Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Warui No Ou ❯ Wishes ( Chapter 20 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

There were no differences from the battle that occurred just hours ago and the battle occurring now. The only difference, though small, was the change in Gohan's power, but this change was in Gohan's favor. Unleashing this power was simple, and he knew that for Gokou, reaching the climax of his power was far from easy. If he could keep his timing up, and not give Gokou a moment to rest, then victory might not be unachievable.

The battle was ablaze, and the walls trembled with their power. Vejita remained on the floor, waiting for an opening, waiting for Gokou to fail. A smile dressed Gohan's face as he dodged and returned his father's blows, completely ignoring Gokou's confused cries against him.

If Gokou didn't begin to take this match seriously, then the fight would hardly be a challenge. It was then, however, that Gohan caught the sense of his daughter and wife's ki. Fear overwhelmed him as he realized they were only feet away. This couldn't be happening! Gokou would kill them! Gohan couldn't let them inside this room, not now, not when happiness was only inches from his grasp. He cried out with rage, this odd power that was within him sending shivers of ecstasy throughout his body. Gohan sent a blast at Gokou, one that was twice the Saiyajin's height, before falling to the ground and ripping the door open.

Videl and Pan halted, their hand outstretched to grab the handle. He glared angrily at them and shoved Videl back. Falling, Videl cried out with shock and scrambled away, her eyes wide as they watched Gohan.

"Tousan?" Pan whispered in a trembling voice. Gohan looked down at the child and found his power dropping unintentionally. "Pan…"

"Tousan, why'd you do that?"

She'd said those same words in his vision years ago, when he'd killed that black crow. At this very moment, as he stood there, staring at those wide innocent eyes, he felt something he'd never felt before… guilt - overwhelming painful guilt that wanted to send him to his knees in tears. Gohan was frozen as Pan stared at him, eyes filled with tears. "Please… Tousan… why'd you hit Kaasan?"

His voice wouldn't work. Gohan couldn't utter a word. Suddenly he heard the screams of death from everyone he'd ever killed. He saw the horrified faces of Tien and Yamcha as they met their demise at his hands. Everything… everything… Goten's face of pure terror… all the frightened look he'd receives… and Videl… his precious Videl…

"Videl!" he screamed out as all of his power vanished with a whip of the air. He rushed past his daughter, all thoughts of Vejita and Gokou gone, and crawled to Videl's side where she watched him with shock. He paused at the look… that look of horror. She was afraid of him… again. She was afraid of him! Fear overwhelmed Gohan. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't lose Videl, or Pan, not again… not ever again. "Please, I'm sorry," he begged, brow drawn up with begging. "Please… Videl… please forgive me. I'm so sorry. Please…"

"Gohan… Gohan…" Videl whispered with shock at his sudden show of emotions. She reached forward and wrapped her arms around her husband, holding him against her chest, as she would do an ill frightened child. Gohan curled up against her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and finally sobbed.

Gohan sobbed, releasing the anguish that he'd been holding inside himself since that fateful day that Gokou had given up his life for Chikyuu. Every emotion that had been bottled up inside him for nearly twenty years exploded in those heart-breaking cries that echoed in the hallway. He tried to speak, to explain, but the words were futile. Pan watched somberly from against the wall, arms wrapped around herself as she suckled on her thumb in silence.

Gokou had survived the blast, but not within pain. With Vejita supporting him, the two Saiyajin warriors stood at the doorway, watching in silence and confusion, knowing there was so much more than what they realized happening here.

No one ever interrupted Gohan's cries, and during those moments, somewhere in the back of his mind, those little haunting figures that had taken the form of Frieza, Raditzu, and Cell all began to slowly fade away.

~*~

"Arise Shenlong! Grant my wishes!"

The objects began to glow, vibrating with mystical energy. Goten and Trunks, Piccolo standing behind them, watched in awe silence. Goten had been told everything when he first arrived, and the boys had agreed. Whatever had happened to Gohan could be reversed, and things would return to normal. Vejita, Trunks, and Juuhachigou were all defeated; Gokou was gone; there was nothing standing in their way now.

Shenlong slowly took form in the air, and as his body completed building itself he gazed down upon the three figures. "You have two wishes," he roared, his voice trembling the heavens.

"Restore Gohan! Restore him like he was yesterday!" Goten screamed. Shenlong's eyes slowly began to glow, and as the red faded, he again spoke. "Your wish has been granted. Name your second wish."

~*~

Dende jumped forward, sitting on his hands and knees. So close… just to have it all ripped away! "No!" he screamed.

