11
Slowly, carefully, she curled her eyelashes with the mascara brush. Videl clicked her tongue as a tiny black spot stained her eyelid; she fished a cue tip out of a small plastic bag and licked the cotton before using it to erase the almost imperceptible smudge. She then proceeded to continue applying the mascara, then put on a light purple eyeshadow, followed by a little of silver, and finished with a little bit of black around the edges, before smudging the colors with a special brush to give her eyes a smoky look. She was careful not to put too much blush and finished with some lip gloss.
Standing back in front of her bathroom mirror, Videl arranged her hair nervously, tucking her stray strands behind her ear.
Why was she getting all dolled-up anyway? This date was just a play-pretend; it wasn't for real. So she wanted to look pretty, but that didn't have to mean anything, right? Gohan never cared for makeup anyway. She wasn't doing this for him; she wanted to feel attractive only for herself. After all, Erasa was right: she wasn't a tomboyish teenager anymore, and while she had kept her boyish personality, Videl had learned to enjoy doing girly stuff too as she grew into a woman.
She had chosen to wear her new thin-strapped yellow sundress, patterned with white flowers. The dress was short with a wavy skirt, and it fitted around her waist with an inside elastic band. White sandals adorned her feet, the heels a little higher than she was usually comfortable with – which gave her bare legs a nicer curve.
Alright, alright… so she did want to look pretty for Gohan. What about it? Just because the date wasn't for real didn't mean she wasn't allowed to look her best. Just because she couldn't be with him didn't mean she didn't want to make him drool at the sight of her.
She heaved out a sigh. How pathetic. Why was she doing this? Why was she even going through with this silly date? She had already donated the five hundred million to his research team; he didn't need to offer himself as a prize in exchange. She should've just refused the date, saying she only meant to help the cause.
The problem was, Videl did want this date. Her win at the auction was the perfect excuse to spend time with Gohan without feeling guilty. She was actually doing a good deed, helping the research for leukemia which would likely save many lives in the future. She was contributing to medical advancements. She was doing something selfless and generous.
Only, that was just a front. If it hadn't been for Gohan, Videl would've never paid such an exorbitant amount at the auction.
She was hopeless. Even after what he had done to her, she still wished things could change. She wanted to forgive him, to trust him again, even though Gohan didn't deserve any of it.
The doorbell rang. Without her consent, her heart leaped in excitement. Her legs moved of their own accord and rushed to the door. Videl managed to get a hold of herself as she stood in front of the wooden door. She exhaled deeply and tried to calm her racing heart. This was just a pretend date, she repeated to herself once more. She had nothing to get excited about. She and Gohan weren't getting back together. They never would be. She was still furious at him.
She had to remind herself several times how much he had hurt her, how horrible what he did to her was. She had to repeat to herself that they had no future together. It was definitely over between them, and there was no getting back what they had lost.
It's over, she told herself yet again.
Her heart didn't seem to be listening however, still doing happy somersaults in her chest at the mere thought of spending the day with the man it chose.
Unable to stop herself, Videl checked herself in the mirror that was hanging on the wall of the entryway, perpendicular to the door, and arranged her hair one last time.
He rang the bell again, and this time Videl forced herself to grab the doorknob and pull the door open.
Her face flushed at the way he paused and stared at her, looking her over from head to toe, his lips parted. He gave a sheepish smile as an adorable blush tinted his cheeks, and scratched the back of his head.
"You look… stunning," he murmured, sounding as though she took his breath away.
"Thanks…" she said, tucking her bangs behind her ear as she averted her gaze. "You look good too."
Which was quite the understatement. She peeked at him again, unable to stop her eyes from running all over him. Gohan was wearing a red and black flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his perfectly sculpted forearms. The shirt was left open and under it was a white tank top which was tucked in his dark gray dress pants; a black belt and black dress shoes completed his casual yet clean look.
It was so him, and he looked absolutely gorgeous. Her heart clenched painfully, begging her to change her mind and give him another chance. Videl shushed it sternly.
"Um, would you like something to drink before we get going?" she asked, not forgetting her manners.
"Ah, well, I wouldn't mind a glass of water… It's pretty hot today, isn't it?"
That adorable smile again. Ugh. Was he doing it on purpose? Didn't he know how dangerous that smile was to her? How much she adored it?
