Yay! Thanks everyone for the reviews. I can't believe how many chapters I am typing out right now. Three in three days, this is totally amazing!
I re-read a little bit of my old Hidden Bars, and I realized that I really didn't talk about everyone on Earth in the old story. I want to change that because they are just as important as Gohan is in the story. Plus, for some reason I am really loving writing about Gokuu, Chi-Chi, and Goten.
Anyway, I don't own DBZ, and please review! I appreciate my fellow readers!
Last time on Hidden Bars:
Since the Earth's dragon could not bring Gokuu back to life, they used the Earth's dragon to transport Chi-Chi, Piccolo and Krillin to Namek, where they gathered their dragonballs and were able to wish Gokuu back to life. From that moment on Gokuu was rarely on planet Earth.
Since Gokuu had the ability with instant transmission, and with the help from King Kai, Gokuu was able to get close to tracking Vanlash and his crew.
"Mommy, Daddy," Goten yawned, looking up at his parents, "I meet the green eyed boy yesterday."
Gokuu and Chi-Chi glanced over at each other, not understanding who he was referring too, before they could ask Goten looked up at them and smiled, "He's name is Gohan."
Hidden Bars
Real
- Son Akito
Earth
Before going to sleep Goten had explained to his parents that Piccolo let him talk to the green eyed boy. Gokuu sat quietly listening to his son's explanation, as Chi-Chi had tears in her eyes. This alarmed Goten, which made the child stand on his tip-toes hugging his mother. It was then that Chi-Chi explained to Goten who the green eyed boy really was.
Gokuu was not sure how Goten would take the news that he had an older brother that was taken away by "bad guys." Yet, being Gokuu's son he had vowed that he would be strong like his father and bring his brother back home. He had begged Gokuu to train him before his fifth birthday, which was the only part of the conversation Gokuu was able to smile.
To be honest Gokuu was mad, not with his son but the fact that Piccolo had not told him about this. As soon as Piccolo sensed Gokuu's return he should had come to him imminently. Gokuu could not display this in front of his son, and as soon as their conversation ended both Chi-Chi and Gokuu kissed their son goodnight and went into the living room.
"I'm going to see Piccolo," Gokuu said as soon as he was out of his son's ear reach, he barely noticed Chi-Chi who's eyes were filled with tears.
"Gokuu-sa" Chi-Chi cried out, stopping Gokuu mid-step, "I-" She didn't know what to say to her husband. These last few years had left her filled with guilt, she knew Gokuu was upset with her on how she handled the topic of their oldest son, but in all honestly she felt like a failure of a parent. Even though Chi-Chi was strict with Gohan, forcing him to study and to be a scholar, she had known Gokuu was always the favorite parent. He was not only a father to his son, but also a friend. During Gohan's childhood Gokuu's parenting skills had annoyed Chi-Chi. She knew Gokuu was a good father but couldn't stand the fact that he let Gohan play before all his work was finished. She tried to do what was best for her son, but in the times Gokuu hadn't been home, Gohan had been taken from her twice. The statistics of her parenting skills were not in her favor. It killed her that no matter what she did, she failed her oldest son.
Gokuu turned around and stared at his wife, he watched her try to form the words in her mouth, but she was unable too. He watched as the tears fell from her face. His face soften, as he walked up to his wife and embraced her. She wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his chest. There were so many things Chi-Chi wanted to say, but couldn't begin to form the words.
Gokuu said nothing as he rubbed her back, rested his head on top of hers, trying to comfort her the best he could. He could feel the guilt that consumed her. Yet, he didn't know how to tell her that it was okay, that he understood her pain. He knew the words wouldn't help them now, the best thing to do was to find Piccolo and see if there was a way to locate Gohan.
Gokuu pulled away from Chi-Chi, she couldn't look up at him, she stared down at her feet. Gokuu ran his fingers though her hair, and pulled her head forward to give her a soft kiss on the top of her head. With that, Gokuu turned around and walked out the door.
With a simple thought of Piccolo, Gokuu used his instant transmission and appeared in front of Piccolo before he had a chance to think of what to say. Piccolo was sitting down, eyes closed tightly, not moving an inch.
Gokuu waited for Piccolo to open his eyes, when Piccolo did not respond Gokuu harshly called out his name, "Piccolo."
Piccolo opened his eyes, standing up slowly, "Son, I was waiting for you to return."
"I have been home all day," Gokuu replied "Why didn't you tell me that Goten spoke to Gohan?"
Piccolo took a second to gather his thoughts, in which annoyed Gokuu, why wasn't Piccolo speaking? He had known he had been looking for his son for years, any information would provide helpful, specially if Piccolo and Goten had already contacted him.
Piccolo folded his arms, "I don't understand how your child did it, for the past day I have been trying to contact Gohan as well, but I can't. I don't know how Goten did it, but for some reason he is able to reach Gohan when I could not."
