A/A: Yay! I finally finished writing this chapter! This is either the third or fourth last chapter, just to warn you. I'm really excited now that the ending is in sight. I hope you've all been enjoying the story! ^_^ I'm not going to ramble too much longer. I do have to say that I could be happier with this chapter. I didn't really like it, but I liked parts of it, and it got to where I needed it to go, so I guess its okay.

But without further ado, here's chapter fourteen:

Title: Hunt for the Dark Haired Angel

By: YukiraKing

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or its characters.

_
Chapter Fourteen:

Gohan was stuck in a car that was moving much slower than he wanted it to go. In the seat beside him, Erasa was talking incessantly about anything and everything she could think of. You'd think a two hour trip wouldn't be so bad.

Lime had forced him to invite Erasa, since she'd already invited Sharpener. Bulma had told her to do so. She swore she didn't want to. And Gohan believed her. It was fairly obvious that she didn't want to, since she was sitting in the passenger seat, trying to get as close to the window as possible, as Sharpener continually tried to grab and hold her hand. Each time he caught it, she would try to remove it as discreetly as possible. Apparently, Sharpener was under the impression that this was a date.

But it wasn't.

It wasn't to Gohan at least.

He already had a girlfriend. He didn't need to complicate things any further. After the whole Angela fiasco, Gohan swore he wouldn't date anymore during lunch one day. Erasa thought that was a shame, but oddly enough—though it made Gohan quite pleased—Videl seemed rather content about the matter.

Unfortunately, Videl was unable to accompany them that evening. She had something else planned. Gohan remembered the conversation clearly.

They had been sitting on a bench at the park, both struggling with what to say. Gohan, as Saiyaman, had to cancel their date, since Gohan had to be at this party of Bulma's, and therefore wouldn't be able to attend their date that same evening. He'd already tried the whole be-two-places-at-once thing. And he didn't want to try it again anytime soon.

"Saiyaman," she started, just as he said "Videl."

They nervously looked away from each other.

"Don't take this the wrong way," Gohan said after an awkward silence. "But I have to cancel our date."

"That's a relief," Videl said.

Gohan, clearly not hearing her correctly continued to defend himself. "It's not that I want to cancel the date, but I really need to cancel it."

"Saiyaman, I said it was fine," Videl said with an amused smile.

"I really mean that," he continued. "I would love to cancel this other thing, but I can't cancel that…wait. You said it was fine? A relief?"

"Yes, actually," Videl said not realizing how bad that sounded.

"You don't want to date me anymore. Is it because I'm afraid to tell you who I am?"

"No, it's nothing like that," Videl said quickly. "I'm almost a hundred percent positive that I'm going to like you the same no matter who you turn out to be…so long as it's not Sharpener."

"I'm not Sharpener," Gohan said with a laugh. "But that still doesn't convince me."

"I know you," Videl guessed quietly. "That's why you're afraid. You know me both as yourself and as Saiyaman."

"Yeah," he admitted. "You don't seem to actually like anybody."

"I have friends," Videl said defensively. "I like Erasa and Lime. And Gohan."

"Gohan? Really?"

"You sound so surprised," Videl said with a laugh. "He's your friend too, right?"

"Yeah, something like that," Gohan said dryly.

"So you know that he's generally likeable," Videl said. "And now that I know that you beat Cell, and not my dad, Gohan doesn't seem so arrogant making fun of him, you know?"

"Yeah," Gohan said feeling much better about the situation. "Listen, I want to tell you. Soon."

"When?" Videl asked, reigning in her excitement. But she was also nervous. She hadn't cared who he really was up until he voiced his uneasiness. Now what was she supposed to think?

"After this event thing I have to go to," he decided. He'd already pushed it off too long. He needed to take a chance and go for it.

"That's Friday?" Videl asked.

"Yes, I don't know when I'll be able to get away though," Gohan said. "But I have to tell you."

"That's what I was trying to tell you about," Videl said, sighing. "My dad scheduled an event and agreed that I would go. Of course he didn't bother to ask me, but this event is huge for him. He's never gotten this kind of opportunity before. So I can't get out of it. Can we do the grand unveiling the following day?"

"No," Gohan said determined. "I know I won't be able to do it. If I have even that small window, I'll weasel my way out of it."

Videl laughed at him. He was just too cute. "Fine. It'll be late, but I guess we can do this on Friday. I'll see you then," she said, leaning in and giving him a lingering kiss. "But I really need to go now."

