Life With You

Part Thirty-Seven: All About Gohan

I never thought I'd see her again.

It was surreal seeing Leska. Gohan hoped to meet again but knew it wasn't likely. The summer after Leska's visit, Aki's kids spent the summer with Leska in Okla City. She was mentioned briefly when they returned but there was no indication of Leska returning for a visit. The next year, he heard Leska got a job and was busy with her senior year of high school. Gohan was busy that year starting his brief time at Hoyt High School. He thought of her then but accepted their summer as something of the past. He cherished their memories, especially their kiss. He wasn't shamed the first thing he did after looking at her pretty face is stare at her lips.

She's prettier Gohan thought to himself as he sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen of Leska's apartment. Even though they were alone, Gohan still wore his helmet. It allowed him to secretly admire Leska as she tossed fruits, chocolate, nuts and almond milk into a blender. She'd grown a couple of inches and filled out her dress around her breasts and hips. In some areas, Leska looked the same. In others, she looked different but she was as Gohan always found her: pretty.

Leska placed two empty glasses on the counter and poured the blended smoothie into them. "I know who you are, Gohan. You don't need to wear the helmet."

Blushing, Gohan removed his helmet. So much for admiring her secretly. "Sorry, but how did you know it was me?"

Leska sprinkled granola, goji berries and hemp seeds on top of the chocolate drinks. "I know it's been three years and your voice was changing but I still recognize your voice, Gohan." She placed glass straws in the glasses and pushed one to him. "You still like chocolate and hazelnut milkshake?"

Gohan accepted the milkshake with a smile. She made that for him a few times during her summer visit. "I remember." He sipped nearly half his drink. "It's still good."

Leska sat beside him and slowly sipped from her straw. "I was never sure if you liked it. I thought you were being nice because I'm vegan and Kala always teased me about it."

"No. It's really good. I like it." He shyly scratched a cheek as he confessed. "Mom makes it for me sometimes." He left out the part of ChiChi teasing him for wanting it since his crush made it.

"How are your Mom and brother? Aunt Reia told me about your Mom's investiture. I wanted to come but it was so sudden and I couldn't schedule off work. Aunt Reia said it was a beautiful ceremony and your Mom looked so regal."

"It was great." Gohan had reservations about what it will all mean for them but Gohan knew how important it was for his mother to do this and despite his feelings, he supported her. "Mom has always been Mom to me. She cooks for me, cleans my clothes, and takes care of Goten, but that day, I saw her being more than my Mom. She was someone other people admire and respected. I thought it was only me, Dad, Grandpa and Goten who love Mom. I realized other people do too."

"You finally saw your Mom being someone with a life and dreams of her own and understood you have to share her. Took you long enough," Leska stirred her drink while giving Gohan a sly smirk. "There's hope for you yet."

"Huh?" Gohan wondered what Leska meant. "Hope for what?"

"Hope for seeing women as more than mothers and wives. Some of us want to have an interest outside the home. Some of us want more than one companion in a lifetime. You couldn't see that when Kenji sniffed around your Mom."

"Oh, don't bring him up," Gohan groaned.

"My point," Leska clarified, "you saw your mother as someone who should only care for you and your brother. Now you see she can do other things. I think she'll be an amazing Queen."

After hearing his mother speak during the investiture, Gohan thought so, too. "I know she will be and I was thirteen when Kenji was around my Mom." He knew Leska didn't mean it but the slight at him being immature about Kenji bothered him. "I was a kid when he was around Mom. I grew up."

"Yeah," Leska's eyes swept over him as she sipped her milkshake. "You have grown up." Her warm smile made Gohan's stomach twist and his heartbeat quicken. It was a strange feeling being around her. He couldn't describe it. He knew he liked it. "Speaking of the investiture, I heard Kala tried to get a dance out of you. She still has her crush on you."

"Yeah," Gohan resumed sipping his milkshake. That was the only downside of the day. Fighting off a preteen's crush on him.

"You still like them young."

Gohan nearly spat out his drink. Was she serious?! "No, I don't! Kala is a little girl and her crush on me is annoying! I don't like girls!" Leska's eyebrows went up and Gohan felt his face turn from warm to flaming. "I mean I don't like little girls. I like girls my age….. or older." Did I say that? "Uh….." his sharp mind worked fast to clarify himself. "You know what I mean."

"I do." Chuckling, Leska patted Gohan's left knee. She removed it but Gohan wished she lingered there. "You're so easy to tease. All that studying has made you stiff."

Feeling a combination of embarrassment and amusement, Gohan sipped his drink. He didn't trust himself to not put his foot in his mouth again.

"But Kala's not the only one crushing on you," Leska continued. "Aunt Reia said other girls wanted a dance with you, but you stayed by your Mom's side. You have a fan club."

Gohan visited Grandpa's village all his life and none of the girls noticed him with more than a passing greeting. At the celebration, they were seeking his attention. Grandpa told him his height and growing looks will lure girls to him. The attention was nice but strange. They weren't like Leska. She noticed him before all that. She was his friend and hadn't changed. His feelings hadn't changed. "They don't mean anything," Gohan blurted out. "They're nice girls but I'm not interested in them." Why did I say that? "I mean they want husbands. I'm not ready for that."

"If they're interested in you for that, then run for it," Leska suggested. "You're too young to marry. We're at the age to date, find ourselves….. and go to school." Leska hadn't forgotten Gohan's love of knowledge. "There's something I do wonder. Are you Prince Gohan?" She tilted her head in a curtsy. "Do I bow before you?"

Her faux bow was amusing. "No. Don't do that. I'm only Son Gohan. Mom's status is only acknowledged in the village. It doesn't hold meaning outside of it."

"Prince or not you're not just Son Gohan. You're Satan's city's newest superhero: the Great Saiyaman." The last words were mocking but Gohan didn't mind it. "If you want to play superhero, you gotta change your voice or people will recognize you."

"Who's gonna recognize me?"

"Your classmates. Your teachers." Leska sipped her drink again. "I haven't seen you in three years and I recognized your voice."

Gohan immediately thought of Videl. She was suspicious of him. If any of his classmates were the first to find out, he knew it will be her. "I didn't think about that."

"You haven't put much thought into this, have you?"

Gohan stared into his near-empty glass. "No. One of my classmates is already suspicious. She kept looking at me during class and followed me leaving school today. I jumped on a rooftop to get away."

"Stalker alert," Leska sang a warning as she sipped her milkshake.

"She's not a stalker but you won't believe who her father is. Mr. Satan."

Leska nearly spat up her drink. "The fraud? You go to school with his daughter?"

Gohan confirmed with a nod. "Yeah, and I almost blew my cover with her. That's one reason I got this costume made. I want to help people without anyone knowing who I am."

Leska cringed at Gohan's clothes. "And you chose that outfit?"

Gohan looked down at his costume. "What's wrong with it?"

"It's got that anime flair but looks rushed and put together last minute." Leska picked up his helmet and placed it over her head. "Why do you need this? Your head is tough."

His eyes should be on Leska wearing his helmet but his eyes drooped lower to the top of her breasts peeking from her dress. "It's…" he reached for his milkshake. He slowly sucked the last of his drink before shooting his eyes back up. "It's part of the uniform."

Leska removed the helmet. "Why not wear a mask?"

"My friend made it." Thinking of what Leska said, Gohan felt guilt asking Bulma to do this. If he had planned and given her more time, Bulma could've designed a better costume. "She did it in two hours. Maybe it's odd to you but I like it."

Leska put the helmet back on the countertop. "Your Mom doesn't know about this, does she?"

Gohan knew what Leska was thinking. "Not yet."

Leska crossed her legs and reached for her glass again. "Playing superhero will cut into your study time. Your Mom won't like that."

Gohan noticed Leska's lithe, crossed leg swinging back and forth. Stop looking. Stop looking. "I can manage but what are you doing here? You live in Okla City."

"I go to college here. I'm a freshman at Indica Tech."

"So, you and your Dad moved here."

Leska took her and Gohan's empty glasses. She walked around the breakfast bar to the sink. "I moved here. This is my apartment. Dad pays most of the rent and I take care of the rest. I have savings from my job in my senior year and I work at Game-X Arcade. You should come by sometime," she offered. "I work there Thursday through Sunday every week."

With school, being Saiyaman and helping out at home, Gohan wasn't sure where he would find the time but he'll try.

Gohan knew he was in trouble when he returned home. He was over three hours late. He could've called from Leska's apartment but that would've raised questions he didn't want to answer. As he walked to the door, Gohan noticed a small fish cooking in the front yard. Small by Gohan's size. The fish could feed a family of five. For his family, it might be enough for him and Goten. He taught Goten how to fish but he didn't think Goten would take over his duty of bringing food for the family so soon.

Gohan gingerly opened the door. He saw ChiChi in the kitchen stirring a pot before moving to the counter to chop vegetables. The table was set meaning ChiChi did it. Guilt stabbed Gohan again. He started setting the table a year ago. He volunteered and now forced the duty back on her. He looked at his costume, debated if he should change but decided to deal with his mother's reaction upfront.

"Hi, Mom." Ooo. His voice settled last year but his nervousness for ChiChi's reaction caused his voice to squeak. "Sorry, I'm late but-" he abruptly stopped when ChiChi turned to him. He had nearly a foot of height over his mother but those sharp, angry eyes made Gohan feel he was two feet beneath her. He feared the verbal beatdown waiting for him until her angry eyes melted into confusion as she noticed his new clothes.

"What are you wearing?!"

Here we go. "Don't you like it, Mom? It's my superhero uniform." ChiChi crossed her arms. Oh, boy. This wasn't good. "I'm Saiyaman."

"Saiya-what?"

"Saiyaman. I almost got caught this morning stopping a robbery. I went to Bulma's after school and she created this costume for me. I can help people without anyone knowing who I am."

The ire in ChiChi's eyes returned. Not good. "So, you were at Bulma's all this time and you couldn't call to tell me where you were and you will be late for dinner?!"

"Sorry, Mom. I should've called but I was playing with Trunks…" You're burying yourself, Gohan. "You know I can handle myself. Time flew by."

"Time flew by you didn't think to call your mother." ChiChi sighed, her hurt was evident. "I'm always forgotten. Always." The hurt in ChiChi's voice felt like a knife stabbing into Gohan's heart. "You're turning into them." The knife twisted. Them. Goku's friends. It was several years before Gohan understood the anguish his mother went through with them during his kidnapping, his father's death and the Namek experience. He never wanted his mother to think that of him.

"Mom….."

"Gohan!" ChiChi's anguish turned into anger. "I'm not sending you to school in Satan City so you can play after school hero! I'm sending you there to get an education!"

"I know and I'll get that but –"

"And how were you almost caught?!" ChiChi cut him off. "You don't know anyone there!"

He knew Leska but she will keep his secret, and seeing ChiChi's reaction to his uniform, knew now wasn't the time to bring her up. "One of my classmates thought they saw me when I stopped a bank robbery before school. I was a Super Saiyan so she didn't recognize me."

ChiChi threw her hands up. She knew something like this was going to happen. "No, Gohan. You can't let this interfere with your studies anymore. There's too much riding on this. Your Grandpa paid a lot to send you to school."

"I know but I can balance this," Gohan promised.

"Balance this? Gohan, your first day of school you nearly got caught playing superhero and you're four hours late coming home without a call to your mother! You have bed in a couple of hours! Are you gonna have enough time for homework?! Your grades-"

"The moment my grades slip I'll stop, but please, Mom." Gohan put his hands together in prayer. "Let me do this. I want to help people and I'll come home safe. You know that."

Helping others has been ingrained in Gohan since he was four years old. He couldn't think in any other way and in his willingness to help, he didn't see the consequences. "Gohan, I'm not worried about you fighting criminals. They're not Freeza or Cell but you can get caught. What if you are blackmailed into doing something you don't want to keep your secret? I kept quiet for seven years to protect you and Goten. You risk blowing that up!"

"I'll be careful," Gohan promised. "I'll deepen my voice. I'll act differently as Saiyaman. No one will think I'm Son Gohan."

"Oh, dear," ChiChi squeezed the bridge between her nose. "You're speaking about yourself in the third person."

Goten's footsteps rushing downstairs interrupted the discussion between mother and eldest child. "Is my fish ready, Momma?" Goten lit up when he saw Gohan. "Big Brother, you're back! Wow!" Goten circled Gohan. "That's a cool costume! Where did you get it? Can I have one?"

"Oh, boy," ChiChi turned away to check on dinner. "Gohan, check on Goten's fish, please. We'll finish this later."

Gohan wasn't looking forward to later but felt happy someone was on his side. "Thanks, Goten. I knew you would like it."

Outside, Gohan inspected the fish Goten caught. It was fully cooked and ready to be brought in. "This fish is bigger than you, Goten. You caught this by yourself?"

"Yup," the younger brother felt very proud of himself. "I did like you taught me."

Gohan grabbed a stick and spread out the embers to put out the fire. "What else did you do today?"

Goten counted off his day with his fingers. "I did my school lessons with Momma. We played outside for a while. Grandpa had lunch with us. They talked about royal stuff. Grandpa left. I played with my toys, Momma started making dinner and got mad when you didn't home."

"I should've called."

"Why were you late?" Goten asked.

"I was getting this costume made and spent time with a friend." His mother couldn't know but Gohan didn't see any harm in telling Goten. "I saw Leska today. Do you remember her? She's Aki's niece. She spent time with us one summer."

Goten thought for a long moment before giving up. "Nope. I can't remember!" His innocent laugh and posture reminded Gohan of his departed father.

"You were young when she visited."

Goten giggled. "I'm young now."

So like Dad Gohan thought. He found humor in anything.

"I told Momma I can hunt for us. If you wanna spend time with your friend tomorrow, I can keep hunting." Goten had an idea of what he wanted to hunt next. "Tomorrow I will hunt a deer."

"Goten, you're not ready to hunt for deer, and tomorrow, I'll do the hunting."

"I can hunt deer if you teach me." Goten's grin was playful and sly. It was déjà vu for Gohan. His father looked like that when he wanted a favor from his mother.

Gohan grabbed the bucket of water left out when they cook outside. He was gonna pour it over the fire when he caught sight of Goten's begging eyes. Dad looked at Mom like that when he wanted his way. No wonder she gave in. Gohan looked away and poured water over the dying fire. "When you grow another foot, Goten."

Goten pouted. "Some days I don't think I will ever grow."

Gohan laughed. "You will. You'll be as tall as me one day."

"But you're a giant!"

Gohan grabbed the hot skewer that held the fish. "And I was a shrimp like you. You saw the pictures of me standing next to Dad. I was tiny."

"Yeah," Goten remembered the pictures. "So, one day I'll be tall like you and Daddy?"

"Goten," Gohan ruffled his little brother's head. "I guarantee it."

During dinner, ChiChi's anger cooled. Gohan talked lively about his school and classes. He was still ahead of most of his classes and after dinner, completed his homework in an hour. Aside from his side trip to see Bulma for his Saiyaman costume, ChiChi thought it was a perfect day for Gohan.

ChiChi was in the middle of preparing tomorrow's lunch for Gohan when he finished his homework and went to his room. There, she heard Gohan recite phrases he will use on criminals. Some good. Some bad with Goten cheering him on. After lunch was done and the kitchen cleaned, ChiChi went upstairs.

From the door, ChiChi saw Gohan change in and out of his Saiyaman costume. She listened to his speeches and viewed his poses. ChiChi didn't understand any of it except her son was happy. His excitement through each change oozed through his words and poses.

He really is passionate about this. I haven't seen him this happy since Goku was alive.

"Defenders of crime, beware of the defender of justice…"

That sounds good.

"For I am….." Gohan twirled before posing in a side twist, "The Great Saiyaman!"

ChiChi cringed. He'll need to work on that pose. ChiChi recoiled watching Goten copying Gohan. Oh, dear. ChiChi silently watched and listened to pose after pose, speech after speech; excitement and enthusiasm from Gohan in each one until ChiChi put a stop to it to let Gohan and Goten know it was time for bed.

"Gohan?" ChiChi curved her finger in a 'come here' gesture. Gohan stepped out of his room and closed the door. ChiChi looked at her eldest son. He wasn't a little boy who had to do what she say but a young man with ideas and dreams of his own; some she knew she wouldn't agree with or understand but knew as a parent, as a good parent, need to let her son see this through. "I'll be lying if I say I understand all of this. I only know I haven't seen you this happy, this excited about something since your father died. You can't help being heroic like your Dad. It's a Son Family trait."

"It's a Son and Mao family trait," Gohan corrected his mother. "I didn't get all my bravery from Dad. Didn't you leave your home to find Master Roshi and get the Bansho Fan? You fought a dinosaur like me when I was a kid."

"I didn't fight that dinosaur." ChiChi thought of her misadventure. "I ran, screamed, closed my eyes and tossed the blade of my helmet at it."

"Before blowing it away." Gohan mimicked an explosion with his hands.

That was how Goku described her killing the dinosaur to Gohan as a bedtime story. She was embarrassed about it but the awe in her son's eyes at her 'bravery' melted away any embarrassment she felt. Like his father, Gohan told Goten the story and she received that same awe. "Not heroic but maybe you do have some of my fire in you."

Gohan thought of his yelling at the criminals laughing at him and his costume, the few times as a child he broke toys and couldn't remember doing it; his outburst on Namek against Freeza's gang. That wasn't the blood of his father coursing through him then. He was proud that was his mother's influence. Not a little, Mom. A lot.

And he was proud of that.

ChiChi lightly jabbed his left shoulder. "Just be careful. I know you can handle those criminals but there's a lot at risk if people find out what you can do."

Gohan heard it over and over from ChiChi and Bulma. Those two knew more about the real world than him but knowing who Videl is, Gohan had doubts about his mother and father's oldest friend being right on this subject.

"You have a future that involves more than fighting petty criminals. Don't forget that."

"I won't, Mom."

Oh, boy. Same tone of voice. Same posture. She was the same way with her father at Gohan's age so she knew Gohan wasn't listening. "That's all I have to say, Gohan. Go to bed."

Gohan took a step towards his room before turning back and hugging his mother. His mother's blessing was everything. "Thanks, Mom."

'I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die.' Videl covered her hands over her eyes as the bus plummet off the cliff. She heard the screams of all the passengers around her. 'I failed. I failed everyone.'

Videl felt a slight jolt as if she was suddenly caught. The bus stopped moving but still hovered in the air. Puzzled, Videl went to the window and saw the most amazing sight. Saiyaman! He caught the bus! The mysterious hero smiled at Videl and her own heart hammered excitedly in her heart. He saved her life and that was something Videl never expected. She's the daughter of the man who saved the world from Cell. She always thought of being the one to rescue others. To be the one saved caused Videl's heart to flutter with excitement and awe develop of the mysterious boy. He lost points with his goofy "I'm the Great Saiyaman" pose but Videl didn't ignore she was drawn to him and became even more the second time he saved her life.

