I knew all along how I wanted to do this part, but it was not till just the
other day, that the feel of it came to me. (And as a bonus for the long
wait, this is an extra long chapter, nearly double usual length 4500
words.) Here is chapter thirteen.
Chapter 13
-------------
Last time:
"For now I say we just get Videl some weighted clothes. And Dende, you work on the room. We may still use it, but if not it would be useful in the future at least. But now there is something else we must do." He said in full seriousness. Mentally preparing himself for the task ahead.
-------------
Videl saw the look on his face, so serious, strong, resolute, and only one thing came to her mind. It was really the only thing on her mind since the unnerving conversations with his family and close friends. And, if she was honest with herself it was the only thing that she had thought about since the first night after they met. IT was these strong feeling that both excited and terrified her at that look. So much so that she forgot that his mind was completely open to her. If she had, she would have known why he was laughing at her.
The look on her face, that of anxiousness and longing with a touch of fear, coupled with her thoughts, and lack of attention to his, made Gohan laugh uncontrollably.
"What?" Videl asked angrily.
.:: You have forgotten, somehow. I think it is the stress my extended family has put on you. Listen to my feelings, know that I am on the same page as you when it comes to our, um, closeness. ::. Even telepathically his nervousness was apparent.
As Videl opened her mind from her own fitful emotions, she realized that he had not resolved to bed her and quash the issue. No his thoughts and resolve were of something altogether different and utterly more terrorizing.
"You cannot be serious, not after everything that happened today?" She asked aloud, astounded, and further confusing their hosts.
"I only mean to be introduced, this will take some time to explain the whole truth. But I refuse to sneak around like a thief. We have nothing to be ashamed of." Said Gohan, in a soothing, assuring and maddeningly logical, for Videl at least, way.
She signed and nodded in defeat and agreement. "I suppose the faster we get him used to you, the better." As a concerned look settled in on her face Gohan turned to the others.
"I have been putting off meeting her dad, but now I figure it is about time. Piccolo if you could?" He asked of his old friend and teacher.
"Of course. Videl you will feel a difference right away." He instructed as he raised his hand and used his power to increase the weight of every item of clothing she wore.
"Wow, it is like the gravity room. This is gonna speed me up a lot isn't it?" She asked sweating a little bit. Whether the sweat was the exertion or the worry it was hard to differentiate.
"I'll make you a couple extra pairs too, just take your extras to Gohan's and Chi-Chi can tell you how to clean them." He added rather nicely for him. His mouth curled up in a subtle smile realizing that this girl was fast growing on him as well. In another flash he gave two more identical outfits to Gohan, to carry for her.
"Good luck you two." Said Popo as he headed off to his duties. The pair thanked him for his support and well wishes.
Dende and Piccolo walked them to the edge of the lookout. The couple looked over the edge as if they would fall to their deaths weighed down by the difficulties before them. Then their friend behind them spoke.
"I don't claim to know anything about love or pairings, but I know Gohan, and he seems happier than I have seen him in a long time, even with all that is ahead. And seeing this I can tell you, it will all be fine in the long run." Said Piccolo as he turned shook his head and smiled at the pair in spite of himself.
"It's true. And if there is anything I can do to help, beyond which I have committed to, please don't be afraid to ask." Dende added in his emphatic and cheerful way.
"Thank you, both of you." Said Videl sincerely, before continuing absent- mindedly. "What a thing it must be to have God offering you any help you need?"
Gohan just smiled widely at her, then in a flash pulled her over the side and flew back toward her home. As they left they could hear the laughs of the Nameks who lived at the top of the world.
=-=-=-=-=
Gohan paused in the air above Satan Mansion. He looked to the precious bundle in his arms and asked.
"Are you ready for this? I won't force you." He said compassionately.
:: No you are right. We need to do this sooner or later. :: Came her silent reply. "But you do know that you may need to show him that you are strong enough to take care of me." She spoke aloud while remembering many occasions when her father had outlined his No Boys rule.
"I think I can handle that. Here we go." He spoke with a smile as he plummeted to the ground with ease, and set her before her front door. He left again for a second to deposit her new clothes on her balcony before he appeared beside her again.
To her credit, Videl did not have any trouble with her keys or the lock. Not that her nervousness was a secret, but she took heart at her composure as they entered the large foyer, and called out for the judge.
"Daddy! Are you nearby? I have someone I want you to meet!" She yelled in the direction of Mr. Satan's private study. The yell echoed throughout the large entranceway, the echoing in Gohan's sensitive ears made him worry for the terribly expensive looking crystal chandelier that hung above it all. Videl took note of the spare thought and smiled at him.
"Here I am honey, now just who is this friend. . . A boy??" Asked the world champion in disbelief, not quite shouting but still putting the bitter taste of the word into his intonation.
"Yes daddy, this is Gohan. He is a new friend of mine, and he is a boy, of course." She added with a wry smile added to the first few words spoken to the boy to accompany the knowing glance.
"Nice to meet you sir." Gohan said politely extending his hand in greeting.
"Gohan eh? You are friends with my little princess? How long have you know her?" Asked the suspicious father, with a remarkably objective tone.
"Yes sir, Videl and I are friends. And to your other question, I started school with her on Monday, so it has been a couple of days now. She was actually the first person that I met here in the city." He mused in the way only he could, oblivious to the interrogation he was receiving.
