Author's Note:
Thank you for reviewing! I really appreciate all the comments! Please check out my other fanfiction, DBZ: Crossroads!
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ. Never have, never will.
CHAPTER TWELVE: (jeez, 12th chapter already?!)
Gohan was momentarily able to connect to every single living being in the universe that had been harmed by Erai, living or deceased. He could feel everyone's Ki thrumming in his body, entering through his heart and burning it's way to his fist.
He struck Erai's right cheek, her delicate face contorting under the pressure of his blow. Then the shockwave happened. All the energy in Gohan was released, pulsing out of his fist and into Erai's face with a burning attack.
She screamed from the force of the blow, being thrown backwards with a shriek. She rolled to a stop, electricity pulsing within her body. She laid there, groaning.
Gohan rubbed his knuckles and winced. His hand ached, scars forming on his knuckles that he knew would never heal. He watched the strange lines tattoo across his knuckles. On each knuckle, there was an odd mark. A different mark for each knuckle. The lines continued moving around his knuckles.
They finally stopped. Each line was joined by a series of dots. On his pinky fingers – on both his left and right hands – he had a "~" line. On his index, a "€". On his middle, a "¥". On his ring, a "£". And finally, on his thumb, a "ø".
Gohan shrugged and watched Erai convulse. He walked up to her, watching the blood slowly seep out from her cheeks. The same marks that were on his hand were glowing brightly on her cheek, a dark red colour.
She looked up at him, golden electricity making her body jump horrendously. It was no joke that Erai was dying this time. No going back for her now.
Gohan stared down at her.
"It didn't need to come to this. You could have just not hurt anyone." Gohan murmured.
"T-There was never any choice in the matter…" Erai smirked, coughing up blood. She curled in on herself, then glared up at Gohan once more. "I have always been like this… t-this isn't o-o-over, Gohan." she coughed again and grinned, her teeth bloody.
Erai scraped her hand on the tile of the Lookout floor, a black vortex appearing underneath her. Gohan simply stepped back and allowed his human side to truly take control, allowing her to disappear into the vortex.
Videl came up beside Gohan and hugged his arm close to her chest as his blue aura faded, his hair falling out of it's spikes, his hair and eyes darkening to an ebony black. Gohan's eyes rolled up in his head as he collapsed.
Videl held him steady and simply stroked his hair away from his face. She smiled at her boyfriend, putting her hands on his chest and stomach, slowly pumping her energy into him. He woke up a minute later, gently pulling her hands off of him to signal her that he would not take any more of her energy.
"Next time we meet up, Videl…" Gohan groaned, holding his side. "How about we DON'T fight an evil witch and just go on a normal dinner date?"
"You're on." Videl had an evil twinkle in her eye as she offered a hand to Goahn. He took it and pulled himself up. They stood and smiled at each other… until all hell broke loose.
"GOHAN!" It was Piccolo, Goku, Chi-Chi, Bulma, Krillin, and Yamcha all in sync. All of said people screamed and started mobbing the two. Chi-Chi was the first to get there, balling her eyes out. She grabbed Gohan's head and shoved him tight to her chest. She fell to her knees, hugging him tight and screaming his name, rocking him back and forth.
Piccolo stood a little ways off to the side, closing his eyes and assessing Gohan's physical and mental state. He did a thorough examination, exploring every nook and cranny within Gohan's mind. He then assessed Gohan's physical state, now knowing exactly where each and every little bruise or cut or pain was for his pupil. He then formed a protective barrier around Gohan's mind, making sure that Piccolo was alerted to every single danger or pain for Gohan.
Yamcha, Krillin, and Goku stayed back, all smiling. They believed that Piccolo and Chi-Chi had the stage as of now. Krillin was simply happy – and more than a little scared – that Gohan was alright. Yamcha had the same thoughts as Krillin, and Goku was unsure of his own relationship with his son.
Gohan finally pulled away from his mother, staring at the ground.
"Gohan, baby, what's wrong?" Chi-Chi demanded, the tears stopping. She had concern in her eyes, reaching out to her eldest son. Goten was now hiding behind her.
"I just don't know…" Gohan sighed. "I just… I dunno."
"I know what you're trying to say." Videl said, breaking the awkward silence. "And I get the feeling too. You're just too nice to say it. You don't feel comfortable with Goku or Chi-Chi. You can never feel comfortable with them again. You feel betrayed, like they've done something wrong. I think we need to live on our own, Gohan."
"You little…!" Chi-Chi growled.
"No, you listen to me." Videl snapped. "I will not allow Gohan into your house, you witch. You have to remember that I have Gohan's awful memories of you too. I'm not afraid to stand up to you." Videl gathered Ki in between her palms and pointed it at Chi-Chi, eyebrow raised.
"Videl." Goku was standing in front of Chi-Chi now.
"An even better target." Videl expanded her blast, readying her stance.
"I'll take them." Piccolo spoke up so suddenly that it scared everyone. "There isn't anyone else."
