it was for different reasons. Of course, there was the added reason for his contempt, which was Vegeta had changed since betraying Frieza.
Gohan had been a weakling when he first arrived on Earth, and a ruined one at that. Ever since the battle with Turles however, his strength had increased tremendously, leaving first the Namekian behind, and then Trunks, Kakarot, and himself. It was infuriating to see another warrior rise to challenge his strength, especially one so deplorable. Kakarot was one thing, the kindhearted fool who everyone admired, and who somehow always found a way to win every battle... until recently. Gohan, the boy Raditz had abducted, was as cold and unlikable as Vegeta himself in many respects, only worse. Vegeta lived by a code, he had honour, and by all accounts Gohan did not. He would do anything to survive, play any trick, break any taboo.
Vegeta remembered all too clearly how quickly Gohan was willing to betray his own father for Turles. Worse, he remembered how the vulture came to pick his bones, after he'd already been defeated by Turles. Layers of stupidity were laid over his pettiness as well, as he'd completely forgotten Turles was there to kill everyone, even Kakarot's woman, seemingly the only other person he cared about. Only after hearing that, did the rat abandon the other side, but not before making him almost useless in the battle, meaning he'd be denied his own chance for glory, or revenge.
Even in the years since the battle, Vegeta hadn't seen Gohan until the World Martial Arts Tournament, and he was the same arrogant beast he was before.
Of course, as he exited the gravity chamber, his thoughts still following him, he detected the faint energy signature of the main focus of his latter thoughts. Just what the Hell was Kakarot's bastard doing here? As soon as he walked inside, he found the sight of his wife to greet him, wearing a red dress, and holding the form of their daughter in one hand.
Attempting to move past them, he found her other hand suddenly on his chest as he tried to pass.
"Trunks is going back to the future today, but he said he had something he and Gohan needed to do," she told him. "Don't go messing around with them, apparently its something important."
With a half glare being cast towards his woman, Vegeta almost growled.
"It's not like I would need to bother with Kakarot's brat anyway. I will see Trunks off-"
"Trunks isn't leaving yet. Just leave them alone," Bulma urged.
"Where are you going?" Vegeta asked in response, raising a brow as he did.
"Well, if you care so much, Bulla needs to go to the doctor for a checkup," Bulma responded.
Looking down at his bright eyed daughter, Vegeta gave a stern look towards the little girl, knowing full well she'd listen to her father.
"Be good for your mother, or the next time I'll take you," Vegeta ordered.
A mischievous look was given to him in response from the baby. Thankfully, there was no way she could understand what he'd just told her, and of course, the definition of 'good' was loose at best. In other words, Vegeta wasn't taking Bulla to the doctor.
The look Bulma gave him right now however, made him smirk.
"And don't bug them," she insisted again. "I mean it, Vegeta."
Rolling his eyes as he finally moved past her, Vegeta continuing towards his original destination. The woman was hardly going to prevent him from confronting the son of Kakarot. Stepping through several more doorways, until he reached the lab, he shoved the last door aside before catching sight of his future son, standing outside a room with his arms crossed as if waiting for something.
It only took a moment for Trunks to look up to see him.
"Father," he greeted immediately and respectfully, as he always did. Sadly, it was a more welcome response then his son in this timeline gave him, often just shouting "dad" excitedly before rushing towards him.
"Trunks," Vegeta responded, before walking briskly towards where he still sensed Gohan's energy.
"Uhm, dad? I don't think you want to go that way," Trunks tried to intervene.
"And why not, exactly? Is it because that is where Son Gohan is?" Vegeta responded coolly.
"Well, yes, but he's doing something for-"
The door slid open a few metres away, before the Saiyan in question emerged. He was clad in a deep blue, two piece human suit and tie. Almost immediately, he turned his gaze towards the Prince himself, which made Vegeta smirk. Human formal attire was so ridiculous, and the glare he was given reminded him exactly of what kind of animal Gohan really could be.
The truth of it was, Vegeta wanted to know exactly why Gohan was here, and exactly why he saved Trunks.
Walking over to the two of them, Gohan was holding a micro-storage device of some sort, before handing it over to Trunks.
"Why are you here, Gohan?" Vegeta demanded, watching the exchange.
"None of your business," Gohan was quick to answer, coldly giving Vegeta the shoulder as the Prince knew he would.
