The Promises We Keep - Spirit
The Sequel to A Disturbed Savior.
For those who have not read A Disturbed Savior, to understand this Story even in the least, you must read A Disturbed Savior first. If not, then w/e, have fun understanding your out of the usual Gohan and Videl
I can't and won't promise anything this time around.
It's DBZ, I obviously don't own shit.
Cause I know where this road leads to and therefore I will rise, I know this dream will come true, an I will soar the sky - Robert Sylvester Kelly
"Ugh." Through shuttering eyes he could make out the numbers flashing red on the digital clock next to the bed. 7:00 A.M. Way too early for him to be awake. Gohan turned over in the sheets and wrapped his arm around a pillow, or just something to hold onto. What he got was not what he was expecting. It was soft, and warm. It didn't take him long to figure out who it belonged to.
"Mmm...Not now Gohan. Too early." Mumbled the very warm and very naked Videl as she curled under the bed sheets and out of her partner's arms. Gohan's face went red as he ripped his hand off her natural curves and pulled himself to the other side of the bed. The clock now read 7:02 A.M. Just above the alarm clock was a calendar. The day May 7th was circled in red pen.
May 7th...May 7th...Realization soon hit him. He practically jumped out of bed and took the sheets with him leaving a red Videl in bed clutching any pillow she could reach to use as cover.
"What the hell Gohan? At least leave me with some cover you jerk! And what the hell are you doing jumping around this early for anyways? We don't have to be at the tour-"
"Tournament's today." He interrupted in a much softer but serious tone. It was a typical Gohan moment as Videl would sometimes call it. A somewhat humorous situation would suddenly shift to being a big deal.
"Y-yeah." She blinked twice, taken back by the sudden change. It almost seemed like he was waiting for the day. She caught him staring up towards the ceiling with a look on his face she often saw him make. It was his thinking face. He was long gone by now, thinking his own thoughts. Probably something about his life and guilt and all that junk. She wouldn't waste her own time trying to figure him out. She took the opportunity of him staring off into space to scurry off to the bathroom for a shower. Whatever was still on her from the previous night needed to be washed off, immediately.
"So are you going to eat or just sit there and stare at your breakfast all morning?" Videl asked from over the kitchen counter top.
He looked up from his plate, his fork still piercing his pancakes doused in maple syrup. "Mm..Not feeling too hungry."
What? Had she heard that right? Gohan wasn't hungry? She quickly rushed to his side and through a hand to his forehead to check his temperature.
"Nope, you don't have a fever. Something wrong Gohan? You don't have food poisoning do you?" Quickly thinking back to the previous night, he didn't really eat anything out of the ordinary, she blushed.
No, nothing out of the ordinary. That's when she noticed his eyes were like slits. Serious as ever as he stared off into space. The day was finally here and this was how it going to be. She was ready for it, but getting him ready was the real task. Hopefully it wouldn't end too bad.
"Are you OK Gohan? Want a glass of water? Something? Anything?"
He mumbled something under his breathe.
"Whatever Gohan. Just know you're not getting out of participating today. I'm going to fight today and you can't stop me. And if you're coming to do the same then I suggest you get rid of that snotty attitude I'm picking up from you right now. You're not going to come just to end up beating the hell out of anyone who attempts to hit me."
Videl walked over to the sink to clean her plate, he was still sitting there with a blank stare, his fork hadn't moved.
'What am I gonna do with you Gohan?' She shook her head and walked to the fridge to get a bottle of water. She halfway reached for a bottle when her eyes stopped at a white canister. Reddi Wip. She half cracked and snorted to herself. Even if the day went sour, she had a way to make it sweet. She grabbed her water and shut the fridge. When she turned to dining table Gohan was no longer sitting. She looked around until she heard the front door shut. Quickly she ran out the door in attempt to catch Gohan before he left.
"GOHAN! HOLD ON! WAIT UP!" Just in time. He stopped just a few feet in the air. "Where are you going! You're coming to the tournament aren't you?" She almost sounded desperate and sad that he wasn't staying with her. He cracked a smile before answering.
"There's something I have to do. I'll see you at the tournament, I promise."
All alone in a field if green grasses surrounded by mountains and flowing rivers there was a small hut, a house at some point. Untouched by the twenty years of neglect, it was as if it was forgotten by time. It looked just as it had that day when fate brought two adventurers together.
The tall boy with the jet black spikes touched down softly on the grassy plains. The well that was once drained was now itching to overflow with rain water after all the years of neglect. But the house remained the same over the few months that had passed since his last visit. On the inside some dust had collected over the furniture and the small bed that remained.
