Prince of Orange Star: The Wait

I don't own a damned thing besides the Original Characters created specifically for this Fan Fiction.


The classes, or at least most of them that had gone on field trips arrived back at the school with no less than 30 minutes to spare before the bell to leave would ring. For most that would mean the end of a great day filled with meeting some incredible people and seeing some amazing things. But that was for most teenagers, Videl most certainly wouldn't be thrown into that category.

She couldn't wait to leave school for the simple fact that her amazing day wasn't about to just end. She would make another hour long trip over to the famed Capsule Corporation. She herself couldn't believe that an invite back was handed out to her so carelessly. Nothing came that easy, it was hard enough just thinking about it without showing any signs of insanity. She wanted to crack a demonic like smile, but the young girl would have to wait a few moments longer for the bondages to crack. Soon enough that high pitched bell would ring and she would race out the door. It would be then that she could show her excitement.

It wasn't just the fact that she would be going back to Capsule Corp., it was more than just that. She was promised, or it seemed like a promise to her at least, that a certain dark haired Prince, who liked to change his clothes quite a bit she would like to add, that he would help her get airborne without the use of a jet or a helicopter. She would fly. Not only that, but she would be doing so in her favorite pair of boots. She held those yellow boots in higher regard than any other of her possessions. It was her treasure, it was the last thing she had to...Not now, today was a great day, she wouldn't digress now. Today she would shout to the heavens above to show the joy in her.

When the bell finally had rung Videl was the first person out of the class. She quickly ran to and opened her locker and grabbed what she needed and threw in what she didn't. Turning to run out of the school, the raven haired girl was quickly caught by her shoulder.

"Videl. Hey, what's the rush? Wanna wait up for me? I'll be just a second."

She looked back and thought for a moment, she could, but she really didn't want to, besides, they would have to part ways at some point. "Sorry Erasa, I'm in a rush. I got somewhere to be, and I really don't wanna be late. I gotta-" Just about to rush away Erasa pulled her back even harder.

"Now you wait right here. I'm going to my locker to get what I need and your going to tell me why you're in such a rush when I get back. It'll be no more than a minute. I'm sure whatever or wherever it is you need to get to can wait that long." Yes it could, Videl knew that, but she didn't want to waste any time if possible. It would take her at the least an hour by foot to get back to Capsule Corp. She moaned in displeasure with having to wait for her blond friend.

"Alright, but hurry up please, there's no time to waste." Erasa took the hint and hurried to her locker and threw her bag inside. She came back with just her purse around her shoulder and a smile on her face. "So, you don't need anything in your bag?" Videl asked.

"Ha, me? I did my homework yesterday, unlike you it seems. Today's a worry free day for me. But you, it seems like something's really bothering you. Now where exactly is it that you need to get to in such a hurry anyways? I need to call my parents and tell them where I'm going." Flipping open her phone she waited for Videl's response.

The jittery teenager pondered her options for a moment. Option number one, tell Erasa right there and then where they were going and let her go crazy in front of everybody like she normally would. Ok, not such a great idea. Option number two, wait until they were half way there to tell her and let her react on the street and have random people staring at the two. Doesn't sound much better than option one. But there was always option number 3 or 4 right? Let her figure it out when they get there or just don't bring her at all and don't tell her at all. The last two sounded very tempting, but one would have to suffice.

"I'll tell you what, if I promise you that where we're going will blow your mind, will you not ask me where we're going?" Erasa's eyes lit up at the promise, but then her eyes went down to her open cell phone.

"Um, sounds like a deal, but what do I tell my parents about where I'll be for the day?"

"The same as always. You dragged me and Sharpner off to the mall. Sounds believable enough to me, now come on let's go. I don't want to waste even a second longer than we already have." Seemed like a good enough excuse. The two exited through the front doors where the always eager photomaniacs who told themselves that they had a real job were waiting. They had yet to get a decent photograph of the Prince of the Ox Kingdom. Videl and Erasa walked proudly past them not even acknowledging their existence. "Losers" The two girls whispered as they passed them by.


