Hey :D

Here's the next installment...still no Gh/Vi, but that'll come in the next chapter, which I've already finished, by the way...it shouldn't take that long...anyway, i hope you'll still read this chapter, cuz i'v put a lot of work into it...i was so out of inspiration :(

Anyways, read it and enjoy :)

"And that's the entire story. Please reprieve me with thy divine forgiveness, my Lord, my leader and my King, for I have failed you and any failure against my King is a failure against the fatherland and the ancestors." Gohan uttered the words tonelessly and with a bend head, while he was sitting on one knee in front of the King.

Gohan landed in Tauvega a few hours ago, after which he immediately went to the King. He didn't receive a triumphal procession. He had lost, after all and losers don't deserve honor. It was the first time for Gohan that he returned after a battle and didn't receive such a procession. No cheers of the people, no constantly repeated chants, no clapping of thousands of hands…no nothing. It made Gohan feel like an even bigger failure than he already thought he was.

Instead of being welcomed by the people, the fleet of spaceships, with all the survivors of the battle on Alderyn, secretly landed in the military facility of Tauvega. Apparently, the mob didn't know about the loss yet, hence the secrecy concerning their arrival. The soldiers would stay in the facility for a couple of days, until they were dismissed to go home for a few weeks or received orders to go to the training base just outside of Tauvega. Gohan received a message that the King was waiting for Gohan in the great hall of the fort of the facility and that's where they both were right now.

Gohan was waiting for the King to react to his story. To at least give a sign that indicated that he had heard the words Gohan had said. But nothing. And because Gohan didn't dare to look up (not because of lack of courage, but to remain respectful and submissive), he could also not read the expression on the face of his King. Instead, Gohan kept looking at the white tiled floor, awaiting a reply.

He finally received it when Vegeta spoke.

"Look at me, General." The King commanded. Gohan slowly aimed his gaze at Vegeta, absently thinking that the way the King addressed him – not as Gohan but as General – was not a good sign. And when his gaze reached his face, his assumption was confirmed. The King carried a neutral expression. Neither angry, nor calm. But this façade didn't fool Gohan. He knew this was only silence before the storm.

"I hope you are kidding." The King said while he studied Gohan while something the General could not place lingered in his narrowed eyes.

"I am sorry, my Lord…This is not the time for jokes." Gohan replied emotionless. Then the King turned his back on Gohan, and the latter felt even more humiliated by that gesture. Like it said he was not worth to be looked at.

"Tell me, General…" Vegeta said menacingly "How is it possible for a Super Saiyan to loose from a Namek?"

"My Lord, I…"

"How is it possible for someone I trained myself to loose at all?"

"Your Highness…"

"How the HELL is it possible for a man of your strength and power to be beaten?" Vegeta turned around to face Gohan again and this time he carried an expression that was so drenched with fury that the whole room seemed to turn cold in fear. But Gohan's courage did not waver. He looked at the King, but not with fear or concern, but merely with the expression he had carried from the beginning: an expression without emotion. His true emotions would betray his thoughts, after all.

"Your Highness…" He began cautiously, "As far as I'm concerned, there was nothing wrong with me or my strength. I was as strong as I always was. It was the Namek that possessed so much power that I can't even explain it. I do not know where or how he got that power, but his actions proved that he was superior to me, however so slightly. I underestimated him…I was not prepared to face a power like that."

"A General must always be prepared!" Vegeta yelled in anger.

By now, fury woke Gohan from the calm state he had been in. And he became bold.

"With all do respect, Your Highness..." Gohan said coldly, "how can one prepare with no information? How can one catch a spider in the dark?"

Vegeta's eyes narrowed even more, as he gritted his teeth and growled more than audibly.

"Do not address me like that, Gohan! We might be like family, but I will not tolerate that tone from you. I am still your King…and you would do well to remember that!" Vegeta said through his gritted teeth. He and Gohan glared at each other, but Gohan didn't pursue the matter any further. He averted his eyes to look at the ground. He had already lost enough honor, he didn't want to risk loosing more by opposing the King.

"Do you know what happens to losers?" Vegeta asked angrily and curtly.

