The sky sparkled and twinkled with the stars that lit its dark blue expanse. People wandered the busy night streets of Satan City. Cars whizzed by as pedestrians chattered amongst themselves. Restaurant and club lights lit the clustered sidewalks of the bustling city, giving off a surreal air of imposed theatrics. Amongst the crowds of people was one in particular group of teenagers.
Videl laughed with her companions as they headed towards the small club that sat on the corner of the busy avenue. Her arm remained laced about John's waist as her gaze squinted with the effort to keep them open, despite her want to close them in a fit of laughter. She had dreaded this little double date, fearing her feelings would get in the way of her better judgment, and they almost had back at the movie theaters when Gohan and Takayuki had become a little cozier. Surprisingly, she was still having fun. Takayuki was truly an entertaining girl that acted incredibly stupid in such a hilarious way! No wonder Gohan had taken a liking to her. Of course, that simple thought, once again, brought a familiar burning in the pit of her stomach.
Did she still have feelings for Gohan? Of course she did. She could never imagine not having a love for the boy, but after he had walked in on her and John she couldn't dare ask for him back. Granted she had no part in the kiss, save for the part of being kissed, but she still felt incredibly guilty. She felt even worse when she blindly agreed to go back out with the guy after her and Gohan had separated. Don't get her wrong, John was a great guy. He was cute, funny, with money, and completely charming. It was just. Well, she was not sure what he wasn't, but it was something.
They approached the small club, the sound of pulsing music echoing out into the street despite the closed doors and the sound of engines revving at the stop light in front. People drifted in and out of the entrance of the club, laughing and having a gay old time.
Videl, linked around John's waist, followed Gohan and, the ever so energetic, Takayuki to that very entrance and through the metal door that served as a poor sound barrier. According to Takayuki, this was a teen hot spot for the kids of West City.
Within, strobe lights pulsed and music blared. Floor lights lit the floor in random spots, and tables and booths sported decorative lamps. The main theme for the club seemed to be the red sea dragon. The long red creature was painted against black walls and on the floors, even the fluorescent lit bar had the ancient pattern painted onto it's walls and surface. However, unlike most clubs, this one lacked the scent of alcohol and smoke, as well as the drunks that occupied the tables. It was also a bit cleaner. Even the dance floor seemed pleasant though it pulsed with it's electronic light floors that illuminated the dancers in dizzying patterns and only created a wave of body heat that was wafted, or at least attempted to be, by the large fans that decorated the stage. A stage which was currently occupied by the DJ.
"Let's grab a booth guys!" Takayuki shouted over the loud music before she hauled Gohan towards one of the booths near the floor, and yet far enough away from the speakers so that they would not have to yell to simply talk.
Videl slid into the booth with John following in suit. She glanced at Gohan and Takayuki as they moved to do the same. However, Takayuki stopped and turned to Gohan.
"You sit on the inside," she stated with a grin. She glanced to Videl for a moment, as if she just realized she was listening before continuing, "I like to get up a lot and it makes no sense for Gohan to suffer for it, right?"
Videl smiled at that, but could not help but feel that something odd was going on. She shrugged it off though as Gohan slid into the booth next her and Takayuki next to him. Second's later the waitress came to see what they would be having.
The creatures weaved through the air in intricate patterns as their large eyes scanned the streets of busying humans below. One slowed to a halt as it pulled out the small black device from the folds of its cloak. Its long slender fingers tapped at it. It's companion stopped only a few feet away, peering back at it expectantly.
After a few moments a confirmation was made and the device was shoved back into the creatures robs. Simultaneously the creatures lowered their hovering, pale forms until their feet touched the cool pavement.
Already passer byers stared at them, but they paid them no attention. Instead, they continued their search on foot; there keen hues eyed every person they passed as if searching for something. Their gaze never wavered or gave hint to their purpose.
Gohan watched as Videl and John slid from the booth, their hands laced together as the soft tune of a slow song over took the dance floor. The wild dancers and single groups slowly deserted the floor as couples soon filled it with their love washed smiles and softened whispers of promises untold.
Gohan shifted uncomfortably as the music invaded his senses. His gaze drifted over the club scene to rest upon Takayuki's own swaying form. He could not help but arch an amused brow in her direction, his gaze taking in her appearance. He did not really notice before at the movies, but now that he finally did, he was slightly surprised with what he saw.