"Let me try," Gokuu asked, walking closer to Piccolo, "What happened between you and Goten, tell me every detail."
Piccolo went on to explain to Gokuu that all he told Goten to do was to think of his brother, as he rested his hand on Goten he had used his telepathic skills to reach out to Gohan. Maybe it was the family connection that allowed Goten to reach Gohan when Piccolo could not. Goten was speaking out loud when he saw Gohan, in which Piccolo widen his eyes and stared down at the kid. He remember asking Gohan if he could tell his parents about him, and by the end of the conversation Goten had looked up at Piccolo with wide eyes.
They had tried again shortly after Piccolo had told Goten what to ask Gohan, but the second time failed. Goten had been in tears at this point, in which Piccolo had reassured him that they would find a way to contact him again.
Since then, Piccolo had been trying on his own to talk to Gohan, but nothing happened.
Gokuu couldn't really be angry with Piccolo after explaining what happened, he knew Piccolo missed Gohan just as much has he did. He knew this was why Piccolo was training on his own, he knew this was why Piccolo turned up at their house in the middle of the night on random occasions. Gohan and Piccolo were best friends, and thanks to his eldest son Piccolo had join their side and the evil in his heart disappeared.
"So we just do this the same way as King Kai," Gokuu placed his hand on Piccolo's shoulder, "I'll think of Gohan and you'll do whatever you did with Goten and maybe I'll be able to get ahold of him."
A very small part of Piccolo wanted to be the one to get a hold of Gohan first, and the fact he could not even though they had a telepathic connection hurt his pride. Though, he could take it if it meant his friend could come back. Piccolo closed his eyes and searched for Gohan.
Gokuu closed his eyes and followed Piccolo's lead, he hoped he could hear Gohan's voice. It had felt like forever since he last heard his son's voice. He wondered how much taller he got, how much older he looked. He wondered if his crazy mane of hair was still as wild as ever. Gokuu tried to picture what his son would look like. Everyone had told Gokuu that Gohan looked just like him, but he had always thought he looked like his mother. Gohan had a softness to him that Chi-Chi had, and although Chi-Chi was a stern woman, he could see the softness in her not everyone could see. Gohan was like Chi-Chi, smart and beautiful, determined and brave. Standing here thinking of his son he never realized how much Gohan was like her, Gohan was his mother's son, though and though.
A single tear rolled down Gokuu's cheek, he missed his son so much.
Gohan looked around his surroundings, he was at the Cell Games.
It had only taken in a second to remember every detail of the games, and all though the faces of everyone had been blurred in the memory, the one face that he could remember was Cell's.
He looked up at the monster, and the monster stared down at him. Both creatures didn't exchange words, but by the look in Cell's eyes it was as if he had already overpowered Gohan. Gohan's eyes were wide with fear, looking at that great monster he remembered all the pain that happened on that day.
He had lost his father, that monster had taken his father away from him. Yet, he knew it wasn't completely Cell's fault that his father was gone. Within the dream he knew that it was his fault that his father died.
It was the beginning of the horror, this was his last vivid memory before his new life with Vanlash had begun. Even in his old life he was a failure.
As if it was clockwork, Vanlash appeared next to Cell, smirking the way he had always smirked at him. Gohan started to back up, but within seconds a gold collar was placed on his neck from behind, he had looked behind him to see Tomack glaring at him, pushing in to the ground. No words were exchanged, Gohan couldn't breathe. He fell to his knees, curled in a small ball shutting his eyes
He didn't want to open his eyes, he didn't want to see what was happening next. In the dream he could feel their eyes on him. What was going to happen next? What was going to happen to make him drown in his own shame. Even in his dreams he couldn't find any peace.
Gohan tried to get up, but had only made it on his knees. He had opened his eyes, they were still there, but Rexter and Weller had joined them. The five of them circled him, there wasn't a way out.
Gohan screamed, "STOP, STOP, STOP!" Tears building up in his eyes, "LEAVE ME ALONE, PLEASE."
Their eyes continued to stare down at him, he was losing his breath, his head twisting side to side as each of them took a step closer to Gohan, he took a deep breath, sigh as he sobbed, "Kill me... Just kill me. Please, I don't want to live anymore."
Gohan placed his hand into his hands and sobbed, he didn't want to live anymore. This life was beyond repairing, no matter what anyone said he could never live again. The dreams haunted him.
Without noticing, the monsters of his past disappeared. He was surrounded by whiteness.
A man with wild black hair appeared from afar, turning his head to look at the whiteness around him. His eyes fixated on the child sobbing into his hands. Once the man walked closer to him, he noticed his long black mane hair, spikes of falling in front of his face. His hair was long, touching the middle of his back. He was wearing rags with a gold collar around his neck.
