Author's Note: Hallo everyone! ^-^ Rejoice! I'm back! And because I haven't update this fanfic for such a LONG time, I decided to do something to make up for it... an extra-long chapter! How do you like that? =P Well, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, and please review! I'll like that! ^-^

Fueled by Anger, Driven by Despair
Chapter Five: Debut of a Revengeful Soul


"Oh great, we have to babysit the baby again," Goten commented in an extremely annoyed tone as he trudged with his best friend Trunks towards the mansion where his family now lived. It had been a week since he found out that Videl, the one person who held the answers to all his questions, was dead, and the dreaded birthday party of his nephew had finally arrived.

Both events made him feel worse than ever.

"I don't think it'll be that bad, Goten. I mean, think of it. We babysit the baby, but we get food in return! F-O-O-D! So lighten up! Don't feel too bad about it, things will work out just fine. And besides, if you get really annoyed, you can always excuse yourself. After all, you are sick."

Goten snorted. "As if Gohan would let that excuse pass. He doesn't think of me as his little brother now; he thinks of me as a babysitter who doesn't have to get paid. Wait, let me rephrase that. He doesn't think of me as his little brother --- he doesn't think of me at all! Ever since he got into that accident, he got all wacked up! First he ditches Videl, then he marries Erasa, and then he's acting all strange. Boy, does he need help!"

The lavender-haired pre-teen could not help but laugh at that. However, his gaze immediately shifted into a serious one. "You're right. Ever since that accident, he has changed so much. Could it be that... that accident is linked to everything that has happened for the past years?"

"Maybe."

"That's it! That's where we should begin!" Trunks exclaimed as he jumped in front of his best friend, who looked rather pale and weary, and yet still excited at the idea the older boy thought of. "We're working our way backwards and we saw nothing --- and that's what we're doing wrong! We should work our way forward, and not the other way around!"

The other ruffled his spiky black hair in thought, and then, he grinned broadly. "You're right! We should start investigating from the accident, because that's where it all began! And with regards to that, we'll have to split ways. One of us will have to go check out the hospital, and the other will check the police station for the records. Which one would you like to do?"

"Go to the hospital," Trunks replied. "It's easier, and in your condition, you'll need the easier job. After all, you don't need to be sneaky or anything, you're just asking for information. The police station, on the other hand, will be harder to get through, so leave it to me. There's nothing Trunks Briefs-Vegeta can't do! I am the---"

"Now, now, Trunks, there's no need to start acting like your father," Goten joked as he slapped him playfully on the back. "And besides, no matter what you do, there is no way I'm bowing down and kissing your feet. You better keep that in mind, so I won't have to remind you."

"Whatever."

Both of them abruptly stopped as they saw Gohan, who just exited the mansion. They looked at each other, not knowing what to do next.

Goten wanted to tell Gohan that he wanted to rest and not attend the party, but he was afraid that Gohan would yell at him again and thus, hurt him even more. Sometimes words hurt a lot more than punches and kicks or head-splitting headaches. Trunks, on the other hand, wanted to tell Gohan that Goten wanted to rest up because he still was not feeling well, but he hesitated in doing so, afraid that Goten would get scolded for letting someone else come up with lame excuses for his own cause.

However, when Trunks noticed that his best friend's face was noticeably losing its color, he decided that he would just do what he was supposed to do, and if thing would get rough, he would simply have to tell the woman in charge about it. He turned to Goten, whispered, "Stay here, I'll talk to him," before he ran up to the older Son.

"But Trunks---" Goten attempted to stop his best friend, but the latter was already a few steps behind Gohan. With that, Goten sent a silent prayer not to let Trunks get yelled at, or anything of that sort.

"Hey Gohan!" Trunks exclaimed as he came up from behind Goten's older brother, and as soon as they faced each other, he pushed away his fear and hesitation. "I know that it's your son's birthday and that we're supposed to be watching over him, but I'm afraid Goten's really not feeling well and he needs to rest up. And I hope you still have the heart to show some compassion to your little brother, who had done countless favors for you already. All I ask --- for him --- is a day's rest, and I hope you're kind enough to give him that."

However, the young man only looked at the pre-teen in surprise and confusion, both emotions evident in his raven orbs that were all too familiar, and before Trunks could say anymore, he whispered, "I... I'm sorry..." and then, ran off.

"Hey! Wait---" Trunks yelled as he ran after the man, Goten sprinting after them a few moments later. Trunks cocked his head to the side slightly to warn Goten not to go after them, as he was still weak, when he bumped into a tall man who towered over them. Goten, not watching where he was going, crashed into Trunks and into the man as well, and when both pre-teens looked up to see who it was, they were met with sharp, ebony eyes that were cold and threatening.

