Homeward Bound

Chapter 1: It Takes Two

Gohan's hand was steady as he carefully wrote the note to his mother, the one that he said goodbye to her in. He was proud of himself for not shedding a single tear but then, a moment later, began to worry when he realized that he had no emotion within him at all. Gohan was sure that wasn't a good thing, small boys should feel *something* as they left their mother for the first time in their life, shouldn't they? Not the empty pit of nothingness that sat in his heart as he signed his name. He let his brain puzzle over that for a moment and nodded slightly to himself when he decided to just wait for a while. The emotion would come sooner or later.

He slowly packed up some things, taking time to only select clothes that were nice and warm. A few books went in next as well as plenty of extra changes of underwear and socks. Gohan blushed faintly as he remembered his mother's words about always wearing clean underwear. You never knew who would see you in it. The final thing that went into his duffle bag was a small stuffed purple dragon that he had named Icarus. He knew that a boy his age shouldn't still be playing with stuffed toys but Icarus comforted him when things got rough. He never asked him to go away and he always listened to his words. Gohan hugged him briefly before setting him on top of his clothes. He had a feeling that he would be needing all of the comfort that he could get. Making a journey was never an easy thing to do but doing it alone was even worse. No companionship, no one to talk to... Gohan quickly got the money he had saved over the past few months and stuffed it into the pocket of his jeans where the grocery money rested. After he found his father he would send money to replace what he had taken from his mother. Hopefully she would understand.

The house was quiet as he passed through it save for the clacking of the computer keys. He opened the front door slowly, taking extra time to memorize every detail of the familiar wood, and closed it behind him with a quiet click. He made it easily away from his yard and down the street and smiled for the first time in a while as he settled into a comfortable walking pace. It felt good to finally get out of that house.

Gohan looked at the world around him with curious eyes. He had often heard his mother describe the city that they lived in as a "bleak place full of despair" but she always saw it through the jaded eyes of an adult. A child only saw the many fun places that you could go and the many fun things that you could do; everything else was often ignored.

One of Gohan's favorite things to do was read, and there were many stories about the way Chikyuu used to be. He read about the heroes, the inventions, the romance and wondered why things didn't stay that way. 'Maybe people got tired of that and decided to change.' But that didn't explain why things changed for the worse and not the better. They had technology and knowledge to make their lives easier, but if the people weren't happy first, they wouldn't do anything to make their world a better place. Gohan felt that happiness was the key to everything and the simplest thing that you could achieve. Without it, or contentment, nothing could be accomplished.

There was a bus stop at the edge of the neighborhood that he lived in that would take him into the heart of the city. Gohan figured he had just enough money for several local bus trips, meals, and one bus ticket to take him across the country but after that he would just have to find a way to earn money.

"Where do I get off to reach the bus station, sir?" Gohan asked the driver politely as he boarded. The man tapped a small sign next to him that read 'Do not talk to driver" and refused to speak. Sighing, he paid his fare and found a seat in the back next to an old woman.

"Are you traveling alone?" she asked him in curiosity and smiled when he nodded. "You're such a mature young man. You're mother should be proud."

He thought of the way she had been treating him and snorted softly. "I guess so." Then he turned his head away and absently listened to the conversation of the other passengers, the rumbling of the engine, and the noise of the traffic on the street. He felt the woman's eyes on him, though, and finally turned back to her. "Can you tell me how to get to the bus station? I'm going to see my father and I've never really ridden a public bus before." A sad look combined with the slightly frightened tone he was speaking in touched her heart.

"I'll take you there myself, okay?" she said. "Maybe we could stop for something to eat and you can tell me all about yourself."

Gohan's eyes lit up at the prospect of a free meal. She was a nice lady, though, and he probably wouldn't see her again after he left the city. It couldn't hurt to spend a little more time with her.

"I've lived on the east side of town my entire life," she was saying as they walked down the crowded street. She expertly wove between the people and Gohan figured that she came downtown often. "Every day I would get up and go off to work, never once thinking that old Western Capital was gettin' a little dull." She smiled at him, her gray eyes twinkling. "There's plenty to see if you know where to look."

"My name's Gohan," he blurted out suddenly without really thinking about it. "What's yours?"

"It's Ella, dear. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

The walk took them past places that Gohan had never seen before. Flower shops, cafés, book stores, antique shops... His eyes tried to take in as much of the sights as he could in a very small space of time. Ella led him to a small restaurant on a corner and they took a booth in the back.

"I never knew Western Capital was so large!" he said in wonder, his eyes still very wide. Ella chuckled as she signaled a waitress over.

"Oh dear, yes. We live in one of the largest cities in the world and a lot of wonderful things can be found practically right in your own backyard."

Gohan took the menu he had been handed but stared at it, not really seeing the print. It was sort of sad that he'd lived in a city his entire life and never seen the entire thing but it was even sadder to discover something so wonderful when he wouldn't ever be able to see it again. Sort of like unwrapping a Christmas present only to have your parents take it back to the store the very next day. Unfair; that's what it was.

