Okay, hey guys, for those who wonder, this is a flashback of sorts.

Anway, here's chapter 9, oh it's growing ever longer. The song for this chapter is Bluish by Animal Collective, I really recommend it, especially for this chapter, adds a lot to it.


Bluish

The next two weeks went by very smoothly for Gohan. The deal between him and Videl had carried on; he hadn't attended every night, only when he really could. Annoyingly, he found himself almost aching to spend more time with her; it was entirely new to him. He was trying his best to suppress his feeling for her and these 'rendezvous' were not helping at all. Their relationship had come on leaps and bounds since their first meeting, both of them feeling more attached to one another. They even now openly conversed in school, even sitting next to each other in lessons, rumours began to spread, that the 'newman' was dating the most hard-to-get girl in school. It was true that there was something bubbling, but nothing official. Over the days they had opened up a little more, Gohan had even let Videl in on the secret that he had been the little boy at the Cell Games. She was less surprised than he had hoped, apparently she had already worked it out, bullshit. His mother hadn't been happy with the setup at first, but when Gohan had mentioned that it would benefit his own schoolwork she had soon been won over. Goten, on the other hand, had been beside himself with sadness; he had kicked, screamed, wailed and even powered up to Super Saiyan at one point; it was a bit of an eye-opener. This week, though, this week was different; it was new for a start and with a new week came a new fresh set of rumours.

This had to be Sharpener's doing, Gohan knew it. He had noticed something was off when he first walked through the corridors to get to his locker; tardiness was a thing of the past for our young hero. It wasn't anything particularly obvious, just the way people had looked at him and the frequency of it. He wasn't totally unaware of the fact that many women found him 'attractive', he just didn't really care; it was normally those girls who looked at him as he passed. It wasn't just those girls today, oh no, it was everyone, sneaking a furtive look here and there. It had been so off-putting that Gohan had made a quick detour into the men's room to check that he wasn't still Super Saiyan. On the way over there had been a string of petty crimes, Videl had cleared most of them up, it was easier for her to get away with coming to school late, but he had helped out where he could. But no, he was in his normal state, looking as far as he could tell, more normal than ever. Videl had given him a couple of fashion tips, mainly that waistcoats were not fashionable, not yet at least. She had even taken him to the shopping mall to buy him a pair of jeans, something she couldn't believe he didn't have, and a series of t-shirts with the assorted bollocks phrases on them. However, here he was, feeling as self-conscious as he could remember. You could ask the question, dearest reader, but surely Gohan has nothing to feel insecure about, he's the crunkest chap in the universe isn't he? Well, reader, this is very true, but consider for a moment, Gohan is new to this whole high school business, how would you feel?

After exiting the lavatory, still being looked at, Gohan made his way as quickly as he could, while still looking unfazed; something that resembled the Monty Python freemason sketch, to his first lesson. Entering the classroom had been the worst part, he thought he had finally integrated into the fabric of the school, but no, the eyes were there too. He made a bee line for his desk, staring straight in front of him the entire way. Even Eraser was acting up, having finally given up on wooing Gohan she had stopped flirting with him, however, she didn't even register his presence only a seat across from her. The clock read 8:19. Still ten minutes before he could bury himself in work, agony. Around 5 minutes later, there was a ripple of whispers up the classroom which disturbed Gohan from his wonderful daydream, Videl had entered the room. She had got the same treatment it seemed. Having taken her seat next to Gohan they said nothing to one another, a strange pact of silence being signed between the two. What was the lesson? History. Time to tune out.

Gohan shoved his pad of paper into his bag and hid his ballpoint pen in his pocket. Most of the class had already cleared out, including Videl and Eraser. They had wandered off pretty quickly, side by side. Whatever it was causing all this strange activity, needed to be cleared up as soon as possible.

"Okay, don't freak out when I tell you, but yeah…I heard that you and Gohan…did it." Eraser couldn't believe that her Videl hadn't heard this; it had been the talk of the town for the past weekend. Videl breathed in and out slowly, hoping to erase the feelings of pure rage inside of her. Whoever had spread this rumour was going to suffer…not only at her hands. An evil thought sprung to mind.