"Come on in, then."
She went to the open kitchen to get a water bottle out of the fridge. When she turned around with two tall glasses filled with cool water, Gohan was sitting on a barstool at the counter, watching her with that same dangerous smile of his.
She looked down and couldn't stop the blood rushing to her face. She set the glasses on the bar counter and still wouldn't meet his gaze as she drank her water.
"Thanks," Gohan said with a sigh after gulping down the whole glass in one go. He got up. "Well, shall we go then?"
Finally turning to him, she gave him a look. "Where are you taking me, anyway?"
He flashed her a mysterious smile. "I think you'll like it."
She rolled her eyes. "That doesn't answer my question."
He chuckled. "You'll see. It's pretty far though, and it would take hours with a normal plane or jetcopter." Gohan grinned sheepishly and held out his hand to her. "Mind if I fly us there? It shouldn't take longer than twenty minutes. Or I can boost my powers and only take a few minutes if you'd prefer."
She stared at him with wide eyes. Could he really fly that fast? To only take a few minutes on a several-hours flight…
Where did his powers come from? Just what kind of warrior was he? Was he really not from this world? Who was Gohan, exactly?
She walked around the bar counter and, slowly, put her hand in his. Gohan beamed at her. He gently pulled her to him and picked her up in his arms, carrying her like a princess.
Her heart thumped hard in excitement. Her arms moved around his neck without her consent, and Gohan gave her the most tender smile.
She was melting. He was so beautiful. He smelled so amazing. He felt so strong and warm.
The pull again. Videl felt the urge to snuggle up to him, to touch his face, to run her fingers through his spiky hair, to kiss his lips… She tried as she might to bottle it down; she couldn't allow herself to lose control again like at the gala. She couldn't keep stringing Gohan along. It wouldn't be fair to him or to herself.
This was the last day they would be spending together. After their pretend date, it would definitely be over between them, once and for all.
Gohan walked to her window and opened it wider. Stepping onto the window sill, he then kicked himself off and took to the sky at breakneck speed. Videl gasped and tightened her arms around his neck. He held her closer and leaned to her ear.
"It's okay, Videl, you don't have to be afraid; I've got you," he murmured to her.
Something unpleasant stirred her insides. His words didn't reassure her.
She just didn't feel safe with him anymore.
After a few minutes of tearing through the sky faster than a bullet, however, Videl started to get used to the incredible speed. She relaxed in his arms and snuggled up to him, smiling slightly to herself.
She may not feel safe with him, but it was still an incredible feeling to fly in his arms. It gave her a rush, it made her feel flushed and happy; it filled her brain with endorphins. She was truly enjoying it.
When Gohan started to slow down, Videl felt a pang in her chest at the thought that it was already over. Then she immediately berated herself for such thinking.
She couldn't let herself go with Gohan. As easy as it seemed to just let loose when she was with him whereas such a thing felt impossible with any other man, Videl had to remember to keep her cool. She could not lose control with Gohan – not again, not ever.
Videl looked down below at the view. Gohan had brought her to the mountain area. It was a beautiful meadow, and she made out a waterfall in the distance.
What an odd place to choose for their date. Why would Gohan bring her here?
Shortly after, he landed by the waterfall she had sighted. He put her down, letting her stand on her own two feet, and Videl bottled down the feeling of longing at the loss of his warmth.
She looked around, feeling breathless at the beauty of the place. Nature was everywhere – in a place like this, it was hard to fathom civilization even existed. The whisper of the waterfall, the songs of the birds, the rustle of the wind on the tree leaves… They had a soothing effect on her soul, relaxing her tense muscles completely.
"Wow…" she breathed out.
Gohan stepped closer, standing by her side as he gazed at the waterfall with her.
"I grew up around here," he admitted. "I used to come here all the time with my dad, growing up. We would fish together, or just sit by the water and talk. We would take naps too and just relax." Videl turned to look at him, and Gohan met her eyes with a melancholic smile. "I do that with my little brother now; he's ten years younger than me and he was born after my dad passed away."
Her breath hitched at the revelation. She touched his forearm, feeling the pleasant tingle at the contact, and gave it a sympathetic squeeze.
