If you cannot bear the silence and the darkness, then do not go there; if you dislike black nights and yawning chasms, never make them your profession. If you fear the sound of water hurrying through crevices toward unknown and mysterious destinations, do not consider it. Seek out the sunshine. It is a simple prescription. Avoid the darkness. It is a simple prescription, but you will not follow it. You will turn immediately to the darkness. You will be drawn to it by the chords of fear and longing. You will imagine that you are tired of the sunlight; the waters that unnerve you will tug in the ancient recesses of your mind; the midnight will seem restful—you will end by going down.
—Loren Eiseley
from The Night Country
Forgotten Memories
Chapter 2
Videl groaned as someone banged on her door. Sleepily her eyes opened to view the clock who was glowing a fierce red 10:30 at her. "What the hell?" she mumbled and shrugged, snuggling into the blankets and placing a pillow over her head.
"VIDEL GET YOUR ASS UP NOW!!!" A woman who Videl recognized as her friend Erasa from two floors down yelled as she banged on her door. Videl wondered if any of her neighbors heard this at all.
Videl just groaned. "Go away…" She mumbled in her pillow.
Suddenly, as if Erasa heard her, it was silent. Videl sighed in relief until she felt the covers being pulled off of her and the curtains pulled apart. Now at a loss of both her warmth and darkness she HAD to get up.
Sitting up she rubbed her eyes sleepily and glared at Erasa who had her hands on her hips, studying her. Videl looked at herself in confusion to see a large black overcoat on her. Deciding to ignore it she looked at her so-called best friend. "How did you get in here?"
Erasa smirked at her and jangled her keys. "I made a spare key from yours just in case something like this happened. Now, tell me how you got that MAN overcoat hm? Cheating on Keith? Don't act like it's yours either, it even SMELLS like a man. I didn't see you leave with an overcoat on either. Did a hot guy give it to you or is it Keith's?! SPILL!!!"
"…I'll be out in a few minutes Erasa."
Erasa pouted as she dragged her feet out of the room and Videl closed her bedroom door. Curious at how Erasa said it 'smelled like a man' she gave an experimental sniff to it. It smelt woodsy and salty, like the ocean. It also had a sort of spicy smell to it.
Smells like…cinnamon…Keith smells like…cheap cologne… She shook her head and shrugged off the large yet comfortable black overcoat. I think Erasa's rubbing off on me…
Placing the overcoat on her bed she went to go take a shower and get ready. When finished and finally heading out of her bedroom she found Erasa talking on her cell phone with what sounded like Sharpner.
"A party? Yeah Videl and I would love to go!" At this Videl rolled her eyes. Erasa noticed Videl and smiled.
"Oh she's done now, okay, your house? Meet you at the mall where? Ok got it! Bye Sharpie!" Turning off her phone she turned to face Videl who thought she was WAY too cheerful this morning to be real. "Alright let's go!"
"Where are we going exactly?" Videl yawned as she sipped the coffee Erasa made.
"Oh! We're going to the mall for some bikinis because I know you don't have any, meet with Sharpner, and then head to his party! Go grab some extra clothes!"
"Oh…" Videl muttered and continued muttering as she went into her bedroom and shoved some clothes into a small backpack. It is WAY too early for this…
Once Videl got out of her bedroom Erasa grabbed her and dragged her down the stairs, much to Videl's surprise, and shoved her into the car. Hopping into her side she turned on the car and zoomed away from the apartment.
Way too early for this…
XX
Gohan muttered to himself as he entered the mall wearing his so called 'work clothes'.
He wore a long sleeved white tee with a black short sleeved tee with hg in red letters in the corner of it under it. With it he wore black baggy jeans, white shoes, and a small hoop earring. His name tag read: Blaine.
He walked into Hot Gimmick and clocked in. Walking up to Dimitri's counter he knocked on it to make the Vampire Lord look up from his playboy magazine and leaned against it. Dimitri just raised an eyebrow at him and turned the page of his magazine. Dimitri's tag read: Mark.
"Slow today?"
"Nope, you just missed the rush. You're also late and the boss is thinking about firing you." Dimitri answered, licking his thumb and turning the page.
"Oh lucky me…" Gohan muttered sarcastedly as he walked off.
"I'll call you if any hot girls walk in!" Dimitri yelled happily after Gohan then returned back to his magazine.
XX
Sharpner, sitting alone in the food court, looked at his watch.
"They're late…maybe I'll just go visit Gohan and Dimitri today.
Just as he got up from the table he saw Videl walking after a running Erasa.
"Sharpie!"
Erasa practically tackled Sharpner from what Videl could see since they both fell from Erasa's hug and bags flew everywhere. Rolling her eyes Videl joined the couple, collecting a few bags as she did.