"Do you have a family name? Or are you hiding something?" Mr. Satan further inquired, mentally making a list of things he did not like about the boy already.
"I can answer that, he kinda is hiding something." Said Videl with a comforting look to Gohan before she continued. "You see his dad is famous too. Son Gohan is his full name." Videl could tell by the look on her father's face that he was on his way to the connection but still could be as far as an hour away. "As in Son Goku, your predecessor as Number-One- Under-Heaven Champion." She concluded, even spelling out the title of 'World Champ' in it's literal meaning. [**]
"Wow, that actually is impressive. So I'd imagine that is how you got to be friends, so much in common. So sweetie did you bring him home to impress your old man with your famous friends?" He asked dismissing this situation for a 'near miss'.
"I bet Videl could do far better than me in that regard." Said Gohan jokingly, earning a nice full laugh from Videl, and doing harm to her father's mood. Friendly interactions like this with boys do little to ease the mind of protective fathers everywhere, let alone one of the most protective of all.
Before her father could find some other reason to assault Gohan for being near her, Videl pressed onward.
"Yes Daddy, Gohan and I did become fast friends because of what we have in common, but not our fathers, at least not directly." She said cryptically earning her dad's interest and dread.
"What is that, the martial arts?" He asked carefully.
"No. We both know what REALLY happened at the Cell Games. Even the parts you don't know because you were unconscious or cowering behind that TV guy." Said Videl so simply that she forgot to notice when her father imploded.
Once Mr. Satan had regained his wits, they were in the front sitting room. He was in his usual chair, Videl was attending to him, kneeling in front and Gohan was standing over her, looking worried for the first time since his visit began.
"How did you? How do you?" Began first words from the shocked father. The simple way in which his biggest fraud was revealed to his pride and joy had stopped him in thought for a time as he was ushered to a place to sit and take some strain off.
"Well I found that tape of yours, the remote view, in our old house. That was a few weeks ago. It was very interesting. I came to several conclusions just based on that, then when I compared notes with Gohan I knew I was right." She said simply, reassuring him with her calm.
"And you aren't mad? I mean, I never told you, have been lying, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I am sorry." He stammered, as his guilt pulled his eyes and head ground-ward in shame.
"At first I was, but then I started to realize that you were just as trapped in your fame as I feel sometimes. And I guess I started to feel sorry for you. Not that I am not disappointed, but you still are my dad and I do love you." She scolded in a comforting way before hugging the big lug.
"Thank you Videl. I am so sorry." He said tearing, hugging her back. And as he set his head on her shoulder he looked to Gohan. He still stood over them, with a soft look on his face at the scene before him.
"You should thank Gohan, before I met him I was quite mad at you. But he explained some things to me, and some facts, and basically just reminded that faults and all you are still my dad." She said aloud as they parted. Before adding as she turned to him. ::You showed me all that, in just these few days with your family. I aim to return the favor. ::
"Thank you son." Added Mr. Satan earnestly. Gohan just smiled shyly to all of the things said to and about him, as well as the focus shift. "By the way, you never told me how he knew. Did you show him that tape?"
"No he was there." Said Videl so simply that she did not realize they were her words. She looked to Gohan, then to her father, only after that did her hand fly to her own mouth realizing that she said it, and so simply. Gohan tenderly smiled at her as she gasped, showing so simply and completely that it was all right.
"IT was YOU!!!" Gasped the Champ, if not for the previous shock he might have been knocked from his chair at the revelation.
"Yes." Simply, directly was Gohan's response.
"And you aren't mad either?" Asked Mr. Satan softly, afraid.
"No." Even more simply, nonchalantly even.
"But, I mean, how, I mean, why not?"
"I was very young, and the earth needed a hero they could look up to and you did that well. Plus with the loss of my dad, lets just say that you ended up doing me a favor." Said Gohan to the shock but eventual acceptance of the usurper.
"But he was so, strong. No offense, but you don't look all that strong." Said Mr. Satan carefully.
"Trust me he is. I have seen some of his strength." Said Videl with pride, before adding, a little dreamily. "He is quite the crime fighter."
"So that's you too huh? Well not that I don't believe you, but lets have a demonstration. Can you really truly fly?" The champ ended the request in a manner that was not exactly identical to his daughter's similar question.
"OK. Do you have a gym or something?" Asked Gohan as he eyed the expensive looking furniture, art, and other decorations that could be easily destroyed with the slightest display of his strength.
"I think the basement workout space will be best." Answered Videl knowingly.
The room that he led them to, 'the basement workout space', would have put to shame any giant health club that stood next to and adjoined a martial arts temple. It was a space with every conceivable device for training on one half, weights aerobic machines, and the like. And the other half was sparing area, punching bags and even a breaking area. Now half is a relative term. For as big as the mansion was, it seemed this area was just as big underneath, if not bigger.
So in the daunting workout bunker, Mr. Satan felt quite comfortable that he had gained some confidence, and could resume his fatherly role. He turned to the intruding boy, though he was an unexpected help, and comfort, he still was a boy with his daughter something never to be taken lightly. The look he wore on his face was one of impressed confusion.
"What is all this stuff for?" Gohan asked curiously. He knew what it was, conceptually, but given who he was, had no working knowledge of any of it.
"What do you mean?" Asked Mr. Satan, even more confused. Was the kid messing with him?
"Gohan is confused cause he's never used anything like this. It all is designed to focus on certain muscles, or types of exercises or techniques." She explained.
