My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there
Gohan could see Capsule Corp. coming into view. It had seemed like years since Gohan had been to the place. Capsule Corp. seemed the same except for a few new additions. Gohan landed on the large front lawn. He then proceeded to the front door of the dome shaped building where Bulma and her family stayed. Gohan knocked on the door, which was immediately opened by a young boy with lavender colored hair. "Hi Gohan." the boy greeted.
"Hey Trunks. How are you?" Gohan asked.
"I'm ok. I'm better when dad isn't trying to spar me to death. Something about that I must always be stronger than Kakkarott's brat." Trunks said as he tried to sound like his father.
Sounds like Vegeta Gohan thought to himself.
"Who's here?" asked a voice from inside the house.
"It's Gohan, Dad." Trunks said as he rolled he eyes.
A man with spiky black hair then came to the door. When compared in size Gohan was taller, but looks are deceiving.
"What do you want baka?" Vegeta asked in a voice that would have scared most people away.
"Actually I need to talk to Bulma."
"Why?" Vegeta asked as he crossed his arms over his chest, blocking Gohan's path.
"I need her help to dig up some info on a friend of mine." Gohan replied.
"Why?"
"Because-"
"Vegeta will you lay off of it already! I swear to Kami every time someone comes to the door you have to question why they're here." said a bluish haired woman.
"Well excuse me woman for wanting to try and make sure some freaked insane psycho doesn't try to come and kill you and the brat." Vegeta replied.
"Vegeta, you're way to paranoid." Bulma said as she came to the front door.
"Humph, fine then don't come crying to me when some baka weirdo comes and beats you within an inch of you life. I'll be in the GR room. Don't bother me unless it's an absolute life or death situation."
"Or when supper is ready." Bulma added.
"That to." Vegeta replied.
With that Vegeta left dragging trunks by the collar behind him. Bulma finally turned to Gohan and smiled. "Sorry about that Gohan. I swear sometimes I wish I never would have fallen for that man."
"Yes you do." Gohan replied.
"Your right, I guess, but at times I wish I could beat him." Bulma said as she ground her fist into her open palm.
Gohan chuckled. "So what can I do for you? Must be something important if you didn't bring your brother along." Bulma said as she noticed that gotten wasn't with him.
"Well yes it is kind of important. You see I have a friend and I have a feeling that she's not telling me everything about a certain something." Gohan said.
"Oh, snooping into someone's private life without them knowing. I like it. Follow me." Bulma said as she motioned for Gohan to follow her.
Gohan closed the door and followed Bulma through a series of narrow hallways that turned every which way. Finally after fifteen minutes of walking in various directions Bulma came to a small white door, which was only code accessible. Bulma looked around her to make sure Gohan and her were the only one's in the hall. "Close your eyes." Bulma said.
Gohan obeyed and put his hands over his hands. Gohan could here some buttons being pushed and then a hissing sound. "Ok you can open them." Bulma said.
Bulma then walked through the door and Gohan had to duck slightly to through the door because of his height. Gohan stood up straight again only to be confronted by a large computer monitor the size of a movie theater screen. "What is this place?" Gohan asked as he looked around the gigantic room in awe.
"I'll tell you only if you promise not to tell another living soul." Bulma said as she looked up at Gohan.
"I promise." Gohan said.
"Ok. Well many people do not know this place and my father and I built this place years ago. What this machine basically does is give us any type of information on anyone on this entire planet. Human and alien alike."
"Wow."
"So who do you want to find the dirt on?" Bulma asked as she sat at the computer and turned it on.
"Well I need to find some background information on a friend of mine. Her name is Videl." Gohan said.
"Gohan could you maybe narrow it down a little bit." Bulma said.
"Oh, well she has short black hair, blue eyes. She's about 5'5". Oh and she lived in the Satan City suburbs." Gohan said.
"That's all? No last name?" Bulma asked.
"She never told me her last name." Gohan replied.
"Well ok guess this will have to do." Bulma said as she typed in the information that Gohan had given her.
She then pressed the search button. Thirty seconds later the computer came up with six matches. "Well this is it. You recognize any of them?" Bulma asked.
Gohan examined the faces of the six girls before pointing up at one. "That one, the third one down. That's Videl." Gohan said.
