Warning!: This chapter is kind of short, and is pretty much nothing more then fluff. My specialty! Actually this isn't as sappy as I'm notorious for getting, I think it actually comes across rather tolerable for the average reader. I promise things will get much, much worse later on. Well, read on and enjoy for now!
Chapter Five
Two weeks had passed since the incident at the warehouse, and Videl hadn't seen hide nor hair of the Gold Fighter, the name she reluctantly settled on referring to him as for now, since that night. He hadn't appeared to help her out during any of the close to a dozen police cases she'd been called in to help out on, not that any of them were life threatening or anything she couldn't handle. Not that she was complaining he was staying out of the way either, after all he was simply a burden that risked screwing up an entire operation by getting in the way, but there wasn't any way she could expose who he really was if he was never around to expose. However, these thoughts were more of a distraction to get her mind off of what this black day really meant in her young life. Anything to get her mind off of that…
Lunch time had rolled around surprisingly quick on a day that usually limped along at a snails pace for Videl. She was sitting at a table along with Erasa and several of her other *fair weather friends*, the nicest term she could come up with to describe them. It wasn't her choice mind you, she usually sat with Gohan and Ryo, but it seemed that at least once a week Erasa managed to abduct her and drag her against her will to the same table she suffered through for almost a year and a half. Sharpner had been absent from school that day, so at least he wasn't there to be another pain in he ass. She suffered quietly, and pretended to listen to whatever ramblings the girls might go on about.
While she humored Erasa and the others, Videl found herself staring on and off at Gohan through most of the lunch period. Some time ago he forced herself to admit he was rather cute, hell down right gorgeous, but that wasn't the reason she was staring. However, the energetic teen sitting next to her noticed and didn't see things that way.
"You know, if you stare at him any harder your going to burn a hole through Gohan's head," Erasa teased her, giggling as Videl blushed when she snapped out of her doldrums.
"I wasn't staring! I was just…" Videl quit right then realizing she hadn't any decent excuses to defend herself. "So what, even if I was staring?! That's my business, not yours!"
"Sure whatever." Erasa shook her head. "I thought you guys were friends now? If you really like the guy all you have to do is tell him."
Videl's cheeks singed red, one out of anger and one from embarrassment. "Get a life Erasa! I don't like him! I don't have time for that kind of thing, and even if I did I wouldn't be wasting time on a guy! Besides, I don't need anyone anyway!"
"Well, if you say so… Tell me though, if you don't like him then why are you staring at him?"
"Well I… I was just thinking…"
"Thinking about what?"
Videl turned her head back towards Gohan. "Well Erasa… This might be a strange question but… How do you think Gohan would look with blond hair?"
Erasa created a mental picture in her head. Sadly, there was plenty of room up there to utilize the free space in this manner. "Well, now that you mention it… I guess he'd make a cute blond too, don't you think?"
"Yeah…" Videl blushed, and sunk her head once she realized what she had said. She could almost feel Erasa smiling beside her. "I mean no! I… Ah, forget I said anything!"
----------
Videl sighed, and sunk into her chair. Gohan had noticed her acting this way most of the day, especially after lunch, and he was beginning to worry. "Are you okay Videl? You seem kind of depressed this morning."
Videl sighed again, not bothering to look up at him. "Don't worry about it Gohan… I'm not going to lie and pretend I'm little miss cheerful, but if it's all the same to you I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay… If that's what you want, I'll leave you alone then."
"Thank you."
Gohan looked up at Ryo who sat behind him. Ryo had noticed the same things in Videl that Gohan had over the course of the day, and had just overheard the conversation they had just shared. Gohan looked at him as if to ask if he knew what was wrong with her. Ryo shrugged his shoulders to let Gohan know he hadn't the slightest clue either. Gohan did as he promised, and left her alone for the remainder of that period, which just happened to be the last class of the day anyhow. Videl appeared to make motions to say something to him a time or two, but stopped before any words escaped her lips.
Before long, the final bell rang signaling the end of the long school day prompting the majority of the class to jump out of their seats in celebration, and into a rush towards the door and the sweet air of freedom. Gohan, on the other hand, was perfectly fine with sitting up and walking out the door as usual, and was just about to do that when he noticed Videl hadn't moved an inch even though the bell had rung. She was leaning back in her seat, her hands behind her hand and staring up at the ceiling. She was quite noticeably spaced out, and interesting sight for Gohan who had never seen her this way before. Zoned out, deep in thought, and seemingly uninterested in the world around her.
