Ever since Gohan had released the Z Sword from its home in the mountain, training had gone downhill. Time indeed did flow differently in this realm, so Gohan had no idea how long he had actually been away from Earth, but he was growing discouraged. The sword was heavy and the fact that it was nearly as long as Gohan was tall made wielding it difficult.

Despite being the "Chosen One", the sword offered no changes to Gohan's ki after he had unsheathed it. He had tried to attain the level of power he had when trying to pry the sword out, but to no avail. Once he had the sword in his hands, the feeling of magic dissipated, and had made no return.

And to top it all off, Shin was absolutely no help. He knew absolutely nothing about the sword. Not that it was his fault. No one knew anything about the sword. Shin tried to be helpful, tried to be encouraging, but he too was growing discouraged. He began to grow frustrated with himself, and angry that he was a subpar mentor. The last time he had properly trained had been with the other Supreme Kais, and never had he been the leader. He had no idea how to train someone, and it seemed it didn't really matter. Gohan was far more accomplished at fighting than he was.

And then, on top of all of that, Shin found he really had no social skills. Interacting with the boy was sometimes difficult. The last time he had properly socialized with someone was when the other Supreme Kais had been alive. Since them, his interactions with others had always been brief, or with Tsuki, and that time was spent planning and problem solving. Shin found he almost dreaded the moments he wasn't training Gohan. He had never spent any length of time with a child, and while Gohan was certainly mature, he wasn't quite sure how to properly engage him in conversation. Nor did he know what was appropriate conversation.

Tsuki had not been much help. She had dropped by only once after Gohan had obtained the sword, and even she had no idea how to properly wield it. Shin had wanted her to stay, had been on the verge of begging her to take over. Gohan was comfortable around the goddess. He had spent extended time with her, had lived with her. She had observed how he had been trained. He felt she was a far better fit than he was. However, Tsuki had more important matters to attend to.

"I...uh... that was...better?" Shin said awkwardly as Gohan yet again went through a set with the sword.

Gohan dropped the tip of the sword to the ground and let out a very Piccolo-like growl. His blue eyes cut to Shin and the Kai took a small step back. Gohan may be a child, but he was more powerful than he, and had proven to be unpredictable when angry.

"We are getting nowhere with this stupid thing!" he hissed angrily. His ki flared around him in a pulse and he swung the sword at a nearby rock, shattering it on impact. Shin gave a tiny, surprised yelp, but Gohan heard it. His eyes softened and he lowered back to his base form.

"Sorry. I'm sorry," he whispered. He sighed and dropped the sword to the ground and turned his back, walking away. He headed for the water's edge and sat by it, his back to Shin. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his forearms and chin on them, staring out into the water.

Shin was surprised for a moment. He looked around helplessly, hoping Tsuki would show up and tell him what to do. He'd experienced Gohan's frustration before, but his anger he had only seen from afar. Experiencing it first hand, and having it directed at him was unsettling. Frightening, almost. He sighed and debated what to do for a few moments. Gohan seemed to have calmed down, and in his base form, he was far less threatening.

So, Shin walked to where Gohan sat. He waited a moment, gauging if the boy would tolerate his presence. When Gohan didn't even look at him, but didn't move away either, Shin lowered himself to the ground next to the boy and mirrored his position. It was silent for several long moments as the two stared out over the water.

"You miss him, don't you?" Shin asked at last.

Gohan inhaled deeply and then let out a sigh. "Yes."

"I'm sorry I am a terrible mentor."

Gohan have a small chuckle. "Well, at least you're nicer than Mr. Piccolo was when he started training me. You're more encouraging. I was pretty sure that in the beginning, he was more trying to kill me than anything else..."

"Should I try throwing you at a mountain?" Shin asked lightly, trying to make a joke.

It had the desired effect, and Gohan laughed. "He's never going to live that one down, is he?" He frowned then. "How did you know about that?"

Shin shrugged. "Lady Tsuki isn't the only one who was watching over you all this time."

"Oh."

It was quiet again and Shin chanced a glance at the boy. His face was scrunched up in concentration, it seemed, and he opened his mouth a few times, as if he was trying to say something.

"Shin... you lived with the other Supreme Kais, right? You were friends with them?" he asked at last.