Usually bound up hair was worn down to frame her tanned face proving her hair to be much longer then he originally thought. Her lips, which were usually painted with lip gloss, were painted a bronze tint, a little darker then her own skin tone. Golden earrings dangled from her ears to finish off her little dress up. She still wore those thick-framed glasses, and though she might have looked better without them, they gave her an air of sophistication. Wow, that was a lie. She was smart, funny, and spontaneous, but sophisticated? Hardly. However, one thing was wrong with her little get up.
"You got to be burning up," Gohan stated as he leaned towards her indicating the trench coat she still refused to remove.
"Me?" She asked as quickly put down the menu she was using to fan herself. "Nah, I'm just fine!"
"Oh come on," Gohan joked as he nudged her with an elbow. "You're dieing and you know it."
She frowned as she glared at him from the corner of her eye before puffing out a little. "I'm not taking it off."
"It can't be that bad," Gohan muttered as he shot her a playful smile. "Do you honestly hate skirts that much? Or is it the fact it makes you feel like a girl?"
Takayuki glared at Gohan fully on with a heavy frown before she returned to waving off the heat that seemed to grow. "Shut up."
"Just take it off," Gohan stated, pausing a moment to realize how inappropriate it sounded, before continuing on, "and I promise I won't tell a soul."
"I've got a better deal," she quickly countered as a smirk graced her lips. "I take off my jacket, and you go cut into Videl and Cover Boy's romance session." She nodded to the couple that danced slowly to the sound of the music, occasionally exchanging a light kiss as they did.
"That's not fair," Gohan retorted quickly.
"Who ever said it had to be," Takayuki stated as she finally gave in to her body's protest. Taking a sip of the sprite she ordered, she slipped out of the booth and began to untie the belt that held the coat shut. Within seconds the cover was shed and tossed onto the seat of the booth revealing the dress beneath.
Gohan blinked, barely catching her words, his mind too busy taking in her outfit. Just because he loved Videl, did not mean he could not find another girl physically attractive, right? Of course not. Especially not when that girl was wearing a rather skimpy number.
The dress was bronze, with golden glitter sprinkling the upper portion of the dress. Spaghetti straps held the dress up while the collar drooped to give off a sagging effect in the front. The skirt came down to just above her knees and had a slit that seemed much too high to be appropriate. The dress itself was skin tight and hugged every single curve of the body that was usually covered in baggy shirts and/or baggy pants. The sight was very different the what Gohan had become acustom to. Extremely different in fact.
"I'm going to snag me a dance partner." Takayuki did not notice this little observation as she left Gohan at the booth and approached Videl and her dancing partner. Putting on her best smile, she walked up behind the girl and gently tapped her on the shoulder.
"Can I cut in?" she asked with a sweet smile before she indicated the still sitting Gohan. "I can't get him to dance with me, so I thought you might want to give him a go."
Videl blinked as she looked over the girl's shoulder at Gohan before smiling. "Sure," she stated as she released John and gave him a smile. "You don't mind do you sweetie?"
"No," John replied with an equally polite smile, "Go on."
With that, Videl was weaving her way through the crowd and Takayuki was taking her place. Her friends back home had often told her, that she could have any guy she wanted if she just worked her assets right, and she could. Which was why she dared to go all out with this dress up thing Gohan had gotten her into. Her main goal for the night was to get Gohan and Videl back together right? She couldn't very well do that if lover boy here was all over Videl all night and Gohan was never going to muster up enough guts to actually cut in himself. So, here she was taking the reigns once again. She did not mind though, after all John was not that bad looking in the end. Then again, he was no Gohan.
"So handsome, come here often?" she asked with a joking smirk.
The two creatures continued their search of the streets, occasionally pulling out that device and tapping into it before putting it back from whence it came. Eventually their searching brought them to the outside of a small building. People drifted in and out of it, for the most part oblivious to the creatures that stood there. After a moment of debating the looming beings glanced to each other.
Their slim bodies swayed as they simply stared at each other before finally the swaying stopped. One glanced to the roof of the building before, with a slight bend of its knees, it leaped up into the air. It covered the distance between the ground and the roof and landed soundlessly on the cement surface. It slowly began to cross its surface to the other side of the building.
The latter creature stood there, staring after its companion, before it finally shifted its attention back to the building. With a few long strides, it was at the door squeezing its large frames through the much too small of a doorway.
She swayed to the music as was natural to her as her gaze shifted through the crowds of dancing couples to see whether or not Videl had indeed asked Gohan to dance. She smiled a little as she spotted the too on the other end of the dance floor, and dancing a little closer than friends should have been and yet, still within that friendly boundary. She returned to her partner that smiled down at her.