"I love you," Gohan murmured.

"I love you too," Videl said smiling.

If only she did… Gohan's thoughts had brought him back to the present.

"So, Gohan," Erasa asked, finally taking a break from her lecture on school gossip. "Where are we even going?"

"West City," Gohan said with a shrug. "I was invited to a party, and they told me to bring a friend."

"And you thought of me right off?" Erasa asked. "That's so sweet."

"Well," Gohan said softly—more to himself than to anyone else. "I would've invited Videl, but she's dating Saiyaman…"

"Aw," Erasa sighed. "Unrequited love. That's got to suck. But don't worry, you'll find your special someone."

I already did.

But all he could do was nod to the girl.

"That's it. Think positive."

"Hey Brains," Sharpener called from the front seat. "Quit your whining. It's so not helping your image. And give me some directions here. I have to know where I'm driving."

"Do you know where the Capsule Corp building is?" Gohan asked nonchalantly.

"I can kind of see it from here," Sharpener scoffed. "I'm not stupid."

"Well, drive over there, and I'll give you further directions."

Sharpener followed his directions to the T. When he pulled the car onto the main CC road, he asked for the rest of the directions.

"First, pull the car to the curb," Gohan said with a smirk.

Sharpener did as much.

"Now we all get out."

"What are you playing at?"

"Oh just do what he says Sharpener," Lime said getting annoyed.

They all piled out of the vehicle, and stood together on the curb.

"And…?"

"Encapsulate the vehicle," Gohan said amused.

"Are you expecting us to walk the rest of the way?" Sharpener asked, shocked.

"Yeah," Gohan said. "It's only forty feet."

"What do you mean?" Erasa asked. "The only place that is that close is Capsule Corp."

"Exactly," Lime said. "Now c'mon, we don't want to be late for Bulma's party."

"B-b-bulma?" Sharpener asked.

"Here? The party is here?" Erasa said doing a pretty good impression of a fish.

"If you're going to act like that, then you can stay out here," Gohan said. "I'm not going to have my night ruined by star struck teenagers."

"Honestly Gohan, you can behave better than that."

"You know I don't want to be here Bulma. I had other plans," Gohan growled.

"And you cancelled them to spend time with me," Bulma said with a laugh. "At least we know where your loyalties lie."

"You make it sound like I'm betraying you. I just have a girlfriend, okay," Gohan said, stuffing his hands into his pockets and walking past her into the large complex.

"Hello, I'm Bulma Briefs," Bulma said smiling at the two new teenagers. "You must be Sharpener and Erasa. Lime has told me so much about you."

"You talked about us?" Erasa asked in awe.

"Sure, we talked about pretty much everything," Lime said. That's when she noticed Sharpener's confused thinking face. "What's wrong Sharpener. Shocked to be in the presence of such a famous and beautiful genius?"

"No, I'm still stuck on what Brains said," Sharpener said, so confused that he hadn't noticed Bulma's presence. "How could Gohan have a girlfriend?"

"He's an attractive, sweet and intelligent boy," Erasa said walking towards him with a seductive swivel of her hips. "And you are an inconsiderate pig."

Bulma and Lime had to laugh at that, before they ushered the shocked male into the building.

"I'm sorry, Sharpener," Erasa said, not sounding sorry in the slightest. "But someone had to tell you. It wouldn't be right to draw it out."

"Just because you have a little crush on Brains doesn't mean you have to take out your pent up frustrations on me," Sharpener said, having decided she was just mad at Gohan.

"Why would I even have any pent up frustrations?" Erasa asked narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Because the guy you like is pining for your best friend, and has a girlfriend. If that doesn't spell out frustration, I don't know what does," Sharpener said smugly.

"I'll tell you what spells frustration," Erasa said angrily. "S-H-A-R-P-E-N-E-R, that's what!"

"I think her and I will get along fine," Bulma whispered to Lime, who giggled. All they needed to do was wait now. Their plan was sure to work. It was fool proof. Bulma had come up with it after all.

Gohan was oblivious to their scheming however. He was sure they had been planning something, but he had no clue as to what that could be.

His mind was elsewhere anyway. He had to be sure that Videl wasn't taking any risks. He didn't want her to run off and get herself killed trying to protect the city. Not if he could prevent it. His foot started tapping involuntarily as he impatiently searched through the entirety of Satan City for her life force.

Why is this taking so long?

