Chapter 6
"I Won't Let Another Die Here!"
The four ran into the chambers were stairs led up to an elegant king size bed with an overhanging green silk canopy. Shadow Erasa sat at the end of her bed, legs properly crossed under her dress while her hands lay softly over her knees, her eyes overlooking the Erasa that lay on her side in her kimono at the bottom of the steps.
"Erasa!" Sharpner and Videl called out in unison.
Shadow Erasa's attention was turned to the voices before she smiled and stood to her feet, curtsying to them. "My my, you made it all this far?" She questioned excitedly. "Mmh… What a delectable platter of hunks! All here to see me? Ooh, I feel like such a special little girl."
Gohan walked forward to the stairs before beginning to ascend them.
"Dude, what the hell are you doing?!" Sharpner called after him.
"She said she wanted a prince." Gohan replied as he reached the top before coming face to face with Shadow Erasa. "I am here for you, my princess." He spoke elegantly, hoping this would quell her shadow side so they could avoid a fight.
"Ah, my prince!" She said happily, closing her hands together and placing them against her cheeks. She squeaked excitedly. "I think my prince deserves a kiss!" She closed her eyes and puckered up.
Sharpner's eyes narrowed and his fist tightened at the sight while Videl's eyes narrowed at his reaction.
Gohan closed his eyes with her and began leaning forward, his lips inching ever closer to her strawberry-lipstick lips.
Suddenly, a fist slammed into Gohan's stomach, causing his mouth and eyes to snap open as his breath left his body. Looking down, he saw Shadow Erasa's arm pushed into his stomach. "Oopsie." She gave an annoyed chuckle before grabbing Gohan's face with her free hand and pushing him off his feet, sending him through the air.
Videl jumped into the air and caught Gohan before falling into Sharpner's arms. The blonde set her down on her feet again before lying Gohan down, supporting his head on her knee as Sharpner turned to the Shadow.
Her eyes roamed over the three before looking at Sharpner, her tongue running over her lips hungrily. "Hi, handsome." She said with a wink.
Sharpner's cheeks instantly turned red as his eyes widened.
"Keep it in your pants, would you!?" Videl yelled angrily at Sharpner as she held Gohan up slightly.
"It's getting crowded in here." Shadow Erasa continued before beckoning him closer with a seductive finger. "Why don't I have the guards escort the rabble out of here while we have some… secluded time?"
"Shut the hell up already!" Videl cried out protectively.
Sharpner stood there, transfixed in her gaze as his body began to warm up, a bead of sweat running down his forehead.
"Then you can take me to a place far, far away from here." Shadow Erasa continued dreamily. "A place where no one knows us. Just you and I." She pouted at Sharpner. "If you're my prince, you'll bring me there, won't you?"
Sharpner began walking forward carefully. "I will." He affirmed.
"Oh…" Lime said from behind the others. "Is this… Scoring a hot stud?"
"Sharpner!" Videl almost shrieked at him.
He could not listen to her, if his plan was to work, he would need to keep constant concentration on the Shadow, edging his way closer to Erasa.
"You can't honestly believe that Sharpner is your prince!" Videl screamed at Shadow Erasa.
Videl's words stung Sharpner enough to be visible to the Shadow. "And why not?" She spoke with a hiss. "He keeps me safe, keeps me warm. He leads my heart to the place it needs to be. He's a strong prince… The perfect prince. And what were you!?"
Videl's eyes widened as Sharpner inched his way to the stairs. "W- What do you mean?" She almost cried.
"You know exactly what you did!" Shadow Erasa hissed. "Every opportunity! Every! Single! One! You made sure you asserted yourself over him! Everytime he tried to talk to me, you were there! Making me feel like I wasn't good enough! You can't take me away from here! You can't save me! You can't do anything!"
"Erasa…" Videl breathed as Gohan stirred.
Erasa pushed herself off the ground gently as Sharpner continued towards her slowly. "S- Stop…" She said weakly.
Her Shadow self looked down at her with contempt. "Taking over the inn? Managerial training? Being harassed by reporters and their little cameramen? I'm sick of it all! I never asked to be some Geisha for everyone to fawn over! Everything is decided for me! Where I live! Who I like! Where I die! And don't even get me started on those pathetic little perverts who try to ask me out!" She gave an angry humph, stomping her heeled shoe on the ground. "I'm so sick of it! To hell with it all!"