"This is my home, and you are here, so you will answer me now," Vegeta demanded.
Visibly, Trunks flinched, almost seemingly willing to explain. It could be seen that he wanted to, but stopped upon looking at Gohan. Just what were they doing here together? Trunks despised Gohan even more then he did. That alone was suspicious. Normally it wouldn't have been a point of interest for him, but he didn't trust Gohan, at all.
There was just no answer from Gohan, just a stern look, daring him to push the subject further.
Glaring back, Vegeta gave up on any answer regarding it.
"So, I've heard you saved my son in the battle at Satan City, is that true?" Vegeta asked.
Immediately, if things couldn't get more awkward and uncomfortable, they did. The other Saiyan continued to just stare back at him, not making a noise, or even a hint, at the answer.
"Answer me, boy," Vegeta said, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
There seemed to be calculations going on behind Gohan's eyes, as if trying to determine Vegeta's intention.
"You are only asking me, because Trunks hasn't told you," Gohan responded, his voice cool and distant as he did. "Likely you have received your information from a third party source, meaning your wife. You're asking me for confirmation, but the question is why?"
Every executive he ever met always had such a ridiculous attitude to questions, they could never just answer them. Now a growl did escape Vegeta.
"I am asking the questions here," Vegeta reminded.
"And if you want it answered, you'll answer mine," Gohan immediately countered.
The only reason this brat was being so arrogant, was he knew he was the stronger of the two of them, for the moment. In his training, Vegeta knew how lazy Gohan was. The fact he wasn't any stronger in the tournament, then when he faced Turles, said it all to Vegeta. A complacent idiot, would best describe him.
"If it's true, I want to know why," Vegeta responded after a moment. "I know your kind, you never do anything for anyone without a self-driven purpose. You're too selfish to know anything else."
Rolling his eyes as the response, Gohan just shook his head, looking as if he wasn't going to respond at all.
"Take the chip," Gohan said to Trunks after a moment, before turning to leave.
Being ignored, again, was too much for Vegeta to contain. With an aggravated hand, he reached out, roughly grabbing Gohan's shoulder. No one just walked away from the Prince of All Saiyans, least of all an insubordinate creature like Kakarot's boy.
As soon as his gloved hand grasped the shoulder, the younger Saiyan froze in place, his eyes peeled forward coolly.
"You act like this around everyone, don't you?" Gohan asked, not bothering to turn towards him. "Let me tell you this very slowly, so you can absorbed this information into your giant forehead. I saved your son from Broly, because your son didn't deserve to die the kind of death my little brother did. I did what was the right thing to do."
Blinking, Vegeta didn't know if he believed that or not, but it was the answer he was being given. Compassion was the last thing he expected from Gohan, in almost any form.
"If you don't let go of my shoulder though, Vegeta, I'm going to break your arm," Gohan then added, finally turning his gaze towards the Prince as his head turned.
It wasn't an idle threat by any means. With further frustration running through his veins, Vegeta let go of Gohan's shoulder, staring back at the other Saiyan seriously.
"The next time I need to save someone close to you Vegeta, I'll remember how much of an aggressive prick you are, before I do it."
With those words, Gohan continued to walk ahead, aiming for the entrance. Turning his gaze towards Trunks a second later, Vegeta almost scowled.
"I suppose you're in no mood to tell me why he was there then?" he asked coolly.
Holding up the tiny chip a moment later, Trunks just sighed.
"For the future, father, that's all I can tell you."
Bizarre answers were all he'd gotten to everything he asked. The Prince of all Saiyans just flinched his left cheep muscles and 'hmphed' before striding past his son.
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Gohan:
It'd been something he'd not wanted to do at all. The entire concept of what Trunks had proposed seemed silly at best, but he'd done it anyway. Why he couldn't even wholly grasp. The fact that it'd all taken place at Capsule Corporation as well, just meant another confrontation with Vegeta. A confrontation with someone completely insufferable at that. Even after saving the man's son, it was treated with suspicion. Of course, in truth Gohan knew why. Every time he and Vegeta had encountered one another, it'd never been on good terms, which was probably why Vegeta regarded anything he did with at least scrutiny.