"I'm sorry, Gohan. I had no idea you lost your father…"
"Well, that's on me, since I didn't tell you," he said in a quiet voice, his smile more gentle than ever. "I pretty much raised my brother; I was his father figure, and I did my best to always give him the best example." He looked over at the waterfall once more, a fond, faraway expression on his face. "He's turning out great. I love him to death." Gohan gave a chuckle and scratched his hair. "I can't believe he's already a teenager… He even has a girlfriend! He's not awkward like me at all – I'm glad, too. I don't think it's my best trait…" He laughed in self-derision.
Her heart tightened. He was just so damn cute.
He beamed at her. "So I figured it would be a great place for our date. It's pretty much my favorite place in the world, and I wanted to share it with you."
She was melting. The pull was stronger than ever.
These were dangerous territories…
Videl turned away and ran a hand over the back of her neck. "I get why you'd love this place so much. It's so peaceful…"
"I brought a picnic, too."
Videl heard the distinct poof of a capsule being opened and turned around. A picnic basket appeared in the midst of the cloud of smoke, and Gohan immediately crouched down to set everything up.
She watched him with a painful pang in her chest. This could have been their life together. If only Gohan hadn't screwed up so awfully, this could have been their everyday life.
And she yearned for it – she only had a glimpse of what could have been, back when they started seeing each other. Now Gohan was putting her in the front-row-seat, complete with popcorn and a drink, showing her what they were missing out on. Throwing it in her face.
She sat on the carefully laid blanket, a wistful smile on her lips at the delicious-looking dishes Gohan was laying out. She remembered how much he ate so she wasn't surprised at the amount of food he had brought.
This was just one day. One date. The last one.
So Videl decided to enjoy it. She allowed herself to let go the teensiest little bit, just enough to stop working herself up over everything and just, make the most of her last day with the man she was so desperately in love with.
She was surprised to learn that Gohan had cooked everything himself.
"It's so good, too!" complimented Videl as she took another bite of roasted chicken.
Gohan blushed slightly and scratched the back of his head. "My mom taught me how to cook before I left home to live on my own. She was worried I wouldn't eat enough or spend too much on takeout."
Videl giggled. "Considering how much you eat, that's a pretty legit concern."
Gohan grinned, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Tell me about it. I would get a bit careless at first and burn a lot of the food, but my mom wouldn't give up on me until I could cook properly. If you think this is good, you've seen nothing yet. My mom is most definitely the best cook in the world – and I'm not even exaggerating."
She chuckled, shaking her head at the young doctor's silliness. He was just too cute.
They fell silent, but the atmosphere was light and pleasant. Videl felt her chest glow with warmth as she and Gohan shared long looks, their eyes twinkling in that same, special way.
Her heart tightened, yearning for more moments like this, for more days with him. Wishing she could forgive him, that she could just choose to trust him again.
Videl looked down at her cardboard plate, her eyes unfocusing. Why couldn't she just choose what she wanted to feel? Why was it so hard to forgive Gohan when it was all she truly desired?
She wanted to move closer to him, to reduce the distance between them completely; she wanted to feel his arms around her, holding her tightly while he nuzzled her neck.
She wanted this to be a real date. She wished there could be many more dates after this one. The thought that this was the last day she spent with him was too painful. It made it hard to breathe.
"Say…" she murmured, still not looking up at him. She played with her food, picking at a piece of potato with her fork. "How come you…?"
She trailed off and swallowed thickly. Would he answer her with the truth if she asked him? Or would he lie and try to change the subject? It was impossible to predict Gohan's actions anymore. She wouldn't have ever thought that he would basically jump her as Saiyaman when he was already seeing her as Dr. Son Gohan. Videl still had a hard time believing he had done something so revolting, that he would hurt her in such a way. Gohan wasn't supposed to hurt her. He was supposed to be the one. He was supposed to be the man she was to spend the rest of her life with. He was supposed to treasure her, to kiss her pain away, to mend her wounds – not be the cause of them.
Would he tell her the truth if she asked him? Could she even trust what he answered her with?
Gohan paused and gave Videl his full attention.
"What is it?" he asked, sliding a little closer to her on the picnic blanket.