"Mother told me you're sick, but here you are, playing tag with your best friend when you're supposed to be in bed, resting," Gohan hissed in a threatening tone as he glared at the two straight in their eyes. "If you tell a lie, Goten, make sure that you actually do your part in keeping that lie believable --- the same thing goes for you, Briefs-Vegeta."

At that, the older Son turned to leave, back into the comforts of his home, leaving the two boys standing in the midst of the field, apparently petrified. However, it was not Gohan's glare that rendered them in such condition, for apparently, the glare which held the power to embarass people terribly did not work on Goten and Trunks this time.

Fear could not be traced in their eyes; only utter confusion.

"So, you two were up to some mischief again!" Bulma Briefs-Vegeta exclaimed with one eyebrow cocked to a dangerous edge as her son, Trunks, and his best friend, Goten, stood before her with their eyes locked on her blue orbs pleadingly.

"We weren't doing anything bad, mom! I swear! I just went with Goten for a walk since he needed fresh air, and when we were on our way back here, we saw this mysterious guy and attempted to run after him! That's when Gohan found us! Please believe me, mom!" Trunks pleaded as he did everything in his power to prove that they were innocent, but his efforts were all in vain. A curt nod from Bulma dismissed them, but it was evident by the look in her eyes that she did not believe him --- or Goten, who attempted to reason out earlier, for that matter.

"It's alright, Trunks, don't feel too bad about it," Goten said weakly as he looked at the bright side of the situation. Attempted to look at the bright side of the situation, that is. "I'm fine, really. You shouldn't worry about me. I can handle another punishment from mother --- that is, if my eyes won't do their job well."

"Whoever said I was worrying about you?! I wasn't worrying about you, baka, I was worrying about our mission tonight! Now we can't sneak out of our homes and investigate because someone told our parents that we were up to mischief, when we weren't!" Trunks exclaimed exasperately, but when he saw his best friend avert his eyes to the floor, he quickly turned to him and grinned. "Come on, Goten, I was just kidding! Of course I was worried about you, but I must admit I too am worried about our upcoming mission. I can't take it anymore. The way Gohan acts, it's so annoying! I want to pop his eyes out of their sockets, pull out all of his hair, bite his ears, punch and kick him all over his body, pound him to a billion pieces with your mother's secret weapon, and burn him over and over again until---"

"Until you get grounded for eternity in doing so," the Son pre-teen finished helpfully.

They slumped against the wall, far from the others who were obviously enjoying all the food that Erasa and Gohan had prepared for them. A few moments later, Goten asked, "Who do you think that man was?"

Trunks shrugged. "Some Gohan look-alike, and I can tell he's way better than the Gohan we're currently stuck with. I mean, he actually apologized to me for what happened, when it's not his fault that he's a Gohan clone and that I mistook him for our Gohan!"

"Never heard of anything like that before," Goten commented as he stared at the guests who just came in. "Do you think he's going to be here today?"

"I have no idea. But if he will be, I'm pretty sure there's going to be chaos. I mean, think about it. Won't you freak out if you have this party, the doorbell rings, you open the door and you see yourself standing there?"

"That doesn't sound so scary," the spiky-haired boy blurted out.

"For us, it's not. But think of Erasa. She'll probably faint, along with your mother," Trunks said with a slight chuckle. "But you know what would be the real deal? If Videl would actually show up in this party! Erasa is going to faint and she will never wake up if that's the case!"

Goten stared at Gohan --- who was laughing like some mad clown with his guests, his fellow professors in Orange Star High School --- for a few moments before he turned to the other and said, "It's not funny." He paused, averting his eyes, and then he continued, "It's not funny to make fun of Videl. Most especially now that she's dead."

The older boy opened his mouth to say something, but then he decided against it as he realized that Goten had finally accepted the fact that Videl was dead. For the past week, he had been denying that truth, but now, it came straight from him. Videl Satan was dead.

Or so they thought.

Whoever said I was worrying about you?! I wasn't worrying about you, baka, I was worrying about our mission tonight! Now we can't sneak out of our homes and investigate, because someone told our parents that we were up to mischief, when we weren't!

Pause.

Come on, Goten, I was just kidding! Of course I was worried about you, but I must admit I too am worried about our upcoming mission. I can't take it anymore. The way Gohan acts, it's so annoying! I want to pop his eyes out of their sockets, pull out all of his hair, bite his ears, punch and kick him all over his body, pound him to a billion pieces with your mother's secret weapon, and burn him over and over again until---

Until you get grounded for eternity in doing so.

