A/N: I know it was pretty weird for Gohan and Videl to ditch, but something's gonna happen here and I couldn't think of any way to write it so enjoy!

Chapter 25: Haunting Voice

It had passed a good thirty minutes since both Gohan and Videl had decided to ditch class and just head to the mall. Both of them were just aimlessly wondering around looking at the stuff people were selling.

"Gohan." The young saiyan turned to look at the young girl. "Yeah, what is it?" "I've been meaning to ask you, why were you and your dad at the Cell Games." She asked quietly. Videl knew that Gohan had lost his father there, but she couldn't help but ask. He said nothing as he stared at her for a moment and then looked down at the ground.

"Okay, sorry for asking." She said as she started to walk away, but Gohan stopped her. "I don't mind that you asked, but if you really want to know..Well, obviously we went to try to kill Cell. Although, I didn't think that my dad would pick me to fight after he surrendered." He said as they both started walking again.

"But I don't get why your own dad would pick you to fight? Wasn't he scared that you could die?" Gohan spoke, "Well I don't think he was too worried. He had a lot of faith in me winning." "And what about you? Weren't you scared for yourself?" "Well, yeah I guess so. I was more concentrated on dodging all of Cell's attacks." ~ But the truth is, I was more scared of what my hidden powers would do if I would snap. ~ Thought Gohan.

"What's with all the questions anyway?" Asked Gohan. "Nothing really I guess I just wanted to know why you guys went that's all." "Really, or did you just want to learn more of my secret?" He asked with a smirk. She smiled. "I guess a little of both."

"So, how long have you been studying martial arts?" Asked Videl. "I started when I was four years old. So for almost eight years." Videl was shocked to say the least. "What! I started when I was seven, but four?" "Hahaha. Yeah, well it's complicated." "How so?"

~ Oh great, how do I get out of this one? ~ Luckily for him, he was saved as gun fire could be heard. It was yet more criminals trying to steal from some store. "Ugh, really can't we ever get a break." Said Videl. "Well I guess it doesn't really matter if we ditched cause we would have been called out anyway." "Yeah."

Seeing as all the people had runaway Gohan transformed and changed right there. "Let's go." Videl nodded. Both headed off for where the sound of bullets were coming.

Arriving on the scene, there was three men. One of them was threatening to shoot another man who worked at the store. "Stop right there." Said Gohan. "Kid, you better walk away from here before I fill you with led." Said the criminal threateningly, but he stood his ground. Not about to say it twice, the man pointed his gun towards the saiyan and started shooting. Disappearing from the spot, Gohan appeared in front of him and with one punch he knocked the man out.

Meanwhile, Videl had already taken care of the other. The last man only could watch as his comrades were beaten by two children. He quickly rushed towards Gohan with a knife, but he quickly ducked it by crouching down. He was about to make a final attack to knock the man unconscious when a whispering voice could be heard. "..Gohan..."

That made the young saiyan stop in his tracks. The minute he heard it he could feel his skin crawl and his insides turn to ice.

Videl noticed this as she stared at him. He looked as if he was in a trance or some kind of shock. She then saw that the criminal was about to stab him, seeing as he wouldn't make a move. Quickly, Videl ran forward, "Gohan get out of the way!" The sudden noise snapped him out of it as he moved out of the way in time. Then with a kick, Videl knocked the criminal out.

She turned to look at Gohan. "Gohan, what happened?" Gohan looked at her in the eyes. "I don't know...I thought..." He looked down at the ground and then back to her. "You know what never mind, just forget about it." He said as he reverted back to his normal form. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" He nodded. "Well if you want to talk later, I'm listening."

After that odd incident, the two of them made their way out of the mall and to the park. "Gohan are you sure you're okay? You seem kind of out of it." She said with worry in her voice. Gohan smiled faintly. "Don't worry about me." That statement though, didn't convince her.

