Disclaimer: Way Back on Chappy one.

Author's Note:

My appologies for the long wait on this. I know that excuses are like butts and everyone has one, but here goes mine. I just graduated. That was a long weekend. Right out of graduating, I suddenly hit 40 hour work weeks. Took me a bit to figure out how to handle that ^_^() But, enough with my problems! Let's read about Gohan's, shall we? After you, I insist.

Motivation is Anger

After a brief farewell, Bulma was off and driving the friends and family home. Miss Sweena had smiled at all of them and informed Miss Briefs that she had no want for money. The win was as good to her as gold. She looked as if she were trying to escape the way she backed away from them. Funny thing was, Sharpner and Erasa had escaped pretty quick as well. It had only taken Gohan a moment to figure out why; his mother.

Chi Chi was so into her scolding and pampering that she had not even allowed Videl to sit next to her son. Oh no. So Videl was sitting quietly, smirking? In the back set of seats beside Goku. Vegita half grinned and half scowled in the front passenger seat, and Bulma was driving the Capsule Corps van. That left Gohan to the mercies of his mother.

And Chi Chi was being anything but merciful.

"… I just don't know if I should let you go back to school after this Gohan, they haven't taught you much it seems! Only how to drink! But then you would never find a woman like Videl to marry. Only, she helped get you drunk!" Chi Chi turned in her seat and shot a glare at Videl. Videl returned it with a cool imperious look. "I just think maybe home schooling would be a better thing for you. Better preparation for being a scholar. But even scholar's need to know how to act amongst their co-workers! But they would probably all turn you into a drug using alcoholic. My poor baby! I just…."

And on the tirade went all the way back to Capsule Corporation. Gohan understood full well that he would be riding this guilt trip for the next three months at least. And Dende knew that she would not allow him even the privilege of study groups for a while. Gohan sighed and continued his obedient nodding to his mother.

The demi-Saiyan's mind was not on her words however. There was something bothering him, rankling him. It took him a bit, but Gohan realized with a start what the problem was. He was mad. Not raging-I'm-going-to-go-Super-Saiyan mad. There was just this seething, rumbling sensation rolling about the inner cortex of his mind. He was angry at whomever had framed Great Saiyaman and like it or not, his animal instincts craved vengeance. Against his typically passive nature, Gohan was inclined to agree with those instincts.

A thwack on the arm roused the young man, Gohan jumped and found himself staring wide eyed at Videl. "I thought at least THAT would get your attention. We're here, I figured you really didn't want to sit in the van all day," and she hoped gracefully out the sliding door.

Anger was forgotten for a moment as Gohan exited the vehicle. A scent caught his nose, enticing, if a few hours old. Food. The real stuff that could actually fill him, not the sludge they served in jail! His stomach growled in an expectant way and the ground about the vehicle shook. Gohan had the good grace to blush when all of the folk (exchanging their good news with Bulma's parents) in the doorway stared at him. "I… ah… Eh heheh."

Goten jumped out from behind his mother, followed closely by Trunks and looked wide eyed at his brother. "Wow, Gohan! You must be REAL hungry! Trunks says that in jail they starve the prisoners, is that true? I missed you while you were away. How about you don't do that again. Did big thugs try 'an beat you up there?"

The little purple haired sprite was quick to jump in where Goten left off. "Yeah, Gohan! Did the guards try to beat you up? Did you get threatened with big machine guns and sent through the water torture?!?"

The oldest of the Son brothers blinked at the on slaught. He should have seen it coming of course but… Fate intervened and Gohan was not made to reply. "That's quite enough you two!" Chi Chi stood with her fists on her hips looking for all the world like she had a few moments before talking to Gohan. "You watch much to much television if you honestly believe such trash. Goten, I thought I had raised you better than that!"

Bulma nodded her head in agreement and both boys looked down at their feet, mumbling something that may have been apologies, and scrapping their toes into the dirt all the way back into the house. Gohan grinned. This only meant that the two kids would tackle him with questions as soon as the mothers were out of ear shot.

Videl, despite being a bit pop-eyed, grinned. "The cake ah, it didn't hold over well I guess?"

