Author's Notes: A couple of dialogue lines were refined. This chapter and the next will contain sex scenes, which are needed for plot and character development. But it may be quite sudden, so I may do another developmental chapter that takes place before this one.

For the rest of the day, as promised, Gohan worked on a reapplication to Orange Star High just in case, and unbeknown to Mother, this application was to include an additional note that mentioned he was now living in zone. Soon enough before bed time, an improved sample essay was done while Goten snored in the adjacent room. Gohan hid the note in a binder, took a quick shower, changed into navy pajamas, and went to bed.

Sleep refused to come to him. The Super Saiyan form allowed him to stay up for a few extra hours. The digital alarm clock, which Bulma had given him for a birthday present, was showing forty minutes to midnight in fluorescent green digits, and Gohan wasn't going to let Vegeta win. The only thing to do now was to wait. He began counting dragonballs. One star ball. Two star ball. Three star—

No point. Might as well go get that magazine now.

Tip-toeing, he sneaked down the corridor and was back with his loot. He hid under his weighted blanket with his night light on, flipping pages to 18's article, and there she was! Flawless. The bikini was skimpier than he had remembered, higher cut too, little more than large triangle pieces of fabric tied together with strings. As the article stated, she truly was a role model to women's fitness, although her eating habits were questionable. They guessed her genes were lucky.

Gohan's breathing grew heavier. He could smell her coconut fragrance, or was that his imagination? He ogled her up close with his nose touching the page. To his disappointment, the photo was was made up of tiny colored dots—like a collage. There were streaky imperfections on her face and a weird bulge around her legs; the camera lens had been dirty. This wasn't the same as hanging out with her for real. Not even close.

He needed more than a photo.

Hot frustration welled deep into his gut. This wasn't fair. He had been so close to seeing her in full glory, finally seeing a naked sexy girl, and then Mother just had to call. This was all her fault, partly at least. If only 18 were here right now, this really would be the luckiest day of his life. He tossed the magazine aside and flopped belly-down. He whined incoherently into his old cotton pillow, which smelled strongly of detergent, too strong. Irritation brushed up his nostrils, and a muffled sneeze disturbed Goten's snoring for a moment. The walls were too thin, uninsulated. A girl couldn't ever hide here.

The alarm clock was at thirty-one minutes to midnight, seemingly slowing after every blink of its display. It took an hour before it showed thirty to midnight.

Thirty minutes was more than enough for a round flight to and from Hercule city, a quick visit to Hercule City Lake. What was 18 doing right now? Probably in bed like everyone else…

A naughty urge to see 18's sleeping face took hold of Gohan. The idea of seeing her in such a vulnerable state was strangely appealing, very much so. He hadn't seen her so vulnerable since Cell had spat her out. Maybe it called to his protective instinct. Maybe something else. But before he knew it, he was already putting away the magazine and then flying through the dining room window.

He didn't even feel the chilly winds, his pulse thumping away in churning heat. Under clear skies and a full moon, the flight there was both the quickest and slowest in his life. Above Hercule City Lake, his shining golden reflection stared back up him. His teal-green eyes were eager. He breathed through his mouth in anticipation like a hungry puppy.

There, 18's bedroom window was leaking beige light. Her curtains were drawn but not all the way, leaving a gap wide enough for both of Gohan's eyes. The temptation was too much. He floated near and wiped fog off the glass with his sleeve.

He peeked.

Her bedroom was fancy and silver as the rest of the apartment, except messier by a touch; clothing was thrown about here and there. Overall, she was a neat person. And there she was, on her queen-sized bed. She was in a loose T-shirt and tiny shorts. She was touching herself in strange ways, softly massaging her inner thigh with one hand and twirling strands of hair with the other. Her eyes were closed, and her lips were parted an inch. She either said or mouthed something. She began groping her own breast.

Fireflies sparked in Gohan's stomach. This was so wrong but felt so, so amazing. He should look away, fly back home, but his body, his unblinking eyes, betrayed the good and law-abiding part of his brain. Right now, he was hardly any better than Cell. Maybe not that bad. He swallowed his guilt, pressing his forehead against the glass. The pressure made the window slide leftward an inch.

"Oh god," 18 suddenly moaned in a desperate, needy voice. She was fantasizing about something. Someone.

Who is she thinking about? Gohan wondered. I bet it's one of her model friends. Does she have a secret boyfriend? These thoughts made Gohan queasy. Horrible images were conjured in his head, but he couldn't deny it was true. She was famous, wealthy, and sexy beyond imagine. Undoubtedly, there were hundreds of equally desirable guys lining up to be with her, and they weren't all penniless fourteen-year-old boys not even in high school yet. He hadn't impressed her with his boring professorship ambitions. I should've said I wanted to be a famous movie star or something.

Then 18's fingers slipped under her waistband. Her breathing became exaggerated as her hand moved back and forth beneath her shorts. Her rhythmic movements increased in tempo along with her breathing. Her toes curled. Her skin flushed pink. This new technique gave her immense pleasure, so much that she loudly groaned, "Please, no. Not like this. Help!"

Gohan nearly flew inside right there. But realizing this was still part of her fantasy, he held back, trembling. Why would she fantasize about needing help in this sick way? This had to be an android thing courtesy of Gero, and yet, hearing her beg like this appealed to a newfound twisted, evil side of Gohan. And she was fantasizing about someone else. He was going to puke. He was going to blast this whole damned apartment block.

"No, no, no," 18 kept moaning. "Stop! Please, no more." But her hand kept moving faster.

