Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Step-parent Saiyan Blues ❯ Gohan's understanding ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: I don't own the anime or manga Dragon Ball Z. Toriyama created it, and Toei Animation Co. Ltd. Shuisha Bird studios does. This is written out of respect for a wonderful series and I make no money from this. My fan fiction means no harm to either one.

 

A/N: Butterfly V had suggested, "Hopefully Raditz will be able to tell Gohan his side of the story while he was in HFIL to show that he's already been "punished". I thought it was a good idea so I wrote this followup to the reconciliation chapter. It might be a bit corny, but what the hey I was inspired!

 

Afterimage of Hell's Fury

***

 

"Masenko HAHHHH!" Gohan shrilled, crossing his hands before his forehead.

 

"Double Sundae!" Raditz growled, hands raised to the height of his head. A powerful beam shot forwards and crashed against Gohan's Masenko. As before they performed their push of war. It was hard to fathom a boy having such incredible power being only eight years old.

 

"Gohan, control it!" Raditz panted. "It's not just raw power… control it and focus it!"

 

"I'm… TRYING…" Gohan gritted. He wondered why Raditz cared enough to give him pointers when earlier that day the two had a nasty argument. Distracted, the beam suddenly broke and Raditz drew back with an expression of worry. Gohan twisted himself out of the way but part of it grazed his scalp, knocking him to the side.

 

"Gohan… I'm sorry!" Raditz got out as he killed his beam and shot forwards. He managed to catch his nephew before he hit the ground. Dazed Gohan blinked up into the concerned face of his uncle hovering over without the scouter over his face.

 

"What… what happened."

 

"You lost your concentration, Gohan," said Raditz quietly. He felt his hands shaking slightly as he tried to tend to the boy.

 

"I'm… I'm fine my Daddy and Mr. Piccolo did much worse," Gohan panted. He saw Raditz pull away as if in fear and felt a strange sense of sorrow. Raditz was walking on eggshells around him.

 

"Do you need a break?" Raditz asked.

 

"I… I can go on. It's just a scratch," Gohan shook his head. Still he accepted the other Saiyan's helping hand, still reeling at the expression of worry on his uncle's face. It seemed hard to believe a hated enemy was now concerned for his welfare. Yet Vegeta had changed on Namek, so it was possible it was for real.

 

"All right Gohan," said Raditz. "Let's… try something else."

 

"I'm ready when you are," Gohan said with clenched teeth. Hands positioned like Piccolo had taught, he squatted slightly so he could look up at Raditz standing opposite him. Raditz held fists out on either side of his face much like to do a Double Sunday, and met Gohan's defiant stare. Every muscle of his nephew tensed like that of a warrior, and he saw again the fire of determination burning in the boy's eyes. There was no doubt that Gohan was ever bit the fighter that his father and grandfather was.

 

"Now, come at me," said Raditz. "Don't hold back."

 

"Here I come!" Gohan shouted. He launched forwards, tumbling across the gap. His booted kick knocked Raditz back. The Saiyan rolled on the ground and then brought up his hand to block Gohan's sliding kick.

 

"There's something you should know, Gohan," Raditz said, rolling to his feet.

 

"What… is that?" Gohan asked, throwing another punch and levitating to meet Raditz on his own level.

 

"You said by letting me live was punishment enough, I thought you should know that I also spent a time in hell," said Raditz.

 

"I thought that was obvious. You deserved it," said Gohan.

 

"I want you to know what happened," said Raditz. "If you'll let me tell you."

 

"Do I want to know?" Gohan asked, blocking a kick with a raised knee.

 

"Every thing… I did to your father… was done to me, ten times worse," Raditz said. "A punishment meted out by all those that I slew in the name of 'duty'…"

 

"You deserved it!" Gohan got out.

 

"Gohan, do you know what it's like in Hell to hear thousands of voices screaming in pain and rage? Take the fury you feel towards me and multiply it a thousand… no a million fold and you'll know what still haunts my dreams. I am and was punished for five long years. You think I don't know the consequences of my actions? I do."

 

"Look, you don't have to defend yourself. I know that Vegeta can change, and I know you have," Gohan said.

 

"But you don't have truth in your eyes when you say those words. The only way you can believe is if I tell you myself Gohan," said Raditz insistently. "Please boy, I'm begging you this favor."

 

"You're begging me? That doesn't make sense," Gohan panted.

 

"Please Gohan?" Raditz asked, stopping his attack. Gohan's next punch slammed into Raditz hand that blocked it. Seeing the deadly seriousness and sorrow in Raditz eyes, Gohan stopped.

 

"O… okay," he said quietly. For a second the haunted expression looked much like that of his father's face. Raditz wiped away sweat, and then stood up as straight as he could.

