Chapter 12: From the ashes
*EARLY THE MORNING AFTER THE PARTY – SATAN MANSION*
Gohan wandered through the Satan Mansion, taking in the details and absently storing his observations away at the back of his head. He hadn't slept well, his dreams plagued with visions of him destroying those that he had sworn to protect, only to be replaced by the words Lime had said to him the night before.
You've got to stop beating yourself up for things that only you think you did, Lime's voice kept echoing in his head. His mind was in a state of war with itself. On one side, he knew that Lime was right, and he was doing nobody any good to be continuously second-guessing himself and his choices. But on the other, he was always so sure that he could have done better. He tried so hard to live up to his father's image, but he always thought that he fell short, despite all of his friends and families assurances to the contrary.
In the end, he decided that he would indeed accept Lime's judgment that he had not acted poorly, that he was justified. He shuddered to think what would have happened to Videl had he not stepped in and intervened. He replayed the events of the night before, and was surprised to find himself worrying about the raven-haired girl. He had formed a bond of sorts with the blondes over the last three weeks, but he had tried to push the Satan girl away. So then why did he care for her like she was his friend? He frowned and stared at the ground without really seeing where he was going.
You know Gohan, just because she's Hercules daughter doesn't mean she is going to be like him, lime's voice once again intruded on his thoughts. His scowl deepened at the thought, and he noticed a painting of Hercule standing in a wide stance with his championship belt over his shoulder and his hand held in a victory sign in the air with a smug smirk on his face. He guessed from the date on it that it was done immediately after he had won his second tournament.
Well that's certainly a true statement from everything that I've seen. She's selfless and puts her life on the line to help those in need, while her old man let his fame carry him through life. On top of that, he still took the credit of killing Cell. Dammit this doesn't make any sense! Why should I care how she behaves?
He grunted and quickened his pace, walking past a kitchen. Nobody was up in the house yet, and he was awake well before the sun was up. He was exhausted, but he could not calm his mind enough to sleep. Why was she such a dilemma to him?
She might actually want to be your friend you know. Limes words echoed in his head and he halted his brisk walk. He looked about and realized he was back outside his door somehow, and glanced across the hall to where Lime was sleeping, her Ki a calming glow in his mind. He ran a hand through his hair and decided to sit against the wall across from her door. He knew sleep would elude him if he tried to return to bed. He sighed and closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the cool drywall.
Friends, he thought finally. The one thing he had told himself over and over he would not be able to see the Satan girl as. He wanted to hate her, just because of who she was, but it seemed it was not to be. He found himself admiring her. She was bright, strong, truly good at heart, and she wasn't a pig-heated showboat, often putting the lives of others above her own when it would have been easier to just forget them; all characteristics he valued in a person.
She could be a friend, and a very good one at that. But how could I be hers after everything I have put her through?
He felt a lump rise in his throat and guilt burned in his gut. He had truly been horrible to her, sending her through a roller-coaster of fear and confusion. He had helped her out while crime-fighting, but not as Gohan, and not because she was his friend. Every time he had rationalized that she couldn't handle it, and that she didn't deserve the assured outcome, so he stepped in as Bardock.
Just like last night. I couldn't stand by and let that prick have his way with her! But then, I would have done that for any person in her shoes.
But even if the girl had known everything, he did not see how she could forgive his actions over the past three weeks. He stared at his hands, propped up on his knees, and contemplated what he had to do. Finally, he concluded, I have apologies to make.
*A COUPLE HOURS LATER – VIDEL'S ROOM*
Videl slowly broke out of the dull grogginess that was her mind into consciousness. Everything on her body seemed to ache, and her tongue felt like it was several sizes too large. She opened her eyes slowly, nearly crying out and slamming them shut against the early morning sun. She rolled away from her window and the offending ball of fire and tried again. Things came in as a blurry, confused mess, and she slowly blinked, trying to make sense of it all.
Okay. I'm in my room. It's morning time, and I feel like ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag, she thought with disgust. She grimaced and attempted to push herself up, wincing as her left shoulder ached under the strain. She glanced down and noticed that she was only dressed in a blue bikini.
What in the…?
She racked her brain, trying to pull memories of what had happened the previous night. She remembered that she was eighteen now, and she was having her birthday party. She remembered spending a lot of time talking to Gohan's friend, or "sister" as she preferred to refer to herself as. She was quite a character, and Videl had taken an immediate liking to her. She angrily thought, probably should have asked a bit more about Gohan from her. It just completely slipped my mind when we started talking.
She held a hand to her head and closed her eyes, trying to remember the rest. There was the cake, the food, and Gohan standing in the back of everything looking like a very disgruntled body-guard. Then Sharpener and Corey playing chicken with Lime and her, then what? Punch? Yes, she was sure that there was punch after that, and dancing. Everything seemed to start to get fuzzy at that point. She furrowed her brow and thought, Oh they didn't! I told them no alcohol!
