Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Blinded ❯ Trip to Otherworld ( Chapter 9 )

Trip to Otherworld

Gohan took a deep breath and sent his mind and senses expanding upwards. He had caught glimpses of Otherworld before, at times when he had been nearly dead. It was an entirely different plane of existence - one that wouldn't be easy to get to. Gohan pictured the spot he had seen before and concentrated on getting there. As he concentrated, he felt an abrupt shift in his body, and suddenly he was there. Gohan was so startled that he reached out, trying to figure out what was around him, and lost the hold he had in his mind. Gohan was literally slammed back into his mind with enough force to drop a Super Saiyan. His body had been slammed into the bed with the shock of his mind returning. Panting for breath and trying to ease the fire that seemed to rage in his brain, Gohan just rested, lying on his back on the bed. After about fifteen minutes of lying absolutely still, Gohan sat up, holding his head. The fire in his brain had dimmed somewhat, but it still hurt like hell.

<I guess that's what elder Muuri meant when he said it was difficult and dangerous. > Gohan thought.

Sighing to himself, Gohan reached for the glass of water by his bed and drank deeply. Finishing it off, he settled back into his meditative position again, ignoring the persistent pounding in his head.

<Well let's try it again>

With that thought, Gohan relaxed his body and mind and once again sent his mind searching for the path to Otherworld. Once again Gohan felt that shift within himself, but this time he was prepared for it. Keeping control of himself, he sent his mind out to explore, just like he had that first time in the clearing with Piccolo. As the information registered, Gohan could tell he was on a walkway in front of a huge pagoda house. He could feel hundreds of ki's all around him, but they seemed to have no bodies to give them substance. Gohan was puzzled until he realized he must be at the check in station his dad had once described. Surprisingly enough, Gohan's senses registered that he had a form. From what he could figure, it was kind of like an after image. He could tell it was there, but it wasn't really flesh and blood. All of a sudden he noticed a huge ki that stuck out in the midst of all of the others. It seemed to be coming from the pagoda, a ways in front of him on the path. Deciding that it would be the best place to start, Gohan took to the air. As he came closer, his senses registered other beings scurrying around and he could hear shouted orders such as:

"Hey you, get back in line! There's no cuts."

"Everyone move along in a single file line this way."

"Don't worry, be patient. King Yemma will get to see you all."

<Hmmm dad told me about King Yemma. He said that he was the person in charge of all the dead souls. Maybe I should go see him first. >

Deciding that would be best, he landed at the doors of the pagoda and walked in, ignoring the protests of several of the beings who had been yelling orders earlier. As he walked forward, Gohan registered that the room was huge, with a giant desk just ahead and a gigantic person behind it. Immediately Gohan recognized the person as the owner of the high ki that he had felt outside. This had to be King Yemma! Realizing this, Gohan stepped forward to the front of the desk.

King Yemma looked up as he heard the commotion from the door. What he saw was an indistinct form of a young boy walking towards his desk. The boy hesitated for a minute, and that was when King Yemma noticed why. The boy was blind. King Yemma also noticed the boy looked a lot like Goku. The boy walked up to the front of the desk and stood there uncertainly. Deciding to find out just what was going on, King Yemma spoke up first.

"Who are you boy?"

Gohan looked in the direction of the voice he had heard. The voice definitely fit the person. It was a deep, booming voice, with a hint of impatience in it.

"I am Son Gohan."

"What! Goku's son is dead?" King Yemma cried. "You're not supposed to be dead for quite some time yet! What are you doing here?!"

Gohan gave a little laugh as he answered.

"That's because I'm not actually dead sir. I decided to see if I could use my mind to get to

Otherworld and talk to dad."

King Yemma was stupefied. The boy must have incredible psychic powers in order to cross into the world of the dead while still living. It definitely explained the boy's indistinct form, though.

"Hmmm, that is quite interesting young man. No one has done this in thousands of years. Do you know who King Kai is?"

Gohan nodded.

"Your father is with him, as is your mother. You can go talk to them if you wish."