It didn't matter though, anything bad that happened back there could be ignored. Right now he just wanted to get home and wanted to see the people that really mattered. What happened back there, would stay back there. He wasn't going to say anything to anyone, and least of all Vegeta. It was too private to be shared.
"In my time, your father died of a Heart Virus. Everyone was killed by the Androids except my mentor Tien, and when you came to Earth, you killed him too."
At first he'd never regarded any of the problems Trunks had in his own time as being linked to him, even when he knew some of what had happened. It wasn't sympathy for Trunks he'd felt, at least not for the most part. He still remembered the first time he'd met his parents as an adult, inside the room he'd lived in as a child. It was painful, but for his parents with the pain came relief. In this other world, it'd never been. They'd been left with an unanswered question their whole lives, and then the pain of losing each other. Years ago, he'd have not really cared. After everything they'd been through though, the idea of his father and mother dying was... painful in its own right.
Lost in his own thoughts as he soared through the sky, his body passing through the huge clouds of vapour in the sky, he felt the chilled air around him almost forming ice along his body. Casting his body to one side, he felt himself emerge from the clouds, the sun bearing down on him from above. Turning around twice as he flew, he felt himself just breathing as the huge trail of deep purple energy followed him.
For some reason, he felt like he'd fixed something, and maybe he had. A few small acts of his own could make a world of difference to a few people. Not even understanding why, Gohan just felt good about himself, forgetting everything else. All the weight on his shoulders from his life, all his anxieties and concerns, they were all lost, even if only for a while.
Slowly, his body descended back into the clouds, before emerging below the cloud-line, his body being pelted by cold raise as he did, swirling through the air as he aimed himself down towards the mountains below. Even with the sun being subdued by the clouds behind him, even in the midst of cold air from high altitude, and even now wet from the clouds and rain, Gohan couldn't help but feel warm, before his speed abruptly slowed, just in time for his shows to press gently onto the Earth below his feet. It wasn't so much earth anymore, but muddy grass. Looking up to the small, humble home his father owned, he felt himself breathe out before walking towards it.
The front door immediately sprung open, revealing his mother standing there with a shocked look on her face.
"Where have you been?! You're drenched! Get in here right now before you get sick!"
He almost wanted to laugh at the concern being demonstrated, but just shook his head while walking forward, before stepping inside the dry environment for the house.
"You're going to ruin your suit, it's completely soaked through! Where did you even go?" Chi-Chi asked, looking annoyed at his behaviour as she rushed off to grab him a towel.
"Get out of those wet clothes, I'll get you a towel! Don't run around the house like that, you'll just make a mess!"
Standing at the front door with a half smile slowly forming across his face, Gohan couldn't help but look around the front end of the tiny house, feeling incredibly welcome. Reading his textbook studies in the meagre living room, his little brother Goten looked up at him with a glare. Rolling his eyes, Gohan couldn't help but comment.
"Good to see you too, Goten."
The glare deadpanned a moment later, before the ten year old's eyes turned back into the book. It wasn't as if he was expecting a positive reaction from the kid anyway. Still, he was giving him some exceptions still because of how things went... when facing down Broly. No one had been there to save the kid, just as no one had been able to save him when he was a kid.
Walking back into view, his mother, who was still pregnant with his latest sibling, came out holding a set of clothes in one hand, and a laundry basket in the other.
Without her even asking, he started to pull his jacket off, tossing it into the laundry basket, before taking his tie and shirt off next. Within a minute, Gohan had stripped himself down, save for his briefs, before slipping on his change of clothes, a simply pair of jeans and a very plain white golf shirt he'd bought months ago.
"What were you doing out in this weather, Gohan?" his mother then asked, looking at him with concern. "And in a suit?"
"I wasn't out in the weather," Gohan said, still amused she was worried about his wellness. He'd been in much worse weather just inside of a single battle, let alone campaigns. "Not until I was coming home, Vegeta's future brat needed my help with something for his own time."
A sceptical eyebrow raised from his mother, clearly disbelieving his story.
"... What?"
"I don't believe you," she responded curtly. "You weren't hurting anyone where you?! Oh no, you're making excuses, that means you're-"
"Mom. I'm not kidding, I was at Capsule Corporation. Ask that woman who fucks Vegeta-"
"Gohan!"
"Alright, ask your friend Bulma, I was really there," he answered sincerely. "Trust me, it wasn't my idea exactly, but it'll work itself out."