Gohan didn't answer. He refused to answer. So he kept silent and waited for the King to do the honors. And he did after a few seconds.

"They are removed from their function. Sometimes degraded, sometimes expelled from military service. There was even one case in which a General lost his life…his defeat caused a rebellion in Tauvega, which ultimately led to his death." The King explained.

He once again didn't receive any reaction from Gohan though. He just sat there in front of him, with his gaze aimed at the ground.

"My entire being…" Gohan began after a while with false calmness, "my heart, soul, mind and body…feels the shame that comes with loss, my Lord, and with every cell in my body, every drop of blood in my veins and every breath in my longs, I am willing to face whatever punishment I will receive."

Vegeta grunted and cocked an eyebrow. Gohan acted calmly, that he noticed. But there was something defiant in his manner of acting, something that…concerned Vegeta a little bit. The Gohan he knew was loyal, respectful and would never even think of defying him. And yet he was sitting there, and Vegeta could not read him any more.

"I will not punish you…" Vegeta finally said while he let out a deep sigh. His angry expression diminished, though his brows were still knitted in a frown.

"Rise Gohan…and look at me…" Vegeta commanded and Gohan did what he was asked. When the General faced the King, the latter continued.

"Do I not have your loyalty anymore, Gohan?" He asked while he looked at Gohan with his piercing eyes.

Gohan genuinely cocked an eyebrow when he heard this and he answered the King in bewilderment.

"Of course you have my loyalty…of course!"

"Then why do you oppose me?" The King asked.

Gohan opened his mouth, but when he didn't know how to form what he wanted to say properly, he closed it again.

"You are sitting here, putting on an emotionless mask, pretending to be calm…tell me, for I must know…what am I to make of that?" Vegeta then asked while he looked at Gohan, hoping to find the answers in his eyes.

"Why do I have the feeling you have changed?" Vegeta then asked, as he lay his both hands on Gohan's shoulders. These words and this gesture touched a sensitive chord and Gohan's expression turned blank and he absently stared at some point behind Vegeta.

"Maybe I have changed, Vegeta…" Gohan answered. "They say war is sweet for the inexperienced…"

He turned his gaze to the King again, and he looked at him with a bitter smile curling his lips.

"So I guess I'm just not inexperienced any more."

Vegeta looked at him understandingly, and Gohan continued.

"I was young when I became a General. I thought war was some kind of adventure for grown-ups…a game perhaps. A game of winning or loosing. But I've learned over the years that although you may win the battle, you will always loose in the end. The only real victor in a war is death."

Gohan sighed and the King waited for him to continue. He could read the bitterness and pain in Gohan's eyes, though he tried to act tough. And in the sea of emotions, Vegeta recognized Gohan again. A young man, who had grown up way too fast.

"And I cannot say that I agree with the decisions you make, Vegeta." Gohan continued while he aimed his gaze at the King again. "Sometimes you forget that your soldiers are real Saiyans. Saiyans that have a life, a home, a mate and children. Saiyans who have dreams and hopes and a future. They are not just men on paper, or a number. They exist. And they fight for you, my Lord."

Vegeta nodded understandingly at his words and Gohan was silent for a moment and he sought for words. Eventually Gohan continued.

"And those men fighting for you…they need you to acknowledge the fact that they're risking their lives for a cause none of them understands. For they need the respect that they deserve so much in order to truly give themselves to the empire. But in making decisions that led to sending us to Alderyn, with so little consideration while making them, those men feel like the you turn their back on them…them, the backbone of this mighty empire."

Gohan paused for a while and almost looked at the King pleadingly. Gohan was a proud man, but he was wise enough to push his pride aside and to plea.

"And as for me," Gohan continued. "It is very difficult to be send off to battle and to see the men being conquered by death. But it's even worse when their deaths are in vain. And the men that fell in the last battle on Alderyn...I felt they died in vain."

"So you question the decision I made?" Vegeta asked with a frown. He saw Gohan's doubt to reply to that. It was clear that he was reluctant to tell the truth. But Vegeta wanted to hear it, he had to probe his thoughts and ideas on the matter. Not for himself, but also for a cause higher than this.

