Disclaimer: I do not own DragonballZ or its Chara. They are property of Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation. FUNimation has some delusion of grandeur that it has rights to it as well. But the Liberal dominated media business says they DO have the rights, so I have to say that they do, though I trust it about as much as carbon dating.

Please read and review!

________________________________________________________________________

Chapter III:

A Day at The Mall! What Better Way to Celebrate a Bust?

In his Great Saiyaman costume, Gohan flew over the lands. Through the desert where once dwelt Yamucha, and past the remnants of Mount Frypan he zoomed. To the northwest just a bit where a dilapidated castle stood, and then south to a small village he flew. His favorite place was not very far away; a peaceful area that resembled Namek-sei where Piccolo trained him. Yet, the desire to go there and meditate was overtaken by his desire to just fly. On that day he felt that there was nothing more wholesome than just flying around.

"The Earth is at peace…the weather is fair…all is good…"

However, his thoughts were cut short when his Radio-transmitter watch picked up a police signal.

"All units in or near The Southern Capital report! There is a robbery in progress! West Museum, South Capital! There are three armed suspects! One is described as Male Pterador (1) with green skin, the second as male Cani-jin, and the third is female mongoloid."

"South City, huh? I'm not too far away, so I can help."

Gohan turned SSJ and blasted off with utmost speed towards The Southern Capital, also known as South City. Sure enough, there was smoke coming from the West Museum, and the cops were shooting at the building. The one called a Pterador blocked bullets with his wings. Gohan as Saiyaman jumped down.

"Look! It's The Great Saiyaman!" shouted a cop

"Great! He can take care of this!" shouted another

Gohan slowly stepped up to the Pterador "You are committing a serious crime! In the name of Planet Vegeta--" Gohan did the gung-ho pose "--I, The Great Saiyaman-" He shifted to the squatting frog Position "--Shall Punish you!"

The Pterador sweatdropped "The great…whattum…?"

Gohan growled and did some more silly poses "I AM SAIYAMAN! GUARDIAN OF THE CITY! PROTECTOR OF JUSTICE! DOER OF--" the Pterador spat out a sticky goo that wrapped around Gohan.

The Pterador laughed "You like it? It's called Garu-Garu Gamu (2)! It is indestructible!"

Just then, Videl came rushing in and saw Gohan in his predicament "Go- I mean… Saiyaman!"

"Do not worry Videl!" Gohan said; he smirked and broke free of the goo.

The Pterador was shocked and dismayed "How…nobody can…wait…is your name…Son Goku…?"

"Close. Confidentially, that's my father!"

The Pterador grabbed his head and wavered around in agony as green and black swirled around him (metaphorically speaking) "No! My father told me about him! He is the only person who ever broke free of Garu-Garu Gamu!"

Videl had an epiphany "I don't think the famous Giran would like to learn his son has chosen a life of crime!"

"I--haven't really--chosen! The two inside…their boss captured pa!"

"Then help us turn them in and we can get you some leniency!" said Videl

The two in question soon came out, but remained concealed by the shadows.

The short guy jumped "Oh no! It's that Saiyaman guy! Gulp!"

The woman gulped "And that's that Videl!"

The Short man smirked "Well, he can't possibly be as strong as…he…was!"

Gohan did a stupid pose "Reveal yourselves, evil doers!"

The lights came on. Gohan was suddenly treated to two faces he had only seen when his father showed him his past through a Saiya-jin Memory Link. The woman held the three star Dragon Ball.

"Shao and Mai? Is that You?"

"H-he knows our names, Mai!"

The woman shook her fist "How do you know us?"

"I have a family member who is quite well acquainted with you" said Gohan "Videl, shut the doors and make sure nobody sees."

"Right" said Videl; she shut the doors as Gohan relinquished his costume

"I am Son Gohan…Son Goku is my father,"

Shao and Mai screamed

"Oh no!" cried Shao "Now we're in for it!"

Mai pleaded "Please let us get away this time! We need to save our master!"

Gohan blinked "Huh? What do you mean?"

