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The Void in-between Realities
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A ghostly image of Makoto Mizuhara hurtled through the inter-reality void, nothing more than an insubstantial wraith. Makoto had used his power to mentally link with machinery to keep tabs on his love the Android Ifurita as she traveled across the multiverse to find the lost martial artist Ranma Saotome.
Ifurita knew of his guilt over the loss of Saotome and the pain Ranma's family felt at his disappearance so she volunteered to undertake the dangerous trip into the unknown in order to save him. As he waited for her return though, he felt through his link with her a vast amount of terror and fear, something he had never felt in such quantities from her before and for a moment he actually thought he may have lost her. His power seemed to sense the danger and forced his consciousness out of his body and toward Ifurita by way of his link to her and now in this in-between place he realized he could actually still sense the much weakened link between them.
He floated to a stop as his mind-self looked around as he tried to find the proper path in a place that completely defied the terms of logical directions. He was surrounded by globes of energy that were in multi hued colors, some were stationary while others seemed to move slowly and others moved so fast as to be virtually incomprehensible. Between the globes the former student of Shininome High saw darkness that was broken by what appeared to be brilliantly colored nebula that were connected to one another by tendrils of coruscating power.
"Where are you Ifurita, it's getting harder and harder to feel you," uttered the glowing blue form of Makoto's mental self. The young man began to grow desperate in his search so he closed his figuratively represented eyes and calmed down as he reached out on the weakened link for the mental feel of his love.
"Makoto?" came a faint questioning back to him along the link. 'IFURITA, IS THAT YOU?' Makoto shouted back mentally. "No time," came the weak answer in reply "monk, ask the mon…" Ifurita said as her presence began to fade away.
"IFURITA" Makoto shouted in desperate fear before he lunged along the mental track he felt Ifurita's presence come from before it faded completely. "Hold on love, just hold on, we haven't gone through all we have to lose each other now. Please just hold on I'm coming just wait for me."
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Only Human
By Verse12
Verse12 (at) hotmail (dot) com
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Disclaimer: I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun; no profit is involved or expected thank you.
Note: Revised (09/07/08)
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Chapter Four
Supreme Cell vs. Gohan
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DBZ Universe
Just before Ranma's death, Son-Gohan sat off to the side with the others in the Z-senshi. As he placed all but one of the Senzu into his hidden weapons space in order to protect them Gohan just watched and wondered what his uncle Ranma was thinking, the boy believed he was going to get himself killed for no good reason. 'It's obvious that we haven't a hope of defeating that monster now,' Gohan thought in bafflement.
As Ranma maneuvered about and attacked Cell Gohan just sat and wondered about this futile act. "I don't want to lose anyone else," he whispered "why does this always happen… why does everyone leave me?"
"PAY ATTENTION BOY!" Piccolo barked out to the inattentive Gohan which caused him to look up. "Wha?" the demi-saiya-jin asked, "FOOLISH BOY, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SIT AND FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF, your 'UNCLE' is trying to teach you something so pay attention."
"What, what do you think he trying to teach me with this," Gohan asked his mentor tremulously?
With a hard look the Namekian warrior gazed into the boy's eyes and whispered, "How to die like a warrior."
As Son-Gohan brought his tear drenched face to look upon the battle Ranma reappeared by Cell and hit him with a previously unseen move, some kind of clawed palm strike.
"HE STAGGERED HIM, HE ACTUALLY STAGGERED HIM," Krillan shouted in exuberance.
"How," Gohan whispered, "he shouldn't be able to affect him? He's not strong enough."
"Ranma has a knack for surprises, he may not have been the big gun he used to be in the last few years but I remember the fight he and Goku had against me all those years ago, he kept me so off balance I didn't know what to do," Piccolo commented as Ranma fired off a ka-me-ha-me-ha at point blank range.
As the young man watched the fight continue he remembered the words of love and encouragement his uncle had just told him and he realized what his uncle was truly trying to do. "Uncle I'm sorry, I'll do better please just be okay I don't think I can handle loosing anyone else," he murmured. It is as the young man uttered these words that Cell made his final move and Ranma Saotome's life ended in violence and horror.
As Cell stood there and gloated as he laughed about the death of another great man, something just snapped inside of young Son-Gohan's soul.
"UNCLE," the boy screamed as he seethed in a burning rage uncaring of the eyes of the others upon him, he took his good hand with the senzu bean still in it and he popped it into his mouth then with an audible crack he bit into it.
"So the little boy wants to go again? This won't be as easy on you as last time," the monster smirked sarcastically.
