Yay, chapter 8 is completed!
Good morning/day/night fellow reader; if you are reading this, you are awesome, and you should give yourself a high-five!
A giant welcome to the three new subscribers and a massive huggle to my favourite people on the interweb: mks 12 98, person345, A-man, Ky111, dcp1992, person345 (yet again :D),
I-am-insanity-itself (LOVE the name btw), Buckets Full O' Sunshine, Vienne, SCstaff, Milafox12, dp3of5, 9thZfighter and Dr. Blue22.
Person345:This is an exciting week! *excitement vibrating from my body to my screen, clunk; frowns* … If you close your eyes very hard, so hard that you will start to see stars, the excitement will reach you! (Ps. I will see you in the fan fiction embarrassment court! You better have a good lawyer dear…)
A-man:I plead guilty; I know Goku would have believed his son in the anime, but that is just why I had to make him not believe him in my story. The anime portrays Goku as being so perfect, he never puts a foot wrong, and don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but that just irritated me. I just wanted to give him one flaw. : )
I-am-insanity-itself:That. Review. Was. AWESOME! Keep up the good reviewing gurl! XD
Buckets Full O' Sunshine:Hahaha, that always cracks me up too! Hercule is such a doofus! XD XD You are not weird at all for thinking that! *suspenseful voice* Maybe that is the way it is heading… Buahahahaha!
SCstaff:The loyal corrector used loyal correctoring (that's not even a word!) on chapter 7, and it was very affective. Thank you again, kind sir.
Milafox12: *creepy Daro voice* Hercule is exposing himself... Hahaha! Have you ever watched Vampires suck? Hahaha, I love that line!
HAPPY NEW YEARS! I HOPE YOU (yes you) HAVE AN EPIC 2013! EVEN MORE EPIC THAN 2012! I wish you all the best! :D
CHAPTER 8: Left Out
(Draco's POV)
Go to earth and get Gohan. Today is the day Raphael meets his end. Magisterial's order was still fresh in my mind as I sat on the roof of the ghastly beige coloured building. Orange Star High School; or at least that was what stood on a large board at the gate of this purgatory.
From my current view I could see Gohan along with people I didn't know, probably his friends, a few miles away at a place that resembled a tournament arena. I located Reynard's ki within this building, surrounded only by three or four other persons.
I hit my clenched fist against the roof, creating a small dent around my hand. Ugh, how long is he going to be?! It has already been ten minutes! I swear, if there wasn't as many people around him at this exact annoying moment, I would have walked up to him and gave him a harsh beating. Ha, his Saiyan genes will pose no threat for the fierce two foot dragon that is me. I laughed maniacally in my mind at the mere thought of him putting up a defence. After his defeat, I will make him my slave and force him to rub my feet after I have worn my stinky shoes...
I shrieked as I felt a strong grasp clasping over my shoulder. A soft, vanilla-scented hand pressed my mouth shut, forbidding any sound to escape my speaking organ.
"Shut up." A girly voice rang toughly to my elf-like ears. "It is only me dumbass." She said again and slowly retracted her hand from my face. My head lifted up and I followed her slender tanned arms to her frontage. She was wearing a white dress-shirt flowing gracefully down to a few inches about her knees; bedazzled around her neck. She accompanied the outfit with gold leggings and sandals. My eyes ran over her delicate oval-shaped face, scrutinizing her petite pointed nose, rosy painted lips, almond-shaped sparkling grey eyes and soft chin. Her dark blond eyebrows were plucked to perfection and made her eyes look somehow bigger. Her soft caramel-coloured curls spiralled down to just under her collarbone. My mouth started to water and my eyes enlarged at the sight of the eatable-looking feature. I licked my lips and extended my hand to the delicacy.
The dark-blond haired princess of the southern galaxies slapped my extending arm away with disgust. "Please don't tell me you are fantasizing about eating my hair again?" A concerned frown was embedded in her brow.
"No…" I answered in a high-pitched voice, lengthening the word through my pronunciation. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She said in her peculiar accent. "What are you doing here?" She asked, completely ignoring my question.
I frowned and crossed my stubby arms over my smartly-dressed chest. Goosebumps spread across my small body when a part of my bare arms slightly caressed the soft pleasurable-feeling silk of my custom designed grey suit. Ah sir, you have good taste. I directed to myself in my mind.
"I asked you first." I stubbornly held after my self-admiration.
"Did Magisterial ask you to retrieve Gohan?" She rephrased her original question.
"What if he did?" I answered her question with a question.
She sighed softly before picking me up from the collar on the back of my stylish grey suit, holding me up in the air a short distance from her body. "Change of plans." She said softly, in the peculiar voice I recognised as the one she used when she didn't agree with something.
"What are you doing?" I yelled, kicking and scrambling in her grasp, making my body swing back and forth in the air.
"We have to get Rey." She said slowly and jumped off the roof to the front of the building, with me still in her grasp. The balls of her feet were first to hit the ground, absorbing all the tension of the landing, making the motion silent. She landed with her knees slightly bent and, without steadying herself, stood upright, her knees making a soft cracking sound as she stood abruptly.
"How did you do that?" Both our heads turned to the sound. A teenage girl with brown hair pointed a shaky finger to Luna. "That is a thirty-two foot drop; it should have killed you." She accused, sounding a little frightened.
Luna sped to the girl and waved her hand in front of the girl's face before her brain could even register the motion. "And forget." She said slowly and caught the skinny girl in her arms as her eyes fell shut. Luna sank down to her knees with the girl in her arms and gently put her on the grass.
"Was that necessary?" I asked, pointing to the young girl.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Of course it was." She said slowly, her voice was coated with irritation. "Earth doesn't know about ki, remember?" She asked in an annoyed voice. I stared worriedly at the girl's motionless form.
"You didn't kill her, did you?" I aired my concern.
"Of course not!" Luna exclaimed. "She will wake up in a minute or so." She roughly grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs alongside her, despite my feverous protests. She let go of my arm the moment we reached the large closed wooden and glass-framed door.
