Chapter 56

In hindsight, it was probably not such a good idea to inform Videl of his decision before hand. But, in his defense, it didn't occur to the teenage Saiyan that the Satan girl would then act on it. For all her bravado, she was a very private person. Everything was on a need to know basis with her. If someone didn't need to know it, then she flat-out refused to tell them no matter how hard they pressed. She'd simply dig her heels in stubbornly, even her father and close friends weren't exempt from it. Her desire for privacy was perhaps part of the reason why she only had a handful of friends. People who didn't understand it would easily be offended and think that she was either thoughtless or uncaring, which couldn't be father from the truth. The nearly impenetrable wall of secrecy around her was a much to protect people from those who'd hurt them by association alone as it was to protect her from needless heartache.

Still…he'd really should've seen it coming…

"Look…" Gohan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly, "as flattered as I am by your offer to become a part of the panel of judges for the Miss World beauty pageant, I can't. It'd be incredibly irresponsible of me to do so. I have duties and obligations to attend to, that the people expect me to attend to, that takes precedence above all else. As it is, with the low snowfall this season, droughts and wildfires are a serious issue with spring just around the corner. Fresh water needs to be collected and dispersed to the most affected areas, the foresters and fire wardens need extra supplies if they are going to cope with the dramatic increase in fire danger, and the emergency food storage needs to be prepared if the drought is severe enough to affect crop production. However, I do know someone who'd be more than happy to judge the pageant for you…" he explained to the three men sitting across from him in the conference room. The men were in various stages of obesity, bald or soon to be, and wore similar black suits, making them appear like they were triplets. All three stared at him in disbelief. One all but jumped to his feet with a look that borderlined desperation.

"B-but you're a healthy, energetic young man! Staying inside all day, taking on so much responsibility…I-it's not good for you! A little fun never hurt anyone!" he argued desperately. "Besides…" the man added conspiratorially in a sly tone, "there are going to be dozens of beautiful, available, young women there fighting for your attention…" Gohan sighed. He had the inkling that these guys were only approaching him on behalf of one of the politicians looking to marry him off before, the teenage Saiyan was under no illusion that he was special from the millions of other young men in the world who'd kill for a front row seat to the Miss World beauty pageant, but now he knew they were.

He only had himself to blame, really, for agreeing to meet with them if only to save their hides from Chi-Chi's wrath. They made the grievous mistake of introducing themselves to the crown princess and telling her exactly why they were there. Chi-Chi, more or less, gave them her opinion on the matter whether they wanted it or not. In fact, it was her yelling that alerted Gohan to the fact that they even had visitors as everyone else apparently have been pointedly ignoring their presence. The more traditional families of the East District looked down upon the likes of the Miss World beauty pageant as tasteless and immoral among other things. While he didn't want his mother to kill anyone, he couldn't bring himself to dump them on his poor grandfather who was swamped as it is with more pressing issues. So he found himself jumping onto the proverbial grenade, crossing his fingers and hoping that he can walk away from the situation with his hide, not to mention his relationship with Videl should she ever find out, intact…

"Mr. Barret, I can not in good conscious-" The conference room door suddenly flew open, effectively cutting him off. Videl boldly walked right on in with a causality that suggested she had rudely interrupted meetings before, wearing what looked to be an oversized shimmering black turtleneck over a pair of black leggings. Gohan temporarily forgot exactly why he was arguing with these men for in the first place as he attempted to advert his eyes away from the curves that the formfitting outfit showcased so beautifully. He was not a pervert. He was not a pervert. He was not a-

"Hey." she greeted, kissing him on the cheek. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Videl questioned sweetly.

"No." the teenage Saiyan replied, somehow managing to keep the 'nothing important' from escaping his slacked jaw. "I'm just finishing my last meeting of the day with the of the representatives of Miss World beauty pageant." he explained casually in a bid to keep tensions to a minimum. Her crystalline blue eyes narrowed.

"'The Miss World beauty pageant'?" she parroted in thinly veiled disgust.

"Y-yes. E-every year we have a celebrity guest judge on our panel." Mr. Firmin replied. At her unconvinced look he hesitantly added, "J-just to generate m-more interest in the competition, mind you."

"Someone single, I hope." the Satan girl added pointedly. "Of course, I can't speak for all women currently in a committed relationship but I know I'd be really upset if someone managed to convince my guy to sit there on global television as they parade a bunch of hussies in front of him."

"O-Of course! Of course!" Mr. Barret hurriedly agreed. "We don't want to be the root of any tension in meaningful relationships or tear couple apart!"

