Field Trip To Camp Hercule
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Previous chapter...
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"That was close!" Erasa gasped, sucking in a breath of air.
"Yeah, yeah. But did you see that? Operation Gohan and Videl, plan A--"
"--was only partly successful!" Erasa finished for Sharpener before frowning. "One of the next few plans had better work, before we run outta letters to use."
Sharpener straightened, yanking a twig out of his hair. "You really think we'll take that long?"
"Knowing Gohan's obliviousness, and Videl's stubbornness... Yep."
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Super Saiyan Schizophrenia
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"How to Get Your Friends Together." Erasa flipped the book open, to the last page before reading the words outloud.
"Remember, always put your lovers-to-be in situations when they'll be physically close. Of course, the loss of some clothing wouldn't be so bad either."
A wide, evil grin spread over Erasa's face as Sharpener blinked, scratching his head. He still hadn't been able to wash out all the dirt from his hair from their last failed plan, ending with them hiding in a bush.
After several moments of silence, Sharpener spoke up.
"So?"
Erasa snapped the book shut, then turned to her boyfriend, an eyebrow quirked as she frowned at him.
"Whatta you mean ... 'so'?! Isn't it obvious?"
"Isn't what obvious?"
Sighing irritably, Erasa flung her hands in the air in exasperation.
"I should've listened to my mother about guys like you!" Mimicking a high-pitched whiny voice, she continued - "'There may be some boys out there who seem wonderful, honeybunch, but stick with the smart ones! Those are the best in the long-run!"
The teen's eyes widened as his face fell. "Hey, that wasn't nice..."
"Men!!"
Blonde-hair whipping behind her, Erasa spun on her heel and stomped off, huffing all the way as her face burned a bright, furious red.
Sharpener took a step forward, a small frown forming on his face. "Hon, I'm sorry! Really! I didn't mean to--" he stopped, shaking his head as he groaned. "Women."
Erasa flipped the book backwards into her bookbag as she cast an irritated glance over her shoulder. How could he be so stupid sometimes?
Doesn't he remember anything? Wait, this is Sharpener, the man who forgot what day Spring Break started. Of course he didn't remember...
She plopped down on a nearby bench, shaking her head and muttering. Out of all things, he shouldn't have forgotten that they were going to be going swimming. After all, it was written all over the schedule in big, bold letters - how could the dolt not notice? Swimming was legendary at the camp. That was the one time the counselors, being their normal, 'sensible' selves, left the teenagers to frolic alone in the lake. Baaaad idea. Last year, when that'd happened, most of the guy's pantsed the girls, and the girls had ended up fighting back by doing the same. Then again, the girl's tended to be more mean - most of the swimming trunks were lost, and the guys had to streak back to the cabins.
What was going to happen this year, she didn't know, but she had an idea of what she was going to force to happen, if it didn't take place on its own. So many accidents can happen at a lake, anyways. No one to blame for those!
Thoroughly pissed, Videl rummaged through the laundry, muttering. Another stupid shirt was wet, so that meant she had to get another! Normally, she'd be happy to dry it in the drying machine, but the one's at the camp were crappy and would probably shrink it. Only other option was air dry, and there was no way that she was going to walk around the rest of the day in a wet, white, shirt. A wet white shirt that Gohan had seen her in twice, the second time being the worst.
Yanking a clean and dry shirt out of the luggage, Videl quickly peeled off the wet shirt and replaced it with the other. She had to admit, the look on Gohan's face had been hilarious. Her auto-reaction was to get annoyed, but she later realized that she didn't mind at all. In fact...
Wait! This is Gohan we're talking about. Remember, Gohan's a freak, we don't like Gohan.
We don't like Gohan? I'm pretty sure we do. I mean, since when do you let a guy get a good look like that without totally beating the pulp out of him?
I felt sorry for him!
Sure. Go ahead, say what you want, but I know the truth.
You are me, baka.
Videl cut her thoughts shorts, slapping herself lightly upside the head. She was doing it again, she was arguing with herself! About Gohan, none the less. She finally came to a forced conclusion that the brief moment of niceness that she'd felt towards Gohan had meant she was weakening emotionally, which she guessed had something to do with the fact that her father was coming back to camp in a few days to have a fighting match with some students. That knowledge was enough to make her gag.
She had spent her days trying to get away from him, and just when she had a chance to get out of the house, he was coming to the camp, which was named after him!
Arrogant bastard.
Falling silent, Videl turned and glanced around the room as a loud ringing sounded. After tracking down the source of the noise, the girl slipped her cell out of her bag and clicked it open.
"Satan Videl speaking."
"Miss Satan! Captain Goma speaking. I'm sorry to disturb you, but we need help again--"
"Please say it's not another bank robbery."
"No, no! It's just a, ah, minor problem... Well, we need some help here."
A petrified yell sounded in the background over the phone, soon followed by a high pitch scream. Videl winced and held the cell away from her ear until the scream died down, then put it to her ear again.
