Here's the next chapter folks! Sorry for the delay on the chapters as of late, but I'm just having a hard time writing them. And I don't think my schedule is going to be helping much either since I'm going back to school. So updating once a week might be the norm from now on.
I don't own DBZ.
Two Halves of a Soul
Chapter 9: Fun Times and Plans
"Where're we at? I thought we were going to your home again." Videl says while Gohan slowly descends towards a field that, as far as Videl can tell, is nowhere near Gohan's small house.
As happy memories of times spent in this field rise to the surface in Gohan's mind his eyes fill with unshed tears. "Tou-san and I used to train in this field. We even spent some time here…just relaxing and enjoying life…before the Cell Games."
"Oh…I can see why you'd want to spend time here." Videl says as she looks around at the tall grass and wild flowers blanketing the field in a sea of color along with the occasional tree. "But we can go someplace else if you want." She adds upon seeing the pain in her friend's eyes.
"No, it's ok. I haven't been here since…he died." Gohan says while quickly wiping away a tear before it can roll down his cheek.
Videl notices the stray tear and sets her mind to the task of coming up with a way to make Gohan feel better. "Alright." She says softly to mask the various plans running through her head.
"So what do you want to learn today?" Gohan asks, his voice still tainted with sadness.
Videl's takes on an evil smirk as she thinks of a way to try and cheer Gohan up. "I don't know. How about we just…" Videl says as she tackles Gohan to the ground. "…spar." She finishes while springing back to her feet and dropping into a fighting stance.
As he laughs and props himself up on his elbows, Gohan says with mock hurt, "Hey! That's not fair! I wasn't ready!"
"Oh I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Videl says, her voice not holding any concern that she might have actually hurt him.
Gohan smiles and replies in a voice filled laughter. "No, but I must avenge the plants that were crushed beneath me when you knocked me over! Now prepare to lose!"
"Ok, if you say so. So how about the first one pinned to the ground loses?"
"Sounds good. But you do know I'm a lot stronger then you right?"
"Of course. It will be nice to fight someone who's an actual challenge." Videl says with a smirk before charging at Gohan. After taking several steps Videl pretends to trip and fall over something hidden by the tall grass. Getting back to her feet, she collapses back to the ground while holding her ankle and acting like she is in a lot of pain.
"Videl! Are you ok!" Gohan calls as he runs to her in concern. As he kneels down next to her to examine the supposedly injured ankle he misses the smirk on Videl's face. The next thing Gohan knows, he is face down on the ground with pain shooting through him as Videl pins his arms behind his back with one hand while gripping his tail tightly with the other.
Releasing her grip on Gohan's arms and tail, she stands up. "Looks like I win." She says proudly while dusting her hands off as though they were dirty.
Gohan rolls over and sits up. "Yeah, but that wasn't fair. You tricked me." He says with mock hurt as he looks up at her.
"So. I still won fair and square." Videl says smugly while crossing her arms over her chest. "I pinned you to the ground. You never said that I couldn't use your tail against you."
"I don't know about the fair part, you tricked me into thinking that you were injured." Gohan says with a smile while rubbing his sore tail. "By the way, it really hurts when you grab a Saiya-jin's tail like that."
"I know, I found that out this morning when I was changing." She says with a grimace while remembering how much it hurt when she accidently stepped on her tail while changing her clothes earlier. "But anyway, I'm not the one that fell for it."
"Well…when you put it that way, I'm not the one who wants to learn how to fly." Gohan says with a smirk before taking to the air and floating several feet above Videl.
"Now who's not being fair?" Videl says while glaring at the floating boy above her head. "I seem to recall you offering to teach me, not me asking you to teach me."
Gohan opens his mouth to reply, but shuts it as he realizes Videl is right. "Oh yeah…sorry." He says with a nervous laugh while floating back to the ground. "Since we're already talking about flying I guess we can work on that then."
Videl grins at him as though it is the greatest thing she has ever heard someone say.
"To fly…let's see…you basically just…umm…I guess…uhh…you just put your ki underneath yourself and use it to lift yourself up." Gohan says while scratching his head.
Videl just looks at him in confusion before sarcastically replying, "Well thanks for making that so clear."
"You're welcome." Gohan says with a smile. "But I've never had to explain this to anyone before so that's the best I can do."
"Whatever. So al I have to do is focus my energy beneath me?"
"Yeah. Focus it beneath you, then lift yourself with it."
"Ok." Videl says as she closes her eyes in concentration.
