Misguided Tendencies 2/?

[paxbanana]

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of the characters.

Thanks to: Kuno-baby


[Author's note]: The next few chapters will follow the normal DBZ plot?but with a few twists. I've tried to alter the dialogue and add a few very important tidbits. [wink, wink]


MISGUIDED TENDENCIES


Part Two



"Shouldn't we be looking for Goten and Trunks?" Videl asked, shifting in her seat guiltily after ChiChi's last accusation. Or for Gohan?


ChiChi frowned, glancing up. "What about it, Bulma? Do you think we should?"


A clean sigh left Bulma's lips as she turned around in her seat in the jet. "I don't think so. I doubt they're harmed?though I had a terrible feeling about Vegeta a few minutes ago."


Videl glanced out the window, watching off-handedly as the ground below became rocky and wet as the craft approached the coast. Her mind wandered, mainly centered on the subject of Gohan. (And to her dismay, she found she was not angry with him for forcing her to dwell on him so much lately.) A shiver washed down her spine, followed by a burning sensation. She clutched her stomach in nausea, doubled over with a groan. Since when did she have motion sickness? Videl quickly tore her gaze to the inside compartment of the plane?and realized she was almost seeing double in pain.


"Videl? You okay?" Yamcha's worried gaze met her pale face through the rear view mirror.


And as quickly as the sensation began, it stopped, leaving a gently throbbing?and something dark in the back of her mind. She shivered but blushed at her weakness and quickly nodded. "I'm fine now."


The Ox King laughed heartily, causing Videl's blush to darken. "It must have been those nachos at the Tournament!"


ChiChi shivered. "Daddy, please, don't mention that terrible food. It just gave me the chills thinking about it."


"Ha! You got that right! What Goku won't eat shouldn't be served anywhere."


"Shut up and drive, Yamcha." Bulma shot the man an annoyed glare. The cabin settled in a comfortable silence. Then Videl realized what was so strange about the people?besides being friends with people that flew and blew things up with their energy and ate whole buffets and?okay something strange other than everything else. These people were always comfortable, even when they had no idea where their children or husbands were. Then the girl felt something soft tug in her mind and gently tickle her curiosity, and Videl found she wanted to ask a question. "So?" Videl started, still indecisive about what to ask. There were just so many things she could ask about. As her eyes fell on the pile of dragonballs?6 total?she was decided immediately. "How do these things work, exactly?"


ChiChi sighed knowingly. "Well, after you gather all seven balls?"


"Notice they all have a certain number of stars on them?"


"Thankyou," ChiChi shot Bulma a controlled glare. "After you get them together, you call forth Shenron, the Eternal Dragon. You tell him your wishes, and yada, yada, yada."


"So he's like a genie?" Videl asked with understandable incredulity.


Bulma laughed at the comparison. "Not like the Disney Aladdin Genie, but yeah, I guess you could say so."


Still feeling silly for believing in such a story?and a little silly for not believing?Videl raised one eyebrow, giving her morphed, orange reflection in the balls a questioning stare. "If you say so. I'll have to see it to believe it, though."


"Come on, Videl. I would have figured that after all you've seen my son do, you'd believe anything."


She laughed nervously. "Gohan is just Gohan. Everything about him that should be unbelievable isn't."


"Like what?" Bulma quickly shot ChiChi the 'let's embarrass her' look before primly facing the younger girl, her hands poised politely in her lap. "Hmm?"


Videl, who was unaware of Bulma's look, wrinkled her brow. "I don't know. It's like whatever he does comes so naturally, it's not surprising anymore. No? It's more of the fact that Gohan can do anything, I guess." Then her expression transformed into a threatening glare. Needless to say, the two women were taken aback. "Don't EVER tell him I said that."


The two older women exchanged approving glances. The Perfect Wife, ChiChi thought. She should satisfy his appetite, was Bulma's.


"Are we close yet?" 18 asked sharply, cutting off their visions of wedding bells and grandbabies?and other thoughts too scandalous to be put on paper.


"Hmm?" Bulma carefully ignored the android's rudeness. "I'd say only a few minutes; we have an exact reading on the last dragonball now."


