12EVER SO SORRY FOR THE LONG UPDATE! I GOT THE FLU AND WAS DYING ON THE COUCH!
Anyway, here's the last chapter.
The click of the door caught Goten's attention. He was sitting on the couch while his father was over Gohan's. Chi-Chi was sitting at the kitchen table, her hands folded and elbows on the table. Goten turned himself on the couch, and saw his father dragging his feet towards the kitchen table. Chi-Chi perked up her head, her eyes still filled with worry. Goku pulled out the chair and plopped down. His elbows on the table, his fingers in his hair, Chi-Chi raised her head slightly. Seeing his parents, Goten knew he messed up.
He messed up real bad.
"How is he," Chi-Chi asked. Goku slowly shook his head, Chi-Chi started to tear up. Goten swallowed a hard lump in his throat.
Piccolo told he and Trunks what happened to Gohan, at least what he knew. His brother was kidnapped at a young age. They found him chained in a cage, starved, beaten, and left for dead. Gohan never spoke about what happened, but with the fight with Buu, Goten's father knew more than he should. Even that experience, Goku couldn't shake the image out of his head. Goten was still young, and didn't understand what was going on.
With the information Piccolo told him, it explained everything about his brother. Goten understood why Gohan needed the extra attention, and why his parents were relieved that he found Videl. Goten knew why Gohan needed to be close to home, why he had his attacks, and why no one explained to Goten why his brother was the way he was.
What was he supposed to say? His parents didn't yell at him, not yet at least, but he knew he would be punished somehow. It took a while for his father, and Piccolo, to return. Gohan was wrapped in Piccolo's cape, held tightly by Piccolo, squirming still. His mother directed them to Gohan's bedroom, in his house, to help calm him down.
Videl was called prior hand. She wasn't that far away, at a local town nearby, and quickly returned back. Videl was waiting in the room. By now everyone knew what happened, but no one said anything to Goten. Videl didn't even show him an evil look. She often did if Goten said something stupid, especially if it was towards Gohan. She didn't look at him at all. Videl told Chi-Chi that she'll get the bed ready for Gohan, and wait.
"Is he going to be okay," Goten asked. He knew this was his fault. It was his idea, he admitted that. Goku lifted up his head, and turned it towards Goten. This is it, he was going to get his punishment.
"We don't know Goten. We won't know until he wakes up," Goku answered. He sighed. "Piccolo is with him now."
"What about Videl," Chi-Chi asked. "She's there too, right?"
Goku lowered his head.
"She left." Goten's eyes went wide. He ruined Gohan's marriage! He ruined Gohan's life! What didn't he read the full file on Gohan? Goten slouched on the couch. Gohan wasn't going to be the same again, and it was all his fault! "Piccolo told her he couldn't be touched, so she went to get his favorite food for when he wakes up. Videl thinks that smelling his favorite food will help."
"She can't cook," Chi-Chi exclaimed. Goten pounded his chest. For a minute, his heart stopped beating. Videl didn't leave after all. "What is she cooking?"
"She's getting ice cream. Gohan and I ate the rest of it the other day."
Videl knows Gohan too well. They were perfect for each other.
"I'm sorry. This is all my fault," Goten said, jumping up from the couch. Goku and Chi-Chi looked at him. Goku smiled.
"No Goten, your mother and I should have told you sooner. We ignored you, and spent all of all time on Gohan, and never really spent as much time with you. We're sorry Goten."
"Your father is right," Chi-Chi said, offering a smile of her own. "We were so concerned with Gohan that we left you out. Can you ever forgive us?"
"Why are you apologizing to me? I'm the reason why Gohan is…" Goten didn't know how to word it. He could only go with what was in his head. "…has lost his mind! You should be yelling at me, punishing me!"
Goku still smiled.
"I think Piccolo has some words for you," he said.
Shit.
"I would rather be stuck training with Vegeta for a month than have Piccolo 'talk' to me." Piccolo's talks consumed of mind games, and getting your ass handed to you on a gold platter. "Take away the TV, my video games, my cell phone, everything! Just don't leave me with Piccolo!"
The door connected to the two houses opened. Speak of the devil.
"Goku," Piccolo spoke. With nothing else spoken, Goku got up from his chair, and went through the door. Piccolo locked eyes with Goten. All the blood from Goten's face dropped. He was paralyzed. Piccolo slowly closed the door, eyes still on Goten. Once the click was heard, Goten fell to his knees.
"He's going to kill me," he muttered. "I'm dead. I know I messed up, but death? Isn't that too extreme?"
