Chapter Six: No More Secrets
Videl training with Chi Chi became a regular occurrence once she was healed from her injuries. She was surprised to find out how far behind the older woman she was. She'd grown used to being far above everyone else she trained with over the years. A lot had changed in her life recently, her father she now knew hadn't defeated Cell. She was staying with Erasa's family on a temporary basis and the most important of all she was no longer getting hounded by the media. With Chi Chi's help, she was now excluded from being in the media unless she chose to appear. Something she only did when her police work called for an appearance. Despite her father's lies she was still on good terms with him and heard from her father on a daily basis, despite not seeing him since the martial arts tournament. He was currently staying with her grandparents, and Videl had no desire to be around her grandmother who wanted her to be a proper young lady instead of a martial artist.
Erasa's family was having dinner with Sharpeners family something that had become a regular occurrence. Her parents coming rather close friends with Graphite and Chi Chi. The teenagers had no objections since they got to spend a lot of time together.
"And just as I was about to get the bad guy, who comes and sticks his nose in, Saiyaman," Videl ranted noticing Gohan was holding his hand over Gotens mouth, and Graphite was laughing as if he knew who the young superhero was. Videl glared at Gohan who cowered slightly.
"Videl, what are you and my mum practising at the moment?" Gohan nervously asked.
Chi Chi was all too happy to answer moving the conversation away from Saiyaman.
Videls attention was on Gohan who was looking slightly pale and had actually stopped eating before his plate was cleared something that she had never seen before. As he dropped his chopsticks, it also got the attention of Sharpener, Erasa and Graphite all of whom had never seen him stop eating before a plate was empty before.
Gohan said as he stood up from the table. "Tell Krillen, Bulma or whoever calls that I already know and am on my way." He was out the door in a moment.
"Know what?" Videl asked the empty doorway. She'd never seen him act like that before. The three teenagers and Graphite shared a confused look, having no idea what was going on. Looking towards Chi Chi they saw she was standing to her feet.
"Excuse us for a moment," Chi Chi excused herself.
DBZ
"Gohan," Chi Chi opened her arms Gohan accepting the hug. "You come back alive and in one piece. If you don't promise me that, I'll ground you for life."
"I can't promise that, mum." Gohan looked towards the distance where he was sensing the power level. "The power level I can sense is even more powerful than Cell. I don't think I can beat whoever they are. I don't think I would be able to defeat Cell anymore. I love you, mum." Gohan kissed his mother's cheek. "If I don't come back, tell Goten I love him and didn't want to leave. Don't let Videl leave the house for police work or any reason, she'll try to get involved when this becomes public. This is something she won't be able to deal with. I don't know if I can deal with it."
Chi Chi nodded as she tried and failed to hold back tears. Gohan hugged his mother again, in an instant he was gone.
Chi Chi stood and started for several moments, composing herself before she returned to the house. "Something's come up that Gohan needs to help with. He won't be back tonight."
"Please tell me he hasn't dumped the dishes on me." Sharpener complained, not knowing the reason Gohan had left.
"I'll be doing the washing up, don't you worry about that Sharpener. Gohan will make up his missed chores when he returns." Chi Chi said, abandoning the rest of her dinner for dishes to distract herself.
The quiet conversation about what Gohan could possibly be doing was interrupted by further conversation by the phone ringing. Chi Chi raced to the phone, not allowing anyone else to answer. Videl had tried to get the phone first despite it not being her house.
"Krillen, Gohan already knows and is on his way." Chi Chi greeted.
"I thought he would be, I could sense him in the area. I was wondering if I could ask a favour. Can you watch Marron for 18 and I while we help Gohan out? This is serious, even with all of us I don't think it will be enough. We need all the help we can get." Krillen asked.
"Of course I'll be happy to watch Marron. You just make sure to keep my son safe while I keep your daughter safe."
"He surpassed me years ago, Chi Chi. I don't think I could protect him even if I wanted to." Krillen replied.
Chi Chi gave Krillen her address as a formality. She knew that he would be able to track her down without it.
Chi Chi returned to the dining room. "I'm sorry dear. I've changed our plans and will be watching a friend's daughter. Once they drop her off, I'll be taking Goten and Marron home."
"Is everything alright?" Graphite asked with concern. "Gohan left out of nowhere and said you would be getting a call. What's happening?"
"I'm not sure yet." Chi Chi replied in a quiet tone. "It's looking like what's happening will be worse than Cell. You and Sharpener should come with. It will be safer away from the city."
