"The helmet's badly broken," said Bulma as she examined his headgear. "It may take me days to finish fixing this, or making another one like this."

"Oh boy," sighed Gohan. "Knowing Videl, she won't be able to stay away long enough from trouble…and Saiyaman needs to be on the watch for her, 24/7. But Saiyaman can't make an appearance without a helmet, or she'll surely recognize me!"

"I don't see why that should worry you so," said Trunks, fanning himself with one of Gohan's notebooks. "You're just her tutor, geez!"

"She also happens to be my friend," said Gohan, toying with the broken helmet. His mind though, was drifting to the scene days ago, under the ruins of the city bank that exploded.

Gohan sighed, relieved that he was able to turn into a super Saiyan just in time to protect Videl. When the bomb exploded, the first thing that came to his mind was to shield her from the blast. It was fortunate that he was able to push her down just in time, or she could have…

He shook his head firmly, not wanting to dwell on that anymore. Quickly, he checked Videl's body for injuries.  Just then, he felt her move. Her fingers started to shake to life.

And her eyes slowly opened.

Then he found himself staring, drowning into the dark oblivion of her eyes, and at the same time, laughing in relief inwardly. She was safe and sound. He had never known what relief was until now.

But he made the fatal mistake of looking at her slightly parted lips—the rose petal-shaped mouth that dictated gravity, coaxing him to fall down entirely on top of her and take it into his own.

He inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to keep himself in check. He shouldn't be thinking this way! Not in this situation! He shook his head vehemently, then smiled shakily. "Hey…"

She gazed at him for what seemed like an eternity before she spoke softly.

"My…phantom came back."

He froze. Phantom? What did she mean by that? And what did she say about the phantom returning?

A sense of déjà vu overwhelmed him, pulling him back to the time when he saved a pretty young girl years ago. The girl who wasn't frightened by the rush of the people wanting to get away from Cell; who didn't cry when an explosion nearly took her life. The girl whose last request was for him to find her father and bring him home safely. The girl with large, dark eyes and plentiful raven hair.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt her move. He watched as her face slowly ascended towards his. He didn't trust himself to move; not even when he felt their lips touch. He involuntarily shut his eyes, lost in the sound of his racing heartbeat and the blood pounding in his ears; lost in the incredible, indescribable feeling of the kiss.

Then all of a sudden, it was over. Videl had fainted in his arms, and he had opened his eyes. And from there, he knew he was never the same again.

"Some friend she is," observed Trunks, grinning wickedly. "I'm sure as hell that I don't blush and stare off to space dumbly when I think of Goten."

He sweatdropped. "Trunks, she…she is different. In the first place, Goten is not…a girl."

"Uh-huh," nodded Bulma, eyebrow cocked teasingly. "And those eyes, Gohan dear, are the eyes of your father when he married your mother. I recognized that look too, when my husband proposed to me."

"Did I just hear my name?" growled Vegeta from the second floor, where he was engrossed with his training.

"Your hearing is as sharp as ever!" yelled his Aunt Bulma, then turned to him once more. "Anyway, Gohan, think your feelings over."

"Feelings?" he echoed.

"Just try to sort them out," she said, winking at him. She then handed him a piece of white cloth. "For the meantime, you can use this bandanna…and I think Vegeta has a pair of dark sunglasses that he got as a Christmas gift last year but never wore…"

"It's better than the helmet and the milk pail," shrugged Trunks.

Gohan sighed, then nodded.

*********************

The next Monday…

"See you later, Papa! Bye!" bade Videl before she left their mansion hurriedly. She still had to complete her daily pound around the Satan city before classes.

"Goodbye Mr. Satan!" bade someone else behind her. She blinked, then turned around. Gohan was behind her, waving at her father cheerfully too. It was then that she realized that Gohan was officially starting his new duties today as her shadow watch. After the bomb explosion in the bank, her father had been more protective than ever. In fact, one of the measures he did was to assign her tutor to become his eyes and ears on her.

A part of her rebelled on that idea; she was used to always being on her own. She carried a spirit of independence in her—something her father couldn't even break. But not this time, because her father was dead serious about his concern for her life.

She understood him, but she still couldn't help but feel irritated.

"Let's go, Miss Videl."

