Okay. That wasn't very productive at all.
Taking off from Capsule Corp's gates, Gohan replayed what Trunks had
told him earlier....
"We were eating some ice cream and then suddenly this BIIIIIGGGG chocolate man came and he pushed nee-san to the ground! He said ,'Give me all your chocolate!" But we had none! So I got angry and I went Super and I kept hitting the BIIIIGGGGG chocolate man and-"
Gohan ceased listening after that. He should have known better than to ask Trunks or Goten any questions that were not direct enough for a plausible answer. Oh well.... guess he'll just have to wait till the girl tells them on her own. Speaking of the girl, he looked forward to finding out just how strong she was.
Delicate arms that betray their hidden strength kept a furious pace as they struck forward in fast and precise hits. A leg swipe here and a high kick there were executed occasionally, giving variation to the furious dance targeted at the much smaller frame. Goten dodged his way through the onslaught, trying to remember the past lessons one named Son Chi-Chi taught him. Suddenly a fist flew towards him even before he finished his jump, forcing him to block the blow. Smiling brightly, Chi-Chi backed away, satisfied at her son's obvious improvement. The sound of clapping interrupted her thoughts.
"Wow, that's was beautiful, Chi-Chi!" Videl cheered from the end of the clearing. Goten squealed loudly and tackled Videl as Chi-Chi followed closely behind, chuckling at the scene.
"Nee-san! When did ya get here?" Goten asked, sitting quite comfortably on Videl's stomach. Videl laughed a bit, causing Goten to bounce slightly from the vibrations, before pulling herself up and answering him.
"A few minutes ago, Goten. You were very good!" Videl of course knew just how good he can be; she still had the bruises to prove it.
"Come on Goten, go inside and clean up! I'll get lunch ready in a bit," Chi-Chi ordered. Goten immediately ran off to the circular house being the obedient son that he was. Videl dusted herself and stood, grinning at Chi-Chi with 'heroine worship' shining in her eyes. Chi-Chi saw this and couldn't help but feel flattered, no one ever looked at her like that before.
"Your form was so flawless, Chi-Chi! No wonder you were a Budokai finalist! And no wonder Goten's so good, you trained him! You really must be the strongest human woman on earth!" Videl exclaimed. She never really thought the older woman could still posses such skill and grace. Sure Videl could manipulate ki but in the basic of martial arts, she could still learn a whole lot from Chi-Chi.
Chi-Chi blushed at the compliment and lightly slapped Videl's shoulder, "Aw, don't say such things! I'm sure you're stronger with your ki training, don't look surprised, you can fly so that explains enough. Speaking of flying, where did you learn it from?"
Videl thought about the answer briefly before answering, "From Mr. Piccolo." Chi-Chi gasped.
"You actually trained under him? He let you? As in, taught you by himself??"
Videl nodded.
"Oh, I see. Well, that proves that you might be the strongest human female on the planet, knowing how that Namek works..." Chi-Chi honestly found it hard to believe Videl survived Piccolo's training... she knew for a fact he wouldn't settle with just teaching the girl how to fly. However the knowledge made her trust Vivi more. She wouldn't say it out loud but the Namek was wise and a good judge of character. Chi-Chi knew whoever Piccolo trusted, the rest of them could trust too.
Videl laughed nervously. "Anyway, I was wondering... um... Chi-Chi?"
"Yes?"
"Is t okay if I sparred with you? I mean, I won't use any ki attacks or anything but I really want to just brush up on my martial arts... if that's okay?" Videl asked timidly. Chi-Chi gave her a huge smile then and seemingly flowed into a fighting stance, her hands poised like snakes ready to strike. Videl followed suit and backed off a few steps before crouching into a stance of her own.
Videl observed Chi-Chi's tight stance. Perfect. No openings, stable, flexible, utterly impenetrable unless in combat. The fingers on Chi-Chi's hands were rigid and bunched together. Hmm, this showed that Chi-Chi would be using quick strikes to vulnerable areas. If Videl wasn't careful, even letting one hit through might cost her dearly. She wasn't finished analyzing her opponent when suddenly Chi-Chi blurred.
What the-?
To the right!!
Videl ducked just in time as Chi-Chi's strike cut through the air where her temple used to be. No time to think though as the hand retracted with lighting fast movement and shot out again, pushing the surprised Videl on the defensive. Seconds into the spar Videl had already learned a valuable lesson from Chi-Chi.
Never get caught off guard while analyzing your opponent.
Quickly setting into the rhythm, Videl retaliated with her own attack, pleased to see some of her hits get through. Although Chi-Chi could not be compared to the two demi-Saiyans she frequently sparred with, the wife of Son Goku was uniquely a challenge of her own. Without the aid of ki, Videl found that going against the woman with just her martial arts proved to be quite difficult. Chi-Chi's technique and defense was perfect; if she had the ability to harness her ki then Videl would surely be in trouble.
Suddenly Videl felt her left leg get kicked out from under her. Chi-Chi had executed a smart diversion hit that lured Videl into a counter stance that was unstable enough for Chi-Chi to take advantage of. Videl struggled to keep her balance but her form was disrupted a moment later by a well placed strike to her left shoulder that pushed her into her shikaku or dead corner. Falling back to the point where her balance could not be regained (unless she flew) Videl quickly bunched her body in and did a quick back roll back on her knees to narrowly avoid a low kick. If Chi-Chi was any faster, the kick would have surely scored a devastating hit to her jugular.
Videl winced slightly as she put some distance between her and Chi-Chi. That hit hurt. Maybe Chi-Chi was able to harness a bit of her ki, after all a fighter as experienced as her must be able to at least unconsciously pour ki into their attacks and defenses. Videl concentrated and found that her guess was correct. Chi-Chi gave out short bursts of ki when she attacked, effectively making the strikes faster and stronger. Mentally taking note of this, Videl renewed her assault pouring in her own ki to match Chi-Chi's.
'Wow, this girl is strong! And this is without using a ki boost?' Chi-Chi mused as she found herself being put on the defensive by Videl's sudden fury of punches and kicks. Videl didn't really have a definitive form, more like a medley of existing techniques that would do wonders in street fights. It was highly effective in the fact that it provided Videl with enough flashy moves to outsmart and surprise less skilled opponents but on the downside, it lacked the stability and basic foundations found in mastering a certain form. Chi-Chi was going to prove this.
"HYA!" The sharp and powerful kiai caught Videl off guard for a mere second. A second was all it took to find herself suddenly bombarded by a complex chain of attacks that kept on leaving her defenses open for the next hit. Even with her enhanced speed, Videl found herself with difficulty in reading the combinations of Chi-Chi's assault. Moving to block a hit, Videl would find it to be a decoy to force her to open her defenses somewhere else to which Chi-Chi would strike with frightening accuracy.
Before she even realized it, the wind was knocked out of Videl from a open palm strike to her chest. She was thrown back, tumbling a few times before stopping at a rest. Videl coughed and blinked.