"Alright. We'll head back as soon as you have your friend's daughter," Graphite said. "Gohan's going to be safe, he's a strong lad."
"Graphite, you haven't been around this type of danger before. I used to think that about Goku, and he just didn't come back. Gohan's just like his father, one day he isn't going to come back. Are you sure this is the type of relationship, the type of life you want? Being with me, around my family is not going to be easy. This is the first of many if we get through."
"You're an amazing woman Chi with an amazing family. I wouldn't change a thing." Graphite said. "I'll tell the kids to start getting something's together."
Chi Chi made a quick call to her father and arranged to meet him at her place. She wanted everyone in one place. It was bad enough not knowing what was happening to Gohan, she didn't want to be wondering about the rest of her family.
Krillen and 18 exchanged quick words with Chi Chi before disappearing to the site of the action.
"That's the husband of the current world martial arts champion. He's a cop in West City, the ones that you said were friends of yours. I know you said they were friends but I don't think I believed it till now." Videl pointed out.
"Videl, how about some more martial arts practice back at my place?" Chi Chi asked, hoping she would be able to keep Videl by her side and busy. It would help keep her from thinking about Gohan's safety if the young girl agreed for more training and keep her promise to Gohan to keep her safe as possible not that anywhere on the planet was safe right now.
Chi Chi managed to keep Videl busy that she never heard her police watch beep asking for help once they arrived and began their training.
DBZ
Gohan answered his phone only because the person was Bulma and not his mother. He continued flying towards the location of the evil he could sense.
"Gohan, can you do me a favour and change into that superhero suit?" Bulma requested.
"Sure," he replied having no idea why he wanted her to change. He clicked the button on his watch. Maybe the media were already at the location of the intense power level, and she wanted to help protect his identity.
"Great, now I have video feed," Bulma replied cheerfully. His phone call was now going through his helmet instead of his phone which made it easier to hear her while flying.
"Wait, you can get video feed from my costume? Why didn't you tell me?" Gohan asked. He didn't know Bulma could see what he was doing, that was embarrassing.
"Sure can, though I told you, must have forgotten. It's got GPS location, can detect your life signs and power levels as well as the power levels around you. I know you can sense power levels on your own but thought it didn't hurt to have and helps me out for situations like right now. It can also detect Dragon Balls." Bulma Remotely activating the different features of the suit as she mentioned them. "Your little suit tells me you have a crush on that girl Videl."
"BULMA!" Gohan yelled. Highly embarrassed, watching his heart rate flutter and his power levels fluctuate just at the mention of Videl.
"Aw my little Gohan is growing up so fast," Bulma teased. "It feels like it was only yesterday your father bought you to Master Roshi to introduce you to everyone. Such a cute four-year-old. Anyway, I'm getting off track. I'll be recording the encounter with whatever the evil we're facing is. It will be like I'm in on the action with you guys."
"You have a bad habit of getting mixed up in the action for a non-fighter." Gohan had seen Bulma get mixed up in far too much action over the years.
"What can I say I love knowing what's going on."
"You better not mention Videl to my mother," Gohan begged her. His mother was already trying to marry him off to Erasa or Videl. If she knew he already liked Videl, they would be married before the day was out. It wouldn't matter to his mother that the world was ending.
DBZ
It was odd for Sharpener to at the Son household without Gohan for days on end. It felt empty without him around. Chi Chi and Videl were out in the garden practising martial arts. Goten and his dad had joined them both.
"Sorry, I missed that Race," He interrupted the girl he was sitting with. They'd been talking about pointless school gossip.
Erasa had managed to put Marron to sleep and was sitting with the toddler in her arms. She had always done babysitting to fund her shopping trips and was good at dealing with young children. Marron's parents hadn't contacted anyone since she was dropped off. Just like Gohan hadn't contacted anyone. Sharpener could tell everyone was worried and confused since they didn't know what was going on.
"It wasn't something you'd be interested in any way. Sometimes I think I need some girlfriends." Erasa sighed.
"You have Videl."
"But she doesn't really count. She doesn't care about makeup, fashion and boys. Just like I don't care about martial arts, fighting and her police work. We listen to each other but have nothing to input on each other's favourite subjects. When I watch martial arts fights, I do not appreciate the moves and techniques. I'm checking out the guys and rating them on who I want to date most."
"Same as what I do with the girls at a fashion show when you drag me along." Sharpener nodded.
"You appreciate the clothing. I'm looking at the girls."