"Well, looks like you're relaxing quite easily." Gohan tilted his head from from his laying position to see who it was that was that was talking to him, though he knew from her voice.

"Hey Bulma. Yup, this day off, so to speak is definitely what I've been needing. These past two days have been more tiring than I could have imagined. Going to school and coming home every day is pretty tiring. Ya know, that laid on top of everything I have to do back home." He rolled his eyes.

"I can't imagine." She answered sarcastically, of course no one worked harder than she, but Gohan came in a close second, especially as of late. "Then again, it wasn't really a day off, now was it?"

"Huh? What do you mean? I didn't go to school. I haven't been home all day. And as far as I can tell, I haven't signed any papers." He answered innocently.

"Yea, that may be true. But then again, you were hard at work in the Gravity Chamber, or must I remind you of the blood stains all over my floors, or how I had to drag you out of there myself, or how I had to un-"

"Ok ok! I get it. You don't need to get into such detail, alright?" He waved her off with a small blush in his cheeks. He flipped himself over and behind the blue haired genius and got that creek out of his neck. "So, what's you're point in bringing all of this up?" His hands now rested behind his neck in a fashion only familiar to a select few.

"Well, you've been coming here to the city for two or three days now, but you don't really know the place. So what I'm thinking, is that you stay over for the night and tomorrow I can give the Grand Tour. Just you, me, and the two boys, I'm sure Trunks would love to have you and Goten around for another day. He gets so lonely around here being an only child, ya know." She gave him the same puppy dog eyes Goten and Trunks were reluctant to give him just an hour or two earlier.

"Oh come on, that's not fair. You know I have things to do back home. I can't just throw away my responsibilities just like that. I have people that count on me to get things done. I-"

"Pfft. I'm sure someone can cover for you for one day. I'm positive your grandpa wouldn't mind either. As much as he acknowledges you as a Prince, he sees you as his grandson first. So one day off shouldn't be anything. In fact, I'll call him up right now just to prove it to you."

"Ok ok, I get it. But, what about school? I didn't go today, so technically I was absent. I can't just miss two days in a row. I'll fall behind." What he forgot about the person he was trying to convince was that she would be the first person to eventually realize time travel, create an animal to human translating device and many other useful devices. So to think he was going to have it easy was a mistake.

She raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Right. You, fall behind? Come on Gohan, who do you take me for?" She knocked on his head. "Just the thought of you falling behind kids your own age in academics could make me fall over in a pit of laughter. And it would only be one day. Today you wouldn't have had to do any work if you went to school. You would end up right where your standing now."

She was right, she knew it, he knew it. It was virtually impossible for him to actually fall behind in his studies after all the books he'd been put face to face with during his short lived childhood. "Fine, I get it. There's no arguing with you and winning. I'll take another day off. Just, let me g-"

"You have plenty of clothes still here from when you and your mother were here for Goten's birth. So you're not leaving." She folded her arms in a vitorious fashion.

"You've got me beat before it even began. It's a good thing you're not evil, I think the world would have some serious trouble with an evil genius like you at it's reigns." The Saiyan joked as he walked off and out of the backyard.

"Heh, at least he knows it. I guess I'll go and tell Chi Chi of tonight's plans."


"I don't know how much longer I can go without cracking Vi. Where in the heck are we going? I have to know!" Whined the short cropped blond.

"We're not very far now. You can see it if you look straight ahead." Erasa did, but there was just huge buildings, and then there was that one large dome that everyone knew of.

"I don't get it Vi, where are we going? One of those building up ahead?" Videl just kept on walking until she stopped at the end of the long and narrow driveway. "Videl, why are we stopping? Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? Hmph, I knew you'd react like this. Just come on, follow me if you're still confused." Videl continued down the narrow path until she reached the door. Erasa was too stunned to do anything but squeal.

"Vi-v-v-Videl. We're a-a-t C-ca-Capsule C-c-Corp." She stuttered.

"Yea, we are. And now we knock, err, ring." Videl pushed the button on the intercom and soon enough a voice came through from the other side.