A familiar ki was felt; Son Goku Instantaneously Moved to their location. "No need to ask them son…" Goku put his hands on the two robbers' heads "Ah…so I see…Gohan, you go do your own thing…I can take care of these two myself!" Goku vanished with Shao and Mai.

Ten minutes later, he returned with two very pleased persons, and one more Pterador. Shao and Mai's hands were stuck out. Videl slapped cuffs on them.

The larger Pterador hugged the smaller one "Goran!"

"tousan!" cried the other

Giran shook Goku's hand "Yet again I am in your debt, Son Goku. First you encourage me to become stronger by defeating me, then you help make ties to another village, then you bring me from the dead, (3) and now you rescue me!"

"Don't sweat it!" said Goku

"May we meet again!" said Giran

The two Pteradors flew out of the hole in the roof and vanished from sight. As Shao and Mai were leaded into the Paddy Wagon, Gohan could have sworn that they did the peace sign.

"What did you do tousan?" asked Gohan

"I helped someone change, son." said Goku "Oh! By the way, Vegeta said he'd blast you next time you use the name of his home planet while acting like a ballerina. Bye!"; he Instantaneously Moved out of the region

Videl just stared "Insane…"

"I know…hey! What brings you to South City, anyway?"

"Shopping!" exclaimed Videl "South City has one of the largest malls on the planet!"

"Oh. Well, I guess I'll see ya later!"

"Wait! Why don't you come hang out?" asked Videl

"Well…I really don't know if I…"

Ireeza ran up to the scene "Videl! Did you get those guys? Hey! It's Gohan! Hi Gohan! Is he gonna hang out with us?"

"I'm trying to convince him" said Videl

Ireeza tugged at Gohan's arm "Please Gohan! Please come to the mall with us!" remarkably, she was using Son Puppy Dog Eyes, and they were working. Videl soon joined in and made it worse.

"I regret using those in front of them…" thought Gohan "Fine…I'll go…"

Videl followed by Ireeza grabbed on of Gohan's arms and pulled him down the street.

******

The mall was quite large, rivaled only by Capsule Corporation in size. The food court had three hamburger places, a buffet, two taco places, four Mi-fang (4) Food places, three juice bars, five Island Food Places, a steakhouse, and a seafood restaurant. There was a Hoi-Poi outlet store with a great selection of Hoi-Poi capsules; Sharpener and Gohan each bought some empties.

"What do we need these for?" asked Gohan

Sharpener looked at his watch "As soon as they finish their smoothies, Ireeza is going to want to buy clothes, and Videl is going to buy that plus exercise equipment"

"So why the Capsules?"

"They'll force us to carry it all…"

"Oh…"

"As men, we must be prepared for the incredible tortures of shopping with women. Even Cell would cringe in fear, I'll warrant."

"Well, if I cringe, then anyone weaker than me would…"

~~meanwhile~~

Ireeza slurped more of her Strawberry Blast. "So, Videl, what happened at the museum?"

"A couple of creeps were trying to steal some relics."

"Oh my! What kind of relish?"

Videl spit some of her Guava Lime "Not Relish, Relics! Old stuff! They tried to get a sphere that appeared to be made of some sort of bright amber." Videl of course knew what it really was, but she wanted to keep it under wraps.

"And what happened?"

"Saiyaman and I apprehended them and released the third accomplice, who was no more than a victim of extortion."

"who was the third guy with you?"

"Gohan's dad."

"Really? That was Son Goku? Wow! He's hunkier than on the Budoukai videos! Ya know, you're lucky, being the girlfriend of the son of Son Goku!"

"Gohan and I are not Boyfriend and girlfriend! Sheesh, you're as bad as his mother!"

Gohan and Sharpener slowly walked up to the table with a look on their face like prisoners on death row. "We're ready." they said softly. A knell could almost be heard.

"Please, that's far too melodramatic!" said Videl "Come on, we need to go to Al's gi and weight shop."

