A/N:

Aaaand this just became my most popular story. Not that much of a milestone, but still.

I just hope I don't lose too many people with this chapter. It's a little dark.

This last week I have been thinking a lot about what Genres I should put this under. I decided not to give it any, since all of them get touched upon. Expect poetry, probably.

Yes, even humour, a little bit. Though more in the form of characters pointing out how stupid something actually is, characters wondered just what is going on or just plain action/reaction events, rather than outright jokes.

I'll answer two reviewers, one I did reply to in a PM, but I thought I'd share it.

To lancecomwar:

Ah, don't sell yourself short like that. But yes, I did read The Truth Hurts a while back. It is actually one of the better ones I've read of this kind.

I just happen to focus more on the world learning about Gohan's power, with exposing Hercule being hardly more than a side effect, which is what most others focus on.

And I tried to give it a realistic take.

And then tuned it all down, because a nuclear war wasn't really what I was aiming for.

To the anonymous reviewer:

Why didn't Gohan call a press conference?

The answer is easy. He didn't think of it.

Why didn't he think of it?

Well, that's something that happened to be discussed in this chapter.

And don't worry about it getting repetitive. Things are about to happen.

Though I did alter quite a few things afterwards, most of this chapter already existed before I uploaded even the first chapter. I know I just said I usually write ahead, but I do consider suggestions made in the reviews. Hell, there's hardly a chapter uploaded that I didn't edit the day before.

Like I said, I forget things, or make mistakes.

Warning; this is where the M rating starts to apply. Contains shocking events. Last chance to turn back.

Chapter 4

Fury

The weekend flew by. Gohan spent most of it training and meditating. He also made sure to keep up to date with news from Satan City.

By the way, it was renamed Golden City just Saturday, presumably in his honour. At least it wasn't Gohan-ville or something.

And Sunday he discovered a pilgrimage to his home. Seriously? This was getting out of hand. The pilgrims almost disappeared in a dinosaur's belly. Being on a holy quest, they did not bring any weapons.

Gohan only noticed them by chance. He made it very clear that he did not want people to come looking for him in his home. He wasn't sure how well the message would be spread, but it was a start.

And the news wasn't all that good. Suicide and homicide rates had risen dramatically. Public services, especially the Golden City Police Department and Fire Department, were becoming rapidly understaffed, as people quit one after the other.

Erasa had made an appearance on TV, telling everyone that Gohan was not looking for vengeance against Hercule Satan. This of course was twisted into their Golden God wanting to have the people do justice upon him and his daughter. But Gohan appreciated her for at least trying.

King Furry had been asked to make a statement, but the man refused. He said he did have a personal opinion, but it as King of the World, it would be unwise of him to voice it.

Gohan also learned Hercule had truly vanished without a trace, despite the police now actively hunting for him and Videl. They found Videl's phone, wristband and jet-copter-capsule, but didn't learn where she had gone either.

Videl had been spotted twice. Once on Thursday, and on Saturday, but disappeared before she could be confronted. But she was still in the city.

Gohan had done a few rounds over the city, something that did not escape the notice of its people, but he didn't find her. Videl's energy might stand way above that of the average person, but the city was vast, and densely populated.

From more than a block away even she was drowned out by the masses.

He feared for the worst. In a matter of days public opinion had turned against them, and people were even calling for their heads.

Luckily, Krillin also noticed the announcements. On Sunday evening he, Eighteen and Marron came for a visit.

"How are you doing?" Krillin asked Gohan, as the two of them sat in the grass before the house. Chichi and Eighteen were sitting at the table a small distance away, having their own conversation. Goten was off doing who knows what. Marron was with the two men, and busy scaling Mt. Gohan because she decided she wanted to play with his springy hair.

"Pretty good, I guess." Gohan replied, holding up one arm to prevent the three year old from falling. "I discovered some people making a pilgrimage to my home just this morning. They almost got eaten."

"Some people don't think ahead." Krillin shook his head. "You'd be surprised how many times we ran into that problem in the past. But don't worry, it'll turn out. Once the world gets to know you a little, they'll realise this isn't what you want."