They both now had stopped walking. Gohan grabbed her hands and looked at her in her sapphire eyes. "Videl, really I'm okay. I'm not too sure what happened back there, but I promise you I'm alright now." The young girl could now feel her heart raising as she stared into those deep onyx eyes. Never before had she let anyone grab her hands like that, let alone a boy. And yet, she let Gohan.

"Okay." Was all she could say as she quickly pulled away from him, trying to hide the blush that was forming on her face.

After a couple of silent and awkward minutes, Videl turned around. "So, ugh, let's go." Gohan smiled and nodded.

It had now passed about 20 minutes as once again Gohan and Videl walked together, just enjoying one anothers company.

Everything was peaceful and quiet. The sun shinning down, birds chirping, and a nice cool breeze passing by. The two youngsters had now made their way to the park. Everything truly seemed at ease, but for Gohan it was a different story.

Gohan didn't feel relaxed at all. He felt as if someone were following and watching him and Videl, specifically him. And each time he would turn around there would be nobody there. He thought that maybe he was just being paranoid, but something definitely felt off. Another cold breeze passed by and along with it a whispering, haunting voice, "...Gohan..." It was the same voice that he heard when he had been fighting those criminals, but not wanting to worry Videl he just tried to shrug it off.

A couple of minutes passed by as a tension could be felt in the air, although Gohan was the only one who seemed to feel it. A noise could be heard. Scrunch, scrunch. The young saiyan didn't dare turn around as he feared of what he would see. Although why he felt scared he didn't know. The noise continued. Scrunch, scrunch. Gohan turned to look at Videl and it seemed as she couldn't hear what he was hearing. ~ Maybe it's my saiyan hearing that's picking up something that's not audible to humans. ~

For a moment the noise stopped, to which Gohan was relieved to just hear silence. But then from the corner of his eye he saw movement. Quickly turning his head, he saw nothing. Once again it happened and upon turning nothing at all.

"Gohan, what's wrong? You've been acting weird ever since we stopped those criminals." Spoke Videl. "Have you heard or seen anything weird since we came here." He asked, scanning the area. "No why?" "I don't know. It's just..." He couldn't bring himself to finish that statement. If he told her about hearing and seeing things she couldn't see, it would sound as he were going crazy. ~ Maybe that's what's happening. ~ He thought with unease.

"...Gohan..." The voice called again, harsher and louder this time. "Did you hear that?" Videl spoke, "No. Heard what?" "I-I thought I heard someone call my name." Videl could only stare at Gohan as a bead of sweat ran down his face. He really seemed nervous and anxious about something. It's as if he were waiting for a disaster to happen.

This time that strange voice didn't call Gohan's name, but a bunch of whispering could be heard, or at least only to him. It's as if the whispering was coming from everywhere around them. Gohan tried to make out what they were saying, but he just couldn't understand what was being said. In fear a realization hit him. ~ This, this is exactly what happened in my dream before coming face to face with those shadows. ~ He thought shaking.

~ But if this is like my dream, will they actually appear here right now? ~ He turned to look at Videl who was eyeing him curiously. Gohan was afraid of what would happen next. In his dreams those shadows would appear and try to take control of him. And with Videl there, she could be in great danger not to mention everyone else in the city.

He was about to tell her to leave when a shooting pain hit him in the head. Gohan instantly fell to his knees, grasping his head, and shouting in pain. Videl quickly kneeled down next to him, "Gohan!" He could barely hear her as the pain was becoming unbearable. His ki was starting to spike as a blue aura surrounded him.

His head was pounding, but unlike before, Gohan could still hear that whispering. And joining the whispers was that other weird noise too. Scrunch, scrunch. Gohan slightly opened his eye to see a figure standing far away, watching them. His eyes widened. ~ No. It's not possible. ~

He closed his eyes, teeth clenched trying to fight the pain. "V-Videl...You..have to get out of here." "What! And leave you in this state, forget it!" "This isn't the time to be stubborn! Please you have to go now!" He yelled out, trying to hold back screams of pain.