"Whoa..."
Chi-Chi came over and held out a hand to which Videl was pulled up with. Chi-Chi gave Videl a scrutinizing look reminiscent of Piccolo when he was training her before giving her a smile.
"Do you understand where you weaknesses lie?" Chi-Chi said in such a neutral voice that even the most egoistic person in the universe wouldn't take the word 'weakness' as an insult. Videl thought a moment before nodding.
"I spent too much time thinking when I should just be relying on my instincts and reflexes. I've also have to work on keeping my body centered at all times so I won't be unbalanced and provide an opening."
"And...?" Chi-Chi prompted. Videl gave her a sheepish shrug.
"There's something else?"
"Have you mastered any special techniques?"
"I'm a black belt in a few forms..." She was not about to say that those forms were her father's Satan's Art of Kung Fu, Satan's Great Wrestling Technique and the Satan Form of Kickboxing .
"No, martial art forms that provide you with all the basics that you need, like the Kamesennin-ryu for example."
"Is that what you used against me?" Videl asked curiously. Whatever Chi-Chi hit her with was good.
Chi-Chi giggled, "Yes, some form of it. I adapted the technique to fit my abilities. Do you know any katas?"
"Yes, Mr. Piccolo taught me some, but they're for
opening my mind and relaxing my body in preparation for meditation."
Chi-Chi nodded. "That'll do, now follow my lead."
Videl quickly followed Chi-Chi's slow kata, wondering what it was for. Glancing every so often to correct her movements, Videl found her muscles relaxing and her mind emptying to a familiar state of consciousness that kept her highly alert yet absent at the same time. She listened intently though when Chi-Chi spoke, still moving in the fluid motion of the kata.
"The variety of moves you posses are admirable, Vivi. Against an opponent not mastering a specific fighting style it's all you need. However, like I shown you, if without your knowledge in ki you would have trouble in breaking the 'kata' of a particular fighting style. That, can only be done by breaking or countering it with another 'kata'."
"Kata? Isn't that just a form or pattern of movements used for warm ups and exercise?" Videl had never took the time to read deeply into any martial art she liked, preferring to just learn the techniques and be done with it. After all, it's not like she had the time to find a suitable teacher. And not to mention she found herself already stronger than any martial art instructor for the past years. Her pride kept her from humbling herself to learn the basics and soon she found herself satisfied with doing things her way. But now that she found herself with those she truly admired, she wondered why it was so easy to do whatever they said. If it was anyone else that beat her and then pointed out her mistakes Videl would surely had thrown a fit.
But now... she was Vivi wasn't she?
Vivi and Videl.
Vivi; spirited, respectful, polite, and cheerful.
Videl; arrogant, tempered, spoiled, and cold.
Question was.... who was she really?
Who does she want to be?
"Why, Vivi... the kata we're doing now is exactly the same movements I defeated you with." Chi-Chi pointed out cheerfully.
Videl's eyes widened as she paid more attention to her slow moves. Strike-strike-strike-low kick-strike-strike-high kick-.... Oh! It really was the attack that Chi-Chi used!! Chi-Chi slowly stopped and told Videl to continue on her own. After a few faulty tries, Videl finally got all the steps down perfectly.
"Faster," Chi-Chi commanded. Videl sped up her movements. "Faster," Chi-chi commanded again; Videl obeyed. Soon Videl was doing the kata in a blur, the grass beneath her worn out by the intensity. Chi-Chi clapped once and Videl slowed to a halt.
"Wonderful, now remember, to break a 'kata', you need to know a 'kata'. The chain can only be broken if you know where to break it. Fundamentally, almost all combination attacks share a common rhythm and pattern. When you master a few of them you'll be able to counter almost any other combos immediately. This is the basics that'll be crucial to you if you ever go against the most skilled of opponents. Understand?"
Videl nodded, filing the information away immediately. Chi-Chi grinned and rested her knuckles on her hips in her trademark stance.
"Great, now let's put the theory in to practice." With that Chi-Chi suddenly launched the attack at her.
Videl fumbled a bit at first but suddenly found herself able to see, recognizing, and countering the kicks and blows. She found herself doing the kata while blocking Chi-Chi's hits and returning her own. Soon, the rhythm sped up and Videl unconsciously pulled ki from within. Chi-Chi only had milliseconds to react before Videl's hands and feet blurred from sight. Dropping her offense and raising her defenses just in time, Videl's kicks and strikes connected solidly, hurling Chi-Chi a few meters across the clearing. Chi-Chi rolled back up with considerably bruised body but sporting a large grin none the less.
"Wonderful, dear! You did it!"
Videl blushed and gave Chi-Chi a beaming smile, "Thank you so much, Chi-Chi! Can you teach me more?"
"I doubt that anything else I teach you will be much use since you don't even need a boost of ki to be stronger than the majority of this planet! But I can teach you the complete art of my style of Kamesennin-ryu if you want."
"Yes! Yes! Please?" Who could resist her big blue eyes? Not Chi-Chi for sure.
"All right, all right. I can't believe it, my first student! But we'll have to continue some other time, I need to prepare lunch!"
"Thank you, Sensei!!" Videl bowed deeply as Chi-Chi laughed and waved a hand at her.
"No no, it's still Chi-Chi! No 'sensei' coming from you, you hear?"
"Yes, Chi-Chi!" Videl chirped.
"Good!" Chi-Chi straightening out her chinese dress before walking towards the house. "Now excuse me while I slave away at the kitchen!"
Videl moved to follow her, "I'll help, Chi-Chi!"
"Aren't you supposed to play with Gohan? Here he comes right now."
As if on cue, Gohan bounded out from the door and took one look at Videl and Chi-Chi, who were both quite battered and dirty, before a look of pure confusion made its way on his face. Videl and Chi-Chi looked at each other, finally noticing the dirt streaks all over their faces and clothes, before bursting out into laughter.
"What happened here?" Gohan asked after the laughing two stopped. They weren't.... in a fight were they???
"Your mother was sparring with me, Gohan! And she's going to teach me more later!" Videl happily informed the demi-Saiyan.
"Wh-what?? Mom, training you?? As in martial arts????" one can actually hear the the amount of question marks used in his voice. Gohan jerked his head at his mother who smiled at him.
"Hm? Why are you so surprised? She's the one that taught Goten martial arts too, you know..." Videl said slowly, wondering why Gohan had such a puzzled look on his face. Gohan didn't answer her but kept his gaze on his strict yet loving mother who was now grinning.
His mother taught Goten how to fight when he was studying? His mother who was against the whole fighting thing from the start?? Man.... his father's death must have really affected her....
No wonder Goten seemed so good at fighting. Sure Gohan taught what he could, but the short spars happened only once a month and that too if Gohan got a break from studying. After Vivi's arrival Goten got better and even learned to fly. Hmm... wonder if he or Trunks can go Super yet... highly unlikely though, he himself took harsh training in the RoSaT when he was 9 for it to happen....