 

"Mmmm," mumbled Gohan. Raditz sat down under the shade of a tree, and glanced upwards at the sun for a moment. Gohan dropped to sit opposite from him, and saw his Uncle pressing a hand to massage his aching temples.

 

"Mr. Raditz… maybe you should have some water," Gohan said quietly. He remembered the manners instilled by his mother. Raditz didn't look up when Gohan got up and walked over to pull a bottle of water out of the cooler. A moment's thought later and he snatched a bottle of Hercule sport drink, cherry flavored, instead.

 

"Here," Gohan offered it. Raditz glanced down and then took it from his nephew.

 

"Thank you, Gohan," he said.

 

"All right, you've got my attention. Tell me," Gohan said sternly. Obviously Raditz would find one way or another to tell him what was troubling him. To satisfy his own curiosity he wanted to know.

 

"Hell… has many places. Each area or ward can be a reasonable place, or a pit of darkness. Most of the dead go through a great cleanser. Those that have no bodies," Raditz said.

 

"Dad told me about the Check In station."

 

"King Yemma is vastly strong. That was my first nasty shock. I couldn't get out of that headlock that almost snapped my neck," Raditz laughed, rubbing his neck as he spoke. "After that I realized all my strength was nothing."

 

"Then what happened?"

 

"They sent me down to a circle of Hell that was reserved for evil ones. There we keep our bodies. But we are forced to fight other villains for a time. Two demons came and escorted me bodily to a place that was especially prepared for Saiyans who had worked for Freeza. But it was weird that I wasn't attacked. I happened to stumble across several men who said they'd worked for the Red Ribbon army."

 

"My dad fought them," said Gohan. "Go on."

 

"Then I was alone. For miles it seemed there was a dark landscape as desolate as a world would be after purging," Raditz said the last word hesitatingly, and Gohan shuddered.

 

"Then they came. Voices from every direction. Many languages from many worlds. I felt as if they were swarming in the mists around me, dragging me down, Gohan. It was like a symphony of death and I couldn't tune it out. Everything I was forced to listen to, and hear. Asking me why. You can hear the voices of the survivors too."

 

"That's horrible," Gohan muttered.

 

"But that was only a prequel to who I faced next. Just when I grew used to the company of those voices I heard one that was the harshest. I had a visitor, and he was one that I loved and hated," Raditz said.

 

"Who?"

 

"My own father. Knocking me back and forth like I was a rag doll. Every injury I gave to your father he gave to me. Blasting me with energy that I had no hope of parrying. Crushing my ribcage till it felt like I couldn't breathe even though I was dead. And all the while it seemed like he was laughing at me, Gohan," Raditz murmured, swallowing his liquid hard.

 

"I… you did deserve it," Gohan said quietly.

 

"I know Gohan. Do you think I don't know the pain you feel? Because I do. Every bit, and more. Hell is a place for the dead to think of what they've done through the course of a lifetime. And you can't ever escape, unless you've been forgiven, and moved on. Those that are wicked and die a normal death, they lose their bodies and their evil is purged by a spirit cleanser. But those like me, we have it beat out of us. By others who have already learned their lesson. So was my Father."

 

"Is… is he still there?"

 

"He moved on shortly after. I hated him, and loved him for the pain he made me feel. A taste of the humiliation I meted out on you and your father. But after it all… you know what he did?"

 

"What?" Gohan asked in a hushed whisper.

 

"He… he put his arms around me and held my battered body, Gohan. Gave me something I had not had since a baby. He… did what your father does to you. And that seemed like torture to a soul who knew nothing but hate," Raditz sighed.

 

"A hug can hurt? No way," Gohan snorted.

 

"It was just as painful to feel the love he had for me at that moment. I felt so undeserving of it. But my father said that it was the last part of my punishment. To know that he had loved me and Kakkarot… Goku all along and he felt sorrow and regret. Then as soon as I felt his love, it was gone and I was truly alone," Raditz sighed.

 

"I don't' know why you're telling me this," Gohan swallowed hard. There were tears in his eyes and the bottle he held was crushed flat. He wiped away his own tears.

 

"Because you have a right to know, that what you said had come to pass. I have been punished and I know all too well what I've done," Raditz said softly.

 

"I thought it was all an act," Gohan answered. "I trust what my dad says, but…"

 

"I even saw Prince Vegeta there. One of the missions I had was to do the same to him, as Bardock my father did to me," said Raditz reluctantly. "Nappa suffered as much or even more than I."

 

"Vegeta helped me and Krillen on Namek," said Gohan. "I still don't know about you. Dad trusts you, and I want to believe you've changed. Just sitting here seeing you like this… it's like you're broken and trying to get fixed."

 

"I am Gohan. I don't deserve the love of two boys and their mother. But I know that this thing you call love is far more powerful then anything. It's what gives you and your father your strength. Your purity of heart is that key to becoming the Legendary. Pure evil or pure good, or pure intent. A purity of purpose."

