Chapter 01:Regrets
*….* is for telepathy.
$….$ is for another language.
‘….’, is thoughts between Gohan and Fred.
***
Gohan stood on the same cliff that he and Trunks were on the day he died. ‘Trunks, I am sorry – I never meant to leave you like this. I had no choice, if I didn’t…if I didn’t, it would be you dead in the ground, not me and I could never let that happen.’ Why did he come here? Why did he torture himself like this?
‘Because you never said a word.’ A voice in the back of his head mocked. ‘You said you would always be there for him, but then you got selfish. You knew it would be him or you that day and knew you couldn’t live without him. You may never have him the way you want, but you love him anyway.’
It was true – he didn’t like it, but it was true. He left the scene and wandered to where Trunks had set up camp. Trunks was away training and Gohan wanted to make sure he was still safe from the androids. Yep, no sign of 17 or his sister. Trunks was safe, but Gohan could not help sitting near Trunks and watching him. This was a ritual he’d had since he first began training Trunks. Every night, when Trunks was asleep, Gohan would sit or sleep near him, watching after him; knowing that if anything came he would be alerted first.
‘I know it’s stupid Trunks, but I couldn’t let anything happen to you. Although I doubt you would still be my friend if you knew the truth.’ Gohan had thought a great deal about this. Before he had died, he had realized he was developing feelings for the boy – beyond that of friends, brothers, or student and teacher. It was something…more some how – he was quite at a loss to explain it. Then he realized what it was. He was IN LOVE WITH TRUNKS. This was something that many people would find humourous…heck, if anyone had told him seven or so years ago he was going to spend the rest of his days fighting the androids only to have the one person he ever fell in love with be his best friend and student to boot, he would have probably laughed in their faces. Gohan looked at the young man at his feet. ‘This cannot be right. I can’t be in love with TRUNKS! For one, Bulma would kill me.’
‘In case you are forgetting, you are already dead.’ The same voice pointed out.
‘Could you please stay out of this?’
‘Nope. Face it, you like the kid and died without him knowing. He will never know and may end up one day destroying the androids and going on to a normal life, so does it matter?’
‘I guess not.’ Gohan mused.
Beside him, Trunks stirred. “Gohan?” He asked sleepily. Gohan looked over at the boy quickly. Could Trunks possibly know he was there? No, he just mumbled something about going crazy, and got up and started packing up his gear. He was going back home to see his mother today. He would check in on her periodically to make sure she was alright and let her know he was still alive. Gohan watched until his secret love was out of sight and headed down to the cities.
However on his way, Gohan saw the androids. They seemed to be talking, so he stopped to listen.
“You know things haven’t been the same since we killed blondie.” Muttered 18.
“I know, things have been really boring.” 17 replied to his sister. He paused, and then said. “You know, I was thinking…”
“What about?”
“Didn’t blondie have a kid with him sometimes?”
“Oh yeah, that guy at the park. Not much of a challenge there, Seventeen.” 18 told her brother.
“Oh I don’t know, maybe we could capture him and keep him as a pet or something.”
“What are you planning?” 18 asked again.
The android gave his twin sister a smile. “Fun, dear sister and lots of it. I am really bored.”
Gohan snarled, his fists clenching and unclenching. Android 17 wouldn’t lay a finger on Trunks – not if he had anything to say about it!
“Think you could find the kid?” 18 asked as if she couldn’t care any less.
“I think it’s do-able.” Android 17 told her. “All I have to do is figure out his energy signature, and I can track him anywhere.”
“True. Think he would be worth the effort though?”
Again, 17 had the look on his face. “Oh yeah. Have you seen him, 18?”
“He looked a little scrawny and not very interesting when I last saw him.”
“Yeah, but it’s been what? Three years or so? He’ll have grown up, 18.”
“I think you’re right.”
“So, should we have fun while we wait?”
“Of course.” The two mechanical demons flew away. Gohan looked helplessly after them. ‘Trunks.’ Gohan thought worriedly. He had to help him! But how?
***
Then he felt something. It was strange, almost like a pull but extremely weak. What was that? The saiyan part of him wanted to hunt down the androids and kick the crap out of them for even thinking about laying a finger on Trunks – despite the fact he was dead. However, another part of him was curious about the light pull he was feeling.
‘Guess it couldn’t hurt to investigate.’ The voice in the back of his head said.
‘Are you KIDDING me? Trunks – alone. Bored 17 – having thoughts about MY TRUNKS! Not a desirable combination.’
‘Did you just call Trunks yours?’
‘No…’
‘Yes you did! Yes you did!’ The voice crowed with delight.
‘That is not important now. He’s in trouble!’
‘Face it, the androids are lazy. They are not going to track down Trunks in the next ten minutes. I want to see what that light, pulling thing is.’
‘No!’
‘Come on, Trunks is fine and there isn’t anything BETTER to do.’
‘If anything happens to Trunks, I am SO kicking your ass.’
‘How can you?’
‘I WILL find a way. GOT IT?’
‘Fine, fine. Ten minutes and then we check on your precious Trunkies. I am telling you though, he is okay.’
Gohan sighed in frustration at the voice, who he decided to call Fred and went to the source of the pulling he and Fred felt…