The tall young man pushed some things aside and dropped to his knees in front of a drawer in the middle of the back of the small house. On top of said furniture was a very special family heirloom. Gently closing his eyes he clasped his hands together and just sat there.
'Father. It's me, Gohan. I don't know if you're up there even bothering to pay attention or not, but today is the World Martial Arts Tournament. I-I've decided that I'm going to compete. There's even going to be a junior's division this year, so mom's allowing Goten to compete as well. It's going to really fun dad.'
His eyes twitched as he fought the reaction of his eyes beginning to well up.
'I can't believe how long it's been. I miss you more and more with each passing day. I don't know how I've made it this far without you. It's some sort of miracle that I'm still alive, but I guess there are few people back here on Earth who would miss me too much.'
Releasing his hands he wiped his eyes dry and sniffed in whatever was building up.
'I really miss you dad. More than anything in the world I just want to be able to see you just once. I know you said that I'd see you sometime in the near future, but I don't know how long I can make it. I've been trying so hard just to put up this cold, brick wall, and it's getting harder and harder. I just don't know what to do anymore. I mean, I don't know if I'm even enjoying life anymore. I'm just letting it pass by without bothering to observe it all. I just, I feel so empty. Everything just seems to be a temporary fix. I just don't know anymore. I wish that I could just talk with you. I want to tell you how sorry I am! I'm sorry dad. I'm so sorry!'
Gohan took a moment to breathe after completely dropping his hold. His body shook in hysterics as he couldn't contain it anymore. The tears fell like a waterfall flowing down white water rapids.
"I'm sorry. I really am. It's all my fault. It's my fault that things are like this. Be-because, because I didn't listen to you. It's all my fault. DAMMIT! I'm such an idiot! I can still remember you pushing me every step of the way. Every moment, you never gave up on me even when I had lost hope."
"There are still times at night where I hear your words echoing through the air, just reminding me to keep on pushing, to keep trying harder and harder. And just hearing your voice, or what my mind tells me is your voice, it helps me. It helps me get out of bed every morning. It's, I just can't wait much longer to hear it for real again."
He washed away his tears with his sleeves and began walking towards the door. He took one look back at the old house and stared up at the blue sky above.
"But until then I'll try my best to make you proud."
"So you're back. You lasted quite a bit over there with Big Red. He at least give ya somethin' ta do?" Asked the man with the giant presence.
"I stood there and waited. And I waited some more. I waited until I couldn't stand it any longer." Stated the tall Saiyan. Strong and proud, that's what he was.
"I see. And what made you come back even though I told you to go to Enma? He did tell you stay put, didn't he?"
"He did. But what was I going to do? Just wait there for the rest of eternity while he did his paperwork? But I have places to go, people to see."
"Of course. So shall we continue?"
"Continue? From where? We never started! All you've been doing is stalling! You've just been talking and going through all the possibilities of my actions. So get ready! Cause here I come!" Clenching his fists and bending his knees, Goku readied himself to take on the Grand Kai.
He was all pumped up and ready for anything. This is what he trained for right? To fight the Grand Kai, or was it?
"Uranai Baba." Whispered the man with the long white hair.
"What did you say?"
"Baba. She's a woman you know well enough, isn't she?" Goku nodded. "Destined to be a hero of his time. I believe that was a fortune for you at a very young age. Was it not?"
What was he doing now? Baba? What did she have anything to do with this? Expect the unexpected. That's what he was told to be aware of about the Grand Kai. Okay, the unexpected, but what do you do once it's there?
"What's your point? What does that have to do with the here and now? I'm dead! That fortune doesn't matter anymore. There's nothing more I can do!" A blazing wind made of yellow and golden hues sprayed in strokes around Goku.
"A soul's fortune does not become obsolete once they have passed over from the living realm to the afterlife. It's a common misconception that such a thing would be, but it's not. You are a special one Goku. Always have been, always will be." A hoarse voice interrupted.
Goku looked around. He knew that voice. It belonged to an old friend who he owed a great favor to. Being able to see his grandpa that one day was nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. He would never forget it.
She came in as per the usual floating in on her crystal ball in her witchly clothes. Goku looked on stunned to say the least.
"Ba-Baba! What are you doing here?" The Saiyan yelled.
"Baba is one of my old friends here Goku. You'd be smart to respect being in her presence."