"Okay, I know that. I just need to know what you need help with, and where." Normally, she wouldn't have been so short with him, but it'd been a long day - she had her reasons.
"Oh, right! In the mall, they're pretty much hitting up every store they can get to. Chaos and havoc everywhere..."
"Alright, hold up until I'm there." Snapping the cell closed before shoving it back into her bag, Videl grabbed the bag and slung it over her shoulder as she ran outside. Waving and yelling to a passing counselor about the robbery, she sprinted to her helicopter and jumped inside, immediately turning the ignition to take flight. Within seconds she was in the air, speeding towards the city.
What's that noise, anyways?
Gohan raised his head, looking to the skies curiously. There was some motor thing up there, but since when were planes and helicopters in forest areas? A lightbulb suddenly clicked on in Gohan's brain.
Gaaack! Videl!
The yellow machine flew by with a burst of wind over his head, blades chopping at the air. Blinking and gasping for air as dust exploded into his face, Gohan rubbed his eyes with his knuckles to clear his vision. Seconds later, he was airborne as well, shooting full-speed after Videl in his Saiyaman outfit.
"Gotta keep up, otherwise I'll lose her," he whispered to himself before jetting forward with a burst of speed, so that he was directly behind the helicopter. Remaining the short distance behind her, he surveyed their location - they were currently flying over the city, once again heading to where its center was located.
Rolling his eyes, Gohan sighed. Those robber guys better not have escaped or something, and had better not try to rob the same bank again! Suddenly the helicopter veered to the right, the caped hero following. Nope, it was the mall this time. And what a robbery it was.
Panicked civillians crowded the parking lot as cars honked frantically, people running out of the mall from the left and right. Cop cars surrounded the building, and a few military helicopters were stationed above the roof. Videl's helicopter soon dropped from the air to head towards the roof, landing easily on the top. Gohan, knowing he was about to get an earful, landed behind the machine as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Stepping out of the helicopter, Videl turned and stalked up to him.
"What are you doing here?"
Blinking innocently, Gohan scratched the back of his head and spoke lowly - "Who, me?"
"Yes, you," responded Videl, exasperated.
"Why, I'm helping you, naturally!"
A long silence stretched between them after the comment, before the girl huffed and turned away, running to the door that led to the stairs.
That didn't go over too well...
Shaking his head, Gohan jogged after her, closing the door behind them as he clattered down the steps. Videl wasn't even trying to be quiet. Element of surprise? Gone. Not like the bad guys, whoever they were, would care; there were already hundreds of people all running around screaming while waving their arms above their heads.
Popping the door open from the stairs to the mall, Videl was suddenly pushed back up against Gohan and the pair slammed into the wall as a surge of people shoved past them and began to run down the stairs, some tripping and falling to roll down the steps instead. The pair was shoved up into a corner until the flow of victims had diminished to none.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Gohan looked down and blushed. Yep, he'd done it again, the whole get-too-close-to-Videl-and-end-up-being-embarassed thing. Oopsie.
Videl glanced up at Gohan, who was still holding her tightly in his arms and squinted slightly as she tried to look up the bottom of his helmet. The Saiyan finally noticed what she was attempting to do after several seconds and yanked his helmet down, almost slapping himself in the process as Videl blinked and frowned before pulling away.
"Ummm. Well, since you're here - let's just take these guys out, okay?"
"What? Ah-oh, right." Nodding his head vigorously, Gohan ran out of the door following closely behind Videl, letting out a small sigh as he did so.
The two teens jogged through the mall, neatly dodging screaming civillians as they ran past, heading to where all the sound seemed to be coming from. Not the screaming, but the explosions and loud bang of gunshots. These guys meant business.
Suddenly, the daughter of Hercule skidded to a stop, Gohan crashing into her from behind. They both tumbled to the floor with a loud thump, and continued skidding across the marble ground for several feet before crashing into a wall and coming to a stop.
"Oh, geez!" Videl cursed under her breath, cradling her head with both hands as she groaned.
A weak, sheepish smile on his face, Gohan stood, extending a helpful hand to Videl which she blatantly ignored. Scratching the back of his head, the Saiyan slowly drew back his arm and laughed uneasily, slowly falling silent as Videl turned her head slightly, glaring at him out of the corner of her eye.
"What is so funny?" she questioned, eyes glinting.
"Whoa, I didn't say anything was funny--"
"You implied itby laughing!"
A low cough sounded from a nearby bench, and Videl and Gohan turned to see two guns cocked and aimed at their faces, smirking thugs holding the triggers.
Awww, man! This is not going the way it's supposed to!
Videl blinked once, hard, then again, mouth hanging open just a bit. That had not been expected at all. One second, she was arguing with some caped idiot, the next, she was being held up by some two dumbasses who she could take anywhere, anytime and in anyway--well, if they didn't have guns, that is. She was good, but not that good. Not quite as fast as a bullet, not quite as strong as steel--she wasn't superwoman, for crying out loud!
Forcing a self-reassured grin, Videl went for one of two options that were available to her in her mind. Running was out of the question. Bluffing, however...
