Tournament Troubles Chapter 21: Attempt on Videl's Life, a dragon ball z fanfic

It just occurred to me that I haven't been writing any of my disclaimers to chapters anymore. They can be considered to be the best part because they can be so damn funny. Well, I'll start them again.

Disclaimer:

~0~Tournament Troubles~0~

The sound of an engine shutting down filled the courtyard outside the mansion. When it finished, a small figure could be seen slowly climbing out of the cockpit.

Videl opened the door to the mansion, but how she did it with her eyes closed.

"Good, er, evening, Ms. Videl. You're in awfully late. . ."

Videl mumbled something incomprehensible in response and continued to her room without stopping. Curious, the butler followed her. In one of the many hallways there she encountered her father.

"Videl! Where in the world have you been? This is the fifth night in a row you've come home late. Hey, hold on a minute Videl . . . !"

Videl did not even open her eyes and turned into a room. A few seconds later there was an audio 'Plop' in the room.

"Er, Videl? Sweat pea? That's not your room . . ."

"I don't think she would have made it to her room, sir. In fact, um, . . ." The butler looked into the room. There, a good ten feet from the bed, lay Videl on the floor fast asleep. " . . .she didn't even make it to that bed."

"No kidding. What's going on with her?"

~0~

The evil man with the black wings was coming very close. There was nothing the child could do, but whimper in fear.

The adult was getting edgy. . . .

~0~

Videl awoke the next morning to a crick in the neck. Sleeping on the floor was definitely not good for posture.

She sat up, and looked around. She was in one of the large multiroom bedchambers in the Satan mansion. Obviously, she hadn't made it to her own room. But then, why hadn't any of the maids move her to her own bed, or at least, to the bed in this room?

Videl shook her head. All she had to do to find that out was to ask one of them.

Willing herself to stand up, Videl exited the guest chambers and headed to her own room, slowly do to early-morning grogginess. She had always been slow in the mornings, but even more so since she started training with Gohan.

'Which has not changed my feelings for him one whit.' Thought Videl. 'I do not have any feelings to him, no matter what happens!'

Videl entered her room, closing the door behind her. Then she leaned back against the door, taking a deep breath, and looked up at the open rafters that made her bedroom a lot taller than usual.

'What is going on with me?' This tension in her chest, the light-headedness… they came every time she thought about the teen who had been training her the last month.

Sighing, Videl made her way into the bathroom and shower that was connected to her bed chamber, taking off the smelly training clothes that she had slept in. 'Maybe a nice, long, hot shower will knock some sense into me.'

~0~

Gohan stretched his arms and greeted the sunshine that was flooding into his room with a grunt. Usually, he was very happy to see such a nice day.

Taking a damp washcloth from the bathroom next to his room, he washed his face to wake himself up. Gohan then returned to his room and dressed himself in a new gi.

Glancing at his old, dirty gi, he noticed another one stuck to his belt. Gohan sighed. Ever since he had started to train Videl he had noticed these strange, white feathers around. He couldn't figure out where they were coming from or even what bird or eagle they were from. A small mystery. He sighed.

Chichi and Goten were not downstairs, but that was not unexpected. They were both at Capsule Corp. Gohan was going to be alone for most of the day.

He frowned. No mother telling him to study, no younger brother to look after… he usually was beyond excitement at times like this. But today he couldn't help but feel down, and even worried.

There was something wrong in the air, he decided.

~0~

Videl stepped out of her shower, wrapped in a towel. She flipped her short hair back, shaking water out of it before wrapping her hair with another towel. Once dry, Videl put on undergarments and a comfortable, white t-shirt.

'A lot more comfortable than that other one…' She eyed the shirt in question. It had landed with a heavy thump in the bathroom when she had taken it off before her shower.

". . . you must wear that shirt as often as you can, Videl. It will really help with your training." Gohan's words came back to her.

'Gohan was right. That heavy shirt has made even basic training a lot more challenging. But still, it feels nice to go without it for a little while. A little break.'

She noticed that the door to her bedroom was slightly open. She could have sworn that she had closed it. She did so now, and locked it.

Videl move over, turning on her stereo to some soft rock music, to help get her revved up for the day. She moved over to her bed and sat down facing her dresser.

Videl grabbed a brush from her dresser and began to comb her hair. She may not have really cared about how she looked, but she didn't what to look like someone off the streets either. And this desire had been growing lately, too.

