Chapter: 26

:A confession of Love

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Dragon Ball Z. All rights are owned by their respective owners,Toei, Toriyama, etc. This is purely a fanfictional work done by a simple fan done for fun. I do no get profit from this in any way.

When Gohan woke up, he found himself being carted off on a stretcher by stadium employed medics. He also looked down and saw that his hand was being held by Videl who had a concerned face on and was apparently staying by his side through this all. "Oh Gohan!? You're awake! Don't worry, I'll make sure they care good care of you." assured Videl as she noticed his awakening. The medics continued to push on and they had just about gotten to the entrance to the fighter's lounge in order to exit the ring when they were passed bye by the stretcher team carrying his equally wounded rival Brody. "This isn't over Gohan! Do you hear me!? This is far from over!" menaced Brody as his stretcher went passed them throught the door. "Loud little incessant guy isn't he?" weakly joked Gohan. Videl and pretty much all of the medics had the stifle some giggles at that. "Heehee, Yeah, I'll say." responded Videl adding to the joke.

Then, the medics made it through the doors and passed their way through the fighter's lounge when they were stopped by Goku and some of their friends who wanted to talk to him on his way out. "Hey, champ." started Goku, looking over his son with proud eyes. "H-Hey dad... sorry I didn't win. And sorry that I won't be able to see you and Vegeta fight. I really wanted to see that. And also sorry for leaving such a mess behind." weakly addressed Gohan. "Nonsense Gohan, you made me very proud out there. You have nothing to be ashamed of. And it was a draw so at least you didn't lose. And don't you worry about anything else. You just rest up fine while these fine people take care of you. You earned it." touchingly said Goku. And then the touching father son moment was gone as the medics continued on and Gohan fell over as they went on to taking him to the infirmary with Videl still in tow.

Meanwhile, back in the stadium outside, the announcer was addressing the crowd. "Well ladies and gentlemen, what an EPIC match that was folks... But now if you'll excuse us we'll take a 30 minute break to... *Ahem* clean up and repair the ring. Lord knows we're gonna need it." spoke out the announcer guy as he looked at his broken up and crater filled ring and looked like he was about to break down. He certainly WAS NOT looking forward to the patch job on this one. And from the looks of things, neither were the clean up crew either.

The Z-Fighters heard the announcement outside. "Great, now it'll be another half hour before I get to have my shot with Kakarot thanks to those brats." fumed Vegeta. "Come on Vegeta, you can't really blame Gohan for what happened out there. I mean he was fighting that Broly's kid out there." said Goku, trying to defend his son. "Well who said I was only blaming your son Kakarot? I said that it was "those" brats that did this, plural. Broly's brat was also complicit. They're both equally responsible." corrected Vegeta. And though he didn't exactly agree, Goku couldn't help but think that that was at least fair of Vegeta. Both Brody and Gohan did in fact do that to the ring so he had a point in that so he had a right in at least partially blaming Gohan.

"Speaking of Gohan, why was it that we let those human doctors get a hold of him and take him to the infirmary when we could've just taken him in ourselves and just given him a Senzu bean instead? And what's more, the real question would be what are we going to do about Broly's son?" suddenly asked Piccolo, questioning Goku directly. A lot of the Z-Fighters were also wondering that question and turned to him. "Well... I think that as far as Junior is concerned we can just leave him be in the infirmary for now. He isn't going anywhere for a while like that. We'll figure out what we'll do about him later. And as far as Gohan is concerned, we can leave him in the infirmary too for a little while. With me and Vegeta fighting next and with the winner of that being automatically the champion I don't think that he'll be needing to fight again today. Plus I think he's earned a small break after all the matches he's fought today. Not to mention that last one he fought. That and plus I have a feeling that some "interesting things" are about to happen between him and Videl thanks to this, so I think it'll give us a good excuse to give them some space." responded Goku, a mischievious grin on his face as he turned to the direction where the infirmary. The rest of the Z-Fighters got the hidden message and left it at that, deciding instead to go about their business waiting for the next match.

