Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dragons and Yaoi ❯ Part 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ characters. I'm not getting any profit while using them.

Warnings: Yaoi (male x male). Mirai Trunks x Gohan. Bishounen (“pretty boy”). Absolute OOC.

 

Dragons and Yaoi

 

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by Redmarshin

 

Part 11

 

Gohan felt like the world had suddenly ended. For some time he didn't manage anything else only to stare in front of himself while his mind was only a hazy buzz. The first thought was to go to Athara and to shake the answers out of him. But if it was just like Wadra said? What if Athara…

 

“Bullshit,” Gohan shook his head, finally. “I'm not going to believe this shit! What do you want? Why did you come here?!” he shouted, irritated.

 

“It's because of this scum Danira got killed!” Wadra hissed. “With or without your help I'll get him to pay!”

 

Gohan snorted. “She was killed by that sea monster. You can't shift blame on Athara!”

 

“It was his ass they were after!”

 

“Such is a work of a mercenary! What the fuck did you expect?!” Gohan hissed, leaning over the table. “And they were not after Athara!”

 

“The fucker had been lying to us all the time!” Wadra leaned to him, too, so that now they were almost touching with their faces. “That there would be no suspicions, we were told it was Delaros who needed protection. I'm telling you - Athara is a fucking twisted son of a bitch!”

 

Gohan growled in anger. If Wadra were a man he'd have simply beaten the shit out of her. He shortly stood up. “I have had enough of this!” he turned to go.

 

“Hey, hey, hey… Listen to our refined lady…”

 

Gohan turned around in surprise. He looked Kiasho up and down. He had never liked the man and didn't feel extreme joy at all that he hadn't died.

 

“Come, sit down,” Kiasho showed Gohan back to the chair he had just left. “Come,” he motioned again after Gohan refused. This time an unpleasant glimmer appeared in Kiasho's eyes. “You'd better not piss me off…” he smiled, showing his sharp yellow teeth.

 

Gohan gritted his teeth and sat down. He knew he had not a chance against the Master Sorcerer - Kiasho could kill him anytime.

 

“Okay, let's start once again,” Kiasho said, motioning for a maid. He then turned to Gohan. “I know you don't like me, but I hoped that at least the refined lady would open your eyes…” he turned to the maid who had approached and ordered two mugs of beer. “Anyways, we both know that right now you're thinking with your dick and not your brains,” he continued. “You are thinking that all those sweet love oaths and heavenly sex and stuff are binding you or whatever. Do you even know how many idiots like you Athara has had?” Kiasho chuckled. “I should say how many idiots had had Athara… For the slut loves sitting on the others' cocks...”

 

Kiasho chuckled at Gohan's red from anger face. “What do you think was between Athara and that pretty mage? Before you appeared on board they fucked nonstop. Though, Athara easily gets bored and never gets enough…so after he saw a new face…”

 

Gohan decided he didn't care about Kiasho's words. The words really stung and made him unsettled, but he knew the sorcerer had never been believable.

 

“Enough of this sweet-talk,” Gohan snorted. “Better tell me what you want.”

 

“I knew you were a very cooperative guy…” Kiasho grinned, taking his mug from the maid and motioning for Wadra to take another.

 

“I didn't say I would do anything yet,” Gohan glared.

 

“And I didn't ask anything yet…” Kiasho showed his teeth again.

 

“Sure you will,” Gohan muttered.

 

Kiasho only grinned again. He sipped his beer. “We need to get to Athara before he goes to Angus, for if he goes there, we wouldn't be able to stop him anymore. As the fucker won that round on the ice, and there are only several from us left, you are the only one who can get close to him. Here,” after fishing in his pocket for some time he reached out a necklace for Gohan. “Put this on his neck. It dampens power. If you put this on Athara's neck, you'll have him under control - he won't be able to take it off.”

 

Gohan looked at the necklace in disgust. “You are fucking dreaming if you think I'll put this shit on Athara's neck!”

 

Kiasho curled the necklace on the table, under Gohan's nose. “Take it. He'll simply get rid of you after he bores. Just keep it as insurance…”

 

“Go fuck yourself!” Gohan suddenly stood up. He quickly turned around and left.