Gohan closed his eyes and concentrated on searching for his father's mind. Finding him, he waved goodbye to King Yemma and disappeared. Gohan's mind was soaring across Otherworld as he headed towards his father, wondering what he was going to say.

~~~~~~~~

I couldn't believe I had actually done it. After that disastrous first try, I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it at all. Man that had hurt like hell! Your brain feeling like it's on fire is not a pleasant experience at all. The second try I made it, nonetheless. I had to spend quite some time figuring out everything around me though. It was difficult to sense things around me while keeping my mind in Otherworld. After a while it got easier though, and I was able to move around easily. I was surprised when my senses told me I had a form; an indistinct one, but still a form. I hadn't really expected it, though it was definitely an added bonus.

After that, I met King Yemma. At first he had mistaken me for dead, and was quite surprised to see me. Apparently I'm not supposed to die for quite some years, which is comforting in a way, I supposed. Once I told him that I wasn't dead and that I had used my mind to come here, he was completely surprised. He told me it had been thousands of years since someone has done this. Once he got over his initial surprise, he told me that I could go talk to dad. Apparently both mom and dad are together with King Kai. That's where I'm headed now.

As I am traveling through Otherworld with my mind, a part of my thoughts is directed inwards, wondering what I am going to say to dad once I see him. I wonder if he will think I am dead like King Yemma did? I have so many things I want to say to him and to mom… I have been wondering lately if not telling my dad where my power comes from was a mistake. Maybe he would have understood and been able to help me. Another part of my mind argues that dad is too innocent. He just doesn't have the ability to grasp the concept of it all. I've decided to go with the latter and just keep quiet. I wonder what I will tell my mother. Undoubtedly she will ask about Goten. I am jerked out of my thoughts as I sense that I'm getting closer to dad. I can feel hundreds of other high kis in the area as well. I wonder what place it is. All of a sudden I feel it, and my mind stops moving. I land just a few feet from my dad.

~~~~~~~~~

Goku, Chi Chi, and King Kai were all relaxing under a tree on the Grand Kai's planet. The Otherworld tournament had ended just a few days ago, and all the warriors were taking a rest before returning to their training. King Kai looked up, startled for a moment, before turning to Goku.

"Goku, someone is coming. Someone really strong."

Goku perked up; another strong warrior would be welcome! Pikkon had already agreed to spar with him again, but he could use another partner. Chi Chi just looked unruffled and continued mending one of Goku's gi's. All of sudden a person appeared a few feet in front of the tree. All the warriors in the vicinity turned towards the newcomer. His ki was enormous! The person's form was blurry and indistinct, and their back was towards Goku and the his companions. It took Goku a moment,but then it clicked. He knew that ki signature. He tentatively called out to the person.

"Gohan? Is that you?"

The person seemed to start at the sound of Goku's voice, but slowly turned around. As his face came into view they could see that it was indeed Gohan. Chi Chi screamed and fainted, and King Kai was in shock, mumbling something about this being impossible. Goku couldn't believe it! His son was in Otherworld when he was supposed to be alive on earth! Goku felt a deep, overwhelming sadness as he spoke up.

"Son, how did you die?"

Gohan was fighting to control the rush of emotions he felt in his father and mother's presence. While he was struggling, King Kai spoke up.

"Well, actually, the boy isn't dead Goku."

Goku looked over at King Kai as he walked up to them.

"What do you mean King Kai? He's in Otherworld, and he has his body. He has to be dead."

King Kai shook his head and pointed at Gohan, who was standing rigidly in front of them.

"See how indistinct his form is. He isn't dead. If what I just heard from King Yemma is true, Gohan has brought himself here with the power of his mind. His mind is projecting an image of himself to make it easier for him to move around and do things."

Goku looked back at Gohan. Indeed, his form was indistinct and wavy. Goku also noticed that Gohan looked exactly the same as he had at the Cell games, which Goku knew wasn't possible.

"Is this true Gohan?" Goku asked his son.

Gohan's image looked towards the direction of Goku's voice and answered.

"Yes, actually. King Kai is right. Didn't mom tell you about the new abilities I developed after Cell? Well, I wasn't as advanced then as I am now, but she knew I could do things."

Goku was a little embarrassed. Chi Chi had told him, but in the excitement of fighting in the Otherworld tournament, he had forgotten a lot of things. King Kai chose that moment to step in.

"You know something Goku; your son is the first person to accomplish this in several thousand years. I think he ought to meet the Grand Kai."

Goku looked surprised at that, then grinned.

"Really? The first person in several thousand years, huh? Wow! That's great son!"

King Kai looked exasperated and spoke again.

"Goku, I want him to meet the Grand Kai."

Goku looked over at King Kai, finally registering the words.

"Are you sure about that King Kai? And it's up to Gohan whether he wants to or not."

Just then a green man faintly resembling Piccolo came over to them. Gohan had felt the approaching ki, and he turned to face the stranger. Goku looked up and, seeing the green man, called out.

"Hey Pikkon! What's up?"