"Now, now, Gohan. I want you to be careful with Vivi okay? I wouldn't like another repeat of last week, got it mister?" her tone turned into ice at the last moment and even Videl gulped.
"Yes, mother. I'll be careful," Gohan nodded nervously at his mother's glare. The glare soon turned into a dazzling smile as she disappeared into the house. Gohan let out his breath and turned to Videl.
"Well, still up for the spar?"
Videl smirked, "Bring it on. And oh, don't be too careful, Son Gohan, I would like a challenge."
Gohan grinned at her before floating up into the sky. "Come on, let's go somewhere further from the house, we can spar more freely there."
Videl followed him a few minutes till they reached the edge of a forest filled with rocky outcroppings. There, Gohan slid into a loose stance and regarded her coolly. "Power up to you maximum and give me all you got."
Videl didn't need to be told twice as she powered
up, a yell escaping her lungs. Soon she reached her maximum, the white
ki aura visible as she immediately fell into position. Gohan quickly compared
her ki to the Z-warriors and found she was actually close to Yamcha!
'Not bad...' he mused, 'not bad at all... the potential
is definitely there... more training and effort will get her to even the
ranks of Tien or Krillin...'
Not wasting another second, they both charged forward.
"No fair!!! I-just-can't-hit-you!!!"
Another yellow ki blast whizzed by Gohan as he absently dodged Videl's
attacks; every once in a while 'tapping' the holes in her defense. They
were both in the air, the landscape already too riddled with holes for
their liking. Videl gave out another grunt as she attempted to get Gohan
with a ki blast. Like all her previous attempts, Gohan just got out of
the way or hit it back at her. Soon she was panting furiously, her ki flickering
unable to keep up.
"I think that's enough for today, you did better than I expected!" Gohan cheerfully said as he and Videl landed (more appropriately, Videl dropped). Videl slumped to her knees, sweat pouring down her flushed face as she struggled to get her breath back. Opening a blue eye at Gohan she found him not even warmed up.
Pfft. Saiyans.
"Ugh...I can't keep my ki up..." she panted, "I keep on expelling more ki in blasts than I want to.... guess I need to practice more on control, eh?" she smiled tiredly at him. Gohan was a thoughtful a moment before grinning and helping her back on her feet. She slowly dusted herself off, feeling even more worn than any spar with Goten or Trunks. At least she wasn't trying to impress the little demi-Saiyans like she had been doing with Gohan. Ugh, she never pushed herself this hard before... well, unless when training with Piccolo who she knew would not think twice in hurting her.... badly.
"How about this. I've thought up a simple exercise you we can do to practice your control!"
Videl perked up immediately and beamed up at him, "Really?? When can we try?!"
Gohan rose up into the air, "After lunch! Mom should be finishing soon, why don't you clean up first?"
"Sure, that sounds great!" Videl replied as she followed
his suit, rising slowly. They both blasted the short time home, Videl considerably
slower than Gohan from the exhaustion. He noticed this of course and kept
an eye on her, ready to catch her if she fell. Soon the small white dome
was visible and they landed together, chatting pleasantly before making
their way in.
"Nee-san!!"
A orange blur jumped at her and Videl prepared for the impact, too tired to defend herself. She didn't need to though as Goten found himself suspended in air a feet from her, the back of his gi gripped by Gohan.
"Goten!" Gohan scolded lightly, "Vivi's exhausted so don't go jumping on her right now!"
Goten pouted cutely and Videl could help but pat the black head affectionately. "Sorry Goten, I'm also all dirty and smelly right now and you're all clean! Chi-chi would have a fit if I got you dirty again, you understand?" Goten nodded.
"Good," Videl smiled, "You can jump on me all you want after I get cleaned up okay?"
"Yay!!"
With that, Gohan let the young Saiyan go as they made their way to the kitchen. Chi-Chi was busy stirring, frying and cutting up dishes when they entered. Chi-Chi looked up and was pleased to see Videl unhurt (but she would be lying if she said she wasn't a bit miffed by the dirty tracks both Gohan and Videl leaving on the kitchen floor).
"Lunch will be ready in a few minutes, why don't you get cleaned up, Vivi?"
Videl fingered her dirty gi, "I would love that, you know where I can take a bath?"
"Gohan, show her the bathing house outside would you?" Chi-Chi told her she nimbly threw all the vegetables she cut into a boiling pot while at the same time tossing the fried rice from the pan unto a large serving dish. The teens quickly exited, not wanting to disturb Chi-Chi any further. Gohan showed Videl the bathhouse and how the plumbing worked before leaving her.
"Ahhhhh..." Videl sighed as she eased into the large tub. She was more spent than sore, though bruises were forming nicely where Chi-Chi and Gohan had hit her. Good thing her ki had buffered the light 'taps' Gohan made, or she was sure there'll be more than just bruising. It was in the solitude of the bathhouse where Videl suddenly felt giddy.
'I SPARRED WITH THE STRONGEST BEING IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!' she squealed mentally while scrubbing herself down. Never had she thought she would be trained under Piccolo Daimao, Son Chi-Chi, AND train with Son Gohan!! Two of those were aliens too!! Be a surrogate sister to Goten and Trunks! She rode upon a yellow cloud! She could fly and shoot ki! Who could she tell?! WHO WOULD BELIEVE HER?!?
Definitely not her father.
Whatever good feelings she had immediately died away.
"He wouldn't believe even if I told him, eh?" she whispered to herself. Pausing a while to stare at the soap suds swirling in the water she soon resumed her bath, pushing the thought far away.
A full stomach and in her extra pair of clean gi, Videl sat cross-legged before Gohan. She waited patiently for him to start though she admit she was getting quite restless. Patience was a trait previously not found in her, but after months with Piccolo she was getting the hang of it. Spending time with those that can snuff her out with a mere shout did wonders to her personality. Funny how those traits didn't follow her back in 'Videl's' life. She was still the same arrogant and spoiled brat in school and at home.
She couldn't help it. Maybe it was the people that made her that way.
The people that made Videl Satan's image. All strong and cool. She's the daughter of the savior!
She must be strong! She must be powerful! Because she's his daughter!
Aaaaaa, shut up! I'm thinking of myself in third person!
But I am, am I? I'm Vivi now. I'm strong, stronger than him. I don't need to be his daughter to be strong!
I'm strong on my own! My own sweat and blood! My sacrifices!
I'm Vivi now, I have no father.
I'm my own person.
On my own. I need no one.
Alone.
"Vivi? You listening?"
Videl snapped out of her reverie to see Gohan waving his hand in front of her. "Ah-ah! Sorry about that, I was thinking of something!" Gohan frowned. What ever it was, it must be something bad, he never seen such a lost look on a person before...
"Anyway, I was saying about this exercise you need to work your control and sensitivity."
