Secret Heart

Chapter 25

Unlike usual, where her boys' lack of manners irritated her greatly, Chichi was smiling as she watched her husband and sons wolfing down like only a Saiya-jin could. Even if they were making a mess, no longer using cutlery; nothing could ruin her good mood.

After all, how could she not be in a good mood when her husband was back for a day, her youngest son had finally been able to meet him and, above all, her eldest was smiling again?

Goku had always had this natural gift to cheer up the people around him; his sole presence was enough, and the return of Gohan's appetite was proving it.

Chichi was filled with joy: today was looking to be wonderful. And she had every intention to make sure that nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to ruin it.

Unfortunately, destiny had other plans…

oOoOoOo

On a very, very far planet, two beings were watching a crystal ball with a solemn expression.

"It won't be long until they take action, I can feel it." The younger-looking one said. "We have to stop them at all cost."

The other one widened his eyes. "Surely you don't think about…"

"I do, Kibito. We're going down to Earth."

oOoOoOo

After having watched his son's condition wearing away when he had been in the Other World, Goku was glad to see Gohan smiling again. Seeing him so depressed, from up there, and being able to do nothing to sort things out, the father he was had felt completely helpless and useless, and he had hated that feeling. That was what had urged him to come back, even if it was only for a day. At least, he had been able to cheer up his eldest son, and it was all that mattered.

"Daddy, Daddy! Look what I found! He's cute isn't he?"

Goku turned to his youngest son, who he had just met. Goten was like a younger version of himself; he was just like him, as much by his nature than by his looks. And he was so adorable.

The man then noticed the big toad that his youngest son was holding, a big grin on his face. Goku chuckled.

"Is that your new friend?"

"Yep! I called him Mr. Toad!" Goten replied happily. "Can I keep him?" He then asked.

"I don't know if your mother will agree, son; you know how she hates that kind of animals." Goku said. Seeing his son's sad face because he couldn't keep his new friend, he resumed: "And anyway, I'm sure that Mr. Toad would rather stay in the nature than in a house; don't you think?"

Goten sighed, resigning himself to let his toad go. "Yes, you're right."

"But nothing keeps you from playing with him as long as we're outside." Goku added with a wink. This made Goten smile again, and the Son youngest went a little distance away to play with Mr. Toad.

Goku watched him play, smiling. They had decided to spend the day outside, making the most of the fine weather, and the Saiya-jin didn't regret it. His wife had settled herself on a blanket which she had placed on the grass, probably so her clothes wouldn't get dirty; she was watching Goten who was having fun imitating his toad friend, and she couldn't help laughing at the scene.

Goku settled himself next to her, and Chichi smiled.

"He's just like you." She said, talking about their youngest son. Her husband chuckled.

"I know." He replied simply, wrapping his arm around his wife's waist. She laid her head on his shoulder, sighing in content.

"Where's Gohan?" Goku asked after a few seconds of silence.

"He was a bit hungry so he went to pick some fruits." Chichi explained.

Right on cue, as she was speaking, her son got out of the underbrush, a lot of apples in his arms. He stopped a few moments to look at his little brother who was doing the toad, blinking. Then he chuckled while shaking his head and went towards his parents.

Gohan placed his apples on the blanket and then sat on it; next, he took one from the pile and began to eat, inviting his parents to do the same. Goku didn't need to be told twice and took an apple in turn, biting a bit of it with enthusiasm.

"Ah… There's no doubt about it: the food on Earth is much better than in the Other World!" he commented happily.

"Really?" Gohan asked, his mouth full. A look from his mother and he swallowed what was in his mouth before apologizing.

Goku grinned; his wife hadn't changed at all. And that was why he loved her.

"Well, since you don't need to eat once you're dead, making good food isn't a priority in the Other World." The Saiya-jin replied. "I got used to it, but it's still very nice to eat goo–"

He was cut off by Chichi who, always keeping an eye on Goten who was playing a short distance away, saw him rolling on the grass.

"Goten! I told you a thousand times not to roll on the grass!" The mother of two scolded; she stood up and went towards her youngest son who strengthened himself instantly.

"Look at you, you're all dirty now! Now, that was clever!" She said while dusting him.

"Sorry Mommy." The little boy said in a small voice. His mother softened; after all, it was only a little of dirt, and this day was too special to be ruined by such details.

"Come on," She said in a softer voice. "Let's go and clean you up."