"I don't care what it takes, I don't care who or what I have to sacrifice but this I SWEAR I will not let you survive this… I will kill you." With that Gohan began to power up with a low growl through his grit teeth and clenched brows. Lightning slowly began to arc about him and a low rumble filled the air. The ground shattered around his feet as his battle aura flared to life, it kept growing and growing in intensity until he threw back his head in a beastly roar and his battle aura exploded in a blinding inferno of power. The power then started to throw loose objects away from him, rocks, dirt… Krillan, as he lowered his gaze onto Cell his eyes filled with cold Saiya-Jin hate and Gohan rumbled out "I WILL make you pay."
"We will see little boy," Cell said coldly "you can never hope to come near my supreme power."
"That doesn't matter because today, I will destroy you no matter what it takes."
With a flicker Gohan moved, he appeared by Cell and kicked at him with a shin kick. Cell lazily blocked the blow with his forearm as he mockingly called out "weak."
Gohan dropped into a leg sweep that Cell lazily hopped over before he was kicked to the back by the Techno-Organic monstrosity. This of course sent the boy skipping along the rocky terrain like a stone on pond as he acquired cuts and bruises on the way.
Once he rose from where he had ended up, Gohan was quickly set upon by Cell. In less time than it takes to tell Cell broke through Gohan's defenses as he shattered the youth's ribs and collarbone before he was once again sent flying backwards this time to slam into a large boulder.
Cell laughed loudly as he quipped, "is that it little Saiya-Jin, are you done already?"
"NEVER," Gohan screamed after he had eaten another Senzu bean from the pouch. Son-Gohan flared his aura once more as he squared off against Supreme Cell before he charged forward to battle again.
"Well well, looks like you found your second wind," Cell laughed as he sidestepped Gohan's berserker charge. A well-placed karate chop to the boy's back sent the youth stumbling forward before he collapsed to the ground.
When the lad didn't rise Cell couldn't help but taunt his injured foe "come on already is that it? The human did better than you and he didn't have half of your strength." When Gohan didn't respond Cell asked tauntingly, "What is that it? Are you dead already?" With his foot he turned the half human over. "Well boy?" the monster smirked out.
"Can't feel my legs," the injured lad croaked out.
"Oh that is rich," he laughed, "well I better finish you off then put you down like the dog you are."
As he looked up at the monster that has killed so many people that were close to him Gohan yelled back "You first," before he bit down on yet another Senzu he had left in his cheek. His renewed legs spun up and around as he caught Cell by surprise and clipped him in the chin. As he chased Cell into the sky Gohan powered up even higher than he could before, he threw a right cross which hit cell in the face before Gohan followed up with a knee to the gut that drove the wind from Cell's diagram. The power of the blows themselves sent shock waves thundering around, Cell retaliated though with a back hand to Gohan's face that split his lip and caused is head to whip backwards.
The demi-saiya-jin floated back out of Cell's range as he tried to catch his bearings and make this plan succeed, 'only have one senzu left, have to make this work,' he thought to himself.
Cell charged forward and soon he and Gohan were exchanging blows at a fast and furious rate. They appeared and disappeared as they went and their blows were accompanied by thunderclaps in the sky. Soon though it was evident to those who could somewhat follow the events in the air that Gohan was defiantly taking the worst of the blows. A spinning shin kick clocked the younger boy in the head and he was sent spinning head over heels to crash into the ground.
As he climbed to his feet while he still kept his eyes on Cell as the monster floated mockingly in the sky he mused to himself 'this still isn't working. I have to do something, THINK Gohan, what else was Ranma trying to show me, I know what he meant by using all of the senzu and I know why he sacrificed himself,' Gohan thought morosely. "No, don't think like that keep that edge, this part of the plan wasn't enough that much is evident, so what should I do now?" Gohan reflected.
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Eight years ago.
Up in the mountains a tiny Gohan and a younger Ranma faced each other in a clearing. "Now Gohan I know your dad has been teaching you his style, and that's great if you're stronger than or at least close to your opponent in strength. But you are still little, heck you're only two. And even when you get big you have to realize that there is always someone stronger out there, always a new challenger."
"HEY I'm two an a hav," the chibi-Gohan Gohan squeaked out.
"All right, two and a half. But still the things you do when you fight someone on an equal level are different if they are much more powerful than you. So, I am gonna show you the style of fighting I learned as a kid, Anything Goes Martial Arts."
"Anything goed?" the lad asked.
"Anything goes has many different ways it can be used but one of the most important is how to keep your foe off balance and too use misdirection too hit them where they are most vulnerable how to use your head in a fight and make the other guy lose his cool."
"Um… I don't know if I get all'a that," the small boy questioned?
"Don't worry kid," Ranma said as he knelt down in front of the child as he put his hand on his shoulder. Your mom and dad said I could handle your training for the next few months, so you and me will hang out and train together for a while, that okay?"