Bulma clicked on the image and a whole bunch of info popped up on the Videl that Gohan knew. "Whoa, her dad is Hercule Satan. Better watch out Gohan." Bulma said sarcastically.
"Yeah I better." Gohan replied as he frowned at the picture of Hercule Satan.
Bulma scrolled down to the very bottom to see the latest information on Videl. "Hmm, reportedly she's been missing for two years now. Her last known site was by her father who said that she left for an unknown reason. He also said that her boyfriend was the last one she was with other than him. Hmm." Bulma said as she began thinking.
Bulma scrolled down a little further and clicked on the picture of her boyfriend. A profile popped up of the longhaired, blonde, brown-eyed young man.
"Hmm, age 21. Current residence is Satan City. Last known girlfriend was Videl Satan a little over two years ago." Bulma said as she read aloud the info to Gohan.
Bulma clicked on an old newspaper article that was around the same time of Videl's absence. "Police interviewed Mr. Sharpner about Videl's last known whereabouts. Sharpner said that the night she came home he had been with a lady friend. Videl took things the wrong way and left in a raging fit. I'm sure." Bulma said.
Gohan thought about what he now knew. So Videl must have left because of Sharpner Gohan thought to himself.
He then thought about the last words that Videl had yelled rather than said to him. "I loved once, but I love no more."
Gohan then put two and two together. It was all clear to him now. He needed to speak with Videl right away. Gohan got up and ran for the door. "Wait Gohan, where are you going?" Bulma asked.
"I have to speak with Videl." Gohan answered.
"But don't you want more information?"
"No thanks Bulma. I owe you one." Gohan called before running out the door and down the hall.
Gohan ran in different directions down the hallways before finally reaching the front door. He opened it and ran out. He then jumped into the air. Gohan blasted off at full speed needing to get back home as quickly as possible. Gohan was there in record timing. He ran through the front door only to face a surprised Chichi and Goten. "Where's Videl?" Gohan asked frantically.
"She's in the back." Chichi said.
"Thanks." Gohan said.
He quickly ran back out the door and around the back of the house. When her reached the backyard Gohan spotted Videl sitting in the grass looking at the setting sun, her back tuned to Gohan. Gohan walked up behind Videl quietly for he didn't want to disturb her. Videl stared at setting sun before her. She was silently wishing that all parts of her life could be this peaceful and beautiful. She then had a feeling that someone was behind her. Videl turned around only to be looking up at Gohan. "Gohan what are you doing here?" Videl asked, as she was surprised to see Gohan standing here before her.
Gohan sat down in the grass next to Videl. He then looked from Videl up at the now starry sky, all the while a smile was present on his face. "Have you ever seen the starts so beautiful? You just stare up there can't help, but be memorized in the stars' beauty. I've always wondered though what goes on behind that beauty," Gohan said as he looked back down at Videl, "if something so beautiful exists then why do they hide themselves during the day. It's almost as if they're in doubt about something. Maybe that's why the stars only shine at night so that they can hide that doubt behind the blackened sky."
Videl looked at Gohan in confusion. "Gohan, what the hell are you talking about?" Videl asked.
Gohan, who was back looking up at the stars didn't answer Videl, but just continued. "It's almost like some people in the world. They put on a smile and you think everything is ok with them. However that person could be hiding their doubt behind that smile which is why they only smile while other are present. Any other time that person is caught in his or her own shadow of doubt. Some could be caught in the shadow of doubt of whether or not their life is worth living. Others in the shadow of doubt of whether it's worth taking someone else's life. Still there are others who are caught in that shadow of doubt to ever love again." Gohan said as he looked over at Videl.
Videl, who was confused about what Gohan was talking about, returned his gaze. "Gohan what the hell are you talking about?" Videl asked again.
"I'm talking about you Videl. I'm talking about you and the reason why you left your family and friends." Gohan said.
Videl felt shock wash over her. How did Gohan know? No one other than herself was supposed to know. "H-how did you know?" Videl said, still in shock.
"I have my ways. Why did you do it though? Was it because you were afraid to love again? To face your boyfriend again?" Gohan asked.
Videl felt hot, salty tears sting her eyes. "That is none of your business!" Videl answered angrily.
"Please Videl, let me help you. You need to move on. You can't let this type of thing get to you, if you do it will destroy you. Please tell me. I want to help you. Let me help you." Gohan pleaded.