Videl suddenly shuddered at a memory where Piccolo trained her in flying. He had weighted her clothes to a point where she couldn't move and threw her into a lake telling her that all she need was to 'fly' out with her ki alone. She was a few seconds short of drowning if it wasn't for the desperate burst of ki at the last possible moment. But at least it helped her master flying much quicker than imagined. She hoped Gohan wasn't as ruthless a mentor as Piccolo.
"Now, here's what we'll do. We'll play a game."
"A game?"
"I'm going to form a small ki ball, the size of my fist. Now I'm going to push it forward to you with my palm and you're going to have to use your own ki to keep it suspended between my palm and yours. I'll be moving the ball to whatever direction I want and you'll have to keep the ball from going past you and hitting you, understand?"
"Um.... a bit.... can you just show me?"
Gohan nodded and quickly formed a bright yellow ball in his hand. "Now put your palm up and push your ki slightly till the ball is centered equally between our palms." Videl did so as Gohan turned his palm facing her. The ki ball went forward to stop in the space between them. Videl adjusted her ki a few times to get the ball centered correctly, synchronizing her outgoing ki with Gohan's. That in itself was hard! Now the bright sphere rested smack in the middle a foot from Gohan's palm and a foot from Videl's.
"Good, now our ki is focused solely in our palms and equal. I will start moving the ki ball around and you'll have to follow my lead to keep the ball from going past your palm and hitting you. I'll be fluxing my ki so you'll have to quickly adjust each time, got that?"
Videl nodded. Okay, that's not too hard, she'll just have to keep her palm and ki aligned with his, right? Wrong.
Gohan immediately moved his palm to the right, giving the ball a push. Videl didn't have time to adjust before the ball whizzed past her outstretched arm and smacked right in her face. It felt like being hit with a electric fly swatter.
"Ack! Sorry! Guess I should have counted or something!! Are you all right?" Gohan asked worriedly, Videl was looking quite dazed. She rubbed her numb face a moment before smirking at him. This was going to be fun!
"I'm okay! Again, please!!"
Gohan formed the ball again and Videl aligned. He counted this time and started moving more slowly. Videl was able to follow his movements a few times before he suddenly shifted the ball down. It hit her in the shin.
"Oooh! I'm going to get it next time!" Videl stomped her foot, "Again!!"
They started again, this time Gohan was feeling quite playful and kept quickly shifting the directions quickly. Videl struggled to keep up, yelping and grunting to keep the ball from hitting her again. A quick bluff to the right ended up to her loss as the ball zapped her again.
"Grrrrr..." she growled as she kept her arm up, waiting for him to continue. Gohan laughed lightly and complied.
After a few minutes (and many slight burns) later, Videl finally understood what Gohan meant by sensitivity. Whenever he moved the ball, the pressure of ki would change slightly, enabling her to guess the direction more accurately than by sight as she had been doing. Getting this, she started lasting longer and even gave out a burst of ki of her own, surprising Gohan and managing to singe his gi slightly.
"Ha!! Take that!!" Videl cheered, happy to get him with his own ki ball. Gohan stared at the girl a moment before smirking widely. Wow, she sure had spunk!
"Oh yeah? Guess I'll take it up a notch then!" he said as he stood up and backed away, forming a larger ki ball.
"Bring it on!!" Videl replied, mirroring his movements.
'Ahhh, the wonders of young love,' Chi-Chi sighed at the various sounds of painful yelping and shouts.
"Hah! You thought I couldn't follow that dumb pose of yours, eh Gohan?"
"How was I supposed to know you would really follow all my hand movements?"
"Next time I'll get you again! I almost got you a few times but you're too fast!!"
"Hehe, would you want me to tie my feet up next time?"
"What use is that? You can fly!"
"Precisely!"
The two teens tumbled into the living room laughing loudly. Videl was pretty singed but content anyway. Suddenly she felt a slight change in ki pressure to her left and readied herself just in time to catch a flying Goten. Wow, even one exercise with Gohan already honed her sensing skills tremendously.
"Weeee!!" Goten squealed as Videl swung him around as fast as she could before flinging him at an unsuspecting Gohan. Goten flipped and rebounded off of Gohan's chest back into Videl's arms with a loud 'SMACK!'.
"Ow." Gohan whimpered at the the laughing Videl and Goten. "Hey, that really did hurt!"
"We got you, nii-san!!!" Goten sing-songed.
Videl joined in, "Yeah!! You should have been more alert!! We got him good eh Goten?"
"Yeah!! Haha! We got nii-san!!!!"
"We got him!!"
And then together, "COOL!"
"All right, if that's how you two want to play..." Gohan growled playfully before tackling the two to the wooden floor and launched a tickle attack. Videl and Goten squealed and ganged on Gohan. Soon it was an all out war as Videl struggled to pin Gohan down as Goten went for his ticklish spots. The loud screams and laughter attracted Chi-Chi and in a blink she got hold of a camera. The oblivious three were a tangle of limbs, still going for each other's sensitive spots. Some where along the line Gohan ended up on the ground with Goten in a lock while Videl sat on his back with his head in a lock. It was just too cute to miss.
"SMILE everyone!!"
Gohan, Goten and Videl shot their faces up to the camera and gave it their biggest, brightest grin. After the bright flash ended, everyone broke out into laughter. The small white house nestled between lush forests and towering mountains might not be impressive to anyone in its solitude; but to the current four of its inhabitants, its the best place they would want to be.
"Daddy, can I come to your special class? I heard you are actually going to teach tomorrow."
"Wh-what?" sputtered Mr. Satan.
Videl remembered how a few years ago her father had ceased training her after she got her black-belts in the various forms of Satan Arts. He claimed he had nothing left to teach her and she left it at that. Well, lately with the discovery of her father's lie, she felt the increasing urge to show him his place with every praise that he received for the Cell Games. Maybe seeing how strong she was could prompt him to...aw, who's she kidding? Videl just wanted to humiliate him a bit. It'll be great venting some of her suppressed anger.
"You heard me," Videl folded her arms, "I want to watch you teach."
"Why so sudden the interest honey?" Strange, Videl never asked to see him train after he told her that he had taught her all there was to teach.
Videl frowned; was he stalling? "I never saw you fight or train for years, daddy. I just want to know how far I am from you now."
"Does it really matter? You're the strongest in the world after me!"
In a admirable show of self-control, Videl kept a straight face, "I know but I want to see how strong you are. You are the strongest man in the world after all."
"Bwahahaha! YEAH! I am!" Mr. Satan stood up and burst into arrogant laughter. Videl smiled smugly, she knew which buttons to push.
"So, I can come tomorrow?"
"Of course sweat pea! You'll get to see how strong your daddy is!!"
"That's great, daddy!"
Oooohhh, she was sooooo going to beat him up.