Beginning to walk towards his room, he heard her from behind him.
"But what were you doing there?" she asked, looking confused more then anything.
Turning towards her, smiling confidently, he told her the same thing he told Vegeta.
"None of your business," he said as politely as he could, before closing the door behind him, leaving a confused Chi-Chi behind.
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Trunks: The Future
Home sweet home... or rather, home sweet war torn home.
When the pod breached open and Trunks looked out across West City, he saw massive cranes still hanging as construction continued. The roads were still a complete mess, and most of the building still needed a complete overhaul, or needed to be demolished all together. Stepping onto familiar cracked pavement, Trunks couldn't help but smile as he looked to the partially restored Capsule Corporation Headquarters. Half of the building still looked to be under construction, but it didn't matter. Even now it was still good to be home.
Of course, he'd have to explain to his mom how everything had gone almost completely to Hell.
When the doors opened, he saw a familiar face step out, with tired looking eyes and half kept hair. Things still weren't exactly as illustrious as they'd been in the pre-Android era, and people didn't dress up quite as fancily as they used to.
"Hey mom," Trunks said, a smile breaking across his lips as he walked towards her.
"Well, Trunks, how was your trip honey? Did you find anyone cute to bring home?" his mom asked, a smile creeping across her features.
She was always so obsessed with him finding a girlfriend, it could sometimes drive him nuts, and each time it was embarrassing. So of course it had to be the first question she asked him when he got home. With a deep intake of air, Trunks slowly exhaled it a few seconds later.
"No mom, I didn't bring a girl home for you to torture. I didn't have much time for it, I was way too busy," he explained.
With a roll of her eyes, his mother continued to approach him, before inclining her head to the time machine.
"You gonna clean that up?" she asked.
"Yea, yea," hitting the controller in his pocket, the time machine poofed back into its capsule form.
His mother reached down, picking up the tiny device before looking back at her son with the same half smile. He knew she loved interrogating him, it probably was something she missed dearly while he'd been gone, even if to her it was only a few days.
"So what were you so busy with? Training with Vegeta? Or was it all the tournament? OH! How did you place? Did you win? I know you were really dead set on-"
"You're not going to believe me if I told you. It was a really rough trip. So much happened I don't even know where to begin," Trunks tried to explain. "Things were great when I first got there, I was hanging out with dad, and you, meeting my younger self was so weird! Then there was my sister, which I don't even know how to start about."
"Sister?" Bulma whispered, looking at her son with shocked eyes.
Explaining some of this was going to be hard. He could already tell that his mother was in shock just from hearing about Bulla, and he didn't blame her. Vegeta died before they were really... happy, he guessed. Despite the fights he witnessed in the past, he could see that they were really happy together, and that was something his mom never really had.
"Yea, she's still really young. She's got blue hair," he explained. "Looks like a baby otherwise. But that's just the start. The Saiyan that killed Tien was there."
Immediately, his mother's eyes hardened, and her body stiffened as she looked over to her son. Tien's death hit everyone hard, and he knew just how much everyone hated him.
"I hope he got what he deserved," she admitted coolly. "After everyone he killed here, and Tien, I hope no one gave him an opportunity to even-"
Trunks raised his hand a moment later, looking seriously at his mother, letting her know he wasn't finished, but she could tell almost instantly what he meant. She always told him it was mother's intuition, though he thought personally it was that oversized brain she always bragged about.
"Goku stopped him without killing him?" she asked before he could continue. "Goku... he always had that kind of power to turn people's hearts. Even if Vegeta never admitted it, Goku was a big part of how he stopped trying to conquer the universe. Then there was Tien and Piccolo..."
"Yea, Goku stopped him, apparently a few years before I got there. I found out his name too," Trunks said, knowing the answer was likely to cause more then a lifting of an eyebrow. "His name, was Gohan."
The response was immediate, almost a horrified look crossed her features before she raised her hand over her mouth, trying to somehow stop her reaction to the news. It wasn't welcome news, and Trunks could understand why. This was the son of her best friend Goku, and her still living friend Chi-Chi.
"That's horrible," she managed to say a second later. "They must have been so hurt with... whatever turned a sweet little kid like Gohan into... into that kind of monster..."