"You killed Cell," she suddenly blurted out. Videl heard his breath hitch; she felt him freeze, now sitting right next to her. He was so close that she could feel his intoxicating body heat; she could even smell his delicious natural scent. Videl closed her eyes, unable to face him as she continued. "But how could it be possible? You're my age, Gohan, that means you were only a kid when you fought at the Cell games. That means you were the Delivery Boy… That means you surpassed everyone in the whole universe at the mere age of nine."
"Ten, actually, but that's a complicated explanation," he corrected her, his voice gentle. "I don't really understand it myself. My dad sensed my potential while we were training together, but I was convinced he would be the one who would beat Cell. But then he forfeited his fight and told Cell I was the only one who could defeat him."
Videl finally raised her head, her eyes locking with Gohan's. He smiled at her.
She remembered that part of the Cell games broadcast. It had come as a shock when the man with golden, flame-shaped hair suddenly forfeited his match. And then he had designed the next challenger…
Of course. That was why the news crew thought he was announcing a lunch break. He had said Gohan's name – "Gohan" also meant rice, or meal. Hence the silly nickname of the Delivery Boy: the reporter had assumed the boy was bringing food since that was what they believed the man had announced.
It was all the truth. Gohan was telling her everything, without holding anything back. He was answering her honestly.
"I couldn't believe it at first," he continued, scratching his hair. "I was so sure my dad was just holding back, that he was stronger than me like he'd always been. But he admitted that he was going all out, that he was giving Cell everything he got." He gave her a melancholic smile. "So I fought Cell, but my potential wasn't unlocked yet. I told Cell I didn't want to fight him, that I had no desire to kill him – to kill anyone. It's the one thing I've always hated about fighting. Hurting people, even evil people, always felt wrong to me."
"So what happened then?" Videl asked, feeling breathless, unable to take her eyes off of Gohan.
"I told him that I understood why my father chose me to fight him. I told him about the times I would just lose it and my power would skyrocket to unbelievable levels." Gohan shook his head in self-derision. "I naively thought it would make him back down if I warned him that I could beat him, but Cell only got interested in unlocking my full powers to test himself against me. So he attacked my friends and my dad with his "kids", the Cell Juniors."
"I remember that," Videl murmured, her eyes widening as she replayed that memory in her head. "They were torturing the fighters, and Cell wouldn't let you go help them."
His face serious and grim, Gohan nodded his head. "I felt so helpless and guilty. It was my fault my friends were in danger…" He closed his eyes tightly. "If I'd just shut up about my potential…"
She cupped his cheek before she could stop herself, and Gohan opened his eyes and blinked, visibly surprised by her tender touch.
"But you killed him in the end, right?" she whispered gently. "You fixed your mistakes."
Gohan cracked a smile, raising his hand to stroke hers, leaning into her palm. "Your dad played a big role in that, you know."
Videl frowned slightly as she searched her memory for what Gohan implied by that. "You mean… when that robot head asked him to throw him near you?"
He nodded his head. "That was Android 16. He loved nature and had a heart of gold, despite having been built to kill my father. He told me to let go, that there was nothing wrong with fighting for justice." Then Gohan's eyes welled up and his voice lowered into a whisper as he continued. "He told me to protect the animals and the nature that he adored…" He shut his eyes tightly, tears slipping out of his eyelashes. "And then that bastard crushed his head with his foot."
Videl gasped.
"He stepped on 16 like he was a bug… and I snapped. I screamed harder than I ever had – letting out all the anguish, the pain, the fear, the insecurities I had bottled up inside and unleashing my full potential. I became the most powerful being in the universe in that moment."
Her memory tickled at these words. Vegeta had mentioned something like that the other night at the gala…
"But I let my power get to my head. I was beating the life out of Cell and enjoying every second I was making him suffer, yet it didn't feel like enough. I wanted to make him pay in the worst ways imaginable."
Gohan opened his eyes to look at her again and let out a shaky breath. She gave him a comforting smile and brushed his tears away.
"I passed up the chance to finish him off. As a result, he got so desperate that he was ready to blow himself up, taking us and the whole solar system with him."
Videl jaw slackened. "Then how…?"
Gohan gave her a heart-wrenching smile, his eyes brimming with guilt. "My dad knew the instant transmission technique – that is, teleportation. So he used it to take Cell away from Earth in an instant and died in the explosion."
