Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Life of a Demon ❯ Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I don't own anything *sob*.

Special thanks to

DemonDancing

A/A/N If you notice the differences in ages, I moved everything up the time line one year. So, Gohan is approximately twelve. Oh! And don't forget to review!

Chapter 8

Son Chi-Chi was on her way to see her precious baby. Gohan was alive, and nothing would prevent his mother from going to see him. Speeding the stolen jet copter up, Chi-Chi didn't even try to restrain her happiness: Gohan was back!

Chi-Chi could still vividly remember the pain and loss she'd felt when Goku's good-for-nothing brother took Gohan away from her. Stealing her little baby and sending him off into space all alone… She had looked all over for her son, as did the others - there was nothing they could do except search the planet and try to wish the boy back with Dragonballs, so that's exactly what they did. The entire planet was thoroughly searched, but Gohan wasn't anywhere. When that had failed, they tried wishing him back with the Dragonballs, but that didn't work either. Shenlong simply said that it was "not possible to bring Gohan back home," then calmly asked for their next wish.

Her pain was unbearable. Her child was gone. Gohan didn't exist anymore - he was probably dead, or dying, or in excruciating torture... No one else could fully understand the magnitude of her pain, not even Goku. Every day, Chi-Chi felt her heart being torn to pieces by the knowledge that she would never see her sweet baby boy again. Everyone else got over it, said that he was dead and that she ought to give up.

But everyone was wrong. Her son was alive, and Chi-Chi was going to find him then bring him home.

When Cell was finally defeated and the news of Goku's death reached her, she was devastated. It was only the realization that her husband would be wished back that kept her from giving up. Even after so many years, she still couldn't get over her son's death - and if she lost her husband too… There would be nothing left to live for.

Chi-Chi was walking through Capsule Corps, trying to get away from her depressing thoughts, and was about to round the corner when she heard something that stopped her in her tracks. She could tell right away that it wasn't intended for her ears. Ever since her son's 'death', everyone was cautious when it came to dealing with her emotions. Even now, after the fight with Cell, no one had told Chi-Chi the whole story. Sometimes she did prefer not to know - but this wasn't one of those times.

"Who was it?" Bulma, who was discussing the events of the Cell Games with the other Z fighters, couldn't keep the fearful curiosity out of her voice.

"I really don't know, Bulma." Krillin replied with an apologetic shrug, scratching the top of his head. "We were a bit far away, but he looked a little like a younger Goku. His hair was shorter, but it was just as spiky - and he had a fury tail exactly like Goku's!"

"Maybe it's Gohan!" Bulma cried, immediately coming up with an explanation.

"Woman, you know that Kakarot's brat, whatever he looks like, is dead." Vegeta, though he'd joined the group after Gohan 'died', knew the story of Goku's missing son. "It couldn't be him!"

"But, it has to be. Who else but a Saiya-jin, could have a tail like that - and don't call me WOMAN! I have a name, you know!"

"No matter how scary it is, I have to agree with Vegeta on this one. Even if the boy looks like Gohan ought to, and is around Gohan's age, it can't be him!" Krillin looked pained. "We don't know anything about him. For all we know he came here to take over the planet or something! And if he did, by the way, we won't stand a chance. I would hate to fight that boy - he's strong, and he fights with some kind of daggers and …"

"Claws." Piccolo interrupted. "It's him." And with that statement he turned away, leaving everybody gawking his back.

"Saiya-jins don't have claws!"

"It can't be him."

"Did you feel the size of his ki??? Man, I hope he's on our side..."

"What're we going to tell Chi-Chi?" inquired Bulma, finally remembering her friend's stake in this.

"We can't tell her - what if it isn't Gohan?" an uncharacteristically pessimistic Krillin pointed out. "It'll kill her."

"But what if it is him?!"

At that point in the conversation Chi-Chi quietly left her hiding place, heading in the opposite direction. Somewhere near the beginning of the exchange Chi-Chi had zoned out, concentrating on one fact only - Gohan was home.

So now, after stealing a copter from Capsule Corps' experimental garage, Chi-Chi was on her way to see her son. She knew that he was somewhere on the planet now - and how hard could it be to find a twelve year old boy on a highly populated planet? Chi-Chi was determined, and nothing short of death was going to stop her - and even that might not be enough.

She was going to see her son!

***

After three hours of aimless flying, something told her that she was headed the right direction. Maybe it was her Mother's Intuition, or maybe it was the ki radar that Chi-Chi had discovered was built into the copter. The radar was currently blinking, showing an unfamiliar, stationary energy signature to the west.

Chi-Chi refused to allow any doubts to enter her mind. She wouldn't hesitate - if she did, it might be too late. Throwing caution to the wind along with her doubts, Chi-Chi landed the copter as close as she dared without setting it on her son's head.

"G-Gohan?!" Chi-Chi called out as soon as she'd climbed out of the copter. "Gohan, it's me!" She was far too excited at this point to think straight - it didn't even cross her mind that her naïve little boy might not remember her...

She walked five more steps, her heart beating rapidly in her chest, and came face to face with a boy. Chi-Chi's watery black eyes met with those of a demon - eyes such a dark blue that was almost as if there was no color at all, just darkness. But the hysterical mother didn't register anything more than the familiar ebony orbs she could so clearly remember peering up at her when her son was first placed in her arms.

"Gohan!" Chi-Chi's eyes filled with tears once more, and she flung her arms around her son. Or, at least, tried to. At the last moment Demon stepped out of the way, slightly confused. Chi-Chi had to take a step forward to keep her balance, which now put Gohan behind her.