Stepping past her, and pulling up the data chip he'd given Gohan, he looked towards his mom.
"It's complicated," he assured. "I'll let you know everything inside, you're going to want to sit down for all this."
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Chi-Chi: The Future
The turbo car stopped outside of Capsule Corporation, leaving Chi-Chi almost dazed for a moment as she watched buildings pass during the drive.
Life had been quiet, even more so since her father passed away last year. Everything just slowly seemed to grind to a halt for her, as life pressed on without her all around. Mount Pazou, the familiar home she lived in until this day, was a lonely mountain to live on. When Goku... left... all those years ago, it was over twenty now, he'd left her with no one but her father. She knew he didn't want to leave, every time he'd struggled to breath, and struggled to survive in his bed, she felt her heart racing, fearing that he'd leave her, just as their son had left.
Gohan hadn't wanted to leave either, but just like their son, her husband slipped away from her fingers. Then the Androids came, and the whole world seemed to know more pain. Her friends died one by one, slowly leaving her further and further behind. After all the dust had settled, the only ones who were left were her and Bulma. She knew Bulma didn't phone often, she was overseeing so much of the world, being rebuilt into something new, but it was still a world without Goku in it, and a world without Gohan.
When she'd gotten the call a few days ago, from Bulma, asking to see her, she couldn't really fathom why, especially after so long. One fear she had was that her friend was going to ask her to try and 'find some new scenery", recommending she leave her home. She was by no means... old... yet, or, perhaps not a senior, but she knew the concerns. Bulma had talked to her before about seeing about moving, and trying to find something new instead of living in the embodiment of her past. It was all she had left in truth. The past and memories were where she wished she could live inside, as to escape her lonely nightmares of today.
When Goku had died, any hope of finding their son died with him. When her friends were slaughtered, any dreams she had of trying to branch out again, were quashed. When her father died, she realized just how profoundly alone she was.
And now, out of the blue, her last living friend, the one usually too busy with seemingly rebuilding the whole world, said they really needed to meet.
"Trust me, Chi, you won't regret coming down, I promise."
And now here she was, in front of the familiar sight... or somewhat familiar sight, of the half constructed Capsule Corporation Headquarters. The driver looked back towards her, an older man who was unshaven, before nodding quietly to vacate the vehicle.
"Thank you," she remarked, before opening the door she stepped out and shutting it behind her few seconds later.
When she looked up, she immediately felt small. Everywhere around her felt so large and busy, but standing there at the doorway was a very formal looking Bulma, smiling as she stood there, clearly waiting for her. For the first time in a long time, Chi-Chi had worn her hair down instead of up, honestly not having the patience to wrap it all into a bun on top of her head today. She gave a small, tired smile back to Bulma as she approached. Her pace was slow, having hurt her ankle a few weeks ago when managing the modest remains of the radish farm. There was more demand now then in years past, with the Androids gone, but she was also getting older. Even when Goku was around before, there was still a lot of work to be done. Even then, they had never made that much money. Money had never been why she married Goku.
"You look tired," Bulma immediately commented, but was still smiling warmly. "You don't have to stay on that farm out there you-"
"Please don't tell me that is what this is about," Chi-Chi sighed. "I thought you wanted to see-"
"You," Bulma quickly finished for her, before nodding. "Come inside, I'll get you some tea and then we can sit down."
There was some kind of surprise, and it wasn't going to be revealed yet. Before, surprises could at least illicit some kind of response in her beyond annoyance. The last surprises Chi-Chi had received were bandits who she scared off, and the radish crop almost failing because of a series of bugs which sneaked into the field that she'd not been able to get out.
Still, she followed Bulma into the building as her friend guided her through the passageways of the monolithic structure.
"Have you been keeping busy?" Bulma enquired.
"I've been taking care of the radish crop," Chi answered briefly. "Besides that, I've been reading a lot."
As if noticing her light limp, just as they arrived in the kitchen where a kettle of hot water was already in place, her friend looked up at her with sincere concern, before grasping the kettle and beginning to pour the water into the first mug, and then into the second.
"You know, before you go, we can have a doctor look at that ankle," Bulma said lightly, looking up at her friend before passing her the mug of water and teabag, giving it a moment to stir.
