Chapter Four
"I'm sorry, Gohan. I know it must've been hard on your family." Well, I used to get regular "calls" from my father in Heaven, but he had stopped talking after a while. It really saddened my mother and that he could only talk to people he knew. So, he couldn't talk with Goten, until he met him in the physical sense. I got a bit depressed for a time, and...Although I regret it so much...I had gotten the assumption stuck in my head that my father just didn't love me, or had forgotten about me. I thought about it so much, and dwelled so much on it, that it sent me to almost drown myself...Until my little brother told me that he still loved me, even if father didn't. I then knew that it was silly to assume that my father didn't love me. He was probably just too busy training or keeping Frieza and Cell from uprising-again-to call.
"Yeah, it was. She had a really hard time accepting that my father didn't want to come back." Oh, shit.
"What did you say?" She looked up from her pancakes, a quizzical gaze set on my eyes. And, damn it all, I just had to say that I wouldn't lie any more. That was a stupid move, Gohan. Damn it! I had to think of something quick, something that wasn't a lie, but wasn't telling her it, either.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'll just tell you later." Okay, that was good enough. She glared at me. I cursed again.
"Why can't you just tell me now?" She asked. Well, I knew what the real reason I thought it was. I put my fork and knife down.
"Well, you might think I'm just plain crazy." What? It was the truth. She really might think I'm just crazy if I told her about the Dragon balls and Dad.
"Try me, Gohan. I would only think you're crazy if you told me you thought you were being stalked by deranged howler monkeys from a different planet." Wow. That was almost partially true. I was kidnapped by Radditz, and he DID look like a monkey.
"Okay, but promise you won't freak out." She promised she wouldn't.
"Alright. Have you ever heard of the legend of the Dragon balls?" She nodded her head.
"Yeah, my mom used to tell me that the Dragon balls were protected by a little boy that she once knew." Oh, woah. That was weird. Did Dad know someone that he had met when he was little that could've been Videl's mom?
"I never actually believed her. She kept saying that he rode around on a cloud, helping people and things like that. Silly, isn't it?" She smiled, and laughed just a bit. I groaned in my head. Now what?
"Well, Videl, to tell you the truth...those Dragon balls that grant wishes are real." She had taken a drink from her milk right when I said that. It was stuck in her throat, and she almost spewed it out all over the table. But she gulped it down, and then wailed.
"What?!?! They're real?! Gohan, you aren't telling me stories, are you?" I was kind of disappointed. She said she wouldn't freak out.
"No, I'm not. And that little boy your mom was talking about- that must've been my Dad. He used to go around and keep the Dragon balls out of harm's way." Her mouth was agape. Oh, damn, I've done it. I think I might've broken a nerve in her brain.
"Oh my God, Gohan," She murmured. I smiled at her.
"Are...are you serious?" She was stuttering. Oh, crap. I believe that all that stuff her father had told her was starting to crumble away, or maybe it was making its last stand. I didn't know what was going on in her mind.
"Yes. You sure you want me to continue? It's not that big of a deal," I said, but she just shook her head slowly.
"No, it's just that...my father told me that those things didn't exist, and that my mother was making it all up...But if she had made it up herself, no one else would have known...Oh my God..." She murmured again.
"Videl, maybe your father just didn't know that the dragon balls existed, and that he thought your mom was making it up?" I said just to comfort her over all shock that her father had lied to her.
"Yes, maybe...Oh, man, first flying and super strength and ki, and now mystical balls that grant wishes? It's almost too much, Gohan." She rubbed her forehead gingerly. The sun from the window played brilliantly on her features.
"Hey, it's alright. I was a little confused when I found it out, too." I told her. I knew from when I was born that my mother and father were very strong, but I never even knew about the Dragon balls until my father died for his first time. Heh, now that I think about it, I didn't even know I was an alien until Vegeta and Nappa came along. I mean, I had had my little thoughts of 'why does my uncle keep calling my dad a Sayain' and things of that nature.
"Well, it's just a little surprising that you think you live in such a real world, then you find out all these variables that tie in to make it so unreal...Have you ever felt that way, Gohan?" Oh, God, many times. Such as the dream, or when I'm fighting against a huge enemy, such as Cell-the bastard- or Frieza, and especially when I had a bit of a period of depression.
