4starfox: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy it!
MissieMidget1204: Thanks! And I'm glad you caught up!
Seraphinit: I do have to say that Kevin is a little strange, although more about him will be revealed in the next few chapters.
Chapter 19: Why Must Things Be So Complicated?
Gohan did not expect to see what he had when he was flying home from school. All he had been doing was musing over his friend and the lack of homework that day.
What is that? He thought as he stared down at the skirmish below where he was flying. He was still currently in Hercule City, so he had a ways to go before getting home. He heard a sigh in his head.
That is what's called a bank robbery, genius, his other self cut in with a sigh.
Gohan had a feeling that he should do something, but he didn't know what. He stopped flying and stared confused at the scene below him, watching with a bit of anger as the robbers got into a car.
You're going to just let them get away! His other self shouted at him angrily.
He sighed, floating down into a cover of trees near where the robbers' car would be driving past.
I don't know, he answered truthfully, what do I do to stop them?
He heard another agitated sigh.
Apparently you're going to need a lot of work, his other self mumbled, try intervening the car.
He nodded, but then had a thought.
But I don't want the people to get hurt, he thought, even if they are doing something wrong, they don't deserve to die for it.
Have you learned NOTHING from your encounters with past villains?! His other self shouted, Raditz, Frieza, Cell… seriously do I have to continue?!
Gohan flinched a bit when his other self said 'Cell', but he understood what was being said.
Fine! He thought, I'll help, but I'm going to do everything I can not to get them hurt!
His only answer was a sense of irritation from his other self.
He was just about to wonder why when he saw the car that the robbers were in come speeding towards the coverage of trees he was in.
He quickly jumped out of the trees and flew towards the car, hoping that he wasn't too late.
Standing in the car's way, he suddenly felt his power level increase as he hovered in the air. What resulted next was a giant explosion, sending him flying backwards.
Great job, you blew the car up, his other self stated sarcastically.
What?! He thought as he shot up into the air, flying away as fast as he could.
"Mom, I'm home," Gohan shouted as he walked into the door, not surprised when he didn't receive an answer.
She's probably outside, he thought, but then the next idea made him frown, or with John.
He had been finding it very unpleasant over the past few weeks that his mother was spending more and more time with John, who Gohan had now just remembered was a doctor and scientist; the first thing being his least favorite thing.
Can't be helped, he thought as he went over to the couch, She deserves to be happy after all I put her through by taking dad away from her.
Due to the lack of homework, Gohan decided that he would check to see what was on the news for a little bit, since he didn't know what else to do and training wasn't scheduled today.
Just when he grabbed the remote, he heard a voice inside his head.
I really don't think you should do that, his other self warned, earning him a sigh.
There's nothing else to do, and besides, Mom will want me to check the weather for tomorrow, Gohan thought with a cringe; his mother had been making him wear more 'normal' clothes to school since she wouldn't let him wear his Gi other than during gym, and I'm sure everything will be fine anyway.
He turned on the TV, guessing that his other self was just trying to warn him that his mother would be mad since he would be sitting around instead of studying. He waited until the weather was done, seeing that it was going to be sunny all day tomorrow and on Friday, and was about to turn it off when the news suddenly came on.
Warned you, his other self mumbled, making Gohan very confused, that is until he saw what was on the news.
The headline read "Car blown up by Flying Kid" and then continued to describe how the car had gotten blown up, but the robbers were caught and the stolen money returned to the bank. The TV then proceeded to show blurred images of him in Super Saiyan.
Super Saiyan? When did I…? He started to think when he realized that he was still transformed. Powering down to base form, he had another thought; that probably attracted attention to the others.
He sighed as he put his head on his knees.
I did warn you, his other self cut in.
You said I blew up the car, Gohan started.
And I was right, his other self stopped him, but Gohan had more to say.
I thought that I blew up the people! He exclaimed with a bit of anger. His other self started to laugh.