Meanwhile, outside the infirmary door, Videl was waiting on for the verdict from the doctors about Gohan's condition. In the meantime she was thinking to herself, confronting herself about the mysterious feelings she's been having for the boy and more specifically what she was feeling just earlier. 'What is with me? I felt so worried for him during the match when I was seeing him hurt and when the match was over I ran over to him like some lovesick nursemaid. That's not me, that's not what I normally do? I've never felt that way about any guy, not enough to get worried over them? Well, except for my father. And what is that feeling I keep getting every time I'm with tht guy? Like when earlier today when I fought him in our match for the World Junior Title? What's that feeling in the pit of my stomach that feels all warm and fuzzy? What is that? What is wrong with me?' asked Videl in her her head. And then, like a punch to the face it hit her. The terrible realization finally dawned on her as to what that feeling is. And as much as she wanted to deny it to herself, it was still the truth.

"I love him..." she quietly said to herself, almost dejectedly. It was the only thing that she could describe it as and the only thing that would explain all the symptoms. For the longest time she'd tried to protect her heart from something like this from ever happening. She acted like a tomboy in front of others in order to become a fighter and to never fall in love, and yet somehow it still happened. A boy had finally managed to worm his way into her heart and melt her defenses. And you know what? She was somehow yet okay with that. She guessed that maybe this was just what she'd wanted and had been waiting for and hoping for secretly deep in her heart. And now it'd finally happened. A small smile crept at the edge of her lips when she realized this.

Shortly thereafter this personal revelation, the doctor came out of the door to Gohan's room to which Videl had been sitting next to. "He's going to be fine, his wounds are mostly superficial and with a little rest and some time he should make a complete recovery. He has a remarkably fast healing ability. He's awake now and we sedated him a bit just to be on the safe side. Buuuuuut I don't think he should've been much of a problem anyway. He's free to talk to now at anytime you want t, if you want." said the doctor as he then walked away.

Videl peered into the room. Gohan was sitting in bed with bandages covering many of his wounds and scuff marks. Those including his right cheek, his forehead and some tape covering his chest up to his abdomen which only the upper part could be seen due to his sheets covering the rest of him. "Hey..." awkwardly piped in Videl. "Hey there..." returned Gohan, looking slightly more cheerful at seeing her come. "Can I come in?" nervously asked Videl. "Sure." was the response. Videl then just picked up a chair and sat herself down next to his bedside.

"Listen Gohan, I came here, not just because I wanted to check up on you, but to tell you something. Something very important to me." said Videl. Gohan's eyes scrunched down a bit in a small scowl as he knew this was serious. "Go ahead." was his answer. "Well, back then, just now, when you were hurt out there I was so scared. I was so worried for you that I didn't know what to do. And that's when I realised something." Videl started confessing. "What was it?" asked Gohan, sorta guessing and hoping in the back of his mind as to what was coming from but otherwise being honestly wanting to know what it was she was trying to say. Videl hesitated for a second, but then she just flung herself onto him and throwing her arms around his neck in an all envelopping hug. "I love you Gohan Son... I love you so much!" she managed to choke out as she hugged him right there on that hospital bed.