Thrown against the wall, he spit out some blood.
Finally, Rohr was done.
Rohr disappeared back into the darkness as he laid there. His chains were removed, but he couldn't move. Every part of his body as numb. He couldn't feel a thing in his body. He knew he should be in pain, but this was part of death. It started with the legs, to his torso, and then his chest.
He can die now.
"Are you done here Rohr," Bup asked, opening the door. Bup looked down and saw him on the floor. "Hey, are you dead?"
He should be.
"Hey Bup, is he done,"Gwak said, poking his head in. "Is he dead?"
Gwak walked over, and kicked him in the stomach. He slid a few feet away, and coughed.
"He survived," Bup answered. Footsteps were heard coming in his direction. Bup grabbed his hair, but he did not cry out. He felt himself being dragged. "How much time do you think he has?"
"Coming from Rohr, hours maybe. He doesn't look like he'll survive long."
"We thought that earlier, but he was kicking."
"Should we feed him?"
Food.
He didn't care what they threw at him, as long as he could eat it. Leftovers, old bones with very little meat, hell he could eat his own leg!
"Chain him up. We can feed him later," Bup answered. Son of a- "He's not fun anymore."
Then just kill him already!
"But he's lasted longer than the others," mentioned Gwak.
"He has…days maybe? Let's just find a new one and leave him here."
No! Not with Rohr! Please not with Rohr! The others can do whatever they wanted with him, but please don't leave him with Rohr! If he could move his body he would crawl to Gwak, and beg him to take him to his cell. Please…please don't leave him here!
"We can use a change." NO! "He's yours Rohr! Just feed him every one and a while to keep him kicking."
The door closed, leaving him alone in Rohr's room. Rohr started to snicker, and the shadow of Rohr's body appeared. He began to shake. He needed to move!
Dad!
Videl!
ANYBODY!
"I guess you're with me now," Rohr said, the shadow coming closer. If he closes his eyes Rohr will disappear. He'll open then back up again, and be home. Okay, just count to three.
One…
Two….
Three…
He opened his eyes, and saw Rohr staring back at him.
"Ready for round two?"
He screamed.
Clutching onto his arms, digging his nails into his skin, he curled into the tightest ball he could. He can't do this anymore! He can't be stuck here! Why did he have to be stuck here? With Rohr? Why did Rohr have to look like the turnip stealing bunny?
Wait.
Rohr wasn't a bunny.
He rubbed his eyes, wondering if this was a dream. Worse case he passed out, and dreaming about the stupid rabbit that made him go down a waterfall. Actually, see the rabbit was a lot better than seeing Rohr. He was scared to open his eyes again, afraid to see what was going to be looking back at him.
"Turnip, get off the bed!"
A voice? He knew that voice! It was Videl!
He opened his eyes, and saw Videl in front of him holding the rabbit.
Was this a dream? Was this whole thing a dream? The memories with Rohr, they weren't memories. They happened. His life with Videl…it didn't happen. This is a dream.
This life he created isn't real.
"Go away," he screamed. His yelling scared the rabbit, causing it to squirm in Videl's hands. The rabbit managed to jump away, hoping through the open door to the bedroom.
"Gohan you're-"
"Go away!"
He pushed her. She wasn't real, and neither was the child she was carrying. That wasn't his, she wasn't his. Videl hit the tiny dresser behind her. She stood up, and rubbed her back. She cursed at the dresser, before heading towards the door.
"Goku," Videl yelled.
His father never found him.
He wasn't going to pretend this is real.
He jumped off the bed, and found his legs weak. He fell.
Yeah, this wasn't real. He remembered his studies about dreaming. If you couldn't move in a dream, it meant your legs were tangled in the sheets. Well his legs were numb with Rohr, which explain why he couldn't run. He dragged himself to the corner of the room, near the dresser, and curled in the corner.
He could hear footsteps coming up the stairs. Videl opened the door, and he saw his father.
"Leave me alone," he shouted. His father looked at him, worried. No, it wasn't the look of worry. "Stop pitying me!"
"What happened," his father asked. This is a dream! His father should know what was wrong!
"He woke up, and freaked out," Videl answered. "Have you seen him do this before?"
"Something similar," his father answered. His father looked curious, or worried, or pitied. Hell if he knew anymore! His father took a few step forward. "Gohan, you're home. It's okay."
"Like hell it is," he shouted.
"But he's talking this time. When he had a bad attack he never talked."
"Is that a good sign," Videl asked.
"I don't know."