Gohan smiled sheepishly back at her. "Eh heh, no."

Chi Chi strode between the two and with chin held high, pointed towards the house. "To the kitchen with you, young man."

The Saiyan prince, quietly listening in to this point, snorted. "Send him to the shower first, woman. He smells like something dead."

The half Saiyan teen took a self conscious step backwards, his eyes having gone a bit wide. Gohan had forgot all about that, oh he knew he needed a shower, but it couldn't have been that noticeable. Could it? It was then that he noted the satisfied smirk which graced Vegita's lips. Oh. The man was just screwing with his mind. Squaring his shoulders, Gohan nodded to the arrogant little man. "I think I'll do that. Bulma? Vegita's towel is the one on the right hand side of the sink right?"

Bulma stared for a moment before a grin dawned on her face. "Yes, yes it is Gohan. I'm sure Vegita wouldn't mind if you used it. He did after all, suggest the shower."

Sputtering, Vegita lunged at Gohan, just missing the soft red cape as he dodged through the front door.

Fifteen minutes later a much refreshed Gohan emerged from the bathroom. One problem down, several to go. The boy strode to the kitchen, his nose telling him he would find his mother and Bulma there cooking. "Bulma," he shifted slightly getting a better grip on the towel that graced his hips, "do you have anything I could wear? Or, do you think I could borrow some of dad's clothing, Mom?" It was an effort to not just skip the getting dressed thing and hop right to eating.

"Actually, I packed an extra gi for Goku, I knew he and Vegita would get ruff on each other before this was over. It's upstairs in the third room in your father's stuff." Chi Chi responded.

Gohan nodded his thanks and turned to grab the offered clothing. And very nearly plowed Videl down in the process. He reached out and steadied her with his free hand. "I'm sorry Videl! Are you all right?" Gohan blinked, he must have startled her more than first though, she wasn't responding. And her eyes were really big… She hadn't even looked him in the face. "Videl?"

Finally she opened her mouth but what ever her first word had been, it came out to scrambled to be intelligible. "…my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going. I heard you in here, but I expected that you would be naked." She blinked, "… Eating."

Son naïveté making convenient appearance, Gohan missed a few words of that sentence and the fact that Videl was talking to his chest, not his face. "Oh, no. I'll be back to eat in just a few, but I really need to get dressed first." He then breezed around her, down the hall, and up the stairs.

Gohan entered his parent's room and rooted around for the spare karate gi. He pulled it out and held it before him, shaking his head with a small smile. It had been a very long time since he had worn his father's colors. And it was still peculiar to the young man that he could wear his father's clothing! It wasn't so long before, that he had been too small.

The demi-Saiyan pulled the colorful out fit on and stood before the full length mirror to finish tightening the sash about his waist. He studied his reflection. The face that looked back at him had a sort of drawn and haggard appearance. Just further proof in Gohan's mind, that he would never be his father's son no matter what clothing he put on. Son Goku would never let the worries of the world affect him like such. But then, as his experience with Cell had taught him, amongst other things, he was no Son Goku to begin with.

Gohan shook his head. These types of thoughts were WAY to deep and depressing on an empty stomach. Said organ made a threatening sound about being held at bay this long as it was. The teen made a futile effort at soothing his belly by rubbing it. "I know, I know! I'm going!" And he dashed back to the kitchen.

Speed and effort was well rewarded as Gohan made it back to the table in time for Chi Chi to direct Videl to the table with the main coarse. And the teen had first dibs on the whole mess as the women stood guard around the table to keep the other carnivores at bay. Gohan, indulgent after all this time to his Saiyan driven stomach, happily gorged himself. The you young man, whom typically ate less than any of the other Saiyan/ half Saiyans about, drew shocked looks as he inhaled an amount to rival that of Goku's appetite.

Gohan sat back with a satisfied sigh and the rest of the crew were allowed to dive in. With in minutes the table was cleared of edible things and most of the hunger was cured amongst the group. The teen was pleased for the moment, in the knowledge that all bodily needs had been met. Moments however, are fleeting. Feeling eyes upon him, Gohan looked about the table, finally settling on Vegita. The man was looking at him. Instead of angry, as per normal, the prince looked… smug.