"Those little….!" she blurted out, but stopped abruptly when her memory once again went blank. Wait… What was after that? I was dancing with Corey and… And what? What the hell happened after that?
She started to panic a little, worried that she had done something she vowed to wait for. She threw her covers off herself and was slightly relieved to see the bikini bottom was still securely fastened around her. She pulled the sheets down around her, looking for any signs that anything had happened, and almost jumped out of her skin when the door crashed open and Erasa burst into the room.
"Videl! You're awake finally! Gohan said he heard you yell something! Kami you had me worried sick!" exclaimed Erasa. Videl just stared at the wall in shock as Erasa jumped forward and grabbed onto her in a firm hug. She glanced towards the door to see Gohan in the hall looking in at the scene with… Was that relief on his face? She suddenly remembered her near nakedness and wondered what the hell he was doing in her house in the first place. Before she could determine what it was she saw, he went back to his usual neutral expression and left the doorway, his footsteps echoing in the hall.
Erasa pulled back and, noticing her friend's glare at the door, turned to look as well. Videl was about to ask Erasa what why the boy was there, but the blonde cut her off, "Videl do you remember what happened last night? At all?".
She turned back to the raven haired teen with an air of worry and anxiety. Videl dropped her gaze, her mind pulled back from the onyx eyed teen to her musings of just moments earlier. "I can remember up to dancing with Corey, but after that? I don't know." she said, her voice steadily growing louder. She felt panic and fear start to crawl up from the pit of her stomach and she gripped onto her blankets hard, staring at her friend, pleading for her to explain. "I didn't… Me and Corey… We didn't…? I can't remember what happened!" she finished, almost panting in anxiety. Erasa grabbed onto her friends hands, still clutched on her blankets, and said the three sweetest sounding words that filled Videl with the most amazing relief. "No, you didn't…" she said, and Videl felt her anxiety bleed out a little before the blonde continued, "But not for a lack of effort on his part, I'll tell you that much." Videl felt her worry get replaced with disgust, and he face contorted to a grimace that reflected it all too well.
Typical boy, I swear to Kami there isn't a single decent one out there. I bet he was the one who brought the alcohol. But why wouldn't I have been able to remember any advances on his part? I mean yea sure there was the dancing, but that was all harmless, and he wasn't being a total prick. I mean shit he was making sure I had a good time, which is more than I can say for some of the people who were there.
She focused her eyes back on Erasa, who was chewing her bottom lip. Worry came back to her, though not as harsh as before. Her friend looked scared.
"Erasa? Wh-", Videl began, but was cut off by Erasa saying, "Videl please listen to me, this is all going to sound strange, but it's all the truth." Videl snorted, remembering their conversation only two weeks before in this exact place. Erasa began, "Well, I don't really know how to say it, so I'm just going to. Corey drugged you last night; spiked your drink with roofies or something like that, that's why you can't remember anything. None of us realized it until he tried to make his move. Sharpener says Gohan saw someone spike the punch, and I was drunk."
The blonde flushed with embarrassment and stared at her hands. Videl's stomach had dropped through the floor when she heard what Corey had done, only to have her outrage and feelings of betrayal bash through. "That son of a bitch! He drugged me?! And Gohan? What the fuck, he knew about the punch and he didn't stop us? Why, when I get my hands on the two of them-" she threatened angrily. But Erasa waved her hands frantically and interjected before she could finish that sentence, "Videl! Stop, please, don't finish that thought! You don't even know what happened yet!"
"Yes, I do, you just told me! Between those two shitheads, I was drunk, drugged, and apparently almost raped! I swear I'm going to kill them both!" she countered furiously. She made to get up and leave the room, and was shocked into freezing when Erasa slapped her sharp across the cheek, glaring at her with the most heated expression Videl had ever seen cross her face. She sat back, her mouth hanging wide open at her friend's actions.
"Videl, you're going to listen to me, because you need to hear this!" she said firmly, making sure that Videl didn't try to get up again. She took a breath and continued, "I've already talked to Gohan about why he didn't say anything, and it's because he was watching over everyone to make sure that nothing bad happened without putting a stop to us having a good time! He was sober last night, and a lot of people got back home safely thanks to his being there, so don't even try to pretend he willingly let things get out of hand!"
Videl shut her mouth and crossed her arms, returning her eyes to the covers. She still wanted to be mad at the boy for not saying anything, but didn't pose a counter-argument. Erasa sighed again and composed her face back into a serious expression. "More than that, he was the one who noticed what was happening to you. He was the one who stepped up to Corey and defended you. He was the one who saved you from that pig while I just stood there and watched." she said, obviously furious with herself. Videl's feelings scrambled together all at once, and her mind went numb. Gohan had saved her, when her best friends had done nothing.
