That Warm and Fuzzy Feeling From the Back of a SYN

by ShaggyDiz

Gohan goes to high school, where he meets new friends...and new enemies. *Chapter titles added* *Chapter 7* Gohan fights to saves Shinji's life, and Videl makes what could be a costly decision...

6. I:VI The Rise and Fall of Shinji

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ.  Enjoy.

Today's word is: Beast.  As in, "This is one beast of a chapter."  Sigh.  And this is only the first part of a two-part story arc.  All I can say is enjoy it, and then review.

Usual stuff is at the bottom.

And for some reason, half of my italics won't show up when I upload.  So whenever you see a chunk of the story between '…', it signifies a flashback scene.  Opening my thought italics will still show up.  The original version, if you care, is up on my web page, link located on my profile page.

Now go read.

* * *

That Warm and Fuzzy Feeling From the Back of a Saiyan

A fan fic by ShaggyDiz

Chapter Six

* * *

                A couple of days went by as Shinji avoided Gohan.  The Saiyan teen was nonstop in his pestering of Shinji that he finally gave in and leads them to a high rise in downtown Satan City.  The pestering was for a good reason though.  Shinji had learned about some rather important details involving Videl and Gohan on Monday, and had vowed to keep them to himself.  Damn that Saiyan.  Doesn't he know that "No means no"…

…

                "Falling for him?" Shinji asked, confused.

                "Do I have to spell it out for you, Shinji?" Videl yelled, getting a few curious stares from some people passing by.  She gave them a mean glare, and they stalked off.

                "Well this is interesting.  Videl has fallen for two men."

                "Shut up."  She gave him her own glare, which did nothing to keep the smirk off of his face.  "Just to let you know, I haven't fallen for Gohan completely."

                "I know.  It'll take a mallet to the head to tell him that."

                "I think I'm just trying too hard, or just going after the wrong person."  Shinji's smirk fell off after that.

                "I don't think so.  You two are made for each other.  Gohan does like you.  Heck, he's told me a lot of stuff about this budding relationship.  He's probably being a little too slow in finding those feelings."  Videl sighed.

                "I guess you're right."  She started walking down the hall again, Shinji following along side her.  "I need to ask you something."

                "Go ahead."

                "You…look familiar, like someone I know from my past."  She stopped when she heard a chuckle from next to her.  "What?"

                "It's just…what took you so long to figure that one out?"

                "I needed to make sure.  Can you come over in a couple of days?  I really want to know what you've been up to, and where I do know you from."

                "Sure, I can do that.  What about Gohan though?  He might take it the wrong way."  Videl laughed at the comment.

                "Him?  Don't worry about it.  Besides, I have a hunch about him."

                "A hunch?"

                "I'll tell you about it later, when we meet…"

…

                I guess I'll tell Gohan now, Shinji thought to himself as the two teens got settled.  And she really thinks that I wouldn't go and tell him?  Okay…so I said I did.  It lasted two days though.  Is two days enough time to make her think otherwise?  Sigh…I guess not.  Sorry Videl.

                "So what is it do you want to know?" Shinji asked.

                "I don't want to have to go through this again.  Just tell me what I've been asking you since Monday after school," Gohan said, agitated.

                "Fine, fine.  Just…when I tell you this, you have to remain as calm as possible, cause this is big."

                "Big?"

                "Big, as in, incredibly huge and grotesquely enormous."

                "Ah, okay."  He paused for a moment.  "Well, what is it?  Tell me!"  Shinji sighed.

                He's acting like a seven year old.  Not cool.  "Okay.  It's about Videl."

                "And?"

                "She…she's in love with Saiyaman."  A few seconds passed, which felt like an eternity to both of them.  Gohan, because of the way the words hit him, and Shinji, who was anticipating a response from him.  As those few seconds finally elapsed, Gohan leaned forward slightly before leaning back and, reaching his arm out as far as it could go, wound up and slapped himself on his forehead, slamming into the roof behind him.  The next word summed up everything.

                "What?!"  Shinji knew that he would yell that out.  He didn't expect that whole display of self-inflicting pain though.  He turned to look at Gohan and sighed, seeing the demi-Saiyan sprawled out on the roof, starring into the sky.

                "Videl is in love with Saiyaman.  I don't feel the need to repeat myself."

                "I know that…but…"

                "But what?"  Gohan pulled himself back up onto the ledge.

                "I'm Saiyaman!" he shouted, waving his hands wildly into the air.

                "Well…duh!"

                "Shinji, you're not helping!"

                "I know.  This is a funny predicament by the way."

                "It's not!" Gohan shouted, backhanding Shinji onto the roof.  He lay there for a few seconds before rubbing his head, feeling a massive headache brewing within his temples.

                "Ouch…" he mumbled.  Shinji slowly got up and walked back over to the ledge, rubbing his temples lightly.  He sat down and looked at Gohan, who looked like a man out for blood.  "Hey, I'm just the messenger.  Don't kill me."

                "I'm not."  His face relaxed a bit, and was quickly replaced by panic.  "Shinji, I don't know what to do now.  She's in love with my alter ego…how is that possible?"

                "I really don't know.  She didn't go too in depth about it, but I suspect that with the amount of times you've saved her as Saiyaman, it was bound to happen sooner or later."

                "Any ideas on how to have her not like Saiyaman?"  Shinji thought it over for a moment.

                "Um…besides just disappearing altogether, I really don't know.  You could not save her every time she needs it…maybe just help her out when she really needs helping out."  He leaned in closer to whisper.  "Or…you could just tell her you're Saiyaman."

                "That's the last thing I can do," Gohan said softly.  "It would tear apart everything that I've…that we've worked so hard to build."  Shinji had a look of shock on his face.

                "Don't tell me that – "

                "Don't…don't tell anyone, okay?"

                "I won't."  A silence fell over them, which lasted for a few minutes.  It didn't feel like an eternity like the last silence over them did.  It was literally a few minutes.  It was uncomfortable for them though.  Gohan had pretty much said something he never thought he could say – not the exact words at least – but enough for Shinji to know what it meant.  The younger teen, on the other hand, was screaming complete surprise in his mind.  I never knew this…Gohan has fallen for her.  This is unbelievable.  Shinji brought them out of the silence.

                "Why don't you tell her?"  Gohan hesitated for a moment, thinking about his response.

                "I'm scared."

                "Scared?"

                "I'm scared of what she might think…about what she'll say."

                "About what?"

                "About me…being me."  Shinji let a smile set on his face.

                "Dude, Gohan…you want to know the truth?"

                "Sure…it wouldn't hurt to know now," Gohan said, half interested.

                "Fine.  You're the most normal kid I know."

                "Normal?" he asked, half shocked.  "Shinji…I'm not normal.  I'm far from being normal."

                "Well…at least you look normal."  Gohan sent a glare over to Shinji, who promptly laughed it off.  "Gohan…you know what I mean.  I'm giving you the honest truth.  You are the most normal kid I know.  Period."

                "Explain it to me then."

                "Explain it?"

                "Explain it."

                "ARGH!" Shinji yelled, tossing his hands up and floated off of the ledge.  He turned back to Gohan, and could only smirk at the grin on Gohan's face.  "Gohan…you're a good kid.  You'll be great with Videl.  Just don't be scared."

                "I'll try not to.  This is strange though…the first time this has happened to me."

                "Gohan, there's a first time for everything.  You know that as well as I."

                "True."

                "Just do it like you're doing it now.  Don't be too slow, like you are now.  Jeez, even I could do this faster."

                "Shinji."

                "Yeah?"

                "Have you ever falling in love?"  This caught Shinji off guard.  He looked at Gohan and saw that he was serious in his question.  He's bared his soul.  I might as well do mine.

                "Once."

                "Once?"

                "Back…when I trained with Videl."

                "Were you – "

                "No, not Videl.  I'm not stealing your girl, and I'm not planning to anyway."

                "Who then?" Gohan asked, curious.

                "There was this girl – Maya was her name – that also trained under Videl.  I forget whether I was eleven or twelve, I really can't remember.  I had Videl introduce her to me, since I was somewhat timid at the time.  We kind of hit it off – for twelve year olds that is.  We talked and talked and talked and…you get the idea.  I almost felt like we were totally meant for each other.  Of course, this is when I was twelve – not sure how many times I've said this now – but it's strange…a twelve year old in love.  And I would have stayed at the place too, training under Hercule.  I just didn't want to be held back anymore.  I left…I left, without saying goodbye to her.  I wrote a letter and left it in Videl's care."

                "What did it say; if you don't mind me asking?"

                "Oh boy…this was years ago.  Um, I just told her I was sorry for leaving like this.  I told her my views about Hercule, and that I wanted to go farther than I have before.  Now that I think about it, I should have asked her to come with me.  I did the wrong thing with leaving her just a letter.  Kami, I am such a fool."

                "Shinji…I don't know what to say."

                "Speechless, huh?  Happens to the best of them."

                "I'm sorry I asked."