Nodding his head briefly at King Kai, Pikkon kept his eyes on Gohan as he answered Goku's question.

"The Grand Kai has sent me to find the newcomer and take them to see him. Is that him?"

Pikkon pointed at Gohan, who had a thoughtful expression on his face, and his head cocked to the side as he faced Pikkon.

Goku put his hand behind his head in trademark fashion and gave a short laugh.

"Yeah, that's him, but he isn't actually dead. Gohan, I want you to meet Pikkon, Pikkon this is Gohan, my son."

Pikkon looked startled for a minute, then thoughtful.

<Hmm, no wonder this boy's energy is so high. If half the stories Goku told me are true, then he must have incredible energy. >

As he was thinking, Pikkon suddenly heard a voice in his head.

//The stories are actually true, if you really want to know. I can tell you're a lot like the Nameks. What race are you exactly? //

Once again Pikkon was startled. He hadn't expected the boy would be telepathic as well. He would have to think on it later… Just then Pikkon noticed something he hadn't before. The boy was blind. You could tell by the way he didn't look directly at you, and seemed to follow the locations of voices rather than faces. It kind of creeped Pikkon out, so he cleared his throat and spoke again.

"Goku, we need to take him to the Grand Kai now, and to answer your question boy, my race is called Midorians."

With that he began walking away. Goku called out to another warrior and asked him to watch Chi Chi for them while he, Gohan, and King Kai followed Pikkon. King Kai was being unusually silent, seemingly lost in thought, but Goku shrugged it off. He was happy just to be able to talk to Gohan again.

"So, hey Gohan! How is everyone doing?"

Gohan turned his head towards Goku's voice and answered.

"Well, Vegeta, Bulma, and Trunks are fine. Goten and I live with them now. Krillin is married to 18 and she's pregnant. Yamcha is somewhere in America on some baseball exchange thing. Tien and Chaoutzu are somewhere in Tibet. Master Roshi and Turtle are still arguing. Piccolo is helping Dende and Popo, and Korrin and Yajirobe are the same as always."

Goku grinned, happy to know that everyone was doing fine.

"Well, that's great! I'm glad everyone is doing well. I would have liked to see Goten at least once, though. Your mom told me about him, or at least told me as much as she knew. So how did you develop these new abilities, Gohan? And you don't seem to have any of the problems I would expect from being blind. Why?"

The Gohan image seemed to draw a deep breath before speaking.

"Well, apparently I've always had them, but until I had to focus on using my entire mind, they didn't come out. After a little while of being blind, they came out. I have emphatic and telepathic abilities, as well as whatever this thing I'm doing now is called. Piccolo re-trained me to use my mind to see, instead of my eyes. He also taught me to fight like that. Vegeta is the one who I have been sparring against in terms of power training, though."

Goku just stare in amazement before giving a laugh.

"That's great son! I'm really glad you're doing so well."

Goku and Gohan stopped their conversation as they approached to the house of the Grand Kai. Gohan could sense that the thing was enormous, and he could feel a ki inside with the same quality as King Kai's; very strange and distinctive. Feeling a little apprehensive, Gohan turned his head towards Goku and asked a question.

"Uh, dad? I take it the Grand Kai is the guy above King Kai, right? Well what do I call him?"

Goku was stupefied for a moment, then spoke.

"I don't know Gohan. I just call him Grand Kai, but I guess sir would do just as well. I never really thought about it before."

They entered a large room with a throne like chair at the far end. In the chair sat the Grand Kai. Now that Gohan was closer, he could feel the Grand Kai's ki much better, and, to his immense surprise, it was lower than his father's, and considerable lower than his own. As these thoughts were running through his mind, a voice interrupted them.

//Hey, what's up kid? I'm the Grand Kai and why don't you just keep those observations to yourself for the time being. Dig it? //

To say Gohan was shocked was an understatement. He was absolutely floored. He hadn't expected the Grand Kai to talk like that… After a moment he recovered enough to send his own thoughts back.

//Yes sir, but could you tell me why? //

The Grand Kai's voice gave a little chuckle.

//Well dude, I haven't trained in over a thousand years. No fighter could surpass me until Pikkon and Goku came. What a wake up call man! //

With that, he terminated their mental conversation, and Gohan found that he was right in front of the throne and the Grand Kai. The Grand Kai spoke up first.

"Well Goku, I take it this is your son, eh? He looks like a cool cat to me - first person in a couple thousand years to make it to Otherworld on mental power alone. Awesome, man."

Goku just laughed.