"Never used, seriously? Then how could he be strong? I don't understand." Said Mr. Satan.
"It is different for him. Let's just say that he could do anything you asked of him in this room with ease. Actually his seven-year-old brother could too. And don't just think that it is inherited from his dad, even his mom trained with Goku." At that Videl looked away quickly, as she remembered Chi-Chi's earlier 'training' comment. Gohan made a muted 'eep' at the echoed memory.
Mr. Satan took the sound from the boy as reluctance at the challenge. So he decided to begin the tests.
"Now, my boy, strength is not everything, but it is important, and is a good place to start. Let's see how much you can lift." He said as he led them to a weight rack near the bench press. "So how much can you bench?" He asked.
Gohan looked to Videl as she smirked at him. "Lift it for him." She said simply.
"Ok." He replied as he simply went up to the shiny rack of funny shaped pieces of metal took handholds on either side of the support and lifted it to waist level. "Where would you like it?" He asked.
"That's fine." Squeaked Mr. Satan as he mentally counted the dumbbells and free weights on it. As he worked his math as quickly as possible, Videl decided to help.
"Gohan, the numbers on the metal are the weight of each piece how much is on the rack?" Asked Videl, snapping Mr. Satan from his math woes.
"About 400 pounds in barred ones and 500 in flat ones. I guess the rack weighed about a hundred cause it felt like a thousand to me." Answer Gohan while pondering. As if to finish his thought he picked it up got a feel for the weight again, and set it back down with a nod.
A few long seconds later, the champ blinked his eyes back into his head and forced out another challenge.
"And the flying? Is that for real?" He asked incredulously.
"Sure, just look at Videl." Said Gohan as he gestured to where she hovered.
"Amazing. How do you do that?" Mr. Satan asked of Gohan.
"How I do it? I just taught her how to apply her energy. It is just something you can learn if you can control yourself and have enough power." He said nonchalantly.
"He taught you how to fly so well in so short a time? I thought for sure it was a trick. And when I saw you floating, I thought he was I dunno projecting it to you. Floating you." Mr. Satan said to his daughter apologetically. "This sure is some talented friend. How could I expect less of my talented daughter?" He concluded with a proud smile.
"Thanks dad. Ok so now what?" She asked looking like he could ask anything of the boy and she would still be just as confident.
"Um, how about breaking, that is an important measure of the martial artist mind over matter and all." Said the champ unsure of just who he was dealing with at every moment.
"Before you ask Gohan, breaking boards and bricks is a little showy, but it is a good way to demonstrate just where you are in strength. You have found reason to do similar things haven't you?" She asked with a smile and a memory of a certain mountain exploding.
"I suppose, so what do I need to do?" Looking at the pairs of cinderblock stacks on which a careful stack of wood pieces stood.
"Just break as many as you can." Mr. Satan instructed with confidence towards the 10-board stack.
"Break the three piles." :: Not too fast either! ::
Before Mr. Satan could even process the quick vocal instructions Gohan had chopped through the stack of wood like it was a pile of feathers. Then he quickly recovered pulled two fists to eye level, paused for a second then punched the cinderblocks. The damage to the floor from the nonchalant chop was actually remarkable. But compared to the mess that was beneath the cinderblock dust after the punches, it was not even worth note.
There were two identical craters in the floor about 5-6 inches deep, in a circular pattern that took up about one square foot, and cracks in the visible concrete could be seen trailing many yards away. The shaking of the house subsided a moment later, and only then did Mr. Satan realize that Gohan had not even punched all the way into the blocks. His hands rested just an inch or two below where the blocks were a moment before.
"Be careful, you will knock down the house!" Scolded Videl.
"Oops sorry." Apologized Gohan.
"Just how strong are you?" Stammered the older man.
"He is the strongest." Said Videl full of confidence, before Gohan could answer in his humble unassuming way. ::Trust me, this is a time to be forthcoming about strength. It will only help for later. :: She offered to hush any protests. He just smiled shyly at her suggestions of later.
"Strongest? He looks kinda scrawny to me." Said Mr. Satan, gaining confidence if only to spite the shy, but strong looks they were trading.
"He does not want to be recognized. He wants to keep your secrets. You really should be thankful." Said Videl, knowing better but hoping this was enough to convince him. The look on his face showed skepticism as he sized up the boy. "Fine. Gohan, show him you aren't scrawny."
"If you say so." Gohan simply removed his school dress shirt, hoping that the sleeveless tee underneath would prove enough of a point. Something about being half naked around Videl at this point seemed dangerous. He shyly looked to the older man after he neatly folded his shirt and set it on a nearby table.
Mr. Satan could not help but be impressed by the young man's slim but well- built physique. "You must work out an awful lot, son." He said as he turned to his daughter for confirmation, he saw something he definitely did not like. He saw his only daughter eyeing the young man hungrily with a furtive grin on her face. No, he did not like this at all. "Videl!" He admonished.
"Sorry." She said as she caught herself and turned away quickly. :: Dangerous? You ain't kidding! :: "Gohan show him all of it, something he might have seen seven years ago." Mr. Satan eyed her with curiosity and a slight fear of the pure power he had seen at the Cell Games. :: Just go super to prove to him once and for all. Do it dramatically. :: She instructed silently.
"If you say so. Stand back." He said shaking his head, before issuing his warning with utmost seriousness.