Her heart was hammering hard against her chest, aching at the thought of the horrible things Gohan had had to go through at such a young age.
"But Cell came back, and he was stronger than ever. When he reappeared, he killed Trunks, Vegeta's son, and Vegeta went ballistic. He threw himself at Cell without thinking but Cell swatted him away like a nagging bug. He was about to finish Vegeta off but I managed to get in the way of the blast… It hit my shoulder, and I couldn't even move my arm after that." Gohan placed his right hand over his left shoulder, as though the ghost of his past injury had come back to haunt him. "I had lost all hope to kill Cell. I was ready to let him execute me and destroy everything along. With only one valid arm and barely half of my powers left, I couldn't imagine winning against him at that point."
Her lips trembled. She wanted to hold him tight and shoo away his horrible memories. She wanted to kiss his pain away.
Gohan cracked a small smile and massaged the nape of his neck. "And then Dad contacted me from the otherworld. He gave me the courage to face Cell head-on, to give it everything I had. He assured me I could do it, and I believed him."
Videl ran her hand through his hair, hoping the caress was soothing his deep wounds. He leaned his forehead against hers and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him.
She let it happen.
"So Cell and I had a last showdown." Gohan tucked her bangs behind her ear with the tip of his fingers, his feather-like touch causing a shiver to course through her spine. "I wasn't winning, but I didn't give up, and Dad kept encouraging me, telling me to hold on – I felt as though he was right behind me, as though he was facing Cell alongside me. And then…"
Gohan sighed, his arms tightening around her as his head dropped on her shoulder. He breathed her in deeply, nuzzling her neck.
"And then Vegeta threw a blast at Cell, it didn't really affect Cell but that distraction was all I needed. I overpowered him and Cell was obliterated for good."
Videl kept her eyes closed, forgetting about everything but this moment with him, right here, right now. She let go completely, leaning the side of her head on his shoulder as her arms wrapped around his back.
"You were amazing, Gohan… Your father must be proud."
"Yeah, he told me he is… He said he was happy in the otherworld and told me not to feel guilty about his death… I try, but sometimes I just miss him so much."
"I get that… I lost my mom at a young age, too."
He hummed in reply. "Yeah, you've told me. It hurts like hell, huh?"
"Worse."
"Yeah… Much worse." He sighed against her skin; another shiver made the hair stand on the back of her neck. "I wish my brother had known him. They're so much alike… They would've had a ball together."
Her heart ached at the thought. Gohan had had such a hard childhood. It was a wonder he had become such an amazing young man despite everything.
Maybe it was because of it all, actually.
"I love you," she murmured in his ear, unable to bottle down her raging emotions anymore.
Gohan slowly pushed her on her back, lying down on top of her, his arms tightening harder than ever around her.
"I love you too, Videl," he croaked out, his voice hoarse. "I need you so much."
She bit her lip, feeling herself well up. She knew she shouldn't be stringing him along, that it was wrong to give him false hope. As much as she felt for him and everything he had to go through as a child, it didn't change what happened between them. Even though he had been completely truthful with her, Videl still found it hard to trust Gohan entirely. The wounds he had caused seared as though they were still fresh.
Yet, something had changed. Videl felt it, and she hung onto that feeling for dear life.
Her resentment was lessening.
Maybe if they just gave it time… Maybe someday, she could be ready to trust Gohan again.
Alas, today wasn't that day. It was still too soon, too fresh, too painful.
But… that didn't have to mean that she couldn't give Gohan what he so desperately needed. After his revelations, Videl couldn't help wanting to comfort him, to soothe his wounds, to wash away his guilt and his horrible memories.
He raised his head, his eyes brimming with tears as they locked on hers. Videl put her hand on the back of his neck and slowly brought him down. She kissed him; it was but a brush, her lips trembling against his, hesitant, unsure.
Gohan pulled away before she could deepen the kiss. He got off her and sat on the picnic blanket, covering his face with his hand.
"What are you doing…?" he uttered hoarsely. "Don't kiss me if you don't mean it. Don't force yourself just because you feel sorry for me."
Tears welled up in her eyes. Videl closed them but the burning drops still rolled down her temples.
"Do you honestly think that I would kiss you if I didn't want to?"
Gohan didn't respond. Videl covered her face and cried softly into her hands, curling up in a fetal position. She only wished to soothe his tormented soul, and she just made things worse.