"Yeah, he's my son, and his name is Gohan. Gohan, this is the Grand Kai, Grand Kai this is Gohan."

Gohan's Image bowed and he murmured,

"Pleased to meet you Grand Kai, sir."

The Grand Kai looked at Gohan's image for a minute before speaking to Gohan.

"Hey dude, nice to meet you too. You want me to fix that image of yours a little?"

Gohan was puzzled.

"What do you mean sir?"

The Grand Kai got up and went over to the Gohan image.

"Well man, your image is stuck. You don't know what you look like for real now, so your mind took the last image it had. I can fix that, and tell you how to make your form solid dude."

Gohan thought for a minute.

<Maybe that will come in handy later on… I guess it couldn't hurt. >

Done thinking, Gohan spoke.

"If it isn't a problem sir, I'd like that."

Grand Kai put one hand over Gohan's head as he grinned.

"Hey, it's cool man. No problemo."

With that, a bright blue light emanated from his palm and spread over Gohan's image, which was slowly engulfed in the blue glow. Gohan's mind was filled with information from the Grand Kai, and in the middle of it all was an image of himself that the Grand Kai had, apparently, gotten from somewhere. The light vanished and a newly solidified Gohan stood before everyone.

Gohan had grown quite a bit lately, and now his height stood at five feet and three inches. That wasn't the only change, though. Gohan's body was more muscular than before, but he still held the same physique - so he was a lean muscular rather than bulky. He was wearing a gi like Piccolo's, except that his didn't have the cape and shoulder pads. His face had started maturing, and he was in the middle of the transition between childhood features and adult ones. One of the most significant changes was his hair. Gohan had been letting his hair grow out for a while, and now it resembled Raditz's, the only difference being that Gohan's only went down to the middle of his back. However, the most startling change that Goku noticed was Gohan's eyes. He had been expecting to see his son's usual bright, happy black eyes. Instead, Goku was confronted with the cold and empty black-flecked blue eyes of his blind son.

"Gohan, your eyes are blue! How come?"

Gohan just shrugged as he answered.

"After Cell blinded me they stayed this way, even after the dragon granted a miniscule part of my vision back. I know they give Piccolo the creeps when he looks at them."

Goku agreed wholeheartedly with Piccolo. Gohan's eyes gave him the creeps too. Where Gohan had always showed vivid emotions in his eyes, there was now a blank void. Goku tried not to look at them, yet he found himself staring. Gohan's eyes seemed to draw him in, all he could see was emptiness; a chasm with no emotions - almost like a black hole. Goku shook himself out of his daze, really creeped out now. Gohan laughed.

"You got stuck looking in them, didn't you dad? Apparently that happens to everyone who looks at them for too long. It even happened to Vegeta, and boy did that piss him off."

Goku grinned just thinking about Vegeta staring at Gohan and looking like a fool. Gohan turned towards the Grand Kai and bowed.

"Thank you sir, I appreciate everything very much."

Grand Kai studied Gohan for a moment before speaking out.

"You don't have a lot of time left here, do you man?"

Grand Kai had guessed right. Gohan could feel his mind and his body trying to get him to go back, but Gohan still had a few things to do before he was willing to return. Goku looked at his son.

"Is that true Gohan?"

Gohan sighed. He knew his dad would be disappointed, especially with what he had to tell him.

"Yeah dad, I do."

Goku looked really disappointed for a minute, then brightened up as he thought of something.

"Well, you'll be able to come back soon, right?"

Gohan winced; this was the hard part.

"Dad… I won't be coming back to talk to you for a year."

Goku looked crushed.

"But why son? Surely you can come back before then!"

Gohan took a deep mental breath, and his image did the same.

"I don't want to. I don't mind coming back once a year, but you guys are dead. I don't need constant reminders by coming back here, only to have to go away again. There's no way I could handle that. I'll come back once a year to let you know how everyone is doing, but that's all."

Everything suddenly clicked in Goku's mind. While this had been a great time for him, he had never really stopped to think of how Gohan might feel with him being dead and all. Realizing that Gohan was probably hurting quite a bit, Goku replied in a sad voice.

"I guess I can understand why Gohan. At least we will get to see you once a year. Do you have to leave soon, my son?"

Gohan's image nodded as he answered.

"As a matter of fact, I need to leave now."

With that, Gohan said his good byes to Pikkon, King Kai and Grand Kai, but when he got to Goku he said something else first.

"Dad, please tell mom I love her and miss her, and I will talk to her next time."

"Sure Gohan." Goku responded, giving his son a smile.