Mr. Satan's 'special class' consisted about twenty students that ranged from her age to thirty. They were pretty good compared to average human but still no where even close to Videl. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when she entered the huge dojo located in the west wing of the mansion where she would train when empty. The students were taught martial arts by various instructors that Mr. Satan personally trained. It was rare that he himself would come to class so everyone was pretty excited.
"I'm in hell...." Videl muttered as the whole dojo
erupted into cheers when her father made his usual appearance. They literally
fell to their knees when he took his place on the mat.
It was sickening to see how much they worshipped the false hero.
Videl could only roll her eyes.
After a 'short' speech, Mr. Satan immediately showed off some of his flashier techniques, gaining great responses to his Satan Miracle Punch and Satan Special Kick combos. For someone without the knowledge of ki, her father was actually a pretty good fighter. He would do better without the ton of unnecessary moves though.
Soon came demonstration time where Mr. Satan would be fighting the various people that challenged him. Tightening the belt of her gi in habit, Videl stood up before anyone else could. She would like to go at him when he's still fresh.
"I challenge you, father," she said while pointing a delicate finger at her surprised father. He seemed a bit worried at first but then he started noticing the faces of expectant students and instructors.
"Why, um, all right, Videl. Come up!"
Videl smirked and stepped on to the blue mat, bowing deeply before her father. She decided to push her ki as low as it will go, fighting him with her physical strength and martial art knowledge alone like when she sparred with Chi-Chi. After all, she still cared enough to not utterly pulverize him. She understood that complications will arise if she did take him down with one hit. She'll make it seem like he put up a decent fight so the audience won't be too surprised.
Someone at the back started chanting Mr. Satan's name and soon the whole dojo was echoing with 'Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan!'. Videl noticed none of this as she slipped into a battle mode where she was only aware of her opponent and the area around them. Her father's blue eyes hardened as he slipped into a stance (where she noticed amusedly that it was quite good) and she followed.
"I'll go easy on you, " her father whispered. Videl started to protest but he cut her off with a kiai, "HEYAAAHH!!"
"Oooohh!!" went the crowd.
His kick was half-hearted and painfully slow for even him. Videl felt insulted that her father would think he needed to lower his power that much for her. She clenched her teeth and blocked his kick effortlessly, not bothering to dodge. Mr. Satan's eyes widened a second before he smiled. Backing off he studied his daughter; her stance was relaxed yet absolutely stable. If he had bothered to train more than watching his tournament videos or going on tours he would notice that her stance portrayed just how better she was from him.
"You're stronger than I thought, sweat pea."
"Go all out, daddy. You'll regret it if you don't." They way her eyes darkened made Mr. Satan stop in his tracks. His little Videl looking so mean and threatening him??
"Are you sure, honey?"
"Yes, daddy..." she hissed. The look on his face was so clue less; he was honestly wondering why she would want him to go all out on her, believing she wasn't stronger than him. Deciding she would just have to prove it to the stubborn man, Videl dashed forward in a speed she thought was decent. The keyword being 'thought'.
Mr. Satan barely had time to put up his arms to block the punch when his daughter seemed to blur and appear just inches from him. Soon, he found himself receiving hits as the majority of her blows penetrated his defense. Videl was throwing kicks and punches almost lazily, feeling that her father moved in slow motion. Too easy, way too easy. Just how strong has she got? Then one of her stronger hits got through and landed solidly in his gut. There was a rush of air from Mr. Satan before he flew back right off the mat and hit the fall wall.
The dojo was eerily silent as the spectators gaped openly at their fallen hero.
Videl watched as her father stood up quite slowly, feeling confidant he would acknowledge her strength and-
"HAHAHA!! That's was quite a punch, eh? But of course, I would never hit my own daughter!" Mr. Satan laughed as he stuck a pose despite the sharp pains in his gut. He was giving out cold sweat but luckily no one noticed.
She froze. What? They can't possibly buy that-
"Oh! Mr. Satan is such a noble man! He refused to fight back!"
"He loves his daughter so much!"
"Mr. Satan is so great!!"
"Letting his daughter win!"
Without another word, Videl turned around and stomped out of the dojo, out of the house, and into the sky.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
The frustrated yell echoed through the canyons as Videl crouched with her white aura blazing around her. She blasted full speed for a an hour west of Satan City to the endless canyons bordering Central Capital. There she crashed landed on the rocky hills, forming a nice crater, wanting to feel the pain.
She had to get away from there, away from her father because she nearly couldn't control it.
The moment she realized her father would go so low as to claim he went easy on her to find and excuse for his loss she felt something snap.
She wanted to punch him so hard that his all the bones in his face broke.
She wanted to blast him, burn him, asking if he still believed they were tricks.
She wanted to hurt him so bad that no one can deny that she was the superior fighter.
She wanted to kill him.
Kill him because he would defend his image to the death even if it meant lying every single time.
Oh, Kami.... what kind of daughter was she?
She needed to get this anger out, this hate.... she need.....
Videl shot up and sent out a fury of punches and kicks that were anything but graceful. Each blow was rough, ragged, punctuated with a coarse yell as she punished herself, throwing everything behind the hits. Her tendons and muscles pulled painfully as she kept her furious pace, eventually ending up destroying small hills and pulverizing cliffs.
Damn it damn it damn it!!!
Angry tears leaked out from narrowed eyes as she beat away at the rocks and herself.
Not enough, still not enough, need to hurt. To bleed. To get this all out.
She gave out another anguished scream as she pushed her ki higher than she ever reached. Hoping that a particular someone noticed. She had succeeded when a few minutes after a flash of green and white made itself known in the corner of her eye. Stopping her rampage she turned fully to her mentor.
Piccolo took one look at her tear streaked face and the destruction around, not to mention the noticeable increase in her ki. "What's wrong, girl?"
She merely bowed before blasting toward him. "Fight me. Please."
Piccolo's eyes widened as she came at him fully, an almost primal look in her eyes. Tears were still streaming out but it seemed to do nothing to hinder her vision as she struck him again and again with deadly accuracy. He went in defense mode as he ponder just what made his current student so distressed. She hit him with all she got and he noticed that she didn't care that it hurt her more than him. When he didn't fight back, Videl snarled furiously.
"Fight me. FIGHT ME!" She sent a volley of ki blasts at him to which he avoided lazily. He didn't realize until too late though that she had managed to control them and got hit when the blasts made a sharp U-turn and struck him squarely in the back. He actually felt them burn quite a bit but was unharmed, his cape now missing more than half its length. She didn't stop though and attacked him again.
"What is wrong with you, girl?" Piccolo asked again, blocking her desperate blows absently. Videl's expression suddenly turned psychotic as it seemed something broke whatever little restraint she had. The life in her blue eyes were gone completely and showed nothing but anger and grief.
"HIT ME DAMN YOU!!" Her aura blazed incredibly and she managed to graze his chin with a bloody fist. Her knuckles were bleeding badly from the ferocity of her attack on him and the canyon. Piccolo's eyes narrowed, knowing that if he didn't stop this, she would hurt herself even more. Phasing behind Videl, he deftly hit her behind the neck. She gave out a choking gasp before falling to the ground, unconscious.
