Author's Note: I bring good news --- a new chapter! I guess your reviews just pushed me to write another chapter, and I also felt guilty for having such a short chapter before this. Anyway, I would like to thank all of my reviewers, you are such great people! Thank you for supporting me, I really appreciate it! You just don't know how happy I am when I read your reviews --- I feel so loved!

I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, and I suggest that you start putting your detective skills to work. After all, I'll be dropping more clues to the mystery from this point on. =P And hopefully, I will get more reviews, then I'll be motivated to write the next chapter during school this week and have it uploaded on the weekend. *hint* *hint* I'm not asking you guys to like... get people to read my fic, but if you're thinking of doing so, then thank you, in advance. =P

Enjoy! And review!

Fueled by Anger, Driven by Despair
Chapter Seven: Tracing the Connections


It had only been a few hours ever since chaos erupted in the Son mansion at the arrival of a certain Videl Satan, but the mansion was now as still and as inert as an historic establishment. Most of the family members were out of the area --- to cool off, to think of new things to do, to forget what just happened, and all the other reasons that came with the said situation.

At Gohan's departure, Erasa was devastated beyond belief, and at her depression she tried killing herself. Luckily --- or unfortunately, for her case --- her mother-in-law found her before she was able to commit the horrible act, and Chichi took her some place to help her forget what happened.

With the family's official cook gone, the head of the family, Goku, decided to spend his time somewhere else until his wife would return from her journey. He was not used to spending his life in a place without food --- and his home was a foodless haven at the moment, considering the fact that the only person other than him in the house was Goten, who ate as much as he did. Goku then decided to go over at the Briefs' so he'd get food and get to spar with the training-dedicated Vegeta. He did not want to get involved in the situation because he knew it was none of his business.

Goten was left in the mansion, and because he was not in the mood to go anywhere out of where he lived, Trunks decided that it was best to accompany his closest friend at the moment. He quickly packed up, rushed to the Son mansion, bringing with him the booklet entitled Trunks Briefs-Vegeta's Guide to Foolproof Prank Missions, which he later realized that was of no use. Goten was too occupied with was just happened that he did not even considering fooling around as one of the events in their current schedule.

"Look, Goten, it's over. The blonde bimbo is gone, Gohan is back with Videl, and we're happy! That's what we want, right?"

The black-haired boy shook his head. "Something's not right, and I fear that something bad will happen to Videl-neechan. I mean, didn't you notice how Oniichan became so nice, so caring, so sweet and so loving all of a sudden? Isn't that strange?"

"You're paranoid," Trunks replied simply.

"Trunks, I'm serious. I really have a bad feeling about what just happened. I don't care if Erasa dies out of her depression, I don't care if she disappears forever, but I care about Videl-neechan! I don't want her to suffer the same way as she did before!" Goten voiced out, his concern for Videl very apparent on his features.

At that, Trunks sighed. "I guess you're right. But what do you suggest we do? Track her down and peel your brother off her? Then we tell her that the Gohan she's dealing with is a cold, heartless moron and that he has something planned against her? She's not going to believe us, Goten. Not even one bit."

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get that," the lavender-haired boy said as he jumped off his best friend's bed, hurried down the stairs, and opened the door. "Gohan? Why are you back so soon? Well don't worry, pretty much everyone is gone, except Goten, so you can come in and do what you want!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not Gohan," the other said meekly, not knowing how to explain himself.

Trunks blinked. "You're the Gohan-clone we met earlier, then?"

He nodded, and then, he asked, "You just mentioned that Gohan Son's not here at the moment, but do you know where he went off to? I really need to speak with him about very important matters, matters that I cannot put aside any longer."

"He left," Trunks replied flatly. "He left with his ex-girlfriend, Videl, because she finally returned after two years, give or take a few. I have no idea where he is now, but I suppose---"

"He left with Videl?!"

Blue eyes met black. "Do you know her?"

"Know her?! She's my wife!" Eiyu exclaimed in a very angry tone, and the words made Trunks' jaw drop in utter surprise. He looked at Eiyu with eyes that held total disbelief, but the Gohan look-alike only looked at him with an unfaltering gaze as he said, "Yes, you heard me right. I know Videl. She's my wife."

"Trunks, what's going on?"

Trunks turned towards Goten, and he immediately put up a calm facade so as not to worry the other. "Uh... just entertaining a guest, Goten, that's all."

"Goten Son," Eiyu said with dead calmness. "You're Gohan's younger brother, I presume?"

Goten's ebony orbs flickered in uncertainty, not completely trusting the man, and then he replied, "Yes, I'm his brother. What is it that you want? Who are you and why do you look like my brother?"

"I need to talk to you. For I too have the same questions. I want to know about your brother, about Videl, and most importantly, I want to know my relationship with them. These things have been confusing me for too long, and most especially this face," he blurted out, and then, he smiled, his anger forgotten. "My name is Eiyu Nakasone. I'm a treasure hunter from Temer-sei, and I'm Videl's husband."

The youngest in the group blinked. "Videl-neechan's... husband?"