"Eraser…you know you're my best friend right?" She was using it, that favour reserved for desperate times, the friend card.

"Yeah, of course I do Videl!" What kinda question was that?...Oh no, she wasn't, she wouldn't, the friend card. Eraser couldn't mask her horror, she was about to be thrown right into the middle of this controversy. Videl began to nod her head as she recognised her friend's reaction.

"That in mind Eraser, you wouldn't happen to know who spread this little story about me and Gohan, would you?" Ahh she had her by the proverbial balls. Eraser squirmed slightly as she looked for a way out.

"Uh…I dunno…Videl, I mean I did h-hear something about…Sharpener or something." That was all Videl needed. Thanking her friend, she headed straight for a certain someone's locker. Luckily he hadn't gone back to class yet and was still organising his books. Videl rubbed her hands together menacingly, thanking Kami for her good luck. Sidling up, she leaned her back on the adjacent locker and put on her cutest face possible.

Right, Lynch textbook – check, Waters textbook – check, he was all sorted for his lesson. Gohan was just about to close his locker when he sensed a presence appear beside him, Videl. He turned his head to look at her, to which she batted her eyelids. Gohan didn't need to have an extensive knowledge of girls to know that she wanted something.

"Goooooooooooohaaaaaaaaaan" Okay, she definitely wanted something. He'd never understood why people elongated the syllables of someone's name when they wanted something. He was guilty of it as well and still never understood what it achieved. "Do you mind if I tell you something?" Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shit, here we go. Gohan tensed up as his nerves begun to kick up a fuss. He shook his head, his vocal chords too horrified to work. "Weeeeeeeeeell, apparently, Sharpener has been telling everyone that we, you know, did it." A loud snap indicated that Gohan had pulled his locker door off its hinges, you know, as you do.

"Say that again." Gohan's worried demeanour was replaced by deep contempt, the type of contempt that only a Saiyan could muster. The locker door was still gripped in his right hand, his fingers making imprints in the metal.

"Sharpeneeeeeeer has been spreading rumours about us doing, well, naughty things." She batted her eyelids once more and put her hands behind her back, shuffling her feet in mock nervousness. Gohan pursed his lips and looked down at his own feet.

"Right then." Hammering the locker door shut, he picked his bag up and made his way purposefully to the classroom.

As he quickly passed through the corridors a small posse began to follow behind, catching on with what was about to happen. Sharpener liked to hang around the classroom during the small breaks in between lessons with his 'boys' and today was no different. Gohan entered the classroom and…walked straight to his seat, paying no attention to Sharpener. The small posse led by Videl looked at the scenario in confusion; Gohan hadn't beaten the shit out of Sharpener? There was muffled groan of disappointment as the mob disbanded and took their individual seats. Videl slowly walked up to where she and Gohan sat, noting the small smirk he had on his face. She took her seat and gave him a nudge in the midriff.

"Gohan, what are you doing?"

"Look at him, Videl" Gohan motioned toward Sharpener sat two rows in front of them with a nod of his head. "He's an arsehole, we all know it, I'm not gonna waste my time getting upset about some puerile rumour that he's decided to spread." He begun to crack his knuckles as he said this.

"But people will think it's true if you don't do something about it." She was worried; maybe Gohan wanted people to think it was true.

"I'm going to trust their better judgment, we are all adults here and this type of rumour is obviously untrue. I'm not going to satisfy the likes of him by making a scene, that's what he wants me to do. Let's just wait it out, if drama can be avoided, then let's do our best to avoid it." This was a surprisingly timid reaction from someone who was obviously so powerful, she couldn't understand it. It frustrated her that someone who had the ability to get whatever he wanted, was so happy to roll over. She didn't want to get into an argument about it with him however, for now, she would trust Gohan's belief that it would pass.


Videl was still mulling over the situation in her mind as she awaited Gohan's arrival at her house. She didn't know why he didn't just come straight after school, something about wanting to get extra studying in. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts as Gohan announced his arrival. Scampering down the stairs, she gave him a quick greeting at the door and they proceeded back upstairs.