"Calm down," Baba whispered, reaching forward and grabbing the edge of Dende's robes, tugging the Namekian back. Dende fell beside the old woman, eyes watching in fear.

~*~

Videl halted in at the hilltop, eyes watching the mysterious dragon that's voice trembled the heavens. At her side Bura stood, arms wrapped around her waist. "Videl, what is that thing?" the young child whispered, head resting against her waist. Videl wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulder, watching in silence, black eyes staring at the mystical dragon. Had this happened ten years ago, she might have been trembling with fear, excitement, or worry, but at this moment there was nothing but indifference. "I don't know, but I want to find out. Go, Bura. Go to the city and hide. I'll come for you later."

"Videl…"

"Go!" the human screamed before moving towards the dragon. Bura stood still, watching Videl leave, before finally turning and obeying the command.

~*~

Gohan jumped back as he felt the arms around him. With a gasp he jerked to his feet, but paused as he realized that where he stood was familiar. Videl rose from the floor, staring at him with confusion. To his right Vejita and Gokou stood together, watching curiously. Gohan's daughter stood against the wall, sulking on her thumb.

"Guys?" he whispered as he noticed that his cheeks were coated with tears. He'd been crying? Gohan wiped away the wet smears with a frown, seeing Videl's worried face staring at him. "What's going on?"

"Um… son?" Gokou's voice echoed out. Gohan turned to his father, eyes widening as he saw the wounds that covered Gokou's battered body. "Tousan? Are you okay?" he exclaiming, moving towards his father. Vejita growled out at the sudden movement, drawing Gokou back almost protectively. At that shocking movement Gohan halted, eyes widening.

"Tousan! You're okay!" Pan exclaimed, rushing across the hallway and jumping into her father's arms. Gohan caught the child with skilled ease, staring into her bright eyes. "What happened to me, Pan?"

"You weren't yourself for a while, but you're back now! Yay! Kaasan, can I have some of Mrs. Briefs' cookies now?"

Gohan chuckled, smiling softly as he ran his hands through his daughter's wild hair. She giggled at the caress. Despite the weirdness… Gohan felt that Pan was probably right.

~*~

Legs curled against his chest, Gohan silently paused in his sobs, eyes searching the darkness… struggling to figure out where he was. Terror began to overwhelm him as he scrambled to his feet, eyes searching desperately. "Videl? Videl! VIDEL! PAN! WHERE ARE YOU?" he shrieked at the top of his lungs, hands trembling at his sides.

Gohan's body was engulfed with familiar golden light, and with the transformation he realized that the insanity had passed. He had returned to the normal timeline. "No!" he screamed out, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Niisan?" came an exclamation from the doorway before it swung open, revealing an ecstatic Goten, with Trunks and Piccolo watching from behind. "Are you okay?" Goten begged, stepping into the doorway.

"No! No! No! NO! Damn it all to Hell!" Gohan screamed at the top of his longs, darting past the young demi-Saiyajin. He was in the air, flying through the corridors, and darted through one of the windows as he saw the escape.

Darkness greeted the demi-Saiyajin, but a figure even more welcoming also caught his eyes. No, it was not Shenlong, waiting impatiently for the second wish. It was a figure even more beautiful…

Videl.

She stood beneath Shenlong, watching him with wide eyes. There was no fear in those eyes any longer, even when she saw Gohan hovering in the air before her. The scars from the days of torture still coated her body. Her clothing was ripped in endless places, showing her bare skin beneath. He could see the curves of her hips, the tops of her breasts, the firm flatness of her stomach. So beautiful…

Pan… that stomach could have bared him a child named Pan… a golden semi-Saiyajin with a pure heart and the brightest eyes he'd ever seen. She could have given him everything… happiness, laughter, joy…

Why hadn't it happened?

"Are you wishing for immorality, Gohan?" Videl questioned with a sigh as she gazed up to Shenlong. Why hadn't she used the wish on herself? "That's what this thing does, right? It grants wishes."

"It does."

"Don't let me stop you."

Gohan landed in front of her, hardly realizing that Shenlong was only a few feet away. He didn't hear Shenlong's impatient demand for the second wish. "Videl… what do you want?"

She remained silently, watching him. There was a sparkle of tears in her eyes, though for what he didn't know. He lowered his head. "That's… not what I meant. I mean… what do you wish for?"

"What do I wish for? I wish you had been the boy I thought you were when I first met you."

Shenlong's eyes exploded in firm redness. "Your wish has been granted."

~*~


TBC