Mr. Satan simply took a step back and waited for something to happen. Videl wisely walked six feet away and winked at Gohan as an indication that he should start.
Gohan set his face in a moment of concentration, pulling upon his latent power to push his ki to that barrier where the legendary power of his father's people would spring forth in a fiery golden blaze.
The World's Champion stood awaiting movement from the boy before him. The subtle stirring of the air did not give him any indication that the boy was doing anything; he was just standing there, knees bent and arms at his side. A moment later he noticed the wind picking up with curiosity before the air around the boy began to boil within his white aura. At this point he could nearly feel the energy coming off the boy, but the slight growing noise he made let him know that he was just getting started. At this point he felt a chill of recognition, this power that made his hair stand up, this was the power of Cell, he recalled, the energy of absolute physical power.
Videl could feel he was getting close in his slow build up, and wisely braced for the burst when he pushed through to the next level. Her father was not nearly as prepared for the change.
Mr. Satan was in awe of the energy emanating from the boy. And he was also vaguely aware this was building to, something. There was a moment where the flare of his newly realized aura slowed, and the air calmed, for a fraction of a second the room was calm. And then in an instant, he felt it again. The push of energy sending the air in all directions, he was hit with wind, yes, but also with the force of his energy. Mr. Satan recognized this as well, that feeling from the fateful day, of the world being shaken by the inherent power of a titan. And then as he picked himself off the floor he saw it, the face of his savior, years older, with shorter, maybe even tamer hair, but that same green, cold, callous, pitiless eyes of the true world's savior. Here was the truth, and for the first time he actually believed that the boy had been there, and had won over the beast.
"The power, I can feel it!" Exclaimed the man. Even before he spoke Gohan had lowered his aura and energy to its lowest in this form, and allowed them to approach again. The champ moved close again as his daughter did, not even noticing when he got up from the floor. "He's gotten even bigger! How is that possible?" He asked Gohan.
"It is a function of lowering your strength to behave normally. If he were like this all the time the strain would be great just to keep from crushing a glass in his hand. Not that he couldn't do that normally but as strength increases control becomes more difficult." Explained Videl.
"Actually sir, Videl is nearly to the point where she can control her strength thusly. She does even now slightly. If you notice that her legs still keep their feminine shape even though they are as strong as yours." Pointed out Gohan before realizing his two mistakes in the look in Videl's eyes.
If Mr. Satan had heard him comment on something so sexual as the status of and appearance or appeal of her legs, let alone the fact that she was implied to be as strong as her father, he did not make any indication. He only appeared to be deep in thought. "Is that so?" He concluded.
"Well Gohan I suppose you need to be heading home?" Asked Videl as she decided to end their visit there, for fear of any damaged they had done to her father. :: That is enough for tonight. I don't think he heard anything we said since he was knocked over. :: Gohan just nodded in response as he powered down and they all headed upstairs and toward the door.
At the top of the stairs Mr. Satan had stopped quickly. And so they three stood in the kitchen area Gohan and Videl eyeing the champ nervously as something in the way he had stopped made them think he had been listening to everything after all.
"I have been thinking. And I have a question to ask before you leave." Said the Champ cryptically. The way he asked first gave Videl a quick surge of panic.
"Anything sir." Replied Gohan resolved to make sure this first visit ended well.
"Gohan my boy, this power of yours. Is it hereditary?" Asked Mr. Satan with a glimmer of something oddly familiar in his eye.
"I guess you could say that, but there is more to it than that." Started Gohan only to be cut off.
"But your father had it, and your brother has it, and it is something that will continue." The champ asked as that something increased.
"Yes." Said Gohan as confused as Videl next to him.
"Excellent. Well you are certainly welcome here anytime. And you should have dinner here, say on Saturday night, you two can work out the particulars just let me know. See you then."
"Yes sir. Goodbye." Said Gohan as the champ exited. Once he was gone he allowed himself to gulp in dread.
"What?" Asked Videl. "I don't know how that could have gone better." She exclaimed in relief and surprise.
:: I didn't realize at first, but that look in his eyes, I had seen it before. And it terrified me more than anything I have ever known. ::
::What look?::
::When he asked me about hereditary power, he had the look of my mother. When she is talking about grandchildren.::
"Oh my god it was!!" Videl Gasped, in disbelief and horror.
:: It almost would be better if he hated me.::
:: I dunno, it could have its advantages.:: Added Videl coyly, if silently.
"Yeah, until the two of them meet." Said Gohan in pure dismay.
At this Videl went pale for a few long moments. Before she was roused back to life by a very exuberant goodbye kiss.
::Wow, this is a sudden change in opinion, sudden, but nice. Why the change?::
:: I figure if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.:: He added silently as he added a big smile to the lip lock than grew with it's partner till it broke the kiss.
"Goodnight." They said in laughing unison. Then she walked him back to the door, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek for her father's sake to send him on his way. At the top of the stairs, Mr. Satan smiled broadly, all his worrying had been in vain after all. His daughter might just have secured her future, and his legacy.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
End Notes. At last check no one had guessed this is where we were going. I guess that means it went to plan. Sorry it took so long. This is honestly the only way I could see Mr. Satan reacting; I mean how could he not want his descendants to have this strength? This is the true way he is greedy. There may still be some issues of Gohan's worth, but the first requirement, stronger than him, and able to protect her, is met. Hope this came out well; it is one of the parts I have been looking forward to. Thank you for reading. More to come.
