A/N: Read & Review
Chapter 10: Capsule Corp. Crazy
Tuesday morning Erasa sauntered into the room. "Morning boys!" She called smiling sweetly. She jumped on Sharpner's bed. "Wake up sleepy head!" She insisted kissing his face several times.
He groaned. "Erasa..."
"Oh come on!" She shook him. "I'm starving." She went into his suitcase grabbing him clean clothes and throwing them on the bed. She studied his clothing. "I don't remember these boxers Sharpie? Have I seen them before?"
I snorted. "Seriously guys. I really don't need to know that you guys screw all the time..." I threw off my blanket and walked away from the beds.
Erasa chuckled. "Somebody's grumpy in the mornings. Screw? That's a brutal word for you Gohan."
I waved a hand at them going into the girls' adjoining rooms. "I'm going to see if your shower is free." The door was ajar and I knocked on it lightly. "Videl?" There was no answer. I pushed it open slowly keeping my hand on the doorknob just in case I had to shut it quickly. I pushed in. The bathroom light was on. I walked down into their sitting area. There were papers scattered across the coffee table. I glanced behind me. The bathroom light was still on. I shuffled through some papers. "Whoa..." I muttered. In my hand I held a black and white sketch of Cell. The sketch had every perfect detail from perfect Cell. My eyes widened. The eyes. Only the eyes had color. His penetrating violet eyes. I closed my eyes. They were all too real...
"Excuse me!" I turned around still clutching to the drawing of Cell. "What do you think you're doing?" Videl was glaring at me clenching a blow dryer in her hand. Her hair was plastered to her head and she was wearing her usual black spandex and long white tank top.
She stomped over to me. "Videl! Wait! It's not what it looks like-"
She started gathering up her drawings. "They're private!" She shouted.
"Videl they're amazing." She froze.
She set the papers back down. "You think so?" She asked sincerely.
"Yeah, they're great!" I handed her back the picture of Cell. She snatched it out of my hand and placed it on top the stack.
"Well it's just a hobby." She put the sketches in a black bag.
She started towards the bathroom again. "Videl?"
She disappeared into the bathroom. "Yeah?" She called back starting the blow dryer on a low blow setting.
I followed. "I have to ask." I stopped in the doorway. She was looking at me through the foggy mirror. She had rubbed away just a large enough section to see her reflection in the mirror. "How do you know his eyes are purple?" She looked at me skeptically.
She looked back at herself in the mirror. There was a long silence before she spoke again. "It's none of your business." She muttered continuing to blow dry her hair.
I stared at her through the mirror. I knew she saw me staring. "Okay." I answered reluctantly. "But when you're ready to talk, I'll be here to listen." I offered. I turned to go. "Oh and Videl?"
She looked at me again turning off her blow dryer. "Yeah Gohan?"
"If you don't mind. I'd like to see your sketches again sometime." I smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
She smiled back at me. "I'll be ready in ten minutes. Get breakfast?"
/
A few hours later we were standing in front of the Capsule Corp. factory. The students were standing in clusters around the front steps with their heads together. "Listen up!" Dr. Stephens one of the Briefs best scientists was standing on the highest step calling out to us. "My assistant," He gestured to the young squirmy guy in glasses standing beside him. "and I will be giving a tour of the factory. You have your Scavenger Hunt sheets to do afterward."
Everyone groaned. I nudged Videl. "The scavenger hunt will be fun." I smirked. "Be my partner?" I offered boldly.
She looked thoughtfully up at the sky. "I don't know..." She looked over to another cluster of students. "I think Ted would really be into being mypartner." The jock locked eyes with Videl. He smiled waving excitedly at her. Videl looked at me and I glared back. She sighed. "Yes we can be partners."
"Now then," Dr. Stephens called out. "If you will all follow us into the factory we can begin our tour."
We filed in behind them whispering excitedly to each other. Dr. Stephens droned on about the history of the factory, the idea that sparked the Capsule Corp Company beginnings and what they do at the factory. "Can anybody tell me who invented the actual Capsule family homes?"
I raised my hand. "It was actually Bunny, Dr. Briefs' wife."
