Free To Love

I was asked to put this up again, but when I rewrite it it will be deleted then reposted...

Chapter 1- You live, you learn

This chapter title is based on an inspirational song, You Learn by Alanis Morissette.

Gohan had no idea why the girl was shooting him daggers. All he had done was go into the store to get some groceries. And it just so happened that someone pulled a gun on the cashier, and Gohan easily took him out, the other people seemed happy. But this girl would not stop glaring at him. She had stomped into the scene right as the robber was being defeated, looked around and stormed back outside. She had said something to the chubby police officer, and then started her dirty looks. Gohan nervously asked the man next to him who the strange girl was; the man had looked at him shocked.

"Why that's Mr. Satan's daughter," the man replied, "you have had to have heard of her." Gohan had just shaken his head, gathered the groceries and started off to the fabric store to pick up what Chichi had requested. And now that girl was following him, with her black pigtails bobbing behind her, trying to act conspicuous. Gohan would have flown but he didn't want to draw more attention to himself. So he just settled with a brisk pace as he walked down the clean sidewalk.

Gohan loved visiting the city. Although he stood out with his gravity-defying hair and homemade clothes, he still got friendly waves and was always greeted with a chorus of hellos. The mountain area was just so inhabited and deserted. The only person Gohan knew that was his age was Lime, but she had grown from the adventurous girl she used to be. All she cared about now was makeup and dates, yuck! Gohan may be 15, but he still was innocent and naive.

Finally the fabric store came into sight. The family-owned shop was small but cute and cozy. As Gohan walked in the bell rang, signaling the family. Ms. Eva, who owned the store along with her husband shrieked and ran over to Gohan, pulling him into a lung-squishing hug.

"Can't breathe….." Gohan gurgled. The huge woman released him and blushed furiously.

"Oh, Gohan, look how much you have grown," She gushed. "And so cute, I bet you have a girlfriend!" Gohan shook his head hard and Ms. Eva laughed. "Oh, still afraid of girls I see, but living with that mother of yours and growing up with Bulma Brief would make any boy scared to death!" Ms. Eva knew about Chichi's frying pan tendencies and Bulma's argumentative personality. "And how is that handsome husband of hers, Vegeta isn't it?" Ms. Eva asked curiously.

"Still as arrogant as usual," Gohan honestly replied, causing Ms. Eva to let out a chuckle.

"I see, they are both stubborn, like fighting, and have huge egos. I am honestly scared of how that son of theirs will turn out," Ms. Eva knew the Briefs well. Just then the door chimed again, and the black-haired girl hesitantly walked in the door. As soon as she saw Gohan, her face darkened and she stomped up to him.

"Who do you think you are," she yelled and poked him in the chest. Gohan just shrugged and looked at Ms. Eva with confusion in his eyes. "Oh don't act so innocent," the girl began, "I don't know how you pulled that little stunt, but I will find out, and expose you for the trickster you are!" Gohan was honestly and completely baffled. What had he done to make this girl flip out on him?

"What are you talking about," He asked the girl as he scratched the back of his head.

"What do you mean, what am I talking about? I am talking about the fact that you tricked everyone into thinking you were the hero. Do you honestly think I would fall for that? No one could take out a man with one punch, besides my father, that is. And I doubt you would be stupid enough to attack an armed robber. So how did you do it?" she asked. She started circling the scared boy. She poked him in the back. "Was it a taser? If so how did you hide it in your hand when you punched him?" Gohan backed away from the nosy girl and practically hid behind a very confused Ms. Eva.

"Look, I didn't pull a trick and I definitely didn't do anything wrong. So why are you acting like I am the criminal?" Gohan asked the girl.

"Wait, what, so you really took that goon out with one punch?" The girl asked with disbelief in her azure eyes.

"Well what was I suppose to do," Gohan scoffed. Wrong thing to do, Gohan took another step back as the girl turned a bright shade of red.

"Well you don't need to be so cocky about it," The girl practically screamed. "Really, you arrogant geek, who do you think you are? How did you manage to take out a man with one punch when you have no muscle?" Gohan was offended. He thought he had great muscles, but then he remembered he was wearing the loose fitting long sleeved clothes because it was chilly flying through the mountains. Ms. Eva felt it was time for her to step in.

"Children, please, you are acting like seven year olds. Gohan, I don't see what you did wrong, but somehow you have upset this young lady. And you," Ms. Eva directed her stare towards the girl, "are also acting insane, what is it exactly that this boy did wrong? Save a store from a thief? Last time I check, that was a brave and a courageous action that gained respect, not grief." The girl hung her head, but suddenly perked up. She walked over to Gohan, arm outstretched.

"I am sorry," she said sincerely, "I am just used to saving the day, I guess I may have gotten a little jealous, oh, I am Videl by the way." Gohan just stared at her in shock. One second she was out for blood and the next she was being nice. Gohan just didn't understand women. He took her hand and firmly shook it.

"I'm Gohan, and I guess it isn't normal for a boy to take out a man with a single punch," he sheepishly grinned. Suddenly he remembered what his mom had told him about not drawing attention. "But the truth is I noticed he was acting like he had injured his stomach, so I thought maybe if I hit him there he would be hurt." Gohan sighed, that should be a good cover story. Videl seemed to buy it, and she instantly brightened.

"I knew you couldn't be that strong," she said as she happily smiled. "Well, I have to go, see you around maybe," she said cheerfully as she skipped off. Gohan just watched her leave, shock covering his face. Man, what was it with girls, they were nuts. Ms. Eva just looked at him knowingly. She had suspected Gohan wasn't normal for a while now, and she didn't believe his story one bit. She knew that boy was strong, and hiding something. She had already seen that man Vegeta do impossible things, and same with Chichi's deceased husband. She remembered when she had seen them flying over capsule corp. as she had dropped off some fabric to Bulma. She had seen the panicked look on Bulma's face, but Eva just acted like she hadn't seen it. But she had always known that there was something off about those men.

Gohan was on his way home, flying with his bag of groceries and fabric. Soon he would be there, but he was late. Gohan dreaded seeing his mom, and knowing her she would probably be waiting with the frying-pan. Gohan gulped, although he was a powerful Sayian, he was still scared of his mother, and he knew his father was too. Oh well, it was time to face the beast.