"Videl, Gohan completely lost it when he tried to take you to bed. Corey sucker-punched him when he wasn't paying attention. He just stood there for a second and then he was gone, he just exploded and he wasn't calm and reserved Gohan anymore. He punched Corey right in the chest, and we all heard his ribs break. It was so scary seeing him lose control like that, and the only reason he didn't kill him was because Lime talked him back down."
Her eyes unfocused as she spoke, and Videl felt a strange combination of admiration and fear settle in her stomach. Gohan had fought for her? Not only that, he had completely demolished Cory in a fit of rage? That was the sort of thing she had only seen in movies where the good guy found a final burst of power to finish of the bad guy, saving the day and rescuing the damsel in distress. Fantastical tale or not, she couldn't help but wonder, Why? How? Broke his rib cage? Kami, how much do I not know about him? Could he really be that strong?
"Erasa… What happened after that? What did he do?" she asked. It wasn't a harsh question, nor did she sound nervous about what the answer would be. It was one of genuine concern. She had after all been trying to figure out the new boy, but until this morning, she had seen no look on his face for her besides total contempt, or his usual smirk when he was messing with her. Erasa stared at her a second and then dropped her eyes, her expression full of sorrow.
"When Lime talked to him, he sorta… I dunno, he came back. That's the only way I can describe it. He looked so scared when he realized what he was doing, and he just… Ran. I don't know where to, but Lime went after him while Sharpie and I brought you here. Lime gave up and came back here and we talked a little bit… About Gohan." she said quietly.
Videl set her jaw and stared at her friend hard, begging her to continue. Erasa swallowed past the lump in her throat and continued, her voice thick with emotion. "We didn't even get the whole story, but Lime says he's been fighting his whole life just to survive. He lost someone he loved years ago and blamed himself for it! Lime says he still does it, and I can only imagine what it feels like, thinking you're responsible for something so horrible. She said that he lost control real bad a couple years ago and almost killed her in the process, or something like that, and since then he's been afraid to let go like that again. Girl, I think there's lots more to him than either of us had imagined. And we imagined a lot…" the blonde trailed off, getting lost in thought once more.
Videl felt her admiration for the boy shoot through the roof. It all fit, and she had no doubts as to whether or not it was all true. The scar across the face, the large physique, even the confident swagger he always kept when he walked all fit into what she said. He looked and acted the part of a warrior, of one who had been there and done it all.
"Erasa?" Videl began quietly. The blonde blinked a couple times, clearing the tears from her eyes and returning her attention to the raven-haired girl. "What happened with Corey? If Gohan hurt him as bad as you say, then he needed to go to the hospital. And what about Gohan? The police would have tried to arrest him if they had learned that he was the one who did it."
Her voice was concerned and quiet, and Erasa was elated to see that her friend was worried about the tall onyx eyed teen. She smiled a little and let out a short chuckle before answering, "The whole party told the medics that Corey had tried to jump into the pool off the roof of the house and hit the pavement instead. That's no better than what he deserves if you ask me."
Videl raised an eyebrow at her blonde friend. It wasn't like her to wish harm on other people, though she could easily understand why she would in this case. After all, she whole-heartedly agreed with her. Actually, I kinda wish Gohan had finished it. Like Bardock said, removing the problem at the source, right? He'll probably try to do something like that again. At the thought of the masked super-hero, she smirked. Her suspicions about Gohan being the masked man had jumped to near positive.
"But Videl," Erasa interjected, "one last thing. About Gohan? Lime says that he's… unstable when it comes to his past. She practically begged the class to not bring up what happened last night, and I think that it would be a good idea for us to not ask about his past either. At least not yet. Lime seems to know everything, but she won't tell us without his permission. Just… Please don't dig at him for it? He's always so confident and strong, but we all saw the broken part of him last night. I think we need to just… Be friends with him, and support him, you know? Lime said this morning she'll be coming to school with us now, so she can help keep an eye on him."
Videl listened intently, wondering about the dilemma the information brought her. She wanted to know what had happened to him, if nothing else to get to know him. She wanted to figure him out, and now she knew that he was indeed way more complicated than he appeared. In the back of her mind, she also admitted she wanted to be his friend. She admired who he was, and what he must have gone through at such a young age. Maybe the two of them could get past whatever there was between them and become friends?
I bet he doesn't even want to be friends, she thought despairingly. He hasn't displayed any desire to be my friend before, so why would he change that now? But then, he did save me last night from being raped... I need to talk to him, I should thank him at least for that.