She heard him move closer to her. She could feel his body heat behind her, and then his arms wrapped around her waist and he pressed his lips on her shoulder.
"Marry me, Videl."
She let out a gasp at his completely out of the blue proposal.
He tightened his embrace around her and nuzzled her neck.
"I love you, Videl. I want to spend my life with you. I can't bear to go another day without you. Marry me."
"You're crazy…"
"I'm crazy about you. From the very beginning, even before I met you as myself. I couldn't stand you and I hated the way you treated me, yet I couldn't help feeling drawn to you. You fascinated me in ways I couldn't comprehend. And the more I got to know you, the more I spent time with you, the harder I was falling for you…"
Her breath hitched. "But… why didn't you let me see who you were after you kissed me? If you had just let me see that it was you all along, I would've felt so relieved…"
He breathed in deeply, as though he was trying to swallow her scent. "Because I'm a coward. I was scared to lose you. I didn't think you would take it well, seeing me under Saiyaman's mask. And I wanted you so much… the rest didn't matter to me. I just wanted you."
Videl closed her eyes, more tears welling up in her eyes at Gohan's confession.
"It didn't matter to you how much you would be hurting me?"
"I… I was blocking out these thoughts. I let myself go completely, I lost control." His arms tightened around her. "I'm so sorry, Videl. If you could just give me a second chance, I could prove to you that I'm not a liar. I never meant to hurt you… and I hate myself that I did. Deep down, I know I don't deserve to be forgiven, that you have every reason not to trust me… But I just… I can't stand it. Every breath I take when you're away from me feels like swallowing ashes. I can't bear being away from you. Please, Videl, just give me a second chance. Let us be happy together… Marry me."
"I can't…" she rasped out. "I wish I could just forgive you and trust you again, but I just don't know what to expect from you anymore. If you could deceive me in such a way, then how could I know that you wouldn't do something like that again?"
"I won't, not ever, I swear to you, Videl," he assured vehemently. "Never again. You have to believe me… Please, just try to trust me…"
But that unpleasant feeling in her gut was still there. "I just can't, Gohan… I'm sorry. You have no idea how much I wish I could trust you again…"
He breathed shakily. Her neck was getting wet. He was trembling against her. Videl's face twisted into a painful wince. She hated that she was hurting him. She hated that she couldn't just choose to trust him again.
"But I love you, damn it," he rasped out, his voice breaking. "I love you, Videl. I love you…"
She cried into her hands, her body shaking with sobs. Gohan slowly turned her around and held her close to his chest.
"I'm sorry, Gohan… I wish I could give you what you want… I wish I could say yes to marrying you… It hurts so much to think of what could have been." She held onto him for dear life, burying her face in his torso. "You're the love of my life, Gohan. We were supposed to grow old together…"
"Is it really hopeless?" he murmured painfully.
She breathed shakily. "I don't know. I want to believe that it's not, that I just need time… But I don't know, Gohan. I can't give you a straight answer."
"I guess that's progress since the gala." He sniffed slightly. "I prefer that over a flat no."
She gave a small, wistful smile, relaxing in his embrace. "I guess that's true…"
Gohan touched down in a deserted alley, a few blocks away from Videl's building. He set her down but didn't let go of her right away, keeping her in his arms, and leaned down to nuzzle her neck.
"It's not over yet, right?" he asked hopefully, soaking in her beautiful scent. God, she was so addicting.
"I don't know, Gohan…"
He cracked a small smile. "Then I won't give up on you, Videl. And maybe one day you'll say yes to marrying me…"
Slowly, reluctantly, he pulled away from her. She gave him a sad smile, reaching up with her hand to stroke his cheek.
"Your eyes are so red," she murmured.
His heart gave a pang. "So are yours…"
He leaned down and, unable to resist, kissed her lips. Videl responded immediately, her arms wrapping around his neck as the kiss deepened. Gohan pulled her all against him, reveling at the feeling of her voluptuous curves against his body. She just tasted so incredible…
"Let me take you home," he whispered breathlessly, pressing his forehead against hers. "Let me make you mine once more…"
He felt her body go rigid at his request, but Gohan knew he would've regretted it if he hadn't asked. He ached for her; he missed her too much. He wanted her. He wanted to lose himself in her. He needed to get that sweet taste of paradise back again.
