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The Curse.	By : xXxAuraxXx Category: Dragon Ball Z > General Views: 2284 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, nor do I make any profits from this. I own my original characters.

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“What do you mean it’s useless?! It can’t be! I want my son back!” Goku yelled, fear taking root in him.

“I said I can’t sense your son. I didn’t say it was useless.”

“It might as well be! If you can’t sense him, nobody can!” Goku sank to his knees. “The look on his face when he was taken . . . I’m never going to forget that look.” He covered his face with his hands. “My poor boy . . . out there all by himself.” He looked up, a new hope in his eyes. “Wait a minute . . . The Dragon Balls!”

“I’m afraid you can’t use the Dragon Balls. Kami isn’t here any longer, remember?”

“Oh.”

“But there are the Namekian Dragon Balls. I’m sure they would let you wish for your son to come home.”

“How do I get to Namek?”

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“Lord Furiza, you called for me?” Vejita asked, kneeling before Furiza.

“Yes, I did. It has come to my attention that there are things called ‘Dragon Balls’ that exist in the Universe. They grant any and every wish that one can think of. I wish to go to Namek and your group is coming with me.”

“Lord Furiza, how you honor us!”

“Yes, I suppose so. You may go. Just remember to keep up on your training, Vejita.”

“Of course, Lord Furiza.”

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He was laughing, playing, running from someone, but it wasn't in fear that he ran. He was really young, but he knew he was happy, safe.

A black-haired woman stepped out from behind a tree, catching him as he tried to wiggle away. "I got you!" she laughingly said.

The man behind him closed in and the two of them tortured him by tickling, kissing him, as he tried to wiggle away, giggling, squealing with laughter. They looked up at him and something was wrong.

What was it . . . something was wrong!

No, no, it couldn't be!

They had no faces!

Sweating, Gohan sat up in bed. He wiped sweat from his face. Not another nightmare! He should be over them by now!

A dark figure loomed over him and the Prince's face came into view. He was scowling, like usual. "Another nightmare?"

He nodded.

"Same one?"

"Yes, Prince Vejita. I'm sorry. I'll try to be more quiet."

"Don't sweat it, kid. We all have them from time to time." Over the time, the cold Prince had warmed up to the child to the point that almost scared him. "It's time to get up. Training time."

"Yes, sir, of course." Gohan raised his body out of his bed and dressed quickly. The nightmare still scared him. He believed the two in the dream were his parents, but why couldn't he see their faces? Why could he never see them? He couldn't even remember his parents' names! He couldn't remember the house he had lived in, but he could remember the land. Numb, he followed Vejita to the training area where Nappa and Zarbon waited. Zarbon didn't like Gohan and Gohan didn't like Zarbon, but Zarbon always came to watch the training. He didn't know why, but it seemed Lord Furiza, who he had never seen, was scared of Gohan.

Nappa grinned at Gohan. He knew he was no match for the child, but he liked him, nonetheless. Over the last two years, the three of them had gotten closer. They got along, usually, but Gohan still didn't like or trust them very much. Vejita . . . he liked Vejita more. He felt like Vejita wasn't as cold, or mean, or evil as he pretended to be. Every once in awhile, Gohan saw a small shred of softness in the Prince. He knew he wasn't bad, but he also knew Vejita had had a hand in his kidnapping. That kept him from liking any of them.

A fist hit his cheek, sending him stumbling back a bit. He looked up, stunned.

"Didn't mean to interrupt your nap, little boy," Vejita sneered, "but we're training here and would like you to join us!"

He nodded. "Of course. Sorry." He blocked the next punch, dodged the next kick and aimed a rolling kick at Vejita's head.

Nappa, who rarely joined in on the fights anymore, stood back and stared. The two of them fought with an intensity he could never match. He cast a glance at Zarbon, who looked vaguely annoyed.

The Prince of all Saiyans was being beaten and he loved it. The boy would fit in with his plans perfectly. The trip to Planet Namek to find the Dragonballs would be the perfect time to escape. He could wish for immortality for himself and the boy and the two of them could face off Furiza and win. He knew it. Freedom was in his grasp! He was hit by a perfectly executed jump kick and went flying back. Before he could recover, the boy was readying his killer move.

"Kameha . . . me . . . HA!!!!"

Vejita fired back his Super Galik Gun, hoping to take the boy off balance.