"That's a little optimistic." Gohan countered. "And I was just finally starting to enjoy my normal life." He complained. He held out his other arm as a foothold for the little girl.

"Gohan." The small man sighed, as he bowed his head slightly and laughed a little. "Between Saiyaman, your perfect grades, being blackmailed into a date and whatever was going on with you and Videl, there was nothing normal about that life of yours."

"Probably." Gohan laughed. "But I still liked it. To bad I won't be able to go back." He added, a little sadly.

"What are you talking about?" Krillin frowned at him.

"It just won't be the same." Gohan complained some more.

"It doesn't have to be." Krillin replied. "Now people are starting to get to know the real you. Not the person you were pretending to be, nor the deity they claim you are now. The real you. Just give them a little time."

Gohan nodded. "Yeah, I thought I'd keep my head low, for now. The world pretty much learned overnight that energy is real and their idol lied to them. It's a pretty big shock."

"No kidding, It's the only thing on everyone's lips these days." Krillin agreed. "You should have seen the reactions of the people at the old tournaments. Talk about being shocked. Especially when Piccolo showed up."

"I suppose that's true." Gohan felt a bit better, realizing that his father had gone through something similar. Granted it was nothing like this, but it did help. "I guess it'll calm down after a while. Once people are getting used to my existence I could try to explain I'm not actually a God. I mean, if I do that now, it'll just bring more confusion." He started thinking out loud.

"Don't worry Gohan. I'm sure people will come around." Krillin reassured. "Those on the media are just the loudest ones. There are plenty of people who don't believe. I mean, I saw the announcer of the old tournaments try to persuade people that energy has existed all along."

"I don't really watch all that much TV, so I guess I missed it." Gohan replied, happy to hear not the entire world was worshipping him.

The two men sat there for a moment, then Gohan realized something.

"By the way, what are the rest of you guys going to do?" He asked. It wasn't like he was completely alone in this.

"Tien, Vegeta and I were already keeping mostly to ourselves, so we're just fine." Krillin started. "Yamcha was recognised to be of the people in the Cell Games. To be fair, he probably already had been recognised a long time ago, and people just kept silent about it, but that's not the point. But now the media learned, and he pretty much left the city."

"Ouch..." Gohan said, feeling a bit guilty "Where'd he go?"

"He moved in with us." Krillin replied. "Until Master Roshi kicked him out, that is. I think he's now back in his old place in the desert. Hopefully he doesn't fall back into his old habits too." He joked, and Gohan laughed with him.

From the side, Chichi was watching the two. Seeing Gohan laugh wholeheartedly made her own heart soar again. Once again, another great burden had been thrust upon that boy, one he did not want to carry at all.

Though there seemed to be something nagging Eighteen. "I don't understand what the commotion is about." She stated to Chichi. "Why are they making such a hassle about Gohan and the others having powers? It's not like they actually abused them ever."

Chichi just kept looking over at the two men. Marron was still busy climbing Gohan, while standing on his arm. He decided to pull his arm from underneath her, making her fall back.

Right into his other arm. She giggled with glee, and some more when Gohan tickled her.

Eighteen smiled as she watched as well.

"They fear him, because they don't understand who he is." Chichi stated. "His power is the only thing they know. They don't see this side of him."

Videl had huddled herself in her jacket, having remained here for the night, hidden away in a quiet part of Satan City.

No, scratch that, Golden City. Even when she thought there was nothing left to take, they found something. As of yesterday, her family name was officially crossed from the records.

Her father's championship? Gone.

Their charity programs? Picked clean.

Her actions working for the police? Swept under the rug.

The city was even in the process of creating a special permit to allow businesses and organizations to do a direct name transfer from 'Satan' to 'Golden' free of charge.

She hugged her knees, resting her head on her arms. She was tired, so tired.

And hungry, not having eaten since last Thursday.

It was nasty, hunger. She didn't even remember being hungry. Any time she felt like eating a snack she could just order one.

But at least this place has running water. It was more than she had yesterday.

It was going to rain tonight, she would have to look for shelter.