"Yes. They were my family," Shin replied.

"What was she like? My... mother?"Gohan asked, hesitating and sounding unsure of that word.

Shin was caught off-guard for a moment, but composed himself quickly. "She wasn't really your mother. Chi-Chi was your mother."

"She was my birth mother, I know. But the Supreme Kai, she's my spirit mother, isn't she? She and Amat are the reason I was created in the first place," he pressed, spitting the god's name.

Shin sighed. "Do not think poorly of her, please. West was... West was goodness incarnate. She was beautiful, lively... a little sarcastic at times... but the sweetest, most genuine person you could ever hope to meet."

"Why would she ever fall in love with Amat then?"

"Lord Amat wasn't always the way you know him now, Gohan. He was once kind and good-spirited. And he did genuinely love West, and she him. But there are laws, Gohan, that never should have been broken. Lord Amat, while kind, did tend to have a rebellious streak. He is the God of Chaos for a reason. He found the laws pointless and limiting, especially because it meant his and West's love could never be.

"One day, he convinced West to run away with him, to escape the laws. And West, blinded by her love for him, agreed. It's a long story, Gohan, but what all you really need to know is Lord Konto, Lady Tsuki and Lord Amat's father, was enraged. He brought about Majin Buu in his anger, and Buu killed everyone. Only I was spared.

"West never would have wanted any of this to happen. She wouldn't want Lord Amat to try to kill you, but the Darkness destroyed his kindness. He is not the god she had fallen in love with. She would've loved you and cared for you properly, while letting Chi-Chi and Goku raise you. If she had lived... I'm sorry. I don't like dwelling on what could have been. Because it never will be," Shin finished quietly. "You remind me of her, you know."

"Everyone always says I look like Goku," Gohan replied. When Shin cocked his head, he hesitated. "Is it bad that I call him that? I know he was my father but... I barely remember him. He was hardly around, always training. I remember some things about him, but I remember my mom a little better. When I think of my dad, it's not his face that comes to mind."

Shin smiled. "Piccolo has become an excellent father. I'll be honest with you, when Lady Tsuki first started talking about you going into his care, I was a little skeptical. I was fairly certain you were going to end up dead."

Gohan chuckled. "That's what everyone thought." He let out a deep breath. "Shin? When can I go home? We're getting nowhere with the Z Sword. And I scare you."

"You don't scare me," Shin defended.

Gohan huffed. "You're a bad liar."

"No, scare isn't the right word. I think the better word would be intimidate. I've seen what your anger enables you to do. But, I'd be angry at me, too. I've been less than helpful. What do you think would help you more? What would you like to try?"

Gohan thought about it for a moment. "The Lady has a lot of confidence in this sword being able to defeat Buu. But... do we know it's even going to be able to damage him at all? I mean, it cuts through rock like it's nothing, but... what exactly is Buu made of?"

Shin grimaced. "Honestly, he looks like rubber? Or you know, he looks like this substance on Earth known as bubblegum. That may be the best way to describe him."

"What if he just breaks the sword?"

"Impossible. The sword can't be broken," Shin said dismissively. "Worst case scenario, it doesn't work like we hoped, but it won't break... Where are you going?" he asked as Gohan got a determined look on his face and got up. He walked over to where he had dropped the sword and picked it up. Shin scrambled to his feet and hurried over. Gohan held the sword between his hands, the hilt in one hand, the blade in the other. "Don't hold it like that! You're going to cut yourself."

Gohan paid him no heed. He tried to bend the sword, but it didn't budge. He powered up quickly to his fully ascended form and gripped it tightly. He felt the blade bite into his skin, and blood began to flow, but he was not deterred. He grit his teeth and steeled himself against the pain, trying again.

"Gohan, stop! You're bleeding! The sword cannot break and you losing a hand is only going to set us back further!" Shin scolded. Gohan glanced at him defiantly and he tried again, giving a growl as he put his all into it. "You're being childish now! It will not-"

SNAP

"-break... Gohan... don't..." Shin stammered.

With a final growl, Gohan put all his strength into his grip and the sword snapped in half.

Shin gave a cry of shock. "G-Gohan! Why?"

"Because if I can break it, Buu certainly could!"

