Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ.
::......::-thoughts ~......~-flashbacks ^^......^^-change of place/location
Takes place a little more than a month after Buu. A few people don't believe
that Hercule beat Buu, and they're trying to make him confess to the world
by...hurting his only daughter.
(It's not the Z fighters!)
Threats
Chapter One: An Odd Day
"Hey Videl!" Gohan called, seeing his best friend departing from her house.
"Good morning, Gohan," Videl replied, joining the Saiyan.
"Did y-" Gohan began, but stopped when a loud rumble filled the air.
"Didn't you eat breakfast?" Videl asked.
"Well, yeah, but I only had 10 pancakes," Gohan explained.
"I swear, I don't see how Chi-Chi could possibly be sane from feeding three Saiyans,"
Videl stated, landing on the deserted sidewalk below them. Gohan followed, and Videl
added, "We've got half and hour 'til school, so I guess you can go eat something."
"Yay! Thanks, Videl!" Gohan said, his eyes brightening as he jumped up and down.
He ran off to the nearest restaurant serving breakfast, and Videl followed slowly,
thinking, ::I fell in love with a weirdo. Ugh...why me?:: She found Gohan devouring
eggs, waffles, pancakes, bacon...etc. She sat down across from him; surprised he even
acknowledged she was there, giving a small wave of greeting.
She looked out the window, only to see a few armed thugs jumping out of a van,
obviously planning to rob the jewelry store across the street.
"Gohan, stuff your face later. We've got work to do," she said quietly, kicking his knee
to get his attention.
Gohan followed her gaze and mouthed, "Go ahead. I'll be right there."
Videl got up and ran out of the restaurant, quickly taking out a few crooks. Gohan paid
his bill, doing the near-impossible for a Saiyan by leaving half of his meal untouched. He
ran out of the restaurant, only to hide behind it to put his Saiyaman suit on.
He looked across the street in horror as Videl screamed in pain. He flew over, catching
Videl before she hit the ground.
"Videl! What happened?" he asked.
"Been...shot," Videl replied quietly. Gohan looked down at her right hand that she was
holding tight against her stomach, seeing blood flowing between her fingers, staining her
white shirt.
"I'll be right back. Hold on, Videl," Gohan said, laying her down gently. He turned to
the only two guys left, as Videl had taken out the other five.
"Which one of you did this?" he asked, his hidden eyes flashing green.
"I don't know, man! Neither of us even have guns!" one of them replied, dropping a
knife he had been holding. The other quickly followed his lead, fearing for his life as he
placed his knife on the ground.
Gohan walked forward, holding up the crook that had spoken by the collar of his shirt.
"I swear, if I find out either of you did this, I'm gonna find out what jail you're in and kill
you," he snarled. He threw the guy he was holding into the other one, and they slammed
into a large truck, denting it and getting knocked out.
Gohan rushed back over to Videl and kneeled next to her.
"Videl?" he said hesitantly, taking in her closed eyes and labored breathing.
"What's up?" Videl replied weakly, opening her eyes.
Gohan brushed a sweat drenched lock of short hair out of her eyes as he said, "I'm going
to take you to the hospital now, so they can get that bullet out of you, alright?"
Videl nodded slowly, then responded with, "Okay. But take off the suit. Hurt or not, I
refuse to be seen anywhere with Saiyadork."
Gohan smiled, hitting the red button on his watch, not caring who saw him. He cradled
Videl in his strong arms and took off toward the hospital.
In no time, Gohan was in the waiting room, daring the hands on the clock not to move as
Videl had her surgery done in the emergency room.
About an hour later, a nurse showed up and said, "You're Videl's friend? Gohan?"
Gohan nodded, and the nurse continued, "You can come see her now."
Gohan jumped out of his seat, following the nurse.
They reached her room, and the doctor said, "Go ahead in."
Gohan opened the door, seeing Videl in blood-free clothing, sleeping peacefully in the
hospital bed.