It was quite fortunate that Sharpener and Gohan had purchased Hoi-Poi capsules. Videl bought at least forty outfits, a thousand pounds worth of weighted training clothes, and four 100 lb punching bags. All neatly fit into one capsule, which Gohan labeled "V.EQ", which meant "Videl equipment". Next was Ireeza's turn; she wanted to buy shoes. A small sum for her she bought; ten pairs. Hours upon hours they went from store to store buying more and more merchandise, and filling Capsule after Capsule.

Finally came the part Gohan could bear the best: The hanging around and talking. At Gohan's suggestion, the four friends drove out to a hilltop park outside of South City. Oak trees made a peaceful canopy that let green light pour through. The grass was about as short as that of a golf course and twice as dark in greenness. Small hills and small dells scattered all about the region. Three small rivers ran through the park, each spanned by some small foot bridges no higher than the middle of one's shin. The spot they chose to set up their Hoi-Poi easy chairs was a Cliffside viewpoint looking the sea to the East. To the north, South City could be seen. Just shy fifteen miles East was Papaya island, where the Tenkaichi Budoukai was always held. To the southwest was another island where, unbeknownst to all present but Gohan, the Z Senshi met Artificial Humans 19 and 20.

"So, what are we gonna talk about?" asked Gohan

Sharpener pointed to the east "That. Let's talk about the Tenkaichi Budoukai, shall we?"

"Why?" asked Gohan

Ireeza giggled "Why not? Come on, we have here the daughter of one Tenkaichi champion, and the son of another! Am I the only one that finds it cool?"

"No, you aren't" said Sharpener "I want to know if your father is competing in the 26th Budoukai."

"I don't know." said Gohan "He really doesn't like all the publicity that's befallen the tournament. It was fine when it was just one or two cameramen from one network, but now it's become worse than professional wrestling!"

"I agree" said Videl "Ever since my father entered the 24th and won, it has been a popularity contest. And popularity is such a distraction!"

Sharpener sighed "True…my grandpa says that back when Jackie Chun and Son Goku used to compete the Tenkaichi Budoukai was a day when the greatest fights could be seen. The home videos he showed me make me believe it. Ya know…I honestly would like to meet him."

Gohan laughed "Wow…what friends I have…" he thought "…Sharpener and Ireeza know my dad is a great fighter…even if they do believe Mister Satan is stronger, it still feels good…"

"Hey, earth to Gohan!" said Ireeza "Get your head out of outer space!"

"Well that's not the only part of me from space…" thought Gohan; he snapped out of his trance "Sorry."

Ireeza leaned in closer "Hey, so what is Goku REALLY like?"

"He's a really nice guy" said Videl "I met him last Budoukai, but I also met him at Gohan's last night."

"You were at Gohan's?" asked Ireeza

"yeah, I told you I had dinner with his family." said Videl

"Well, I assumed you meant a restaurant or something…" said Ireeza

"When you have Gohan's mom cook for you, you never want to go back to restaurants!" exclaimed Videl

"It was that good?"

Videl smirked "You couldn't wish for better food!"

Gohan chuckled. He found her statement ironically true. His thoughts faded back to four years after the Cell Game….

~~Flashback, Gohan's memory~~

Gohan and a four year old Goten stood before seven glowing spheres.

"Now Goten, all you have to do is say COME FORTH SHENRON!"

"Kay, but niichan, who comes first an' second?"

"no, no, come f-o-r-t-h. It means come out."

"A'ight. COME FORTH SHENRON!"

The mighty dragon god Shenron appeared before them. Goten saw for the first time the incredible splendor of the incredible reptilian marvel. His green scales gleaming like emeralds, his ruby eyes shining, and his teeth and claws like adamant.

"w-wow! niichan, he's cool!" exclaimed Goten

"You should see Porunga, Goten."

"YE WHO HATH GATHERED ALL SEVEN OF MINE DRAGON BALLS…THOU ART WORTHY OF MINE BLESSING…THREE(5) WISHES I CAN GRANT…BUT BEWARE, FOR THEY WILL COME TRUE."

"What should we wish for Gohan?"

"Well…you go first!"