"Answer my question, Gohan." Vegeta added calmly by forcefully. "Just between two friends, do you think I my decision was not wise?"

Gohan sighed and averted his eyes to look at the high ceiling, hoping to find aid there. But when he didn't, he answered Vegeta's question.

"Yes…" He said in a hoarse voice. "I believe you should have waited. Waited for the scouts to return with information, waited for the Royal Fleet to block all their passageways to other planets…just waited. If we had known who we were dealing with, we could have won. That namek might have been strong, but even he could not have won from an army that outnumbers his greatly."

Vegeta nodded and pressed his lips together in consideration of what Gohan said.

"And yet you followed my orders." He said while he stared absently at the white tiled floor.

"Of course I did." Gohan replied truthfully. "My vow was to serve you and to remain loyal to you…and that is what I will do until the end of my days."

The frown on Vegeta's face disappeared and it made place for a satisfied expression. Gohan spoke the truth, he knew. And as he looked at the General, he realized that his assumption was confirmed. Gohan, the man that was almost like a son to him, would be a great leader. Loyal, courageous, wise – even though he was still relatively young, determent and with a strong will. He knew he would not shun a good piece of advise, and he would not refuse listening to others. Able to admit his faults and to do things properly the next time. He knew how to speak and to spread his message without insulting people. He was willing to fight for the empire and in his light, others would see the light. These qualities made Gohan the right person to lead…to rule. Yes, to rule…Vegeta let a smirk crawl on his lips while that thought crossed his mind.

"And as you will give, Gohan…" Vegeta begun. "I shall give in return. For if you remain loyal to me, I shall be loyal to you."

"'I give that you may give…'" Gohan cited with also a smirk on his face.

"Exactly. Gohan, perhaps you are right…maybe we would have won I had listened to you…or maybe not, but we will never know that. I understand your reluctance to sometimes obey my orders…I hope that in the future, I may not summon that reluctance any more. I shall keep your words in mind, and try to consider them when the next problem arises, but do know that I tolerate those words from no-one lesser than you."

"Thank you, Milord." Gohan said with a grateful smirk as he bowed his head. "I shall report for training base now."

"No, you will not." Vegeta said decisively while Gohan looked at him in surprise.

"You will go home." The King said as a smile crawled up to his face, causing Gohan to look at his with a none-understanding expression.

"I know how long it's been, Gohan. It's been almost eight months since the last time you were home, and I know it is because of my orders. It's best for you to rest now and to have things sorted out properly and what better place is there to do that than home?"

The General did not like that at all. He knew a planet would be under attack soon and he was willing to go there and to fight, proving that he was capable of obtaining victory. Going home right now felt like…weakness. As if the King didn't need his service any more. As if they didn't take him seriously.

Gohan had already opened his mouth to protest to the King's decision, but Vegeta held up his hand, gesturing Gohan to remain silent.

"That is an order, General." He said sternly, though not unkindly. "I will call for you if I need you."

Gohan sighed in defeat…but he obeyed the King and slowly he bowed once more and he turned around, leaving the King alone in the hall.

As the King saw his godson go, he smirked in satisfaction. He would be perfect to rule…and after Vegeta succeeded in realizing his plans, he would rule.

"And? How'd go?" Bann asked when he met Gohan in the medical bay, where they were both for healthcare.

"I have to go home." A very irritated Gohan answered curtly, which made Bann nod his head and squeeze his lips.

"Well, that's good."

"Good?! In what world?!" Gohan barked, which made the Namek that was treating his wounds to jump away from him. "Going home is not good, I have to stay here…If that invasion of the rebellion comes again, I must be ready and I'm not when I'm put away in my home."

"By the time we know the rebellion attacks another planet, it'll be too late. That planet would already be conquered. So if you stay here, or go home makes no difference. As for me, I'd rather go home than rot away in some kind of training base." Bann said calmly while he pulled off his armor, so that another Namek could look at his chest.

"Well, then that's good for you, but no-one asked for your opinion." Gohan scolded, why the Namek that was treating him cautiously approached him again. The General let out a low and frustrated grunt and with a frown on his tired but handsome face, he stared in the distance. After a short while of silence, Bann spoke again.