"It's about time. I was just about to leave."
"Well Erasa here had to try on about 50 bathing suits after trying on the first one before deciding to buy the one she tried on first."
Erasa whistled and picked up a few of her upturned backs at Videl's glare and Sharpner gave Erasa a sly look. "My baby's been looking for the perfect bathing suit?"
Erasa just smirked back at him. "Oh you'll see it later!"
Videl muttered something and cleared her throat loudly, bringing their attention to her. "Can we PLEASE go before I die of boredom?"
Sharpner laughed. "Alright but I have to go visit my buds at Hot Gimmick."
"Ooh! I love that store! They have everything I want! Let's go Sharpie, hurry!" Erasa said excitedly and ran toward the store with bags in tow.
Videl and Sharpner glanced at each other before deciding to just walk after the hyperactive shopping fanatic.
XX
Dimitri looked up from his magazine to see Erasa running towards him so he shoved it under the counter and smiled as she screeched to a stop. "Can I help you?"
"Just direct me to women's clothing!"
"It's upstairs ma'am."
"Woohoo! Shopping spree!" Erasa yelled and ran off just as Videl and Sharpner entered the store. Dimitri just laughed at the quickly disappearing bubbly blonde.
"Sorry about that Di-Mark," Sharpner laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. "She's a little…energetic about her shopping."
"Ah don't worry about it." Dimitri smiled, twitching a bit at Sharpner's almost slip-up. "Just make sure she doesn't run into—"
A loud crash, a girl's high pitched scream, and a load of curses was heard. Dimitri winced and hopped over the counter before taking off, Videl and Sharpner behind him. When they arrived they saw Gohan catch the boxes he threw into the air with ease and Erasa on the ground.
Glaring at the blonde, Gohan muttered more curses under his breath and went into the back, but not before giving them a glance. Dimitri helped Erasa up and Sharpner shook his head.
"That wasn't a very good meeting…" Sharpner muttered and Dimitri nodded.
"Especially when he judges people by first impressions…" Dimitri then turned to Erasa with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that but he's not one to say sorry."
"Who was that?" Videl said curiously, making them acknowledge that she was there.
"Blaine." Sharpner and Dimitri said at the same time.
"What?" Gohan said as he exited the backroom, dusting off his clothes.
Erasa immediately had hearts in her eyes and Videl just stared before shaking her head and turning it the other way. Gohan just eyed her from the corner of his eye.
"Nothing man, but can you forgive Erasa? She's my girlfriend and a bit one-tracked when it comes to shopping." The muscled blonde pleaded and Videl rolled her eyes.
"A one-tracked mindset barely chips the ice." Videl muttered.
"HEY!" Sharpner yelled then cleared his throat. "Anyway, Blaine, this is—"
A bang from the dressing rooms interrupted him and they turned their heads that way. Gohan sniffed delicately and then narrowed his eyes with a growl coming from his throat, stomping his way over there.
"Oh no…" Dimitri paled.
"What?" Sharpner and Videl said at the same time.
"I think we should get ready for war right about now because it's not going to be good…"
They followed after Gohan till they reached the dressing room where they could hear grunts and moans. Gohan banged loudly on the door and it got quiet.
"This is not your bathroom so I suggest you get your ass out of there right now!"
There were sounds of shuffling and the door opened to reveal some girl and Keith. Videl stared with a gaping mouth and Keith tensed when he saw her. He gave her a nervous smile and laugh. "Vid…hehe…baby…I can explain—"
"Didn't I tell your sorry ass last time that I don't want you coming up in here?" Gohan yelled, cutting him off. Keith growled back at him.
"I can come in here if I want and besides, I'm just doing this to make you angry and as defiance against your stupid-ass rules!"
Suddenly Videl walked up to Keith and slapped him so hard it echoed in the room and left a burning mark on Keith's face as well as hurt her hand.
"Why you little—"
Gohan grabbed his neck and slammed him against the wall. His eyes glowed a demonic red and his fangs were bared, making Keith almost pee in his pants.
"If you don't gather all your shit and get the fuck out of here right now I'll throw your cheating ass into the Poena Eterna so damn fast your fucking head'll spin right off your damn shoulders!" He whispered then let go.
Dimitri and Sharpner winced at what Gohan had said, a chill running down their spine at it. Luckily for Erasa and Videl their human ears couldn't catch it. Videl noticed that whatever 'Blaine' had said it scared Keith so bad he had a wet spot on the front of his pants.
When Gohan turned around his eyes were normal again and both Dimitri and Sharpner still cowered. Gohan wasn't the Lord of Lords for nothing. Under Gohan's watchful gaze Keith grabbed his things and hauled ass, still cowering under the Vampire Lord's gaze.
"Boyfriend?" Gohan asked and Videl stared at the ground, a small smile gracing her face.
