Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z, it's characters and likenesses, are all own by Akira Toriyama and the creators of the animated series. The characters are used for my amusement and are not being written for money purposes. The name, 'Selene', has been borrowed by DarkHeart81. I asked, rather informed him of my use of the name, which he allowed. The characters 'Kagero' and 'Faye' have been created for this story, and this story alone. If you want to use them, please ask.
This story is rated R for sexual content and strong/explicit dialogue.
* * *
Parallel and Perpendicular
A romance fiction/story by ShaggyDiz
Chapter Zero: Parallel
Part One: Good Morning Sunshine
* * *
All he wished for was a normal life.
He had it nice in the beginning: a home to live in, a nice caring family, and not a worry in the world.
Turning five and a half sucked a lot.
He looked back now, wondering if he ever had the chance to have a normal life.
Well, the last seven years proved to be a step in the right direction in terms of normalcy. He gained a new addition to the family – a brother – that replaced the one lost all those years ago.
A father.
He was happy though, for the most part. His depression died soon after his father told him how proud he was of him. His father didn't know of the new son he would be getting.
No one would though. At least, no one would know for a good three months after Goku's death.
Yet, it made him happy. He would be getting a brother. And he would raise him in a simple world where no harm would come to him. He would get the normal life that he himself never had.
It made him smile.
Gohan was happy.
* * *
All she wished for was a normal life.
She had it nice in the beginning: a home to live in, a nice caring family, and not a worry in the world.
Turning ten sucked a lot.
She looked back now, wondering if she ever had the chance to have a normal life.
Well, the last seven years proved to be a step in the right direction in terms of normalcy. She had a younger sibling – a sister – that replaced the two lost all those years ago.
A mother.
A father.
She was happy though, for the most part. Her depression soon died after she reflected upon the loss of her mother. She decided not to mope around, for she had another duty to perform, one that she had to do to make her mom proud of her. She had to raise her sister like a daughter.
No one told her how tough it would be. At least, no one did for a good three months after Selene's death.
Yet, it made her happy. She would be raising a sister. She would do so in a simple world where no harm would come to her. She would get the normal like that she herself never had.
It made her smile.
Videl was happy.
* * *
He decided to get up early today, for what reason, he didn't know. He only knew that he wanted to get some fresh air. Getting out of bed, he stretched his lazy muscles out; twisting and turning them to get the blood flow back in them that were slowed from the night before. He grabbed a towel from a hook on his door and made his way to the bathroom. He disrobed what little he had on before stepping into the shower.
Several minutes later, he stepped out, refreshed, and smelling quite nicely thanks to his mother's shopping methods. He dried himself off briefly before wrapping the towel around his waist. Slowly, he made his way back to his room, where he found his brother Goten sitting on his bed, still in his pajamas.
"Gohan, why are you up so early? You made a lot of noise, and it woke me up," the child said, weariness in his voice. He rubbed one of his eyes with his small fist, trying to get the sleep out of them.
"Did I really make too much noise?" Goten nodded. "Hmm… that's strange. I don't think I made that much noise rolling out of bed and stretching out."
"You did something to wake me up though, Gohan. I know it!"
"Okay, okay! Calm down Goten," he said, hushing his voice and using his hands as emphasis. "I'm sorry for waking you up. Happy?" he asked. He received a quick couple nods from Goten. "Good. Now go get a shower."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because we're going to have a little fun today after breakfast. I haven't done anything as of late that has involved the word 'fun'." This caused the gears in Goten's head to start churning. The word 'fun' to Goten had one meaning: that he would be happy. Now, with his older brother, his happiness would double. He hopped off of his brother's bed, running quickly towards the bathroom. He stopped for a brief moment at the doorway, reaching for towel on a hook below his brother's, before resuming his course to the bathroom.
Gohan smiled.