"Yeah," Gohan cheered happily.
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The Present
"That's it, that's what he was trying to say about this, I have to use my head I have to out think the stupid monster. Hit and run maybe, it worked for Ranma for a while and I may have the strength to actually whittle Cell's strength down some."
As he decided on this strategy he grabbed a boulder and flung it at Cell who of course laughed at this feeble ploy and punched the boulder which shattered instantly. What Cell did not know is that Gohan had followed right behind the large rock and when it was destroyed Gohan flew through the rubble and hit cell in a combination of rights and lefts. Before Cell could respond though Gohan flickered out of sight and suppressed his ki as low as he could.
Cell snarled as he looked around for the boy, "Oh no, we are not playing this game again." As Cell floated to the ground he yelled out, "you better come out now kid or you and your friends are going to be so sorry."
A Round house kick to the back of Cell's head was followed up by another kick from the other leg that Cell blocked by grabbing Gohan's leg when Gohan flickered into appearance behind the monstrosity. "Not going to happen boy," the beast snarled "I haven't even begun to fully power up yet."
"SHUT UP" Gohan yelled as he powered up as he then spun around into an upside down reverse axe kick to Cell's head. While still inverted Gohan fired a ki blast at Cell's feet which sent him and a shower of debris flying into the sky, using the distraction afforded by Cell's hasty departure Gohan quickly flickered away into hiding.
As he spit out a bit of green blood from his mouth Cell screamed, "STUPID INSECT! I WILL KILL YOU," then as he thought for a second he continued "no" he smiled, "I have an even better idea than that."
Cell flew high into the air and smirked down onto the Z-senshi off to the side, "A MUCH BETTER PLAN," the fiend screamed.
"HA," With a guttural bellow Cell unleashed a large blast down onto the warriors below and laughed as he watched them scramble for cover.
The explosion echoed loudly as its pressure wave filled the sky and threw everything in its path around as a large mushroom shaped cloud filled the air.
"NO!" Gohan yelled as his heart was ripped open and he saw his last friends killed before his eyes. Gohan's power began to rip to even higher levels, they soared to thundering heights as Gohan let go of all restraint and fear and let the animal out to play. Let loose the Saiya-jin in him plowed into Supreme Cell and pounded on him with punishing blows.
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As they battled across the sky Cell laughed at Gohan's pain and the dust on the ground began to settle it reveled Vegeta's stirring form. As he rose up he coughed out the dust that clogged his throat and the prince of the Saiya-jin staggered to his feet.
"Stupid child," the prince muttered "foolish, playing games with that stupid beast." As he looked over the blast area he saw the still forms of the three-eyed weakling and the namek-jin the latter whose head was crushed, a mortal wound even for one of that race.
"Ugh," a voice muttered from behind Vegeta. He spun about and saw the bald monk Krillan on the outskirts on the blast radius, HOW THE %&*# DID YOU OF ALL OF THEM SURVIVE," Vegeta asked incredulously?
As Krillan rose up from where he was shielded by several boulders that were wedged into the ground the warrior monk slowly staggered around. "I don't know, I saw the blast coming and just tried to get away and when I couldn't I somehow wedged myself between the rocks over there," he stated as he staggered over to Vegeta.
"Well, it looks like you and the kid are the last of the weaklings," Vegeta commented bluntly.
"What?" Krillan asked confused as he spun about too see the bodies of Teinshinhan and Piccolo. "Oh no," he yelled as he ran over to them to see if there was any hope even though he could tell from where he was that there wasn't any hope for their survival. Halfway there though he tripped over something which sent him tumbling to the ground. "What the heck was that?" he asked as he turned himself over, when he did though he spied a long staff that was wedged into a crack in the ground. He walked over and picked it up with a muttered comment that this was the thing Ifurita was using before. As his hand closed on the shaft the globes began to glow and spark which caused him to drop it in shock "Wha," he muttered?
"What are you doing now?" Vegeta barked which caused Krillan to jump in shock and stammer, "It shocked me."
"What did?" he asked as he walked over to the monk.
"The power key staff," Krillan commented absentmindedly as he gazed onto its still glowing form. "Power key staff, that's what she called it" Krillan commented to himself.
"Who and what are you talking about?" Vegeta barked.
"Ifurita, when I was trying to get her away from Cell she told me something," Krillan said as he leaned over to pick up the staff again.
"Why should I care what foolish last words the stupid woman said were" Vegeta asked bluntly.
When Krillan grabbed the staff again he didn't flinch as it glowed brighter and brighter this time. "She said, 'rebooting systems into safe mode, firewall emplaced, systems not completely compatible,' and then she looked right at me and said 'use the power key staff'."