 

“Hey, that didn't go too well…” Wadra frowned at Kiasho after Gohan slammed the door behind him.

 

Kiasho grinned widely. “Quite the opposite. Just watch for now,” he leaned in his chair, content.

 

XXXXX

 

He couldn't believe. The nerve! Gohan cursed under his breath. Talking such shit! Okay, he agreed that sometimes Athara acted weird, but that, what Wadra and Kiasho had said… It was impossible. It was simply impossible. Athara wasn't like this. Athara would never do that. Athara would never ever do that. Definitely. Athara hadn't ever raised a hand against anyone! Even when he had been attacked he just clawed and yelled… No, there was no way Athara could ever…could ever be that man they said he was…

 

Huffing, Gohan opened the inn's door. Tonight he was going to have a long talk with Athara about all the stuff that bothered him. He climbed upstairs and wanted to go to his and Athara's room, but after hearing voices in their room he halted on his way. He didn't know what came over him, but instead of opening the door and stepping in, he carefully leaned to the crack between the door and the wall.

 

“I can't find him anywhere, my Lord,” Darius fell on his knees against Athara. “It's like the earth has swallowed him!”

 

“Get up!” Athara motioned to Darius. “I told you not to do that! What if Gohan saw this?!” Athara frowned after Darius straightened. “Damn,” Athara tugged at a curl of his lavender hair. “Where the hell is he?”

 

“He might have gotten attacked…” Darius shifted.

 

“Gohan? Attacked?” Athara rolled his eyes. “Who the hell would be stupid enough to mess with him?”

 

Darius smiled. “That's true. But…” he frowned then, “several hours earlier I felt some magical activity somewhere nearby… It wasn't anything we should concern ourselves…but Gohan…”

 

“Hmm…” Athara's blue eyes darkened. “It wouldn't be nice if I had to fight against them again…They are becoming more than annoying…” He snapped his fingers, making a kerosene lamp on the table flare to enlighten their surroundings. “Okay,” he sighed, “let's wait a bit. If he doesn't come back by ten, I'll raid this damn city.”

 

“Can't your Lordship simply look for him? Like simply scan the city?” Darius wondered, keeping himself several respectful steps away from Athara.

 

“I suppose I could…” Athara shrugged. “But you know that the feel of my power would cause turmoil between sorcerers and mages.” He sighed, shaking his lavender head. “I don't have time for suppression of that sort of things. Neither do I care for that.”

 

Darius nodded, “Understood.”

 

Gohan snuck back into the shadow and flattened himself to a wall. He waited until Darius passed him. After Darius went by, he simply stood there, staring at nothing in particular. He wasn't even thinking about anything in particular - it was like a dark night fell on his mind.

 

He came out from his stupor only after he realized that his fingers were feeling something in his pocket. After drawing his hand out, he saw that he was holding the necklace Kiasho had given to him. Actually it was a simple tied rope with a strange looking pendulum. He shortly wondered how it got into his pocket then pushed off the wall and went to his and Athara's room.

 

“Oh,” Athara smiled when Gohan entered the room. “Hey, where have you been?” he approached Gohan. “You just left me at that statue like that… I was worried something might have happened to you…” after noticing that something wasn't right, Athara frowned a bit unsure. “Gohan…?” Surprised, he looked at Gohan's face. “Hey!” he gasped as Gohan grabbed him by his arm. “What's that?” he blinked at a strange thing that now was dangling on his neck. “A present?”

 

“Yeah, a fucking present!” Gohan backhanded Athara.

 

Athara yelped and landed on the floor. Stunned, he raised his head. “Hey, stop that!” he struggled as Gohan grabbed him again and lifted from the floor. “What the hell?! Let go!”

 

“You fucking…liar!” Gohan smashed his fist into Athara's head, sending him into the wall.

 

Athara knocked his head into the wood. He fell to the floor while trying to clear the ringing from his head and stars from his eyes. But the next blow was fatal.

 

Gohan looked at unconscious Athara on the floor. The long lavender hair was spread around him, a small trickle of blood running down his split lip. Then he grabbed the limp body, and, being sure that the necklace won't fall off, tossed Athara onto his shoulder. Athara was going to regret having messed with him.

 

XXXXX

 

His head hurt.