"Hello, who is it?"

"It's uh, it's Videl, from the school. Gohan invited me over for something." She was definitely going to regret saying those words in front of Erasa, the Gossip Queen. And just as she suspected, Erasa's eyes turned into bright golden stars as she cupped her hands together.

"Gohan...And...Videl..." She was lost in her own dream world. Videl brought her palm to her face. It was when she had slid it down all the way that the front door opened up.

"Oh, why hello there. You're one of the kids from earlier, right?"

Seeing this woman Videl knew she had to keep a cool temper and show respect. She grabbed Erasa by he back and forced her to bow as she was doing. "Erasa, stop fussing, just do as I say, ok?" She nodded. "Um, yes your Highness. I am. It's nice to see you again."

"Oh, pick your heads up. There's no need to be so formal here. We're in friendly company, this isn't a business meeting of any sort." The girls complied and lifted their heads. "So, Gohan invited you back did he? Well I wish he would have told me ahead of time, I would have prepared something for you two. Hmm. Anyways, Gohan should be around here somewhere. Here, let's find him the easy way." Chi Chi walked over to the nearest intercom and started shouting for her son. "Gohan. Oh Gohan." When she didn't get a response is when her true colors were shown.

"GOHAN YOU ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW OR YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR THE NEXT MONTH! YOU HEAR ME!" The two girls crashed to the floor tightly covering their ears from the high pitched screams coming from the older woman. "Hmm, no answer. That means one of three things. He's not in the building, he's sleeping somewhere there isn't an intercom, or, he's in that stupid room again. Come on, let's go find him, I don't want to keep you girls here all day."

"Oh no no no, it's no problem at all Your Highness." Erasa assured in a panicky tone.

"Please you two. Enough of the formalities. Just call me Chi Chi, everyone else does. Now come, let's go look for his Royal Laziness." They walked until they came to the couch they found Gohan on before, but he wasn't there. His room was the next place to search, but he wasn't there either.

"Hm, where is that boy?" The older woman wondered. She knew the obvious place to go next but didn't want to believe her son was at it again. "Ugh, between his responsibilities at home and school work training comes second to none. Well, come on girls, I know where he is."


"Focus. Fo-cus." Slowly with his left hand gripped near the top, Gohan swung slowly back and forth from side to side with his right arm as a guide. His breathing was on the same wavelength as the his swing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

His energy was floating about the room in a thin sheet just above the floor. It all pointed to one focal point, him. The white hot flames danced around the floor in a synchronized flow in the same direction as his bodily movements. When he was still, the energy built up in place, when he extended his arm, the energy flowed and expended.

Left and right, he slowly swung his arm. 'Alright Gohan. You've practiced this before and weren't very successful. You're past that. You've grown in more ways than one since then. You can do this. Just, focus.' The dark haired teen clad in bright orange brought his flow of energy to a stop. He held out the sword with his left hand and the sharp side of the blade towards his invisible opponent. The blade was horizontally flat and even with the top of his chest.

"Here we go." Buckling his knees, Gohan slowly pulled back the blade and slowly began to channel the energy he spread throughout the room into one area. All the energy was now resting in the palm of his left hand. From the edge of the handle to the tip of the blade, everything was focused in one area.

he closed his eyes. Taking in one last breathe, he exhaled the extra air and thrust his hand forward. When he felt his arm go as far it could he brought his right hand to the butt of the sword and pushed. With all his focus in a single instant his eyes shot open and the transparent flow burst into a fiery and dangerous aura.

'STOP!' Gohan's eyes shot open. Every muscle came to a screaming halt. His right arm extended past his left in an awkward position. He peared over to his right. He stopped just in time before slicing his own head off. He was still feeding the fiery energy into his hands. Thankfully for him this technique did more than amplify strength.