Gohan sighed after standing over her a good minute or so, and it was painfully obvious she didn't even notice he was still there. Seeing Videl depressed wasn't a sight Gohan saw often either, and quickly decided he didn't like it one bit. He didn't care to see anyone unhappy, but seeing Videl in this state hit him much harder and in a spot he couldn't remember ever being touched before. Gohan reached over and waved his hand in front of her, and the girl finally took notice that he was even on the same planet as she was.
"Huh?… Hey Gohan, what's up?"
"You tell me, you were the one staring at the ceiling. You know class is over don't you Videl? Thus meaning school's over, so unless your planning to sleep in…"
"Oh, I guess I didn't notice. Thanks for the newsflash," Videl said sharply, as she leaned back in her seat. She sighed, and felt the area around the base of her neck. Apparently whatever she was looking for was missing. Videl's eyes snapped open, as she patted along the base of her neck. Frantic, she bolted up from her seat and tore through her book bag, and then combed the floor in her immediate area desperately searching for whatever it was she had lost.
"What's the matter Videl, did you lose something?" Gohan heard her mumble something incoherently. The only words he picked up on where *can't find* and *locket*. Gohan traced through some recent memories, and thought he knew what she was talking about. It was just a simple little locket, a gold chain with a star hanging in the middle. He remembered noticing it once before and asking her about it. She showed it to him, but for whatever reason refused to tell him where she got it from. The old thing didn't look worth much to Gohan, so he couldn't understand why the girl was tarring up the class room looking for it.
"I'm sure it'll turn up Videl, there's no need to go psychotic over it. Even if it doesn't, I don't think it's worth all that much. I'm sure you could pick up another one really cheap if it means that much to you. It's really no big deal if you don't find it…" Something Gohan said must've hit one of Videl's buttons for she glared up at him with a look she only gave when she was really truly angry. Gohan backed off, recognizing the look immediately, and prepared himself for the tongue lashing he was certain would follow.
"It may look like it's worth nothing to you, but you have no idea what it's worth to me! You have no idea what that locket means to me, so if you don't care then just get out of my way you insensitive jerk!" Videl shoved Gohan out of her way, and went flying out the door. Gohan stared after her completely perplexed by what he'd just seen. That couldn't have been tears he saw in her eyes could it?
********
After several hours of searching the school grounds in vain, Videl retraced her steps all the way back home. After tarring through the house, searching through every nook and cranny she might have wandered past that morning, ending with her bedroom. Staring at the wreckage her search had left in its wake, Videl came to terms with the realization that her locket just might be gone for good. She slumped down onto her bed, fighting with every ounce of resolve she had against the tears attacking the backs of her eyelids. She was determined not to cry… She'd done enough crying over her, and Videl knew she wouldn't be happy if she shed another tear over her. She'd want her to be strong, and battle through the pain instead of succumbing to it, just like the way she had always taught her.
Willing to try anything to get her mind off of the situation, she ventured down to the kitchen only to realize, once she got there, she wasn't hungry in the least. Broken spirited and all around just plain tired of looking, she slumped onto the stool set up next to the counter, and buried her face into her hands. It couldn't have been more then a minute or two before one of the Satan household's man servants waltzed into the kitchen, carrying a large empty pot in his hands while whistling a tune from his native country. He took notice of Videl moping over the kitchen island, and walked over to the girl after setting down the pot next to the stove.
"Are you alright Miss Videl?" he asked, legitimately concerned. "I take it you couldn't find your locket?"
Videl raised her head up briefly to look at the man who she was just now noticing had entered the room. James had been a servant at the Satan household for what seemed like forever to Videl, and she had grown to look up to the man like an uncle. He was the typical stereotype of a butler you'd see on most movies and TV shows. Tall with thinning black hair, and an British accent to boot which just made this job seem all to perfect for him. She was also well aware that James wasn't very fond of her father, she couldn't blame him because of the way Hercule treated most of the time, but he absolutely adored Videl. Sometimes she thought she was the only reason he didn't storm off and quit a long time ago. James had always said that she reminded him a lot of his own daughter, minus all the martial arts stuff, who had passed away from TB years before. She sighed, and hid her forehead back into her hands. "No James, I haven't. I've looked everywhere! I just don't know where else it might be!"