"Hey, guys. Want to talk negotiations? I'm sure the few hundred guys back there would be happy to sit and watch."
The two men glanced at each other, then back at Videl before breaking out into laughter.
"Oh, sure, babe." Another man stepped up from behind the two thugs, pushing past them to stand in between them. "We have scouts all over, and they've been reporting that the cops have been running scared. We ain't got nothing to worry about with you two going down. The babe of Satan City, and," the man sneered as he glanced at Gohan. "the masked moron himself, Great Saiyaman."
Gohan shook his head quickly, then spun, fists clenched at his sides. His Saiyan pride had just been insulted!
"What did you say?!" he nearly yelled, somehow managing to keep his voice relatively calm and level.
"You heard me." The man grinned suddenly, adjusting a backwards baseball cap on his head. "Moron. Idiot. Stupid. Weak."
Now, the first few insults didn't bother him too much, even though they were enough to make him want to take down the bad guys more. But saying he was weak, however--oh, that just made him furious.
"I don't THINK SO!!"
Gohan drew his arms to his sides as he closed his eyes, muscles flexed as he growled deeply within his throat, then let out an enraged yell, his helmet bursting off and away from his body as the energy coursed over his body, his blonde spikes shooting upwards and extending. Taking a step back and shaking his head, the Saiyan opened a single aqua-marine eye, and growled again, more lowly this time.
"Oh, shit!" The leader's face was contorted with surprise. "Shoot! Damn it, are you hearing me! All units, shoot them now!"
On command, tens of hundreds of bullets rang out of machine guns and pistols to speed towards the teens. Videl, too shocked to let out a shriek, squeezed her eyes shut as she waited for a hit when she was suddenly yanked off her feet and into the air. Eyes popping open again she gasped as the Golden Fighter held her easily with one arm while firing blasts of energy with his other hand.
"--and this is for my dad, and this is for Goten, and, hell, why not; this one is for VEGETA!"
Videl, still in some state of shock, stared at the golden guy who was holding her. The Great Saiyaman and the Golden Fighter were the same person?! Was she seeing things?
"Never say I'm weak, you idiots!" Gohan shot another blast of energy at a fleeing thug, laughing manically as he topped over and crashed into a window. Sure, he wasn't killing the guys, he was just putting them out of working order for a few hours, but it still felt good.
Unaware that his Saiyan side had taken over, Gohan continued firing blasts of ki in every direction until he slowly calmed, breathing heavily as he took a long look at the scene of destruction around him. Everywhere, there was rubble, glass, and unconcious criminals. The jailhouse was going to be pretty full for awhile.
Meanwhile, still held captive in Gohan's grip, Videl was trying to squirm her way out of it.
My God... I'm confused. Fighter? Saiyaman? Spaz gone evil?
It eventually occured to her that getting away from Saiyaman might be a bit easier if she told him to let go. After all, he would do that and blush and so on, as he always did. Right? Right.
"Saiyaman, do me a favor and let go, okay?" she muttered irritably, glancing at the ground about ten or so feet down. "Uh, Saiyaman? Earth to Saiyamaaan..." Reaching up, Videl waved a hand in his face when Gohan suddenly grabbed it with his own, head turning slightly to stare at her.
"Hey! I said let go, not hold on!" she yelled, struggling to get out of his grasp. Didn't work at all. "Oh, come on--"
A large, evil smirk suddenly appeared on Saiyaman's face, and he dropped her. As in totally let go, so that she found herself stationary in the air one second before, then dropping like a rock the second.
"What the hell!"
Shifting in the air, then flipping, she landed a bit roughly on her two feet as she stumbled forward. Recovering, she turned and glared up to where the Gold Fighter remained, flying in small circles, as she placed her hands on her hips.
"You bastard!" she yelled, stomping her foot once for added effect. The only response she got was a low chuckle from the golden-haired guy.
Cocky son of a gun...
Videl couldn't believe it. If she had her helicopter available at the moment, she would've flown up and kicked that idiot's ass. Besides that, she was pretty confused about his current attitude. Last time she'd checked, he was the moronic, naive guy with a trashcan of a helmet and a cape. Now, all of a sudden, he was an evil, mean, self-assured guy who'd blown off his helmet and whipped off his cape, and had golden spikes for hair. That was one big transformation.
That's it. I need to talk to him, now.
"Saiyaman, Gold Fighter, whatever! Get down here!"
She didn't expect him to listen, but he ended up swooping down to land in front of her, arms crossed over his chest as he continued to sport a cocky, self-confident smirk.
"Want something?"
"More like I want to know what the heck is going on--" she started, before he stepped forward and spoke quickly.
"What? What do you think is going on?"
"You tell me," Videl countered.
Grinning widely, Saiyaman took another step forward, effectively cornering Videl against a wall. Placing a hand on each side of her head, he leaned forward, so that their faces were almost touching. Tilting forward, he whispered in her ear seductively.
