Disclaimer: See ch 1.
Note: The map is being made reference to one more time.
The Portal to Beyond: Chapter XVIII
The early morning sunlight found everyone seated in Nathell's living room in as comfortable a position as they could find on his threadbare floor. Gohan had the lone leather recliner all to himself and since Nathell was too scared to tell him to move, he chose a three-legged stool.
"There's a man named in the Wu Fong in the Central Square."
At the mere mention of that place, Goku's eyebrows shot up.
"You're not going to the same part as before so you don't need to worry... much. Now," the newly crippled man continued, "he is the source all of the information that runs in the city. If you want to find out something, ninety-nine percent of the time he knows it. But first you must make an appointment and second you have to prove yourselves. He's real big on tradition."
"Is he supposed to tell us where the real metal is?" ChiChi asked.
"Yes. But it's not that easy." he shifted on his thin cushion to get more comfortable. Gohan didn't offer the obviously suffering man his chair but rather sat forward a little, watching him squirm.
"What do we do to prove ourselves?" Gohan finally spoke. He fixed Nathell with a stare that left him slightly chilled.
"Uh," he fidgeted. "Um..."
"Gohan, come over here," ChiChi motioned to the seat next to her on the worn sofa. With one last smirk in the poor man's direction he obediently stood and took that seat. Nathell exhaled audibly and continued with what he was saying.
"Gohan," ChiChi whispered, "leave the man alone! You've already traumatized him!"
"Why ChiChi!" he exclaimed innocently. "Whatever do you mean?"
She gave him a sharp look that instantly reminded him of his own mother at home. He cringed slightly in rememberance.
The boy gave her a short nod and returned his attention to the speaker.
"....then a handpicked agent will lead you to his hideout."
Gohan blinked confusedly and his brow furrowed in concentration. "Can you repeat all of that?"
The whole group voiced a collective sigh and Nathell went into his explanation again.
"You first have to show that you are worthy, that you deserve the information that Wu Fong will tell you. The actual deed will vary but I can tell you one thing: it will be dangerous."
"That's easy!" Trunks said. "Can we use our powers?"
"For this one, yes. But I can't help you prepare. Sorry." That last word was more aimed at Gohan then at the group.
"Fine," Gohan sighed as he stood. "Where do we go to get the info on the test?"
"There's a chinese restaurant on the east side. It's near the junction of the Northwestern Corner and the Eastern Darkness..."
"Aw man! Do we have to go to another chinese place?" Goten complained.
"No!" Nathell snapped. "I just used it to direct you to the proper place!" He took a deep breath and continued. "Two blocks south there is a street called Cherry Blossom. Right directly in the middle of the first section there is a small turnoff that is partially hidden by bushes. You need to go into the alleyway and knock on the door that is there. Remember, always be on guard because Wu's bodyguards are merciless." He snapped his fingers to call a servant. "Get me a glass of water."
"Is there some kind of signal or something to let those in the building know what we want?" Kakarott questioned.
"Yes," the man answered after his thirst was quenched. "They will tell you a phrase and you must answer correctly. 'The Lolla Frogs seem to be thriving this year' and you answer with: 'but the Kuchi Bird is becoming extinct'."
They all nodded at this strange saying but Nappa was confused the most.
"What the hell are kuchi birds?" he asked loudly.
Nathell motioned to Trunks to hand him the Big Book of the Animal Kingdom from a far bookshelf. Trunks didn't want to at first but when the man produced a king sized chocolate bar he was extremely eager.
" 'Kuchi Birds are flightless animals that have bright green and yellow feathers and webbed feet. They are usually found in swamps in southern climates and can be hostile is bothered. They eat--' "
"I don't want a damn zoology lesson!" the older Vegeta interrupted. "I just want to go home! My training to beat Kakarott has been interrupted enough!"
Kakarott looked confused for a second until Goku smiled slightly and pointed to himself.