"I got to go the bathroom," she stated. Quickly detaching herself from the man, she turned and began her trek through the sea of bodies to the hall that sat adjacent to the stage, the sign above it reading 'Restrooms'.
The hall was small and rather narrow, but much quieter than in was out in the main section of the club. A few people lingered within it, talking and or smoking things they should not have been. Finding the room designated 'ladies' she moved to slip within. As she did, she was surprised to feel a hand placed heavily upon her shoulder, spinning her about before she found the pressure of someone's mouth pressed against her own. She stumbled backwards into the restroom with surprise, but the person did not seem to want to let her go and stumbled with her in.
Managing to push back against her assailant, she felt the fresh flush of anger spill over her, "What fuckin' hell is your problem!"
John blinked a little before he smirk down at her, "What?"
"What!" she shoved him back violently as she wiped her mouth clean.
"You can't honestly say you didn't want this," he said cockily tilting his head and moving forward once more. "You've been giving me signals all night!"
"You're kidding right," she felt her face fell. He must have thought her attempts to make Videl jealous were lame attempts to get his attentions. Well, now he was cute, funny, and egotistical too.
"Come on, with the way you asked to cut in with Videl."
"Speaking of which" she quickly pointed out as she took a step back, "aren't you DATING her?"
"I'm dating her, not married," he pointed out as he reached forward, "now come on baby. I know what you want."
She gave him a flat glance as she cocked a brow. Only one finger brushed against her shoulder was needed before her arm shoved it away. Her fist then rose and flew forward crashing into his nose.
A resounding thud followed before she was stepping around his now cursing form, cradling her soar fist, "Creep."
Slipping out into the hall, she paused to peer down at her now red fist with a little frown. Two seconds later a scream, a rather feminine one at that, echoed from the bathroom causing her to spin about just in time to be crashed into by John's rushing form. Her shoulder violently slammed into the wall behind her, before her heeled feet twisted beneath her form causing her to crash to the floor.
John, who also met with her on the floor, quickly scrambled to his feet and darted down the hall without a glance back, leaving a rather confused Takayuki upon the carpeted floor. The other occupants of the hall also stared on with confused glances.
Takayuki spat out a few curses as she slowly began to pick herself back up before a cold chill spilled down her spine, her gaze resting on the pale, and very inhuman, feet just near her head. She felt the blood drain from her face as her gaze traveled up the looming pale figure above her, its large eyes gleaming down upon her.
The creature was rather tall and lengthy. Its head was nothing but smooth white skin, and where a face should have rested was nothing but pale skin, flawless, and perfect, and two large pale eyes. Its form towered over her smaller one, standing near 7 feet in height. Its arms were extremely long, the fingers much to thin and frail looking to be of any threat. In fact, its whole being was much too thin to look like any sort of threat at all. Its form was clad in dark purple garbs that barely hid anything, but it really had nothing to hide. Its body was simply a shape, an outline of something much more gruesome, a shell one might say. That thought only increased her fear.
With a move much to fast for her mind to comprehend, its bony hand struck out at her, gripping her shoulder in a vice like grip before slamming her slender form against the wall behind her effectively cracking the plaster and, possibly, a few bones. Red flashed within her vision as a scream ripped from her throat at the new pain that filled her senses.
Gohan smiled contently as he swayed to the music, his arms loosely wrapped about Videl's small waist. It was strange how this worked out, and he supposed he had Takayuki to thank for it. They did not talk as they danced, and Gohan was not going to be the one to ruin their little 'moment'.
However, as all good things, it had to come to an end somehow. What better way then sensing an impending threat. Immediately his senses came to life. Whatever serene moment he was having quickly diminished along with his swaying form. Something was here, and it was something powerful and strangely, empty.
"Gohan?" Videl inquired, having noticed the sudden tensing in his body. "Something wrong?"
Gohan did not answer though as his gaze shifted over the crowds in search of the source of his discomfort. He spotted it across the club as it entered the establishment, its clearly alien form towering over the patrons of the place.
"What is that?" Videl muttered with clear disgust as she too spotted the oddity.
"I don't know," Gohan answered as his gaze narrowed and drifted over its odd form.
Suddenly screams erupted from the other side of the club, drawing his attention away from the being. A small group of people, led by a frantic John, left the hall that led to the restrooms. Their shouts easily carried over the soft melody that played. He quickly moved forward, through the crowd, his arm soon snatching a hold of John's passing form.