 

Athara groaned softly and opened his eyes. He had to blink several times until his vision focused, and even then it somehow swam and shifted out of the shape. He was lying in some kind of…building, on the floor, in some corner it seemed. He could tell that, but not much more.

 

Starting to remember what happened, Athara moaned again. He looked at his neck then took the strange thing that still was there in his palm. Now he knew what it was, and he knew what happened. As his vision swam, he couldn't read the script that was inscribed on the pendulum, but he had seen several like this before.

 

Athara lowered the pendulum back onto his chest and tried to get up. He had to refuse the thought, for a sudden wave of sickness washed over his body. He kneeled, gasping for air then yelped in pain as his hair was grabbed and yanked up, forcing him to stand up.

 

“Well, good morning, sweetheart,” Gohan hissed into Athara's ear from behind.

 

Athara winced in pain. To keep his weight and to prevent Gohan from tearing his scalp off, he leaned on the wall next to them.

 

“Let go,” Athara rasped out. He yelped as Gohan roughly yanked his head back. He tried to pry Gohan's hand out of his hair but then he had to let go of the wall which made him lose his leverage.

 

Athara heavily slumped back onto the floor after Gohan let go of him. His head was spinning, dark dots dancing against his eyes. He was sick. Literally and figuratively. He had known it might happen, but this…this… Gods…

 

“Gohan…” Athara gasped as he was picked up again. “Listen to me…” he begged while Gohan was dragging him somewhere forward into the building. “Please… Whatever they said, it's not true. I did lie but…” he yelped in pain when Gohan tossed him to the floor again.

 

“I don't think you're amusing yourself anymore, are you?” Gohan hissed at the body against him.

 

“Gohan…” Athara winced. “It wasn't…”

 

“I saw you and Darius!” Gohan shouted. “You fucking slut! And how long did you think you'll be pulling this off?! Until you reach Angus?!” he screamed, through Athara's lame excuses.

 

Athara closed his mouth and simply listened to the curses that were falling on his back, making him hunch. His head felt like it was going to explode at any time. He started suspecting that he had suffered a concussion, which would explain why he felt so weak and could hardly see anything.

 

Then Athara was grabbed again, and his eyes widened as Gohan's sword probed his neck.

 

“Are you even listening to what I'm saying?!” Gohan yelled.

 

“Y-Yes…” Athara muttered. “I'm just having trouble with concentrating…” He screamed in pain as Gohan tore at his hair.

 

“You bitch! Still making fun out of me!?” Gohan hissed in fury, pushing Athara away from him. Athara fell back to his knees then.

 

“Stop it, Gohan…” Athara muttered tiredly. “I didn't think anything wrong… Just let go of me…”

 

Gohan snarled. “So you won't explain yourself? It's true then, isn't it?!”

 

“How do you expect me to defend myself if you don't let me say anything?!” Athara retorted. “Where did you get this?” he showed at his neck.

 

“A friend gave me!” Gohan snorted. “Don't worry, I won't take it off until I get everything from you!”

 

Athara smiled sadly. “No artificial things can dampen my power, Gohan - the God and I are one,” he simply took the necklace off of his neck. He tossed it under Gohan's feet who stood, stupefied. “Tell Kiasho that his time will come,” clenching his fists he shook his head, but instantly regretted that as the dizziness came back with the full force. “I don't intent to hurt you. Let's just simply talk now,” he said after his head felt better. In his mind he laughed at his own words - first of all, in his current condition, he wasn't able to hurt anyone.

 

Gohan turned to look around as suddenly the door exploded. He blinked when five men crashed into the barn. One of them was Kiasho.

 

“There he is!” one of them motioned at Athara.

 

Oh shit, this is gonna hurt, Athara thought when his eyes managed to discern a colorful blast against his nose. The next second he was tossed to the side.

 

“Who the fuck are you?!” Gohan yelled, after rolling off Athara, his sword ready in his hand. Only then he noticed that one of the men was Kiasho.

 

“They are from the Council,” Athara rasped out. He brushed his hair out from his face and tried to get up from the ground. He fell back down onto his hands. “Shit,” he cursed while kneeling on the floor. “Get away or they'll kill you.”

 

“Fuck kill!” Gohan hissed, launching at the group.