"Why all the questions? There are better things to do besides asking questions all the time."
Videl's jaw dropped open slightly, and she blushed, muttering under her breath as she glanced to the side.
"Well, I, uh--"
"Come on." The Saiyan let his hands drop to rest on Videl's shoulders, and he leaned even closer, raising one hand to lightly trace a finger over the girl's collarbone. "No more questions."
Eyes wide open, Videl shook her head, trying to knock herself out of her semi-trance.
This isn't fair! He's using this whole change of attitude to his advantage! It's definately time to stop this.
Placing both hands on his chest, Videl shoved Saiyaman back and stepped away from in front of him, scowling.
"Stop it! I know you're just acting that way so that I won't--"
The Saiyan turned and advanced on her, grinning all the way. "You won't what?"
Surprised, Videl stanced, fists raised defensively. "Don't come any closer! I'm warning you..."
He kept walking towards her at a steady pace, eyebrow twitching. "What? What are you gonna do?"
Okay, I've had it. "This!" Charging forward a step, Videl slammed her fist into the Great Saiyaman's face.
The teen reeled back just a little, shaking his head as he regained his balance. He blinked, and looked down at himself before looking back at Videl. Already, the girl had turned and had run off in some other direction.
Gohan scratched his head, confused, as his golden spikes disappeared and were replaced with his usual black hair. From the side, he picked up his cape and helmet, shoving them back on before turning back.
"What the heck just happened there?"
He vaguely remembered going Super, but after that, it was pretty blurry. Darn! Now Videl knew he was the Gold Figher... but that was currently the least of his worries. Maybe it had something to do with that punch--he remembered Videl punching him in the face, alright, but that was just about it. She must've been mad, because it actually stung a little. Not that much, but still was pretty good considering she was a human and he was a demi-Super Saiyan at the time.
Man, I hope I didn't do anything stupid or something like that...
The police were finally filing back into the mall, glancing once at Saiyaman before calling for back-up and the medics. They were going to need a load of stretchers for whatever had taken place there.
Police Captain Goma walked up to him, nodding once before speaking.
"Thanks for the help, Saiyaman. Looks like you and Miss Satan and turning out to be a great team."
"Oh, right. Thanks..." Gohan trailed off. Him and Videl, a fighting team? Not such a bad idea...
"But do you know where she is? I haven't seen her since you guys ran in. You'd better check up on her."
Blinking, Gohan nodded.
"Alright, thanks. Now, I gotta deal with cuffing these big boys, so, see you around!" Saluting, the Captain turned sharply before jogging to where the rest of the squad waited.
After slight hesitationg, Gohan stepped away and took to the air, heading out through the skylight.
Guess I'd better look for Videl, then.
Panting, Videl came to a slow stop. The stupid capsule that held her helicopter had decided to get stuck, or something. Either way, it resulted in her having to run around just to get anywhere. Resting a hand against a tree thunk, she leaned on it heavily, catching her breath. Next time, she wasn't going to run so hard like she was panicked or anything--even though, she had to admit, that whole thing with Saiyaman was scary in a weird sense.
"Why did he have to go and do that!" she complained to no one in particular. "It was so stupid and unexpected, and I hate surprises!"
Heart rate restored to normal, she pushed off the tree and began pacing. "He was being all messed up just to stop me from asking questions..." She threw her hands up in exasperation. "and it worked! Darn him, darn him, darn hi--"
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Ack!" Videl yelped and toppled over backwards, staring up with saucer-sized eyes at the caped superhero in front of her. He was back. Again. Probably to torture her some more.
She remained frozen on the ground until Saiyaman stepped forward, extending a hand.
"Need some hel--"
"Get away! Get away!" Videl waved her hands in front of her face furiously, eyes squeezed shut as the man stumbled back from her, obviously surprised.
"W-what?"
Slowly bringing her flailing hands to a stop, Videl opened both eyes and glared up at him. He was back in full attire, no golden spikes visible.
Why is he acting ... normal again?
"What do you mean, what?" Videl demanded, slowly pulling herself to her feet. "You can't just be some perverted ass to me and then, a few minutes later, act like nothing happened!"
The blank look remained on Gohan's face. "What? Did I do something bad?"
Videl face-faulted. Maybe he always was a moronic superhero, and he just had a temporary case of schizophrenia. "You... don't remember anything?"
"Huh?"
Oh, geez. This is really beginning to freak me out.
"Riiight. Well, never mind. Nothing happened. Nothing at all!" Laughing uneasily, Videl slowly turned and began to walk away, praying that he wouldn't follow her--
"Wait! Videl!"
Darn. Why isn't anything going my way today?!
Saiyaman jogged up until he was standing next to Videl, and stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. "Wait, okay? I just, well..." Scratching his head, he chuckled a little under his breath. "Honestly, I don't remember a thing. But, in case I did anything stupid or evil or something like that, I'm sorry."
Videl paused, stopping in her tracks as Gohan's hand remained on her shoulder. He actually apologized? For something he wasn't even sure of what he did?