Gohan was stunned at the confession, he didn't know what to exactly do in this situation so he did the only thing that came to mind. He hugged her back in a light, comforting way. They then gently pulled back from the hug from each other. Gohan continued to sit and he held his head down almost like in shame, apparently he was apprehensive as to what he was about to say. "I... love you too Videl. I've known, ever since our match with each other in the Finals of the World Junior Tournament. It was then, during our match that felt these feelings for you and I realized then that it was love. That I was in love with you. I'd thought and hoped that I'd felt that the feeling was mutual back then." Gohan confessed, looking into her eyes with honesty and love, eyes watery like a puppy dog. Videl looked away to the side and brought her right arm behind her back to grab her left on the other side, apparently feeling a bit ashamed that he'd realized it before she had. "The feeling was mutual, but I just didn't know what those feelings were and it took just until now for me to realize them. I feel kinda sorry, that it took me just that much longer to realize it then you." said Videl, feeling ashamed. "Don't feel bad about that, it doesn't matter. Just so long as you came to realize it all the same, it's alright." Gohan answered back, his genuineness and honesty about it made it all seem alright. Videl couldn't help but smile and be assured that he was okay with it. "You really mean it? Thanks Gohan, I do feel better about it." replied Videl, smiling at him.

"Now the only question is, where does this leave us? I mean what do we mean to each other? I mean, does this make us boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Gohan asked. Asking mostly to Videl then himself as she was the relative expert on social interactions, having gone to school and mostly lived her life in normal society and he was not sure himself. "I don't know. I've never felt this way about anybody before. To tell you the truth I've always been too much of a tomboy for that sorta thing. But right here with the way I feel about you? I don't know." Videl said honestly, casting her eyes downward as she felt conflicted about this subject. On the one hand she had a deep yearning that she wanted someone like that close in her life. And on the other hand she'd always ridiculed the idea in public and reject every offer so if her friends at school ever found out she would be a laughing stock. "Well? Do you want to be my girlfriend?" asked Gohan, looking up into her eyes. Videl looked into his and found such warmth and understanding and honesty that she just couldn't help but to stay with him. In those eyes, she felt the longing need to be with him. "Yes, I guess I do. I honestly do." finally responded Videl, answering with all the deep honesty of her heart. "Then I want you as my girlfriend. That is if you'll have me... as your boyfriend." responded Gohan, answering with the honest heart of gold he always had. Videl smiled at his with tears in her eyes. "Then yes, I will have you as my boyfriend." responded Videl. "Well then I guess that's it. From now on we're boyfriend and girlfriend." said Gohan, smiling with a megawatt sized Son grin all over his face.

"But Gohan? What of the others? If they find out I'm sure they'll tease us for life. Not to mention what our parents will think! Like your mother and my father? Just think of what they'll do! And let's not forget my reputation at school! If they find out that I of all people have a boyfriend now I'll be ruined!" freaked out Videl. "Calm down Videl. I don't think things are that bad, but if you really want to I guess we could keep it a secret just to ourselves? I mean, I have no doubt that our friends will eventually find out or we'll have to spill the beans eventually. But in the meantime I guess we could keep it quiet for as long as we can? But then, that is if it makes you more comfortable?" Gohan suggested. "It does, it really does. But believe me I don't enjoy the idea of keeping it from our friends, and I think in your case you enjoy it even less than I do. But for now I don't think we have a choice. So I guess that's just what we'll have to do for now." said Videl. "I guess so..." was the somber response from Gohan. Pretty soon they switched subjects and started chatting about other things, more mundane things.

After a few minutes of just chatting about various things, Videl left to leave him to his rest. But when she opened the door, she heard a tumbling sound coming from behind the door. She peered behind the open door and found Yamcha, Tien, Goku and even Piccolo comically crumpled together in a heap on the floor. It was obvious that they had been eavesdropping on her and Gohan. In a flash the group of guys zipped back up to their feet and were whistling casually, badly trying to play off that they had been eavesdropping. "Excuse me? But what do you think you're doing?" Videl rhetorically asked, sweatdropping at seeing their antics. "Nothing! Just standing around while guarding the door while we wait for an update on Gohan's condition." Goku immediately came up with the lame excuse. While Videl didn't doubt that they heard everything between her and Gohan, or at least most of it, and knew all about their new relationship. But they were obviously trying to respect their wishes and were at least willing to try to pretend it was a secret and keep it to themselves. Videl appreciated that and so both sides just left it as it is.

