Author's Note: I would like to apologize for the delay of this chapter, and the fact that this chapter is VERY short. It's short 7 KB of my standard average in writing. Well, I would want to write more, but I don't like to spoil what happens in the end --- I find it sweet as it is! So, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please don't forget to review!

Oh and I already got the comment that I should raise the rating twice now... Should I do so? I admit the first few parts are pretty mature in content, and so is the theme as a whole... but I don't think NC-17 would be appropriate since it's not THAT mature. How about R? Or should it stay PG-13?

Fueled by Anger, Driven by Despair
Chapter Six: Over With Videl's Dilemna --- But Not Eiyu's


An expression reflecting pain and hurt swept Eiyu's face as he leaned back against the soft pillows, apparently weakened all of a sudden. However, his present condition was not caused by any physical injury or illness, whatsoever. He was in perfect health and he had always been in good shape, and there was nothing wrong with his body.

The pain was caused by something else.

Getting Gohan back. Just three words, yet those words caused so much pain, so much hurt. He loved Videl very much, very much that he offered to help her attain her revenge and cleanse her name. But no matter what he did, Videl never loved him back. They've had moments, yes, but Eiyu had doubts even at those times.

He was the mirror of Videl's past. He strikingly looked like Gohan, Videl's first and only true love. He reminded her of the love she and Gohan shared; he reminded her of the flame of passion that burned between the two. He knew that Videl loved Gohan very much, and that she would never love him, Eiyu Nakasone, as much as he loved her.

Or as much as she loved Gohan Son, for that matter.

Eiyu wanted to do something about it, but he did not know how. Many things were disturbing him, many things were running around in his mind. For some reason he could not seem to sort them out, no matter how hard he tried. A past he could not remember, a future he could not foresee, a life he could not seem to manage, a wife he could not seem to hold on to, and a face he could not bear to see.

His past had been troubling him for so long. He knew he was someone significant back then, but he just could not remember who he truly was. He had the gut feeling that Videl was a character of his past, and that he was, in some way, connected to the Gohan Videl so loved, but he could not confirm that feeling unless his memory would return.

He knew he would have to wait for his memory to return to confirm if his feelings were telling the truth, but he also knew that getting his memory back would be one tough job. He could not simply bang his head against the concrete wall and then remember everything in a flash, nor could he inject some medicine to make him remember. He would have to wait for nature to work its wonders on him.

However, his patience was running out. He wanted to know the truth as soon as possible.

Eiyu closed his eyes for a few moments to ponder on his next move, when an idea struck him. If he was indeed connected to that Gohan his wife was still madly in love with, then the best thing to do was to confront the said man. "It's time for a surprise visit," he told himself as he rose up from his seat. "And we will settle things once and for all. You and me, Gohan Son. You and me."

"V-Videl?! W-What are you d-doing h-here?!" Erasa asked, backing off considerably in utter panic. "Y-you're s-supposed to b-be---"

"Dead?" the raven-haired woman pitched in helpfully, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Yes, I'm supposed to be dead, but I could not stand seeing Gohan trapped in your evil clutches so I decided to rise up from where I was buried and take him away from you. And that's what I'm going to do now. Be afraid, Erasa. Be afraid. The daughter of the devil is back. Back for her revenge, her sweet revenge."

The others were about to intervene when she sent them a glare --- a glare that was enough to send shivers through their spine and make Vegeta shudder in fear. "Interfere and you'll regret it. Stay out of my path if you want to leave. I'll only warn you once," she said in an equally lethal tone, and then she turned back to Erasa with the same, deadly eyes. "I'm no longer the Videl you once knew. I'm no longer the weak, soft-hearted woman who cannot seem to hurt anyone. I'll kill you if I have to, I'll kill you if it's the only way to get back what's rightfully mine."

"What do you want me to do?!"

Videl shook her head. "Giving up so soon, Erasa? Where's the woman who used to wield the flames of hell without getting burned? How disappointing. I expected a fiery response from you. But instead, here you are, giving up, letting me do what I want. What's wrong? Scared?"

"No," Erasa replied with conviction. "I'm not scared. I just... don't want my son to get hurt."

The other's dark eyes flickered towards the infant, and then those eyes narrowed significantly, anger flowing through them. Before anyone could notice it, however, she pushed the anger away and locked it up inside of her. She would not let her anger overrule her common sense, and most especially not in the wrong place and in the wrong time. "You've become too soft, Erasa. Too soft, it's disappointing. Well, I'll go straight to the point, then. There's no one I want more at the moment then the man who's supposed to be mine."

"Videl?"

All eyes turned towards Gohan, who stepped up from the crowd he was in just a few moments ago with eyes that held confusion that spoke volumes. However, Videl could not help but notice the oddness in his eyes, for she could not seem to find the gleam in them that set Gohan's ebony orbs apart from everyone else's.

"Videl? Is that really you?"

At those words, Videl's attention was diverted towards him, and once that happened, no one else seemed to exist in the world except Gohan. As if on cue, he strode towards her, and once he stood in front of her, he ran his hand down her face, seemingly stunned at her arrival --- or return, for that matter. "It is you..." Gohan whispered as if the sight of Videl left him breathless.

"Gohan, what are you doing?!" Erasa exclaimed in panic, her voice taking a high tone. "You're my husband, don't go flirting around when you're at my sight!"

But he could not seem to hear her, or Chichi who shrieked soon after. His attention was apparently so locked up with Videl that he heard no one, saw no one but her. "I'm so glad you're back, Videl... I... I'm sorry for what I've done before. Something... got to me, I can't really explain it. It had something to do with the accident..."

Videl arched an eyebrow. "Accident?"

"You never knew about it? On the night we were supposed to elope... I... I got into an accident. My brain got wacked up, and I only got back to my right mind after I married Erasa. They told me you were dead, but I never believed them. I'm sorry for what I've done to you, Videl..." Gohan apologized with downcast eyes. "I'm very sorry for being such a jerk..."

"No, Gohan... I'm sorry. I judged you, without knowing the truth. I thought you never loved me when you threw me away from the church... but now... now I know."

"Will you forgive me?"

"GOHAN, STOP IT!" Erasa screamed in desperation. "SNAP OUT OF IT! THAT WITCH IS PUTTING YOU UNDER HER SPELL! STOP IT! DON'T DO IT! I'M BEGGING YOU! I'M YOUR WIFE, NOT HER! JUST LEAVE HER ALONE!"

"Of course, Gohan. Of course."

At that, Gohan lifted Videl off her feet and said with his back turned from the rest, "Forgive me. But she is the woman I love, and not Erasa. I never told anyone about it, but now I have to be honest with myself. I love her, and you can't stop me."

Erasa fell on both knees as tears filled her eyes. "Gohan... you can't... leave me."

"I'm sorry, Erasa. But I don't love you."