"Kay…" Goten thought a moment "I know! Shen-chan, I wish for a boatload of hamburgers that are even better than my mama's!"

Shenron's eyes glowed "TIS BEYOND MINE POWER…NO FORCE OF NATURE, NOR ANY DEITY, NO MATTER HOW STRONG, CAN CREATE CONSUMABLES THAT ARE SUPERIOR IN QUALITY TO HER COOKING ANY MORE THAN A FISH COULD WALK UPON THE FIRMAMENT." (6)

~~End Flashback~~

Sharpener chuckled his usual way "Hey, hey, hey; let's get back on topic, yeah?"

"gomen" said Videl and Ireeza

"What I want to know is" began Sharpener "Since your dad's a Budoukai Champion, do you know any other competitors personally?"

Gohan scratched his head "I guess it's okay to let them know SOME of the guys I know…" "um…I know Tenshinhan, the guy who won the tournament before my father."

Sharpener nodded "Honor guard for Emperor Chaozu of the Mi-Fang Empire, born in 733, adopted by Emperor Zaochou later in that year. He protected the empire until it was overthrown and the Emperor was exiled. He entered the 22nd Tenkaichi Budoukai which he won against Son Goku. Their fight was an historical match because it was the first time the First Lander rule was imposed. Tenshinhan is rumored to live in seclusion with the exiled emperor ever at his side." (an: may seem OOC, but how can you tell? He's hardly in the series….)

Gohan blinked "Wow…you sure know a lot about the Budoukai!"

"Knowledge is about all I have…" he lowered his head "I may act and look tough, but I'm not really that strong at all."

"You want to compete someday?" asked Gohan

"Like I could ever get strong enough."

"how'd you like to meet my dad? He could give you some training tips" said Gohan "…Long as they don't involve 500 ENG…"

"Nah, just getting to see him fight would be enough"

Ireeza jumped up "I know! Videl, why don't you have your dad spar with Gohan's! It would be so cool to watch!"

Gohan blanched "Oh great! Videl might say yes! Indiscretion city!"

"It wouldn't be possible" said Videl

"What?"

"Huh?"

"Thank Dende…"

"my dad is much too busy" said Videl "Hell, he's too busy when I want to talk to him!"

"I have a better Idea" said Gohan "You three can all come to my place. Now."

"But it would take us at least ten hours if we went back the way we came!" said Ireeza

Gohan smirked and reached into his pocket to produce a Hoi-Poi capsule. He threw it to the ground revealing a Jet Copter. Ireeza squealed as she ran up to it and started to touch it.

"This is just like my grandpa's!" she exclaimed

"Old man C's?" asked Sharpener "You're right! It is!"

"Where did you get something like this? This model…it is the rarest of rare!" asked Ireeza "There are supposed to be only seven of these left!"

"My dad gave it to me" said Gohan "He said he took it as a souvenir of his great battle."

"The last time these were used in mass quantity was…May 12th, 750. During the Battle of Shredded Ribbons. Most of the copters were destroyed."

"May 12th…why is that so familiar…" thought Gohan "And I mean besides the Artificial Humans' arrival back then…"

Gohan shook it off "Just get in. I'm flying it! We should get there in a matter of minutes!"

They all piled in and began their flight towards Mount Paozu. Gohan prayed to Dende that Goten or his mother wouldn't make any indiscretions…….

________________________________________________________________________

What is your opinion of this?

No flames

Constructive criticism is always welcome

No butt kissing

No insults

Ideas or suggestions are wanted please

Next time in Dragonball E: A visit to Gohan's has the makings of trouble, or not. What will happen when Oolong, Kuririn, Juuhachigou, and Kame Sennin come over? Will I ever stop asking these annoying questions at the end of the chapter? FIND OUT!

FOOTNOTES:

1) I don't know the real name of that race; this is just a guess

2) Known in America as "Merry-go-round Gum".

3) Giran was in fact killed by Tambourine in Dragonball.

4) An empire where Chaozu once lived

5) Yes, it IS three unlike in the American version which makes it two for some stupid assed reason.

6) ^_^

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------