"What was that for?" Gohan called out as he got to his feet, holding his stomach. "You wanted a prince."
Shadow Erasa gave her dignified laugh. "I did, didn't I?" She replied before giving him a deadpan look. "You honestly believe I would kiss you?" She asked in an almost disgusted tone.
"No, stop it." Erasa tried to call out meekly.
The Shadow turned her nose up at Gohan. "As if I'd ever kiss someone like you." She scoffed.
"No… That's… That's not true…" Erasa's voice almost lost its edge.
"Well, why not?" Gohan called out with a hint of anger.
"Because I don't kiss filthy, disgusting, petty little country peasants!" Shadow Erasa shrieked.
"You're not me!" Erasa cried out.
Sharpner's hand stopped from reaching out to the kimono-wearing blonde as his eyes widened before looking up at her Shadow, who grinned down at her evilly. "Oh, my dear, I thought you'd never say that." She giggled as she produced her own handgun and placed it to her temple. "Now, everyone try not to get too fired up. Mhh… Sharpner, my prince, do try to give everything you have for me." She gave a dignified laugh before pulling the trigger.
At the sound of the gunshot, Sharpner felt a blast knock him back to the others as a circular stone tower appeared in front of them where Erasa stood, swallowing her into the uppermost chamber as shadows moved behind it while the temperature in the room rose.
"Oh this is not good." Gohan commented as a towering black dragon with a green leather stomach and purple fire rising from her sharply toothed mouth appeared behind the tower.
Papa Roach's Burn played from the PA system as the dragon began its attack by breathing its violent fire towards the three.
Gohan and Sharpner were shoved to the side as Marcarita appeared and threw her hands forward, sending out a continuous stream of ice to keep the fire at base.
The two boys got to their feet before Gohan became Dumplin.
"Sharpner! Tower! Now!" Marcarita called to Sharpner, who nodded and slinked away behind the pillars as the fire let up. The dragon noticed the blonde in its peripheral vision before focusing on the others. Marcarita and Dumplin nodded before springing into action.
Sharpner ran to the tower while the others distracted the dragon. He threw his head up to look at the only entrance, the window at the top. "Well, if a prince is going to prove his worth…" He said as he gripped the masonry and began to climb the wall with what little handholds there were. "…He does so alone. No persona, just good old strength." As he climbed, he could feel his strength leaving him, as if the very tower he was scaling were draining him of his stamina though magic.
Marcarita infused her nunchucks with ice before spinning them at high speeds, causing an icy wind to pick up to cool down the dragon's fireballs she spat at Marcarita. Dumplin jumped into the air to uppercut the dragon before its head came crashing down on him, slamming his body into the ground.
"Gohan!" Sharpner called out in a gruff, intensely masculine voice as he looked down at the Majin, his strength ebbing away every second. "I just remembered something from school!"
"Can it wait?" Dumplin replied as he picked himself up.
"It's about your persona!" Sharpner continued his speech in a voice of raw intensity as he clung to the tower. "It suggests the power of the Majin-Dumplin! He holds within him the seed that sparked a generation of Majin into existence! Look inside your persona! Feel for its power!"
Dumplin stood up as Marcarita continued to hold off the Shadow as long as she could. Concentrating his energy as a spark flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand into the air before bringing it crashing down onto the ground. "His power is not energy, but lightning!" Sharpner called out before a thunderbolt of electricity shot from the roof and connected with the dragon, causing it to scream in pain while electrocuting it enough that it's skeleton glowed underneath.
"But that's not all!" Sharpner continued as Dumplin took his Bō into his hands and charged it with electricity. "With mighty spear in hand did Majin-Dumplin dredge land from the very depths of the world!" Dumplin charged the dragon, jumping high into the air as Sharpner finished. "His is the very weapon that birth the earth!" The Majin brought the Bō up into the dragon's belly; it writhed in pain before breathing fire where Dumplin stood, only for the Majin to sidestep away from the blast.
Sharpner pulled onward until he made it into the window, sweat glistening on his face from both the heat and stamina drain of the tower. He turned his head to see Erasa on the bed that her shadow had occupied before, sleeping peacefully over the covers with her hands over her chest.
"Erasa!" Sharpner called out as he stumbled to his feet before a jolt shot into his heart, causing him to collapse while clutching his chest, breathing heavily. "The hell?" He breathed before standing up again for the process to repeat, sending him to his knees. "If the outside of the tower drains my stamina… then the inside…" He breathed heavily as he attempted to catch his breath. "Drains my life."