The Satan Tower was on fire with several people on top. Videl tried to unlock the water tank on top of the building but the valves were too hot and stiff for her to turn. An explosion on the top floors caused cracks to divide the roof where civilians sought refuge until they were rescued. A split in the middle caused a few civilians to fall and cling on until nearby citizens worked together to pull them out of the crevasses. Videl knew she didn't have a lot of time before the entire roof caved in. She kept trying to turn the valve, but the metal wouldn't budge. Another explosion below them caused the beams holding the water tank to buckle and the tank to topple. Over a hundred gallons of water was in that tank and would've crushed and killed her instantly if Saiyaman hadn't caught it. The tank must've weighed tons but Saiyaman held it up with one hand. With a single punch, he punctured a giant hole into the metal. Water gushed from the tank. It flooded the roof, traveled down the crevasses onto the fiery floors of the skyscraper until all the fire was washed away.

Whenever Videl thought she will meet her end, Saiyaman was there to rescue her. Who is he? He arrived when the Golden Warrior disappeared. They must be the same person. Gohan arrived then, too. Videl thought of the two boys. One's clueless. One's mysterious. Could they be the same person?

"Not hungry, Videl?"

Videl stopped daydreaming and noticed her father looking from across the table. He was Dad to her, Mark to close friends but to the world, he was Mr. Satan. "I am. I'm just wondering about something."

"Wanna tell Dad about it?" Mark offered. "I am the savior of the world but I'm also a concerned Dad."

Videl wasn't always so sure about that. Her Dad wasn't interested in her work with the police but he could go on for hours talking about himself. Still, he was her Dad and this involved fighting. Maybe he can help. "Dad, who do you think is the Golden Warrior?"

"Golden Warrior?"

"The mysterious guy who showed up fighting criminals in the city a couple of weeks ago. He stopped showing up when Saiyaman appeared. I think they're the same person."

Mark, known to the world as Mr. Satan stared at his daughter completely lost. "Who's Saiyaman?"

Videl nearly threw her fork at her Dad. She loved her father but sometimes he was so narcissistic and only spoke about things that concerned him. His lack of interest in her helping the police was frustrating for a Videl when it was a fun challenge for her. She went up against people who didn't hold back and helped her become stronger. It brought her close to a personal goal; for her father to see and respect how strong she's become.

"Geez, Dad, can't you take an interest in what I do? Saiyaman is stopping crimes and beating up bad guys before I can get there." He also saved my life. "It's making me look bad. How can I show the world I'm a hero like you when someone else interferes?"

Mark didn't know anything about Saiyaman but thought he was a blessing in disguise. If Saiyaman kept outshining Videl, the police will call on him and leave Videl alone. "Who cares if he interferes? You're the daughter of the man who defeated Cell. You shouldn't waste your time fighting criminals. It's beneath you. If you wanna get strong, fight the people in my dojo and not lightweight criminals."

Videl slammed her fists on the table. "Fighting criminals makes me strong, Dad! I beat up every one of them!"

"Because you're my daughter and those criminals aren't a challenge. Let that Saiya-whatever wimp fight them. He needs the training."

Training? Videl thought she could use training from him. He carried a bus. He flew. He could be as strong as her father.

Or stronger.

Her father defeated Cell and saved the world. Growing up, she went to her father's dojo several times. She remembered watching him lift weights and marveled at his strength. He lifted a thousand pounds once and pulled a bus onto a stage and punched it. She loved it as a child but now she wasn't impressed.

A bus weighs thousands of pounds and Saiyaman carried it like it was an empty box. He can fly just like those people at the Cell Game. Dad said it was a special effect. Maybe that was but this wasn't. What if he is stronger than Dad?

As a little girl, Videl watched her Dad train every day. Most days, he is lounging around their mansion, doing a thirty-second commercial for millions and guests spots on TV for even more. Whenever he did train, she's kept out of it. 'Secret training' too intense for her to see. She used to believe that. Now, she thought he lost interest in fighting.

There hasn't been a tournament since before the Cell Game. They usually hold them every three years. It's been seven. Maybe there hasn't been one since no one could challenge Dad. I wonder if Saiyaman can.

Videl's thoughts drift to Saiyaman again. Who is he? He's probably that Golden Warrior guy that disappeared but he wore an Orange Star uniform. Whenever she wondered about his identity, she thought about Gohan. He was there that morning and he acts so strange. He jumped really high that time we played baseball. Since then, Gohan took swim class for P.E. He declined a teacher's offer to join the school's baseball team. It could be a coincidence but Gohan's the same height as Saiyaman.

It must be him. I need to prove it.

Mark, widely known as Mr. Satan knew being the best in the world came at a price. People will love him. People will want to be him and people will want to tear him down. For all the adulation he received, Mark had his critics. Few questioned if he defeated Cell. His critics were silenced as no one ever came forward to dispute his claims, and after all the money he accumulated over the years, Mark, as his stage name, Mr. Satan, argued if he didn't defeat Cell, the real victor should come forward.

Mark knew that wouldn't happen. The strange people at the Cell Game, the ones he knew killed Cell, haven't been seen. Mark assumed they were dead and capitalized on their victory claiming he killed Cell. A lot of money was to be made with that victory and Mark wasn't going to lose a chance at it. His and Videl's future rode on it.

Mark never saw anything wrong in claiming victory. He wasn't perturbed when King Furry confronted him. He didn't need the ruler of the planet's approval. He had billions of people loving him and buying his products. The only ones who had suspicions were his students Caroni and Pirozhki. They never said anything to him directly. It was an open secret he didn't defeat Cell and the monthly checks and shameless promotion he gave them bought their silence. There was also Miss Piiza, his promotional agent. The pretty curvy, orange haired beauty never for a second believed Mark defeated Cell. One would never know this with how she passionately promoted him during the Cell Game and defended the excuse Mark slipped out of the ring with Cell when he was thrown.

Miss Piiza was the first Mark paid off. Her monthly fees tripled what he paid Caroni and Pirozhki. While Pirozhki moved on from the group, Miss Piiza and Caroni stayed on as part of his staff. Miss Piiza was Mark's first line of defense against his critics. He never dealt with them but for the first time, Miss Piiza told Mark he had to listen to one. This individual she couldn't charm. He was persistent and from the worried look on her face when he entered the room, the first person who could ruin their scheme.

He was King Chappa.

Mark regarded King Chappa unimpressed. Dressed in loose, yellow robes, and sandals, he appeared relaxed but from the stone look on his face, threatening for someone like Miss Piiza but not him. A wrinkly, old man with a salt and pepper afro didn't intimidate him.

"Hey, King," Mark held his hand out for a handshake but the man refused the gesture. Rude. "What are you a King off? If it's off the map, my lovely manager, Miss Piiza, a whiz at promotion can have your kingdom overflowing with money. I'm free to give you publicity. No cost."

"I want no publicity from you," the dark-skinned man growled his words. "I am here to say you are a fraud."

Mark laughed. That's it? "It comes with the job of being the savior of the world: jealous critics." Why was Miss Piiza worried about this loser?

"I'm not jealous of you. I'm disgusted. You have brought shame to Martial Arts with your shenanigans."

"Shenanigans?" This time Mark's head rolled back as he laughed boisterously. "I brought it back from the dead. Do you know how many dojos have opened because of me? How many people have taken an interest in Martial Arts? One of them is my daughter. The wimpy police begged her help to fight the punks in this city."

"Under pretenses, yes, you have been an inspiration," King Chappa agreed. "I was once a winner of the Tenkaichi Budokai. It was my proudest achievement."

A winner? This guy? Maybe in his youth, he was impressive. "Never heard of you. Unlike you, I capitalize on my fame."

"By stealing credit from others." This man was so smug. King Chappa longed to punch the smirk off his ridiculous face. "When I was the winner, the tournament was held every five years. After the 21st tournament, it was held every three years. It was canceled after the 23rd event. The winner and runner-up destroyed the ring. It's very strange how after ten years, the Tenkaichi Budokai returns and there is barely a blip on the radar of dojos training the next generation of martial artists. Strange how every martial artist who competed in the previous tournaments didn't know. Convenient how the ones who knew of the tournament were dojos and wrestling studios you trained and performed at. I, a former champion, run a dojo. Not I nor any of my students knew. Tien Shinahan, winner of the 22nd tournament did not know. Master Roshi, a legendary master of Martial Arts, didn't know but you, no one in the Martial Arts world heard of, stages its comeback and conveniently come out as the winner."

The smile slipped from Mark's face. This situation wasn't funny anymore. This was the closest anyone has gotten to the truth but Mark was ready to bluff himself out of the situation. "Listen, Old Man, talk all you want but you have no pro—"

Mark's words broke as King Chappa suddenly moved his arms in rapid rotation. Two hands moved like four. No, not four. He had six hands now. No! Eight! They moved faster than his eyes could see them. Mark gasped as air suddenly left his lungs. His lungs felt locked in place. He couldn't breathe or move his limbs. His eyes could move and he saw Miss Piiza with her hands over her mouth horrified. He wondered what happened until he felt it: pain struck every nerve in his body.

Did he paralyze me?

Mark's eyes scanned for King Chappa. He wasn't in front of him anymore but he felt someone behind him. King Chappa? He didn't see him move! Tremors of pain washed over his body. Mark felt his legs buckle and his body fall forward onto his carpet flood. He was motionless. He tried to wiggle his toes, make his fingers move but couldn't.

What did he do to me?

"That is my proof." His eyes went up to see King Chappa staring like a disappointed parent. "If an old man like me can do this to the champ, how could you defeat Cell? The only talent is your mouth."

Miss Piiza knelt by Mark. Her eyes were too slow to see King Chappa get behind Mark but she saw the move that cause the champ to lay unmoving on the floor. "He's not moving! You paralyzed him!"

"Only temporary. Have you heard of Son Goku?"

Miss Piiza shook her head while Mark answered, "Should I have?"

"I couldn't touch him and he is the only one to defeat me. He was the last true champion of the Tenkaichi Budokai. He was different but I saw him at the Cell Game. He is the one who defeated Cell. He died saving us and you took credit for what he did."

"How do you know he did it?" Miss Piiza asked.

"Because he died seven years ago."

He must have been one of those blonde people! Miss Piiza was right to be worried about him. "What do you want? Money? I got plenty. There's no reason to tell the world the truth."

King Chappa felt sickened at being offered money to pay for his silence. "I don't want your money. I want honor brought back to Martial Arts. I want a real Tenkaichi Budokai where everyone is allowed to compete. One of my disciples or someone worthy will win the tournament. Your loss and exposure as a fraud will be all the payment I need."

A tournament? That's all he wanted? Mark's shrewd mind worked on how he can market this. It can be the biggest promotion for him. Stars were in his eyes as he thought of all the endorsements. The money! All he needed to do is make sure he wins and eliminate any competition. It will require trickery, rule changes and bribery but Mark knew he can get that done. "A tournament. Sounds like fun."

"Fun?! Are you crazy?!" Miss Piiza thought Mark lost his mind. He was back on his feet now, sitting on the edge of his desk and rubbing a shoulder. She wondered if that mysterious move King Chappa attacked Mark with drained blood from his brain. "Mark, there's a reason we haven't done this in seven years! Everything we worked for can blow up at this tournament! What if you lose? We can lose millions in endorsements and money!"

"We'll lose more if King Chappa comes forward."

"He's just one old guy. People will think he's senile."

"You didn't think so," Mark reminded Miss Piiza she was the one who made Mark speak with King Chappa.

"I thought he'd go away if we throw enough money at him. This is the worst-case scenario. What if one of Chappa's students defeat you?"

Mark wasn't worried for he had a plan. "A few days after the Cell Game, you and I had a drink in your office. The phone wouldn't stop ringing for interviews, endorsements and movie deals. Remember what you said to me?"

"Can you believe this shit?"

"Exactly. We couldn't believe everyone on this planet believed me! There was no proof I beat Cell. Hell, I got thrown out of the ring and they believed I slipped."

When Mark was thrown out of the ring, Miss Piiza saw Mark's career go up in flames but he was a showman and a man who could always think on his feet. "You told me, 'As long as you are confident, people will believe anything you say. The truth can stare in their face but if you keep talking confidently, they'll doubt themselves.'"

"Gaslight." Mark considered himself a pro at that. "Remember the other thing I told you?"

"People will believe what they want to hear."

"Exactly. Everyone was scared of Cell. They feared the end of the world and looked anywhere for a solution. They believed my lie. They'll believe anything."

"Even a technicality if you lose?" Miss Piiza's worries eased slightly. "There's one thing that puzzles me, Mark. The Cell Game. We tried to figure out what happened. We thought everyone died; that Cell and the other fighters blew up in a massive explosion because there was nothing left, but what if that didn't happen? What if those people at the Cell Game are still alive? They know the truth."

Mark went over to Miss. Piiza's liquor cart. He dropped cubes of ice in a glass and filled it with whiskey. "What haven't they come forward?"

"No idea, but what if they come back at this tournament?"

Mark drank his liquor and let the dark liquid roll down his throat. "We're getting ahead of ourselves, Baby. They had seven years to come forward. They won't come back."

"But what if they do?"

"Then we're truly fucked."

Dammit. Again!

18's morning was off to a bad start. The water was cold again. It always happened to whoever was unlucky to be last to shower. 18 meant to be first but woke with inspiration on clothing she wanted to design. Bulma noticed 18 had an eye for fashion. After viewing the designs in her sketchbook, she asked 18 to design a dress. 18 accepted the offer but suffered an art block until this morning. While she drew, Krillin spent the morning caring for Marron with a bath and breakfast.

18 assumed Krillin and Marron were in their room but laughter outside drew her to the window. They were on the beach playing. It would be a happy moment but it put 18 on guard. If her husband and daughter were outside, it meant he was inside and he will be at it again. Krillin knew not to be outside when she showered because of him. The old man behaved most of the time. When she was pregnant with Marron, he was fatherly to her. Two months after Marron's birth, the old man reverted to his sneaky and perverted ways. Several times he tried to get peaks especially when she breastfed Marron.

The bathroom was small with only enough space to use the toilet or shower. It was tolerable when she moved in but after nearly seven years with a young child, it was annoying. 18 stepped out of the bathroom with a towel on her hair and a bathrobe. Master Roshi wasn't on the sofa watching TV. She checked the window again. He wasn't outside. She went up to her bedroom.

I bet he's up here.

The room was home to her, Krillin and Marron. With the limited spaces, Marron had to share the room with them. Her small bed was in the corner of their already small room. Marron was happy with their space but 18 knew her daughter deserved more. They all did but Krillin didn't see that. He was comfortable living with Master Roshi doing part time work in security. 18 tolerated this when she moved in. When she was pregnant, she wanted her and Krillin to get their place but agreed to hold off because of her delicate pregnancy. Marron's arrival and adjusting to parenthood pushed it off again that before 18 realized it, Marron turned three and was getting too big for her small bed and their room.

18 checked under the bed. No old man there. She checked the closet. Empty, too. Wherever he was, he wasn't there and that was good enough for her. She opened her robe and pulled her arm out of one sleeve when she heard a clatter in the closet. She opened it and saw Master Roshi on the floor of the closet.

What the hell?

"I just checked and you weren't here. How the hell did you get here?"

The old man rubbed the back of his neck chuckling as the time of his remaining life counted down to zero. "Hi, 18. I was rummaging through an old box and I found a shrink watch Bulma made. I had no idea it still worked. I was testing….." 18's fists clenched, her eyes thinned and a low snarl rumbled from her mouth. "I wasn't gonna use it to watch you." Liar! 18 grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. She snatched the watch off him and crushed it in her hand. "I was jus- whoaaaaa!" the old man yelled as he was thrown out the window and flung forty feet into the ocean.

Master Roshi's sudden flight prompted Krillin to rush inside. "What happened?"

18 shut the window. "What do you think?"

Krillin easily put it together. Master Roshi behaved most days but sometimes his perverted nature got the better of him. He settled Marron on her feet and let his daughter go to her pin of toys. "You know how he gets. He's harmless."

18 removed her robe and put on her underwear. "Will you tell that to Marron when he becomes a pervert to her?"

Krillin checked on his daughter. She happily played with her dolls oblivious. "He won't do that. He sees Marron as a granddaughter."

18 pulled her pants up her legs. "I'm sure he had the same thought about ChiChi when she was a little girl." They've had this fight many times and there was a simple solution to it. "Krillin, it's time we get our own place."

"That costs money and mall security doesn't pay enough."

"Maybe it will if you work full time or upgrade to something else."

"Like what?"

"Police officer."

It wasn't the first time 18 said he should transition to becoming a police officer. When Bulma mentioned they were hiring in West City, he knew gossip about their living situation and finances were spreading outside their home.

"We have it so good, Lazuli. Rent free home on an island. We only pay for groceries."

"And deal with a pervert living with your wife and daughter in a cramped room that's getting too big for all of us!" 18 pulled her shirt over her head. "When will it be enough for you, Krillin? Because I'm done!"

Having 18 angry with him didn't bode well. He wasn't blind to how small their room has gotten. Marron was getting older and it was becoming difficult to have intimate times. When she was a baby, Marron slept through it but now Marron was prone to waking in the middle of the night, Krillin and 18 had to shift their schedule during the day when Master Roshi watched Marron but he didn't like that wicked grin the old man shot him afterward.

Their living situation was coming to a breaking point. He could talk to Master Roshi again but he knew how that will go. His mentor will promise to behave and he will…. for about a month before falling onto his bad habits and starting the cycle again. "I'll ask for more hours but it'll take time for me to make enough money to find another place on my salary."

"Not good enough, Krillin." 18 couldn't accept his excuse. "You had years and you floundered it. The only way we're moving is I figure out something."

"He still has that?" Bulma turned to 18. "I never should've given him that."

ChiChi put her hands on Bulma's waist and turned her around. "Don't move. I'm still adjusting the pins."

Bulma stood in the center of ChiChi's living room as ChiChi adjusted the fabric around Bulma's hips. 18 was very good at drawing clothes and picking the right fabric but she wasn't good at making them. ChiChi was the expert on that and made every designer clothes 18 created for Marron and the dress she drew for Bulma.

With two pins in her mouth, ChiChi mumbled, "What did Krillin say?"

18 sifted through the wedding magazines spread out on the coffee table. "Excuses as usual. That house is too small for us."

"Then move," Bulma suggested.