 

“No! Gohan, you don't…” Athara shouted. He felt his world freeze in a second of horror.

 

The impact sent Gohan sprawling away from the five men.

 

“Gohan!” Athara yelled, panicking. “Gohan stop! These are the Elite Sorcerers and Mages! You will die!”

 

“You are either incredibly stupid or want to be killed!” Kiasho howled, approaching Gohan who was gathering himself from the floor.

 

Oh Gods, oh Gods, oh Gods…, Athara chanted in his head, why can't I concentrate?! Why do I see only dots? If only for a second… Please… I would have a chance… Oh Gods… Gohan… HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING…

 

“You heard what I said then!” Kiasho continued. “Why do you protect this scum?!”

 

Gohan growled. “Even if so, you can't kill him!”

 

“Ah well…” Kiasho rolled his eyes. “Your choice…” he raised his hand with a glowing blast above Gohan's head.

 

…EVEN IF THAT KILLED HIM.

 

Something stirred the air. A cold wind whirled in the barn lifted the dust and remnants of the hay. Everybody's eyes turned to the lavender-haired man who slowly stood up. A circle of dust and hay circled around him, marking his power.

 

“I can't believe they accepted you into the Council… The world has really rotten…” Tarrus dusted his clothes off. He raised his head. “You are nothing more than an ordinary killer…” his bright blue eyes slowly concentrated on Kiasho. “I have never liked you,” he smiled. A smile that froze the world for a second. “Neither did Athara…”

 

“The feeling is mutual!” Kiasho tossed the blast at the lavender-haired man.

 

Nobody saw the lavender-haired God move.

 

It became completely silent in the barn as Kiasho's head rolled off of his shoulders and lazily hit the ground.

 

“My, my…” Tarrus licked his bloodied fingers after Kiasho's dead body softly slumped to the ground. “You lot never learn that it isn't practical to harass a God…” He raised his head and looked through the lavender curtain. “Who is next?” he smiled.

 

Tarrus rolled his blue eyes as the men launched at him. “But really… Are you all idiots?” he sighed, raising his hand and annihilating them on the spot.

 

Dust fell back to the ground.

 

“Gohan, Athara!”

 

Dazed, Gohan slowly turned his head back to the door where a breathless Darius appeared.

 

“They know you are here! The Council…” Darius choked up after seeing Kiasho's head at his feet. He quickly looked around in the barn.

 

“You are quite fast…” Tarrus said while watching his hand; Kiasho's blood was disappearing from his skin; he hated being dirty. “Probably that's because Athara liked you, but I think you can expect a promotion. After I reorganize that idiotic Council a bit…” he raised his head, smiling.

 

“My Lord,” Darius fell to his knees against Tarrus.

 

Tarrus waved off, “Let's skip formalities; this body is going to fall apart at any moment. Is this all of them or there are some others coming?” he inquired.

 

“I…I'm not sure, my Lord,” Darius shook his head. “These were sent by the Council. They will send more after they…”

 

“I'll take care of them later, then,” Tarrus cut him off. “Go back to your family. After Athara is dead, I'll come to aid you, so you can be calm. But get away now.”

 

“But…” Darius hesitated.

 

“You can't help Athara,” Tarrus shook his head. “Though, it's nice to see that there's someone worried for him…” Tarrus nodded.

 

“Can I…can I at least say goodbye to him?” Darius asked.

 

Tarrus shrugged. “Yes, you can, but I don't see much point in that. This body suffered fatal injuries, and he might not recognize you at all or talk nonsense. Be quick.”

 

Tarrus' eyes closed.

 

Darius rushed forward as suddenly Athara slumped to the ground. “Athara?” Darius gathered the lavender-haired man into his arms. He startled after noticing that Athara was bleeding all over; Tarrus' power must have had preserved the body from falling apart immediately. “Athara?” he wiped a trickle of blood from Athara's lips.

 

Everything was flowing against his eyes. A colorful swirl danced and spun in his vision. He could see a colorful fish swimming. And there was something similar to a castle, too. There was something dark behind that colorful swirl, but he couldn't discern it.

 

“Athara?” Darius shook the younger man by his shoulders. Athara's eyes were open but it didn't seem that he was seeing anything. The irises were wide, eyes filled with blackness. “Gods…” Darius brushed a lock of lavender hair off Athara's forehead. He laid Athara's head on his lap.