Cause this is a stupid dream! Of course his little mind would dream up something like this. A wife, a kid on the way, a house next to his parents and broth…er…
It was coming back.
"Oh, I have a sandwich for him," Videl said.
Even if this was dream, he was going to eat a sandwich! Videl didn't go too far, just around the door actually. She came back with a plate, a peanut butter sandwich on top. He could smell from where he was.
Videl walked over, plate in hand, and before she could put the plate down he grabbed the sandwich, and ate it. The sandwich was a bit difficult to eat, stupid peanut butter, but he managed to get it down.
Okay, not managed really. He coughed a few times, almost chocked, and found it really, really hard to swallow.
Doesn't matter, had sandwich.
"That's a good sign, right," Videl asked. Peanut butter was stuck in the back of his throat.
"If he doesn't eat, then it's a bad sign," his father answered. His father walked past Videl, he pressed his back up against the corner. "Gohan, do you know what happened?"
He was getting there, but the sandwich districted him.
"Leave me alone," he mumbled, his eyes lingering over to the wall. He didn't want to think about anything right now. He just wanted to sit in the corner, and not wake up from this dream. Even if it wasn't real, he would rather be dreaming than with Rohr.
"What should we do," Videl asked.
His father nudged towards the door. Videl followed, leaving him alone.
Finally!
Now he could get back to…whatever this was.
He had to think of how this started, the last thing he remembered from this dream. Okay, maybe this was the real life, and his mind was messing with him, but he wasn't so sure. He was training with Gotenks, the evil being that he was, and puked out these weird looking ghost things.
Ew.
Then what?
Oh…
He curled his legs close to his body, and placed his forehead on his knees.
Shit.
A few days passed.
Days where he sat in the corner, not moving, looking at nothing and no one. He collected a stack of dishes due to some food residue. It was his emergency dishes, in case he never ate again. Whatever Gotenks did messed him up pretty bad. All he wanted was to be left alone, and figure out this…this…whatever the hell this was. A dream, reality, whatever it was it kept him out of his cage, and away from Rohr. He feared sleep, and it was taking a toll.
He glanced over at the bed. Videl still slept there, waking up during hours of the night, checking on him, and falling back asleep. She would talk to him, regular conversations, talking about how the baby wanted certain foods, foods he enjoyed actually, and when he asked to be alone she would leave.
He missed her.
He was pretty certain that this was indeed real, and when Gotenks used that…whatever it was, it created the fear. He hoped.
With a few days of no sleep, that bed looked real cozy. It was soft, and he loved the pillows. His old bed, at his parents, was a bit hard. After a day of training he would plop on it, and quite frankly the hardwood floor was softer than his bed. When he and Videl went bed shopping she told him to test out the beds. He plopped on all the beds, sometimes his stomach, sometimes his back, and he chose the bed that felt so comfortable. You sink right in, the bed hugging you as you slept. And the pillows? So fluffy and light! He was able to spread out on their king size bed.
He knocked Videl off a few times; he wasn't used to a big bed. Videl understood, and put up a pillow wall so he wouldn't hit her. Eventually he got used to having his own side, and once he got used to having his own side Videl managed to get a leg, or an arm, on his side.
After years of being together, they still had limbs on each other's side. He woke up with her hand in his mouth, and his foot would be on her chest. In his defense, he never had a bed before. In Videl's defense, she had a big bed to spread out on.
He dreamed though. Could you dream in a dream?
Lack of sleep was hitting him hard. Maybe if he closed his eyes for a moment…
Knock! Knock!
Or not.
"Um…Gohan?"
It wasn't Videl, Piccolo, or his father. The voice sounded familiar.
The door opened, and a head peeked out.
Goten.
"Hey I was wondering if-whoa!" A plate was sent towards Goten's direction. Goten dodged the dish, Piccolo would be proud, and the dish hit the wall, shattering. "I want to talk!"
Lucky for him, he had dishes to throw. Not lucky for Goten however.
He began throwing dishes at Goten. His brother was able to dodge, and every dish he threw broke.
"Stop throwing dishes," his brother yelled. Why not? He had enough ammo to throw at his stupid younger brother! "They're Mom's dishes!"
Well shit!
The dresser was nearby. He knew he had socks in there! Throw them hard enough and it can cause some pain!
Opening the drawer, he started to throw folded up socks.
They hit Goten.
"Ow! They hurt," Goten yelled.
"It's all your fault," he screamed. "This," he threw the socks, "me," he threw three more, "why would you do that to me?!"
He ran out of socks. Goten noticed, and was able to relax.