But Gohan had expected that. He braced himself and opened his vast reserve of strength up, forcing the blast toward Vejita.

He knew he had lost control of the blast, but he still struggled to keep it. The blast came back and hit him, hard, and he made not a sound. The Prince would not allow anyone to know his pain. His back hit the wall and the blast receded. He sank to his knees, breathing hard. "Not . . . bad . . . kid!"

Zarbon "hmph"ed and walked forward. "Seems you have no more advantage over the child. I'll take over his training from now on."

Gohan didn't even see Zarbon move, but the next moment, he was flying through the air. He twisted around, using his tail as his rudder, and aimed a Ki-blast at the wall, stopping his flight. A fist hit his cheek and he went flying down, crashing to the floor. He was up in an instant, though, and the next punch that came, he blocked it. He dodged the coming kick and aimed his hardest, favorite, roundhouse kick at Zarbon's head. It connected.

He flew back and Gohan was on him, punching and kicking him with all he had. Zarbon couldn't even fight back. Gohan jumped back, firing several Ki-blasts at Zarbon before he could recover. "Don't . . . underesimate . . . me!" He charged up his Kamehame-Ha.

Zarbon charged at him, determined to stop him. He hit Gohan, but his fist went right through his body.

With a grin, Gohan looked down at Zarbon from about fifteen feet from him and let loose his killer move.

He looked up just in time to see the huge blast coming toward him and his eyes widened. How had he done that?! He blocked the blast, but it forced him back, forced his block to break and it hit him, hard. He did let out a small yell as he was hit. He forced himself back to his feet, holding his arm as it hung in a bad position. It was broken. How had that child done that?! He stared at the smug boy, pissed. "How did you do that?!"

He shrugged. "I don't know. It just came to me."

"You should go get healed, Zarbon," a voice said from behind him. Cui walked into the room. "I want a rematch."

"Come now, Cui. You are no match for him."

"I want a rematch."

Gohan smirked. "Let him, Vejita. I need the practice."

He laughed. "Okay, I'll let him." He stepped aside.

Cui glared at Gohan. "You cocky son-of-a-bitch!" He launched at Gohan.

He dodged, blocked, laughed at Cui. "Just give up or I'll hurt you."

"You're an asshole!"

He pulled his fist back and hit Cui, hard enough he flew into the wall. "That was easy." He powered down and landed. "Quick, too."

Vegeta walked up to Gohan and knelt to whisper, "I want you to come to my chambers tonight. I want to talk to you about your family." He straightened up and left the room before Gohan's mouth even closed.

Cui glared at Gohan. "You think that's it? You think it's over?" He flew at him again, but he was in no mood to play now. In a matter of seconds, he had Cui down and out enough he had to be carried to the recovery wing.

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Gohan crept into Vejita's room slowly. "Prince Vejita?"

"Over here, kid." He came out of his bathroom, still wearing his torn, dirty Saiyan armor and sat in one of the two chairs he had brought to his room an hour before. "Come, sit." When he was sitting beside him, Vejita smiled. "Listen to me and listen good, kid, I won't repeat it. I want out of this place and I think you're my ticket out. You help me, I help you. Understand?"

"What do you mean?" His eyes were huge.

"I mean, in a few weeks, we'll be landing on Planet Namek to look for Dragonballs. They grant wishes. If you help me gather the Dragonballs, I'll let you wish to be immortal. Then we'll take on Furiza. When we win, I'll go on my way, but before I do, I'll help you find your family. Do we have a deal?"

"Are you being serious?"

"Yes."

"You're not playing me?"

"No, not at all."

"You're not testing my loyalty?"

"No."

"You'll really take me home?"

"Only if you help me."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

He looked up, eyes tearing. "You'll really get me home?"

"I can't promise that I can get you home, but I can promise you that I will do my best to help you if you help me."

"Deal. I'll do it. I swear. I'll do it."

"Good." He smiled. "You'll be home in no time. Now get to bed and tell nobody this."

"I won't, I swear." He ran from the room. When he reached his room, he crawled under the covers and fell into a deep sleep, one free of nightmares, but not of memories.

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Goku and Piccolo stared at each other, panting. "Ugh . . . you're getting . . . good!"

"So are you."

Goku leant down on his knees. "Aw, Kami, that was exhilerating."

"Thanks."

Kuririn came running into the clearing. "Goku, Piccolo, Burama finished the space ship!"

