Chapter 7:
That warm night was becoming the central heating with the power of an erupting volcano.
A hot temperature, in a hot bedroom, between two people making love on a bed with silk sheets wrinkled and discarded on the floor. Also discarded on the floor there was a broken drone with a broken camera.
Gohan and Videl were still at it, her on top of him, sitting on his bed, consumed by a madness that knew no limits but those which they had consented to, namely, touching her mark and cumming inside her. The latter had been dealt with by the proper use of a condom.
"It's too hot." Videl complained weakly while she met the eager thrusts of his hips with hers. "I think I'm gonna faint."
She was feeling unbearably dizzy at that moment, but she was unwilling to let go of Gohan and the pleasure he was giving her.
"Don't you dare." He whispered like a threat.
"It won't take me long to get there, though." She said biting her lower lip softly, with lustful eyes.
He could die staring at those lush lips of hers doing precisely that while staring at him like that. And the next thing he knew, she was leaning into the crook of his neck and started to kiss it and bite it softly, so softly that it felt like a huge turn-on for him. She ran her lips upwards to his jaw and ear. The soft and warm air she was exhaling on his ear suddenly triggered a beast within him, so much so that he unwillingly and softly whimpered and made her lie down on his bed in a rush. She gasped once as she fell, and she gasped some more when he repositioned himself between her thighs and ploughed deeper and deeper inside her. His arms snaked around her body and held her even more tightly than before, so much so that she could barely breathe.
"Gohan…" She whispered feebly, leaving her lips slightly parted.
His name on her lips apparently was more than he could bear right then, so he crashed his lips on hers and they melted into a heated, soul kiss. Soon after that his thrusts made her ascend to heaven with the power and swiftness of a strike of lightning, and before her orgasm had subsided, he came undone and climaxed.
Once it was over, he lay by her side on his bed and sighed audibly.
"The things that I do for you, Gohan." She whispered happily. "And that I would do."
"Oh, then we're so not done here yet." He added whispering with naught.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Dear journal,
I need to improve or Perfect Cell will surely kick my ass and kill me, because sooner or later we will have to face each other. I think it'll be sooner, since his army is growing at an alarming speed. On top of that, I'm sure he's already suspecting that I'm behind all those vampire murders in Tokyo and the nearby areas. He knows I'm getting nearer, trying to reduce the number of his troops. But I now think I should not kill them asap: I should get one or some of those vamps to confess Cell's plans in the short and long term. I need more intel.
Even though I'm close to achieving my goal, and despite de fact that I'm being stricter to myself than ever and that I've spend the last few days trying to focus a lot more on training and hunting more vampires, but it's getting harder than ever. Since Videl is around all the time, I get the full effects of the mark on me.
Constantly. This is hell!
I can't stop thinking about her eyes, lips, hands, waist, ass, legs, and… what I want to do to her, what I actually could do to her… what I certainly can do to her because she told me not to mind about her dizziness and… I mean, my mind is easily off track and I can barely concentrate on anything. This is worse than hell. Especially now that Erasa has recorded a sex tape of us doing oral sex. But I don't care. I'd rather steal the bloody tape just to keep it for myself, actually. Anyway, I'm a lot more worried about Videl and the mark.
If only I could find a way out of this! I'd love to touch Desire's mark. But I don't want to impose myself on her, she'd hate me (and I'd hate myself) for that, of course. Sleeping together does not help at all… And she's been insisting on having a room of her own. I can't help but feeling either sad or angry sometimes when I have a moment to myself, but I can't deny her that simple but logic plea. I mean, I don't want her to leave my side on my bed for purely egoistic reasons. She argued that Trunks is not coming back (which I really hope so), and that the Nakamuras' need to see a house fit for two cousins living together. They're coming to lunch in four days. So I recently agreed to let her have a room of her own in spite of my fears, my regrets, and my lust, of course. She has decorated it with style, I can't deny that. The Nakamuras will fall in love with it. And I hope Erasa doesn't tell them the truth and that they buy the whole staging Videl has prepared for them.
The thing is that I'm a possessive asshole, that's it. Last night I woke up five times because I felt the need to check on Videl. I went to her bedroom to check whether she was still there. And she was. Sleeping peacefully. Trunks seems to have let her be. But the monster in me would've jumped on her and made love to her every single minute, all night long, in any possible position, on any possible surface.
The fucking mark.
Messing with me.
My mind is playing tricks on me in amazingly wicked ways.
Besides, I assume that her dizziness would be unbearable if I acted selfishly and chose to make love to her anytime I felt like it. I shouldn't let the beast in me have control over my body, but it's getting harder than ever. If I accidentally bit her or came inside of her without protection, she'd be doomed. I would hate myself. What should I do?
If I touched accidentally the mark again, it would take over me and I wouldn't need to think about it anymore. I'd be guiltless.
I can't believe I just wrote that. I'm scared of myself.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Good morning, Miss Satan. Nice day, innit?" Mr Suzuki, the young man of thirty years of age who was responsible for a famous pie shop, meaningfully told Videl as she walked by the front door of the aforesaid shop. He was leaning on the front door since there were no customers in the shop right then. He was gorgeous, and sympathetic in a very naïve and simple way.
"Good morning, Mr Suzuki." She said neutrally, only wearing a decent, gentle smile on her face as means of protection towards his intensely-staring eyes.