"Well, he's going to be fine the doctors say. Though he should be too banged up to fight today it's nothing more then superficial damage. They say that he has a remarkable healing ability so I don't think he should be down for too long. Though what's mostly upsetting him is that he's stuck inside that hospital bed in a room with no windows so he won't be able to see the fight." explained Videl, switching the subject round back to Gohan's condition. "Oh? Is that all? We can fix that, can't we guys." said Goku, casting a glance at the rest of the boys behind him. They all got mischievious grins on their faces as they knew what Goku was planning.

Pretty soon the whole gang were lifting and transporting Gohan's bed with him on it across the hallways. They then brought him over to the fighter's lounge and deposited his bed near a window overlooking the stadium ring, despite the constant protests from the medical staff. "Thanks guys. This is a great view." said Gohan, thanking his friends a looking very happy and appreciative. "No problem Gohan. You deserve it." said Yamcha, expressing the feelings from all of them. "And don't worry, I'll be here right by your side the whole time." Said Videl while holding his hand. While she realized that that was an obvious hint to the adults, knowing that they pretty much knew anyway she let it slide and Gohan didn't know social behavior enough to understand either anyway. The adults just smiled at the gesture. Young love was such a cute thing to see. But then they had to turn their attention to something more serious, like the upcoming match for example.

At this point the announcer guy came over to the entrance way make his presence felt. "Okay guys, the ring is done for now. So if anytime you're ready we can start." said the announcer, announcing it for the whole room to hear it. At that point Goku came up next to Vegeta, who had been waiting next to the entrance way all this time. "Well? Are you done making me wait Kakarot?" sarcastically asked Vegeta. "*Hooof* Yeah, sorry to make you wait Vegeta. I just had to take care of a little business with Gohan. But I'm finally ready for yah." said Goku, apologizing but keeping his competitive look that promised that he was really looking forward to this fight. Vegeta flashed him the same grin in return. He had been waiting for almost his entire life as far as he was concerned. The announcer guy noticed the looks between the two and immediately knew that something was up. He scooted over to Piccolo who was not far away. "What's the deal with those two? I can definitely sense a lot of tension in the air with those two." whispered the announcer to Piccolo. "Hmm, Well let's just say that those two have a whole lot of history together. Long story short it seems that Vegeta's whole mission in life right now is to beat Goku. And I'd say that Vegeta is Goku's strongest rival. Those two have a monumental rivalry going on and this is going to be the first time they've fought in many years. In fact they haven't even fought since back when they first met. If you knew them and their history you would know that this is going to be monumental fight." Piccolo explained. The announcer's eyes went wide as he said that. Because if someone like Piccolo was saying that, and he'd seen what Piccolo can do first-hand, then what was this fight going to be like?

"Are you ready Kakarot?" said Vegeta as he and Goku stood in the entry way. Their sillouettes in the entry way being en-shadowed by white light coming from the outside and causing rays of shadows to seemingly emanate from around their figures. "Always." was the response from Goku as they both then stepped into the light.

Author's Final Thoughts: Well, Gohan and Videl have finally acknowledged their love for one another and confessed to each other. I hope you don't think that I'm having them go too fast. I think that after almost a year long courtship of them being friends and getting to know each other that it isn't too much. And after all that they've gone through with each other and with what they know they mean to each other I think that here's no way that they can get around it.

Remember that these are two completely different characters now as opposed to their older selves. And I think that since they don't have the same restrictions and the fact that they know each other way better and gone through more together, younger, that they would realize and confess to each other much faster. And I don't think that with the prospect of having a boyfriend/girlfriend would be much much easier accepted than their older selves. They've been in denial of themselves long enough. I think that as soon as they'd discover their feelings and with an extreme situation like this that it's possible for their characters to confess and hook up like this. So now they're boyfriend and girlfriend, but only officially between themselves. Everyone else can mind their own business and keep their mouths shut to themselves if they know anything.