If only that Golden Figure would stop flying around. Twice he had appeared overhead, and Videl thought she had been caught.

Erasa walked herself to her classroom, hoping furiously that Gohan would be there. Though her little talk on TV didn't work out the way she had in mind, something else had happened. She had been offered to voice Gohan's words to the world.

Inside she came eye to eye with Sharpner, who looked at her with a disapproving glance. She had been so happy, but he had told her to deny the offer. He figured if Gohan wanted something said, he'd say it himself.

But Erasa found he did not like being on camera, he avoided it even, so anything he said was passed down second hand. Which was rapidly becoming less dependable.

Sharpner disagreed. If Gohan wanted someone to speak for him, he'd appoint someone. Besides, he pointed out that they were also friends of Videl Satan. Anything that looked like them trying to become more famous would surely be suspicious.

But she was not!

'Are you not?' Her memory recalled his voice. 'Are you really not?'

She was doing this for Gohan. The added fame was just a nice extra. So she told herself.

She sat down in silence, leaving two empty ones between her and Sharpner. Gohan wasn't here yet, but he had a habit of arriving only just on time.

Erasa looked at Sharpner again. The guy who stood by her through all of this, never showing his own pain or confusion.

Must be a guy thing. She knew he had been hurting just as much as she was.

Even if he was wrong, she knew he only had her best interest at heart. 'If we are going to disagree, then fine, but I am not willing to fight over it.' She told herself. 'Besides, if Gohan says no, I won't push it.'

Having made up her mind, she nodded to herself. This week was already better than last week, and it was only Monday morning. To be fair, there was no damage to her new locker, though that might be because they didn't know where it was yet, and no insults at their usual place either, though it was also Gohan's place.

Thinking of which, where is he? Erasa looked at her phone. It was almost time. Almost everyone was already here. Well, everyone who was still going to come anyway. She had overheard a few teachers talking about parents moving their children to a different classroom, of different school altogether. But of everyone still in this class, all were here.

All but him.

Well, he's the Golden God, if he wants to ditch, who's going to stop him?

Ah, but it looked like he didn't. Judging from the slight commotion, Gohan came walking down the hall.

Which was probably why he was even later today.

And true enough, the Golden God himself, in human from, came walking in.

He made his customary wave to the other students, and sat down next to her.

"Good morning." Erasa made sure to sound upbeat, repressing the slight feeling of dread that still lingered. "Had a nice weekend?"

Gohan sighed. "It was ok." It was most definitely not ok. But it was not her place to ask.

Erasa was eager to ask him her one question, but wasn't sure if this was the right time.

'Screw it.' She told herself. 'There won't be a right time.'

She glanced over at Sharpner, who shook his head, and made her wonder why she glanced over to him in the first place.

"Hey Gohan?" She started. He looked up to her with those dark eyes of his. Dark eyes, holding unimaginable power and wisdom. "Did you see my err… talk on TV this weekend?" She started, just to start somewhere.

"I did, actually." Gohan replied, much to her relief. "Too bad they had to twist your words like that."

"Yeah, but at least it was something." Erasa nodded. "Afterwards, they asked me to come by every now and again, to tell the world what you say."

"What?" Gohan looked up in surprise. He glanced over at Sharpner, who had his eyes set forward, but was clearly listening in. "My words?" He then asked.

"Yes." Erasa was starting to feel nervous now, but there was no going back. "I know you don't like making TV appearances, so maybe you could have someone to do that for you?" She said, not really putting emphasis on how much she wanted to be that someone.

"But I just don't have anything to say." He replied. "Besides, you saw what happened when you tried it, they twisted my words into something that fits their world view."

"Yeah, but…" She was rapidly looking for an argument. "That was because no one knows what you want. If someone makes regular appearances, they'll stop doing that."

"I seriously doubt that." Gohan replied. "Besides, I really don't want to be in the spotlight, or have someone do it for me."

"But it would make things so much easier for us if we actually knew what it is you want." Erasa stated. It wasn't as much an argument as her own fear and frustration bubbling up. "Please, just consider it, ok?" She pleaded.

Gohan closed his eyes, and sighed. "Fine, I'll think about it." He stated.