"Remember, relax." Gohan says when he sees Videl's muscles tensing up in an attempt move her ki through her body. "You can't force your ki to do something." He adds, and instantly sees Videl's muscles relax.
Minutes pass in silence while Videl tries to manipulate her ki. The only sounds floating on the gentle breeze are the soft buzzing of insects, a quiet rustle coming from the grass, and the occasional song of a bird in the distance. Gradually, the rustling of the grass becomes louder as Videl's ki stirs up the air around her. The air boils and swirls around her until it presses the grasses and flowers firmly against the ground.
Several tense seconds pass as Gohan watches Videl slowly begin to lift into the air. 'She's done it…she's learned to fly, or at least hover, a lot faster then I thought she would.' He thinks while Videl slowly hovers higher.
When her feet are almost a foot off the ground Videl opens her eyes to see that she is indeed floating, and that it is just not some illusionary feeling. "I…" Is all she gets out before falling to short distance back to the ground.
"Lost your concentration?" Gohan says jokingly.
Videl glares at him from the ground. "Ha ha. Very funny. I could have hurt myself."
"It would take a lot more then that little fall to hurt you."
"Ok, so why didn't I do more then hover?"
"Flying takes more practice then shooting ki blasts. And you did better then I thought you would."
"Oh." Videl says while standing up to try to fly again. This time her ascent into the blue sky does not stop at a foot, but continues until she is a little higher then the few large trees scattered throughout the large field. "Look Gohan! I'm higher then the trees!" Videl says excitedly as she floats in the air.
"You're doing great Videl! It took me more then a day to be able to hover like that." Gohan says while Videl gingerly lowers herself back to the ground.
Videl wipes away the beads of sweat that have formed on her forehead while sitting down. "That…takes a bit out of you."
"Yeah. It gets easier the more times you do it though." Gohan says while sitting beside her. "How about you rest for a few minutes and then we can try flying around instead of hovering?"
"Ok, that sounds good." She says while remembering something Gohan had said the day before. "Gohan? Why did you tell your mom that my tail grew back when that guy attacked us?"
"Huh? Oh…I guess I forgot to tell you about that." Gohan says while scratching the back of his head. "It's just that…well…I was going to tell her what Vegeta said, but then I got this strange feeling that Kaa-san would act strangely." He says while Videl just looks at him questioningly. "I felt that she would start crying and talking "how her baby is growing up," marriage, grandchildren, and stuff like that."
"Why…would you think something like that? We're only eleven."
"I don't know. It was just…a feeling…like I know I'd regret saying anything about that."
"Hmm…whatever…so what do you have in mind for the next part of my flying lessons?"
"Simple, I fly and you try to catch me."
"You're kidding right? I mean you're so fast. There's no way I can catch you."
"I'll go slow. Now try and catch me." Gohan says while floating into the air and several feet away.
Videl closes her eyes in concentration for a few seconds before she too floats into the air. "Alright, here I come!" Videl gradually makes her way towards Gohan while bobbing every which way like a boat rocked by waves. Just as she is about able to reach him, Gohan moves away. Again she slowly moves towards Gohan, and again he moves away. "Would you hold still! How am I supposed to catch you if you keep moving!" She yells in annoyance.
"I never said I wouldn't move. I just said that I'd go slow, and I am." Gohan says with a smirk.
"Why you!" Videl yells as she unconsciously manipulates her ki, getting a small burst of speed towards Gohan, almost catching him by surprise.
"I don't think you can catch me Videl. You're too slow." Gohan says tauntingly. "I bet little Trunks could catch me easier then you."
"I'm not slow! And there's no way some one year old is faster then me!" Videl shouts as her Saiya-jin half feels the jab at her pride. Her power goes up in response to the insult causing another increase in her speed.
'Yikes…I got to pay more attention.' Gohan thinks as he barely manages to avoid being tagged by Videl. Deciding that a change of tactics is in order, Gohan starts to constantly move. This little change in their air born game of tag causes Videl to glare at him.
As Videl's frustration grows, so does her speed. She chases him around the field for the better part of half an hour when Gohan suddenly stops, causing Videl to run into him head-on.
"Hey! Why'd you stop?" She yells while rubbing her head.
"Err…sorry about that. But I think it's time for lunch." He says while his stomach growls to emphasize his point.
"Oh, ok. At least it's something serious." Videl says while Gohan bursts out laughing. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY!"