18 tossed the magazine aside and threw her hands up. ChiChi shook her head amused and quietly kept working. "It's so simple, Bulma. Why didn't I think of that?" Sometimes the woman was so out of touch. "There's a thing called money and Krillin isn't making enough. He doesn't want to work full time. He's happy living on the beach in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home where his daughter doesn't have a room and when she gets older, will get leered at by a man she thinks of as a grandfather."

Just trying to help. "That sounds like our men. Great fighters but deadbeats when it comes to working. It's an allergy to them. I can't even get Vegeta to take out the trash."

ChiChi saw 18's eyes roll. She mouthed, 'I know' to her friend. Bulma was their friend but when it came to their problems, she had a knack for making the conversation about herself. ChiChi removed the pins from her mouth and used them to adjust the mini skirt of Bulma's dress. "Finished. I shouldn't have to make any more adjustments. I can complete it before you leave today."

Bulma looked herself over in the full-length mirror. She loved the red, sleeveless dress 18 designed. Her manicured nails grazed the yellow scarf around her neck. "I really like this scarf. It gives the dress more flare. This is perfect, ChiChi. Thank you, 18. You have a knack for fashion."

ChiChi carefully helped Bulma out of her dress without moving the pins. Dressed in her underwear, Bulma reached for the dress she wore when she arrived. "ChiChi, I meant to ask. Why do you have all these wedding magazines out?"

"Mrs. Lupp's granddaughter, Luci, was here yesterday. She's getting married. Her mother and grandmother are arguing over the wedding and trying to decide everything for her. Luci and I picked out her dress and I'll be with her tomorrow as she puts her foot down on what she wants."

"You're taking being future Queen seriously. You're already helping your people." Bulma picked up a magazine and turned the pages. "I was never interested in weddings. I love the idea of a party but walking down the aisle, wearing a white dress…." Bulma laughed loud at that. "Yamcha wanted it but…." she closed the magazine. "Guess he wasn't the one I wanted to marry. Back then, living together was enough. I didn't think I wanted to marry."

"But now you do," ChiChi picked up the soft plea in her voice. Bulma didn't answer but the sadness in her eyes told the truth. "You don't think Vegeta will want to marry you."

"He considers us married in Saiyan lore. He doesn't think we need an Earth wedding."

"What's the Saiyan lore of a wedding?" 18 asked.

"Hell if I know." Bulma asked but Vegeta never answered. "He always walked out and told me, 'It's done. That's all you need to know.'"

"Jackass," 18 snorted.

"Yup," Bulma concurred with a smile. "But he's my jackass."

ChiChi wouldn't admit it out loud, but there was a benefit to Gohan being Saiyaman. Gohan could sleep in an hour which meant she could sleep in longer and Goten can have breakfast with his big brother instead of waking up early only to see him off. Gohan had time to set the table for breakfast and dinner. Because he spent an hour in the city twice a week after school patrolling, Gohan needed to stay up an extra hour to study and do his homework. ChiChi worried Gohan wasn't getting enough sleep but knew he needed to see for himself being Saiyaman is too much.

While ChiChi waited for that time, she focused on her future. After Goten finished his lessons, mother and son met with Gyu-Mao to see the land she will clear to farm on. It was a vast land ten miles from her home. "Goku always trained out here." Years have passed but there was still evidence of Goku using this land as his playground. "There used to be a forest of trees but Goku cleared all of that. What he didn't use for our firewood, he sold." ChiChi knelt to grab a handful of grass that grew again after years of wear and tear under Goku's intense training. "It won't take a lot of work to prep the land."

Gyu-Mao disagreed as he viewed the land. "This looks like two acres, ChiChi. It's a lot to till and prepare for one person."

"Momma won't be alone," Goten spoke. "Big Brother and I will help Momma. We're gonna prepare the land this weekend. Momma said I can plant the seeds and help pick the food when they are ready."

"We will have to get an early start," ChiChi added. "Gohan has a test Monday and he wants to study with friends in Satan City."

"You're letting Gohan study with friends?" Gyu-Mao was surprised at ChiChi's leniency. "You never did before. He always studied alone."

"Gohan never had friends his age before," ChiChi reminded her Dad. ChiChi did worry Gohan won't get studying done with his friends but also knew she had to cut some of her control. "More than anything I want Gohan to have a normal life and while I do think he should study alone, I know he should study with friends, too. It's what teens do."

"Teens also date," Gyu-Mao reminded his daughter. "When will you let him do that?"

"If it comes to that, I won't stop him." But ChiChi knew it will be a struggle to keep her opinion to herself. Education was important for her child. Gohan had a bright future and can do so much for the world with his mind more than his body. ChiChi didn't want a relationship distracting him from his goals. Gohan can be so emotionally passionate like me. I don't want him so lost in emotions he forgets his dreams. "I will encourage Gohan to remember his education. It's good Gohan hasn't said anything about girls. He's busy with school and being Saiyaman."

"Are any of these friends he's studying with girls?" Gyu-Mao inquired. "It's time he got one, you know."

At least her Dad wasn't trying to marry Gohan off like her at his age. "There are two girls and a guy." That was as far as ChiChi got with Gohan and his study session. Oh, she tried to pry if Gohan had feelings for these girls but Gohan was either a vault with his feelings or had none at all. ChiChi wasn't sure. Even after their talk that day, ChiChi had suspicions Gohan's behavior was tied to a girl.

Dinnertime was family time where everyone got together to talk about their day. Pre-meal preparation was private time for ChiChi and Gohan to talk. Gohan came into the kitchen one morning and asked if she needed help. ChiChi always said no because she considered it her job to cook and serve her sons but Gohan grabbed dishes and began setting the table. He talked of his lessons, Goten and random thoughts, starting a tradition.

Lately, the conversations revolved around school and what heroic things he did as Saiyaman. ChiChi listened, commenting here and there but was surprised when Gohan dropped news he wanted to study with his friends on Saturday.

"Why?" ChiChi asked while pulling a pan of dinner rolls from the oven. "Gohan, you always study for tests at home."

Gohan grabbed an armful of plates from the cabinet. "I know but I got invited to a study session and I'm curious about it."

ChiChi encouraged Gohan to socialize with kids his age. She'll look like a hypocrite telling him no but she wasn't sure about this study session. How many kids actually study at these things she wondered. "Will it be helpful?" she asked. "You haven't mentioned struggling in your classes."

"I'm not but my classmates are having struggles with Chemistry. After the teacher said I was the only one to get the extra credit bonus right on our quiz she asked if I can help them study for the test."

ChiChi was proud of Gohan's quiz score. 110! She put it on the refrigerator and couldn't stop talking about it for three days. She was happy his high score made Gohan popular with his classmates but worried about the girl attention it attracted. "She?" ChiChi placed the rolls into the breadbasket. "Who is she?"

"Erasa. A girl in my class. She got a 70 on the quiz and needs a B average or she'll lose her phone privileges. She invited two more classmates: Videl and Sharpner. I don't think they are doing well either."

It was the first time Gohan mentioned his classmates by name. Maybe one of these days, he'll tell her about them. "Ah, I see." She handed the basket to Gohan. "They need you to help them pass the test."

Gohan placed the breadbasket in the center of the table. "Yeah."

"What kind of girl is Erasa?"

"She likes to talk. The teacher made her stand outside a few times. She can't answer any of the questions when she's called on."

A delinquent ChiChi guessed and judging how Gohan talked, not someone he's interested in. He didn't speak of her with the same energy he had when talking of Leska, his first crush when she spent the summer in Gyu-Mao's village. That was ChiChi's only measuring stick of Gohan having feelings for a girl.

"How are the other two kids in Chemistry?"

Gohan grabbed the drinking glasses and arranged them on the table. "Sharpner said it doesn't matter since he's gonna be a baseball player. Videl shoved her quiz in her bookbag."

Two more delinquents. "It sounds like you will have to tutor them. I don't want these kids holding you back, Gohan."

"They won't hold me back, Mom. I already studied for the test. I'm ready but I want to help them."

It was a Son Family trait. No one in their family could resist helping others. "How long is the session?"

"It starts at one. I think we'll need to study for three hours."

"Okay. Come home when it's over."

Gohan grabbed forks and knives from the drawer. "I was thinking of staying in Satan City after our session, Mom. For a couple of hours. I might be late for dinner."

Not okay! Motherly instincts and years of dealing with people keeping secrets from her told ChiChi Gohan was keeping something from her. "For what?"

"I fight crime as Saiyaman but I don't know where the hospitals or the police station are. I don't even know all the roads. I want to stay for a couple of hours to explore the city."

Gohan's reasons made sense but Gohan spent a couple of hours in Satan City during the week patrolling. Wasn't he learning the city then? "Is this study session a lie to goof off in the city?"

"No. It's happening but I want to explore the city, too. I can do both Saturday."

"What about your patrols during the week? You spend time there on Mondays and Wednesdays."

"Those are only an hour and most times I'm helping the police because something comes up in the middle of my patrol."

It could be true and yet…. "As smart as you are, Gohan, I doubt you can learn everything about a city in a day when you can't do it on your patrols." ChiChi folded her arms and gave him a stern, 'Do not lie to me' look. "What's going on."

Gohan added the last fork and knife to Goten's seat. "There's nothing going on, Mom."

"Then the answer is no." If he wanted to play hardball with the truth, then she will, too. "The time you want to spend studying the city, you can be studying an actual book. You can be home with your brother."

Gohan went to the refrigerator and pulled out the water pitcher. "I spend time with Goten."

"Not as much as you used to. I give him attention but Trunks doesn't come around as much since he is in school. He gets lonely and you should spend time with your brother instead of playing hero."

Gohan slammed the refrigerator door. "I can't be home all the time, Mom. I should have a life, too."

ChiChi turned, startled. That voice. Gohan hadn't taken a sharp tone with her since he was a child. What's going on with him? "I'm not saying you shouldn't and watch your tone. You've gotten bigger and you're taller but I'm still your mother."

Gohan filled the glasses with water. "I'm sorry, but, Mom, you say I should be around people my age, and I should have a life that's not about fighting but you won't let me have one."

Gohan was well-mannered but there were shades of a typical teen in him. "I know teens can be emotional. I knew you would get like that no matter how a good boy you are. I remember how you acted in the hospital when you were five."

"Mom," Gohan sighed, "that was eleven years ago."

"One year or eleven years I still haven't forgotten. I'll never forget it." ChiChi sighed. She couldn't make him do things anymore. He wasn't a child but a young man. She had to let him go and make decisions for himself but that didn't mean she couldn't sprinkle some good old mother guilt on him. "Fine. Go have fun while me and Goten work on the new land by ourselves. We'll start early tilling and fertilizing the land. We should have it done by sunset."

"I'm still helping with that, Mom." Score one for mother's guilt. "We can have everything done before I leave."

"Then you can go."

That night Gohan took that tone with me, was it the influence of his delinquent friends or something else? There was another possible reason for Gohan's behavior and ChiChi hoped that wasn't it. Is it happening to him already? Despite her suspicions, ChiChi wasn't going to let her father know about the conversation. "Gohan isn't interested in girls."

"Yet," Gyu-Mao winked.

A scream from the forest stopped ChiChi from scolding her father. ChiChi, Gyu-Mao and Goten looked back at a woman running from a boar chasing her.

Goten was confused at the woman's strategy. "Why doesn't she fight it, Momma? It's a small boar."

That small wildboar was twice Goten's size and chased after the woman as its next meal. Seeing her father and son staring and not helping the woman, ChiChi ran towards the screaming woman and boar. The woman tripped over a rock and rolled down a hill with the wild boar closing in on her. As the boar neared, the woman screamed and covered her hands over her eyes. "Hey!" ChiChi yelled as she jumped from the hilltop and flipped in the air. "Humans aren't things to eat!" ChiChi kicked the boar away from the woman. It soared off its feet and crashed into a tree. The boar rose staggering but with a firm chop of ChiChi's hand against the boar's neck, the boar fell on the grass lifeless. "But you are," ChiChi smirked triumphantly at her kill. "Oh, dear," she laughed at herself. "I sound like Gohan when he practices his speeches."

With specks of grass in her hair and on her clothes, the woman saved stared at ChiChi. She heard the area around Mount Paozu could be dangerous but thought she was safe staying on the path she was advised to take. She was told there were many fresh and delicious herbs in this area, and wanting to perfect her craft of being an excellent cook, she would risk anything to find the best foods for her meals. She was also told the daughter of King Gyu-Mao lives in this area with her sons. There was a chance to meet again and she couldn't turn that down. If she was honest, that was another reason she traveled to Mount Paozu but she never expected to be chased by a wild boar, almost die and have ChiChi rescue her.

I can't believe she saved me.

ChiChi picked up the boar and put it over a shoulder.

She's so strong.

ChiChi turned to her. And even more beautiful up close.

"Are you all right?" ChiChi asked. "You have to be careful traveling through this area. All kinds of wild animals live here."

"I'm alive…." she blushed, "thanks to you."ChiChi held a hand out to her. She took it and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. So strong and pretty. Remembering this was her princess the woman remembered her manners. "Thank you. You saved my life, Princess."

"Princess?" ChiChi didn't recognize this woman from her father's village. "Do I know you?"

"Kooky?" Gyu-Mao and Goten finally reached them. "I thought that was you."

"Kooky?" ChiChi repeated. What kind of name is that? "Dad, do you know her?"

"Her name is Ikare. She's the new head chef at the castle. She took over when Mrs. Naru retired." ChiChi remembered her father mentioning that. Mrs. Naru cooked many meals for her family. She organized the wedding meal with Mrs. Niver when she worked for her father. When her fourth grandchild was born, the elder lady decided she wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren. "Mrs. Naru recommended Ikare, her niece. She recently moved here from Keilin village. Her first job was preparing all the food for your investiture."

With so much going on in the planning of her investiture, ChiChi couldn't remember meeting the woman. "I'm sorry. I don't remember meeting but the food you prepared at my investiture was wonderful."

"I'm honored," Kooky bowed to hide her blush. She loves my cooking!

"But what are you doing here?" ChiChi asked. "You're miles away from Dad's kingdom."

"I heard many herbs grow here and I want to cook the very best for the king and his family. I don't mind traveling far for the best ingredients. I went to North City to find the most potent vanilla beans for your cake."

Gyu-Mao chuckled knowing the trouble Kooky got into acquiring the vanilla beans. "You were almost attacked by a pterodactyl, too. Kooky tends to attract dangerous animals because of the food she collects."

"I see." ChiChi noticed Kooky clutching the pouch in her hands. She admired Kooky's dedication to finding the best foods. She has the same mindset when cooking for her family but felt the new chef shouldn't do this. "Maybe you should get food at the market instead. The ingredients there are very good."

"Oh, but I couldn't," Kooky refused the suggestion. She's so caring and thoughtful of others! "I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't cook the best for the King, the future Queen and her family. I wouldn't be a good cook if I let something like wild animals stop me. A great cook lets nothing get in her way."

ChiChi respected the woman's admiration for providing a good meal. "Thank you, Ikare. I can't stop you if that is what you want. Be careful next time you look for your ingredients."

She's beautiful, kind and caring! "Kooky," Kooky insisted. "Everyone calls me Kooky."

She's a bit strange. ChiChi smiled. "Okay… Kooky. Well, Goten and I have to go. I'm gonna skin and clean this boar for dinner."

"I can do it," Kooky offered. "I know the perfect seasoning for boar and I can prepare it many ways. Grill, stew, soup, fricassee, oven-baked. You name it, I can make it."

Very strange. "Maybe next time. Goodbye, Dad. Come on, Goten." ChiChi turned back to Kooky smiling. "It was nice meeting you, Kooky."

"It was nice meeting you. Next time you visit, please stay for lunch. I'll cook another wonderful meal for you."

"I look forward to it," ChiChi waved before walking off with Goten.

This was more than Kooky hoped for in a second meeting with ChiChi. Oh, wow. Strong, beautiful, kind and regal. She's amazing.

"Gohan, is this equation right?" Erasa handed Gohan her worksheet. She leaned forward giving Gohan a sweet invitation to look at her breasts in her lowcut top. She expected Gohan to look at least once but he focused on reviewing Erasa's worksheet. "I think I got it but I want to be sure. All these chemical equations and elements are so confusing."

"It can be if you don't understand." Gohan tapped his pencil on one problem. "Right here. You almost had this equation correct. You should balance 1Zn + 2HCl like…."

As Gohan explained the equation, Erasa stared at Gohan saying, "Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Oh, I see," while thinking. He's so cute. I wonder what his dick tastes like.

"Don't forget to brush up on the periodic table," Gohan went on. "Mr. Gaia said that will be on the test, too."

I'll be his first.

Gohan thrust Erasa's worksheet in her face. "Here you go. I broke down step by step to solve the equations you got wrong."

Erasa frowned at the red marks. "Geez. I'm gonna flunk this test."

She wouldn't get a perfect score but Gohan believed Erasa will pass the test. "You've done very well in our session. You didn't understand any elements and compounds Mr. Gaia went over. You got seven of the ten problems on my practice test correct."

"It's still a 70," Erasa soured at her results. "I'm gonna lose my phone privileges."

"This is what you did in three hours of studying. If you study tomorrow, too, you'll get a high score on Monday's test."

Maybe Erasa thought as she shoved the worksheet in her folder. She noticed Gohan closing his chemistry book and folders. "I could study hard or…." She pulled her tubed top hoping to lure Gohan to stare at her bouncy breasts, "you can let me copy off you."

Without looking at her, Gohan turned down her offer. "That would be cheating."

His innocence is sooo cute. "It's not cheating." Erasa grabbed a hand to get his attention. She caressed her fingers over Gohan's hand. "It's friends helping each other and there are many ways I can help you."

Gohan pulled his hand away and grabbed a folder. "Sounds like cheating to me. You don't need to do that, Erasa. Just study, believe in yourself and you'll be fine."

"Oh, geez," Sharpner groaned. It was bad watching Erasa shamelessly flirt with Gohan. He couldn't stand Gohan being a boy scout, too. "You sound like those cheesy afterschool shows, Gohan. Erasa, just take him to your room and get it over with."

Gohan pretended to not understand as he placed his book and folders in his satchel. Erasa looked over at Videl for a reaction. Her best friend looked annoyed as usual but it wasn't at her. It was at Gohan. His presence always riled the pigtailed girl. "If I pass, I will find a way to thank you and you're going to accept it." Erasa winked at him. "How do you know so much?"

Erasa always complimented him but Gohan was too humble to take it seriously. "I read. It's nothing special."

"Yeah, but you can read and understand Chemistry." Erasa rubbed her hand up and down Gohan's right arm. He appeared lanky but Erasa felt muscles under Gohan's shirt. Videl was right about Gohan being more than he appeared. "What else are you good at it if you read enough books?"

