Disclaimer, I do not own db/z/gt
Chapter 4
Four years earlier
"So…you're breaking up with me?" Gohan said sadly, casting his eyes down to his bare feet. It was hardly the first time he got dumped, but…it still felt awkward, he hated rejection.
"YES!" the blonde screamed, shoving past him as she began to pick up her clothing one by one from the floor, Gohan was clearly sick and obsessed, and she had had ENOUGH!
"I wish you wouldn't" he said, his voice sincere, whilst rubbing his palms up and down his bare arms in a subconscious act of comfort
The blonde grabbed the clay statue off the shelf and threw it at him angrily, cursing when it missed him by a mile
"And I wish you hadn't called me Videl whilst still inside me, but hey…" she seethed, as she stepped into her skirt, wiggling her hips to accelerate the process
Gohan flushed and bit his lip, it wasn't his fault that Videl kept popping into his mind at the most…inconvenient of times. It wasn't!
"At least be a gentleman and call me a taxi, it's the least you can do" she shoved past him again, heels in her hand, as she grabbed her purse off the couch
Gohan sighed, defeated, as he dragged his feet towards the phone. He was twenty-two years old, he had just been awarded his PHD as well as the prestigious Nova Prize for Physiology, he had finally mobilized enough funds to start up his own company, but…he still couldn't hold on to a girlfriend.
Long after the taxi had taken his ex home, Gohan lost the battle with his self-control. He abandoned the journal he had been trying to read, and switched on his computer. He typed in a few commands and for a few seconds, he just sat there, staring at the screen
'Don't do it' he told himself as he stared at the webpage.
Login, the green text prompted, tempting him
'Don't do it' he told himself again, but clearly he wasn't really listening to himself, because even as the words registered in his mind, his fingers were already gliding over the keyboard
'SATAN' he typed, and stared at the name before pressing enter
Password, a new command instructed, and Gohan took a deep breath before minimizing the screen and opening up a new window, RUN CRACKER? It read, and Gohan hesitated for only a second before clicking on the 'yes' button. It didn't take long for the software to bypass Potlaki Intelligence's website's security, Gohan had written the program himself, it was a cinch.
Welcome Agent Satan the screen read, and Gohan hurriedly clicked on 'Inbox', he just had to know what Videl was up to.
Half an hour later, Gohan was feeling slightly satiated, he had gone through Videl's e-mails, calenders, photos, reports and missions. It was illegal he knew, unethical, no question. More than that though, it was definitely unhealthy, but he didn't deny that either. He was even convinced that it was probably bordering on something certifiable, but he couldn't help it, he was only able to function, to go on smoothly after oiling himself with tid-bits of her life. And as he slipped on the grey overalls, with 'Maintance' printed boldly in yellow at the back, he felt a familiar trickle of excitement reserved only for these prowling excursions, it had been a few months since he'd watched her, it was time to oil those engines.
He lay perfectly still, watching, listening, letting the sight of her, the sound of her laughter fill the empty void living in his soul. He had flown straight to the roof of the Palak Hotel, her Penthouse suite took up the entire top floor, making it easy for him to land, remove the cylindrical lid from the vent, crawl in and maneuver himself easily in the space and tunnels of the ceiling
"Look who's talking, Ms Penthouse suite, at least I have an excuse, marriage is hard work" Erasa laughed before taking a sip of her wine, though he was high up in the ceiling, with his sensitive hearing, the girl could have been whispering directly into his ear
"I know it's a bit much, but…after that shit-hole I lived in for three years in the desert, I couldn't resist taking up something a little more…comfortable" Videl defended her exorbitant living conditions.
"Still, you're just one person Videl, you don't need all this…space…" Erasa indicated, sweeping her hand over the lavish interior
"Trust me, I deserve it" Videl insisted, refilling her empty glass
"If you say so…" Erasa grinned, "…so is being an agent everything you thought it would be?" she asked her friend
"…not really…" Videl frowned "…the missions are so…boring, no action at all, I'm beginning to think that Potlaki is not the best institution for me…" she said, her frown testifying to her dissatisfaction with her current job
"…I know, I know, same'ol Videl, you're not happy unless you're kicking someone's teeth in…" Erasa sighed
Videl just laughed at her friends comment, it was so true, how she missed her work with the police, it was small time stuff, hardly liberating countries but…she did get to kick ass, save lives, spend time with a certain goofy super-hero…urg…let it go Videl…
"…what about you Erasa…" she said quickly, trying to keep her thoughts from lingering on to a certain boy,"… is being a wife, everything you thought it's be?" she asked
"…everything and MORE!..." Erasa beamed, her eyes lighting up the room
"…sometimes I think you're just perpetually happy Erasa, nothing seems to get you down…" Videl commented
"…I was pretty down when I realized how strict that boot camp you enrolled in was, I hardly saw you in those three years Videl, it was hard on me, don't be doing that again anytime soon okay?..."