"I will not have my child taken in by some green alien that's already kidnapped him once!" Chi-Chi screeched.
"I think it's a good idea." Bulma said. "Piccolo loves Gohan. Name one time that Piccolo has done something to intentionally harm Gohan? Training is one thing, but Piccolo has never tried to hurt Gohan in any way, shape, or form."
"Yeah. Yamcha and I can't take care of them, and if there's no way they can live with you guys… and well, I, uh, don't think it's a good idea to stuff Gohan and Videl in the same house as Vegeta." Krillin nervously touched his index fingers together, smiling up at his friends.
Piccolo simply nodded as Chi-Chi raged. He ignored her and gathered the exhausted Gohan in his arms. He watched as Gohan smiled at him and fell asleep. His spiky hair was resting on Piccolo's forearm, and Gohan's head was gently against Piccolo's chest.
Piccolo knew Gohan. And that boy was always on his guard. The fact that Gohan trusted him enough to fall asleep was humbling Piccolo. The Namekian generally lived at the Lookout. It was a place that everyone could visit, but he thought he might take Gohan and Videl to the waterfall.
Piccolo carried Gohan into a room that was only partially destroyed by his fight earlier. He had already assessed Gohan's physical state, and had decided that his pupil was not in any danger as of yet. He laid Gohan on the bed, pulling the covers over his small and delicate frame.
I won't let you go this time, kid. Piccolo vowed. While I'm still breathing, nothing will ever harm you again. I won't let it.
"Are we going to live here?" Videl asked, having followed Piccolo into the room. "Like, on the Lookout?"
"For the most part, yes. Though I do think that a couple days travelling around and getting you two used to the world will be in order." Piccolo finished tucking Gohan in and turned to face Videl.
"Alrighty then." Videl stretched and walked over to the bed, shimmying under the covers and snuggling with Gohan. She had her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. She sighed softly, feeling more safe than ever before, and then drifted off to dreamland.
Piccolo smiled at both of his charges before returning to the outside of the Lookout. He shook his head in dismay at the broken bits of the building. He started heaving rubble and such, gently cleaning up the place.
"Dende?" Piccolo asked, looking over at his young Namekian friend.
"Yes, Piccolo?"
"Would it be possible to restore the Lookout using the Dragon Balls? No one died, so we should be okay to use them."
"Sounds like a great plan, Piccolo! How about you get Videl and Gohan to help when they'be recovered? You know, after a nap, you can take them across the world on a hunt."
"Mhm." Piccolo nodded and continued moving the rubble out of the way.
(One day later…)
Gohan woke up drowsily. He yawned, trying to stretch, but found that his left arm was trapped underneath something. He opened his eyes curiously to see Videl asleep on his chest. Gohan's mouth opened in a solid "O" as he watched her. He slowly snaked his arm out from under her and stood up. He smiled and tucked Videl in, then walked outside.
He could sense Piccolo's Ki near the west end of the Lookout. He followed the signal and soon came upon his Namekian friend, his mentor, his father… there were so many words that Gohan could use to describe his and Piccolo's relationship, but none of them seemed to fit quite right.
"Hey, Piccolo." Gohan sat down beside his mentor, legs dangling off the edge of the Lookout. He kicked them slightly, watching the clouds roll by.
"Hello Gohan." Piccolo muttered, pretending to be annoyed with being broken from his meditation. "As soon as Videl is awake and you both are fed, we are heading to Bulma's house in order to pick up the dragon radar. We need to collect the Dragon Balls to restore the Lookout."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense." Gohan looked over his shoulder at the destroyed Lookout. "Hehe…. Sorry about the mess." Gohan scratched the back of his neck in the familiar Son gesture.
"Hmph." Piccolo raised a (nonexistent!) eyebrow at his pupil.
"Do Videl and I really get to stay with you, Mister Piccolo?" Gohan asked. "I mean… I don't want to live with Goku and Chi-Chi, but…" Gohan pressed his pointer fingers together shyly and looked down at his hands.
"Yes, Gohan. I will not allow you live under their roof again. After these recent events, I think that a little force is required. You need help that they cannot give." Piccolo shook his head wisely, blinking at his young pupil.
Just in that moment, Videl stumbled out of the room and into the light. She looked half-dead. She was barely moving, her hair was twisted at weird angles, her eyes were half-lidded and she looked like she was going to drop at any second.
"Gohan, get back here!" she slurred. "You're more comfortable than the pillow."
Gohan went beet red, to say the least.
~An adventure to find the Dragon Balls! What awaits our young heroes? Find out, next time, on DBZ: A Whole New Enemy!~
Little Rookie: Don't worry, it won't! Gohan will not live with his biological parents, and there's a sequel planned!
Yukikun: Thank you! And I uploaded chapter 12 super fast, just for you.
Pocket: Hi! Yup, one boy will be almost exactly like Pan, just a little more arrogant. And no, no Super Saiyan God in my fanfic. Thanks so much!
Guest: I shall! :3