Time\'s Lessons Learned

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, Future Gohan, or Future Trunks. Akira Toriyama does. This is fan fiction, and means no harm to the anime or manga. The idea for the fan fiction comes from the doujinshi Our Time by Manya and Minea.

Notes:
This story contains Yaoi, male/male. Don't read if you don't like such pairings as I do. This is Future Gohan and Future Trunks. Written with ideas given to me by Truhania, to whom I owe many thanks for getting me started on this!

***
The dull din of conversation thrummed in the room like white noise without static. In small clusters centered on popular students sat the others, instead of in a uniform distribution. Halfway between the front and back one such knot had Videl as its nucleus. To her right sat Erasa Graphite, and to her left Gohan Son. Immediately behind him, Sharpener Gummy set his books down and tossed a few pens haphazardly across the binder. Presumably, Sharpener sought to copy his notes, Gohan surmised. However, his clever plan was thwarted by the fact that Gohan's scribbles were indecipherable.

"You've got the handwriting of a doctor," Erasa leaned over and whispered.

"That's not good because my mom wants me to be a scientist," Gohan joked back.

"Guys, shhh, the teacher's coming in any minute," Videl hushed for silence.

Gohan opened his spiral composition book with its marbled cover to a clean page, and then folded it back. Behind him Sharpener buzzed, "What are you taking notes for the first day, Bookworm? Hoping to get in good with the teach for us?"

"You wish," Videl glanced back at him. "This time don't draw pictures of the teacher's ass will you?"

"Hey, that was a biology class. It was study," Sharpener teased back.

"You guys shhh," Erasa mimicked Videl, a finger held up before her pursed lips. What made Gohan wonder was why Videl always insisted on sitting between him and Erasa? Initially he surmised it was because Videl was potentially marking out her territory. By placing herself between Gohan and Erasa, she was blocking any unwelcome affection towards Gohan.

Yet recent events cast aspersions on this theory, riddling it with many holes. Gohan could swear that Erasa tagged along more and more on their little dates. Sharpener even joined them, to round out the group to a convenient four. Ever since they all learned his secret identity, they clustered around him and Videl like groupies. Was it out of respect, pity or something else, Gohan wondered? In addition, he didn't fail to notice the heat of Sharpener's eyes on him.

"Poor guy probably has the hots for me for all I know," Gohan blushed, scratching pen into paper to write the date.

Two months after Buu's demise, and the memory of Saiyaman's secret identity faded into obscurity. Rather the crowds recalled the Gold Fighter and Saiyaman were the same. None remembered Son Gohan's name. Rather they recalled the epic match between Trunks and Goten instead. Even the terrifying Vegeta who had blown away half the stadium was conveniently folded into the collective amnesia surrounding Majin Buu's identity. A carefully worded coda on the wish insured nobody would remember the villainy of Vegeta's transition to Darkness.

It had been Goku's idea, supported wholeheartedly by the others. The last thing Capsule needed was more publicity. Already its heir apparent was the reigning youth division champion. Goten had to content himself with second place. Something else though flashed randomly through Gohan's brooding mind. On the other hand, was it the crumpled up paper that landed against the back of his neck from above? Turning around he glared up at Sharpener.

"What?" he hissed.

"Look alive, Bookworm. You can't impress the new teach if you're already nose down in the book. Look sharp he's here!" Sharpener cautioned. A bob of his long blonde mane indicated the slowly creaking door.

Clothes rustled as twenty-seven students in Applied Physics college prep straightened up in their seats, eager to show the best possible first impression. Angela, further up in the back row let out a whoop of glee. Other female students contained their gasps of surprise when the professional sashayed in with his tan suit. In one hand, he carried a tan briefcase that matched his shoes.

Short hair cropped to touch his shapely ears delineated an air of respect. As he swung around, he honed his azure eyes in a long panoramic sweep of the classroom. Once Gohan's eyes beheld their new teacher, his heart stopped for a full second. Hot blood flushed to his face when the crystalline blue eyes rested on him for an instant longer, and bestowed a quick wink.

"Good afternoon class. I'm Mr. Briefs. I'm sure you're all eager to learn quantum physics as I am to teach it," he said crisply, cinching up his dark brown tie. That salmon shirt set it off nicely, complimenting the light lavender hair gleaming sleek under the classroom lights.