"…promise…" Videl said
"…so you and Tuku, how'z long distance treatin'ya?..." Erasa asked
The peeping tom in the ceiling aka as Son Gohan, frowned, at the mention of Tuku's name. He really hated that guy
"…I feel like I hardly see him anymore, you know after we graduated from Terrain Storm, we made all these promises, I knew he had to go back to his country to do some kind of national conscription or something, but…" she shrugged
"…but what?" Erasa probed
"…I never get to see him Erasa, what's the point of being in a relationship if you never see the other party?" she complained
"…don't give me that crock Videl, your father has a private jet, his father has a private jet, he may be living in a third-world country millions of miles away but, if you really wanted to see him more often, you'd make a bit more of an effort…" Erasa observed
"…you're so annoying you know that?" Videl inched further into her couch, kicking off her shoes and draping her legs alongside her
"…maybe…" Erasa giggled "…but I'm nothing if not observant, so, out with it…what's really going on between you and Rambo…" she said
"…oh for Kami's sake Erasa, would you stop calling him that!..." Videl complained, rolling her eyes
"…aw…c'mon Videl, the guy's buff, pretty impressive with an automatic, and has dark olive skin, I can just imagine him twisting his lips and yelling VVVIIIIIDDDEELLLL, before firing a range of bullets into the air" Erasa laughed and dodged the cushion that Videl threw at her
"…you're such a bitch you know that…" Videl laughed
"…guilty…" Erasa agreed
"…nuh…Tuku's actually very sweet…" Videl said
'I'm sweet' Gohan thought bitterly, from his position in the ceiling, he hoped they would take about something else real soon, cause all this talk about Tuku was giving him a real sour taste in his mouth. These sessions of spying on her were supposed to be relaxing, soothing, but all this talk about Tuku…
"…is he still having trouble unclasping your bra?..." Erasa asked out of nowhere
"…Pffft…" Videl sputtered her drink "…ERASA!..." Videl screamed, her face turning beet red
"…I'm just asking…" Erasa shrugged
"...can we have one conversation where you don't try to get me to talk about my sex life please!" Videl shrieked, patting her chest where some of the wine had spilled
"…how else is it going to improve Videl, if you don't let me give you pointers…" Erasa pointed out
"…I DON'T NEED POINTERS!" she yelled
"…oh please Videl, you told me yourself on the night of my engagement party, you've never had an orgasm, at least not one you didn't give to yourself…"
"ERASA! I TOLD YOU NO SUCH THING!" Videl threw another cushion at her friend, this one connecting with Erasa's hand, knocking the glass to her lap
"…hah…hah…hah…" Erasa laughed, "…now look, you've got me all wet, my hubby'll thank you later don't worry…" she said playfully, winking at Videl
"…you're impossible! You know where my closet is, grab whatever you want and change into something dry…" Videl informed her, reaching for the telephone to call housekeeping
Gohan watched with his heart in his throat as Videl spoke with housekeeping, then inclined even further into the couch. 'This is so wrong, if mom knew what I was up to, she'd…' he shuddered at the thought. 'Look what you've reduced me to Videl?' but instead of making his retreat, he allowed the sight of her to sooth him, to take away the slight pinch of hurt that being dumped had left him feeling.