That's so CUTE!
Turning her head slightly, she flashed a small smile at him. "Thanks." With that, she continued walking.
Gohan continued staring after her for several seconds, before cracking a small grin. I think she accepted it! Placing two fingers on his forward, he quickly mouthed the words Instant Transmission, and vanished.
"Where the hell are they?"
Sharpener glanced at his watch, then back at his magazine. "Just forget it, babe. It's, what, an hour over. Videl's probably off saving some people, and Gohan's ditching. Go figure."
Letting out a loud, frustrated sigh, Erasa plopped back down into her chair. "Okay, okay. Fine. Since they've decided to ditch and leave us all alone in crafting with these idiots," She fell quiet as a counselor walked by. "then we might as well plan how to get them. Together."
Sharpener nodded, never taking away his eyes from the magazine. "Mmhm."
"So, let's think. Swimming isn't for awhile, not until the day of the whole deciding baking contest junk. Fortunately, most of the food is cooked and ready since I'm in the group and everyone else just slacked off..." She shot a meaningful glare at Sharpener before continuing. "So, we're just going to do mostly group activities through the rest of the week. Herc is coming in, what, one day, the fourth day of the trip. He's going to have a fighting tournament--"
"Which I'm entering in, and plan to win, of course," Sharpener interrupted.
"Uh, sure." Dream on, lover, Videl's going to kick your ass. "Anyways. Videl's obviously entering, and Gohan will enter too."
The blonde-haired teen dropped his magazine, nearly bolting from his chair. "What?!"
"I said, Gohan's going to enter."
Sharpener paused, then let out a loud, harsh laugh. "Okay babe, sure, whatever. I don't know how you think that's gonna happen, considering he's a a wuss and all..." He stopped, gulping, when Erasa shot an evil look at him. "I mean, he's a great guy and all, but he seems a lot more like the dorky type than the fighter! Ya see what I'm sayin'?"
Erasa grinned. "I know that, doofus. I didn't say he'd enter it on his own. He's just going to need a little convincing, and maybe some help on our part."
Realization suddenly dawned on Sharpener, and a wide, evil smile formed on his face. "Oh, yeaaaah... I can see it now."
"Wait, I want to know what you're seeing here, buddy." Erasa's eyebrow twitched as she glanced at her boyfriend. He had a tendency to vision the very opposite of what she meant.
"I'm thinkin', Gohan and Videl, sparring off, then BANG! We burst in and tell them to get with it, that everyone thinks they should be together (save any Gohan fangirls and Videl fanboys) and then get them to kiss and go out! Howzat?"
A large sweatdrop coursed down Erasa's forehead. "Ummm. Not... quite.. what I had in mind..."
"Oh." Sharpener snapped his fingers, a little bummed out. "Darn it! Well, what's your idea? If yours doesn't work we can always use mine--"
"Yeah, yeah. Mine has Gohan and Videl fighting, then Videl gets hurt or something, kay? And then Gohan gets all concerned, admits some true love junk, they go out. There we go, case closed."
Sharpener remained silent for several seconds, until his expression brightened. "Hey! That's a pretty good idea, Erasa!"
The girl flipped her blonde-hair, obviously proud. "Of course it is. It took me an hour last night to think it up!"
The pair glanced at each other, then exchanged a high-five as they spoke in unison.
"Operation Gohan and Videl, plan B in session!"
Gohan slumped into his bed, shoving some clothes out of the way. He'd missed crafting again, unfortunately. Unfortunate that his classmates and counselors were probably getting suspicious, fortunate that he didn't have to sit through several hours of boredom. Actually, he would've preferred going through the torture of making crafty-things, like picture frames made out of popsicle sticks and such, then having to assume he went freaky on Videl and not remember one second of it.
Resting his head in his hands, Gohan let out a long, quiet sigh. "I hope I didn't do anything really bad. I mean, she seemed almost... scared of me."
He pounded the bed mattress in frustration. "What in the bloody heck did I do! She's not going to tell me, she was avoiding the subject when I kinda asked...!"
Giving up, he decided to stop beating himself up about it. For the time being, at least. Maybe she'd tell him sometime, and then he could figure out--wait. Maybe he didn't want to know what happened. Pausing, he went over anything that'd happened in the past that could somehow connect to it...
That's it. He stopped, eyes wide. "Oh, no!" he gasped, as he went over the events that'd happened. He'd gone Super... That was it!
He must've changed into Saiyan personality, and forgot to let him human side stay intact! It'd happened before when he was fighting with Vegeta. He didn't remember anything until the end, when a ki blast to the face had knocked him out of Super and he had crashed into a wall.
Gohan shot a punch into Vegeta's chin as his aqua-marine eyes flashed, then tackled him again, a large smirk that was similar to Vegeta's appearing on his face as the Prince fell back a short distance in response. He growled under his breath as the man stood, stancing, and spat out:
"I'll kill you!"
Vegeta smirked, drawing back a hand and ducking to the side as a punch sailed past his head, followed soon by a roundhouse to the legs.