Videl walked by and ceased to look at him as the skirt of her light blue, skin-tight dress gracefully danced as she walked. When Mr Suzuki broadly smiled back at her, he didn't waste a single second to stare at her nice shape from behind even though he was married a married man and the fact that Gohan protectively stuck by her side all the time. Gohan put his hand on the small of her back as he walked right beside her, and raised an eyebrow quite angrily at Mr Suzuki when he noticed his indecent staring. Not until he shot a menacing, deadly glare from over the frame of his dark red sunglasses at young Mr Suzuki did the latter stop staring at Videl and mind his own business. Gohan's stern facial expression and eyes were telling him to stop it already, and he did. Only because Gohan could look like a monster with those angry, inhuman eyes. But Mr Suzuki would try again in the future, he was sure of that.
"Videl," Gohan whispered to her kindly but seriously as they walked along the street. "Mr Suzuki was looking…" He honestly didn't know how to put it into words, so he didn't finish the sentence.
"I know, Gohan." She answered swiftly and quite happily, as if what Mr Suzuki had just done was a completely normal thing.
"But he's married and he was…" Gohan whispered angrily.
"He was undressing me with his eyes. Is that what you mean?" She stopped walking and checked whether Gohan cared to answer. Seeing that he didn't dare to, she chuckled lightly. "Don't tell me you didn't notice before?"
"Not really. I mean, I noticed that you call everyone's attention, but I never thought that the mark would have something to do with it."
"It has everything to do with it." She smiled at him as if she couldn't care less about that issue. She felt truly happy then, for no apparent reason besides being next to him. "Anyway, Mr Suzuki is a scared cat. He shies away whenever you try to pet him. And his wife controls him 24/7. Don't worry, coz. He's absolutely harmless."
"Other men might not be." Gohan pointed out seriously, partly thinking about himself. As he said so, he stared directly into her eyes through his dark sunglasses. In that hot June morning, the day was cloudless and the sun, unforgiving. Videl couldn't see his eyes properly because of the light and the sunglasses, but she got the feeling.
"Gohan…" She whispered back at him, with a mildly sad undertone.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice broke into their conversation.
"Good morning, Miss Satan! This tight light blue dress fits you completely, dear." Mrs Edogawa, forty years old, exclaimed as if she was trying to call Videl's attention too openly, too directly, too vehemently. It was obvious that her manner of speaking was fake but with a purpose. "And good morning to you as well, Gohan." Then, she made haste and kept on walking with a naughty smirk on her face.
"Good morning to you too, Mrs Edogawa." Videl answered back with kindness and smiling, although the elder lady did not deserve it.
Later, Mrs Edogawa entered the pie shop. After some seconds, Gohan asked Videl having certain doubts:
"What was that?"
"Mrs Edogawa was politely implying that she's a better person and a purer soul than any of us (especially me, because she thinks I dress like a whore), and that she just loves to take pride in it unashamedly and publicly, Gohan." Videl wittily pointed out. "She's going to brag about it in front of everyone. The irony of it being that, in order to be a good-willed, perfectly-pure, flawless soul, you mustn't take pride on stuff like that." She added displaying a broad, carefree smile on her face as if nothing had happened. "But that's the mark speaking the language of hate through her. It's not her fault. The longer I stay in a city, surrounded by the same people, the worse it gets."
"You read people in a completely different way than I do." He whispered amazed, still trying to process the whole thing. "Are you sure she meant all this?"
"Judge it for yourself." She said chuckling once lightly afterwards. In a split second, she got closer to him and gave him a peck on his cheek. Then she whispered very close to his ear: "Can a female cousin give a peck to her male cousin in public, and not be considered a sinner? Have a look around you now and listen very, very carefully." She made a crucial pause and then she parted from him. "Let the show begin. Stay standing here, and you'll see what happens the second I leave. See you in a few minutes!"
Then, she strode away along the street as joyfully as ever. Gohan raised an eyebrow at her, but she never turned around to check on him. Suddenly, he turned his head to the people around him and he wondered what 'show' she was talking about. Then, he heard a group of young ladies on the other side of the street thanks to his acute hearing, which enabled him to detect finer and more distant sounds than regular human ears. He could hear them murmuring and naughtily giggling through the busy traffic as they stared meanly at Videl as she disappeared out of sight. They were gossiping about the indecency of Videl's behaviour and how her dress looked cheap, unfitting, and made her look like a slut.
But this gesture, her peck on my cheek, is an absolutely normal one between cousins! – Gohan thought half-enraged, trying to justify Videl's action. – And her dress is a normal one. She's been wearing it since… well, ever since I've met her. It suits her nicely like the rest in her wardrobe, but she doesn't look like a slut. Erasa has similar dresses. They are wearing similar clothes, as well. This is incredible! Is this the mark's doing?
Out of the blue, Mr Suzuki shot an envious glare at Gohan from behind the counter of his pie shop, so daring and evil that Gohan cannot recognise the man anymore. It was as if he had changed completely. Gohan was quite sure that Mr Suzuki was feeling so jealous due to that innocent kiss that he would've actually attempted to murder him. His eyes conveyed that precise meaning, and Gohan had met too many vampires who had tried to kill him: he perfectly knew the evil look in those kind of eyes.
Before he couldn't even blink his eyes once, there she went again: Mrs Edogawa had witnessed the scene from the pie shop's window and she was gossiping about it with Mrs Suzuki and Mrs Mouri, a neighbour of the same age, inside the pie shop, over the counter. Gohan could listen very clearly to what they were saying, including very nasty sentences questioning Videl's virtue. Gohan's name was frequently mentioned in the conversation as well, but the treatment they gave him was spotless and clean, as if he was an angel and she was a devil.