** Insofar as I know Tenkaichi means number one under heaven. And according to the DB manga from Viz as well.
Chapter 13
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Last time:
"For now I say we just get Videl some weighted clothes. And Dende, you work on the room. We may still use it, but if not it would be useful in the future at least. But now there is something else we must do." He said in full seriousness. Mentally preparing himself for the task ahead.
-------------
Videl saw the look on his face, so serious, strong, resolute, and only one thing came to her mind. It was really the only thing on her mind since the unnerving conversations with his family and close friends. And, if she was honest with herself it was the only thing that she had thought about since the first night after they met. IT was these strong feeling that both excited and terrified her at that look. So much so that she forgot that his mind was completely open to her. If she had, she would have known why he was laughing at her.
The look on her face, that of anxiousness and longing with a touch of fear, coupled with her thoughts, and lack of attention to his, made Gohan laugh uncontrollably.
"What?" Videl asked angrily.
.:: You have forgotten, somehow. I think it is the stress my extended family has put on you. Listen to my feelings, know that I am on the same page as you when it comes to our, um, closeness. ::. Even telepathically his nervousness was apparent.
As Videl opened her mind from her own fitful emotions, she realized that he had not resolved to bed her and quash the issue. No his thoughts and resolve were of something altogether different and utterly more terrorizing.
"You cannot be serious, not after everything that happened today?" She asked aloud, astounded, and further confusing their hosts.
"I only mean to be introduced, this will take some time to explain the whole truth. But I refuse to sneak around like a thief. We have nothing to be ashamed of." Said Gohan, in a soothing, assuring and maddeningly logical, for Videl at least, way.
She signed and nodded in defeat and agreement. "I suppose the faster we get him used to you, the better." As a concerned look settled in on her face Gohan turned to the others.
"I have been putting off meeting her dad, but now I figure it is about time. Piccolo if you could?" He asked of his old friend and teacher.
"Of course. Videl you will feel a difference right away." He instructed as he raised his hand and used his power to increase the weight of every item of clothing she wore.
"Wow, it is like the gravity room. This is gonna speed me up a lot isn't it?" She asked sweating a little bit. Whether the sweat was the exertion or the worry it was hard to differentiate.
"I'll make you a couple extra pairs too, just take your extras to Gohan's and Chi-Chi can tell you how to clean them." He added rather nicely for him. His mouth curled up in a subtle smile realizing that this girl was fast growing on him as well. In another flash he gave two more identical outfits to Gohan, to carry for her.
"Good luck you two." Said Popo as he headed off to his duties. The pair thanked him for his support and well wishes.
Dende and Piccolo walked them to the edge of the lookout. The couple looked over the edge as if they would fall to their deaths weighed down by the difficulties before them. Then their friend behind them spoke.
"I don't claim to know anything about love or pairings, but I know Gohan, and he seems happier than I have seen him in a long time, even with all that is ahead. And seeing this I can tell you, it will all be fine in the long run." Said Piccolo as he turned shook his head and smiled at the pair in spite of himself.
"It's true. And if there is anything I can do to help, beyond which I have committed to, please don't be afraid to ask." Dende added in his emphatic and cheerful way.
"Thank you, both of you." Said Videl sincerely, before continuing absent- mindedly. "What a thing it must be to have God offering you any help you need?"
Gohan just smiled widely at her, then in a flash pulled her over the side and flew back toward her home. As they left they could hear the laughs of the Nameks who lived at the top of the world.
=-=-=-=-=
Gohan paused in the air above Satan Mansion. He looked to the precious bundle in his arms and asked.
"Are you ready for this? I won't force you." He said compassionately.
:: No you are right. We need to do this sooner or later. :: Came her silent reply. "But you do know that you may need to show him that you are strong enough to take care of me." She spoke aloud while remembering many occasions when her father had outlined his No Boys rule.
"I think I can handle that. Here we go." He spoke with a smile as he plummeted to the ground with ease, and set her before her front door. He left again for a second to deposit her new clothes on her balcony before he appeared beside her again.
To her credit, Videl did not have any trouble with her keys or the lock. Not that her nervousness was a secret, but she took heart at her composure as they entered the large foyer, and called out for the judge.
"Daddy! Are you nearby? I have someone I want you to meet!" She yelled in the direction of Mr. Satan's private study. The yell echoed throughout the large entranceway, the echoing in Gohan's sensitive ears made him worry for the terribly expensive looking crystal chandelier that hung above it all. Videl took note of the spare thought and smiled at him.
"Here I am honey, now just who is this friend. . . A boy??" Asked the world champion in disbelief, not quite shouting but still putting the bitter taste of the word into his intonation.
"Yes daddy, this is Gohan. He is a new friend of mine, and he is a boy, of course." She added with a wry smile added to the first few words spoken to the boy to accompany the knowing glance.
"Nice to meet you sir." Gohan said politely extending his hand in greeting.
"Gohan eh? You are friends with my little princess? How long have you know her?" Asked the suspicious father, with a remarkably objective tone.
"Yes sir, Videl and I are friends. And to your other question, I started school with her on Monday, so it has been a couple of days now. She was actually the first person that I met here in the city." He mused in the way only he could, oblivious to the interrogation he was receiving.
"Do you have a family name? Or are you hiding something?" Mr. Satan further inquired, mentally making a list of things he did not like about the boy already.