Gokuu's eyes widen, was it really... "Gohan?"
Gohan did not pay attention at first, slowing parting his face from his hands, panting from his tears. He had whipped his tears from his eyes before looking around at his settings. Everything had turned white.
Gokuu didn't know how to process it, after all this time... it was Gohan.
"Son!" Gokuu gasped, without thinking Gokuu took the sobbing child and wrapped his arms around him, "I can't believe it, Gohan!"
Before Gohan had a chance to react, a man wearing orange and blue had taken him into his arms. His first reaction was to push the man away from him, Gokuu subbed backwards looking up at his son in confusion, "Gohan?"
Gohan was breathless, trying to breath he looked down at the man before, trying to place who he was. He had called him 'son,' did this mean he was his father?
Gohan didn't know what to say as Gokuu stood up, he knew this was his son but by the look in his eyes this was not the person he remembered, this was not the son he raised.
This person was torn, he was broken. He could see why he was called him the boy with the hollow eyes.
Still, Gokuu was glad to see him, "Son, it's me, it's your dad. Don't you remember?"
Gohan was still trying to catch his breath, thinking back, trying to place this man in his thoughts. Finally, it hit him. He had remembered his father in the colors of orange, blue, and black. Looking at this man that is exactly who he was. A warm color of orange, blue, and black.
As soon as Gohan's eyes recognized him, Gokuu sighed in relief, "Gohan," he softly spoke, "I-," he tried to hold his tears, "I'm so happy you're alive."
Gohan's shoulders slumped forward, even in his dreams he didn't have the energy to cry, but he was remembering his father, he was talking to his father. A part of him knew this was no dream, just like it was with the little boy.
Gohan smiled, and in an instant Gokuu couldn't hold his tears any longer, that was the smile of his son. So pure, so hopeful, it was the smile of his mother's.
"Where are you?" Gohan finally asked, hoping maybe the answer of his home planet would help him remember more of his former life.
"Earth," Gokuu explained, whipping the tears in his eyes, "I'm with Piccolo right now, he's helping me talk to you."
Hearing the name alone gave Gohan the ability to remember the colors green and blue, the colors were warm and friendly. He smiled, slowly he was placing a face to the name.
"We have been trying to find you," Gokuu said, taking a step closer to Gohan, "For some reason we weren't able to sense you. Do you know why?"
"It's because of-," and out of habit, Gohan placed his hand around his neck. He was expecting to feel nothing, but when he felt the cold gold against his neck, his eyes widen in fear, "Oh no..."
Everything felt so real, he was talking to his father, he was slowly remembering about Piccolo and the planet called Earth. If these things were real then this collar must be real, looking down at his clothes, he was in the ragged clothing. These were the clothes he wore with Vanlash.
He couldn't breath, not realizing the difference between dream and reality Gohan fell to the ground, "NO!" He screamed, grabbing ahold of his father's hand, "PLEASE, HELP ME. I CAN'T DO IT AGAIN, I CAN'T GO BACK," he lowered his head and sobbed, not letting go of Gokuu's hand.
Gokuu didn't know what his son was talking about, his eyes widen with panic, "Gohan, you have to tell me what's going on. You have to tell me where you are so I can find you and bring you home."
The panic of the collar around his neck didn't allow the saiyan to hear what his father was saying. Instead he looked up at him with fearful eyes, "I don't want to kill again," he sobbed, "I don't want them to control me anymore." He sobbed as if his fate was already sealed.
"Gohan," Gokuu tried to calm his son, "You have to tell me where you are so I can get you, I can't find you unless I have a location of where you are. Please son, tell me so I can help you."
"You can't," Gohan sobbed, trying to catch a breath between his tears, "I wish I was dead-"
Gohan's eyes shot wide open, as if he was gasping for air. He placed his hands around his neck, as soon as he felt the his warm skin he sighed in relief. It was all just a dream. He looked down at the clothes he was wearing, thick cotton shorts he was clothed in, instead of rags. He was in the Kingdom, he was safe from Vanlash. It was 0345, the same as every night. He slowly rose from his bed, and looked around his room to see if AJ was there. AJ had left, which he figured she would, it would be wrong for a Princess to be caught in a bodyguard's room.
Recalling the dream, he remembered his father, was that part of the dream real? Was his father really trying to find him so he could bring him home? He clenched his blankets, he wasn't sure his father would want him back after all that he had done.
Even if his father was able to find him, he wouldn't be able to leave. The King had freed Gohan from Vanlash and he couldn't escape, he also cared about AJ but it was more then that. He was in the King's debt. For now, this was the only place safe from Vanlash, if he returned to Earth Vanlash would surely find him again.
Gohan didn't try to go back to sleep that night, he stared up into the ceiling, wishing for a life he knew he could never get back.
