True Love Never Dies
Disclaimer: Well, I believe in this chapter, the only thing I have to claim no rights or ownership to would be DragonballZ. If I mention anything else to which I do not own the rights, this disclaimer implies I admit to having no rights to or making any money from those things. I believe that is the most serious disclaimer I have ever written. Lol.
A/N: Yes, we are once again at the beginning of another story. That puts me up to two new stories in as many weeks. Let us all bask in the glory that is my becoming an actively posting author again. Lol.
Chapter 1
Unavoidable
"Mama, can I please have a pet?" a young boy with wild hair, just like his father's, pleaded.
Never lifting her eyes from the pile of dishes before her, Son Chi-Chi gave reply. "No, Goten. No pets. Not now, not ever."
Goten frowned unhappily, pouting all the more. "But Gohan had Icarus."
Lifting his head from a text book, Goten's older brother, Gohan, prepared for what he thought would certainly be an interesting conversation. Besides, he had been studying for his chemistry final all day. Who cared if finals were only a couple of days away, with graduation hot on their heels? Gohan needed a break.
Once again, without taking her eyes from the work before her, Chi-Chi spoke. "Gohan, keep studying. And Goten, Icarus wasn't a choice. He simply wouldn't go away. Anyway, even if I had let Gohan have a pet, it doesn't mean you can have one. Now drop this foolishness and go outside.
Goten, knowing resistance was futile, dropped his head and muttered, "Yes, Momma," and went outside like a prisoner to the gallows.
Watching Goten, Gohan simply could not keep from smiling. His little brother was full of an innocence everyone had always believed could only be possessed by the boys' father, Son Goku. Even after dying twice and seeing brutality Hitler could not have even imagined, Goku had managed to retain that innocence which was so endearing about him.
"Has Videl gotten all her graduation stuff ready?" Chi-Chi's voice broke into Gohan's memories of a time when his father actually lived with the family.
"She's got everything done except her valedictorian speech. She said she would bring it over this afternoon so I can edit it for her," Gohan replied, smiling cheerfully at the thought of his girlfriend. While neither would yet admit it, everyone could plainly see the two were madly in love
"That's very good," Chi-Chi smiled. "I always knew my son would find himself an intelligent woman."
Unable to stop himself, Gohan's face turned beet red.
"Is Videl planning on attending Satan City University this fall?" Chi-Chi continued to probe.
"The only things she's waiting on are her diploma and completed transcript."
"That's good, dear," Chi-Chi smiled as she continued washing the mountain of dishes. "It will be nice to have a friendly face in a new environment."
"Yeah," Gohan smiled. "I think college is going to be a lot of fun, especially with Videl there."
"I'll just have to make sure you don't neglect your studies," Chi-Chi reminded Gohan of the reason he was going to college in the first place.
Stretching his stiff arms and legs, Gohan heard a soft knock on their door.
"Well, don't just sit there. Answer the door!" Chi-Chi gave Gohan direction.
Nodding, Gohan quickly climbed to his feet to do his mother's bidding. As he neared the door, Gohan could not help the smile that began tugging at the corner of his lips. He was expecting Videl after all. Pausing only to quickly straighten his clothes, the boy opened the front door.
On the other side stood a young woman with dark hair and bright blue eyes, Videl. Though very happy to see her, Gohan immediately noticed something was amiss. Instead of the smile commonly found on Videl's face when she visited the Son residence, her lips quivered and her red eyes and swollen cheeks spoke of her scarcely contained tears which had been flowing only shortly before.
His eyes widening in concern, Gohan reached out for his girlfriend, protectively wrapping his arm around her. "What happened?"
Pulling back, Videl looked into Gohan's eyes. "Can we talk somewhere else, somewhere private?"
Nodding, Gohan turned to call inside to his mother, "Mom, it's Videl. We're going for a walk. We won't be gone too long."
"You better not be," Chi-Chi called rather crossly to her eldest son. "And no fooling around either! You're not married yet!" she scolded in her typically paranoid fashion. Chi-Chi was quite possibly the biggest worry wart in the world when it came to her children's welfare.
Blushing a deep crimson, Gohan replied, "Yes, Mother," before stepping outside into the sunlight. "Let's go this way," he suggested, taking Videl's hand and leading her away from the dome house.
After what could be considered a fairly short walk, as far from civilization as Gohan's family lived, the young couple entered a secluded clearing in the wood. A tall, thin waterfall fed water into a pristinely clear stream surrounded by healthy young shoots of bright green grass. Everywhere could be heard the sounds of birds' songs, mingling to compose a symphony to shame the greatest of composers.