* * *
She decided to get up early today, for what reason, she didn't know. She only knew that she wanted to get some fresh air. Getting out of bed, she stretched her lazy muscles out; twisting and turning them to get the blood flow back in them that were slowed from the night before. She grabbed a towel from her closet and made her way to the bathroom. She disrobed what little she had on before stepping into the shower.
Several minutes later, she stepped out, refreshed, and smelling quite nicely thanks to the maid's shopping methods. She dried off briefly before wrapping the towel around her chest, securing it under her armpit. She grabbed another towel and wrapped it around her head. Slowly, she made her way back to her room, where she found her sister Kagero sitting on her bed, still in her pajamas.
"Videl, why are you up so early? You made a lot of noise, and it woke me up," the child said, weariness in her voice. She rubbed one of her eyes with her small fist, trying to get the sleep out of them.
"Did I really make too much noise?" Kagero nodded. "Hmm… that's strange. I don't think I made that much noise rolling out of bed and stretching out."
"You did something to wake me up though, Videl. I know it!"
"Okay, okay! Calm down Kagero," she said, hushing her voice and using her hands as emphasis. "I'm sorry for waking you up. Happy?" she asked. She received a quick couple nods from Kagero. "Good. Now go get a shower."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because we're going to have a little fun today after breakfast. I haven't done anything as of late that has involved the word 'fun'." This caused the gears in Kagero's head to start churning. The word 'fun' to Kagero had one meaning: that she would be happy. Now, with her older sister, her happiness would double. She hopped off her sister's bed, running quickly towards the bathroom. She stopped for a brief moment at the doorway, reaching for a towel in the closet where her sister had grabbed one earlier, before resuming her course to the bathroom.
Videl smiled.
* * *
He sat at the table with Goten, eagerly waiting for his mother to come downstairs to make breakfast. He looked up at the clock, seeing that it was only half past seven. Looking back at the table, he put his head down on his hands, relaxing a bit. As he did so, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. They looked up to see their mother, Chichi, coming down the stairs, still in her nightgown. She rubbed her eyes some before witnessing the scene in front of her.
"You know I would have gotten you up this morning Gohan. I don't like it when you sleep at the table," she said, a slight bit of annoyance, and yet also some motherly care, in her voice. He got his head off of the table though once she said that.
"I'm not really tired Mom. I wanted to get up early today."
"And why is that?" Goten decided to jump in at this time.
"We want to have fun today Mom!" he said, hopping in his seat.
"Fun, huh?" she questioned. She looked to her older son. "Explain fun, Gohan."
"I wanted to go out and get some air. Today is a day for relaxation I think. No training. No studying. Just… nothing."
"And Goten woke up for this?" she asked, snickering slightly as Goten nodded his head again rather quickly.
"He claims that I woke him up."
"Well that's a first," she said, walking over to the fridge to grab some food. "Almost everyday he wakes up by the smell of the food!"
"I'm a growing boy Mom!" Goten said from his seat. "That's what Gohan said: 'Make sure you eat your fill so you can get big and strong just like me'." He looked over to his older brother. He nodded in agreement at the pre-rehearsed line he gave to Goten.
"You also know that eating isn't the only thing to make you big," Chichi said, her parenting skills showing through. "That's really only part of the equation. You have to exercise too, or you'll end up like a blob on the couch, flipping through channels endlessly for the rest of your life." Goten made a face to that comment.
"I don't want to be like that! Gohan!" he whined, clearly not pleased with the predicament placed before him.
Gohan laughed, and then he smiled again.
* * *
She sat at the table with Kagero, eagerly waiting for their maid to come downstairs to make breakfast. She looked up at the clock, seeing that it was only half past seven. Looking back at the table, she put her head down on her hands, relaxing a bit. As she did so, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. They looked up to see their maid, Faye, coming down the stairs, still in her nightgown. She rubbed her eyes some before witnessing the scene in front of her.
"You know I would have gotten you up this morning Videl. I don't like it when you sleep at the table," she said, a slight bit of annoyance, and yet also some motherly care, in her voice. She got her head off of the table though once she said that.