 

Gohan just stood there. His sword was lying next to his feet; it had fell out of his hand long ago, then, when he saw Athara knock Kiasho's head off his shoulders. He was in shock. Athara killing all those men then babbling something about hell knows what and referring to himself in a third person… And Darius, too… And then…then just…was Athara dying? That was just too much.

 

“Athara?” Darius stroke Athara's hair.

 

Like a silver thread his name broke through the meaningless storm of sounds around him. He grabbed and held on it.

 

“Thank Gods,” Darius heaved as Athara's eyes blinked, his head turning to the source of the sound.

 

He immediately regretted answering the call - his body burst into painful flames.

 

“Shhh… It's okay,” Darius stroke Athara's head as that began wincing.

 

“It hurts…” Athara rasped out, moaning.

 

Darius wiped a red trickle off Athara's cheek then continued to soothingly stroke the lavender hair. He was regretting having called Athara out and making him suffer in his last minutes. He didn't even know what to say now; he didn't want to make it worse with his words. Though, it was going to end soon - the body in his arms was uncommonly cold.

 

Darius startled as suddenly Athara's eyes concentrated on his face.

 

“I was right,” Athara whispered. “In the end you really appeared to be my friend …” he smiled, his gaze becoming unfocused again.

 

Darius smiled back. “Sure, kid,” he ruffled Athara's hair. “Even though you are a spoiled brat, you are nice to look at.”

 

Darius regretted saying that after Athara choked on his own blood while laughing. After the coughing subsided Athara just lay with his eyes closed, simply trying to concentrate on the feeling of Darius's fingers massaging his scalp.

 

Darius raised his head to look at Gohan who finally moved.

 

“Athara?”

 

It felt like a physical blow when Athara startled at his voice and shrunk back, pressing himself to Darius.

 

“It's okay,” Darius brushed over Athara's forehead. “I won't let him do anything to you anymore.”

 

Athara was silent, only his harsh and gurgling breathing heard. “C…can you bring me outside?” he rasped out then. “It's very d-dark here.”

 

Darius nodded, “Sure thing.” He gathered Athara in his arms and stood up. With a hardly weighing body at all he pushed past Gohan. “Listen,” Darius whispered to Gohan while passing by, “just get the fuck out of here, or I might simply give in into the urge to tear your entrails out.”

 

Once outside, Darius kneeled and lowered Athara down in his arms. Darius simply ignored Gohan after he followed. It was a sunny and bright day outside, though he doubted that Athara could see that.

 

“I wish you could have met my wife and daughters…” Darius sighed. “They would have liked you…”

 

Athara smiled at that. “It's okay, don't be sad,” Athara looked at the sky with nothing seeing eyes. “I don't exist, anyway - I'm only a small part of his entity…”

 

“Then I can say that you are the best part that he has…” Darius smiled while stroking Athara's long hair.

 

Athara's nothing seeing eyes concentrated somewhere high in the sky as if he had seen something. “What is he like? Tarrus? I wanted to know him better… I saw the memories, but the memories are one thing and the person is another… I always wanted to talk to him… To know what he is like…”

 

“Athara…?”

 

Athara startled in Darius's arms. Darius gritted his teeth and turned around to glare at Gohan.

 

For several seconds Athara didn't say anything. Then he turned his head to where he heard Gohan's footsteps. “I lied to you…and you have a right to hate me,” he said. “I'm sorry to have involved you in this… And I'm sorry in the end it turned out to be like this. This wasn't supposed to happen again,” he sighed, coughing on his blood, “again, and again…” tears spilled from his blind eyes. “And again…” he shut his eyes.

 

“No… I'm not…” Gohan shook his head, feeling everything spinning around him.

 

“But I didn't lie…” despite pain, Athara raised his head. “I have never lied about that… I truly loved you… Still do…” Athara muttered. “And will probably…” he silenced, not finishing. “I know you don't believe it, but it's true. I just… I'm sorry this keeps turning out like this…”

 

“Athara?” Gohan's voice faltered as he saw Athara's eyes close. “Athara? Athara?!” he repeated when Athara didn't answer. “Athara!” he panicked.