She closed her eyes before opening them a few long seconds later. "I told Rey to meet us in an empty bathroom." She explained as she noticed my confused expression. She planted one of her hands on the door and smiled to herself before she pushed it open.
Her heels clicked against the tiled floors as she walked down the slightly populated hall. I jogged to her, holding my pants as I rushed over to her, cursing the fact that I had slow short legs. I relaxed a bit when I reached her, but still had to hustle if I wanted to keep up with the pace her long tanned legs set.
Boys did double takes when their eyes met with the statuesque body of the southern princess, her gold locks bouncing with every graceful movement she made. Their mouths actually fell open at the mere sight of the forever nineteen-year-old girl.
She winked at a few guys and blew kisses to others, who looked shocked and dazed, surprised that a girl of this beauty and stature would actually show them the time of day.
She stopped abruptly, making me run into her ankles. She turned to one of the doors with a black stickman on and kicked it open lightly with her right heel.
"Rey, are you in here?" She asked very softly, only making someone with advanced hearing able to pick it up.
One of the stalls opened and the light-brown haired boy's young face peeking out.
"Yeah; can you believe one of the teachers actually dragged me from the fight of the year to finish my detention sentence right now?!" He exclaimed with passion. "What are you guys doing here?" He asked with a puzzled frown as he walked over to us.
"Why are you so young?" I asked in a confused tone, clearly remembering him as being older when I last saw him a week ago.
"I had to make myself younger-looking to be in Gohan's class." As soon as his sentence was finished he dropped the ki-manipulation shield around his body and shifted back to his familiar tall form. He looked seventeen again.
He cracked his neck and stretched his limbs, looking slightly unaccustomed to his original form. "I will be able to reach the cookie jar again!" He exclaimed happily with a bright smile on his luscious natural soft-red coloured lips.
"Good for you, we have got to get moving." Luna said impatiently, pointing to the door behind her.
Reynard's frown returned. "Where to?" He asked curiously.
"To the realm." She answered curtly. "We have found Babidi at a remote planet in the Western galaxy. We are holding him hostage and as leverage to lure Raphael to us, and kill him." Her voice was cold.
"Thank you for finally filling me in too." I retorted sarcastically, earning me a glare from Luna.
"I'll get Gohan." Reynard proclaimed and started in the direction of the door, but Luna stopped him before he could leave the room.
"Don't, we have to go alone." A grimace formed on her attractive face. "Without him."
"Why?"
She laughed a dry, unpleasant laugh. "I'll let mister big shot explain that to you."
I waved my hands in the space in front of me, and an ovular-shaped hole soon appeared; a slight wind-like sound emitted from the portal and I could clearly see a picturesque image of Magisterial's holy realm reflecting in it like a shiny mirror.
I gestured a hand to the portal, giving the two a chance to go in first, before I go in and close the portal after me. They jumped in and I soon followed after. The soft emerald-like grass caressed my bare feet as I walked over to the group of protectors. Only five of them were here; Gailo, Veronica, Willow, Luna and Reynard, the others were probably off protecting their assigned hemispheres.
"There he is alright." Reynard commented as he pointed to the birdcage, currently the captor of Babidi, the strong wizard Raphael desperately searched for.
Gailo walked closer with determined long strides to the unconscious creature. "That is all the leverage we have to get Raphael here." He said absentmindedly and stroked the gold bars of the little prison with his index finger.
"So you are holding Babidi as bait, again?" Reynard crossed his arms over his chest; his voice sounded sceptic.
Gailo nodded. "That is the plan." He said with his head held high.
"Isn't that just repeating what we did last time?"
"Yes, it was affective then, and it will be effective now."
"Are you going to put him on earth again?" Reynard continued to interrogate Gailo's plan.
"I don't see why not." He retorted with a frown, probably starting to get irritated with Reynard's constant questioning. "It bought us four years last time; it will sure be a wise decision."
"Gailo, you are planning to fight Raphael without Gohan?" Reynard sounded concerned.
He sighed. "Reynard, Gohan is alive." Gailo said calculative. "I know he is strong, but despite his strength, he will be a huge loss in battle." His eyes turned softer. "He has been allowed a second chance at life, a rare opportunity I am sure most of you would kill for. Let's not disturb that."
"But he is one of us." Reynard argued.
"And he always will be…" Gailo's voice trailed off, making me frown. It sounded to me like he was planning to write Gohan off.
Reynard smiled. "You know Gohan practically defeated Raphael in a matter of minutes when he showed up on earth last week; he would have been dead if one of his classmates didn't intervene."
"That may be the case, but you are forgetting that weare strong too." Gailo sounded offended. "Gohan isn't the only strong warrior in this galaxy capable of killing Raphael."
Reynard frowned. "But…"
"I have made up my mind; now stop pestering me." Gailo interrupted.
"Why should I?" Reynard challenged.
"Because I say so." He snapped, losing his composure.
They unconsciously started to lean menacingly towards each other. "Who left you in charge?" Their faces were almost touching. Oeh, I better get my popcorn!
"Whoa guys." Veronica intervened, probably using her emotion-manipulation talent to calm them down.
She turned to face Reynard. "Magisterial left; he went to the realm of elders. They are holding one of their rare meetings; I think it is about Raphael." She replied in a soft voice. "And you of all people should know that Gailo is the highest rank in this guard, clearly making him the leader if Magisterial is not here."
"Yeah, he thinks he is." Reynard retorted with venom in his voice.
"What did you say?" The leader of the guard asked in a badly composed voice.
"You heard me." Reynard spat.
"Stop it!" Veronica yelled; an action which was rare for her natural cool and collected mindset. "Transfer your rage to Raphael, not each other."
"Did I hear my name?" Raphael stood a few feet from our little group. I was surprised to see that he was alone; I thought he would have travelled with some of his army. Going solo was not in his nature. He started to applaud as his eyes travelled to the cage holding the ugly wizard captive. "I see you have found the wizard I have tried to locate for three years."