And yet, she's the angel and I'm the devil actually. Well, sort of. I'm soulless because I'm a vampire. – Gohan couldn't help analysing the people's behaviour and the effects of the mark a bit further. – If only they knew the truth! They become evil because of the mark. So this is what Videl was talking about. No matter what, the mark ruthlessly destroys everything. No exceptions. It will end up destroying my reputation as well in the end, as these proud ladies in the pie shop very naughtily are pointing out at the moment.
But this must surely be unbearable for Videl. Does her father's note in her heart make her care about this? Or does it help her to ignore it, live with it and move on? I assume it's so. Otherwise, this is insufferable!
As Gohan was thinking all that, he got knife-like death glares from other men in the area, either married or single, who had witnessed dear Videl's innocent peck on his cheek. Gohan didn't care. They might just think he was a normal man, but he was actually a vampire – and not a random, feeble one to be precise. It looked as if they would love to follow him and gut him in a dead-end alley. They couldn't possibly harm him in any way. He pondered on such matters, about how disgusting that whole situation had to be for Videl, since she had to endure that every single day for the rest of her life. He understood the high cost of the mark on her left ribs at a social level, but he stopped for a minute and mused on what happened at a personal one: he suddenly realised that she had had to ignore every single man on Earth because not one of those men truly felt either friendship or love for her. Anything any man would ever feel for her would just be an unstoppable lust induced by the mark.
So I assume I'm also affected by the mark in that way, which means that… – Gohan thought sadly. – … I don't really love her, do I? I just feel these urges in me because the mark forces me to. The attraction that I've always felt for her is just a subproduct of the mark, isn't it? And since I'm the lucky winner of her fondness and love, I don't feel like killing anyone (but I did want to kill Trunks, so… oops!). My feelings for her are fake, then? No, they can't be! Impossible!
Then, he clenched his fists and felt extremely angry at himself, even though his love for her rallied wildly within his heart trying to prove itself true.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Perfect Cell is just insane about this young woman, this Videl!" Android 17 whispered to himself in his room as angrily as he could. "He keeps us waiting and waiting! He might be older, faster and stronger than me. He may be the boss, but I need to do something. I've been waiting long enough!"
Perfect Cell had come up with a plan a few days ago (or so he said), but he had kept postponing it for no apparent reason. Android 17 had been pushing him, trying to figure out what it was about, but Cell just refused to share any thoughts with him. That was why Android 17 didn't want to wait anymore. He was fed up with it already. He needed some action!
Since Android 18 told them also about Erasa, Sharpner's lovebird, Android 17 had been endlessly lusting after her. And he had got a nasty plan for her too. That was why he was coming to Tokyo and pick up a fight with Sharpner for good old times' sake… and some fun.
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"Nice job, lil Sharpner! You look strong and well-trained! Who would've thought that?!" Android 17 yelled at Sharpner like a mockery while they were fighting each other to death in a distant forest outside Tokyo.
They had been fighting and arguing for quite a while then. Trees had fallen down, half broken or burnt due to their ruthless ki-blast shooting here and there. Their clothes were half-way torn or burnt, as well. Unfortunately, while Sharpner had some bruises and a thin stream of blood coming from his mouth, Android 17 was fresh like a rose.
Android 17 had sent Sharpner a note earlier that night, telling Sharpner he wanted to see him, and he was obviously having fun at Sharpner's expense.
"Long time no see." Android 17 went on. "But I didn't forget you, you see. I know you like to play with a pretty little doll. What's her name? Erasa, right?"
Sharpner was mad right then. No one dared to talk like that about his Erasa. The night was moonless, and Sharpner could barely see a thing, but that was not really a problem since Gohan had taught him to fight without needing his eyes. Sharpner had got his fits ready.
"This cute doll… I assume she's your girlfriend." Android 17 went on, smirking. "I like cute girls like her. Would you lend her to me? I'll treat her right. Even better than you, even."
"You'll regret saying that!" Sharpner replied with anger.
"I might turn her into a vampire if I like how she fucks." Android 17 replied, feeling amused.
That last comment drove Sharpner out of his mind. He was determined to make him regret saying those words.
They ran, gasped and fought, but none seemed to be winning. Both Gohan and Videl were hunting other vampires in other areas downtown that night. They obviously didn't know that Android 17 was nearby, because they decided to split to cover a larger territory that night. Sharpner began to regret not having told his friends about Android 17's note and their meeting in the woods, because maybe he would need some help.
A whole hour went by and they were panting, bleeding and sweating generously, but none wanted to give up. Sharpner was able to cause harm to his opponent. It was his first attempt at fighting against one of the bastards who murdered his mother a long time ago. He could not fail. He would not.
It had started to rain quite copiously then.
"I'm having fun, Sharpner. But I'm sure your cute doll will be far more enjoyable than your company." Android 17 said with a husky, lustful voice.
A lightning struck a huge white oak tree in the distance and it started to burn without control. Luckily, the pouring rain would suffocate it soon enough. The light that the fire shed was shining right on Sharpner's back, cutting out his well-built outline in the dark shadows in the woods, exposing him clearly, but Android 17 was too proud to take advantage from it. He chuckled madly. In comparison, Sharpner was smart enough to aim his fists at him and he was able to strike him in the face. Android 17 would get a lot more than a mere broken nose. Sharpner was no longer a kid who could merely outrun his friends in the school playground.