"Yeah, especially in dreams. I even had a really weird one last night. I can remember all of it as if it had happened in real life," I told her.
"What was the dream about?" She got that quizzical stare on her face again. But at least it wasn't the scrutinizing kind where she tried to delve into my mind with her eyes.
"Well, I don't really know, actually. But I can tell you that that man in the white suit was in the dream." She raised an eyebrow.
"He was?" Videl said.
"Yeah, he told me to call him 'Larry'. It was so freaky- and it happened in this room, only everything was all grey and static. Kind of made you feel like you were in an old television set. Anyways, it snowed inside the dome area right before Larry showed up. Then, a deer with bright red eyes came and nuzzled with Larry." Videl was attentive, and looked on in fascination as I recalled the more...'peaceful' aspects of the dream.
"Then I was just in another room, like I had been transported there or something. It was all white," The rest would scare Videl. I knew it would. If I told her that an image of her father with the symbol 3:16 on it appeared and a black spear came out of her father's head, she might get kind of worried.
"So, I saw the white deer again, and a big spear like beast came out and ate it, then spit it back out. It was freaky. So I tried to stop the beast, and right before I could kill it, I woke up." Oh, how I longed to tell her the whole story, but I couldn't. It would scare her too much.
"Gee, that sounds like a freaky dream. I had something similar a few nights ago," Videl said, resuming her eating. I became oddly aware of the elements around me as she spoke, but was still directly attentive to Videl.
"I had this dream where I was walking through a big pile of snow, and a black deer walked up and nuzzled on me. It had big pretty black eyes. It stayed with me for a while, but when it went off I had a bad case of fear. I was walking along when a large grizzly bear busted out from the snow, and growled at me. It had these weird marks on its head, but I couldn't remember what they were. It was like, 314 or something. It chased me through the snow until it grabbed me...then I woke up." A little tingle of nervousness rand down my spine. That sounded a lot like my dream...just a lot less creepy.
"Yeah, the deer and the snow definitely sound similar. But the grizzly bear is a bit off touch." I said. She nodded, and finished up her meal. I had finished almost ten minutes ago. Videl looked out the window, and smiled out at the blue sky.
"We have the weirdest fucking dreams."
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Videl and I were flying towards my house for some training exercises. The wind gusted through our hair, and my green long sleeve shirt fluttered on my body. It was very cold, and I wish that I hadn't left my coat at Videl's, but oh well. Videl looked to be just shivering, her wearing only the shirt she had on last night and the blue jeans. We were still twenty miles away from my house, so it was still about a 3 minute fly. I was pretty sure she could make it, but I did feel obligated to do something about it.
"You okay, Videl? You look as pale as a ghost out here," I said, and she did. Her entire face was pale, and her cheeks were burned red from the cold. But Videl stayed resolute, and she was sure she was alright.
"I'm fine, just a little cold. We're almost there, right?" I turned on my back to face the sky. It was billowing with grey clouds, with bits of sun shining through warily. I looked down.
"Only a few more minutes," She nodded, and closed her eyes. Videl didn't like this, I could just tell. We probably shouldn't fly in this cold anymore. In fact, it was a lot chillier than it was last year. In fact, last year was kind of warm and toasty. But this cold might bring on some nasty ice storms.
We reached my home at about a quarter till' three, as we had stayed with Bulma and helper her out with some things before we left. Videl and I landed on the cold dead grass. It was very quiet out here today, much quieter than usual. In fact, the only thing I could really hear was the sound of the wind blowing. The cold stung my cheeks.
"Sure is quiet out here. Do you think your mom went out for groceries?" Videl asked, looking around slowly. Well, my mother might have. And if that was the case, she'd be gone for hours. And it might even be half a day, if Goten had felt good enough to go with her.
"She might have. Hey, let's get inside before we freeze to death. I'll make some hot cocoa," Hot cocoa sounded good. We made our way to the front door of my home, and I twisted the lock. It was unlocked. I opened the door, and a gush of warm air greeted us. The lights in the house were off, and for a brief lisp in time I was scared that I was having a rehash moment of my dream, because everything had a grayish tent to it. I quickly dismissed the idea, and moved my hand over the wall, flipping the lights on in the small hall way.