"It's a long story," Eiyu blurted out with a sigh. "But I would be glad to share it to you if that is what you wish. An exchange of information, that is all I want. And I too am willing to pay whatever the price is for your information," he finished as he took out a small, brown bag which was filled with gold. And it was enough to make Goten and Trunks' eyes widen in shock.

Trunks immediately stepped out of the other's way and led him inside. "Over here, Eiyu sir! Do you want a drink? Do you want to eat? I'll get to your order right away!" he exclaimed, his eyes stuck on the bag which was filled with gold to the brim.

"Just coffee, please," Eiyu said as he sat down.

"Coffee for me too, Trunks," Goten added as he sat across his guest, trying to be as polite as possible. Then, he turned to Eiyu and asked in a tone that was lined with curiousity, "So what's your story? You say you're married to Videl-neechan, but she just came and took my brother away! What's going on?"

Eiyu met Goten's gaze as he began narrating his story. "When I first saw Videl, she was a slave in Temer-sei, and she was to be sold to another slave merchant as her master was fed up with her behavior. I took pity on her and bought her, which was a stepping stone to set her free. When we were travelling out of Temer-sei, we had a conversation, and we became drawn to each other for some reason. I learned about her painful past, and I felt determined to help her get back what was hers. So I offered to help her in her revenge, but I told her that she would have to marry me to be able to get a hold of everything that I have, most especially my wealth and power. And so she did, all for the sake of revenge."

The lavender-haired boy returned with their cups of coffee and the sugar jar; he set those down, pulled out a chair and sat behind his best friend, who was still waiting for Eiyu to continue his story. Eiyu, on the other hand, took his cup and drank what was inside, not even bothering to put sugar on the solution. He muttered a polite Thank you before he proceeded with his explanation. "She did not love me. At first I thought she did, but I eventually found out that the man she once loved --- your brother --- looked like me, and that she felt something for me only because I looked like Gohan. It was painful, yes. Especially when she left me to get your brother back."

Goten's eyes were on the cup of coffee that Eiyu held.

"Ouch," Trunks commented. "That must have hurt real bad. I mean, you give her everything that she could ever want, and then she just uses you to get her love back? I never knew Videl had a wild side..."

"I understand her completely," the older man blurted out in response. "I know how she feels about Gohan and all, and it was of my free will to marry her. Call me insane --- every boy tends to go a little crazy when they're in love. But that's not really my problem at the moment. My problem lies on my past. I cannot remember my past, and yet I feel that I was a significant person to Videl as she was a significant person to me. Do tell me, what happened to your brother that made him decide to marry Erasa all of a sudden? And what happened during those times when Videl was in jail, and then sent to Temer-sei?"

It was just then when Goten's gaze was averted back to Eiyu, and then, he shook his head. "I don't understand, until now, why my brother suddenly decided to marry Erasa. Well, it all began on the day he and Videl planned to elope. It seemed like the perfect night, but he never made it to their meeting place. He... he got into a car accident, and he was in a coma for months. When he finally woke up, he was acting strangely... and a few days later, he came up with the news that he and Erasa were getting married."

"We had no idea where Videl was," Trunks pitched in. "Everyone who knew about her relationship with Gohan presumed that she was upset beyond belief that Gohan didn't make it to their meeting place --- as Goten revealed that they were bound to elope that night --- and that she probably went away or committed suicide at that development. To our surprise, however, she made it to the wedding, only to be insulted by Gohan, who said that he loved her no more."

"She was then arrested for causing chaos, and we could not do anything about it. My brother was then so cold, so heartless --- he seemed like someone else. And he had been like that since then. For two years. It was hard coping with his sudden change in attitude, but I could not do anything about it. He's still my brother, and I must live with what he has become," Goten finished.

Silence filled the mansion for a few moments, and then, Eiyu broke it after he took another sip of his coffee. "It has been two years, then. Two years ever since Gohan got into an accident, two years ever since Videl suffered in the hands of her best friend, and two years ever since I lost my memory..."

Goten and Trunks looked at him in confusion.

"I'm sorry, kids, but I have to go," Nakasone said suddenly as he rose up from his seat. "However, I will be back, although when that will be, I am not certain. Thank you so much for your time, for your hospitality, and for the information. It was great knowing you."

At that, he placed the bag of gold on the table, and turned around to leave.

Trunks immediately reached out for the bag, turned it over and allowed the pieces of gold to fall out of the container. "Wow! That guy's really rich! Look at all the gold! We're now rich! Filthy stinkin' rich! RICH!" he exclaimed happily as he began jumping around, hugging the gold pieces as if they were the most valuable things in the world.

He stopped, though, as soon as he noticed Goten's silence. "What is it now, Goten? Jeez, lighten up, will you? We just got a LOT of money, so we should go out and celebrate!"

Goten's eyes returned to the cup Eiyu used earlier. "Two years ever since Eiyu Nakasone lost his memory, two years ever since Oniichan got into an accident --- plus they look alike, every feature oddly similar. To add to that, Eiyu drinks coffee the way Oniichan used to do, two years ago" he blurted out before he turned to look at Trunks straight in the eye. "Without sugar."

"You mean to say---"

"I'm not sure," Goten voiced out, cutting off the other before he could finish his sentence, "But I know that there's something going on that we don't know about. And I'm going to find out what that something is, no matter what the cost."