"Has it been so long already?" Gailo asked and crossed his arms over his chest.
Raphael chuckled. "Time flies when you are destroying countless galaxies."
"Time flies when you are having fun." Willow corrected with an angry frown; her galaxy was one of those being destroyed by him recently.
"Isn't that what I just said?" He winked at the healer; she turned her head away in disgust.
"So what do you want in return for the magic man?" Raphael asked, staring intently at the cage.
"We are not going to give him to you." Luna made her voice heard.
"What?" Raphael sneered, taking his eyes off the cage for the first time.
"You heard me." Her voice was chirpy. "We just wanted to flaunt him in your face before we transport him to a location you never would think to search in."
"Why did you call me here then?!" He yelled, anger engraved in his voice and clenched fists.
"Because before we do, we are going to kill you." Gailo yelled and lunged forward, kicking the destroyer of worlds through his face. The two of them engaged in a wrestling match; they rolled on the ground aimlessly for a few seconds before Gailo stopped the motion, pushing Raphael's face into the dirt while he was sitting on his chest.
Luna turned to me and stuffed the cage holding the unconscious wizard, into my little paws. Create a portal and take him to earth. She ordered in my mind. Portals can't be traced. She assured when her eyes laid on my frightened expression.
I nodded.
And remember, don't make contact with Gohan. She reminded before I threw the wrinkly midget through the door I just linked to earth. I jumped in after him and gracefully landed on the warm desert-like sand on the green and blue planet. Not sure what I had to do with him, I walked over to a nearby cave I spotted in one of the nearby canyons and dumped him in it.
Not able to resist the temptation, I located Gohan's ki about two-hundred miles away and created a portal to his exact location, landing in some shrubs across the street from where he stood.
All my concentration shifted to the teenage boy who I barely recognised at his higher age. His posture was one I knew well, since I myself stood in a similar way. Spine straight, shoulders back, chin held high. At first glance, the way he stood would seem like that of an ordinary person, but to the trained eye of a fighter, one could tell that it was a posture of strength and pride. He noticeably grew a few inches and his face changed too; he barely resembled the little kid I always remembered him being. I doubt that the other guard members would recognise him now.
He was the same kid, there was no doubt about that, but yet there was something different about him, something he didn't possess in all the years he spent on the realm with me and Magisterial.
His toned heart-shaped face shone with a happiness that he never had before. He didn't look guilty, he didn't look pained or sad; he looked like a normal happy teenage boy…
I now understand what Gailo meant with Gohan having a second chance at life, a desire all of us shared: a chance to get rid of all the guilt and hardships of our previous lives. The privilege to live life anew and correct the mistakes you longed for to have been different, those we regretted most…
He wore a goofy grin on his face as he walked from the giant mansion that rivalled Magisterial's estate on his realm. He ran his fingers arrogantly through his golden spiky hair as he smiled softly at someone I couldn't see due to the limitation of sight from my hiding spot behind these thick bushes.
I frowned as he stood in what I recognised as the second transformation of that legendary Saiyan transformation thing. He always, even in the most intense battles, stayed in his normal form as long as possible before he transformed; something about stamina he claimed. I looked around the area but could not find or feel anything suspicious enough for him to want to be in this form with the advanced level of power. Maybe the earthlings know about his power now or something.
I scoffed. That can't be it; Gohan is far too irritatingly selfless to do something so reckless.
His chuckle tickled my ears and I saw he jump gracefully into the air. He waved at the person who he talked to before flying at a horizontal level near the ground for a few metres at a strangely slow pace. The calculative expression on his face made me think that he was deep in thought.
I moved in my secluded hiding spot, making the leaves or whatever dance around me. Gohan paused in his plank-like position and his head slowly turned to my direction, a clear frown on his face.
My eyes widened and I swallowed a petrified gasp as he slowly floated over to me.
Panicking, I made a few circular gestures with my hands, creating a portal for me to escape in. He must not find out; was all I thought as I jumped into the hole.
(Gohan's POV)
My frown deepened as I noticed that there was nothing behind the bushes I felt a distinctive ki. I shook my head slowly before I flew higher up in the sky. You are losing your mind Gohan.
Instead of teleporting, I flew the thirty minute trip back home, enjoying the brisk mountain air blowing in my face.
The light coming through the trees, fog, earthy smell, quietness, coolness, moss growing on the trunks of the trees, droplets of water dripping from large leaves, ferns, water trickling through the little creek and bird sounds made a calm and relaxed feeling wash over my body.
The little cottage that was my home came into view as I flew past the mountain I dubbed 'the shader' when I was younger, afraid of the shadows it cast over our home at certain intervals of the day, completely blackening the area.
The front door was open and I could feel Mom and Dad's energies next to each other in the den. Gomih's ki radiated from the woods near our house and I was surprised when I didn't feel Reynard's ki anywhere on the planet. Didn't he have detention? I wondered, but shook the feeling off; there must be a logical explanation of it.
"Hey there." I greeted my parents as I walked by them, instantly heading for the kitchen.
Dad took his hand from my mother's shoulder and turned around. "Why are you in your Super Saiyan form?" He asked; a frown on his face.
"I fly faster in this form." I lied and walked into the kitchen, automatically powering down to my normal form as I took an apple from the basket on the wooden kitchen table. I raised my nose in the air as I sniffed, but I couldn't smell cooked food, the fridge was also empty of any leftovers.
"Why are you lying to us young man?" My mother asked as I walked by the den, planning to go to my room; I always had snacks in my room.
Before I answered she pressed a button on the remote and an image of me flashed in front of the screen. I was standing with a giant grin on my face in front of the camera, the colourful array of flowers given to me by one of the models, peeking friendly from my grasp.
"I feel honoured to be seen as the strongest fighter of Hercule City. I will try my best not to disappoint you all, and don't be afraid to call me when you need some rescuing, especially you girls." I winked at the camera and a cocky smile resided on my lips.
