"Videl? Vi-del!" Gohan called as he entered his house. In one hand he carried his papers on the three planets he might train on for the final test, and in the other he had a bouquet of flowers. The other guys had teased him something awfull but he wanted to make special.
"Videl?" he asked as he came into the kitchen. He stopped at the doorway and a half smile formed on his lips. She stood there stirring at the stove with her back to him. He put down his work and walked up behind her.
"Mmmmm." he said as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You smell delishious."
"That's the food, silly." she said turning around. Before she could say another word he captured her in a kiss. He ment it to be a hello peck but it had been so long.
Videl wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth for him. Gohan groaned softly a faught the urge to take her right there. He instead, sadly, pulled away.
"How long has it been?" he asked still holding her. "One month? Two?"
"Try two weeks." she said.
"I've got good news."
"So do I."
"You first."
"No you." Gohan insisted. She smiled and played with his hair that hung down off the back of his neck.
"Remember how I told you about Norcom?" she said. He nodded mostly wondering if they had time for a quicky before the food burned. "Well my friend Qupr told me about how it is a great place for slaves to go after they earned their freedom. But after what happened between us, I think I might change my plans."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." he grinned.
Videl smiled. "But then-"
But then? Gohan wondered. What does that mean?
"She told me about how some Earthlings like me were able to escape before they all got killed." Videl said. "Even some of my friends might still be alive. So maybe Norcom sounds like a good place after all. After I get my freedom of course."
"Of course." Gohan echoed. He backed away a fraction. She wanted to be with her own kind, he realized. She doesn't want to stay here and be with me the way I planned. Videl is going to leave and never come back. She doesn't want me. "I'm sure you'll be happy there."
"That's it?" she asked looking at him suprised.
"What do you mean?" Gohan said. "Norcom is a great place for former slaves like you to start over. Maybe even find new friends."
Videl pulled out of his arms and looked away. "I have to tend to the food. How about you go get comfortable and I'll bring in two hot bowles of soup in a minute."
"Um, ok." he said walking out still with the flowers in his hand.
Videl looked blankly at the boiling pot and swallowed back her tears. He didn't want to come with her. She thought he wanted to be with her in a place where they can live in peace. Where she doesn't have to worry if he'll come back from his next mission wounded or worse. But he acctualy thinks her going alone was a good idea! How could he do this?
She took a few calming breaths and regained her composer. Then she put some soup in two bowels and carried them in on a tray with some fruit.
Gohan sat lounging on the sofa and looking upset about something. She sat down the tray and took a seat next to him.
"Is something wrong?" Videl asked.
"Huh? No." he said taking his soup.
"Was the mission okey?" she asked getting conserned.
"No. I mean yes. It was fine."
"What is it then? Are you afraid you won't get the spot on the board? Because I'm sure you will."
Gohan didn't answer, he just ate quietly. Videl did the same and then cleared the way. He dragged out his papers and files and got to work studying the planets the final test might be on. Videl watched from the kitchen and saw he was staring hard at the documents but something was bugging him. She just knew it.
"Selek came by." she said without thinking. It was the only thing she could think of and hoped he hadn't heard.
"Hmm? Selek? Oh yeah, what did she need?" he said not taking his eyes off of the table.
"She didn't say." Videl said comming back in. "Just wanted to see you, I guess."
"Oh." he said. She walked over and sat down next to him. She glanced down at the papers and saw they all were in different lanuages. She was able to catch a word here and there but none of them really made sense. she scooted closer to him.
"That Selek girl is very attractive." she said slyly. "Might even call her a real find. For the lucky man that is."
Gohan paused and looked over at her for the first time. "Don't tell me you're jelious." he smiled.
"Well-" she opened her mouth to say something smart and deny it but all that came out was, "I- she is, er, how was the mission again?"
Gohan laughed and pulled her close into his lap. "Videl, you have nothing to worry about. She's a little too, what is the word?"
"Bitchy?" Videl supplied.
Gohan laughed. "I was going to say high matenence, but that will work."