Dr. Stephens smiled and winked at me. I spent a lot of time with him meandering around the Capsule Corp. factory when I was a child. "Precisely." Videl looked at me surprised but I ignored it. "Bunny chose the dome shape because she liked the high ceilings. She also chose the dome shape because she loved blowing bubbles."
Everyone laughed and I smiled recalling that story I had heard a thousand times. This was gonna be an easy scavenger hunt.
/
"Okay wait, just wait." Videl insisted.
I smiled at her. "Didn't believe me?"
She shook her head. "One more time!" She pleaded.
I smirked. "Challenge accepted."
I took a couple steps back tilted my head and opened my mouth. I looked at her. She waved her hand for me to go further back. I took a few more steps back. "Stop." I stopped. "Ready? Go!" She tossed a green grape into the air and I followed its fall and then it dropped perfectly in my mouth. I chewed it gratefully and made my way back over to her. "Oh my Kami Gohan! You were like 15 feet away. Seriously?" She laughed enthusiastically.
I shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a pretty talented guy!"
She sat back down on the bench and I sat beside her. She nudged me. "You're full of surprises."
I smirked playfully at her. "Stick around and maybe I'll keep surprising you."
"Well, well, well..." Erasa started. "You two look rather chummy."
I blushed furiously. Videl pursed her lips. "Well you two are alwaystogether." Videl teased.
A whistle blew and we rose to our feet. "Alright kids! Now it's time for you to begin your scavenger hunt." He clasped his hands together.
Everyone cheered. "Ready partner?" I looked down at Videl.
She smiled up at me confidently. "Ready." She answered.
"On your mark," My eyes scanned the scavenger hunt. Three items."Get set," Simple."Go!"
/
A couple hours later I found myself at Bulma's kitchen table again. Bunny and Bulma were bringing out trays of food and Vegeta was already serving himself several helpings.
"So you won, huh?" She asked sitting down and serving herself food.
I nodded with my mouth full. "Yeah, Videl-" I swallowed down my food. "-my partner. She's brilliant. She's a huge fan of yours."
I took several more bites. Bulma chuckled. "Well you got the four invites I gave you for our Halloween Bash right?"
I nodded excitedly. "Yeah, Videl's gonna freak!"
Bulma looked up thoughtfully. "Videl sounds like a familiar name. Do I know her?"
I stopped mid bite. I rubbed my lips together. "I-I don't think so Bulma." I continued eating as nonchalantly as I could.
"Hmmm..." She shrugged. "Well how's the field trip so far?" She asked enthusiastically. "Oh I just love field trips!" She continued before I could answer. "There's something about going away on a field trip for a few days or for a week that's so magical. Everyone forgets who they are. They forget the boundaries of school. There aren't any cliques. It's amazing." She sighed dreamily. "They're full of curfews that are made to be broken. Forbidden areas that are meant to be explored. Hotel rooms that are meant to have parties." She looked at me. "And at Orange Star High you take three field trips your senior year." She informed me.
I blinked at her. "Do I?"
She nodded. "Yeah, you'll take one in a few months and a senior class trip at the end of the year after prom."
"Prom?" I gulped. I wolfed down more mashed potatoes to try to forget about prom.
"Oh but you have plenty of time to worry about that!" She waved her hand. She smiled challengingly at me. "But you only have a few days left of this trip. What are you going to do with it, huh Gohan?"
/
After dinner I slid my key card and entered the room. I ran a hand through my hair. Without training I wasn't getting as tired as I usually did. I sighed flopping down on my bed staring at the ceiling. What am I gonna do with myself?
"Long day?" A light voice asked.
I looked over at Sharpner's bed and met Videl's eyes. A small smile fell across my lips. "What are you doing in here?" I teased. I mocked looking around. "As I recall," I looked back at her. "This is a boys room."
Videl chuckled. "Apparently, Sharpner never gave you the message huh?"
I raised an eyebrow. We were both laying on our backs with our heads turned to each other, an end table separating us. I shook my head. "Whatever message I was supposed to get; I didn't get it."
She pursed her lips then laughed. She turned away looking up. "It looks like Sharpner's gonna be in my room tonight which means I'll be sharing this room with you." She looked back smirking at me.