"I can answer that, he kinda is hiding something." Said Videl with a comforting look to Gohan before she continued. "You see his dad is famous too. Son Gohan is his full name." Videl could tell by the look on her father's face that he was on his way to the connection but still could be as far as an hour away. "As in Son Goku, your predecessor as Number-One- Under-Heaven Champion." She concluded, even spelling out the title of 'World Champ' in it's literal meaning. [**]
"Wow, that actually is impressive. So I'd imagine that is how you got to be friends, so much in common. So sweetie did you bring him home to impress your old man with your famous friends?" He asked dismissing this situation for a 'near miss'.
"I bet Videl could do far better than me in that regard." Said Gohan jokingly, earning a nice full laugh from Videl, and doing harm to her father's mood. Friendly interactions like this with boys do little to ease the mind of protective fathers everywhere, let alone one of the most protective of all.
Before her father could find some other reason to assault Gohan for being near her, Videl pressed onward.
"Yes Daddy, Gohan and I did become fast friends because of what we have in common, but not our fathers, at least not directly." She said cryptically earning her dad's interest and dread.
"What is that, the martial arts?" He asked carefully.
"No. We both know what REALLY happened at the Cell Games. Even the parts you don't know because you were unconscious or cowering behind that TV guy." Said Videl so simply that she forgot to notice when her father imploded.
Once Mr. Satan had regained his wits, they were in the front sitting room. He was in his usual chair, Videl was attending to him, kneeling in front and Gohan was standing over her, looking worried for the first time since his visit began.
"How did you? How do you?" Began first words from the shocked father. The simple way in which his biggest fraud was revealed to his pride and joy had stopped him in thought for a time as he was ushered to a place to sit and take some strain off.
"Well I found that tape of yours, the remote view, in our old house. That was a few weeks ago. It was very interesting. I came to several conclusions just based on that, then when I compared notes with Gohan I knew I was right." She said simply, reassuring him with her calm.
"And you aren't mad? I mean, I never told you, have been lying, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I am sorry." He stammered, as his guilt pulled his eyes and head ground-ward in shame.
"At first I was, but then I started to realize that you were just as trapped in your fame as I feel sometimes. And I guess I started to feel sorry for you. Not that I am not disappointed, but you still are my dad and I do love you." She scolded in a comforting way before hugging the big lug.
"Thank you Videl. I am so sorry." He said tearing, hugging her back. And as he set his head on her shoulder he looked to Gohan. He still stood over them, with a soft look on his face at the scene before him.
"You should thank Gohan, before I met him I was quite mad at you. But he explained some things to me, and some facts, and basically just reminded that faults and all you are still my dad." She said aloud as they parted. Before adding as she turned to him. ::You showed me all that, in just these few days with your family. I aim to return the favor. ::
"Thank you son." Added Mr. Satan earnestly. Gohan just smiled shyly to all of the things said to and about him, as well as the focus shift. "By the way, you never told me how he knew. Did you show him that tape?"
"No he was there." Said Videl so simply that she did not realize they were her words. She looked to Gohan, then to her father, only after that did her hand fly to her own mouth realizing that she said it, and so simply. Gohan tenderly smiled at her as she gasped, showing so simply and completely that it was all right.
"IT was YOU!!!" Gasped the Champ, if not for the previous shock he might have been knocked from his chair at the revelation.
"Yes." Simply, directly was Gohan's response.
"And you aren't mad either?" Asked Mr. Satan softly, afraid.
"No." Even more simply, nonchalantly even.
"But, I mean, how, I mean, why not?"
"I was very young, and the earth needed a hero they could look up to and you did that well. Plus with the loss of my dad, lets just say that you ended up doing me a favor." Said Gohan to the shock but eventual acceptance of the usurper.
"But he was so, strong. No offense, but you don't look all that strong." Said Mr. Satan carefully.
"Trust me he is. I have seen some of his strength." Said Videl with pride, before adding, a little dreamily. "He is quite the crime fighter."
"So that's you too huh? Well not that I don't believe you, but lets have a demonstration. Can you really truly fly?" The champ ended the request in a manner that was not exactly identical to his daughter's similar question.
"OK. Do you have a gym or something?" Asked Gohan as he eyed the expensive looking furniture, art, and other decorations that could be easily destroyed with the slightest display of his strength.
"I think the basement workout space will be best." Answered Videl knowingly.
The room that he led them to, 'the basement workout space', would have put to shame any giant health club that stood next to and adjoined a martial arts temple. It was a space with every conceivable device for training on one half, weights aerobic machines, and the like. And the other half was sparing area, punching bags and even a breaking area. Now half is a relative term. For as big as the mansion was, it seemed this area was just as big underneath, if not bigger.
So in the daunting workout bunker, Mr. Satan felt quite comfortable that he had gained some confidence, and could resume his fatherly role. He turned to the intruding boy, though he was an unexpected help, and comfort, he still was a boy with his daughter something never to be taken lightly. The look he wore on his face was one of impressed confusion.
"What is all this stuff for?" Gohan asked curiously. He knew what it was, conceptually, but given who he was, had no working knowledge of any of it.
"What do you mean?" Asked Mr. Satan, even more confused. Was the kid messing with him?
"Gohan is confused cause he's never used anything like this. It all is designed to focus on certain muscles, or types of exercises or techniques." She explained.
"Never used, seriously? Then how could he be strong? I don't understand." Said Mr. Satan.