She nodded to her blonde friend, resigning her suspicions and desire to learn about the boy until later. If one person could get in so deep as to know everything about him like Lime had, then there was no reason that she couldn't at least make the attempt to do the same. Erasa hopped up off the edge of the bed, her spring back in her step and saying, "Alright girl, well let's get you dressed and fed, I'm sure you need it after that ordeal last night."
*IN THE KITCHEN – 10 MINUTES LATER*
Lime sat across from her best friend, who was staring at his hands clasped on the table with a tired and confused expression. She knew he hadn't gotten much sleep last night, but was glad that he had run off earlier to check on Videl. She was holding a cup of coffee between her hands, and thinking of ways to help guide him through his thoughts.
"Look Gohan, you need to talk to her one-on-one." she explained firmly, "I know what you're feeling about facing her after these last few weeks, and frankly, you should. You should feel bad about it because honestly, you deserve it for the way you were with her." Gohan glanced at her quickly before glaring back at his hands, but he didn't say anything to defend himself. Lime took a sip of her coffee and set the cup down.
"But believe me, once you get it out of the way and start over, you'll feel loads better about it. I think she's a great girl, and I've only known her for one day! Don't be afraid of her, just be honest and she'll forgive you." she affirmed. She reached over and grasped his big hands in hers, giving them a reassuring squeeze. His expression softened a bit and he squeezed back gently. He looked at her, catching her gaze with his sorrowful expression.
"Lime, I just want to apologize." he began solemnly, catching her off guard. "For everything. I know you're right, you've always been right. Every step of the way since dad left, you've been there for me, telling me what I needed to hear, but didn't want to. And I never listened to you. I'm sorry."
She wanted to tell him that he had nothing to be sorry about, but felt her stomach jump with elation regardless. Knowing that he was needing to let his apology out, she decided not to say anything. Instead she smiled brightly at him and made her way around the table to hug him. After all these years, he's finally trying to get better! she thought excitedly.
He welcomed the gesture with open arms, returning it in kind. Gohan truly relaxed, for the first time in a long time, his shoulders slouched and he just held the girl in front of him, reveling in her warmth and comfort that she offered him. Lime turned her head and kissed him firmly on the cheek, and pulled out of the hug, her face lit up and she beamed. "Gohan, you know that no matter what, I love you right? You truly are the best big brother I never had." she said warmly.
Gohan felt his smile widen at her words. In all their years, he had considered her a sister, and loved her as much as he did the twins. But they had never actually spoken the words before. Hearing them out loud solidified his feelings into something that he could feel firm in his chest. Too overcome with emotion, he just smiled and nodded, blinking away the tears that threatened to come forth. Lime pulled him back into a hug, knowing that he reciprocated her feelings regardless of whether or not he said it out loud.
"Ahem… Is this a… bad time?" came a very fragile sounding voice, barely audible even in the quiet of the kitchen. Gohan jerked his head towards the voice, and Lime pulled back from the hug sharply. There in the doorway was a very hung-over looking Videl with the most curious expression of bashfulness on her face. Behind the raven-haired girl, Erasa waved towards Lime, motioning for her to go with her. Lime caught the meaning of her gestures and turned back towards Gohan, saying, "I have to go Gohan, girl talk, kay? I'll see you in a few."
He merely nodded and returned his attention to the table in front of him, his expression as neutral as ever. He clasped his hands together and twiddled his thumbs. Lime turned and walked by Videl and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She gave her a significant look that said, "good luck", and disappeared into the hallway with the blonde girl.
Videl stared after them for a moment before returning her attention to the other occupant of the kitchen. She pondered, Well… What do I do now? He's just sitting there… Do I talk to him? Or wait for him to speak? She waited a moment for him to say something. When he didn't, she decided she should make the first move. Mustering her courage, she walked forward slowly, her bare feet padding silently on the tile floor as she took the seat opposite him. He looked up from his hands and locked eyes as she sat across from him. For the first time since he met her, he really looked at her proper.
Those eyes… How could I have not noticed how beautiful her eyes were before? Just another thing I missed about her when I was too busy ignoring her. He averted his own eyes, looking back down at his hands, feeling guilt wash over him again. Videl watched him carefully, trying to decipher the emotions she saw in his eyes that never reached the rest of his face. She knew he was struggling to say something. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and steeling herself for the conversation she was about to dive into.
"Gohan, I-", "Look Videl-", they said simultaneously. They both started and blinked at each other for a second, neither trying to over-ride the other. Videl laughed nervously and Gohan gave her a weak smile that didn't quite reach his onyx orbs. The uncertainty in his posture didn't escape her, and she wondered, Man something is really bugging him still. Is he worried about what he did last night? He shouldn't be, he saved my ass... quite literally.
"Gohan, before you continue, I wanted to thank you for what you did for me last night." she said quietly, trying to sound as sincere as possible. She stared into his eyes, watching for his reaction and was surprised to see he looked sad at her comment. Man, try to thank him, and he gets depressed?... What now?