"I wanted to say sorry," Goten said. He needed something to throw at him. "I didn't know! Piccolo told me-don't do it!"
The dresser was the next available item to chuck at his brother. If he was lucky, Goten would have splinters all over his body! The door swung open again. His father appeared, and noticed Goten first.
"Goten, I told you not to come here," his father yelled. Move out of the way Dad! He had a dresser to throw at Goten!
"This is my fault! I need to fix this," his brother exclaimed. Worse case the dresser would hit his father.
"Now is not the time Goten." This dresser was heavy. "Something like this takes time. Trust me."
"How much time Dad? He didn't talk for the first seven years of my life!"
When did this dresser gain weight?
"Goten please-"
The dresser fell to the ground, and he landed on the floor. He looked up at the ceiling, and saw stars. He closed his eyes, for a moment. He couldn't sleep. He'll be stuck with Rohr again! He rolled to his side, curled up, hands grabbing his hair.
He took a deep breath. He hid his face with his forearms, and gave up.
"I'm going to bed," he said, moving his arms away from his face. "Please go."
"But bro-"
"Goten just go," his father said, grabbing Goten by the arm and pulling him out of the room.
"He wants you out too you know," Goten exclaimed. The door slammed in Goten's face. The punk deserved it. His father walked over, and fixed the dresser. Once the dresser was upright, his father went to pick up the broken pieces of the plates he threw.
That was the last thing he remembered before drifting off.
His back?
It hurt so much.
His legs?
He couldn't feel them.
The floor?
Carpeted.
Wait, carpeted?
He snapped open his eyes. He wasn't with Rohr, oh thank Kami! He was in his room! He fell asleep and woke up in his room! He let out a breath, relieved that his flashbacks, or whatever they were, have settled…for now.
"You slept well."
He lifted his head slightly. His father was sitting up against the bed looking at him. He did sleep well. He didn't dream, unless this was a dream. Right now he didn't care. Everything hurt.
"You hungry," his father asked.
Well this was weird. For the first time in…this was the first time he wasn't hungry.
He wasn't hungry…
He shook his head, surprised by this realization. His father was as well.
"Videl," his father yelled, getting up from the bed. His father ran out the door.
This was very strange. He uncurled himself, his bones popping as he did so. He managed to sit up, stretch out his legs, and felt the pins and needles going up and down his legs and arms. The tingling hurt a bit, but once it settled he let out a breath. He wiggled his fingers and toes. They moved.
Footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. His father, Videl, his mother, and Piccolo all busted through the door. They all looked at him, worried. He would be worried too, since he didn't feel hungry. His mother was the first to speak.
"What do you mean you're not hungry?!" He couldn't explain it either! He didn't feel full. His stomach felt strange, but not sick strange. "Are you not feeling well?"
How was he feeling? Sore, very sore. Sleeping in a ball made him comfortable, but waking up with tight muscles wasn't as pleasant. He merely shrugged his shoulders, looking at the wall.
"What aren't you talking," Piccolo asked. A shrug was his response. He wasn't sure exactly what was going on. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming. That could be the problem. He could feel with pain with Rohr, and yet still feel pain here.
But he wasn't hungry.
So this was a dream.
He knew this was too good to be true.
"Did you try pooping," Videl asked. His face turned red.
"Why would I do that," he yelled. Why in Kami's name would she say that?! In front of his parents…Piccolo!
"When was the last time you went?" He blinked. When was the last time he used the bathroom? "Come downstairs after you poop. You'll be hungry afterwards."
Like hell!
Videl pushed them out of the room. She closed the door, and walked towards the bed. She sat down, looking at him. She moved her eyes towards their bathroom. He shook his head. She nudged her head towards the bathroom. He shook his head once more. She stood up, grabbed him by the ear, and drugged him to the bathroom.
Once he was in she closed the door.
Fine! He'll use the bathroom! He was going to prove her wrong! He was not going to be hungry after he uses the bathroom!
…
HE WAS STARVING!
But he wasn't going to tell Videl that!
He didn't go downstairs to prove Videl right. He has his collection of plates by the-
THE PLATES WERE GONE!
He looked around for the plates. In the dresser, which had some wood chipped off, under the bed, and any other place where food would be hiding. Did Videl take all the food he stored in their bedroom so he would have to go downstairs to eat?
She wouldn't.
She did!
That…that…Witch!
He'll prove her wrong! He can win this! He doesn't have to-who was he kidding?! He needed to eat! He could smell food coming in his room!
Dammit.