"I only wish I could go home…" He began bitterly.

Gohan's frown diminished as he aimed his gaze at Bann and looked at him questioningly.

"Are you not allowed to go?" He asked him indignantly.

"Oh, I am, it's just that I can't…" Bann sighed. "I wouldn't dare show my face to my family now."

Gohan thought about Bann's family. He had met them once and he immediately noticed the pride and arrogance of the family. When they spoke, it was in very high-flown language, when they looked at you, it was with their noses in the air and they were so incredibly polite, that it was close to robotic, and yet they always managed to come around as cold and disinterested. Bann inherited some of these traits, but since Gohan was his superior, he never showed it to him. But most importantly, this family, the House of Haegin, was extremely patriotic. Up to the point that if you failed the King, they would give you the cold shoulder for a very long time. Bann knew this, and Gohan could imagine he feared their reaction.

"Then join me and go with me to Chrystler Castle." Gohan said indifferently as he eyed the Namek that wanted to treat the wound on his shoulder.

By now, Bann growled angrily and he clutched his fists.

"I don't want pity!" He yelled loudly.

"Who says I was giving you?" Gohan replied immediately in an equally loud voice. They both glared at each other, before Gohan smirked cockily.

"I just need a sparring partner…or do you think those human slaves'll do?" He said mockingly, causing Bann to forget his anger and chuckle heartily.

"Save the slaves…I'll come." He said eventually, after which a long silence followed.

After a while they both heard voices in the hallway. One was loud and harsh and the other was hardly audible. As they came closer the voices became louder and louder and when Gohan recognized the first voice, he widened his eyes and gave Bann a desperate look.

"Hide me." He pleaded but it was too late, because the owners of the two voices already stumbled into the room, with the owner of the loudest voice first. He was tall and broad, having somewhat the same posture as Gohan, but slightly more muscular and taller, and he had long, black spiky hair that came to his thick and furry tail, that he had curled up around his waist. His face was harsh, just like his voice and, unlike Gohan's, lacked the handsome features that made Gohan so appealing to the eye. But despite all the differences, the two men were family. To be more precise, they were uncle and nephew.

"Gohan, my lad!" The uncle yelled, when he caught sight of Gohan and he made his way to him with big and powerful steps. Gohan sighed in defeat, and he put on a fake smirk.

"Uncle Raditz…" He greeted through gritted teeth.

"Good to see you again, my boy…especially alive." Raditz said as he crossed his arms, and he chuckled evilly, causing Gohan to let go of the fake smirk and look at him with an irritated expression.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked slowly and Raditz chuckled even more.

"Well, well, boy…what can I say after your 'glorious' defeat? Nah, I guess you can't have them all. Better luck ne…"

"Don't…even…finish…that…sentence…" Gohan interrupted menacingly, pointing his finger at Raditz to enforce his threat.

"What? Have I pulled you off your pink cloud now?" Raditz mocked with a smirk. "Face it, Gohan…It had to happen somehow. It's a shame it happened under the eye of the entire universe, but hey, at least now you finally met your superior…"

Raditz aimed his gaze at the Namek that treated Gohan and he bared his teeth.

"And there to think…" He began in a low voice, looking at Gohan again." He was just a Namek…"

The whole room went silent. The Saiyans who were treated in that same medical bay and who had followed the confrontation between Gohan and Raditz, looked at the sight with amusement, thinking that the older Saiyan would probably exit the bay with one arm less. Bann swallowed nervously as he expected Gohan to explode, but surprisingly he didn't. Instead he…smirked?

Gohan rose from the stretcher he had been sitting on and with his regained arrogance and the smirk on his face, he approached his uncle, who's eyes widened a little in surprise. When Gohan stood in front of him, he replied in a soft, growling and highly menacing voice.

"Perhaps I'll make you meet your superior, my worthy uncle. That is, if you're up to the challenge."

Seconds passed by, without anyone saying one single word, while Raditz and Gohan stood face to face. Everyone in the room watched the scene, the Saiyans with amusement and the Nameks with disapproval. All of a sudden, Gohan chuckled cockily. He saw a few bands of sweat on his uncle's forehead.

