Rhian X Gohan

Choices

By Kieran O’Connor

For the awesome Rj

They stood facing each other across the sand blasted wastelands, two fighters waiting for one to make the first move. All was silent, neither moved from their prone position, each hoping to get the advantage right at the start of the fight. For a time nothing happened, and then the battle exploded as they both moved against each other. The smaller fighter used her agility and struck quickly with intricate punches and kicks that the other fighter could hardly keep up with.

“Keep your guard up!” The other fighter said as he made a quick side kick at a vulnerable point on his opponent’s side. The girl he was fighting ducked and dodged the kick by a matter of inches, but that was all that was needed.  

“Same goes for you!” She put her hand against his chest and a small pink ball of energy appeared there before it exploded.

“What?” Was all the man in an orange gi got to say before he was blasted head first into one of the mountains.

“Are you ok?” The girl with two-tone hair asked when the smoke had cleared and she could see her teacher was lying on his back in the rubble.

“Oh I am just fine, that was one heck of a Ki blast Rhian.” He stood up and started to dust himself off. “You have been practising when I am not around, I really felt that one.”

“Well maybe just a little practise Gohan.” Rhian said with a cheeky little smile. “I thought you might be impressed.”

“I am Rhian.” Gohan said. “You have become more skilled at fighting then I ever did in that much time. If you practise much more I will have to keep an energy shield up or power up more when we spar or you might end up hurting me.”

“Aww Gohan you are just be nice, I am not really that strong.” Rhian said with a little blush on her cheeks. “Anyway you know I would never hurt you.”

“Yeah I know Rhian.” Gohan finished dusting himself off. “Well I think that’s enough training for one day, how about having that lunch huh?”

“Good idea!”

Gohan and Rhian were the best of friends; they had been ever since they had met really. They had just seemed made for each other, they liked the same things and just liked each other. They spent so much time together and trusted each other so completely that they knew everything about each other, all but one thing. Neither one knew that they were both completely in love with each other, they had become such great friends so quickly that the fact they loved each other had almost passed by them. But now neither one was willing to tell the other how they felt, fearing that they could ruin the friendship that was so important to them both.

They now sat on a blanket eating a picnic they had both made before they had come out to train. Gohan had been training Rhian for nearly a year now, when she had found out about his amazing powers she had asked if he would train her a little. Now a year on they had trained together regularly and Rhian had become more then proficient at fighting.

“Gohan what did you put in these sandwiches?” Rhian asked when she took one of them out of the basket.

“Peanut butter, jam, Banana, onion and tomato why?” Gohan said taking a big bite of the sandwich.

“Yuck!” Rhian tossed down one of the sandwiches and then noticed the smile on Gohan’s face. “That’s not what’s in them is it Gohan?... I will get you for that.”

“Well I had to get you back for that Ki blast earlier now didn’t I?” Gohan said. “Will some extra Jaffa cakes make it up to you?”

“Jaffa cakes… all is forgiven.” Rhian said as she hugged Gohan who hugged back wishing that he would never have to let her go.

The two of them at their lunch together, sitting in the shade of a large tree and enjoying the quiet that came from the area Gohan lived in. Rhian was leaning on Gohan looking up at the sky as she slowly ate the Jaffa cakes at the end of the meal. Gohan had one arm around her and in the other he held a Jaffa cake he was slowly munching on. They both shared a love for the food of the gods, the humble Jaffa cake; it was just another thing that had brought them closer together.

“Not many clouds today, makes it hard to make up shapes for them.” Rhian said as she looked up at the almost cloudless sky.

“Well maybe I can help there.” Gohan looked up at the sky and concentrated hard on all the air that was moving up there. Rapidly clouds started to form as his Ki energy forced them to come to where they were. The Clouds filled up half the sky and then started to take on shapes as Gohan saw fit to make them.

“Yay!” Rhian giggled as she cuddled up to Gohan. “Umm lets see, well that’s a dog… oh and that’s a house for sure. Awww that one looks just like me.” Rhian quickly kissed Gohan’s cheek when she saw the cloud he had made to look just like her.