"Ah, really!? Come on, Piccolo, let's go! We have to get going. We're behind schedule! We have to hurry!"

Burama smiled at the space ship she and her dad had worked so hard to make. It took forever, but it was finished. She would be going, of course. That was the deal. She, Goku, Piccolo, Tien, Yamucha and Chaozu were all going. She looked up when they came through the door. "Hey, guys! It's done. Ready to go?"

Their stuff, which had been packed long ago, was already inside the ship and everyone piled in quickly, chattering eagerly, excitedly. They were going to bring Gohan home even if it was the last thing they did!

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Normally Furiza would stay out of the training area, but today was a special day. A trainee, a six-year-old trainee, had beaten his right-hand man, Zarbon, so he was going to train with the child himself. He ignored the brainless oafs that saluted and hailed and greeted him as he walked passed them all. Why couldn't they all shut up? Cui, however, he did nod at..

Cui had told him earlier that he thought Prince Vejita and the new kid were going to betray him.

He walked into the training area and was vaguely amused at the shocked expressions of a beaten-up Vejita and an unscathed eight-year-old. Hm. The child was powerful. "Mind if I cut in?" He strolled up to the child and studied him, moving him manually with his hand. "Not bad. Not a scratch on him. But that will change. I want to fight you."

Gohan's eyes widened. "Yes, Lord Furiza, anything you wish."

Vejita stared at Lord Furiza, studying him intently. What was he planning? "Lord Furiza, he isn't strong enough to fight you."

"You're right, of course. I said I want to fight him, not that I would. I brought some friends of mine along with me. Boys!"

Ginyu, Jeice, Burter, Racoome and Guldo walked in, smirking. "Lord Furiza, is this the runt?"

"Yes."

"We won't need to try too hard. Guldo, why don't you do it?"

A short, green, four-eyed fat guy smiled. "Will do, Ginyu!" He crouched in an offensive position.

Gohan smiled. He didn't need a scouter to sense power and he could see Guldo's power was only 13,500. "Okay, I can do this." His own power level was 71,000. He could take him out. Easy. "Ready?"

Guldo smiled. "Let's go!"

"Kamehame-HA!" He let loose a Kamehame-Ha wave instantly and it was too big for Guldo to block or dodge. It hit him, knocking him cold.

Vejita smiled. He remembered that Guldo was dangerous if fought in hand-to-hand combat. Not bad.

Furiza didn't even blink. "Racoome, you're up."

Racoome smirked. "Now you're in for it! Fuuulllll powerrrr!" He attacked Gohan.

Gohan sidestepped Racoome and karate-chopped the back of his head and Racoome dropped.

Now Furiza blinked. "Not bad. Burter."

A blue man smiled. "I'm ready." He went after Gohan and he was almost enough to make the boy try. He aimed an upper-cut at the boy.

Gohan danced back, firing a small Ki-blast at Burter to distract him. While he was blocking that one, he flew behind him and overhead-pounded him as hard as he could into the floor. Before Burter even hit the floor, Gohan's leg came up and he did a falling kick, landing on his back, pushing with his arms and hitting Burter in the chest.

Burter went flying.

Gohan flew ahead of his flight and hit him with a small spin kick.

Vejita stared. When had the boy gotten this good? "Good job, Gohan! Keep it up!"

Gohan wasted a smile on his teacher. "Thanks!"

Jeice helped Burter to his feet, but Burter was done. "Let's rock it!" Jeice said, crouching. He flew at the demi-Saiyan, feigning right.

He took the bait, dodging to the left, and Jeice hit him square in the chin. He was knocked back.

Jeice foot-swept him and, using his momentum against him, aimed a kick at him to push him up.

His foot went right through him.

He looked around, but was unprepared for it when Gohan aimed a rolling kick at him, knocking him back now. "Don't underestimate me just because I'm young!" His rage was getting to him now. He forced energy into his hands, hitting Jeice with all he had. When he had him where he wanted him, he pulled his hands back and said, "Garlic Gun!"

It hit him and it hurt. He was out now, too.

Gohan's rage left him feeling numb and confused. "How did I do that?"

Furiza forced a smile. "Half-breed, don't get your hopes up. You still got the best one to go."

Ginyu stepped up. "My turn."

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Exhausted, Gohan dropped to the floor. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't blink. He managed to look up as Ginyu lowered to the floor.