 

"You… did you go Super Saiyan?"

 

"I… it's hard to say," whispered Raditz. He slowly closed his eyes, and stood up. Taking great breaths he heaved in and out. Pushing down the love and the hatred he pictured everything. His eyes flickered green for a moment, and then Gohan saw the snap of a powerful aura that faded all too soon.

 

His eyes widened in shock. For a split second Raditz had changed. Then there was nothing. Rubbing his eyes Gohan stood up and glanced at his uncle standing there with grim determination and that look of infinite sadness that Goku sometimes had when beholding an enemy that would not repent. In the eyes of a Saiyan that reflected no person beholding them it was sobering. Walking up to him Gohan extended a hand. "Uncle Raditz."

 

"Yes, Gohan?" asked Raditz, glancing down at Gohan's offered hand. Unlike Vegeta he didn't slap it away.

 

"I… I want to believe you. It's hard. But… I want to try… and at least be friends," Gohan hesitated.

 

"I would like that, Gohan," said Raditz with a slight smile. His own hand reached down and enclosed his nephew's small one. Gohan squeezed Raditz fingers, feeling the callused roughness of a warrior's grip in his own. Bravely Gohan managed a smile for his uncle's sorrow filled face. The Raditz he remembered had nothing but mocking hatred, and these eyes held respect and love. His young face smoothed into the smile of a little boy to see a glow in Raditz dark eyes. They had softened to those of his own father looking down.

 

"I know if Vegeta can change, you can too. But at least you didn't slap my hand away," Gohan said with a slight laugh. Raditz dark eyes were not those of a ruthless monster, but a troubled man wanting redemption. Oddly enough, Gohan could swear he saw something of his own self there for a second.

 

"I promise Gohan that I'll do everything in my power to prove myself," Raditz swore softly as he hunched down and rested his other hand atop Gohan's. "to atone for what I put you through."

 

"I believe you," Gohan said with a tearful smile, resting his hand atop Raditz so their hands were a sandwich of layered bone and muscle. To Raditz shock, Gohan pulled his hands away, and strode up with his arms extended. Crouched there he felt the shock of Gohan's arms wrapping around his body, and the cheek of his nephew pressed to his. With a sigh of relief Raditz wrapped a strong arm around his nephew and held him close like he would Fermi or Bohr. He felt Gohan's muscles tense then relaxed into the hug.

 

Then and there Gohan was convinced. It felt not like hugging a tree, but someone that was grasping onto him for desperation. Burying his chin in Gohan's shoulder, Raditz felt tears coming to his face. Gohan felt the moisture of the hot tears soaking into his gi, and heard a sniffling sob heaving from his uncle's huge chest. "I'm so sorry Gohan," he whispered.

 

"I know," Gohan answered, rubbing his uncle's back and squeezing him more tightly. "I really know now."

 

"There isn't anything I wouldn't do to prove it," Raditz whispered again. Gohan nodded, and pressed his cheek to his uncle's tear stained one. For a time Raditz let himself cry in his nephew's arms, unleashing all the regret and sorrow. Gohan held on tightly, giving his uncle what comfort he could, and trying to show love that someone desperately needed.

 

"It's not so bad to get a hug. It shouldn't hurt," Gohan whispered. "My daddy hugs me at least once every day."

 

"When Kakkarot… when your father does this it felt embarrassing. But it's easier to accept a hug from Fermi and Bohr, and now you. I don't know why," Raditz mumbled.

 

"It's a guy thing," Gohan said. "Krillen said so."

 

"Mmm your bald friend is wise," Raditz said awkwardly drawing back. They both looked up into the incredulous faces of Piccolo and Goku standing there. Plastered on Goku's face was a huge ear splitting grin and on Piccolos was stamped a look of disbelief.

 

"Now I've seen it all. Damn," Piccolo shook his head.

 

"It's okay Daddy, Mr. Piccolo," said Gohan as he rushed over to them.

 

"Don't you DARE even THINK…" Piccolo glared at Gohan's smiling face as the boy walked up to him. To see the Namekian splutter made Raditz start to snicker, and Goku chuckle. Standing up, Raditz strode over and swept up his brother in a rather crushing bear hug.

 

"WHOOLP!" Goku gasped. "Easy there!"

 

"Just returning the favor, brother," Raditz said with a harsh but genuine laugh. Goku did the same and they saw Piccolo making faces as Gohan gave the reluctant Namekian an embrace.

 

"You're a bad influence on him," Piccolo glared at Raditz. "don't get ANY ideas!"

 

"Not us, Piccolo," said Goku as he walked over and rested his arm on his son's shoulder.

 

"Now I will be sick," Piccolo winced.