As Gohan could answered, a fine mist began to rise from the two pieces, gradually becoming thicker. Steadily, it began to form a shape. When a being suddenly materialized from it, Gohan dropped the sword in shock, causing the being to plummet to the ground as well.

"Ow! Well I never!" the being said, his voice put-out.

"Old Kai? That's where you've been this whole time?" Shin asked, astounded and almost annoyed sounding to Gohan's ears.

Old Kai stood and brushed himself off. "Now you listen here, Easty, that was not my faul-"

He was interrupted when Tsuki suddenly appeared. She looked very confused for a moment, and then she smiled radiantly when she caught sight of the three.

"Oh, Elder Kai!" she exclaimed.

"Ah, Tsuki!" Old Kai said, equally as happy. He approached her and grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips. "My dear, you are so lovely, just like your mother." He eyed her up and down. "You are unwell, my dear," he added quietly, so that Gohan and Shin could not hear.

"Why were you in the Z Sword? Do you have any idea how helpful it would have been for you to have been around when Buu was rampaging? Do you even know about Buu?" Shin snapped angrily, his arms crossed over his chest.

Old Kai waved his hand dismissively. "For your information, Easty, I didn't go in it on my own accord. You think I wanted to be trapped in there? No, that bastard Konto locked me in that damn thing."

Tsuki looked saddened. "My father locked you in there?"

"That he did. He didn't want my good magic from stopping Bibidi's dark magic from creating his Buu monster. And then your dear mother locked him away before he could tell anyone I was trapped."

"How could you know all of that if you were trapped in the sword?" Gohan asked, confused.

"I may have been locked up, but I could still sense everything going on around me. You, boy, I sensed the moment you were created. You put quite a ripple in the fates, you know. Caused a big disturbance in the magics."

At Gohan's confused look, Tsuki intervened. "Elder Kai is not your typical Kai, Gohan. He is very trained in magic, and knows much about the fates. I dare say he taught my mother a thing or two."

"Yes, well, fusing with that Old Witch had that advantage. Even if she did take away my youthful, handsome self. I used to be as good looking as Easty over there!" Old Kai said ruefully. "And Tsuki dear, it's Old Kai. You are much too polite."

"I'll say," Shin muttered. "And don't call me that. You know I hated that nickname."

"Oh, pish-posh. I had to distinguish you somehow."

"You didn't put the Y at the end of any of the other's names."

"Well, you were the only one who acted adversely to it, so I had to keep annoying you somehow."

"Yes, well, I'm the only Supreme Kai now. I go by Shin now."

"Nonsense, Easty."

"So wait, I'm confused... What was the sword supposed to do before you were locked in it? Shin said only the Chosen One could wield it and I'm guessing that was before you were locked in there..." Gohan asked.

"The Z Sword gives the Chosen One immeasurable power. And then I got locked in it."

"So... it doesn't do that anymore? All of this was for nothing?" Gohan asked, annoyed.

"Well, I'm out of that damn sword now, so I wouldn't say it was for nothing!" Old Kai exclaimed. "Don't you worry, boy. When Konto trapped me in there, that power flowed into me, instead of the sword itself."

Shin perked up at that. "You can give Gohan the powers the Z Sword would have?"

"Of course! That power up I gave him to unleash the sword from the mountain? Just a mere taste of what I'll give him!" Old Kai boasted.

"Elder Kai, do you believe it will be enough to destroy Majin Buu?" Tsuki asked now.

He hesitated. "Well, I can't say for certain. I can feel a dark magic very similar to Bibidi's-"

"You can sense him?" Shin cut in. "Can you take us to him? We can stop this now!"

"Let me finish, Easty. I can sense him, but I cannot detect where he is. It has been a very long time since I could properly use my magic, and I daresay I am not as powerful in it as I once was. I do believe Konto inadvertently destroyed some of my magic by containing me for so long in a vessel that had such powerful magic of its own. Probably his intent, actually. Oh, don't look so discouraged, Easty. I can still unleash all of this boy's inner ki. There's much of it, and even more to it than I believe even I can feel now. Have some faith."

Gohan looked a little excited now. "You can unleash all of it? My inner ki? I'll be stronger?"

"Oh, dear boy, more than you can even imagine."