Videl closed the door behind her, and we walked briskly in, noting that there were no sounds coming from the kitchen or the upstairs. We walked into the small "main hall" room, which had hardwood flooring and a green rug- and to my left, the kitchen and its table, with absolutely nothing in the kitchen that would lead one to believe that it had ever been touched. To my right, were three small steps that led down into the living room area, where there was the television set to the wall where you couldn't see it, and an L-shaped sofa and two recliners opposite that.
"Videl, there are some blankets on the sofa. Go warm yourself up if you want to, and I'll go and fix up the hot cocoa." She stared at me with a pleading look.
"Please, I'll make it. It would only be fair since you've helped me so much." I shook my head; I was getting worried that she might get sick. I knew I wouldn't, I was fine...but she was a different story.
"Please, I don't want you to catch cold. I'll only be done in a minute." She sighed, and smiled at me.
"That's why I like you, Son Gohan. You never think about yourself." I blushed considerably. She laughed at my red complexion, and set off for the sofa. I trotted off into the kitchen, and began to prepare the cocoa.
But, was that the only reason she liked me? I blushed just a bit. I wasn't sure. No, she had to like me for more than that...I knew I liked her...a lot. And, it's also kind of embarrassing, but I think I might be falling for her. I know that that sounds silly, but I really think I am. I've never cared for and liked to be around someone so much like I do Videl. In fact, I really was never able to hold a good conversation with anyone but Videl, and every time I see her I blush just a bit. I even get goose bumps up and down my spine when she's around me.
I think I was falling in love with her.
I poured the cocoa mix into the milk, and stirred it a bit. I took the bag of marshmallows and poured in a bunch, some in each mug. (Both Videl and I liked a lot of marshmallows in our cocoa.) I then took the mugs and placed them in the microwave, and set it to five minutes, on low power. The key to making hot cocoa is not to nuke it, but to lull it into warmth. I pressed the start button, and the metallic whir of the microwave set into motion.
I walked out of the kitchen and down the stairs into the living room, where Videl was wrapped in a red blanket, on the corner of the couch. She was watching Cowboy Bebop. (I have the entire series. She must've popped one of my DvD's in.)
"The cocoa will be ready in about five minutes," I said, "Do you need anything else?" Well, I had to be kind and be gentlemanly about guests at my house. But Videl, like most other people, always refused.
"No, it's alright. I just need to get warm. But Gohan," She added with sudden surprise, "Can...can the Dragon balls bring people back to life?" She asked me, and Videl was so concealed about it.
"Only if they've died within a year," I said. Videl sunk in her spot.
"Damn. Why can't they bring back people that may have died a long time ago?" She whined, and I thought that was kind of cute and sad at the same time.
"Well, it's just how they were made. I can't change the way the Dragon balls are made; but I know someone who can. But of course, he's not exactly up to updating the Dragon balls every single time we ask him to," I told her. She nodded her head. The buzzer on the microwave beeped out over the television. I walked out of the living room, but not before hearing Videl sniff.
I came back with the cocoa, and handed her a mug, which she gladly took. Videl sipped it tenderly, and smiled at the rich taste. Hey, like I said- you have to lull it. I sat down on the sofa, on the left of Videl. I grabbed a blue blanket from the back of the sofa and pulled it over me.
We watched Cowboy Bebop for about two hours; it was mine and Videl's favorite show, aside from maybe South Park. It was almost five o' clock by the time it was all done, and my mother had still not gotten home.
"I'm getting kind of worried about my mother and Goten," I said. What if Goten had gone into another seizure and it caused mother to have to take him to the hospital, or something? Or maybe Goten had wandered off and someone had taken my mother hostage? All of this 'what ifs' were driving me nuts.
"Don't worry, Gohan. I'm sure they'll be back in about an hour. Chi- Chi's probably just shopping. You didn't happen to check to see if she left a note did you?" Oh, damn, how could I have forgotten to check the fridge for notes?
"You're right, Videl!" I leaped up, and almost tripped over the blanket, and walked quickly into the kitchen and looked at the fridge. I looked up and down, and then I saw a yellow piece of notebook paper, with the following letter scrawled out with my mother's handwriting.
"Gohan, Goten and I have gone to the mall and other places to shop and get groceries. We'll be back by about 7 or 8. If Videl's with you, absolutely NO entering your room together until I get back.
Love you, Mom."
