Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters.

Review responses:

Aleandra Alyra Sarienna(geez long name): Yay! I'm glad you found this one funny!

Smfandonja: Uh oh, I dunno if I wanna find out what u can do.

Sss sam: Sam, you silly, you reviewed the second chappie but oh well. Yea yea, I'm your friend. . . Sorry I kinda changed the rating to just romance and no angst. . .there is a teeny bit but not as much as I originally intended. Heh. . .I guess this means you'll quit with this fic of mine. . .well read the others then!

32usa: they're homeless because their parents died, and Gohan didn't want to stay at the house because he didn't want to be taken by the social worker people. Oop, I guess I should've explained that as part of the fic. . .but its not that important. It'll come up later what happened, and in clearer explanations.

Princess Bra: see previous response.

Strawberrychan: Snickers. . .you'll hafta wait and find out!

Read!

-Chapter Four-

Last chapter:

'Great just great. Why in Kami's name did I choose *now* to burst out like that?! And to Videl Satan, of all people! I'm not usually this sensitive! Why is it that whatever this girl says has affected me so much?' Gohan shut his eyes tightly, biting his lip. What was going to happen now? Was Videl going to just cut off the deal and just turn them in anyway? He didn't think he could handle the police chasing them . . .for one thing, his conscience would bug him to the end of his days, nagging him of being a wanted person. And Goten might not take it too well either. . .but would she be angry enough? Rich people tended to be a little harsh in the actions stemmed from anger or offense. . .

Hoping fervently that she wasn't too offended, Gohan turned around, eyes still closed. He spoke once again in that neutral tone, though Videl could barely pick up a pleading note. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me." Gohan whispered.

He waited for her reply.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Goten looked up at his brother, confused. He temporarily forgot about the scary Devil lady standing in front of him, and inquired timidly, "Niichan? A-are you okay?" The little boy winced slightly as his brother only squeezed him harder in response. 'Well, as long as it makes niichan feel better. . .ow. . .'

Videl looked on the scene, unsure of what to say or think. Staring at Gohan's back, she went over what he had said. . .rather, screamed at her.

"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT RAISING GOTEN! YOU TRY DOING THAT WHEN BOTH YOUR PARENTS DIE BY THE TIME YOU'RE 10 YEARS OLD AND YOUR LITTLE BROTHER IS ONLY JUST BORN! AND THEN LIVING ALONE IN THE FOREST, HUNTING FOR YOUR OWN FOOD, STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE EACH DAY! UNLESS YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THAT, WHICH I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T AS HERCULE SEEMS VERY MUCH ALIVE, DON'T YOU *EVER* SAY *ANYTHING* LIKE THAT TO ME AGAIN!"

Was this why Gohan seemed so sad all the time, except when his brother was around?

*flashback*

Hugging Gohan fiercely, Goten looked up with sparkling eyes. "You're laughing! Niichan, you're actually laughing! Did I make you laugh? Huh huh huh?" Goten babbled excitedly.

Chuckling, Gohan ruffled his brother's hair. "Yes, Goten-chan, you did make me laugh. Thank you."

Goten giggled, flinging himself off his brother and dancing around, singing ridiculously, "I made niichan laa-ugh!! I made niichan laa-ugh!!"

*end flashback*

Surely after many years, Gohan had gotten over his parents death. After all, she had moved on quite peacefully since her mother's death. Well, minus the time she ran away for five days. . .

'Should I be angry? After all, he didn't have the right to yell like that, especially since I didn't know all that stuff about him. But. . .why did he react so strongly when I criticized him?' Videl mused, unknowingly repeating Gohan's previous thoughts.

Suddenly remembering something Erasa had mentioned, Videl felt a small bubble of. . .was it hope? Anger? Confusion? She couldn't tell. 'Does he. . .like me?'

Drawing herself out of her thoughts, Videl realized she must have been standing there for a while, for Gohan had turned back around and was staring at her. Most likely waiting for a response, no doubt.

"Uh. . ."

Now, two sets of coal black eyes were fixed on her, the intense stares making her feel like her eyes were being drilled through.

Gohan waited, somewhat impatiently as the girl seemed to go over some thoughts. How hard could it be to throw some poor jerk out of her home after yelling at her? Remembering exactly *what* he had shouted at her, Gohan flushed in anger at himself for revealing such a thing. To someone like a Satan, of all people.

"S-sorry about that. . ." The girl's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

Gohan blinked. She wasn't mad? But. . .

"I guess I shouldn't have said that. . .maybe Goten didn't lie. . .my dad says I sometimes overreact when it comes to unethical things." Videl smiled, hoping to lift any traces of tensions, scratching the back of her neck in a freakishly similar way to Goku's trademark gesture.