"Those two are a great team, and from the bits and pieces I've captured out of their conversation, it looks like they're digging their way through the fortress of lies Erasa built around herself," Eiyu said as he minimized the volume of the speaker to get into a clear conversation with Videl. "And from the little investigation I had, they're actually getting somewhere, although I had to clean up their tracks to get them out of trouble. I'm afraid Briefs-Vegeta is still not an expert in hacking, but he's doing a pretty good job for a 12-year-old."

She smiled. "Good. Keep an eye out for those two, and aid them through their investigations if necessary. Drop them hints, clear their paths, do whatever you must. I'll leave them the job of uncovering Erasa's treachery --- with you in charge, though as a shadow; I'll do the work I'm supposed to do."

"Which is?"

For us, it's not. But think of Erasa. She'll probably faint, along with your mother. But you know what would be the real deal? If Videl would actually show up in this party! Erasa is going to faint and she will never wake up if that's the case!

It's not funny. It's not funny to make fun of Videl. Most especially now that she's dead.

"That kid really cares about you," Eiyu commented, his question earlier immediately forgotten. "From my investigations, he and Briefs-Vegeta snuck into the database of the police to check up on you, but it was stated that you were dead for around a year already. And he had been in a state of denial since then." He paused to glance at Videl, and then asked, "How close were you two?"

Videl swallowed the painful lump that crept up to her throat. "Very close, Eiyu. Very close. He's an adorable boy --- a prankster, yes, like Trunks, but he was plain adorable. He never failed to make me smile, to make me laugh. However, that will be the one thing he will be unable to do when we meet again."

How do you think she's doing now? In the Afterlife, I mean?

Pause.

I don't know, Trunks, but I sure hope she's doing fine. She has been the best big sister ever --- even if that was just a short while, and that was unofficial --- but still! She has been the best, and if only I was old enough, I would have helped her out, because I would have known what to do. Everytime I think about the last time I saw her, I want to cry. Because I heard all the harsh words Gohan told her, and I know that it really hurt.

A longer pause.

What else can I say? She's the best. She's totally different from Erasa---

Who is an idiotic, boy-stealing, money-obsessed and demonic blonde.

Eiyu chuckled. "Briefs-Vegeta's vocabulary is impressive," he blurted out, rather amused at the comment. He opened his mouth to speak out once more, when he heard the vibration of a tear crashing down, hitting the floor, thanks to his super-sensitive hearing.

Videl was in tears.

He then moved closer towards her and took her into his arms, to comfort her. She had been tough and somewhat harsh the past week --- she didn't cry, she didn't sob, she didn't show her softness --- but now, she was in tears. Sadness gripped his heart as it gripped hers.

Then, she pushed him away as she stood up and wiped away her tears. Just a few moments ago, she was the old Videl --- meek, sensitive and seemingly like a lost little girl --- but now, her cold, revengeful front was back, concealing all the other emotions that indicated weakness. "I have to go. My job awaits."

"Which is?" he asked as he stood up to usher her out of their temporary home.

Videl Nakasone stopped in her tracks, yet she did not look back at him as tears swelled up in her eyes once more. Tears which she forced back, desperate to do what must be done. In a soft tone, a tone that Eiyu had not heard in a while, she answered, "Getting Gohan back."

Arms crossed in front of his chest, Vegeta snorted. "That brat doesn't look strong to me. He is going to grow up a wuss if you don't start shaping him up at an early age. Heed my words, or you're going to regret what this brat will become."

"Now, now, Vegeta, that is no way to speak about my grandson!" Chichi snapped as she glared at him threateningly. "And you might as well look at your son first before you criticize other people's kids!"

"Oh please! This is not the time or place to fight! This is the time to celebrate!" Erasa exclaimed as she interrupted the two who were at the verge of starting another round of their battle of words. "This is the time to celebrate for the peace and quiet these past years! To celebrate the successes of the Son family, to celebrate the successes of the Briefs-Vegeta family, to celebrate our individual sucesses... now is the time!"

"Riiiight," Trunks murmured as he rolled his eyes.

His mother immediately shot a warning look in his direction, but luckily, his comment remained unnoticed, for a short moment after he said so, Chichi beamed. "Now that is my daughter-in-law!"

"Oh yeah," Goten seconded mockingly. "That's my sister, alright."

Chichi's ears perked up at that --- apparently she picked up the mockery in those words --- and looked at her son with sharp, threatening eyes. Before she could scold Goten, however, a young woman clad in a blue cloak and hood walked up towards them, presented her tarot cards, and asked if they want their future foretold.