"She may be asleep for a while. She still has to recover from the blood loss. You can
stay here as long as you like," the nurse said.
"Thank you, ma'am," Gohan replied.
The nurse walked out, closing the door behind her. Gohan brought a chair over to
Videl's bed and sat down.
::Who would do this to her?:: he thought,::And why? It doesn't make any sense.::
He held Videl's hand in his and whispered, "Get well soon, Videl."
^^Three hours later^^
Videl was still asleep, and Gohan was doing homework he had forgotten to do the night
before; when Hercule ran in the room.
"My poor Videl!" Hercule said in his always-the-volume-of-a-shout voice.
"Hercule, sir, I don't want to sound rude, but Videl's trying to sleep, so could you be
quiet?" Gohan asked.
"Huh? Oh, Gohan, it's you," Hercule said, noticing the demi-Saiyan.
"Good morning to you too, sir," Gohan said sarcastically.
"The doctors told me you brought her in...thank you. But don't think just because you
helped her means you can go out with her," Hercule reminded him.
"Okay, sir," Gohan replied. "You may want to pull up a chair," he continued, "I don't
know how long she'll be asleep."
"Alright. But I can't stay long. I have a meeting with some other martial arts studio
owners to attend," Hercule said in response, sitting down as well.
About fifteen minutes later, Gohan said, "I still don't understand how this happened. She
was fighting some crooks, and when she got shot, only two of them were left, and they
both had knives, not guns."
"Um, I probably should've showed this to someone, but...um, here," Hercule said, taking
a piece of paper out of his pocket.
Gohan took in, and read a note made of letters from newspapers and magazines. It said:
Hercule, we know you did not kill Buu.
Confess, or your dear daughter will suffer the consequences.
"How long have you had this?" Gohan asked.
"Since a week after you guys beat Buu," Hercule replied nervously.
"You've had this for a month and you didn't show anyone?" Gohan said, barely keeping
himself from shouting at the afroed fake.
"Um, yes...I did," Hercule confirmed.
"You could have prevented Videl getting shot if you had shown her!" Gohan exclaimed,
glaring at the older man.
"I know...but before, I thought it was fade! It had been a whole month, and nothing
happened to her," Hercule said, swallowing nervously. He glanced at the clock and said,
"Er, I have to go now. Tell Videl I couldn't stay longer."
Gohan growled in response, and Hercule literally ran out of the room.
Gohan glanced at the still sleeping Videl, then went back to his homework.
At one point, Goku, Chi-Chi, and Goten visited when they realized Gohan was two hours
late coming home. Gohan explained to them what happened, hoping his mother wouldn't
be mad at him for not going to school. He showed just his father the note, thinking his
mother would faint or something.
"So, what do you think we should do, Dad?" Gohan asked, folding up the note and
putting it back in his pocket.
"Well, we need to convince Hercule to admit it wasn't him that beat Buu, and until then,
Videl needs to be kept safe. When she's in the clear again, we should try to figure out
who it is that sent that note," Goku replied, his serious and more intelligent side showing.
They returned to the room, from the hallway, to their mother and brother/wife and son.
Videl, of course, was still out like a light, while Goten asked his mother endlessly if she
would be alright.
"Yes, Goten! Videl will be fine! She's just resting," Chi-Chi explained for the 50th time.
The Sons stayed with Videl for a few more hours, until around 8 o'clock, when Chi-Chi
decided Goten had to go to bed.
"You coming, Gohan?" Chi-Chi asked, already knowing what her son's answer would
be.
"No. I want to stay with Videl, at least 'til she wakes up," Gohan replied.
"Alright. But don't stay up too late. Actually, tomorrow's Friday, so you may as well be
off school for the weekend," Chi-Chi said.
"Wow! Thanks, Mom," Gohan replied, surprised at his mother's...non-strictness.
Goku used instant transmission, taking his younger son and wife to their home in the
mountains.
