A/N – Ah finally, part 3 of Changing Faces. Yes, it has been a long time. I needed the extra time to find a focus point of the story, so I could start building to that peak, you know, the climax. Every story has one. I guess this one is different, just remember this when your reading: since Videl and Gohan are separated, so will the focal points.
Now, as was in the summary, what can tear love apart? Temptation. This trial will be faced by both characters, in different ways and forms. So, for those seeking the ass-kicking action of Part 2, sorry. There won't be a whole lot of that for now. It will be a little deeper and emotional too.
Changing Faces
Part 3 – Of Dragons and Ladies
Chapter 1 – The Radar
The grassy hills spoke of fresh life, many colors of green, splashed with a vibrant rainbow of colors of fruits and flowers. Sparkling blue ponds rippled gently in the soft breeze, and fish splashed the surface, sending concentric circles of waves like a bomb, obliterating trees and grass and leaving a brown and blackened burning surface.
Gohan observed the scenery with a depressed attitude. (obviously.. huh)
How could this have happened? After all we have been through... to lose her like... that. For Videl, warrior, princess... my life mate, to die so ignobly. I must gather the dragonballs; there can be no other way.
He couldn't have cared less about the stares he received from bystanders as he landed in front of Capsule Corporation. Gohan trotted up to the door and rang the bell. Inside, he heard a muffled shout about 'Kakkarrot's kid doing here' from Vegeta, and 'Gohan?' from Bulma. Some more muffled obscenities were hushed by a loud crash and Gohan raised his brows.
The door opened and Bulma looked a mess. She wore a button up shirt that was miss-buttoned, and her hair was in disorder. Her flushed cheeks gave away the reason of Vegeta's anger.
"Uh... I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" Gohan asked with proper blushing cheeks.
"Well I figured you had to have something important, since you left poor Chi Chi to worry about you for months. What were you thinking? Honestly," she chastised him.
If he still had his tail, it would have tucked itself neatly between his legs.
"Well I..." Gohan stuttered for an explanation.
"The kid is obviously in love," Vegeta filled in, "He went to rescue his woman, just like any decent Earth man might do."
"What?! Vegeta? How could you say anything about being decent... Hey.. If I was in trouble, would you come rescue me?" Bulma batted her eyes.
"Woman, I am far from an Earth man. And I am certainly not decent," he grabbed her head and rear and kissed her roughly.
He released her and glanced at Gohan, "Hurry up, kid. This had better not take long."
A momentary glare from Bulma frightened him into submission and he explained the whole situation to her.
"So that's why I have to gather the dragonballs," he finished.
Bulma nodded, "I see. And you need the Dragon Radar to find them, right? Well come on in."
He followed the blue-haired inventor to her lab, where the radar was sitting out on a table.
"I was working on it recently, just to make sure it was still in good order," she smiled sympathetically, "You never know when we might need it again."
She clicked on the gray tab, then clicked again and again. Her face paled.
"What is it?" Gohan asked fearfully.
"I don't understand... I just recalibrated it last week. There was a dragonball in a local museum, I even sent Trunks to check. It should still be there."
"Maybe it's been sent somewhere to be analyzed or something. Bulma, I will find the dragonballs, if it's the last thing I do."
She nodded, "Good luck, Gohan. I know what it's like to be young and in love... But I know you don't want to hear about it," she winked.
Gohan sighed in relief, "Thanks Bulma. And thanks for the radar. Catch you later!"
He dashed from the lab, "I know exactly who to ask about the dragonballs."
"Now where was I," Bulma murmured and was cut off by a shout from Vegeta.
A sly smile crept to her lips as she went in search of her Prince.