"I'll learn anything if HE'S teaching it," Erasa whispered.

"He looks familiar," Videl whispered. She nudged Gohan, who sat with his jaw wide open.

"Hey, bookworm, you could catch a fly in that," Sharpener tossed another wadded up piece of paper at Gohan's neck.

"If you'd be so kind as to pass out the syllabus, we'll get started," said the teacher.

"I'll do it!" Angela chirped from the back row.

Mr. Briefs gracefully strode up and met her halfway in the aisle. He presented her with the neat stack of stapled pamphlets so she could pass them around to the end rows before scurrying happily back to her seat. Collectively papers rustled from each student taking a syllabus off the pile and passing it down.

"Gohan, wake up," Videl snapped her fingers before his face.

Shock and surprise fixed his face into a strange expression. Normally pale skin blanched two shades ghostly white, making her wonder what specter had surfaced from his past that coincided with this teacher's arrival. Facts ruffled through her mind, causing her to wonder what other secrets Gohan had not yet disclosed. Just when she thought she'd learned everything, another tidbit blew that notion to hell.

"Huh, what?" Gohan blinked. Coming to his senses, he grabbed a syllabus for himself before pushing the stack to the student on his other side.

Bic Penn glanced up at Sharpener who was staring pensively at Mr. Briefs. By now, the teacher had repositioned himself behind the front desk near his briefcase. Open, it obscured whatever else was inside. Brass catches caught the light, along with the initials scribed there in matching metal. Like all things Gohan, Sharpener, and his friends were suspicious.

"Graphite, Erasa," he read from the role book.

"Here!"

"Satan, Videl?"

"Present," she held up her hand.

"Son Gohan?"

"Uh… here sir!" Gohan yelped through his tightening throat. He tugged his finger into his collar that seemed a bit tight all of a sudden. Any other names passed into a dull din, fading while the fast pounding of his heart rose in prominence.

Why did that heartbeat and the rush of his blood drown all else out, Gohan wondered. His eyes riveted themselves to Mr. Brief's procession from behind the podium to the chalkboard. Fingering a white piece of chalk, Mr. Briefs turned his back to the classroom and presented a very enticing rear view effectively grabbing the attention of the female contingent. Videl rolled her eyes when Erasa leaned forward in her chair to watch their teacher raise his sleeved arm and mark down the class title.

"Here's my office and email address," he announced. Curling his fingers around something else in the chalk tray, he seized hold of the item then spun around. In one hand, he brandished a meter stick, and in his other, he still held the piece of chalk.

"All right, since we're all here, let me welcome you to Quantum Mechanics. I just want to lay down a few ground rules and we'll navigate this course in due time. I expect we're all adults here, so the first thing I want to get straight is that for every hour in here you need to spend at least two getting ready. It's your job to do so, as mine is to convey the information," Future Trunks explained. Again, he presented his back scribing Rule 1 on the board.

"Hard-ass alert," Videl whispered.

"Hard ass all right and it's a cute one," Erasa whispered.

"Knock it off you two," Gohan hissed out of the corner of his mouth. Videl cocked a graceful slender brow in interest.

Chalk narrowly squeaked a second, eliciting dozens of clenched teeth. Half turning this time Mr. Briefs smiled, "Rule 2. Turn off all your cell phones and pull those phones out of your ear right now. Or I'll ad them to my collection… that especially includes you, Mister Penn…"

Quickly he strode up to the middle row aisle, and pointed towards a section of audience. Classmates around Bic nudged him, and he yanked the headphones out of his ears under the scrutiny of Mr. Brief's penetrating blue stare. "Sorry sir!"

"One warning. The next time, and I confiscate it. Is that clear?"

"Yes Mr. Briefs," Bic apologized, shoving his CD player into his backpack.

Then Mr. Briefs swiveled and resumed a slow orbit that took hi back to the board. "Rule Three, no snapping gum. If it's in your mouth, it had better be on the way to your stomach, or had better be words coming out of your mouth when I call on you, right Miss Skye?"

"Um… yes sir, sorry," Angelia batted her eyelashes at him. She pulled out her gum and wedged it behind her ear.