At that moment another person could be seen heading there way. The person landed in front of both Gohan and Videl. Gohan looked up, "K-Krillin." It was indeed Krillin, he had just happened to be nearby when he felt the sudden jump in Gohan's ki.

"Gohan! What's happening, is it him?" Asked Krillin worriedly as he too kneeled down. ~ Him? ~ Thought Videl. "I-I don't know..But Krillin, p-please you have to..knock me out before something bad happens." Krillin nodded in understanding. "Wait, you can't just...!" Yelled Videl. "No, it's..okay..Videl." Said Gohan.

"Sorry about this Gohan." Said Krillin as he walked behind him. With a double axe handle to the neck, Krillin Managed to knock out the young saiyan. Before he hit the floor Krillin manage to catch him in time.

Videl stood up facing Krillin, who held the unconscious Gohan. "I think that you should go home Videl." "How do you know my name's Videl?" "Well I heard Gohan say it. Listen you don't have to worry about him. He's in good hands."

With that, he flared his ki and took off into the direction of Capsule Corp. Videl just stood perplexed to what had just happened. There wasn't much she could do except to just go home and hope everything would be fine.

- () -

Half an hour later...

Gohan groaned slightly as he regained consciousness and slowly sat up. "Hey Gohan. Are you okay?" Krillin asked walking up to Gohan, who sat on a couch. "Yeah I think so." "Well, look who's up." Said a person entering the room. "Trunks, what are you doing here?" Asked Gohan in surprise. "Well visiting you guys. It's been a long time." "Yeah." Said Gohan smiling, who got up to hug his friend.

"So, ugh Gohan. You mind me asking what happened back there in the park? You wanted me to knock you out before something bad happened, what did you mean by that." Krillin Asked. At that question, Gohan's mood darkened as he remained silent and a small tension could be felt.

Krillin and Trunks looked at each other, both wondering if it was indeed Gohan's saiyan side that was bothering him again.

Gohan clenched his fists. "Look guys, is it alright if we talk about it later? I just don't want to talk about it." He said quietly. Krillin and Trunks looked at each other again. "Well, okay." Said Krillin.

Wanting to change the subject quickly to brighten the mood, Trunks spoke, "So Gohan, why weren't you in your P.E. class today?" The young saiyan looked up at him in shock. "What, how did you know I wasn't there?" ~ Oh man, I sure hope I didn't get busted by Bulma or my mother. ~ Thought Gohan, imagining what Chichi would say if she found out.

"I'm guessing you know that you guys are having a sub for a week and well I'm that sub. I found out from my mother that you started school and well I wanted to surprise you by being your sub for a little while, but you never showed up. Why is that? You were in all your other classes."

Gohan blushed as he looked down at the floor. He didn't want to tell them that he ditched class so he could hang out with Videl alone. Of course Krillin saw him blushing and snickered. "Oh I know why you won't say something. You ditched class to hang out with your girlfriend right Gohan." Said Krillin in a teasing voice. "Girlfriend?" Asked Trunks. "Yeah. She's this girl I saw with him when I found him."

Gohan spoke, "She's not my girlfriend." He said sternly. "She's just a friend." In a laughing tone Krillin spoke, "Yeah whatever. If that's not true how come the both of you weren't in school?" "That's none of your business." "Well hey, I don't blame you. She's pretty cute you know. I bet if you put on some of that charm she'll ask you to be her girlfriend."

Still slightly blushing, Gohan spoke, "What are you talking about? I don't even like her like that!" "Yeah right. Your face says it all." "Whatever." Muttered Gohan as he started to walk away. "Where are you going Gohan?" Asked Trunks. "Home, I've got homework to do." "And a girlfriend to call." Added Krillin teasingly.

Completely ignoring that comment, Gohan waved goodbye and took his leave.

