Part 3: Ninja Hospital
As they flew, well Gohan flew and Videl hung on to his chest, Videl struggled internally. On one hand people depended on her. Helping the police stop criminals had been the only thing keeping her together after her mother's death. Moisture streaked from her eye down her cheek to be lost in the wind. 'Not used to the wind' she thought franticly, burying her face in the green folds of Gohan's Saiyaman top. The path the tear took across her cheek burned cold. 'It's got to be important, they need me, I'm the only one.' Years ago her father hadn't understood her need, 'Why would you want to do that? A big strong daddy is supposed to protect his little girl, and I'm certainly a big strong daddy' were his exact words. Oh, he cared, she knew he cared, but he didn't change. She had. Fighting crime gave her a purpose, made her feel strong. Strong like Gohan.
Her train of thought had circled around, back to something so close at had. So engrossed in her internal monologue, she had failed to notice how she had shifted closer. One hand sliding up Gohan's back, past his cape, touching his hard helmet. Not his soft hair. That was when she realized two things. One was just where her other hand was. The other was just how that location was affecting Gohan's flying ability.
"Um, Videl would you, ah, move your, ungh, hand somewhere OOOH!" The slight jitters in his flying, Videl realized, had matched the movement of her thumb against the soft hairs of that nub at the base of his spine. 'His tail spot, he called it.'
She had managed to get a few, very few, answers after the chief called. The mix of anger, frustration, arousal, and shock took longer to control than it took Gohan to retrieve his Saiyaman costume and for her to retrieve the change of clothing, identical to the pieces destroyed, from her jetcopter. 'He must have been able to avoid his mom, as red as he was and at bad at lying, she would have kept him for hours.' Another idea occurred to her, 'He could have told Chichi EXACTLY what happened and she would have crowed, cried, and sent him back to protect her future daughter-in-law and future grandchildren.'
In Gohan's arms, Videl shuddered. 'No no NO, just like Gohan said, were too young for marriage.' The train of thought continued, bringing a smile and a blush to the young woman's face 'although I did enjoy being with him, I mean like that, and other times when he isn't hiding something or annoying me, but earlier was just wonderful and I am going to HURT someone!'
Gohan couldn't see his would be lover's face. He couldn't see the delicate pink flush of a young woman who had just discovered the feelings of the heart, AND body, for the first time. He couldn't see the aspect of the delicate maid turn into a vengeful Valkyrie, red faced and scowling, seeking but one thing more than to crush her enemies, see them driven before he, and hear their lamentations. That one desire was to do it FAST.
He couldn't see any of that, but he could feel the shooting pain and weakness, similar but weaker to something from a long, long time ago.
"Videl, could you please move your hand?" His voice, pain and weariness unlike she had heard from him before, brought Videl back to awareness. Awareness that the small nub of his tail spot was being squeezed between her fingers. Awareness that they were no longer flying. Instead they were tumbling, red cape snapping around like a whip in the erratic gusts as Gohan attempted to focus. In the chaotic tumbling, Videl was torn from Gohan's slack arms. Her eyes wide with panic, Videl inhaled to scream. 'Focus.' Reflexes kicked in, attempting then discarding an acrobatic tumble before focusing Ki downward. Slowing, then stopping, Videl looked around.
"GOHAN, WHAT HAPPENED?" Yelling partially because of the fall and because she saw him some distance away, hunched over and rubbing his tailbone. 'Tail spot', she corrected herself.
"Um, I told you about my tail." At her silent nod he continued, slightly embarrassed, "well, that's what happens when you grab a Saiyan's tail, I thought it didn't happen anymore but I guess loosing my tail just made it harder to get to."
She opened her mouth to say something but shut it instead, shaking her head. "Come on, we're almost there." Turning words to action, she sped off toward the city. 'If this keeps up, I'll have to go steady with him to get enough answers.' 'Not that there aren't other reasons to . . . no Videl, think about kicking ninja butt, not Gohan butt, that's for later.'
Buildings, streets, cars all blurred together far below as Videl sped to the hospital. Over her shoulder, Gohan's voice asked nervously "um, are you sure you want people to know you can fly?"
"Damn it!" Stopping so fast, her backwake ruffled her shirt and hair, she floated. Scowling down at the city, she put her hands on her hips, and twitched one leg oddly, as if tapping one foot in midair. Glancing irritably at her twitching foot, she sighed and faced Gohan, who floated facing her from a few feet away. In a matter of fact tone, "you'll just have to carry me, and try not to drop me this time."