I squinted up my face in disgust. "Augh, nasty." Videl broke out into a fit of giggles and I laughed alongside her. I couldn't help it. I stared at her chuckling. Her laugh was contagious. I just wanted to hear her laugh forever. "You know; you can't really blame them though. This is a perfect opportunity for them to spend alone time together."
Videl looked back up at the ceiling uncomfortably. "H-have you ever...?" Her voice trailed off and she looked over at me.
I looked at her furrowing my eyebrows trying to study her. Was she asking me if I had ever... I shook my head quickly. "No." I mumbled. I shook my head. "No!" I shouted at her and she looked alarmed. "I mean," I bit my lip. "No." I answered more calmly. "No I've never..." I paused. I rubbed my lips together. "H-have you-?"
She looked at me shaking her head furiously. "No no! Never. I've never..." She cleared her throat uncomfortably. There was an awkward silence.
"Oh!" I sat up reaching into my pocket. "Here." I got up and walked over to Sharpner's bed sitting beside Videl. I handed her the tickets. "Bulma gave us invites to her next party. It's our prize from winning the scavenger hunt! I got them from her assistant."
Videl squealed. "No way!" She took the tickets from my hand scanning them over. "This is so cool!"
"Yeah!" I answered back enthusiastically. "She gave us four tickets. I was thinking we could give the other two to Erasa and Sharpner and then just go together."
She looked over at me incredulously. "You mean us go together?"
I closed my eyes and smiled embarrassed turning my head away. "Tell you what." I bit my lip nodding to the door. "There's a concrete basketball court behind the lounge. Play you one-on-one." I smirked. "I win? You go to the Briefs party with me. If you win? I'll leave you alone."
She crinkled her nose. "Yeah, but it's curfew."
"Yeah." I nodded in agreement. "But we only have a few days left of this field trip Videl. Let's make the most of it!" I grabbed her arm heaving her up off the bed. "Come on. Grab my key." She scooped it up as we jogged out the door. She closed it slowly behind her as quietly as she could. "Come on!" I pulled her down the hall.
"Gohan!" She whispered fiercely.
I turned back. "What?" I whispered back. She grabbed my hands and pulled me into a little alcove between the ice maker and snack machine. We shimmied in the alcove. "Videl-"
"Sh, sh, sh." She whispered putting the tips of her fingers over my mouth. I bit my lip looking down at her. She was so close. She was looking out at the hall waiting for someone to pass by. "Okay," She whispered. She looked back up at me. "We can-" She stopped when she noticed how close we were. She cleared her throat and pushed herself back out into the hallway. "We can go! Come on!"
We jogged quietly down the hall and into the elevator. We pressed the bottom floor button. "So here's the deal." I started as the elevator descended. My heart was racing "We get a basketball from the lounge. First to eleven wins. Deal?"
The elevator doors opened and we bolted out the front doors. "Deal."
/
My heart was pumping in my chest. Thump. My hands were clamming. Thump. Thump.I could feel the sweat slowly trickling down my temples. Thump.The back of my neck was wet. My hair was sticking to my head. Thump. Thump.I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes... The sound of rubber hitting pavement was ominous. Thump.This was going to decide my future. Thump. I inhaled deeply. I could smell the brisk night air. I could smell the sound of wood burning in the fire place of the Briefs household. Thump. Thump. Thump.This was it. I looked up at the hoop. I spun the ball in my hand a few times. I jumped and let the ball spin out of my hands. She jumped in front of me but the ball was already over her head. It hit the back board and fell into the net.
I smirked and the ball bounced slowly across the court. "That means I win, doesn't it?"
Videl let her hands fall to her side. "Only by two points." She admitted defeat.
"So," I walked over picking up the ball and putting a loose arm around Videl. "Looks like we'll be going to that party together, huh?" I winked at her laughing.
She glared at me and then broke into a smile. "Yeah, it looks like it. You won fair and square. I can respect that."
She leaned her head into me as we headed back to the room and I closed my eyes begging that she couldn't feel my heart pounding against my chest. She was silent and brooding as we made our way back to our room. "So," I looked down at my phone. 1am. "Want to tell me what's on your mind?" I asked as I took my arm off Videl and opened our bedroom door.
I swung open the door and let her inside following behind. She shrugged. "Just enjoying my time without my dad." She looked away uncomfortably. "What about you?"