Bulma was right. 18 was no good for him. No good for anyone. Gohan was about to fly off and never return again, but it seemed that her pleasuring technique was coming to a grand finish. Primal lust forced him to see it through, his breathing in sync with hers. Something was happening to her body, her back arching. And something was happening to his body; his private part was incredibly engorged, not just slightly. Something was building in his waist that needed to be released.

"No, not inside! No!" Her hand was moving at two hundred beats per minute. 18 shouted, "No! Gohan!"

Stunned silence. There was nothing but the sound of Gohan's thudding pulse in his skull while her pleasuring technique slowed to a stop. She said his name! She was fantasizing about him! But before he could ponder what this meant, her eyes opened and immediately cut to him. She inhaled sharply.

He gulped.

"Gohan!" she hissed. Her face was redder than a strawberry. She jumped off the bed. "You little fucking creep!"

He hadn't seen a girl this furious. "Wait, it's not like that." He edged backward.

She leaped to the window and pulled it open. She seized his wrist. "Get in here!" She threw him inside, onto her bed.

He landed on his bottom, his back against the wooden headboard. "18," he tried again, "it's not like tha—"

Slap!

"How dare you," she said darkly.

His cheek stung, just for a second. "It was an accident. I only saw a little bit. I'm sor—"

Slap!

"Shut up, Gohan."

He did as commanded, then for a long minute they stared into each other's eyes, silvery-blue to teal-green. She was slow to calm, understandably, and something in there eventually gave way, softening after what felt like hours. Days. She looked away, at the sparkling lake. Her golden hair fluttered as she walked to the window and closed it with a tad too much force. She pulled the curtains all the way this time. Slowly, she walked back.

"18?" Gohan mumbled.

She took a final calming breath. "Why did you come here? Only to peep on me? Be honest. You get one chance."

He made sure not to break eye contact while saying, "I can't fall asleep yet because of my transformation. I thought to look at your photo in the magazine while in bed, but it wasn't the same anymore. I wanted to see you in person, so I flew here to see if you were already asleep. When I got to your window, you were already touching yourself and begging no."

"So you did come to peep."

"I guess."

"Did you like what you saw? Did you like what you heard?" Her tone was a bit seductive.

"Yeah, I did." He blushed.

So did she. "Then I want you to know that was merely my fantasy and nothing more. Do you know what I mean, Gohan?"

He resisted a frown. "Uh, sort of."

She exhaled and calmly said, "I suppose I can't expect you to understand. You are only fourteen."

He didn't deny. He took a risk: "Yeah, I didn't know you have a special pleasuring technique either." Confidence rose in his voice. "You were amazing. It was the sexiest thing I've ever seen. What is it called? Can you teach me how to do it? I don't need primal energy, right?"

Her eyes slightly widened. After a few seconds, she said, "Don't tell me…"

"Tell you what? I've never seen something like that before."

Her eyes tracked downward to his waist. She sat down next to him, shuffled close. No collage of colored dots. No streaky imperfections. It was her for real, although her coconut and chocolate fragrance was watered down. "Fine," she said, "I'll show you how to do it. Are you ready?"

This really was the luckiest day of his life. He nodded. "Whenever you are."

"Alright then, lie down." She guided him by the shoulders. "This technique doesn't require any energy, only your physical stamina, but it's quite different for boys compared to girls."

"How so?"

"I'll show you right now. First, I'm going to take off your clothes." She unbuttoned his pajama top, then ran her palms down his chest and belly muscles, and she didn't stop below his belly button. His heart raced as she pulled down his pants, revealing his private place. She definitely liked what she saw. She fondled his balls and lightly gripped his half-engorged shaft. The feel of her soft, silky skin was something out of this world, even better when she very slowly began to pump his shaft up and down. "Just like this, no special energy required. Anyone can do it. How does it feel?"

"Amazing," he exhaled.

"Good." She pumped faster with a little more pressure to her grip. His shaft hardened in response. "You should be feeling something good building up in here." With her free hand, she softly pressed on a spot a finger-length under his belly button.

"Yeah." This was the best feeling in the universe. "Do it faster, 18."

She did just that, like a good android. "When you get to your climax and can't hold it in, it'll all come out at once as a thick, creamy liquid." She licked her lips. "It'll be the most intense pleasure in your life, Gohan." She stroked faster. Her free hand played with his sensitive tip, tripling his pleasure. "Tell me when you're getting close to your limit. You should be."

He was panting uncontrollably. This technique was something out of heaven. He felt a need to release building up. He was losing his mind in the sheer pleasure. His golden aura ignited as he growled like a beast, "Faster, 18."

She abruptly let go of his shaft. "And that's all you do," she said and took hold of his hands.

"Keep going," Gohan barked.

"I'd rather you not make a mess on my sheets." Her face was quite smug. "You can go home and finish yourself off."

This, presumably, was revenge for peeping on her. Such a petty move on her part, and he wasn't having any of it. Instinct made him say, "How about I finish inside you instead? No mess."

At his ear, she said in a sultry voice, "I doubt you'd know what to do. You're just a little boy." Those words cut deep, fueling the raging fire, and she chuckled. "Who are you fooling? It was Vegeta and your daddy who destroyed Cell, not you. Come back to me when you're grown up like them. Right now, you're just a little boy, Gohan."

Something in him snapped. "Shut up!" His energy surged, his aura ablaze. Suddenly he was on top of her, pinning her while she resisted in such a lovely way. He was far stronger.

"Gohan," she said urgently.

He sneered. "I alone destroyed Cell. I made him spit out the prettiest, sexiest girl I've ever seen, and she owes me for it. Are you ready to pay up, 18?"

Her eyes were pleading. But pleading for what? He didn't care. He started with a slow, sensual kiss on the lips like he had seen in movies. Her lip gloss tasted of vanilla and mint.