"Do I know you?" It was said quietly, but everything around seemed to freeze from the icy coldness of the tone.

Chi-Chi turned around to face her son, already opening her mouth to tell him not to play with her - when she really saw Gohan for the first time in almost nine years.

His eyes were two pools, two bottomless pits, and his black hair was short and spiky, just like her husband's. Gohan's skin was tan, and his tail was twitching behind him with some emotion that Chi-Chi was unwilling to acknowledge. He was shorter than her, still growing, and as lean and muscular as she'd expected him to be. His clothes were a uniform black. Tears prevented Chi-Chi from examining Gohan further, and she failed to notice the pointed ears and the claws.

"G-Gohan!" she was crying full force now, and Chi-Chi, quite literally, couldn't stand it. Sobbing uncontrollably, she dropped to her knees on the ground in front of her changed son.

"I'm not Gohan…" Demon started to say, but the crazed female didn't let him finish.

"Gohan! Eight years ago… when Raditz," she spat the name out with a considerable amount of disgust, "launched you into space…" Chi-Chi couldn't get the words out. "We were devastated… looked for you everywhere… scoured the planet… thought you were dead… But you're back!" She screamed the last bit, as if trying desperately to convince him. "You're back," she whispered, shaking with tears.

Demon didn't know what to do or what to think. This couldn't be right, could it? He couldn't be this 'Gohan' person that the woman kept calling out to. In all honesty, Demon had to admit to himself, it was possible… Improbable, definitely, but possible. This could be his home planet… He turned the idea over in his mind, exploring the concept. This wasn't at all how Demon had always imagined his home planet would look. But he wanted to know where he came from! He was curious... And, though he wasn't willing to admit it to even himself - he wanted to have a past.

Demon was also expecting to find somebody who was at least remotely like himself, yet from what he'd learned about this planet, humans didn't have tails, and sharp claws weren't considered normal. There were only two explanations for this: either this was not where he came from, and the human woman was lying; or his genetics were more altered than he expected. Yet this woman had no reason to lie… Unless she wanted something from him.

The woman's sobs finally forced Demon back into reality. She was still crying, repeating the name 'Gohan' over and over. Her tears seemed a mixture of sorrow and… happiness? Why was she happy? Demon had his ideas, and none of them were flattering for the woman.

Chi-Chi let out another wailing sob, making Demon's ears ring. He'd had enough of this. He was tired of this inane crying, and his sensitive ears couldn't take much more.

"Stop it, woman. I'm not this Gohan person. Leave me alone, before I blast you into dust." Demon quietly, somehow managing to come out even more threatening than a certain bellowing prince.

Chi-Chi couldn't believe that her son didn't remember her. He was her son - he had to be! She ignored Gohan's comment and continued to weep.

"Fine. Then I'll leave." Demon didn't care anymore if this was his home planet or not. It didn't matter in the long run anyways... He just had to get his payment for killing the android, then get his ass back into space where he belonged. After that, with the fortune he collected, he would finish what was started a long time ago. After that… who knew? He might just go into his training room and stay there forever. With all his power, Demon might even last a couple years…

The weak earthling continued bawling, now stretching her hands toward him. "Gohan, you're home!" the Woman raised her eyes, wet from tears, to meet Demon's dark blue ones. "Please!" came the last, desperate plea.

Suddenly, Demon felt pity for her. Why was she doing this to herself? What was so special about this 'Gohan' that she wanted him back so much? It seemed as though the woman lost all her strength, though, and was now collapsing to the ground. It wasn't a long way to fall as she was still on her knees, but Demon caught her nonetheless.

Why did he suddenly feel so protective of this female? He didn't want her hurt… Somehow she'd touched something inside him long thought dead. His eyes softened for a single moment before he was able to kill the unwanted emotion. This woman was nothing to him. He should just leave her here and go.

The something inside of him rebelled at the idea of leaving the female unprotected, and, for a change, Demon didn't even try to fight it. He would give her back to the locals - they could take care of her. She wasn't his problem.

And maybe if he kept telling himself that he would actually believe it.

Shifting her carefully in his arms so that her head rested on his shoulder, Demon flew in the direction the high kis that were congregated a few hundred miles away. Demon expected them to be Earth's Special Forces, but it didn't really matter one way or another, as long as they took this crazy human off his hands.

Only someone completely insane would care about another - Demon learned that lesson a very long time ago.

And yet, somewhere in the back of his mind, Demon had a sneaking suspicion that this human would change his life and his ideas forever.

A/N There was a question about the pairings. Yes, this is going to have some romance in the future, maybe even more than "some". Gohan just needs to grow up a little. I was originally thinking about getting him together with an OC, but as this story progressed I changed my mind. I'm 90% sure that this will be a Gohan/Videl. By my calculations Videl will come into the story in chapter fourteen. As for everything else - read and find out.

A/N Oh, and another thing. Gohan will stay evil. The violence will get more graphic, language will start being more offensive and there will probably be a lemon in later chapters. So, be warned. If you are offended than there is only one thing for you to do: STOP READING!!! Sorry, it just had to be said. And if you find something really wrong with this fic or something really gets to you than you are always free to e-mail me or leave a comment and tell me just how much you hate it. I will try to make everyone happy, but… this fic is still going to go the way I want it to. If I don't do something you think I should - feel free to yell at me for it.

A/N/N Leave a comment. Tell me what you think.