Goten Chapter 10

Goten Chapter 10

Videl’s legs almost gave out in relief when she saw them. Her gaze quickly landed on Bulma, and she staggered forward. "Please, ma’am! They need help—both of them are seriously injured!" she pleaded, motioning to the two brothers sprawled on the ground.

Bulma gasped as she ran to them, immediately kneeling beside Goten. She placed her hands on his face, checking his breathing, then quickly moved to Gohan. "Oh, Gohan... what did you get yourself into this time?" she whispered, her heart clenching at the sight of him.

Trunks stood over Gohan, his voice tense. "Are they okay, Mom?" he asked, then turned his gaze toward Goten, noticing how much he looked like his father.

Bulma let out a sigh, shaking her head. "They’re in bad shape... We need to get them inside, now." She looked up at her son. "Trunks, you carry Gohan. I’ll take Goten."

Videl took a step forward, about to help Trunks lift Gohan, but to her surprise, Trunks bent down and effortlessly hoisted Gohan onto his back.

Bulma, now carrying Goten, turned to Videl. "Come on!" she urged.

With urgency, they all made their way inside.

Bulma led them straight to the medical room, quickly instructing Trunks to place Gohan on the operating table.

…

Bulma carefully placed Goten on one of her desks, then stepped back, assessing his condition. Her eyes filled with concern as she took in the deep bruises, burns, and scratches covering his small body.

Meanwhile, Trunks gently laid Gohan on the medical bed, his expression tense as he looked at his unconscious mentor. Gohan looked even worse—his body was covered in burns and scrapes, and his arm was twisted at an unnatural angle.

Pilaf, Mai, and Shu, who were standing near Videl, watched the scene with nervous expressions. Pilaf cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking. “Excuse me,” he said, glancing at Videl. “Do you need anything? Water? A place to sit?”

Mai stepped closer and asked, “Are you okay?”

Videl shook her head, still clutching her injured arm. “My arm is broken, but… take care of Gohan and Goten first,” she insisted.

Meanwhile, Bulma quickly hurried over to Gohan’s side and began searching his pockets. Her fingers carefully felt around, hoping she would find what she was looking for.

After a few moments, her eyes lit up. “Found them,” she murmured, pulling out a small pouch. She carefully opened it and counted three senzu beans inside.

She let out a relieved breath. “Perfect,” she whispered.

Straightening up, Bulma scanned the room, taking in their injuries. Gohan was in the worst shape—his body was battered, his arm was completely broken, and he was barely breathing. Goten, while not as severely wounded, was still covered in bruises and scorch marks. Videl, though conscious, winced at every small movement, her broken arm still throbbing.

“All right,” Bulma said, grimacing at Gohan’s condition. “I’ll give Gohan a full senzu bean since he’s the worst off. Goten and Videl can split one. We’ll keep the last one in case of an emergency.”

Trunks, staring at the unconscious forms of Gohan and Goten, turned to his mother, his voice filled with concern. “Are you sure they’re going to be okay, Mom?”

Bulma nodded, holding up the senzu beans for him to see. “Yeah. These will heal them just fine,” she reassured him. She stepped toward Gohan and gently placed a bean in his mouth, helping him swallow.

A few moments passed in silence.

Then, Gohan’s body twitched, his muscles tightening as the healing properties of the senzu bean took effect. His breathing steadied, the burns on his skin disappearing, and then—

His eyes snapped open.

Gohan sat up instantly, his body still tense from battle. His eyes darted around, trying to assess the situation. Then, when he spotted Goten lying unconscious, his heart clenched.

“Goten!” he gasped, quickly moving over to his younger brother’s side. He reached out, checking his breathing, his face tight with worry.

Bulma crossed her arms and shook her head disapprovingly. “I’m really disappointed in you, Gohan,” she said, her voice sharp. “Why did you take Goten with you to fight the androids?”

Still kneeling beside his brother, Gohan turned toward her, shaking his head. “I didn’t bring him! He followed me!” he said.

Bulma sighed, rubbing her temples. "Of course he did," she muttered before walking over to Gohan and handing him half of a senzu bean. “Here, feed him this.”

Gohan wasted no time. He carefully placed the bean in Goten’s mouth, helping him chew.

Bulma walked over to Videl and handed her the other half of the senzu bean. “Here, take this. It’ll help with your arm,” she said.

Videl hesitated for a moment but then looked over at Gohan, watching in bewilderment and shock as he recovered almost instantly. Just moments ago, he had been on the verge of death, his body broken and covered in burns, and now… he was sitting up, moving as if nothing had happened.

“How…?” she muttered, still stunned. “He was almost dead.”

She took the senzu bean from Bulma, still staring at it in disbelief.

Videl still looked skeptical, but after witnessing Gohan’s miraculous recovery, she hesitated for only a moment before eating it.

The effect was immediate.