"That's what you think, brat of Kakarott."
Jumping over the kick, the Saiyan flew back a short distance, then sped directly at Gohan. The boy growled and jumped into midair, hovering as the Prince flew under him. He began to slowly turn, when he blinked, feeling a ki spike behind him. Spinning, his eyes widened. A large ki blast had already been formed in Vegeta's hand, and in seconds it was sailing at his face--
Gohan flew backwards, slamming into the wall of the Gravity Room, a large indention appearing on its side. He coughed, sputtering as his golden spikes vanished, and eyes returned to their onyx black. He shook his head and stood, scratching the back of his neck as he gazed around the room.
"What happened?"
Vegeta glanced at him from where he stood in the center of the room, then returned to dusting his hands off.
"You're improving. At least some of your Saiyan side shows, maybe more than your idiotic father knows. I never thought I would hear such words coming from the mouth of that moron's son, who believes all is good and deserves to live," he mocked, before turning away.
Gohan slapped himself upside the head, then started banging his forehead against a wall. "No, no, no! I can't believe I let myself do that!"
Videl had said he had been perverted and evil, or something like that. No wonder she was scared of him. He'd seen Vegeta in heat when around Bulma, and it was not a pretty sight.
"At least I apologized to her, even though I think she deserves more than an apology!"
Shaking his head sadly, the Saiyan stood, staring out the window. Where was she, anyways? Wait, she'd been walking when he'd caught up with her. Chances are, she was still walking back towards Camp. He raised his senses as he searched for her ki signature - there. She was still about an hour's walk away from Camp; she was taking her time.
A sudden thought appeared in Gohan's mind. I could pick her up, it'd save her some time, and give us a chance to talk--
About what, Gohan? Let me remind you, well, me, that you're Gohan at the moment, not the Great Saiyaman. What is there to talk about, since we "don't know" about that whole crisis?
Oh, yeah. Fine, I can pick her up as the Great Saiyaman!
Fine, do whatever. I recommend you just save the silly outfit though, and take a car or something. Just wear some normal guy clothes (not the one's you're wearing now you idiot) and sunglasses and bandanna. After all, you have to hide your identity somewhat without looking like an idiot who has been pretending to fly this entire time, ne?
Right. Gotcha.
Gohan grabbed a small capsule out of his drawer, then grabbed a spare change of clothes - not the kind he normally wore, but what Bulma had given him as a present once. He knew that it was exactly what all the other guys wore, the white muscle shirt tank top and baggy blue jeans. He didn't wear it at school or around the Camp because it showed too many muscles. But since he was supposed to be Saiyaman, he guessed it didn't matter.
From another part of his suitcase, he snagged the white bandanna and sunglasses he always carried just in case, and slipped them on before running outside.
Thank Kami Bulma taught me how to drive.
Videl kicked a rock as she walked down the pavement, hands locked tightly behind her back. Okay, chances were getting higher by the second that she was going to end up ditching the entire day of Camp activities, due to how slow she was walking. But she didn't care at all. She needed someone to talk to, and she figured she might as well sulk around until she either found someone, or had given up on it.
Stupid Saiyaman, confusing her all the time. And pissing her off, too. And scaring her, and... the list could go on forever. He was almost as bad as Gohan, if not worse.
The apology had been nice, but she'd expected a little more from him. Maybe an explanation, or something like that, but from the looks of it, he was clueless. She wasn't about to fully explain to him what had taken place, either. No way. That wasn't going to happen.
A car screeched in front of her as she started crossing the street, and she jumped back, eyes wide. "Watch it! You..." she yelled, and was about to continue ranting when she trailed off. The guy in the car looked pretty familiar...
"Aw, geez. Sorry... I mean--!" Gohan coughed, deepening his voice. "Miss Videl, you want a ride?"
Videl blinked, then let out a quiet sigh, holding her forehead with one hand. Her problem had just decided to cruise up out of nowhere, without his normal costume, of course.
"I don't think that's such a good idea--" she started, when he interrupted her.
"Really, I insist! After all, you don't have your 'copter or something, right? Driving's easier than walking..." Gohan fell silent, still looking over at Videl hopefully.
Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...
Videl sighed again, shaking her head in defeat. "Fine." She walked up to the red car and pulled the door open, slamming it behind her as she buckled her seat belt.
"Great!" Gohan quickly manuevered the sports car into the traffic, in the direction of the Camp. Fortunately, rush over was pretty much over, so it wouldn't take too long.
The ride was quiet, save the occassional cough. Glancing once at Videl, who was staring out the passenger seat window while resting her chin on her fist, Gohan drew in a deep breath. It wasn't going quite exactly as he planned, but he had to admit - he had expected her to be ticked. Really ticked, obviously.
"I have a question."
Gohan's eyebrow raised. "Shoot."
Videl shifted from her position, so that she was staring straight ahead. "Just about how you're the Gold Figher and the Great Saiyaman."
Pausing, Gohan stayed quiet, before responding. "What do you want to know about it?"