"How the hell could you help me? He would you know? Have you ever had your heart used, played with and the stomped on like it was a toy? Have you ever loved someone and you thought they truly loved you, but everything you thought to be was only a big fat lie?" Videl asked angrily as she let her tears fall a little faster.
Gohan looked down at the ground. She was right. Gohan had never even been in love. Gohan didn't even no what love felt like. The only piece of advice on the subject tat Gohan had ever gotten on the subject was from his father before he had died. Gohan didn't know it at the time, but his father had known that he wouldn't see his son for a long time after that day. So to make up for that time when he would be gone Goku gave a then young Gohan all the advice on life that he could offer. Goku had said to Gohan to live everyday as if it were your last because you never know what tomorrow would bring. He had also said to never let anything get you down. One of the last things Goku had told his son was the night before the Cell Games. His father had come to say goodnight to Gohan. That was the night Gohan had given Gohan perhaps the most important advice of all. Goku had told Gohan when he got older that he would find someone special, someone that he would want to spend the rest of his life with. He said that when Gohan found that love that he should treat them right and never let them down. Most importantly though true love was a feeling that Gohan would experience once and that he was would never experience again with anyone else other than the person found. Gohan looked back up at Videl. Even if he had never loved before he was bound to help Videl move on with her life. "No, I have never been in love before."
"Well then how on Dende's green Earth could you help me?" Videl questioned as she wiped her tears away with her sleeve.
"Well if you told me about what happened and why you left I could help you move on." Gohan answered.
"What if I don't want your help?"
Gohan sighed. "Look, don't you want to try and move on with your life? Don't you want to forget the shadows of your past?"
Videl nodded her head slowly. "But I also don't want to feel the pain I did then and still do." Videl said.
"Well then forget that to. Forget everything that ever happened between you and your past. The only way I can help you through is if you let me by telling me what really happened." Gohan said.
Videl looked form Gohan up to the stars and back down to him. "I was a little over two years ago when I left. I didn't want to leave my family and friends, but I had to. Sharpner wouldn't quit bothering me. He kept insisting that he still loved me. I told him if you really loved someone then you wouldn't cheat on them. I left, but I didn't want to go to far. I wanted to stay close to Satan City. That's why I lived in poverty. To be able to still live near Satan City, but low enough were people would care more about where their next meal came from then who you were. My dad tried looking for me, but he looked in all the wrong places. He eventually gave up. I guess he figured that I left for a reason and that I would return someday if I wanted. As far as Sharpner and I go we met our sophomore year and were together shortly after that. Then our senior year we rented an apartment and lived together. Once night about a month after we graduated form Orange Star High School I came home early to surprise Sharpner. It ended up her surprised me. When I went back to the bedroom I found him and another girl together. After that I just couldn't take it. I ran. I've been alone ever since." Videl said.
"You know my dad told me once before he died that true love is something you experience once and you're sure you'll never experience again. Now when you were with that Sharpner guy did you feel like it was true love?" Gohan asked as he looked at Videl.
"How the hell am I supposed to remember that?" Videl asked.
"Just think." Gohan replied.
Videl groaned, but did as Gohan asked.
She tried to think back to when Sharpner and her first met. Sure she had fallen head over heels for the chiseled blonde haired boy. What girl in their school wouldn't have? Sharpner had taken a liking to Videl right away because not even a week after school started the star jock had asked Videl out. From then on they had been together and Videl thought it would never end. Sure she loved Sharpner. She even felt at times that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. However that was in the beginning. These feelings had drastically changed after Videl had put in the first month's rent into their new apartment. After a month of living with Sharpner she learned that he wasn't all he appeared to be in public. She'd found her savings jar broken into one day. Three days later she went into the bathroom and found used needles and medicine bottles hidden behind the toilet. Videl confronted Sharpner about it, but he grew angry and insisted it wasn't him. After that things seemed to go downhill. Videl still loved Sharpner somewhat, but not like she used to. She wanted to try and keep things together which was one of the reasons why she had taken off of work early that day to surprise Sharpner. However she learned the truth when she walked into the apartment. So had Videl truly loved Sharpner? "No I never really had that feeling, I guess." Videl answered.
"Do you regret leaving him?" Gohan asked.