Gohan blushed instantly and felt his skin tingle delightfully where her lips had been. What he would have given to feel those lips on his, to know what the perfect kiss would feel like.

“Gohan… there is something I have been wanting to talk to you about for a while now.” Rhian said after a long silence had passed between them, it was very rare for them not to be talking to each other all most constantly. “I don’t know what you will think but I have to say this to you.”

“You know you can say anything to me Rhian.” Gohan said feeling puzzled, deep down he feared that she was going to tell him something horrible. But in his heart he knew Rhian could never do something that would hurt him, because he could never hurt her.

“Gohan I…” Rhian did not get to finish as from the sky came the yell of Goten.

“Brother!” Goten swooped out of the sky and landed next to the two looking panicked. “Gohan you have to come home right now!”

“What’s wrong Goten?” Gohan asked, feeling the panic coming from his little brother.

“Mom said you have to come home right now.” Goten was dancing from foot to foot like someone in desperate need of the toilet. “She got a letter in the mail and when she read it she started to scream and dance around the house shouting that you had to get home right away. She is acting so weird so I flew out looking for you, please come home Gohan.”

“Calm down Goten, of course I will come home.” Gohan turned to Rhian. “Sorry but I have to cut lunch short today.”

“I understand Gohan, Chi-chi needs you.” Rhian stood up.” I will come with you two and see if I can help.” Rhian genuinely liked Chi-chi and was as worried as her sons were. What could cause Chi-chi to go crazy like that?

“Ok then, let’s get going!” Gohan said as he blasted into the sky closely followed by Goten and Rhian.

***

The three of them arrived at the small house where the Son family had lived for so long now. Gohan could hear his mother still screaming out his name, but the scream was not one of anger or even of fear. Gohan had become and expert when it came to his mothers screams, and he knew this one was an excited scream just like when he had told her that Goku was coming back to earth for one day.

“Gohan!” Chi-chi burst out of the house and grabbed hold of her son so tightly that Gohan could not even breathe. “Oh it’s so wonderful, it’s amazing, incredible!” For a moment Gohan thought she was talking about Rhian, because those were the words he thought of when he thought about Rhian.

“Cant… breathe…” Gohan choked out before his mother released him from his death grip.

“Oh Gohan isn’t it wonderful news?” Chi-chi was misty eyed and clutching on to a letter which seemed to be a cause of this.

“What is wonderful news mom?” Gohan said after he had gotten back enough oxygen to talk again.

“You have been accepted into Hawkins academy!” Chi-chi squealed with delight. “I can’t believe that my son has been accepted to the most prestigious academy in the world! They have given you a full scholarship and are even letting you join early because they think you have so much potential! Only the smartest people in the world are even considered for a place and scholarships are nearly unheard of! Oh I just can’t believe this… oh there is so much to do before you go. Oh my, your flight is tomorrow night! We have to get all your things packed and then get you to the airport…” Chi-chi kept talking to herself as she ran back into the house still floating on the news she had received.

***

Gohan and Rhian were alone again; Goten had been roped into helping getting everything ready for Gohan’s trip. The news had both left them feeling a little numb; of course they were both over joyed with it. Gohan was been given a once in a life time chance, nothing would ever come near this again. But both of them were feeling deeply hurt by it as well, Gohan had looked over the letter and found some not very pleasant things out. The academy was all the way in South city, on the other site of the world and on a small island no less. Not only was distance a problem but so was time, the academy scheduled his day completely. Nearly every hour would be spent in hard study, with the world’s top lectures giving him personal lessons. There were no breaks and he would be there for at least three years.

“I can’t believe they accepted me… when I sent that form off I was sure they would never even think about letting me in.” Gohan said, holding onto Rhian and still in shock from what he now knew.

“It’s an amazing chance though; everyone who goes there becomes one of the world’s top intellectuals.” Rhian said, holding back the sadness that threatened to take her over completely.

“I know but I will miss… all my friends.” Gohan had come very close to saying “Girl friend” or “Love” and manage to catch himself just in time.

“And we will all miss you.” Rhian said. “But you can’t let us get your way; you are going to be something great if you go. I know it.”