"Oh!" he nodded and leaned back into the couch where he was sitting on the floor between ChiChi's legs. "I get it."
"What if we answer wrong?" Raditz asked.
Nathell pulled a pad from his pocket along with a pencil. "Don't. I advise you to write it down."
Goku took it from him and quickly jotted it down, ripping the paper out and sticking it in his pocket. Vegeta had a mock surprised look on his face that Goku could even do it. He hadn't even thought that the warrior could write his own name let alone a whole sentence.
Goku just smirked and stretched. "Tell me Vegeta; how many languages can you write other than the saiyan one? Hmmm?"
Vegeta started to sputter and finally he began to shriek. "That's not important!"
Goten started to laugh hard and almost fell from where he was floating in the air. "Tousan can do two! I guess that's one more thing he's better than you at!"
Vegeta's face turned a bright shade of red and they could feel him powering up. "That's it! Now I'm mad!"
"When aren't you?" Trunks muttered. Goten snickered some more.
"Hold it!" Goku shouted. "Vegeta, that's just going to have to wait until later! Goten, we're going to have a talk."
Gohan raised an eyebrow. "You are going to give him a talk? But you *never* give talks!" He added something else hastily after a moments silence. "And that one on Namek-sei when Krillin had just died doesn't count. You were just making me leave because I was stubborn and you didn't want me hurt. Since you were so pissed at Frieza, that doesn't count as one because you're full attention was not focused on me."
His father merely rolled his eyes and grabbed Goten by his collar. The small boy dangled in his hand like a puppy as they left for another room.
***
Goten stared at the floor, truly scared of what his father had in store for him. He never had any reason to fear him before but since discipline of any sort was so out of character for Goku, he didn't have any idea what was next.
'This,' he thought to himself, 'must be how Trunks feels every single day.'
"Goten, you shouldn't have gotten Vegeta angry back there." Goku turned from the window and looked at him. Goten audibly gulped.
"I know Tousan. I'm sorry." The boy still didn't look up to meet his father's eyes. "But he had it coming!"
Goku gave him a indescribable look. "Couldn't the teasing have waiting until we got home?"
"Hai, I guess so. But then the opening wouldn't be there!"
Goku gave him a smile. "Well, it is fun to make him mad and see that vein on his forehead throb and his eyes twitch."
Goten laughed. "Yeah!"
Then Goku's smiled turned upside down {Cliché alert!}. "But that still doesn't make it right."
"I know and I won't do it again," he looked up then and smirked, "...until we get home."
***
During the two Sons' talk, the whole room lapsed into silence. Nathell tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, ChiChi poked Kakarott repeatedly in his side, listening amusedly to his faint chuckles when she hit a ticklish spot, Nappa picked at some lint on his pants, Raditz and the younger Vegeta were making faces at each other, the older Vegeta was pacing the length of the room in front of the window and Gohan was freaking out their host.
The teenage saiyan had discovered joy in seeing how scared he could make that man. From the time he broke his bones the day before he practiced the art as much as he could.
"Nathell," Gohan whispered under his breath, "look this way. Look this way."
The older man could feel Gohan's eyes on him. He also could still remember the pain when he almost beat him to death. Since it was too painful to stand, he could only stay and hope that the boy would not administer another beat down.
Gohan stood and slowly walked over to the arm chair, whistling nonchalantly. Just as he was about 6 inches away he jumped as a firm hand was laid on his shoulder.
"You're taking this a little too far."
"Tousan! Uh hi! How did your talk with totochan go?"
Goku spun him around and fixed him with a hard stare. "Leave Nathell alone."
Gohan, eyes wide, could only nod as he inwardly flinched at his father's gaze. Nodding with satisfaction, Goku turned and went to talk to Vegeta.
Gohan blinked and sat down on the floor. "Is there something in your water or something? I can't remember the last time he acted the least bit parental!"
I'm going to post this without the other one to keep people satisfied until I can type the other. It's probably be finished by Aug. 28th by the latest.