Skeletons: Chapter 3

6. Nov. Tue. 2am.

As I mentioned I have a pretty relaxing week ahead. But, I am not a great sleeper so I guess it starts now. I have read several magazines, eaten two yogurts and watched three chick films of my Mom’s. I hung out a bit with Bura as well and chewed the fat with her for a while. By that I mean she talked and I listened. She’s a great little sister, so smart, so stubborn and so naïve.

But I have been thinking lately, and trust me; it’s not a pleasant thing to do when you are me. It’s about what happened.

I guess I should explain. I was only thirteen and I remember my dad and I used to train every day after I came home from school. He never let up on me, and hell, I loved it. I was a strong kid, a smart kid and a social kid. Girls loved me, but I was only thirteen and saw no point in their uselessness. Guys, I guess, were kind of jealous of me. I’m not saying that in a big headed way but I’m just saying.

Kami. It’s hard for me to even just write about this. Christ, I don’t even want to remember it happened.

A couple of junior school kids, who used the same locker rooms as us, were there one afternoon. They had just finished gym, as had we. As usual I was the longest in the shower rooms (I like to be extra clean when showering, plus I just like the feel of the water on my skin) and all my classmates had left to go home. The water was so loud in my ears that I didn’t hear them come in. Kami, when I saw their faces, I saw something that I hope I’ll never see again. One of them pushed me against the wall and sneered in my face;

“I know what you are, you freak.”

“What?” I stammered, it was fucking pathetic now that I look back. I should have socked him.

“My Dad’s one of Satan city’s top scientists, you know, the genetics lab. Well. He’s knows what you are, your race, your powers. Fucking freaks. They should be testing rats like you.”
He snapped something around my wrist and I could literally feel the energy and power draining from my body. A ki limiter.

That’s when he and his friends beat me up. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I must have broken seven ribs, my ears were ringing for days and my throat was raw with screaming. But no one came.

Kami. I’m embarrassed to even consider writing the next part of the torture. But I have to, it’s just swimming in my head.

I was so dizzy; I can’t remember exactally who it was or how many times. Maybe it was all of them. The bastards fucked me. They fucked me so hard I could barely stand afterwards. When they left, I just lay there and looked at my blood on the floor. I couldn’t tell where it was from, there were so many injuries it was impossible.

I have to stop talking about this. Maybe I will tell you more sometime. Maybe. All I can say is, I know how pathetic it is, a demi being beaten by humans. I was so scared, so fragile afterwards, I couldn’t do anything about it. That Ki limiter had permanently affected my powers, my strength had diminished, and even my Dad called me a wimp and weakling after a few more training sessions.

I didn’t tell him and Mom what happened. I guess I have too much pride. No one really knows. Not even Goten.

Maybe this doesn’t seem enough for one person to go crazy, to you maybe not. But Kami, there’s more. I don’t think I have the strength to write it tonight. Or ever.


Now that Chi-Chi and Goku were aware of their elder son’s return, Goten had managed to convince Gohan to stay the night in his old room. Chi-Chi was delighted and even Goku was pleased; best of all Gohan’s old hatred for his parents seemed to have diminished slightly. He was more care free, wittier, he smiled a lot more; he just seemed happy.

Goten and him hung out almost all night and watched films. And in the morning the whole Son family sat together while they ate breakfast. Chi-Chi was well prepared with 2nd’s and 3rd’s; saiyan appetites never ceased to amaze her. After the meal was finished Goku left to spar with Vegeta, as always, while Gohan, Goten and Chi-Chi sat together and talked.

“What did you do when you were away? I missed you so much!” Chi-Chi said, as she laid a hand over his, “I am so glad you are home.”

“Mom. I was a rebellious teenager. I just had some jobs here and there, got shit load of money, bought a car and stayed with a friend. I have a job here now as well, so I won’t be in your way for long. Just until I can afford the rent for an apartment.”

“Sweetie! Stay as long as you want.”

“Thanks Mama.” Gohan smiled sincerely, then his expression grew sombre,
“ Bulma seems different though. So does Vegeta. Their energy isn’t the same. Vegetas stronger but he seems weaker somehow.”

“It’s because of Trunks.” Goten piped in.

“ Ah.” Gohan sighed and leaned back against his chair, “Explain it then.”

“Bulma is very worried about him. Goku also mentioned that Vegeta has been out of focus for a while. He seems quite lost on what to do with his son.” Chi- Chi informed.

“How long has it been now?”

“Too long.” Goten replied.

“You think he’s bad now. No. It’ll get worse if he doesn’t talk about it.”

There was silence at the table. Until Chi-Chi stood up and started to wash the dishes, Gohan also left with Goten at his heels.

Outside the sun was fierce. Gohan flopped down in the shade of his favourite tree while Goten lifted his shirt over his head and lay on his stomach. Gohan found himself admiring his younger brother’s tribal tattoos over each shoulder blade; they were in the shape of two wings.

“So where did you go?” Goten asked after a few moments silence.

“Does it matter?” Gohan neglected to look at his younger brother and leaned his head back against the tree’s bark, “I went, I saw, I conquered and I got the damn t-shirt. That’s the end.”

“Yeah. But where did you go?”

Gohan sighed.

“I went south. Okay? I met a girl, we dated for a while. Made some money had different jobs and then I came home. See? Not much to tell.”

“What jobs did you get?”

“Bartender, washing cars, filling cars, painting –“

“Painting?” Goten sat up on his elbows, “Since when do you paint?”

“Since I took the job. Never realised it before but I am a fucking good painter. It’s been my only job since then. Freelance painting and sketching. In every town I visit, I go to the nearest gallery and ask them if they would like to have a few canvas prints to sell. Damn near always got a yes.”

“What sort of stuff do you do?”

“Mostly dark and violent stuff. Others are just portraits and black and white stuff.” He sighed, “Look I’ll show you some later, but right now can we just chill?”

“Sure sure.” Goten lowered himself to the ground.

For a few moments nothing was said between the two Son brothers. Goten rolled onto his back and put his hands behind his head. He watched his brother. His hair reached his collar and stuck out at odd angles, his face was squarer, he had stubble on his chin and a ring on the left side of his lip. He seemed taller but thinner at the same time, he was slightly tanned and his white scars stuck out like a sore thumb on his skin. Goten cocked an eyebrow; he had more scars than he remembered.

“What was the girl like?”

Gohan growled and clenched his teeth.