"Uh. . .yeah. . .and I'm sorry for yelling at you. . ." Gohan mumbled, still a little surprised. He eyed the girl suspiciously, expecting her to immediately take back her gentle response.

The awkward silence that followed was broken by a piping cheerful voice. "You're not mad? That's weird because most people we meet that are like you would most likely have thrown us out! I remember one time I took a teddy bear outside to show niichan, and the shopowner threw us out! And then another time I complained to this ticket guy, and he nearly broke a tooth shouting at me. And then. . .mmf!"

Gohan quickly covered his babbling brother's mouth.

Videl chuckled, glad of the boy's timely ramblings. At least the atmosphere didn't seem like it would light a fuse. . .

"Come on, Gohan. We were gonna go get a bite to eat, remember?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh wow!!" Goten squeaked in excitement as he dug into his bowl of rice. Videl watched in amusement as his arms seemed like a blur as they grappled for anything edible in reach.

"Someone's hungry. . ." She muttered. Then, glancing to Gohan, she thought to herself, 'and someone else is not.' for Gohan was just sitting in his chair, shirt back on, arms crossed, and the now familiar neutral expression back on his face.

'Wonder what's on his mind. . .'

Apparently, what was on Gohan's mind was a mixed jumble of feelings.

'This girl seems different. She's. . .nicer? No, that can't be. Ever since I got here, she hasn't once ceased her pushiness. But. . .why does she seem so different?' Not once did he sense an ounce of pity from her ever since his little outburst. Nor scorn for living that kind of life.

'But she's rich. . .' Gohan countered his earlier thoughts rather weakly. 'She doesn't know that kind of life. . .she wouldn't know what it feels like. So how could she act as if she understood?' Confusion swirled about in the teen mind. Years of prejudice and judgement were being clashed upon by this one girl. 'But why?'

"Erm. . .Gohan?" Came a shy inquiry.

Said person turned his head to Videl. "Yes?"

Videl glanced to Goten and back. Gohan understood her implication, but she went on and said it anyway. "Aren't you gonna eat? Your brother seems to be enjoying himself." Videl winced as bits of rice were scattered across the floor when Goten shoved the food into his mouth a little too enthusiastically.

"I'm not hungry." Which of course wasn't true, but Gohan had long ago sworn he would accept no help whatsoever from people like Videl. But she didn't seem like the others. . .Gohan gave a frustrated sigh. And back to the old topic again. Maybe he could eat just a little. . .

Videl didn't know why, but she found herself urging the boy to eat. "Come on, Gohan! I know that's a lie, and if your appetite's anything like Goten's, you might as well help me clear off this table." The housemaid had a tendency to go overboard when guests were over and cook more than necessary. That woman loved to cook.

Gohan shook his head, but his resolve was weakening. Finally, after more pestering from Videl, he relented and took a small bite of a chicken leg.

Videl smiled as Gohan seemed to perk up at the food and eat a bit faster. Maybe it was from pity. . .but she doubted that. But for whatever reason, Videl wanted to be Gohan's friend. Maybe she could slightly empathize with him since he knew the experience of losing a parent so young. She didn't know. But she found that any bit of hostility she had felt towards this homeless guy was slowly ebbing away. Of course, Erasa would just accuse her of having a crush. . .

~~Miles away, at the closest airport~~

"Woman, I don't see exactly why we had to come back here. We were doing fine where we were before! What the hell do we need with all these stupid changes?!"

"Oh shut it, you arrogant prick. It's been over five years since we've been here, especially since we didn't even visit. I want to see how Goku's doing anyway."

"Hn. Well, make it quick. . .because I'm itching to pound that good-for nothing baka into the ground."

"Honestly, is that your idea of a hello after several years? Ah, whatever, what am I talking about. Of course it is. Anyway, come on. The taxi's waiting."

"Besides, poppa, if he's good for nothing, how come you're so eager to fight with him again?"

"Brat, stay out of this."

A short man with spiky hair sticking straight up from a widow's peak could be visible among the mass of crowds, lugging several bags of luggage, followed by a beautiful blue haired lady and a small, purple haired little boy. All three were headed towards a huge moving van.

A cheerful smile broke out on the woman's face, eyes sparkling in anticipation. "Oh, Gohan's gonna be such a hunk by now!"

This was followed by indignant spluttering by her older companion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eep. So sorry this took a while, but I kinda lost my inspiration on this for a bit. Hehe, I bet everyone can guess who those three mystery people are. . .I didn't exactly make it a mystery. The way they act and talk, it's pretty obvious. Anyway, hope you enjoyed that chappie!