"This place is beautiful," Videl sighed in awe.
"I know," Gohan smiled at her. "You looked like you could use some peace, so I brought you to a peaceful spot." Still smiling, very pleased with himself, Gohan lead Videl to a large gray boulder sitting in the grass where he had placed it for a bench after discovering this secluded hideaway.
After both teens were seated, Gohan with his left arm curled around Videl's waist and Videl with her head resting on Gohan's shoulder, Gohan finally asked, "What happened? Why are you upset? Is it because we're graduating and won't see each other at school everyday?"
"No, that's not really it," Videl sighed. "I was excited about graduation, but now," her lower lip gave a quiver, "I wish it would never come. I wish things could stay like this forever." At that, Videl's eyes began to water again, though no tears yet began trickling down her pale cheeks.
"Videl, graduation is something to celebrate. After this we'll have the summer to ourselves and then this fall we'll start college at Satan City University."
"That's what I thought, too," Videl began explaining, turning her blue eyes to Gohan's face. "This morning, Dad and I had a huge fight. Apparently, Satan City University isn't good enough in his mind. Gohan," Videl took a deep breath, "this summer, I'm moving to East City. I have to attend classes at the National Institute of Higher Education." Her eyes drifted to a family of rabbits enjoying the fresh grass surrounding them.
As Gohan had listened to Videl's explanation, his expressions had gone from confusion to anger and then surprise before his Son genes took over and he found a silver lining to Videl's very dark cloud which appeared to be preparing to rain on the happy couple in the very near future. "Well, we both know I would never be able to afford that college or the living expenses of East City, but at least we'll have the summer, and I can still visit you once you give me your address." Gohan could not help the small smile which found its way to his face.
Unfortunately, Videl sobered Gohan when she shook her head. "We won't have the summer." Turning her eyes back to Gohan's, she explained. "I'm moving the day after graduation. Dad is insisting I get ahead start and all ready enrolled me in summer classes." A pair of tears snaked their way from the corners of Videl's eyes to her jaw before dropping to her white tee shirt.
Frowning deeply, Gohan sighed before wrapping both his arms tightly around his girlfriend. "We'll just have to make the best of what time we have and believe that everything will work out eventually. Fate always has a way of working for the best."
Lifting her face from Gohan's shoulder, Videl nodded. "I know. That still doesn't change the fact that I don't want to go."
Gohan nodded. "I know. I don't want you to leave either."
"Then I won't," Videl proclaimed softly as she laid her head on Gohan's shoulder, "not for a while anyway."
"Good," the young demi-Saiyan murmured, resting his cheek on Videl's soft, strawberry scented hair as they watched the woodland creatures carry on with their lives as if no tragedy which befell humans could ever bother them. Neither teenager could help musing about how much simpler life would be if they too could just do as they pleased without a care in the world, without excessively controlling parents forcing them into things the children did not want, to live for the day and that day alone - to be free.
"Gohan? What are we going to do? I-...I don't want to lose you."
Gohan, already knowing his heart, never hesitated. "You won't lose me. We'll visit each other. We won't even have ride the bus or anything now that you know how to fly. Don't worry, we'll make this work," he assured Videl as she wiped at her tears.
Feeling a deep sense of peace now that she knew the seriousness of Gohan's commitment to her, Videl gave a contented sigh and relaxed somewhat against him. "I did remember bring my speech when I left the house. You still feel like looking over it?"
Gohan softly smiled in return. "Of course. You know I love helping you."
Before she could stop herself, Videl found she was sitting straight, staring into Gohan's wonderful, loving eyes and saying, "And I love-" before she caught herself with a blush, "helping you, too," she managed to redirect her thoughtless err, quickly turning her face from Gohan's confused expression before he could question her reddened cheeks.
"I'm glad to know that," Gohan replied as he began standing. "I'll have to keep it in mind." He helped Videl. "We should head back before Mom starts to worry and sends Goten looking for us."
With a nod, Videl impulsively took Gohan's hand in hers. "I'm feeling a lot better now. I think I'm ready to head back. Thank you for showing me this spot," she quickly spoke before Gohan could say anything about her actions.
"You're welcome," Gohan smiled at the lovely girl beside him, drinking in every detail about her. It would not be long before he would only have his memories and a rare call or visit with the girl he loved. He only hoped they could sustain him.
A/N: Of course, this is only the beginning of our story. So, let me know what you thought of my Son family cuteness and Videl's vulnerability by leaving me a review! Peace and Out!