"Well, why, mostly."
I owe it to her. Besides, she won't tell anyone. There's no reason to... would she?
"I'll tell you if you can promise me something."
"What's that?"
"To not tell anyone else."
Videl smirked slightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "What, you think I wanted to know so I could tell all those reporters out there? Are you crazy?"
"Oh..." Chuckling a bit, Gohan scratched the back of his head with one hand while keeping the other on the steering wheel.
Pfft, yeah. I should've known - Videl doesn't like reporters either.
"I promised you that, now you have to keep your side of it," she prompted, casting an expectant glance at Saiyaman.
"Right." Gohan nodded once, then launched into the explanation. Fortunately, it wouldn't take too long to say. "First time I--I started the whole superhero thing, I didn't really... well, I didn't plan it. I mean, I wasn't planning to do the entire help the citizens of Orange Star city thing. But I saw some guys in a shoot-off with the cops, and it looked like the cops could use some back-up. So, I changed, and kicked some bad guy butt, then left. Everyone just started me calling the Gold Fighter after that, and I just figured that I should keep up the crime fighting."
"So why didn't you stay the Gold Figher, instead of switching?"
"Well, uh, going 'Gold', or whatever you guys call it, takes a lot out of me. I mean, it's more time consuming." Gohan sweatdropped as he glanced at Videl. I hope she didn't notice the lie in that... "Yeah. Anyways. This outfit is a lot faster to change into, and is more like an armor. It also hides my identity more efficiently, with the helmet and visor and everything."
"Okay."
Thank Kami! I thought she was gonna know I was lying for sure. Luck is on my side for once.
"Hey..."
Confused, Gohan turned back towards Videl. "Huh?"
Videl, who was blushing a bit, brushed back a lock of jet-black hair as she continued to stare out the front window. "Umm, about that thing. You know, earlier? What had happened there--"
"Oh, that!" He'd almost totally forgotten to talk to her about it. "I know what happened now! I figured out that it was, oh, wait..." Muttering, Gohan rubbed his temples with a hand. How in the heck was he supposed to explain what had happened without telling Videl he was part Saiyan? "I... Ahh. I, um, hmm."
"Just spit it out, Saiyaman," Videl grumbled crossly.
"Okay, okay!" It took a little bit of thinking, but he'd figured out a way to say it. "I kinda went more aggressive when I changed to Gold Fighter, since I, uhh, act different when I'm as Gold Fighter. That's another reason on why everyone, not just me, is better off when I'm as Saiyaman and not the Fighter. I'm not as... nice, when I'm Gold."
"That's for sure..." Oh, Dende. He does have schizophrenia! Or at least he sure acts like it.
They finally pulled up to the Camp's parking lot. Videl glanced out the window once, then quickly unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door. As she stepped out of the car, she suddenly froze, then looked back, staring hard into Gohan's sunglasses.
"Just wait a second..."
Turning fully, she crawled back into the car as Gohan kept his wide eyes locked on her, bewildered.
What'd I do?
Videl reached forward and grabbed Gohan's shirt, yanking him towards her so that his face was only inches from her. A small smirk visible on her lips, she watched with some interest as the teen squirmed nervously, surprised. Yep, he was back to normal.
"How in the world did you know I needed a ride here?" she demanded, trying to control her laughter as Gohan's eyebrows popped up, and he started sputtering.
"I-I-I've seen you come here! That's how!" he choked out, as Videl tightened her grasp on his shirt.
She couldn't keep it in anymore. Videl burst out laughing, releasing Gohan as she fell over, holding her stomach. The Saiyan grabbed her as she almost toppled out of the car, then yanked her back in, letting out a sigh of relief. At least she wasn't acting as threatening or something.
"You can't lie at all, can you?" Videl gasped as she continued to laugh her head off, twisting slightly so that she was muffling her giggles in Gohan's shirt.
Realizing what she was doing (even if Videl herself was unaware of it), Gohan began to blush heavily as he hesitantly placed his arms around the girl, not exactly knowing where else to put them.
After several minutes of uncontained laughing and snickering, Videl slowly calmed down, only chuckling a bit as she sat up, leaning back on whatever she had been using to stop from laughing so loudly.
Hey, wait...
Her eyes widened as she came to realize that she was leaning back against the Great Saiyaman, and his arms were still wrapped very contentedly around her. Lunging forward, out of his hold, she bolted for the door, hitting her head on the top of the car in the process.
"Crap!" Cursing vividly under her breath, she shoved the door open and almost fell out before she caught her balance again. Finally escaping through the car door, she let out a sigh of relief; she was finally in a not-as-embarassing position.
Gohan followed suit, stepping out of the passenger-seat door behind Videl, an eyebrow arched as Videl turned away from him, arms crossing over her chest again. What in the world...
"Videl?" Blinking, he shook his head and corrected himself, adjusting his voice. "Miss Videl?"
"What?" she snapped, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. Don't look at him, don't look at him, don't look at him...