Gohan leaned over and kissed Videl's forehead. ::Have a good rest, Videl. And get well
soon.::
^^2 A.M.^^
Videl opened her eyes, and after they got adjusted to the light, she saw Gohan
sitting in a chair next to her, fast asleep.
She smiled and thought, ::10 bucks says he was here the whole time I was out.:: She
grabbed a blanket from the shelf above her and spread it out over Gohan's sleeping form.
He curled up into a small ball, hugging the blanket to him. Videl stifled a giggle, but it
was still loud enough, because of his Saiyan hearing, to wake Gohan up.
"Huh? What? Where? Oh, Videl, you're awake!" he exclaimed after he came to his
senses.
"When did you fall asleep?" Videl asked, seeing dark circles under the Saiyan's eyes.
"'Round midnight, I think," Gohan replied.
"You didn't have to stay up, you know. It's not like I could've died if you weren't here.
But I do appreciate it," Videl said, her tone going from teasing to grateful.
"It was nothing. You know I'd do anything for my best pal," Gohan replied, grinning.
Videl gestured to the wall opposite her bed and said, "There's a couch over there. Why
don't you go to sleep?"
"Okay," Gohan replied, standing up.
Videl grabbed his hand, and said, "But first, I want a goodnight kiss."
"Huh?!?"
Videl pulled Gohan down to her and kissed his cheek.
"Goodnight, Gohan," she said quietly.
"N-n-night, Videl," Gohan replied, his cheeks rivaling a sunset. He lay down on the
couch; covering himself with the blanket Videl had given him.
"Gohan?" came Videl's soft voice.
"Hm?"
"Thanks for everything."
"Don't mention it, Videl."
With that, they both fell to sleep.
So, better or worse than my other story? (What If It Hadn't Happened?)
Please review!
In the next chapter of Threats: Gohan tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep.
Dende, he was worried about Videl.
*********
"Videl...I love you...You can't leave me before I tell you that."
::......::-thoughts ~......~-flashbacks ^^......^^-change of place/location
Takes place a little more than a month after Buu. A few people don't believe
that Hercule beat Buu, and they're trying to make him confess to the world
by...hurting his only daughter.
(It's not the Z fighters!)
Threats
Chapter One: An Odd Day
"Hey Videl!" Gohan called, seeing his best friend departing from her house.
"Good morning, Gohan," Videl replied, joining the Saiyan.
"Did y-" Gohan began, but stopped when a loud rumble filled the air.
"Didn't you eat breakfast?" Videl asked.
"Well, yeah, but I only had 10 pancakes," Gohan explained.
"I swear, I don't see how Chi-Chi could possibly be sane from feeding three Saiyans,"
Videl stated, landing on the deserted sidewalk below them. Gohan followed, and Videl
added, "We've got half and hour 'til school, so I guess you can go eat something."
"Yay! Thanks, Videl!" Gohan said, his eyes brightening as he jumped up and down.
He ran off to the nearest restaurant serving breakfast, and Videl followed slowly,
thinking, ::I fell in love with a weirdo. Ugh...why me?:: She found Gohan devouring
eggs, waffles, pancakes, bacon...etc. She sat down across from him; surprised he even
acknowledged she was there, giving a small wave of greeting.
She looked out the window, only to see a few armed thugs jumping out of a van,
obviously planning to rob the jewelry store across the street.
"Gohan, stuff your face later. We've got work to do," she said quietly, kicking his knee
to get his attention.
Gohan followed her gaze and mouthed, "Go ahead. I'll be right there."
Videl got up and ran out of the restaurant, quickly taking out a few crooks. Gohan paid
his bill, doing the near-impossible for a Saiyan by leaving half of his meal untouched. He
ran out of the restaurant, only to hide behind it to put his Saiyaman suit on.
He looked across the street in horror as Videl screamed in pain. He flew over, catching
Videl before she hit the ground.