She turned to her tutor, an eyebrow arched. She was also not too jolly about the idea of her tutor breathing down her neck every minute. It was enough that he was wreaking havoc on her rationale whenever they were having their tutorial sessions on afternoons. How in the world would she live with the fact that he would be with her not only in the afternoon but also in mornings and early evenings?

He sweatdropped. "D-Did I say something wrong?"

She rolled her eyes and hurried away.

"Ms. Videl! Hey, wait up!" He ran after her. "I-I know you don't like the idea of me checking on you all the time, b-but it's the idea of your father, and I don't think it's fair to make me your outlet for your anger."

She steamed quietly. Now THAT was NOT really THE reason why she was mad. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, taking in his boyish sheepish grin. She sighed and turned her attention back to the path she was walking on.

Why couldn't have he VOLUNTEERED to be her watch instead of the idea having to come from her father? Now it seemed like he was just being forced to follow her Papa.

She clenched her fists. Of course that was how things should be. It was her father who employed him, and naturally, he would only do things that he ordered him to do.

But still…

You're looking for some sort of sign that he really, REALLY cares, right? her heart asked.

She stole a furtive glance at her tutor, then groaned. It was all her fault. Really. She shouldn't have paid too much attention to him. If she only didn't get interested with sparring with him, then she wouldn't have to think of him often. And sneaked glances at him. And got curious about his boyish grin and warm, wise, and patient eyes.

And much, MUCH more.

Which all led to this annoying feeling of fascination for him.

A sort of feeling that lexicographers termed as infatuation.

I-N-F-A-T-U-A-T-I-ON.

She shut her eyes tight, shaking her head vehemently. The daughter of the Grand Martial Arts champion shouldn't be thinking this way! All she must get interested about is the welfare of the city, the triumph of justice every time, and the upholding of the good reputation of her wonderful father—

"Watch out!" yelled Gohan from behind.

She opened her eyes just in time to see a car coming for her. She then realized that she had crossed the intersection with the red light in the pedestrian traffic light on. Panicked, she ran back to the island, and was pulled back by Gohan just in time.

She collapsed against his arms, sweating nervously. Her heart was still racing from fear and shock.

"W-What were you thinking awhile ago?" he asked scoldingly. "Were you sleeping while walking?"

"I wasn't—"

"That was too close!"

She nodded slowly, the same realization dawning on her painfully. "I know…"

She heard him exhale deeply. With that, it came to her that she was lying against his chest! So that was why her heart seemed to beat extra loud. She was listening to his own!

Flustered, she stepped back, her eyes averting contact. "S-Sorry." Her skin was still tingling from his touch.

But when he held me, it felt so familiar…

"I'm sorry too…for raising my voice awhile ago. I…just panicked, I guess. It is my fault too," he sighed. "I'm not a very good watch." He fixed the strap of his bookbag. "I was maintaining what I thought was a safe distance between us so you wouldn't feel too uncomfortable…I thought wrong."

She looked at him. "Thanks, Gohan…" She blinked when she heard herself say his name. "…sensei," she immediately supplied.

He grinned. "No problem. Let's go?"

She nodded.

********************

For a sit-in student, Gohan was not doing so badly. In fact, he became the most active participant in the class discussions and activities. He excelled in Literature, but he was also impressive in Math and Sciences. Yet he also did well in Physical Education.

Videl smiled as she gazed at him who was busy taking notes on their future lessons. Ah, he was really born a scholar—conscientious, dedicated, and zealous.

"Hello Gohan-kun!" greeted her female classmates, obviously thrilled to talk with the newest star student of the class.

He lifted his head shyly. "H-Hi!"

"Gohan-kun, you were really swell awhile ago in class!" gushed one brunette.

He blinked, then laughed self-consciously. "A-Actually, I learned those things while reading your textbooks. I-It was not really too hard…"

She looked away, willing herself not to notice how cute he was when embarrassed.

"So you already have a special girl in life?" asked Eraser later, smiling curiously.

That made her look back at her tutor. Despite herself, she wanted to know his answer for that.

"I do!" said Gohan proudly.

Her heart sank for some reason she didn't want to acknowledge.

"Oooh!" chorused the girls.

"My mother," smiled her sensei.

*******

"You weren't too bad today," Videl commented, making him look her way. He was packing his books back.