My mom really did like to think Videl and I were in that kind of relationship. Or maybe she just liked to tease us. Whatever it was, if it was annoying in voice, it was even more so in words. I gained a smug little look on my face, and walked back into the living room. Videl saw my smug expression, and smiled in triumph.
"There was a note, wasn't there?" She said bemusedly. I grumbled yes, and sat down on the sofa.
"She won't allow me to go in my room with you. She STILL thinks that," I told her. Videl rolled her eyes and sighed.
"What is up with your mom? I mean, no offense, but she is extremely grandchild- happy. But then, she doesn't even want us to go into your room! Oh, man," Videl groaned. I whole heartedly agree with her; there was something wacky about my mother.
"I don't know. I guess she's just anxious for me to continue the "royal bloodline", or something." Videl looked at me weird...again.
"Royal bloodline? What, was your mom a princess or something?" Videl laughed.
"Well, actually, yeah," Videl got a morbid expression on her face, "My mom was the princess of Ox King. That's my grandpa. When my mom married my dad, she never told him that as soon as she was to marry, that she would become queen and he would become king of "Ox"." Videl looked at me with a stupor I only saw when my enemy is in awe of my power.
"Gohan, you're a prince? When did your mom tell you this?!" Videl asked.
"Well, to tell you the truth, she told me only about two months ago. I had before that only assumed that my Grandfather's name, Ox King, was just a silly nick name for him because he was as big as an ox." I explained, and all Videl could do was just stare at me in disbelief and wonder. It kind of embarrassed me, but then it kind of made me feel proud.
"Man, Gohan...I guess I thought I knew you, but then again..." She looked away from me. That hurt me, but that was okay. I think I've been telling her too much lately.
"Don't worry about it, Videl. I'm still who I am. I was already a prince, and it didn't change anything about me. I'm not going to act all high and mighty over it. We even live in a small house out in the boondocks of the world." Videl looked at me, and I blushed. She was giving me this sad smile, and it was so beautiful.
"Gohan, I know that. I just didn't know that you were royalty. Is that why your mom doesn't have a job, because her townspeople support her?" Videl asked me. I swear I blushed even more. I almost had to hide it.
"I think so. But even then...I think the kingdom died a long time ago. I guess I was just stating that my mom was a princess." Videl laughed. Why would she laugh?
"Well, Mr.Prince, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to the bathroom." I laughed, and she sprung up, and walked up the little stair case and to the left. All the bathrooms were upstairs. I relaxed in my seat.
I really think I was falling in love with her. I tried to keep a good demeanor, and not show it. But I think it started to slip. I was afraid that she wouldn't love me back, see? That I openly state it, and she would think I'm just nuts. God, I couldn't let that happen. But then, what if it was the same for her? What then? Would we both have the same affections and never show it to each other? Oh, God, I hope not.
I looked up from the television, as I heard a sound of a door opening. I looked and saw my mother, carrying two brown paper bags of groceries into the kitchen. I got up, and walked over to the top of the stairs. Goten was carrying four.
"Hey there, little guy," I called out to him. He smiled at me.
"Hey big brother! We got back a little early," Goten liked stating the obvious. He sneezed, and almost dropped one of the bags. I grabbed it before it hit the floor.
"Goten, why don't you go set these bags down and go get some rest. You know you're still pretty sick. I'll take care of the rest." He nodded vigorously, and set about his business.
I walked outside into the brisk cold air. I walked over to the green sedan, and went over to the trunk. I grabbed some groceries-about six bags out of about 20- and carried them into the house and into the kitchen.
I went back outside, and I saw Videl grabbing some groceries. It started to, and I wasn't surprised, snow. After about two more minutes, we had finished the chore, closed the trunk and gotten back inside, little drops of snow on our shoulders.
"Oh, Gohan and Videl, thank you for bringing in the groceries. I'll start preparing dinner, okay?" My mother said, well, demanded, I guess.
"Okay, mom. We'll just be in the living room if you need anything," I said, and Videl and I walked back into the living room. Goten was covered in a green blanket and watching Spongebob.
"Hey Goten. Which episode is that?" I asked.
A/N: Ahoy! Well, Ann, guess what: You never know. I like how you made that prediction!
Sorry I had to end this so shortly, but really, this chapter would probably be going nowhere for a while.
Remember, thoughtful comments and suggestions. NO stupid remarks. (That means you, Tyler.)