"About time," Yamcha muttered. He blushed and ducked under Bulma's glare.


"Well, it's not my fault you broke the plane, mister!"


He laughed nervously. "I think we need to land now."


* * * *


Piccolo and Krillin landed on the Lookout as Dende and Mr. Popo trotted out to greet them. After a few exchanges, the young Namek eyed the boys in the two men's arms questioningly. "Are they alright?"


"Yes," Piccolo stated shortly.


Sensing his elder's troubled mind, Dende motioned to his servant. "Take the boys, Mr. Popo," he ordered politely. He turned back to his now unburdened friends, watching as Popo carefully carried the young Saiyans inside.


"Any news of Goku?" Krillin asked hopefully.


Dende shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't sense his energy signal right now."


"And Gohan and Vegeta?"


The young Namek shook his head again, regretfully this time. Piccolo winced. "I did sense Buu's revival, though. How is it that he's still alive?"


"He can regenerate. I saw it myself." A shiver swept Piccolo's form, unbidden at the memory. "After being blown to bits he just put himself back together."


"Damn," Krillin mumbled. "How do you beat that?"


No answer parried his question. Instead, Piccolo glanced up. "What about the Supreme Kai, Dende?"


A blush darkened the Guardian's cheeks. "I must admit I forgot about him. Hold on?" Dende shook his head dejectedly. "Nothing," he stated.


Suddenly, their hearts darkened. Something full of energy?dark energy?exploded into their senses. It held a faintly familiar tang, but was nothing like anything they had ever felt before. There was something far more ominous and powerful about it than even Majin Buu's ki. It wrapped dark tendrils around their very consciousness and cried a foreboding song in their hearts. Krillin shivered, hugging himself in fear. "Is that Buu?"


Dende began to sweat. His senses of Earth clouded, each carefully clean tangent he held for the planet became submerged in the darkness of that atmosphere. He felt a terrible panic that when the fog cleared, they would be snapped in half, and he a failure. He clenched his eyes shut, taking a deep breath and going through the steps Gohan had taught him so long ago.


~ ~ ~ ~


"What do I do if I get scared?" He gazed at his hybrid friend, praying for a good answer. His heart fluttered at the idea of the new task he was taking on. "I mean, I'm the guardian of Earth. What if I choke up? I'm not brave like you?or Piccolo." He skirted Goku's name cautiously.


"Well, when I get scared," The young boy stated, "I just count by prime numbers."


Dende gazed at his friend incredulously. "Prime numbers?"


Gohan nodded eagerly. "Or squared ones. You don't have any room to think about what's scaring you if you do; you think about the number that comes next. Sometimes, I make up a formula to do it with and draw the line on a coordinate plane in my head."


"I don't know?"


"No, seriously, it works." Gohan grinned, gesturing wildly with his calloused hands.


"Is that what you did on Namek?"


Gohan nodded. "Yup. That's what I did with Garlic Jr., too."


Dende gazed at his feet, feeling for his next words cautiously. "Is that what you'll do with Cell?"


The other boy's teal eyes darkened momentarily at the thought of the tournament to take place in a few days. "Maybe."


The Namek smiled. "Okay, I'll try it then."


"Great!" Gohan turned to leave, then hesitated with a blush as his stomach growled.


"Mr. Popo!" Dende called with a grin answered by Gohan's own.


~ ~ ~ ~


"1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13?" A sigh of relief quenched his terror. Dende turned to face his companions with a brave smile. "Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll meet it head on, soon. But right now, how about let's get something to eat. Brooding at this present time won't get us anywhere."


Krillin leapt at the idea. "That sounds great, Dende!"


He and the Guardian strode quickly indoors, but Piccolo remained in his place, a silent brooding statue. The young Namek hesitated, turning back to his elder, but Piccolo dismissed him with a wave. He preferred to be alone.


The Namek closed his eyes and stood still trying to quell the painful knot lodged in his throat. Gohan was dead. His pupil, his savior, his dear friend?his son?was gone from him, and he could do nothing about it.


~ ~ ~ ~


"Hey, kid."