"Did you have fun, Half-breed?" he sneered.

He forced himself to his feet, struggling. "Not yet."

"Oh, you think you're going to have fun soon?"

"Whatever you do, Ginyu, don't taunt him about his father!" Nappa called. "It pisses him off royally!"

A sick, evil grin crossed his face. "Oh, yeah? Well, then, let's have some fun! I'll just bet your father crawled out from under a rock! No, I'll bet they kicked him off of Planet Vegeta because he was ugly! No, because he was weak! I'll bet he was just plain out weak!"

"Leave him alone!"

"I ever meet your father, I'll make sure to torture him as best as I can because he deserves it, you puny Half-breed!"

"Stop it!"

"Oh, watch it, Half-breed! Your father might hear and come here only to get offed by the wind!"

"I'm warning you!"

"I'll bet your father--" Ginyu stopped, watching out of his scanner as the boy's powers spiked.

Enraged, he let out a scream of pure, unadulterated rage. His eyes flashed from black to blue and his hair flashed from black to gold and his energy was slowly going golden. Anger was pulsing through him, white-rage, but not all of it was directed at Ginyu. Most was at Furiza for ordering his kidnapping and keeping him here, at himself for being weak and a crybaby, at Vejita for not helping him more, at Raditz for taking him, at his own family for not rescuing him--at everything. All of it was crashing into him. All of the anger he'd ever felt over the course of his short life was coming down on him now and it hurt.

A thought flashed through his head. It hurt because he was fighting it, but he always fought it. He let everything go and instead of fighting the rage, he welcomed it, he pulled it into his power, let it strengthen him. His entire body size was doubled and his hair and eyes gave one final flash before they were gold and blue. An amazing surge of power rushed through his body and he stared at his hands, at his arms, amazed. Then he zeroed in on Ginyu, scowling. "You were saying?"

Ginyu felt like swallowing his own tongue. "You . . . you're different . . . !"

Vejita, himself, was amazed. He had become a Super Saiyan! How?! What had he done to become one?! He stared at the golden boy, shocked, amazed, even a little scared. He must be the one . . . ! The one destined to beat Furiza!

Furiza's eyes widened and he stared at the boy, suddenly afraid for his life. The boy's power had spiked to 25,017,000 and his own power was only 12,000,000!

"I thought you wanted to fight?" Gohan said, smirking. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

"N-no! I mean--" The ship's alarm went off right then. They had landed on Planet Namek . . . already?

Gohan looked around, intrigued. Why was everyone acting so strangely?

"We've landed, Lord Furiza," Ginyu said.

"So we have. I'll be back to deal with the boy later, then." Furiza turned and left, Ginyu trailing eagerly behind.

The Prince was still staring at the Super Saiyan when he turned around to smile at him. "What's the matter, Vejita-sama?"

"You're . . . a Super Saiyan!"

A frown crossed his face. "That thing from the stories?"

"Yes. How did you do it!?"

"I was angry . . . so I let it all go. Usually I fight my rage, but today I embraced it."

That was all he had to do?! Get angry?! But . . . after all these years . . . beaten in becoming one by a child! He had believed that HE was the Legendary Super Saiyan, but he was wrong! The child, the small, innocent child standing before him was the Legendary Super Saiyan--but how could that be? How could a young boy be . . . ?!

"Prince?"

He shook his head. "Let's go. We'll get ready now."

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The space ship touched down on Planet Namek and the Earthlings aboard the ship fairly ran for the exit. I will get my son back . . . today! Goku was thinking. I will!

Piccolo looked down at the Saiyan, worried. "Don't be worrying, Goku. We will find your son."

Tien stepped out cautiously. "This place is very beautiful," he said.

"Yes," Choazu said, coming out behind him. "It is. I have a good feeling about this place! We'll find Gohan!"

"We have to! If we don't, his mother might kill us when we get home!" Yamucha came out, smiling. "It's a good thing I've gotten stronger. I'll be needed, I'm sure!"

"Like your peabrain could help with anything!" Kuririn said, laughing. "You'll be needed, allright--as a doorstop!"

"HEY! Quiet down! We're here to find Son Gohan, NOT play around!" Annoyed, the Namekian looked over his home planet. It was fairly destroyed thanks to that bully Furiza, but it was still home. He had never been home before.