Until next time...
"I'm sorry, Gohan. I know it must've been hard on your family." Well, I used to get regular "calls" from my father in Heaven, but he had stopped talking after a while. It really saddened my mother and that he could only talk to people he knew. So, he couldn't talk with Goten, until he met him in the physical sense. I got a bit depressed for a time, and...Although I regret it so much...I had gotten the assumption stuck in my head that my father just didn't love me, or had forgotten about me. I thought about it so much, and dwelled so much on it, that it sent me to almost drown myself...Until my little brother told me that he still loved me, even if father didn't. I then knew that it was silly to assume that my father didn't love me. He was probably just too busy training or keeping Frieza and Cell from uprising-again-to call.
"Yeah, it was. She had a really hard time accepting that my father didn't want to come back." Oh, shit.
"What did you say?" She looked up from her pancakes, a quizzical gaze set on my eyes. And, damn it all, I just had to say that I wouldn't lie any more. That was a stupid move, Gohan. Damn it! I had to think of something quick, something that wasn't a lie, but wasn't telling her it, either.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'll just tell you later." Okay, that was good enough. She glared at me. I cursed again.
"Why can't you just tell me now?" She asked. Well, I knew what the real reason I thought it was. I put my fork and knife down.
"Well, you might think I'm just plain crazy." What? It was the truth. She really might think I'm just crazy if I told her about the Dragon balls and Dad.
"Try me, Gohan. I would only think you're crazy if you told me you thought you were being stalked by deranged howler monkeys from a different planet." Wow. That was almost partially true. I was kidnapped by Radditz, and he DID look like a monkey.
"Okay, but promise you won't freak out." She promised she wouldn't.
"Alright. Have you ever heard of the legend of the Dragon balls?" She nodded her head.
"Yeah, my mom used to tell me that the Dragon balls were protected by a little boy that she once knew." Oh, woah. That was weird. Did Dad know someone that he had met when he was little that could've been Videl's mom?
"I never actually believed her. She kept saying that he rode around on a cloud, helping people and things like that. Silly, isn't it?" She smiled, and laughed just a bit. I groaned in my head. Now what?
"Well, Videl, to tell you the truth...those Dragon balls that grant wishes are real." She had taken a drink from her milk right when I said that. It was stuck in her throat, and she almost spewed it out all over the table. But she gulped it down, and then wailed.
"What?!?! They're real?! Gohan, you aren't telling me stories, are you?" I was kind of disappointed. She said she wouldn't freak out.
"No, I'm not. And that little boy your mom was talking about- that must've been my Dad. He used to go around and keep the Dragon balls out of harm's way." Her mouth was agape. Oh, damn, I've done it. I think I might've broken a nerve in her brain.
"Oh my God, Gohan," She murmured. I smiled at her.
"Are...are you serious?" She was stuttering. Oh, crap. I believe that all that stuff her father had told her was starting to crumble away, or maybe it was making its last stand. I didn't know what was going on in her mind.
"Yes. You sure you want me to continue? It's not that big of a deal," I said, but she just shook her head slowly.
"No, it's just that...my father told me that those things didn't exist, and that my mother was making it all up...But if she had made it up herself, no one else would have known...Oh my God..." She murmured again.
"Videl, maybe your father just didn't know that the dragon balls existed, and that he thought your mom was making it up?" I said just to comfort her over all shock that her father had lied to her.
"Yes, maybe...Oh, man, first flying and super strength and ki, and now mystical balls that grant wishes? It's almost too much, Gohan." She rubbed her forehead gingerly. The sun from the window played brilliantly on her features.
"Hey, it's alright. I was a little confused when I found it out, too." I told her. I knew from when I was born that my mother and father were very strong, but I never even knew about the Dragon balls until my father died for his first time. Heh, now that I think about it, I didn't even know I was an alien until Vegeta and Nappa came along. I mean, I had had my little thoughts of 'why does my uncle keep calling my dad a Sayain' and things of that nature.
"Well, it's just a little surprising that you think you live in such a real world, then you find out all these variables that tie in to make it so unreal...Have you ever felt that way, Gohan?" Oh, God, many times. Such as the dream, or when I'm fighting against a huge enemy, such as Cell-the bastard- or Frieza, and especially when I had a bit of a period of depression.