And with that, the conversation was over. Erasa turned her attention forward, where the teacher had begun his lecture, ignoring the talking duo.

Well, that was one perk, and something even Videl didn't have.

She looked over at Sharpner again, but he just had a neutral expression.

Erasa clenched her jaw. Just because they disagreed doesn't mean she didn't want to talk to him. What was his problem? Why is he acting so strongly over such a little thing?

She took a deep breath. This lunch they would have a long talk about that, and she was going to convince him she was right.

But it wouldn't come that far.

About two hours later, high above the Earth, the two Namekians were standing on the edge, looking down.

"Is there something the matter?" Piccolo asked Dende, even though he knew what was troubling new Kami.

"I just picked up something." Dende replied. "I just thought… isn't that…?" He cut himself off twice, focusing on a specific place on the planet.

"I think so." Piccolo nodded, having followed his gaze. "But you know not allowed to intervene."

"Maybe not, but Gohan is."

It was in the middle of history.

Gohan suddenly snapped up, looking at the roof. The movement had been abrupt that several other students immediately noticed, and the teacher adeptly stopped talking.

His expression was serious.

"It there something wrong?" Erasa asked respectfully.

"Hold on, I'm just…" He seemed to be distracted for some reason. "Talking to Kami." He then stated.

'Wait what?' Erasa wondered in her mind. 'Kami?' Sure, she believed him if he said so, but what was going on?

"What?!" He suddenly said as stood up, his voice laced with anger, his expression hardened even more, and there was even a cold fury in his eyes.

Something was seriously wrong.

Then, without warning, a flash of gold blinded everyone present.

A burning fire ignited within her chest. The calm and collected Gohan was replaced by a golden figure, glowing brightly, his teal eyes cold yet furious. Actual lighting crackled around his body.

He had taken on his Godly form.

The chair underneath him had been reduced to dust, and his desk ripped to pieces.

He levitated away, slowly at first, even opening the window to let himself out, but then shot away with such force it shattered every window on that side of the building, leaving a trail of gold behind.

A little earlier.

How could this have happened? She, Videl Satan, caught like a chump.

This was supposed to an empty warehouse. She had sought refuge here against the rain. She hadn't meant to spend the night here, but she was just so tired.

She had laid down for a moment, having taken off her jeans to lay her head down on something slightly more comfortable than the ground, and used her jacket as a blanket.

Come morning, she had been woken by several voices. She spied around the corner. These were no workers, but criminals, armed and dangerous, carrying the price of their latest activities. At first she wanted to jump them, but decided not to.

What was the point? Kicking their asses won't help her. If anything, it would expose her.

So she tried to keep hidden, but they saw her. And then recognised her.

They shot her in her legs the moment she tried to make a run for it.

And now, here she was, her hands tied above her head, attached with a rope to a pipe hanging a meter overhead. It was a sturdy one, she already tried dragging it down.

Those men were taking straws, seven of them in total. She didn't know for sure what for, but she had a growing fear. She had recognised them. They were a small time gang she caught only a few days ago.

One seemed to win. He walked towards her, holding a knife. He had a particular nasty look in his eyes.

She had to get out of here, and fast! She only had one chance. Her legs were numb, but they still worked.

He got closer to her.

"I am a lucky bastard." He said, a perverted look in his eyes. "You've never had a man before, have you?" He laughed to himself. "Don't worry, I'll teach you, and they'll teach you next."

Hell no! The thought sent shivers up her spine. 'Please, Kami, I don't want this.' She shot through her mind.

He was close. One more step, and he was within reach.

He stopped, letting his eyes glide over her helpless body. She could feel them peer through her clothes.

"You better get in the mood." He sneered. "Because you're not leaving until we have had our fill." He must have seen the fear on her face, as he let out a sadistic laugh.

"Hurry up." One of the other six yelled. "We want our turn too, you know?"

"Shut up." He yelled back. "I've got her first time, and I'm going to enjoy it."

And he stepped up.

She pulled herself up, willing her arms to carry her weight. She flung up her left leg, and set it on his shoulder. She had aimed for his face, but this would have to do.