The lamp on her dresser shook a little, and Videl felt a slight wind from above her. Startled, she looked to see the threat.

A man, crotched up in the rafters of her room, suddenly jump down, slashing with some type of claw.

Instinct took over, and Videl rolled sideways to avoid the claw but before she could do anything else she had the man's fist in her face. She toppled off the bed, grabbing the bed sheet with her, yanking it off the bed. The assilant toppled over the other side of the bed, but quickly got back up. It was then that Videl got her first good look at him.

And she recognized him. "Oh my god . . . Thayne!"

Thayne was muscular and tall, wearing black work-out pants with a tattooed snaked that curved around his chest. Long, blond hair tied back in a braid.

On his left hand was a three-prong claw, made of energy that seemed to come from some small device attached to his hand. The claw hummed, sticking out about a foot and a half from his hand.

Thayne smirked, and charged at Videl.

~0~

Gohan flew out over the ocean, his destination Kame house. He needed to talk to Krillin about something. But still he couldn't help but feel sick. Like there was something he was missing.

~0~

The door was smashed flat was Videl was thrown through it. She was down for but a second, getting up in a flash, just in time for Thayne to somersault up to her and kick her into a bookshelf in the main room.

Videl's shirt was torn in some places, and she was bleeding. Plus, she was sure that this sickco was getting some good views of parts she necessarily did not want anyone seeing, but right now she was more concerned about getting out alive.

Thayne charged again, but Videl was able to sidestep his claw in time and land a hard blow to his side. It pushed Thayne back, but did not slow him down.

Videl grabbed a floor lamp and swung its base at Thayne. It missed, but bought her some time.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!?"

Videl swung the lamp again, but this time Thayne sliced it in half with his claw. He then charged forward, sliced what was left of Videl's weapon, grabbed her head, and slammed her against the wall.

Thayne smiled. "Master wants to see you."

Videl struggled. Thayne reached back with his claw hand, about to plung it through her skull. Videl saw this, and with an adrenaline-powered shove, was able to free her head from his grasp and duck, the blades only catching a few hairs on her head.

Videl tried to roundhouse him, but Thayne ducked back, leaning until he was almost touching the floor. Then, with cat-like agility, leaned forward again until his face was an inch from Videl's. Thayne's eyes narrowed at his victim's determined stare.

Videl again tried to punch his face, but Thayne ducked it in time, putting him in perfect position for an uppercut.

Videl tried to dogde, but was too late. The claw sliced her shoulder, not to mention her shirt and bra strap. The wound looked bad, drenching her shirt with blood.

The blow sent her into the middle of the room. She got up, but was definitely wincing in pain, holding her cut shoulder and panting.

Thayne was laughing.

Videl went down on one knee. It seemed that all of her energy was leaving her. Energy, that sparked a memory…

"Huh?"

"What's the matter, Gohan?"

"Goten's energy just flared. Twice. In the Son family and with our friends, if an energy flares twice, it's a distress signal. Then I follow it to help out."

Videl needed help. Maybe, just maybe, Gohan would feel it.

Fortunately, Thayne was just standing there for the moment. Mocking her. But giving her the time she desperately needed.

Videl closed her eyes. There, her energy. . . she could feel it. She focused it, and then. . . it flared. 'That's once. . .' she thought. She concentrated again, but. . . it was getting so hard. . .

'There!' Videl pulled together, and her energy flared once more. 'Now, please, Gohan, tell me you felt it.'

Thayne smirked. "Hehehe. Videl, I know that you're calling that boyfriend of yours. Don't worry, you'll be long dead before he gets here."

Videl was astonished. "How did he know. . . ?"

Thayne smiled sadistically. "I've learned a few new tricks since we last met." He charged.

~0~

Gohan stopped suddenly, the ocean waves underneath him crashing together.

"What was that? I could have sworn I felt. . ." He jerked up.

"Again! That's definitely Videl, but why . . ? Wait a second, a double energy flare. . . Goten's distress call! Videl could need help!"

With a golden flash signaling his transformation, Gohan launched himself towards where he felt Videl's call.

"Shit, I'm half way around the globe! Videl, hang on. . . !"

~0~

Videl spun to avoid Thayne's claw, but the spin made her lose her balance and she tumbled to the floor.

Thayne kicked her, and she skidded across the floor. He then reached down and lifted her up by her head.