"Um….." Leska touched his arms on this spot a few times. He liked it. He didn't like this. "Sharpner, do you have any questions?"

Sharpner shook his head. "Nah. I think I know enough to pass with a C. That's good enough for me."

"Videl?" Videl was mostly quiet during the study session. Gohan didn't know if it was annoyance towards him or shyness in asking for help. She kept her distance and didn't speak when Gohan explained the chemistry equations he guessed will be on the test. She struggled as much as Erasa, but unlike Erasa, she never asked questions. Gohan knew Videl needed help but she refused it.

Why is she so stubborn? He wanted to leave. When Erasa suggested a study session, he used this opportunity to make plans with Leska behind his mother's back. The study session went longer than planned so he was already late but Gohan knew he would feel guilty if he didn't try to help Videl. Her stubbornness reminded Gohan of his mother. She refused help if it involved housecleaning and cooking. She always said that's her job. Gohan got a lesson in how to handle women like that from his Dad.

"Do you need help, ChiChi?"

Gohan followed Goku out of the tent they put up together. Training with Piccolo got more intense as the 12th of May approached, but one March morning, ChiChi announced she wanted a weekend with her husband and son. Gohan thought Dad should say no but he surprisingly agreed. Piccolo wasn't happy but whenever Dad agreed with Mom, Piccolo knew nothing he said or did would change their minds.

"No, I'm fine," ChiChi refused Goku's help as she gutted the second fish Goku caught. The first one cooking over the fire was Gohan's size. The second one was as tall and big as Gyu-Mao and required more gutting and cleaning. "I can handle it."

Goku stood next to ChiChi. "You've been handling it since I caught it. Me and Gohan got the tent put up and you're still working on the fishes." Goku reached into the fish. "Let me help."

ChiChi pushed against Goku with her left hip. He didn't budge. "I told you-."

Goku retaliated, pushing ChiChi aside with his right hip. She stumbled, he took her spot and resumed gutting the fish. "Stop being stubborn. You need help. Take it."

Gohan expected Mom to yell at Dad. Cooking was her domain. She didn't allow anyone to take over. Instead, she smiled and leaned on him. "It's the least you can do. You caught it."

Gohan didn't expect a smile from Videl but he knew the way to help her is to take over and not listen when she complains. Gohan put down his satchel and stood behind Videl. He looked over her worksheet.

Videl put her hands over the worksheet. "What are you doing? You can't look at my answers."

Gohan pulled her hands away and held them down with one hand as he looked over her work. Videl tried to free her hands but was shocked to discover she couldn't move under him. How come I can't break from him? Is he secretly strong? She turned her head up at him, ready to yell when she froze. She's never been this close to a boy before. Her father wouldn't allow it but away from her father's watchful eyes, Videl indulged herself in staring at the first boy to get close to her. She noticed the crew cut of Gohan's shirt was low which bless her with muscles peaking from his shirt. Her eyes went up, noticing the outline of muscles around his neck; his sharp jawline, smooth lips and coal black eyes thinning in concentration as he focused on her work.

He's kinda cute.

"You understand the periodic table but I suggest studying your formulas, too." Gohan took her pencil and wrote corrections on her worksheet. "Mr. Gaia talked a lot about Kinetic Energy and the Energy of a photon so focus on that."

Videl saw his lips move. He spoke but her ears weren't working; only her eyes and they were on Gohan's face. She kept staring until Gohan looked down at her. "Do you understand?"

Videl felt Gohan relax his hold over her hands. She quickly pulled away. "I understand enough. I don't need your help!"

Gohan pulled back unbothered by Videl's brusqueness. "Okay. I think you'll do great on the test." He stepped away and reached into his satchel. He opened his folder again. "I don't know if you want it but I made a copy of my study sheet for Chemistry. It helped me with the last quiz. Maybe it can help with the test."

"I'll take one!" Erasa took a copy. "So will Videl. She doesn't like to say it but science is her weakest subject." Gohan looked at Videl for confirmation but the dark-haired girl looked away. Gohan held out his study sheet but Videl refused to take it. Erasa took it for her friend. Gohan held one out to Sharpner. He stared for a moment before taking the sheet.

Gohan zipped his satchel. I'm so late. "Thank you for inviting me to the study session, Erasa. I liked it."

"We'll have to do another one," Erasa winked at him. "Maybe a private one with you and me."

"I think it'll be better if all of us are together," Gohan politely declined. "Have a good weekend. I'll see everyone on Monday."

Erasa reached for him as Gohan started to leave. "You don't have to leave yet. After studying, we always relax with music, movies and games." She raised her arms and shook her body to imaginary music in her head. "I can show you the latest dance moves."

"Sorry, but I am meeting a friend."

"A friend?" As far as Erasa knew Gohan only spent time with them. Except for P.E. where she, Videl and Sharpner played baseball and Gohan swam, they were always together. "Who?"

"Just someone who works at Game-X Arcade." Gohan checked his watch. "I have to go. Goodbye."

Gohan sprinted out the door. Videl peered out the window at Gohan running away. "Why is he in a rush?"

"He's meeting a friend at Game-X. Must be a girl," Erasa commented as she looked out the window with Videl. "No way he's in a rush to meet a guy unless my radar is broken."

A girl? Pfft. "Why would a girl be interested in him?"

Erasa wanted to ask Videl 'Aren't you?' She noticed her friend's eyes on Gohan as he checked her work. "Are you blind, Videl?"

"He's a pencil," Sharpner snorted.

"To you," Erasa expected that reaction from Sharpner. He got jealous when he's not getting the girl's attention. "But he's a mysterious cutie."

Mysterious Videl agreed but cute? She thought of Gohan as he helped her with her chemistry schoolwork. She thought of how his face lit up when he opened his abundant lunch; how he opened the door for girls and let them go through first. No. No. Definitely not cute. "He's a strange boy who drives a mysterious one-seater no one's ever seen."

"I don't care what he drives," Sharpner shuffled his books and notes in his bookbag. "I'm not trying to get rides like Erasa."

"Gohan's a liar and he's hiding something." Videl felt it in her bones.

"So, that means you're not interested in him?" Erasa pried for a reaction. "You hate liars."

"Interested in that weirdo?" Videl shoved her books in her bookbag. If she ran fast enough, she can catch up to Gohan. She almost caught him after school yesterday. "Why are you interested in Gohan, Erasa? He's not your type."

"He's cute. That qualifies him as my type." Erasa ignored Videl's eye-rolling. She knew when a girl was interested in a guy and Videl had eyes for Gohan. "Just because you're too stubborn to see hotness, doesn't mean I am."

"Hotness?" Videl laughed. "Gohan?"

"I know your Dad wants to keep you locked up, but are you saying you don't feel anything when you see Gohan? That cute, innocent face does nothing?"

Cute? Innocent? Videl thought of Gohan through the study session; how he appeared oblivious to Erasa's flirting; his closeness when he stood over her; the warmth she felt radiating from him as he studied her work; his strength as he held her hands down and his generosity in giving her his study sheets. "I don't know what you're seeing, Erasa, but there's nothing appealing about Son Gohan."

"Then why are you stalking him?"

"Stalking? I'm not stalking Gohan." Sharpner snorted a laugh. Videl turned to him. "What's so funny?"

"Videl," Erasa couldn't believe she had to spell it out for her. "You're on Gohan's ass as soon as he leaves school. Every day, you're following him and you always lose him because you get distracted with a Saiyaman sighting."

As a protector of justice, Videl thought it was her right to investigate anything suspicious and Gohan was very suspicious. "No one has seen his ride. Isn't that strange?"

"It could be a capsule car," Sharpner said.

"Then why not open it when he gets into the parking lot?"

"He's a poor kid from the country who travels five hundred miles for school. A lot of kids here got money and if we flunk out, our parents will take care of us. I bet you Gohan's family scrapped up what they could to send Gohan in an old, beat-up model," Erasa theorized. "He probably opens it away from school because it's not flashy like our rides."

That was possible. Videl wasn't always rich. She remembered living in a small apartment with her parents. Her mother put scraps of food together for a meal for years. There were a couple of holidays and birthdays, Videl didn't receive a gift. They moved a lot when rent got too high. Things were harder when her Mom died but got better when her Dad brought back the Tenkaichi Budokai. Everything changed when her Dad defeated Cell. It was like winning the lottery for her family. Videl never worried about moving again and anything she wanted, she got. It had been years since Videl was poor and she forgot what it was like. Maybe Gohan was an embarrassed, poor kid. Maybe but Videl couldn't shake the feeling Gohan kept something big from everyone.

"Still doesn't change Gohan is strange and has a big secret. I know it."

Erasa didn't think Gohan had a big secret. She knew Videl had one. "You're mad Gohan didn't fawn over you like every person who meets you."

Videl sputtered at Erasa's words and was even more blown when Sharpner agreed with her. "She's right. I thought I was the only one who noticed."

"It was a surprise," Videl admitted, "but I wasn't annoyed with it."

"Ah-ha!" Erasa cackled. "You noticed it, too! Admit it. It bothered you!"

A little. Ever since the Cell Game, Videl was recognized wherever she went. With the recognition, came praise. Videl never let it go to her head like her father but to be not noticed after all this time was surprising. It made Videl curious about Gohan. Why didn't he act like everyone else? If Videl was honest, she thought Gohan wasn't impressed her Dad defeated Cell, and if he wasn't impressed with him, did that mean Gohan wasn't impressed with her? "I'm not shallow," Videl brushed off the insinuation. "It was weird to not get the usual reaction. My Dad saved all of us and Gohan wasn't impressed. It's insulting."

"Gohan's from the country. He probably doesn't have a TV and never saw the Cell Game. Maybe he read about your Dad and that's why he didn't know you." Videl denied it but Erasa saw the truth. "Gohan's your type."

"I don't have a type!" Dad scares off any guy interested in me. I never had a chance to figure out what my type is.

"You need a good boy your Dad won't feel threatened by. That's Gohan. He's tall, lanky and well-mannered. Gohan will wet his pants in front of the guy who saved the world from Cell."

"And you think I want a guy who will be intimidated of my Dad?" Videl grabbed her bookbag. She didn't know what her type was but Videl knew she didn't want that.

"Where are you going?" Erasa noticed Videl going for the door.

"Game-X. I'm gonna see who Gohan is meeting."

"It could be a girlfriend."

"It's not!" Videl screamed.

"Okay," Erasa held her hands up in defeat. "It's not." She grabbed her purse and followed Videl, "But you can't go without us."

"I hope she won't be mad I'm late," Gohan murmured as he neared Game-X Arcade. He wanted to do this since Leska offered but couldn't produce a good reason to go to Satan City on the weekend. Weekends were times for Gohan to be with his Mom and brother. Erasa's offer to study was a godsend. He could go to Satan City on a Saturday and spend time with Leska without his mother knowing. Still, his mother was a sharp one. She almost caught him when he brought up coming here.

"Okay. Come home when it's over."

Gohan grabbed forks and knives from the drawer. Mom approved of his study session. If he plays it cool, he can see Leska, too. "I was thinking of staying in Satan City after our session, Mom. For a couple of hours. I might be late for dinner."

Gohan knew ChiChi expected him to come home after studying so he wasn't surprised when she questioned staying in Satan City longer. "I fight crime as Saiyaman but I don't know where the hospitals or the police station are. I don't even know all the roads. I want to stay for a couple of hours to explore the city."

It wasn't a lie he know didn't places in Satan City. When Videl ran off in the middle of class, he knew Videl was going to Route 81 but he didn't know where that was and waited for Videl's Ki to spike to find her. She almost caught him when she asked how he got out of class. Gohan played dumb which angered Videl. She raced back to school in her helicopter. She flew at the highest speed and Gohan had to turn into a Super Saiyan to beat Videl back. He heard Videl questioning Erasa on Gohan's disappearance. It made her even more suspicious he is Saiyaman.

He wasn't honest on what he did when he stayed in Satan City to explore and she knew it when she asked him, "What about your patrols during the week? You spend time there on Mondays and Wednesdays."

On Mondays and Wednesdays, if Gohan wasn't fighting crime, he spent it at Leska's apartment. He visited for an hour to talk and have a snack before going home. Gohan's deflected his mother's question, saying, "Those are only an hour and most times I'm helping the police because something comes up in the middle of my patrol." He did patrol the city for ten minutes so it wasn't a lie. He just didn't tell his Mom the entire truth.

His deflection didn't work because ChiChi gave him a stern, 'Do not lie to me' look. That look terrified Gohan as a child. Older and now taller than his mother, Gohan felt bolder and less intimidated. He told ChiChi nothing was going on but when she told him, he couldn't go and guilted him bringing up Goten, Gohan got angry.

Why can't he go? Why did he have to stay home and give up his fun? Goten's his brother and he loved him dearly but that didn't mean he had to sacrifice time for himself. He's stayed home for seven years. He was always there to help Goten and now, he had friends of his own, a girl he liked and wanted to spend time with and his mother threatened to take that away.

No! Gohan decided. She will not! If he gave in on this, he will always give in. He had to take a stand against his mother and he didn't care how angry she got. He got angry with her once and it shut her up. Even if it meant breaking his word with his Dad, Gohan was going to do it.

Gohan gripped the water pitcher tightly and slammed the refrigerator door. "I can't be home all the time, Mom. I should have a life, too." She jumped. Good. Now she will take him seriously. His mother turned to him. He expected anger and was ready to fight with her on this but her shocked face cut him. She gave him that same look when he yelled for her to shut up in the hospital.

'What's wrong with me? Why did I snap at Mom like that?' His palms sweated and his heart pumped excitedly. He felt possessed as if something was taking over him. He hadn't felt like this since the Cell Game.

Gohan turned away from ChiChi. He exhaled to calm himself. As he filled his, ChiChi and Goten's glasses, he heard ChiChi warn him to watch his tone. He apologized and after guilting him again, ChiChi gave in. She gave her blessing for him to come to Satan City.

If only Mom knew Gohan's real reason.

Game-X Arcade teemed with teenagers and young adults. There were screams of the joy of moving to the next level and curses of defeat. Gohan sifted through the crowd and used Ki to find Leska standing over a middle school-aged boy. Her hair was pulled back as she dressed casual in jeans, a T-shirt and a Game-X apron. The child she stood over was engrossed in his game. He clutched the controls tightly with his tongue sticking out of his mouth in fierce concentration. Gohan stood back watching Leska be a cheerleader for the child until he failed to advance to the next level. There, she gave him a comforting pat as he hopped off and ventured to another game console. As if sensing she was being watched, Leska turned and saw Gohan.

"Gohan!" Leska welcomed him with a pretty smile. "You made it."

"Sorry, I'm late. I was studying with classmates for a test."

"It's cool. I'm gonna be done with my shift in a few minutes anyway."

"Sorry," Gohan apologized again. "I know I'm late and you don't have time to teach me the games but I don't mind staying later if you don't?" Gohan rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I'm not good at playing games but I'm a fast learner."

Leska didn't take Gohan's tardiness as hard as he. "Maybe if you came an hour ago, I would teach you but I'm ready to leave to see something besides video games."

Leave? With him he hoped. "Where do you want to go?"

"There's a restaurant at Jamba Square I go to. There's a different band that plays every weekend."

Gohan took up her offer. "Sounds good."

"I don't have enough to pay for your stomach," Leska warned him. "Just one meal."

Damn. I didn't know I had to bring money for food. I should've asked Grandpa for money. "I won't eat much. I'm saving my stomach for when I go home."

"How long can you stay before you have to go home?"

It was almost five and ChiChi expected him home around six-thirty. Gohan wanted to spend more than an hour with Leska. "Mom won't mind as long as I call her." I hope.

Leska checked her watch. "Shift's over. I'm gonna change. I'll be back."

Alone, Gohan perused the aisle of different games being played. Seeing all the little kids playing made him think of Goten. His little brother would love this place. All the time Goten asked to see Gohan's school and Satan City. ChiChi always said no.

Mom thinks I don't think spend enough time with Goten now I'm Saiyaman. If I bring him here, I can spend time with Goten and see Leska, too. Goten will be too happy to play all the games he won't mind if I spend time with Leska. Yeah! That'll work! Mom won't have to know.

"Gohan!"

Gohan felt his heart sink into his stomach. Oh no! What are they doing here?

Turning, Gohan saw Erasa, Videl and Sharpner approach him. Damn. Damn. Damn. "Um, hi! What are you doing here?"

"We're done studying and wanted to unwind at Game-X." Erasa looked around. "Soooo, where's your friend?"

"I'm ready, Gohan," Leska came up from behind him. She noticed the slight panic on Gohan's face before noticing the three teens gawking at her. "Are these your friends, Gohan?"

Videl, Erasa and Sharpner were stunned by the pretty, young woman beside Gohan. She wore a blue, floral printed backless dress with the straps wrapped around her neck elegantly as her hair was pulled up in a sleek ponytail.

Gohan saw the looks of his friends. Sharpner was proud. Erasa was curious and Videl looked annoyed. What was her problem? "Leska, meet my friends. Videl, Erasa and Sharpner."

"Nice to meet you."

"Is this your girlfriend, Gohan?" Erasa studied her, slightly impressed and slightly jealous. "She's pretty."

"And older," Videl remarked as her eyes scanned the college student. She doesn't look like she's in high school.

"Gohan," Sharpner was impressed. "I can't believe you hooked an older woman."

"Uh…." Gohan blushed. If only. "You see….."

"Gohan's not my boyfriend," Leska clarified. "He's my friend. I met him when I spent summer break with my aunt and uncle in his Grandpa's village."

"Wait," Videl interrupted. "Your Grandpa has a village?" Videl tried to comprehend what that meant. "Is your Grandpa a politician like a mayor?"

"He's a King," Leska corrected her.

"KING?!" Videl, Erasa and Sharpner chorused so loud everyone nearby turned in their direction.

Gohan noticed the curious eyes on them. Oh, man! Why me?

"Gohan….." Erasa was in awe. "Are you a prince? No wonder you're so secretive."

"No, no, no!" Gohan frantically waved his hands. "I'm not a prince and it's a small village," Gohan downplayed the news. The onlookers resumed their games. At least they're not staring anymore. "There's barely 3,000 people. It's not a big deal."

"Except his Mom was reinstated as Princess," Leska noticed Gohan's discomfort at the reveal but she wouldn't allow Gohan to downplay his heritage. "I know some things must be kept secret but you don't have to downplay this, Gohan."

Erasa saw the pride on Leska's face and blushing embarrassment on Gohan's. He wasn't upset with his news being exposed but shy about it. Her instincts told her the two had a special connection. "For friends, you two seem close."

"Ah, we're just catching up," Leska brushed off the insinuation but stood close to Gohan. "I haven't seen Gohan since that summer. He made summer break fun."

