What Lies Beneath the Stardom
By: SaiyanGirl16
Chapter Nine
Gohan stepped in the living room and turned to Chichi, who was washing the snack pile of dishes,
"Hey mom, I'm heading over a friend's for some schoolwork. I'll be home late."
Chichi put her dishtowel down, 'Would this friend happen to be female?"
Gohan gulped, "Um…why do you ask?"
"I knew it!! You're going to Videl's!! Ohh, I'll be having grandchildren in no time!" She chortled, dragging Gohan to his room. "Now, if you're gonna impress Videl, you're going to wear something other than what you wore to school young man." She stated, pulling a pair of dark green jeans and a white sleeveless shirt and threw them on his bed. "This ensemble will really show off your muscles and make her want you BAD."
Gohan put it on and sighed at his mother, "Mom, I don't want Videl to want me. She's just my friend."
Chichi pushed Gohan out the front door, and put his shoes and backpack at his feet, "Humor me, okay?" She said, before shutting the door in his face.
"One minute she's pining on how she doesn't want us to grow up, next she wanting me to get it on with some girl I hardly even know." He said before leaving for Videl's house.
"Elora!! Can you get the door please?!" Videl yelled from her room.
The friendly maid finished putting the glassware in the cupboard and strolled over to the door. She opened it and found a young man standing in the doorway.
Um…Hi, is Videl here?" Gohan stuttered.
"You must be Son Gohan. Yes, she's in her room. I'll go and get her." Elora answered, almost running up the giant steps in the foyer.
"Videl…that handsome friend of yours is here." Elora chuckled, shutting Videl's door.
"For the last time, I do not like him like that!"
"Then why are you dressing up for him?"
Videl glanced at her light blue denim shorts that were…well…shortER than usual, and her spaghetti strapped white top. "I'm not dressed up, I just decided to try the normal girl look, as you most graciously put it last weekend."
Elora giggled, "Well, let's just hope he can concentrate more on the work than you." She finished, leaving the room.
Videl sighed and slipped on a pair of white tennis shoes. Coming down the stairs, she spotted Gohan at the base and jogged down the rest of the way.
"Heya Gohan! Are you ready to get started?"
"Yeah…sure." Gohan squeaked. What the hell has happened to her? She's…well…good looking. Gohan thought to himself.
"Let's go to the backyard. There's a lot of space back there." She said, starting to walk. Whoa. He sure is built. I wonder if he's…NO! Bad thoughts Videl Melina Satan…bad thoughts..
Videl led Gohan through the kitchen, out the sliding door, behind the pool area, and stopped at a patch of wildflowers, with a few trees surrounding them. She quickly stepped up to a tree, sat down on the lonely swing positioned there and stared ahead. "This place is beautiful isn't it?"
Gohan stared. It was gorgeous. And seeing Videl in it was even better. "Yeah, it is." He stated, walking ovet to where she was.
"You know, this was my mother's favorite spot. When she was alive." Videl started, getting up from the swing and taking the photo down from the tree. "She was beautiful, kind, and gentle. She died when I was five, so I don't remember her well. But I could always see her in my dreams."
Gohan took the photo from her hands and took a hard look at it, "You look a lot like her you know." He sat down on the swing.
"I know. "She started to sob, "I hear that everyday and it just makes me mad. Why would somebody want to hurt someone like her?"
"What happened to her?" Gohan inquired, motioning for her to sit down.
Videl, without thinking, sat on his lap. Gohan secured his arms around her waist, keeping her from falling off, "She was murdered. I was out with Elora, getting some ice cream, and when I came back she was…lying on the…k-k-kitchen ..floor..and there was..b-blood..everywhere. She had been shot. And my father was out in the pool. I don't even think he knew what was going on until the police arrived. I still hear the sirens…at night. It was just so horrible!!" She cried, throwing her arms around his neck and crying into his shoulder.
Gohan let her cry. He knew how much it hurt. He tightened his arms around her and let a single tear slip from his eye. "I know how you feel. And I know how much it hurts."
Videl looked up at him and dried her eyes, "You do?"
"Yes, when I was eleven, my father was…killed. I never thought it would happen to someone like him. He was strong, courageous, and brave, but he had his kind side too. The way he was so loving towards my mother. He even told my he would give up the world for her. He is my hero. But he's nothing more than a memory now. They say it takes time for open wounds to heal, but I think this one is going to stay open forever."
Videl's eyes got misty again and she tightened herself to him, "I'm so sorry Gohan!"
His eyes got watery as well, But he didn't cry. He knew his father wouldn't want him to. He just sat there and held the sobbing Videl. They were connected now. Bonded from sorrow. But neither one of them knew it.
Elora and Yekkena stood by the doorway watching the two teens on the swing. They had heard everything and were almost crying as well. Elora turned away from the window and picked up her previously discarded dishtowel.
"Do you think we should tell her about her heritage?"
Yekkena sat down in a kitchen chair, "No, the time is not right."
"When do you think she will be ready to know?"
Yekkena's eyes glowed a bright red, and she spoke in a low tone, "When the truth of death is told and the sun sets on the second day."
"Can it you delinquent! This isn't the time!"
"But Carnaja, I'm soooo…"
"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I FREAKING CARE? We need to come up with a stupid plan! Then we can eat!"
Ketanz slumped in his chair and sighed. Carnaja punched a few keys on the keyboard and a rather silly picture of Saiyaman came up. "Now, all we know about this guy is he's protecting Videl, he's a rather corny dresser and speaker, and he's got one hell of a right hook. Where the fudge does that take us?"
Ketanz sat upright, "Why don't we just seek out his energy signal and do that sneak-attack-kill-thingy you keep telling me about?"
Carnaja's head turned rather quickly towards his comrad, "I'm liking the way I think!! Let's hit the road. His energy is coming from that way!" He yelled, taking off out the door.