She couldn't have gotten mixed in with everyone else. She's much too powerful for that. Well, powerful compared to the rest of them.

Come on, come on, come—

"Hey kid," Piccolo said stepping out from the shadows. "You need to stop worrying."

"But she could be fighting or dying and I wouldn't even know it," Gohan said furrowing his brow.

"Trust me kid," his old mentor said. "She's fine."

"Do you have Dende watching out for her?"

"No," Piccolo said.

"Then you don't know that," Gohan dismissed, continuing his fruitless search.

"I'm trying to help, kid," Piccolo said.

"I know," Gohan sighed. "I'm just worried."

"Why do you even bother?" Piccolo asked. Humans always confused him. Their constant need to mate and reproduce was revolting.

"You don't understand, do you?" Gohan questioned. "I love her. I would give my life to save her. And she's so fragile. I don't know how to keep her safe. One bullet, that's all it would take. If I was just a second too late, she could be killed."

"I know about the shot you took," Piccolo said. "It seems you are more fragile than you realize too. You're flesh and bones kid. Flesh and bones. You're not invincible."

"I don't need to be," Gohan said. "I just need to be there…Damn it. Where is she? Why can't I find her?"

"Earthlings and Saiyans need to eliminate this need to mate. Namekians are much more efficient," Piccolo noticed.

"Yeah, spit an egg out and forget about it," Gohan said dryly. "No parents needed."

"Exactly," Piccolo said with a smirk. "None of this need to protect your mate, no parental instincts."

"If I remember correctly," Gohan said with a laugh. "You act like a father. And you're always saving me."

"Yeah," Piccolo grumbled. "But I wasn't raised a Namekian, now was I?"

"Were you even raised?"

"Eh, not really," Piccolo said. Gohan laughed at him, and for the first time since he got there, he wasn't desperately searching for Videl.

Lime was having much more fun than Gohan, as she watched Sharpener and the two kids, Trunks and Goten, have a big arm wrestling tournament. Sharpener had seen the two boys having a contest of their own, and mistakenly thought it would be easy to beat them. He had already been taken out by Trunks three times. If he was hoping Goten would be any easier, he was sorely mistaken.

All in all, he'd been too busy to notice the large green man in the corner talking to their friend. And Erasa was just too excited to be in Bulma's home to care that Piccolo was there.

But Lime noticed, and she was pretty sure she knew exactly what they were talking about.

Videl.

Lime was starting to grow impatient as well, but she'd done a much better job at distracting herself. Unlike Gohan—who desperately wanted to find Videl—she was waiting. Waiting for the right moment to reveal her and Bulma's big plan. She wasn't trying to fool herself into thinking that Gohan wouldn't know it was her, she was kind of betting on that. So he could thank her later. If he felt inclined to.

But time was already passing by rapidly. It had nearly been an entire hour. Why weren't things going according to schedule?

Lime chuckled when she noticed Bulma trying to get either Gohan or Vegeta to go and dance with her. She was still very afraid of Vegeta, but it wasn't an overwhelming fear like it used to be. Over the past few weeks, Bulma and Lime had started to get close. And with that closeness, comes knowledge on how to handle the proud Saiyan Prince.

It wasn't until Vegeta roughly refused Bulma that either Erasa or Sharpener noticed the shorter Saiyan.

And Erasa let everyone know she saw him by letting out a surprised scream.

"Ah!"

Lime laughed as everyone jumped to attention. Krillin and 18 dropped into a defensive crouch in front of their daughter. Bulma scrambled to hide behind Gohan, while he and Piccolo got into fighting stance. Trunks and Goten stopped fooling around and kindly jumped to protect Sharpener. Chi-Chi got into a feeble stance. It had been awhile since she'd actually had to do this after all.

But Lime's continued laughter threw them off.

Just why what did she find so funny?

"Miss Lime," Goten said confused. "I don't get it. She screamed and you're laughing at her. That's really mean."

"Ah, but she—and Vegeta—and the school—ha!" Lime said in a jumbled mess.

"Could you repeat that," Trunks said. He didn't like not knowing stuff.

"Vegeta went to our school," Gohan said with a chuckle. "Erasa just recognized him."

"I'd forgotten about that," Bulma murmured.

"Could you just tell that pathetic female to keep her mouth closed? I don't want to go deaf," Vegeta growled.

"Oops," Erasa said sheepishly.

"Oops nothing," Sharpener said. "The last time we saw him he threatened to kill people just because he didn't want to babysit."