Suddenly, the glint of a blade appeared in front of him before he ducked, sliding on his legs as his katana clashed with the other sword, knocking it away.
He regained his footing again and turned as their swords clashed again. He looked to his assailant to see a pair of yellow eyes glaring at him, they belonged man with a crown and a suit of armor. "You?" Sharpner asked him before the king began his assault, Sharpner keeping up with him as their blades clashed and sparked in the dimly lit chambers.
Below them, the fight raged on as electricity, fire and ice decorated the room. The dragon's wings beat off the air, forcing Dumplin back with the wind as Marcarita grabbed hold of the dragon's tail, pulling it into the air before slamming her into the ground on her back.
Dumplin jumped onto the dragon's stomach and raised his Bō so that a bolt of lightning struck the pole before Dumplin spun it in his hands.
However, when he was about to plunge the Bō into its stomach, the dragon's head rose up quickly before closing her mouth around the gray Majin.
"No!" Marcarita cried out before the dragon swallowed him while scowling at Marcarita. "You bitch!" Marcarita exclaimed as she launched towards the dragon, striking it with her bare fists before delivering an uppercut to the Shadow's jaw. "Give him back! Dammit!" She screamed as she continued her bare fisted assault.
Sharpner became pressed up against the wall as the king pushed him while blocking his katana strikes. "You are unworthy of her!" The king growled before his blade struck Sharpner's arm, throwing his katana from his grasp so that it sailed out the window before plunging his blade between the break of his armor into Sharpner's stomach, causing the blonde to scream out in pain.
The glint of something on the king's hip caught Sharpner's attention before he gripped the king's shoulder and pulled himself closer. Taken aback by his actions, the king raised the blonde into the air before throwing him off his sword, letting him follow his katana out the window.
As he fell, Sharpner caught up to his blade before holding up the sharp dagger he had taken from the king's hip. He plunged the blade into the masonry and used the momentum to swing his body up, launching himself back into the air.
The king turned his back to the window as he heard the sound of loud metal hitting the ground, turning his attention to Erasa. He stepped one foot forward to approach her before the sound of something landing softly behind him hit his ears.
"BIDER!" Sharpner called from behind him. The king turned to see Sharpner standing with one hand gripping the tank top over his heart with the other hand covered part of his eye with his fingers spread. His katana hung from his hip with his armor discarded below the tower.
The king lunged forward with his sword before Sharpner's hand found his katana. With one fell swoop, the king's arm and sword fell to the ground. His eyes widened before Sharpner's hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him off his feet. Sharpner growled as his mask glowed in the dark room while wind circled around him, raising his hair slightly off his shoulders.
"I won't let…" His hand loosened its grip for the king to fall as Sharpner's free fist rocketed into his stomach before his other punch connected with his chest, keeping the king aloft to a flurry of fists. "…Another die here!" Sharpner delivered a final uppercut to the king's jaw, hurtling through the roof of the tower to fall and collide with the ground far below, where he became a black puddle before sinking into the ground.
Sharpner turned back to face Erasa before the pain in his heart and stomach returned, forcing him to his knees as he crawled slowly towards her, grunting in pain. He collapsed onto his stomach before pulling himself along the ground, hand clutching his heart as he climbed onto her bed.
Without another thought as he lay beside her, his heart close to giving in; Sharpner leaned down and pressed his lips against his sleeping beauty, feeling his eyelids grow heavy as they kissed.
Marcarita was knocked to her back by the dragon's rouge wing, kicking up dirt from the stonework as she slid, colliding with the tower. Wind kicked up to fuel the fire of the burning tapestries that lined the walls. She shook her head clear before pushing up from the ground and jumping to the side as a jet of fire hurtled towards her. The dragon turned its head to face her opponent, opening her mouth to attack.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot from the ceiling, striking the dragon where it stood, causing it to rear on its hind legs and scream. It was then that Gohan's Bō shot through its stomach before being dragged down to split its stomach open.
Dumplin jumped out, covered in black shadows and slime as he ran away from the collapsing dragon. "Woop-woop-woop-woop." was all Marcarita could hear as the rotund Majin moved his little stumps for feet as fast as he could. He stopped and turned a safe distance away before shaking the slime and shadows from his body.
"Why…?" Shadow Erasa whined from the ground as shadows spilled from her stomach. "Why couldn't you leave me alone…?"