                "Dude, Gohan…it was probably the best thing to ask me, especially now.  Just don't do the same thing I did all those years ago.  I'd hate to see another person's heart get broken, even if I didn't see that person fall apart."  Silence fell, and like before, it was uncomfortable.  Shinji resumed his spot on the ledge, unable to keep himself afloat after his story.  He gazed downward at the busy city streets, perfectly showing the confusion of the moment between the two teens.  Gohan looked up into the sky, seeing how it was the exact opposite of what Shinji was seeing below.

                Peace.  All I see is peace.  Down there is mayhem.  "Shinji."

                "Yeah?"

                "Look up in the sky."

                "Why?"

                "It's easier on the eyes.  All it is up here is silence and peace.  It's nice."  With that, Shinji looked up.  Soon, he fell back on the roof to prevent further strain on his neck.

                Much better, he thought.  I should do this more often.  It is better on the eyes, like Gohan said – except for that damn Sun – but it works.  I feel a bit better on the inside now.  Next to him, Gohan laid back on the roof, joining Shinji.

                "Back when my Dad was still alive, we would do this.  We would lie back in the grass and stare at the sky for hours.  We saw many different things in the clouds.  Like that one to the left…it kind of looks like Piccolo, or me, without the turban."

                "You see yourself in the clouds?"

                "Sure…I think."  He paused for a second.  "I think I'll keep it as Piccolo for now.  Look at that one in front of us."

                "What does that one look like?"

                "Looks…like Goku…or Goten.  I can't figure it out.  They both look incredibly alike."

                "I would like to see your dad someday.  It would be great to meet him."

                "Remind me the next time I go out west; I'll take you with me."

                "Okay.  Hey, look at that one.  It looks like Videl."

                "Really?  Wow.  It does."

                The cloud spotting went like this for another ten minutes.  The teens spotted many different things in the clouds, mostly faces of people they knew.  They saw Krillin with a cheesy smirk on his face, and Hercule, who looked to be constipated or just yelling at his agent, both of which looked alike.  There was one they couldn't make out though.  The face looked of a young woman, between sixteen and eighteen years old.  The hair was short and slightly messy, but the face was that of a beauty.  The identity of this person baffled both of them, for they never saw this type of beauty before.  Well, Gohan had Videl's beauty, but this was a different one, and for a moment, it looked as if Shinji was in love with her.

                Soon, Shinji stood up and stretched a bit.  He floated into the air and looked down at Gohan.  "I have to get going now.  I promised Videl that I talk to her for a bit about stuff."

                "Like what?"

                "My past.  She has the right to know where I've been these past few years."

                "Okay.  I'm going to make a sweep of the city before going home.  I'll see you at school tomorrow."

                "Bye Gohan!" Shinji said, and then blasted off, heading towards the mansion that housed Videl.

* * *

                Videl sat impatiently in her room, waiting for Shinji to arrive.  Looking at her clock, she saw he was at least ten minutes late now.  What is taking him so long?  There's no need to be this late.  She went to her mini-fridge and took out a bottle of water, opening it and taking a sip.  She soon heard a tapping on her balcony door.  Videl walked over and opened the door, finding Shinji with a sheepish grin and a hand behind his head.

                "You know…you could pass for Gohan doing that," she said.

                "Well, he hasn't come by your balcony door yet.  I surprised that he hasn't."

                "Do you expect him to?" Videl asked, curious.

                "He might…if he ever finds his guts," he said, serious with every word.

                "I see."  She quickly changed the subject, wanting to get off of the current one involving the man who would soon be in her dreams.  "So what took you?  I was waiting for your ass for close to fifteen minutes now."

                "I was making rounds with Saiyaman.  I still have a duty to perform."

                "I know.  Still, you should have been done a while ago."

                "I'm sorry."  He walked past her towards an empty chair.  Picking it up, he moves it to the bed and sits in it.  Upon seeing the mini-fridge, he makes his way over to it and pulls out a bottle of water for himself and quickly returns to his chair.

                "Your welcome," Videl says, making her way over to the bed.

                "Oh…thank you," Shinji responds as an afterthought.  They both sat in silence, sipping their water occasionally.  Shinji wasn't thinking at all; he knew what he had to say to Videl.  The girl, meanwhile, was wondering why Shinji was taking his time.

                He must be thinking real hard about what to say.  She looked up at him, studying his facial features.  He had a plain look on his face, and it was hard to tell whether or not he was gathering his emotions for the discussion.  "Well…"

                "Well what?" he asked.

                "Are you still thinking?"

                "Nope.  Not since third period today in school was I required to think."

                "Damn it, Shinji!  Stop wasting time!"

                "Okay, okay."  He moved forward in his seat, getting a slightly more comfortable position.  "Where do you want me to start?"

                "Start from where I first met you.  I want to at least know where you came from."

                "Very well.  Let's see…"

…

                Nine-year-old Shinji made his way through the thick of Orange Star City.  He was on one simple mission: look for the man who defeated Cell.  It had been two months since that battle, which he saw many things on the TV.  It's been one month since his parents died in a horrific car accident while on their way back from work.  He refused to live with his uncle many miles away, but because of this, he set his mind in motion.  He received a portion of the money from his house and was able to move around a bit for the last three weeks.

                Shinji learned of Hercule Satan defeating Cell, though at first doubted its accountability.  He remembered seeing the fighter getting smacked into a mountain a mile away, then come back later, saying how everything those other fighters – including Cell – were pulling were simply amateur stunts and tricks.  Of course, Shinji didn't believe that statement in its entirety, especially when Hercule stated that he just gave him a "chop".  Still, he knew that Satan karate was the only way to go since he had no idea of who those mystery fighters were – except for one.  His name was unknown to him though, since the ignorance of the camera crew there provided with a stupid moniker.

                His thoughts lingered on those fighters, however, as he continued his journey through the city.  Shinji knew that those weren't tricks.  There was a way to do them; he knew that.  How to do them was the biggest problem.  He would have to ask Satan when he got there…wherever the place was.  This was his only chance though.  It would be a long shot chance too.  He was barely four feet tall, something that wouldn't go well against some of the other students there.  Hell, he didn't even know that if there was a junior class.  There probably was though, since he had heard of a younger Satan winning the junior division of the tournament.  Videl, that was the name.

                He went back on his thoughts of this being his one chance.  Shinji packed everything on his back.  A few changes of clothes and a personal journal were his only possessions.  His cash was dwindling now, as he made a foolish decision to stay in a somewhat expensive hotel for a couple days while waiting for a way to get to Orange Star City.  He let his brown hair grow out some in the last couple months as well, not bothering for a haircut.  Instead of the short spikes he preferred, his hair had grown out some longer, thicker spikes.  If only his hair were black, he might have been confused for a younger version of a certain young Saiyan.

                Not that he knew at the time, of course.

                After walking for close to forty-five minutes, Shinji finally came across what he was looking for.  A dojo, namely "Satan School of Karate", was the building he was currently in front of.  He didn't understand why it was hard to miss.  A rather embarrassing billboard of Hercule's head currently graced the building.  He probably doesn't think it's embarrassing.  It is his head.  I sure don't like it.  Off to the sides, he saw building projects attached to the school.  He quickly assumed that it was extensions to the school, seeing as how Satan was becoming a household name.  The money coming into the school – and Satan himself – was more than enough a reason to enlarge his personal school.

                And that was the primary reason for coming here to Orange Star City.  Shinji knew Hercule had schools elsewhere in the surrounding regions.  There is nothing better than to just get personal instruction in a class from Hercule himself.  He entered the school and looked across the lobby into the class currently happening.  He didn't see Hercule teaching the class, but rather a young girl, who looked to be ten years old.  She must be Videl.  Wow, she's teaching a class all by herself, with students older than her!  His excitement grew, seeing a growing karate expert teaching a class.  He stood there for a couple of minutes before someone came up to him, bringing him back to reality.

                "Hey kid.  What do you want?" the student, about fifteen or sixteen, obnoxiously asked.

                "Who me?  I came to learn some karate."

                "You look a little young, you know."  Shinji, wise – and cocky – for his age, came back with his own comment.

                "How old were you when you started?"

                "Twelve."

                "And how about her?  The one that is teaching that class right now?"

                "She started when she was seven I think.  She's special though.  She's Hercule's daughter."

                "So?  That means that anyone can start learning karate, especially at a young age."  That got the bigger kid.  He looked around, a bit worried, before turning back to Shinji.

                "Sit here.  I'll get someone to talk to you about joining."  He walked away, leaving Shinji by himself in the lobby.  He spent his time waiting looking at the current class, watching the young girl, Videl, continue to teach the class.  Looking around, he saw that none of the students could even keep up with the level that she was training in.

                Simply marvelous, he thought.  I wonder if I'll get to the level she is at now.  Well wait…anything is possible.  His thoughts continue unabated, and he continues to stare, completely unaware of a person standing over him.  He remains there for a few moments before making his presence known to Shinji.  Clearing his throat, he expects Shinji to look up.  He doesn't.  He continues to watch the class.  The man brings his hand down to Shinji's ear and snaps his fingers.  The young boy snaps back in shock.

                "Ah!  What was that for?" he angrily questions the man.

                "You were in a daze there kid.  I was only trying to get you out of it."

