Azule-san
�Gohan?� Trunks knelt beside his friend�s body. Gohan lay dead, facedown in a puddle of water. Thunder raced across the black sky, as if foretelling the incredible unleashing soon to follow. The time was now! �Gohan�.GOHAN!!!!!�
Back on his feet in one swift motion, the son of Vegeta screamed like never before. It was as if all the pain, all the misery he had suffered was thrown into that one outburst. Lavender hair became gold spikes. Tear-filled blue eyes became blazing green orbs. A gold aurora burst forth to the skies. Super saiyajin mastered, Trunks slipped to his knees by Gohan�s body, pounding his fists into the earth.
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In Other World, watching the transformation in his mind, Gohan waited for his signing in. The line to Lord Enma was long, but at least he got to keep his body. Now he could go to train with the others. Maybe even his father would be there.
�Next,� Before the young man knew it, it was his turn. Nervously, he approached the giant seated at his desk.
�Ah, Son Gohan,� Lord Enma greeted the young hero. �It was at last your turn, eh?�
Gohan bowed respectfully, �Hai, Lord Enma.�
�Very well then.� The ogre pointed to the corridor to his right. �Because of the great accomplishments you�ve made, you have qualified for the Upper World. Have you any requests?�
�Actually, sir�I do.� The demi-saiyajin ventured. �For one thing, is my father, Son Goku there in Upper World?�
Lord Enma peeked into his book of names. �I�m afraid not. He is not in Other World. No one knows where he is.� (Goku since dying of the heart virus, was absorbed by the dragon, therefore is not dead, nor alive)
Gohan nodded, smiling to himself. That seemed like his father to go off to some place no one could be aware of. In any case, the young man knew for sure who would be there. He was probably waiting for him right there beyond the check-in station.
He was about to head on his way when a sudden thought occurred to him, �Lord Enma? Is it possible that you could make me a child again? My happiest days were when I was about 9.�
�Very well, if you want to be a child again.� Extending a massive hand over Gohan�s head, he sent a jolt of red light over him. Emerging from the light was little Gohan, with a ponytail and the gi that resembled Piccolo�s. Surveying his new state, the boy jumped up and down gleefully, �Wow! This is great!�
Bowing deeply and saluting, he trotted towards the indicated corridor. �Thank you so much, sir!�
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Piccolo sat in a deep meditation under a tree. His sharp ears picked up the sounds of his fellow z-fighters, sparring inside the Grand Kaio�s palace. He also heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
�What are you doing out here, Piccolo?� Vegeta demanded, hands on his hips. �We were supposed to fight today, remember?�
Oh brother, Piccolo muttered to himself. Ever since Goku had been taken away to serve as a god of some sort, Vegeta had no one to spar with. Kuririn was little match and the others were in no way about to fight a super saiyajin, so the namekian warrior was the next best thing.
�Alright, alright. I�m on my way,� he growled. Snorting, Vegeta walked back to the palace. Piccolo sighed. Other World was one lonely place. Sure there were other fighters there, aside from the z-fighters, but it wasn�t the same. Looking up at the sky, he closed his eyes. �Gohan�� How he missed that spiky-haired demi-saiyajin. The namekian, though with all the time in the world and powerful warriors to spar with, longed for the day when his only true friend would arrive. He would never say anything to the others, but he missed having someone to look after.
Sighing again, he banished those thoughts, punched his fists together, and headed after the haughty saiyajin prince.
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�Excuse me,� Gohan looked up at one of the Other World attendants. �I�m looking for the z-fighters of Earth. Could you tell me which plane to take so I can find them?�
�That depends,� the short, blue-skinned fellow told him, shifting his glasses with a chubby hand. �What is your name, son?�
�Son Gohan!� the boy piped. �I�m from Earth!�
Nearly dropping his clipboard, the man pointed swiftly towards a large plane in the airline sector. �Take that to the Grand Kaio�s planet!�
�Thanks!�
As Gohan jumped up the stairs onto the luxurious aircraft, he beamed. �It seems everyone knows me! Maybe they know my father!�
Taking a seat by the window, the demi-saiyajin folded his hands behind his head. �I can�t wait to see all my friends again!�
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DOOM!! Piccolo�s kick sent Vegeta flying out of the ring. Only his super saiyajin power and the ability to fly allowed him to recover. Smirking, he wiped the trickle of blood from his chin. �Heh, not bad namek.�
Piccolo smirked as well and returned to his fighting stance on the other side of the ring. �I�ve been preparing for this.�
Kuririn, Tien, Yamcha, and Chaozu sat in the bleachers a safe distance from the ring. They were arguing over who they thought would win.