Gohan gave a little wave, concentrated, and found what he was looking for. Giving one last wave he vanished, leaving Goku and the rest staring at the place he had been. Goku began walking back to the tree where he had left Chi Chi as the Grand Kai, King Kai, and Pikkon discussed what had just happened. Goku knew that as soon as Chi Chi woke up she would be hysterical. As he was walking back, Goku resigned himself to at least an hour of her yelling and frantic sobbing.

Meanwhile, Gohan was moving towards the ki he had pinpointed earlier. All around him he could sense lakes, bushes, trees, and stone caves. As he was flying, he felt his image reappear.

<So this is hell (HFIL). Doesn't seem too bad to me. >

Gohan thought as he sped towards his target. Finally approaching it, he discovered it was with a group of other familiar kis, and all were in a cave just ahead. Gohan chuckled to himself as he realized something else about the cave. It had bars like a prison cell. Gohan landed a few feet away from the cave, and slightly off to the side so he wasn't immediately visible from the cave entrance. Gohan felt a presence coming from behind, and turned to face whoever it was. It was someone with a fairly low ki. The person stopped several feet away from Gohan before calling out uncertainly.

"Hey kid, what are you doing here? Are you a new arrival?"

Gohan chuckled as he responded.

"Nope. I'm just visiting to check and make sure some people are still here."

The person then came forward and identified himself as one of the ogre's in charge of the Home for Infinite Losers (Hell). Gohan chatted with him for a minute, then walked over to the cell inside the cave. As he got closer, there was no mistaking the ki signature, as well as the other ones in there. Then a voice came out from inside the cave.

"Well, well - if it isn't the brat that killed me."

Cell stepped forward from the back of the cave and almost up to the bars.

"Come to gloat, boy? Well, as soon as I get out of here you're history."

Gohan just stood there, his face like stone as he replied calmly.

"Actually, no. I just came down here to see if a bastard like you actually got a cell, or if you ran around free. Besides; didn't you know you already got your revenge, dumbass? You call yourself the ultimate being, yet you don't even have observation skills. I bet that even Frieza figures it out before you do."

Another walked up to stand next to Cell behind the bars.

"I remember you. You're that half Saiyan brat from Namek. My, my you certainly have grown up little monkey."

Frieza's cold voice sent chills down Gohan's spine, but he held firm and didn't let his emotionless mask slip even a notch.

"It's rather interesting, Frieza; a Saiyan or a half Saiyan has defeated every one of the so-called strongest villains that have appeared in the northern part of the universe."

Gohan started ticking off the list on his fingers.

"First off Raditz got his ass kicked by my dad and Piccolo. Then Vegeta and Nappa were defeated by my father and I. Then there was the Ginyu force, defeated by my father. My father defeated you, Frieza. I defeated Garlic Jr. Cooler was defeated by my father. My father defeated Turles. Vegeta's son defeated King Cold and again, you, Frieza. Vegeta defeated Dr. Gero and his androids. And finally, I defeated Cell. You really should have listened to those people who said that Saiyans would be your downfall."

By the time Gohan was finished, everyone in the cave had come up to the bars and were growling, yelling insults, and reaching out to the demi-saiyan, trying to get a hold of him. Now that all of the kis were close, Gohan could tell he had been right about whom all occupied the cell. Besides Frieza and Cell, there were Raditz, Nappa, King Cold, Cooler, the Ginyu Force, Dr. Gero (the android) and his other android, and Turles. The only person from the list that was missing was Garlic Jr., and that was because he was still trapped in the dead zone.

A sudden shouted insult from Turles caught Gohan's attention.

"When I get out of here you're going to pay, along with my dammed brother! I can`t believe he goes around free, while I`m stuck in here!"

Gohan's mind registered that, if Turles's brother was running around free in hell, than that meant his grandfather Bardock was running around. Gohan immediately turned away from the cell and lifted off into the air: hopefully he would be able to find his grandfather before he had to return to his body. As Gohan soared out into the less traveled parts of hell, he located two kis that felt like they were Saiyans'. To make sure, he gently touched their minds and found that they were, indeed, Saiyans. He immediately altered his course towards them. Finally he landed barely twenty feet away from the Saiyans. The two had been sparring, but when they noticed the boy flying in they had stopped. Gohan walked forward until he was about five feet away and spoke out.

"Hello. I am looking for a Saiyan named Bardock. Do you know him?"

From his senses, Gohan could tell that one stepped forward before speaking.

"I am Bardock, and the Saiyan next to me is King Vegeta. Who are you?"

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