Leaning forward, Gohan was about to ask what that was all about, but Vegita stalled him with an up held hand. "Come with me, boy, and bring your woman." He then began walking out the door. "Bring no one else. What I have to say is for your ears alone."

"Excuse me, Vegita?! Anything you have to say to them, everyone else here cane here as well!" Bulma had stood up and was stalking towards her partner.

"I think not." Was the pointed response as the small man left the room.

In the stunned silence, Gohan raised his eyes to Videl's, who stood across the table from him. He shrugged, stood, and they both moved to follow Vegita. They had just closed the front door when Bulma's angry screech echoed through the house. Gohan cringed. "I think Vegita has just earned a bed in the dog house."

Videl raised an eyebrow. "I think that's an understatement." She looked around and sighed. "He could have waited for us before leaving. How are we supposed to follow him?"

Without hesitation, Gohan reached out with his senses. Finding the Ki he sought, the young man began to lift into the air. "He went this way a few miles." The half Saiyan reached down and offered his hand to Videl.

The young woman stared at the offer for a moment before shyly taking it. Only a month before, it wouldn't have bothered her like this. "You have to teach me how to do that. I mean, to find people by sensing their Ki. It would be nice." They took off after the teasing Saiyan and Videl looked back at the shrinking image of Capsule Corporation. "You don't suppose the kids are going to follow, do you?"

"I don't think so. Mom and Bulma put them under lock down, remember? As for teaching you to sense Ki, I would love to!" He turned his head to smile at her. "We could begin that the next time you come over to study." He cringed then, and looked back to the invisible trail he was following. "I guess though, the way Mom is talking, that could be a while. Vegita's not the only one in the dog house."

"I'm sorry Gohan. That was the best evidence we could come up with. If… if there had been any other way to get your name cleared as fast as possible… It's my fault that your in this mess with your mother any way."

Videl had closed her eyes at the last and so was jerked to a halt when Gohan stopped with out her notice. She turned questioning eyes to him and he cupped her chin with his hand. "Videl, nothing about any of this is your fault. I don't want you feeling guilty for something you didn't do."

Gohan watched as she closed her eyes again, refusing to look into his own. "I… yes it is, Gohan! I was the one that talked you into going to that party in the first place. I was the one that got you drunk. I was the one that brought you to that damnidable whole in the ground of a police station, knowing you were innocent!" A tear leaked out from beneath her eyelid, and she was quivering. "It's all my fault!"

"Videl…," Gohan let go of her hand to reach her shoulder. She pulled back violently.

"No, Gohan, it is!" She scrubbed harshly at her eyes, swearing about crying under her breath. "I know I've always been kind of mean to you , Gohan, but I've never meant to hurt you. But… oh Dende, I look at you now, and I know that being in jail did just that, and I brought you there! For all of our reputation, they wouldn't believe you innocent and… and… and… I was the one that brought you there!"

Gohan was taken aback by the outburst, but he did not let it show on his face. The tears were coming faster, despite her obvious efforts to stop them. The half Saiyan felt cold inside, he hated to see anyone cry, especially Videl. It was second nature to him to fly forward and pull the young woman into his arms. She stiffened for a moment, and then buried her nose in his chest, muffling her sobs.

"Videl," Gohan began again, "Nothing of this is your fault. If I hadn't of wanted to go to that party, or to drink at that party, I would not have. You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do. And it was my idea to be taken to the police. My decision to sit in jail for a week. I can not let you take the blame for decisions I made." Gohan shuddered slightly himself, that week in jail hadn't been his best idea ever. That didn't matter now though, Videl did. "The person to blame for anything right now is the same person that killed Mr. Pulaz. It's ultimately because of them that most of this came about!"

Videl stayed against his chest for a moment, getting her sniffles back under control. Bright red rimmed eyes looked up at him then. "Your right, Gohan." She giggled a bit inanely. "As usual. Who ever that guy is… I'm gonna… I guess I can't kill him, can I? I'm going to maim him then! Fucking bastard!"