A warm sensation spread through her body, and she felt her broken bones snap back into place. The pain disappeared as if it had never been there.

Her eyes widened in shock as she flexed her fingers. “I-I’m completely healed… My arm—it’s like it was never broken!” she gasped.

Turning to Bulma, still in shock, she asked, “What was that thing?! Is it some kind of new medicine or experimental drug?”

Bulma crossed her arms and smirked slightly. “Something like that,” she said. “They’re called senzu beans, but they’re extremely rare. It’s a good thing Gohan still had some.”

Meanwhile, Gohan had fed Goten, the other half of senzu bean. “Come on, Goten… slowly,” he urged.

Goten’s body twitched as the healing effects began to kick in. His eyes slowly fluttered open, and he took a deep breath, feeling his strength return. He looked around, blinking a few times before sighing in relief.

"Good thing we made it to Capsule Corp…" he thought.

Though he was still exhausted, his injuries were completely healed. He sat up, stretching slightly—

Only to be immediately grabbed by Gohan, who gripped his shoulders tightly.

“What the hell were you doing there, Goten?!” Gohan shouted, his voice filled with frustration and fear. “You could have been killed! What would I have told Mom?!”

Goten, still processing everything, looked up at his brother. He shrugged off his grip and frowned.

“We’re alive because of me,” Goten shot back. “If I hadn’t been there, you would have been dead.”

Gohan opened his mouth to argue, but Goten cut him off.

“And I could say the same thing about you,” he continued. “What were YOU thinking, Gohan? Going off to fight the androids without even thinking about it?!”

Gohan flinched.

“You knew you weren’t strong enough! Even Master Roshi told you that!” Goten’s voice grew sharper. “What do you think would have happened to Mom if you died? Did you even stop to think about that?”

Silence filled the room.

Goten let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. “You’re not Dad, Gohan,” he said firmly. “Stop trying to be some kind of savior. You need to start being yourself—like Master Roshi told you. Stop trying to be someone you’re not.”

Gohan clenched his fists, his eyes closing as he thought about what could have happened. The image of himself and goten, lying dead at the androids’ feet, flashed in his mind.

And then the thought of what Goten said—what if Mom had lost them both?

He took a deep breath and finally let go of his frustration.

“…You’re right,” Gohan admitted, his voice quieter now. He let out a long sigh and looked at his younger brother. “I didn’t think before heading out to fight the androids… and if you hadn’t shown up, I would have died.”

He glanced down at the floor, guilt settling in. “And I put you in danger too,” he added. “I’m sorry, Goten.”

Gohan let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry… I didn't think before heading off to fight the androids," he admitted, guilt weighing heavy in his voice. "And you're right… I would have died if you hadn't arrived to help. I also put you in danger, Goten."

Goten sighed before stepping forward and hugging his brother. He could tell that this Gohan was going through an existential crisis, burdened by everything he had to endure alone.

After a moment, Goten pulled back and offered a small smile. "Hey, you did save someone," he said, nodding toward Videl, who was quietly watching them.

Noticing both Gohan and Goten looking at her, Videl hesitated for a second before stepping forward. "Thank you," she said sincerely, looking at both of them. "For saving me."

Gohan blinked at her, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "There's nothing to thank me for," he said, a little flustered. "I’m Gohan, and this is my brother Goten." He then motioned toward Bulma and Trunks. "That's Bulma, and her son, Trunks."

Videl gave them all a small smile. "It's nice to meet you all, I’m Videl" she said. Turning to Bulma, she bowed her head slightly. "And thank you for healing me."

Bulma waved a hand dismissively. "Don't mention it," she said with a small smile. "I'm just glad you're alright now."

Meanwhile, Goten turned his gaze toward Trunks, who had been standing quietly at the side, watching everything unfold.

Goten studied him for a moment. So this is Trunks, huh? this version has blue hair…

His eyes then flickered toward Shu, Mai, and Pilaf, standing near Trunks.

Wait… what are they doing here? Goten thought. Were they with Bulma in this timeline?

Before he could dwell on it, Bulma walked over and knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"My, my," she said with a nostalgic smile. "You're a carbon copy of your father. You look just like Goku did when I first met him."

Goten blinked before offering a small, shy smile. "Ah, Bulma-san… I've heard about you from Mom and Gohan," he said, nodding respectfully. "Thank you for helping us."

Goten scratched the back of his head before explaining, "I was just following the strongest ki signature I could sense and flew here."

He then turned to Trunks and pointed at him. "That must have been you."

Bulma smiled warmly. "No problem at all, kid."

Bulma noticed Trunks eyeing Goten, curiosity in his expression. Smiling, she decided to formally introduce them. "Trunks, you might not remember, but you and Goten met when you were babies. This is Goten."

Goten waved and said, "Nice to meet you, Trunks."