Goten nodded his head. He got up to follow his mother but stopped abruptly.

"Just a second!" He told her. The Son youngest then grabbed the toad which had started to get away and ran to his brother and father.

"Can you watch Mr. Toad while Mommy cleans me up?"

The two men chuckled. "Yes, of course." Gohan replied as he took the toad from his little brother's hands.

"Thanks!"

With that, the little boy went to join his mother and the both of them went to their home, leaving Goku and Gohan alone with Mr. Toad.

The demi Saiya-jin looked at the animal in his hands; he remained still and croaked from time to time. Gohan smiled; at least he wasn't trying to escape.

"It's nice to see you smile again." Goku commented.

The young man kept staring at the toad, staying silent. He figured that his father knew what he was going through now; after all, if Goku knew the existence of his youngest son, it meant that he'd been watching over them from up there.

"It's true that… I haven't been very joyful lately." He ended up saying.

"Would you mind telling me about… her?" Goku asked carefully. He knew that it wasn't an easy subject for his son.

Gohan shook his head; he had no reason to hide the truth from his father.

But as he was about to speak, the demi Saiya-jin sensed Videl's Ki rise suddenly, just before dropping considerably. Alarmed, Gohan stood up quickly, under his father's surprised gaze.

"Sorry Dad, but I have to go. Videl's in trouble."

With that said, the young superhero entrusted his father with the toad and took off, flying as fast as he could towards Videl's Ki which was abnormally low. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to arrive to his destination fast enough in his current speed, Gohan turned Super Saiya-jin and soared at full speed.

It's not enough. He thought; he was still a good ten minutes away from Satan City, and the young girl's Ki was still dropping.

Not seeing any other solution, the demi Saiya-jin concentrated, teeth and fists tightly clenched, while he was still flying. With a yell, he went up to the next level of his transformation, increasing his strength – and thus, his speed – colossally.

The young warrior, so focused on the Ki of the girl he loved, didn't even notice his father's Ki that was following him as best he could.

oOoOoOo

Videl was suffocating. The building was on fire and she was buried under pieces of the ceiling that had fallen upon her. She felt so stupid for having gotten herself stuck like this: she should have been more careful!

To think she had gotten inside the building on fire to save someone who was still inside; now she was going to die choking, buried under a pile of cement. She could only hope that the person she had come to rescue had managed to get by.

The young crime fighter had more and more trouble to breathe. And as she struggled to stay conscious, her mind drifted towards a certain spiky-haired boy. She regretted so much that she didn't confess her feelings for him. Even if he didn't share her feelings, she would have liked him to

know how much she loved him at least.

But now, it was too late.

It was the end. She could feel herself go towards unconsciousness, no longer having the strength to struggle.

But as everything seemed done for; as she had lost all hope, Videl felt the weight lift from her. A golden light blinded her for a moment, then she made out a form that was getting the remaining cement off of her.

The young girl then felt arms wrapping around her while her savior carried her against him. A familiar feeling invaded her and she smiled, feeling safe in those powerful arms.

And then, the moment after, the sunlight was blinding her: she was out of the building, still in the arms of the man who just saved her. Videl then looked up to see his face, expecting to meet Gohan's dark gaze. Instead, she met teal eyes under golden hair.

"Go… Gohan? It… It's you? But… how…?" She trailed off, at loss for words before this appearance.

The young warrior froze. Could he tell her everything, right here and now? Was it the right time? Would she reject him once she knew? Could he take such a risk?

While all those questions boggled his mind, two men, the letter "M" tattooed on their foreheads, were waiting in the dark the time to take action. And when they saw the Super Saiya-jin freeze suddenly, they took their chance and rushed to him.

Gohan realized their presence too late, and he only had time to push Videl out of the danger that one of the men seized him while the other one stung his stomach with a strange machine. He tried to break free but felt his strength leave him; he lost his Super Saiya-jin transformation, his hair and eyes taking their usual jet-black color.

"GOHAN!"

Videl, whom Gohan had pushed some distance away, rushed to the bulky man who was holding the man she loved. She was pushed away as if she was a mere fly; this didn't discourage her for all that and she rushed to him again. It resulted in the same way.

oOoOoOo

Goku, who still didn't catch up to his son, having only turned into a simple Super Saiya-jin, suddenly sensed Gohan's Ki drop very fast. Alarmed, he went up to the next level of his transformation, increasing his speed like his son did earlier.