I would have told if that were true. I would have said something like "you blew up the car and the people", his other self said between laughs. Gohan didn't find any bit of it funny.
You know that if you would have used that as a joke, and if I could find a way, I would have killed you for that, Gohan thought with another sigh.
I know, that's why I didn't… he didn't hear the rest of his other self's sentence because he heard the door open. He looked back at the TV and saw that the news was still on.
"Gohan…" Chi-Chi started as she walked into the living room with John right behind her, but she stopped when she saw her son scramble to grab the remote and turn off the TV.
Gohan made a noise of surprise and protest as his mother lunged for the remote just as he did; she then proceeded to try and pry it out of his grasp.
"Son Gohan, if you're trying to hide something so desperately, there has to be a reason for it!" his mother yelled as she got a hold of the remote and pressed the rewind button.
Gohan scrambled for his bedroom, but was stopped by his mother's dangerous tone.
"Gohan…" his mother stated warningly from her seat on the couch.
"It was an accident, I swear!" Gohan shouted but then covered his mouth with his hands.
"Gohan, what have I said about swearing?! And why in the world would you want to get on the news?!" his mother yelled angrily from the couch as she got up and started walk towards him.
"I didn't! And there are better ways to get on the news than that," Gohan said, making his mother give him a questioning look.
"Such as?" Chi-Chi asked with a bit of irritation.
"Blowing up a city," he stated with a smile and then realized his mistake when his mother angrily walked towards him.
Why did I say that? He thought with confusion, but then started to get angry when he heard laughing in his head.
What did you do?! He demanded angrily when he heard his other self laughing.
Nothing… his other self started but then couldn't continue because he started to laugh again.
Apparently he had an angry look on his face because when he looked up again, his mother pulled out an axe.
"Where did you get that?!" Gohan shouted as he barely dodged her swing at his backside.
"The store! And besides, it's time that tail came off! It's not proper!" his mother shouted as she continued to try and chop off his tail, but she was failing since he kept dodging the swings.
Gohan heard a door in the hallway open and looked over to see his brother and Kid Trunks peeping out at them from behind the door.
"Goten, Trunks, save your tails!" Gohan yelled to them as he barely dodged the next blow his mother threw at him with the axe.
He looked over at them again and heard them talking in almost whispers.
"Do you think we should help him?" Goten asked in a hushed tone, but it was loud enough for Gohan to hear their conversation.
"Why should we? What has he done for us?" Kid Trunks asked in obvious annoyance.
So much like Vegeta, Gohan thought with irritation, knowing that Goten would follow Kid Trunks in whatever he decided.
"And mom might chop off our tails too," Goten whispered and, with one last stare at Gohan, shut the door quickly.
Typical, Gohan thought with a sigh. He then was surprised when he heard the noise of locks coming from behind the door Goten and Kid Trunks had just disappeared behind.
When did they…? Never mind, Gohan guessed, knowing it was useless to try and understand where the three and four year olds had gotten the locks, among other things in their 'den'.
He quickly stole a glance at John, who had remained silent during the whole situation so far. The doctor was just giving him an apologetic look, which made Gohan a bit mad since he didn't know why John would feel sorry for him.
Why must things be so complicated? Gohan thought with irritation as he continued to dodge the swings of the axe, hoping that he would come out alive, even if he lost his tail in the process.
I figured that I would leave it off there. This chapter was a bit of a comic relief. Now I would like to know what you think will happen next, since Gohan was just broadcasted on the news (even though most people might not know it was him). Sorry for not updating sooner, but July was a very busy month (including AnimeWolfGirl16 and my's birthday), as well as visits from friends in another state, vacations, and co-writing The Legend of Spyro: The Secret Mission (while I also must admit to have just found out about the anime "InuYasha" and going on a watching spree). But luckily I'm back, so we will be getting more of Gohan and everyone else now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review!
-AnimeWolfGirl9