                "By what, making me deaf?"

                "Well…I did clear my throat."  Shinji blushes slightly, realizing that he was really out of it.

                "Sorry."

                "Don't sweat it kid.  I'm Rob, by the way."

                "I'm Shinji."

                "Shinji, huh?  Well, you came here for a reason, so I'm here to talk you through the process of joining Hercule's dojo.  Come this way."  Rob backs up, allowing Shinji to stand.  He leads him to a side room with stacks of paper of varying height and numerous trophies, all of them belonging to Hercule.

                "Is Hercule this good?" he asks out of curiosity.

                "Yeah.  Most of these he won in regional fights.  Those two over to the left were for winning the Japanese Tournament, something he's won the last two years.  He has his World Martial Arts Championship Belt at home.  His daughter says that he has it in an iron cast briefcase locked away inside a padlocked steel box, which in itself is locked in a titanium safe."

                "That protective?"  Rob laughed.

                "Oh yeah.  He is a little too protective.  Like he is with his daughter.  Don't tell anyone this…but Hercule and her mom; they were getting in fights all the time.  A couple months ago, Videl said that her mom left.  She wanted to go with her, but Hercule had all the money.  He had all the glory.  The courts, obviously, ruled in his favor.  She's been sort of an empty shell since then.  She still sees her mom, since her parents are just separated, and not divorced.  Most of the time though, Hercule isn't here.  Even then he refuses Videl to see her mother."

                "You know, I'm starting to not really like Hercule."

                "I really don't either.  But then, when you're the World Champ, his word is law.  Only a few of us really know his private life."

                "Why did you tell me?" Shinji asked, looking confused.

                "I heard what you said out there.  You've got some potential to be great, especially for a kid your age.  How old are you by the way?"

                "Nine."

                "Hmm…you are a bit young.  But I do know of kids beginning their training as young as five or six sometimes.  You are a bit on the short side too."

                "I know.  But then –"

                "Videl started at seven, and already she's really good.  You'll be okay starting now though.  I have a question for you."

                "Okay."

                "Why are you here by yourself in such a big city?"  Shinji thought it over for a few moments before deciding to tell Rob about his life during the past month.  He listened intently, not making any comments, but nodding his head when appropriate.  After Shinji finished, silence filled the room for a few seconds.  Rob then stood up and looked out of the office window, watching the class for a quick second.

                "What's the matter?"

                "Nothing.  Just looking out to the class to see when it'll finish up."  He sat back down and leaned back in the chair.  "I hate to say this, but the biggest problem that you have is not being able to pay for this.  I'm going to be generous though, since you are alone.  The class out there is going to finish up in about ten minutes, so I suspect you can wait, right?"  Shinji nodded.  "Okay.  I got the next class to teach, but I'm going to have Videl talk to you."

                "Videl?"

                "Yeah.  I know this for a fact that she has done this once or twice before, but she does a bit of volunteer work over at a local youth hostel.  If she can, she'll be able to get you in there with her 'father's good will', which can work wonders for many people.  The thing you have to promise me – and her – is that you must train your hardest while you're here.  Be it six months or six years, you put your heart out on the practice mat.  That's the way Hercule did it, and that's what his only daughter is doing out there now."

                "I will, sir."

                "Please, call me Rob."

                "Okay, Rob."

                "Good.  I'm pretty informal myself, so no need to say 'mister' or 'sir'.  Now wait here, I'm going to go out and get Videl."  He got up and left, leaving Shinji in the office.  Getting curious, he started looking around the room a bit, taking a peek at some stacks of paper and reading some of its contents.  Some of it came across as a bit too hard for him to read, so he quickly left them alone and walked over to the trophies.  He was reading some of the bronze lettering on the medals and trophies that he wasn't aware – for the second time that day – of someone standing over him.  That person cleared their throat, which immediately caught Shinji's attention.

                The throat was obviously female, and that told Shinji right away who was behind them.

                "I see you like them," she said.  Shinji turned around to see the owner of the voice.  It was none other than Videl.

                "Hi," he said.

                "You must be Shinji.  Rob told me to come talk to you.  He said something about you not having anywhere to go to."

                "That's right."

                "Okay.  Come on then.  I'm done my classes for the day, so I'll take you to a place I know."  She left the office with Shinji in tow.  Saying her goodbyes, they leave the school and begin their walk in the city.  "So tell me…why are you here?" she asks, starting their conversation.

                "I came to learn the ways of the world champ.  That's pretty much it."

                "I see.  It will be tough."

                "I figured as much.  Tell me something.  What did Rob mean by your 'father's good will'?"

                "Ah, that.  It's something I made up behind his back.  With all that money he's getting, Dad wouldn't know where half of it went.  I figure, if I take some of that money and give it to, say, a hospital, and then his name would get in the paper saying that my father is a very generous man.  Of course, he just passes it up as something or another.  It makes me feel good when I help people and places out."

                "Isn't that stealing though?"

                "You can say that."

                "Is that what you're going to do with me?" he asks.

                "Yeah.  Why are you here by yourself anyway?  The city is a dangerous place for a youngster like you to be walking all alone."

                "Look who's talking."

                "Don't forget who I am.  Videl – the Junior Division Champion of the world!" she yells ecstatically, stopping and spreading her legs apart slightly while raising her hand into the air and giving the V-symbol for 'victory'.

                "Why not just say the world champ's daughter?" he asks her, confused in her display.  She quickly turns angry.

                "I'm trying to make a name for myself, thank you very much!"

                "Sorry!"  He holds his hands up in defense, trying to diffuse the situation.  Videl's anger quickly subsides though.

                "I'm sorry…it's just tough though.  My life has changed in past two months so much that I really don't know who I am anymore.  It really sucks."

                "Videl, how old are you?"

                "Ten.  Why?"

                "You're pretty wise for your age.  That's what my parents said to me a couple months…before they died."  He says the final part somberly, hating the knowledge that his parents had died the way they did.  Videl did the only thing she could think of.  She placed her hand on the boy's shoulder and gave him a small frown.

                "I'm sorry," she said.

                "It's all right.  I was told – no matter how hard it may be – to never dwell on the past."

                "I understand.  Now come on.  I'm going to take you to a youth hostel not far from here.  You'll like it.  Some of the kids there are really cool, and they're just like you.  Oh!  You have to meet Mrs. Kimo.  She's one of the best ladies in town.  She makes some mean Wanton soup too!  You have to try it!"

                "Okay, okay.  Just lead the way, Videl."  And they were off, walking down the main street for three blocks and making a left onto East Street.  From there, the youth hostel came into view, and two lives would take a new course…

…

                "You know…I think that was the first time in a long time that I was really happy."

                "Really?"

                "Yeah.  I guess meeting new people with the same problems can open up many possibilities.  At least I now know where we've met before."

                "Yeah…you know; that little pose you did was really ridiculous."

                "It was.  Don't blame me though.  I was ten!  And I was trying to make a name for myself!" Videl cried out, throwing her hands in the air.

                "I know.  I won't blame you."

                "Good."

                "That was still funny though…" Shinji said chuckling.

                "Shinji!"

                "All right!  I'll stop now."

                "You better.  And when did you dye your hair?"

                "A few years ago.  But let's get back to the story.  I'm surprised you don't remember, especially when I left a few years after that."

                "Yeah…I guess the trauma of my mother being attacked must of made me forget a few things.  I really don't know.  You will tell me about that, right?"

                "Yeah.  But first, I'm going to tell you something else.  It's a part of the story that takes place a couples months before our first meeting…"

…

                General Tao fired at Mr. Lou, old martial artist, down on the ground in front of him, intent on killing him, and the unsuspecting children behind him.  What he was expecting after the explosion was three bodies strewn against the ground, ready to prove a point to the town's people behind him.

                What he didn't expect was a young golden haired boy, one of the three he was targeting, to be standing in front of the old man – unscathed no less – and looking ready to kill.  Tao stepped back and kept a steady eye on the boy, though now scared out of his wits.  He watched as the boy took a step forward, and then another one.  For a moment, Tao thought he could recognize the boy.

                "Is that…Goku?"  The boy stopped moving forward, staring the mercenary straight in his eyes.

                "No.  I'm his son," was the reply from the boy.

                The son of Goku?  This isn't good, the general thought.  Behind him, the local landlord insurer was yelling something inaudible to Tao.  He looked at him, then back at the boy.  To hell with this.  He stood up, relaxing out of his stance and walked over to a tree.

                "What are you doing?" the landlord yelled.

                "That kid there…his father defeated me many years before.  If he's able to do that, then I'm not going to risk my neck for you."  With that, he kicked a tree, cracking it perfectly close to the roots and caught it.  He launched it into the air, and he quickly hopped on board, leaving a rather pissed off landlord with an even more pissed of kid.

                The young boy turned towards the landlord and took several steps forward.  "This dome won't protect you," he said, and raising an arm up, fired an energy blast into the dome, reducing it to rubble.  "If I can do this, imagine what Cell can do."  He turned back to the old man and the little girl, giving his farewells.  The two gave him their thanks, and wished him luck in the upcoming battle.  He flew up into the sky and met up with a man, who had the same type of hair as the boy.  They quickly vanished, leaving the people on the ground to their own lives.