"It's fine," Chi-Chi responded, turning her head away. Part of her was already wishing she'd not come, especially if this was going to be Bulma trying to help her the whole time. How could she not figure it out? She just wanted to be left alone now, she didn't need anyone else just swooping in and trying to fix her problems.
Sipping her own cup of tea quietly, Bulma just nodded after the first sip, before beginning to walk, at a slower pace no less, down the hall. Annoyed muscles seemed to almost tighten as she followed Bulma down the hall, knowing she'd slowed down just to put less pressure on her ankle. Yes, she knew that Bulma was doing it because she cared, but she also knew she was doing it because she was trying to act like some guardian, there to save her from all the bad things that happened to her over the years.
She didn't need anyone to save her, not anymore.
A door was opened a moment later, and Bulma turned on a light, revealing a room with a couch in it, and a projector screen.
"I rebuilt the entertainment room first, I really needed to wind down after... well, everything," Bulma admitted. "The first thing I did was find the old tapes from the World Martial Arts Tournament, back when Piccolo fought Goku. It really helped me a lot when everything was in so much chaos after the Androids were stopped."
Stopped was a nice word for killed, of course. Not that those monsters deserved any kind of mercy after all the pain and suffering they caused.
Sitting down on the couch, Chi-Chi looked back towards her friend.
"Did you bring me here to watch old films of Goku fighting Piccolo?" Chi-Chi asked bluntly.
"No," Bulma answered, putting a small chip inside of the projector, before hopping over and hitting the light, just as the projector itself came to light, sending up an image onto the screen. It was blank for the time being as the projector began reading the card.
"Then what are we watching?" Chi-Chi asked, casting an annoyed look towards Bulma.
Then, she noticed Bulma just looking at the screen, with a small smile on her lips. Without a word, he took her friend's left hand, holding onto it with her right. Something was off about all this.
"I don't know," Bulma answered honestly, before voices started to come through on the screen ahead of them.
"Is this light green yet?" Trunks' voice said. "I want to make sure the video's working."
"I thought you said you knew how to run this," an unfamiliar voice cut in, it was cool and direct, making Chi-Chi almost wince. "Don't tell me I just wasted a pile of my time coming to this damned building. If I have to see Vegeta while I'm here-"
"Relax, hold on, I almost think I got it-"
"Why are we using this again?" the voice cut in again. "Why are we here even? We can just use any recorder."
"The data device, is from my time, we need a recorder that uses it. That recorder is right here. My mom's optical environment collector. It records to them, so that means... ah! There we go."
As soon as Trunks' words ceased, the world came to light. Standing there in front of the screen was a man with in a sharp blue suit. He looked to be fixing his tie, not paying attention to the camera at all. His hair was spiked forward, and his eyes were almost a solid black. Looking up from his tie a moment later, he half glared for a second, before realizing the camera's light was on.
"Is the audio working?"
"I think it was working before," Trunks admitted.
"... Are you serious? How long has it been on for?" the man asked, looking increasingly annoyed.
"Uhm, I think about-"
"Just nevermind, get out," he ordered. "Now."
So far, all Chi-Chi was watching was a man bickering with Trunks, who was behind the camera. There was something unsettling about the way the man looked. It was his eyes, she could swear they were Goku's for almost a second. The scar on the left side of his face was gruesome looking, taking up much of his features, it was probably even worse then Yamcha's used to be. If it weren't for that, she'd have thought he was a handsome young man. His entire posture told her that he was very... direct. The way he was talking to Trunks as well, made her almost furious.
There was a walking sound before the sound of a door closing. Looking after the noise, the figure stood there until the door closed. As soon as it did, he looked back towards the camera. It took several seconds, but his figure relaxed, at least somewhat, and he seemed to almost soften.
"So, I guess... I guess it's recording now," he admitted after a moment. "I hope you like the suit, I know you always want me looking sharp and professional. So... uhm... I don't usually do recordings... I'm not entirely sure what to say. Uhm, I guess I should start with hello."
He looked intensely nervous now, his entire body language reflected it for a brief moment. It didn't dawn on Chi-Chi who he was talking to, right now it just seemed like a camera. Every second he stood there though, her mind rushed to try and link him to someone, or even something. It was such a strange transformation, taking place on the screen right now. From a cold man who intimidated her, over to a nervous boy, trying to find the right words to say anything.