She started pulling away from him, turning her head away. "It's not a good idea."
His throat tightened at her rejection. Her warmth left him, and Gohan felt so disheartened and alone.
"I miss you too much, Videl." He had to try, he couldn't give up already. Maybe she could still change her mind… "I miss being with you… I miss the way we fit so perfectly together. I miss touching you… all of you."
She was biting her lip. Gohan took a step closer; he lifted her chin, making her look at him again.
"Don't you miss me too? Don't you need me as much as I need you?"
"It… It's not a good idea, Gohan…" she murmured breathlessly. "I can't… We can't… It'd just make things harder."
"Can it really get any harder than this?" he whispered, moving his hand to stroke her cheek. He leaned closer to her. "Don't you miss how it made you feel? How complete we'd feel as we become one… How our bodies, our souls, our hearts would intertwine and merge together… How incredible, explosive, beautiful it would feel… Have you ever felt anything like that with anyone else?"
Their lips were but mere millimeters apart. Gohan let his eyes slide shut, feeling the anticipation build up inside of him as he slowly closed the distance between them. Her breath hitched.
"Of… Of course not… You were the only one who had ever…" Videl shook her head and pushed him away. "Even so, I can't give in to you. It's too soon. The wounds are still too fresh."
His heart sank. His shoulders slumped in defeat. "You're right… I don't deserve to get that sweet taste of paradise with you after the way I hurt you." He heaved out a deep sigh. "I'll walk you home, then."
Videl nodded her head, turning away from him. Her soul was protesting furiously at her decision. How could she deny him that wish when she so desperately needed him? When she missed everything he had listed and more? When she had been craving for his touch for five long months?
They walked side by side, in silence. It only took a few minutes, and before long they arrived at the foot of her building.
Gohan swooped down to take her hand, playing with her slender fingers. Videl's gaze lowered to their hands as he intertwined their fingers, not having the courage to deny him this lovely contact. Then she looked up at him and felt all her resolves shatters in a deafening ruckus.
"Can I get a kiss goodbye?" he whispered, slowly pulling her to him. He wrapped his other arm around her waist, holding her firmly against him.
And she was letting him. Worse: she closed her eyes and puckered her lips, unable to deny her heart as it begged her to give in to Gohan and let him do whatever he wanted to her.
He cupped her face with both of his hands, angling it back as he leaned down. Her breath hitched in anticipation. She let her palms rest against his chest, feeling his hard muscles through the thin fabric of his tank top.
And then he kissed her… and her heart soared. She moved her arms around his neck to pull him closer, letting all the familiar, delectable sensations wash over her. Gohan wrapped one arm around her to bring her all against him, his other hand still on her cheek.
His lips, his breath, his tongue… Gohan tasted so delicious. Her whole being was tingling, burning for more, for more of him, for all of him. She needed him so much, she craved for his touch so desperately.
She wanted him. She didn't want to think right now. She just wanted him.
"I changed my mind," she whispered against his lips. "Make me yours again, Gohan. Make love to me."
He pulled back to look at her carefully, a frown blemishing his gorgeous face. "Are you sure?"
"I need you too much. I miss you terribly, Gohan… I miss the way you'd touch me, the way you'd make me feel…" She leaned against him and buried her face into his chest, breathing in his addicting scent. "I haven't been able to… to be intimate with anyone else since you – you've ruined other men for me, Gohan. Nobody could ever measure up to you. Nobody could ever compare to you. I need this, Gohan… I need you."
"Will you regret it after I leave?" he asked, breathing in her hair.
"Probably… But I can't be bothered by it right now. I need you so much…"
He swallowed thickly. "I need you too… more than you can imagine."
She pulled back to look up at him, and Gohan cupped her cheek.
Ah… His eyes were killing her. The way he was gazing at her, the intensity in his onyx eyes…
He leaned in and pressed his lips on hers, and Videl shut her brain off for the night, unwilling to let it see reason.
She wanted this. She needed this. She wanted Gohan. She wanted to be his, even if she would only be pretending to be.
She had craved for him for too long to stop now. She was too far gone. It was already too late.
Videl could only hope that it wasn't going to deepen her wounds ever further…