                Within that said group of people was a middle aged man and his only child, a young boy.  The child, about nine, looked up to his father.  "Dad."

                "Yeah?"

                "Can we go talk to Lime?"

                "Sure Shinji.  Let's go."  The two walked over to where Lime and her grandfather stood.

 The two were keeping their eyes in the sky for a few moments longer before averting their gazes to the ground.  They started walking back to the village, only to see Shinji and his father moving towards them.

                "Hey Shinji!"

                "Hi Lime!  Hello sir."  Mr. Lou laughed.

                "Hello Shinji.  How are you today?"

                "I'm good.  You were amazing today, standing up to that mean bad guy back there."  The old man laughed again.

                "Thank you.  The real credit goes to that young boy though.  Without him, we would have been killed."  The words drops Lime's head slightly, and she draws in towards her grandfather.

                "Who was that kid anyway?" Shinji's father asked.  Lime looked up, preparing to answer his question.

                "His name his Gohan," she said.

                "He said he is going to be at the Cell Games.  Godspeed to him," Mr. Lou followed up with.  All four of them turned towards the village, making final preparations for the Cell Games…

…

                "So the Gold Fighter was at the Cell Games, huh?" asked Videl.

                "Pretty much.  You realize I can't tell you who he his, by the way."

                "You know who he is?"

                "Yeah.  I've known since that day…well, not exactly that day.  Just, a certain telling of events later in my life which explained most of the story."  He paused for a moment, making sure his wording was right.  Satisfied, he nodded his head.

                "I see.  If I remember correctly though, there were two of them there.  That'll complicate my search some."

                "You're still trying to find out who it is?" he asked.

                "Yeah."

                "I shouldn't be telling you this…but I might as well."  He leaned back in the chair, placing his hands on his lap.

                "What it is?"

                "One of them is dead."  Those simple words put Videl's mind into motion.

                One of them is dead?  That might be the one thing I need to convince me that –

                "If you're ready, I'll continue with the next part of my story," Shinji said, breaking Videl from her thoughts.

                "Oh…right.  Um…tell me something.  Why did you leave?  Now that I'm remembering this more now, there had to be a valid reason for you leaving.  I don't think you ever told me."

                "If I remember correctly, I think I only told you that I was in search of more training."

                "Why would you need more training though?  You had plenty where you were at the school in the city."

                "Because I went on a hunch," he said.  Videl looked at him confused.

                "A hunch?"

                "I had a feeling that it wasn't your father that beat Cell."

                "But…my father did beat…Cell…" The last word was said as a mere whispered compared to the near out roar of the middle words.  She slumped her shoulders, now realizing what Shinji just said.  "My father…he didn't beat Cell, did he?"

                "That question isn't for me to answer," he said with a straight face.  "You know who to ask…or rather, the person who hides behind that one."  Videl looked up at him, ready to speak one word.  She was cut off, when he leaned forward in his chair.

                "Now…let's continue.  I'll tell you about the time after I left, since you now know why I left…"

…

                "Stupid boat…taking too damn long to get there.  I wonder how other people who trained under this guy felt like when they were traveling to see him."

                By now, twelve-year-old Shinji had just about had it with his wooden boat.  He had expected the water currents and the wind to get him there in a few days.

                Bad luck would be by his side throughout most of this trip.  A storm had torn through his sail, leaving it a wholly mess.  One of his oars got lost afterwards, and he was left to resort with just one for the remainder of the trip.

                This was the sixth day of the trip too.

                As the sun reached its high point in the day, he spotted a small island out in the distance.  He pulled out his binoculars from below the seat compartment and looked out with them at the island.  Through them, he spotted a house, and an old man standing in front of it.  To the left was a short man with short, black hair, and a blonde woman, taller than the man, whole looked to be in the middle to late stages of child bearing.

                The old man must be Master Roshi.  I wonder who the other two are.  At least I know I'm getting close.  Enlightened by this discovery, he took out his oar and proceeded to row towards the island.  He noticed that, as he was getting closer, that Roshi and the others had noticed a boat coming and were at the shoreline, waiting for it to reach the sand line.  A few minutes later, Shinji arrived at the island.  He hopped off of the boat and walked towards the three awaiting him.

                "Hello there, little guy.  What's your name?" Roshi asked.

                "I'm Shinji.  And I presume that you're Master Roshi?"

                "That's right.  I'm Master Roshi; the Turtle Hermit!"  Next to him, the short man was shaking his head in disgrace.

                "Does he do that every time someone shows up here?" he asked the woman next to him.

                "Don't look at me.  Hell, he did that every time I came back with you after our dates.  I was ready to kill him the night before you proposed to me."  Shinji listened to the short discussion.  He noted the woman's voice, wondering why it sounded so monotonic at times.  He diverted his attention back to Roshi.

                "So…Shinji, why have you come to my island?" he asked.

                "I've come to learn your ways of the martial arts."

                "Really now?  You should know that I don't always take students who show up on my island.  Just ask Krillin over there."  Shinji looked over to Krillin, who simply nodded.

                "What do I need to do to become your student then?" he asked.  Roshi got a sly grin on his face.  Krillin immediately recognized this and proceeded to slap his head with his hand.

                "Well, I haven't had a date in years…unless you count Eighteen banging my head repeatedly when she showed up with Krillin all those times the last two years."  He stepped up closer to Shinji.  "I need a nice woman with smooth skin who wouldn't mind taking a walk with me around my island.  Can you do that?"  Shinji stepped back and looked around.  He saw the island itself was no more than forty feet in diameter.  He looked back to Roshi, who still had the same sly grin planted on his face.  Finally, he came up with a response.

                "Who'd want to walk around your island with you?"

                Immediately, Krillin fell to the sand, laughing his head off.  Eighteen simply smirked, letting Shinji know that was a nice low blow to Roshi's ego.  Roshi, of course, was fuming by the ears.  Shinji could only smirk himself, his young cockiness showing forth.  Roshi calmed down enough to continue talking.

                "I see.  You and Krillin would get along nicely.  He didn't say that exact thing to me…but you have that cockiness that he has.  Especially since he was about your age when he started training under me.  At least he brought me something when he showed up on my island."

                "And what was that?"  Roshi sly grin showed again.

                "Porno magazines!" he said ecstatically.

                "Por-porno!  I'm twelve-years-old for crying out loud!  I can't even buy a porno magazine, and you expect me to bring that to you?!"

                "Sorry kid.  No magazine, then no training."  With that, Roshi turned and walked back to the house.  Krillin cut him off.

                "Hey, Roshi.  There's no need to turn him down because of that!  He's only twelve.  At least give him a chance."

                "No can do Krillin.  I did the same with all the people I've ever trained, and I'm not willing to change for one little kid.  You can train him if you want."  He moved around Krillin and walked into his house.

                "But…Eighteen is pregnant.  I have to help her out!"  His cry fell on deaf ears.  He turned back to Shinji, who remained where he was, unmoving.  Eighteen walked up to her husband, placing a hand on his shoulder.

                "Go train him.  I'll be fine until I give birth."

                "You sure?"

                "Yeah.  I'm still about two months away anyway, so you can do something with him until then."  She smiled down at him.  It was a slight smile, one of Eighteen's trademarks, but it was enough to get Krillin moving.  He walked toward Shinji and stopped in front of him.  Before he opened his mouth, he got a plan.  It was so full proof that even Eighteen wouldn't know about it.  He leaned down some – which, for Krillin wasn't much of a distance – and whispered in his ear.

                "I know something that can help you get training under Roshi."  Shinji looked up at him questioningly.

                "You heard him.  He won't train me because I don't have any of that stupid stuff."

                "I know.  But I do.  Neither Roshi nor Eighteen knows of this secret stack of mine, so it's full proof."  He stood back up to his full height and placed a hand on Shinji's back.  "Now come on in.  I'm sure you must be really tired from your journey."  The three of them walked into the house.

Krillin took Shinji to the back of the house, to where his and his wife's room was.  Closing the door, he pulled open the closet.  He knelt down and pulled away the carpet.  Beneath it was a small door embedded within the floor.  Standing up, he reached for a key located within arms reach above him.  Taking it, he put the key in the matching keyhole, and a ring popped out just above the keyhole.  He pulled on it and the door opened.  He reached inside and pulled out a bag.

                "What do you have there, Krillin?"

                "The ticket to your training with Roshi."  He handed the bag to Shinji.  Opening it, he looked inside and saw a small pile of magazines.

                More specifically, they were girlie magazines.

                "Krillin!" he shouted, dropping the bag.  Krillin jumped up in the air, waving his arms around erratically.

                "Be quiet, or we'll get caught!"  Immediately, Shinji shut his mouth.  "Good.  Now listen…Eighteen is due in a couple months and I want to make her as comfortable as possible.  And I know Roshi will end up trying to do something sneaky to my wife."

                "And that's why you want me to give him these to him?"

                "Exactly.  One thing you should know."

                "What's that?"