Marcarita disappeared as Videl began walking forward. "I'm not walking away, Erasa." She said calmly, sweating slightly from the heated room. "I have something I need to tell you." She neared Shadow Erasa and placed a hand on her head, caressing her scales softly. "I was always jealous of you." She confessed as she hung her head. "You were always popular with guys … No one ever paid any attention to me… Not even Sharpner. So… I was happy when you called on me for help. I wanted to think… That you needed me to protect you."
Videl knelt down beside her and smiled. "Erasa, you're a strong person. You want to be free from me? Then I won't stand in your way any longer. You can go wherever you want… Be with whoever you wish to be. But even still…" Her lips pressed against her head softly as tears trailed down her cheeks. "I don't want to lose you… Because you're important to me."
With Videl's confession, Shadow Erasa's body glowed as it transformed into her original, ball-gowned form.
"Videl…?" A voice spoke from behind her.
Videl turned to see Gohan with a slight smile while beside him stood Sharpner, holding Erasa bridal style in his arms as she beamed at her friend, eyes glistening with newly formed tears. "You really mean that?" Erasa asked.
Videl nodded to her friend, a sad smile etched on her lips. "I'm sorry, Erasa. I was so caught up in what I was dealing with… I never looked to see how my friends were suffering. We're supposed to be best friends and I… I was so jealous of you…"
Erasa slid from Sharpner's arms onto her feet before running and hugging Videl. "It's okay. All I could think about was running away with a handsome boy." She held Videl close before her eyes found her Shadow, who had stumbled to her feet. "That's why you were made."
Videl let her go as the blonde approached her reflection. She took her gloved hands gently in her own. "I'm sorry I couldn't acknowledge you. I wanted to run, to be away with them all, and just be with him…" Her eyes found the golden glow of her other self. "You're right. I do feel that way." She admitted before holding her Shadow close, embracing her. "Thank you… For being me."
Shadow Erasa smiled as her body began to glow, rising into the air to become a small, blue skinned figure with blue eyes and snow white hair with a single long braided ponytail over her shoulder reaching her chest with her hair combed in an eighty by twenty ratio. "I am Cus; I shall lend my burning petals of passion to your journey."
Her body glowed and formed into a blue butterfly mask that floated in the air. Videl and Sharpner rushed to their friend's side as she thrashed and screamed form the searing pain of the mask.
Once it was over, Erasa collapsed in their arms. "I got her." Sharpner insisted as he held her steady, letting Videl step back as he took care of her. "Are you okay?" He spoke softly.
Erasa nodded as she rested her head on his bicep. "I'll be okay…" She murmured. "Just… A little tired. You came to rescue me?" A smile appeared on her lips.
Videl wiped her tear-ridden cheeks. "Of course we did!" She sniffed, choked up. "We're just so glad you're safe."
Just then, Lime waddled up to Erasa. "So… Who threw you in here?" It asked.
Erasa blinked at the sentient bear suit. "What… Who are you?" She asked in an almost scared tone.
Lime waved slightly to her. "I'm Lime." It introduced itself to her before repeating bluntly. "So who threw you in?"
Erasa put her hand to her forehead and winced. "I… Don't know…" She breathed. "Someone… Called my name… But my memory's a blur. I can't remember who it was… I'm sorry… Uh, Lime?"
Lime bowed its rotund body. "No new clues…" It said in defeat.
Sharpner looked up at the bear. "Not necessarily, we know for a fact now that someone threw Erasa in here." He said matter-of-factly.
Lime stood straight. "Then it really isn't you guys." It confirmed.
Gohan looked at it. "You still thought it was us?" He asked in disbelief.
Lime moved its body in shock. "N- No! Of course not!" It insisted.
Sharpner's eyes fixed on Lime. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood right now, bear." He growled softly.
Videl walked beside the two blondes. "We should hurry home." She advised. "Erasa should visit the hospital…" She glanced at Lime. "Thank you, Lime… For helping." She said; a hint of relief in her voice.
Sharpner stood up as he aided Erasa to her feet, holding her close so she would not fall. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.
She nodded. "I'll be okay with you." She smiled softly as the four began making their way to the door.
"W- Wait!" Lime called after them. "Y- You're going to leave me here all alone?"
The four halted and turned to the bear. "Leave you?" Sharpner asked in confusion. "But you live here."
Lime bowed its body sorrowfully. "Well… Yeah, but…" It said meekly.