"But, that was because, you, the tail!" His helmet hid most of his face but left his mouth free to stutter. And stutter he did, right up until Videl dropped herself into his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"I know, now lets get to the hospital, I have ninja butt to kick." Her smile, a small happy yet predatory smile, disturbed and confused him as much as anything else she did. So, red in the face for the umpteenth time, arms full of Videl, he continued on as his thoughts turned to the question that marks entry to manhood 'am I EVER going to understand women?'
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THUD! THUD! "Ten, eleven." Black hooded heads struck walls on the opposite sides of the hall. Fluorescent lights shone down on beige carpeting. Off white walls, starkly functional now had an oriental décor. Wall decorations were normally placed higher but after shoving the third ninja through a wall, Gohan reminded her that it probably would be best not to damage the hospital. So she restrained herself a little, knocking her opponents into walls rather than through them. Still, she seemed to be having a good time. And Gohan wasn't complaining about being away from the focus of Videl's aggressions. The ninjas may have had complaints but, as yet, none had voiced anything more articulate than a yell or groan. That included before they attempted to attack. Attempted, being the operative word, as each had tried almost the same tactics. Ambush may be an effective tactic, but it looses some effectiveness when the ambusher is covered from head to toe in black amid the walls that were, oh yes, off white.
And when one of the ambushed could sense Ki, there was the advantage of surprise, just not for the unfortunate ninjas who had managed to disturb Videl when she was, ahem, busy.
As she drew back her foot from the roundhouse kick that had sent the last ninja into the arms, or maybe the bony knees, of Morphious, Videl remained tense and alert. With eyes that had seen many men rendered senseless, usually by her actions, she judged the uncomfortable positions her latest two victims had crumbled into. Finally deciding that her victims were no more aware than the previous nine, she relaxed her combat ready body and turned her gaze back. "The last one was over this way, you said?" At his nod, she turned with something between a smile and a scowl covering her face and seeping into her every movement as she continued down the hall to an open doorway. 'Useful trick, sensing Ki, I'll have to get him to show me how.'
Closer, the door was not merely open, but shattered. The twisted deadbolt hung, linking wooden fragments to a spreading spiderweb of cracks in the wall. Just inside, wooden fragments lay, a jigsaw puzzle with one clue, the distinct yellow and black curves of a biohazard symbol. Further in, a hunched figure stood, clad in black like the others. The metal desk was covered in papers haphazardly strewn across it and spilling to the floor. The ruffling of paper was soon joined by the rhythmic thump of fist on palm.
"You're in a lot of trouble mister." Videl's voice carried undertones promising that the trouble would be painful, and that she would enjoy carrying out said trouble. Gohan, familiar with being the target of that promise, surpressed a small shiver as he leaned against the inside doorframe.
The hunched figure spun, revealing black hair bound in a short topknot capping a long angular face and sharp nose. "Little girl, you know NOTHING of trouble." His clipped, short, and harsh phrasing spoke his anger and arrogance as surely as the fist he shook at Videl. A fist clenching a stoppered flask. "I, Murasaki Junior, shall use this virus to force Goku to face me and then I shall avenge the humiliating defeat of my father and uncles!" He paused to sniff away a tear, 'papa', before shaking the forefinger oh his free hand at the two crimefighters who just stood there with blank looks. "I don't know how you managed to sneak past my Thirteen Ninjas of DOOM, but I am their master and was taught by the legendary Five Murasaki Brothers! HAHAHAH!"
His boast was met by blank looks of puzzlement. "The Five Murasaki Brothers, who were part of the RED Ribbon ARMY!"
'Sheesh, someone else from the Red Ribbon army wanting to defeat dad, what's next, Pilaf wishing dad back just to kick his butt?' "Give up evildoer, for you face the defenders of . . ."
"Saiyaman!" Videl spoke sharply over her shoulder, keeping Murasaki Jr. in view.
Still using his heroic voice. "Uh, yes Miss Videl?"
"Just let me beat him up and we can get back to what we were doing." As she spoke she returned her gaze, blue eyes holding back a fierce burn. 'THIS is the guy responsible for interrupting us for some stupid revenge plan against Gohan's father who's been dead for years.' Her lean muscles tensed, pulling her body into a combat stance as she focused on her opponent, almost missing Gohan's mumbled "sure Videl."