"…tada!..." Erasa posed dramatically, trying to stifle her laughter at her choice of clothes
Videl couldn't help herself, she laughed, Erasa was so childish when she wanted to be. She had deliberately picked her old high-school clothes. An oversized t-shirt with 'FIGHT' written across it, a pair of black spandex tights, and she had even gone as far as parting her long blonde hair into two braided pig-tails
"…honestly, Erasa, I don't know how your husband puts up with you…" Videl rolled her eyes
Erasa just laughed
"…brings back memories, doesn't it?" Erasa said, choosing to sit right next to Videl this time
"…I guess it does…" Videl agreed 'oh Gohan' she thought to herself 'what's it gonna take to get you out of my mind' she wondered, sighing
"…you ever hear from him?" Erasa asked
"…not since your engagement party, no…" Videl said, a far-away look in her eyes
"…WHAT?...SAIYAMAN WAS AT MY ENGAGEMENT PARTY?" she squealed
"…wha…huh…Saiya…um…No, I thought you meant…I mean…never mind…" Videl tried to dismiss the subject
"…OH! You thought I meant Gohan didn't you, ooh, amazing how your brain always takes a leap in his direction…" Erasa teased
"…IT DOES NOT!" Videl defended herself
"…it wouldn't kill you to admit it Videl, I know you used to like him in high-school, I know you wanted to jump his bones…" Erasa said
"…of course I did…" Videl started to say, when a loud bang coming from the ceiling halted her mid-sentence
"…did you hear that?" she asked Erasa, but the blonde was too excited by the admission to pay attention
"…Oh, I can't believe you finally admitted it Videl, I'm so happy for you, you guys should totally get together…" Erasa squealed excitedly
In the ceiling, Gohan didn't move, 'of course I did' she had said, and his shock had been so profound that he'd bumped his head. A long time ago he wouldn't have known what the expression 'jump his bones' meant, but…after years mingling with boys his own age in university, he had picked up more than enough sayings regarding the opposite sex
"…that was four years ago Erasa, honestly, I'm with Tuku now…" she shrugged
"…you can't deny how yummy he looked at my party, hmm, had I not been taken already, I would have…"
"ERASA!" Videl yelped
"…what, I'm married, not blind…" she laughed
"…whatever…" Videl mumbled, taking another sip of her wine
"…I know you're with Tuku now, and I respect that, but let me put it this way, if you guys broke up and Gohan came calling, would you give him a chance?" Erasa asked with her eyes twinkling
"…Gohan would never come calling Erasa, have you forgotten the blonde that was on his arm when he received the Nova award?" Videl said bitterly
"…I thought you said you were not watching?" Erasa teased, a huge grin plastered on her face
"…I didn't, I mean, I saw a clip, somewhere…" she lied
"…this is a hypothetical situation Videl, say there was no blonde, would you consider going out with him, after all these years?" Erasa held her breath, unaware that in the ceiling, Gohan was doing the exact same thing. Had there been Saiyans in the room, they most definitely would have heard the loud thumping of his heart
"…maybe…" she said twirling her glass in her hand.
In the ceiling, it was all Gohan could do not to jump for joy! She hadn't said NO! Which meant, there was a chance, he just had take care of this Tuku problem real quick and Videl would be his. No more sneaking around at night, hovering in the shadows, peeping through ceiling vents. He could be with Videl the way he'd been longing to for so long, it was perfect.
Feeling lighter than he had in a long time, his ex, the blonde, from earlier in the evening completely forgotten, Gohan began to crawl on his elbows and arms, maneuvering his way out of the ceiling. He crawled his way out the ceiling, out the vent, replacing the lid, and blasted off.
As soon as he reached his apartment he called Bulma
"Gohan, it's late, I was in bed" came Bulma's groggy voice
"Sorry Bulma, but it's kind of an emergency" he told her sheepishly, he hadn't paid any attention to what time it was. He had been so excited and eager to get the ball rolling.
"Everything okay kiddo?" she asked, concerned
"Something came up, I suppose I could have waited till morning, but um…could I use your private investigator for a job?" he asked hopefully
"Of course, I'll text you his details, checking up on potential employees already?" she asked, slightly teasing, slightly impressed
"Heh…heh…he…you know me, I try to be as organized as I can…" he lied
"Don't I know it, okay, let me send you the text so I can get back to bed, okay, 'nite sweetie" she yawned
"Goodnight Bulma, and sorry for calling so late" he said, hanging up
A mere second later, his phone beeped, he was tempted to call the guy that very second, but it was late and he didn't want to irritate him. He made himself a sandwich and went to bed.
'Everyone has secrets, just you wait Tuku, just you wait till this private investigator is through with you' he thought happily, allowing the memory of Videl admitting that she had wanted to 'jump his bones' lull him to sleep
Two months later, a certain gentleman delivered a thick envelope to Videl's hotel. That very same night, a furious Videl took the Satan Jet and flew eight hours to Tuku's country.
"Betrothed, this whole time you were fucking betrothed!" she yelled in his face
"It's just politics Videl, it has nothing to do with us" Tuku defended himself
"So you're not planning on marrying this girl?"
"Well of course I'm gonna marry her, but she's only fourteen right now, with her parents consent the earliest we can marry is sixteen!"
"You bastard, you unimaginable bastard!" she yelled, wanting to give him a proper thrashing for his deceit, for making a fool out of her.