                "Roshi is not an easy teacher.  He won't exactly teach you martial arts.  Instead, he'll make you a much powerful and faster warrior than you ever were.  You've had martial arts training, correct?"

                "Yeah.  I've trained under Mr. Satan himself."

                "Oh really?" Krillin said, snickering.  "That old goof himself taught you?  That's too funny."

                "That was the big reason why I left.  That old goof was too full of himself that he couldn't teach a proper class even once a week."  He bent down and picked up the bag.  "I want to ask you something though."

                "Go ahead."

                "Can you fly?"

                "Fly?" Krillin asked.  "Why do you ask that?"

                "Because I want to.  And I realize now that you're one of the people from the Cell Games three years ago."  Krillin reared back in shock.

                Wow.  He is quite an observant kid.  Though now he'll have to know some things that we normally don't say to people.  "You have a good eye, Shinji.  Yes, I was at the Cell Games, and yes," he paused briefly, taking the moment to cross his arms and float in the air, "I can fly."

                This, of course, left Shinji in awe.  "So…you can fly?"  That was all he said.  Krillin laughed at his wonderment.

                "Yes Shinji.  I can fly.  Oh, and before anyone else says otherwise – at least all those Satan heads – I am many, many times stronger than that knucklehead."

                "I figured as much."

                "Hell, Master Roshi can beat him up too."

                "Master Roshi?"

                "Yeah.  He can't fly or anything, but his techniques are far better than anything else that will be taught to you.  Now wait here…I'm going to get Roshi real quick and have you give him the magazines, okay?"

                "Okay."  Krillin left the room.  Shinji took the time to take a quick scan of the room.  Both Krillin and Eighteen slept in there, and he could only wonder why they both stayed in a little house like this.  He said himself that he was a student of Roshi's, so it probably explained why he remained here.  Shinji could only think that he had no source of income, and with the isolated location of the island, that no one would come and beg him for money.  Yet he would soon be having a child.  So many questions that Shinji's young mind couldn't answer.  Not now at least.

                Krillin returned with Roshi, who was complaining about trying to help Eighteen with dinner.  He looked over to Shinji.  "What now kid?  Can't you see I was busy?"  Shinji stepped up to him and extended the bag out to him.

                "These are for you, Master Roshi."  The old man quirked up an eyebrow, wondering if it was a trick.  Still, he saw the layout of the bag, which only brought hope to his perverted mind.  He took it and opened it up.  Immediately his eyes glazed over, and he let out a loud, happy chuckle.  He took out the first magazine and proceeded to flip through it.  Several nosebleeds broke out, and red covered the majority of his face.  Grabbing a tissue, he composed himself.

                "Well, I don't know how you came up with these so fast, but…you are now an honorary member of Roshi's School of Training."  Krillin fell over before leaning in close to Roshi.

                "Did you just make that up?"

                "Yup.  Sound good?"

                "No.  I'm leaving now."  With that, Krillin left the room.  Roshi and Shinji followed shortly thereafter, heading outside.  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a capsule.  He tossed it and the capsule exploded into a small motorboat.

                "All right Shinji, we're going to begin your training.  It will be much more difficult than any other training that you've ever had.  You sure you can handle it?"

                "I believe I can."

                "Good.  We're going to a bigger island to train, and we'll be staying there for a while…I think about a year.  By the end of that year, you should be much stronger than what you started with.  Did Krillin tell you anything about what the training consists?"

                "He only said that it didn't involve real martial arts training."

                "Okay.  By the way…did Krillin give these to you?  Cause I would have sworn that I've seen this girl here before…"

                "No Master Roshi.  I was only tricking you earlier.  I only needed Krillin to check them out for me."  Roshi studied Shinji's face for a moment, attempting to find any sort of deception.  The young boy only smirked, but it was a cleverly disguised one.

                "Very well.  Now let's go."  Roshi started the motorboat, and they set off.  Unbeknownst to both of them, Krillin and Eighteen were looking at the departing ship.  Krillin sighed and sat on the couch, next to his wife.

                "Well…I guess it's strange how Roshi just decided to train Shinji after all.  He'll be a nice addition here when he isn't out training.  I should have talked to him a bit more before letting him go with Roshi."  Eighteen gave a slight nod, barely acknowledging the statement.  Krillin noticed this though.  "What's on your mind honey?"

                "Did you have to do that?"  Krillin looked at her, clueless.

                "Do what?" he asked, curious.

                "Give him your secret pile of porno magazines?"  Krillin, for the second time that day, reared back in shock.

                "Wh-what?!  How did you know about that?!"

                "I did a little snooping around the house once while you were sleeping.  The carpet in the closet was disturbed, so I checked it out," she said, completely aware what she was doing to Krillin, making him turn whiter and whiter.

                "My…oh…honey?  I'm…"

                "Some of those women do look pretty though."  That statement brought Krillin back to reality.

                "What?"

                "You heard me.  Of course…I know you find me the prettiest, do you not?" she said, again fully aware of the reaction she was getting from Krillin.

                "Oh Kami…Eighteen.  You are the most beautiful woman I know."

                "Good…and once this baby comes out, I'll be glad to make love to you again, and again."

                "Why not now?" he asked stupidly.  She smacked him lightly, and then pointed down to the reason why.  Krillin smacked himself for his own stupidity.  "At least we got the house to ourselves now.  No Roshi to pester you.  Happy?"

                "I'll be happy when we finally get out of this place, Krillin!"

                "Sorry!  Sorry!  I'll find a place.  Maybe somewhere close to your brother, would that be nice?"

                "Yes, that would be."  The conversation ended there, as Eighteen leaned into Krillin, and they both fell asleep on the couch…

…

                "And you know what?  We all still live on that island."  Videl let out a hearty laugh at that.

                "That's too funny.  So this person, he told you what his wife said?"

                "Only some of it.  I knew he was hiding something back when I got done my first round of training.  I asked him about it and he said, 'No!  Hiding nothing!'  I would like to meet her brother though.  Pretty mellow like her, from what I've heard."

                "That's cool."

                "Yeah.  So…"

                "Yeah."

                "How's Maya?" Shinji asked, completely out of the blue.

                "Maya?"

                "You know.  Well, I think you should know.  You introduced me to her.  I was a nervous wreck, now that I remember."  Videl sat back against the headboard of her bed, thinking about whom this Maya was.  Realization hit her in the face in the form of a smile, and the remembrance of a cute name that Shinji had for her occasionally.

                "You mean, Chibi May?" [1] Shinji nodded.  "Holy shit!  How could I not forget about her?  She was so cute and so nice all those years ago.  I think she still is too."

                "She still lives around here?"

                "Well…she moved to the next town over, a couple miles away.  She got some pretty good foster parents a year or so ago.  You want her address?"

                "I…can't.  I'm sorry.  Not with the way I left the place."

                "You mean…oh, hold on."  Videl got up and went to her closet.  She pulled out a step stool and used it to reach the highest shelf in there.  From it, she pulled out a shoebox and peaked inside it.  Satisfied, she stepped down and went to the bed.  She opened the box and began shuffling through its contents.

                "What's in there?" Shinji asked.

                "I remember that letter that you gave me to give to Maya.  Nice move, by the way."

                "I did what I had to do," he simply said.

                "Right.  I can't believe what you did either.  She was crying for nearly a whole day because of that.  And that was before I gave her the letter."

                "What happened afterwards?"  That's when Videl produced an envelope.  She handed it to Shinji.  He looked it over briefly, seeing that it only had the name "Shinji" written on the cover.

                "That was the surprising thing.  She stopped crying.  She read the letter, and then read it again, just to make sure it said what it said."

                "And then what?" Shinji asked, now really anxious.

                "Well, she folded it and tucked it in her pocket and thanked me for giving this to her.  Three days later, she came back with that.  She simply said it was for your eyes, and your eyes only."  Shinji looked down at the letter again.  He flipped it over and tore it open from the top.  From inside, he pulled out a single piece of paper, neatly folded.  He opened it up and saw that there was writing on just one side of it.  He proceeded to read it.

Dear Shinji,

                Sigh…why did I write that?

                I guess it's because I don't know where to begin.  But, I'll keep it brief.

                Videl told me a few days ago that you left, without saying goodbye.  It saddened me deeply, and I cried on her shoulder for nearly a day.  The people at the youth hostel found it strange for a twelve-year-old girl to be crying over her first love.  I don't though.  I don't know why either.  But after I read your note, I felt happy.  I don't why I felt happy though.  I realize that I should be mad at you for leaving without saying goodbye.

                But I'm not.  What I believe, is that you are going out into the world and getting to be the best you can be.  And I'm glad you are.  I'm not mad that you're doing it for yourself.  I'm going to tell you something.  I believed the words you told me before, a couple weeks before you left.  You know what I'm talking about.

                So do it.  Do whatever you plan on doing.  And I'll be waiting.  I don't care how long you take, or even if you don't love me anymore.  Hopefully, we can be orphans for life, you and me.  That would be a fun prospect.  But then, we'd have to get a job or something.  And I promised I'd keep this brief too.

                Don't be a stranger Shinji, wherever you are.  And I promise to keep a part of you in my heart, no matter what happens.