"SO, you would have a girl fight your battles for you, then I shall defeat her first!" With that proclamation, he twisted to the right, dodging Videl's punch. With an arrogant smile, he easily twisted and ducked to dodge the flurry of punches that followed. "So, little girl, you think to challenge a ninja master, versed in the secret ways of YOUCH!"
Having had little success hitting his torso, Videl had struck lower, stomping toes. Gasping in pain, he flung the vial up to clasp his wounded foot in both hands. Videl calmly snatched the tumbling vial from the air, before watching the hopping ninja slowly spin in an erratic circle.
His spin winding down, Murasaki Jr. crouched down before springing to the side, landing in a handstand before spinning around to face Videl with a shuriken in hand. She was moving even as he readied his throw. With only a trace of Ki, she leapt over the spinning star to land a flying side-kick on his shoulder as he ducked away. The momentum of the impact spun them both, leaving Videl in the corner by a large white freezer and Murasaki between her and Gohan. Once more they engaged, exchanging blows fast enough to blur each attack into the next. A white and pink blur lashed flesh toned tendrils against an all black counterpart. The movements wove together, balanced for a moment before the black advanced, pushing forward. The other shrank as it was pushed back, and shrank again on its own before exploding outward leaving Videl slightly panting against the wall and Murasaki Jr. tumbling back to land on his knees and holding his ribs with an expression of pain on his face.
"GASP, you are, gasp, better than I, gasp, expected but a ninja, gasp, is master of, gasp, SURPRISE!" As Videl moved to block the silver streak, she realized her mistake. The point slid through the flesh of her fingers, brushing the bones before touching glass. The ridiculously quiet chiming of broken glass echoed in her ears, driving out even the feeling of the star piercing her palm clean through to emerge on the other side.
"VIDEL!" Dashing from the door where he had watched the fight, Gohan's cape left a red blur across the room. Absently brushing aside Murasaki Jr. as he struggled to stand, he put a Murasaki shaped window in the wall, through which could be seen a rapidly shrinking black speck. He managed stop as she held up her uninjured left hand before she leaned back. Pale and shaking, she slid down the wall to land with her knees even with her chin as she was hunched over staring at the small trickle of blood slide down her forearm. She looked up, seeming smaller and younger than ever. Blue eyes shimmered with tears. The tears seeped from her eyes, leaving something else, something Gohan had never seen in those eyes, something he could only rage impotently against. Fear.
As they flew, well Gohan flew and Videl hung on to his chest, Videl struggled internally. On one hand people depended on her. Helping the police stop criminals had been the only thing keeping her together after her mother's death. Moisture streaked from her eye down her cheek to be lost in the wind. 'Not used to the wind' she thought franticly, burying her face in the green folds of Gohan's Saiyaman top. The path the tear took across her cheek burned cold. 'It's got to be important, they need me, I'm the only one.' Years ago her father hadn't understood her need, 'Why would you want to do that? A big strong daddy is supposed to protect his little girl, and I'm certainly a big strong daddy' were his exact words. Oh, he cared, she knew he cared, but he didn't change. She had. Fighting crime gave her a purpose, made her feel strong. Strong like Gohan.
Her train of thought had circled around, back to something so close at had. So engrossed in her internal monologue, she had failed to notice how she had shifted closer. One hand sliding up Gohan's back, past his cape, touching his hard helmet. Not his soft hair. That was when she realized two things. One was just where her other hand was. The other was just how that location was affecting Gohan's flying ability.
"Um, Videl would you, ah, move your, ungh, hand somewhere OOOH!" The slight jitters in his flying, Videl realized, had matched the movement of her thumb against the soft hairs of that nub at the base of his spine. 'His tail spot, he called it.'
She had managed to get a few, very few, answers after the chief called. The mix of anger, frustration, arousal, and shock took longer to control than it took Gohan to retrieve his Saiyaman costume and for her to retrieve the change of clothing, identical to the pieces destroyed, from her jetcopter. 'He must have been able to avoid his mom, as red as he was and at bad at lying, she would have kept him for hours.' Another idea occurred to her, 'He could have told Chichi EXACTLY what happened and she would have crowed, cried, and sent him back to protect her future daughter-in-law and future grandchildren.'
In Gohan's arms, Videl shuddered. 'No no NO, just like Gohan said, were too young for marriage.' The train of thought continued, bringing a smile and a blush to the young woman's face 'although I did enjoy being with him, I mean like that, and other times when he isn't hiding something or annoying me, but earlier was just wonderful and I am going to HURT someone!'