"Y-you! I never thought I'd…h-here someone other then Tou-san or myself…s-say that eating is something s-serious."
"I didn't say tha…crap, I guess I did say that. But it's not that funny!"
Gohan calms himself some before saying anything. "Sorry, it's just that everyone that I know always says we Saiya-jins think with our stomachs."
"Then how's that make what I said funny?"
"Because you're starting to think with your stomach."
"I DO NOT!" Videl says while glaring at Gohan in anger. "Now…" She starts when her stomach growls like Gohan's did only moments before. "…can we go eat? I'm hungry."
"Sure." Gohan says while starting to fly towards his home, Videl flying beside him. "But what were you saying about not thinking with your stomach?"
"I told you I don't thi…ok fine. But just because I want to go eat and I woke up because I smelled breakfast cooking this morning doesn't mean I think with my stomach."
Gohan snickers. "Of course it doesn't."
"How much longer until we get to your house?" Videl asks a few minutes later.
"At this speed? I'd say about half an hour." Gohan says while glancing at her. "But I'm getting pretty hungry, so how about I carry you. We can be there in a few minutes." He adds upon seeing the saddened look on Videl's face.
"Ok. Not that I'm in a hurry or anything." Videl says as Gohan wraps his arms around her waist and speeds off towards his home.
~*~
Chi-Chi can feel a sudden breeze blow through the kitchen as she stirs a large pot of rice. "I thought I closed that wind…Oh, you're just in time for lunch." She says after turning around and two kids standing at the sink washing their hands.
"The food smells delicious Chi-Chi-san." Videl says while rinsing the soap from her hands.
"Yeah, Kaa-san's the best cook there is!" Gohan says excitedly as he and Videl sit at the table.
"Thank you." Chi-Chi says while blushing lightly as she sets a large bowl of rice on the table along with several other foods.
Gohan and Videl quickly serve themselves a large helping and dig in.
Chi-Chi watches in shocked dismay at the amount of food that Videl is eating.
"What is it Chi-Chi-san?" Videl asks when she notices the way Gohan's mother is looking at her.
"Nothing dear. I just figured that a female Saiya-jin would eat like…well…a Saiya-jin."
"Oh."
Fifteen minutes later the bowls of food are all empty as Gohan and Videl compliment Chi-Chi for a delicious meal before going outside.
"I want to learn more about flying." Videl says once they are back outside.
"Ok, but there really isn't anything else to know. We can work on how well you fly though. Try and catch me again." Gohan says as he takes to the air to resume their game of air born tag.
The next several hours seem to fly by as Videl chases Gohan through the air. Suddenly, Gohan no longer senses Videl following him and turns around to see her flying down towards a small building far below them.
Gohan flies down to her and says, "What's up Videl?"
"Nothing, I just saw that building and thought I saw it in a book or something." She says while continuing her descent. As they near it Videl can see that the structure has fallen into disrepair from many years of neglect.
"You may have seen this building in a book before. I think that there is a book on Master Roshi, the Turtle Hermit, and his students."
"Yeah, I think I remember reading that… Do you know which student of his lived here?"
"Actually, two of Master Roshi's students lived here. One of them was Son Gohan, he took care of my father until he was killed, and I'm also named after him. The other person was my father, Son Goku."
"How was Gohan killed?"
"Well…I guess it's best to just start at the beginning. Gohan was walking through the forest when he found a baby boy, with a tail, in a small round ship. The ship was a Saiya-jin space pod. He took this child back to his home, here, and raised him as his own child. The reason my father was originally in that pod was that the Saiya-jins sent him here to kill all the life on this planet. And to do that, they basically brain washed him during the trip through space. This made my father really mean, and would hurt small animals for pleasure. Then one day my father fell and hit his head, and after that he was a cheerful kid who never even dreamed of hurting an animal or person without reason. Then one night, a few years later, Son Gohan was killed by a giant ape. My father wouldn't learn until years later that he was the giant ape who killed Son Gohan. After the death of my namesake, Tou-san lived here alone until he met Bulma. Then he went with her on a quest for the Dragon balls." Gohan explains while Videl looks around the small, dilapidated, structure.
"Wow, you definitely have an interesting family Gohan." Videl says while looking at the small shrine like structure inside the small home. "So did you ever go on any Dragon Ball hunts?"
"Yeah, I even went on one to Namek. That's where I met Dende, Piccolo is also from there."
Videl looks up in surprise at what Gohan just said. "You've been to another planet?!"