He could feel the warm steel brushing up against his cheek, just barely even to break skin, but not in deep enough to cause any serious breathing picked up as he tried to relax his muscles and drop out of the technique. He tried to get a hold of the energy but it was fighting back and trying to escape. He learned from past attempts that pushing it would just force is out even more, so he instead relaxed his grip to relieve all the tension. But in the position his arms were in it was a tough task. If he was even a single inch out of place the attack would have went wild and most likely have split him open. That or he would have popped a bone out of place with the amount of force used. Everything needed to be controlled.

Feeling like he was getting no where by just loosening his grip, his muscles were still too tense in their position, he dropped the sword altogether and came crashing to his knees. He held himself up with the palm of his hands as a pool of sweat formed beneath him, dripping like a sun shower from his dark spikes.

"Heh...Heh...Heh...Another...Heh...Failure..This...this has to get easier..Heh..Computer! Terminate program!"

[PROGRAM TERMINATED] The 150 G's worth of force that was pushing against him for the past 40 minutes was once again pulling back and reverting back down to Earth's normal gravity.

"Why is it so hard to control? It's like it's not my energy anymore when I use it. Why? I'm sure I'm concentrating enough, that much I do more than enough of, but, maybe that's the problem? Even for a split second, if I lose control it's dangerous." He sighed as he thought about how to successfully master the Godly technique. "Hmm, if I go Super Saiyan that would just make it worse if I lost control, so that's out of the question. Heh, maybe I should ask Yamcha or Tien about it, they might know a thing or two about it."

Gently shutting his eyes he felt the need to take a nap, even if it was in a pool of his own sweat and some of his own blood. Gohan spread his arms and legs to get the full amount of ventilation through his lungs. He laid like that for a few minutes before a pounding sound rang through his head. It was coming from behind.

"Well, I'm done anyways, whatever. Computer! Unlock!"

[UNLOCKING MAIN ENTRANCE] Locks loosened up and unshuttered the instant the mechanical words echoed. The huge blast door slid open and 3 pairs of feet were soon enough walking over to the exhausted half breed. He felt their eyes on him as he laid there still catching his breathe.

"Hey guys. What's up?"

Chi Chi was shaking her head while the two girls his age were in a state of shock.

"Gohan! What happened to you? Are you ok? What did you do? There's blood everywhere!" Erasa was obviously more surprised than Videl, the latter had already seen Gohan's blood spread in this same room just hours ago, but it was still a shock to see how beat up he was.

"Gohan? Um, are you ok?"

"Huh? Yea. I'm fine. Why? You worried?" Turning his head around he realized they had a reason to worry if they didn't know him very well. The pool of blood that was dripping from his cheek was growing around him. The dark haired teen swiped his hand across his right cheek twice to get an estimate on how long and deep the wound was. The first to feel how long the wound was, the second to get a good idea on how deep it was. If there was less blood on the second swipe then he was already healing up. No real damage was one.

"From the looks of it, well, it looks pretty bad. But trust me on this one, I'm fine. Can you just, uh. Well, can you guys help me up. My legs feel a bit heavy." He lied. He wanted to test out a theory of his. He only extended his left arm, he didn't think they would want to grab his blood stained hand.

"You two should be fine from here. I'm going back to find Bulma." The two girls waved Chi Chi off and then walked towards Gohan and grabbed his arm. Erasa grabbed the base of his arm while Videl grabbed onto his hand. They both pulled as hard as they could but he just wouldn't budge.

"Agh! Damn Gohan, how much do you weigh? It feels like we're trying to lift a small car." Videl strained.

"What are wearing? You can't possibly weigh this much? You're barely taller than me and not much bigger either." Erasa followed up. Gohan chuckled to himself at how right she was.

"Heh, you guys can let go now." They slowly released their grasp on the sweaty teen laying on the cold floor with confusion running deep within their heads.

"You just told us you couldn't get up. Now you're telling us to leave you on the flooooh! What the?" Before Videl could finish her sentence Gohan had jumped up from his back, landing perfectly on his feet.

"Hehe. See, I'm fine." They're eyes twitched as they saw their friend walk around perfectly as if nothing had happened. The problem was something had happened. He had a pretty large gash on the right side of his cheek that was still dripping and the bottom half of his Gi was partly in shreds.

