A/N: Please note that the following is purely fictional, any similarity to any living person or event is coincidental.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball nor do I generate any profit from this. This is for entertainment only.

Words cut deeper than blades

Had you been born first, I would never have another

Why aren't you more like your brother

You would be the death of me

What sins have I committed in my previous life to deserve you

Please stop!

I didn't want to hear any more...

You said you were sorry... I didn't know what to believe... They said the drunk and the angered would speak their mind and I knew this to be true. You might not have meant to say those words to me, but you had meant every word you said. You were in pain and you wanted me to feel the same degree of pain you felt. Tit for tat maybe... I was the cause of your pain; the disease eating at you, no matter how directly or otherwise... so perhaps... you had every right to judge the worse in me.

I said it's ok, but if only it were that simple... if apologies could take away my pain now... if they could right every wrong... I'm sorry... if I had told you it's alright... that I was fine, a hundred times... then I have lied to you a hundred times.

I didn't believe for a moment your apologies were sincere. I saw the satisfaction in your eyes, before horror replaced it; your own disbelief at your own words. You felt better, a slight moment of victory when you've hammered me right at the mark; you wanted me to know, just how much you're suffering and it was my fault. But that feeling didn't last, as soon as you saw the shock on my face, I knew you felt worse.

You were manipulative that way...

I didn't remember what happened for the brief moment... until I felt you shake me, before bringing me into your embrace, apologising hysterically as you did; you were crying again...

You thought pouring out your frustrations would make you feel better... only now it has worked in reverse, and the relief it should have brought had been temporary. Now we both wished it could be taken back, no matter how true it may be. And so, you apologised... in your attempts to rectify the mess you and I made, a futile attempt to sooth the new ache. But in order to do that, you would have to sooth mine as well...

I apologised as well, for your pain; for my failure as a son and you felt better. Relief masked your face, of course... I was just a boy... children were more forgiving... they'll forget in time... I'm sorry. I apologise for lying to you... and I haven't forgotten.

Not then... not now...

If I were born first... would you have loved me...

...

Goten offered no resistance when they came for him, even after he knew who offered him like a sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered.

Trapped inside his cell... a dungeon, surrounded by four white walls... Goten waited, dreading for that moment when 'they' would come. 5 years had come and gone... Goten barely remembered time anymore; time had no place here... only for meals, exercises and more 'tests'.

They would never break him and he would never give in; Goten would rather die first.

"Do not test me, boy"

"I'm not testing you, but I'm not leaving either!"

"He's not worth protecting!"

"He's a friend, father... and honour demands that I protect him!"

"Stupid brat! Fine! It's your life, ruin it if you wish. See if I care!"

Goten got up then... his head clear with silence again...

"Trunks? Who was that..."

"You heard? … sorry, was my dad. He's just worried. That's all... I'm sorry you had to hear that..."

"He's gone?"

"Yeah... he's not really a people's guy..."

"Trunks" Goten interrupted. "Please just go before they know you're here"

"We either stay together or leave together. I won't leave you"

"But they're trying to get to you... you know, don't you? They know about you, they've been asking about you. Please... I don't want to lose a friend like you" Goten begged.

"I know what they've been doing... didn't you notice we have the same pain? We ache in the same places... what they did to you, they've done to me and I've never blamed you for it"

"Then please leave, you're the only one I have left. I don't want to lose you..."

"They can try, Goten. They can do anything they want, they can bury me if they want; but I won't abandon you"

"Trunks..."

The door opened, Goten almost jumped out of his own skin.

"Be strong, Goten. Don't show them any weakness"

Easier said than done. Goten cowered as two male assistants came forward, immediately he went into a fetal position; trying to shield himself from them.

"Be careful with this one... no telling when he might snap again..." the words barely left the guy's mouth. His eyes widened as Goten lunged for him, knocking him to the ground.

"You will not have him!"

"Get him off!" Immediately more assistants came rushing into the room, pulling Trunks off the first man.

"Let me go! You bastards!"

Trunks struggled as he was restrained and strapped into a wheelchair, before being taken to the treatment room.

"He's freaking wild... is that the reason why he's here?" the male assistant asked as he was helped up by his partner.

"That's not all... but close. He attacked 4 bullies, bigger and older than him. He was so vicious that all of them ended up in the hospital. But it wasn't the boy... but that 'other one'. You just met him, Trunks. Dr Frieza's trying to cure him for 5 years now but he doesn't seem to respond to the treatment" his partner explained.

"Poor kid. Can't fault him... he doesn't know what he's doing"

"That might be the case, but society doesn't have much empathy for those like him. They believe he's a danger to them, but he's also a danger to himself. He either gets better or he stays in the slums".

"So finally you decided to make an appearance... Trunks I believe? I hear you have been creating trouble again?" he addressed the teen who was strapped to the op table, shaking his head as his questions were answered with snarls.

"Administer the usual anaesthesia and muscle relaxants, nurse. And set up the ECT treatment"

"Yes doctor"

Trunks struggled and cursed as the needle pierced his skin; his eyes starting to grow heavy as the anaesthesia started pulling him into unconsciousness. He shook his head weakly, making his final futile stand as electrodes were placed on his head.

"Goten... we'll be fine... We're best friends... forever..."

To be continued ~

I skipped a few years as I don't want this to become a long story, as well as giving the impression of time lapses for Goten.

Can anyone guess what Goten is suffering from? There's 3 in all.