"I don't like talking a lot, but when Trunks told me a bit about what happened... who am I kidding? He recommended all of this, I just agreed to do it. I can't imagine what you've been through, not after everything I know you've seen. The idea that you're there all alone without Goku or anyone after what's happened... You deserve better, and I know I can't do much, but I can at least try to talk with you, and let you know not to worry, and that everything... everything ended alright."
As he spoke, Chi-Chi felt her heart stop as he looked into the screen with those eerily familiar eyes. She knew now he wasn't speaking to Bulma. When he mentioned Goku, she knew he was speaking to her. Her throat tightened now as well as she tried to hold herself in, no longer trying to think of who it could be, but silently hoping it wasn't who she wanted it to be. She didn't want to be disappointed again.
"I remember when I first got home, after Goku beat the Hell out of me at Satan City. You were by my bed the entire time, even when dad warned you I may be dangerous, and that I didn't remember anything, or who you were. He was right, kind of, I mean, I didn't have a clue at all where I was, or who you people where. I was so mad and angrily, in some strange place and defenceless," he admitted. "But when I woke up, I saw you sleeping there, holding my arm from the chair beside my bed. You looked so... anguished. I didn't understand why, but even when I couldn't remember you, I remember how familiar you seemed."
Without realizing it, Chi-Chi was trembling as she sat on the couch, even if only gently as she watched the man on the screen and listened to him speak. She felt something on her shoulders a second later, almost like when Goku used to lean on her from behind and hold her. It was like he was there with her, holding onto her and trying to let her know that he was with her, seeing what she was. Seeing what he should have seen.
"But as soon as you heard my name, you woke up right away, and just tried to be there for me, even when I didn't know who you were," Gohan said, his smile staying but his eyes blurring slightly. "I know I've caused you so much trouble, but I never meant to. Every time I made a mistake, every time I was angry, or sad, or just couldn't do something, you were always there to pick me up. I know you wished so badly for me to be home for my whole life. I wish I was too, mom. When I was out there in space, I always wished I'd remembered you, or could see you. I just wanted someone to take me away from what my life was and tell me that I didn't have to worry anymore."
Her throat contracted again as her eyes felt hot. She raised her right hand to her mouth and gasped, trying to hold back sobs. This was exactly who she thought it was. He was so different. The way he carried himself, and he was so tall. The scars and the way he talked. She always imagined her son just being her little boy, and here he was. It was the first time she'd seen him in over 25 years, standing there staring back at her with his father's eyes.
"That's my son," Chi-Chi sobbed finally, feeling Bulma's grip tighten on her hand, reminding her that she wasn't alone.
There he was standing in front of her, just out of reach, as he always was in her thoughts. In front of her was a man who'd had an entire life, all with moments her mind wished she could fill in. But there was nothing, nothing except remembering a shy little boy who went to see his father's friends one day, and never came home.
"I want you to know that he didn't know how to do things any other way. Gohan, your Gohan. I was him... until... well, until I wasn't," he said to her, speaking as if he was right in front of her, and not just behind some camera. "All he could do what was he was trained to do, and what he was conditioned to do. But I want you to know that he remembers you. He doesn't remember what you or father look like, he doesn't remember the sounds of your voice, or the room you built for him."
"But he remembers the way his parents used to hold him, and he remembers that his mother loved him, and didn't want him to go."
The trembling sobs escaped Chi-Chi without any restraints now. The son she'd missed her whole life was there for her, for the first time for her to see. Even as he spoke she knew how much pain he must have had without her. Every night she'd gone to bed, wishing she could have been there to save him, or wishing she could have tucked him in at night and told him that she loved him before he went to sleep, they were all there in her heart, pounding against her chest as he told her about her son, about him. Even in all the coldness he'd been through, with who, or where, she didn't know, he still knew that she'd loved him.
The hot tears rolling down her cheeks hurt, and burned, far more then any she'd had since her husband died.
"I'm telling you this, because in your time, I'm not coming home," he said, Gohan's own voice shaking slightly as he spoke. "But I am home today. I made it home somewhere... even if I couldn't make it home there."
"No," Chi-Chi sobbed, hearing the truth she'd admitted to herself years earlier, only now from her son himself.
