| Toranks and Goten Part Three “I’m fine.” But no sooner had those words left his mouth, Goten collapsed. I sprinted to him and turned him over. “Goten!” Of course, he didn’t answer - he was unconscious. I quickly swung him over my back and blasted into the sky. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll get you help.” Then, after pausing to get my bearings, I headed towards CC. Just when it thought things couldn’t get any worse, it started pouring down rain. “Shit.” A flight that should have only taken a few minutes took me thirty. Dodging lightning and keeping out of sight are not easy things to do. By the time that we got to my home, we were both soaked to the bone. I was unbelievably cold. Of course, I couldn’t speak for Goten, especially since he was unconscious. I kicked the door open with a booted foot screaming, “Kassan!” She sprinted in and skidded to a stop when she saw me and the unconscious Goten. “What happened, Toranks? Hurry let’s take him down to medical!” One the way I tried to explain it too her. She didn’t seem to be paying much attention. She kept muttering to herself about how a human punch should never be able to hurt a demi saiyajin. As soon as I set him down on the examining table, she ushered me right back out the door. I stumbled into my kitchen to get a drink and sit down for a moment. As I sipped the soda I had grabbed from the fridge, I reflected on what had happened that day. I had gotten into a fight at school. Me. The most popular kid in school had gotten into a fight. I shook my head in disgust. “Tomorrow no one will be talking to me. Why did this have to happen senior year. Damn it Goten!” After a few moments of snorting angrily, I finally admitted to myself that this was not Goten’s fault. It was not fair to blame him. If the bigots that went to that school could not deal with it, then they didn’t deserve to be my friend. But for some reason, that line of thinking didn’t help me feel any better. "I know why Goten is so weak." I snapped my head towards the doorway to see my okassan leaning against the door jamb. I surged to my feet and walked to her. "Why, 'Kassan?" "He's lost too much blood. And I don't think he's been eating." "Too much blood? From the fights? But they never should have been able to hurt him." "No not from the fights." She motioned for me too follow her and I did so without second thought. I walked into the medical room to see Goten lying on a bed, still unconscious. There were restraints around his wrists and ankles. I threw a look at my okassan and she sighed sadly. "I didn't want him to hurt himself." "Hurt himself? She walked over to Goten's right side and undid the restraint. I was thoroughly confused, until she turned his wrist over and I could see the silvery scars, a few of them pink - meaning fresh. "Toranks, do you know what a cutter is?" I nodded in shock, not able to take my eyes off of my friend's self mutilation. Goten was a cutter? My Goten? "Kami 'Kassan? How long?" "Well, it's hard to tell. But by my count, over a year." The world started tilting crazily in front of me and I knew I had to sit down fast. Fortunately, the floor helped me out as it came up to smack me in the face. I woke up a short while later with my mothers worried face looking down at me. Squinting in the suddenly bright light, I groaned and sat up. Then I glanced at her sheepishly. "I fainted didn’t I." She laughed. "Yes. But don't worry. I won't tell anyone." I sighed and glanced at the bed next to me. Goten was still unconscious. I glanced back up at my ‘kassan and muttered, “Is he suicidal?” She shook her head. “I really don’t know. Some cutters aren’t. But… Toranks he’s been doing this for a long time. I can’t believe his family never figured it out.” “What do you mean?” She sighed and stood, walking over to Goten’s side. I followed, wrapping a blanket around my shivering body. I obviously still hadn’t recovered from flying home in the rain. “They had to have found some bloody razors or knives or smelled the blood or something! I can’t believe Chichi wouldn’t notice this!” I was silent for a long moment, waiting for my brain to kick in. When it finally did, I asked, “Shouldn’t we call them? They may want to know Goten is over here.” My ‘kassan glanced at me and smiled. “Now why didn’t I think of that?” I smirked. “I don’t know Kassan.” She left to make the call, leaving me alone with my best friend. I walked over to the corner of the room and grabbed a chair. Then I proceeded to drag it across the floor, creating a horrible screeching sound. I winced at the sound, hoping that it wouldn’t wake Goten. It didn’t. Just as I was settling in the chair, my