"We have to find him!" Everyone turned toward Burama. "We have to! He's family! We all love and need him! He's a sweet, scared, innocent boy who needs us and we can't let him down, now can we?!"

Off they went, searching for their lost little Gohan. Kuririn got separated from the others to search alone and he was the one who found Prince Vejita, accidentally that is.

"Gohan, where could you be?" he said aloud, walking through the deserted town. "Gohan! GOHAN!"

A short, black-haired man came into view, looking at Kuririn angrily. "Who are you?"

"Gohan? Either I've forgotten what you look like, or you've changed!"

"I'm not Gohan. I'm Prince Vejita, the Prince of the Saiyans."

Oh, lord, another Saiyan! The Saiyan Prince at that! "Have you seen Son Gohan?"

"And what if I have?"

"His family is searching for him."

"Son Gohan and I have a deal. He helps me, I help him."

"You're not going to let him go home, are you?"

"I will, if he helps me defeat Furiza. If he turns his back on me, I will kill him."

Kuririn swallowed hard. "Well, his family is here for him now. Your deal is nulled."

"That's quite true. Too bad your little Gohan was captured and imprisoned." He yawned.

"What?! Where is he!?"

Vejita shrugged, ignoring the surge of worry that overcame him. "I don't know, but if you hold out on Gohan's deal, I'd be happy to help you search."

"I couldn't defeat Furiza, not from what I've heard of him!"

"Is there anyone is your group that might be able to? Defeating Furiza is the only way Gohan will ever be safe and allowed to go home again."

"Maybe . . . but I need to talk to them."

"Bring them here. Don't you have a sort of signal to say you've found the boy?"

"Well, yes, actually." He raised his Ki enough that the others would notice him, but not enough that Furiza would. In moments, everyone but Burama had gathered.

"Where is he? Gohan?!" came a frantic, male voice.

Vejita watched a tall, black-haired man come forward, searching for his son. "He's not here."

His face fell. "Kuririn, why did you do that!?"

"Wait! I said, he wasn't here. Not that I couldn't take you to him."

"What? Where is he?"

"I don't know."

A Namekian came forward. "Look, you scum, tell us where you've hidden Gohan!"

"I haven't hidden Gohan. Your son was supposed to help me dispatch Furiza, but he was caught in the act. He's alive, though, I'm sure. He's only imprisoned. I was telling your friend here that the only way to save your son is to defeat Furiza and his minions. Could any of you do that?"

"I will, if it means I'll get my son back!" Goku's eyes narrowed. "I've already been through hell. Nothing Furiza could do to me now would make me turn back until I have my son, safe and sound."

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Gohan stared, depressed, at his food. It looked and tasted lifeless and dry. Nothing could spice up this food! He wished he hadn't been caught--he should've fought them, but Vejita thought that would've been bad. Vejita was probably right. Gohan was too small and inexperienced to fight them all and win. Sure, he had the power, but not the experience. He needed more.

How could he get out of here? He had to find Vejita! Had to! But they had put something called a "Power Restraint" on him to keep his power low and in check. He couldn't control his power or his strength now.

"Did you hear? The Half-Breed's father is on Planet Namek!" a voice said.

"The one I'm guarding?"

"The very same!"

He looked up. Father, on Planet Namek?

"He's fighting Furiza, it seems, and winning! But the planet it about to explode any minute, so both of them will die. Prince Vejita was killed by Furiza, too."

His father . . . die? No, that couldn't be! He couldn't let him die!! No, no way! He felt his rage build and he embraced it. It was harder with the power restraint, but he fought the power restraint, forcing his anger, his rage, to fuel his power, and it built and built until he felt himself explode with power and the power restraint burst. Strangely calm, he reached out one small hand and pushed with his Ki at the door. Golden energy flew at the door and he was free. He walked out to see the two red aliens staring at him in fear. He blew them off with his energy and went on his way, as fast as he could. He burst through the walls, headed for the space capsules.

He jumped into one quickly. He had to get to his father-before the planet exploded! He jumped into the newest ship, the fastest one. It took him only a few seconds before he was flying the ship through the air as fast as it would go. It was the fastest and the newest of ships, so it got there in a matter of minutes. He jumped out, searched for Ki-signals. He felt Furiza's power signal and one that was even larger than that. It had to have been his father's.