 

“Goodbye, kid,” Darius brushed with his lips over Athara's forehead.

 

XXXXX

 

“Leave him in peace,” Darius blocked Gohan's away. “You truly try to annoy me, don't you?” he growled, indicating for Gohan to move.

 

“You can't leave him here!” Gohan yelled, turning around again and showing with his hand at Athara's body stretched out on the grass.

 

Darius grabbed Gohan by his biceps and started dragging Gohan after him, away from Athara. “Athara's dead, asshole,” Darius snorted. “And Tarrus will need that body. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't stand here and wait for him to return…” Darius smirked. “Though, I'd want to tie you up on a pole for him to make a nice present… You are not worth the trouble saving you… Too damn bad Athara made me promise to protect you…” he spat to the ground, disgusted.

 

Gohan numbly let himself be dragged by Darius. He didn't really understand much of what was said. His head was in turmoil. He thought he was close to losing his mind or maybe had already lost it.

 

“I don't…I don't exactly understand…” Gohan breathed out after a while. “Athara and Tarrus…” he tripped over his own feet after Darius increased the pace.

 

Darius caught Gohan by his collar before that could have fallen to the ground and put him back to his feet. Gohan did feel like a schoolboy against the huge man.

 

“Athara was a part of Tarrus personality,” Darius said. “As Tarrus has way too much power, memories and experience to be fitted in a mere human body, by using some of his character traits he created a new personality that linked him to this world.”

 

Gohan stopped to stare at Darius nape. “Athara and Tarrus are one person?”

 

“No,” Darius snorted, roughly yanking Gohan to follow him. “Athara was a part of Tarrus. As Tarrus was a part of Athara. But they weren't the same being. When needed, Athara was able to use some of Tarrus powers and most of his memories, but he rarely did that, for it was too much of a strain for his body. Tarrus could never overtake completely or it would have meant to kill the body they both shared. Though, sometimes Tarrus surfaced. Either when Athara was in trouble or when he needed knowledge or when Athara decided that the situation needed a different approach, namely, Tarrus, Athara used to consume liquors to merge the line between Tarrus's entity and himself. I suppose his mind didn't feel so strained then,” he turned around to look at Gohan who was automatically running after him. It didn't seem like Gohan would even be in this world, his dark eyes glassy. Darius bitterly smiled. “Too fucking late…” he muttered under his breath.

 

“I doubt Athara immediately realized that he was created as a link between Tarrus and the Earth…” he continued, though he doubted if Gohan could hear him. “He probably came to realize that only much later… After he realized he was able to call out power and knowledge he perfectly knew he couldn't normally have access to… Once he saw the memories, it must have become everything clear to him.

 

“You fucking ruined everything,” Darius angry cursed. “You fucking misunderstood everything… Athara had never been the one to want power. He had plenty of it, anyway,” Darius snorted. “The problem was that he didn't know what would be the best - if he went with Delaros and fulfilled that silly prophecy or if he simply fled, leaving sorcerers and mages to deal on their own. Of course, Tarrus had his own opinion on this matter, and probably in the end this influenced the most of Athara's actions, making him refuse to go with Delaros. Though, Athara thought that it was because he had found what he had been looking for,” Darius grimaced.

 

“Gh!” Gohan tumbled to the ground after Darius smashed himself into him. He felt a hot power pass over them. Just right where they were a second ago.

 

“Shit,” Darius cursed. He raised his head out of the grass. “They have found us.” His eyes narrowed. “Not too bad, though. There're three of them. One Master Sorcerer and two average level mages. Stay down,” he pushed Gohan's back deeper into the grass. “I'll deal with them.”

 

“No need for that,” came a calm voice behind their backs.

 

Darius and Gohan turned around but there was no one. They whipped their heads back to where the sorcerer and two mages had been standing. Gohan gasped. Athara. Athara was already there.

 

“Damn, he's fast,” Darius grabbed Gohan by his arm. Gohan just numbly stared at the scene before his eyes. “Hey, move, if you don't want to be his next target!” Darius hissed. “Besides his power Tarrus is well known for his cold-bloodedness and spitefulness. You have just killed a man that had been his host for over nineteen years; I don't think this is something he'd overlook…” he pulled Gohan up by his collar. “Let's fucking go!”