Trunks turned to Krillin. "Do you think it's okay that we let Gohan go that easily? I mean you said he was holding his head in pain and that his ki was starting to rise. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was his saiyan side." "I don't know. I'd rather not stress him out too much. We have to be careful, any little thing could set him off." Krillin Said.

- () -

It was now night time. Everyone was sound asleep, except for one particular boy who kept on tossing and turning in his bed.

It was Son Gohan, who wasn't having a peaceful sleep. In his dream, he once again found himself fighting of those shadowy figures. Each time he kicked or punched it would go through the shadows. And he just ended up taking another attack from them. Those shadows were just toying with him.

Still though, Gohan stood his ground. Bringing his hands to his head he fired a Masanko. And as always the blast had no effect. The young saiyan didn't know how long he had been fighting as he breathed heavily. It felt as though he'd been battling for hours.

All of a sudden he was punched in the face and then in the gut. He grasped his stomach in pain as he fell to his knees, falling out of his super saiyan form. It wasn't any use. He just couldn't stop them, no matter how hard he tried. He looked up above, to see a shadow hovering above him, seeming to enjoy his pain. The thing than punched him in the face and he was sent flying hard onto the floor. Gohan struggled to stand as he was clearly exhausted.

Still, he managed to stand as he panted heavily, wiping the blood from his mouth. Gohan just didn't know what to do anymore. He could barely pick himself up anymore. He got into a fighting pose as the shadows launched themselves forward.

Gohan threw a punch, but it was dodged as he got hit in the face and then hit in the back, being sent to the ground. He started to get up when, the shadows decided to engulf themselves around him. He struggled as all of them tried to gain control over the young saiyan, but he was tired. Not being able to defend himself as well this time. "No! I won't let you!" He yelled out, trying his hardest to keep them out.

- () -

With a gasp, Gohan was at last awake in his room. He just lay in bed looking up to the ceiling before deciding to go out for some fresh air. Jumping out the window he walked off into the deep part of a forest.

After a couple of silent minutes of walking, he became aware of another presence. On instinct he quickly turned around and threw a punch only to have it blocked. "Gohan what are you doing?" He instantly recognized that voice. "P-Piccolo." It was indeed his former mentor. "Sorry about that. I guess I'm just a little jumpy." Said Gohan turning around. "I see."

The namekian obviously knew that something was wrong with the young boy. Once again he was having trouble sleeping. "Gohan I think it's time that we talked about what's bothering you." He turned around, trying to look as if nothing was wrong. "What do you mean? Nothing's wrong." Piccolo sighed. "I know you too well Gohan, to know when something is wrong. So, what is it?"

Gohan clenched his fists. The others had most likely told him about his little episode in the park and with him sneaking out, it was a no wonder he was suspicious. But he just didn't want to talk about it.

"Look Piccolo, I already told you. Nothing's wrong." Piccolo obviously didn't believe him as Gohan had sounded a little moody. "That's not true. I know because of our bond. Let me help you." "I don't need help. What I need is to be left alone." Said Gohan as he started to walk away.

Gohan was already feeling irritable from the lack of sleeping good and for the fact that his friends kept bothering him with questions. He knew they meant well, but he just wanted to be left alone for now.

Gohan was stopped from walking away when Piccolo's hand grasped his shoulder. "Gohan, stop being so stubborn." Said Piccolo sternly. Not being able to control his anger, Gohan lashed out and punched the namekian in the face.

Piccolo was shocked to say the least. Gohan had never attacked him like that before, not counting when they were training of course. He got up. "I told you to leave me alone! And you better not follow me or else you'll regret it!" Said Gohan as he blasted off into the air.

The namekian stood perplexed at Gohan's little outburst. He had seen the anger in the kid's eyes. Piccolo still didn't know what was wrong with him. He hadn't been able to read his mind, which worried him. Gohan had never really been good in blocking him out. ~ We better keep a really close eye on him or else things could get out of hand. ~

A/N: Hope you liked this chpt! I might update a little late since it's hard with school, but I'll try my best to update weekly. Please leave me a review!