"W-we were just asking the prince's opinion on who he thinks would be best for the position!" Mr. Corrado quickly explained. She gave him a searching look, crossed her arms over her chest, and thought about it.

"Well, it can't be Yamcha." Videl slowly replied after a moment. "It's too soon after his breakup with Carna."

"Yeah." Gohan agreed somberly. "I imagine that it'll be some time before he can get back up on the horse…"

"What about your father, the World Champion Mr. Satan?" Mr. Barret inquired hopefully.

"No, that wouldn't work out. He does a lot of promotional and charity work around the holidays and can't possibly fit one more thing into his schedule." Gohan answered automatically, not even thinking about how they might take it. But the three men didn't comment.

"What about Bulma?" she suggested. The teenage Saiyan blinked at her confusedly.

"Bulma?"

"Yeah. She loves fashion." Videl pointed out.

"Maybe." he hummed. "But knowing her, she'd want to make sure that all the contestants have some form of higher education and won't accept anything less than legal documentation."

"Is that really such a bad thing?" the Satan girl questioned. These women are supposed to set a good example for young girls everywhere. How can they set a good example when all they have is a high school diploma and beauty? Sure, they'd still be setting an example but it wouldn't be the right one…"

"If she won't do it, her father might." the teenage Saiyan thought aloud. Videl gave him a surprised look.

"Really? But what about his wife? Wouldn't she take it the wrong way?" she inquired.

"Hardly." he chuckled. "She'll probably enjoy the show more than he will…"

"Well, we really appreciate your input!" Mr. Firmin abruptly cut in. He and his associates stood up. "You've given us some great ideas! But, sadly, we should really get going! So many things to do, so little time. You know!" With that, all three men showed themselves out. Videl giggled, sidling up closer to Gohan. He cocked his head at her.

"Videl?"

"I just thought that being seen together would be a easier than holding some ridiculous press conference." the Satan girl told him, giving him a quick kiss. "So…where do you want to go?" she asked with a devious gleam in her eye.

xXx

"Hey oniisan! Look! You're on TV!" Goten exclaimed excitedly. Everyone turned their attention to the TV and sure enough, there was a picture of him with Videl while they were out on their impromptu date. Gohan stopped eating and sighed. Why does this always have to happen at the dinner table? Couldn't it ever wait until they've at least finished eating?

"Earlier today, Prince Gohan was spotted in downtown East City with Miss Videl Satan coming out of a movie theater." the female reporter announced. "What does this mean? Are they friends, or something more? And just what does Videl's father, the illustrious Hercule Satan, think about it?" Chi-Chi jumped out of her chair at the table with a triumphant expression on her face.

"Ha! Take that you dirty political pigs! I'd like to see you try to force my Gohan to marry some tramp now!"

"Now Chi-Chi, let's not get all worked up…" the Ox King pleaded with his daughter as he was currently suffering from a major headache wrought on by the day's work. But she apparently didn't hear him.

"Don't you see otousan?" she asked excitedly.

"Because not only does the public adore her but her father'll rip them apart with his own two hands for daring to suggest his daughter isn't the best of the best?" Goku suggested through mouthfuls of rice.

"Exactly!" she cried out happily. "They can't possibly force Gohan to marry now that his relationship with Videl is public! To do so would mean that they don't think that Hercule's daughter is good enough for him! And if Videl Satan isn't good enough, then who is?"

"And now we can put this all behind us and move on with our lives?" Goha asked hopefully.

"Iie!" his mother said. "I'll see to it that they pay for daring to-!"

"Okaasan! Let's not start a political war!" the teenage Saiyan protested.

"It's due time they learn that they can't get away with dirty politics!" Chi-Chi proclaimed proudly. Goten cocked his head at her in confusion.

"I don't get it…how can politics be dirty? Is it when politicians don't take baths?"

xXx

Omake

"Honey, where are you going?" Hercule asked his daughter from his armchair in the living room, spotting her heading towards the front door wearing something other than a pair of bike shorts and a large t-shirt.

"Oh, just over to the East District palace to surprise Gohan." she replied casually. "I'm gonna show him how serious I am about our relationship." But her father stopped listening as soon as he heard Gohan's name and went back to watching TV.

"Oh, alright. Be careful. Keep your cell phone on for me and watch out for traffic." he told her.

"Will do." Videl called back as she continued on her way. Suddenly, his head jerked up as what she said sank into his brain. Hercule scrambled out of his armchair and hurried after his daughter.

"Wait? Show him you're serious? Just what do you mean by that?"

Translations:

Oniisan- big brother

Otousan- father

Iie- no

Okaasan- mother

AN: Please review!