"Yeah, especially in dreams. I even had a really weird one last night. I can remember all of it as if it had happened in real life," I told her.
"What was the dream about?" She got that quizzical stare on her face again. But at least it wasn't the scrutinizing kind where she tried to delve into my mind with her eyes.
"Well, I don't really know, actually. But I can tell you that that man in the white suit was in the dream." She raised an eyebrow.
"He was?" Videl said.
"Yeah, he told me to call him 'Larry'. It was so freaky- and it happened in this room, only everything was all grey and static. Kind of made you feel like you were in an old television set. Anyways, it snowed inside the dome area right before Larry showed up. Then, a deer with bright red eyes came and nuzzled with Larry." Videl was attentive, and looked on in fascination as I recalled the more...'peaceful' aspects of the dream.
"Then I was just in another room, like I had been transported there or something. It was all white," The rest would scare Videl. I knew it would. If I told her that an image of her father with the symbol 3:16 on it appeared and a black spear came out of her father's head, she might get kind of worried.
"So, I saw the white deer again, and a big spear like beast came out and ate it, then spit it back out. It was freaky. So I tried to stop the beast, and right before I could kill it, I woke up." Oh, how I longed to tell her the whole story, but I couldn't. It would scare her too much.
"Gee, that sounds like a freaky dream. I had something similar a few nights ago," Videl said, resuming her eating. I became oddly aware of the elements around me as she spoke, but was still directly attentive to Videl.
"I had this dream where I was walking through a big pile of snow, and a black deer walked up and nuzzled on me. It had big pretty black eyes. It stayed with me for a while, but when it went off I had a bad case of fear. I was walking along when a large grizzly bear busted out from the snow, and growled at me. It had these weird marks on its head, but I couldn't remember what they were. It was like, 314 or something. It chased me through the snow until it grabbed me...then I woke up." A little tingle of nervousness rand down my spine. That sounded a lot like my dream...just a lot less creepy.
"Yeah, the deer and the snow definitely sound similar. But the grizzly bear is a bit off touch." I said. She nodded, and finished up her meal. I had finished almost ten minutes ago. Videl looked out the window, and smiled out at the blue sky.
"We have the weirdest fucking dreams."
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Videl and I were flying towards my house for some training exercises. The wind gusted through our hair, and my green long sleeve shirt fluttered on my body. It was very cold, and I wish that I hadn't left my coat at Videl's, but oh well. Videl looked to be just shivering, her wearing only the shirt she had on last night and the blue jeans. We were still twenty miles away from my house, so it was still about a 3 minute fly. I was pretty sure she could make it, but I did feel obligated to do something about it.
"You okay, Videl? You look as pale as a ghost out here," I said, and she did. Her entire face was pale, and her cheeks were burned red from the cold. But Videl stayed resolute, and she was sure she was alright.
"I'm fine, just a little cold. We're almost there, right?" I turned on my back to face the sky. It was billowing with grey clouds, with bits of sun shining through warily. I looked down.
"Only a few more minutes," She nodded, and closed her eyes. Videl didn't like this, I could just tell. We probably shouldn't fly in this cold anymore. In fact, it was a lot chillier than it was last year. In fact, last year was kind of warm and toasty. But this cold might bring on some nasty ice storms.
We reached my home at about a quarter till' three, as we had stayed with Bulma and helper her out with some things before we left. Videl and I landed on the cold dead grass. It was very quiet out here today, much quieter than usual. In fact, the only thing I could really hear was the sound of the wind blowing. The cold stung my cheeks.
"Sure is quiet out here. Do you think your mom went out for groceries?" Videl asked, looking around slowly. Well, my mother might have. And if that was the case, she'd be gone for hours. And it might even be half a day, if Goten had felt good enough to go with her.
"She might have. Hey, let's get inside before we freeze to death. I'll make some hot cocoa," Hot cocoa sounded good. We made our way to the front door of my home, and I twisted the lock. It was unlocked. I opened the door, and a gush of warm air greeted us. The lights in the house were off, and for a brief lisp in time I was scared that I was having a rehash moment of my dream, because everything had a grayish tent to it. I quickly dismissed the idea, and moved my hand over the wall, flipping the lights on in the small hall way.