"I'm not really tired Faye-Faye. I just wanted to get up early today."
"And why is that?" Kagero decided to jump in at this time.
"We want to have fun today Faye-Faye!" she said, hopping in her seat.
"Fun, huh?" she questioned. She looked at the older girl. "Explain fun, Videl."
"I want to go out and get some air. Today is a day for relaxation I think. No training. No studying. Just… nothing."
"And Kagero woke up for this?" she asked, snickering slightly as Kagero nodded her head again rather quickly.
"She claims that I woke her up."
"Well that's a first," she said, walking over to the fridge to grab some food. "Almost everyday she wakes up by the smell of food!"
"I'm a growing girl Faye-Faye!" Kagero said from her seat. "That's what Videl said: 'Make sure you eat your fill so you can fill out nicely just like me'." She looked over to her older sister. She nodded in agreement at the pre-rehearsed line she gave to Kagero.
"You also know that eating isn't the only thing to fill you out," Faye said, her parenting skills showing through. "That's only part of the equation. You have to exercise too, or you'll end up like a blob on the couch, flipping through channels endlessly for the rest of your life." Kagero made a face to that comment.
"I don't want to be like that! Videl!" she whined, clearly not pleased with the predicament placed before her.
Videl laughed, and then she smiled.
* * *
"Hey Gohan! What are we going to be doing today?" Goten asked, tugging on his brother's pant leg. He looked down at the child, giggling slightly at his innocence. This, in turn, caused Goten to laugh too. A huge smile was imprinted on his face.
"Well, Goten," he started, "I figure we go for a little walk… maybe talk to your dinosaur friends. I was thinking though about going to Northern Capitol, if Mom would let us though."
"Maybe you should ask her then," he said, getting a deadpan look from his older brother.
"Ask me what, Gohan?" Chichi said, walking into the living room where her two sons were.
"I was thinking about Northern Capitol today. Can we go?" Chichi tilted her head slightly, putting herself in mock thought.
"Hmm… I don't see the problem with that."
"Thanks Mom!" he said, getting up and giving her a small hug.
"Yeah! Thanks Mom!" Goten said happily as well, hopping over from the couch to give her a hug.
"Boys, come on… it's not like I never let you go out." Goten looked up, confusion written over his face.
"Mom… you really don't let us go out all the time," the child said. Chichi looked down at him, letting a small smile come on her face.
"I let you out all the time Goten." He titled his head slightly. "I just never let you go out that far." Goten scratched his head for a moment, thinking about his mom's last statement.
"Ah. Okay Mom! I got it! Thank you Mom!" he said ecstatically, jumping up to give Chichi another hug.
He looked on at the scene, his mood brightening because of it. He walked back to the couch, sitting down in it and returning his gaze to the TV, watching the latest news report. A bank robbery in Satan City caught his eye, causing him a bit of displeasure.
"I don't understand this," he said. Chichi walked over to the couch and sat down next to him.
"What don't you understand Gohan?"
"Well, two things about Satan City. One: the fact that it's named after that goofball. Two: why there is so much crime in that city is beyond me." By now, Goten had taken his position on top of his brother's shoulders. He titled his head again, trying to come up with an answer.
"Maybe it has to do with the goofball being in the city." Chichi looked up at her son, wondering where and when he had gotten so smart. He noticed though. "It's your fault Mom. You making me study like Gohan has helped me a bit with making intelligent answers."
So then, Chichi was floored. And so was he. He smiled again at his brother's ability to be adorable, and yet, rather astute at the same time. He had the best of both worlds, he now wondered. He got his father's naivety and his mind. He didn't understand what his mom saw in the man, but he was glad, for obvious reasons, and not so obvious reasons.
"I think that with the popularity of that goofball, people think that they can make a living robbing banks and stuff in the city. They're all stupid like him."
"Goten!"
"No Mom, wait," he said, hushing his mom, "Goten's right. They are stupid."