Sharpner went on and on. His punches became animalistic, bestial, and brute. Android 17 didn't see it coming. His pride had made him underestimate his opponent. He didn't even have time to gasp or yell for his life before Sharpner aimed the last and final blow which would seal his fate.
Android 17's head had been ruthlessly ripped off, bearing a wild, shocked expression on his frozen, dead face.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The pouring rain kept falling from the skies as if the clouds were mad. Once Sharpner managed to come back to his home, a small flat over the high-tech shop, completely worn out due to the intense fight against Android 17, Erasa was waiting for him in the darkness of the shop. She knew where he kept an extra key (a small crack behind a flower pot on the right-hand side of the main door). He gasped when he saw her.
"Erasa! For Christ's sake, you scared me! What are you doing here?!" He said as if he was just about to have a heart attack. He briefly clutched his heart over his extremely soaked shirt while Erasa couldn't help but staring at his wet face and his dishevelled and also soaked hair, which made him look hot like hell right then, by the way.
"And you scared me, mister!" She said angrily and then she started to speak very fast and very nervously: "Since you told me you hunt vampires at night, I find myself unable to sleep because I'm worried about you! All the time! I've been going mad for days now! Are you hurt?! Are you tired? How long does it take to kill vampires every night? Do you sleep enough?" She sighed and stopped yelling at him then. "God knows what you've been doing tonight!" She whispered sadly and shyly then.
"Erasa, I…" Sharpner whispered calmly as he tried to keep his blood pressure down. Seeing Erasa worried about him like that, rushing to his place that hellish night, was doing strange things to him right then. He was nervous and excited like never before. "Erasa, I should've…"
"No, don't try to come up with any more excuses. I'm fed up with them already." Erasa said seriously. He had told her a bunch of them lately, only to keep her on the safe side of life in a devastatingly cruel world.
"Erasa, can you listen to me, please? I have something important to tell you. I've had a revelation tonight." Sharpner said seriously, but full of confidence. Then, seeing that she was willing to let him speak, he knelt down, and took her hand into his. "I didn't want to do it like this. I still haven't had time to wrap it up, but anyway…". Then, he took a ring from his pocket and said: "Erasa, my dear Erasa, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He asked her out of the blue.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Dear journal,
Every day that goes by is like a nightmare. I've started to realise how hard it is for Videl to bear the effects that the mark has on other people. In addition, I've come to the realisation that I need to put my feelings to test. I want to do it for her. It might be even harder than finding a cure to vampirism, but I'm willing to try it. I want to prove to Videl (and to me, as well) whether my feelings are affected by the mark or not. I do hope they're genuine, though.
What I do know for sure is that she loves me. She told me so a few days ago when I was kissing her. I keep wondering if she's able to know whether my love is real or not. Should I ask her whether she can tell the difference between how I feel for her and the way other men do? I'd hate to be just like any other man in the city, looking meanly at other men who happen to be near her, lusting after her as if the world was at an end and I didn't fear going to hell for it.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"My Erasa's getting married!" Mrs Nakamura said elated as soon as Gohan and Videl opened the door of their home to let the Nakamuras in.
Yes, that was the day they were invited to have lunch over at Gohan and Videl's house. Mrs Nakamura just couldn't contain her joy any longer. Both Videl and Gohan looked at each other smiling because her reaction was so excessive, as usual. She was constantly on an emotional rollercoaster.
Erasa, on the other hand, seemed to be in the clouds all the time, as if nothing could reach out to her. That was odd. Videl had expected Erasa to blackmail her into giving into her demands in exchange for the sex tape.
"Erasa, congratulations." Videl whispered with joy to her friend when they had a minute together. She was smiling broadly.
They had shown them each room of the house, except the training underground facility, of course. Erasa's parents loved every single corner of it, including Videl's bedroom. They acted as if they didn't know the truth. Both Gohan and Videl looked at each other in silent relief. Erasa hadn't spilled the beans… yet.
"Thank you, Videl." Erasa said blushing. She fell silent for a while.
"Erasa, you look… well, very unlike your usual self. Are you OK?" Videl asked her feeling truly worried.
All of a sudden, when her parents were downstairs already, heading towards the dining room lead by Gohan, Erasa replied a bit naughtily and with cheek:
"OK, so what about Gohan?" Now that was her usual spunk and delirious judgemental tone of voice. "Sharpner proposed to me. Is he decent enough to do the same to you?"
"Erasa, stop it, please." Videl whispered as if she was tired. And she was. "Not now. I've got to serve lunch now."
"Now is as good as ever." Erasa insisted with too much eagerness.
Videl sighed with tiredness as they headed towards the dining room too.
"He's… a vampire, Erasa." Videl didn't know what to tell her as an excuse, especially because she was worried about the effects of the mark on Gohan and she didn't want to be a burden for him, or destroy him because of it.
The mark destroyed everything. She still didn't know how it would unfold in the long run. She wanted a long-term relationship with him, but she'd never had one with anyone. That was uncharted territory. Erasa didn't know about the mark yet, and Videl didn't want to tell her. She knew just enough of their complex supernatural world.
"Don't vampires ever get married?" Erasa asked raising an eyebrow, getting the wrong conclusions on Videl's hesitant utterance and her tiredness as regards the subject. "Oh, wait. You must have a soul to be able to get married, right? Getting married implies binding your souls to each another. Vampires don't have one. Shame." She said trying to mock Videl as they entered the dining room.
"Erasa, please. He's good, and that's enough for me. I don't care whether he owns a soul or not. That's not the point." Videl said as an excuse. "He's…" She was hesitating.