Videl closed the door behind her, and we walked briskly in, noting that there were no sounds coming from the kitchen or the upstairs. We walked into the small "main hall" room, which had hardwood flooring and a green rug- and to my left, the kitchen and its table, with absolutely nothing in the kitchen that would lead one to believe that it had ever been touched. To my right, were three small steps that led down into the living room area, where there was the television set to the wall where you couldn't see it, and an L-shaped sofa and two recliners opposite that.
"Videl, there are some blankets on the sofa. Go warm yourself up if you want to, and I'll go and fix up the hot cocoa." She stared at me with a pleading look.
"Please, I'll make it. It would only be fair since you've helped me so much." I shook my head; I was getting worried that she might get sick. I knew I wouldn't, I was fine...but she was a different story.
"Please, I don't want you to catch cold. I'll only be done in a minute." She sighed, and smiled at me.
"That's why I like you, Son Gohan. You never think about yourself." I blushed considerably. She laughed at my red complexion, and set off for the sofa. I trotted off into the kitchen, and began to prepare the cocoa.
But, was that the only reason she liked me? I blushed just a bit. I wasn't sure. No, she had to like me for more than that...I knew I liked her...a lot. And, it's also kind of embarrassing, but I think I might be falling for her. I know that that sounds silly, but I really think I am. I've never cared for and liked to be around someone so much like I do Videl. In fact, I really was never able to hold a good conversation with anyone but Videl, and every time I see her I blush just a bit. I even get goose bumps up and down my spine when she's around me.
I think I was falling in love with her.
I poured the cocoa mix into the milk, and stirred it a bit. I took the bag of marshmallows and poured in a bunch, some in each mug. (Both Videl and I liked a lot of marshmallows in our cocoa.) I then took the mugs and placed them in the microwave, and set it to five minutes, on low power. The key to making hot cocoa is not to nuke it, but to lull it into warmth. I pressed the start button, and the metallic whir of the microwave set into motion.
I walked out of the kitchen and down the stairs into the living room, where Videl was wrapped in a red blanket, on the corner of the couch. She was watching Cowboy Bebop. (I have the entire series. She must've popped one of my DvD's in.)
"The cocoa will be ready in about five minutes," I said, "Do you need anything else?" Well, I had to be kind and be gentlemanly about guests at my house. But Videl, like most other people, always refused.
"No, it's alright. I just need to get warm. But Gohan," She added with sudden surprise, "Can...can the Dragon balls bring people back to life?" She asked me, and Videl was so concealed about it.
"Only if they've died within a year," I said. Videl sunk in her spot.
"Damn. Why can't they bring back people that may have died a long time ago?" She whined, and I thought that was kind of cute and sad at the same time.
"Well, it's just how they were made. I can't change the way the Dragon balls are made; but I know someone who can. But of course, he's not exactly up to updating the Dragon balls every single time we ask him to," I told her. She nodded her head. The buzzer on the microwave beeped out over the television. I walked out of the living room, but not before hearing Videl sniff.
I came back with the cocoa, and handed her a mug, which she gladly took. Videl sipped it tenderly, and smiled at the rich taste. Hey, like I said- you have to lull it. I sat down on the sofa, on the left of Videl. I grabbed a blue blanket from the back of the sofa and pulled it over me.
We watched Cowboy Bebop for about two hours; it was mine and Videl's favorite show, aside from maybe South Park. It was almost five o' clock by the time it was all done, and my mother had still not gotten home.
"I'm getting kind of worried about my mother and Goten," I said. What if Goten had gone into another seizure and it caused mother to have to take him to the hospital, or something? Or maybe Goten had wandered off and someone had taken my mother hostage? All of this 'what ifs' were driving me nuts.
"Don't worry, Gohan. I'm sure they'll be back in about an hour. Chi- Chi's probably just shopping. You didn't happen to check to see if she left a note did you?" Oh, damn, how could I have forgotten to check the fridge for notes?
"You're right, Videl!" I leaped up, and almost tripped over the blanket, and walked quickly into the kitchen and looked at the fridge. I looked up and down, and then I saw a yellow piece of notebook paper, with the following letter scrawled out with my mother's handwriting.
"Gohan, Goten and I have gone to the mall and other places to shop and get groceries. We'll be back by about 7 or 8. If Videl's with you, absolutely NO entering your room together until I get back.
Love you, Mom."
