Disclaimer: DBZ belongs to Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation.

Discovering Gohan

Detestation

Gohan couldn't tear his eyes away from the clothes strewn across his bed. They just any regular ole clothing, but the exact outfit he had worn the day of his parent's funeral. Seeing the apparel hurt Gohan so much because it reminded him of the promise he had made that day. His eyes narrowed at the memories his promise had brought up. Gohan gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Why was his life so hard? Why must he suffer? Why did it have to be him that suffered? Gohan wanted to pummel something so badly, but restrained himself. He didn't want to attract any attention when he was in this state; this state of grieving.

After six years he still couldn't let them go. As he stared as his hands, he couldn't help but want to kill himself. He hated his blood. It was his blood and his background that had caused him so much trouble. Sure it was fun being a Saiyan sometimes, but when you think about it, a lot of things were to your disadvantage. A Saiyan couldn't blend in with the crowd. Something about them would definitely attract attention, whether it was their gravity defying hair, abnormal appetite, or inhuman strength. It was when he learned that he was a Saiyan that things began to change. Nothing was ever the same. His happy life and family were torn apart.

He was fighting before he attended school, well, normal school age since he was home-schooled. He was forced to survive on his own for a whole year, fight an alien monster many times stronger than he, and destroy a monster that nearly killed him and everyone on the face of the Earth. When he went to school, it was obvious that there was something different about him. People didn't need to find out, they just knew right away. This guy's weird, they would say. Some liked him, others detested him. No, his life definitely wasn't one filled with happy memories or joyous occasions. It was one filled with anguish, loneliness, and sorrow.

What was the reason? It was because he was Saiyan. Goku had suffered as well, enemies and super villains chasing after him because he was Kakarotto. Gohan scoffed. If this whole Saiyan business didn't happen, then none of this would've happened. He wouldn't have been born and he wouldn't have to suffer. If he had a choice, he would give up his Saiyan blood in a heartbeat.

Gohan grabbed the clothes off his bed, all the while suppressing all the emotions he felt. He couldn't break down. He wouldn't. He simply wouldn't allow it. Gohan threw the clothes into the corner of his room and walked out.

Earlier today when he had crushed Lime's wrist, it wasn't only because he didn't want Videl to know of his heritage, it was because he didn't want to hear that word. He loathed that word more than anything.

The Dragon balls, he thought. If he could get his hands on them he could not only change himself, but the course of time. No Saiyans, no Freeza, no Cell, and definitely no more villains. Yes, he thought. He would get the Dragon balls and have the dragon remedy his plight.

As Gohan strolled down the hall, he noticed that Lime was waiting outside of the library. He briefly wondered what she was doing there, but then remembered about the project. Great, that girl is probably still here as well, he thought bitterly to himself. But before he could even utter a word, Lime had spoken.

"In case you're wondering, she's not here," said Lime boldly.

Gohan stopped in his tracks, but didn't say anything.

"She left because she didn't want to bother you," said Lime, this time with an edge to her voice. "Videl realized how rude and disturbed you were, so she left."

"That's nice to know," said Gohan. He wasn't in the mood to deal with this sort of stuff. No, he wanted to find the dragon balls as soon as possible. He wanted things to be different. He didn't want to live this role anymore. He wanted his life back. And most importantly, he wanted his family. Sure he had Goten, but that did nothing to fill the emptiness he had in his heart.

"Is that all you have to say?" growled Lime.

Gohan turned away from her. He didn't to relive his. No. He had suffered enough the first time. "Yes," said he, and then walked away.

"Son Gohan! Don't you dare walk away from me like that!" yelled Lime.

Gohan halted, but did not turn around. He couldn't. He wouldn't. The truth was behind him and he didn't ever want to go back to it. The truth just hurt too much.

"I know what this is about," began Lime. "This whole hating your Saiyan background thing isn't it?" She walked in front of him and stared at him straight in the face even though he tried looking the other direction. "You can't avoid it, Gohan. You are who you are. There's nothing you can do about it!"

"Yes there is!" growled Gohan, now looking directly at Lime. "I'm sick of this! I'm always putting my life at risk and I could barely even remember a time that I wasn't needed for a battle. I was always called upon. I had to fight! I had to defend the Earth. I grow up at the age of eleven! I had no one to depend on but myself! My father died, my mother died, my grandfather died! I have no one left besides my brother! He probably doesn't even see me as his brother! I'm just this guy who lives in the same house as him and has the same blood as him! Bulma and Vegeta don't even see me for me either! I'm just Goku and Chichi's kid, not Gohan, Goku and Chichi's kid! You have no idea who much I have suffered. You think that just because I've known you for a few years that you know everything about me? You know nothing about me!" he yelled all in one breath.

Lime was taken aback. She definitely wasn't expecting such a large outburst. Lime could practically see his ki.

"Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go out and get some fresh air," said Gohan coldly. He pushed her away and began to walk down the hall.

"This was why we didn't work out," whispered Lime.