"What the %^## does that mean?" Vegeta yelled over the sound of Gohan and Cell's midair battling.
"I don't know, maybe" Krillan began only to be cut off by two things. One was Cell's scream of "DOKUJA TANKETSU SHO," as his palm strike hit Gohan's x-crossed arm's which shattered them as he tried to block the attack. The blow sent him flying back into and through three mesas before finally coming to a stop as a fourth one collapsed on top of him. The second thing was a glowing blue figure which burst into appearance from out of the staff with a loud shout about Ifurita.
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Under the rubble Gohan had barely regained consciousness as his mind began to wander, "so stupid let my anger get the better of me. Uncle taught me better than that."
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Two Years ago
Ranma Saotome stood with his young friend Gohan and asked "you know how everyone thinks you have more potential than even your father?"
"Yes uncle," Gohan answered with a confused expression on his face.
"Why is that?" Ranma questioned.
"Um, because I'm Saiya-jin?"
"Yes and no," was Ranma's reply. "You see, your father is Saiya-jin and as strong as he is he still isn't as strong as you can be."
"So, why?"
"Because, you're Human."
"Huh? I don't understand?"
"Gohan I believe, it's your human side that's your true strength the Saiya-jin side just makes it easier for you to gain access to that power."
"Uncle that doesn't make sense Vegeta said that humans couldn't get much more powerful than they are now?"
"Ha" Ranma laughed, "Vegeta is such a respected scientist that we should take his word as the truth?" Ranma said sarcastically. "Look at Krillan at his current power, as he is now he could have taken out Vegeta when he first came to earth, right?"
"Well, I guess… yeah I think that's probably right" Gohan said.
"My theory is that the Saiya-jin in you makes it easier to gain power but the human in you is what pushes the boundaries."
"Uh, I don't know?"
"Hey I could be wrong I don't know but I for one don't plan on playing second fiddle to Vegeta. I just think Saiya-jin have a faster learning curve than humans do so to speak, that's THIER true strength."
"But one thing you need to remember Gohan is that when times get tough it will be your human side that will pull you through not your Saiyan anger, use your head. Now come on kid we better get you home to Capsule Corp or your mom will kill me."
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The Present
"One thing I didn't forget though," Gohan grunted as he tried to ignore the pain in his totally destroyed arms that were pinned beneath him. With his tongue he moved the last senzu bean from where he had it hidden in his cheek and bit into it, "always have a backup plan."
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As Krillan rushed across the terrain and was followed by the floating thought-form of Makoto Mizuhara he screamed Gohan's name as he tried to get to him. Vegeta followed more slowly as he watched Cell's smirking form in the distance.
When he arrived at the heap of rubble Krillan began to try to clear the rocks off of Gohan all while he screamed out his name, only for him to go flying back from the explosion of Ki that Gohan suddenly let loose under the pile of rubble.
"CELL," screamed the enraged Gohan as he floated into the air as his battle aura flared around him.
"He's so strong," Krillan whispered as he felt totally in awe of Gohan's power.
"HE'S STILL NOT STRONG ENOUGH, STUPID" Vegeta roared to the stunned monk.
"Yeah maybe," Krillan muttered before he screamed up at his young friend, "GOHAN COME HERE."
As he looked down on Krillan and Vegeta Gohan's expression lit up like the sun, "GUYS! YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"DON'T TAKE YOUR ATTENTION OFF YOUR ENEMY!" Vegeta roared as Cell took advantage of Gohan's distraction to come in for the kill only to slow to a stop when Makoto floated up in between them. "Ifurita, is it true? Are you really in there somewhere?" he asked.
Cell halted in confusion and grimaced as he began to hold his head as if in pain.
Then suddenly in Ifurita's voice Cell murmured "Makoto?"
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To be continued in:
Chapter Five: Supreme Cell Finale
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End notes:
Just a little bit of clarification on some points, and to answer some questions asked by readers
Yes this is an AU, in the DBZ universe, but that is to be expected since Ranma has been there since before Dragon Ball started.
Now with Ifurita as a part of him Cell has her abilities. Oh and also Cell did learn at least one move in the Cannon DBZ. When Goku used the instant transmission to take him to king kai's planetoid Cell learned it by being exposed to it and used it to return when he killed Mirai-Trunks, I am not confusing Cell with Buu,
I didn't say this would be an Akane match up I just implied it. Give me your ideas and let me know who you think Ranma should be with okay.
As for the manga story being repeated you do not have to worry about that at all trust me, I have already dropped a couple of hints as too how things are different in this story, tell me if you picked up on them.
Oh in case you're thinking the fight ends here not even close Cell won't give up that easily. Well what do you think, please review, thank you
Signed: Verse12