"I'm sure it'll turn up somewhere my lady, but your not going to find it sitting here with your head hanging! This is so unlike you Videl to just roll over and give up! Why don't you take a walk in the park to clear your head, or something to that nature. Some fresh air might do you some good."
Videl's head perked up. James was right after all, on both counts. "Maybe your right… I think I'll go do that. Thank you James."
"Of course my lady. Just make sure your back before eight in time for supper."
Videl's brow furrowed. "Eight? Why so late?"
James groaned and rolled his eyes. "Your father insisted on boiled beef stew for his meal this evening. I finished it some time ago, but he grumbled something about there being too many carrots and not enough corn or something, and ordered me to trash it and start again from scratch."
Videl grunted sympathetically. "I'm sorry, I know he can be overly picky sometimes. You could give him a golden egg and he'd complain because the glare was hurting his eyes. Don't worry, he'll eat eventually when he gets hungry enough."
"I know…" James sighed muttering the rest of his response under his breath. "Most animals do after all…"
********
"I really screwed up Ryo… I swear, I was only trying to calm her down, I didn't mean to set her off like that. If I knew how much that locket meant to her I never would've tried to pass it off as nothing!"
Ryo listened intently as Gohan recapped his little incident with Videl earlier that afternoon. "There's no way you could've known about it Gohan, so don't beat yourself up about it. You know about Videl's temper. Just give her time to calm down, and apologize to her later."
"I will, but that doesn't do me any good right now! I still feel like crap… I guess that locket held a lot of sentimental value to her. Maybe it was a gift from some guy she likes, or a relative or something."
Ryo laughed out loud at this. "You may be on to something with the relative theory, but I can almost assure you it's not from some sort of mystery boyfriend or anything. The only guy I'm sure she's ever really had any interest in is you."
Gohan's cheeks flushed pink. "Don't start that Ryo, she does not! The way she acts towards sometimes makes me wonder if she can even stand me at all."
"Come on Gohan, you know better then that! She can get slightly hostile at times, but that's just her personality. She's nicer to you then she is to most people, you know."
"Yeah… I'd hate to be someone she doesn't like then."
"Look… If your really that worried about it…" Ryo reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small golden chain. Ryo presented the golden object to Gohan who immediately recognized it as Videl's locket. "I found this outside just after school let out. Part of the chain snapped off, so I'm assuming that's how Videl lost it. I was going to return it to her myself, but now I figure it would be better if you take it her. Give you a chance to redeem yourself in her eyes."
Gohan didn't have to be told twice. He accepted Ryo's offer with a smile, and carefully placed the locket in his pocket. "Thanks Ryo. I owe you one for this… Say you don't happen to know where Videl lives do you?"
"Why do you need to know that? Just lock onto her Ki, and follow it to her."
Gohan sweat dropped. "Oh yeah, I can do that can't I? Guess it slipped my mind."
Ryo smiled assuming he knew what *other things* Gohan's mind had most likely wandered to. "So, I see. Besides, it wouldn't do you any good to go to Videl's house, because I doubt she'd be home right now. If I know Videl she's probably spending some time in the park as we speak to get all her thoughts in order. The poor girl's probably going nuts over losing that thing, and battling with emotions like that isn't something Videl's use to."
Gohan didn't bother to inquire to how he knew Videl would be at the park, he knew he wouldn't get a straight answer after all. He wasn't going to argue with him either, Ryo hadn't been wrong about anything else he had told Gohan recently such as the incidents at the warehouse and with Rico. That didn't mean he wasn't still curious to why Videl was so broken up over that thing, and hoped Ryo could give him a little insight to why. "Hey Ryo. You don't happen to know why this locket is so important to Videl do you?"
"Actually I do." Ryo blushed guiltily. "I got a little too nosy for my own good, but read the inscription on the back of the locket."
Seeing no problem with it, Gohan removed the locket from his pocket, and read the inscription on the back of the star as Ryo had suggested. "To My Dearest Videl, Happy Birthday, Love Mom…."
"I'm sure you already know what happen to her mother…"
Gohan wanted to slap himself. Instead he merely groaned, and placed the gold chain back in his pocket. "No wonder she got so upset with… She probably feels the same way about her mother as I do about…" Gohan paused, not wanting to say anything about his father out loud to Ryo. Lucky for him, Ryo chose not to pry into it. "I feel like a real jerk now."
"Well get over it, and go find her," Ryo stated simply. "You've got the locket, and you've wasted enough time standing here talking to me. Go find her already!"