Erasa pushed gently away from Sharpner and shuffled towards the bear suit. "Don't worry, Lime." She said softly, placing her hand gently on its head. "We'll come and visit again. So be a good bear and wait here until then."
Lime beamed up at her, tilting its body back so as to see her face. "Thank you." It said softly.
Back on the other side of the TV, the four friends came to a hospital room. Sharpner and Gohan stood to the side of the girls, watching over them while they sat together. All three of her rescuers now back in their original clothing, with Sharpner holding his stitched up stab wound.
"Are you sure you're okay, Erasa?" Videl asked in a scared tone. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
Erasa shook her head with a soft smile. "I promise I'm okay, Delly. I'm just a little tired…" She said sleepily.
"Do you remember anything?" Gohan chimed in.
Her usual smile dipped slightly. "I'm sorry… I don't remember anything…" She spoke softly.
Videl's hand lay over Erasa's own softly. "Don't worry, Erasa. You're safe now." She spoke delicately.
Sharpner's expression was serious as his mind worked. "So…" He began, deep in thought. "There's no mistake. Erasa was… attacked the same way as the others. And I have a feeling that the person we saw on the Midnight Channel was Erasa's Shadow. Maybe the things Erasa was suppressing in this world took form in the TV…?"
Gohan looked at him. "I think Lime was talking about that." He commented.
Sharpner shook his head and sighed. "It's no use. My minds just going round in circles." His fist tightened slightly. "What kinda sick sadistic bastard would do something like this?"
Gohan placed his hand on Sharpner's tense shoulder. "Let's put some thought into it tomorrow. We're all pretty tired after today." He advised.
Sharpner nodded as Videl stood up. "If it's alright with you guys…" Sharpner spoke. "I'd like to stay with Erasa for a while before leaving."
Videl nodded. "Sure, just… Make sure you get home soon. We'll see you tomorrow. And Erasa… Try to rest up."
Sharpner smiled and sat next to Erasa as Videl led Gohan out of the room.
Back home, brother and sister sat at their usual place as the door slid open.
"He's home!" Chiyori cheered before running to the door. She immediately ran back to hide behind Gohan as Yamcha walked in followed by three other men.
"Hello." The blonde one with the tattooed eye on his forehead greeted with a gruff voice and friendly wave while dressed in a magenta button shirt with a light-pink stripe pattern and a violet-white suit with turquoise and mint-green tie.
"It's nice to meet you." The shortest one, wearing a light Valentino suit and dark tie patterned by a column of skull emblems with upright, cat-like ears, addressed the siblings, standing partly in his shadow.
"We finished work early, so I thought I'd bring these three down to meet you all." Yamcha informed them with a smile and wave to the three beside him.
Tien and Chiaotzu bowed courteously while Puar bent over and smiled widely. "Hi there." He chirped, greeting the little girl. "I'm Puar, do you remember me?"
Chiyori moved further behind Gohan, covering herself from view.
"Lay off her, Puar." Yamcha advised with a commanding tone. "Can't you see she's shy?"
Puar stood up straight and hung his head. "My apologizes." He blurted out.
The six sat around the chabudai and ate dinner together.
Puar chimed in to Gohan as they ate. "Oh, you're friends with Erasa Pynk-Rubber, aren't you?"
Gohan nodded, not wanting to talk with his mouth full of food.
Chiaotzu spoke up beside Puar. "They found her, she's safe and sound so don't worry tonight." He slurped up his warm ramen hungrily.
Gohan gave a smile as he swallowed his own ramen. "Thank you, we owe you a lot." He spoke thankfully to the four.
Both Chiaotzu and Puar look shocked to be thanked. "Oh… You're welcome." They said awkwardly.
Tien, however, gave Chiaotzu a stern look. "Chiaotzu, don't speak with your mouth full!" He ordered in his gruff tone.
Chiaotzu became quiet as Puar prattled on. "That's not the end of it though. We just got finished speaking with Miss Pynk-Rubber. But she doesn't seem to remember anything about her disappearance or her whereabouts during it."
Yamcha fixed Puar with a glare. "Puar! Stop talking!" He almost growled.
Puar jumped from fright and hung his head. "S- Sorry." He murmured.
Yamcha looked at the frightened young girl beside him. "Ignore him; he's just spouting some wild fantasy, Chiyori."
She flung her arms around his waist. "Protect me?" She asked in fear.