"While our new hero flaunts his victory, our previous hero sobs." The reporter, I remember interviewing me, told the camera. Footage of Hercule fleeing the scene and pushing the camera away with his hands was showed. A feeling of guilt spread through my body.
"That was really mean son." Dad commented, disappointment engraved in his voice.
"But Dad, he lies all the time, he had to be put in his place." I defended myself.
"You just lied to us; does that mean I have the right to publically humiliate you?" He asked in a soft voice.
"I withheld information, I'll admit, but he made up an entire other story about what happened at the Cell Games which is publically humiliating to us."
He shook his head slowly and turned his head to the television again. "Nevertheless, I would have appreciated it if you told me that you were going to fight that man; you must have known about the match beforehand?"
I sighed and plopped down on one of the single chairs near the window. "I am sorry, I should have told you, but you would have stopped me." I defended.
"Yes, because you are grounded young man, have you forgotten?" Mom's voice was stern. "I cook and clean for this household; I would think that I could earn a little respect for it, but no…" Her voice trailed off dramatically. "All of you just treat me like a maid, not like an active member of this family." Her voice was on the verge of breaking.
"Chi you know that is not true." Dad immediately soothed. "I'll tell you what, I will run the household for a while; you have earned a well-deserved rest."
Mother looked at Dad with a raised eyebrow before she chuckled. "Goku, sweetheart, as much as I love you, and please don't take offence to this; you won't ever be able to run this household for more than a day." She lovingly slapped his cheek. "It will eat you alive." She stood up and walked up the stairs, chuckling all the way.
Dad shot me a playful smile. "That is how you divert a dire situation while getting off Scott-free." He winked at me.
I smiled at him. "Thanks for the advice Dad; can I go now?" I asked politely.
"Not so fast." He said quickly as he noticed me starting to get up. I sighed dispiritedly and fell back into the chair.
He looked at the staircase before he turned to me again. "Don't tell your mother this, she told me to go tough on you because you disobeyed her…" His voice was an almost undetectable whisper. "But I am actually glad you over-powered him in public."
I frowned. "You do?" I asked a little surprised.
He nodded. "I have heard that many people have challenged him, and he was so afraid of the possibility that they might be stronger than him, that he never left his house." He smiled proudly at me. "I think you did him a favour."
"I actually did it for a friend." I confessed.
"How so?" He asked with interest, leaning back in the brown sofa.
I hesitated. "Well, you see, it was for his daughter, who is one of my classmates, and she said that her relationship with her father has gotten more strain by the day since after the Cell Games due to his fame. So bad, that he actually drove her mother away." I frowned at the memory. "She sounded so heart-broken."
"She?" Dad repeated with a broad smile.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes Dad, she is one of my girl friends." My eyes widened when I realised what I have said.
"More than one; that sounds like a handful, but don't let me get in your way. Have fun while you're young." He winked at me.
"I didn't mean it like that." I said quickly, waving my hands in front of my chest defensively. "She is a girl and a friend, not a girlfriend." A blush formed on my cheeks at the sheer thought.
"Very defensive, aren't you?" Dad mocked, making me turn even redder.
I want to die. "I have homework." I said quickly, desperate to get out of the conversation.
He chuckled. "Of course you do." He turned the TV back on and I started to walk to the stairs, glad that that awfully embarrassing conversation had ended. "Oh, and Krillen called." Dad remembered.
"Oh?"
"He wants you to call him back; he said that it is about someone called Sophia." He frowned. "Is that another girl you like?"
"No… And I don't like Videl!"
"So that is her name; it's cute." He smiled at me. "Videl and Gohan… Hmmm; if that doesn't sound like a perfect match, I don't know what does!"
"I am only thirteen; I don't have time for such vulgar pastimes." I exclaimed.
"Of course you don't." Dad replied in a sceptical voice.
Ignoring him, I walked over to the landline in the kitchen. I traced Krillen's phone number with my finger, in the little notebook of contact details Mom kept next to the phone and quickly dialled the number. He picked up after three rings.
"Krillen, hello?" He put a loud emphasis on his name.
I chuckled. "Isn't this Sophia?" I taunted and laughed loudly.
"Gohan!" He recognised me immediately. "I am going to murder you!" He yelled so loudly, that I had to pull the phone's receiver away from my ear.
"This is not a laughing matter!" He continued yelling. "Do you know how many men called me, wanting an enquiry for a good time?" I could hear him blush over the phone.
"I am guessing a lot."
He scoffed. "That is an understatement; how did you get all those people to call me?" He demanded shrilly.
"I put a poster of you and your number on the billboard near Hercule City's highway." I admitted.
"That must have cost a fortune." He whistled.
"Not quite." I admitted, smiling devilishly.
"It speaks for itself that I want you to remove it as soon as possible." His voice was stern, a rare occurrence for the gentle monk.
I nodded, forgetting that he can't see me. "I think your debt is paid."
He sighed. "What did I do to you to deserve this?" He asked in a dispirited tone.
"Remember a certain presentation at my school?" I asked.
"I hate you." He said slowly.
"No you don't." I chuckled. "You love me." I expanded each word.
"I don't feel like talking to you." He said before he hung up.
"Bye." I yelled before he ended the call.
I quietly advanced up the stairs to my room, strategically avoiding my father and any more awkward conversations. The next thing I know he will probably want to talk about the birds and the bees!
I fell on my unmade bed with my backpack next to me. I reluctantly opened it and pulled my algebra book out, starting on the long excursive mister Granger assigned for tomorrow. I breezed through all the equations, not giving the formulas and steps I had to use any second thought, as it was already drilled in my brain from two years ago.
I lifted my head from the grammar exercises when I felt Rey's ki appear literally out of thin air near the house. I frowned as I shot the clock a quick look. It was already 5pm; where was he for two hours?
I left my books on my bed and hopped off my bed, running down the stairs, to the front door where I waited for my friend to enter the house. The smell of oven-baked chicken, potatoes and a fresh green salad aroused my stomach, making it turn out of sheer delight.