"Fine? Gohan you were laying in a pool of your own blood and just said your legs feel weak. Suddenly you can feel fine like nothing happened? Explain yourself mister." The blond demanded.

"I wasn't in any pain to begin with. I was just testing a theory. I'm glad my hypothesis was correct. It wouldn't have felt too good if I was wrong about this one." Gohan walked over and picked up his Katana which was dripping with his blood near the tip. He needed to get that cleaned up. For now he would have to suffice with his own shirt instead of the usual tools.

"So, what brings you two here? I mean, not that I mind, just wondering."

Videl's eye twitched as his short term memory. She balled her palms into fists and leaned forward towards the boy as she poked him in the chest. "You jerk! You invited me back over! You told me you'd turn these boots into Zero Gravity shoes like your brother's and his friend's."

"Uh, oh. Right. Sorry, I guess I forgot. Um, you can wait on that right? I don't think Bulma would let me back in the lab looking like this bleeding all over her equipment. So I'm going to go take a shower and clean up. Come on, I'll guide you two back to the family room."

The small group walked out of the once again blood stained Gravity Chamber. Gohan walked out in front of the two, they had some talking between themselves to do.

In a low whisper "Hey, Videl. What do you think he was testing? You know, before with the whole helping him out thing?"

"Hmm? I dunno. Probably some weird guy thing. How am I supposed to know. I barely know him. He's weird."

"Hm, got that right. But still, there's something about him. I don't know what it is, but, he's just, agh. You know what I mean."

Videl gave a slight nod to her friend. "I have no idea what you mean. But you're right, there is something different about him. He's not like everyone else our age. I mean, besides being a Prince. There's something else." Videl couldn't help but try and figure out what exactly it was she meant.

"I dunno what either of us mean. Oh well. How about another topic? Like why he only invited you back here out of the entire group that came over. Hmmm? Wanna answer that for me missy?"

"Shut up E. It's nothing like that. I asked him to make something for me so I had to come back after school for him to do it. That's all there is to it." The raven haired tried to convince her bubbly friend. But of course she wouldn't let up just from a shoddy explanation like that.

They went on like that until they reaching the family room. Gohan led them to the couch before leaving them to clean off. They sat in silence watching tv as they waited for the Prince to clean himself off.

"Soooo?"

"Yea" The situation the two young girls were in was obviously an awkward one. Being at a stranger's house watching their tv while they're not around. Said stranger is the owner of the largest corporation in the world and she's a sincerely nice person.

Gohan came back from his shower no more than 10 minutes later with a towel hanging from his shoulder and a white strip on his cheek where he cut himself. "Hey guys, sorry for the wait, but it probably wasn't very appealing looking at me like I was before. Ah, feels much better being back in these clothes. I think I'm done training for the day anyways."

"Umm, yea. Thanks for showering. It wasn't too pleasant seeing drip with blood all over the place. Now, can we get started? Can you get to work on my boots now?" She looked at him with much innocence, he couldn't rake those eyes of hers. He had no idea why those eyes of hers had such a strangle hold on him, He just couldn't stop staring from the first moment he caught a glimpse.

Videl took quick notice of this and grew frustrated at his lack of focus again. She brought her right leg back and flung her boot to his face. It smacked him right in the middle of his face marking him with the bottom of her boot.

"Egh. HEY! What was that for?" He shouted as she folded her arms and stared back at him with no fear.

"Stop losing focus all the time. I asked you something, now answer me. Can you begin work on my boots already?" She calmly asked this time.

"Oh, right. Almost forgot about those."

"Again? You're hopeless." She flung her other boot at him, but this time he caught in his hand.

"I'll get started on them right away. If I'm not back within an hour, well, just wait longer. Ok?" Gohan bent to pick up the other boot and walked away leaving the two girls alone once again.

"An hour?"

"An hour."

"Ugh. You'd think they're be something interesting to do around here. We're in the greatest technological building in the world and yet there's nothing to do. There's like no one around." Whined the blond whose expectations were way too high.