Gohan stopped again. Why must she make this so hard on him? Why? Gohan slowly turned around to face her. His eyes were full of pain and regret. "This was why we didn't work out?" repeated Gohan questionably.

Lime nodded slowly. "Yes."

Gohan once again couldn't control his emotions. He knew that what she was saying was true. When they dated last year, he realized that their relationship wouldn't last. He didn't know why, until now. His hatred for his Saiyan heritage was just beginning and he was growing more unreasonable than ever. She couldn't stand to be around him.

"You're striving for a dream that would never come true," stated Lime.

"Shut up," said Gohan in a low voice.

"You know I'm right. You're just wasting your time and effort. Do more with your life than simply despise the very being that you are!" said Lime.

"Shut up," said Gohan again. "Just shut up… I don't want to hear it…" Surprisingly his request was not in a form of a shout, but as a whisper.

Lime was about to continue, but then stopped. She knew that her message had gotten through.

"Gohan, you shouldn't change yourself. You're you and if you do change yourself, you won't be you anymore," said Lime softly. "Just listen to me, Gohan. I'm not trying to destroy your life. I'm just trying to help you." She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That promise you made to protect the Earth… don't feel obliged to do it just because you're a Saiyan and the strongest one left, this is your father's home, or because you promised to. You should protect the Earth out of your own freewill. If anything should happen, let someone else take care of it, though I won't recommend that."

Gohan sighed. "I suppose you're right." He turned his head to gaze out of the window and said, "I guess that my hatred just got the better of me. I guess I'll wait. If things get worse, then I'll take some action."

Lime smiled, glad to have finally gotten her message through to her friend. "Look, I better get going. Grandpa's going to start worrying if I don't get home soon."

That night Gohan did not feel like training with Vegeta. Instead, he went into the kitchen and sat down at the table to do homework.

"You're doing homework? I thought that you would've finished it yesterday," commented Bulma.

Gohan looked up from the book and said, "I'm not doing homework. I'm just reading ahead."

"I see," said Bulma, leaning over Gohan's shoulder.

Gohan couldn't help but wonder what Bulma wanted, so he turned to her and asked through gritted teeth, "Yes?"

"Why aren't you training with Vegeta today," asked Bulma boldly.

"I don't feel like training," replied Gohan simply.

"Why's that?"

Gohan chose to simply ignore her question. For some reason, she was being very irritating.

"I heard your argument today," stated Bulma out of nowhere.

At this, Gohan turned around to face her. What did she hear in the argument? "You heard?" asked Gohan in a low, dangerous voice.

"You know, Gohan, I agree with Lime," said Bulma taking a seat across from the teen. Shortly after, a robot came back and placed a cup of hot chocolate in front of Gohan.

"So you know, huh?" stated Gohan plainly.

Bulma nodded slowly. "Yes, but I don't blame you for feeling that way. You've had a pretty hard life, but I just want you to know that we'll always support you and have your back." She grinned. "And you're not just Goku and Chichi's son. It wouldn't make sense calling you Goku and Chichi's son every time I saw you. You're Son Gohan, now remember that."

"Actually, it's Briefs Gohan. You adopted Goten and I remember?" said Gohan with a small grin.

"Eh… you know where I'm getting at. But I want you to know that you are not allowed to do anything stupid, such as what you were trying to do today, or else you won't have food for a year!"

"W-What! You must be joking, Bulma!" yelled Gohan.

"Actually, it's mom now. Don't you remember that I adopted Goten and you?" said Bulma with a grin.

"Ahh…. Whatever. Bulma, mom, old hag… they're all the same person, you."

Bulma shot Gohan a mock glare and said, "No dinner for you tonight."

Gohan nodded, "Yeah, yeah." He closed his textbook and stood up from his chair. "I'm going to my room now."

Gohan stared up at the big empty ceiling of his bedroom and sighed. Today's events played in his head repeatedly and just wouldn't go away. Somehow Lime's words were stuck in his head. Gohan knew that she was right, but he didn't want to admit it.

He sighed. Lime and he would never work out. She was his first love and most probably his only love. He blew his chance. Gohan knew that there was no way that they were going to get back together. She had moved on and even had a boyfriend that she promised to introduce him to next week.

Life just got a lot harder, not to mention more painful. But he wouldn't change anything yet. No, not until change was needed. Gohan rolled over on his side and stared off into space. He remembered that Videl had come today and wasn't thrilled with the way she acted. Then again, he was rude to her, so her reaction was inevitable. Gohan would apologize to her tomorrow. He may hate his life, but that didn't mean that he had to be a bastard.

But right now, he would sleep; hopefully a long dreamless sleep like those he used to have as a kid.

Yes, I know that this chapter sucks. You do not need to tell me. I realized that a few people got the wrong idea about Gohan crushing Lime's wrist in the last chapter. Let me say this, Gohan was not only angry at Lime for almost blurting out his secret, he was angry at her for mentioning the word he loathed.

Well, please read and review. Hopefully the next chapter will come out soon. Until then, see ya! And thanks again to the reviews! There were more reviews than I had expected.