Still unsure of what to say, she continued, thinking that maybe he should hear from her own lips why she was grateful to him, and that he shouldn't be ashamed of his actions. Maybe he just needed a reassurance? "I just want you to know, I don't hold it against you… What you did to Corey? Had I been… coherent during that time, I would have likely done the same… Or tried to. At the end of the day, you did the right thing for me, and I owe you one. A big one actually." she said. Then she broke eye contact and she blushed as she realized what she was about to say. "My… virginity is something I treasure, and I'm glad that you didn't let some low-life steal it from me."
It was no secret that she was still a virgin, what with her father's "rule", but she never really spoke openly about anything sexual at all, much less to someone such as Gohan. But seeing as he was the one who had preserved it, she felt that she should tell him so. He continued to stare at her, considering for a few seconds. His expression hardened just a little, and he averted his eyes, looking at his hands again. Her thanks felt undeserved to him, as his actions hadn't really been out of concern for the girl so much as wanting to make Corey pay. He would have done it regardless of who it was that was at the receiving end of his plots. Add on top of that how he had treated her...
He sighed and looked back up at Videl, who was still watching him intently. He felt in his heart that this conversation would not end well, and he would have to live with the shame of his actions towards the girl in front of him. He steeled himself and straightened his back, looking at her fully so that he could get his intent across.
"Videl, I'm not a very sociable person, as I'm sure you noticed since you met me." he said, anxiety coloring his words more than he intended. "I take to some people better than others, and I admit that you in particular did not sit well with me…". He paused, gauging her reaction to his statements. To his surprise, she just listened intently, not showing any signs of outrage or surprise at his words. Her focus steeled his resolve, and he continued, "I'm sure that you noticed, I don't let many people into my life, and I prefer it that way. Erasa and Sharpener have, in their own ways, found a way in somehow, and I admit I reciprocate their feelings. Lime and I have been close for seven years. Those relationships were fairly easy. You, have not been easy for me to deal with. You're so unlike what I ever anticipated, and you confuse me when I think I've figured you out." He noticed that her expression had shifted so that she was again staring at the counter, confusion etched across her features. "What I'm trying to say is… I assumed when I heard who you were, that you were going to be some snotty stuck-up celebrity brat that used their name to get what they wanted. I assumed you would be the type of person I hate, due to your father, and you proved me wrong over and over again. It drove me nuts, and I had an epiphany last night. It's because I judged you without even bothering to get to know you first. And for that, I am truly sorry. There's no excuse I can give you for the way I've treated you these last few weeks, and I don't expect you to forgive me. But I want you to know that I wish I could take it all back and start over."
He halted his speech, waiting patiently for the girl to respond. For a long while, she just stared at the counter, her eyes darting back and forward like she was reading something in her mind, trying to understand something. His nerves began to get to him, and he found himself wishing he were anywhere else but there. Well say something! Just tell me that I can go shove it and get it over with, he thought angrily. As if on command she returned her hard gaze to his own. Her expression was serious, and he felt his stomach tighten even more.
"Gohan… You have been an ass, and I'd be lying if I said your demeanor didn't rub me the wrong way." she began, and Gohan felt his gut clench tighter. "But you're not the only one to blame for the way we started." she continued, and then he was confused. But she just shrugged and gave a sad sort of smile as she admitted, "In a way, you were right, thought it wasn't my father's name I was using, it was my name and my reputation. I tend to intimidate people I meet the first time, and you didn't fall in line like the rest. So really, because I didn't understand you, and I didn't bother to try extending the same courtesy as the other two?... I've been an ass as well."
She paused for a second, leaving him in suspense. The corners of her lips curled upwards into a small smile, and she continued. "Of course I forgive you, as long as you can forgive me. I would actually like to start over as well."
He just stared at her incredulously. He blinked a few times and then released the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. His stomach did a backflip and his shoulders relaxed with relief, but his mind was still going a million miles an hour. Wait, just like that? You've got to be kidding me, how can she just let it go that quickly? I don't get it, why wouldn't she be mad about it?
Videl was jumping for joy in her mind, ecstatic that he wanted the exact same thing she did. To want to start over and be friends, and she was more than happy to leave the past behind her. She smiled wide and extended her hand towards the baffled looking teen.
"So, let's go back to day one. Hi! My name is Videl!" she said cheerily. Gohan's mind finally registered fully what had just happened, and his mouth cracked into a nervous smile. He extended his hand and enveloped her tiny fingers in a firm hand-shake. At her touch, he felt his heart lighten and his smile widened, reaching his eyes finally and shooting an excited shiver down Videl's spine. She couldn't help but think, Damn… I'll never get used to how good he looks when he smiles.