"Are you afraid of his immortality?" Erasa replied suddenly, not daring to come closer to his parents, Sharpner or Gohan, lest they could overhear their conversation. "I get it. I would. Besides, he cannot give you offspring, right? But don't you love each other? Why shouldn't he propose?"
"Yes, but…" Videl was not going to tell her about the mark. Nope. Not now, not ever. "Stop taking preconceived conclusions about us!"
"What the hell do you want from him then?!" Erasa asked her exasperated. "OMG! Now I get it! You want to become a soulless vampire like him?! Is that it?!" Erasa asked enraged, but keeping her voice low. "You want to ask him to turn you?! No, Videl, please… don't!"
"No, I don't want to." Videl replied calmly, also trying to keep the volume down. Erasa was wrong. It wasn't that what she was thinking. "Calm down, Erasa. That's not what I want."
"Oh, good. You got me scared for a second." Erasa added partly relieved. Then, she chanced to glimpse at Gohan and she asked: "OK… Why is Gohan frowning at me like a madman right now?"
Yes, Gohan was glaring at Erasa from the other extreme of the room.
"Because you own a sex tape that shouldn't exist in the first place. That's why." Videl answered casually. "Hand it over. The sooner, the better. Or else, Gohan will deal with you. He will not be gentle. He will not care that you're my friend, or Sharpner's girlfriend. I managed to convince him to let me try once more to instil some common sense into this little brain of yours." And then Videl added: "You know, he suggested Sharpner not to have friends or a fiancée a long time ago if he wanted to be a vampire hunter. He's not really enthusiastic about your marriage, but that doesn't mean he hates you or anything." Videl was obviously lying there. Gohan was so fucking tired of having Erasa around. "As long as you don't piss him off, you don't need to worry, Erasa. Which means you have to stop nagging us and hand over the bloody sex tape."
"Nope. Not in a zillion years." Erasa knew that Videl was lying to her.
"Erasa, you look like you have got an evil master plan. Please, stop scaring me, for Christ's sake." Videl whispered seriously. "This is getting out of hand. Stop it. I mean it."
"Then, get married or leave his home." Erasa said as if it was her final ultimatum. "I know the truth: he hates me, Videl. So you decide: either you marry him or leave this house unless you want your little secret get blasted around town."
"You can't! You won't!" Videl replied exasperated. "They'll think you're insane! You can't just tell people about us, showing a thermal sex tape! They won't believe it's us anyway. The tape doesn't show our faces. Just the heat of two bodies. It could be anyone."
"Anyone? Are you sure, Videl?" Erasa said with a broad smile on her face. "Even when my phone's call log displays my missed call to you at the precise moment the female in the sex tape gets her phone to answer it? It's you, Videl." She chuckled freely, as if she had won already. "Besides, my drone had a GPS, constantly emitting a signal of its geolocation. Before it broke down, it was last located at the precise geolocation of this house, Gohan's house, his bedroom, to be more precise, even. At night. And I also got Gohan's full frontal outline on the sex tape. No other man has got that physical perfection. It's clearly him. So…" She concluded, assuming she had outsmarted both of them. "What now, Videl?"
"This isn't over, Erasa." Videl whispered menacingly at her.
"Oh, yes, it is, dear Videl." Erasa insisted also menacingly. "And I'm not scared of Gohan, just so you know."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Gohan," Videl whispered to him vehemently and bit angrily when they had a minute for themselves in the kitchen. Their guests were happily chatting in the dining room while they were waiting for their two hosts to come back with dessert. "I absolutely agree with you, and I'm sorry I didn't see it before. For this, I apologise." She admitted swiftly and angrily while getting a cake out of the fridge.
"What are you talking about?" Gohan naively asked.
"Erasa is a scary little bitch. I don't see how Sharpner can stand her at all! She's just thrown an ultimatum at me!" She said as if she was about to pull out her hair. Then, she left the cake on the kitchen table and turned to get a large knife, spoons and some small plates to serve it. "She's not willing to hand over the sex tape. She's made it quite clear she can identify us. We're screwed, Gohan. Really screwed." She sighed.
"What?! How?! But…" He panicked as well.
"I hate her guts right now. And I'm awfully sorry to say this, basically because she's my friend, but…" Videl sighed hopelessly. "She's a pain in the ass and I can't take it anymore!"
"Is it because of the mark?" He asked a bit too darkly.
"I assume it's so." Videl's eyes became strangely sad, and then she fell silent. Gohan hated that look in them and frowned. "The mark makes heterosexual women hate me."
"I heard the people talking meanly about you because of the peck you gave me the other day." Gohan added whispering tenderly and lovingly. "I got really worried, Videl. It was just a peck. Simple things like that one get easily out of hand. Like Erasa and her current behaviour. It's getting out of hand too."
"I know. But I'm not worried about me." She whispered sadly and weakly.
"You should. They're…"
"I'm worried about you, Gohan." She said quietly, interrupting him, as she stared at him. "I don't want you to be collateral damage."
Gohan blushed a bit due to her protective tone of voice.
"I won't be collateral damage as long as you stay by my side, Videl." He gently whispered as he locked his stare into hers through his dark sunglasses. "Don't ever leave me." He said sweetly. Her half-parted, lush lips were inviting him to daydream.
They fell silent for some time then.
"What was Erasa's ultimatum, by the way?" He asked eventually. "Any whimsical demand in particular I should worry about?"