Yamcha, taken aback by the sudden action, smiled and petted her hair. "I promise, Chiyori." He said.
Puar chuckled and muttered to Gohan. "So he does seem to have a softer side around Chiyori." He pointed out.
"I won't be able to be here tonight though." Yamcha informed the two. "So I'll need you, Chiyori, to clean up and lock the door."
Puar's hand landed on Gohan's shoulder. "And this guy can pack the lunches." He offered for Gohan.
Gohan looked at Puar's and on his shoulder. "Please don't touch me." He asked uncomfortably.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Puar spoke before speeding up his speech. "What was that, suspect number two?"
"Excuse me a moment." Yamcha spoke as he stood up and walked around the chabudai before smacking Puar on the back of the head.
Soon after, Gohan lay on his futon, his stomach turned from the ramen not agreeing with him.
The next morning during class, Gohan, who had not gotten much sleep the night before, and Videl took notes beside each other. Sharpner now absent due to attending Chico's funeral.
Videl turned to Gohan. "Um… Is it okay if I ask you a favor after class, Gohan?" She asked.
Gohan looked up from his notes to look at her. "…If I say no, are you-"He began.
Videl cut him off. "Great, do you play any sports?" She questioned.
Gohan let out a soft sigh. "A few…" He murmured tiredly.
Videl's lips broke into a smile. "Great, in that case, meet me after class."
After class, Videl led him to the sports hall where a team was practicing.
"Not… Basketball!" Gohan protested as he watched the teenagers running around the hall, shooting hoops and illegally travelling when they thought no one was looking.
Videl shrugged. "Oh, well, can't do anything about that now." She smirked and waved to the team.
Gohan began turning around. "Look let's just leave before someone-"
"Well, well, well…" A familiar voice came from the hall. "Look who decided to come crawling back."
Gohan turned his head to see Balla walking towards him in his basketball outfit. "Oh, sweet Kami…" He sighed under his breath.
Videl smiled warmly to Balla before presenting Gohan. "This is Son Gohan. He's here to join your team."
Gohan's eyes glanced at Videl before returning to look at Balla.
"Well…" Balla leaned in close to Gohan. "I might have an open spot for you."
Gohan leaned back slightly. "Um, hello, personal space?" He asked.
Balla chuckled. "You're a funny guy, Gohan-kun." He commented. "I can just tell you and I are gonna be good friends."
Just then, Balla's friend, who Gohan had witnessed him talking to, walked up behind Gohan, wearing the same outfit as Balla. "S'up, newbie." He greeted. "I'm Adida Telsar, soccer team manager."
"You… Lost or something?" Gohan asked as he blinked in confusion.
"Nah." Adida responded. "Balla's team is low on numbers and his friend dropped out from helping today so I said I'd cover for him."
"Yeah, poor guy…" Balla's smile dropped a little. "He hasn't really been feeling good lately so I understand. The news must have really shaken him to the core."
Videl chimed in. "And that's why Gohan's here." She announced; the three teens looked to her, Gohan holding a deadpan look on his face. "He just wants to help." She looked to Gohan. "The team's short on members for the next match so they need some teammates."
Balla nodded. "Yeah, see they're thinking of shutting our team down after next match if there aren't enough players. So we'd love a new recruit, man." He said with hope in his voice. "Please? Come on, man, we need some help, even if it's just a little."
Gohan sighed. "Alright, just tell me what to do." He reluctantly agreed, much preferring to study over extracurricular activities.
"Well, in that case…" Balla grinned. "Welcome aboard." He preceded to hand Gohan a basketball outfit.
"When did you-?" He began before Balla slapped him harmlessly on the back and pointed to the end of the basketball hall.
"Changing rooms are through that door and on the left." He informed. "Let's see how good you are today and I might make you a regular."
"I'll go down to the police station; I hear Sharpner got driven there after the funeral." Videl whispered to Gohan.
As Gohan walked away, clothes in hand, he looked back and mouthed; "I'll get you for this." to Videl. She stood and waved; a big grin on her lips.
Videl walked into the police station before hearing Sharpner yelling in one of the interrogation rooms. "I DID NOT HURT HER!" Came his voice.
Videl, immediately concerned, broke into a run to the interrogation room door. Other police members attempted to stop her but she ignored them.
She forced open the door as Yamcha spoke to Puar, who was being pinned against the wall by Sharpner, whose right fist was pulled back and angry tears in his eyes. "Mister Pencil, put the man down!" Yamcha ordered.
