Chapter 6- Preparation
Sorry this has taken so long. Um…my computer has been acting up…yeah! That's it! It's my computer's fault!
Gohan: Liar! You've been sitting on your ass! Watching TV and eating pizza! And drinking Jolt!
Me: Shut up! SHUT UP! And what are you doing out of the story?! Shouldn't you be in the future somewhere?
Gohan: Not when you don't write! Then I can-- -falls over after being hit with a shovel-
Me: -looks around with shifty eyes- …on with the story…-drags Gohan's body away-
AN: This chapter takes place approximately ONE year after Gohan's disappearance. The Z Fighters are all busy training for the androids, all except for one…
Krillin, Yamcha and Tien were exhausted. They all sat, sweating and hot, by a waterfall in the forest. Their training had been intense and now it was time for a break.
"Whew!" Krillin said breathlessly, letting himself slide into the pool of water next to the waterfall.
"Good idea!" Yamcha exclaimed, joining him. Tien let his legs slide into the icy cold water, letting out a relieved sigh. Krillin looked around thoughtfully at his tired training partners and rubbed his bald head.
"Man, and that purple haired guy says we aren't even close to the androids power!" Krillin exclaimed, referring to the still-mysterious teenager, "I sure hope Goku snaps out of it soon…"
Yamcha nodded, "He's our only real chance. The purple haired guy says even as a Super Saiyan, he's no match and that Goku is our only hope. Besides, its just not like Goku to do something this drastic. I mean, it's been a YEAR! "
Tien quickly cut in, "He did lose his son, guys. Give the man some time to cope."
Krillin sighed, "I guess you're right, Tien…"
The group all looked up into the quickly darkening evening, stars shimmering and blinking in a dark blue blanket of sky…
-At the Son household-
Chi-chi stared blankly at the book in her hands, sitting on the floor, her form crumpled in a corner of the Son House kitchen. Goku was out yet again, searching and hoping, leaving Chi-chi alone at the house. Yet another tear fell from her delicate nose, staining the page of the old photo album. Whimpering slightly, she turned the page, revealing pictures of Gohan's 4th birthday. The little boy that she remembered was feasting joyfully on a quite large chocolate cake with red icing. One of the few moments, she remembered, that Gohan had been allowed to eat that much sugar. Flipping the page again and instantly staining it with another tear, she saw the aftereffects of the cake feast. Gohan was running around the yard like crazy, Goku chasing him, and climbing high in a tree.
"Oh…oh…Gohan…" Chi-chi whimpered, tossing the album to the ground and burying her face in her hands. Her heart ached, more so than it ever had. The aching had gotten worse and worse as the calendar turned, as the day she had grown to hate grew farther away. The day her little boy had disappeared. No mother should ever have to mourn the loss of a child…why has this happened to her?
"Gohan…where are you? Mommy needs you, Gohan…Mommy needs you…" she cried out, tears freely flowing from her eyes. She pounded her fist against the ground, again and again, letting her anger out on the hardwood floor. Her strikes became less and less forceful, the pills she had taken earlier finally taking effect. She let out a final cry before succumbing to the effects of the pills and blacking out, crumpling to the floor. For the first time in a full year, Chi-chi was able to sleep easily. The nightmares, however, did not stop…
-North Pow Forest, approximately 100 miles from the Son House-
A dark shadow moved deep inside the cave, making the small animals outside scurry away. Footsteps echoed throughout the hollow, empty cave. The figure moved closer and closer to the exit, following the pale light shinning though the hole. After what seemed like hours, the figure exited the cave, no longer a figure. Stepping into the moonlight, the shadowy form was revealed. A man stood there, breathing heavily and sweating. His pale tan skin was illuminated in the moonlight, his spiky jet black hair shimmering and shining. His sharp face, lined by thick stubble on his chin, and bloodshot eyes were accented by shadows. His orange clothes were dirty and stained, ripped and torn in many places.
"G-Gohan…" the man uttered, falling to his knees. He let out an exasperated sigh before giving in to his utter exhaustion and passing out, falling onto the ground of the forest floor. The former hero, former fighter, then slept in the moonlight, sleeping the black, dreamless sleep of the damned…