The door creaked open slightly and Rey's distorted body trudged through the threshold. I frowned as I laid my eyes upon his torn clothes and bruised body.
"Dude, what happened?" I asked concerned; ready to catch him if he collapsed.
He grunted and brushed past me, cringing as an injured part of his body softly collided with mine.
"Reynard I am serious, who did this to you?" I tried again, hoping he would answer this time.
He shot me a pained look. "Raphael." He whispered in a hoarse voice and plopped down on the coach. I rushed to the kitchen and poured him a glass of ice-cold water. When I returned to the den, he was leaning his head against one of the pillows with his eyes closed. I scooted in next to him and tapped him in the side to wake him up.
He eagerly took the cold beverage from my hand and downed it in one gulp.
"You said Raphael did this to you?"
He nodded weakly.
"Is that where you were the entire afternoon?"
Another nod.
"Without me?" I accused.
He turned to me with big eyes. "I had nothing to do with that." He immediately defended himself feverously. "I wanted to get you, but Luna stopped me." He growled. "Gailo's orders."
"Since when is he calling the shots?" I asked with a frown.
"Magisterial wasn't there today and as Veronica kindly reminded me, Gailo is alpha." He sounded bitter.
"He didn't want you there because he thinks you would be in the way when we fight, because you're alive and because you don't have access to all your power right now." He claimed with a cough.
"He thinks I am a liability?" I asked a little offended.
He nodded. "In short, yes."
"But I am still a member of the guard?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.
"That is what I said!" He exclaimed. "But because he was in charge we couldn't defy him anymore than we can defy Magisterial."
"So what does this mean; am I on the outs?"
"Of course not!" He almost yelled. "Only Gailo was against you being there today, everyone else was against him. I think he is jealous because you are way stronger than him." He turned to me. "Don't worry." He soothed. "When Magisterial returns, everything will turn back to normal. He sent Draco for you, you know?"
"I thought I felt Draco's ki earlier today." I said slowly.
"He had to back out because of Gailo's orders." He explained.
"When will Magisterial be back?"
His expression turned calculative. "Probably in a day or so." He took my hands in his. "Bro, you have to know, I said everything I could to defend you."
I smiled. "I know dude, you always have my back."
"Yes I do." He said and sank deeper into the coach.
"How did the fight turn out?" I asked. "Did you kill him?" I secretly hoped that they didn't, just to prove the head of the guard wrong.
"He escaped, just like last time." He filled me in briefly.
"Last time?" I asked confused. Was there another time they fought him without me knowing about it.
"Before this whole time shift thing when you were still under training with Magisterial, we found Babidi and held him for ransom to lure Raphael and he escaped after giving us a harsh beating… Again!"
"Where is Babidi now?"
"Oh, here on earth." He said casually.
"What?!" I yelled.
"Relax." He soothed. "Last time it took him four years to figure out that the midget was on this planet. It will buy us a lot of time to get stronger."
"I guess…" My voice trailed off, remembering the entire scene that happened in the time span where I was dead in, eventually leading to earth's destruction.
"We will be prepared this time." He said surely.
"Boys, will you set the table for me?" My mom called from the kitchen.
"Okay." I called back. We set the table and ate soon after. I excused myself after dinner and headed for my room, finishing my homework before I turned in…
(Videl's POV)
I grabbed my backpack from the end table in the dining room and ran out of the door with half a piece of triangular cut toast in my mouth out of the door. "Esmeralda, I am leaving!" I yelled over my shoulder to the housekeeper.
"Have a fun day at school Videl!" She yelled back.
I threw the front door open and shivered when a blast of cool air assaulted my body. I walked down the steps slowly, seeing that I have more than half an hour to get to school.
"Hey." I flinched as I heard a sudden greeting when I walked out of my family's estate. I clutched the space over my heart as my breathing came harder. The Gold Fighter was leaning casually with his eyes closed and his arms crossed over his chest against one of the flowery covered pillars. His blond spiky hair rested in the same style I always saw him wear it in. They somehow seemed to defy gravity; it didn't look like he used any product or gel in his sleek golden hair.
He was dressed entirely in black; black jeans, a loose black t-shirt and a black jacket. It is kind of cold today, I realised when I saw how warm and snugly he was dressed. He kind of looked like a criminal, a sexy criminal…
"What are you doing here?" I managed to ask, my voice slightly rattled.
He opened his eyes and slowly turned a little bit of his face to the side. A slight grin rested on his features as his eyes met mine.
He stood up straight and walked over to me. My eyes followed his every movement, not daring to take an eye off his Adonis-like form. He stopped when he was about a step away from me.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He said genuinely, looking down at me with his soft teal eyes, eyes that held many secrets.
I frowned. "Why wouldn't I be okay?" I asked, confused by his statement.
"Me beating your father and all; the reporters must have been driving you crazy."
I felt flattered that he came all this way to make sure my emotional well-being was still intact. "I am fine." I admitted. "Surprisingly no reporters showed up yesterday."
He smiled. "That's good." He stared at my backpack. "Going to school?" He asked.
I nodded. "Some of us actually want an education." I retorted and walked past him, my arm slightly brushing his chest, sending an electric jolt through my entire body. Goosebumps appeared on the surface of my skin as a result.
"Aren't you cold?" He asked worriedly, sounding like the classic caretaker. I don't know if he was referring to the goosebumps on my skin or the fact that I was dressed for a day at the beach. I didn't want to admit it, but the cool air was getting to me, but I didn't want to run into the house to fetch my coat. That will look so lame. Bear through the cold Videl, you are tough.I tried to motivate myself.
I noticed he was shrugging out of his jacket. He extended his hand with the piece of clothing in to me. I turned my head away from it, making him chuckle.
The next thing I knew he was draping the jacket over my shoulders. A slight blush formed on my cheeks when our eyes met with our faces at a close proximity when he took a step back again.