He took off flying, toward the battle. Half-way there, his father's energy signal faded, then died. Rage flew through him and he quickened his pace, powering up and using a technique Vejita had taught him--suppressing his power. Furiza wouldn't even know what happened. Gohan could see Furiza now. He was readying to leave. Gohan tooks a deep breath and yelled, "FURIZA!"

Smirking, he turned. The smirk vanished the second he saw Gohan. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to avenge my father!"

He smirked again. "You should've seen the way he cried! And begged! 'Wahh! I wanna see my baby boy! You can't keep me from him!' was what he first said. Then, 'Don't kill me! I'll give you my boy! Anything! Don't kill me!'" Furiza laughed.

"Stop it!" His rage was building now.

"Aww, are you sad? Just think. You'll never see your poor, weak daddy ever again. Isn't that sad?"

"Shut up!"

"Oh? You want me to shut up? Are you going to force me?"

Quickly, Gohan powered up and flew at Furiza. His speed superior, he hit him, hard. Before he could fall, he grabbed Furiza's tail and whipped him around and around and around until he, himself, was dizzy. Then he let him go and watched, a little dizzily, as he went flying. He got over his dizziness before Furiza could and used his speed to catch up to the flying Furiza, slammed his fist into his stomach, kicked him in his head and overhead pounded him down to Earth. Once again, though, he caught up with Furiza before he hit and grabbed for him.

But by the time, Furiza was recovered. He jumped back and knocked the offending hand away. He decided to play a little dirty now and kicked at the little boy's genital region. His kick connected.

Pain shot through Gohan. He tried to shake it off, but Furiza grabbed his tail. For a few minutes, he was frozen. Then, like Vejita had taught him, he fought off the inability to move and twisted around to grab for Furiza--he got his tail again.

Furiza shook him off, though, and threw him using his tail. He charged up his death beam and when Gohan managed to stop his flight, he released his beam and it hit.

Pain centered in on his chest, a bit of blood squirted free.

Furiza took this time to use charge up another attack his heat-seaking energy discs. He launched them quickly.

Gohan looked up, smirking. Those? "Okay, you want to do that, I'll do this!" He let a small Ki-blast just big enough to lead the two discs back to Furiza.

Furiza laughed. "That's not going to work!"

But while he was distracted, Gohan got control of the two discs and forced them back toward Furiza. Furiza fought the control he had, but Gohan, as a Super Saiyan, was way too powerful for him to regain control.

The discs came back and sliced him in half.

Shock, confusion, fear went through his eyes. "But . . . I am . . . the strongest . . . in the universe." He fell, but was still alive. "Don't . . . don't leave me here . . . ! Please, please!"

Gohan turned his back on him. "I don't think--" something flew passed him, fast enough he almost didn't see him, toward Furiza.

Prince Vejita!

He charged up his Galick Gun, putting every ounce of energy into the blast as he could. "This is for all the Saiyan's you murdered, you bastard!"

Both halves of Furiza lay motionless and his eyes were wide open, staring at everything and nothing. Furiza wasa gone.

Vejita turned back to Gohan with a smirk. "I knew we could do it!"

"Ve . . . ji . . . ta . . . !"

"What's wrong, kid? Pick your mouth up off the ground and let's get your father."

"But . . . you . . . I heard you were . . . dead?"

"I was. Remember those Dragonballs? Some Namekian kid made a wish that everyone Furiza and his gang was revived."

"My dad . . . ?" Gohan looked away, down. "He's dead, Vejita."

"Son-kun is dead?" a deep, rough voice said. A tall Namekian man came into view. "No, feel. He's still alive."

Gohan stared at the man. He'd never seen anyone that looked like him. The man obviously commanded respect. Gohan instantly liked and respected him. "Wh-who are you?"

"Piccolo. You probably wouldn't remember me. You only saw me once and only for a second before you were taken."

"We have to gather everyone up, guys. The planet is dying. I have a space ship, one that will get everyone home quickly. Find everyone and come back here as fast as you can. The ship is big. It fits at least a hundred people." Gohan's eyes closed and he felt out . . . and he did find his father's Ki. It was low enough that it was nearly gone. He blasted off after it. "Daddy!"

Goku heard a semi-familar voice and his eyes opened. He saw a very familar face, right above his. "Gohan-chan?"

"Daddy, it's going to be okay. You're alright. Everything's going to be okay. I'm here now, Daddy."

"Gohan, you're okay?" His voice was weak, tired.