Videl smiled and he leaned in to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. They were getting so caught up in it that neither heard the door open. Or the bags hit the floor.
"Gohan!?!"
Gohan twisted away and looked over his shoulder. "Mom?!" Before he could say anything else, his mother was running forward and hugging him.
"Oh my stars!" she cried in joy. "I knew my son wouldn't be alone forever! He finaly chose a mate!"
"Uh-"
"And you," she said turning to Videl. "You saved my son from dying alone. How can I ever thank you?"
"Mom." Gohan said carefully.
His mother went on not noticing or not carring. "Oh, we need to tell everyone. HA! That cheap old bag down the street going on how her son was mated. Wait till she hears about this."
"Mom!"
"You will have kids right?" she asked Videl who was turning red at the time.
"MOM!" he shouted.
"What? There's no need to yell, son."
Gohan took a deep breath. "Videl and I aren't mated."
The entire room froze. Gohans mother stood staring at them with her mouth hanging open. She looked at her son to Videl. She moved slowly away from them both. "But I saw- What exactly?"
"Me and Videl are not mates." Gohan said. "She is my maid who I bought. She is planning to earn her freedom in the Tournoment in fact. That is all."
His mothers eyes flashed red. "Then WHY were you two kissing on the sofa when I came in, hmmmm? And why did Mames aunt tell me you said you two slept together?"
"You told your friends?" Videl asked turning on Gohan.
"So if you slept together," his mom continued. "Doesn't that make you mates?"
Gohan was at a lost for words. He didn't know what to say. If he told his mom he did sleep with Videl then there would be no escape. If he told her no then Videl would be pissed.
"Mom, what happens between the two of us," he said picking him words carefully. Very carefully. "is our business. You had no right to barge in here and you do not need to concern yourself with finding a mate for me."
"I came 'barging in here' to give you this." she said stubbornly. She walked over and picked up the package she dropped earlier. She shoved it in his arms. "I'm leaving but if you think for one second my son will be a tsugia sayjin then you are wrong." She turned and walked out the door with her head held high.
"What is a tsugia?" Videl asked once she left.
"A man who sleeps around and brings disgrace on his family." Gohan said opening the bag. He lifted out a fammiliar box. He lifted the lid and inside were the little bracelets on a red cusion. He sighed and closed trhe lid.
"What are those things?"
Gohan walked over and put them up on a high shelf. "Nothing. Just a sayjin thing."


A week later Videl trained outside the city in the woods. Gohan had to study so she enjoyed the quiet while she could. She knew soon Gohan would start sparing with her again. there also was a mens tournoment but mostly eleits entered. Never low levels.
She streached out and did a few jump kicks the went to do some meditaion. She sat down on a smooth rock and closed her eyes.
Videl knew she neede to build up her psycic abilities. Many sayjins know how to do the basic mind training and then she had to worry about alien slaves that would enter.
Don't think about losing, she told herself. Think about winning. Standing there in the winners cirle. Having your collar removed and being announced as a free citizen. Videl tugged on the tamashii. Remember your friends, they would want you to win. Be happy.
I'd be happy with Gohan.
Videl groaned and fell back. She came out here alone today to forget about him. But evertime she trained she heard his voice instructing her. When she slept she dreamed of him. And when she bathed she wanted to feel him.
Videl got up and flew towards home. She wasn't going to get anymore training done today, might as well head home.
She landed on the door stop and found the door open. If she saw Selek making moves on Gohan again she'd blast her.
She braced herself and went in. No Selek. Or Gohan. He probebly went to the library to study. Then she hear a crunching sound from the kitchen. She smiled. Gohan was raiding the fridge again. She walked in and froze.
Sitting among open bags and food in front to the refridgeratior was another sayjin. He was shorter then Gohan and also had wild tuffs of spicky hair that went out in all different directions. His armor was that of a low level but Videl could tell it wasn't Gohan.
"Alright, who are you!?" she demanded taking a fighting stance.
The sayjins head turned and he swallowed a bite of celery. He was young, around 15 and smiled at her.
"Hi. I'm Goten."