"Hey Videl, I'm Gohan. It's nice to meet you." he said, with the smile of a man who'd just had the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.
*THE FOLLOWING MONDAY – OSH*
"Gohan, do you know when Lime is supposed to be showing up today? She said she would be starting this morning, right?" Erasa asked as they waited for classes to begin. Gohan glanced up and right towards the bubbly blonde next to him, his pencil still scratching absently on his paper as his hands acted of their own accord just like every time he was deep in thought. He extended his senses outwards, searching for her familiar ki and finding it quickly.
"She should be here any minute, the exam wouldn't have taken that long for her to do… Remember she was educated the same way as me for a long time." he said, bored out of his mind. As if on cue, the door opened, and the same elderly professor who had first introduced Gohan walked in wearing his usual getup. He briskly walked to his desk in the front of the class, dropping his things and turning to the congregation. He cleared his throat and glanced around, his mustache quivering slightly, "Well class, we are being blessed again with another new student. Much like Mr. Son up there, this girl scored full marks on her exams. Come on in Lime!"
Gohan smirked, pleased his assumption had been correct. Mom really does know her stuff. Most of these kids can barely comprehend the things that are taught here, much less the more complicated courses that Lime and I went through.
He glanced to his right, making sure that the seat they had secured for her was still empty next to Videl, so that the three girls were sandwiched between Sharpener and himself. The boy that had moved did so all too willingly when Gohan had asked him earlier that morning. He must have been at the party, he had thought when they kid had practically bowed out of the way for him.
That was what he was so lost in thought about. He had been so worried for the entire day on Sunday, wondering how the class would treat him when they returned to school, and rightfully so. He knew that they were trying to hide their stares and hushed conversations as he passed, but failed miserably. Some of the students, mostly the football players who had lost their captain over the weekend, stared at him with open contempt. As of yet, nobody had gotten news on Corey's condition other than that he had been sent to intensive care and was now facing possible jail time for under-age drinking. Fortunately, none of the other students had been arrested, as his inebriation had been discovered upon blood tests.
Word passed quickly throughout the school that the new guy in the senior class had not only traded blows with, but completely demolished one of the toughest and most popular guys in the school without so much as a tiny boo-boo in return. Several looked at him with admiration, knowing why he had done it, while others carefully avoided his gaze and pretended not to notice him as he had walked past them that morning. The attention was bugging him, and it hadn't helped when he and Videl had arrived at the same time and walked to class together. He occasionally heard whispered words of their budding romance and fought himself to not silence them right then and there. Typical dramatic bull-shit, thinking that she would throw herself at me and all that just because I saved her. Shallow little pricks. I don't even know the girl really!
"Hi everyone, I'm Lime Lemon." said Lime from the front of the classroom, pulling Gohan out of his musings. "I met a few of you at Videl's party on Saturday I think. This is my first year at public school since I was home schooled with Gohan for a good part of my life." She smiled and waved up at her onyx eyed friend, who shifted nervously in his seat as the class turned to look at him. She giggled at his discomfort and rolled her eyes, thinking, Seriously Gohan? You can't deal with a little attention from the class? What are the universes most powerful beings coming to these days?
"Alright Lime, go ahead and take your seat." said the professor. The class returned their attention to their neighbors, chatting animatedly to one another about a whole mess of things that cluttered Gohan's mind. Down in the front, he heard a couple teens discussing in low voices about how hot the "new chick" was, and which one of them was going to go for her first. He clenched his hand, his knuckles cracking slightly as he looked down at them.
I dare you to try, he thought furiously. He returned his gaze to Lime as she ascended the steps that led right to him, a wide grin plastered on her face. His scowl didn't go unnoticed by the brunette though, and one of her eyebrows shot up and she glanced towards the class and back to him. She reached him and leaned in to give him a hug, leaning in close to his ear. "I know that look Gohan, whatever they're saying, ignore it." she said calmly.
He sighed and rolled his eyes, but returned the hug with one arm, retorting, "I hate that you can read me like that."
She pulled back from the hug and shrugged in an innocent manner. He smirked and motioned his head towards the open seat down the row. She edged around the back of his chair, making her way to the offered chair, giving quick hugs to both Erasa and Videl on the way with short greetings between them all. Gohan went back to watching the class, listening carefully for more gossip that concerned Lime. Hearing none, he glanced down at his notepad, prepping himself for the coming lecture, and was surprised to find his hands had sketched a rather funny caricature of Vegeta wearing the pink "badman" shirt that Bulma had given him to wear during his early days at Capsule Corp. The sketch brought a smile to his face as he remembered how flustered the warrior prince had been to be forced to wear pink.