"What's going on?" he quickly asked as his brows narrowed.
"Th-this thing!" John exclaimed as he pointed towards the bathroom. "It's trying to kill us!"
Gohan let the frantic man alone as he glanced to Videl, who stood at his side with a look of confusion. It was then another scream erupted from hall, one that was possibly the embodiment of the sound of fear itself. It did not take much to push the demi Saiya-Jin to the hall.
Takayuki struggled against the iron grip that pinned her to the wall, her hands desperately trying to pry the arm away from her form as he feet kicked violently. She cried out against as the creature pushed harder against her struggling form, crushing her farther into the wall as its other hand rose. Her arms tingled as a small burning sensation began to tug at the tips of her fingers, she felt the desperate need to fight back.
One large finger rose, the pointed tip reflecting the light above and relaying the message of its power through it. She felt her breath catch in her throat as that finger drew close to her face, the feeling of its needle like pressure pressing against her right temple. Her eyes squeezed shut and waited for the inevitable. It did not come.
A loud, solid thud erupted within her ears as the hand that held her to the wall was violently ripped away from her shoulder causing her once suspended form to crash to the floor. Her knees collided harshly with the carpet, but she could not have loved the sensation anymore then she had at that moment.
"Yuki?" a form knelt before her as hands rested upon her shoulders, "Are you okay?"
Takayuki's brow furrowed as he gaze lifted to be met with the sight of Gohan's worried eyes. "Gohan?" she muttered with confusion as her gaze moved from him to the large hole that decorated the end of the hall. Within the hole stirred the creature that once held her captive. "How did you…?"
"Videl get her out of here," Gohan cut in as he rose to his feet and faced the slowly recovering creature.
Takayuki let her gaze shift to the girl that seemed to appear out of nowhere, her mind hazy with confusion and her temple a little sore.
"Let's go," Videl stated as she slipped her hands under Takayuki's arm and pulled her to her feet.
"What about Gohan?" she asked. She glanced towards the boy that stood defiantly between them and the creature that shook its head.
"He can take care of himself," Videl stated firmly. "Trust me."
With another tug of the girl's arm, the two started down the hall and towards the main room where chaos seemed to have erupted. Patrons screamed and ran about, almost resembling chickens that just got their heads cut off. The cause of the commotion would be the other creature Gohan and Videl had spotted earlier.
Takayuki stiffened at the sight of the creature, her mind reeling at the simple thought of the feel of its smooth, hard skin pressed into her shoulder. As if sensing her presence, said creature snapped its head away from the woman it had a hold on, his pale gaze seizing her own.
"Scouts," she heard herself mutter. She did not know what she meant when she said it, but she knew it was right. The name just fit the creature so perfectly, and the name itself caused her fear to increase considerably. She barely even noticed the creature was starting towards her and her companion, having tossed its victim aside like some rag doll.
"Takayuki," Videl called a second time as she moved in front of the girl, "Go out the window." The girl quickly took up a defensive dance, though her skirt seemed to prohibit some movement, and raised her fists respectively. She was truly the embodiment off all the glory that was her father, or so Takayuki thought. "Now!"
Snapping from her thoughts she gave a nod, her form bending for a moment to loosen the straps on her heels before shoes were kicked off. She could not run in them and she was not one to try. She ran to the nearest open window and climbed onto the booth table under it, not caring if she was giving the whole world a show of her undies.
The window itself was a bit small, more like a vent, but her small frame should easily fit. She took a moment to look back, watching as Videl took the creature head on. Her panic rose as the girl had barely lasted a minute and the creature turned its eyes onto her once more.
Returning her attention to the vent placed near the ceiling, she leaped up and gripped the edge of the slightly open frame. She pulled her self up effortlessly before she started to slide her head through. She did not get far though. A familiar grip found its way around her right ankle tearing her away from the escape route with merciless power. It sent her body soaring through the air until the far side of the club's opposing wall stopped it. An effective crack followed as she screamed out in pain, her body bouncing off the surface before it crashed to the tiled dance floor.
Takayuki winced heavily as she felt the pressure of the tile against her cheek and she was positive that she should not have been conscious. No, that should have knocked her out if not broken her back, she was sure of it. And yet, conscious she still was and, as painful as the impact was, she could move without much of a grimace. She did not think on it though as she saw those large feet quickly darting across the floor towards her.