Trunks looked a bit awkward at first, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nice to meet you too," he said. Then, gesturing toward the trio standing beside him, he added, "These are Mai, Shu, and Pilaf. They’ve been living here for a while now."

Goten nodded and smiled. "It’s nice to meet you all."

Pilaf, still skeptical, crossed his arms. "Did you really fight against the androids?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shu, looking at Goten’s torn and dirt-covered clothes, scratched his head. "Well… those injuries did look real to me."

Trunks, now more serious, looked at Goten. "Are they really that strong?"

Goten grimaced as he thought about the fight. He nodded slowly. "The only reason we even survived… was because they were toying with us," he admitted. "I’m sure next time… we won’t be so lucky." His expression darkened. "And I’m pretty sure they weren’t even using half their power."

Bulma sighed at that, rubbing her temples. “Well… what’s important is that you’re all safe now. That’s all that matters.”

Bulma let out a relieved sigh, placing her hands on her hips. "I’ll call Chi-Chi and let her know that both of you are safe. She must be worried sick."

Gohan scratched the back of his head, feeling guilty. "Thank you, Bulma."

As Bulma left to make the call, Gohan turned to Trunks, finally taking a good look at him. "Oh wow, Trunks—you’re a lot bigger than the last time I saw you," he said with a grin. Then, glancing at the others, he added, "And these must be your friends?"

Trunks nodded and introduced Mai, Shu, and Pilaf to Gohan.

Meanwhile, Goten noticed Videl standing to the side, trying to hold back her tears.

He walked over to her and asked gently, "Hey, how are you holding up?"

Videl forced a small smile and nodded. "I’m okay," she said, though her voice lacked its usual strength.

Goten hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you… have anywhere to go?"

At that, Videl’s face fell, and she slowly shook her head.

Videl then took a deep breath and explained, "I was part of the Rebellion… but they were all wiped out, just before Gohan showed up." Her hands clenched into fists, her voice trembling as she fought back tears.

Gohan's face fell, his expression filled with guilt. "...I'm sorry about that," he said softly.

Goten thought to himself, 'She doesn't have anywhere to go, and if she’s going to end up with Gohan like in the Super timeline, she should have a way to stay close to him… If she just leaves on her own, who knows if they’ll even meet again?'

With that thought, he looked over at Gohan and smirked. "Hey, Gohan—what do you think about Videl coming with us?"

Gohan blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

Goten continued, "She’d be a lot safer if she stayed with us. Plus, she could learn martial arts from Master Roshi too." He then grinned mischievously and added, "And if you’re going to marry her someday, she should meet Mom, you know."

Gohan immediately turned red. "Wha—?! Goten!" he spluttered, flustered beyond words.

Videl, equally caught off guard, felt her face heat up. "H-Hey! Who said anything about marriage?!" she stammered, glaring at Goten.

Gohan’s face turned red. He immediately grabbed Goten by the head, shaking him roughly. "Stop saying weird stuff, Goten!" he shouted, his embarrassment making him more aggressive.

Gohan then turned back to Videl, clearing his throat. "Just… ignore him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about," he said, forcing a casual smile.

Still trapped in Gohan’s headlock, Goten struggled, waving his arms. "But isn’t that why you rescued her? Because you like her—?"

Before he could finish, Gohan tightened his grip, nearly choking him.

Goten coughed, his face turning slightly purple before he elbowed Gohan hard in the stomach.

"Ugh!" Gohan grunted in pain, immediately letting go of Goten.

Goten gasped for air, rubbing his neck. "Jeez, learn to take a joke," he muttered.

Just then, Bulma walked back in, holding a phone in her hand. "Hey guys," she said. "I just got off the phone with Chi-Chi. She’s glad you two are okay, but she wants you back home for dinner."

Trunks perked up at that and turned to Gohan and Goten. "Wait… you guys are training to fight the androids?" he asked.

Goten nodded. "Yeah, we’ve been training with Master Roshi for six months now," he confirmed.

Trunks clenched his fists, looking determined. "I also want to help! Can I join you?" he asked, looking directly at Gohan.

Gohan blinked in surprise, then awkwardly looked at Bulma, unsure of what to say.

Trunks turned to his mother, pleading with her. "Mom, please! You know I’m half-Saiyan, just like them. I can help!"

Bulma let out a deep sigh, shaking her head. "It’s too dangerous, Trunks."

"But Mom!" Trunks pleaded, his voice desperate. "It would just be training! I swear I won’t go and fight the androids!"

As the argument between Trunks and Bulma continued, Goten fell deep into thought. "We need a way to go back in time… to get the location of New Namek. But if we defeat the androids too soon, Bulma won’t have a reason to build the time machine." He furrowed his brows, thinking harder. "If I remember correctly, Bulma only started working on the time machine after Gohan’s death. But I’m not planning on letting him die. We need him. And honestly… I’ve grown attached to him." Goten frowned, realizing the problem. "That would mean Bulma won’t build the time machine…"