"Videl! What happened?" he asked.
"Been...shot," Videl replied quietly. Gohan looked down at her right hand that she was
holding tight against her stomach, seeing blood flowing between her fingers, staining her
white shirt.
"I'll be right back. Hold on, Videl," Gohan said, laying her down gently. He turned to
the only two guys left, as Videl had taken out the other five.
"Which one of you did this?" he asked, his hidden eyes flashing green.
"I don't know, man! Neither of us even have guns!" one of them replied, dropping a
knife he had been holding. The other quickly followed his lead, fearing for his life as he
placed his knife on the ground.
Gohan walked forward, holding up the crook that had spoken by the collar of his shirt.
"I swear, if I find out either of you did this, I'm gonna find out what jail you're in and kill
you," he snarled. He threw the guy he was holding into the other one, and they slammed
into a large truck, denting it and getting knocked out.
Gohan rushed back over to Videl and kneeled next to her.
"Videl?" he said hesitantly, taking in her closed eyes and labored breathing.
"What's up?" Videl replied weakly, opening her eyes.
Gohan brushed a sweat drenched lock of short hair out of her eyes as he said, "I'm going
to take you to the hospital now, so they can get that bullet out of you, alright?"
Videl nodded slowly, then responded with, "Okay. But take off the suit. Hurt or not, I
refuse to be seen anywhere with Saiyadork."
Gohan smiled, hitting the red button on his watch, not caring who saw him. He cradled
Videl in his strong arms and took off toward the hospital.
In no time, Gohan was in the waiting room, daring the hands on the clock not to move as
Videl had her surgery done in the emergency room.
About an hour later, a nurse showed up and said, "You're Videl's friend? Gohan?"
Gohan nodded, and the nurse continued, "You can come see her now."
Gohan jumped out of his seat, following the nurse.
They reached her room, and the doctor said, "Go ahead in."
Gohan opened the door, seeing Videl in blood-free clothing, sleeping peacefully in the
hospital bed.
"She may be asleep for a while. She still has to recover from the blood loss. You can
stay here as long as you like," the nurse said.
"Thank you, ma'am," Gohan replied.
The nurse walked out, closing the door behind her. Gohan brought a chair over to
Videl's bed and sat down.
::Who would do this to her?:: he thought,::And why? It doesn't make any sense.::
He held Videl's hand in his and whispered, "Get well soon, Videl."
^^Three hours later^^
Videl was still asleep, and Gohan was doing homework he had forgotten to do the night
before; when Hercule ran in the room.
"My poor Videl!" Hercule said in his always-the-volume-of-a-shout voice.
"Hercule, sir, I don't want to sound rude, but Videl's trying to sleep, so could you be
quiet?" Gohan asked.
"Huh? Oh, Gohan, it's you," Hercule said, noticing the demi-Saiyan.
"Good morning to you too, sir," Gohan said sarcastically.
"The doctors told me you brought her in...thank you. But don't think just because you
helped her means you can go out with her," Hercule reminded him.
"Okay, sir," Gohan replied. "You may want to pull up a chair," he continued, "I don't
know how long she'll be asleep."
"Alright. But I can't stay long. I have a meeting with some other martial arts studio
owners to attend," Hercule said in response, sitting down as well.
About fifteen minutes later, Gohan said, "I still don't understand how this happened. She
was fighting some crooks, and when she got shot, only two of them were left, and they
both had knives, not guns."
"Um, I probably should've showed this to someone, but...um, here," Hercule said, taking
a piece of paper out of his pocket.
Gohan took in, and read a note made of letters from newspapers and magazines. It said:
Hercule, we know you did not kill Buu.
Confess, or your dear daughter will suffer the consequences.
"How long have you had this?" Gohan asked.
"Since a week after you guys beat Buu," Hercule replied nervously.
"You've had this for a month and you didn't show anyone?" Gohan said, barely keeping
himself from shouting at the afroed fake.