I'm just glad I convinced mom to allow me to dress myself for school. Between her and Bulma, I don't know whose fashion sense is more out of tune…
The professor tapped his ruler on his desk to get everyone's attention, and yet another day of schooling at Orange Star High began.
*END OF THE SCHOOL DAY*
"You know, I kinda expected more from public school."said lime with a disappointed pout. Gohan chuckled and shook his head as he opened his locker. The brunette next to him clutched her books to her chest and stared at the ground. Videl laughed openly at the comment, and the two blondes broke out of their conversation to see what was so funny. Gohan closed his locker after putting his text books away and leaned against them with his arms crossed.
"Lime, this is public high school we're talking about, not my mother's crazy education plan." he said with a laugh. She raised an eyebrow at him, giving him a "don't let her hear you call her crazy" type look. Gonah ignored the look and continued, "They don't teach anything past Calculus and basic physics in high school… Everything higher than that is college level education."
Lime shrugged and said, "So then we should all be running off to college right? This is the senior year so…". She glanced around at the rest of the group. Erasa and Sharpener shrugged, content to stay exactly where they were, and Videl rolled her eyes. Gohan turned his gaze up the hallway to see a small cluster of students crowded into the hall, heading towards them with a pair of football players in the lead.
Videl also noticed the approaching crowd, and keeping her eyes on them, responded, "Lime, these days you have to have a high school diploma to get into any college, and some damn good references to get into a high ranking one. Even then, it's not going to be all that great really." She turned her gaze towards the approaching group and nodded her head in their direction, sending Lime's attention their way, "You always get the dumb gorillas there that only live to party, drink, and bang everything with tits and a pulse until they get dropped after their first year."
Lime scrunched her nose in disgust and sighed. "Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed about that. I was kinda hoping to learn some ne-", she started saying, but was abruptly cut off.
"GOHAN! GET OVER HERE YOU WHELP!"
Lime stiffened and snapped her attention to the jock in the front of the pack. He was a huge boy, standing taller than Gohan and he looked like he weighed fifty pounds more than him. He was wearing the all-too common letter jacket and a pair of jeans. His blond hair stood on end in a flat-top cut, giving him a rough, almost military appearance. His face was set in a serious scowl as he glared over Lime's shoulder at Gohan.
Total beef-cake. This guy doesn't know what he's getting into, thought lime. She glanced nervously over her shoulder at her adopted brother, who was still casually leaning up against the lockers with an evil-looking smirk on his face. She hated that look. He looked like Vegeta when he did that.
"I'm talking to you! You scrawny little shit! You think you can pull what you did with the captain and just get away with it?" yelled the large blonde boy. Gohan rolled his eyes and without a word stood up straight, pulling off his long-sleeve shirt that he was wearing today, revealing once again a plain white t-shirt that clung tightly to his chest and shoulders and fit tightly around his upper arms. All present except for Lime stared openly at him. Some among the group had seen him without his muscle-concealing long sleeve shirts on before, but it still brought on a state of shock. Videls eyes were wide as saucers as she admired her new friend's partially revealed figure.
Kami I knew he was well built but this is… He's ripped! She though with admiration. Unbidden, the voice in the back of her head responded, 'He's sexy no? How about you go find out what he looks like without the other shirt on?'. She didn't fight the urge initially. Yea… NO! No none of that Videl! Kami, shut up brain! He's just a friend, and barely even that yet.
Gohan tossed his shirt to Erasa and stood in the middle of the hallway with his arms crossed across his chest and stared down the jock, saying, "Yea, actually I did think that. You know, I've fought with the worst types of low-life degenerates in my time, but you guys… You're another thing entirely. Drugging an innocent woman to get her into bed with you? Hell, you encouraging and defending it makes you just as bad. Bunch of disgusting pigs if you ask me. Corey earned his punishment, and I suggest you leave before you join him."
The jock cracked his knuckles and stepped forward, standing only a few feet away from the black-haired teen. Lime watched her friend carefully, ready to intervene in a moment's notice. The hallway held a deep silence, and it seemed nobody wanted to breathe as the school's biggest muscle-head and the mysterious new guy stared each other down. "You've got a lot of nerve little-man." growled the blonde. "First, you take Corey out of the game for the rest of the year, then you steal his girl, and now you want to insult and threaten me to my face? Didn't your daddy ever tell you not to pick fights you can't win?"
Gohan's eyes hardened to a fierce glare and Lime audibly heard his knuckles crack as his hands balled into fists. Immediately, she rushed forward and grabbed onto his arm, tugging on him hard in an attempt to remove him from the situation. He wouldn't budge, and her mind spiked with alarm when his eyes flashed teal for a split second.