 

Gohan slowly turned his head away from the scene where Tarrus had just raised one of the men into the air then tossed him into the ground leaving only torn flesh and protruding bones. He didn't want to see what happened to the other two.

 

“Fuck…” Darius cursed after catching a glimpse of what was happening behind his back. “Put this into your stupid head - never fuck with a God,” he hissed to Gohan while dragging him after himself. “A bit too late though…”

 

“Aren't you just doing that?” Gohan panted out, running after him. “I doubt he'd like-”

 

Darius smirked while running. “I have never fucked a God. You did.” His smirk broadened. “But don't expect any promotion… The only thing you'll get is one-way ticket out of this existence…”

 

“Goddamit,” Gohan rasped out, out of his breath. “Athara… If only he…”

 

“He was afraid you'd resent him,” Darius said. “I told him that was a stupid thought. But he was damn stubborn, the kid. Why did you drag him into that barn, after all?” he asked.

 

Gohan heard strange sounds behind his back and increased his speed, though, he had been sure he had been running at his full speed. “I had been an idiot, that's why.” He cursed as the sound started becoming louder. “The other day I was approached by Kiasho and Wadra and they talked shit. And I wavered. All I wanted was to hear the truth!”

 

Gohan gasped and turned around, tripping and almost falling over. There was a Master Sorcerer just right behind him. The man raised his hand up. Gohan's eyes widened even more as suddenly there Tarrus appeared behind the man's back. All it took was one tug and the sorcerer was flying over the air away from him and Darius. When his and Tarrus' eyes met Gohan felt chills running up and down his spine.

 

Tarrus smiled. A smile that crossed the air like a blue lightening. “Your day will come, Gohan. But not just yet. I'll find you…” his smile broadened, pinning Gohan on the spot. Then Tarrus simply vanished into the thin air.

 

XXXXX

 

Gohan closed the door behind him and looked around in the tavern. He had just come back to his native city. He had been traveling over a month. The journey went okay. There were no bigger disturbances - nothing Darius wouldn't be able to deal with.

 

He stayed here, and Darius proceeded with his journey back to his wife and kids. He had fulfilled his promise to Athara. There was no point in him staying at Gohan's side anymore.

 

There were rumors that the whole sorcerer and mage's council had been scattered. People were whispering having seen a lavender-haired God descend from the sky. After that nobody had seen anyone from the Council. There were rumors that after entering the hall where the Council resided there were found only their clothes.

 

People were also saying that the ones who tried to oppose the God were killed on the spot. Someone said people saw Tarrus being challenged by another God that supported mages. It was said that Tarrus smiled, ripped his head off and then burned the body as the example for other Gods not to stick their noses into his business.

 

People were saying many things. Gohan wondered how much of truth there was in them.

 

Gohan thought that he probably should have gone to look how his parents were doing first, but he needed to gather some courage first; he couldn't look them in the face after what he had done.

 

It was midday and the tavern wasn't crowded. Several men were sitting at the tables, drinking the same disgusting liquid as usually.

 

Gohan sighed. He started maneuvering through the tables to the corner he planed to sit. And then he stopped dead in his tracks. A man, sitting at the table several meters away from him…

 

Blue ethereal eyes shifted to Gohan to meet dark wide eyes.

 

“Welcome home, Gohan,” a short smile appeared on the man's face.

 

Gohan just stood there, frozen, pinned by that smile.

 

“You look like you have seen a ghost…” Tarrus chuckled. His smile vanished, and blue eyes darkened. “Sit down, Gohan,” he motioned to the free chair opposite him, “I suppose we have several things to discuss…”

 

For several seconds Gohan stood there like struck by lightening, but then numbly walked over and stood opposite Tarrus. “Athara…” he stammered.

 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Tarrus shook his head. “I'm Tarrus,” the blue-eyed man comfortably leaned back into the chair. “Athara is dead. You killed him.”

 

Gohan winced. Silently, he sat down, not daring to look the God into the eyes. He could have tried to make excuses, to try to defend his actions, to say that he was sorry, but he didn't. The truth was that he had killed Athara.