Walking downstairs, making faces while doing so, he found a lot of food on the kitchen table. Videl was still preparing food, with the help of his mother. His mother saw him.
"Eat," she said, moving the spoon in her hand towards the food. She turned her back, he sat down and began to eat. "You should listen to your wife more often Gohan. Videl knows you better than you know your-"
His mother faced him again, her mouth dropped.
"You ate your food that fast?"
Yep. It was gone.
His throat burned, just like his tongue, but it was worth it. So worth it!
The door connecting to their house opened. Maybe it was his father.
"Smells good in here," Goten said. His brother looked over at Videl and Chi-Chi. "No wonder, Mom is cooking. I should hav-"
A bunch of plates hit Goten on his head. His brother finally noticed him, and rubbed his head. Goten couldn't yell at him for throwing the dishes; he owned those dishes!
"My dishes," exclaimed Videl.
Their dishes.
"What the hell," Goten yelled. More dishes were thrown at him. "Can you stop throwing dishes? I want to talk."
His response? More dishes being thrown.
"Will you stop throwing the dishes," his mother yelled. He stopped, like she asked, and grabbed a chair. He threw it at Goten, missed, and hit the door instead. "What did I just say?"
"You didn't say anything about throwing chairs," he yelled at his mother. Videl covered her mouth, a snort escaped her nose. His brother gave him nightmares, and his wife is laughing at him?!
"Goten, go to your room!"
"Not until I talk to Gohan."
He threw another chair.
"Gohan! Stop throwing furniture!" He threw chopsticks. "Stop throwing things at your brother!"
"I just want a minute Gohan!"
He threw a small ki ball at Goten.
"Will you two knock it off?!"
"You hit my shoulder!"
Videl kept laughing.
Truthfully, this could have ended better. Maybe he shouldn't have thrown things at Goten. Maybe he should have went back into his bedroom.
He didn't.
The police were called.
The fire department was putting out a fire in his dining room.
And Videl? Still laughing.
He sat by tree while his parents talked to the police. Goten was pulled aside by Piccolo, probably talking about him. He could clearly hear his name being said. Goten was trying to tell Piccolo how they needed to talk, Piccolo told Goten that time needed to pass before the talk could begin. Goten asked how long, Piccolo answered years. Goten threw his arms up in the air, and paced around, still ranting.
Turnip was lying on his chest. He stopped throwing things, ki balls included, when the rabbit hopped in the middle. A ki ball was thrown, Turnip appeared, and he managed to divert the ki ball in another direction.
Sadly that direction was at his mother. The yelling stopped, the throwing stopped, the laughing did not. If his mother was a saiyan, she would have surpassed super saiyan, one, two and three. He wasn't sure what four looked like, but if it was his mother turned into one then no enemy would never set foot onto Earth again.
That's when the police were called.
By both he and Goten.
The fire?
Food caught on fire in the oven. He cried a little.
He watched as the firemen and policemen men left. His mother bowed in apology, while his father stood by her side. Through the entire fight, his father stayed in the house. His father poked his head out just in time to see the ki ball hit his mother. His father ran after that.
He watched as his mother stomped her way towards Goten. Fear instantly stuck him. He had a choice: sit by the tree and fear the wrath of his mother, or run like hell. Since his leg couldn't get up, thanks fear, he did something that he never…EVER thought he would do.
He thought about his past, and as his mother dragged his brother towards him he thought about Rohr.
Dear green God in the sky, you better be listening, please save him from this battle that was going to happen. Please let him have an attack, and keep him there. The pain hurt, the taste was unpleasant, but watching his mother make her way over to him? Lock him in the cage! Take away the key! Have Eck and the other bring their friends! Anything but this!
"You two are going to fix this right now," his mother yelled. He looked over at his father and Piccolo. Both kept their distance. They knew better than to cross Chi-Chi. Where the hell was his attack?! "Both of you will talk about this, and I'm not leaving until you two get along again."
They were going to be here a while.
"And I'm not cooking anything until I see some progress," his mother added.
"I'm sorry/you're forgiven," Goten and he said at the same time. His mother wasn't going to buy that.
"I got all the time in the world." She folded her arms, and waited. Since he wasn't going to say anything, he looked at Goten.
"Promise you won't throw the rabbit at me," Goten started. Like he was going to throw a live animal at Goten.
…would Turnip attack Goten? How cool would that be?!
"I won't." He lied.
"You better not," his mother said.
"I promise." Truthfully this time. He moved his knees closer to his chest, holding Turnip closer.