Please, don't let me be too late. He prayed silently.

oOoOoOo

When they arrived where they had sensed an incredible power, the young Earthling who gave it off was having his energy stolen by those two men with tattooed foreheads.

"What should we do?" asked the being with pink skin.

"We can do nothing for him for the time being," replied the one with purple skin. "But as soon as they leave, I will pursue them and you will heal the Earthling. His father is coming as well; you will join me and will ask them to follow you. Their help will be very precious."

oOoOoOo

Videl was getting hopeless. None of her attacks affected those two men, and she was losing her energy fast, especially since she wasn't at her full strength after her stay under the rubbles of the building in fire. From the ground, she looked up, feeling her eyes sting while Gohan, as white as a sheet, had his mouth open in a silent scream.

"We're done; the absorber is full," said the man who had stung Gohan with his strange machine. His acolyte nodded and let go of the young man who collapsed, drained of his energy. Videl rushed to him while the two guys flew off; she didn't care about them. Gohan was all that mattered.

Holding back tears, she knelt down next to him and placed her hand on his neck, feeling for his pulse. It was very weak, but it was there. Relieved, she was aware however that it was not over.

"Hold out Gohan. I'm going to call an ambulance and you'll get back on your feet in no time." She said while getting her cell phone out.

"That won't be necessary."

Videl looked up to see a man with pink skin, white, long hair, and wearing uncommon clothes. He then kneeled down in turn and placed his hands on Gohan's back.

"Hey! What are you doing? Who are you, for that matter?" She asked.

"I don't have time to explain." The unknown man said as his hands began glowing.

"Wha…?" Videl could only watch as color was returning to Gohan's face. After a few moments, the young man opened his eyes while the unknown man withdrew his hands.

Gohan straightened up and looked at his hands in astonishment. He had been about to die; he was sure of it. How come he had recovered all of his strength?

"Gohan!"

The young warrior blinked and looked down, seeing Videl who was clinging on him as if her life depended on it.

"I was so scared…" She confessed in a whisper. "I thought I was going to lose you."

The young man's heart warmed up: she still cared for him. This thought reassured him, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him.

They then heard a cough, and looked up to see the man who had healed Gohan.

"Sorry for interrupting, but something serious is going on, and we are short on time." He stated.

"But… who are you?" asked the teenage boy as he and Videl stood up.

"You will know if you follow me."

With that, the unknown man flew off, leaving the two dark-haired teens in mystery. It was then that Gohan finally noticed his father's energy that was very close. How could he miss such an incredible power?

"What on Earth happened?" Goku asked as he landed, taking his normal form again.

"That's what I would like to know, too."

All turned towards the voice that just spoke. Vegeta, who had sensed the sudden drop in Gohan's Ki, told himself that there might finally be some action after all those years of boredom.

"Oh, Vegeta; it's been awhile." Goku said.

An almost imperceptible smile formed on the Prince's lips; his great rival was back, and he had every intention to take advantage of it once this case was straightened out.

"Well, brat, tell us what's going on." Vegeta said. Videl scowled; he was still the same uncivilized jerk.

Gohan then told them about what had happened; he also said that he didn't know more about it, that it seemed that the man who had healed him knew what was going on and that he was planning on following him to know what this was all about.

"If you're going, then I'm going too." Goku declared.

"I'm following you, Kakarot. We'll be able to fight right after this case is sorted out that way." Vegeta said.

Goku smiled, he was impatient to fight his rival of all times too.

"I'm going too."

The three Saiya-jin turned to Videl who just spoke. Gohan frowned.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Videl." He said. "I can feel that it's going to be very dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt, or worse."

"I don't want to be left aside, so I'm going." The crime fighter stated. "I'll go whether you like it or not, Gohan."

"Videl, look…"

"Let her do as she wishes, brat; she won't be able to follow us anyway." Vegeta said.

"That's what you think." The girl said proudly. She then began levitating, and flew off in the direction that took the man with pink skin.

Gohan's jaw dropped; he couldn't believe what he just saw. Videl had learned how to fly by herself, without his help. She was even more talented than what he had thought.

Vegeta shrugged and flew off in turn. Goku then began levitating as well.

"Come on, let's go, son." He said.

Gohan shook his head to clear his mind, then, with his father, he flew off following Videl and the Prince.

To Be Continued…