"Gohan, come on he isn't worth your time! Let's get out of here before anything happens." she said desperately. She glanced helplessly towards her three new friends, begging them to help. Erasa was staring fearfully at the boy, rooted to the spot. Videl was glaring hard at the jock, disgust and hatred plastered all over her face. Sharpener recovered from his state of shock however, and stepped forward to grip Gohan's shoulder firmly. "Come on man, Lime's right. Let's go, ignore him.", he said calmly.
For a moment it looked like Gohan was going to turn around and leave, right before the big blonde said, "Yea punk, listen to your pretty little bitch, and get out of here before I turn you into a bloody mess!".
Sharpener grabbed firmly onto Gohan's arm in preparation to attempt to hold him back, and Lime pushed her hand firmly into his chest as he stiffened, preparing to murder the boy in front of him. His face contorted into a feral snarl and rage lit his features with a horrifying light. But before he did anything, a loud snap echoed through the hallway, and his glare dropped to a look of complete surprise. The three teens stared at the spot in front of them where the jock had been only a second before.
There, in his place, stood a fuming Videl, her shoulders hunched and her gloved fists clenched as she stared down at the fallen jock, who was toting a broken nose and a swollen eye. "SHES NOT A BITCH YOU… YOU… STUPID SHIT!" she bellowed at him. The other jock who had accompanied him dropped to his side and helped him to sit up, where he rubbed the side of his face the Satan girl had just bashed with her fist. The both of them stared fearfully at the girl, knowing her reputation as a fighter.
"And you know what? Gohan didn't 'steal' me from that sick man-whore! We're not together, and neither were Corey and I! Got it?" she further fumed. The two of them nodded their consent frantically and scrambled to get away from the enraged woman. She crossed her arms and looked around at the rest of the gathered crowd. "Well?!" she yelled challengingly. Her sharp question snapped the tension, and the crowd broke, scattering all about and breaking the previously thick silence in the hallway. She turned around and took in her shocked friends, slightly embarrassed at her outburst, "Sorry guys, didn't mean to lose it like that. He just said those things and… Gah, stupid jocks."
Gohan was the first to recover from his shock and gently shook off the two holding him, his face a neutral mask. He turned to Erasa, gently removing his shirt from her grasp and throwing it on, carefully avoiding looking directly into her eyes. That was too close. I've got to stop doing that. If Videl weren't here today… he thought, frustrated by his own weakness.
He made to leave, but was halted by a gentle hand grabbing his arm from behind. He glanced down at it and noticed to his surprise that it was gloved. That meant it was not Lime, like he would normally expect, but Videl. He turned slightly and took in the concerned face of his new friend.
"Gohan, you gonna be alright?" she asked gently. He considered her a moment before sighing and nodding slightly, his face unchanged from his neutral glare as he said, "I'll be fine, I just need to cool off. Thanks, by the way." She was startled by the softness of his voice that completely contradicted his cold, dead stare. She released his arm and barely uttered out, "any time." before he was gone, walking down the hallway towards the exit.
The remaining four people of the group stood together watching him leave. Lime placed a reassuring hand on Videl's shoulder and broke the silence, "He'll be okay Videl, I'll check up on him tonight. I'm staying at his godmother's house." Videl nodded and turned her attention to the younger girl, who was giving her a grateful smile. "Thank you, from me, by the way. You defended me, and… Well whether or not you realize it, you saved Gohan from himself right there. Gohan's always been very sensitive when it comes to his loved ones, but especially his father. That guy had no clue what was in that can of worms he tried to open."
Her eyes unfocused as she spoke, as if trying to remember something. Videl felt curiosity well up in her and tilted her head to the side slightly. "I noticed that when the idiot mentioned Gohan's 'daddy'. Why is that?" she asked. Lime started and returned her eyes to the raven-haired beauty. Her eyes widened and became fearful, realizing that she had said more than she intended. She stammered out, "I can't tell you, it's not my place to say. I-I shouldn't have said anything. Gohan will tell you when he's ready. Please, just forget I mentioned it!"
Videl furrowed her brow in concentration, adding this bit of information to the "things I know about Gohan Son" pile, and adding still more questions to her "Things I still want to know" pile. She nodded towards the brunette girl, who smiled anxiously and ran after her adopted brother, leaving the other three behind.
Sharpened scratched the back of his head, lost deep in thought, "You know, I've never heard Gohan mention his father. We've talked about his mom, but his father has never been brought up."
Videl glanced at the ground. It was true, the black haired teen had never mentioned his father, not even a name. Erasa piped up, her high pitched voice cutting through Videl's mind with a question she hadn't considered before, "Lime said he lost someone he loved more than anyone else a few years ago… You don't think...?"
The three looked at each other wide eyed. Videl sighed and started walking towards the exit, trailing her two blonde friends. "Let's not jump to conclusions, none of us know for sure." she said, but in her mind she was thinking, But that makes a lot of sense. Just one more possible piece to the puzzle.