“Maybe I can come back in my free time and visit my friends, I am much faster then any plane. I would not even be taking this one if they were not expecting me at the airport.” Gohan said hopefully.

“Gohan have you looked at this schedule?” Rhian tapped the bit of paper they had read over many times. “If you are not eating or sleeping you will be studying in one way or another according to this.”

“Well they do give me time to make phone calls and write letters, so I promise I will keep in touch with you… and all my other friends of course.” Gohan quickly saved himself.

“You promise?” Rhian asked unable to even look at Gohan, knowing if she did then she would start to cry.

“I promise.” Gohan said nothing for a little while after that then started to speak. He decided that if he did not ask then he would never find out, and with him going away it would not matter.” Rhian I…”

Gohan was interrupted by his watch this time, the light started to blink and a voice came out of it.

“Come in great Saiyaman, come in Great Saiyaman!” The voice was of Hercule city’s Mayor. “The city needs you, we have a gang trying to rob all the banks in the city and our police force just can’t cope.”

“Of all the times!” Gohan shouted out loud before he pressed a button on his watch. “This is the Great Saiyaman, I am on the way.” Gohan changed his voice to be the voice of his heroic alter ego when he answered the mayor.

“You better go, it sounds serious” Rhian said. “I had to go home anyway.”

Gohan sighed, ever since Videl had left the planet to be with Broly he had been forced to take up the slack of protecting the city. Now when he was so close to telling Rhian how he felt he had to go.

“Ok Rhian, but come by tomorrow to say good bye. My flight is at seven pm so just come here before then.” Gohan pressed the little button on his watch and instantly was covered in smoke as he changed into his costume. “How do I look?” He asked as he struck a heroic pose.

“You look amazing.” Rhian said with a ghost of a smile on her face. “Now get going hero, people need you.” Gohan did not say anything; he just nodded and flew off in the direction of the city.

“I need you too.” Rhian said to herself after Gohan was long gone.

***

The next day people were still celebrating the fact the Great Saiyaman had managed to apprehend the biggest criminals in Hercule city. This meant that crime was going to take a dramatic drop for years so even with Gohan gone the city would be fine.

Rhian was heading out to see Gohan before he left for South city; she was planning on telling him everything. She had decided the previous night, she would rather regret something she had done then something she had not done. Now with the courage she needed she was going to go and visit Gohan and let him know how she really felt.

It was while she was waiting for a bus to get her on her way that Rhian spotted her best friend Emma walking on the other side of the road. Emma was walking home from school and had her head down making her look incredibly distraught. Rhian instantly felt that something was wrong with her friend so crossed the road with out a second thought to see if she could cheer her up.

“Hey Emma!” Rhian said in a cheerful voice that faltered only slightly when she saw her friends care worn face.

“Hi sissy.” Emma had the look of someone who had been recently crying, her eyes red a puffy.

“What’s wrong sis?” Rhian asked as she hugged Emma.

“Math is wrong… no it is the spawn of all that is evil!” Emma shouted to the sky. “I hate math!”

“You got the results of that test then?” Rhian knew that Emma had never been great at maths, and the last test had been a big one. After it was done Emma had staggered out of the exam room looking pale and complaining that she was starting to see numbers in her dreams.

“I failed so miserably! Now they say I have to retake the test and get a passing grade or spend all summer relearning the whole years worth of math. My parents said if that happened then they would ground me and force me to study all the time. Oh sissy Trunks was meant to visit me from the future this summer but if I fail this test then I won’t get to see him at all.” Emma broke into tears again and Rhian held her, she comforted her as best she could. Rhian was very good at making other people happy, and whenever there was a problem she was the first person that people would turn to.

“Don’t worry Emma I will make sure you see Trunks.” Rhian said when her sis had calmed down a little. “Now when is the make up test then?”

“Tomorrow.” Emma said. “Oh there is no way I can be ready for it sissy, I don’t have a clue where to start and even if I did it would take all night to do it.”