"Oh?" Erasa wanted to know more. "How fun?"

Gohan blushed while Leska laughed as she caught on to the sly tone of Erasa's voice. "Not like that. Gohan was thirteen and I was a freshman in high school."

As Erasa kept on with more questions and teasing, Videl grew suspicious of Gohan and the older woman. For a woman who considers Gohan her friend, she stood too close to him. The way she smiled at him was suspicious, too. Just who the hell is this girl?

"It was nice talking to you," Leska pulled Gohan's arm, "but Gohan and I should be going."

"Where are you going?" Erasa asked. "You're not boyfriend and girlfriend so you're not going on a date. Let's all hang out!" Erasa wrapped an arm around Gohan, too. "Gohan never has time for us during the week and we just finished having a major study session. We need to unwind."

"Smooth, Erasa. Real smooth," Sharpner amusingly muttered under his breath. There was more to Gohan than he thought. He was boring to hide his connections others would exploit. Like him. Sharpner saw an opportunity to being friendly with Gohan would open connections for him. Unlike Erasa, he knew how to play it. Nonchalant. "Gohan's girl is in college, Erasa. She doesn't want to be around high school kids."

"She's around Gohan," Erasa put her arm around Gohan again when he pulled out of her grasp. "What's three more?"

"Babysitting?" Sharpner noticed Videl. Erasa did all the talking but Videl's face spoke volumes. She was angry. Gohan's weird but meeting Leska explains some of the weirdness. What's Videl's problem?

Leska knew she and Gohan wouldn't get rid of them so she accepted the nosy parties. They were interesting except for the pigtailed girl who looked pissed. "We're gonna get something to eat and listen to music at Jamba Square. The older crowd doesn't get there until after ten so if you're gone before then…."

"Works for me." Erasa wasn't going to miss hanging out with a college student and one who knew Gohan well. "My curfew is at eleven and I'm sure Gohan can't stay out late since he has a long commute home."

I can't believe this! I went through all that with Mom to spend time with Leska and my friends are chaperoning us! "Yeah, that's true. We can't be out too long." So, go home!

Leska sensed Gohan's uneasiness but saw Gohan's friends as harmless and what he needed to get out of his shell. "We can go to Fogo's in Jamba Square. It's not expensive and it has great food."

Erasa secured her arm around Gohan's again. "Let's go."

With Erasa's enthusiasm, Videl looking pissed and Gohan embarrassed, Sharpner shoved his hands in his pockets and followed them out of the arcade. "Should be an interesting night."

Jamba Square was a lively spot six blocks away from the arcade. Restaurants, shops and bars were within walking distance of each other. The group settled on the patio of Fogo's where they had a great view of the band setting up on a stage in the heart of Jamba Square.

"I still can't believe you're the son of a King, Gohan" Erasa gushed as they were handed their menus. "I feel so blessed to be around two famous people."

"Two?" Leska looked at the three wondering who the second person is. "Who's the other?"

Erasa assumed Leska knew but acted too cool to react because she's older. "You mean you don't know? Videl is famous."

"Oh, boy," Gohan muttered.

The pissed-off girl? Videl looked like a regular teenage girl. Was she a teen pop idol or actress? "I've done nothing but study and work since I got here. Sorry, but I don't know what you're famous for."

"Videl is the daughter of Mr. Satan, the man who saved us from Cell!"

Gohan raised his menu hiding his face. Oh, man.

Leska didn't hide her disgust at the mention of the world's biggest fraud. "Mr. Satan? That fraud. You're his daughter?"

Oh, boy.

Erasa and Sharpner's mouths fell open while a shocked Videl jumped from her seat pissed. "Fraud?!" Defeating Cell gave her father a huge ego but she still loved and admired him. "My father is many things but he is not a fraud. He saved all our lives."

Leska knew she had to keep Gohan's secret but she never held back her dislike of Mr. Satan with anyone. "I didn't see anything in that fight with Cell to make me think your Dad beat him. He got knocked out of the ring."

"Yeah," Videl agreed with that, "but he came back later to beat Cell after those other people failed."

"I didn't see a video of that. The last video anyone saw was some kid fighting Cell after some big, blonde guy fought him. Maybe they defeated Cell."

Oh, no! Gohan screamed. Don't say that!

"The signal cut off in the middle of the fight," Erasa remembered watching the game with her parents. Her Dad hit the TV several times to get it to work. "But there were witnesses with Videl's Dad. They saw him beat Cell."

"The witnesses were Mr. Satan's manager, two people from his dojo, a cameraman and a biased reporter who said they were all knocked out. They didn't see the fight and took the fraud for his word."

Leska, what are you doing?!

Videl slammed her hands on the table. "My Dad is not a fraud! He is a hero who saved the world!"

"Sorry," Leska didn't hold back her disgust, "but he's a guy who got rich off one fight no one saw and hasn't done anything since."

Videl, Sharpner, Erasa and Gohan were speechless with Leska's blunt opinion. A waiter, noticing the tension, returned to bring drinks, a breadbasket and promptly left.

"Well…." Sharpner broke the silence, "she has a point, Videl."

"What?" Videl whipped her head at Sharpner's betrayal.

"I believe your Dad defeated Cell, Videl, but he hasn't done anything since. Not that he should," Sharpner wanted to be clear. "But there hasn't been a tournament since the Cell Game. My Dad said Cell hurt your Dad in that fight so badly he can't compete again. That's the only reason he can think of why there hasn't been a Tenkaichi Budokai in seven years."

"Videl's Dad doesn't have to fight anymore." Erasa grabbed a breadstick. "After saving us from Cell, he can coast for the rest of his life."

Videl looked at Erasa. Not her, too. "You really think my Dad doesn't have it anymore?"

Erasa shrugged. "He's probably not as strong as he was when he defeated Cell. Maybe Cell is your Dad's one hit. Lots of musicians are one-hit wonders and can live the rest of their life being famous for one song. There's nothing wrong with your Dad being the same way."

Videl clenched her fists. "You're comparing my Dad to a one-hit wonder musician?!"

Erasa saw nothing wrong in the comparison. "Don't worry about it, Videl. Even if your Dad doesn't have it anymore, you're strong and rich. You're set for life."

"That's not the point!" Videl screamed. She felt punched in her stomach by two of her closest friends. "She called my Dad a fraud and you're not saying anything! She said my Dad took credit for something he didn't do! My Dad wouldn't do that! He saved the world!" Videl spun back to Leska infuriated. "How can you be so ungrateful?"

Leska maintained her cool in spite of Videl's anger. "I am grateful to the one who sacrificed his life so we can live and the one who defeated Cell but those two people are not your father."

"You speak as if you know who defeated Cell." Videl felt she had the upper hand now. "If my Dad didn't do it, then who did? Why haven't they come forward?" Videl was ready to slam Leska down on her lies. Her father defeated Cell. There wasn't anyone else!

"Because they like their privacy unlike your Dad who loves attention. Because they didn't see saving the world equaling to profit for themselves." Leska kept her eyes locked on Videl's so the teen could see her anger and sadness for what Gohan's family went through and hope there was a sliver of remorse from someone related to the fraud. "Because they are suffering the real consequences of that fight and to deal with that, shun everything connected to him including your fraud of a father!"

The raw emotion in Leska's voice tempered some of Videl's anger. This wasn't spite or jealousy coming from her. It was real emotions of anger and pain spawned from something her father did. What is she talking about?

Videl's smartwatch chimed. It was Chief Noz. Maybe her Dad did something wrong but he wasn't a fraud. When Leska called her Dad a fraud, Videl felt she was being called one, too. She wasn't. She's rich and got things her way but she worked hard to get where she is. She exercised and studied martial arts daily. She worked with the police to take down criminals. She wasn't the strongest person (yet) but no one could say she didn't do her best. If Leska got a taste of her life, she will know she and her father weren't frauds. Videl tapped the speaker on her smartwatch. "Yes?"

"Videl, there was a shooting at Toffee House. Akuji Tendo did it."

"Akuji Tendo?" Chief Noz told her about him after her nightly patrol of Satan City. "The guy who escaped prison from Citrus City yesterday?"

"Yeah. I didn't think he would be stupid enough to try to hide in our city. It's the home of our savior from Cell but he did. He stole a car when he escaped Citrus City and killed the driver. We found the driver in the trunk with two bullets in his head and his car in the parking lot of Toffee House. He killed three people when he robbed it, took a hostage, a young woman and stole her car. It's a red Camia. We're chasing him on Route 81. We think he's gonna try to hide in the mountains."

"He can hide for days there." Videl worried for the hostage. "But why take a hostage? She'll slow him down."

"We're not sure yet but we need your help."

"You got it. I'm on my way." Videl turned off the speaker on her watch. She tossed two large bills on the table. "This should cover Erasa and Sharpner's dinner." She'll show this ungrateful smart mouth. "Some of us frauds have lives to save."

Puzzled at what she witnessed, Leska asked after Videl ran off. "Where is she going?"

"Videl helps the police," Erasa counted the money left behind. "They call her whenever they get in over their heads and need help."

Leska turned to Gohan. "Isn't she getting in over her head?"

"Always," Gohan muttered.

"Videl can handle herself," Erasa spoke up of her friend. "She's helped the police several times."

"If she can't, Saiyaman will help her," Sharpner added just as Gohan stood. "Where are you going?"

The downside of being Saiyaman was the excuses Gohan made up to escape to help Videl. He embarrassed himself with classmates when they thought he spent an hour in the bathroom. He said he hid in a closet after the earthquake he created to escape another time. Each excuse was more embarrassing than the next. "I have to call home. My Mom worries a lot and I wanna tell her to not worry about me and dinner."

"Oh," Erasa opened her purse. "I have my cell-

"You can use mine," Leska quickly held up her cell phone. "Take your time. I know how your Mom can be." She winked, letting Gohan know she will cover things here. "I'll keep your friends company."

"Thank you," Gohan took the phone and briskly entered the restaurant.

He was gone from her view for a second before Leska heard someone shout, "Hey! There's Saiyaman!"

Leska, Erasa and Sharpner looked skyward to see Saiyaman flying from the city. It was a silly outfit but even Leska thought Gohan looked very heroic right now.

No matter what Videl vowed to rescue the hostage and beat up the shooter and kidnapper. She had to do this. Her family's honor was on the line. How dare she call my Dad a fraud! She wouldn't be here if Dad didn't defeat Cell!

He's a guy who got rich off one fight no one saw and hasn't done anything since.

The truth stung but Videl knew her father had a reason. Dad has been busy making product deals and building dojos. He's the strongest person on Earth. There's no one to give him a good fight. Even in her mind, the excuses were weak. Her Dad could host exhibition shows and do performances to show off his strength. When she asked to spar, he always told her she wasn't ready to face him.

My Dad said Cell hurt your Dad in that fight so badly he can't compete again.

That would explain why her father hasn't done anything in seven years but Videl refused to believe her father was a fraud. He wouldn't take credit for something he didn't do. If her father wasn't strong enough to beat Cell, then that would mean she wasn't strong.

It's not true! I am strong. I am the daughter of the man who beat Cell. I beat up criminals. The police wouldn't call me to help if I wasn't strong. They need me.

One Year Ago

"Come on, Dad. One spar. I've gotten really good."

Videl hoped this time her father will say yes. Sparring used to be their thing. Her Dad was the strongest in the world and a very busy man but he always found time once a week to spar. She always lost but Videl learned something from each lesson. Her Dad would tell her where she improved and what she needed to work on. Afterward, they'll have a milkshake or ice cream and talk. It would be about anything. An anime she liked. A friend she made at school. Whatever she did that day, her father wanted to know. It was her time with her Dad and Videl always treasured it.

But in the last two years, their special father/daughter time changed. Instead of a once-a-week spar, it became every two weeks, then three, then once a month. Sometimes her Dad didn't want to spar. He'd tell her she's too far behind and has to work on things before she can fight at his level. It was a cold brush-off to Videl. It didn't matter before she was out of his league. Why now when Videl knew she's stronger. Now he treated her as if she will never reach him.

"I would, Baby Girl, but I would embarrass you." Her father ruefully patted her head as if she were a dog. "I know how sensitive girls get at your age. I don't wanna embarrass you. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll be better than me one day."

"I won't be embarrassed, Dad. How can I show you how strong I am if you won't fight me?"

"I know you're strong. Just not stronger than me and that's fine. I beat Cell. It's an impossibly high level to reach."

His constant brush-offs festered anger and resentment at her Dad. Instead of admiring and praising him, Videl became angry at his ego and desired to knock him off his pedestal. Perhaps then he will acknowledge her strength and see her as an equal and worthy opponent.

"Dad, I need to get stronger and you won't help me. I need to fight opponents who will make me stronger."

"There are plenty at my dojos."

"But they treat me differently because I am your daughter. If I am hurt, you'll go after them."

"That's right." Mark punched his fist showing what he will do if she's hurt.

"That is what's holding me back, Dad! I need to fight people who don't care I am your daughter and will give me a real fight." That's it, she realized. She found an answer to her problem. "I know what I need to do. I'll help the police catch criminals and fight any who don't give up."

Mark rejected the idea. "Whoa, Videl. Let's think about that."

"They'll give me a real fight, Dad. It's what I need to be as strong as you."

"Videl, you don't need to fight criminals to prove your strength."

Videl wouldn't let her Dad talk her out of it. "No, I have to do this because it's what our family does. You saved the world defeating Cell. I should do something to help the world, too. Cell is gone but bad things keep happening. People are getting robbed and killed. I should help them like you did."

"I only helped when it came to something big like Cell. Let the police handle the small stuff. That's their job."

"I want it to be mine, too, and I'm gonna do it. You can stop me by giving me a fight."

Ha! She had him. Now her Dad will have to spar with her. That's what Videl assumed before her Dad surprised her with, "All right," he gave in. "You can help the police. Show them how it's done but I don't want you helping too much. The police need to do their job and you still have school."

Maybe her Dad's level was too hard to reach but at least he met with her in the middle.

As always, it was a scene going anywhere with her Dad. He drew a crowd around him. He was a real showman. He took pictures and chatted with the police officers before meeting with the Chief of Police in Satan City. Videl wanted to be in the room with her father and Chief Noz but he told her this was business and he will talk to the police for her. She waited for half an hour before her father and Chief Noz stepped out of his office with good news. She will help the police.

For the first month, Videl went on patrol rides. It was boring and not what she wanted. She sat in the car and listened to the police radio. She complained to her Dad who told her she needed to learn how police officers do their work. He promised the action will come but it didn't happen until another month later when the officer she was on patrol with got the call of two adults breaking into homes.

They were college-age and when Videl saw them coming out of a house holding a bag, she hopped out of the car and chased them. She didn't wait for backup. She tackled the one holding the bag. Money, jewelry and food spilled onto the grass. Videl didn't hold back beating up the robber. The officer who caught the other one praised Videl.

Since then, Videl received more training. She was taught defensive and pursuit driving. She learned how to fly the police helicopter. With her money, Videl purchased a helicopter and patrolled the skies by herself. She received a special watch where Chief Noz would call her for assistance.

Six months into this job, Videl stopped a bank robbery in progress. She was on her usual patrol when she noticed a suspicious car sitting in the bank parking lot. On her police scanner, she heard a car looking like the one in the parking lot was reported stolen. She watched two men get out of the car and walk to the bank doors. When she saw them pull on their mask, she knew they were trouble. She called it in but instead of waiting for the police, went into the bank from a back entrance, surprised both robbers and knocked them out before the police arrived.

This boosted Videl's confidence got her more work with the police. Instead of patrolling, Videl would get calls once a week to help them out. The more she help, the more Videl's reputation spread and the closer Videl got to a face-off against her father and proving to him she is strong like him.

Videl spotted the red sports truck leading ten patrol cars on Route 81. Videl tapped a few buttons on her panel to pull up a closer visual of the car. The windows of the truck were too dark to see in but Videl noticed several bullet holes in the trunk. She hoped the hostage wasn't dumped in there.

Looking ahead, Videl realized Akuji Tendo would reach the mountains before the police did. The sun was setting and there were many trails he could hide in after dark, and knowing he has killed before, Videl knew the hostage will be dead unless drastic actions were taken.

Videl increased speed and plunged her airship ahead of the red Camia. It was risky but she was trained on how to maneuver in dangerous pursuits. Videl's ship outraced the Camia to hover inches over the road. The red Camia barreled towards her. Videl pulled up just as the Camia swerved to avoid a collision. In the process, it spun in circles before colliding with the guardrails. The metal railings buckled as the metal of the truck screeched at the violent collision. The axle of the left rear wheel snapped. With the loss of control, the truck veered in the opposite direction but the skilled driver slammed the brakes hard to control the skidding until a second crash into another guardrail brought the truck to a stop.

Videl lowered her ship onto the street. Pieces of the truck's bumper, taillights, and side mirrors littered the road. The police sirens screeched their arrival. Officers got out of their cars and used their doors as shields as they aimed their guns at the truck.

"It's over, Akuji Tendo!" Videl took command of the situation. Overhead, she saw a news crew filming. Did they record me swooping in? She hoped they did. It will show a smug college student how brave she is and how she and her Dad weren't frauds. "Let the hostage go and give up!"

Seconds felt like minutes as it ticked by with no response from Akuji Tendo. She wondered if the criminal and the hostage were knocked out during the spinning crash. She took two steps forward to check when the dark, cracked window of the driver's side rolled down. Finally, Videl saw the face of Akuji Tendo.

Blood trickled from a large gash on his forehead. His tanned, tattooed face was dirty and unshaven. His stare was menacing but Videl wasn't scared. She was the daughter of Mr. Satan, the man who saved the world from Cell. A criminal will not intimidate her.

Despite being trapped, Akuji flashed his dirty, yellow teeth with a missing front tooth. "We can negotiate." He pulled his hostage forward so Videl could see her. She was a young woman. A brunette with two black eyes swollen in pain and tears.

"Please save me and my baby!"

Akuji slapped the woman and pushed her out of Videl's view. "I think we can come to a mutual understanding."

Damn. He had two hostages! Videl looked back at the officers who had their guns aimed at Akuji as if the order was shoot to kill. If he didn't have a hostage, she'd kick his ass but her training taught her to negotiate. "What are your demands?"

"This woman is valuable but you're a better prize, daughter of Mr. Satan. An exchange," he offered. "You for her."

"No!" Chief Noz protested. "Don't do it, Videl!"

"Do it!" Akuji ordered. "That is my demand! And if I see a sliver of a red cape, I'll shoot the hostage dead!"

Saiyaman! Videl looked up wondering if he was here. She saw clouds in the orange sun-setting sky and the helicopter of the news crew but no cape of the strange boy who saved her life more than once.