"You what?" Bulma asked.

"Don't sound so surprised woman," Vegeta said rolling his eyes. "What else would you have expected?

Videl was bored. They'd been in the limo for hours. The driver was relatively new, and had taken a wrong turn at some point. They were now trying to figure out how to get to the city hosting the event before the event ended.

Videl didn't think the chances were very good. But her father was very optimistic about it.

"That's right," he was saying in his obnoxious voice. No. Maybe it was only sounding obnoxious because she knew the truth. She wasn't going to tell him she knew though. Saiyaman wanted the world to think it was her father. She wasn't so sure, but she'd have to trust him. Just like she wanted to trust that she'd love him no matter who he turned out to be.

But that little part of her mind that simply refused to die was thriving. If she didn't like Saiyaman after giving the real him a fair trial…that voice was saying that there was still Gohan. And try as she might, she couldn't squash that voice back into oblivion. Why was it that it always picked the most inopportune times to wake up?

I'm not running to Gohan if Saiyaman turns out to be someone I don't want him to be. I love him. Shouldn't that mean I'm going to love him no matter what? Shouldn't that mean his face is just that…a face? I don't want to end up being one of those shallow girls. What should I do?

"I'm the champ," her father continued. "It's good to make a fashionably late entrance. They'll hold the party for me."

I wouldn't.

"What's the matter sweet pea? Did that no-good-dirty-rotten-scum of a boyfriend have something better to do than spend the evening with my precious daughter?"

"Actually, yes," Videl said. "He did have an event."

"I knew it! He only wants you for your fame."

"And how did you reach that conclusion?" Videl asked angrily. "He loves me, and I love him. Besides, I told him I had to go alone. I didn't want the press to try and unmask him."

"Just between you and me," Hercule said, leaning in towards her. "Do you know who this clown is? Has he unmasked himself to you?"

"As a matter of fact," Videl said. And then she paused.

Should she lie to make her father like Saiyaman better?

Or would the truth be better?

Lie…

Tell the truth…

The choices were echoing in her mind.

Saiyaman stands for truth and justice her subconscious reminded her.

"No," Videl admitted with a blush.

"And how do you know he's not an old man preying on your youth and naivety?"

"Because he goes to my school…maybe," Videl said. "And he's going to unmask himself tonight."

"That's not some dirty sexual joke, is it?" Hercule asked narrowing his eyes.

"Uh, no," Videl said. Could her father really be so narrow-minded? Oh, yes he could.

"Good," Hercule said contentedly. "But you're going to have to tell me who he is."

"Not until he feels ready to tell you," Videl said crossing her arms and glaring angrily at her father.

This is going to be a long night…

It wasn't long before the party got back into full swing. Erasa and Sharpener merely tried to be on the opposite side of the room from Vegeta. This was easy enough, since Vegeta wouldn't dare to be seen on the dance floor, though it did irk him something terrible when his wife started dancing with the scar-faced man she used to date.

In a combined effort, Erasa, Sharpener and Lime were able to get Gohan out onto the dance floor. Sharpener was all for giving up, since he'd have two beautiful ladies to himself, but since the girls had been so insistent, he decided to lend a hand.

Besides, even he noticed that Gohan didn't seem to be very pleased with the party. His mind seemed to be elsewhere. Where, Sharpener couldn't care less about. All he knew was that he had to educate the mountain boy on how to let loose and have fun, and how to get girls. Sure, Gohan said he had a girlfriend, but that didn't mean Sharpener believed him.

It was as they were dancing that a loud knocking at the door was heard by the Saiyans present.

"Woman," Vegeta shouted. "There is someone banging on that blasted door."

"Then open it," Bulma yelled at him.

"Not a chance," Vegeta sneered.

Lime caught Bulma's eye as the woman sighed. She mouthed the words 'This is it."

Bulma nodded, her eyes suddenly brightening.

"Okay everyone," she shouted, signalling for the music to come to a halt. "We have a special guest waiting outside, and I want all of you to be on your best behaviour. No sudden outbursts from you Vegeta. No death threats, Vegeta. And please do not poke fun. This is special. It's the first time I've ever had him here."

She walked over to the door, resting her hand on the doorknob.

"May I present to you," she said with a forced smile.

How was she supposed to make this sound good?

"Mr. Hercule Satan," she announced as she opened the door. "And his daughter Videl."

And Gohan promptly fell over in shock.