Gohan couldn't see his would be lover's face. He couldn't see the delicate pink flush of a young woman who had just discovered the feelings of the heart, AND body, for the first time. He couldn't see the aspect of the delicate maid turn into a vengeful Valkyrie, red faced and scowling, seeking but one thing more than to crush her enemies, see them driven before he, and hear their lamentations. That one desire was to do it FAST.
He couldn't see any of that, but he could feel the shooting pain and weakness, similar but weaker to something from a long, long time ago.
"Videl, could you please move your hand?" His voice, pain and weariness unlike she had heard from him before, brought Videl back to awareness. Awareness that the small nub of his tail spot was being squeezed between her fingers. Awareness that they were no longer flying. Instead they were tumbling, red cape snapping around like a whip in the erratic gusts as Gohan attempted to focus. In the chaotic tumbling, Videl was torn from Gohan's slack arms. Her eyes wide with panic, Videl inhaled to scream. 'Focus.' Reflexes kicked in, attempting then discarding an acrobatic tumble before focusing Ki downward. Slowing, then stopping, Videl looked around.
"GOHAN, WHAT HAPPENED?" Yelling partially because of the fall and because she saw him some distance away, hunched over and rubbing his tailbone. 'Tail spot', she corrected herself.
"Um, I told you about my tail." At her silent nod he continued, slightly embarrassed, "well, that's what happens when you grab a Saiyan's tail, I thought it didn't happen anymore but I guess loosing my tail just made it harder to get to."
She opened her mouth to say something but shut it instead, shaking her head. "Come on, we're almost there." Turning words to action, she sped off toward the city. 'If this keeps up, I'll have to go steady with him to get enough answers.' 'Not that there aren't other reasons to . . . no Videl, think about kicking ninja butt, not Gohan butt, that's for later.'
Buildings, streets, cars all blurred together far below as Videl sped to the hospital. Over her shoulder, Gohan's voice asked nervously "um, are you sure you want people to know you can fly?"
"Damn it!" Stopping so fast, her backwake ruffled her shirt and hair, she floated. Scowling down at the city, she put her hands on her hips, and twitched one leg oddly, as if tapping one foot in midair. Glancing irritably at her twitching foot, she sighed and faced Gohan, who floated facing her from a few feet away. In a matter of fact tone, "you'll just have to carry me, and try not to drop me this time."
"But, that was because, you, the tail!" His helmet hid most of his face but left his mouth free to stutter. And stutter he did, right up until Videl dropped herself into his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"I know, now lets get to the hospital, I have ninja butt to kick." Her smile, a small happy yet predatory smile, disturbed and confused him as much as anything else she did. So, red in the face for the umpteenth time, arms full of Videl, he continued on as his thoughts turned to the question that marks entry to manhood 'am I EVER going to understand women?'
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THUD! THUD! "Ten, eleven." Black hooded heads struck walls on the opposite sides of the hall. Fluorescent lights shone down on beige carpeting. Off white walls, starkly functional now had an oriental décor. Wall decorations were normally placed higher but after shoving the third ninja through a wall, Gohan reminded her that it probably would be best not to damage the hospital. So she restrained herself a little, knocking her opponents into walls rather than through them. Still, she seemed to be having a good time. And Gohan wasn't complaining about being away from the focus of Videl's aggressions. The ninjas may have had complaints but, as yet, none had voiced anything more articulate than a yell or groan. That included before they attempted to attack. Attempted, being the operative word, as each had tried almost the same tactics. Ambush may be an effective tactic, but it looses some effectiveness when the ambusher is covered from head to toe in black amid the walls that were, oh yes, off white.
And when one of the ambushed could sense Ki, there was the advantage of surprise, just not for the unfortunate ninjas who had managed to disturb Videl when she was, ahem, busy.
As she drew back her foot from the roundhouse kick that had sent the last ninja into the arms, or maybe the bony knees, of Morphious, Videl remained tense and alert. With eyes that had seen many men rendered senseless, usually by her actions, she judged the uncomfortable positions her latest two victims had crumbled into. Finally deciding that her victims were no more aware than the previous nine, she relaxed her combat ready body and turned her gaze back. "The last one was over this way, you said?" At his nod, she turned with something between a smile and a scowl covering her face and seeping into her every movement as she continued down the hall to an open doorway. 'Useful trick, sensing Ki, I'll have to get him to show me how.'