"Hey, Piccolo." Gohan's face, which had matured so rapidly in his teen years, was dark and weary.


"This place holds a hell of a lot of memories, doesn't it?" Piccolo gestured to the rocky outcrop that had once been witness to so much pain. A mighty crater gouged through the center of it?the place of bitter feelings and the uncertain future of the Z team.


Gohan chanced a quick look at his sensei's face as if surprised by the nostalgic remark. Then, he turned back to face the sight, the moonlight painting his strong features silver. "Yeah?"


A strong hand weighed heavily on his shoulder, and Gohan's eyes flickered once again to his mentor's. Something dark that lucked behind those eyes put Piccolo on guard. "You can't blame yourself, kid. I would have done exactly the same thing in your place."


"No? It's not really about that any longer."


Piccolo waited patiently, giving Gohan's shoulder an uncharacteristic squeeze of encouragement. The gesture caused a smile to soften Gohan's features. "Why?" he stated, "Why he didn't want to come back?I don't really understand. Things?they were getting better?" His voice cracked.


Piccolo felt a heart wrenching flow of pity and love for his young student and yanked the boy?man?into a quick, though fierce, embrace. Gohan relaxed then hugged his sensei tightly, suddenly crying, sobbing roughly into the course fabric of Piccolo's gi.


"It's not your fault, kid."


"Every year on this day, Mom? She cries so much and Goten? He tries to comfort her. I can't. I can't help her anymore than I do because he left. He's not here and he's what she needs?not me! If I could have traded places?"


Piccolo shoved his pupil away in disgust. "Don't say such an asinine thing!"


Gohan righted himself and smiled, though the gesture was not one of happiness. "He could comfort her far better than I?"


"But who comforts you?"


The tears on his cheeks shone bright and surreal on his pupil's face. His features broke into a faint smile again?this one true, and Piccolo shivered in relief. "I guess you, Piccolo. I? For what it's worth, Piccolo, you're like a second father to me."


A snort left the Namek's nose, though something inside him ruptured and shone scalding bright on his insides. He wondered if he might burst at his seams with that light that caused his chest to swell outward. He wasn't sure whether it was pain or joyfulness. "I don't want to be related to that woman you call your mother. I already know what it's like to live with her, and I sure as hell don't want to start again."


Gohan laughed, brightening suddenly. The sun peeked behind a mighty rock outcropping, and Gohan smiled. He turned toward the rays and closed his eyes, as if reveling in the warmth they gave. "I guess I'd better get home before Mom gets out the Teflon."


Piccolo nodded sagely. As Gohan rose to make his exit, Piccolo's voice stopped him. "Gohan, thanks, kid."


"No prob, Mr. Piccolo. Thank you." When he was gone, Piccolo started back to the Lookout, his heart finally at ease about his pupil.


~ ~ ~ ~


Be safe, kid, he thought before following Dende and Krillin inside the Lookout.


* * * *


Somewhere on Earth, Goku awoke. He grunted in pain as he rose from the position he had been lying in. Foggy memories filtered through his mind before his eyes rested on the empty senzu bean sack. Everything that had been fuzzy and unfocused before snapped back into sharp lines of vision with a somewhat painful crack. A wry smile touched his lips. "Huh, Vegeta. Nice way to stab me in the back. Oh, well?"


He lifted the sack then hesitated before casting it away again. There was no need for it when there were no more senzu beans. He wiped his lips, not bothering to note the blood on his hand when he dropped it wearily to his side. "Guess I'd better figure out where everybody is," he muttered, focusing is mind. A whole lot of good that did him, anyway. He couldn't sense Gohan or Vegeta. "Damn, how long was I out for, anyway? Well, I can still sense Buu?and Piccolo and Krillin. Great, maybe they know what happened."


A hesitant look of guilt crossed his face. "Gohan? I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, son," he stated aloud to the silent rocks around him. Then his form disappeared before flickering back again on the Lookout.


The first thing he was witness to was Piccolo and Krillin racing around a pleasant hallway. He noted briefly that Dende and Popo followed. Goku fixed a grin on his battered features as he met his friend's excited and relieved faces.


"Goku, is that you?" Krillin questioned.