Standing up, favoring her right leg, she braced herself once more as she was rammed into and pinned back into the crater already present behind her. Panic rose in her throat and her vision was surely beginning to cloud as the large hand pressing against her neck cut off her air supply. She felt her arms tingle, the tips of her fingers beginning to burn once more with an urgency that was foreign to her. She wanted to attack her assailant, she knew she did, and yet something was holding her back. Her brown eyes soon found themselves staring at that needlepoint finger slowly inching towards her head once more.
"Hey!" a familiar voice shouted from across the club. "Catch!"
The creature's head turned, as did Takayuki's, to spot the large body flying their way. The creature went rigid, its grip loosening enough for Takayuki to wiggle out of it. Doing a tuck and roll, she moved out of harms way as the creature's body was slammed into the wall effectively by its comrades own form.
Takayuki gasped heavily as she lifted her head to look at the path of destruction, one in which both creatures were slowly recovering. Her brows knitted together at the sight before she turned her attention to Gohan who stood a little ways off in front of Videl, who was still on the ground tending to her shoulder. His arm was raised, his palm facing the two beings, and his face narrowed into a death glare. She had never seen him so concentrated, or angry as he seemed to be now. She was beginning to think Gohan was incapable of anything beyond politeness. What surprised her the most though was what he did next.
At the center of his palm a small bead of light began to form. It shined and pulsed as it slowly grew into the size of a baseball. How he was doing it baffled her at the moment, until she recalled her discussion with the boy few day before when they had first began working with each other…
"Alright," Gohan started as he tried to process all that she read. "So you're implying that the energy our body has can actually be produced into a physical matter outside of the body, but since the human only uses a portion of their brain power, ten percent, they may have yet to tap into the mental capability to control the body's energy in such a way?" Gohan arched his brow a little and watched for confirmation to his analysis.
"Yeah," Yuki replied. She lowered into the seat next to him and gave a little shrug. "Well, at least somewhere along those lines. I mean, take a look of the Saiyaman duo. They don't exactly have machines attached to the palm of their hands that make glowing balls of energy from no where."
"No way," she felt herself mummer as she stared at Gohan. She really could not believe what she was seeing. Gohan was literally making his energy into a form of matter! She blinked as a smirk formed on the teen's mouth his face betraying his enjoyment before the ball of glowing light shot forward in beam, expanding the closer it got to the creatures.
Realizing that this was going to be bad to watch, she immediately covered her head. The explosion erupted with quite the bang, sending bits of furniture and glass flying through the air from the sheer force of the blast. Just as quick as it happened, it was over, leaving the club in a haze of dust and smoke.
Gohan released the breath he had been holding as the remains of the attack dissipated into the night air that filtered into the club, his arm slowly lowering back to his side.
What were those things, Gohan thought as he stared at what remained of the creatures. They had not been too strong, but strong enough to make the demi Saiya-Jin wonder. Their Ki was so, strange. Like it wasn't theirs, but a combination of different Ki's.
"Gohan?" a voice whispered from the clouds of dust drawing the Saiya-Jin from his thoughts.
There stood Takayuki, her hair in a tangled mess and her dress torn in a few places. However his eyes found themselves locked on her own surprised ones. How was he going to explain this? He felt someone shift beside him, and he did not need to look to know it was Videl. Instead, he struggled to find an explanation for his powers.
"Yuki…"
Drew: Drew! My buddy! I'm glad you enjoyed this! And as you know I did do some background research for the whole 'project' thing. And I'm so using you little 'matter' Idea…btw, when do we go play pool! Are you doing anything on Exam day Monday, cause I don't got any exams to do! Heh'
Luna's Meow: Again I'm sorry you don't really like Videl in the story, I really didn't mean to make her seem like an unlikable character. But I'm hoping you are enjoying this story!
Tempest Dragon: I updated! See!
Jeremy Z: Thanks for the review, and yes it is a shame I'm not getting more reviews, but it doesn't matter. I'm just glad I have readers! If it were just one reviewer, it'd be enough to keep me going, ya know? Thanks!
Nickle Hound: Again, it is a shame I'm not getting as much reviews, but oh well. I'm really glad you liked my story, and it is sad about the little girl but someone had to die eventually. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter though!
And to anyone else who read, thanks a lot! I appreciate you taking the time to read my story! Honestly I'm not really satisfied with this chapter, but I really couldn't think of how else to word it to make it sound a little better. I hope you all liked the fight scene, and be critical if you like! I could always use some pointers. Thanks again to my readers and reviewers and stay tuned for the next chapter! And an extra extra big apology for the lateness of this chapter. The quirks of free internet…limited access…-sigh-