okassan walked back into the room. I glanced up at her. “I couldn’t reach anybody at his house so I called Gokuu. He’s on his way.” I glanced at my okassan and squinted my eyes in confusion. “Where was Gokuu? He wasn’t home?” She mirrored my expression, which made me even more confused. “He was home.” “But I thought you said no one was at Goten’s house.” “You mean Goten didn’t tell you?” I shook my head. “Tell me what? We haven’t exactly been that close over the past two years. We grew apart. It’s why I didn’t notice the fact that he hurts himself.” My ‘kassan walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder and I felt my stomach drop. Whatever she was going to say was bad. “Toranks, a year ago Gokuu and Chichi got divorced.” I felt my jaw hit the floor and stared up at my mom in wonder. They got divorced? A YEAR AGO? “What? How could I not have known this? I mean… How could you not have told me?” She closed her eyes and frowned. “I expected him to tell you. And we don’t really talk about it. But it’s better this way.” “Well obviously it isn’t better for Goten! Do you think that’s when he started hurting himself?” She nodded and I cursed. Those two idiots. What did they do to my best friend? “So that’s why I haven’t seen Gokuu at Goten’s recently. I couldn’t figure that out. I thought he was always off training or something, but then I would find out that ‘Tossan hadn’t been with him. And he really doesn’t spar with anyone else.” “I am sorry we didn’t tell you. I didn’t know you and Goten had grown that far apart.” “Neither did I.” Just then, the door bell chimed and my okassan raced out of the room. I could hear Gokuu’s voice, the normally cheery sound laced with worry and anger. Why was he angry? Gokuu entered the room and I took a double take at his appearance. I suddenly realized that it had been at least five months since I had actually seen the man. Instead of his normal fighting gi, he was dressed in black jeans, had on a blue cotton long sleeved shirt, and was wearing black boots. His eyes were full of worry, but his face was twisted in an angry frown. He walked over to Goten’s side, opposite me, and stared at his son’s face. “How long has this been going on, Buruma?” “A year at least.” “How could she not tell me?” “I don’t think she knows.” Gokuu’s eyes snapped towards me okassan and I suddenly felt like an intruder on their conversation. I shrank down in my chair and simply watched. “She doesn’t KNOW?” My okassan shook her head and walked towards him. “Gokuu if Chichi had known she would have gotten him help. She would have done something. You know she cares about your sons. She would never have let him do this to himself.” He balled up his fists in anger. “God damn it, Buruma. If she had cared about him, she would have known! I thought she was taking care of him. Kuso!” My okassan was silent. She just stared at him with a sad sort of frown on her face. She walked over to him and put a hand on his arm, which seemed to calm him somewhat. “None of us knew, Son. Even Toranks.” Goten’s otossan’s tortured eyes snapped to mine and I wanted to hide. Instead, I just bowed my head and muttered, “She’s right. We all should have known.” “’Tossan…” All of us snapped our eyes to Goten. “Goten.” “’Tossan, why am I tied down?” “Buruma, can we undo the restraints?” I glanced at my okassan as she answered. “Yeah, I guess. We just need to keep an eye on him. Toranks, help Gokuu.” I stood up and began to undo the restraints, feeling Goten’s eyes on me. I glanced at him, but could read nothing in his face. He was wearing an emotional mask that reminded me of my otossan. When he was freed, Goten sat up and rubbed his wrists. He glanced up at us, his eyes flaring wide, as he realized that his wrists were uncovered. His otossan put a hand on his shoulder. “We know, Goten.” I saw tears begin to gather in Goten’s eyes as he looked at his otossan – tears of pain, anger, and regret. Then he threw his arms around Gokuu’s waist and started sobbing. “’Tossan… I’m so… sorry. You must… hate me now.” Gokuu pulled his son into a strong embrace. “I told you, Goten. I will always love you, no matter what. Don’t worry.” I sat back down in my chair as my best friend continued to sob against his ‘Tossan’s side. I felt someone touch my shoulder and jumped. My okassan just motioned for us to leave the room. As we were almost out the door, I heard Gokuu tell by best friend, “I am going to have you come live with me. I will help you, Goten.” “Okay, ‘Tossan,” was my friend’s shaky reply. I glanced at them, wondering how we had grown so far apart. Then, but only because my okassan was dragging me away, I left them alone. |