My mom really did like to think Videl and I were in that kind of relationship. Or maybe she just liked to tease us. Whatever it was, if it was annoying in voice, it was even more so in words. I gained a smug little look on my face, and walked back into the living room. Videl saw my smug expression, and smiled in triumph.
"There was a note, wasn't there?" She said bemusedly. I grumbled yes, and sat down on the sofa.
"She won't allow me to go in my room with you. She STILL thinks that," I told her. Videl rolled her eyes and sighed.
"What is up with your mom? I mean, no offense, but she is extremely grandchild- happy. But then, she doesn't even want us to go into your room! Oh, man," Videl groaned. I whole heartedly agree with her; there was something wacky about my mother.
"I don't know. I guess she's just anxious for me to continue the "royal bloodline", or something." Videl looked at me weird...again.
"Royal bloodline? What, was your mom a princess or something?" Videl laughed.
"Well, actually, yeah," Videl got a morbid expression on her face, "My mom was the princess of Ox King. That's my grandpa. When my mom married my dad, she never told him that as soon as she was to marry, that she would become queen and he would become king of "Ox"." Videl looked at me with a stupor I only saw when my enemy is in awe of my power.
"Gohan, you're a prince? When did your mom tell you this?!" Videl asked.
"Well, to tell you the truth, she told me only about two months ago. I had before that only assumed that my Grandfather's name, Ox King, was just a silly nick name for him because he was as big as an ox." I explained, and all Videl could do was just stare at me in disbelief and wonder. It kind of embarrassed me, but then it kind of made me feel proud.
"Man, Gohan...I guess I thought I knew you, but then again..." She looked away from me. That hurt me, but that was okay. I think I've been telling her too much lately.
"Don't worry about it, Videl. I'm still who I am. I was already a prince, and it didn't change anything about me. I'm not going to act all high and mighty over it. We even live in a small house out in the boondocks of the world." Videl looked at me, and I blushed. She was giving me this sad smile, and it was so beautiful.
"Gohan, I know that. I just didn't know that you were royalty. Is that why your mom doesn't have a job, because her townspeople support her?" Videl asked me. I swear I blushed even more. I almost had to hide it.
"I think so. But even then...I think the kingdom died a long time ago. I guess I was just stating that my mom was a princess." Videl laughed. Why would she laugh?
"Well, Mr.Prince, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to the bathroom." I laughed, and she sprung up, and walked up the little stair case and to the left. All the bathrooms were upstairs. I relaxed in my seat.
I really think I was falling in love with her. I tried to keep a good demeanor, and not show it. But I think it started to slip. I was afraid that she wouldn't love me back, see? That I openly state it, and she would think I'm just nuts. God, I couldn't let that happen. But then, what if it was the same for her? What then? Would we both have the same affections and never show it to each other? Oh, God, I hope not.
I looked up from the television, as I heard a sound of a door opening. I looked and saw my mother, carrying two brown paper bags of groceries into the kitchen. I got up, and walked over to the top of the stairs. Goten was carrying four.
"Hey there, little guy," I called out to him. He smiled at me.
"Hey big brother! We got back a little early," Goten liked stating the obvious. He sneezed, and almost dropped one of the bags. I grabbed it before it hit the floor.
"Goten, why don't you go set these bags down and go get some rest. You know you're still pretty sick. I'll take care of the rest." He nodded vigorously, and set about his business.
I walked outside into the brisk cold air. I walked over to the green sedan, and went over to the trunk. I grabbed some groceries-about six bags out of about 20- and carried them into the house and into the kitchen.
I went back outside, and I saw Videl grabbing some groceries. It started to, and I wasn't surprised, snow. After about two more minutes, we had finished the chore, closed the trunk and gotten back inside, little drops of snow on our shoulders.
"Oh, Gohan and Videl, thank you for bringing in the groceries. I'll start preparing dinner, okay?" My mother said, well, demanded, I guess.
"Okay, mom. We'll just be in the living room if you need anything," I said, and Videl and I walked back into the living room. Goten was covered in a green blanket and watching Spongebob.
"Hey Goten. Which episode is that?" I asked.
A/N: Ahoy! Well, Ann, guess what: You never know. I like how you made that prediction!
Sorry I had to end this so shortly, but really, this chapter would probably be going nowhere for a while.
Remember, thoughtful comments and suggestions. NO stupid remarks. (That means you, Tyler.)
Until next time...