"I think this is a more appropriate place," Future Trunks aimed his meter stick at the trashcan.

"Right, sorry," she blushed cutely, wrapping it up in the foil and passing it meekly over to his outstretched hand as she rose. He tossed it into the garbage.

"Rule Four. No talking amongst yourselves in class. Outside class you can chat all you want, and hopefully about the homework assignment. In fact, I encourage study groups. There's safely in numbers. So look to your left and right and exchange phone numbers," he instructed, setting the trashcan down and returning to the board.

"Gohan, you look sick," Erasa whispered. "You all right?"

"No call from the guys in town," Videl glanced down at her watch.

"Is there something you want to share with the class Miss Graphite?" Mr. Briefs interrupted. "Or you Miss Satan?"

"No sir, sorry sir," Videl answered quickly. "I was just checking the time… to make sure… I was…"

"Are you in a hurry to go somewhere? I hope not. Just as I was getting to rule five," Mr. Briefs smiled sweetly, but his blue eyes gleamed with sternness.

"Right… rule five," Videl answered, folding her hands on the top of her book.

"Zing," Sharpener whispered with a grin.

"Rule Five… always come to class prepared. This underlines rule one. And I see that at least a few of us are already in the right mindset, right MR. Son?" Mr. Briefs asked, tapping his ruler lightly on the palm of his hand.

"Um yes sir, of course," Gohan managed to answer.

"Excellent Mr. Son. Now, let's all plunge in feet first. Take your textbooks out, and I expect you DO have them, and if you don't, please look on someone else's," he indicated, sweeping the yardstick out to indicate the whole class.

"Shit," Sharpener mumbled, fumbling for his. Gohan tensely glanced up once more, his eyes meeting those of Future Trunks. Rooted to the spot he was pinned under their probing insistent gaze. A slow smile spread across Trunks face, another slow wink collapsing all time to a tense hot second where Gohan felt the whole class dissolve away.

However, Sharpener by this time had brought his book out, and let it thump to the table with a slap that broke Gohan's concentration. Glaring up he noticed the strange expression passing between Mr. Briefs and Gohan. For some reason the teacher had stopped right in front of Gohan's section of the room, and fixed his gaze for longer then just thirty seconds on the shy nerd. True to his name, he glared sharply at the teacher, angular features drawing into a sneer.

Instantly two sets of blue eyes met in an unspoken challenge. Gohan felt as if he wanted to shrink away into his chair when he saw the angry glare narrow Trunks eyes, his lavender brows knitting. "Is there something wrong or do you enjoy making sour faces to the class Mr. Gummy?" Trunks sternly scolded.

"What? I didn't do anything!" Sharpener snapped back.

"Your attention is not on your book like it should be. Perhaps you'd like to pick up that pail there and stand in the hallway?" Future Trunks asked, slapping his yardstick down sharply on the desk. Sharpener flinched.

"I wasn't doing anything wrong!" Sharpener blurted out.

"In the hallway now, Mr. Gummy. Go cool off and come back when you're ready to learn something! I consider not having my book out as evidence you think you can just skate through…"

A dull murmur answered, and he barked, "Anyone else want to join him?"

"Stupid pain in the ass," Sharpener mumbled, climbing out of his seat and marching up to grab a sign and pail of water.

"You too, Mr. Penn. You seem to have something to add to the discussion or do you want to keep him company?"

"Sorry sir," Bic mumbled, marching off after Sharpener. The whole class fell deadly silent as the teacher shoved a pail and sign into each student's hands and marched them out of the classroom.

"Oh man," Gohan groaned as he hid his face in his hand. Embarassed, Sharpener hung the sign around his neck before exiting.

"I'll say this, he doesn't put up with crap," Videl nodded slowly with a look of respect. "But he still looks familiar."

"Shh, he's coming back," Erasa whispered, nudging Videl. Gohan by now slouched down in his chair, hoping that his molecules would slip into the wood and let him sink into a large hole. The slamming of the door by Mr. Briefs caused him to flinch yet again, along with the rest of the class.

"Now," Mr. Briefs said politely, setting the yardstick down on the table. "Before we were interrupted, turn to chapter one. We'll start out with the history of Quantum mechanics, and why it's so important…."