With great love,

Chibi May

P.S., I entrusted Videl with this, just incase you see her first.  She promised not to read it.

                Videl watched his face intently, trying to figure out what the note said.  She noted how he was sad at first, with his mouth in a frown and his eyebrows titled towards the sides of the face.  Eventually, she saw something that she thought she wouldn't see after seeing this.

                He smiled.  It wasn't a real noticeable smile, but all that was needed was a small upward tug at the end of the lips.  And that's what she saw.  She didn't understand why he was smiling too.  She was thinking about berating him for that brief show of emotion, but let it slide.  It wasn't her business.  It was Shinji's.  She was only the outside third party person.  But as she watched some more, Shinji brought the paper down away from where he was reading it.  His head dropped slightly and stared into his lap.  But that wasn't all she saw him do.

                A single tear from his left eye slid down his cheek.  Videl, from her vantage point, believed that Shinji didn't know, or didn't care about the tear.  And as the tear reached his lips, she saw the small smile that remained on his face from before.  She clearly didn't understand.  He was sad, and yet…happy.

                "She doesn't deserve me," he said, barely above a whisper.  Videl barely caught what he said.

                "What do you mean?"

                "Not me.  Not after what I did.  And yet, she's seems so calm about it.  She deserves someone better than me."  He spoke all of his words like before.  A second tear fell, this time from his right eye.  That's when he noticed that he was crying.  He let out a small laugh.

                "What's so funny?" Videl asked, not accusingly, just simply out of curiosity.

                "I haven't cried in years.  Not since…not since my parents died."  That's when he finally looked up, and Videl saw his face.  His eyes were slightly blood shot, but other than that, there was no evidence of him ever crying.  But she then saw past his eyes.  She saw the emptiness, and the hope that was in them.

                "Do you want her number?"

                "Not now.  I just need time."  He refolded the note and stuck it back in the envelope.  He put it in his back pant pocket.  "So…what now?"

                "I don't know.  You want time now?"  He scratched his head.

                "Nah.  I'll use it later."  He leaned back in his chair.  His sadness was still evident, but Shinji knew how to cover it up.  It worked for him for many years, and it was nearly second nature to him now.  In fact, he knew the perfect question to get off of the current topic.

                "So, what was this hunch you were telling me about?"  Videl looked at him for a moment before speaking.

                "It's about Saiyaman."

                "What about him?"

                "I…think I know who he is."

                "Really?  Can you give up on finding out his identity?"  She shook her head no.

                "I need to know.  My intentions are pure though.  I don't plan on ratting him out to the public.  I just need to know who he is so I can trust him better, and know that I can rely on him."

                "And yet you've said that you love him.  Videl…you are a confusing lady."

                "I know."

                "You agree with me?"

                "Not really.  But…if I'm right about this hunch, then I really don't know what to do.  It'll only give me more questions to answer."

                "Then why don't you just spit it out?" he asked her.

                "I need evidence that can prove who I think is Saiyaman.  I need to see – with my own eyes – who he is, and how he does what he can do."

                "I see."  He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees.  "So…who is it?"  Videl took a deep breath, and spoke.

                "I think that Saiyaman is Go-"

                BEEP!  BEEP!

                "Damn it!"  Shinji sighed in relief as Videl brought her police watch up to her mouth.  She started talking into it.  As she did, Shinji hid his worrying emotions.

                She knows.  Or so she thinks she knows.  Should I tell Gohan that she almost positively suspects him of being Saiyaman?  I'll keep my mouth shut for now.  He has too much to worry about now with her in love with his super hero identity.  As he finished his thoughts, Videl got off of her bed.

                "We got a problem.  Apparently, there are two…men in the southern district of the city holding up traffic.  The chief said that when he asked these men off of the street they quickly became hostile and starting causing damage to the surrounding area."

                "And?"

                "The chief got a good look at them.  He said that they have a similar marking on their heads from someone we fought earlier."

                "Gendo…"

                "Exactly."

                "Shit.  Come on."  He walked over to the window, with Videl in tow.  He stopped when he reached the edge of the balcony.  "Are you sure you want to come?  This could get ugly like last time."

                "I know.  I'll be there incase something goes wrong.  Can you handle it until Saiyaman arrives?"

                "I don't know.  Hold on."  He closed his eyes, and reached out with his senses, attempting to figure out where Gohan was.  He found him, barely, at home, at a relax energy level.  "He'll know if it goes bad.  Now let's go.  Need a lift?"

                "Just to the roof.  I ride over in my jet copter."  He picked her up from underneath her arms and lifted her up to the roof.  She ran over to her copter, and moments later, she lifted off.  Shinji flew in front of her, on their way to the southern district.

                The two arrived at the southern district after a few minutes of flight, landing a few hundred feet behind the provisional police line.  The area within a four block radius of where the attacks were happening were clear of nearly everyone except for several dozen cops who had bravely shown up.  More from the outlying areas of Satan City were arriving every minute.  They all breathed a collective sigh of relief once Videl had arrived with one of the new local super heroes.  They both went to the chief, who was stationed safely behind the barrier zone.

                "What's the situation?" Videl asked.

                "They arrived about eight minutes ago, apparently flying in by some witness accounts.  From there, they started destroying random targets."

                "How many dead?"  The chief put his head down.

                "I don't have a clear count yet, but at least twenty are dead, with many more missing.  That's what we've been able to get so far."  That's when Shinji stepped past them.

                "You guys remain here, and tell your men to stay back as well.  I'll take care of this from here."  With that, he took to the air and flew over the cops on the street.  He landed a few feet in front of the barrier and walked forward.  Behind him, Videl was running through the cops and stopped just behind the roadblock.  The chief came up with her.

                "Does he know what he's doing?" the chief asked worriedly.

                "I hope so.  I can only guess that he's going to hold them off until Saiyaman arrives.  I'm not sure how strong these guys are here, but I don't think they are any match for Saiyaman."  Or Shinji for that matter.  Godspeed, Shinji.

                Shinji walked forward until he was twenty feet from the two attackers.  Along the way, he had past numerous dead bodies, something that had an effect on him.  I've never seen anything like this.  This…unnecessary carnage!  These two would surely pay.  "Explain yourselves!" he yelled out.

                The two attackers, who were randomly shooting out windows in buildings, turned towards Shinji.  The one closer to Shinji turned and looked at his counterpart before returning his stare to the teen.

                Then he laughed.  The attacker threw his head back and let out a mighty roar of laughter.  The other one soon joined him.  It went on for several moments before they stopped.

                "Who's asking?" the one in front asked.

                "None of your concern."

                "Fine then…we don't have to explain ourselves then."  He took a couple steps forward and squared himself towards Shinji.  His counterpart leaped over to his side, doing the same thing.  Shinji then noticed the make of both of them.  They both had a matching open vest and pants look, with black and white being the primary display of colors.  Both had white on the top and black on the pants.  Their hair was the same make and color: a short Mohawk of gray spikes.  The only noticeable difference were the pair of earrings both were wearing.  One had a black pair; the other had white on.  Everything other noticeable features about them were the same: the hint of blue on their skins, the make of their muscles, and the black markings imprinted on their heads.

                "All right then.  I'm Shinji."

                "That's better.  My name is Kaou," the one on the right said, "and he is Zaou, my twin brother.  Now…why would a pathetic being like you be out here challenging us?"  Shinji let his cockiness get to him, showing a smirk on his face.

                "In case you don't know, I'm much more powerful than you think."

                "I've noticed.  That little flying act you pulled earlier sure showed us your power, isn't that right Zaou?" Kaou said laughing.  His brother nodded and chuckled in return.  Shinji's smirk turned into anger, as his better judgment faded away.

                "You think that's the extent of my power?!  I'll teach you a lesson shit heads!  And then tell me who's the more powerful fighter!"  The final yell kick started his power.  With a harsh roar, he began powering up, pulling and pushing the energy around him.  Everything around him soon went flying around him.  Loose rubble, dirt, even paper.  The energy being gathered was enormous.  And just when they thought it would stop, it kept going.  Everyone behind Shinji was slowly slipping backwards, desperate to grab onto something.  Videl was the only one there still maintaining her ground.  The villains themselves had to cover their eyes, trying to keep the dirt and wind out of them.

                Then, it stopped.  Shinji had a bright white aura of energy crackling around him, showing his power in its most raw form.  He deepened his stance slightly and took a deep breath.  In front of him, Kaou and Zaou dropped into their own stances.

"Come on now, little boy.  Show me what you got," Kaou said, trying to intimidate Shinji.  The teen said no words.  Instead, he pushed off his back foot and flew forward, yelling out a battle roar and rearing his fist back.  Kaou jumped forward as well, ready to meet Shinji's advancement.  Just as they met, Kaou rocketed a punch forward.

                And hit nothing but air.

                Or rather, Shinji's after image.  He stared at it for a few moments, wondering what goofball trick this was.

                "Over here big guy!"  Kaou barely had time to look, as when he did, a sharp pain filtered throughout his spine.  Shinji's foot impacted at the base of his neck, effectively knocking out his first adversary.  He landed and turned towards Zaou, who had yet to move from his stance.