"Whatever. If you're bored then take out your phone and call someone, or text now we just have to wait on Gohan. Ok?"

"Ok. Fine."

'He better not doing anything to those boots. I swear if anything happens to them I'll have his head.'


"Alright, time to get to work, let's see what we have to work with around here." Gohan walked around the room and gathered the smallest available pieces of equipment that would be of any use in this little project. Taking whatever he thought useful he placed them all down on the large desk next to the tablet he used before. He then took a look at the pair of boots by his side. "Hmm, ya know, I never thought that she would actually ask for something like this. Maybe I should have said something else. Like, they're superhuman children with unheard of strength and powers. Yea, that would definitely have gone better." He told himself as he slumped back in his chair.

"I don't even know if I can do something like this. Create Zero Gravity shoes out of an existing pair? Might as well try. I did tell her I would make them for her. But I'm not going to let her go crazy with these things. There's going to be restrictions." He began to play around with the virtual screen and tinkered with a few different ideas on how he would install the set of small boosters to the boots.

When one idea wouldn't work he tried another, and then another, and then another until he was out of ideas. The dark haired Prince decided he needed a short break, to clear his mind from the growing frustration. Every result came out the same. The pressure tearing the shoes apart. Reclining in his chair, he held up the set of yellow boots over his head and just stared. 'She seemed so dead set that these would be the boots that get her in the air. Why these? They don't look like special, and if anything else they wouldn't seem very practical either. Maybe there's something different about these shoes that I don't know. Hmm.'

He lingered around the idea that these were made from some sort of special material, he debunked that idea when he ran his hands inside the shoes. It seemed almost hollow on the inside. The sides were ripped up and there was no trace of any soles left. She was more than likely walking with callouses and blisters on her feet at all times. "Man, why does she still have these things? They looks ages old. I can't imagine walking in these let alone run around. Heck, I saw her fighting in these, her feet must have been killing her. I gotta admit she's tough, but there's a fine line between being tough and being dumb. It may be a little of both in her situation though. Maybe she wears some sort of special socks or something? Maybe."

Spinning in his chair while staring at one of the boots, something in one of them caught his eye. It was something that he should have seen earlier. It was bright and bold. He brought it closer to his face for a closer look. It was a couple of words written in script. There looked to be a few numbers as well. He ran his eyes from left to right reading the words inside. Just seconds later he slammed the shoe back down the desk and reclined back in his chair as he covered his face with his palms.

Gohan ran his hands down his face and let out a breathe of air through his nose before staring up at the ceiling. "Videl..."


Erasa was chatting away on her phone as she waited for Gohan to return with Videl's shoes. It was taking a bit longer than they expected. It had already been 45 minutes from when Gohan left the two girls and they were getting both anxious and bored. The blond had resorted to texting all of the contacts in her phone. By the end of it all she was having a conversation with her mother about what time she would be home from the mall and not to stay out too late.

Videl on the other hand was waiting patiently as she blocked out all noise from entering her head. All of her thoughts were on her pair of bee yellow boots. Her prized possession. What she would do to that kid if he ruined those shoes. She could think of a million and one ways to torture him if anything bad had happened. And on the other side of her mind she was dancing with joy about the thought of being able to fly around on her own. She couldn't be anymore excited. She knew that actually flying was out of the question and impossible, but using these shoes, it might be possible, or so she hoped.

Time was wearing thin and Gohan was taking more and more time than anyone had expected. The two girls sat anxiously on the couch, jitterring about. Bulma and Chi Chi had been watching the two sit there for a while, for the most part in silence. They looked out of their habitat. They seemed to be pouring out this awkward aura about them that told everyone that they weren't used to these type of situations. Erasa was used to being crazy and out there. Videl was used to getting her way, exactly when she wanted it.