"Maybe you should be a full-fledged student here in Orange Star High," she continued. "I can see your potentials. You would make all our teachers happy because you're a good student."

"Y-You…really think so?" he asked shyly. He couldn't believe that she thinks that way about him. She was not the first one to say that he was smart, but she was the first person he really believed.

She smiled slowly, her eyes crinkling. He observed that she could really be beautiful when she was relaxed and happy.

Beautiful. Now that was one word he had never used on anyone save for one person. Sure, his Aunt Bulma was pretty. So was Android 18 and her daughter, Marron.

But in his eyes, his mother was beautiful. Beautiful beyond words. Her strength was beautiful, and so was her kind smiling heart.

Now what made him suddenly think of Videl Satan in those terms?

As if vexing him, the memory of what happened under the rubbles of the bank came back into him.

The vulnerability in her face that he could never forget. The indescribable feeling of her lips on his that was forever etched in his soul.

"Gohan-sensei?"

He blinked, and then realized that he had been staring at her wordlessly for the past few minutes already. He felt his ears turn red.

"S-Sorry," he managed to mumble.

She eyed him suspiciously. "Is something wrong with my face?"

"No!" he blurted out. "It's PERFECT! I-I mean…" He looked down at the table, feeling his heartbeat commencing its marathon once more.

She paused. "Then why were you—"

"Videl! Hey!"

He saw Sharpener heading their way. He was marginally relieved to have her attention shifted away from him. Marginally.

The blond handed her a bouquet of roses that seemed to have came out of nowhere. "For you. My thanks for your assistance in my algebra."

She sighed audibly. "I never really did anything."
"I still insist you take my offering," he grinned, then turned to him. "Hi Gohan! Where did you go that day?"

His forehead creased. "Pardon?"

"You know, the day the bank was bombed." Sharpener crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You suddenly took off from the garden. Where did you go?"

He panicked inwardly when he saw Videl frown. "He left?" she asked.

"A-Ah, I was…" He scratched his cheek, desperately thinking of an alibi. "…worried."

"Worried?" she echoed.

He nodded immediately. "Worried. A-About you, I mean." He wiped a bead of nervous sweat from his forehead. "I tried to go after you, but the bank was crowded with onlookers and the police, so I just stood by and waited for news about you."

"How come we didn't see you there?" asked Sharpener.

"I don't know…but I was there," he said in his best conviction.

"Oh well." Sharpener made notes. "There goes one suspect."

"Suspect of what crime?" Eraser materialized from behind.

"I'm looking for the man beneath the dopey Saiyaman helmet," explained Sharpener.

Gohan winced inwardly. Good thing his Aunt Bulma lent him a new headgear for his costume.

"It's not that dopey!" protested Videl immediately.

"It is," said Eraser, shrugging. "But I saw him on the news. Those tights are sexaaaayy," she gushed.

It took him all of his self-control not to blush big time.

"Whatever," said the muscle man. "But the point is, we have to unmask him. I mean, what does he have to hide? If he really is the good guy in the picture, then why does he have to go on disguise?"

"Maybe he's protecting his family," he suggested quietly.

The three looked at him in surprise.

"T-That's how it goes in movies," he said quickly, although the first and last movie he saw was a love story. He remembered his mother insisting on watching that, even if his father didn't look too comfortable.

"He does have a point," said Eraser. "Or maybe he's camera shy." She faced the blond. "Why are you so hell bent on him all of a sudden anyway?"

The boy merely grinned. "I'll tell you in due time." He glanced at his wristwatch. "Anyway, no time for chitchats. I have to catch Saiyaman!" He waved at him and Eraser, then winked at Videl. He then walked away, holding on to his camera.

Videl sighed. "Let's go home," she told him wearily.

The blonde blinked. "Hey wait a minute! Are the two of you living in…together?"

Gohan blinked.

Videl's face reddened. "Of course not! You and your dirty mind!" She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Oh wait, I forgot to tell you. He's my tutor in Algebra."

"Really?" Her eyes widened. "Wow, Gohan-kun, maybe you can teach me too—"

"Hold it!" Videl placed her hands on her hips. "Let me finish my introduction. Gohan also happens to be my fiancé too."

Gohan's eyes widened.

-------

to be continued