"It is different for him. Let's just say that he could do anything you asked of him in this room with ease. Actually his seven-year-old brother could too. And don't just think that it is inherited from his dad, even his mom trained with Goku." At that Videl looked away quickly, as she remembered Chi-Chi's earlier 'training' comment. Gohan made a muted 'eep' at the echoed memory.
Mr. Satan took the sound from the boy as reluctance at the challenge. So he decided to begin the tests.
"Now, my boy, strength is not everything, but it is important, and is a good place to start. Let's see how much you can lift." He said as he led them to a weight rack near the bench press. "So how much can you bench?" He asked.
Gohan looked to Videl as she smirked at him. "Lift it for him." She said simply.
"Ok." He replied as he simply went up to the shiny rack of funny shaped pieces of metal took handholds on either side of the support and lifted it to waist level. "Where would you like it?" He asked.
"That's fine." Squeaked Mr. Satan as he mentally counted the dumbbells and free weights on it. As he worked his math as quickly as possible, Videl decided to help.
"Gohan, the numbers on the metal are the weight of each piece how much is on the rack?" Asked Videl, snapping Mr. Satan from his math woes.
"About 400 pounds in barred ones and 500 in flat ones. I guess the rack weighed about a hundred cause it felt like a thousand to me." Answer Gohan while pondering. As if to finish his thought he picked it up got a feel for the weight again, and set it back down with a nod.
A few long seconds later, the champ blinked his eyes back into his head and forced out another challenge.
"And the flying? Is that for real?" He asked incredulously.
"Sure, just look at Videl." Said Gohan as he gestured to where she hovered.
"Amazing. How do you do that?" Mr. Satan asked of Gohan.
"How I do it? I just taught her how to apply her energy. It is just something you can learn if you can control yourself and have enough power." He said nonchalantly.
"He taught you how to fly so well in so short a time? I thought for sure it was a trick. And when I saw you floating, I thought he was I dunno projecting it to you. Floating you." Mr. Satan said to his daughter apologetically. "This sure is some talented friend. How could I expect less of my talented daughter?" He concluded with a proud smile.
"Thanks dad. Ok so now what?" She asked looking like he could ask anything of the boy and she would still be just as confident.
"Um, how about breaking, that is an important measure of the martial artist mind over matter and all." Said the champ unsure of just who he was dealing with at every moment.
"Before you ask Gohan, breaking boards and bricks is a little showy, but it is a good way to demonstrate just where you are in strength. You have found reason to do similar things haven't you?" She asked with a smile and a memory of a certain mountain exploding.
"I suppose, so what do I need to do?" Looking at the pairs of cinderblock stacks on which a careful stack of wood pieces stood.
"Just break as many as you can." Mr. Satan instructed with confidence towards the 10-board stack.
"Break the three piles." :: Not too fast either! ::
Before Mr. Satan could even process the quick vocal instructions Gohan had chopped through the stack of wood like it was a pile of feathers. Then he quickly recovered pulled two fists to eye level, paused for a second then punched the cinderblocks. The damage to the floor from the nonchalant chop was actually remarkable. But compared to the mess that was beneath the cinderblock dust after the punches, it was not even worth note.
There were two identical craters in the floor about 5-6 inches deep, in a circular pattern that took up about one square foot, and cracks in the visible concrete could be seen trailing many yards away. The shaking of the house subsided a moment later, and only then did Mr. Satan realize that Gohan had not even punched all the way into the blocks. His hands rested just an inch or two below where the blocks were a moment before.
"Be careful, you will knock down the house!" Scolded Videl.
"Oops sorry." Apologized Gohan.
"Just how strong are you?" Stammered the older man.
"He is the strongest." Said Videl full of confidence, before Gohan could answer in his humble unassuming way. ::Trust me, this is a time to be forthcoming about strength. It will only help for later. :: She offered to hush any protests. He just smiled shyly at her suggestions of later.
"Strongest? He looks kinda scrawny to me." Said Mr. Satan, gaining confidence if only to spite the shy, but strong looks they were trading.
"He does not want to be recognized. He wants to keep your secrets. You really should be thankful." Said Videl, knowing better but hoping this was enough to convince him. The look on his face showed skepticism as he sized up the boy. "Fine. Gohan, show him you aren't scrawny."
"If you say so." Gohan simply removed his school dress shirt, hoping that the sleeveless tee underneath would prove enough of a point. Something about being half naked around Videl at this point seemed dangerous. He shyly looked to the older man after he neatly folded his shirt and set it on a nearby table.
Mr. Satan could not help but be impressed by the young man's slim but well- built physique. "You must work out an awful lot, son." He said as he turned to his daughter for confirmation, he saw something he definitely did not like. He saw his only daughter eyeing the young man hungrily with a furtive grin on her face. No, he did not like this at all. "Videl!" He admonished.
"Sorry." She said as she caught herself and turned away quickly. :: Dangerous? You ain't kidding! :: "Gohan show him all of it, something he might have seen seven years ago." Mr. Satan eyed her with curiosity and a slight fear of the pure power he had seen at the Cell Games. :: Just go super to prove to him once and for all. Do it dramatically. :: She instructed silently.
"If you say so. Stand back." He said shaking his head, before issuing his warning with utmost seriousness.
Mr. Satan simply took a step back and waited for something to happen. Videl wisely walked six feet away and winked at Gohan as an indication that he should start.