"Listen Gohan, Mom, Dad and I did a lot of talking these past few days. They told me what happened to you as a kid, and like…trying to get you better," Goten started to say. "Piccolo told me what they did to you."
"You have no idea what they did to me," he said. He looked away from Goten. "You try having a cock shoved down your throat, and forced to swallow their cum."
His mother's face paled, Goten's too. That was probably the first he ever shared anything about his past, but he was bitter, really bitter.
"Can't say I know what that's like," his brother said.
"So you don't know what it's like to be chained for two years, left to die either?" He sounded calm, and kept eye contact with Goten. "I couldn't feel my hands or feet for a long time. I was pinned to the ground while taken from behind. They whipped me, stabbed me, and laughed at my pain. You wanna hear about Rohr? I was his favorite. He called me his sweet heart, his love muffin, and rubbed me raw until I came. I was his punching bag, his fucking whore, and the only way he would leave me alone is if I told him that I enjoyed what he did to me. What they did to me was far better than what you did to me. They gave me the decency to tell me what they were going to do to me, and you, my only brother, betrayed me. Give me one good reason why I should forgive you."
He spoke loudly.
Too loudly.
Everyone heard. His father, Videl, and Piccolo.
"Because I'm your brother," Goten answered. What kind of answer was that?! "I'm the brother who played a horrible prank on you, because our parents didn't give me attention growing up. I'm the brother who was ignored, because my parents made sure you were okay. I'm the brother who wasn't told what happened to you, and didn't know how horrible it was for you being with those…those….what do you call them Gohan?" Goten started to cry. "If I knew Gohan, I wouldn't have done that to you. If I knew, I would have a better understanding on why you were treated differently. If I knew…if I knew….Gohan if I knew I would be a better brother, and made sure idiots like me wouldn't hurt someone like you. I'm so sorry Gohan!"
"How did you know to chain my wrists," he asked. He looked down at Turnip, watching the rabbit wiggle his nose.
"I hacked onto Bulma's computer. I read about it…I read some of it. I saw that you were chained, and used it against you." Goten used his sleeves to wipe away the tears. "I didn't read the whole thing. I found something to use against you, and used it. If I read the entire thing I wouldn't have done that. Gohan, please…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I don't care if you don't forgive me, but I want us to be brothers again!"
He looked straight ahead at the trees. Turnip lifted up, and kissed his nose. That damn rabbit stole his turnips, and made him fall down a waterfall. Here they were, up against a tree, best friends. He forgave a rabbit that caused him some pain, aggravation, and money for his parents. His brother caused him flashbacks, new ones really, and set him back a few steps back. Goten didn't know, and didn't get as much attention as he should.
So what should he do?
Gohan stayed by the tree, still hugging his knees, as Goku stared out the window, watching him. It's been a few hours. Gohan just wanted some time to think. Goku understood. He needed to process what happen when Gohan and Gotenks trained.
When he found Gohan in the ship, the healing process took a long time. With Gohan going to school, Goku noticed how Gohan matured a bit. He blended in, made friends. Sure Goku had to wait on the roof, or sit in the room while Gohan and his friends studied, but he was interacting with other people. Gohan had his faults, but he was better.
With…this thing that happened, Gohan seemed okay. It was like his attacks, like after Cell, or that one that made him sick. Gohan was off for a few days, got to collect himself, and went back to routine. What was happening now was just like those times before. So eventually, Gohan was going to be okay, right?
"Maybe I should start throwing things at him," Goten said. Goku turned towards Goten. He was looking out the window in Goten's room. It was the best place to keep an eye on Gohan.
"Just give him some time," Goku said.
"Piccolo said years. I don't want to wait years!"
"It probably won't be years Goten. Gohan was mad at me when I grabbed his wrists." That caught Goten's attention. "We were training for the androids, and Cell appeared. Piccolo was fighting Cell, Gohan and I were waiting for Vegeta and Future Trunks to come out of the Time Chamber. Gohan went to help Piccolo, but he wasn't strong enough. I had to stop him, and grabbed him by his wrist."
"Don't hurt me Daddy!"
"It was an accident, and I'll never forget the look on his face. He was quiet for a while."
"He was quiet for the first seven years of my life…"
"He was distant," Goku corrected. "After some time, not years, he returned to his normal self."
"He wasn't normal," Goten commented. "He's still by the tree."
Goku went to looking back out the window.
"Well trees helped him…" Goku titled his head. Gohan wasn't by the tree anymore. "Hey Chi-Chi, did Gohan come back in?"