Rhian glanced down at her watch and saw it was well after lunch time already, if she had any chance of getting to Gohan’s house before he would have to leave for the airport then she really had to get the next bus. As if thinking of it was enough, the bus arrived and pulled up to her stop to let a few people off. For a moment there was the choice of leaving Emma and going to see Gohan, but she could never leave her sis like that.

“You wont fail the exam this time Emma, I am going to make sure you not only pass but show that math teacher a thing or two.” Rhian said. “I will help you study, and together we get you through the exam.”

“Really?” Emma sniffed back the tears as the look of hope entered her eyes.

“It’s a promise, now come on we have work to do.” Rhian took one last look at the bus as it moved off before she led Emma in the direction of her house.

***

It was a long time later that Rhian and Emma sat in Emma’s living room with piles of books around them. They had gone head first in to the dark realm of maths to do battle with such hellish creatures as geometry and algebra. Emma had been slow getting it at first but Rhian had not given up on her and as the day went on she found ways to help her sis understand maths, at least enough for her to pass an exam.

“So if you know what X equals in this equation then you can work out exactly what Y is by taking what X is worth away from the equation of X plus Y.” Rhian explained as she pointed to the right places on the page.

“So Y must be err… ten?” Emma said and when Rhian nodded Emma jumped up on the table and did a victory dance.

“I think that is all you are going to need sissy, you should ace the exam tomorrow.”

“Yay!” Emma jumped off the table and back onto the couch. “Thank you for helping sissy I was totally lost without you.”

“Aww don’t worry about it Emma.” Rhian hugged Emma who seemed completely changed from the way she had been that morning when Rhian had first seen her.

“Well now we can forget math for a little bit.” Emma smiled. “Sooo… what is happening with you and Gohan? Have you told him how you feel?”

“No Emma, I don’t think I will tell him now.” Emma looked at Rhian as if she had just told her that Jaffa cakes tasted bad. “It started yesterday when I was sparring with Gohan….”

Rhian explained everything that had happened since Gohan had found out that he had been given the honour of going to Hawkins academy. Emma listened with dawning horror as she realised that she was the reason that Rhian had not told Gohan how she felt.

“Sissy I can’t believe you did that!” Emma shouted. “You have been in love with Gohan since you met him and you let him go just to help me with my maths?”

“If you failed that exam tomorrow you would not get to see Trunks and I know how much you like him sissy.” Rhian explained. “I could not let you get hurt because I was selfish.”

“What time is his flight?” Emma asked looking at her watch.

“Seven.”

“Its only six now, if we hurry we can get to the airport before Gohan leaves and you can tell him how you feel!” Emma jumped to her feet and grabbed Rhian’s wrist as she dragged her to the door.

“Do you think we can really make it?” Rhian asked as she was jerked outside.

“Of course, have you never seen a romance film before girl?” Emma said as she pulled out a car key and opened the doors to her parent’s car. “Now let’s get going!”

Emma tossed Rhian into the passenger seat and then jumped into the driver’s side and started the hover car up.

“Wait a moment you can’t drive yet.” Rhian said when she heard the engine rev up and Emma clicked in her seat belt.

“Too late for that!” Emma slammed down on the accelerator and the hover car bolted out of her drive and went down the road at top speed.

Rhian quickly clipped her seat belt in and then held onto the dash bored for dear life. Emma had a very basic grasp of how to drive a hover car and seemed to be basing a lot of her actions of movie chases. The car was going over three times the speed limit and Emma had not even figured out how to break.

“This is fun!” Emma was laughing as she moved the car onto the sidewalk to knock over a big pile of empty boxes. “Oh I have wanted to do that all my life!”

“Maybe you should slow down?” Rhian said as a car just managed to miss them as Emma darted around the roads like a madwoman.

“If you want to make it to the airport then we have to hurry, Gohan must have checked in and they might even have boarded the plane by now.” Emma swerved the car violently to the left making Rhian feel like her stomach had been left behind them. “Just hold on I am pretty sure I know what I am doing… hey I think this peddle is the break!”

“Oh man…”

They raced across town darting in and out of traffic and with Emma only having a passing acquaintance with the break peddle. Going so fast and not obeying a single traffic law meant that they were at the airport in no time at all.