The rest of the class flashed by Gohan in a numb blur. He was thankful that it wouldn't be much longer until he got an answer for why his new teacher was in fact a blast from his past. Although he was thrilled to see his old friend again, his senses screamed for a suitable explanation why Future Trunks hadn't stopped by to see him in private. Just what was he trying to prove?

**You're not paying attention, Gohan, ** whispered a voice in his mind. Gohan snapped up, almost blurting out an apology aloud before he snapped his mouth shut.

"Still with us, Mr. Son?" Mr. Briefs said aloud. Gohan's cherry red cheeks almost gave him away, and he turned his face aside from the others. He hoped his friends would assume he was embarrassed from being caught not paying attention.

"Yes sir, sorry sir, you were talking about Heisenberg's uncertainty principle?" he stammered.

"Very good, Mr. Son. Miss Satan, is he right?"

"Yes Mr. Briefs," she responded, her own eyes clouded with suspicion. Why Gohan seemed so edgy and antsy around the teacher screamed alarm bells in her head. Now she had a much clearer confirmation that Gohan must have recognized Mr. Briefs from sometime in the past. A careful look at his appearance still needed outside research to refute her theory.

"He looks like one of the guys who showed up on the day Dad fought Cell," she thought. "No wait… he looks a hell of a lot like Trunks Briefs… Goten's best friend and Bulma's son. But how could that be… unless he's a cousin… and his last name is the same…"

"Miss Satan, is there something unclear in the text?" Mr. Briefs interrupted her. It was her turn to flinch.

"Sorry I wasn't sure about this one equation…” she blurted out. Gohan glanced quickly away, shaking his head.

**Please Trunks, don't…** Gohan pleaded silently.

To his relief and intense surprise, it was as if Future Trunks had heard him very clearly, especially when he cast Videl and the class a warm smile. Glancing down at his watch he said, "That's a lot for today. Tonight I want you to do the questions for chapter one and we'll resume tomorrow where we left off...”

"Phew," Erasa wiped her brow, numbers swimming in her brain. She slapped her book shut, while others whipped out their notebooks to scribble down the assignment Trunks wrote on the chalkboard. Another tap on Gohan's shoulder roused him from his stupor, and he closed his notebook with a sigh.

Sharpener resurfaced from the hall, a sullen look plastered on his face as he sauntered up to collect his books. Patiently Mr. Briefs looked on, while packing things into his case once more. Gohan abruptly glanced away from the teacher, focusing on thrusting books into his own bag. Slinging it across his shoulder, he waited for Videl and Erasa to finish putting things away. Like pigeons, departing a statue when disrupted the students vacated the class once the bell rang.

Gohan stumbled past Mr. Briefs as he exited the class. A gentle hand caught his arm, steadying him. “Be careful there, Mr. Son. We can't have you tripping and falling on the first day of the semester can we?” Mr. Briefs said with an amused smile.

“No we can't… I um… I'm I've got to go,” Gohan stammered, feeling electricity tingling through him at the pressure of Trunks hand steadying his arm. Mischief twinkling his blue eyes, Future Trunks released Gohan's arm.

“Perhaps you'd like to see me after class, Mr. Son?” he whispered.

“Stop it… people will notice,” Gohan gritted his teeth. Future Trunks backed away, and Gohan rushed into the group of students clambering through t he halls. Once he thought it was safe Gohan leaned heavily against his locker door. Face flushed with embarrassment and something else, he felt his body tingling from head to toe.

“Gohan,” said a voice to his left.

“What?” he snapped.

“Easy Gohan, what's gotten into you?” Erasa asked sweetly, hand on his shoulder.

“Gohan, are you all right? You look like you saw a ghost. You knew that person didn't you. The teacher?” Videl said.

“Um what makes you say that…?” Gohan quickly smiled forcefully, rubbing the back of his neck vigorously. However, Videl's frustrated stare stopped his feeble denial cold.