"Your right… Thanks again Ryo. I'll see you later."
********
It wasn't much, just a little wooded grove a short walk away from the main bulk of the park. Not many people came this way if any, and tonight was no exception. It was only Videl and a few night owl squirrels, which she ignored as she stared up into the starry night sky. That's why she loved this place. She could come here whenever she wanted to be alone and think, free from the hassle and intrusion of other human life. At least that's what she thought anyway, but it was rather hard to hide from someone who could track you down just by sensing the extent of your energy.
"Well fancy meeting you here," a voice said, as he crept up behind Videl. She bounced up from her back into a sitting position, completely taken by surprise to find someone else in her private spot, and even more surprised to discover just who it was.
"Gohan! What are you doing here?! How in the world did you find me out here?!"
"Gee, I'm not sure… Would you believe I tracked you down by homing in on your life force, and it led me here?"
Videl cocked an eyebrow and smiled. "Of course not! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
"That's what I thought you'd say," Gohan sighed, as he sat down beside her. Well, he tried to tell her truth, but as he expected she didn't believe him. If he had bothered to look her in the face at any point, he would've noticed her cheeks flush slightly as he sat down next to her. "I guess I was just lucky enough to stumble across you then."
"Really now…" Videl didn't exactly like the thought of someone else knowing about her *spot*, but if someone had to have discovered it she was glad it was Gohan. She wasn't sure why that was, maybe it was something… No that couldn't be it. "What exactly do you mean by lucky?"
"Well, I was hoping to run into you. I found something this afternoon I think might belong to you…" Gohan paused as he fished around in his pocket, deciding against taking credit for something he didn't do. "Actually, Ryo found it, and gave it to me to give back to you."
Gohan presented the locket to Videl, and just seeing the way her eyes lit up when she saw it would've been thanks enough for him. The bright smile that soon followed didn't hurt either. Something about her expression made his heart flutter, overflowing with some deep seated sense of satisfaction. This was truly one time where a good deed was it's own reward. However, Gohan was going to receive a nice bonus regardless that he was satisfied or not.
"Oh thank you Gohan!" Videl wept with joy, after snatching the object from his hand. She threw her arms around his neck in a tight embrace, one that might have been a little overreaction for anyone else, but down right sinful for Satan Videl. Gohan wasn't complaining though. A light pink spread across his cheeks, along with a quirky grin his mother would've slapped him for wearing, as he returned the hug. He felt her give one last little squeeze before letting go. If he had been anyone less, Gohan thought, she probably would have strangled him to death by then. "Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this locket means to me…"
"Actually, I think I do…" Gohan said almost in a whisper. "So, your mother gave that to you huh?"
Gohan's heart sunk a bit when Videl's cheerful expression drastically saddened. He had expected that, but it still bothered him none the less. "Well yes, but how did you?…"
"I read the inscription on the back," Gohan answered her question before she could finish. "I'm sorry about that, and for what I said to you earlier today."
Videl nodded her head to tell him she understood, and took another look at her treasure. "Oh it's broken again… Oh well, it's not like it's the first time. The thing is kind of old. I'll just have to get it fixed again…"
Gohan noted how soft and sad her tone of voice was now. "Hey… Please tell me if I'm getting to nosey, but I have a question… This day… It's the anniversary of your mother's death isn't it?"
Videl tightened up as Gohan expected, and that was all the confirmation he needed. One solitary tear trickled down her eye that Gohan caught, before she turned her head away. "Yeah… Look, I appreciate you bringing my locket to me and all, but if you don't mind I think I want to be alone now. I really just prefer to be alone… Besides, I don't think you'd want to waste your time sitting here and watching me mope the night away would you?"
Gohan almost wanted to cry himself at the sad little laugh she gave as she said that. The softer gentle side of him wanted to reach out and hold her, but his rational side told him this wasn't the type of girl you touched without express written permission. "Actually, I don't mind. Maybe you'd feel better if you actually had someone to talk to about it for a change… Bottling up all your emotions inside isn't always the best thing… Trust me, I figured that out the hard way."
"No, I don't think so, but thanks all the same," Videl denied his offer softly. In reality, deep down she would've loved to have someone she could reach out to, but that person just didn't exist at this time. "I'd much rather be alone…"
"Are you sure? I really don't mind at all Videl. You know I use to…"
"Just leave me alone Gohan!" Videl shouted suddenly, surprising Gohan though her reaction probably shouldn't have. "I don't need anyone to talk to! I don't need anyone, and I've never needed anyone for anything! My father was always too busy to ever listen when I had any problems, and I sure as hell wasn't going to talk to those so-called friends who were only clinging on to me because of who my father happened to be! I'm the only person I've ever been able to rely on, and that's all I've ever needed! I'm strong enough to get through this by myself!"