"RAH! I know who she is! She's an old friend of mine as well in case you didn't-"
"Oh but I do know Goku. I know very well your relationship with her. I know that you've sought out her help a couple of times when you were just a child." Goku growled under his breathe. This guy just knew how to get to him in every way didn't he?
"Ah so what? I-"
"Goku, Grand Kai sir. That's enough from the both of you. I'm on a schedule here. I don't have all day. So let's go already." She turned her head gesturing to the taller of the fighters." He stood baffled more than anything. What the hell was happening? Wasn't he about to fight the Grand Kai? And then Baba just comes and...blah! His brain just couldn't handle all of this crap. Someone higher than anyone he was aware of must have a really bad sense of humor to want to mess with him so much.
"Baba. I'm sorry if I don't get it, but, eh?"
The witch let out a short chuckle to herself. That guy just never changes.
"Just come with me Goku." He hesitated for a moment and backed off from both his old friend and his opponent. He took a look back at his other comrade. He had been standing back there the whole time rooting him on through thick and thin, yet he hadn't said a word through this whole fiasco. What was going on? What was he thinking?
"Time out." He called as he jumped outside of the ring and over to Kai of the North. "King Kai. You said before that we were in this together right?" He nodded. "Well, I need your help right now. You told me before to expect the unexpected with the Grand Kai, and so far everything that's happened so far was unexpected. And now Baba shows up and asks me to come with her. She's trying to take me away from this fight. Now I know that you think I'd be better off not fighting the Grand Kai and possibly losing my body, but you understand by now what I'm fighting for and why, right?"
King Kai stared up at his friend and thought to himself for a moment. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to word this next part, but it needed to come out right and not be taken the wrong way. He sighed.
"Well Goku. Considering everything that's happened up until now, this shouldn't come as a surprise to you. But I must ask you. Is the fortune teller your friend?" Goku raised an eyebrow at this. What kind of question was that? Of course he considered her a friend. He nodded. "Do you trust her Goku?" Again a dumb question. Of course he nodded. "Then you have nothing to worry about Goku."
Goku stood for a minute, taking in everything he was just told. He looked about his surroundings. A crowd made up of thousands and thousands of other dead warriors, waiting for him to take to the stage. But at the moment, none of that mattered. His friend needed him. For what reason, he did not know, but that mattered not.
He clapped his hands together and bowed to the God standing before him. "Thank you King Kai." And turned back around, jumped back onto the arena stage and walked towards the middle where his opponent was still waiting. He looked to Baba, and then the Grand Kai.
"Grand Kai sir. I'm sorry for wasting all of your time just to go and do this. But I gotta go somewhere it seems." He turned to face the witch. "Baba..."
"It's about time." She mumbled as she floated off with Goku by her side.
"Yo! Goku! Hold up there a second!" The Saiyan warrior stopped mid flight and turned his head. "You still got that paper I gave ya?" He nodded. "Good. Don't open it until you get there, got it?" Yeah he got it, turning back around he caught up with Uranai Baba to wherever they were going.
'Bout time that 'ol witch got here. That kid would destroy me in a fight.'
The sound of gun fire ripped through the air. The random passer-byers there for the festivities were quickly running rampantly about as they evacuated the area closest to the rounds flying through the air.
"AHAHAHA! You see I told you guys not to be worried. When you're with me there's nothing to be worried about." Announced the trigger happy blond. Her daughter and her friends scurried away out of embarrassment. And to be safe from the law. No one wanted to be associated with a crazy person firing a gun in the air just to get a clear walking path.
"I see your mom is still scary as ever."
"Uhh...yeah, sorry about that. She insisted she come today. She mentioned something about the good 'ol times. I dunno." But of course they were all thinking of the possibilities of what 'Good ol days' she was referring to. They were hoping it was one that included not shooting people or holding up a bank and more along the lines of cheering for whomever was fighting.
Erasa, Sharpner and Videl walked ahead a bit to catch up with the rest of the group, those of whom didn't seem all that scared nor surprised at the rambunctious blond's actions. In fact it was like they expected it by the way they were laughing and joking around about it.
"Oh that gal. She'll never change will she?"
"Heh. Speak for yourself old man. You haven't changed one bit since the day I met you." Said Krillin to his old master. The old lecher would never change. But neither would that sneezing fire cracker of a stalker.
Ignoring the guys, the girls walked around the area with their sons with Vegeta trailing behind. No one caught his short glances here and there as if he was searching for something.
"I can't wait to see the boys fight later. I'm glad you decided to let Goten compete today Chi Chi. I never would have thought."