I don't need him. I can do this myself. I'm the daughter of the man who defeated Cell. I'll take down this criminal and save the hostage alone!

"It's okay, Chief! I'll be all right."

Chief Noz knew this was not okay. This was not part of the agreement he made with Mr. Satan. If anything went wrong, he'll face the wrath of the one who killed Cell. I knew this deal would come back to haunt me!

One Year Ago

Chief Noz was in the presence of a living legend. He saw the man on TV fighting to save Earth against the evil Cell, saw the parades and interviews of him but never imagined he would be in the same room with him. He listened as Mr. Satan bragged about his defeat and took a picture with him before the hero of Earth got down to business. What he offered was intriguing but questionable.

"It's an honor your daughter wants to help the police force in Satan City. It'll be a great advantage for us to have the pedigree of someone who defeated Cell helping us but we rather have your help, Mr. Satan."

Mr. Satan laughed boisterously. "Oh, I know you would but you gotta earn your paycheck. I kicked Cell's ass for you. I can't do all your work. Let my daughter help out. Let her sit in on some patrols. Teach her some defensive driving. Let her slap some petty punks around. Videl can handle that. But," Mr. Satan's jovial voice became ominous. "Any of the serious stuff like a hostage situation, the bomb squad or something that requires a SWAT team, you do yourself. Don't make my daughter do your job or you have to deal with me!"

To show he meant business, Mr. Satan punched a wall. Lines cracked in the wall and a frame fell on the floor. "That was me using a tenth of my strength. It had Cell on his knees begging for mercy. Don't make me use it on you if my daughter is hurt."

Chief Noz gulped. Cell was obliterated! He didn't want that for himself. "I won't, sir. I understand."

Initially, it started with light work. Videl went on patrols and proved to be very valuable and helpful to the police. She eventually received tougher assignments and since Mr. Satan never complained, Chief Noz assumed he approved but even the Chief knew Mr. Satan wouldn't approve of this situation.

Chief Noz pulled out his cell phone and dialed Mr. Satan's number. The phone rang until Mr. Satan's voice mail picked up. He's not answering. This is breaking news. Everyone in Satan City is watching this. What could Mr. Satan be doing?

In a massive bedroom of Mr. Satan's mansion, two bodies rubbed against each other over damp, sex-stained sheets.

"… uhhhh….. uhhhhh! Yeah… take it! Take it from the Champ!" a male voice bellowed as he plowed his stiff sex into a voluptuous redhead. "Who's the greatest?"

"Ahhh! Ahh! You….. mmm…. Champ! You're the best!" The woman under him moaned, squirmed and screamed under him. "Give it! Give it to me like you gave it to Cell!"

"Ahh yeah!" the world champ groaned as he pumped her faster. "Now you're asking for it!"

Miles away, Videl glared at Akuji as he stepped out of the truck. He dragged his pregnant hostage over the seats as he pulled her out with him. He was tall and imposing. Over six feet of muscles on his Olympian size chest and bulging biceps. This whole situation screamed trap but with the hostage, she had to give in. I can do this. I can do this.

"Walk slowly to me," Akuji ordered Videl while the mouth of his gun pressed against his hostage's back. "When you're close, I'll release her."

Videl walked slowly toward Akuji while eyeing the hostage. She cried and trembled with her hands on her slightly swollen stomach. I won't let them die.

Hovering in the sky hidden from everyone, Gohan watched the exchange. He didn't like this at all. Videl's being reckless. Is it her ego or is she going overboard because of what Leska said?

Whatever the reason, Gohan kept a watchful eye over Videl and the hostage. He wanted to intervene but heard Akuji's warning. He didn't like Videl sacrificing herself to be a hostage. From what he pieced together, Akuji Tendo was a dangerous criminal. He killed many times with no regret. He took hostages and killed them. He wasn't like the lightweights Videl dealt with. Once the hostage is safely away, I'll rescue Videl.

When Videl was three paces from reaching Akuji, he released the hostage. The harassed woman was crying and shaking with relief as she walked away. As she passed Videl, Gohan's horrified eyes saw everything go wrong. He moved like a missile but was too far to reach them in time as a gunshot and a scream rang out.

"NO!" Gohan screamed as she fell to the ground.

Rage bubbled in Gohan as he froze in mid-air. How could he? They did what he wanted and he does this?! The last time he witnessed this kind of shocking attack was seven years ago with Cell. Gohan stared at her fallen body. Blood oozed from her wound to stain the concrete streets. My fault. This is my fault.

Akuji grabbed Videl as she reached for the fallen hostage. He locked an arm around her neck and elevated her feet off the street as he pressed his gun into Videl's back. Videl's legs dangled as she pulled on the bulbous arms of her assailant. "You're my hostage now."

The ground beneath them rocked like a tiny earthquake as Gohan landed with such force, patrol cars bounced and officers fell on their feet. Akuji lost his balance and stumbled backward against his truck. His hold on Videl loosened for a second before tightening around her again. "Not one step, Saiyaman, or the daughter of our savior gets it." He squeezed his arm against Videl's throat and pressed the sharp gun barrel into Videl's back. "Not even you can stop this bullet."

"Don't worry about me," Videl croaked. "Check on the hostage."

Gohan knelt to the pregnant woman. Blood pulsed from the gunshot through the back of her right leg. "My baby. My baby," she wailed. Her arms held her stomach. She clutched it tight to protect her baby when she fell.

Gohan examined the wound. There was so much blood. "You won't lose your baby," Gohan promised as he removed his glove. Gohan raised his Ki so his hand illuminated. "This will help you." Gohan gently pressed his hand on her leg and cauterized her wound. When it closed, Gohan put his hand on her stomach and felt the Ki of the child growing inside. "Your child is fine. The Ki is strong."

The hostage murmured at Gohan confused. "Ki?"

"Life energy we all have." He gently rubbed her stomach. The warm Ki from his skin was comforting to the woman. "I did this a lot when my baby brother grew in my Mom." Gohan folded the woman's hands over her stomach. "Lie still and don't worry. I'll take you to the hospital after this is over." Gohan's warm smile melted as he stood to face Videl in Akuji's grasp. "Let her go."

Akuji jammed his gun harder against Videl. "I think I'll keep her until I can hide in the mountains. You won't move when I have her so close."

"You won't get far with her."

Akuji laughed at the bravado. Saiyaman nearly rivaled him in height but in muscles, he was a bean pole. "She's insurance you won't hurt me."

"She's insurance I will if you don't let her go."

Such cockiness. A few bullets will set this punk straight. "You're not faster than a bullet."

He's gonna shoot him! Videl couldn't let that happen. He saved her many times. It was time to return the favor even at the risk of her own life. This is what my Dad would've done. Videl swung her body forward and with that momentum, kicked back like a mule. The attack startled Akuji but not so much he lost his control. Videl felt the gun press against her back and knew his finger pulled on the trigger but instead of feeling the pain of a bullet tear through her skin, Videl felt air as her body was yanked, a strong arm secured around her body, a clap of gunfire and a bloodcurdling scream.

It happened so fast! One moment Akuji held her and in the next, Videl's body was pressed against a wall of green. Her legs dangled off the ground. She had no fear of falling as she discovered she was being held by Saiyaman. His left arm held her body against his while his right hand squeezed Akuji's as he hollered in pain. Is he breaking his hand? Akuji fell to his knees. Saiyaman released him and Videl discovered why Akuji screamed so torturously. Saiyaman squeezed the gun in Akuji's hand and broke both. Akuji's hand was grossly disfigured and bleeding so profusely Videl felt her stomach turning. The gun, or what was left of it, looked as if it exploded in Akuji's hand.

What the hell happened?

Policemen hurried over and cuffed Akuji's good hand while applying emergency medical care to the other. If it heals, there was no way it will function normally again.

Saiyaman lowered her to the ground. "Are you all right?"

Videl felt she pulled something to strike back at Akuji but considered herself lucky. "I'm fine but what happened to Akuji?"

"He shot at me when I covered my hand over his gun. It exploded but what were you thinking, pulling that maneuver? He had a gun at your back. He could've shot you!"

Whoa! Was Saiyaman was angry with her? It was the first time he raised his voice at her. So familiar. His voice is so familiar. "I was returning the favor. I owed you for saving my life. Besides, I had something to prove."

So, she did do this because of Leska. "A bullet can't take me down." He turned away and went to the wounded hostage. Two policemen tended to her. "And you shouldn't do foolish things to prove yourself."

Why am I yelling at her?

Videl followed him unperturbed by his outburst. "What did you do to the hostage? Your hand glowed over her leg." He mentioned a brother, too. Gohan has a brother.

"I stopped the bleeding." Saiyaman gently picked up the hostage. Two officers protested but Videl waved them to stand down. "I have to take her to the hospital but I don't know where one is."

"Follow me," Videl ran to her helicopter. "I know the way."

For an hour, Videl and Saiyaman waited for the results of the hostage. On the way, they learned her name was Ami and she stopped by Toffee House to pick up an order when Akuji Tendo came in. She was the first person he grabbed. Videl called Ami's husband who was out of town on business. He was on the way but his flight wouldn't come in until tomorrow. Videl thought the least she could do is wait until they heard the good news about Ami.

Videl stepped away to answer calls from the police and give a phone interview. When she returned to the waiting room, Saiyaman sat alone holding an empty paper cup. "Anything yet?"

"Still waiting."

"That's always the hardest part." Videl leaned on a wall adjacent to him. This whole experience gave her bad memories. "One of the officers I partnered with got shot. He was in surgery for three hours. It felt like three days waiting to hear something."

Saiyaman didn't speak but Videl felt a familiar vibe with him. Being close to him felt familiar. When he spoke before he had a deeper voice. His voice was still lower but it sounded natural and close to someone she knew. As she wondered where she heard that voice, he looked at her. "You didn't go home? I saw you leave after we admitted her."

"I had some calls to make. I won't leave until I know Ami and her baby are okay. I get the feeling you won't either." Saiyaman nodded in mutual understanding. "It's strange," Videl remarked. "After the criminals are caught, you always leave. Why are you staying now? Do you know Ami?"

"No, but seeing her on the ground reminded me of my Mom. She was pregnant and under a lot of stress. I told her something I shouldn't have and she went into labor early. I found her on the floor in pain." Gohan thought he moved past that night but seeing Ami on the ground wailing for her baby triggered seeing ChiChi like that. In both events, he blamed himself. "Mom and my brother could've died because of me. Ami was shot because I didn't move fast enough. She could've died. She could still lose her baby and it'll be my fault."

No! No, it's not your fault. Videl wanted to say but her legs felt cemented to the floor. If she had experience like Erasa, she would know what to do. Hold his hand. Hug him.

Kiss him.

Videl blushed. Kiss him? Saiyaman? She didn't know what he looked like. What if he's ugly under that helmet?

What if he's cute like Gohan?

Gazing at the mysterious hero in his helmet, Videl felt he looked into her eyes. Could he see her desire? Could he feel what she felt now? Whatever passed between them was brief as Saiyaman walked off to the window, effectively ruining Videl's chance to touch him in any way. Even though they didn't touch, Videl felt a connection and thought this time, instead of evading her questions, he will answer them.

"Who are you?"

For a moment, Videl thought he will do one of his ridiculous poses. Instead, he looked away from the full moon shining in to say, "I'm the Great Saiyaman."

He was a strange one. He's the only boy she knew who can go from mysterious and cool in one moment to a goofy, fool in the next? Tonight, he was all cool. "That's not what I meant," she smiled as her cemented feet finally moved to him. "Who is under the helmet? I feel we know each other. Somewhere we interacted." Videl reached up to touch his helmet. Her own heart bumped wildly in her chest. Besides Gohan, she was never close to a boy and being around Saiyaman opened the same feelings. She saw the changes of color on his cheeks. Was he feeling the same thing as she?

He's tall like him. I wonder if he's Gohan. "Are you my classmate? Are you from my Dad's dojo?"

First Erasa and now Videl. His friends were becoming too touchy with him. Except, he didn't mind this. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you've rescued me too many times to be a stranger. How are you always there to save me? Why do you save me?"

"It's the right thing to do."

Videl shook her head. It wasn't that simple. "It's more than that. You weren't around to save the lives killed in that massive pileup in West City. You weren't around to save the security guard from being shot in the bank robbery in Satan City last Saturday. You were around to save me when the bus went over the cliff. You helped me when that skyscraper was on fire. I thought you were a bad guy but we were a good team returning that baby dinosaur to his family. You helped me tonight with that jailbreaker. When I need help, you are there. Why?"

Videl was a determined girl who played a dangerous game because of her father's lies. Gohan knew if something happened to Videl, he will feel guilt over it. If only I defeated Cell sooner. It was conflicting having this double identity to protect his family while at the same time subconsciously put Videl in danger. "If something happens to you, it will be my fault. I lost someone close to me because I waited too late. I don't want anyone feeling that pain. Not even your Dad. I see the results of my mistake every day."

Such pain in his voice. What happened? She wanted to know. She needed to know. Her heart opened to this strange boy. He lost someone. He's too young to be burdened like this. Videl felt flattered harm to her would make him feel this way but he needed to know the truth. "If something happens to me, it'll be my fault. I am the one who decided to be the Champion of Justice in Satan City. It's family tradition to save others. Seven years ago, my Dad saved the world. I'm so strong because of him and I can help others just like him." Videl dropped her hands from his helmet and twirled one of her pigtails nervously. I bet under that helmet he has a really cute face. "It's flattering you feel pain if something happens to me but I'm a tough girl because of my Dad. I can take care of myself."

And that's why Gohan felt it will be his fault if something happens to Videl. If he defeated Cell when his Dad told him, Mr. Satan never would've taken credit and inadvertently put his daughter on this path. She would be a regular high school kid. It was impressive and admirable Videl used her father's lie to become strong to help others. Getting strong to protect others was something they had in common and while Videl was strong, sometimes she got in over her head and needed him. Videl was lucky tonight. What if Videl faces an opponent too strong for her and because of her father's lie will be too stubborn to see she is outmatched? It'll be my fault.

"If I did the right thing, you wouldn't be risking your life right now."

Before Videl could ask what he meant, a nurse entered the waiting room. "Mrs. Kino is well and her baby is fine. We'll keep her overnight for observation, but we should release her in the morning."

"That's great news. Thank you." Videl turned to him smiling. "Looks like everything will be okay." He smiled. It was a cute smile.

"Yeah, that's good."

Saiyaman turned to leave, Videl felt her chance to be bold slipping. She reached forward and grabbed his hand. He looked at their joined hands before moving up to her face. "Thanks for saving my life tonight. We make a good team."

Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Videl's heart beat loudly in her chest. Was she too bold? Would he reject her?

"Yeah," Saiyaman squeezed her hand before releasing it. "We do. Until next time."

Instead of exiting through the door, Saiyaman opened the window and jumped out. Videl watched him fly away entranced. Gohan or someone else Videl was determined to know who Saiyaman is.

The lights were on in Leska's apartment when Gohan landed on her balcony. He tapped her window, waited and tapped again. The door to her bedroom opened and Leska rushed out in a camisole top and shorts in a bathrobe.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I took a shower. We went inside to see the hostage situation. They only had TVs in the bar section and there were a lot of smokers. I swear that smoke got in my hair and clothes." Her long hair was loose and wet and pulled up in a ponytail. Her figure was outlined prominently with her long legs peeking through her robe. They were thin and not muscular like Videl's but still cute.

Gohan held up her phone. "I wanted to return this."

Leska took the phone. "Thanks." She perused her phone checking for any missed calls. "I didn't expect you to be gone that long. How's the hostage?"

"Doing good. She's fine and she'll leave the hospital tomorrow." Gohan noticed Leska didn't mention Videl. Her life was at stake, too. "Videl's fine."

Leska kept scrolling her phone. "That girl is lucky you were there, Gohan. She's gonna get killed because of her Dad's lies. Someone needs to set her straight. Hmm. Three calls." She put her phone in her pocket. "I'll call them tomorrow."

Gohan didn't intend to pry but when the phone rang he checked to see who called. One was from Leska's Dad. Another was from a girl based on her name but the male name appearing on her prompted Gohan to ask. "Who is Toru?"

"He's in my English class. We got a project that's due next month but I guess he wants to work on it now." She gave Gohan a quirky smile. "Were you checking my phone?"

No. Maybe. What's wrong with me? "No. I mean… when it rang, I looked." Don't say that, stupid! "I was talking to Mom when I did." The wider Leska grinned the more flustered Gohan became. "I had to let her know why I will be late coming home." He bowed his head. "Sorry."

Leska went to the refrigerator and grabbed a couple of soda bottles. "It's all right but I am curious why you asked about him and not Misa." She handed Gohan his bottle and walked onto the patio. When Gohan visited, they usually talked there and shared a drink over their day.

"Just curious." Gohan followed after her. The full moon blazed in the sky. It looked exceptionally bright tonight. Gohan nearly swallowed half his soda in one gulp. He felt warm…. thirsty. The drink was cold but it wouldn't cool him. He needed something else to squelch the mysterious heat.

"Curious?" Gohan heard Leska. She leaned on her balcony and stared at the full moon. Looking at her, Gohan thought Leska looked extra pretty tonight. She was one of those pretty girls who knew they were beautiful but never bragged about it; never flaunted it. That silent confidence was alluring. "Gohan." He liked how she said his name. "How are the girls in your class? Are you interested in them?"

Is she asking because she likes me? Is she worried about Erasa and Videl? Gohan didn't have any interest in Erasa. Her curiosity and bold flirting didn't flatter him. Videl was aggressive and too nosy. She always followed him afterschool and chased him over the city when he flew in as Saiyaman. She was determined to unmask his identity. Gohan thought she was annoying but tonight when she boldly exchanged herself for Ami, when she distracted Akuji enough for him to strike, talked to him in the hospital, she was nice. She still hates me as Gohan. As Saiyaman….. "The girls are nice but I am not interested in them."

"Not one girl caught your eye?" she questioned. "No one's pretty enough for you or do you have high standards?"

His standards weren't high. He had eyes for one girl. The one in front of him. "I don't have high standards. I know what I want and I haven't seen what I want in other girls except one."

The gaze Gohan gave Leska told her who that one is. Oh, boy. "You're sixteen. You want different things at that age. I had crushes on three different guys. None of them worked out but it was fun." He was walking to her now. He looked confident, desirable. "You….. shouldn't settle for one girl, Gohan. Date many."

Gohan put down his bottle. He took Leska's bottle and placed it on the table. "I don't need to date different girls when I know what I want."

Where is this swagger coming from? It's kind of hot… "You're very different tonight, Gohan. You're assertive. Confident." She swallowed as Gohan closed the space between them. "You're not that shy boy I used to know."