"Videl, this girl, she means nothing to me, please, try to see it from my point of view okay? This marriage will bring together the two tribes of my country, the civil wars, all the hate and hostility, all the blood-spill, it will end with the dawn of this marriage, try and understand!" Tuku tried to reason with his hysterical girlfriend
"Fuck you Tuku! How dare you put me in this position? Three years we've been together and this whole time you were stringing me along like some cheap whore, while you waited for your fiancé to come of age?" she had never felt such a bitter taste in her mouth
"Videl, it's not like that, my father and his advisors came up with this solution after I was kidnapped, after he saw the tapes, he knew he had to do something to bring together the people, to put an end to this hatred once and for all. Videl, when we started this thing, I swear to you, I wasn't betrothed" he grabbed her shoulders
"YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME!" she screamed, shrugging out of his attempted embrace
"I wanted to, but Videl, I didn't want to lose you, please, I still don't want to lose you" he begged
"Are you fucking kidding me? You expect me to stay in this relationship after this, and be your what Tuku…your mistress?"
"Just until I sire an heir Videl, a child from both tribes, a child from both blood-lines would be the perfect person to bring harmony and unity across the lands, then after that…as you know, in my country I can take more than one wife…we could…"
And Videl decked him
"ME, A SECOND WIFE? Do you know me at all? I will not be your whore Tuku, legally or otherwise. We're done, through, over, finished, understand, come near me again, and I'll make Terrain Storm look like a picnic!" she said before she stepped over him, practically storming off to her jet, never to set foot in that country again.
Gohan gave himself a few weeks after news of the break-up hit the media before he made his move. It was an extremely busy time for him, Son Regenerative Institute was no longer a pipe dream but a reality. He had so much on his plate, they were currently renting premises, but he had just signed off a huge deal with a contractor to begin building their own, with their own specs. There were many legal contracts to be drawn up with hospitals and governments the world over. He was head hunting the best in the field from research laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals and universities. He was forming relationships with suppliers, everyday, there were organs to grow, and more, there was business to set up – he was an extremely busy man.
Through it all though, Videl was at the forefront of his thoughts, 'is it too soon after the break-up?' he would obsess; he didn't want to jinx his chances by catching her at a bad time. He wanted to wait until she was over the undeserving asshole, but…the impatience was driving him crazy.
Eight weeks after her break-up with Tuku, Videl was still having trouble with him. He wouldn't stop hounding her. He kept sending her flowers and other little trinkets, he kept emailing and texting and calling and bugging the shit out of her. It got so bad, that Videl changed her number, instructed her hotel to send all gifts addressed to her straight to the bin. She was sick of Tuku and his offerings.
It was unfortunate that Gohan, with his busy schedule also opted to send a huge bouquet of flowers as his first-move. The flowers only made it as far as the reception, before the well trained receptionists diverted them elsewhere, no one wanted to deal with an enraged Videl Satan, should the flowers make it all the way up to her Penthouse.
Dear Videl, it's been ages, I'm coming to Palak City on business next week, would love to get together and catch up, I've missed you, Gohan
PS: This is my number, please call me
The card never saw the light of day, it had gone straight to the bin.
A whole week went by without word, and Gohan was starting to sink into a depression. 'Did I say the wrong thing in the card?' he wondered, he really didn't know what to do now that she had deliberately ignored him.
Refusing to give up though, he went to Palak City anyway, though there was no 'business' to speak of. He deliberately booked a room at Palak Hotel, ready to orchestrate 'running into her' literally. A few days without any sign of her, he discovered through hacking into her emails that she was away on mission, far very far from Palak City. He felt like a fool and a stalker, but humorously admitted to himself that he was indeed both those things.
Throwing caution to the wind, he decided to do things the old fashioned way, he wrote her a letter.
Dear Videl
I was in Palak like I said, but unfortunately you were out of town. I really wanted to see you, I've missed you so much in these last four years. I wish things had gone a bit differently after high-school. I should have come to visit, like I had said, like I had meant to, but…I guess there's no turning back time.
When you get back, when you get this letter, please use my number, please call me. I find that my mind, my heart is only at ease when filled with the hope that we could one day be more than the strangers we've become and much more than the friends and partners we became.
Gohan
He took the elevator all the way to the Penthouse and slipped the note under her door. His heart thumping wildly, loudly, he left the hotel.
It would be a few days before Videl returned to Palak City, the mission had been a waste of her precious time…again. No action, just long winded peace talks. She had made up her mind then and there to send an application to the Tactical Bureau, she was all for peaceful resolutions, but she craved to be where there was physical conflict. She couldn't help herself, she was just wired that way.
As she stepped through the threshold of her suite, she was irritated to find a lone envelope that had somehow sneaked in through her door. 'Urgh' she fumed, 'doesn't he ever quit?' she picked up the envelope and stuffed it into a drawer filled with the first batch of crap from Tuku, the stuff that she had actually opened before it all got too much for her.
'Polygamous piece of shit' she thought, making her way to her bedroom
That's the chapter, see you guys next time