 

Tarrus watched Gohan's lowered face for some time. He brushed over his long hair. “I came here either to kill you or to let you go. You know that Gods are vengeful creatures, and I'm even so,” sighing he curled a lock of his lavender hair on his finger absentmindedly. His eyes bore into Gohan. “Athara is gone, as is gone his mind - don't confuse me with him - I'm a different person than he was. You might regret that you have ever touched Athara.”

 

Gohan nodded. Darius explained him that much earlier. “I already regret that… He'd still be alive…” he muttered.

 

Tarrus watched the silent man opposite him. He hadn't actually expected Gohan to simply accept his fate. And now… There was something very similar…

 

“Gohan, do you know that Athara knew how this was going to end?”

 

Gohan raised his eyes to look at the face before him. He was struck by the beauty again - despite unnatural paleness, Tarrus still was incarnation of pulchritude.

 

Perfectly well knowing what that was thinking about, Tarrus smiled at Gohan. “Call it vanity of a God or whatever you will, but I always liked pretty things… Sadly, Athara didn't quite share my enthusiasm about this body…”

 

Gohan shook his head, trying to get himself thinking; another person in Athara's body was confusing the hell out of him. “What do you mean “he knew how it was going to end”?”

 

“Well, he could use the power if he wanted, even if for a short moment. Athara knew his future, even it was the different time, he saw himself starved and your sword at his neck.”

 

Gohan was silent in shock. “And…and he still went with me?”

 

Gohan sat silently. Tarrus didn't say anything more just watched him with those painfully blue eyes that didn't belong to Athara anymore and held a whole different expression. Not the first time he thought why it had to be like this. Why had he been so…? Why didn't he…?

 

Gohan was trying to keep his tears in check, but this was too much for him, and they spilled down onto the table. “But why…? Why?”

 

Tarrus shrugged. “He didn't see any other way. There's no other way, only to follow the path that has been set. He hoped he could change that. He always did. Do you know why I came here, to Earth, in first place? - I wanted to find something or someone that would fill me up. You can't realize how boring it can get with vast space and thoughts of your own. Other Gods…” Tarrus rolled his eyes, “they are as empty as a pond during drought and as ignorant as termites that eat up the core and let the building fall... Just playing with people and amusing themselves…

 

“He was as lonely as I was; he was only my part, anyway. He didn't want to be called Mirai and to be responsible for something, which wasn't his choice. Athara simply wanted to have at least those several moments you had together.” He wanted to bite Gohan by mentioning something more, something to hurt him, but something was resisting in him. He knew what it was. Athara and he were a part of one and the same person after all. Athara had loved Gohan. Athara gave his life away for the man.

 

Tarrus scowled at Gohan. To kill Gohan would mean to hurt Athara. Tarrus rolled his eyes at his thoughts. He and Athara were sort of only one person. First of all, Athara would have never existed if not he - Athara had been only a small part of him that fitted into this body.

 

“I don't remember seeing you cry before…” Tarrus put his elbows on the table and leaned his head on his palms.

 

Gohan didn't look at him nor say anything.

 

Suddenly, Tarrus stood up, startling Gohan. He started walking towards the door. But on his way he halted then turned around, his blue eyes settling on Gohan. “Everything is a circle. It is your choice what you'll do when you meet Athara next time…” blue eyes left Gohan, and Tarrus continued walking.

 

Gohan watched Tarrus' back with blurred eyes then ran after him.

 

He was struck by how cold the body was. Not letting go, of Tarrus' arm, he raised his head to look at that beautiful face. “Please…” he begged. “Can't you…? Can't you… Please…?”

 

Tarrus shook Gohan's arm off him. “There are consequences to our actions. You made your choice then, now you are getting paid. I know you regret that now, but it's too late - betrayal is the worst of sins.”

 

Gohan shakily leaned on the nearest table. “What… What did you mean by “when you meet Athara next time”?”

 

Tarrus looked at Gohan's face. “Life is unending, Gohan. Lifetimes after lifetimes. Who knows how many times you betrayed Athara… And I forgot the count of the times you stood like that against me swearing not to repeat the same mistake…” Tarrus smiled. “But it's the first time I see you cry…” he repeated. He then nodded, turning around and walking out of the door. “Until next time…” he said softly.

 

TBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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