Once inside her room Videl sat down on her bed as Gohan put his bag down and took a seat by her desk. She begun to fiddle with one of her pigtails as a hush descended over the room, neither of them knew how to start the conversation.

"So, Videl, what…work do you have?" Gohan hoped to divert her attention from the issues at school, it wouldn't help in anyway.

"Oh yeah, that…uh…Gohan, can I ask you a question?"

"I guess." He might as well let it happen; they would have to confront it at some point, so they may as well get it over with as soon as possible.

"You know the whole thing about Sharpener and us?" He nodded "Well, you know you said something about not satisfying him, what did you really mean by that?" Gohan was stunned; he had been expecting some invitation to an argument, instead she had asked him a truly deep question. He pondered it for a moment or two, making sure the answer he gave was as well worded as possible. He got up out of his seat and sat down on her bed next to her.

"Well, what I meant was, Sharpener wants to cause a rift between us, he's jealous of how close I am to you and wants to mess that up for not only you but me too." He turned to look down at her, his words escaping him due to the beauty of her bright blue eyes.

"Do you think he has reason to be jealous…?" This was unexpected, he wasn't entirely sure at what Videl was getting at.

"Erm…well…that's not an easy question to answer, I mean, we are pretty close and well we do spend a lot of…" He was cut off by the sight of a small smile caressing the corners of Videl's mouth. He felt Videl take hold of his hands, her small fingers gripping him tightly. "V-Vid…" His pathetic protest was stopped short as Videl leant up, eyes closed and pressed her mouth to his, kissing him slowly. Gohan initially seized up, however relaxed as he started to enjoy his first kiss. Oh how fast they grow up. It was shorter that it seemed, but then again, Gohan was new to all of this and it was always going to seem like hours before they stopped, when in reality it was about 20 seconds. Videl pulled away from the young man, looking as pleased as ever. Gohan regained himself in a flash, plastering on the Saiyan smirk.

"Well, I think he has reason to be jealous now." She smiled sweetly at his response to her kiss. Putting a hand on his cheek she leaned up once more. "But there's one thing troubling me Videl…" She stopped and stared at him. "Is this going to become a regular occurrence or am I just going to be your bit on the side, eh?" He winked at her cheekily as she frowned at him. "Seriously though, I think we should get your work done before we get carried away." Oh Gohan, Gohan, Gohan, Gohan, when will you learn? He had the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen inviting him to his first ever make-out session and here he was, concentrating on doing work. Videl pouted at him.

"Can't we just leave that for later?"

"Narh, come on, as much as I would like to carry on further, and I really do mean I would, we can't let it distract us." Videl put on her puppy dog eyes, she only ever used them on her Father when she wanted something from him, Gohan was the first other man to see them. He shook his head and smiled. "Ohhhhh no, don't try that on me, I'm not as ignorant as you would like to think." Removing her hand from his cheek, Gohan got up from the bed and took his seat, back at her desk. Motioning for her to come join him, Videl harrumphed and walked over to him.


Gohan heard the door close behind him and started up the driveway leading to those god awful gates. He felt somehow unsatisfied with what had been achieved that evening. Yes, they had completed all the work Videl had in for the next day and yes, he had his first kiss. But there was something he hadn't done, something he couldn't put his finger on, oh well; he might remember it on the way home. Lifting himself slowly into the air, he looked down at her house one last time and shot off into the dusk sky. The wind whipped his face as he flew a little slower than usual, his dissatisfaction effecting his concentration. 10 minutes later and he had finally figured out what it was he wanted, nay, needed to do. Stopping in mid-air he turned his body and dashed off in the opposite direction, toward Videl's house. As he passed over, high enough for him to not be conspicuous, he noticed a black hummer pull in through the gates, on which was written the words 'Hercule Satan: World Champ'. More like 'Hercule Satan: World Chump', Gohan shook his head, terrible, absolutely awful, not even Piccolo would have made a joke as unfunny as that. Realising that it would be easier to not meet her Father, just yet, he made the descent toward her window, ensuring that Hercule and his cronies were inside.