Gohan's lips turned up in a twisted smile. "I'm not a boy. I'm a man." He placed both hands on the railing, leaned closer and gazed into Leska's eyes. She smelled so good. Her breasts rose and fell a little quicker. Her eyes were wide and lost of the confident gaze she always gave him. It made him laugh. "Do I make you nervous?"

"No," Leska rushed out too fast. The look in his eyes was intense. She knew what a guy wanted when he looked at a girl like this. She never imagined this look from Gohan. Did he always have this in him? "I'll be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to you, Gohan. Three years ago you were a boy. You're not completely a man but you have grown up."

"I understand you didn't notice me. I was a boy. I was short. I wasn't ready." He touched the right side of her face. "Can't you see I'm different?"

"Oh, I can see that all right but, Gohan….." his finger traced her lower lip. In some ways, he was a boy but in ways like now, he was a man, wanting something, needing something. Leska had a good idea of what that was. "Sometimes there are things we want but can't have. We shouldn't have."

"That's not this moment," Gohan told her as he removed the remaining slither of space between them. From her breasts to her hips, her body was touched by Gohan. He could feel her softness and she could feel the hard line of his muscles. Damn. Her last boyfriend didn't feel this good. He wasn't excited yet but if he stayed pressed against her, he will be.

"We can have it if we want it."

Ah, he was so close. Her mind told her to be rational but her body told her to go for it. She kissed him once. It was three years ago and she was aware of his crush. He was cute in a boyish way but was too young for her. She wanted guys her age or older. She thought the kiss she gave Gohan would be a nice send-off, a thank you for their summer together. Gohan thought more of it and wanted another.

She wanted another, too, even if she felt it was wrong. She wanted another and didn't stop as Gohan's face inched closer and closer until his lips touched hers. Not bad as second kisses go. His lack of experience was evident as he was sloppy with half his lips on hers. Leading him, she tilted her face slightly so Gohan's lips were on hers fully. She kissed back, moving her lips across his, showing Gohan what to do. He mimicked, kissing more aggressively. An arm circled Leska's waist and pressed her body firmer against him. Clothes and hips slid against each other. Again, experience told Leska where this could lead and it was that warning, that forced her to pull away.

Leska's breathlessness excited Gohan. He'll give her a moment to catch her breath before he kiss her again. When he went in for another kiss, Leska's fingers on his lips held him back. "We shouldn't do this."

Didn't he kiss her right? His body felt tight at the fear of rejection. He kissed her. He liked it. She liked it. He knew she did! "Why not?" Gohan asked. What more did she need? "Is this about me being younger? I'm always gonna be younger."

"It's not your age, Gohan. It's ..." she sighed as she struggled to form her words. His mild outburst was a warning this couldn't work. "I don't think you're ready for where this can lead to."

"No," Gohan didn't believe that. "I am ready. I feel it."

His body was but not his mind. Leska knew that and it was up to her to make it clear to him. "You have school. You have this double life as Saiyaman. Your Mom and brother need you. You have a lot of responsibilities. I don't think you should throw a girlfriend into the mix now."

No. No. No. She got it all wrong. "I can balance this."

"For now but something will give: grades slipping, missing time with your brother and Mom. I will want more than you can give now."

Want more? "But I spend time with you."

"Gohan, we talk for an hour twice a week. Half the time you're checking your watch because you don't wanna be too late getting home." It was something she noticed but didn't think to ask until now. "Your Mom doesn't know about you seeing me, does she?"

Gohan lowered his eyes away from hers. "No."

Another strike. "I can accept your secrecy as Saiyaman but I can't have a relationship in secret, Gohan." Another sigh. "You're not ready."

He wished she'd stop saying that. "You know my Mom."

"Yeah. I know enough from what Aunt Reia and Uncle Aki told me that she doesn't like secrets. Your Mom is a nice lady. I can't do this to her." She could see the frustration and conflicting feelings flickering on Gohan's face. It wasn't easy for her either. She wanted to hug him but worried that affection will be misinterpreted. "I like you. In this month, I have seen you more than that boy I knew but it's not the right time to test these feelings. Maybe in a few months or another year who knows? Maybe you'll find a girl who can put up with your schedule and doesn't mind keeping all your secrets but that's not me."

That's not me.

The rejection stung. Gohan was angry. He was hurt and didn't give Leska time to explain. He just left; left Satan City to the welcoming comfort of Mount Paozu.

And even though Gohan called ChiChi to let her know why he will be late, he knew coming home, he was in trouble. He knew his mother was aware he deceived her. What made this troubling, his mother didn't scream. She spoke very calmly which made Gohan fear what he was coming home to. Would she hit him? Would she throw him out of the house? Something will happen and Gohan braced himself for the worst.

Gohan kept it casual as he entered his home. "Hi, Mom. I'm back." ChiChi looked calm sitting on the sofa sewing, watching the late-night news and not angry her eldest son was five hours late coming home.

"Sit down, Gohan."

Oh, boy. The calmness of his mother's voice was scary. If there was a way to avoid this conversation…. "It's been a long day, Mom. I'm tired….."

"Don't make me raise my voice."

The low threat in her stern voice was enough to force Gohan to fall into the nearest seat. The seconds ticked as Gohan waited for ChiChi to speak. His heart thumped wildly in his chest as he prepared for his mother's yelling.

"I know you had to play hero, Gohan, but who is she?"

She? "The hostage? Her name is Ami."

"Not her. The girl you saw tonight. The girl you were going to see after your study session before playing hero. Who is she?'

She knows? "How did you know?"

"I'm your mother but I have experience dealing with a Saiyan. That outburst when I refused to let you go tipped me off. I thought it was teen emotions, but the full moon was out this week."

"The full moon?"

Was that why I've been acting so weird? Yelling at Videl. Coming on so strongly to Leska. Was this what Vegeta meant?

ChiChi thought Gohan was playing dumb. It burned at the patience she had left. "Let's just say your father could get moody sometimes. When Saiyans get a certain way, you can't say no. I knew no matter what you were going to Satan City. So, I let you. I trusted you but tonight you broke that trust. So," ChiChi started again, "who is she?"

Cornered, Gohan spoke the truth. It doesn't matter anymore. It's over. "Leska."

"Aki's niece?" ChiChi expected one of the girls Gohan mentioned from school. "You saw her again?"

"She goes to college there. I saved her and we've been talking." His mother didn't appear shocked at the revelation of Leska living in Satan City. That made Gohan suspicious. "You're not surprised Leska's in Satan City."

"No." ChiChi knew what she say next will surprise her son. "Aki's wife mentioned it during the party of my investiture when I told her about you going to high school in Satan City. I had no idea you two will cross paths."

No idea? We go to school in the same city! "You knew about Leska being in Satan City and you didn't tell me?"

ChiChi heard the undertone of anger in Gohan's voice. It didn't deter her from feeling she was right to keep quiet. "There was nothing to tell. She's in college. You're in high school. I never dreamed of you two meeting each other again. You probably wouldn't have if you didn't decide to play hero."

It didn't matter. Gohan felt he deserved to know. "I still should've known."

"For what?" ChiChi asked. "Gohan, you had a crush on the girl. You didn't have a relationship and it wouldn't have done you any good to see her again. It would've been a distraction and you need to focus on your studies. You have a bright future-"

"Oh, to hell with my studies!" Gohan blew up. "You knew about Leska and you didn't tell me! Didn't you understand I wouldn't have kept quiet if you told me!"

"Don't you dare try to blame me for your secrecy!" Saiyan hormones or not, ChiChi would not allow it flung at her in her home. "You know I do not like secrets! You know after everything that's happened I want to be told the truth up front!"

"It goes both ways, Mom! You go on about not liking secrets and you keep them from me!"

"For your own good!" ChiChi rose to her feet. "And seeing how you are acting, I made the right choice!"

"How?!"

"Because you were sad Leska left. You were disappointed she didn't come back the next two summers. I knew if you saw her again, your crush on her will return and it'll be the same situation: she wouldn't be interested in you or she'll find an excuse to not date you and you'll be hurt again." There! ChiChi saw it on Gohan's face. Pain. Her words struck a core. Motherly instincts told ChiChi something bad happened tonight. "Is that what happened? Did she reject you?"

Gohan turned away from ChiChi. He wanted to grab something, anything and fling it far from here. He wanted to scream his anger but that would frighten his mother or waken his brother. He knew this aggression coursing through him now wasn't rational. It was his Saiyan blood pumping through him, mixing with his emotions and he needed to get control of it.

"When a Saiyan desires a mate, whether it's a temporary arrangement or permanent, a Saiyan's blood can be aggressive. We have a strong need for hunting. It takes over the mind where we can make rash, impulsive decisions if rejected. Saiyans don't take rejections lightly." Vegeta warned. "Rejections can be a thrilling challenge. It can make us creative in getting our mates to accept our pursuit. Sometimes, if you have the right mate, the chase can be enthralling as the fuck."

Gohan's eyes grew at Vegeta's blunt use of a coarse word. He wasn't innocent to cursing. He let out the occasional 'damn' and 'hell' but only when he felt annoyance and never in front of his brother. He wasn't sure he could write that word down. What if his mother saw it?

Knowing his time with Vegeta was limited, Gohan initialized the word on his pad of notes. When he wrote out Saiyans don't take rejections lightly, he asked Vegeta, "Are you saying, Saiyans don't understand the term, 'No means no'?"

Vegeta had his back to Gohan during this discourse. He looked over his shoulder to address Gohan when he saw the teenager with a pad and pen in his hands. "The fuck? You're writing this down?!"

"Well, yeah," Gohan saw no wrong in that. "How else am I suppose to remember?"

"Use your damn brain and memorize!"

"But I don't understand everything you're saying. When I come across a subject, I don't understand, I read over it several times and study the text until I get it."

Vegeta snatched the pad from Gohan's hands. He tossed it into the lake. "You don't need to do that! You're a damn Saiyan! You are guided by your instincts. Comrades may fail you but your instincts never will. I hate Kakarrot but the fool had good instincts." Vegeta looked ready to unleash a furry of insults at Gohan but instead he turned his back on the boy. "All of this is confusing and with your unusual emotions caused by your human blood, it fucks up the situation even more. Your instincts will drive you in different directions whereas a pure blooded Saiyan is guided down one path. You have a more difficult journey because of your heritage but you are a Saiyan. You can rise above it. Trunks and Goten will have this path, too, and if you don't want to do it for yourself then remember the ones that will come after you that need your guidance."

Vegeta could be described as many things: angry, proud, selfish, foolhardy but there were times he spoke with an air of maturity that made Gohan understand why his father always saw more to Vegeta than he showed and there were lessons to learn from him.

It was Vegeta's words that calmed Gohan now and help him deal with the jumble of confusion of his Saiyan and human blood mixing together. He was starting to see what Leska meant about him not being ready. Physically, he was ready but mentally he still needed time. There were things he had to sort out and possibly experiences he must go through. Maybe it will return him to Leska or maybe it will set him on the path of the person he is meant to be with.

"Not really, Mom. She wanted to but said the timing isn't right." Now I understand what Leska meant. She's right. I'm not ready.

"She's a mature girl but, Gohan, crushes come and go. You feel strongly for her but if you open yourself, you will feel strongly for another girl. Your feelings for the next one may be even more powerful." ChiChi sympathized with her son. He had so many emotions churning in him but not the experience and maturity to understand and control them. Emotions were always a problem for Gohan. It ventured him in one direction: passionate, explosive. It was the same in the hospital. He blew up at her. She learned Gohan was flung toward a mountain and in a burst of rage, destroyed that. She later learned Goku's plan for Gohan at the Cell Game: let him get mad and explode in rage. He only had one reaction. It wasn't surprising to her when Gohan developed a crush, with all those new emotions, he only had a one-track mind and thought Leska will be the only person he feel that way for. "Understand you don't always have to settle on your first crush."

"You did with Dad."

And look at my situation. "But, Gohan, it doesn't mean that's the path for you. Look at you. You're in high school and you have dreams of college. When I was your age, I was thinking of marriage. I was groomed to think that's all there was for me. It took nearly two decades to break out of that suppression. Your father wanted to be the strongest in the world. That desire eventually cost Goku his life and we have to move on without him. Your path is different than ours. Don't follow our roads. Find your own."

Gohan smiled at the education he received. Sometimes Gohan thought of himself as smarter than his mother but there were times like now, she still had a thing or two to teach him. "I think I get it now." Find my own path. He'll feel sore emotionally for the next few days but he didn't feel frustrated anymore. He didn't wonder why Leska didn't want him. He finally saw there was more to it than that. Maybe the kiss tonight was closure for him to move on. Maybe it was a sign she is the one and he had to wait a little longer. Who knows. The door was open to many possibilities.

"Sorry, Mom," Gohan apologized.

"It's all right," ChiChi forgave him. It got more heated than she expected but ChiChi was happy with the result. "You're a teenager but why didn't you tell me?"

Gohan shrugged. "You got so mad at me coming home as Saiyaman. You didn't want me to do that. I thought you wouldn't want me to see Leska, too." Now he understood his mother's reason was more than that.

ChiChi accepted that. Her reaction to Gohan as Saiyaman wasn't welcoming. "Is there anything else, Gohan?"

"Huh?"

"Secrets," ChiChi elaborated. "Anymore secrets."

Gohan thought of Videl and her being Mr. Satan's daughter. His mom told him she wanted to be told things upfront but knowing what Mr. Satan has done to the family and his mother's deep grudge towards Mr. Satan, Gohan couldn't tell her the truth about Videl's parentage. He had two years until graduation. Plenty of time until he had to tell his Mom. In this case, Gohan reasoned, it was for his mother's own good.

"No, Mom."

"Geez, it's bruising." Videl had her shirt pulled up and her back turned toward the mirror. She could see a purple circle form on her skin where Akuji pressed his gun into her back. It wasn't the only place he left a mark. Videl saw lines on her neck, too. She received scars before: a cut knee, a scratch on her arm but nothing like this. The bruising will go away in a few days but she couldn't let her Dad see it or he'll forbid her to work with the police.

A rapid knocking tapped her door. "Videl, it's me."

Videl was relieved at her best friend's quick arrival. "It's open, Erasa."

Erasa entered with a large purse on her arm. "I come bearing gifts. Oh, geez." She went to Videl and touched her neck. "No wonder you called." Erasa opened her purse and pulled out several foundation bottles matching Videl's skin, compacts, sponges and makeup brushes. "I can fix this easily. Pull your hair up."

"Thanks." Videl sat on the edge of her bed and pulled her hair into a ponytail. "I can't have my Dad see this."

Erasa looked at Videl's neck and examined which bottle she will use. "Does he even know about last night?" She picked a bottle and poured a couple of drops of foundation on a round sponge "I didn't see him this morning. The maid let me in."

"He has a meeting with Miss Piiza. He said it's really important."

"On a Sunday?" Erasa thought that was suspicious.

Videl thought it was strange, too. Her Dad has been acting very weird over the last two weeks. "They have been meeting a lot lately."

"Do you think the meeting is them fucking?"

"I don't wanna picture that, Erasa."

Erasa rubbed the sponge against Videl's neck. "Can't blame you. That Akuji guy was an ass. We all saw the live feed of the hostage situation."

All? Videl wondered if that meant Leska. "What did Gohan and his friend think about it?"

"Leska said you shouldn't endanger yourself like that but Gohan was gone."

"Gone?"

Erasa rubbed the sponge up Videl's neck again. "Yup. He left not long after you did. He wanted to call home to tell his Mom he will be late." She smoothed out a bruised line, poured more makeup on her sponge and applied it to Videl's neck again. "After ten minutes, Leska went looking for him. She came back saying Gohan's Mom wanted him home. We spent the rest of the night watching the hostage situation at the bar. Sharpner tried to get a drink with his fake I.D. He almost got tossed from the restaurant."

While Erasa chatted about Sharpner, only one thing was on Videl's mind. Gohan wasn't there. He's never around when Saiyaman appears. Gohan is friends with that girl. They seem close and if she knows he's Saiyaman, she covered for him.

"I think you showed Leska how strong you are when you attacked that jailbreaker. The way you and Saiyaman teamed up was awesome."

"Thanks." Videl thought of what happened in the hospital. That was the team-up she wanted but who was that man behind the mask? Was it Gohan?

Erasa took Videl's quietness to her reflecting on what happened. "Last night was kind of rough, wasn't it?"

"Hmm?"

"Last night." Erasa closed one foundation bottle. "All that stuff Leska said about your Dad. She seems cool but she sounds like those conspiracy theorists. My grandma is one and the stories she can tell." She gingerly applied foundation on the left side of Videl's neck. "She believes dragons can grant wishes."

Leska might be a conspiracy theorist but her words got Videl researching until the early hours of the morning. "My Dad isn't a fraud but I did do some research about the Tenkaichi Budokai. Sharpner's right. We should have had at least two more tournaments. The one before my Dad won was seventeen years ago and the winner was a guy named Son Goku. He was a runner-up twice before he won."

"Son Goku?" Erasa closed the liquid bottle. She opened a foundation compact. She rubbed some on her brush and applied a fresh coat on Videl's neck. "How about that? I thought Gohan was the only one with a weird family last name as Son. Guess there's more than one."

Or he's Gohan's father. Videl wasn't surprised Erasa didn't catch on. Sometimes things did go over her head.

Erasa stayed another hour before leaving. She actually wanted to study for the Chemistry test. Videl spent her afternoon researching Son Goku and his fights in the Tenkaichi Budokai. At the 23rd tournament, the ring was destroyed and there wasn't any video of the matches but reading accounts of the fight, Son Goku was legendary. A shrine is dedicated to him at the museum portion of the tournament grounds.

Videl never went to the museum part except for the shrine dedicated to her Dad. She was curious but her father boasted the past winners were wimps and not worth her time. She'd have to plan a trip to see the shrine for Son Goku.

"Videl?" Videl heard her father knock before coming in.

Videl switched the screen on her computer to her homework. "Hey, Dad. How was your meeting with Miss Piiza?"

"Good. Good. Gonna make some big news tonight but I wanna share with you first."

Please don't tell me he's marrying that woman. "What, Dad?"

Mark sat on Videl's bed. "It's been kind of boring lately. I haven't competed in a while. Being the world's strongest man, leaves me with no challenges but I wanna show the world I still have it so I'm bringing back the Tenkaichi Budokai again. It's gonna be in a month."

"What?!" Videl nearly fell out of her seat. "You're bringing it back?"

"Yup. Gonna make it bigger than ever. There are so many sponsors in this the cash prizes will be even bigger. When I win, I'll probably add another wing and buy another mansion."

The arrogance! Couldn't her Dad be a little humble? "It has been seven years, Dad. Someone could be strong enough to beat you." Like me.

