Don't own it!
Hey, sorry these chapters are taking so long! I'm really trying to get these out. I've been swamped with work and other stuff for school. Thank god I'm going to be on vacation this week. ^_^ I've also become really hooked on Escaflowne. That show is so cool.
Anyway, enjoy this chapter, and remember to review!
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The Real Folk Blues
I only want to know what true sadness is
Sitting in muddy water
Isn't such a bad life
If it ends after the first time
"Come on, this way!" Videl screamed, taking a sharp turn. She led Gohan and Vegeta down a long, dark hallway. Their footsteps echoed through the corridor, disappearing into the air. Finally, they reached a large room filled with machinery. A man stood at the controls, his back turned to the group.
"Good job, Videl. I never thought it would actually work." The man turned around and grinned at Videl. His silver hair draped over his face, and a crow was perched on his shoulder.
Gohan looked between the man and Videl. "What's going on? Who the hell is he?"
"You want my name?" The man said. Gohan turned his head, "My name…is Vicious."
A bead of sweat ran down Videl's cheek. All sorts of thoughts plagued her mind. What would Gohan say after he found out about the plan? What would Vicious do? Would he actually keep his end, or would he just kill her? So many possibilities…
"Videl, what's going on?" Gohan looked down at Videl for his answer.
Videl looked up at Gohan, her bottom lip quivering, "Gohan I…" She wanted to scream it out and admit everything, yet she could not find the correct words. Her mind drew a blank, and it seemed as if she could not think.
"She's working for me now." Vicious said, walking down a few steps, "Understand, it was the only way to get you here…"
"You could have just asked me, and I would have come." Gohan growled, his anger rising.
"But you wouldn't have at the time. I know how the mind works, and I know all about bribing people. I knew if she were in trouble, you would come running. It was also to save her life. If she did not do as I asked, I would have killed her, just as I did her father."
She was his mindless puppet in his game. But…why?
Vicious snapped his fingers. Immediately, hundreds of men surrounded the room. They all pointed their guns at Vegeta, Gohan, and Videl.
"This is the plan," Gohan said softly, "Vegeta, you take Videl and find a way out of here. I'll take care of this Vicious."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. Why did he always get all the fun? Vegeta moved towards Videl. Videl held her hands up and shook her head. It was obvious that she was refusing to leave. Vegeta shrugged, and took off. He really didn't care what the girl wanted to do. If she wanted to get caught in the middle of a fight, then fine.
The gunmen moved their barrels towards Vegeta.
"Forget him!" Vicious yelled, "He'll be back eventually. He can't leave without his son." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Separate them two. Kill Videl, and take Gohan away, I need him."
Videl's eyes went wide. He…he broke their deal! She did everything he asked, and he was going to kill her anyway! Her heart started to beat rapidly. She did not want to die.
Two men seized Videl's arms and started to drag her away. She pulled roughly, trying to break their grip. She would not give up. Death was not on her agenda for the day.
Finally, at the door, she kicked one of the men in the shin. He let go, wincing in pain. She took her free fist and punched the other man in the stomach. She turned her head just in time to see Gohan fall to his knees…
She quickly ran across the room over to him. Falling to her knees, she caught Gohan in her arms before he hit the ground.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" She asked in a panicky voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Only a punch, I've had much worst." He laughed softly.
Videl wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry Gohan," She whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry for everything."
Gohan wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, "Don't be."
"You're too forgiving, do you know that?"
"Only to you."
Videl tightened her grip around Gohan's neck. Everything was going to be okay. He would take care of everything. Everything was going to be okay…
Gohan heard something click behind him. He knew that sound by heart now. It only meant death.
"Don't move, or I'll shoot."
Gohan said nothing. He kept his eyes steadily on Videl's, showing no fear. Videl stared back, taken back by their seriousness. She could tell that he knew what was coming. There was no way that he could dodge a bullet going into his head at point blank range. Death was inevitable in this situation.
A tear dropped from Videl's eye. It was too hard for her to bear. To lose him again…no, she could not handle it for a second time. Videl pulled herself closer to Gohan. Closing her eyes, she rested her chin on his shoulder. She just wanted to hold him one last time.
She heard a gun shot echo through the room. Videl expected to feel all the warmth Gohan's body gave off to go suddenly cold. She expected to feel his body go limp against her. She expected her world to crash down on her…
"Videl it's okay. We're alive…" She heard him whisper. Opening her eyes, she pushed herself away from Gohan. He smiled at her, "No one is going to shoot us."
"Then where did the gunshot come from?"
Gohan pointed to the wall, "Spike, of course. It was only time until he came following."
Spike…why did that name sound so familiar to Videl? She looked him over. Green hair, red eyes…he looked familiar too. But, where could she have known him?
Spike walked over to them, "Gohan, I'm going to go ahead. I have some business to take care of with Vicious."
"You know him?"
"Yeah, we used to be comrades, I guess you could say. But now he's taken the life of an old friend. Revenge is a sweet thing." Spike took out his gun.
Videl's eyes went wide. She had it…she knew him…
Spike moved to walk away, when Videl interrupted his movements.
"Spike? Spike Spiegle?"
Spike turned around and rose an eyebrow, "How do you know my name?"
"It's me…Videl…you used to come to my house late at night when I was little."
Spike laughed nervously, "Oh yeah…wow, you've grown. Maybe I should quickly explain something to you. Your father and I were in a Crime Syndicate. Now, before you make any judgments, we both got out. Vicious here wasn't so fortunate. I don't know if your father has anything to do with Vicious's plan, but I'm going to end it."
Videl looked at Spike, a shock expression sweeping her face, "A crime syndicate? My father wouldn't hurt a fly…"
Spike shrugged, "Yeah…we killed a lot of people," He noticed her shocked look, "But not anymore." He added quickly. He looked at Gohan, "Not a word to anyone, understand?"
"No problem. My lips are sealed.
Spike nodded to him, and took off.
Gohan stood up to leave the now empty room. Everyone had fled the room at the sight of Spike. His bounty hunting reputation reached the farthest corners of the universe.
Videl tugged at Gohan's wrist, "We can't leave without Trunks."
"What? Trunks is here?"
Videl nodded, "The control panel…I think we can find him through that. I saw Vicious use it one time."
"Okay." Gohan ran over to the control unit and started to press buttons. Videl started to wonder is Spike was okay…
~*~
Spike ran up the open stairway, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. He grasped his handgun tightly in his hand, ready to put it to use if necessary. Soon he came to a dark hallway. Taking in a deep breath, he continued down it.
He came to a huge room decorated with cardboard boxes. A musty odor filled the room. Spider webs added detail to the boxes, giving off a haunting effect. Spike grasped the hilt of his handgun, and slowly walked through the doorway.
"Nice of you to come Spike." Vicious's voice rang through, bouncing off the floor, walls, and ceiling.
"Show yourself." Spike said in a serious tone. He meant business, and he wasn't going to leave until he finished it.
Vicious stepped out from behind a few boxes, the soft light illuminating his face. He smirked evilly while taking his sword out of his sheath.
"Well, here I am. It's been a long time Spike."
"We have no time for talking, let's just do this."
"Fine by me!" Vicious screamed, and charged at Spike…
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Hope you liked that chapter. I'm trying to get to the end of the fic…we should have around 5 chapters to go…
This is officially my longest fic. ^_^ Remember to review!
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Until next time…
See you later, Space Cowboy…