Mirai Goten: Ummm... Kaz is hiding in Tatooine, because she got scared of your comments with regards to Gohan and Erasa's marriage. *dodges flying vegetables, especially tomatoes* She did not give out any comments about it, but she said that there'll be more angst in the chapters to come. And to Christa, Kaz requests not to let anyone know about the things she told you with regards to this fic, and she said that she only told you those because you were already very annoying, because she took pity on you and because she loves you. *holds up hands* I'M INNOCENT, DON'T HURT ME! I'm only relaying her message since she's too chicken to emerge from her hiding place!

DRAGONBALL Z: Fueled by Anger, Driven by Despair
Chapter Two: Fragments of the Heart

The silence was deafening, yes. The only sound that could be heard was the continuous hum-and-roar of the starfighter's engines, nothing more, nothing less. Despite that fact, Videl found the silence rather... comforting, although why, she did not know. She wasn't at peace, and that was a fact. Memories of her past continued to haunt her, stories she had only heard in prison continued to play over and over in her head. But still, she found the silence... different.

She sighed. Maybe it was because of the young man she was with. But that was something Videl could only speculate. She didn't even know her new master's name, so how could she relate the silence to his persona? For some reason, she could not hate him, although he was the one who ruined her spur-of-the-moment attempt to escape. A part of Videl said that perhaps, this man, was salvation --- but another part of her said that this man would only bring her more pain. When he took her with him in his journey, a thousand questions immediately filled her mind, and yet she could not answer even one of them.

However, there was something about this man that puzzled her greatly. It was his sudden decision to take her as his slave. Although at first Videl thought that it was because she was afraid of him --- and thus it would be easy for him to boss her around --- but the amount of money he offered Hade in exchange for her was startling.

5000, Temerjin currency. And that was the part that brought the strongest blow on Videl. Nobody, not even the richest man in the universe, would pay 5000 just for a slave who one would boss around. Women bought at those prices were usually used to give pleasure, and Videl was not one of those kind anymore. She looked at her reflection on the mirror of the starfighter, and she could not help run a hand through her face. This was the evidence of her life. A life that took so much from her, yet only gave her pain in return.

She swallowed as tears threatened to fall. She was very unstable, very unpredictable. One moment, she was as strong and as tough as a mountain. And after a few seconds, she would break down and beg to die. Even she herself could not understand what was wrong with her. She knew that something was indeed wrong with her, but just not what it was.

She resumed to look at her reflection, only to find a different face staring back at her. A young woman around her age --- although now Videl looked much older because of all the suffering she had gone through --- with blonde hair and ice-blue eyes that sparkled with evil and hatred looked back at her. Videl was taken aback at first, but soon, she regained her composure and realized that she was merely seeing things.

Look at you, a voice whispered to her. Unfortunate child, look at you! What will become of you now? Of your future? Allow me to tell you. You have no future. You have nowhere to run, you have no one to turn to. And I am not kidding, young one. Because I... have managed to destroy you, and your future as well. There is no turning back now, and there is nothing you can do but accept the truth. Truth is hard, but there's nothing you can do to change it.

"No!" Videl yelled back. "That's not true! You're lying! I... I have a future! I have a home! I have friends! You're lying, Erasa! You're---"

Lying? Am I really lying, Videl? the voice taunted, and she laughed. Lying, you say! Tsk, tsk. My dear, something has indeed happened to you, something that stopped you from discovering the difference of reality and fantasy! Open your eyes, Videl! Look at the truth that lies before you!

And at that very moment, her world spun, and when everything settled down, she was a little girl, with jet-black hair in pigtails and beautiful blue eyes. And she had friends. Three of them, for that matter. One was a loud blonde girl, who apparently was the closest to her; the second was an arrogant blonde boy who was part of her circle, nonetheless; and the third was a shy yet charming black-haired boy who seemed to blush everytime she was near him.

They were by a river, playing around, splashing water at each other. She enjoyed every moment of it, and in all her glee, she took the chance to dive into the cool waters. The swam along with the current until she ran out of air, and she slowly made her way back to the surface.

But she could not reach the surface. She moved her arms and kicked repeatedly, but something was holding her back --- something was pushing her back to the water. And she did not have much time. She was running out of air, and she knew that she would drown sooner or later if she would not be able to take in some oxygen. Just as she felt that her time was up, she rose to the surface, and she immediately took a deep breath, savoring the air that gave her life.

Trouble was not over, however. She looked down to see that the water was dark and dirty, and her face was smeared with the dirt, her hair dripping wet. Then three figures stood above her, all three of them casting their shadows over her. The three figures were her friends, and yet, they had strange looks in their eyes.