“Emma the airport is just over there.” Rhian pointed to the bright lights of the airport. “That road leads right to the parking lot so if you take the exit after the next one we…”

“No way there is no time to mess around in a parking lot.” Emma turned right away going down the airport road itself. “I think we should take a shortcut.”

They went roaring down the road and Rhian realised what Emma had in mind when they reached the main building and had not slowed down. Emma drove the car right though the main doors and hooted the horn as they went into the terminal building. People waiting for flights and checking in turned to see Emma and Rhian driving through the airport at nearly the same speed they had been on the road.

“There is a lot of space in this airport.” Emma said almost off hand as people dived out of her way. “Oh look they have a comic book store here; I will have to stop there on the way back.”

Rhian covered her eyes as they completed a long list of felonies driving through the airport at high speed. When she opened them they had come to a dead stop right next to the information desk. The clerk working there look dreadfully pale, he had just seen a hover car hurtle towards him and only managed to stop just in time.

“That was so much fun.” Emma said as she opened the door. “Well let’s find out where Gohan is then.”

They both went up to the desk but Rhian did not feel up to talking, she felt like the clerk looked.

“Ok we need to know where people going on the seven pm flight to South City would be right now.” Emma asked the clerk who for a moment seemed paralysed with fear but quickly snapped to life.

“Seven pm flight?” He asked and Emma nodded. “Somewhere over Central city I would guess after all they would have left two hours ago.” Emma looked at the clerk with eyes like daggers. “Please don’t kill me…”

“Listen here, we know our friend is on the seven pm flight and that won’t leave until seven pm.” Emma held up her watch to the clerk. “Now what time does that watch say?”

“Six… but that watch is stopped…” The clerk ducked under the desk and started to cower in fear of Emma.

Emma looked at her watch and for the first time noticed the second hand was not moving. Her watch must have stopped a six that morning and she had never noticed because she had been so busy thinking about maths. Yet another example of maths ruining peoples lives.

“Oh sissy I am so sorry.” Emma said to Rhian.

“It’s ok Emma.” Rhian said. “I guess it was not meant to be.”

“Let’s go… before the cops arrive.” Emma said. “I will drive you home sissy.”

“Not a chance.”

“No-one ever lets me have any fun” Emma pouted as she handed the car keys over to Rhian.

***

The front door opened as Rhian pushed her way into her house feeling exhausted. She was completely drained after the events of the day and now wanted to have a quick snack and then go to bed. She decided she would write to Gohan first thing in the morning to apologise for not saying good-bye to him.

“Well let’s see what we have to eat.” Rhian flicked the light switch and the light in the kitchen came to life. “I don’t remember leaving anything on the kitchen table…”

Rhian noticed there was something sitting on the kitchen table which she had left empty when she had left home that morning. Forgetting about food Rhian went over to the table to see that there was a heart shaped box there. Rhian lifted up the top and found inside were heart shaped Jaffa cakes where chocolates would normally be. It was then she noticed that on the box lid there was a little note.

“Look behind you.” It simply said.

Rhian turned round and saw that Gohan was standing in the door way to the kitchen. For a moment Rhian could not understand what was going on, it had to be a dream or something. But she knew the real Gohan when she saw him, she could spot him in a crowd simply by the way he walked or the way he looked. Gohan had a slight blush on his face as he walked into the kitchen.

“I never got to the airport… I was going to but when you never came I realised I could never leave without telling you that…” Rhian ran up to him and hugged him tight before putting a finger to his lips.

“Gohan, shut up.” She said as she slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him in close to her. Silently they kissed each other, and then they both knew exactly how they both felt. That single kiss said more to them then a thousand words could ever say, the kiss spoke of the love they shared, of the happiness they would bring each other and how deeply they needed to be together. At last Gohan knew what it was like to experience the perfect kiss.

“Rhian I love you.” Gohan said for the first time that night, knowing it would not be the last time.

“I love you too Gohan.” Now they had both said it they realised how easy it was, they should have said it long ago. It was also when they said it that Gohan knew he had made the right choice, he was meant to be with Rhian forever and he would be.

The end