Piccolo regarded her fallen form with as much worry he could muster. It was obvious she wanted to vent out anger, but at who? Herself probably, seeing how she pushed herself earlier. He walked a few ways from her and sat down cross-legged, slipping into meditation until she would wake up. It was about 15 minutes later that Videl groaned and pushed herself up. Briefly collecting her thoughts, she snapped he head in his direction. Piccolo kept his eyes closed and made no indication he acknowledged her, but Videl knew better.
"I'm.... sorry...." she whispered, feeling embarrassed that she lost control like that. It was happening more frequently lately, well, for the last few years since she started puberty. Damn these hormonal unbalances...
"What for?" Came Piccolo's voice, surprising her a bit since she didn't expect him to answer. He knew she was apologizing for her actions earlier but asking her directly always got a full explanation out from her. But not this time.
"For my outburst... I.... I lost control." she answered while averting her eyes. Piccolo waited but Videl said nothing more. He stood up and approached her, cursing Gohan for introducing him to these petty human emotions.
"The reason?"
"............." Videl held up her hands and studied her split knuckles. The pain had lessened into dull throbbing although the blood had yet to clot completely. She remained silent a few more seconds before speaking lowly and hesitantly. Piccolo with his Namekian traits caught her voice even with the roaring of the winds through the canyon.
"Am I a bad person, Mr. Piccolo?"
"What?"
"I was so angry at him, at my father. I.... I challenged him today to a fight, you know..."
'Don't tell me she killed him....' Piccolo thought in alarm, '...well I don't really care about the fool in general but still... he is her father...'
"I won... obviously," she continued, not noticing Piccolo giving out a relieved breath, "but he... he... argh. I guess I was expecting it when he came up with the excuse that he wouldn't fight back at me when in fact he couldn't," she grumbled the last part out. "and all those watching agreed with him, saying things like... like... like how great he was for going easy on his daughter! I wanted so bad to pummel him but I knew that that would just make me look bad and him good. Argh... I was so angry..... I...." she paused, her expression turning awfully guilty.
Piccolo waited patiently for her to continue. Understanding to some degree for her sudden outburst.
"I.... oh.... I wanted to kill him Mr. Piccolo..... my own father!" her voice cracked up as she cupped her hands to her face, trying to shield the coming tears from the tall Namek. "I was so angry! I wanted to just blast him, strangle him, oh Kami.... what.... what kind of daughter am I??" she sobbed, falling to her knees on the dusty ground. Piccolo watched as she quietly sobbed, conscious to keep him from seeing her face.
"But you didn't, right?" He spoke up after some time. Videl wiped her tears off suddenly and turned her tear streaked face up at him, hurt evident in her eyes.
"Of course I didn't!!" she shouted. No matter how angry or pissed, she knew she would never, ever harm her father to such extent. "I would never hurt him let alone kill him!!"
"Then that's all that matters."
With that Piccolo took off, not waiting to see what effect his words had on the girl. He knew she was strong and he knew she would be fine. The matter was something she would have to solve on her own. Returning to the Lookout he quickly dimissed anymore thought on the matter. Videl kept her eyes on the spot Piccolo had been, her mind feeling much, much lighter. Oddly enough, her mentor's careless attempt at comforting her did comfort her.
Piccolo was right. Everyone had their dark thoughts and urges but what really mattered was if they acted upon it. Videl could deal with it, this was just another hurdle she would cross in the great marathon of life. What she thought about him really wasn't his fault; it was entirely her own choice that she ended up which so much suppressed fury and anger. Of course the emotions were still burning strong in her, but at least she identified the problem and could begin to solve it.
She suddenly felt very tired, completely spent, painfully aware of every ache in her body. She had pulled too many muscles and tendons, bruised too many flesh, and yet again mutilated her hands. Videl leaned backwards and fell back unto the earth ignoring the sharp rocks that pierced her skin. She stared up at the blue sky, watching the soft clouds drift by.
She just laid there for what seemed like an eternity.
Open eyed and staring.
Watching the world spin, going on, existing.
Without her.
She would never find the courage to directly ask her father would she? She knew the answer yet why did she fear him confirming it? Yes. Fear. She was all of a sudden enlightened to this feeling yet she felt no surprise.... like she knew all along only that she didn't think it out loud. Videl Satan was still in her somewhere. The small, tomboyish, girl that sincerely believed her father to be the strongest in the world. Especially when he would pick her up so easily and spin her around.
Daddy was so strong!
Daddy was the strongest!
Videl laughed. The hollow sound echoing through the crevices and sending chills even down the her own spine. Insane. She finally snapped, didn't she? The thought caused her to laugh louder, choking, clutching her stomach causing her body to shake all over. The harsh ground scraped painfully against her but she didn't notice, still laughing uncontrollably. Blood tainted her gi but she cared less even if it soaked it.
A joke. A cosmic joke.
Her life.
She didn't even remember what she was laughing about anymore, only that she had stopped laughing and started crying at a point. Exhausted both physically and mentally, Videl cried herself to sleep. Curled up alone in the rock littered red canyon, one would mistake her for a corpse.
The first thing Gohan felt was panic when Piccolo
suddenly scrunched up his face and peered down into the clouds. You don't
really get much reaction on the Namek's face, but when you do, it usually
means something was very, very wrong.
"What's wrong, Piccolo?" he asked slowly. Gohan
doesn't frequently visit the Lookout but today was one of those sunny days
and he just felt compelled to visit his former mentor and close friend.
He and Dende had chatted pleasantly, sharing jokes and laughing together
when they both felt a slight shift. Shift? He could only think up that
word to describe the feeling. Glancing over to Piccolo he had found him
out of meditation and deep in thought.
"Nothing important, don't follow me." was all the Namekian said before plunging down. Gohan and Dende looked at each other, worry etched on their faces. Nothing important? Nothing important enough for Piccolo to leave in a hurry? Gohan knew it was impolite to ask Dende to 'spy' but really, if this was another threat to the world...
"Dende, know what's going on?"
Dende walked over to the edge and peered down much like how Piccolo did. He remained silent a moment before turning back to Gohan. "Curious, the ki spike we felt earlier belonged to a girl. In fact Piccolo's talking with her now."
"Vivi?" Gohan whispered to himself. Her ki wasn't large enough to be felt up here, but he knew the Nameks were better in sensing ki than any of them. The weird feeling earlier, that was Vivi? Had something bad happened? But Piccolo was there and he asked specifically for him not to follow. He would of course follow his former mentor's wish. But then... why would Piccolo care for Vivi?
"Who?" Dende questioned.
"A girl, she's friends with Goten."
"What's Piccolo doing with a human girl?"
"Don't ask me. She has great potential though, you should meet her."