Not exactly the attitude he had wanted to conjure, but better than the alternative, Gohan smiled at her. "We'll find him, Videl. And between the two of us, I'm sure the guy will get his do justice." Gohan's own smile turned a bit dark before he caught himself. "Come on, I'm sure Vegita thinks we got lost by now. What ever it is he knows, it must be important."

The young Miss Satan wiped at her eyes again before nodding. She reached for Gohan's hand again and looked expectantly at him to lead the way. Gohan new their destination was just west of Satan City. His eyes narrowed slightly as they drew closer. Why had Piccolo joined Vegita? Gohan thought on that. Piccolo had said he had been working with Vegita, hadn't he? Videl had noted the change of Gohan's features. "Is there something wrong, Gohan?"

"No. Ah, Piccolo is with Vegita. Mr. Piccolo told me last night that he and Vegita had been working on solving this mystery together. Or, that's what I thought he said. Maybe I dreamt it? I wonder if they know something about the killer?"

"Hang on, Piccolo told you last night how?"

"Oh, he just kind of slipped into the cell. Mr. Piccolo is really good about not being seen when he doesn't want to be seen.."

Videl shot him a disbelieving look. "Sure Gohan."

The teen shrugged and the rest of their trip was in silence. Piccolo and Vegita stood at opposite ends of a small clearing with in the forest near the west side of town. Vegita tapped his foot impatiently. "I was beginning to think the two of you had gone to nock off a piece on the way." He got the typical response of a blank stare from Gohan and a pleasing response of an angry flush from the woman. "And here I went through all of this effort to help you out."

Gohan cut off an angry retaliation from Videl, not wanting to have to be part of it, "'Help us out' how?"

Piccolo responded un-emotionally. "We have discovered and secured the identity of the murderer you seek."

Videl's eyes narrowed and she asked in a much to pleasant tone, "Who is he?"

This time Vegita answered. "A human by the name of Kanus Siaka."

Piccolo nodded and picked up the conversation. "You were correct Gohan, this man is an actor. He is not well known, but apparently his last job was playing the role of Great Saiyaman in a movie." The Namek scowled at the thought. "Siaka was fired from the set because he was afraid of heights…"

"And couldn't do the flying scene." Gohan finished, a bit pale. "Yeah, I stepped in and did that part, but I don't think they knew I was the real Saiyaman."

Piccolo grunted acknowledgement. "They may not have when you were there, however when you flew off and tore down most of the set, they figured it out. It was in the newspaper, a small write up below the Boudaki news. Apparently, Siaka figured out he had been 'jipped' out of a job by the real Saiyaman and has been after a sort of revenge ever since."

Videl pinched the bridge of her nose and growled, "There are some people I could wish could have been left dead after Buu! But, while that is good motive, and that would explain the suit, what proof do you have?"

Gohan asked right after her, "How did you find all this out?"

Vegita rolled his eyes. "It's a little thing called intuition that you wouldn't know about. And research. And threatening the right people, including your woman's chicken shit father."

Videl's whole countenance darkened and her nostrils flared. "You did what to my father? I swear if you hurt him…!"

Piccolo stepped back into the conversation then. "He was not harmed. Our proof lies in the papers that were scattered on Mr. Pulaz's desk. There was a particular letter there that links Siaka directly to the crime."

Vegita offered a positively vicious grin to Videl before flying slightly into the air. "That is the information we have. What you do with it is entirely up to you. Don't ask where he is, even you two should be able to figure that much out. Now I'm going home, it's time for the woman to cook me supper. And then I can go beat on Kakarot again." Vegita's grin deepened. "I'll finish this week with a bang yet." With that, he took off.

Piccolo glared after the Saiyan prince for a moment, before turning back to his pupil. "I am pleased to see your trial went well. And I would suggest not conceding to such a thing again." He nodded to both teens then and flew silently off himself.

They both stood quietly, each digesting the information. It was Videl who finally spoke up. "I think… though I loathe to say it, that we need to go talk to the police."