"Not yet," Chi-Chi yelled. She, and Videl, were in the middle part of the two houses. Videl cleaned up the kitchen as Chi-Chi swept broken chair and dishes. Chi-Chi would be able to see Gohan enter through her front door, and Videl could see if Gohan went through their house. Goku looked out the window again.
Gohan was missing.
"Gohan," Goku shouted. He quickly ran out the door, in the living room, and straight outside. "Gohan!"
Goten was quick to follow. He was right behind his father, looking in between the trees. Piccolo left to give Gohan his privacy, thinking, like Goku, that Gohan was going to be fine.
Goten noticed the fear and panic on his father's face.
"We'll find him Dad. He probably went for a walk," Goten assured. The look on Goku's face said otherwise.
"He doesn't wonder off Goten," Goku cried out. He grabbed Goten's shirt, his eyes smaller than a thumbnail. Goku's hands were shaking. "Goten, you don't understand! Gohan doesn't wonder off; he doesn't go anywhere unless someone is with him! What if we missed someone? What if someone came back for Gohan! I couldn't…I can't…"
Goku, the strongest being on Earth, was falling apart. Goten felt his heart drop, his stomach clench up in pain.
Only one person has seen Goku like this before.
That person never spoke about Goku's breakdown to anyone.
And that was the person Goku needed to see.
For Goten, he wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Chi-Chi and Videl came outside, and noticed Gohan missing as well.
"Spread out," Videl yelled. Chi-Chi took off in one direction, Videl in another. Through it all, Gohan's wife was staying strong. His mother could only hold on to hope. His father was falling apart from fear. His brother started this whole entire thing…
…and Goten was going to find his brother.
"We're going to find Gohan, and we're going to have dinner," Goten said, pulling his distressed father from him. "I'll find him."
Piccolo had to feel the panic coming from the area; Goten could feel him coming back to the house. Right now he needed to find his older brother.
'Think Goten,' he thought as he flew up in the air, leaving his grieving father on the ground. 'If I were Gohan, where would I go?'
Goten didn't have a clue where to start, so he took off. He couldn't find Gohan's ki anywhere, which meant Gohan was suppressing his ki, or there was that slight chance he was kidnapped. Goten shook his head, and decided to fly to places where Gohan wouldn't be.
Which is everywhere!
Goten tried to think of the stories he heard from the others. Gohan could be at multiple places. Where he and Piccolo used to train…the fight with Vegeta…Cell Games…hell he could be where he was kidnapped!
He could be where he was kidnapped!
WHERE WAS THAT?
Goten stopped flying, thinking of places where he was not allowed to train.
THAT NARROWED IT DOWN TO OVER NINE THOUSAND PLACES!
'Near here,' Goten thought. Knowing his mother, training had to be nearby, and it would be a place where he was never allowed to go. Thinking back to when he was a kid, at least the times where he could train with his father, places where his father didn't take him. The radius was too big, so Goten followed his gut. Biting his lower lip, Goten asked Dende to help. He is the one who messed up everything, and he needed to fix everything. All he needed to do was find-oh look there was Gohan-his brother and get him…
Wait a minute…
'I flew right by him,' Goten screamed in his head. He quickly turned around, cursing at himself for passing his brother, who was standing in plain view.
Goten landed behind Gohan, and looked around the area. There were some dents on the ground, some broken down mountains, and a giant hole in the middle of the ground. Goten stood there, not sure if he should speak first, or-
"This is where they took me," Gohan said, holding the rabbit in his arms.
Well that answered that question.
Goten didn't move.
'So that giant hole-"
"Wasn't there," Gohan interrupted. He assumed his father made that after his capture. "Dad, Piccolo, and I used to train here all the time. One day…"
Gohan didn't continue. Goten took a few steps forward, and stood next to Gohan.
"I was there,' Gohan continued, pointing to the spot where his father was holding him, "when they grabbed me. We finished training, and were tired. They weren't strong, but they waited until we were weak enough to defeat. That's how they grabbed me, when no one could get up to fight. I was pulled away, chained up, and locked in a cage.
"Two years Goten, two years with those monsters. I tried to forget about it. I tried to pretend that I was okay. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was okay, that I was fine, but the memories kept flooding back. I didn't want anyone to know what happened, so I didn't talk. The memories didn't let me forget what happened. The scars on my body was a constant reminder that what happened was real.
"Time passed, the memories weren't that bad. But when you and Trunks…" Gohan turned towards Goten. "They weren't memories. They felt real. I thought that everything that happened, Dad finding me, meeting Videl, having a child…it was a dream. Everything that happened from when I was found till just hours ago, it was a dream. I didn't know what was real anymore Goten. Do you know how terrifying that is?"