I shivered again, the sudden change from my cold skin connecting with the heat of this leathery fabric felt pleasant. It smelled amazing; I noticed when his unfamiliar scent floated up to my nose. I inhaled, trying to identify the delicious scent. It didn't smell like cologne; it smelled more like the ocean mixed with the scent of trees and green vegetation.
The sleeves were much too long; I shoved them back so I could free my hands.
"It fits." He sounded pleased.
"Thanks." I flashed him an attractive smile and started walking on the pavement under the shade of the trees in the direction of the school.
He jogged to get to me again. "I am offended; you don't think I have an education?" He asked, referring to my previous statement.
I shook my head slowly. "I didn't say that." I defended myself. "You are probably home schooled or something." I looked him over. "There is no way you would fit into public school." I observed.
He leaned in closer to me. "Well, I am going to let you on a little secret."
"And that is?" I asked; eager to learn anything new about this enigma.
"I am in your school." He said with a broad smile as he noticed my surprised look.
"You are lying." I said instantly, hugging his jacket as a cold wind blew past me. "If you were, I would have known about it. Someone would have told me."
He shrugged. "I am a master of disguises."
"What grade?"
He chuckled. "Like I am going to tell you..." He said with humour in his voice. "I have a secret identity to keep, you know." He winked at me.
An image of Gohan popped in my head again, but I quickly dismissed it. He was with me while the Gold Fighter was fighting my father; there is no wayhe could have been at two places at once.
"I am guessing night or tenth grade." I said after studying his appearance. He looked a little older than me, maybe fifteen, sixteen max. He was quite tall and his lean face ruled out being in a lower baby-faced grade.
"Maybe you're right, maybe you're not." He teased with a cocky smile.
"Ugh." I grunted. "I will find out who you really are." I growled.
He chuckled. "I am sure you…"
Reporters flashed out of nowhere, giving me a fright. "Videl, what are your feelings on your father's loss?" The plump dark haired, dark skinned journalist, who I recognised as Sandy Rivers, pressed the microphone down my throat. Her eyes widened when her gaze fell over my companion.
"Oeh, you are with the Gold Fighter." She cooed with big eyes behind her stylish rectangular-framed glasses. "Are you two in a relationship?" She placed the microphone between us. "Mike, get a shot of this please."
I saw the boy's cheeks flush bright red and he scratched his neck, clearly nervous.
"We are not a couple." I said firmly, answering for the both of us.
"But you guys are walking so close to each other." She pointed to the space between us. "It looks like you are one person! There has got to be some romance." She pestered in her irritating high-pitched, almost squeaky, voice.
The Gold Fighter grabbed Sandy's hand, gently, pulling the microphone from my face. I stared at him intently, curious about what he was doing. "How much does that cost?" He asked politely, pointing to the camera.
She frowned. "About two thousand zennie." She said slowly.
"Do you have insurance?" He asked, again.
She nodded. "Now to get on with…" She stopped mid-sentence and let out a deafening screech. He lifted his hand to the camera and his palm started to glow as a beam shot out of it, making my eyes widen. "What are you doing?" She yelled to the blond boy, her voice higher than usual.
He smiled brightly as the high-tech piece of equipment exploded; making the cameraman run like a headless chicken back to the ZTV-van under one of the trees.
"You have not seen the last of me!" The reporter yelled in a jittery voice and also made her way back to the van, quickly speeding away in the opposite direction.
The Gold Fighter chuckled. "I don't think they will be bothering us again soon." He said happily.
"Easy for you to say; she knows where I live." I said angrily. "And now she clearly wants revenge." I walked faster.
"Gosh, I am sorry." He apologized when he caught up to me again. "I was just trying to help."
His soft teal eyes made me feel guilty for lashes out on him. "I guess her expression was kind of funny when that thing exploded next to her." A laugh escaped my mouth, and a quickly clamped my hand over it when an unattractive snort followed after one of the laughs. I felt so embarrassed; he will think I am a pig-girl now.
"I like your laugh." He said through chuckles, surprisingly not making fun of me.
"I don't." I confessed. "I hate the sound of my laugh."
A look of disbelief paused on his features. "Why?" He asked surprised. "It is so cute." He gushed.
"Yours isn't bad either." I complimented.
"Ha-Ho-Ha-Ha." He clutched his belly as he uttered comical impersonations of Santa's chuckles. "Damn straight." He said in a deep voice, making me chuckle.
"School, thou art a heartless beast!" He exclaimed dramatically as the large four story building came into sight. A feeling of disappointment filled my body, knowing that we are going to have to part ways. I wish the trip could have been longer.
He took my hand in his and gave it a firm shake. "Until we meet again." He greeted and disappeared. My mouth fell open in shock; one moment he was there and the next moment he was gone. I shook my head slowly and walked into the school building.
"Hey Videl!" Erasa called from across the hall.
I waved back, signalling her to come over to me.
She hugged me as a greeting. "Wow, nice jacket." She complimented.
I smiled softly. "Thanks."
"Remember to get your tracksuit, we have gym first period." She reminded me.
I opened my locker and placed his folded up jacket in the top shelf of my locker after taking my bag with my gym clothes in, out. I pouted, when am I going to give that back to him?
I slammed my locker shut and slung my satchel over my shoulder as I headed over to the changing rooms with Erasa.
(Sharpner's POV)
Coach clapped his hands together as he walked over to us. He was wearing white shorts with a white sleeveless top, despite the cold, showing off his toned legs and arms nicely.
"We are going to sharpen up your reflexes and overall fighting abilities with the basics of martial arts today." He said in his deep voice, his thick black moustache moving with his lip as he talked. "I understand that you have already received a lesson in the basics from master Krillen, so today we are going to divide into teams and pound the crap out of each other." Lots of kids laughed at his joke, including me.
"Supervise and observe, next week you are going to receive marks on your assessment." He picked his clipboard up from the ground and held it close to his face as he read the teams of two. I didn't really listen, my mind drifting off as I stared at the girls in their short shorts. My ears crinkled when he started to read the names of my friends.