Videl seized the opportunity by grabbing Thayne's hand, and kicked his feet out from underneath him. She reached back to slug him, but Thayne beat her to the punch.

Thayne's blow sent Videl sprawled up against a couch. Her energy was low, her wounds were throbbing with pain, and she couldn't catch her breath. She just leaned against the couch for a moment.

Thayne picked himself up off the floor and rubbed the side of his arm where Videl had kicked him earlier.

"Girl. . . you are way too much trouble. I think I will have some . . fun before I kill you."

"But . . I thought . . that . . you were going to take me . . . to see . . someone."

"Yes, but . . . to see Master you must be dead. You're not . . . so I'll have to make you dead. But . . it doesn't matter how you die. Maybe . . . I'll skin you. Yes, starting with the face. I've already begun . . Hahaha!"

Videl reached up and touched her face. There, on her right check, were three cuts, bleeding. Angrily, she grabbed the couch she was leaning against.

With a grunt, Videl picked up the couch and threw it at Thayne. Thayne barely dodged it, and had even more trouble when Videl tried to kick him.

The third time was the charm as Videl's third kick landed, and she began a series of attacks, all landing on Thaynes face, then sprang up to land a hard blow on his shoulder.

Thayne fell to the floor, but before he could get up Videl stood on his chest, and landed a hard blow to his face.

Both backflipped, staring at each other. Thayne reached up and touched his swollen face.

"You bitch, I'll make you suffer!" Thayne charged at her.

~0~

Gohan was at full speed, and he wasn't liking what he was sensing.

Videl's energy was nearly gone.

~0~

Videl bounced off the wall, quickly spun to try to avoid the next attack, but again was too late as razor sharp claw marks appeared on her back. She screamed.

Videl fell to the floor, but had to roll quickly to avoid Thayne's stomp. She wasn't fast enough to avoid his next kick into her gut, or the one after that. Videl rolled again, and was finally able to stand.

She dodged one, two punches, but Thayne's third punch landed, sending Videl stumbling back. She was barely able to keep standing.

Thayne leaped up, intending to stomp down on Videl, but she was able to dodge it. Instead, Thayne used the momentum to propel himself up to the rafters of the room.

Videl, seeing him up there, ran to a wall then up the wall. She pushed off the wall and tried to kick Thayne. He blocked but was pushed into a support rail, and Videl used the opportunity to land a hard right to his face.

Thayne landed on his back underneath the rafters. Videl jumped down to try to land a double kick, but Thayne stuck his feet into the air. Videl instead landed on Thayne's feet, and was propelled back up.

Videl backflipped, only to see Thayne waiting for her, claws ready for the killing blow . . .

She grabbed a rafter, and swung herself sideways towards a wall, landed feet first, and pushed again to tackle Thayne.

Thayne was caught by surprise and was pounded into the wall.

Videl got up but stumbled. She was so weak, her vision was blurring in and out of focus. But she could see Thayne struggling to get back up himself, using the wall for support.

'I've only got one chance . . !'

Summoning the last of her energy, Videl cupped her hands on her forehead, preparing for the last technique that Gohan had shown her.

"Ma . . .sen. . .ko . .ha!"

The energy blast struck home, sending Thayne through the wall and into the air outside the mansion in a cloud of smoke and debris.

Spent completely, Videl collapsed.

Thayne appeared in the smoke, floating in the air, a crazy smile on his face. "Close, bitch . . . but not yet!"

"THEN TRY THIS!"

A golden haired youngster appeared suddenly between Thayne and Videl, floating near the hole Videl had made. His hands were also on his forehead, an energy ball glowing brightly.

"NO!"

"MASENKO HA!" The energy consumed the madman, his death shriek echoing through what was left of the mansion.

And a transformed Gohan looked behind him, and didn't like what he saw.

Videl was hurt badly. Her t-shirt was cut to ribbons, not hiding much, and she was covered in deep cuts and blood.

Gohan flew up next to her, but was afraid to move her. He didn't know what to do.

Videl was moaning and wincing in pain, curling up into a fetal ball. Gohan kneeled beside her.

"Videl? Can you hear me?" There was no response.

~0~0~0~

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Response to Reviews:

Silver – Sorry about not updating. I've been busy with college.

Videl – Ok

Mytic Gohan's Chrissy – Yeah, yeah, keep your shirt on.

Otepoti – Thank you

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