"No," Goten answered honestly. "But Gohan…I didn't know. You never said anything, our parents never said anything, and growing up you got the attention, not me. Dad was always around you, and Mom constantly worried about stupid things you did. I grew up with a mute brother, who started talking one day out of nowhere. I was okay with that, but I was still ignored. It hurt, you know?"
Gohan knew what it was like to be ignored. Near the end of his life, he was left alone. They never checked on him; they left him there to die. He understood where Goten was coming from. Goten stuck up for Gohan, he spoke up when Gohan couldn't.
Gohan held Goten for the first time when their mother wouldn't let Gohan fight. Gohan never forgot that day. Goten couldn't stop crying. He kept saying how it wasn't fair, and that his big brother should fight with the others. Not knowing his past, Gohan quickly gather Goten in his arms and held him. It was at that moment he felt accepted.
Gohan was grateful.
"You got jaded, and that is my fault." Gohan looked at the rabbit in his arms. "You accepted me, not knowing me, and I ruined your relationship with Mom and Dad." Gohan began to tear up. "I'm sorry I'm so messed up Goten! I didn't want this to happen to me, and I didn't want you to be pushed to the side like a…like a….rotten turnip!"
Oh…my…Kami…
He was horrible…HORRIBLE with words.
All he wanted to do was tell his brother that everything was okay, just like he told his father many years ago. He was a bit of an emotional mess right now, and all he wanted was to hold people again, and not the damn rabbit that ate the turnips! He thought about everything that happened in the last few days, and understood his brother.
And he just started to get a bit emotional because he loved his brother, and he wanted to forgive him because he would have done the same thing!
Two arms wrapped around him. He stiffened up quickly, slightly frightened.
"It's okay," Goten said. The only thing he could do was cry. Those were the first words he spoke to his father when his father broke down in front of him. Here was Goten, saying the exact same thing. "We're okay."
They walked out of the woods, side by side. Both of their faces showed distraught, but both also had relief. Yes, his eyes were swollen from crying, but Goten had a break down too! Once he regained his senses, Goten started to bawls his eyes out as well. Both of them looked like utter crap, but they were okay.
No one was around, so they went inside the house. He put down Turnip as he entered the house, not caring if little bunny turds went all over the floor. He was exhausted.
And hungry.
"You know how to cook, right," he asked his brother. Goten opened the cabinets.
"I can make something," Goten said. "I mean, how hard can it be?"
It was the Time Chamber all over again.
He and Goten stood outside, as both houses were on fire. They panicked, as usual, and the attempted to put out the fire made it worse. It spread, quickly, and both knew that they needed to escape. Grabbing Turnip, he and Goten ran outside, and watched as the twin houses caught one fire.
The first to arrive?
His mother and Videl.
"What," his mother shrieked from the woods. She ran up to the houses, trying to figure out a way to stop the fire from spreading. He and Goten tried that, and burned parts of their clothing and skin. He leaned closer to his brother.
"Don't worry. Dad is a magician," he said. As soon as he said that, their father appeared next to them. "He can put out the fire, and everything will be back to normal!"
His father looked at the houses. Goten pointed to Turnip.
"Bit a wire," Goten said.
"He did," he said, agreeing with his brother. His father looked at them both, relief on his face.
"You two are," his father started to say.
"It's okay," they both said. His father laughed, just happy things were back to normal. His mother? Still trying to put out the fire. Videl stood beside him, wrapping her arms around his one arm. He stiffened up, and let out a breath. He'll be okay, eventually. It will take time, but with Videl by his side he knew he it wouldn't be that bad.
"Who tried to cook," she asked.
Damn…she was good.
"Goten," he admitted.
"We'll going to be living with my dad for a while, aren't we?"
"Dad can put it out. He did it before, and everything returned to normal! You can do it again, right Dad?"
His father looked at him, and admitted the secret to the Hyperbolical Time Chamber. Even with damage done to the chamber, it fixed itself.
"All the food in the kitchen is gone," he exclaimed. His father nodded.
For the second time today, he bawled his eyes out.
END!
Once again, I am sorry for the delay! It is really hard to type when your hand feel weaker than Yamcha. I hope you enjoyed the sequel. I was originally going to put it in The Alarming Sound of a Still Small Voice, but when writing it I couldn't find a good place to put it.
I hope you guys enjoyed it.
Love,
CrazyGohanGurl