There was a sinking feeling in his stomach and Gohan decided that he had lost his appetite. Eating now, while the food was free, was too good a chance to pass up, though, so he ordered a cheeseburger, small fries, and a coke just to fill his stomach and prepare it for the long stretch of not-so-filling meals ahead. Ella chatted about all sorts of things: her family, the weather, his maturity and kept him from the miserable pit that his mind often played in. Gohan was so used to being unhappy, feeling anything otherwise was completely foreign to him. He opened his heart to her and was both surprised and pleased when the gesture was returned with fervor. 'Why am I surprised that anyone wants to talk to me? All people are *not* like kaasan. She's in the minority.' His mind continued to say that but his heart refused to believe it. He had just been hurt too many times.

"Gohan? Is everything alright?" Ella asked with concern. "You don't look too well all of a sudden."

"It's nothing," he said weakly. "I'm fine." He was saved from further reassuring her of his well-being by the arrival of their food. Actually, that was a mixed blessing in itself seeing as his stomach refused to behave but he would manage. He had to.

He ate slowly, trying to delay the eventual ending of the meal. The mere thought of going out into the world alone frightened him and he wished that there was someone to take with him. Ella, though kind, would not understand why he had to worry his mother and find his father. At least he didn't *think* that she would understand. He wasn't running away, not exactly. Most of the runaways in the books he had read and the television shows he had watched had no final destination and had been doomed to aimless wandering around whatever city they happened to find themselves in. He had a plan and that made him different from all of the others before him.

The older woman placed her fork and knife onto the plate, full at last, and began an impromptu question-and-answer session. "Where are you headed off to?"

"Do you ever get lonely?" Gohan asked his dining partner, leading up to the answer of her earlier question.

Ella was startled for a moment before answering his question. "Everyone does some time, dear. It's a part of life."

Nodding, he began to fiddle with the salt-and-pepper shakers, carefully avoiding her eyes. "Have you ever been so lonely that spending time with others feels strange to you?"

Properly worried at what direction his questioning was heading off to, Ella placed her hands on top of his and focused on the boy's eyes. "Gohan..."

"Silence becomes your constant companion," he went on as if not hearing her speak, "and you try to find friends wherever you can. You don't care *who* they are but only hope that they don't go away and leave you alone again." He looked up at her. "I only had one true friend, Ella, and he was the best. Someone," he said this bitterly, "sent him away from me and I've been alone ever since."

"Were you close?" she asked in a soft voice, her heart aching for the sad little boy.

"My tousan and I were *very* close," he blinked as if coming out from a trance and tears slowly began to trace paths down his cheeks. It had been the first time he allowed himself to cry in a very long time. "I miss him."

She held his hands within her own, trying to convey without words her sympathy. After a short while, Gohan's tears subsided and he was left only with the task of wiping his face and blowing his nose. "Did your parents divorce, dear?"

He nodded and studied the table. "Kaasan doesn't allow tousan to visit me. She says that he's a bad influence."

Ella could think of many things that a mother wouldn't want her son exposed to. "What-"

"He's not a bad person, Ella," he said, knowing where her thoughts were headed. "Kaasan's overprotective and only wants to make me study. Tousan liked to take me places and spend time with me having fun. She didn't like that."

"Ah." The woman smiled. "Gohan, I think your mother was jealous."

He blinked at her in shock. "Excuse me?"

"Oh yes. Your studies are what links you to your mother, you see, and when you decided to spend more time playing she felt that she'd lost you. While I don't approve of her separating you from your father, I do understand why she did it."

Gohan thought about what she said for a moment and smiled slightly. "That makes sense. I've never thought of it that way before."

"You should always try to see things from different perspectives, dear. It gives you a better view of things."

"You're a good friend, Ella," he smiled happily at her. "Arigatou."

Darkness was just falling when the two finally left the restaurant. The number of people and cars on the street had lessened greatly, most of them going home to have dinner with their families. The few people that did remain, however, smiled at the pair thinking that the older woman had a very precious grandson.

"You're going to see your father, aren't you?" Ella asked the boy. He nodded and a determined look appeared on his face.

"I've made up my mind and nothing will change it."

"Whoa, dear," she said in a soothing voice. "I'm not trying to stop you. I was just curious." Gohan exhaled and felt the small knot in his stomach loosen. "I wish you the best of luck."

The station was hot, crowded, and *very* noisy. Gohan's brow creased as he tried vainly to block everyone else out and wait in line to purchase his ticket. It was next to impossible between the lady and her baby in front of him, and the two toddlers behind that kept poking him in the back. Gohan swallowed his misery and tried to take his mind off things by remembering the good times he had shared with his father. It helped pass the time and that was great.