"Videl Satan and Gomih Son." I clenched my teeth in frustration. There go two of the prettiest girls in class at one shot! Who assigned the teams? I pounded my left fist onto my open right palm.
"Erasa Jones and Reynard." I frowned; lucky bastard.
"Gohan Son and Sharpner Pencil." My eyes widened in horror. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! From all the people in this school, I had to fight with nerd boy? I scoffed; that will be a challenge.
"You may start." Coach blew his whistle. "Remember, play fair!"
Each group walked to the space of field Coach reserved for each team, and resumed in unique stances opposite our partners. I ogled my partner's appearance and frowned.
He said that he is the son of the 23rd martial arts champion, and that he trained a lot, but I really couldn't see it as I looked at his body. He looked rather skinny instead of muscular, but maybe his muscles were just hidden under his pair of baggy tracksuit. I have to pay attention to this the next time I see him in a t-shirt.
A pout formed on my lips when my eyes travelled over to his face. I seriously don't get what all the fuss is about. He really isn't that attractive, is he? Sure he has a perfect smile, perfect hair, flawless skin and warm sparkling brown eyes, but I am much prettier than him. My eyes widened internally; did I seriously just check him out? I slapped myself through my face a few times. Pull it together Sharpner. I scolded.
"Are you okay?" Nerd boy asked concerned.
Ugh, and he cares about everything and everyone! He is like a little innocent white kitten draped in a fluffy pink candy floss of sweetness. You just want to wrap him in a 'my little pony' blanket and stroke his midnight hair repeatedly while singing lullabies to him. Maybe I should ask him about… No! I reprimanded myself. I will not allow myself to stoop so low as to ask a little nerd for girl advice. An image of the Gold Fighter suddenly appeared in my mind. Now that is a badass… I must ask him; he actually has a fan base on the internet already! He would surely be able to give me some helpful pointers.
"Sharpner?" His worried voice rang again, waving his hand over my face.
"What?" I snapped as I turned back to my consciousness.
"Are we going to fight or what?"
I smiled devilishly and threw a punch his way. He instinctively blocked the blow with his right arm and took the chance to punch me though the gap my attack left behind. Wow, he is good. I thought when I stumbled back a bit.
Seeing a slow punch heading directly for my face, I ducked and kicked his feet from under him, making him tumble to the ground, but just as I was about to deliver another punch to his abdomen, he rolled away, resulting in me punching the ground.
This antics continued for a few minutes, but we stopped clashing when the bell rang, signalling us to head to the showers.
"Wow, you actually are a good fighter." Nerd boy exclaimed, surprise in his voice.
I frowned at him. "Why do you sound so surprised?" I yelled, making the group next to us look at me with big eyes.
He chuckled and waved his hands in front of his chest defensively. "I didn't mean anything by it." He defended. "There is just more to you than meets the eye." He confessed.
I extended my arm towards his sitting frame. "Ditto." I said as I pulled him up, he was surprisingly light. "I didn't think you could fight at all; and now I can actually notice some definition in your arms and chest." I observed, making him automatically cross his arms over his chest, limiting my view. "What kind of exercises do you do?" I asked as we headed to the showers.
He shifted his weight awkwardly to his right leg. "Push ups, crunches, sparring with my dad, that kind of thing." I nodded at his explanation.
"I, myself, train at least four hours a day at Hercule's dojo." I bragged a bit. "But that is probably useless now since the champ lost to the Gold Fighter."
He frowned. "Just because he lost doesn't mean he isn't strong." Brains said; a strong vibe in his tone of voice. "He still can pull a school bus with one arm!"
I chuckled. "I suppose you are right." I admitted. "And he did save us from Cell."
"Hmm." Gohan hummed.
"So when did you start training?" I asked, trying to make small talk as we walked back to the changing rooms.
"When I was four." He said after a few seconds.
I let out a whistle. "Daddy didn't waste any time."
He chuckled. "Yeah… You?'
"When I was seven…"
*flashback*
My father and my feet crunched on the dirt and loose leaves and twigs on the secluded path between the overgrowths of trees in the woods about thirty miles outside of Orange Star City. My seven-year- old hands curled around the wooden hilt of the heavy shovel, which gave home to a few stray splinters in my soft small palm.
My teary eyes filled up with more moisture as I stared at the black plastic her body was wrapped in. The limited rays of the moonlight made it possible for me to see a thick red liquid drip off the sleek substance, creating a red droplet path through the thick forest people rarely visited; that is probably why he chose it.
"Hurry up." His voice boomed. He was drunk, but as soon as he realized what he had done he sobered up.
"Yes Dad." I said in a low, almost inaudible high voice and made my short legs move faster to catch up to the horrid man I called my father.
"This is far enough." He said slowly, looking over his shoulders a few times before throwing the body harshly to the ground.
My hand reached out to the body. But the warm, soft feeling I usually got when I touched her was replaced with a cold and stiff feeling, making me cringe.
"Good idea." He said; a sinister smile on his lips. "If the cops find her body your fingerprints will be the only ones on this. You will take the blame." He laughed maniacally.
My big brown eyes turned to him. My lower lip quivered as I stared up at his masculine figure: square face, brown eyes, red satanic hair…
"But I didn't do it." I whimpered.
He wrapped his gloved hands around mine roughly and pushed them against the plastic around the body. "Now you did." He chuckled. Tears streamed down my face as the feeling of helplessness filled my body.
He let go of me and I fell back, my behind getting buried deeply in the dry bunch of autumn leaves.
"Now get to digging." He pressed the shovel in my face and used his own to start digging through the ground at a specific spot. Dirt was flying from the blade of his shovel.
His violent eyes turned to me. "Why aren't you digging?" He asked in a hushed yell.
My body shook as I stared him down and a warm liquid flowed down my legs. "I don't want to." I said in a shaky voice.
His rhythmic movements stopped and he threw his shovel down as he walked over to me. I wanted to run, but all of the sudden my feet forgot how to function.