Thoroughly confused, Gohan leaned back, hand behind his neck, and did exactly as Chi-Chi had always told him to; "Should I accompany you back to the Cabins?" He was a gentleman.
Videl coughed, eyes wide as she spun to face him. "What?" she yelped, arms waving. "Accompany me?! Do you have any idea what--" Slowing to a stop, she let her arms drop to her sides, then fell completely silent. Do you have any idea what Sharpener, Erasa and... she flashed an evil grin mentally. ...Gohan, would say? "Actually, you know what? I think you should." Smirking all the while, she turned and began heading back to the Cabins, an astonished Saiyaman trotting at her heels.
"What do you mean he's going to be late? ... What?! He's doing a photoshoot where?!"
Erasa groaned and smacked herself upside the head, as Sharpener continued to remain fascinated with the current crafting project. Her entire plan, her idea! Ruined, because Videl's father had decided to hit the Bahamas for a photoshoot.
"Photoshoot my ass," she muttered, picking as the wooden table. "He's probably just looking for an early vacation."
According to the Camp Director, who had planned the fighting event for several years in a row, Hercule wasn't going to show until the last day of the field trip, which shifted the entire schedule. Now, the Surprise Night (whatever the hell that was going to be) would be tomorrow, then the deciding for the Baking contest along with swimming on that day, then the hiking. Last, the tournament.
The Director stomped his foot, slamming the cell shut as he cursed loudly, causing several girls in the room to gasp, while the guys just started laughing in response.
Erasa nudged Sharpener in the side as she glanced back at the Director, who was in the process of dsetroying a castle of cardboard boxes.
"Did you hear that?"
The blonde-haired teen only mumbled in response as he continued to sift through the different popsicle sticks.
"Psst, Sharpener!" she whispered, more loudly.
"Now, what color should I use next... blue, maybe..?" Sharpener held up a blue stick, looking it over.
Sick of being ignored, Erasa punched her boyfriend--hard--in the ribs. "Sharpener!" she hissed, almost breaking into giggles as she watched the man keel over, gasping for air. "I said, did you hear that?"
"W-what?"
"Hercule isn't coming until the last day of camp!"
Sharpener bolted up, eyes wide. "What!" he screeched, fists clenched.
"Calm down, you nincompoop! It's not like it's your life on the line--"
"Yes, it is! You know how much I bet some geek that I would kick his ass in the tournament tomorrow?! He's gonna be sneaky and said I'd beat him tomorrow, not on the last day of camp when the tournament's gonna be held!"
Erasa sighed, shaking her head. "Sharrrrpyyy, you can always just hunt him down and kick his ass tomorrow when the counselors aren't looking!"
Pausing, Sharpener blinked, then grinned widely. "Hey, babe, you're right!" Sitting again, he turned back to Erasa, a bored look on his face again. "So, what's so important about it being moved then?"
"Well, think. We were going to do the whole Gohan and Videl, together forever thing. But we can't do it tomorrow, now can we?"
"You're right, we can't."
"Soooo, I figured that... uhh, we make up a plan tomorrow night on what to do, since we have no idea on what we're doing tomorrow night because it's Surprise Night! Who's with me!"
Sharpener rolled his eyes. "Hon, seriously. You really think that's gonna work? We just gotta find out what we're doing tomorrow night. Geez, not like it's gonna be all that hard."
The blonde-haired girl cast an odd look at her boyfriend, then brightened. "You know what, I never thought of that! ... Wait, how we gonna just find this stuff out? The counselors won't tell us, they'll just say," She stopped, mimicking the voice of Rob in a high, whinny voice; "'The whole point to Surprise Night is to surprise you kiddies! Just sit back and enjoy the fun, little dudes!'"
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Sharpener pulled his chair up closer to Erasa's. "Look," he whispered, after shooting a cautious glance around the room. "All we gotta do is go undercover, you know? Secret agent, double-0 seven!" He stood, a self-confident, 'suave' look on his face. "The name's Pencil. Sharpener Pencil."
"Oh, right! I get it! Great idea, Sharpener!"
"You betcha' that's a great idea," Sharpener smirked as he sat back down. "It's a great idea 'cause I made it up."
After washing his hair once, letting it air dry, then washing it again, and blow-drying it, Rob was done with the grooming; well, grooming his hair at least.
Flashing a self-confident smirk, he ran a comb through his hair as he reached for his razor and shaving cream. After all, he had to look his best for Surprise Night. That was when he was going to get some ass, after all.
"It's perfect. Surprise Night, we have Surprise activities," he began, speaking lowly to himself. "Of course, I pick it. And it's a two-person individual hike. Perfect. Especially since the team's of two won't work, since there is an odd number of students. The solution to solving that problem is obvious." A white-toothed grin shining behind white foam, Rob nodded once. "Me and Videl. Alone. Her little friends will have to pair up with some other brats."
Turning, he wiped the shaving cream off his face, then glanced back at the mirror, shooting a dazzling smile at his reflection. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
To be continued...