"Um, yes...I did," Hercule confirmed.
"You could have prevented Videl getting shot if you had shown her!" Gohan exclaimed,
glaring at the older man.
"I know...but before, I thought it was fade! It had been a whole month, and nothing
happened to her," Hercule said, swallowing nervously. He glanced at the clock and said,
"Er, I have to go now. Tell Videl I couldn't stay longer."
Gohan growled in response, and Hercule literally ran out of the room.
Gohan glanced at the still sleeping Videl, then went back to his homework.
At one point, Goku, Chi-Chi, and Goten visited when they realized Gohan was two hours
late coming home. Gohan explained to them what happened, hoping his mother wouldn't
be mad at him for not going to school. He showed just his father the note, thinking his
mother would faint or something.
"So, what do you think we should do, Dad?" Gohan asked, folding up the note and
putting it back in his pocket.
"Well, we need to convince Hercule to admit it wasn't him that beat Buu, and until then,
Videl needs to be kept safe. When she's in the clear again, we should try to figure out
who it is that sent that note," Goku replied, his serious and more intelligent side showing.
They returned to the room, from the hallway, to their mother and brother/wife and son.
Videl, of course, was still out like a light, while Goten asked his mother endlessly if she
would be alright.
"Yes, Goten! Videl will be fine! She's just resting," Chi-Chi explained for the 50th time.
The Sons stayed with Videl for a few more hours, until around 8 o'clock, when Chi-Chi
decided Goten had to go to bed.
"You coming, Gohan?" Chi-Chi asked, already knowing what her son's answer would
be.
"No. I want to stay with Videl, at least 'til she wakes up," Gohan replied.
"Alright. But don't stay up too late. Actually, tomorrow's Friday, so you may as well be
off school for the weekend," Chi-Chi said.
"Wow! Thanks, Mom," Gohan replied, surprised at his mother's...non-strictness.
Goku used instant transmission, taking his younger son and wife to their home in the
mountains.
Gohan leaned over and kissed Videl's forehead. ::Have a good rest, Videl. And get well
soon.::
^^2 A.M.^^
Videl opened her eyes, and after they got adjusted to the light, she saw Gohan
sitting in a chair next to her, fast asleep.
She smiled and thought, ::10 bucks says he was here the whole time I was out.:: She
grabbed a blanket from the shelf above her and spread it out over Gohan's sleeping form.
He curled up into a small ball, hugging the blanket to him. Videl stifled a giggle, but it
was still loud enough, because of his Saiyan hearing, to wake Gohan up.
"Huh? What? Where? Oh, Videl, you're awake!" he exclaimed after he came to his
senses.
"When did you fall asleep?" Videl asked, seeing dark circles under the Saiyan's eyes.
"'Round midnight, I think," Gohan replied.
"You didn't have to stay up, you know. It's not like I could've died if you weren't here.
But I do appreciate it," Videl said, her tone going from teasing to grateful.
"It was nothing. You know I'd do anything for my best pal," Gohan replied, grinning.
Videl gestured to the wall opposite her bed and said, "There's a couch over there. Why
don't you go to sleep?"
"Okay," Gohan replied, standing up.
Videl grabbed his hand, and said, "But first, I want a goodnight kiss."
"Huh?!?"
Videl pulled Gohan down to her and kissed his cheek.
"Goodnight, Gohan," she said quietly.
"N-n-night, Videl," Gohan replied, his cheeks rivaling a sunset. He lay down on the
couch; covering himself with the blanket Videl had given him.
"Gohan?" came Videl's soft voice.
"Hm?"
"Thanks for everything."
"Don't mention it, Videl."
With that, they both fell to sleep.
So, better or worse than my other story? (What If It Hadn't Happened?)
Please review!
In the next chapter of Threats: Gohan tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep.
Dende, he was worried about Videl.
*********
"Videl...I love you...You can't leave me before I tell you that."