                "So…you ready to dance, ugly?" Shinji quipped.  Zaou only smirked.  "I'll take that as a yes."

* * *

                Out in a land far away from the occurring turmoil, Gohan and Goten were relaxing in a grassy field, pointing out various clouds and determining who or what they look like.  Goten had found one that resembled Piccolo in a way, which the older boy had to laugh out loud about.

                It was a peaceful setting, something that Gohan surely needed to calm himself down after today's revelations.  He said to himself repeatedly that there was no need to panic.  If Videl had put the moves on his alter ego, then he would just calmly put her down.  Saiyaman was a super hero.  He couldn't fall in love.

                "But I have," he said in a whisper.

                "Have what, Gohan?" Goten asked.

                Damn, Goten heard.  "Nothing Goten.  You'll know when you are older."

                "What's it about?"

                "It's…it's this girl from school.  It's the one I fight crime with.  You remember her?"  Goten thought it over for a quick moment.

                "Is it that one up there?" he asked, pointing up to a cloud.  Gohan looked at that cloud, and saw how it resembled Videl's face nearly perfectly.

                "That's her.  You got a sharp eye squirt."

                "I remember her when she stopped by a couple weeks ago looking for you.  Mom was telling me that she might be you girlfriend with the way you talk to her."

                "Really now?"

                "Yup!  She seems nice.  Can I meet her sometime?"  Gohan chuckled a bit at his brother's innate adorability.

                "Sure thing.  I see about inviting her over sometime, for real this time."  He looked back up in the sky again, relaxing as he did.

                That's when he felt it.  He perked his head up and looked in the direction of what he felt.  "Goten…did you feel that?"

                "I think so.  What is it?"

                "Hold on."  He closed his eyes and spread his senses out.  Feeling the energy reverberating around him, he felt the epicenter of it coming from Satan City.  Stretching out his senses even more, he saw the cause of the energy ping.

                Shinji.

                "Goten, I got to go.  Tell mom I'll be back later."  Gohan quickly got up and shot into the air.  Goten, his curiosity getting to him, jumped up and followed him.

                "Gohan!  What's going on?" he yelled out.

                "It's Shinji.  There's something happening in the city and I have to help!"

                "Can I come?  Please?"  Gohan stopped and looked back at his brother.  He couldn't help but laugh at the happy-go-lucky face Goten was wearing right now.

                "All right.  But here," he said, taking off his watch and putting it on Goten.  He pushed a button, and the Saiyaman costume was formed – with an exact fit – over the younger boy.  "You get to be…Saiyaboy today."

                "I get to be Saiyaboy?  Yay!  Thank you Gohan!"

                "Don't worry about it.  Now, the only thing you have to worry about is to be a Super Saiyan when wearing this.  Videl doesn't know that it's me behind the costume, and I always fight as a Super Saiyan."

                "Okay!"  He quickly turned Super Saiyan, and awaited his next command.  Gohan was busy removing his shirt, since he wouldn't have time to change into a gi, something that he should have done earlier before going out to the field.

                "All right.  Now all we have to do is tell mom where we are going."  At that, Goten cringed up.

                "But Gohan!  Mom won't let me go!"

                "Don't worry about it.  I'll just send her a telepathic message.  We have to get close to the house to do it, but after that, we're off to the city."

                "Okay!"  Again, they were off.  After a quick minute, they spotted their house and flew downwards toward it.

                "Mom!  Mom!  Can you hear me?"  Inside, Chichi was sitting in front of the TV, watching the last of her soap operas.  She heard her older son's voice in her head.

                "Gohan?"

                "Mom!  No time to explain, but I'm going to the city.  Something is happening and I believe my friends need help.  I'm taking Goten with me, though he won't be doing anything to get into trouble.  Oh, and I just put my shirt on the front door.  Bye!"

                "Gohan!" she yelled out.  She went to the door and opened it up.  On the front step, as her son said, was his shirt.  In the distance, she saw two gold streaks quickly disappearing into the clouds.  She sighed.  "Good luck…Gohan."

* * *

                The fight between Shinji and Zaou remained even after a few minutes.  Both had landed and block many attacks, with only a few quick jabs getting in.  They were light enough to not cause any damage to either fighter.  Shinji had felt Gohan leave his house a few minutes ago with Goten as well.  It would still be a while though until the two Saiyans arrived though, and with a quick glance of his eye he saw that Kaou had begun to awaken.  Shit!  Gohan had better hurry here.

                With the quick thought, he lost his concentration for a split second on the battle, and paid for it with a punch to the face, sending him crashing into the street and skidding along it into a building.  He slowly rose to his feet and watched as Zaou walked into the hole.  He can't see me, he thought.  Shinji bent down, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and saw it as Zaou turned his slightly towards the outside.  He attacked, grabbing his opponent around the waist and tackling him through the building a few feet from the hole he created earlier.  They both crashed hard into the street.

                Shinji quickly hopped off him though, jumping backwards through the air and firing a quick round of energy blasts.  Zaou erected an energy shield, but the power was too great, and as the last few landed on and around him, he fell to the ground, nearly unconscious.  Shinji landed at the sidewalk, slightly bent over.  The last attack had taken a bit more out of him than expected, but it had put one of the brothers down.  As he looked around, he noticed that Kaou wasn't on the ground any more.

                Damn it!  I lost him!  Feel him out, Shinji…feel him out…

                "Shinji!  Look out!" Videl yelled from the sidelines.  Shinji barely had time to look up.

                "Looking for me boy?" Kaou said flying fast straight towards Shinji, his knee leading the strike.  At the last possible moment, the teen dove forward as Kaou struck the street.  A large explosion erupted as he struck, kicking parts of the destroyed black top around the area.  Shinji braced himself for some of the rubble, using his arms to protect his face and chest.

                Kaou didn't stop there though.  He quickly bounded out of the hole and flew at Shinji.  The teen froze at the moment, and couldn't prevent the punch that slammed in his face.  He shot back into another building that unfortunately was reinforced.  He hit the wall hard and fell face first into the ground.

                Shinji struggled to his knees, coughing up a bit of blood from the impact.  He was helped up by Kaou.  With one hand, he brought Shinji up to his face.  "You ready to call it quits yet boy?"  He got his answer from Shinji spitting in his face.

                "Please…I've been hit a thousand times worse.  You've barely scratched me."  Kaou only smirked at the young boy's resilience.  With his free hand, he wiped off the saliva from his cheek and cleaned it off on his pant leg.

                "Don't worry.  I've just started."  Kaou pivoted back on his foot and tossed Shinji into the building behind them.  A new hole was created on the second floor wall.  Kaou was quick to follow and entered the building after him.  From outside, one would say that a massive beating was occurring with the impact of the punches that were landed.  Each shot created its own mini-earthquake, knocking anyone standing within a few hundred feet on his or her backsides.  Even Videl, who withstood the earlier assault, couldn't keep her balance with this one.

                "Damn it…I have to help him!  But how?!"  She saw her chance a few moments later when an explosion rocked the already damage side of the building.  A body came out and slammed into the reinforced wall of the building across the street, leaving a sizable dent in the concrete wall.  Videl knew who it was at first glance and was quick to his side.

                "Shinji!  Shinji!  Get up!"  The said teen, on his back, lifted his head up slightly.  Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth and from the side of his eyes.  His shirt and pants were torn in various places.  Through squinted eyes, he saw who was calling his name.

                "Videl?  Get out of here, now!  It's too dangerous!" he yelled, turning on his side and pushing himself up.  His arm went straight to his ribs, and he grimaced in pain.  "Damn, I think he broke a rib."  A pair of footsteps in front of him caused him to look up.  Kaou stalked over him, a deadly smirk on his face.

                "Little girlfriend coming to your rescue now?  How sweet."

                "She's not my girlfriend…bastard," Shinji said, seething with new rage, as he struggled to his feet.

                "Oh good.  Then maybe I can kill her without your con-"  He never finished his remark.  Shinji had lunged forward and put most of his remaining power into one punch.  That one punch sent Kaou through the building across the street and into the next one.  The building, already heavily damaged from fighting, finally collapsed on itself.  Shinji dropped to one knee, nearly out of power.

                "Shinji!  Come on, I'm getting you out of here!" Videl screamed, trying to pull Shinji to his feet.

                "No…don't.  Just get out of here.  The other guy…is coming," he barely said, pushing Videl backwards to the building next to them, just as he received a kick from the now fully aware Zaou.  He landed some fifty feet from Videl down the street.  The only thing she could do now is just watch as the two villains made their slow advance towards Shinji.

                The teen looked up from the last attack to see the brothers make their way down the street.  They stopped about ten feet in front of him.

                "So, boy…you really thought you could dance with us, huh?" Kaou asked.  Shinji, with all that he had left, struggled onto his feet.  Nearly every bone and nearly every muscle ached in pain.  He never felt such a searing pain in his life, including Gohan's recent sparring sessions.  Yet despite all of that, he had to stand.  His body refused to quit, despite his inside objections.  All he knew was that Gohan was minutes away, and that he had to hold out for that much longer.