"Yeah, we had to in order to use their Dragon Balls."
"Why's that? Couldn't you just use the Dragon Balls here?"
"No, the former guardian, or Kami, and Piccolo were one person long ago. So they had a link between them that caused them both to die if either of them was killed. And because of that, when Piccolo was killed Kami died along with him. And since Kami created the Dragon Balls they became inactive since they are linked to their creators power."
"Oh, I think I understand." Videl says while plopping down in the shade of the building. "So are there any differences between the Dragon Balls here and the ones on Namek?"
"Yeah, for one thing the ones on Namek are a lot bigger. The Dragon Balls here on Earth are about the size of a baseball while the Namekian balls are about the size of basketballs. The Namekian balls can also grant three wishes, instead of one…well actually, Dende made it so the Earth's Dragon Balls can grant two wishes. Also, Shenlong, the dragon summoned by the Earth's Dragon Balls, can only bring a person back to life if they did not die of natural causes, like old age, or if they haven't been wished back before. While the Namekian balls can bring a person back to life as many times as…OF COURSE!" Gohan exclaims as he suddenly remembers something.
"What?"
"How could I forget that?" He asks himself, completely ignoring Videl.
"Forget what?!" Videl almost yells.
"We should go there anyway so that we can…" Gohan starts rambling only to be silenced by Videl punching him. "Hey! What was that for?"
"That was for ignoring me." Videl says angrily while crossing her arms over her chest. "Now, would you mind tell me what you were rambling on about?"
"Oh… When Tou-san told me about you being a Saiya-jin in that dream the other night, he also told me about a guy who wants to bring this other guy named Buu back to life. He said that Babidi will be going to New Namek, that's where the Nameks moved to after Namek was destroyed by Frieza, and that he was then coming here. So I was thinking that I can go to New Namek, stop this Babidi guy, and then wish Tou-san back to life. I'm sure that he'll come back if I tell him that Kaa-san is pregnant. I'd have to go there anyway to wish him back since he's been wished back before.
"So you want to travel through SPACE to an ALIEN planet to fight ALIENS?" Videl asks incredulously.
"Yep. That's about it, except I also want to wish my father back with the Namekian Dragon Balls."
"Ok…I guess I can believe that after everything that's happened since yesterday. I mean…I don't know what I mean!" Videl says in exasperation as her brain suffers from information overload.
"I think you mean that since we're both half alien then this makes sense."
"Umm…I guess that's it. So anyway, how will you get to Namek?"
"I'll have Bulma make a ship…she might even have one lying around someplace."
"Oh…" Videl says with a yawn. "Do you think you can take me home now? I think I've learned enough for one day. And I don't know which is more tired, my mind or my body."
"Sure, I guess I have told you a lot." Gohan says before picking her up and flying towards Orange Star City. "You know, you could have flown here on your own." He says when they're about half way to Videl's home.
"That's nice…but I don't think I have the energy to fly that far." Videl says before nodding off in Gohan's arms for the remainder of the short flight to her home.
~*~
Fifteen minutes later Gohan is rocketing through the sky towards Capsule Corp. after dropping Videl off at home. Do to the joy he is feeling at the prospect of seeing his father again in a, hopefully, short time, he can not help but do loops and rolls in the sky. Flying low over a small lake, a flock of birds is scared into flight by his passing. And a few minutes later dolphins ride the wake thrown up behind him as he skims across the ocean's surface. It seems like an eternity has passed before Gohan finally sees the large yellow dome of Capsule Corp. at the heart of Western Capital City.
Gohan lands with such speed that anyone watching would think he appeared out of thin air, and then sprints to the door he had used the day before. Punching in the code, the computer barely has time acknowledge the code and unlock the door before Gohan flings it open. He opens his mouth to yell for Bulma as he walks through the living room, but his breath catches in his throat as his face pales then turns red with suppressed laughter at the scene before him. There before him on the couch are Bulma and Vegeta. It's not the fact that they are together and not fighting that causes him to stand there open mouthed, but it is how Vegeta is acting that causes his stupor. For he is sitting there with Bulma seemingly draped over him while he is whispering sweet nothings in her ear. And it is these whispered words that are causing his sunburned appearance.
"Gohan!" Bulma exclaims upon seeing the boy as she tries to pull her blouse closed only to find that it is not unbuttoned.
"Uhh…hi Bulma-san." He says numbly.
"What do you want brat? Did you come for lessons on how to excite your mate?" Vegeta says while glaring at the boy whose face is now red from embarrassment.