"I came here to save you, to find you, so I'm okay. You're the one that's hurt." He lifted his father up, pulling his father's arm up and over his shoulder and taking off. "I've got a ship, daddy. I'm going to bring you home." He flew up to a point high enough he could see everything and could see Prince Vejita making his way toward him with a blue-haired woman, but that was the only one that he had. Piccolo, on the other hand, had dozens of other Namekians with him. Gohan smiled. "Come on, everyone!" he yelled. "Follow me!" He raised his Ki and took off toward his space ship. His heart was pounding. He was going home! Yes!

"Gohan, I'm happy to see you, my son." His head dropped down onto Gohan's small shoulder.

"DAD!" Alarm rose in him.

"He's okay, Gohan," Piccolo said, catching up. "He's just tired."

"Piccolo-sama, I think I remember you. You were there when . . . when Raditz . . . when I was taken."

"Yes, I was."

Inside the ship at last, Gohan gently lay his father down and looked him over. "He's hurt, badly. He needs medical help!"

"I can help," a small voice said. When he looked back, a small Namekian boy pushed his way through the crowd. "I can help." He settled down at Goku's side, laying hands on his chest.

A bald man sat beside Gohan and the blue-haired woman snatched him up, hugging him tight to her as the bald man held onto his hand. "Oh, my God, you're okay!" She was crying. "You're okay, you're really okay! But you got so big! You look so mature, so handsome! Oh, your mother is going to be so happy!" She let him down, went to her knees before him. "Gohan, your mother loves you so much. They've been searching for you since you were taken."

The bald man said, "Burama, slow down! You'll scare the boy." Then he mumbled, "Oh, what the hell?" and pulled Gohan into him to squeeze. "I'm glad you're okay, Gohan." He released him. "I'm Kuririn. I'm your father's best friend. You met me once."

"And you met me once, too. I'm Burama. I met your father when he was a kid, around your age."

A tall, bald man with a third eye, a black-haired man and a short, white boy with a black hat stood slightly back. "It's great to see you, kid. Really. I'm Tien. I've known your father for a long time, too."

"I'm Choazu. I've known your father as long as Tien has."

"I'm Yamucha. I met your father after Burama did. Burama met him first."

Burama smiled. "Yep. I've known your father the longest."

"It's great to meet--" someone grabbed Gohan from behind, crushing him to a hard, broad chest with strong, hard arms.

"Oh, God, Gohan, you're okay! You've become a Super Saiyan, it seems. Before I did! Oh, God, I'm so happy to see you! Your mother is going to go crazy when she sees you. You're all scarred up and you're so big, so much stronger than you used to be. Stronger than your old man is. I'm so proud of you, son. So proud. I'm happy you're alive, but you're so thin! So dirty. Just watch. The moment your mother sees you, she's going to throw you into the bathtub and never let you out again!" The man went on, rambling aimlessly, but happily, until Gohan felt he couldn't hold his breath anymore.

He gently extricated himself from his father's arms. "I've missed you, father."

"I've missed you, too. Just wait until your mother sees you." There were tears in the man's eyes.

Gohan, who prided himself on never crying, reached out and touched one tear. "No more crying."

Strangely, this made more tears come and Goku pulled his son in for another bone-crushing hug. "I love you, so much. When you were taken, I thought I was going to die."

"I love you, too, daddy."

"Say that again."

"What? I love you?"

"No, the other part."

He smiled. "Daddy."

"Yeah, that." With his son firmly in his arms, he stood up. "I want pictures."

On cue, the blue-haired woman pulled out a camera and started snapping away. "There."

Even after Gohan was on his own feet and navigating the flight, she kept snapping picture after picture after picture.

Goku picked up a huge backpack and handed it to his son. "Your mother wants you to start studying right away."

He rolled his eyes. That was something he definitely remembered. The studying. Although he grumbled about it, he was more than happy to hit these books. Most of it were things he knew already because Prince Vejita didn't train morons. He didn't think he could get any happier.

Goku watched his son study, watched his son's every move, every breath. He was afraid to take his eyes off him. Then something weird started happening.

White light engulfed someone, then they were gone. It started happening just moments after they had taken off. Vejita was gone, Piccolo was gone.

Then the white light engulfed Goku himself. Panicked, he called out to his son.

Gohan looked back, smiling, to see his father covered in white light. His smile gone, he ran to his father, reaching out to grab his hand--and . . . .

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The Curse.