The blonde young man reached out to grab her with his gigantic hand, but she began to sprint away. But she was very scared. She was merely a helpless little girl, while the three of them were all grown up and towering above her. The chase continued until she tripped over the rock, and it sent her sprawling to the ground. And the man caught her.

She began screaming, kicking, pushing away the hand that enclosed her, but pain began to fill her body, until numbness overtook her. She lay on the palm of the young man's hand, awake, but unable to move.

Now, what are we going to play, Videl? Let's see... there are so many things I could do with you. But then I only have one chance to play with you, so I better pick the most exciting one... and the most productive one, at that.

"No... Sharpner... no... Let me go... No... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"

Her hands were shaking as she prepared dinner. She had fallen asleep, and luckily, her master was around to snap her out of nightmare. However, the horrifying feeling followed thenafter. She did not want to sleep, she did not want to even close her eyes, afraid that images of her past would come to life every time she would do so.

But there was something that was slowly soothing her, slowly removing all her fears, and all her anxieties. She blinked as she felt an aura radiate with an intensity so weak, yet it worked wonders on her. To add to her confusion, there was only one person on board, aside from her. Her master.

Her master... who was he? She never got the chance to find out who he was, even just his name. He was always aloof, always distant. The only time he ever spoke to her was in the marketplace. Even if it was him who woke her up, but he did not say anything. He just tapped her by the shoulder, and went back into what he was doing. And his eyes... she never got the chance to see them. They were always hidden beneath those glasses of his. And he never seemed to take those glasses off.

Videl took a second to glance at her master, who was already at the counter, waiting to be served. However, when he looked into her direction, she quickly buried herself back into the chore she was doing. Why am I feeling like this? Why do I feel so comfortable around him? He's... a complete stranger. And he's my master, I'm his slave. But... why... is his aura so... soothing?

Then an idea came to her, and she smiled. It would not only serve her purpose, it would also allow her to know her master better. She didn't know what was wrong with her, she didn't know what drove her to think of something like that. Maybe it's his charisma... or perhaps, his sex appeal... Kami, who am I kidding?

As she served him dinner, she made sure not to meet his gaze. However, she was not able to take hold of herself at that one moment, and their eyes met. For some reason, she started blushing furiously, until she was as read as a tomato. Her master noticed that, but he merely asked, "Is there something you want from me?"

"N-No, certainly not at all," Videl quickly replied as she turned away and rushed to the starfighter's kitchen. When she arrived back at her headquarters, she looked at the mirror to see herself sweating. In fact, when she spread out her palms in front of her, they were wet with sweat.

Is there something you want from me? his voice echoed in her mind as she took another second to once again, steal a glimpse of him. It took her more than a second to do so, however, and she focused her attention back to the task at hand.

"Yes, there is something I want from you," she mumbled to herself with a smile. "I want to know if your name is... Son Gohan."

Maybe she has gone as much as I've gone through, although the difference is that... I can't remember who I once was, or what happened to me. Despite the absence of those facts, I could still feel the pain of what I had gone through, and I know that... I'll remember it in time. And I'll do what I can to make myself remember, even if it would double the pain I am feeling now.

He dragged himself towards his chambers, although the reason why he was going at such a slow pace was not because he was sleepy, but because he was thinking into going to Adokenai's room and comforting her. He felt her pain, he sure did, but his facade was the one that kept him from doing what he wanted --- and doing what he felt was needed.

Adokenai. Innocent, yes, that was what her name meant. Yet that would not be the appropriate name to call her. She was not innocent any longer, for she had been stained countless number of times, and it was obvious in the way her eyes shone. Her eyes were dim, full of sadness and anger. Those completely defied the definition of someone innocent.

He didn't understand why he purchased her, but he concluded that it was, perhaps, out of pity. Yes, she was a pitiful soul. And she wanted to die. Death was something he had escaped so many times, yet he had come so close to it that he feared it greatly.

Futile? Perhaps. But if there's anything that's useless, it's me. My very existence. So why don't you just do me a favor, and kill me now? I would gladly appreciate tha. Or are you too chicken to use that fancy weapon of yours on a woman like me?

Those words, and the way she said them... it was strange for him. Of course, he understood clearly what the girl meant, but there was something in the tone of her voice that... snapped one of his strings. A string that held his memories? Perhaps. A string that held his heart? That too, was possible.

The moment she said those words, the moment he heard her voice clearly, he wanted her. Not to be his slave, or to be his toy, but he wanted to help her. Because he felt that if he would be able to help her confront her past, then she would be able to help him unlock his. Mutualism, that was what you could call it.