Chi Chi noticed the uncomfortable situation the two were in, they were quite fidgety as they sat alone together on the couch while the tv stared back at them on the local news channel. She decided to treat the young ladies to some of her famous cooking. The one with blond hair hadn't had the chance to taste a little piece of heaven yet, so she made sure to whip up something good. It wasn't one of her king sized dinners that was cooked every night for her two boys, but it was a good sized human snack.

"You two looked absolutely famished. Here, you should eat something. You've been waiting here for some time now. You must be quite anxious for my son's return." Stated the proud mother of two as she set down two bowls onto a small table beside the two girls.

"Oh no, we couldn't possibly."

"Oh wow! Thank you so much! This looks delicious!" Erasa quickly grabbed a bowl and began digging in. Tears soon streamed down her face. She looked up to the sky and sent a silent prayer of her own thanking whoever was looking or the amazing food. "It's, it's amazing." She whimpered before inhaling another spoonful.

"I'm glad you like it. It's good to know that people have good taste in food. And what about you? Aren't you even a little bit hungry?"

Videl turned her head over to the steaming bowl of food and then back to the Princess. "I am. But, I'm worried." The young Satan girl admitted.

"Worried? Oh Gohan's fine. There's nothing my son can'-"

"I'm not worried about Gohan. It's my shoes."

"Your shoes? What about them has you worried?"

She didn't want to say. But she didn't want to be rude. But this was the Princess. She probably didn't tell everyone everything right? There were some things that were just too personal to explain. She could understand that right? Hopefully.

"It's, I'm sorry. I rather not say." She slumped down against the soft cushion in the couch and stared down up at the ceiling. Chi Chi followed her eyes to the sky and stood there for a moment staring at the same ceiling.

Sure, she may be Goku's wife, but that in no right made her some sort of simpleton. She could tell by the cracks in the young girl's voice and how distant she was trying to be. There was that hint of sadness in her voice when she hesitated for that brief moment before saying she couldn't explain.

"It's alright, I understand. Eat up. You're food's getting cold. I never make the same thing twice. Just try it." The elder woman walked away leaving the two alone again.

"You sure you're ok with this Videl? I mean, you know, those things are pretty old. What if-" The words couldn't get out before the sound of heavy footsteps crept up on the two teenagers. He took a seat in between the two without making any eye contact. Placing the shoes down in front of Videl.

"I laminated the bottom before putting in new, clear, gel soles. I re-stitched the sides and the back of each boot as well so there's some cushion. You won't have to keep rubbing alcohol over broken skin anymore. And you won't be getting anymore callouses or blisters either." His eyes still not having moved.

"Um, thank you? But, what about the-"

"The risk was too high. The chances of the shoes completely tearing apart was greater than not. At first I admit, I was willing to take the risk. And it might have worked."

"But?"

"But, then." He needed a breathe of fresh air. This was far harder to say than he imagined it would be. How do you disappoint someone and throw pity their way at the same time without feeling so bad about it? He gripped his knees tightly. "I-I know what it's like, Videl. I'm sincerely sorry. I..."

"Thank You."


A/N: Reason for Delay? Well as some, I hope most, most of you should know I began the Sequel to A Disturbed Savior. So there's a few days right there. I was actually in the middle of writing this chapter when it hit me. I had that feeling that I'm sure every long time DBZ fan has felt, or at least should. That 'Goku is the greatest' sort of feeling. Deviant Art fan art isn't enough to gain this feeling. It needs to be read and felt. That or seen and watched via Anime. There's only one Goku fan Art on Deviant Art I can truly say I love. It's called 'Protect Your Mother For Me' It needs no explanation. I was deep into Goku Nostalgia for the past week or so. That's where 'The Promises We Keep' comes in. Anyone who knows the plot and story to A Disturbed Savior should know what I'm talking about, anyways I'm just babbling about here.

I want to once again thank PanHopeNvs. The Author of 30 Seconds To Heartbreak. You're to thank for that sense of Nostalgia I'd been lacking.

*One last note. A Very Happy Birthday to a very good friend here on FF. Happy Birthday Kaka, have a good one man, err if it's belated, sorry if I missed it XD *Gets Shot*