Closer, the door was not merely open, but shattered. The twisted deadbolt hung, linking wooden fragments to a spreading spiderweb of cracks in the wall. Just inside, wooden fragments lay, a jigsaw puzzle with one clue, the distinct yellow and black curves of a biohazard symbol. Further in, a hunched figure stood, clad in black like the others. The metal desk was covered in papers haphazardly strewn across it and spilling to the floor. The ruffling of paper was soon joined by the rhythmic thump of fist on palm.
"You're in a lot of trouble mister." Videl's voice carried undertones promising that the trouble would be painful, and that she would enjoy carrying out said trouble. Gohan, familiar with being the target of that promise, surpressed a small shiver as he leaned against the inside doorframe.
The hunched figure spun, revealing black hair bound in a short topknot capping a long angular face and sharp nose. "Little girl, you know NOTHING of trouble." His clipped, short, and harsh phrasing spoke his anger and arrogance as surely as the fist he shook at Videl. A fist clenching a stoppered flask. "I, Murasaki Junior, shall use this virus to force Goku to face me and then I shall avenge the humiliating defeat of my father and uncles!" He paused to sniff away a tear, 'papa', before shaking the forefinger oh his free hand at the two crimefighters who just stood there with blank looks. "I don't know how you managed to sneak past my Thirteen Ninjas of DOOM, but I am their master and was taught by the legendary Five Murasaki Brothers! HAHAHAH!"
His boast was met by blank looks of puzzlement. "The Five Murasaki Brothers, who were part of the RED Ribbon ARMY!"
'Sheesh, someone else from the Red Ribbon army wanting to defeat dad, what's next, Pilaf wishing dad back just to kick his butt?' "Give up evildoer, for you face the defenders of . . ."
"Saiyaman!" Videl spoke sharply over her shoulder, keeping Murasaki Jr. in view.
Still using his heroic voice. "Uh, yes Miss Videl?"
"Just let me beat him up and we can get back to what we were doing." As she spoke she returned her gaze, blue eyes holding back a fierce burn. 'THIS is the guy responsible for interrupting us for some stupid revenge plan against Gohan's father who's been dead for years.' Her lean muscles tensed, pulling her body into a combat stance as she focused on her opponent, almost missing Gohan's mumbled "sure Videl."
"SO, you would have a girl fight your battles for you, then I shall defeat her first!" With that proclamation, he twisted to the right, dodging Videl's punch. With an arrogant smile, he easily twisted and ducked to dodge the flurry of punches that followed. "So, little girl, you think to challenge a ninja master, versed in the secret ways of YOUCH!"
Having had little success hitting his torso, Videl had struck lower, stomping toes. Gasping in pain, he flung the vial up to clasp his wounded foot in both hands. Videl calmly snatched the tumbling vial from the air, before watching the hopping ninja slowly spin in an erratic circle.
His spin winding down, Murasaki Jr. crouched down before springing to the side, landing in a handstand before spinning around to face Videl with a shuriken in hand. She was moving even as he readied his throw. With only a trace of Ki, she leapt over the spinning star to land a flying side-kick on his shoulder as he ducked away. The momentum of the impact spun them both, leaving Videl in the corner by a large white freezer and Murasaki between her and Gohan. Once more they engaged, exchanging blows fast enough to blur each attack into the next. A white and pink blur lashed flesh toned tendrils against an all black counterpart. The movements wove together, balanced for a moment before the black advanced, pushing forward. The other shrank as it was pushed back, and shrank again on its own before exploding outward leaving Videl slightly panting against the wall and Murasaki Jr. tumbling back to land on his knees and holding his ribs with an expression of pain on his face.
"GASP, you are, gasp, better than I, gasp, expected but a ninja, gasp, is master of, gasp, SURPRISE!" As Videl moved to block the silver streak, she realized her mistake. The point slid through the flesh of her fingers, brushing the bones before touching glass. The ridiculously quiet chiming of broken glass echoed in her ears, driving out even the feeling of the star piercing her palm clean through to emerge on the other side.
"VIDEL!" Dashing from the door where he had watched the fight, Gohan's cape left a red blur across the room. Absently brushing aside Murasaki Jr. as he struggled to stand, he put a Murasaki shaped window in the wall, through which could be seen a rapidly shrinking black speck. He managed stop as she held up her uninjured left hand before she leaned back. Pale and shaking, she slid down the wall to land with her knees even with her chin as she was hunched over staring at the small trickle of blood slide down her forearm. She looked up, seeming smaller and younger than ever. Blue eyes shimmered with tears. The tears seeped from her eyes, leaving something else, something Gohan had never seen in those eyes, something he could only rage impotently against. Fear.