He sighed as he pushed open the door of his quarters. However he was not prepared for what he would see next. On his bed, sitting down as if awaiting him, was Adokenai herself. And she was beautiful, despite what had happened to her face. Her shiny, jet-black hair was set loose that it partially covered her face; her deep blue eyes were sparkling and... inviting; and she wore a white nightgown, thin and made of silk, and it fitted her perfectly that all her gorgeous curves were obvious.

She must have noticed that he was nearly drooling, because she smirked. However, before he could give in to the temptation that lay in front of him --- and totally drool on her feet --- he stiffened and returned to his cold facade. "What are you doing here?" he asked in a tone harder and colder than usual.

His question startled her, although she was careful enough not to show it. Well, perhaps, she was experienced enough not to show it. If her front was shattered a bit a few moments ago, now it was intact once again. She moved forward in such an inticing manner, until she stood in front of him, her eyes just staring into his. Her eyes were too inviting, too inticing, too seductive. He knew that. And he also knew that this wasn't what he wanted. He did not purchase her to be his sex slave, whatsoever. He had another reason, and he would not touch her, even if she made the first move. "What are you doing here?" he asked again, in a tone even colder than the one he used earlier.

She only smirked as she put a hand on his shoulder, and she moved closer towards him, until her body was pressed against his. She never took her eyes off him, she made sure that she maintained eye contact, for she knew that her eyes were the most powerful part of her body. She could control men if she wanted to... her eyes had that power.

He felt himself tinge as they touched. He wanted to move away, but found himself paralyzed with her touch. He couldn't move. He couldn't talk. All he could do... was breathe. And he knew he was going out of control. His heart began to beat faster, and his world began to spin...

Then it stopped. As gentle as he could, he pushed her away from him, and she fell on his bed. And he advanced, taking one step after another, making the girl smile even more. After all, he was falling into her trap. Not only into her trap, but for her, as well.

However, when it seemed to be the climax of the opening ritual, he stopped, and stared at her. She also stopped, and she knew that something had gone wrong. She also knew that he didn't really fall for it... he was merely playing with her. And again, she heard him ask the question she had never answered. "What are you doing here?"

She only looked at him, her master, who was towering above her. She knew that she could just pull him into bed with her, and they would have a good time, but something seemed to hold her back from doing so. She felt as if that trick wouldn't work on him. True, it worked on other men before --- she could attest to that --- but on her master, she knew that move would be a failure on her part. And she just knew.

He extended his hand, which she took promptly. When she was back up on her feet, she still continued her seductive front, in hopes to get her plan into action --- her plan to make him fall for her so she can pry into his private life without him noticing. And in the most inviting voice she could muster, she asked in reply, "Isn't this what you bought me for?"

"No," he replied sternly, and with that, she knew that her plan was going nowhere. And at that very moment, that facade of hers was gone, and back was the memory-haunted slave he bought earlier at Temer-sei. She quickly turned to leave, but before she could, he grabbed her, and asked, "Can you please tell me your name?"

"It's Adokenai," she spat without even looking at him. "And I have to go."

He let go of her, even though it seemed he only did it so as not to make her upset. She then straightened her nightgown, and began to walk away, when she felt herself stop. She did not know why, but she felt his aura flicker. She felt him reaching out to her, and she could not resist him. But he was reaching out for her in a different way. In a... comforting way.

She turned back to look at him. He was still standing on where he last stood, with his head bowed and his eyes downcast. She smiled, then she walked back to where he was. "It's... Videl," she said as she extended her hand. "And you are...?"

Videl was forced to settle with that question, because it was the only question she could think of that would not sound rude, demanding, startling or confusing at the moment. However, what she really wanted to ask was, Are you Son Gohan?

Kaz: I have no plans in writing a lemon, I hope I made that clear. No plans, not at all, so don't expect any of those kind from me. That's how far Videl will go, seducing men. That's it.
Mirai Goten: KAZ YOU'RE HERE! *glomps*
Kaz: I hate you, Goten, do you know that? You are your---
Mirai Goten: *covers Kaz' mouth* Until next time, everyone! And Christa, remember what I told you!

Advertisement: Scars of the Past: The Life Story of Son Gohan by Frozenflower. It's a totally awesome fic, and very angsty too! That fic gave me some hints on how to write something really angsty, and that's what I'm going to try on the next chapters. So thanks a lot, Frozenflower! Read it after you review this chapter!

Next chapter: Videl's new master will volunteer to help her with her revenge, but on one condition. What the condition is, you'll have to read the next chapter to find out! So stand by! And before you go, please click on that purple button and review! Please?