�I honestly think Vegeta�s got this one.� Yamcha declared, sipping his soda.
�Nah, haven�t you ever heard Goku say that good always triumphs over evil?� Kuririn asked.
�Piccolo was evil at one time!� Chaozu pointed out.
�The way he acts sometimes, I think he�s still evil.� Tien commented.
�I�ll bet things would be different if Gohan was here.� Kuririn said. �He was like a son to Piccolo.�
�Yeah,� Yamcha agreed. �After Goku died those two were practically inseparable. Piccolo seemed to get a kick out of such responsibility.�
Vegeta, powering up to his maximum, charged Piccolo, gold aurora blazing. Folding his arms over his head, the namekian met his charge, allowing the impact to drive him backwards. Using such momentum, he placed his hands onto the floor and swung up with his feet. Sensing such a move, the saiyajin prince swung to the right, evading the blow. He sent a leg straight for Piccolo�s face, but the green-skinned warrior also anticipated this, using his hands to propel himself upwards. Vegeta followed.
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�Attention passengers!� the pilot called over the loudspeaker. Gohan�s eyes snapped open. �We are now landing at the port of the Grand Kaio. Please remain seated until the plane has made a complete stop.�
The power levels of his friends raced into his senses. A great excitement took over Gohan�s mind. He was finally there.
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Piccolo�s fist came to a halt inches from Vegeta�s face. He had just sensed a ki force�a very familiar ki force. Trembling, he straightened, releasing his brutal hold on the saiyajin�s neck. Free, Vegeta lashed out with his fist, but the namekian blocked it as he walked away, a smile slowly creeping across his face. Could it be? After all this time?
�Namek! What the hell is the matter with you?!� Vegeta reverted from super saiyajin, staring at his opponent angrily.
Piccolo didn�t answer. In an instant, he was off, speeding towards the source of the life force.
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Gohan stood transfixed. The planet of the legendary Grand Kaio was truly tremendous to behold. He could sense vast quantities of ki powers, some even stronger than he. From the little airport, he could see warriors training. �Wow, this place must be an eternal training ground!� Gohan chirped. �No wonder Piccolo-san and the others decided to come here!�
Just then, a large power flooded his mind. It was huge�and familiar. Knowing who it was in a heartbeat, the demi-saiyajin burst into flight, ready to meet up with his old mentor.
Minutes into his flight, Gohan noticed a spec in the distance, coming his way. Doubling his speed, he felt the wind blow away the tears of joy spraying from eyes. Fists clenching in anticipation he shouted towards the oncoming figure. �PICCOLO-SAAAAAN!!!�
Hearing the cry of his student, Piccolo also doubled his speed. Within mere seconds, the boy was in view and he slid to an abrupt halt. Gohan, laughing and crying at the same time tackled him in a flying leap. Knocked back a good several yards, the namekian laughed out loud, encircling the small boy�s form in his arms and holding him close. Gohan gripped Piccolo�s gi in his fists, tears coursing down his face and dampening the soft cloth. �Piccolo-san! It�s you! It�s really you! You�re here!�
Piccolo was a little more capable of holding in his feelings, but all the same, raised a hand to ruffle his young pupil�s hair. Just then, a thought occurred to him and he pulled Gohan back, gripping his shoulders, �How come you�re a kid?�
Beaming, the demi-saiyajin wiped his eyes, �I asked Lord Enma to make me the same age as I was before you died. I was happiest then.� His smile faded, �That�s okay, right?�
Piccolo shook his head and pulled Gohan to him again. �Not a problem. It brings back old memories.�
The two old friends remained there in midair for another few minutes. Then, they took off, back to the palace.
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