"Well, obviously you are," Gohan said, remaining calm, but sounding slightly hurt. Videl picked up on this, and couldn't fight back a slight sense of guilt. "But just because you don't need anyone, doesn't mean you don't want anyone to reach out to. I can be that person for you if your willing to let me try Videl…"
"What do you even care anyway?"
"Because you're my friend Videl, and I'm worried about you. Plus, I can probably relate to what your going through better then you think."
"Oh, and what makes you say that?" Videl snipped, shooting him a slight glare.
Gohan sighed at her stubbornness, and removed a small oval pouch from his belt. He wanted Videl to open up to him, he really did. He wanted to be that true friend she never really had, but to do that he figured he'd have to open up to her a little himself. To that point he'd been reluctant to do so. "I have something I want to show you Videl."
Slightly curious, Videl watched as Gohan reached into the pouch and pulled out a small orange ball. It was hard to tell in the darkness, but there looked to be four tiny symbols that looked like stars spread across the ball. "What is that?"
"This is called a dragon ball. My father gave this to me when I was a little bitty thing. He… He died when I was eleven. I was really close with him. That was one of the reasons I was so depressed during a good portion of my life. Please understand that I don't want to get into any of the details right now, but I made some horrible choices at one critical juncture of my life that might have cost him his life…" Gohan exaggerated that part a bit. He knew he was fully responsible for his father's death, or at least he pinned all that blame on himself, but he wanted to dance around the subject enough that Videl wouldn't follow up with any questions he wasn't ready to answer yet. "You remember that day in history class, when I avoided that question you asked me about myself being depressed? Well, that was the reason… It's still difficult to talk about but…"
"It's okay you don't have to say anymore." It was painful for Videl to say, she really wanted to know more, but felt it was better not to pry into something Gohan didn't seem all that eager to talk about. All of a sudden, at least for the moment anyway, all of Videl's problems seemed to vanish as she found her heart going out to the young Demi-Sayian.
"I think of my dad every time I look at this," Gohan said, looking down at the baseball-sized object in his hand. "That's why I care Videl. I know exactly what your going through. The pain, the constant feeling of loneliness, helplessness, and fighting back the urge to just crawl behind some big rock and wait to die. I get that way every time the anniversary of his death rolls around… You looked the exact same way today as I do the end of every June… It's not a fun feeling I know… I know how much it hurts, and I wanted to be able to help you if there was any way I possibly could."
Videl stared down at her locket, soaking in everything Gohan had said to her. "This… This locket is all I have left of her. When I lost it this morning I felt like I was losing the only part of her I had left… Like she'd be gone for good this time…"
Gohan placed a hand on Videl's shoulder, as she stifled back a few tears. "I used to think this dragon ball was all I had left from my dad when I realized he actually left me with a lot more. For one, an adorable baby brother who looks just like him, and a ton of fond memories of him that will live with me for the rest of my life. Your mother may not have left a sibling or anything, but I'm sure you have tons of pleasant memories of your mother that will live in your heart for as long as you want to remember them."
"You know that's the sappiest thing I've ever heard." Videl tried to laugh back the tears she was trying so desperately not to cry. "But it works for me… So tell me Gohan. When the anniversary of your father's death rolled around, didn't you just want to be left alone and not be bothered by anyone."
Gohan picked up on the hint Videl was trying to toss his way, that she still would rather be left to herself that night, but he chose to ignore it. "I use too. I didn't really have much choice in the matter though, I didn't really have anyone to go to. My mother had a hard enough time dealing with my father's death herself, and the only two or three real friends I had weren't exactly the kind of people you went to when you were having emotional problems. So, I made that into my excuse. I used to think facing the pain alone was the best way to go about it, but eventually I realized I was just that… Alone. No where to run to hide from the pain, and no one to protect me from it. I had to fight it off on my own. I thought I was winning for the longest time, but somewhere along the way I realized I didn't really like being alone all the time. I could see that the entire time the pain had been defeating me, and I didn't even know it was happening."