They all laughed.
And Gohan smiled.
* * *
"Hey Videl! What are we going to be doing today?" Kagero asked, tugging on her sister's oversized shirt. She looked down at the child, giggling slightly at her innocence. This, in turn, caused Kagero to laugh too. A huge smile was imprinted on her face.
"Well, Kagero," she started, "I figure we go for a little walk… maybe talk to your grade school friends. I was thinking though about going to Northern Capitol, if Faye-Faye would let us though."
"Maybe you should ask her then," she said, getting a deadpan look from her older sister.
"Ask me what, Videl?" Faye said, walking into the living room where the girls were.
"I was thinking about Northern Capitol today. Can we go?" Faye tilted her head slightly, putting herself in mock thought.
"Hmm… I don't see the problem with that."
"Thanks Faye-Faye!" she said, getting up and giving her a small hug.
"Yeah! Thanks Faye-Faye!" Kagero said happily as well, hopping over from the couch to give her a hug.
"Girls, come on… it's not like I never let you go out." Kagero looked up, confusion written over her face.
"Faye-Faye… you really don't let us go out all the time," the child said. Faye looked down at her, letting a small smile come on her face.
"I let you out all the time Kagero." She titled her head slightly. "I just never let you go out that far." Kagero scratched her head for a moment, thinking about the maid's last statement.
"Ah. Okay Faye-Faye! I got it! Thank you!" she said ecstatically, jumping up to give Faye another hug.
She looked on at the scene, her mood brightening because of it. She walked back to the couch, sitting down in it and returning her gaze to the TV, watching the latest news report. A bank robbery in Satan City caught her eye, causing her a bit of displeasure.
"I don't understand this," she said. Faye walked over to the couch and sat down next to her.
"What don't you understand Videl?"
"Well, two things about this city. One: the fact that it's named after my idiot of a father. Two: why there is so much crime in that city is beyond me." By now, Kagero had taken her position next to her sister on the couch. She titled her head again, trying to come up with an answer.
"Maybe it has to do with us being in the city." Faye looked up at the girl, wondering where and when she had gotten so smart. She noticed though. "It's your fault Videl. You making me study like someone possessed has helped me a bit with making intelligent answers."
So then, Faye was floored. And so was she. She smiled again at her sister's ability to be adorable, and yet, rather astute at the same time. She had the best of both worlds, she now wondered. She got her mother's random naivety and her mind. She didn't understand what her father saw in the woman, but she was glad, for obvious reasons, and not so obvious reasons.
"I think that with the popularity of father, people think that they can make a living robbing banks and stuff in the city. They're all stupid for some reason."
"Kagero!"
"No Faye, wait," she said, hushing the maid, "Kagero's right. They are stupid."
They all laughed.
And Videl frowned. She wanted to smile, but she frowned. It was because of her father. She suspected something about him for a while now. She didn't know though, and neither did Faye. She was unhappy because of this though, because she had a father who only acted like it once a month, if that. Ever since Cell, she was forced to raise herself alone. She was forced to raise Kagero alone. Faye had helped, and it made her happy. She wasn't though, because her family was, in her mind, incomplete.
Thus, a parallel was broken, and the lines between the two started to draw closer.
* * *
"Mom! We're leaving!" he called from the front door, announcing to Chichi that he and Goten were leaving. Both had bags strapped to their backs, carrying random supplies, mostly capsules supplying food for them during their hike. They also had a change of clothes so that when they reached the end of their hike, they would change out of their gi's into more public attire.
"Okay Gohan! When do you plan on coming home?" she asked, coming to the archway between the kitchen and living room. She held a wooden spoon in her hand and a glass pitcher in another.
"We'll be back by dinner Mom."
"Do you guys have enough food? I don't want anyone giving you second glances because of your appetites over in Northern Capitol."
"Don't worry Mom. We have enough food for lunch. And if not, we'll find some fish and cook them. It shouldn't be too bad."