"Cold sweat, Raditz?" He asked mockingly, and Raditz smirk disappeared as he brought his hand to his forehead and felt the layer of sweat on his face. Horror was on his face as he looked at his wet fingers, before he clutched his hand and looked at Gohan again with by anger bared teeth.

But the younger Saiyan just laughed as he angered his uncle even more with the challenging movements of his tail. But before the situation got out of hand, the second voice spoke.

"Stop this." The voice commanded, causing Gohan and Raditz to stop their little stare contest and look at the owner of the voice.

"Trunks?!" Gohan exclaimed with surprise as he finally noticed the young prince standing behind Raditz. Trunks just nodded and he made his way to the two men.

"What are you doing here?" Gohan asked.

"I needed to speak to you, and I met Raditz when I was looking for you…How are you?" Trunks asked, referring to his state after the defeat, while his tone held no pity or whatsoever, which Gohan appreciated greatly.

"I am fine. Thank you, Your Highness." Gohan replied as he bowed his head.

"What is it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"This is not for everyone's ears." Trunks replied as he looked at all the Saiyans in the room, who quickly averted their gaze and pretended to be occupied by something else. "Can I speak to you in some place more private?"

Gohan nodded suspiciously, feeling the nervousness of Trunks about what he needed to tell.

"Yes, Bann and I are going to Chrystler Castle…Feel free to join us."

"Sound good."

"Yes, sounds like a plan to me." Raditz agreed all of a sudden, making Gohan cock his head to him again.

"What makes you think you can come?" He scolded at is uncle. But Raditz held up a white envelope which was sealed with a red emblem.

"This…" He simply said, nodding at the letter in his hand, while he bared his teeth again with his sleazy smirk, his trademark. "It's from your brother…I'll give it to you when we're at the Castle."

Gohan growled but he gave in.

"Fine." He barked while he rolled his eyes exasperation. "You can come…But if you misbehave again, I swear, you shall never set foot in that Castle again."

"Oh, is that a warning?" Raditz, who had completely recovered from the confrontation between him and Gohan a few moments ago, asked mockingly.

"No. That, my dear uncle, is a threat." Gohan replied while he glared at his uncle one last time, before he turned around and he was planning to walk out of the door, followed by a nervous Trunks, a chuckling Raditz and an cautious Bann, until he was called back by the Namek that had been treating him the entire time. Gohan turned his head to the Namek with a cocked eyebrow and looked at him disinterested.

"That wound on your shoulder." The Namek replied, nodding at Gohan's shoulder. "I must treat it first."

The General looked at the wound on his shoulder, which still wasn't treated properly and he thought about the possibility of leaving it that way, so that a scar could form on his skin, a reminder of the absolute bottom of his carrier.

Gohan slowly looked at the Namek again, who was looking at him questioningly.

"No." He simply said, before he walked out of the room and out of the military facility to make his way home, followed by the trio of Saiyans.

Unknowingly to him, he would later bless and curse the day he was sent to the marvelous white castle, which he called home and secretly longed for since the day he left it.

Oooooohh, mystery, mystery...although you already know wht i mean with that last sentence (for those who still haven't got the clue: a certain human with raven hair and blue eyes, whose name i can't tell but which you can even guess when you're dead)

I will update very soon

But puh-lease review ;)

Oh, one more thing...i have this idea for a new story and i'd like to know what you think about it

For centuries, Planet Vegeta and Earth have been at war. Princess Videl is sick of the golden cage she has been living in as a result to assaults on her life. She disguises herself as a man and secretly joins the army of the her father, King Hercule of Earth. For many months she is able to keep her identity a secret until her division falls...at the hand of the Saiyans...she is unmasked and abducted to be taken to Planet Vegeta where she stays at the court as a prisoner of war under the ever watchful eye of King Vegeta and his guards. During day, but especially night, she is guarded by a presence in the dark, an unseen shadow in the corners of her room, that follows her every movement, ready to strike when she escapes...The story of the Ivory Lady and the Praetorian of the darkness

Let me know what you think about it, okay :)