"Exactly. You and Videl appreciate the moves I am looking at the boys." Erasa agreed.
"Didn't you drag Gohan and Videl to a fashion show recently. How did that go?" Sharpener asked.
"Videl was bored. She kept trying to escape. Gohan managed to get us out back and not using Videl like I thought, like some of the other boys have tried to do in the past. Apparently, he knew two of the models. A woman named Maron like this little lady. Wonder if she's a relative. Oh and Mrs Briefs."
"Mrs Briefs is really pretty for an old lady. Can you believe how old she is? I mean her daughter is now starting to look older than her.
"I know, I wonder what her secret is. I hope I look as good as her when I'm her age." Erasa gushed.
DBZ
Goten stopped his attempt to train Graphite and turned towards his mother. "Mummy. I can't sense Gohan."
Goten's words stopped Chi Chi but didn't stop Videl. She landed a punch which knocked Chi Chi back. "I'm so sorry Mrs Son." Videl apologised.
Hearing Videl apologises brought Sharpener and Erasa out of the house. Everyone in the household was paying attention to Chi Chi, Videl and Goten.
"It's alight Videl." Chi Chi assured her student. "Now Goten that's probably only because Gohan's really far away at the moment." It sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than Goten.
"But I've always been able to sense him. His ki was really really big." Goten held his arms out as far as they would go. "Bigger then I have ever felt it before and then it was gone. I've been looking really hard and can't find him or Trunks dad anywhere. And Mister Piccolo has been gone even longer."
Chi Chi ran into the house and started up an old-fashioned video phone. She was followed by everyone else who wanted to know what Goten was even talking about.
She tried the same number multiple times and kept getting a message about the phone being out of service rang. She then rang a different number. The Ox King was trying to comfort Goten, telling him that his older brother was going to be okay.
Videl, Sharpener and Erasa were surprised to see the video phone answered by Dr Brief.
"Gohan did know his wife at the fashion show," Erasa whispered to her two friends.
"Ah Chi Chi. How are you and the boys? It's been such a long time." Dr Briefs replied cheerfully.
"I don't have time. Put Bulma on." Ch Chi yelled.
"I wonder where Bulma is?" Dr Briefs scratched his head looking around the room frustrating Chi Chi.
A battle-worn Krillen and exhausted Bulma entered the room not realising Dr Briefs was in a video call.
"Ah Bulma, you have a call," the Dr told his daughter who wasn't paying attention.
"Why do I have to tell her? I'm no good at that type of thing. Do you have any idea how scary Chi Chi can be while angry." Krillen argued. It was an argument that sounded like it had been going on for a while.
"You're the World Champs wife, who better suited for the job. You're used to dealing with strong woman. I'm not going to be the one to tell her. Not to mention you already have to go over there to get your daughter." Bulma reasoned.
"Do you think you can get Marron for me? I'm sure Trunks would love the play date with Goten." Krillen tried to reason, cowering when he saw the glare. "Alright, I will get my daughter. I was the one that had to tell her Goku was dead and Gohan had been kidnapped."
"And you did an awful job at it. Which is why you're going to tell her to redeem yourself from the first time."
"I would rather face Frieza again then tell Chi Chi. Please Bulma, you're both mothers. I'm sure she'll listen to you."
"What is it you both want to tell me?" Chi Chi asked in a stern voice. Startling Bulma and Krillen. Dr Briefs had wandered out the room while Bulma and Krillen had been arguing. It had taken a lot of focus from Chi Chi to not interrupt right away.
"Ah Chi Chi. I didn't see you there." Krillen stuttered.
"Where is Gohan?" She demanded.
"We don't know," Bulma replied. "I lost video feed and all signs of life forty minutes ago. We got in contact with Goku, and he's confirmed that he's not in the afterlife. He also confirmed that Vegeta, Piccolo and 18 are."
Krillen was upset at the mention of his wife.
"The most important thing right now is keeping Dende and the Dragon Balls safe so we can reverse all the damage. We've lost Dragon Ball city, East City and South City so far and there is nothing any of us can do. All we can do is hope Gohan can help when he turns up again."
"Isn't Dragon Ball city the old name for Satan City?" Videl asked in a whisper not wanting to interrupt the phone conversation.
"Yes." Graphite confirmed.
"Mum and dad." Erasa cried.
"Can I use the TV?" Videl asked.
"Yes you can use the television," Chi Chi replied before going back to her phone conversation. Videl gulped seeing Chi Chi trying to hold back tears.