"What did you say?" He asked slowly, his voice sounded calm but I could hear the rage brew under the tone.
"I don't want to bury Penny." I said with closed eyes, forcing myself not to look at him.
He slapped me though my face, so hard that I fell on my side. My hand flew to my cheek as I rubbed the sore spot; it was hot. Soft sobs escaped my lungs in irregular intervals when the mixture of sadness and pain was just too much to keep under the shutters.
He picked me up effortlessly by the collar of my Superman shirt. All my senses heightened, the hair on my neck and arms started to rise and my breathing became lower as my brain yelled: DANGER!
"You are a kid, you don't have a say." He threw me next to the little grave he dug already. "Now start digging." He instructed, picking up his shovel a few metres away. "I won't ask again." He bent down to my level. "You don't want to end up in the same place as your sister, do you?"
I quickly shook my head, and retracted my head back, put off by his alcoholic breath. Begrudgingly and fearing for my young life, I curled my small hands around the heavy and overly big tool which was actually intended for gardening. I thrust the sharp blade into the ground, but it didn't go very deep due to my lack of strength.
My dad, no he wasn't my dad, he was a monster, threw me constant irritated or disappointed glares with each attempt I made to make the hole in the ground deep enough for a six-year-old to fit in. I looked down at my superman shirt. Why aren't you coming to save me? I asked the friendly heroic face. I let go of my shovel and pulled the shirt over my head, making the monster give me a confused glare, and wrapped it around her small body. If you won't protect me, at least protect her. I whispered, only for his ears to hear…
*flashback ends*
I shook my head from side to side, getting rid of the heavy sad feeling filling my stomach and throat. I turned over to nerd boy, who was already staring at me. I could have sworn I saw pity in his eyes as he looked at me, his open brown eyes larger than usual.
"I am so sorry." He said softly, turning his gaze to his feet. I didn't know why, but Gohan had this force, much like gravity, that tried to pull me towards him. I could see myself easily become good friends with him, easily telling him everything. It was like he was inviting me to. But not today…
I frowned. "About what?" I asked confused, what did we talk about earlier that would make him sorry?
He looked up quickly, the pitiful gaze in his eyes replaced with forced humour. "For kicking your butt in the last round."
I chuckled and punched him playfully on his shoulder. "That is just because I let you win." I claimed arrogantly.
He chuckled. "You wish." He flexed his muscles in my face. "It is because of these."
I walked to the showers and undressed completely before I walked into the indoor waterfall. Most of the guys showered with their underwear still on. I scoffed; I don't have anything to be ashamed of. I opened the cold faucet, my body feeling hot after the exertion and let the cold water sooth my slightly sore muscles. I ran my fingers through my long hair, and closed my eyes as I shut out the entire world around me.
(Gohan's POV)
I frowned as I thought about my blond classmate. His thoughts were so loud that I couldn't help but eavesdrop. It was terrible what he had to go through. I smiled when I saw the girl I was looking for sitting, surprisingly on her own on the pavilion. Her legs crossed over each other and she was typing feverously on her pink bedazzled phone.
She looked up as she saw my shadow fall over her body.
"Gohan." She greeted with her usual enthusiastic nature, smiling broadly as her eyes met mine. "What's up?" She asked and placed her phone in her pocket. She smelled nice; she probably already took a shower.
I sat next to her and saw how her eyes followed me. "Hey; how long have you known Sharpner?" I asked, cutting right to the chase.
A small frown played on her delicate brows, probably surprised by my question. "Since kindergarten." She said after a while of pondering. "We became friends instantly." She smiled softly as she recalled the memory. "I absolutely adored his hair!" She chuckled. "That was what attracted me to him; I was so jealous of it." She giggled.
"Do you know anything about his past, about Penny?" I couldn't help but fish; I knew it was wrong to go behind his back, but the curiosity got the better of me.
Her frown deepened, making arches in her soft tanned face. "Sharpner told you about Penny?" She sounded shocked.
I nodded, referring to the memory I saw in his mind.
"What did he tell you?"
I hesitated. "That she was his little sister and that she was killed." I told after a while.
"Nothing more?" She asked.
I shook my head. "No, that is why I am asking you. What is the story?"
She slung her satchel over her shoulder and stood up, now towering over me. "That is something you need to ask Sharpner, Gohan." She said in a soft sad voice. "He doesn't talk to just anyone about this stuff, and I wouldn't want to go behind his back and tell it to you even if I wanted to." She smiled. "I hope you understand."
I returned the smile. "Of course; you are a good friend."
She chuckled. "Duh!" She jogged into the direction of the classes.
It is not my place to ask. I decided as I headed over to the changing rooms. I noticed that I was the only one left on the field, with only fifteen minutes left before my next class starts and I haven't even showered yet. My walk turned into a jog as I rushed over to the washrooms from the far-side of the field.
I suppressed an agonised yell when an excruciating pain appeared out of nowhere in my skull, paralyzing me.
I lifted to my hand to my head, wincing slightly. My head was throbbing painfully, and I touched my temple gently. I breathed in slowly and heavily, taking in the scene. My body suddenly felt so heavy, like chainmail, and unresponsive. I couldn't move... I didn't want to move. My knees went weak... I was falling, falling and I couldn't stop. I hit something hard, but couldn't feel it; I only heard the sound of my body meeting the ground. I curled up into a tight ball on the ground on which I collapsed, the world blurring into a flicker of dim lights and strange, moving colours. My eyelids went heavy, and then, there was nothing. Silent darkness without thought or imagining, it was as if the world no longer existed...
Congratulations, you just successfully read chapter 8!
Ugh, I am really starting to like Gailo less and less… How dare he leave Gohan out of all the action?! Awh, and it was fun to write out of the perspective of my favourite little dragon. :D And Sharpner Pencil (Am I evil or what) *tears up* such a sad past!
Oh well, don't forget to drop a review in the box below!
See you next year!