“Gohan please, don't even TRY to hide it,” Videl glared at him accusingly. “He looks exactly like one of the guys who fought Cell…”

“I… please Videl can we discuss it later?” he hissed, intimating Erasa standing there. Sighing, Videl relented. Gohan was thankful the bag slung in front of his hip covered the obvious erection tenting the front of his pants. Just how he would explain that away he hated to think.
***


Throughout the rest of the day, Gohan reigned in his runaway emotions. The spectrum ranged from hot infrared frustration to the ultraviolet high energies of sexual desire. Hidden frequencies locked away now increased in amplitude only seen in the peak of adolescence. Although he had fooled around a bit with Videl, the arousal he had for her paled in comparison to what rushed his blood at fever pitch now.

Not sure of whether to damn Trunks or smother him with kisses. Gohan stumbled through his last period. He was thankful for the physical education release, though he had to hold back when hitting the ball with a light tap that still caused a home run advantage. Sharpener had thrown a towel at Gohan's flushed face just as they entered the locker room shower, cutting off his vision.

"Hey!" he had choked, brushing the offending terrycloth aside. Sharpener smirked an expression worthy of Vegeta, freaking him out.

"You with us, Nerd?" he asked.

"No comment," Gohan glared at sharpener. "After that little stunt today you'd better reign it in!"

"You on teacher's side? Wanting to become the teacher's pet?" Sharpener winked at him.

"Shut up Sharpener. Don't push me. I'm not having a good day, you know," Gohan growled.

"Whoa, whoa, settle down," Sharpener backed away, spooked by the fierceness in Gohan's face. "I was just teasing!"

"You think I LIKE being singled out in class any more then you do, Sharpener?" Gohan asked, slamming his locker door open. He tugged out boxers and other garments, hastily dressing.

"So that's why you're so pissy. Figures. At least I'm not the only one embarrassed by mister Drill sergeant Nasty," Sharpener commiserated. Gohan heaved a huge sigh of relief, glad that the blonde had taken the bait.

"Any more then you liked holding a pail in the hall, Sharpener," Gohan agreed, tugging up his boxers. He smirked a bit when he felt the heat of Sharpener's gaze on his backside. Let the guy have a look. It was flattering to think that Sharpener really WAS ogling him. It would explain why the jock was so insistent on teasing him.

"Well that teacher has another thing coming if he thinks he can push me around. He'd better not do anything to take me from the baseball season or football, or else Coach Eyeshield will give him hell," Sharpener cautioned, preening himself in the mirror. He saw Gohan glancing over at him with a small smile, and felt his heart skip a beat. Slowly he flexed the muscles in his back, hoping to show off.

Gohan laughed at the obvious attempt to get a mutual ogle and threw a towel at Sharpener's head. "If anything your GPA won't be in any danger of plummeting faster then your boxer shorts when you hit the shower."

"You'd enjoy that wouldn't you?" Sharpener said as he moved over and made a mock kissing sound near Gohan's ear.

"Maybe, if I was interested," Gohan whispered back, and then Sharpener felt a slap on his shoulder that was rather firm. What he thought would freak the poor nerd out had only given the opposite result.

"What was that? You don't know what you're missing nerd boy," Sharpener glared back.

"I'm going home," Gohan said, pulling on his shirt. Back facing the fuming Sharpener, he buttoned it up, suddenly realizing he had started it unevenly and had to redo it.

"Jerk," Sharpener pulled a face, yanking his wife-beater shirt on. "He doesn't know when he has it good."

Still Sharpener didn't feel as if he wanted to give up. So Gohan wasn't interested, was he? Well perhaps if he could see WHAT he was missing, then he'd change his mind. Either that, or his suspicions were very much founded in reality. It had to be because of that teacher. Sharpener may have the advantage of brawn over brains, but he was no imbecile. Rather the opposite; for Sharpener felt as if something was horning in on his 'territory'. Gohan was his project, not some young handsome intellectual who liked to push students around.


***

Leaving the locker room behind him, Gohan felt the coolness of the air evaporating the water from his skin nicely. It aided in quelling the nervous hot sensations flooding his body with strange tingles hundreds of times that when Videl would look his way. While it was interesting that Sharpener just made a pass at him, he had no interest in the jock. Sure he was nice to look at, but Gohan's mind only wanted to focus on the sharp dressed man who had landed abruptly back into his life.