Videl laughed again, stifling back another sob. "You know this is going to sound weird but… I could never quite put into words what I'd been feeling all these years, but I think you just stole the words right out of my head. I guess we have more in common then we realized…"
"I guess. You know Videl… We don't have to fight it by ourselves anymore. Maybe now we can face it together, if your willing…"
Gohan noticed something gleaming in Videl's bright blue, slightly reddened, eyes. He wasn't sure if it was hope, wariness, or maybe even a little bit of fear. Whatever it was, Videl was clearly thinking Gohan's offer over. Gohan wouldn't have to wait long for an answer. Videl didn't say any words. She simply lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and crying a tearless sob into his chest. Gohan returned the embrace, sitting there quietly for a while as she coped with her mother's passing in her own little way. Despite Videl's tough outward exterior, Gohan could tell this was something she'd been needing for a long time. The closeness of another human being, one that legitimately cared that she was in pain. So she didn't have to face that pain alone for once.
"You know it's okay to cry Videl," Gohan commented, noting countless times how hard she was trying not to. "I know you're a tough girl, but I won't tell anyone. Sometimes it's good to let it all out."
"No… I won't." Videl let out another tearless sob. "My mother wouldn't want me too… She'd want me to be strong… She'd be unhappy knowing she caused me to shed so many tears… Besides, I promised myself I wouldn't cry anymore. Not unless it was over someone who's truly worth it. Mother is, but she's a special case."
"I understand." That would be the last words they'd share for a while. Gohan admired the stars while Videl, though her eyes stayed dried, her soul cried through most of that night.
********
It had gotten really late, probably one in the morning by now. Videl didn't care. She couldn't sleep anyway, so she'd been in the training room for the past several hours whaling away at another sparring dummy. She had to get him off her mind, but it just didn't seem to be working. He was the reason she couldn't sleep after all. She was hoping she could beat these feelings out of her, but they wouldn't go away. She couldn't forget what happened earlier that night. The tenderness in his voice when he spoke to her… How warm and safe she felt when he wrapped her up in his arms…
"This isn't happening!" Videl shouted, as she gave the dummy a hard kick. She continued to pound on the bag as she ranted to herself. "I don't like Gohan! Not in that way! We're just friends. I'm Videl Satan, I don't need anybody!"
Videl pictured Gohan's face on the bag, and motioned to kick when she stopped in mid-move. She just couldn't… Videl sighed in defeat, and slumped down on the floor to her knees, hugging the training bag like a pillow. "Why did he have to be so sweet?… Why couldn't he have been a jerk like all the other guys, it would've made things a lot easier… Why am I even talking like this, he's just a guy!"
Videl punched her training bag one last time, before laying down across the ground. She didn't care that it was cold. She didn't care that it was hard and extremely uncomfortable, it was just there and it would do for now. "I don't like Gohan… He's just another guy… Just a friend. I'm Videl Satan, I don't need anyone! The only person I can trust is myself… I don't need anyone!"
But she had to admit… It felt good to have a shoulder to cry on. Someone who seemed to understand her better then most people could… That legitimately seemed to care for whatever reason. "I don't need anyone, but maybe… Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have someone to talk to every now and then… I hate to admit it, but having Gohan with me tonight made the night easier to get through then usual… He's the first person I've ever met that's ever tried to be friendly with me, and not just because of my family name. He doesn't even like my father for whatever reason, so I doubt he'd be kissing up to me just to get to him… It would be nice to have someone to hold on to for a change. I probably shouldn't blow this chance but…"
Videl's thought process ended right there. The minor acceptance of the reason for that slight tingling feeling in her chest, counteracted the forces keeping her exhausted mind and body awake. She drifted off to sleep, dreaming dreams of a certain spiky haired teenager, dreams she would try hard to forget in the morning.
End.
-Awe… I really like this part. I had some problems at the beginning getting everything going, but towards the end I knew exactly what I was aiming for. Anyhew, not a typo, as for part six Chi-Chi's has been wanting to meet some of Gohan's new friends, and has him invite them over for dinner. This scene is inevitable for any G/V fic, and it's not going to be pretty. The actual plot to the story begins to develop as well, and I'm going to take you into Ryo's head just a little bit. I've gotten a couple responses about his character, and that makes me feel good. I have to go slow with him though, as a writer you always worry about interjecting a foreign character into a fanfic. Unless you develop the character perfectly you pretty much get pissed on. The reaction has been pretty good for the most part, and I'm happy to see that I was worried about him. Well, so long for now, and thanks to everyone for reading!