Videl heard the door slam as her Father and his loudmouth mates arrived home. They were obviously inebriated so she took the decision to lock her door. She'd eaten before Gohan turned up so she didn't really need anything from downstairs, especially not her father's company. She turned the small key in the door and turned to go back to watching her television. Gohan. There he was, standing by her now open window.

"G-Gohan what are you doing here?" She muttered as she walked toward him.

"Yeah, 'bout that…erm…well Videl, here goes" He licked his lips nervously. "I wanted to know if, this…Friday? You would like to go out for a meal or something." He tried to avoid her gaze as a rather large smile graced her lips. She seductively sidled up to him, trying to catch his eye.

"Son Gohan, do you mean you want to take me on a date?" She could've sworn she heard a small gulp.

"Y-yes" He looked down at the small figure now uncomfortably close to him, even though they had kissed earlier, he was still getting used to having someone THIS close. She regarded him through half closed eyes as she made the most out his discomfort, faux-contemplating her decision, finger to the mouth and whatnot.

"Hmmm, would I like to go on a date with Son Gohan? I dunno…I guess it couldn't hurt, okay, I will let you take me out on a date." His face lit up as the Son grin came out to play.

"You mean it? That's brilliant!" Videl leant up onto her tip toes and gave him a swift peck.

"Now go before my Dad decides to come up and see how I'm doing."


The week had come and gone without much event, other than Sharpener's little rumour. Gohan and Videl had yet to engage in any intimate interaction at school, so still, certain rumours were flying about. People had soon lost interest in their love-life as Gohan had predicted and had moved onto the next slice of gossip. They had still been meeting after-school but had moved no further than a few closed mouth kisses here and there. But now it was Friday, the turning-point, so to speak, in the foundation of their relationship. Gohan had agreed to take Videl out to an Italian restaurant in the middle of the city. It was to be a relatively relaxed affair, no suits, but still relatively smart. Now let us join our hero, waiting outside Videl's house for her to finish getting ready. He was awoken from his daydream by the sound of the door opening and a figure emerging. He looked her up and down. While the black dress she was wearing showed off her figure brilliantly, what Gohan found most startling was the fact that she had cut her pigtails off and now wore her hair short. Okay guys; you know what it looks like.

"Your hair…it's different."

"Yeah, you like it?" Gohan considered his answer. He had been shocked at first, but it was quickly growing on him as it framed her gorgeous eyes better than the pigtails had ever.

"Yeah it's really hot." Gohan put a hand to his mouth as he realised what he had just said as Videl blushed. Gohan hadn't been the only one indulging in a bit of eye candy, Videl was impressed. Gohan wore a white shirt with thin black stripes on it with a pair of skinny cream chinos, quite stylish in comparison to what he had worn earlier in his school career. He offered his arm out to hers.

"Shall we?" She smiled and took it gladly.


Gohan was still hungry. He had eaten a normal sized portion of penne arrabbiata as to not embarrass Videl on their first date and was not in any way full. However, he couldn't mess this up, he'd put into much effort for him to screw it up now. He'd eaten the meal slowly; he had made all the right jokes and could be generally proud of how he had held himself during the meal. He'd even pulled her chair out for her at the start, held the door open for her as they entered and done the same when they exited. Now they were in front of her house; make or break time.

"So" He grinned at her bashfully. "Just wanted to say I had a really good time tonight and I really hope you had a good time too." Videl giggled.

"I did, thank you Gohan, but I have something for you." She batted her eyelashes at him.

"Oh really?" Gohan replied knowingly. Videl begun to rummage through her handbag as she looked for Gohan's 'present'. She let out a short squeak of joy as she found it, pulling her hand out of the bag; she held a small mobile phone. "This is for you, it's already got my number on it, it's just so you can contact me more easily" Gohan took his present, aghast at such kindness.

"Oh wow Videl, that's so nice of you!" She beamed at him, happy that he had been so pleased with his present.

"Now…" She took his hand and pulled him closer to her. "You want to come inside?" She bit her lip seductively.

"Is your Dad in?" He seemed unsure whether he wanted to let himself go and see where it went.

"Nope." Before he could answer, she had opened the door and pulled him through it.