Mark laughed boastfully. "Seven years is only enough for the second strongest person on Earth to reach half my strength."

"I'll be old enough for the adult competition," Videl told her Dad. "Maybe I will beat you."

Again, Mark laughed. "You'll give me a good fight in the final round. It'll be great PR and a story for the tournament but you have a few more years before you can beat your old man, Baby girl."

"What if we meet before the final round?" That was possible. "We might fight in the first round."

"Ah," Mark wagged his finger proud of his wicked deception, "that's the beauty of the new rules. I will fight the one who makes it to the final round."

That was different from the rules when they competed. Videl fought in every round in the junior division and her Dad fought in each round in the adult division. "Is that fair, Dad? You'll be at full strength and whoever fights might exhaust themselves going through the other rounds."

That's exactly what Mark was counting on. "There are perks to saving the world, Videl."

Or ways to cheat to stay on top. Videl didn't like this rule at all. It made it tougher for her to overthrow her Dad.

Unless I can get training from someone who might have an edge over Dad.

"An 85! I got an 85! Whoo!" Erasa shrieked over her Chemistry test score. "Ah, Gohan!" Erasa nearly tackled Gohan in a bear hug. "I passed!"

Last period ended but before Mr. Gaia dismissed the students, he returned Monday's tests to them. As students packed their bags and go home after another school day, some were happy, others were sad and worried on how to explain to their parents their test scores. Erasa was all smiles and Gohan was happy for her. "I said you can do it," Gohan said as he pulled Erasa's arms off him.

"I can't wait to show this to my parents," Erasa squealed.

Gohan pushed his books into his bags. "How did you do, Sharpner?"

"80." It wasn't as high as Erasa's but it was a passing score. "What about you?"

105 was Gohan's score. He missed one of the extra credit questions but it was still the highest score in the class. He was growing of conscious how some of his classmates didn't like he scored so well. It hurt the curve. "I passed."

Sharpner laughed. "Got the highest again. Welp. The curve won't hurt me. How about you, Videl?"

Videl flipped her test for all to see. "90. Guess that study sheet worked. Thank you, Gohan."

Gohan looked around. Surely, Videl meant another Gohan. She couldn't be thanking him. She never thank him for anything. "You're thanking me?"

"Yup." Videl smiled as she zipped up her bookbag. "What's wrong with that?" She slipped a strap over her right shoulder. "Can I talk to you?" She stepped to him. "Alone?"

"The hell?" Sharpner mumbled. He was shoved by Erasa to get moving. She sent her best friend a wink before walking out with Sharpner.

Grabbing his satchel, Gohan followed Videl out of the classroom. For the last two days, Videl has acted strange. On Monday, he flew into Satan City and wasn't hunted down by Videl. She didn't glare at him during class. She did touch her neck a lot. Gohan wondered if the incident with Akuji Tendo was on her mind. She acted normal talking with Erasa and Sharpner but noticed a light purple line around her neck. Was that a bruise? Whatever it was, it was gone when Videl left school Monday afternoon. She didn't receive any calls from the police. It left him wondering if Videl decided to take a break.

"I haven't been the nicest to you but I do appreciate your help with the Chemistry test."

"I'm glad you passed."

"Sorry if I was rude to your friend Saturday. No one said that about my Dad before."

"It's no problem. Leska doesn't hold back. She speaks her mind."

"Even if she's wrong?" Gohan's silence confirmed what Videl thought. So he thinks my Dad is a fraud, too.

"You defended your Dad. I would do the same if someone spoke like that about my Dad."

Son Goku? If only she had a picture of the man. Then she could see if there's a resemblance. She can find that out later. Right now, she had an identity to unravel. "I talked to Ami. She's doing good. Her husband took her home on Sunday. He told her she can't leave the house without him again."

"He did?" Gohan was relieved to hear Ami's progress. "I hope they can put all this behind them and have a happy pregnancy."

Oh…. Damn.

He spoke faster than his brain could think. His entire body froze at his ridiculous blunder. Gohan wouldn't know about Ami and her ordeal but Saiyaman would!

Damn!

Gohan looked back at Videl. She smirked as if she held the world's biggest secret.

Damn. Damn.

"I KNEW IT!" Videl's scream was so loud everyone within a twenty-foot radius looked in their direction. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"

Gohan waved his hands frantically while glancing at his schoolmates. "Please calm down."

"You lied to me!" Videl screamed. "You made a fool out of me! You made me think you were two different people when you were the same person!"

Gohan pushed his hands down signaling to Videl to lower her voice. "I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you what you wanted to hear."

Videl picked up a bench and ripped it from the metal pins holding it down. She lift it over her head and threw it at him. "LIAR!"

Gohan wanted to duck but knew if he did, the bench would hit an innocent person. He caught it with one hand. While students looked on shock, Videl growled. "More proof you are him."

Gohan put down the bench. "Okay. You got me." Damn. He was off his game! How did she figure it out? "I am Saiyaman. Please don't tell anyone. I know you're angry at me but if you tell my secret, my family will be exposed to the public. Bad guys might go after them. Mom can handle herself but I have a little brother. Please let them have their privacy."

Damn. Videl was all ready to make Gohan shiver in fear she knew and will expose his secret. She will gladly make him pay but she couldn't do that to his mother and brother. "All right. I'll keep your secret. On one condition. You enter the Tenkaichi Budokai a month from now. I wanna see how the daughter of the man who defeated Cell faces off against the son of the previous champion, Son Goku."

What the hell? Gohan screamed in his mind. "How did you know Son Goku is my Dad?"

Videl smirked. He's so easy. "You just told me."

She's good. I didn't see that coming. With no choice, Gohan agreed, "Okay. I'll do it. Anything else?"

"One more thing. Are you the Golden Warrior?"

There's no way I can let her know about that! "No. That's not me."

He's still lying. If I fight him hard enough, I'll get him to expose that, too. "Enter the Budokai and I'll keep your secret. If you don't, I'll tell everyone and you have to deal with the consequences."

Blackmailed. Just like his mother warned him. "Got it."

"And I want you to teach me how to fly. It's not fair you can do it and I can't."

Gohan bowed his head. "Okay."

"Good," Videl brightened. Getting a 90 on her chemistry test and blackmailing Gohan. This day was getting better and better. "This will be fun. I'll fight someone who won't hold back on me."

Gohan let Videl believe that to be true. He needed a win somewhere today.

Videl dug in her pocket and pulled out a wrinkled pamphlet. "Here. It's a flyer about the Budokai. Tomorrow we'll schedule time for you to teach me how to fly. I'm gonna take time off from the police. I'm gonna spend this entire month training."

Great. Just great Gohan thought as he opened the pamphlet. I'm already in trouble with Mom sneaking around. How am I gonna explain this? There's no way she'll let me do this and if I tell her I'm being blackmailed, I'll never hear the end of it.

Could this day get any worse?

Since the fall of the Red Ribbon army, Uranai Baba considered her home to be one of the most peaceful and quiet places on Earth. Even when the Red Ribbon Army reigned people still flock to her palace for her skills as a fortune teller. During the week leading to the Cell Game, Baba made a record profit. Many flocked to her palace asking if Cell will kill them all. Even though her crystal ball's future was foggy, she predicted victory for Earth even though she was prepared to leave Earth and hide in the afterlife with King Yemma should Cell blow up the Earth.

Seven years of peace have passed since then and Baba hadn't a sense of foreboding until the arrival of her new neighbors. Over twenty miles separated them but they were too close for Baba's liking. Baba didn't get this strong vibe of evil when the Red Ribbon Army was in operation. It wasn't since Cell reached perfect form, Baba felt this foreboding and that worried her.

Curious, Baba decided to spy on her neighbors. She waved her hands and chanted summoning divinity in her crystal ball. Through it, Baba saw three bodies lying on the ground. A man against a rock, a child and half a woman's body. All were dead. Not far from them, Baba saw a short, diminutive creature with an M across his clothes and a tall, strong looking wicked man in blue wearing the same M symbol on his forehead. Both were standing in front of a massive hole, watching a large spaceship being lowered into the ground.

They're hiding. They don't want to be known.

Baba chanted again requesting to see these creatures' future. It was foggy; wind whipped wildly in the ball with rocks and dirty swirling, blinding her vision. When it cleared, Baba saw stone statues in the rubble. It confused Baba until she recognized them. One was of Krillin. His stone body was broken into several pieces with all his limbs detached. Next to it was Piccolo's severed stone head from his body.

Krillin. Piccolo. They're dead.

Baba chanted. She needed to see more. The vision changed to Gohan and Vegeta bleeding and severely battered. They faced off against a big, fat pink creature in wide, white pants, a vest and a cape. He wore the same M emblem the other two wicked beings wore. Baba looked for them. The short creature was still around but the tall demon was gone.

"He's so powerful," a worried Gohan spoke. He had a deep wound on his forehead with blood draining down his face. " I never thought we'd face someone this strong again. He's stronger than Cell."

"And whose fault is that?" Vegeta spat. "I told you. Times of peace is when you train for war! You never did! You beat Pocus easily but you lost a lot of power beating Yakon and if I didn't fight Dabura, you would've lost to him, too! That girl at the tournament is dead because of you!" Pain crossed Gohan's face but that didn't stop Vegeta's scolding. "You reacted too late to stop the fight and you didn't bring any senzu beans. Only Kakarrot's speed would've gotten those beans to her in time."

"Dad." Remorse was heard in Gohan's voice. "He left me to protect the planet." He clenched his fists. Remorse faded and sheer determination flourished on his face. "I did it with Cell. I can do it here. For Mom and Goten, I can't lose."

"The will is there," Vegeta observed, "but the strength isn't. You'll join Kakarrot if you keep fighting, but I won't." Vegeta charged ahead of Gohan. "I'm killing this bastard!"

"Vegeta!" Gohan called after him.

"No!" Baba saw another person appear. He was short, lavender skinned with a white mohawk. "You must fight him together! You can't win alone against Majin Boo!"

Vegeta didn't hear him as he gave the pink monster the fight of his life. He released an arsenal of kicks, punches and a destructive mass of Ki energy at Majin Boo. One kick to his face caused the monster's face to cave in. A giant mass of Ki that could rip the Earth in half tore into Majin Boo's body. Vegeta watched victorious while Gohan watched stunned as it rippled through Majin Boo until it exploded.

The bright light of the explosion blinded Baba but once it faded, a thin Majin Boo with a giant hole in its chest laid on the ground. Gohan cheered but victory was short-lived as Majin Boo's body swelled to his fat form.

"Shit!" Vegeta cursed. "I had everything in that!"

"That stung," Majin Boo creepy high-pitched voice squeaked. Energy crackled around him as he grinned menacingly at Vegeta. "You die!" Majin Boo retaliated by matching Vegeta with a giant mass of Ki of his own. Vegeta crossed his arms to shield himself from the impending attack. He resisted but Majin Boo's power eventually swallowed him.

"Vegeta!" Gohan screamed as the Saiyan Prince's body exploded with his remains raining around them.

"We have to escape!" The mohawk being grabbed Gohan and pulled him into the sky. "We can't defeat Majin Boo like this!"

Majin Boo turned his attention on Gohan and the mohawk man flying away. "You no escape." Though fat, Majin Boo was fast. His speed caught up to Gohan and the mohawk man. He jumped in front of them. "Boo play with you!"

Baba watched Gohan fight valiantly but he and the mohawk man were killed by Majin Boo. With Earth's most powerful fighters gone, Baba went further into the future. Goten and Trunks were killed next. 18, ChiChi and her brother fought against Majin Boo and died horrifically while everyone else was either turned into chocolate and eaten or died in a mass death as the Earth exploded.

"Not again," Baba whispered as her crystal ball turned black. Another evil threat to Earth but this time, Earth lost and everyone died. Vegeta mentioned the tournament. The only one she knew of was the upcoming martial arts tournament. Even if she warned them, they wouldn't have enough time to prepare. Goku and everyone had three years and they couldn't handle the Artificial Humans and this Majin Boo was significantly more powerful. Even together, Vegeta and Gohan couldn't stop it.

With Earth in danger again, there was only one person Baba could think of to give Earth a winning chance.

"Goku, you're looking well."

"Hey, Baba!" Goku waved enthused as the old psychic crone floated to him on her crystal ball. In all his time here, this was the first time he saw her since his death. Few Earthlings have come this way. Goku asked King Kai a few times but the Earthlings who have died since he arrived haven't been able to keep their bodies. Even if it was Uranai Baba, Goku was happy to see anyone from Earth. Better her than ChiChi or Gohan. It was too soon to see them. "What are you doing here?"

"I came for a visit, Goku. It's been a while."

"Has it?" Goku knew time pased slowly here but it couldn't have been that long. "A while? Two years? Three?"

"Seven."

"Se—" Goku broke off. Seven years. "It doesn't feel that long."

"It never does when you're dead," King Kai chimed in. The North Kai kept his cool but he was suspicious of Baba's presence. It was too early for anyone Goku knew to visit him. "Come to check in on Goku?" The old woman's smile was cryptic. Trouble. Definitely trouble.

"It has been so peaceful on Earth and every dead person has an opportunity to visit the living for a day. I thought after seven years it's time for Goku's visit." Baba rose higher on her glass ball to stare into Goku's eyes. Something brewed in his normally innocent eyes. "How about it, Goku? Do you want to see your family and friends again?"

ChiChi. Gohan.

The last time Goku saw them ChiChi cried on their kitchen floor sobbing over his death. Gohan comforted her but ChiChi wailing Goku's name over and over struck how hard his decision to stay dead will affect his family.

"I don't want you or Gohan to die. If I lost you two again, I'll be…"

"I don't want that feeling of being alone again after you died and Gohan was taken from me. I can't go through that again, Goku. I won't make it. I don't know how the me in Trunks' timeline dealt with you and Gohan's death. I just know it'll kill me."

ChiChi said that to him the night before the Cell Game. He promised ChiChi she wouldn't be alone. He couldn't promise ChiChi he wouldn't die because even he wasn't sure he wouldn't. Seven years ChiChi had to live with his decision. If he knew his wife, and he did, she thought over his decision several times; analyzed both sides, got angry at him, at herself and everyone around them before accepting his choice and coping with it.

For seven long years.

I couldn't promise ChiChi I wouldn't die. I want to see her but does ChiChi want to see me again?

"Goku?" Uranai Baba called Goku back from his thoughts. She has known Goku since he was a boy. She has seen him happy (nearly all the time) and angry but this was the first time she saw him reflective and worried. I don't know what's going on in your head but I need you to come back to Earth. "You do want to see your family again, don't you?"

"What?" Goku looked at Uranai Baba as if he just noticed her. He can't show worry with them. "Yeah…. I do." King Kai and the old fortune teller stared at him concerned. "I get to go home! Whoo!" Goku pumped his arms up! He hoped his excitement would distract them. "I get to see Gohan and ChiChi again!"

"For a day," Uranai Baba wanted Goku to understand. He seemed excited to see his family again. She couldn't tell him he won't spend as much time as he want with them. The world will be in danger and it will need Son Goku to survive. "There's another Tenkaichi Budokai. I thought you'd like to join."

"A tournament?" King Kai thought Goku's return would be subdued. "Goku won't have a lot of time if he's gonna spend it at the tournament. Can't you send him back another day?"

"But he can see his family at the tournament and Goku will do what he loves most: fighting."

King Kai still wasn't sold on the idea. He has been around Goku since he died. The man loved fighting but he also knew Goku had a lot of remorse. If he can go back, he knew Goku will want to return home to make amends with his wife. Can they get it done in the short time they will have together?

Goku seemed to read King Kai's thoughts. He wouldn't have a lot of time but Goku knew he can say all he needed to ChiChi. "Don't look so glum, King Kai? I'm going home. I'll get to see ChiChi and Gohan again. It's only a day but I'll take it."

"That's the spirit." Uranai Baba was glad she didn't have to do a lot of convincing. "Who do you want to speak to? Your son or your wife?"

As much as he wanted, Goku knew he couldn't talk to ChiChi. There was so much to say and not enough time. He also didn't want to share the things he wanted to say to ChiChi with King Kai and Uranai Baba listening. "Gohan."

"Well," King Kai turned his back to Goku. "You know the drill."

Goku put his hand on King Kai's back. He waited for his teacher to find Gohan. Goku saw an infinity of clouds. The gold puffs were endless until they parted to a blue sky over the dome of Capsule Corporation. Inside the dome, Goku saw Bulma, Vegeta, a purple-haired child Goku guessed as Trunks and a tall person in green and black clothes, a red cape, a white scarf and sunglasses.

Is that Gohan? The clothes were strange but what stood out to Goku was Gohan's height and voice. He grew up.

Goku listened as Gohan talked about entering the Tenkaichi Budokai. All right! Gohan is entering! I wonder how much stronger he's gotten.

"If you're going to compete, I'll go, too."

Goku smirked. That's Vegeta. He'll never let himself out of a good fight.

"Once you were more powerful than me, but how about now?" Vegeta asked Gohan. "I've kept up my training while you frolicked."

Frolicked? Ain't Gohan trainin'?

"It's true," Bulma griped. "This bum doesn't do anything but work out! Just like his Dad! Are all Saiyans like this?"

Guess we are. Now Bulma knows what ChiChi had to put up with. It was good to see them all. He missed them. He missed Bulma yelling at him and calling him stupid. He missed Vegeta bragging how he will kick his ass and curse his loss and of course he missed his son. I'll get to see him again. When Trunks chattered excitedly it will be to see his Dad and Gohan fight, Goku knew this was the time to announce his return.

"I'll go, too!"

Four heads looked upward.

"That voice out of nowhere….." Gohan's voice trembled breathlessly. Was it? Could it? "Dad! Is that you?!"

"Sure is. How's everyone been?"

Gohan didn't wanna talk about everyone else. He wanted to know about his Dad. "How you've been?!"

So much to say and so much to keep to himself. "Pretty good. Still dead though." Goku explained why he was contacting them and confirmed he will return for the Tenkaichi Budokai.

"I'll look forward to your return, Kakarrot." Vegeta didn't hold back his excitement. "I'm much stronger than before."

I bet you are, Vegeta, but even you will be shocked at how much stronger I've gotten.

"Goku, wrap it up," King Kai told him. This was meant to be a short conversation.

"Well, see you later at the big fight and Gohan?"

"Yeah, Dad?"

"Tell your Mom I'm coming back."

To Be Continued

Part 38: Reunion

AN: Thank you to all for your supportive words, love and encouragement!

I changed Videl discovering Gohan is Saiyaman from how it is portrayed in the manga and anime because it was so quick and simplistic in the manga. In the anime it's a bit contradicting. Gohan is half Saiyan and heals quickly. That cut would've healed before Gohan went back to school. So I went a different route.