"The hell did you two do?!" Videl exploded in anger at the two law enforcers before rushing over to Sharpner, practically pulling him off Puar. "Its okay, Sharpner. It's okay." She placed her hand on his shaking body to comfort him when she noticed red fabric around his neck. "What's this?" She asked him.
Sharpner's voice trembled. "She… She left it for me…" He lifted his head to reveal the long, blood red scarf decorating his neck, along with bloodshot, watery eyes.
She tugged on his arm. "Come on, let's get you home." She spoke softly as he complied with her and moved towards the door, wiping his tears as he sniffled. Videl placed her hand on his back and led him away. "Focus your attention on someone else, you idiots. He'd never hurt her." She warned the other two just before leaving.
Tien and Chiaotzu appeared from the observation room beside the interrogation room as Puar and Yamcha walked out, the former fixing his suit on his body.
"So, what do you think?" Tien asked.
Yamcha shook his head. "I doubt it's him, alibi checks out and the reaction of Puar going overboard with the interrogation proved how much he cares about her."
"Well…" Tien grumbled. "Looks like we're back to square one.
Back in the basketball hall, Gohan stood beside Balla in his basketball outfit. "Hey, guys, good news." Balla addressed the team. "We got a new temp team member. His name's Son Gohan, so be nice."
He looked at Gohan expectantly, who quickly bowed. "Oh uh… Happy to help out." He informed the team of five.
"Thanks." The team said unenthusiastically.
"Wow, real barrels of fun, these guys are." Gohan mumbled under his breath.
Balla looked around. "Hey, uh… Where did everyone else go?" He asked the team.
"They bailed bro." One of the members informed him.
"We wanted to work on rebounds and pivots but they said they were tired and left." Another told him.
Balla's shoulders slumped. "Again? Oh man…" He said in despair.
Just then, a female student walked up to them with long, brown, wild hair that reached down to her shoulder-blades. Her endowed frame covered by a red shirt above dark, almost skintight jeans revealing her pear-shape and accenting her red high heels. She turned her head to glance at Balla and Gohan with pink and purple heterochromic eyes.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you." Balla continued to Gohan as he presented the girl. "This is Iggy Drazil; she's our team ma-"
"Whatever." Iggy spoke with a dismissive tone as she continued to walk while pushing her hair back behind her shoulder with the back of her hand. "Just act like I'm not even here. So don't even try asking for any favors, 'Kay?" She turned on a dime and faced Balla, eyes locking with his. "I'm done for today." She announced, wrapping a green scarf over her neck and shoulders before walking on.
"But…" Balla began, stammering slightly. "W- We still need to clean up the hall."
Iggy waved without looking back, slipping on a dark blue overcoat over her shirt and slinging a pink designer purse over her shoulder. "Not my problem. Catch you later, Piiza." She replied as she made her way to the door, leading to the sunset streets of Satan City.
Balla watched her go with slumped shoulders and a hung head. "Guess we just gotta clean it ourselves."
The teammates checked their cell phones and nodded to each other. "Yo, Balla, we gotta head." One of the member said as he began walking passed Balla.
"W- Wait, what?" Balla asked in surprise as the rest of the team followed suit. "Y- You serious?"
"Sorry, bro…" One called back to him. "There's a party on the other side of the city tonight so… Y'know. Anyway, thanks for the training session, we'll be back by tomorrow."
Balla's upper body dropped to a half bow. "Man, this is hopeless." He said in defeat. "Our team's gonna be disbanded."
Adida and Gohan walked up to him. "Hey, let's get this place cleaned up." Adida offered with a grin.
"Yeah, this place isn't going to clean itself." Gohan spoke with a faint smile.
Balla looked at the two and smiled.
The next day, Videl, Gohan and Sharpner sat in their homeroom. Gohan looked over his notes while Videl doodled on her notebook. Sharpner leaned back in his seat and clasped his hands together, raising them over his head to stretch his body so that his clothes clung to his frame, accentuating his muscles and subconsciously showing off his scarf.
"Ah, Mister Pencil, thank you for volunteering." Miss Nertari addressed the blonde.
Sharpner's eyes snapped open as he looked at her, all eyes on him with his arms still in the air. "Say what now?" He asked allowed before stumbling quickly to his feet.
"What was the first economic bubble incident in the world?" Miss Nertari asked.