Gohan set his face in a moment of concentration, pulling upon his latent power to push his ki to that barrier where the legendary power of his father's people would spring forth in a fiery golden blaze.
The World's Champion stood awaiting movement from the boy before him. The subtle stirring of the air did not give him any indication that the boy was doing anything; he was just standing there, knees bent and arms at his side. A moment later he noticed the wind picking up with curiosity before the air around the boy began to boil within his white aura. At this point he could nearly feel the energy coming off the boy, but the slight growing noise he made let him know that he was just getting started. At this point he felt a chill of recognition, this power that made his hair stand up, this was the power of Cell, he recalled, the energy of absolute physical power.
Videl could feel he was getting close in his slow build up, and wisely braced for the burst when he pushed through to the next level. Her father was not nearly as prepared for the change.
Mr. Satan was in awe of the energy emanating from the boy. And he was also vaguely aware this was building to, something. There was a moment where the flare of his newly realized aura slowed, and the air calmed, for a fraction of a second the room was calm. And then in an instant, he felt it again. The push of energy sending the air in all directions, he was hit with wind, yes, but also with the force of his energy. Mr. Satan recognized this as well, that feeling from the fateful day, of the world being shaken by the inherent power of a titan. And then as he picked himself off the floor he saw it, the face of his savior, years older, with shorter, maybe even tamer hair, but that same green, cold, callous, pitiless eyes of the true world's savior. Here was the truth, and for the first time he actually believed that the boy had been there, and had won over the beast.
"The power, I can feel it!" Exclaimed the man. Even before he spoke Gohan had lowered his aura and energy to its lowest in this form, and allowed them to approach again. The champ moved close again as his daughter did, not even noticing when he got up from the floor. "He's gotten even bigger! How is that possible?" He asked Gohan.
"It is a function of lowering your strength to behave normally. If he were like this all the time the strain would be great just to keep from crushing a glass in his hand. Not that he couldn't do that normally but as strength increases control becomes more difficult." Explained Videl.
"Actually sir, Videl is nearly to the point where she can control her strength thusly. She does even now slightly. If you notice that her legs still keep their feminine shape even though they are as strong as yours." Pointed out Gohan before realizing his two mistakes in the look in Videl's eyes.
If Mr. Satan had heard him comment on something so sexual as the status of and appearance or appeal of her legs, let alone the fact that she was implied to be as strong as her father, he did not make any indication. He only appeared to be deep in thought. "Is that so?" He concluded.
"Well Gohan I suppose you need to be heading home?" Asked Videl as she decided to end their visit there, for fear of any damaged they had done to her father. :: That is enough for tonight. I don't think he heard anything we said since he was knocked over. :: Gohan just nodded in response as he powered down and they all headed upstairs and toward the door.
At the top of the stairs Mr. Satan had stopped quickly. And so they three stood in the kitchen area Gohan and Videl eyeing the champ nervously as something in the way he had stopped made them think he had been listening to everything after all.
"I have been thinking. And I have a question to ask before you leave." Said the Champ cryptically. The way he asked first gave Videl a quick surge of panic.
"Anything sir." Replied Gohan resolved to make sure this first visit ended well.
"Gohan my boy, this power of yours. Is it hereditary?" Asked Mr. Satan with a glimmer of something oddly familiar in his eye.
"I guess you could say that, but there is more to it than that." Started Gohan only to be cut off.
"But your father had it, and your brother has it, and it is something that will continue." The champ asked as that something increased.
"Yes." Said Gohan as confused as Videl next to him.
"Excellent. Well you are certainly welcome here anytime. And you should have dinner here, say on Saturday night, you two can work out the particulars just let me know. See you then."
"Yes sir. Goodbye." Said Gohan as the champ exited. Once he was gone he allowed himself to gulp in dread.
"What?" Asked Videl. "I don't know how that could have gone better." She exclaimed in relief and surprise.
:: I didn't realize at first, but that look in his eyes, I had seen it before. And it terrified me more than anything I have ever known. ::
::What look?::
::When he asked me about hereditary power, he had the look of my mother. When she is talking about grandchildren.::
"Oh my god it was!!" Videl Gasped, in disbelief and horror.
:: It almost would be better if he hated me.::
:: I dunno, it could have its advantages.:: Added Videl coyly, if silently.
"Yeah, until the two of them meet." Said Gohan in pure dismay.
At this Videl went pale for a few long moments. Before she was roused back to life by a very exuberant goodbye kiss.
::Wow, this is a sudden change in opinion, sudden, but nice. Why the change?::
:: I figure if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.:: He added silently as he added a big smile to the lip lock than grew with it's partner till it broke the kiss.
"Goodnight." They said in laughing unison. Then she walked him back to the door, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek for her father's sake to send him on his way. At the top of the stairs, Mr. Satan smiled broadly, all his worrying had been in vain after all. His daughter might just have secured her future, and his legacy.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
End Notes. At last check no one had guessed this is where we were going. I guess that means it went to plan. Sorry it took so long. This is honestly the only way I could see Mr. Satan reacting; I mean how could he not want his descendants to have this strength? This is the true way he is greedy. There may still be some issues of Gohan's worth, but the first requirement, stronger than him, and able to protect her, is met. Hope this came out well; it is one of the parts I have been looking forward to. Thank you for reading. More to come.
** Insofar as I know Tenkaichi means number one under heaven. And according to the DB manga from Viz as well.