Yet what would he do when he confronted Trunks face to face? Surely there would be some way to talk to him without fear of reprisal. If Future Trunks intended what Gohan suspected in his gut, the opportunity might just literally fall in his lap. Occupied by all these thoughts he strode down the halls towards the exit. To reach it he passed by the door to the teacher's lounge opposite the cafeteria.

Shadows moved behind the opaque glass window covered in black letters. The doorknob clicked, swinging the door to in the busy hallway. Gohan dodged around the door spilling several well dressed faculties into the stream already moving thickly with students going home for the day. Among those two piece suits of dove gray, plaid and herringbone the tan fawn suit stood out, along with its lavender haired owner moving towards him.

"Oh man, what do I say, what do I do?" Gohan panicked, stopping dead where he stood. Like a deer staked out by a predator he froze in place motionless out of instinct. Students simply walked around him on either side as Mr. Briefs swam through the thick of them to arrive at Gohan's side.

"Mr. Son, good to see you. I'd been hoping to catch you before you went home," Future Trunks said in that same crisp professional tone, warmed with a hint of polite pleasantness.

"Yes T... Mr. Briefs," Gohan answered, staring straight ahead with ramrod stiff posture.

"At ease, Mr. Son. This isn't military school. I made up a list of tutors for my class and figured you'd be perfect," Mr. Briefs said, snapping the clasps on his briefcase while resting it on one hip.

Still not looking at him, Gohan said, "Sir?"

"You don't have a problem with that, do you, Mr. Son?" asked Trunks with a slight smile. The mask of professionalism shielded everything except the hopeful twinkle in his blue gaze. Once clean hands felt clammy again with renewed sweat, and Gohan felt the steady climb of his temperature.

"No... but it's rather... sudden," Gohan swallowed hard, his voice unsteady.

"I thought you should have my number and address if you have any questions or need to meet about the particulars," Mr. Briefs said matter of fact. Rife with double entendre, the two danced verbally, each anticipating what the other would next voice.

"Today?" Gohan asked, voice low as he glanced from side to side. Under a microscope he felt, ready for the scrutiny of every student who might stare and point at him. Yet he realized no students glanced in their direction for more then a split second before returning to their lockers or heading out the door. Other professors were catching other students in mid trip out the door and handing over business cards.

"If that would fit into your schedule. I know you students are very busy..." Future Trunks nodded. It was so transparent to Gohan, especially with the pleading look in Trunks blue eyes, struggling to keep up a professional front yet wanting more.

In his gut Gohan felt the need that matched his own. He had to find out for himself as soon as he could why Future Trunks was here. Something told him time was of the essence now more then ever. Between two fingers Future Trunks a.k.a. Mr. Briefs offered a business card printed with neat black lettering on lavender card stock. Gohan tentatively extended his hand and reached for it. Fingers brushed with a quick jolting shock that projected blue energy behind Gohan's eyes. The entire atmosphere tingled with Trunks Ki, barely suppressed but wafting him over him invisibly, questing for something more.

It had worked in the class, Gohan thought. Perhaps he could try again. Focussing hard he then looked Trunks square in the eyes, dark black sinking into cerulean. "You need to see me, don't you?"

Blue electricity sparked the gap. Drowning in that cool refreshing blue, Gohan felt placid calm douse him. That fever that shivered his muscles temporarily steadied standing in his presence. Clear thoughts answered, "Yes, Gohan. I've waited a long time. We need to talk."

The thoughts were inside his mind in a split instant as he weighed them, for he found himself hearing Future Trunks say aloud, "I really could use your help. The sooner we work out a schedule, the faster you can help the students."

Without hesitation Gohan answered, "All right then, you've got my attention. I'll see what I can work out."

"Good. I'm glad," Future Trunks nodded, smiling warmly. Reaching out he clasped Gohan's hand in his own. The firmness of his hand shaking the other seemed a poor substitute for all the things suddenly flooding into Gohan's fertile imagination. Palms and fingers fully touching for the first time, the jolt of live ki tingled far greater and reached far deeper into a hunger that Gohan hardly realized he possessed. Although it was a small surge of Trunks ki, it felt deliciously warm and inviting.