"No, not really." Videl replied.
"Then why are you still living like you do?" Gohan asked.
Videl thought about Gohan's question. Why was she living like this? Well obviously because she did not want to ever experience the pain again, but she realized it was also keeping her form loving again. So am I ready to move on? Videl thought to herself. "Are you ready to move on Videl?" Gohan asked.
Was she? Yes, yes she was. "Yes I am." Videl answered as she smiled.
"Good, now are you ready to go back to your family and friends?" Gohan asked.
Was she? Yes she was. "Yes I am." Videl answered once more.
"When do you want to go?" Gohan asked.
"Tomorrow." Videl replied.
"Tomorrow it is." Gohan said smiling.
That night Videl couldn't sleep. She was to mixed up in emotions. She was excited about seeing her family and friends again, nervous too. She was also afraid of what her father might say or how he would react to her presence. She was more afraid though that Sharpner might show up if he found out that she had returned. The she was thankful. Thankful that Gohan would be there with her.
Morning came, with it the quarrels of big brother and little brother. Videl had gotten up at the same time as gotten. Goten, who was already full of energy at 7:30 in the morning decided to go wake his brother. "Hey Videl let's go wake Gohan up." Goten said excitedly.
Videl, who was still half asleep slowly, got up out of bed. "How about you do it, I'll watch." Videl managed to get out before letting a big yawn out.
That made gotten giggle. Goten then skipped down the hall all bright eyed while Videl followed him with her eyes dropped. So drooped to the point where one would think she was sleepwalking. Gohan was sleeping on a couch for the second night in a row. He had the pillow covering his head to block the morning sunlight. He also had no shirt on and Videl couldn't help but stare at him. "Shh." Goten put his finger over his lips, breaking Videl's gaze.
Videl nodded and couldn't help but smile at what gotten was about to do. Goten tip toed towards the end of the couch where Gohan's feet hung over. Goten climbed on the couch's armrest and stood up. He then jumped off the armrest and landed straight on Gohan's stomach. Gohan sat straight up. "GOTEN!" Gohan yelled as he looked down at his little brother.
"Morning Gohan!" Goten replied cheerfully.
"Get off, great Kami out of all the ways to be woken up. Next time you do that… oh Dende why me?" Gohan asked as he looked up at the ceiling.
Gohan then heard a giggle from behind him. He turned his head to see Videl only in one of his old t-shirts that he had let her borrow. He found himself looking at her longer then he would have. He shook his head and looked away not wanting to raise Videl's suspicion if he kept looking at her. "Uh, what time is it?" Gohan asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"A little after 7:30." Videl answered.
"Which means I need to get breakfast started so that you guys can get left." Chichi's said as she came down the hall.
"Morning." Everyone said in unison.
"Morning to you too." Chichi said.
Chichi then went to the kitchen to get breakfast started. Half an hour later two hungry saiyans inhaled their food, one female human ate her food at a normal human pace and the other female human stared in awe with her mouth gaped at the two saiyans. "Eat Videl. If you just stare at them they'll steal your food." Chichi said.
Videl only nodded. She forced herself to not look at the living vacuum cleaners and eat. After breakfast Videl took a shower inside while Gohan heated some water and took a bath outside. Thirty minutes later Gohan and Videl left. On the five hour drive back to Satan City the car was filled with talking as Gohan and Videl exchanged conversation. They talked most of the five hours. When they got into the city limits Videl told Gohan what streets to take to get to the Satan mansion. They arrived a short time later and Gohan pulled up to the front gate, which was locked. Videl rang the bell. "What do you want?" asked a man from the intercom.
"I want to see my father." Videl said.
"Ha nice try, but Videl has been gone for along time now."
"I am Videl!" Videl yelled.
"Yeah right."
"Why don't you come out and see for yourself." Videl said.
The guard came out and he stopped dead in his tracks at the site of Videl. "I'm so sorry Ms. Videl. I'll open the gates right away."
"Good." Videl said.
Seconds later the gates opened and Gohan drove through and up to the front door. Gohan and Videl got out of the car and went to the door. Videl rang the doorbell. The door opened and they stepped inside. From that first step onward both Videl and Gohan's lives would change forever. Was it for the better though?
And lead it back home
Wake me up inside
- Evanescence