Using the shoulder she pushed herself up. She stretched out her arms as far as she could, and grabbed the rope with both hands. Again she pulled, and forced herself to turn upside down, swinging her legs over her head.

Her muscles screamed in agony. But it was worth it, her right foot reached the pipe hanging overhead. She forced it over as she turned, until the pipe was in her knee joint. Now she summoned one more push from her exhausted abs. She nearly failed, and only grabbed the pipe by the very tip of her fingers.

It was enough. She pulled herself in a little until she could grab it with both hands.

Then she felt a pull. Someone was pulling on the back of her shirt.

The guy below her had not fallen, as he should have, and had gotten hold of her shirt, standing on his very toes. And he was about to pull his weight into the mix. She knew she could not hold on, but did so anyway.

A rip.

Before her arms could give in, her shirt had, and the rapist fell down with just a small piece of white cloth in his hands.

She summoned the last of her strength, pulling her upper body up one more time, until she was up far enough to start pushing the pipe down.

She swung her leg over it, and tried to sit.

In doing so, she accidentally let her leg fall straight down. And he made a grasp for it. Just in time she pulled up. He jumped, but not high enough.

She was safe.

For now.

She was also exhausted. Her muscles burned. Her arms simply refused effort of any kind. She had brushed a gunshot in her leg, and it tore, leaving a small trickle of blood, and a lot of pain.

But she was out of their reach. She started to think on what to do next when she heard laughter. The other six were laughing at the expense of the one.

"She actually got away from you." One said. "You're pathetic."

"Oh shut up!" He snapped back.

Meanwhile, she was biting on her ropes. But no, they were too tough.

She glanced down again. Suddenly it had been quiet. Suspicious.

She saw the rapist, standing by his friends, a handgun aimed at her. As in slow motion she saw the finger move the trigger.

Instinctively, her body dived. She had been shot at so many times that avoiding had become second nature.

And her undoing.

The shot was poorly aimed, and would not even have gotten close to hitting her.

Her dive made her lose her balance. She slipped sideways. She grabbed the pipe with both hands, but there was no strength left in her arms. The pipe passed her face. In a last ditch effort she bent her knee, hoping to catch the pipe, but had to watch her foot slip over it. She missed.

She fell.

The rope had moved around her left wrist, and when her full weight came on it, it snapped like a twig.

Both her shoulders were dislocated, along with a broken rib on each side.

She knew, but didn't feel it. Not yet.

Laughter filled her ears.

Her eyes were full of tears, blurring her view.

Unable to hold herself back anymore, she drew back her head, and screamed. Long and loudly. Tears were flowing down her face. Her grief, her anger, her frustration, her helplessness. It was her sudden change of life. The shattering of her world. The lie she had lived for so long.

She, who was the face of the law, the fear of the criminals, was now reduced to their plaything. No one knew she was here. No one cared. No one would come for her.

And now, even her own strength had failed her.

Carried her burden this far, she could no longer take it.

She broke.

…

Then she could no longer scream. A hand had squeezed her throat shut.

She opened her eyes, and through the blurry vision so recognised her rapist. She struggled, but did not have the strength left.

Then his hand was gone. She coughed, and sucked in the fresh air. In doing so she let her vision drop.

Her eyes trailed his left shoulder, his upper arm pointing down, and her way. His lower arm, pointing up and her way. His hand, clenched almost to a fist. Her right breast.

"You just noticed now?" He asked sadistically. He pulled, as if he wanted to rip it off.

Her body moved with the pull, but she didn't feel anything. Nothing but the slow burn in her ribs, shoulders and left wrist. Slowly it was becoming clearer.

He let go, causing her to swing back a little.

"Ah well, time is ticking." He grinned. He placed the knife in left side of her neck, but with the edge the other way. He grabbed her shirt, and slowly cut towards the sleeve. It fell down, revealing the tighter blue shirt she had underneath.

He did the same for her other side, letting the white shirt fall down a little. Now he grabbed the shirt from the front, and cut it lose, letting it fall to the ground as well.

"No." She whispered.