"She'll tell everyone about us not being truly cousins, showing the bloody sex tape and all the proof she's got to expose us, unless I leave your house or…" She blushed wildly then. She didn't dare to finish the sentence.
"Or… what's the other option?" He asked whispering while he was getting lost in her beautiful blue eyes.
"Well, errr… She wants us to…" She hesitated and blushed even more. She sighed and bit her lower lip.
"What?" He pushed her. He wanted her to say it. Now.
"… get married." She finally whispered back at him.
Gohan turned crimson, but he frowned immediately afterwards, and his eyes got darker as if something was truly bothering him. A terrifying thought had dawned in his mind. The time to behave like a shy teenager in love was over. He had to voice his concerns and not be shy about them:
"I'd love to, honest to God. I'd love to marry you, but…" He whispered back at her seriously. "you don't want me to, am I right? I've partly overheard what Erasa and you've been talking about earlier. I've heard how she's asked you about my decency to ask your hand in marriage, and your replies. About what you want." His tone became sadder. He looked heartbroken.
"Gohan, I just…" She tried to apologise.
"You wouldn't be a burden, if that's what you think. You know I love you in spite of the mark. I don't even care about the fucking mark doing nasty little things to everyone around you, including me! And if you don't want to become a vampire, that's fine with me." He was talking nervously and fast. "And if you don't like me being a vampire, I can still travel around the globe and try to find a cure. Maybe I can still find it. There's a chance it really exists. If it does, I'll find it. I swear. If that's the man you want me to be: human, with a soul you can marry to. A few months ago I heard that somewhere in China maybe there's…"
"I was lying to her, Gohan." She broke in softly but desperately. "Or at least, trying to dodge her oral assault! She doesn't know about the mark and I don't plan telling her about it. That's the real reason behind all this, behind all my clumsy answers… I love you and I always will, the way you are, but I can't afford it as long as the mark is on me. It's too dangerous. I'm worried about it. I've never tried a long-term relationship. I've got no idea whatsoever how the mark will behave towards you." She shook her head twice and gasped in order to get a pause to get some air. "As I said before, you'd become collateral damage if the mark chose to do nasty things to your mind, and I'd rather die before anything nasty happens to you." A tear was on the verge of falling down her soft, warm cheeks. Videl's heartbeats were getting progressively wilder after saying that powerful sentence.
Dear Lord, – Gohan mentally prayed with determination. – If you're listening to me, I must ask you to end our misery. Videl's soul is the purest and gentlest that I have ever seen, and yet you insist on making her suffer. Should you save those who find themselves in need, pick her. Please save her! She deserves salvation more than me, more than anyone in this world. I'd gladly die for her. If there is a cure for her, to get rid of Desire's mark, tell me how to get it. I'd do absolutely anything for her!
They stared at each other intensely as they breathed in and out, and they said nothing further. She started to feel a bit dizzy again, but she ignored the pain, as usual.
He's so desperate to make me happy. – Videl thought. – I can't stand to see him worry like this. I love him. I can't bear to see him suffer. I can see how it aches in him. He'd do anything to be with me, but he can't erase the mark. It's impossible. I tried hard to find a way out of it, but there isn't. I guess he had experienced the same kind of defeat when he tried to find a cure to vampirism. There just isn't one. And we have to cope with what we've got. If only he was able to find one! He deserves what he's looking for. I'd gladly help him if I knew how.
Then, Gohan couldn't take it anymore. He crushed her in his arms and wildly kissed her. She let him do this and blushed vividly. She sank her fingers into his hair and, then, she also gently held his nape. They spent some minutes like that even though the guests were waiting for them to come back. Then, he deliberately put his right hand on her left ribs, on the mark, felt forced to break the kiss and grunted madly due to the wild desire rallying within him.
"Gohan!" She panicked.
The mark threatened to take over – and it did. It transferred all kinds of wicked thoughts and ideas through the fabric of her top, into his hand, finding a path to his brain.
She was speechless due to that latest move on his behalf. Gohan had touched the mark, and was still holding on to it with his right hand as if his life depended on it. She hadn't seen it coming since she had invested all her attention in their kiss. Then, he took off his dark red sunglasses with his left hand and left them on the nearest kitchen counter. Next, he rested his forehead on hers. His pupils got larger and deeper, staring into her dumbfounded eyes. His left hand got a firm grip of her waist. As soon as his fingers sank into her flesh with an unrivalled craving, he couldn't help but meeting her hips with his in a swift, rash move, pinning her to a large cupboard she had behind her back. Videl then gasped in amazement when the back of her head collided with the hard wood, and then she noticed his hard-on and got scared he would do something to her he might regret later. She had to find a way to stop him.
"Gohan." She whispered worried. "Don't do this to me. Not now."
He felt as if he desperately needed to take her right there, right then, hard and fast. He felt he would die if he didn't do it. He wanted to sear his body with her fire, get closer and closer like a moth to a flame, willing to die while seeking the ultimate pleasure. He felt an unbearable tension in all his muscles, all his bones, all his tendons; he felt an undying fire scarring each and every cell of his body – and he would scream of such piercing pain if only he wasn't so focused on satisfying his lustful whims with her. Right there, right then.
"I won't hurt you." Gohan whispered with a husky, irresistible voice, tempting her because he was aching to be inside her. He wanted her to consent to fall in the most epic fall of all time.
"Gohan, hold on to rational thought." She whispered kindly, but seriously, trying with all her might to be the lighthouse that would guide his ship to a safe harbour in the middle of the night. "If you can cope with being a vampire and the bloodlust, you can get over this. Focus on rational thought. You would never fuck me in the kitchen right when we've got guests in the dining room who are waiting for us to return."
