Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Salvation ❯ The Challenge ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, I am not making any money off of this.

Big Fat Fucking Warning: NC-17 content.This fic will contain, but is not limited to, the following: Yaoi (obviously), Het, (only a small amount), Orgy, Bondage, Domination, Submission, Sadism, Masochism, Non-Con (kinda sorta, more of a reluctance really), Blood letting, Self-mutilation, and a poor plot line worthy of a porno movie, i.e. PWP.

But most importantly, as this piece has religious themes, please be aware of your own personal boundaries. If you are easily offended, then this fic is not for you. While I have tried to be fair to each pathway as possible, this is a piece of fanfiction, meant for entertainment purposes only.

That said, chapter one is `safe', however I have listed the chapter titles at the end to give you an idea of what's to come. If you are uncomfortable with the possible connotations of the titles, (esp ch 3 & 4), then do not read any further postings of this story.

Consider yourself warned.

SALVATION

By Makota

Chapter One: The Challenge

"All right, class, quiet down," he paused, allowing the youths to silence themselves. "I know you are all anxious for spring break, but while you're enjoying your vacation keep in mind that the end of term is not far away, and many of you need to pull up your grades," his light blue eyes settled on a dark-haired teen slumped in a chair in the back of the class. With a small disdainful shake of his head he continued, "As such, I am assigning a project-"

There was a collective groan around the room. A small grin tugged on the professor's lips, "Now, now, it's not as bad as it seems. As many of you know two religious holidays are celebrated during your break. Who can tell me what they are?"

Hands shot up all over the room. The academic walked around his desk and leaned back against it, sitting on the edge. A few black strands escaped the tight pony tail tied at the back of his head as he motioned towards a gawky girl in the front row, "Daisy," he said choosing her.

"Easter," she said in small voice.

"Correct." He nodded his approval, the girl blushed behind her glasses. He turned his attention back on the class "And the other?"

A lot of the hands lowered, but still a quite few remained. The professor's eyes settled again on the youth in the back of the room. The boy had sunk further in his chair, there was a book propped open-upside-down-in front of him, apparently to hide the fact he was dozing. However, the small bit of drool issuing from his mouth and the soft snoring sounds, only the professor could hear, were hard to ignore.

"Goten," the academic called sharply.

The demi-Saiyan startled to awareness, his dark eyes darted around the room to find everyone staring in his direction, the professor looking at him in expectation.

"Um, yes Professor 17?" he asked sitting up.

"Can you answer the question?"

Goten grinned sheepishly, "Could you repeat the question, please?"

The android's eyes narrowed, "What religious holiday will be celebrated during Spring Break?"

A wave of relief washed over the teen, "Easter," he stated with confidence.

There where more than a few snickers in the room. The demi-Saiyan frowned, what was so funny? He had been right.

"Goten," the professor said calmly, "while I understand that my students are young and apt to staying up all night participating in such worth-while activities as partying, I do not appreciate them recovering in my class."

"But I wasn't-

"You were sleeping," he said matter of factly. "If you had been awake you would have known that Daisy had all ready provided Easter as one of the answers." Goten glanced at the girl in question, wondering what kind of flower-children parents had given her such a stupid name. "Please see me after class," the android continued.

Goten's eyes widened. He turned to look at his teacher, but 17's attention had moved away from him to scanning the classroom once again. The teen scowled, drooping back in his chair, trying to ignore the sniggers and giggles directed at him.

"Edward," the professor called.

"Ostara," the boy answered primly, smirking nastily in Goten's direction. The demi-Saiyan glared at him, swearing to himself that he'd beat the pompous little twat to a pulp after class.

"Excellent," 17 answered. "Easter; the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Ostara; the spring fertility rite honored by neo-Pagans. In keeping with the season, I want a 700 word essay on one of these spiritual days. But there is a slight catch," he paused and let his eyes sweep the room, "if you happen to personally celebrate one of these holidays, I want you to write about the other."

There where a few moans around the class and more than a couple shifted in their seats nervously. The android smiled at the reaction and started to stroll casually around the room, "The purpose of this course is to learn about an array of western religions, however foreign they may seem to you. You will not go far in life if you never venture, or think outside, your `comfort-culture' box." He stalled in front of Goten, "It is my hope that the information you gain from this class will help make you a more rounded, knowledgeable, individual. " He kept moving, "For those of you who do not celebrate either Ostara or Easter, you may pick the one that interests you more. The guidelines for the paper are on my desk, make sure you pick one up as you leave."

The professor moved to the front of the room, "As this class has been more discussion than lecture, I am certain that you all have the ability to do well. However, please keep in mind that this project is research based. While I value your opinions, I do not want them dominating the paper. That said, have a good break. Class dismissed."

The students shuffled out of the room, each taking a sheet from the pile on the desk at the front of the class. A few lingered to wish the professor a happy break, but soon all where gone, leaving Goten and the android alone.

"Have a seat," 17 said, motioning towards the chair nearest to his desk. Reluctantly the demi-Saiyan complied, having the good grace to hang his head a bit as he did so. The older man closed the door to his classroom then settled himself in his chair. He opened a drawer and retrieved a maroon records book, flipping through it a moment before setting it down.

"Goten," he said finally, "to be blunt, your performance in this course can only be described as abysmal. You're missing several assignments, and the ones you have turned in where mediocre at best." He paused, as if to let the information sink in, "You do not participate in classroom discussion and to top it off you have missed several days. Do you have an explanation for any of this?"

Goten shrunk in his chair, not meeting his professor's gaze. He knew he wasn't doing well, but he didn't think it was that bad. Having it said out loud by his professor, who he happened to know outside of the classroom as Krillen's brother-in-law, was humbling to say the least. Slowly he shook his head.