"What…" He starts only to be cut off by Bulma.
"Quiet Veggie-chan. You know Gohan and Videl aren't old enough."
"Yes I know Onna, but it's never to early for him to learn."
"VEGETA! I hope you don't take that attitude with our son! If you do then I may just have to borrow a frying pan from Chi-Chi." Bulma says with an evil glint in her eye, which suddenly disappears as she turns her attention to Gohan. "What brings you here today Gohan?"
"I…uhh…oh yeah, I need a ship so I can go to New Namek and stop a guy named Babidi from resurrecting a guy named Buu and then I want to wish Tou-san back with the Namekian Dragon Balls since ours can't bring him back to life and I'm sure he'll come back when he finds out Kaa-san is pregnant." He says quickly in one breath.
"Umm…ok…I think I got most of that. So do you know how many will be going?"
"No, not specifically. But I know I'm going. I uhh…never thought about anyone else going."
"Well if there's a chance for me to fight Kakarott then I'm going." Vegeta says as he unceremoniously moves Bulma off of his lap so he can get up.
Bulma glares after Vegeta before responding. "Ok then, why don't you talk to everyone and see if they want to go."
Gohan gives Bulma a hug and says, "Thanks Bulma-san! You're the greatest!"
"Settle down, it will take me a month to finish the ship I've been working on. It's the one of the fastest ones yet but it will still take a month to get to New Namek. That means it will be two months before we even set foot there. And when we do get there it might be too late." Bulma says, causing Gohan to lose the sparkle of hope in his eyes for he knows that if they arrive too late then the Nameks may be dead. And if they are dead then there is no hope of bringing his father back to life since the Nameks have been wished back to life before. "Hey, cheer up. I'm sure we'll get there just in time to get out butts kicked then blow up this Babidi guy."
Gohan laughs a little at this. "Yeah, I'm sure you're right. I got to go and tell Kaa-san now. I'll talk to you later Bulma-san."
"Ok, just call me when you find out who will be going with us."
"'k…wait, with US? You're going?"
"Of course. I'm not about to trust my new prototype ship to anyone else, especially if his royal pain in the a…excuse me, his Royal Highness will be on board."
"Oh…ok then. Bye."
"Bye Gohan."
~*~
"Videl." Olivia says softly while shaking her lightly. In response Videl just mumbles something and rolls over. "Videl, dinner's ready." She adds, causing Videl to sit up and almost knock Olivia over. "Well I guess someone is hungry tonight."
Videl laughs a little. "Sorry about that. But Saiya-jins eat a lot…and I guess you could say that we're controlled by our stomachs."
"Ok dear." Olivia says while going back to the kitchen, closely followed by Videl.
Hercule is already sitting at the table as he busily reads some papers stacked beside him. "Oh, good you're awake sweetie. I got some good news. We got that mansion. And Mike, or Mitch, or whatever his name is, said that there's going to be a special ceremony thing on Monday, so Olivia's going to take you shopping for a nice dress tomorrow."
"That's nice Poppa." Videl says as she eagerly eats her food, completely missing the comment on dress shopping.
~*~
As Gohan lands beside his home fifteen minutes later he suddenly remembers what he has to tell his mother and pales slightly. "Kaa-san! I'm home!"
"Ok dear. Dinner will be ready in a while."
"That's nice but I…uhh…need to talk to you about something." He says while taking a seat at the table and drawing the attention of his mother. "The other night…Tou-san appeared in a dream and told me that this guy named Babidi is going to New Namek to bring this other guy, Buu, back to life. Then Babidi is going to come here. And I figure we can go to New Namek and stop Babidi there and…"
"WHAT!!! YOU'RE NOT GOING INTO SPACE! IT'S TOO DANGEROUS!"
"I know it's dangerous. But I still want to go. And besides, I already talked to Bulma, and she'll have a ship finished in a month. And she said that Vegeta and her will go…and I figure we could wish Tou-san back while we're…"
"Wish Goku back!?! Why didn't you say so? Of course you can go."
"Really? Thank you Kaa-san!" Gohan exclaims while hugging her.
"You're welcome, but if you don't let go I can't finish cooking dinner."
"Err…sorry Kaa-san." Gohan says before going to the phone to call the Z-Senshi and ask them about going to New Namek.
I had originally planned on putting the conversation(s) about going to New Namek in chapter 8, but that would have rushed it I think.
Please review or I may only be able to update every two weeks or more.
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