"Videl, I love you." He insisted feeling that delusional fever.
"Right now, you don't love me, you just lust after me. The mark, remember?" She said hurt as she swiftly got rid of his arms with anger, and then she escaped from him, taking a tray with the cake, the knife, and some spoons and plates she had prepared earlier for the guests. "The bloody mark…" She whispered in a sad and angry tone of voice as she rushed out of the kitchen.
Gohan closed his eyes and clenched both fists and teeth. He felt ashamed of his current behaviour. But the only thing his brain could think of was:
What would happen if I touched the mark directly with my hand? Skin to skin? My heat meeting her heat? With no textile barrier between us? Would it feel even… better?
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
In the afternoon, Videl was prompted to sing some songs to entertain the guests.
She couldn't help feeling blue, although Gohan's fit of passion had geared up her own lust to an unbearable extent. She had never felt anything like that for any other man. But she knew that getting laid with him precisely when he had touched the mark would just make things more complicated. She found herself wishing things were different: no vampires, no mark, no pressures… just a normal young man and woman flirting as they were meant to.
She had always enjoyed the freedom of travelling from one city to the next, making new friends and acquaintances along the way, until the mark got in the way and changed their behaviour. That was when Videl usually hit the road and left for good. She went to a different city and settled there, making new friends, building her life from scratch.
Now she was suddenly unable to do that anymore.
Her freedom was defined in new terms: she could always keep the same travelling routine, but that time it would be with Gohan by her side. Would that be bad?
Videl found herself pondering on that stuff.
She suddenly decided that the best thing would be leaving his home altogether before he tried anything on her under the nasty effects of the mark, although she'd love to have him on top of her, pinning her down on his bed, making wild, passionate love to her until she died. She briefly turned crimson and tried to shake the thought from her head while she was singing, but she couldn't help feeling wet about him.
The way he was staring at her right then was not helping at all. She felt her legs getting weaker and her head, a bit dizzier than usual although he was not touching her at that moment, just staring meaningfully at her as he was standing behind their guests so that they couldn't see his lustful facial expression. That was why she managed to finish the song in a rush and excused herself.
"I'm sorry, but I think I need to get some rest." Videl told them. "If you excuse me, I shall go and lie down a bit." She whispered feeling genuinely tired.
Gohan frowned and sighed almost inaudibly.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Now, that was one hell of a party. Better than the one Erasa's family had thrown a few weeks ago? Probably.
"I hope that my presence here doesn't bother you, Videl." Trunks politely whispered to her very close to her left ear. Then, he kissed her hand and smiled at her like the perfect gentleman he was trying hard to be. "You look stunning tonight."
She was wearing a sensual, skin-tight dress which left very little to the imagination: it was a long, black dress which had short sleeves clinging to her skin, a V-neck with black lace with a flower pattern which went down on either side of her breasts until it reached her waist (but not giving away anything), a slit on her left leg, and the back of the dress was nothing but a long stretch of lace as well.
"Thank you, Trunks." Videl answered politely as she thought that he has also dressed quite hotly tonight with a black and white tuxedo and shirt. Not that she cared.
That night the Edogawas, one of the wealthiest families in Tokyo, were holding a ball at their wealthy home to celebrate their son's comeback from Europe and they had all been invited. He had been studying to become an engineer in Germany, but he wanted to come back to Japan and become his father's right hand in his car company. They were certainly loaded: the house and the furniture were amazing; their dresses were equally magnificent. They even had an extremely fancy set of silver and gold cutlery on display, and a huge gallery with deliriously expensive works of art, and all the guests couldn't help commenting on them with a most vivid enthusiasm. But the vintage car collection was second to no other luxury in the mansion. All the guests were gathered in the car-collection room, a large, fancy kind of exhibition room.
Music softly filled the air. Erasa was eagerly dancing with Sharpner, also dressed to kill, and, whenever they stopped for a minute or two, they were getting compliments from everyone as regards their impending marriage celebration. In the meantime, Gohan was chatting with Mr and Mrs Nakamura while keeping an eye on Videl and Trunks as they were speaking for the first time in a month, more or less. Gohan thought it weird it had taken Trunks so long to come back.
Trunks had the indecency to show up dressed for the occasion earlier that same afternoon at Gohan's house, knowing about the ball and everything as regards Sharpner and Erasa's marriage. When Gohan asked Videl whether she had told Trunks about all those things, she made a funny face and denied it, but she said she assumed he knew because lots of information flow into the Dream Realm through the dreams and nightmares of people. Trunks must've known from one of the Edogawas or their friends and neighbours while dreaming.
Anyway, Trunks was at the ball right then, gently holding Videl's hand and kissing it as he was staring intensely at her through those dark sunglasses of his.
"Did Erasa invite you?" Videl asked whispering to him, knowing the answer beforehand.
"Yes, she did." Trunks whispered back and then he smirked at her.
"I knew it." And then she sighed.
"She also mentioned that someone had to stop certain 'gentleman' from doing any harm to you." He added swiftly.
"So here you are, my knight in shiny armour, right?" She sighed hopelessly and using a mild sarcasm.
"You bet." Trunks' smile was broader than ever. Videl just rolled her eyes.
"If she knew who you really are, she'd freak out, you know." She said matter-of-factly.
"Aha. But she doesn't, right? Or do you intend to tell her?" He whispered at her.