"Yes." He replied. He did the same to her blue shirt. Left shoulder, right shoulder, front. That too fell down, revealing her white bra.

"White?" He grinned. "You're an innocent one, aren't you? Ah, but not for long."

"No, please stop." She begged. She twisted her arms, but only gave herself some more numb pain.

"Did you stop when we begged you not to take us in?" He said with malice. He put the knife under her left armpit, under the strap.

"Please." She started crying again.

"No, you didn't." He continued, as he cut through. Now he took the strap over her right shoulder. "You ruined our reputation."

"No, please." She said again, barely a whisper. She had already lost hope, but kept going.

"You gave us a criminal record." He hissed, cutting through.

"I'll erase it." She promised. "I'll undo it. Please don't do this to me."

"Can you undo the scorn we got?" He asked, grabbing the strip over her left shoulder. "Can you unsend us to prison?" He put his knife under it. "Can you make our families un-hate us?" He cut through. The only reason it hadn't fallen yet was because he was holding it up. "Can you unbeat us? Can you un-lie to the police?"

"Please. I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'll say it was a mistake. Please."

"No!" He pulled it away, throwing the cloth behind him. "You can't, you are no longer anyone." He lowered his gaze. "You got pink ones, how cute."

She saw him bending down.

"No! Don't!"

"Hurry up already, we don't have forever." One of the six spectators yelled.

He ignored them, and took her left past his teeth. A new pain shot through her body as he bit down.

"You liked that, didn't you?" He spat, wiping the blood off of his mouth. "Ah well, time for the main event." Moving fast now, he grabbed her shorts, placed the knife over her leg and cut both sides, dropping it.

Then he started on her panties.

"NO PLEASE!" She yelled. She tried to twist, but she didn't even have the strength to do that anymore.

"Think of it as repaying the city for everything you stole from us." He stated, cutting one side loose.

"I didn't know." She declared. "It was all just my dad. I never knew. Please don't do this to me."

"Oh well." He grinned. "I guess raping his precious little girl is a good way to punish him." He cut the last piece of cloth. Her last cover fell to the ground.

She jerked on her arms, but they were paralyzed. Her legs no longer moved either. The burn in her wrist, shoulders and ribs had become mind numbing.

"That it?" He huffed, actually sounding disappointed. "Oh well, I'll make do." He let his hand slide over her bare underside. "Oh my, are you actually getting wet here?"

Videl no longer had the will to beg, she just let her head hang back, closed her eyes and cried.

He dropped his pants, and underpants, showing his manhood.

"Don't worry." He said, as he grabbed both her legs and pulled them apart. "At least one of us will enjoy this."

A thunder shock shattered the windows. Videls eyes snapped open, and she looked up over the mans shoulder.

There was something else in their midst.

A shape made of pure light, so bright it hurt her eyes just looking at it.

The personification of rage and anger. A ghastly apparition.

His hair lit up the room in an eerie gold, his eyes were sickeningly teal, pupil-less, yet piercing through flesh and mind. Wisps of pale gold floated around him, and shots of blue crackled.

He was far more horrifying up close than he had been high in the sky. But she knew him.

Her voice wavered, turning into a mere whisper.

"Help me."

She stirred. A cold breeze had tickled her exposed skin.

Then she remembered. Her eyes snapped open. She wanted to move, to get up, but her body felt paralyzed.

Her head was pointed to her left. She saw a wall, with trash cans before it, and above that the sky.

"Easy there." She heard a voice. It might as well have been an angel.

No, a God.

With great effort she moved her head slightly. Above her she saw his face. His onyx orbs looked down at her with fear and worry.

"Gohan." She whispered. Slowly she saw more, and felt more.

She laid in his arms, in an alleyway. He wasn't wearing his white shirt or his black vest, showing his torso to the world.

And she had no pain.

"You should be ok now." He said gently. She was on his lap, her head held up by his left hand.

She tried to move her legs, and found that she could. And her arms. Her shoulders were fine. No pain. How?

And she no longer felt hungry either, for the first time in days.

She sat up a little, and looked down. Her body was covered by a white cloth. His shirt.