"Okay Gohan." She walked forward, giving Goten and him one last hug before saying good-bye. "I'll see you boys tonight. And stay out of trouble!"
"Okay Mom!" they called back, walking out into the field in front of the house before marching off into the woods.
"So what do you want to do first, Goten?" he asked the child, looking down at him while walking.
"Chobi! I want to see Chobi!" Goten shouted, hopping up and down around his brother. He let out a small chuckle to his exuberant innocence.
"Okay Goten. We'll go see Chobi." A few minutes later, they reached the forest line, entering another field that separated into several hills and valleys. Beyond them laid a mountain range, which was the boys' destination.
"Can we fly Gohan? I'd like to see him now." He looked down at his brother before looking back out to the horizon.
"I want to walk today Goten. Besides, I haven't taught you how to fly yet."
"But I really want to fly Gohan!" he cried, whining.
"Goten, let me tell you something real quick," he said, crouching down to get face to face with the child. "If we fly, we would get there in a matter of minutes. There's no adventure in that. Now, if we walk, we can take in much more. Sure, it would take us about an hour to get to Chobi and his family. It would be an adventure doing that though." Goten titled his head slightly, taking in all of the information his brother gave him. "Do you understand Goten?"
"Yeah, I think so Gohan. I mean, it'll all be fun, right?" He nodded. "All right! Let's walk!" With that, Goten turned towards the mountains and began walking, taking in everything in stride. After about five steps, he started pointing out random things in the area, like a tree standing in the middle of the field, or a bug crawling on a rock.
Gohan smiled, and started off after him.
* * *
"Faye! We're leaving!" she called from the front door, announcing to the maid that she and Kagero were leaving. Both had bags strapped to their backs, carrying random supplies, mostly capsules supplying food for a picnic for them to have at the end of their hike. They also had a change of clothes so that when they reached the end of their hike, they would change out of their walking clothes into more public attire.
"Okay Videl! When do you plan on coming home?" she asked, coming to the archway between the kitchen and living room. She held a wooden spoon in her hand and a glass pitcher in another.
"We'll be back by dinner Faye."
"Do you girls have enough food? I don't want anyone giving you second glances because of your appetites over in Northern Capitol."
"Don't worry Faye. We have enough food for lunch. And if not, we'll stop at a store. It shouldn't be too bad." She paused for a second, before adding under her breath, "Hopefully, if Kagero doesn't go and eat everything…"
"Okay Videl." She walked forward, giving Kagero and her one last hug before saying good-bye. "I'll see you two tonight. And stay out of trouble!"
"One last thing Faye: what's my father up to?" she asked.
"He's on another tour of the Southern States. I don't think he'll return for another two weeks." She sighed.
"Okay Faye-Faye!" Kagero called back for both of them, walking out onto the sidewalk in front of the mansion before marching off into the park.
"So what do you want to do first, Kagero?" she asked the child, looking down at her while walking.
"Lily! I want to see Lily!" Kagero shouted, hopping up and down around her sister. She let out a small chuckle to her exuberant innocence.
"Okay Kagero. We'll go see Lily." A few minutes later, they reached the forest line, exiting the park and coming upon a busy side street to Satan City. Beyond the street laid the various buildings and skyscrapers littering the huge city. Somewhere at the edge of the city laid the girls' destination.
"Can we fly Videl? I'd like to see her now." She looked down at her sister before looking back out to the horizon.
"I want to walk today Kagero. Besides, I haven't taught you how to fly my jet-copter yet."
"But I really want to fly Videl!" she cried, whining.
"Kagero, let me tell you something real quick," she said, crouching down to get face to face with the child. "If we fly, we would get there in a matter of minutes. There's no adventure in that. Now, if we walk, we can take in much more. Sure, it would take us about an hour to get to Lily's house. It would be an adventure doing that though." Kagero titled her head slightly; taking in all of the information her sister gave her. "Do you understand Kagero?"