Goten and Trunks, who had been interested with fortune-telling for such a long time, immediately told the woman to position between them for her to tell them their future. When their parents and relatives were about to intervene, the lavender-haired boy reasoned out that it was just for fun and that it would not hurt anyone.

"Let the brats do what they want, I don't care," Vegeta blurted out before he stuffed another piece of chicken into his mouth and proceeded in watching the woman, who was then ready to tell the boys' future with the use of her one-card draw method.

"Well, looks like you have a bright future ahead, boy," she said as she placed the card she took out of her deck.

The Emperor.

She looked at Trunks and the smirk on her lips --- as the rest of her face was covered by the hood --- was clear enough for all of them to notice. "I'm not too surprised. After all, you are the son of Bulma Briefs-Vegeta, owner of Capsule Corporation."

Trunks and Goten high-fived and then the latter turned to the fortune-teller and smiled. "So what about me? Can you tell me about my future now? Please?"

She shuffled her cards and pulled another one from the deck. She placed it on the table, face down, and said, "Its vibration is not as powerful as that of your best friend, but I can tell that it's a great fortune for you, nonetheless. Why don't you flip it over?"

Trembling slightly in nervousness and excitement, Goten reached over and flipped the card over, and gasped as he saw what it was. "L-Lovers?! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Your future career will revolve around women. You will be a girl-magnet, and at that, you will draw the attention of the opposite sex without breaking a sweat. You will be famous and idolized, most especially by the female generation, and yet, you will only have one woman, one true love."

"Oooh!" Trunks exclaimed as he hit Goten with his elbow teasingly. "One woman, one true love!"

"Shut up, Trunks!"

The fortune-teller then turned to Erasa and asked, "How about you, madam? It's free of charge, and you don't have to believe it if you don't want to. Just count this as... a method of entertainment for the mother of this charming child."

Erasa looked at Chichi and Gohan in hesitation, and when they nodded in approval, she said, "Okay. Let's give that shot. Let's see what my future is like."

"I wonder," her brother-in-law began with much sarcasm as he slumped back into his seat.

"You better pray there's a Gohan card in that deck, Erasa. Because I have a bad feeling that you're going to have a dark future," Trunks said, his voice heavy with sarcasm as well.

She shot a glare at the two boys, but her attention was immediately turned to the card the woman pulled out of her deck. However, the fortune-teller shook her head as she saw the card. "This does not look good, not at all," she muttered as she turned towards Erasa, although her eyes were still shrouded by her hood. "I'm sorry, madam, but I'm afraid that I cannot show this card to you."

The other's eyes narrowed. "I don't care what that card says, just show it! Besides, I don't believe in those stuff anyway! Just show me what the damn card is!" she exclaimed exasperately.

"I regret to say madam---"

"Show it to me!"

The fortune-teller heaved a sigh. "Very well, if you insist," she said before she placed the card on the table for everyone to see.

The Grim Reaper.

"Oh my Kami!" Chichi gasped as she saw the card. "That cannot be true! That is not possible! Erasa is not going to die, she is not going to die!"

"A shadow from your past will resurface to exalt revenge on you. The owner of that shadow is someone you had betrayed and hurt in the past. The owner of that shadow will avenge for everything that you had done to her, and she will hurt you in the same way as you hurt her."

Upon hearing those words, Erasa burst into laughter. "I don't believe you, not at all! You are one crazy woman!" she exclaimed before she resumed laughing, this time nearly everyone in the table laughed with her --- except Goten and Trunks. "That was the funniest thing I've heard in a while! Listen, lady. I have never betrayed anyone in the past, so as much hurt anyone. Except perhaps, the girl who loved my husband, because he married me and not her."

Goten was about to intervene, but Trunks held him back.

"And it seems like you're implying that Videl Satan will rise from her grave and exalt revenge on me because Gohan, the man she loved, married me!" Erasa exclaimed in a very amused tone before she once again burst into laughter.

"That is correct," the other said.

Erasa froze as soon as she heard those words, as did everyone else in the table. In fact, everyone else in the area stopped what they were doing to look at the crowd that suddenly grew quiet. The fortune-teller's voice changed noticeably at those three words; it was now harsh, threatening, and cold enough to send shivers to one's spine.

"What's the matter, Erasa? Why aren't you saying anything? Did I scare you?" the other young woman taunted as she rose from her seat, ignoring all eyes that were now on her. Hearing no reply from Erasa and picking up no comment from the others, she decided to spare them the trouble of speculating on her identity. Without any word, she slowly lifted her hood and then allowed it to fall to the floor and expose the face that hid beneath it.

Erasa gasped.