The ticket wasn't cheap and Gohan had to spend most of his money purchasing it. Ella offered to go at least half but he refused. He already owed the woman so much, any more would make him feel bad. He was left with just enough for two or three more meals and sighed.

"Don't hesitate to call me any time, dear," Ella said as she quickly wrote down her phone number. "I want to hear from you. The world is often too cruel, Gohan. Please don't do anything without thoroughly thinking it through first."

"I won't," he assured as he gave her a hug. "I'll call you as soon as I make it there." He boarded the bus to Tokyo along with his fellow passengers, but not without a final look back to the woman who had given him more than she could ever know. The frigid loneliness that had settled in his soul was slowly subsiding and Gohan decided that it felt quite good.

***

Just when he thought his luck was starting to turn around, Gohan found that he the only seat that remained was next to the woman with the bawling baby. She barely spared him a glance and continued trying to quiet the child but nothing seemed to work. After ten minutes of this Gohan was ready to try anything to get the infant to be quiet and offered to take her from the woman. She stared at him for a moment before handing the girl over, apparently happy that someone else was taking a turn. He cradled the baby for a moment, the way he had seen her mother do it, and began to sing and rock her slowly. The words came haltingly, a song from his early childhood, and the lyrics brought with them memories of warmth and love. Slowly the baby's cries subsided and her eyes began to close. Both Gohan and her mother smiled when she, at last, fell asleep.

"You're so good with babies," the woman whispered as she took the now peaceful infant. "Do you have a little brother or sister at home?"

He shook his head and blushed slightly at her complement. "No, ma'am. I wish that I did though." He was jarred slightly as the bus hit a bump in the road and was startled when he was jostled even more violently. Knowing that the tremors he felt running up his legs where they rested against the floor of bus couldn't be anything good, Gohan exchanged glances with the woman sitting next to him and wondered what was going on. The driver began to cut his speed and pulled over to the shoulder. Just as he was getting up examine the bus, the windshield suddenly shattered in an explosion of glass and a choked cry came from the driver. He staggered for a few slight steps and fell over clutching at his throat. Gohan didn't remember moving, he only knew that he was suddenly kneeling next to the man and checking his pulse the way he had seen people do on television. It only took a few seconds to figure out that he was dead. The arrow in his throat further confirmed things.

The whispers of the passengers behind him caught his attention just as he realized that it wasn't safe to remain where they were. Several people had come forward to join him before the driver and all were shaking their heads at the horror of a senseless murder. Gohan took a deep breath to calm himself when the initial shock wore off and thought frantically about what to do. Nothing came to mind.

"Who would do this?" a man asked as he examined the dark green-tipped feathers that decorated the end of the arrow shaft. "Who would use a bow to kill someone when you could use a gun?"

The boy's heart stopped for a very brief moment as he recognized the arrow itself. A very rough plan began to form in his mind, one that was extremely risky, but the risks were greater if they stayed. Looking around at the people to see their reactions, he began to tell them about who the arrow belonged to.

"I saw him last week on "World's Most Wanted"," he heart began to hammer wildly as he thought of the man in question. He was scum of the worst sort, usually preferring to attack his victims and leave them afraid for a while before coming back for them. He and his band of cutthroats, thieves, thugs, and murderers were into slavery and many of those people they captured were sold off in secret markets. This was one of the many things the people of the world had sunken to, but Gohan knew that most simply did it to survive. "We have to get out of here before he comes back, it's our only chance."

"What are you going on about, boy?" the same man questioned him. "You look a bit pale..."

"He's going to come back for us and we'll get sold into slavery!" He barely kept panic out of his voice, instead choosing on a tone that he hoped would convince the people. Gohan moved to the back of the bus, choosing one of the rear emergency windows to open. "We can't go out the front, people are watching. We should split up, some going out the window on the other side. That way at least some of us have a chance at surviving." No one moved an inch and his patience broke. "Do you all want your freedom and rights taken away from you?" his voice rose in a combination of fear and anger. "We have to go *now*!"

At last, a single boy with pale blond hair and blue eyes stepped forward and joined him at the window. "I believe you," he said. "I remember him too." The rest of the passengers also began to come forward, an adult passing through the window first to take the children. The sound of engines startled them and they all began to work faster at an unspoken command. When at last everyone was off the bus except Gohan and the boy, the two of them climbed through the window, dropping to the ground with childish ease. Then they began to run, the dark trees of the forest coming closer and closer, feeling as if the hounds of hell were on their heels. Gohan heard the sound of male voices behind them and put on an extra burst of speed, hoping that the other boy could keep up.

"We need to stay together!" Gohan heard him shout over the rushing of the wind in his ears. "Two are better than one, right?"

Just as the other passengers were coming into view, Gohan saw the blond boy go down and had a brief moment to wonder about what could be wrong before a sharp, burning pain suddenly shot from his neck outward through his body. It made his arms and legs feel numb and his body grow heavy. He had a moment to wonder if the other boy was okay before he felt himself falling forward and everything went dark.