Sharpner blinked. "Bubble… Incident?" He asked under his breath, completely clueless.
"Tulip Mania." Gohan whispered from behind his notes, loud enough for Sharpner to hear.
"Oh, uh… Tulip… Mania?" The blonde stammered, unsure of his answer.
Nertari humphed. "So you were listening after all. Yes, the correct answer is Tulip Mania. Tulip bulbs imported from Jingle Village are considered very valuable on account of how delicate they are…"
Her voice trailed into the background as Sharpner sat down next to Gohan. "Thanks, partner. You're a lifesaver." He said gratefully.
When class was over, Gohan, Videl and Sharpner stood outside the room.
"So, she roped you into the basketball team, huh?" Sharpner asked Gohan as he jerked his thumb to Videl.
Gohan shrugged. "I had no choice." He glanced at Videl. "Besides, they were a few team members short so I thought I'd lend a hand."
"And we're going to be late." Videl said as she observed her watch before grabbing onto Gohan's arm and tugging. "Come on, Gohan."
"H- Hey, pull any harder and my arms gonna come off." Gohan replied hastily.
"You playing too, Videl?" Sharpner asked as he looked at the short girl, arms crossed and smirking.
"Oh Kami, no." She said simply. "I already spend most of my time with you two burly boys, what makes you think I wanna train with more? I'm just going to observe." She stuck her tongue out at him jokingly.
Both Gohan and Sharpner chuckled at her comment. "Well, anyway, you two need to head off." Sharpner advised them. "I have a few things I need to get done."
Gohan nodded while Videl's brow rose questioningly. "Alright, just don't get into anymore trouble." She warned.
"Yes, mom." Sharpner retorted teasingly before the onyx eyed two turned and walked away.
Sharpner walked the opposite way and came to the stairs leading to the third and first floor of their school when a figure appeared from the third floor stairs, silhouetted by the sun in the window behind it. "Oh, you're Balla's backup boy, right?" A feminine voice asked him as heels clacked on the concrete stairs.
His eyes focused on the silhouette and recognized her. "You're Iggy, right?" He asked her.
Iggy walked passed him with a push of her hair over her red shirt. "To some…" She said with an air of elegance to her voice. "Not to you."
Sharpner turned his back on her and began walking down the stairs. "Stopped caring." He said bluntly.
"W- Wait!" Iggy called after him, her voice stammering for a moment.
Sharpner stopped and turned his head, his piercing brown eyes locked onto her. "What is it?" He asked quickly.
"How about you help me ditch managing basketball today?" She asked. "We can go shopping, hold my things…" She leaned on her left leg, pushing out her hip slightly. Sharpner could not help but follow her movements. "Have some fun." She finished.
"You had me at ditching basketball." He said with a smirk.
In the city, Sharpner followed closely behind Iggy as they strolled through the streets, coming to a fashion store that Iggy immediately entered.
Sharpner looked at the store name. "Choco Fur, huh? Well, this should be fun." He ended sarcastically before entering the store.
The walls and racks and shelves were lined with high brand clothes, selling anywhere from ten thousand Zeni to fifty thousand.
Sharpner's eye was caught by a modified trenchcoat-length gakuran with a tall, stiff collar and pierced on the left with a golden chain. "Hmm, this looks cool." He said as he tried it on to be a perfect fit.
Iggy stood in front of a mirror trying on several different types of hats.
First came a yellow fedora with a black strap around it, she discarded it quickly before picking up a gray flat cap that practically deflated on her hair. The next one was a black and white checkered top hat that tilted on her head.
"Nope…" She rejected the hat as she placed it where she found it and tried on an ornamented hat with a visor holding a golden card with the imprint of a hand protruding from it sat snugly in its rim, while the back of the cap was cut out entirely, save for a strap to hold it in place on one's head.
"This doesn't look good either!" She said in frustration and tossed the cap behind her before hearing a sharp cry of pain behind her.
She turned quickly to see Sharpner, still wearing the jacket, with the cap having landed perfectly on his head, pointing to her with narrowed eyes and hand in his pocket. "What about this one!" He spoke in a gruff tone before walking up to her and picking out a green sun hat with a light green ribbon from beside her. "Here!"
She placed it on her head and looked in the mirror before her eyes lit up. "Oh my, this is amazing!" She squealed with glee.
Sharpner stood behind her, one hand in his pocket while the other's finger traced the rim of the black hat's visor as he closed his eyes. "Good grief." He muttered.