Gohan answered it with a pulse of his own. He realized he didn't want to let go, but reluctantly missed the warmth of Trunks hand releasing his and stepping back. Gone was the comfort of his aura washing over Gohan's, opening a large gaping vacuum that ached in Gohan's chest. Through ki, a strange intimacy of greeting like a kiss or a hug had been a substitute for he physical contact he craved. Glancing at Trunks tanned skin he felt the urge to taste those lips, and inhale the scent of that silky soft hair.

"I'll see you later. You'll call me to let me know when we can meet and iron out the details?" Mr. Briefs asked, now standing a foot away.

"Yes. I'll call as soon as I let mom know where I am," said Gohan quickly. With a last glance at Trunks smiling face he rushed out of the building. Suddenly he felt very naked and bare in his emotions now revealed through the ki exchange. Open to scrutiny and afraid of someone having seen them, he knew it would have only appeared as an innocent teacher student discussion. In reality it was the fear of loosing the chance to see for himself if his suppositions years ago were false or true.

***

With a click Gohan replaced the receiver of the pay phone. The change he had deposited jingled down into the heart of the machine, then hit the bottom of the coin box with a definitive thud. It sounded the end of one period of his life, and the beginning of the new. Inside the glass booth he felt a measure of safety from the confrontation to come. Mom had been refreshingly understanding when Gohan announced he had a teacher conference about a tutoring job. She wholeheartedly agreed it was a great opportunity, releasing him from the guilt of not returning home for a family dinner.

Shadows diagonally fell across Gohan's path along the walkway to the twenty-story apartment complex. Sheathed in glass on one side and brick along the other two he could see, it dwarfed the townhouses around it. Only the high spherical towers a few blocks away reached its height. Shielding his eyes with his hands Gohan leaned back slightly to bring the top into view. Other hand holding the card with the address he then peered down at it to confirm the number. Apartment 19 C it said. The building wasn't a mere column with sphere on top, rather it was a non traditional rectangle with two side wings that were smaller rectangles. Christened Capsule Towers, it was a place where many employees of the Satan City Capsule branch lived.

"Figures he'd live here. Well at least it isn't Capsule Corps. Somehow that would make this even more awkward," Gohan murmured to himself.

Tentatively he continued down the walkway, stepping over every crack. While he wasn't superstitious he felt the sudden need to continue his self control lest he jinx this upcoming confrontation. The last thing he needed was an irked mother disparaging him from reuniting with an old friend. Although the light reflected off the glass windows had deepened from white to a gold hue, he could still see the sun gleaming off the glass and beaming its reflection down into the street below. the first few stories of the building were a parking deck and promenade of shops, indicating a gated entry and concierge. The closer he approached the main circular drive, the more Gohan's shadow was swallowed up by the huge one cast by the skyscraper.

Even wearing his blue capsule corps jacket Gohan felt a bit out of place. Fortunately he was far more nicely dressed then most high school students, which earned him an affirming nod from the doorman standing near the awning. "Evening sir," he touched his cap.

"Good Evening. I'm here to visit someone please," Gohan said, holding out the card.

"You can page him at the front desk. Have a nice evening," the doorman smiled, glancing down at the business card Gohan held only briefly. He waved Gohan through with an encouraging smile, glancing appreciatively at Gohan's clothes.

"Well mom, I guess you were right about being dressed for success," Gohan chuckled to himself, walking through the door that was held open wide for him. Across the threshold he stepped into a rather wealthy world for a high school teacher. While he knew Orange Star High was one of the better schools, most of its employees wouldn't be able to afford an apartment in a condominium like this unless they had money or connections.

Underfoot the thick carpet yielded softly to his polished shoes. Gohan approached the concierge, who asked for identification. The maroon suited personnel all were neatly groomed, reminding him of a hotel. Like with the doorman he had little trouble getting the approval of the concierge to press a button and call up to the condo. Like the other apartment units where you pressed a buzzer and waited, he still stood by the elevator to wait for the party he was visiting.

"He says go on up, Mr. Son," said the concierge politely.

"Thank you," Gohan nodded, and strode across the glossy marble floor to the oak paneled elevator doors. Even the interiors were tiled in frosted mirror, with brass handles inside. Heart pounding he rode the car to the top, and then made his way down the hall towards the apartment described to him on the card.