"No, I'm not interested in giving her a heart attack." She whispered seriously as she chanced to glimpse at Erasa from the distance. "Although she deserves it. She's been too much of a pain in the ass lately. If she knew about you, she'd definitely try to murder me or something. My life is too hectic as far as her standards are concerned and the revelation of your true identity would definitely be the straw that would break the camel's back."
"Good to know we're on the same page then." He smiled meaningfully as he leaned his face to hers, towering over her as if he wanted to reap a kiss from her lush lips. "I don't want her to know either. She might not like me, and therefore not aid me."
"Don't misunderstand my words, Trunks." She said seriously and left him on his own to ponder on her words. "I'm being kind to you because we're here, in this huge party, surrounded by humans. We might need to talk about your goals."
Gohan had been talking to Mr and Mrs Nakamura but he had been constantly overhearing Trunks and Videl's conversation. He smirked when he saw that she had left him alone when he was about to kiss her. Or so it seemed. In the meantime, Erasa had been busy, but not enough to distract her completely from her true goal that night: to solve things once and for all.
"Mr Briefs," Erasa suddenly came to Trunks and called his attention. They talked aside from the rest of the guests in a secretive tone. "what are you waiting for? I mean, I hate to be so straightforward about this, but… Let me see if I understand this right: you love Videl, right?"
"I do." He answered politely.
"Then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT… Now. Tonight." She insisted as if her life depended on it. Her eyes grew big and seemed to glow in anticipation. "Don't let any more minutes go by. Gohan is determined to go for it. The question is: are you?"
"I beg your pardon, Miss Nakamura, but let me tell you that I find you quite changed tonight. You're so direct. Are you feeling alright?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"I feel perfectly well, thank you. Now propose to her as soon as possible." She swiftly said as if she was talking to a servant who needed to await specific orders from her.
"Wow, Miss Nakamura. This is most sudden." He was genuinely surprised by her attitude and straightforwardness.
"It is. Because Gohan will take the lead if you don't. So hurry up! Ready or not, you have to ask her tonight."
"Where's the hurry? Are you sure Gohan is going to propose to her tonight?"
"Don't speak to me as if I was being ridiculous. Why do you think I invited you tonight?" She went on seriously. "Does it really matter whether it's tonight when he might propose to her or not? Maybe has he got something else in mind?" She hesitated as to state her worries and blushed wildly, implying something darker, lustier and more sinful than she had ever dared to mention before in any conversation throughout her entire life. Then, she sighed and fell silent. Her eyes were pregnant with that sinful meaning and she stared at him intensely, trying to convey that meaning. Then, Trunks understood and chuckled.
"No, you can't mean… Videl wouldn't allow that." His usual smile faded from his face all of a sudden. "Would she?" He whispered eventually.
"The sooner you make a move, the better." She whispered seriously and left him alone. She didn't want to tell him she had proof of Gohan and Videl making love. Who knew how mad Trunks could get if he knew about it. Or when he would know about it.
"This young lady knows how to spur a man's intentions." He whispered to himself amused but serious.
Right then, Videl was prompted to sing a couple of songs for the guests. Her talent couldn't just be ignored and the men were more than eager to listen to her voice, although the women seemed to be bored about her singing already. All the women mentally agreed that she had been under the spotlight too often recently. They hadn't been so averse to her in the past. Videl obviously knew that – it was not the first time she experienced that kind of reaction from other females. In spite of that, she started to sing. She tried to enjoy the singing as much as she could, although she knew she was already doomed in social terms.
The last time I sensed that things would go astray, – Videl thought calmly and sadly at the same time. – as now is the case, I knew it was time for me to leave town. I had to change my life and leave everyone behind. But how can I leave now that I have found someone I care for a lot? I can't make him follow me. Not like this. He can't fight the cravings of the mark. Look at what happened the other day, in the kitchen. I mean, I should've known better. I shouldn't have met him… Anyway… He's immortal and I refuse to make him mad for eternity. As far as I'm concerned, that's way too much.
But I love him.
It's what I've always wanted, to love and be loved, and it's what I shall never have.
When she was done singing, she wanted to leave the stage, but she was not allowed to. Mr Edogawa politely insisted her to sing one more. His begging was quite enthusiastic and Videl got tense and tried not to display how uncomfortable that whole situation was for her. They began to gently push and pull and, although Videl felt that she should not sing publicly anymore, she was forced to accept to sing one more song.
If I must be socially doomed – Videl thought defiantly. –, let it be with good damn show. I hope Erasa is listening carefully to this! Well, and the rest of the ladies in town for that matter. I know a song doesn't mean anything to them, but it feels so good to sing, to do something you're good at, no matter what!
In the meantime, Android 18 was spying on her again. She had also come to the party, uninvited and dressed up so that she didn't call anyone's attention. She stood by a wall and listened to Videl singing with an evil smirk on her face.
Now this is a surprise indeed! – Android 18 thought amused. – A wonderful song for such an unfitting creature! Dear Videl, I know your darkest secret, and you look like a black sheep in a white flock. I can't wait to see how Perfect Cell's going to deal with you.
The song came to an end and Videl felt a bit tired. Gohan noticed it and wondered why, but he didn't have much time to ponder on any potential theory because Erasa suddenly blocked his sight from her. She stood right in front of him and eyed at him suspiciously.
"Sharpner is right over there, speaking to Mr Edogawa." Gohan politely told her, assuming that she was looking for him.
"I'm not looking for him, Gohan." She answered seriously. "In fact, I was looking for you."