I blinked at her. "I'm just missing mine." I cleared my throat not looking at her.
I turned around and faced her. "Um. Okay." She answered uneasily glancing down and then looking back up at me. She looked conflicted. "Listen Gohan... I know we're not super close-"
"Hey listen, um. I'm all sweaty and gross. I'm going to take a shower okay Videl?"
She nodded. "Okay. Good night." She whispered.
I nodded. "Good night Videl." I murmured back.
/
"I thought you'd come around."
I rubbed my tired eyes. "Yeah, yeah yeah." The door opened and shut loudly behind me echoing in the vast empty room.
"Maybe you should have gone to bed sooner."
I rolled my eyes. "I don't need more sleep to beat you." I shifted from foot to foot shaking out my limbs trying to wake my body up.
"We'll see about that. While you've been playing games late at night with your little girlfriend I've been training like a real Saiyan."
I stopped moving and glared at him. "She's not my girlfriend. And I bet you were a real jack ass on Planet Vegeta."
He smirked. "I was the prince I was allowed to be a jack ass."
I cracked my neck and put up my fists. "Let's do this."
/
I pushed the door open and shut it carefully behind me. I flopped down on the bed. I was tired. Ashamed. Embarassed. Sweaty. My face was in my pillow. Maybe if I'm lucky it would suffocate me. Yup. That would be pretty great.I groaned. I sat up and made my way into the bathroom and into the shower. I stripped down, turned on the faucet and let the warm water wash my defeat away. Losing to Vegeta... I reached for the shampoo and began massaging my aching head. I was getting soft. I was getting weak. I clenched my fist as the shampoo rinsed out of my hair. I had to focus. I had to concentrate. My father was dead. I had to do his job now. I started to wash the grime and blood off my body. The bruises were starting to rise... I winced. It's a good thing it was getting colder. Long sleeves wouldn't be such a bad idea.
I turned the water off and climbed out of the shower haphazardly toweling off. My aching muscles were crying out to me. I put the towel around my waist and crept out of the bathroom. I looked over at Videl. Still sleeping.I dropped my towel and shimmied into some clean boxers and some jeans. I sat at the edge of my bed facing the teal door leading into our bedroom. I sighed. "Kami, where did I go wrong?" I put my face in my hands.
Something stirred behind me and I lifted my head. "You believe in Kami?" A tired raspy voice emerged from the bed beside mine. I turned around. Videl was lying on her side facing the other direction.
"You don't?" I tried.
There was a small pause. "No." She said tiredly. I turned back around facing the door. I could feel her getting out of bed and stretching. "It's okay." She shrugged. "It's about sixty-forty in our class."
"Wait what?" I tried. I could hear her voice getting closer. "I did a survey last year for a class and about 40% believe in Kami and 60% don't." She stopped. "I think after the whole Cell thing a lot of people lost their faith in him. So many died..." Her voice trailed off. She sat down beside me. I put my arms around my naked biceps trying to conceal them. "Your back..." She murmured.
I glanced over to her. "What?"
She reached a hand out. "Your back is bruised. I-it's scarred! Did you get mugged? What happened?" Her finger tips briskly touched my back and I felt them burning into my skin.
"I-It's nothing." I stood up adjusting my jeans. I walked over to my suitcase. I started pulling things out. "You have your secrets Videl and I have mine." I grabbed a long sleeve black thermal and put it on. I had to shut her out. I had to be alone. I would never let her in.
Videl stood up pulling me to face her. Her hair was a mess in several directions. Her big black shirt was falling off her shoulder. The shirt fell just above her knee and she was wearing dark gray sweat pants. "You can hide all you want Gohan." She was gripping my arm tightly. "You can lie. You can keep secrets. But I am the queen of figuring out all I need to know about my opponents. And I will find out everything I need to know about you. It's a guarantee." She let go of my arm and brushed passed me slamming the bathroom door shut.
I groaned. "You're insane! Did you know that?!" I shouted at the closed bathroom door. "I'm leaving without you!" I pulled open the door and slammed it shut behind me. I looked right. Sharpner was standing in the doorway of Videl and Erasa's room. "What!" I snapped.
A/N: Read & Review