"Hi," he stated cheerfully. Dark thoughts of his son and Vegeta were banished at the familiar sight of the Lookout. Krillin sniffled, holding back rightful tears.


"What's wrong, Krillin? I thought you'd be glad to see me," Goku said with a grin. Piccolo's features, he noted off-handedly, remained unreadable?and just a little accusatory.


"I'm just so happy to see you alive and well," Krillin laughed excitedly. "Alive as a dead man, that is."


Dende approached Goku. "If I could heal your wounds?"


"Oh, thanks a million!" The Saiyan seated himself on the white tile with a pained grunt, waiting for the calming, itchy waves of the healer to wash over his aching body. He didn't have to wait long before the gentle waves of warmth tugged at his wounds. A furious itching sensation ravaged his body in spiteful jabs, and then he was healed.


"Goku," Piccolo stated as the Saiyan raised himself from the tile. "We need to talk."


As the group of them rounded the corner, Goku nodded, his expression darkening considerably. "Is it about Gohan and Vegeta?"


Krillin shot Piccolo a strange, pitying glance behind Goku's back. The pity sprung from something far deeper than any of the occupants of the Lookout, however. Piccolo squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then opened them again with renewed determination.


"Yes. I guess you know, but I'll say it anyway. Gohan, Vegeta, and the Supreme Kai are all definitely dead."


"Hn? The Supreme Kai too, eh?" Goku seated himself on the short stairway leading into the cheerful overhand, his expression even darker than before. "Damn. Gohan? and Vegeta?"


Piccolo spoke shortly and to the point. "Buu's powerlevel is increasing at an exponential rate." He paused, caught suddenly in a forced memory.


~ ~ ~ ~


"Why did you bring those?"


Gohan looked up from his textbooks. The bright sun shone on the whitewashed surface of the Lookout, causing the boy to squint. "Sir? Oh, my books. You know how my mom gets about my education." Gohan's voice cracked several times during his statement. Piccolo did not answer. He indeed, knew of ChiChi's obsession?it was one to couple Goku's as well.


"Anyway," Gohan continued. "Do you know what exponential rates are?"


Piccolo shot his student an annoyed expression.


"Okay, okay. Well," he dropped to his back, gazing up at the blue sky. "Can you imagine that our universe is neither finite or infinite?"


"What?"


"Well, because it increases in size infinitely but decreases in size infinitely as well, our universe's basic size only depends on which infinity is greater. See," he struggled a moment to formulate words for a moment, then plowed on, "Infinity plus infinity should be infinity?but the result must be a larger infinity, right? Technically, that state doesn't exist, so when you subtract infinities for the state of the universe, it can either be negative infinity or positive infinity."


"Wouldn't that be a constant number?" Piccolo asked, somewhat intrigued by the ponderings of his pupil.


"Well, infinity is a state of constant increasing. Who's to say that infinity increases at a constant rate? The more or less it increases by determines the end result. A sort of finite infinity or infinite finite. Oxymoronic, ne?"


Piccolo closed his eyes and massaged his temples. "This is what she teaches you?"


"No?" Gohan's voice trailed off. "It's what I've seen before."


Piccolo glanced at his pupil sharply. "What?"


Gohan did not respond.


~ ~ ~ ~


Piccolo shook his head. "If his power continues to increase, there will be no way to defeat him."


A hopeful laugh broke Krillin's lips. "Nah! I bet Goku's got it covered, right?"


"No, Krillin, I don't. I can't." The Saiyan's voice came out muffled as he gazed at a spot on the tile between his feet.


"What?" the other man gasped.


"Vegeta and I were evenly matched, and he was defeated by Buu even when he put his all into it. How could I do any better?"


Even Piccolo's normally emotionless features slipped into shock. Krillin swallowed. "How will we beat him then?"


Goku closed his eyes. "Dammit, Vegeta, Gohan!"


Piccolo spoke quickly. "Goku, their deaths aren't your fault! I'm sorry you lost a son but?"


"I'm not talking about that."


Piccolo's mouth closed with a snap. No, he thought darkly. You aren't, are you?