17 sighed in frustration, he had thought Goten would do well in his course. He knew the kid wasn't stupid, outside of class he had always struck the android as a eager individual. He had hoped that eagerness would be applied towards his class work. Apparently he had been wrong.

"Are you doing this poorly in any of your other courses?"

Goten thought about it for a moment, "No," he said, "I'm not."

"Really? Why do you think that is?"

The demi-Saiyan shifted in his seat, "I don't know, well," he huffed and sat up a little straighter, "it's just that I don't like religion. I know it's important, and all, but personally I think it's boring. It's not for me."

"I take it, you took this course to meet a tier requirement?"

Goten nodded. "I had to take a humanities course, and well, I know you, so I thought-

"You thought I would be easy on you?" 17 cut in.

"Yeah," when the android raised a brow, he hastily continued, "I mean no. I thought it would be a cool course if you were teaching it, but it's just utterly boring to me," he was digging himself deeper and deeper and he knew it, "not that you're a bad teacher!" His palms were sweating, he hated confrontations, "If you weren't teaching the course I probably wouldn't show up at all…" finally he simply trailed off.

"Goten," the android said, folding his hands neatly, "I'm not going to lie to you, your grade is the lowest in the course. To be honest, I'm quite distressed; I've never had to fail anyone in this class before."

At the despondent look on the youth's face, 17 sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. "I understand that you aren't thrilled about the written material. However, if you had participated in some of the discussions I think you would have gained more out of it."

"Why?" Goten asked perturbed, gathering his wits. "It was nothing but people arguing over their beliefs. None of them could be right because none of it is based on facts." His voice grew agitated, " How can I gain anything from listening to a bunch of hypocrites damning each other? They sit there and try to prove they're right, when their argument is based on nothing but an old book-or on the flip side- an ancient culture that died out thousands of years ago, one that they couldn't possibly know anything about." He paused, and crossed his arms, "I'm sorry, that just doesn't cut it for me, I won't have anything to do with it."

A spark of interest lit in the android's icy eyes. "I would have loved to have heard that during class. Why didn't you express your opinion?"

"Why bother?"

"Because it would have proven to be an interesting debate. And, perhaps, the people who you say are `hypocrites' would learn a different way of looking at things, just as I hope you would as well."

Goten shook his head, "If you say so."

"Look, Goten, I don't normally do this, but if I offered you a way to bring up your grade to passing, would you take it?."

The teen nodded frantically. "Yes, anything."

"It won't be easy. Even if you turned in the essay I assigned today, and did perfectly, you would still be failing. And believe me when I tell you, an `F' on your transcript will haunt you for the rest of your academic life." Goten gulped, he really didn't understand the consequences until just now. A feeling of dread settled heavily on him when he thought of his mother's reaction.

"However," the dark-haired android continued, "I will allow you to write on both Easter and Ostara, but I don't want you to simply go to the library and check out some literature. I want you to physically observe an Easter Mass, and a Spring Rite. In addition I want you to talk with the leaders of both rituals. I will require a signature, date, and contact information from both, as proof of your meeting, on your essay."

Goten blanched, the older man chuckled lightly, "Oh, I'm not finished yet." He leaned forward slightly, "I also want you to research, and if possible, observe a third group. You are free to choose from any religion or spiritual movement you want, so long as it is of a western origin. Keep in mind, that the focus of the essay is on a holiday, rite, or festival. If you can possibly observe this ritual, I will give you additional credit, and of course it will require a signature and contact information from a viable member as well."

"Wow," the teen managed "that's a lot."

"Yes it is," 17 confirmed, "but you really slipped up this time." He opened the maroon book and looked it over once more, "As you stand now, you have a 23%."

"23%!" Goten shouted, "I didn't think I was doing that bad!"

"Doing poorly tends to happen when you skip class, especially when you do so during a mid-term."

"We had a test?!"

"Yes, Goten, we did. Why do you think I spent two class periods in review?"

The demi-Saiyan groaned, "I thought you were being redundant."

The android rolled his eyes, "It was in the syllabus."

"I didn't read it."

"Apparently not. I even handed the mid-term back and went over it in class once it was graded."

"I thought that was just an essay." His heart was pounding, how could he have been so stupid? He was royally fucked now, what a way to end his freshman year. Yet, there still seemed to be a sliver of hope.

"If I do all that, how much will it bring me up?"

"If you write the 2100 word essay; that's 700 words on each spiritual pathway, observing an Easter Mass, and a Spring Rite with the two signatures proving your meeting with the leaders," he took a breath, "it will bring you up to roughly a `D'. If the on the third religion, you observe a spiritual rite and obtain a signature, possibly a C-, but that's the best case scenario. The more effort you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Are you up for it?"

"Yes," the youth muttered, his mind still reeling from the amount of work he was going to have to do.

"Good, I'm glad to hear it." He got up and opened the door, "You're free to leave, but keep in mind that I'll be looking for quality. I will not except sub-standard work. I want evidence of thorough research, and observation. Got it?"

"I got it, thank you for giving me a second chance, professor."

17 inclined his head, "I hope you get more out of this than a grade, Goten."

The demi-Saiyan wasn't so sure about that, but he nodded again taking a guideline from the desk and hurried out the door, determined to start on his project right away.

Coming Soon:

(chapter titles are tentative)

Chapter Two: Dances with Stags (no bestiality, I'm not that twisted!)

Chapter Three: Altar Boy

Chapter Four: Devil's Little Soldier

Chapter Five: Teacher's Pet

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