Ketanz followed rather pokily, "I think that guy is a little cracked on the brain side of the deal."
Gohan and Videl had somehow managed to get off the swing and were now positioned under the tree beside it. Videl was pratically sitting in his lap and they were nodding on and off in the sleepworld. Gohan opened his eyes and took and long glance at the sleeping girl in his arms Why can't she be this open with me all the time? Or this cute? She really is something else. I don't know why, but I feel a strange energy emerging from her. I can't let it bother me though
Videl shifted slightly in his embrace and awakened. She took in her surroundingd and remembered where she was and who she was with. Gohan. That's right. He came here…we came outside..my mother..his dad..Oh jeez. But..it doesn feel good to have him here. Almost….right.
"Gohan? What time is it?" She murmered.
He looked at his watch, "Almost six. And I'm getting hungry."
Videl laughed slightly, "Well, how about we take a trip to the new buffet place in town, then we can spend the rest of the day at your house working on the project?"
Gohan looked thoughtful for a moment, "Sure that sounds good. But after dinner, it might be late, so we really won't have much time to work on the project."
Videl looked at the ground, then looked back at him, "Could I stay the night at your house?"
Gohan fell, anime style. "Well…I-I…uh..I'd hafta ask my mom."
That's okay. There's a phone inside, you go call her. Come on!" She chuckled, grabbing his hand and dragging him inside."
Gohan picked up the phone and dialed his home number. Four rings then Chichi picked up,
"Hello, Son residence."
"Hey mom, It's me."
"Oh! Gohan! How's your studying going?" She said in a very sneaky tone.
"It's great, Listen, me and Videl are going to grab something to eat then come back home to work on the project some more, would it be okay if she stayed the night so we could have some more time to work?"
Chichi gasped in surprise, "AHHH! Gohan! I was right! I am going to have grandchildren aren't I?"
He shrieked and pulled the phone close to his mouth, "NO! It's strictly platonic mom!"
"Sure honey, Well It's alright with me..oh! What size are you? Large or xlarge?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Duh silly, It's your first time. I don't want it to be without protection! And if I remember right, your father had a rather bulky.."
"GAH! MOM!" Gohan turned pale white and hung up the phone. He slid down the kitchen cabinet and sat on the floor. Videl looked on curiously and brought her knees to her chest, looking him in the eye.
"What's wrong Gohan? Did she say yes?"
"Uh huh. And she's also conspiring against me."
"What?"
"Nevermind, just go get your stuff."
Videl sat for a moment then jumped up, "Okay, I'll be right back."
Ten minutes and three ice-cream sandwiches later, Videl emerged from her room, losing the tanktop and wearing a white tee-shirt with the OS logo on it, and dawning a backpack.
"Okay, let's go." He said holding his arm out for her. She took it gladly and they went to eat.
"Did you see the waiter's face? He was in shock!"
"Well, you did order fifteen hamburgers."
"What can I say? My family has a gene for huge appetites."
Videl smiled and latched onto his arm, "It's time to head to your house, we have some work to do." She stated, taking out a capsule and revealing her jet-copter.
Gohan complied and they set off to his house, unaware that they had visitors."
"No, this can't be. That..KID is the Great Saiyaman?"
"It seems that way doesn't it?"
"No, you don't understand, I know him, his father is the Son Goku! From all those older tournaments. He was one of the greatest fighters other than Hercule. And not only that, he's with Videl!"
"So what are you trying to say?"
"Ketanz, we might as well be up shit creek without a paddle."
"Mom!! I'm home!" Gohan shouted, setting his pack on the floor and taking off his shoes. Chichi bounded into the room and motioned for them to be quiet.
"Goten is in bed, please keep it down. Oh, you must be Videl. I'm Chichi, Gohan's mother."
Videl was hesitant to say anything, "Um..Nice to meet you Mrs. Son."
"Please dear, you can call me Chichi. Now you two better get to your studying! I don't want anything to mess up your futures!" She said, pushing Gohan towards his room. Goten was missing from his bed, Chichi's doing of course. Gohan sighed and sat on his bed.
Videl took a nice long look at his room. It was pretty plain, a bed, desk, bureau of drawers, closet, and a bookcase filled with mostly academic stuff, with the execption of a few books on drawing and the arts.She noticed the pictures on the top of the case.
"Who are these people?"
"A bunch of my dad's friends. I hung out wth them a lot as a kid. You don't get much human interaction around these mountains."
She nodded and picked up her sack, "I'm going to change, okay? Where's the bathroom?"
"Down the hall to the right, second door after the stairs."
Videl slid out anf Gohan decided to change himself. He put on a pair of blue and gray pajama pants and a white sleeveless shirt with a couple of paint stains on it. He said down on his bed and pulled out his notebook from his bag and began to add more lyrics to the songs when Videl appeared. She was wearing a blue spaghetti strapped tanktop, with low-cut dark blue boxers. Her once-pigtailed hair was just hanging there. And it was pretty long too.
"So, are we ready to get started?"
Gohan smiled, "Yup."
Yekkena stood atop a lampost, in the middle of the night. She was clad in a red armored jumpsuit, her hair was flowing wildly behind her, almost like it was on fire, and her eyes were glowing a ruby red. She raised her hands from her sides and a red aura appeared around her. Red flaming ribbons sprung from her palms and they encircled her entire body. She shut her eyes, brought them down level, and they shot open.
"I am Hope, I am the Future, and my time, is near."
A/N: Whoa. What's going on there?? Hehehe. cliffhanger. unfortunately, this is going to be a rather LONG cliffhanger. LOL :) Well, REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
Next Chapter: Gohan has a strange dream and it's hinting towards something. Who is this stranger of Fire?