"You know about how humans aren't allowed up here," Dende noticed the look Gohan gave him, "save for the few that have 'defenders of the Earth' written under their resume."
Gohan cracked a smile at Dende's joke, "You should meet Vivi none-the-less."
"I guess I should seeing how Piccolo is showing more attention to the girl than he would normally anyone else...." Dende paused before continuing, "...save for you Gohan." Gohan kept his smile.
"Let's just hope he isn't training her to fight rampaging Saiyans or anything."
Gohan and Dende's conversation was cut short when they felt another sudden ki spike (for Gohan it was yet another weird feeling that something shifted). Dende again concentrated briefly before looking up at Gohan with wide eyes.
"She seemed to have attacked Piccolo and he just knocked her out!"
"WHAT?!?!"
It took all his willpower not to blast down and see what happened, but he trusted Piccolo. Whatever he did must have a good reason to it. But still that didn't mean he wasn't allowed to worry like heck.
"Why would he do that?! What's happening now, Dende??"
"Ah, he seems to be meditating, waiting for her to wake up."
Gohan furrowed his brows in confusion but said nothing else. The two teens slowly shrugged after a moment and sat down. The would ask Piccolo when it returned. He did return quite a while later and they couldn't really tell what had happened with his face in its usual frown. Gohan stood up immediately and gave Piccolo a worried look.
"Is she okay?" he asked. Piccolo didn't seem surprised he knew it was about Vivi and just settled for a simple "Yes."
"Um... I um.... I don't want to pry or anything... but.... why did you knock her out? And why did you go to her alone?"
Piccolo gave Gohan an unnerving stare and Gohan immediately regretted asking. "It's none of your concern, kid," Piccolo replied gruffly before settling into meditation. Gohan scratched the back of his head sheepishly before deciding it was time to leave. Saying good-bye to Dende he was about to jump off when Piccolo's voice stopped him.
"You better pick her up, she fell asleep. You'll find her in the Mango Canyon near Central's southeast border."
Gohan merely nodded before blasting off to the location. When he got there and got a good look at the scene, disturbed was an understatement to how he felt.
Videl opened her eyes to a white ceiling, feeling oddly safe and warm. A soft blanket was tucked all the way under her chin and she wondered if the whole incident in with her father and the canyon was just a dream. She moved slightly and the aches made themselves known. Ah, so it wasn't a dream after all. No one could have such luck.
Wincing as she sat up, she took a dazed look around her. She was in what seemed to be a guest room, as it was bare from anything personal. Videl wondered how she got there before the door to her right opened to reveal Chi-Chi carrying a tray of soup. Videl blinked at her confusedly before the realization hit her. She was at the Son's house! How-how-how did she get there??
"Ah! You're awake dear!" Chi-Chi's cheerful smile then turned into concern, "What happened to you, you gave me a heart attack seeing you all dirty and beat up."
Videl averted her eyes as Chi-Chi placed the delicious smelling soup next to a night stand beside the bed. "Well..... that.... um....."
Chi-Chi sat down in the wooden chair facing Videl. From what Gohan told her, the wounds were mostly self inflicted as one wouldn't get such injuries from fighting. Her knuckles were painfully split open and Chi-Chi had flinched at the sight of them. What had happened?
"You don't have to tell if you don't want to," Chi-Chi whispered affectionately, "but I'll be here if you ever want to."
Videl smiled at Chi-Chi wanting to tell her everything then but knew she would never find the courage to tell her anything yet. "Thank you Chi-Chi, I'll always remember that." She then turned to sniff at the soup. "That smells delicious, I'm practically drooling!"
Videl reached a hand out to pick up the bowl and found both her hands tightly bandaged. In fact, a lot of her was bandaged or patched up and she wasn't in her yellow gi anymore. She was just wearing the oversized T-shirt she wore underneath her gi. Shrugging mentally she just couldn't resist any longer and picked up the bowl carefully with her hands. Chi-Chi looked particularly proud when Videl showed how much she enjoyed the soup. After it was empty, Chi-Chi prepared to clear it away. She stopped though when Videl spoke up.
"How did I get here?" the raven hair girl asked slowly.
"Gohan brought you here. He said Piccolo told him where to get you...." Chi-Chi answered, leaving the end open as if expecting Videl to answer some unspoken question. Videl noticed this but ignored it.
"Oh." Was all she said. Chi-Chi frowned slightly and suddenly the image of twin wet trails on Videl's dirty face popped into her head. She had been crying, hurting herself it seems.... but why?
"Are you okay, Vivi?" her eyebrows lowering in worry. "Really okay?"
Videl looked at her straight in the eye then, her big blues wide and glistening. For a single moment Chi-Chi thought she was going to open up, to tell the truth but Videl just lowered her gaze slowly and nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Chi-Chi didn't believe it for one second but nodded anyway and patted Videl's head comfortingly. "Okay, just remember I'll always be here if you want to talk." Videl smiled brightly at her and watched the older woman make her way out with the tray.
Her smile quickly fell when Chi-Chi opened the door to reveal Gohan. Chi-chi exchanged whispers with him that she couldn't hear; she hoped desperately he wouldn't come in and talk to her. She knew that he was a bit suspicious about her since the wallet incident and now.... well, frankly she just didn't want to seem so helpless and weak. So... so....
pathetic.
She was just so terribly pathetic at the moment.
After silently conversing with his mother, Gohan stepped in and closed the door behind him. Videl slightly cringed at the grim look on his face and unconsciously tighten the blankets around her. He seemed to sense her distress and smiled gently as he sat down in the chair Chi-Chi was sitting in earlier. They stayed that way for a while before Gohan sighed loudly.
"Goten's worried sick about you. I had to keep him from seeing you earlier."
"Go.... ten?" she whispered worriedly. Oh, the boy must be so worried... what was she thinking? Oh yeah... she wasn't.
"I don't know what troubles you have, Vivi. And I won't demand to know them but understand that we're all worried for you..." he paused and ran a calloused hand through his hair. "You have your secrets and I respect that... but please if it's not too much to ask of you..."
He looked up and stared into her wide eyes, "Please don't make us worry like this again. Will you?"
Videl's lip slightly trembled as her eyes watered again at the look in Gohan's eyes. She nodded slowly as a single tear made it's way down. "Y-yes I can. I'm so sorry for all of this...."
Gohan kept his gaze on her, wondering why it pained him so much to see her all broken and crying. Before he knew it, he reached out a hand and wiped the tear away. Videl looked up back at him and he smiled at her.
"Rest for now, do you need to call your parents? It's best you stay until tomorrow," he stood up and looked down at her. Videl bit her lip and shook her head slowly. Her father had gotten used to her disappearing on weekends, he wouldn't notice.
"My father already knows I wouldn't be home..." she trailed off and looked out the window at the setting sun. "He already knows...."
Gohan stood there frowning at the image of her sitting there looking so sad and couldn't help but sigh again. "All right then.... Vivi?"