She clutched the shirt to her chest, and stood up. He got up as well.

"Gohan." She whispered again. She looked down at his feet, not able to look up at his face. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise." He said to her. She nodded silently.

And still she kept her gaze to the floor. She wanted to run. Run away from him. From what happened. What almost happened.

"Those guys." She started, thinking about the seven men. "Did you…" She couldn't finish, as the words became stuck in her throat.

He was silent for a moment. As she didn't see his face, she had no idea what he might be thinking.

"I killed them." He replied. Not angry, but resigned. Sad, almost.

Here was a man admitting to sevenfold manslaughter. The old her would try to take him in without a second thought. The old her wasn't stripped clean of everything she was.

She thought of that horrible man again. He was dead. But she wasn't happy. All she felt was pity. That wrath, pale gold, piercing eyes, the embodiment of rage and anger, it send a shiver down her exposed spine.

And this was the last thing those men saw in this world.

'But who am I to judge a God?' She told herself.

They still stood there, silently.

It was her again who broke the silence. "What will you do with me now?" She asked.

She saw his feet move, stepping back a little.

"Nothing." She heard him state. He sounded surprised, somehow.

"I'm sorry." She started, fearing she may have offended him. "I didn't…"

"Stop." He said evenly.

"I'm…" She started again, fear now creeping up rapidly.

"STOP!" Now he said it with force. Videl trembled in place, her eyes shut tightly, tears running down her cheeks.

She wished she was back in that warehouse.

Until she felt a strong hand, gently gripping her shoulder.

"It's alright, Videl." He said kindly." You have nothing to apologise for."

"I'm just…" Her voice cut off, as it no longer followed her will.

She felt him cup her face in his other hand. "It's ok." He continued, in such a loving tone it ripped straight through her heart.

Unable to hold herself back, she flung her arms around his chest and wailed, loud and undignified.

The pain, the fear, the changes, the life she was ripped out off.

She had broken. And now she crumbled.

She didn't know for how long they stood there. She didn't even notice when her feet had left the ground.

Somewhere, she was vaguely aware that she had let go of his shirt, which he now placed back around her back. Wind rushing past her body. The sounds of the city had been left behind.

But none of it really came through.

Her life right now was Son Gohan. Her friend, her hero. Her saviour. Her world. Her God.

Gohan looked down at her as he flew. He could feel her pressing up against him quite clearly, but every time he as much as thought of trying to move her away, she just clutched him harder.

He felt grieved. Videl Satan. She was so strong. Here she was now, still crying, barely consciousness.

But it was ok. He would take her with him. Someplace safe. Someplace where no one would ever find her.

Grief. Sadness. Sorrow. And anger. Such anger.

He lost control over himself. Before he knew it, he was standing between fire and ash. Nothing had remained.

Nothing but Videl.

An image floated before his mind, from the split moment he entered, and was frozen to the ground.

Her tear filled eyes had nothing but fear, pain and despair. Her arms were broken, her shoulders ripped apart. Several crushed ribs, and her legs littered with bullet holes. Her clothes cut off.

She even had a bleeding bite mark.

He just lost it.

Though she had lost consciousness at the time, when he took off her bounds and moved her outside, she had whimpered and twitched from the pain.

His anger flared just remembering.

'What did they do to you?' He held her closer. She just sighed, breathing softly now.

She had looked so scared when he arrived.

But then, back in the alley, she had shaken with fear. Fear for him. His anger. His power.

Gohan felt several tears go down his face.

'I can not allow this to continue.'

End of Chapter

I warned you, didn't I?

Did I go overboard?

Maybe a little.

This is probably the worst it is going to get. Unless I Change my mind again. No promises.

I'm sorry if the 'Talking to Kami' was a little out of place, but that setup was way too beautiful to pass up. It also kind off makes sense. For Gohan, talking to 'Kami' is the most natural thing in the world.

For the others… not so much.

I thank Queenkeesie for beta-reading for me, and convincing me this story is worth posting. Unfortunately, she is no longer able to continue.

And MrChuckMan, also for beta-reading, and helping me improve the chapter quite a bit.