"Well it was either this or this. I really had no say in the matter. He said he wanted to be just like Gohan and compete for the championship. He was out there everyday with Gohan, training as hard as he could." Chi Chi informed.
"Ha! Sounds like him. But that makes me wonder, where is Gohan? Videl's here with her friends and Mr. Satan has probably been here for more than a couple hours, I thought they would come together or something. Ya know, as boyfriend and girlfriend." The fact that Gohan wasn't with Videl was just a sign to the gang that he was nervous over anything else. He loved Videl no matter how much he dismissed the thought, everyone else knew it.
"Yeah. These past few months I think he's cooled down a bit. He'd been dealing with everything a bit better, according to Videl he's been more intimate." They checked behind an stared at the raven talking to her friends. "And overall he'd just been a lot calmer."
"So why isn't he here now? Did something happen recently?"
"I dunno. This past month or so has been his worst in a good while or so. He was getting angry all of the sudden and he wouldn't speak to anyone unless he had to. I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the tournament or whatever, but something has been bugging him to no end." Chi Chi finished explaining. The two adults pondered the thought for a few moments before their silence was disrupted.
"You two are thinking about this too much. He's a big boy now. I'm sure he's fine. It's not like there's anything in this world that could hurt him." 18 was always using logic over instinct. It was just her way of interacting with the others. She walked with her hand locked together with her daughter's as she reared back to walking with her husband.
They thought about it, and of course they came to the conclusion that 18 was in fact right. But that didn't mean they weren't still bothered by his absence. Bulma more than Chi Chi for reasons she couldn't mention.
'Come on kid. Where are you? What if he shows up and you aren't here! Come on Gohan!' She screamed in her head before getting another one of her genius ideas. Her eyes practically lit up.
"Vegeta!"
"Hmph." He barely acknowledged her. Of course she would always just randomly scream his name for her little wants and needs. What would make this outburst any different?"
"Oh don't look so down. I have a favor to ask you Mr. Super Saiyan. I need you to look for Gohan for us." Bulma explained as she poked her finger at his chest.
"And why would I waste my time doing that?" Came his grumpy reply.
"Don't be such a baby Vegeta. I'm not asking you to leave the area and literally drag him over here. God knows you wouldn't something like that. I'm just asking that you use those sense of yours and tell us where he is." He growled at her request, but bared down and complied.
He shut out everything around. It shouldn't be too hard, but he was always exact, always perfect and spot on, so he would tell the woman and her loud-mouthed friend where the brat was. The highest power levels in the area were of course his and the Namek's. Then came Trunks and Goten. He was a little angry at the fact that the Namek was stronger than his son. But he was sure that Trunks could handle him as a Super Saiyan, so it wasn't that big a he continued his search. The was the short one's and then the loser with the talking cat came to his sense next. After that everything else was a big mystery. Why wasn't Gohan showing up? Why was the brat concealing himself? If he was flying then surely he would be detectable, right?
'Hmm. Something is off about this. Where is the moron and why can't I sense him?' He tried to concentrate harder on Gohan's ki. He knew it well and should have been able to distinguish it no matter how far away he might have been. But for some odd reason, he couldn't. Something else was in the area.
Suddenly his eyes shot open and his head jerked from left to right. Bulma and Chi Chi took notice of this right away and got worried.
"Vegeta! What is it? Is something wrong? Where's Gohan? Is he alright? Please Vegeta tell me! Where's my baby boy?" Chi Chi practically cried as she worried for her son.
But he didn't answer. He just stood their stunned. His face almost never shared what he was feeling, but at this moment they could tell that he was shocked. No, something had him worried. His eyes searched the area around him for this large presence looming over the area. It was huge, unlike any other he had ever felt before. It was ominous presence, one which surpassed only his own and Gohan's. But how? How could this be? Who?
Who? He shut his eyes and concentrated on this power. It shouldn't be too hard to single it out. He locked onto it almost immediately. Something felt oddly familiar about this energy. It was strong, that much was obvious. But it came out of no where, how? A new enemy? And old enemy in hiding? An old...He smirked and chuckled to himself.
"So he made it after all." He said in almost a whisper.
"He? Who made it? Who's here Vegeta? Where's my Gohan! Where is he? Where is..." Her words froze on the tip of her tongue as she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist.
"I'm here Chi."
A/N: A little longer wait than the last couple...work's been busy...extra busy this next upcoming week...also with Playoffs coming up for Baseball...I might find a little less time to write :/ Oh well...hope you enjoyed...Next chapter we'll see some more 'moments'