"Ex-boyfriend." she confirmed and walked off, Erasa following after her.
Sharpner shook his head and sighed. Gohan gave him an inquiring look and Sharpner shrugged at it. Dimitri decided to fill in the blanks.
"Keith and Videl had been going out for a while—"
"More like for years." Sharpner butted in. "Keith helped Videl out after her father disowned her. He got her the apartment she lives in and is helping her through college. He also got her the job she has now including a bunch of other stuff I don't know about."
"The bad thing is Keith always does stuff like this." Dimitri continued. "It hurts Videl and well…I don't think Videl can handle it anymore. Yet for some reason…"
"She always runs back…" Gohan finished, watching Videl sob by Erasa. Sharpner nodded.
"No one knows why she runs back but I think it's because he's the only thing she has left in her life and she's not ready to give that up, not matter how many times he hurts her." Dimitri whispered and Gohan frowned then blinked.
"Wait, you said her name was Videl?"
Sharpner nodded with an inquiring look and Gohan waved it off. "It's nothing." He muttered and walked off, the two vampires watching him. They glanced at each other then looked back at Gohan's retreating back.
"I have a feeling that they've met before…well more like Gohan met her and Videl doesn't know that it was him…"
"I have that feeling too…" Dimitri agreed, "But I think it's about time Gohan get's a girl and Videl moves on from Keith so I think we'll just leave it alone."
Sharpner nodded. "Let's." He looked at his watch and frowned. "I think it's time for me to get ready for my party Dimitri."
"Alright, you get the girls and I'll get Gohan. See ya there."
Sharpner nodded and headed over the now cried out Videl and frowning Erasa. "Are you still up for the party Videl?"
She just nodded and began heading out of the store.
I'm so weak. Videl reprimanded herself. I don't know why it's so hard to leave Keith…I don't know why I forgive him so many times…I don't know why I cry over him so much and let him break my heart over and over…I don't know why…
Videl felt a man hug her from behind and stiffened. "K-Keith let me go."
"I'm not Keith." the man behind her whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear. "And I don't feel like letting go just yet."
"G-Gohan?" Videl whispered and felt the man behind her nod in confirmation.
"Don't let him come back to you Videl, let him go. He's bad news and you know it, just let him go and don't look back."
She felt Gohan kiss her neck then let go. She turned around quickly hoping to catch a glimpse of what he looked like, only to find no one there. I think I'm going crazy… Videl thought before Erasa caught up to her.
The bubbly blonde gave her a confused look. "Videl are you blushing?"
"N-No!" The long haired Asian stammered before continuing to walk out of the store, the bubbly blonde at her heels talking about the party they had to go to.
XX
When Gohan reappeared by Sharpner and Dimitri they gave him an I-know-something-you-don't-know look.
"A little affectionate there Gohan?" Sharpner smirked.
"Yeah, I mean, you told her your real name and everything. Is there something we should know?" Dimitri asked slyly, giving a smirk of his own.
Gohan just glared at them and continued walking to go clock out early. To his great displeasure Sharpner and Dimitri followed him, still talking.
Dimitri rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "As I recall, it took all the vampires, including Master Korin, a good five hundred years before they got the first letter of your real name. Yet Videl got it immediately when she asked…"
Sharpner nodded in confirmation. "Yup, and the only reason he had to tell everyone his real name was because in order to stay a Lord every vampire had to know your real name."
"Plus we all know the dangers of telling humans our real names." Dimitri whispered quietly.
"Lord-Master Gabriel Vampir, may he rest in peace." Dimitri and Sharpner said at the same time, placing a hand over their hearts and bowing their heads.
"This is why I use my real name all the time." Sharpner smirked. "So that no one will think it IS my real name!"
Gohan and Dimitri rolled their eyes.
"You know, Master Korin said that not even he wasn't a vampire when Lord-Master Gabriel was the Lord of all and we all know how old Master Korin is." Dimitri said matter-of-factly.
Sharpner stared at him in surprise. "Really?"
Gohan frowned, he felt like he knew this 'Master Gabriel' before. Some flashes came unbidden into his brain and he growled, his fangs showing. He hated when this happened, headaches always came. He clocked out and with a frustrated growl at his headache, disappeared.
"What's wrong with him?" Dimitri said, confused.
"Was it something I said?" Sharpner blinked.
That one was pretty long…ahem. Anyway I know you're probably wondering what the hell I'm talking about when they have "Real Names" as I call it. You'll see eventually, as well as the consequences of knowing them. Anyway that's all I'm going to give away for now so if you want to know more you'll just have to wait till the next chapter!
Oh and if you ever get the chance to read Hot Gimmick, do, cuz its a great manga. I nearly cried after I finished the 4th, I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!!