She looked back at him as he opened the door and stepped outside.
"Smile okay?" he grinned.
Videl blinked at his request but soon gave him a dazzling smile. Gohan winked at her before closing the door behind him She kept her eyes on the closed door and couldn't help but feel warm inside. They really did care about her didn't they?
Will they still do when they find out she's been lying to them the whole time?
Videl closed he eyes and shook her head. That's just like her.... always jumping into things she couldn't handle later. What would she do? Piccolo said they wouldn't care..... but then Piccolo was Piccolo. Everything was so nice now, they don't really need to know who she was right?
Right?
'Who am I kidding?' Videl thought. 'I'm so going to pay for my actions.... you were too cocky Videl, thinking that you can handle daddy's guilt.... but now.... you'll going to end up hurting more than just yourself.'
Yes. When the time comes.... she'll end up hurting those dear to her.
Videl spent the night and left after breakfast. She again apologized to the Sons but they just waved her off saying that they didn't mind at all. Chi-Chi particularly didn't mind, secretly hoping Videl and Gohan spent more time together not to mention she always wanted another female in the house. Videl had gotten up early and helped with breakfast as much as she can; Chi-Chi would always smile at the memory of a flour covered Videl when she accidentally dropped the bag because of her stiff hands.
Videl rode Nimbus home, not really feeling like flying with her aching limbs and still exhausted ki. Landing at a deserted clearing, she walked the rest way home. People turned heads at the sight of her in her dirty gi and bandages but she quickly got rid of their stare with a quick growl. Finally reaching the gates she nodded at the gate keeper who quickly let her in. Before she even got her hands around the handles of the grand entrance Mr. Satan had already opened it and grabbed her.
"OH MY PUMPKIN!! I WAS SO WORRIED!!!"
"ACK!!"
He engulfed her in a giant bear hug and dragged her in, weeping loudly. Videl had to actually power up quite a bit to pry her father's large arms off from around her. It was then Mr. Satan took a good look at her and immediately went ballistic.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT??!? VIDEL, WHO DID THIS?! AAAAAHHH! MY PRECIOUS BABY IS HURT!! DOCTOR!! SOMEONE CALL THE DOCTOR!!!"
"DADDY!" Videl shouted harshly, "I'm FINE!! I was out training!!!"
Mr. Satan immediately shut up and nodded approvingly at his daughter, "That's my daughter! Always striving to be strong!! As strong as me!!"
"I'm already stronger than you, remember?" Videl hissed before she could stop herself. Mr. Satan froze in mid pose then quickly recovered looking right and left. Satisfied none of the servants were listening, he dragged Videl up to the privacy of the video room. There he locked the door and closed the curtains while Videl watched with her arms crossed and foot tapping. Finally Mr. Satan deemed it safe after checking the room for bugs and making sure no one was in the vents. It was quite humorous really.
"Listen Videl, I know you were a bit disappointed-" Videl scoffed at the vast understatement, "-for what I said to the class. But you must understand honey that daddy was caught off guard. Daddy has an image to hold, you understand, sweetie?"
"I understand that you would lower my image to guard your own," she coldly replied.
Mr. Satan shook his head, causing his afro to swish around, "I'm doing this for your own good, pumpkin. Do you really want to be known as the strongest person in the world? Go on my tours? Train my students?
Videl paused. She never thought about it that way. If she was to beat her father then she would get his title and along with it his fame. Her pictures would be everywhere and soon she was bound to get discovered out either the Sons or the Briefs. Her father made a good point but she wondered if he really was doing it for her own good or his. Ah, who cares. The result would turn out the same.
"No.... I won't like that."
"You understand then, honey? I'm very proud of you though but it's best you pretend I'm still stronger. Would you?"
"Yes, daddy."
Mr. Satan let out a relieved breathe before whispering behind his hand. "Um... how did you get so strong anyway, sweetie?"
"I trained. A lot." Videl answered. "Haven't you?"
The afro-ed man laughed nervously, "Of course I have!"
Videl sweat dropped. He obviously haven't been training
as much since Cell. She suddenly sighed and smiled weary at her father.
"Oh daddy, what am I going to do with you?"
"Hopefully nothing, knowing how strong you are now, honey," Mr. Satan grinned at his daughter, tremendously relieved that her anger seemed to be gone by now. Videl grinned back, feeling her anger fade away. They were about to leave the room when Videl stopped her father with a slight tug at his brown gi.
"Daddy.... is there.... anything you should have told me? A long time ago?"
Mr. Satan gave her a puzzled look, "What ever do you mean, pumpkin?"
Videl let go and sighed, "Nothing. Nothing at all."
In the hallway Mr. Satan suddenly stopped, causing Videl to bump into his back.
"I remembered something! We're going to go to a dinner party tonight!"
"What? We?"
"Yes, it's one of those celebrities and their family dinners. Hmm, maybe you can wear gloves and a long sleeved dress to cover your wounds and-"
"Wait-wait-wait. You know I hate those parties!"
"I know dear, but all the important people are going to be there! And their bringing their families too! Like Bulma Briefs from Cap-"
"HAAAAH?!?!" Videl nearly ruptured her father's ear drums. The Briefs! That means Trunks will be there! He would recognize her immediately!!! No no no no, she most definitely must NOT go!!
"Sorry about that daddy... um anyone else?"
Her father massaged his ringing ears before starting to list off names that he remembered, "The Finks, Gerald Semangka and family, um, the family of former Budokai finalists, then there's..."
Videl had stopped listening. Former Budokai finalists. "The... Sons?"
"Ah yes, the family of that guy, er, Son Goku! The guy that used all those light tricks," Mr. Satan seemed to have forgotten just who Son Goku was. He would eventually remember when he sees Gohan. "Ah, Videl, where are you going honey?"
Videl was walking away dazed as her mind went into hyper drive on how to keep herself from going. Her father caught up and waved a large hand in front of her.
"Honey? Sweetie? Pumpkin?"
"Daddy, I'm not going." she announced flatly.
"You must go! And that's final!"
"I DON'T WANT TO!!"
"It isn't the matter of wanting! This is a formal banquet! I'm expected to show up with you! Now no more excuses young lady, you'll be going tonight." with that Mr. Satan stormed away leaving Videl shaking with anger.
She was going to be so dead tonight.
A.N. Ah, I changed the format so that I hope it's easier on the eyes ^^ Anyway, I'm sorry that this chapter is a bit short but I was having quite a writer's block. Well, in this chapter I just wanted to get Videl to bond with Chi-Chi and Gohan, also showing a glimpse of her apparent double personality. I don't have an extensive knowledge of martial arts so any 'lectures' you read was just me making things up as I go. Hahahaha, I do practice aikido though so at least I'm not entirely flying blind. Thank you for the wonderful reviews and I'm sorry that I can't manage a mailing list. You'll just have to keep checking back ^^;;;;