                "Hey Zaou!  He does think he can dance with us.  Doesn't want to quit yet I see.  Well, after this attack, then maybe you'll call it a day.  I can feel your friends coming, by the way.  I'm not like that idiot Gendo.  Stupid human.  All you idiots want is power."  Kaou stepped back next to his brother.  "Zaou, prepare the final attack."  The twin nodded.

                The two looked on at Shinji, who now managed to stay on his feet, albeit rather weakly.  Together, they placed their hands in a diamond-like shape in front of each other.  Together, they closed their eyes.

                And together, they attacked.

"MIND GAMES!" the two yelled out.  At that exact moment of the attack call, they opened their eyes and thrust their hands forward.  A red diamond, each starting out small, appeared from each of their hands.  But as it moved forward, they grew in size until they merged into one diamond.  It continued forward until it hit its target.

Shinji.

                At first, he doesn't feel a thing, and he wonders what that attack was for.

                But then, he feels something.  Not within his body, but within his mind.  He feels it begin as a mild tingling, yet it soon increases.  He reaches a hand to his head, grabbing it in a vain attempted to quell the pain.

                His other hand reaches his head.  It does nothing to help.  And then he feels it.

                Failure.

                Failure.

                Complete and utter failure.

                The failure spread like a fire, raging out of control through his mind.

                Failure.

                Failure.

                FAILURE!

                And then, he fell down.  And he screamed.  It was unlike any scream or yell before.  Those before were the cry of battles being fought.  Those were the one of victory.

                This was the scream of complete defeat.

                Unconditional surrender.

                And he feels the tears slowly come out.  The unshed tears of years before all come out in an uncontrollable display of emotions.

                He tries to fight it.  He desperately tries to fight it.

                He can't beat it.

                It rings through his head again and again.

                Failure.

                Failure.

                By now, Videl had joined his side.  She could do nothing to help sooth the pain.  She didn't know what had happened, but knew already that she couldn't help.

                It was too late now.

                "Listen up, little girl," Kaou said, walking up to her.  She looked up, anger and rage in her eyes for what they did to Shinji.  "Don't try anything, cause you know you can't possibly harm us.  Now, in a few minutes, one of your friends will arrive.  Tell him to meet us outside of this city tomorrow at the setting of the sun.  And tell him, the only way to get your friend here back to normal is to kill us.

                "Tell him to come alone too.  If he doesn't, this city, and everyone inside it, will drown in a sea of fire."  He turned around and walked back to his brother.

                "Oh, I almost forgot."  He turned around to Videl again, still seething in anger.  "Unless we're killed in thirty-six hours, he dies."  With that, the brothers reach down to their pants and push something along their hips.  After a blue flash converges over them, they vanish, leaving Videl, Shinji, and a huge amount of dazed cops.

                Exactly two seconds later, Gohan and Goten arrived through the use of the older one's Instant Transmission technique.  Videl looked up in wonder, seeing Saiyaman and…a younger boy dressed in Saiyaman's costume.

                "Saiyaman!  It's Shinji!  He's hurt…I don't know what to do."

                "Here.  Let me see him."  He stepped up and looked down at Shinji while Videl backed away.  Gohan looked over Shinji for a second before placing a hand on his head.  With the brief connection, he felt the anguish and defeat occurring within the teen's head.  He turned to look at Videl.

                "What happened here today?" he asked.

                "Two guys…they just tore this whole place apart.  And they attacked Shinji with some kind of mind attack.  He's been screaming like this for a while now!"  She stepped up to Gohan, pulling him off of Shinji and letting her anger take over.  "And where the hell were you?!  Where the…where the fuck were you, Saiyaman?!  Tell me!"  Gohan, of course, was shaken.  He didn't let that show.

                "I'm sorry.  I was too far away.  I tried to get here as fast as I could, but I see I'm too late."  Videl, in spite of herself, stepped back from Gohan.

                "You're not too late."  Gohan looked over at her, confused.

                "What do you mean?"  Videl looked over to Shinji, trying her hardest to get her gaze off of Gohan.

                "Those guys that came…they said for you to come back tomorrow night at sunset.  Alone."

                "What do they plan on doing?" he asked, looking back and forth between Shinji and Videl.

                "They just want to fight you.  They also said that Shinji has thirty-six hours to live."

                "Did they speak of a cure?"

                "Yeah.  They need to be killed."  That hit Gohan harder than anything that he thought possible.  It's the one thing he didn't want to do.  He's done it before, but it has been too long since he has killed anyone.  "Saiyaman…I don't know if it's possible.  Look what they did to Shinji!"

                "I know what they did.  And I can beat them.  Shinji would have had a better chance if it was just one on one too."  He placed a hand on Videl's shoulder, getting her attention.  "Don't worry.  I can fix all of this mess."

                "How?  People died here today!"

                "There is a way.  Trust me."  Videl saw the look in his eyes.  She saw the determination that she had fallen in love with.  She put her head down to avoid his gaze.

                "I trust you."  Gohan moved his hand off of her shoulder.

                "Good.  Now come on; it isn't safe here."  He walked over to Shinji, who had worn himself out with all of the pain and agony that he felt.  He was asleep, although it wasn't a peaceful sleep, not one bit.  He picked him up and carried him in his arms.

                "Where am I going?" Videl asked.

                "With us.  Saiyaboy!"  At the moment, Goten walked up.  Videl looked over and saw the little boy with the same wild hair as Saiyaman.

                "Yeah?" Goten asked.

                "I want you to carry Videl.  Follow me up to the Lookout.  We'll plan with Piccolo up there."

                "Yay!  I get to see Piccolo!"  Goten, obviously, was ecstatic to see Piccolo again.

                "Hey Saiyaman…who's Piccolo?" Videl asked.  Gohan walked over to her with Goten in tow.

                "He's that green guy you saw from that first attack.  We'll be stopping by his home.  If you're lucky, you can meet the guardian."

                "Guardian?  Guardian of what?"

                "The Earth," Gohan said.  Videl was in shock.

                "You know the Guardian of the Earth?!" she yelled out.

                "Well, yeah.  I am a super hero, you know."  He lifted up into the air.  "Now let's go.  We're wasting time.  Saiyaboy, grab her and let's go."  Gohan started flying higher up.  Videl looked up, seeing the hero slowly disappear into the sky.  She felt a tug on her shirt and saw the boy getting her attention.

                "Yes?" she asked.

                "I'm supposed to take you now."

                "I know.  You think you can carry me, though?"

                "Yeah."  To prove his point, he lifted up into the air and picked up Videl from underneath her arms.  They soon took off in the direction that Gohan went.

                "I see."  Those were the last words she said for a while, as they soon entered the clouds, leaving the cops on the ground to pick up the pieces for the arriving media.  None of them there had a logical explanation for today's events.

                Or tomorrows, for that matter.

* * *

[1] Chibi May is pronounced like 'my'.  Since 'Maya' sounds like 'my-uh', it works to keep it as such.

Ah, time to respond to the reviewers.

Angie – Yes, it's going to be long.  I'm not sure how long, but I'm projecting something between twenty-five and fifty chapters.  And the chapters are going to remain this long.

Adam – Well, you are the first to mention that connection.  Originally, I want to make a character like Shinji from the show.  As it developed though, this was a completely different character.  The name just stuck.  As you saw earlier, I used 'Gendo' as well.  Am I signifying something cryptic here?  Who knows?

Enzeru no Yami – I'm really glad to hear that.  And I've just started too.  ^_^

RDBRaptor – Ah, my most loyal reader/reviewer.  I must say, I went and read 'Consuming Madness', and I was simply amazed.  That story just blew my mind.  I really doubt I can get to that level of greatness, cause that thing just rocked.  Oh, sorry to scare you buddy.  I'll be waiting for what you have to say about this chapter.

Disturbed Courtney – Just to let you know, I read this myself.  I doubt you would have wanted to beta this.

Lady Foeseeker – Thanks for the review.  Next week huh?  Sweet.

To everyone else – Thanks.

Hmm…there's something about writing a thing like this that makes me happy.  I really don't know why people liked the last chapter.  I simply hated it.  I really don't know if it went the way I wanted to, but I got out what needed to get out.  I'm glad that people did like it, though I still haven't gotten the reviews that I would like to see.  Beggars can be choosers though.  I personally don't care how many reviews I get though.  A review is a review.  Something positive to look at and admire I guess.   And I really hope you guys enjoy this one, cause I really, really liked writing this one.  That's why I'm happy.  I got out everything that I wanted to the right way, and I'm just ecstatic now.

You people should be too.  Now review.

By the way, my sister and I have created a co-author name for us.  'S.A.T. Disturbed Shaggy' is the name…although Core might remove the first three letters…calling me a dork…stupid brat.  Grr.

Next chapter: A day passes, and Gohan goes into battle Kaou and Zaou.  Yet with a cleverly concealed secret more devastating than the Mind Games Attack, Gohan will have to push himself to his limits to beat this duo.  Meanwhile, Shinji's condition continues to get worse, and Videl makes a decision that will affect nearly everything that has happened so far.