"Yeah, I think so Videl. I mean, it'll all be fun, right?" She nodded. "All right! Let's walk!" With that, Kagero turned towards the street and began walking, taking in everything in stride. After about five steps, she started pointing out random things in the area, like a random mailbox on a corner, or a patch of flowers on the sidewalk.
Videl smiled, and started off after her.
* * *
"Bye Chobi!" Goten yelled as they walked away from the mountainside. After a few minutes, they came back upon the field that was at the bottom of the mountain. "Gohan, what are we going to do now?"
"Hmm…" he began to think. He reached into his bag to pull out his watch. It was now eleven o'clock, two hours after they had set off from home. He put his watch back and stood up, pulling the bag onto his back once more. "I think it's a good time to head off to Northern Capitol. How's that sound, Goten?" The child nodded his head rapidly, but suddenly stopped.
"What are we going to do there?" he asked, curious.
"There should be something interesting there to do. I think they have a nice sized mall there too. Mom has been hinting about sending me to school somewhere, so I think I'll get a new set of clothes or two."
"But that's boring!"
"I know." He bent down to get face to face with Goten. "Mom gave me a few zenni though. She said to buy you one new toy of your choice."
"My choice?" Goten asked, his eyes lighting up brightly. He started nodding his head vigorously. "If I get a new toy, then it won't be boring anymore! It'll be lots of fun! Uh Gohan? It'll be lots of fun, right?" He laughed at his younger brother.
"Goten, it'll be so much fun that… that I don't know what else would be much more fun than this."
"Really? Gohan, that's great! Come on, I want to go now!" he shouted, running circles around his older brother.
"Okay. Just let me call nimbus and we'll get going." He called the cloud, and after a few seconds, the yellow puff of smoke halted in front of them. They hopped on and blasted off.
And Gohan smiled, nothing going wrong with his day.
* * *
"Bye Lily!" Kagero yelled as they walked away from the house. After a few minutes, they came upon the sidewalk that was at the end of the driveway. "Videl, what are we going to do now?"
"Hmm…" she began to think. She looked down to her wrist to look at her watch. It was now eleven o'clock, two hours after they had set off from home. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets after reading the time. "I think it's a good time to head off to Northern Capitol. How's that sound, Kagero?" The child nodded her head rapidly, but suddenly stopped.
"What are we going to do there?" she asked, curious.
"There should be something interesting there to do. I think they have a nice sized mall there too, only second or third in size to the Satan City Mall. School is going to be starting up again in a couple weeks, so I think I'll get a new set of clothes or two."
"But that's boring!"
"I know." She bent down to get face to face with Kagero. "I have a few extra zenni with me today though. I'll let you buy one new toy of your choice."
"My choice?" Kagero asked, her eyes lighting up brightly. She started nodding her head vigorously. "If I get a new toy, then it won't be boring anymore! It'll be lots of fun! Uh Videl? It'll be lots of fun, right?" She laughed at her younger sister.
"Kagero, it'll be so much fun that… that I don't know what else would be much more fun than this."
"Really? Videl, that's great! Come on, I want to go now!" she shouted, running circles around her older sister.
"Okay. Just let me get my copter out and we'll get going." She pulled out a capsule and tossed it on the ground, and after a few seconds, the puff of smoke cleared, revealing the yellow jet-copter. They hopped on and blasted off.
And Videl smiled, nothing going wrong with her day.
* * *
End Part One.
* * *
Author's Note: Well, I hoped you enjoyed this first installment of my brand new story. I know, it reads a little funny, but I did it on purpose, and for a reason. This is pretty much setup for the story, so much of it will read the same was as this. I ask you to please bear with me though, for this, I believe, will get interesting.
As for the teaser image I promised, well, it's coming. I'm awaiting the final coloring from Psycho-Ann, which will hopefully be done today or tomorrow. I'll post it immediately on my site when I get it, and if you don't have the chance to see it, I'll link it with the next part of the chapter.
I hoped you enjoyed. Please review.