"I wanted to tell you it's not because I didn't want to come home. Every night I went to sleep, even if I didn't want to admit it to myself, I really did just want to go home and forget everything else had ever happened. I know it seems like I'm no longer there, but I want you to know I'll always be there with you in your memories. I love you mom."
Reaching his hand over to the edge of the side of the screen, his smile turned to sadness, trying to control his own tears from breaking over the edge. A second later, the window into another time, into another life, disappeared across the projector screen.
Feeling Bulma's arms wrap around her a second later, the only thing Chi-Chi could do was cry. There was nothing she could do, she was helpless in all of it. She couldn't bring him home, she couldn't talk back to him, and she couldn't change the past. Some of her tears were happy, to have finally seen her son, others were bitter and sad, knowing she'd never see him again.
"He wanted to send this to you, it's okay Chi-Chi," Bulma tried to comfort her, but her arms did more then her voice could.
"I love you mom."
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Author's Notes:
So, updates will be coming back to Sundays/Mondays! So I'm starting that this week, much to everyone's joy I'm sure.
On a side promotional note, if the story hits 800 reviews by next Sunday, there will be another update in one week's time. Otherwise expect the next update in two weeks, that's a promise too. :)
That was a tough scene for me to write. Especially since there is a lot in Gohan, Chi-Chi, and Goku's lives really starting to look up after all of this. But I really wanted to finish off the Mirai timeline with something important, which was kind of how things end up with the other timeline's Son family. Originally I was going to have a scene after this, where Goku goes to Hell in the afterlife and basically drags Gohan out of it, but I really don't think it fit the tone of the chapter. If some people want to imagine that happened, know that's how I originally envisioned this until I wrote it.
I'm going to try and deliver chapters at this length and quality for at least a few more weeks. I don't know if my wrists or my muse will hold up, by I'll do my best.
Next chapter expect to see a fair bit of focus shifted towards Goten, Videl, and Pan!
I'm guessing some element of the decline in the number of reviews I've gotten is probably linked to the lower set of action currently happening. To those who want more action and explosions, fear not, they are coming back, but as with every story, it can't be a constant rush of combat. This Saga also has one of my favourite fight scenes I've been bouncing around in my head, so be patient and be happy, for there is much destruction to come. :)
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Reviewers:
Morisako83: Lots will happen, lol
Sid89: Well, as noted, until this is done I'm avoiding reading Gohan stories. Which is hilarious considering he's one of my favourite characters, lol
R: Thanks
DarkKnightShiva: This one is longer, if that helps.
Pyromania101: It was the Namekians, yes.
xdevil-childx: This happened next, lol
MaxPain32: Gohan's demonstration of emotion, like anyone, is all based off circumstance. He's just a lot harder to move in any one direction. His biggest soft spot is for his mom, but everyone already knew that. Lol
ShadowLDrago: Yea, Goku totally trolled Turles there. I'm sure his twin will be overjoyed, lol
asweetlilpixie: I'ma kill Vegeta every single chapter now! Lol
Perfect Carnage: But don't you wanna see Majin Buu? Lol
brograham18: Thanks!
ICTOAN: I don't know what a coiner is, but I'm sure they'll say your welcome :P
ShadowFFD: I think I answered this via PM.
DBZfanthefirst: Never! I'll do my worst! Or at least the cast seems to think so, lol
Heseltine: I can't spoil anything like that right now, in regards to future villains and ect. All I can say is, I don't plan on leaving any loose ends.
VuvuzelaHero: I hope you enjoy the emotion in this chapter as well, lol
MasenkoX: NEVER! My work must now decline rapidly in quality!
Tomorrow4eva: I am too. Right now I've got 3 things I'm writing at once, which makes things really difficult to prioritize.
RoxaShadow: I've had proof readers before, but sadly, once I get into full swing with my writing, I'm usually producing too much content. I also only trust a few people with my work otherwise, call me crazy. So yes, there have been proof readers before. Right now however, I don't see that as plausible for the near future.
Maricam25: Thanks a bunch! :D
Guest1: Trolololololol
Guest2: Don't expect an appearance from Tarble or Gine (or any equivalent of her). In The Catalyst, my other story, Tarble becomes a major character, but has yet to be introduced.
Daughter of Vegeta: OC Gohan? You mean out of character Gohan? I resent that! Gohan is totally in character! lol