"I meant we could have done a fusion. Not a permanent one, but a thirty-minute one. I learned the steps in Other World; a Metemoritian taught me."


Dende nodded. "I once spoke to one. He told me of their society; apparently, they are very proficient with their fusion technique."


"Yes. Like I said, he taught me how to fuse. But we don't have anyone strong or alike enough to do it here."


Piccolo's mind flickered to Nail?himself. "So you would have fused with Vegeta or Gohan?"


"Yeah. But we don't have that option now because the two people have to have almost identical powerlevels and body structures?"


Mr. Popo cleared his throat. "What about the boys?Goten and Trunks?could they do it?"


"Yeah!" All of Goku's frustration broke away immediately. His grin broke forth like the first dawn of the universe. "That's a great idea!"


"Can you teach them, Goku?" Krillin asked.


"Well, for a while. Piccolo, do you wanna take up the old Martial Arts Sensei role again? A little birdie told me you were a great master." Goku winked at his friend.


Piccolo shook his head, forcing down the knot in his throat again. "I'll do what I can. But?in the process, many people will die on Earth."


"Yeah, but we can use the dragonballs for clean-up if we need to."


Piccolo felt a burning resentment to these words, though he nodded. "Goku?" After receiving attention, Piccolo gestured to the Saiyan. "May I speak with you alone?"


"Sure."


When they were out of earshot, Goku gave the Namek a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"


"Why don't you tell me?"


Goku hesitated, but came up blank. "I don't know."


Piccolo sighed wearily. "Your son died, Goku, and you haven't shed a tear."


The Saiyan blinked, then laughed. "Oh that!"


Piccolo repressed the urge to punch the man.


"Nah? I'm fine. We can wish Gohan back with the dragonballs if we?"


"That doesn't matter. Gohan went through terrible pain, most likely, and now he has no place here. Do you not feel grief?"


Goku hesitated. "I? I don't think Gohan would want that. At least, not right now. He'd want us to do our best to protect the people of Earth, and that's what I'm trying to do. He'll understand."


A frustrated sigh escaped Piccolo's lips. Goku placed a friendly hand on his arm. "I'll tell him how much you miss him when I see him, okay? But for now, we need to stay focused."


By the time you feel it is suitable to grieve, you'll forget, Goku. You feel nothing now, nor will you ever for the passing of your son.


The Saiyan closed his eyes as he strode back toward the center of the Lookout. Guilt touched his features as he realized he was glad his son had died; now he could be with him again.


* * * *


After unleashing gobs of delightfully gruesome attacks on the people of Earth, Babidi felt as if he, not they, had suffered the main wrath of Majin Buu. Flying on that pink beast's back was definitely not an option from now on. Safely tucked on Gohan's shoulders, the wizard felt somewhat more secure. They blasted swiftly across the ocean, spinning off a bright path of shining droplets in the sunlight. And the wizard delighted in his servants' speed and grace?and their cruelty. He had not noticed that Buu had done all the destruction that day.


Gohan struggled against a painful gag as Babidi's scaly hands rasped against his shoulders. Bile rose in his throat, and the Saiyan spat, watching as the bloody loogie spun a swift spiral backward and down toward the clean waters of the ocean. Slowly, his face tightened as he forced a smile across his lips to repress the gagging reflex. A shudder swept his form, and he closed his eyes?only to see the bloody and broken face of Videl.


A full gag swept his form, and he vomited the watery remnants of his gut. Babidi's eyes flickered uncertainly over the top of his servant's dark hair, but he said nothing.


Slowly forcing his face back into a smile, Gohan flew onward, his dark eyes alighting on the carnival ahead. At his left, Buu let out a great giggle of excitement. And so they went, an eerily grinning Saiyan with flashing white fangs, a mighty bubble-gum pink monster born of old, and a small scaly lizard that controlled them both.


Your fault! You did this! Damn you! Damn you! Everything is your fault, bastard! Fuck you! Fuck you for doing this!


Over and over and over and over the phrases tore through his mind, catching the tattered edges of his still-bleeding soul. That voice, so rough and painful, cracked inside him like a whip. And, as Gohan focused his mind on it, he realized it was his own.



To be continued?.